As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 8, 1996
Registration No. 33-__________
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
-----------------------
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Under
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
-------------------------------
HEILIG-MEYERS COMPANY MACSAVER FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as (Exact name of registrant as
specified in its charter) specified in its charter)
Virginia Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction (State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation or organization) of incorporation or organization)
54-0558861 62-1419691
(I.R.S. employer identification number) (I.R.S. employer identification number)
2235 Staples Mill Road 2 Reads Way, Suite 224
Richmond, Virginia 23230 New Castle, Delaware 19720
(804) 359-9171 (302) 325-3841
(Address, including zip code, and (Address, including zip code, and
telephone number, including area telephone number, including area
code, of registrant's principal code, of registrant's principal
executive offices) executive offices)
-----------------------
David W. Robertson, Esq.
McGuire, Woods, Battle & Boothe, L.L.P.
One James Center
901 East Cary Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219
(804) 775-1000
(Name, address, including zip code, and
telephone number, including area code,
of agent for service)
-----------------------
Copies to:
Edwin D. Williamson
Sullivan & Cromwell
1701 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20006
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From
time to time after the effective date of this registration statement.
If the only securities being registered on this form are being offered
pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following
box. ( )
If any of the securities being registered on this form are to be
offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the
Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with
dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. (X)
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box
and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier
effective registration statement for the same offering. ( )
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule
462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities
Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration
statement for the same offering. ( )
If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule
434, please check the following box. ( )
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
- ---------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------- ---------------------------
Title of Each
Class of Securities Proposed Maximum Amount of
to be Registered Aggregate Offering Price (1) Registration Fee
- ---------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------- ---------------------------
<S> <C>
Common stock of Heilig-Meyers Company (par
value $2 per share) (2)(3)
Warrants of Heilig-Meyers Company (2)(4)
Debt Securities of MacSaver Financial Services, Inc. (2)(5)(6)
Guarantees by Heilig-Meyers Company of Debt Securities of
MacSaver Financial Services, Inc. (2)(7)
Total $400,000,000 $137,932
================================================================ =============================== ---------------------------
</TABLE>
(1) Estimated solely for the purpose of determining the
registration fee in accordance with Rule 457(o) under the
Securities Act of 1933.
(2) There are being registered hereunder such principal amount or
number of Securities as may from time to time be issued, but in
no event will the aggregate initial offering price of the
Securities exceed $400,000,000.
(3) Each share of Common Stock being registered hereunder includes a
preferred share purchase right.
(4) Warrants may be sold separately or with Debt Securities or Common
Stock.
(5) Any offering of Debt Securities offered in a currency other than
in U.S. dollars will be treated as the equivalent in U.S. dollars
based on the official exchange rate applicable to the purchase of
Debt Securities from the registrant.
(6) Plus accrued interest, if any.
(7) No separate registration fee is required for the Guarantees in
accordance with Rule 457(n) under the Securities Act of 1933. No
separate consideration will be given for any Guarantee.
--------------------------
The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date
or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant
shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration
statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of
the Securities Act of 1933 or until this Registration Statement shall become
effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a),
may determine.
<PAGE>
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 JULY 8, 1996
[Logo]
$400,000,000
HEILIG-MEYERS COMPANY
COMMON STOCK AND WARRANTS
MACSAVER FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
(a subsidiary of Heilig-Meyers Company)
GUARANTEED DEBT SECURITIES
Unconditionally guaranteed as to payment of principal,
premium, if any, and interest, if any, by Heilig-Meyers
Company.
Heilig-Meyers Company (the "Company") may offer and sell from time to time,
together or separately, (i) shares of its common stock, $2 par value per share
(the "Common Stock") and (ii) warrants to purchase Common Stock (the
"Warrants"). MacSaver Financial Services, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the
Company ("MFS"), may offer and sell from time to time its debt securities
consisting of debentures, notes and/or other unsecured evidences of indebtedness
("Debt Securities"). The Debt Securities will be unconditionally guaranteed (the
"Guarantees") as to payment of principal of, and premium and interest on, if
any, the Debt Securities by the Company. The Common Stock, Warrants and Debt
Securities (collectively, together with the Guarantees, the "Securities") may be
offered, separately or together, at prices and terms to be set forth in one or
more supplements to this Prospectus (each a "Prospectus Supplement") up to an
aggregate initial offering price of $400,000,000 (or its equivalent, based on
the applicable exchange rate at the time of sale, in one or more foreign
currencies, currency units or composite currencies as shall be designated by the
Company or MFS, as the case may be).
Specific terms of the Securities for which this Prospectus is being
delivered are set forth in the accompanying Prospectus Supplement including,
where applicable, (i) in the case of Debt Securities, the specific designation,
aggregate principal amount, denominations, currency, maturity, premium, rate of
interest (or method of calculation) and time of payment thereof, terms for
redemption at the option of MFS or the holder, the form of the Debt Securities
(which may be in registered or permanent global form), the initial public
offering price and certain other terms of the offering and sale of the Debt
Securities and the terms of the Guarantees in respect of which this Prospectus
is being delivered; (ii) in the case of Common Stock, the number of shares and
initial public offering price of the Common Stock, and (iii) in the case of
Warrants, the number of shares of Common Stock which are issuable upon exercise,
the exercise period, the methods of distribution, the initial public offering or
purchase price and the exercise price and detachability if issued with other
Securities, of Warrants for which the Prospectus Supplement is being delivered.
The Prospectus Supplement will also contain information, as applicable, about
any listing on a securities exchange of the Securities for which the Prospectus
Supplement is being delivered.
The Securities may be sold by the Company and MFS directly or indirectly
through agents, underwriters or dealers as designated from time to time or
through a combination of such methods. See "Plan of Distribution." The
accompanying Prospectus Supplement sets forth the names of any underwriters,
dealers or agents involved in the sale of the Securities in respect of which
this Prospectus is being delivered and any applicable fee, commission or
discount arrangements with them.
This Prospectus may not be used to consummate sales of Securities unless
accompanied or, to the extent permitted by applicable law, preceded by a
Prospectus Supplement.
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 ___________, 1996.
<PAGE>
AVAILABLE INFORMATION
The Company 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 maintained by the Commission at 450 Fifth Street, N.W.,
Room 1024, Washington, D.C. 20549; and at the Commission's regional offices at
500 West Madison Street, Chicago, Illinois 60606; and 7 World Trade Center, 13th
Floor, New York, New York 10048. Copies of such material can be obtained by mail
from the Public Reference Section of the Commission at 450 Fifth Street, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates. The Company's common stock is
listed on the New York and Pacific Stock Exchanges, and such material may also
be inspected at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New
York, New York 10005 and the Pacific Stock Exchange, Incorporated, 301 Pine
Street, San Francisco, California 94104.
The Company and MFS have filed with the Commission a Registration Statement
on Form S-3 (herein, together with all amendments and exhibits, referred to as
the "Registration Statement") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act"), of which this Prospectus constitutes a part. This Prospectus
does not contain all of the information set forth in the Registration Statement,
certain parts of which are omitted in accordance with the rules and regulations
of the Commission. For further information, reference is made to the
Registration Statement.
In accordance with Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 53, relating to financial
statement requirements in filings involving the guarantee of securities by a
parent corporation, separate financial statements for MFS are not included in
this Prospectus.
The Company intends to ask the staff of the Commission for a "no-action"
letter that it would not raise any objection if MFS does not file periodic
reports under Sections 13 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act. Accordingly, MFS is not
expected to file periodic reports under the Exchange Act.
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
The following documents filed with the Commission by the Company are hereby
incorporated by reference into this Prospectus:
1. the annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February
29, 1996;
2. the description of the Common Stock contained in the
Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the Commission on April 26,
1983 (File No. 1-8484), as amended by amendments on Form 8, filed with the
Commission on April 9, 1985, February 23, 1988, September 20, 1989, July
31, 1990, August 6, 1992 and July 28, 1994, respectively; and
3. the description of the Rights to Purchase Preferred Stock, Series
A contained in the Registration Statement on Form 8-A (File No. 1-8484)
filed with the Commission on February 23, 1988 as amended by an amendment
on Form 8 filed with the Commission on September 20, 1989.
All documents filed by the Company pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or
15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of this Prospectus and prior to
the termination of the offering of the Securities shall be deemed to be
incorporated by reference into this Prospectus and to be a part hereof from the
respective dates of filing of such documents. Any statement contained herein or
in a document all or any portion of which is incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded
for purposes of 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 herein modifies or supersedes such earlier statement.
Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so
modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Prospectus.
The Company will provide without charge to any person to whom this
Prospectus is delivered, upon the written or oral request of such person, a copy
of any or all of the foregoing documents incorporated herein by reference (other
than certain exhibits to such documents). Requests for such copies should be
directed to Heilig-Meyers Company, 2235 Staples Mill Road, Richmond, Virginia
23230; Attention: Paige H. Wilson, Secretary, telephone (804) 359-9171.
<PAGE>
HEILIG-MEYERS COMPANY
BUSINESS
General
The Company is the nation's largest publicly held specialty retailer of
home furnishings with 739 stores (as of May 31, 1996), in 26 states and Puerto
Rico. The Company's stores are primarily located in small towns and rural
markets in the Southeast, Midwest, West and Southwest of the continental United
States. The Company's operating strategy includes: (1) offering a broad
selection of competitively priced home furnishings including furniture, consumer
electronics, appliances, bedding and floor coverings; (2) locating stores
primarily in small towns and rural markets which are at least 25 miles from a
metropolitan area; (3) offering in-house credit programs to provide flexible
financing to its customers; (4) utilizing centralized inventory and distribution
systems in strategic regional locations to support store inventory and
merchandise delivery options; and (5) emphasizing customer service, including
free delivery on most major purchases and repair service for consumer
electronics and other mechanical items. The Company believes this strategy of
offering selection, credit, delivery and service generally allows it to have the
largest market share among home furnishings retailers in most of its small-town
markets.
The Company has undertaken several programs to enhance operating
efficiencies, reduce costs, improve management controls, and manage the growth
of its business. These programs have included: a prototype store program
featuring the latest in display techniques and construction efficiencies; a
remodeling program under which stores are typically remodeled on a seven year
schedule; improved distribution management with eight state-of-the-art
distribution centers which are designed to service stores typically located
within 250 miles of such centers (a ninth distribution center is under
construction and expected to be completed by the end of the current fiscal
year); information systems improvements including a sales and inventory control
system and a company wide hardware upgrade which have allowed numerous system
enhancements including satellite communications; a new purchasing strategy of
consolidating vendors for purchasing advantages due to scale economies and
improved inventory management including electronic data interchange (EDI)
ordering and just-in-time ordering; and increased use of market segmentation
techniques to identify prospective customers and to permit a more targeted
direct mail advertising program.
The Company's executive offices are located at 2235 Staples Mill Road,
Richmond, Virginia 23230. The telephone number is (804) 359-9171. MFS is a
Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company through which
financing is obtained for the operations of the Company and its other
subsidiaries. The executive offices of MFS are located at 2 Reads Way, Suite
224, New Castle, Delaware 19720. The telephone number is (302) 325-3841.
Store Operations
General
The Company believes that locating stores in small towns and rural markets
provides an important competitive advantage. Currently, approximately 80% of all
stores are located in towns with populations under 50,000 and more than 25 miles
from a metropolitan market. As the majority of other home furnishings chains
locate their stores in larger cities, competition in these small towns largely
comes from locally-owned store operations which generally lack the financial
strength to compete effectively with the Company. The Company believes that its
stores have the largest market share among home furnishings retailers in the
majority of their areas.
The Company's stores generally range in size from 10,000 to 35,000 square
feet, with the average being approximately 20,000 square feet. A store's
attached or nearby warehouse usually measures from 3,000 to 5,000 square feet. A
typical store is designed to give the customer an urban shopping experience in a
rural location. The Company's existing store remodeling program, under which
stores are remodeled on a rotational basis, provides the Company's older stores
with a fresh look and up-to-date displays on a periodic basis.
Distribution
The Company currently operates seven distribution centers in the
continental U.S. and one center in Puerto Rico, each of which has cantilever
racking and computer-controlled random-access inventory storage. Over the past
two years, the Company expanded three of its distribution centers to handle
increased sales levels. A ninth distribution center, currently being constructed
in Athens, Texas, is scheduled to be completed by the end of the current fiscal
year.
Credit Operations
The Company believes that offering flexible, in-house credit is an
important part of its business strategy which provides a significant competitive
advantage. Because installment credit is administered at the store level, terms
can generally be tailored to meet the customer's ability to pay. The Company
believes its credit program fosters customer loyalty and repeat business.
Historically, approximately 80% of the Company's sales have been made through
the Company's installment credit program.
The following table sets forth certain data regarding the Company's credit
operations:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Fiscal Years Ended
Feb. 29, Feb. 28, Feb. 28, Feb. 28, Feb. 29,
1996 1995 1994 1993 1992
<S> <C>
Average number of installment
accounts receivable(1).................. 1,220,660 972,418 799,501 652,569 557,027
Average initial term of account
(months)(2)............................ 17.2 16.6 16.7 16.6 16.5
Provision for doubtful accounts
as % of sales.......................... 5.7% 4.8% 4.5% 4.4% 4.6%
Net charge-offs as % of sales........... 5.0 4.6 4.1 4.1 4.3
</TABLE>
- ----------------
(1) Includes securitized accounts receivable which are still serviced by the
Company.
(2) For installment contracts originated during the indicated fiscal year,
calculated at the date of origination.
Merchandising
The Company's merchandising strategy is to offer a broad selection of
competitively priced home furnishings, including furniture and accessories,
consumer electronics, appliances, bedding, and other items such as jewelry,
small appliances and seasonal goods. The table below sets forth the percentage
of sales of these items during the last five years:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Fiscal Years Ended
Feb. 29, Feb. 28, Feb. 28, Feb. 28, Feb. 29,
1996 1995 1994 1993 1992
<S> <C>
Furniture and accessories... 58% 59% 59% 59% 58%
Consumer electronics........ 12 11 12 13 13
Appliances.................... 9 8 8 8 8
Bedding....................... 11 10 10 10 9
Other items................... 10 12 11 11 12
</TABLE>
Advertising and Promotion
In fiscal 1996, the Company distributed over 160 million direct mail
circulars. This included monthly circulars sent by direct mail to over ten
million households on the Company's mailing list and special private sale
circulars mailed to over two million of these households each month, as well as
during special promotional periods. During fiscal 1996, the Company continued to
utilize market segmentation techniques (begun in fiscal 1994) to identify
prospective customers by matching their demographics to those of existing
customers. Management believes ongoing market research and improved mailing
techniques enhance the Company's ability to place circulars in the hands of
potential customers most likely to make a purchase. The Company believes that
availability, as well as the terms of credit, are key determinants in the
purchase decision, and therefore, promotes credit availability by disclosing
monthly payment terms in its circulars. Historically, expenses for advertising
and promotion have been between 6% and 8% of sales. Advertising expense was
above its historical levels in fiscal 1996 at approximately 8.4% of sales.
Corporate Expansion
The Company has grown from 322 stores at February 28, 1991, to 716 stores
at February 29, 1996. Over this time period, the Company has expanded from its
traditional Southeast operating region into the Midwest, West, Southwest and
outside the continental United States into Puerto Rico. The Company currently
operates stores in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida,
Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri,
Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South
Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Puerto Rico.
Management believes that the Company's size and geographically diverse store
locations are competitive advantages and allow for greater stability in its
operations.
USE OF PROCEEDS
Except as otherwise provided in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the
net proceeds from the sale of the Securities will be used for general corporate
purposes, which may include repayment of outstanding indebtedness, capital
expenditures, working capital requirements and possible future acquisitions. The
precise amount and timing of the application of such proceeds will depend upon
the funding requirements of the Company or MFS, as the case may be, and the
availability and cost of other funds. Allocation of the proceeds of particular
Securities, or the principal reasons for the offering if no such allocation has
been made, will be described in the applicable Prospectus Supplement.
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
The following table sets for the ratios of earnings to fixed charges for
the years indicated:
Year Ended February (28)29
1996 1995 1994 1993 1992
Ratio of Earnings to
Fixed Charges 1.62x 2.28x 2.50x 2.35x 2.06x
For purposes of this ratio, earnings are calculated by adding fixed charges
(excluding capitalized leases) to income before income taxes and extraordinary
items. Fixed charges consist of interest on indebtedness (including amortization
of debt discount and premium) and the portion of rental expense representative
of an interest factor.
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
The following description sets forth certain general terms and provisions
of the Debt Securities to which any Prospectus Supplement may relate. The
particular terms of the Debt Securities offered by any Prospectus Supplement and
the extent, if any, to which such general provisions may not apply to the Debt
Securities so offered will be described in the Prospectus Supplement relating to
such Debt Securities.
The Debt Securities and related Guarantees are to be issued under an
Indenture (the "Indenture"), among MFS, the Company and First Union National
Bank of Virginia, as trustee (the "Trustee"). A copy of the Indenture is filed
as an exhibit to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus is a part.
The following summaries of certain provisions of the Debt Securities and the
Indenture do not purport to be complete and are subject to, and are qualified in
their entirety by reference to, all the provisions of the Indenture, including
the definitions therein of certain terms. Wherever particular Sections, Articles
or defined terms of the Indenture are referred to, such Sections, Articles or
defined terms are incorporated herein by reference. Article and Section
references used herein are references to Articles and Sections of the Indenture.
Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning given in
the Indenture.
Unless otherwise indicated, currency amounts in this Prospectus and any
Prospectus Supplement are stated in United States dollars ("$", "U.S. Dollars"
or "dollars").
General
The Indenture does not limit the aggregate principal amount of Debt
Securities which may be issued thereunder and provides that Debt Securities may
be issued thereunder up to an aggregate principal amount which may be authorized
from time to time by MFS. The Debt Securities will be unsecured unsubordinated
obligations of MFS and will rank on a parity in right of payment with all other
unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of MFS.
The Debt Securities will be unconditionally guaranteed by the Company as to
payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest. See "Guarantees."
Reference is made to the applicable Prospectus Supplement relating to the
series of Debt Securities offered thereby for specific terms, including (where
applicable): (1) the title or designation of such Debt Securities; (2) any limit
on the aggregate principal amount of such Debt Securities; (3) the price or
prices (expressed as a percentage of the principal amount thereof) at which such
Debt Securities will be issued; (4) the date or dates on which the principal of
and premium, if any, on such Debt Securities will be payable, or the method or
methods, if any, by which such date or dates will be determined; (5) the rate or
rates (which may be fixed or variable) at which such Debt Securities will bear
interest, if any, or the method or methods, if any, by which such rate or rates
are to be determined, the date or dates, if any, from which such interest will
accrue, or the method or methods, if any, by which such date or dates are to be
determined, and whether and under what circumstances Additional Amounts on such
Debt Securities will be payable, and the basis upon which interest will be
calculated if other than that of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months; (6) the
dates on which such interest, if any, will be payable and the record dates
therefor; (7) the place or places where the principal of, premium, if any, and
interest, if any, on such Debt Securities will be payable and the place or
places where such Debt Securities may be surrendered for registration of
transfer and exchange, if other than The City of New York; (8) the date or dates
on which, the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and
the other terms and conditions upon which such Debt Securities may be redeemed
at the option of MFS or are subject to repurchase at the option of the holders;
(9) the terms of any sinking fund or analogous provision; (10) if other than
U.S. dollars, the Currency for which the Debt Securities may be purchased and
the Currency in which the payment of principal thereof and premium, if any, and
interest, if any, thereon may be made, and the ability, if any, of MFS, or the
holders of Debt Securities to have payments made in any Currency other than
those in which the Debt Securities are stated to be payable; (11) any addition
to, or modification or deletion of, any covenant or Event of Default with
respect to such Debt Securities; (12) whether any such Debt Securities are to be
issuable in registered or bearer form or both and, if in bearer form, the terms
and conditions relating thereto and any limitations on issuance of such Bearer
Securities (including in exchange for Registered Securities of the same series);
(13) whether any such Debt Securities will be issued in temporary or permanent
global form and, if so, the identity of the depositary for such global Debt
Security; (14) the applicability, if any, of the defeasance or covenant
defeasance provisions of the Indenture applicable to such Debt Securities; (15)
the person to whom any interest on any Registered Securities of the series shall
be payable, if other than the person in whose name the Registered Security (or
one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on
the Regular Record Date for such interest, the manner in which, or the person to
whom, any interest on any Bearer Security of the series shall be payable, if
other than upon presentation and surrender of the coupons appertaining thereto
as they severally mature, and the extent to which, or the manner in which, any
interest payable on a temporary global Debt Security will be paid if other than
in the manner provided in the Indenture; (16) the portion of the principal
amount of Debt Securities which shall be payable upon acceleration thereof if
other than the full principal amount thereof; (17) the authorized denominations
in which Debt Securities will be issuable, if other than denominations of $1,000
and any integral multiple thereof (in the case of Registered Securities) or
$5,000 (in the case of Bearer Securities); (18) the terms, if any, upon which
Debt Securities may be exchangeable for other Securities; (19) whether the
amount of payments of principal of, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on
Debt Securities may be determined with reference to an index, formula or other
method or methods (any Debt Securities being hereinafter called "Indexed
Securities") and the manner in which such amounts will be determined; (20) the
terms of the Guarantees in respect of which this Prospectus is being delivered;
and (22) any other terms of such Debt Securities.
As used in this Prospectus and any Prospectus Supplement relating to the
offering of any Debt Securities, references to the principal of and premium, if
any, and interest, if any, on Debt Securities will be deemed to include mention
of the payment of Additional Amounts, if any, required by the terms of Debt
Securities in such context.
Debt Securities may be issued as Original Issue Discount Securities (as
defined in the Indenture) to be sold at a substantial discount below their
principal amount. In the event of an acceleration of the maturity of any
Original Issue Discount Security, the amount payable to the holder thereof upon
such acceleration will be determined in the manner described in the applicable
Prospectus Supplement. Special United States federal income tax considerations
applicable to Debt Securities issued at an original issue discount, including
Original Issue Discount Securities, and special United States tax considerations
applicable to any Debt Securities which are denominated in a currency or
currency unit other than United States dollars, are described below under
"United States Taxation."
If the purchase price of any Debt Securities is payable in a Currency other
than U.S. dollars or if principal of, or premium, if any, or interest, if any,
on any of the Debt Securities is payable in any Currency other than U.S.
dollars, the specific terms and other information with respect to such Debt
Securities and such foreign Currency will be specified in the Prospectus
Supplement relating thereto.
Under the Indenture, the terms of the Debt Securities of any series may
differ and MFS, without the consent of the holders of the Debt Securities of any
series, may reopen a previous series of Debt Securities and issue additional
Debt Securities of such series.
The Indenture does not contain any provisions which may afford the holders
of any of the Debt Securities protection in the event of a highly leveraged
transaction or similar transaction involving the Company or MFS. Any such
provisions, if applicable to any Debt Securities, will be described in the
Prospectus Supplement or Prospectus Supplements relating thereto.
Guarantees; Holding Company Structure
The Company will unconditionally guarantee the due and punctual payment of
principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Debt Securities, when and as
the same shall become due and payable, whether at the maturity date, by
declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise. The Guarantees
will remain in effect until the entire principal of, premium, if any, and
interest on the Debt Securities shall have been paid in full or otherwise
discharged in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture.
The Company conducts its operations primarily through its wholly-owned
subsidiaries, including MFS, and substantially all of the Company's consolidated
assets are held by its subsidiaries. Accordingly, the cash flow of the Company
and the consequent ability to service its debt, including its obligations under
the Guarantees, are largely dependent upon the earnings of such subsidiaries.
Because the Company is a holding company, the Company's obligations under
the Guarantees will be effectively subordinated to all existing and future
indebtedness, trade payables, guarantees, lease obligations and letter of credit
obligations of the Company's subsidiaries. Therefore, the Company's rights and
the rights of its creditors, including the holders of the Debt Securities under
the Guarantees, to participate in the assets of any subsidiary (other than MFS)
upon the latter's liquidation or reorganization will be subject to the prior
claims of such subsidiary's creditors, except to the extent that the Company may
itself be a creditor with recognized claims against the subsidiary, in which
case the claims of the Company would still be effectively subordinate to any
security interest in, or mortgages or other liens on, the assets of such
subsidiary and would be subordinate to any indebtedness of such subsidiary
senior to that held by the Company. Although certain debt instruments to which
the Company and its subsidiaries are parties impose limitations on the
incurrence of additional indebtedness, both the Company and its subsidiaries
retain the ability to incur substantial additional indebtedness and lease and
letter of credit obligations.
Registration, Transfer, Payment and Paying Agent
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, each
series of Debt Securities will be issued in registered form only, without
coupons. The Indenture, however, provides that MFS may also issue Debt
Securities in bearer form only, or in both registered and bearer form. Bearer
Securities may not be offered, sold, resold or delivered in connection with
their original issuance in the United States or to any United States person (as
defined below) other than offices located outside the United States of certain
United States financial institutions. As used herein, "United States person"
means any citizen or resident of the United States, any corporation, partnership
or other entity created or organized in or under the laws of the United States,
or any estate or trust, the income of which is subject to United States federal
income taxation regardless of its source, and "United States" means the United
States of America (including the states thereof and the District of Columbia),
its territories, its possessions and other areas subject to its jurisdiction.
Purchasers of Bearer Securities will be subject to certification procedures and
may be affected by certain limitations under United States tax laws. Such
procedures and limitations will be described in the Prospectus Supplement
relating to the offering of the Bearer Securities.
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement,
Registered Securities will be issued in denominations of $1,000 or any integral
multiple thereof, and Bearer Securities will be issued in denominations of
$5,000.
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the
principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, of or on the Debt Securities
will be payable, and Debt Securities may be surrendered for registration of
transfer or exchange, at an office or agency to be maintained by MFS in the
Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, provided that payments of interest
with respect to any Registered Security may be made at the option of MFS by
check mailed to the address of the person entitled thereto or by transfer to an
account maintained by the payee with a bank located in the United States. No
service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of
Debt Securities, but MFS may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any
tax or other governmental charge and any other expenses that may be imposed in
connection therewith.
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, payment
of principal of, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on Bearer Securities
will be made, subject to any applicable laws and regulations, at such office or
agency outside the United States as specified in the Prospectus Supplement and
as MFS may designate from time to time. Unless otherwise indicated in the
applicable Prospectus Supplement, payment of interest due on Bearer Securities
on any Interest Payment Date will be made only against surrender of the coupon
relating to such Interest Payment Date. Unless otherwise indicated in the
applicable Prospectus Supplement, no payment of principal, premium or interest
with respect to any Bearer Security will be made at any office or agency in the
United States or by check mailed to any address in the United States or by
transfer to an account maintained with a bank located in the United States;
provided, however, that if amounts owing with respect to any Bearer Securities
shall be payable in U.S. dollars, payment with respect to any such Bearer
Securities may be made at the Corporate Trust Office of the applicable Trustee
or at any office or agency designated by MFS in the Borough of Manhattan, The
City of New York, if (but only if) payment of the full amount of such principal,
premium or interest at all offices outside of the United States maintained for
such purpose by MFS is illegal or effectively precluded by exchange controls or
similar restrictions.
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, MFS
will not be required to (i) issue, register the transfer of or exchange Debt
Securities of any series during a period beginning at the opening of business 15
days before any selection of Debt Securities of that series of like tenor to be
redeemed and ending at the close of business on the day of that selection; (ii)
register the transfer of or exchange any Registered Security, or portion
thereof, called for redemption, except the unredeemed portion of any Registered
Security being redeemed in part; (iii) exchange any Bearer Security called for
redemption, except to exchange such Bearer Security for a Registered Security of
that series and like tenor that is simultaneously surrendered for redemption; or
(iv) issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Debt Security which has
been surrendered for repayment at the option of the holder, except the portion,
if any, of such Debt Security not to be so repaid.
Global Securities
The Debt Securities may be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or
more global securities that will be deposited with, or on behalf of, a
depositary (the "Depositary") identified in the Prospectus Supplement relating
to such series. Global Debt Securities may be issued in either registered or
bearer form and in either temporary or permanent form. Unless and until it is
exchanged in whole or in part for individual certificates evidencing Debt
Securities in definitive form represented thereby, a global Debt Security may
not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary for such global Debt
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 such Depositary or
any such nominee to a successor of such Depositary or a nominee of such
successor.
The specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to a series
of global Debt Securities and certain limitations and restrictions relating to a
series of global Bearer Securities will be described in the Prospectus
Supplement relating to such series.
Outstanding Debt Securities
In determining whether the holders of the requisite principal amount of
outstanding Debt Securities have given any request, demand, authorization,
direction, notice, consent or waiver under the Indenture, or whether a quorum is
present at a meeting of the holders thereunder, (i) the portion of the principal
amount of an Original Issue Discount Security that shall be deemed to be
outstanding for such purposes shall be that portion of the principal amount
thereof that could be declared to be due and payable upon a declaration of
acceleration thereof pursuant to the terms of such Original Issue Discount
Security as of the date of such determination, (ii) the principal amount of any
Indexed Security that shall be deemed to be outstanding for such purpose shall
be the principal face amount of such Indexed Security determined on the date of
its original issuance, (iii) the principal amount of a Debt Security denominated
in a Currency other than U.S. dollars shall be the U.S. dollar equivalent,
determined on the date of original issue of such Debt Security, of the principal
amount of such Debt Security and (iv) any Debt Security beneficially owned by
the Company or MFS or by any obligor on such Debt Security or any Affiliate of
the Company or MFS or such other obligor shall be deemed not to be outstanding.
Redemption and Repurchase
The Debt Securities of any series may be redeemable at the option of MFS,
may be subject to mandatory redemption pursuant to a sinking fund or otherwise,
or may be subject to repurchase by MFS at the option of the holders, in each
case upon the terms, at the times and at the prices set forth in the applicable
Prospectus Supplement.
Certain Covenants of the Company
Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries. The various restrictive
provisions of the Indenture applicable to the Company and the Restricted
Subsidiaries do not apply to Unrestricted Subsidiaries. The assets of
Unrestricted Subsidiaries are not consolidated with those of the Company and the
Restricted Subsidiaries in calculating Consolidated Net Tangible Assets, and
investments by the Company or by the Restricted Subsidiaries in Unrestricted
Subsidiaries are excluded in calculating Consolidated Net Tangible Assets. A
"Restricted Subsidiary" is MFS and any other subsidiary of the Company or MFS
which is organized under the laws of the United States or any state thereof or
Canada or Puerto Rico, which conducts substantially all of its business and has
substantially all of its assets within the United States or Canada or Puerto
Rico, of which more than 80% (by number of votes) of the voting securities or
other similar ownership interests is owned by the Company and/or one or more
Restricted Subsidiaries and which is not designated by the Company as an
Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance with the Indenture. An "Unrestricted
Subsidiary" is a subsidiary of the Company or MFS which is designated by the
Company as an Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance with the Indenture or which
does not come within the definition of a Restricted Subsidiary. (Section 101)
The Company may designate any Restricted Subsidiary, other than MFS, as an
Unrestricted Subsidiary if, immediately after such designation, (i) such
subsidiary does not hold or own, directly or indirectly, any Funded Debt or
capital stock of any Restricted Subsidiary, (ii) the Company could incur
additional Secured Funded Debt in compliance with the Indenture, (iii) neither
the Company nor any Restricted Subsidiary guarantees any obligations of such
subsidiary and (iv) no Default or Event of Default would exist. The Guarantor
may not designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary unless,
immediately after giving effect to such designation, such subsidiary is in
compliance with all of the covenants of the Indenture applicable to Restricted
Subsidiaries, the Company could incur additional Secured Funded Debt (without
securing the Debt Securities equally and ratably) in compliance with the
Indenture and no Default or Event of Default would exist. The Company must at
all times ensure that MFS is a wholly-owned Restricted Subsidiary. (Section
1010)
Restrictions on Secured Funded Debt. The Company may not, and may not
permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, issue, assume, guarantee, incur, create or
otherwise become liable in respect of any Secured Funded Debt, unless the Debt
Securities are secured equally and ratably with (or prior to) such Secured
Funded Debt, except (i) Secured Funded Debt of a Restricted Subsidiary
outstanding at the date of the Indenture (there was no such Secured Funded Debt
outstanding as of June 28, 1996), (ii) Secured Funded Debt of a Restricted
Subsidiary payable to the Company or to a Restricted Subsidiary, (iii) Secured
Funded Debt of any corporation or other entity outstanding at the time such
corporation or other entity became a Restricted Subsidiary (and not incurred in
contemplation thereof), (iv) Secured Funded Debt otherwise permitted under the
Indenture (see "Restrictions on Liens"), (v) Attributable Debt otherwise
permitted under the Indenture (see "Restrictions on Sale and Leaseback
Transactions"), (vi) Secured Funded Debt not otherwise permitted by clauses (i)
through (v) above, provided that, (1) at the time of the issuance, assumption,
guarantee, incurrence or creation thereof no Default or Event of Default is
continuing or would be created thereby and (2) after giving effect thereto and
to the application of the proceeds thereof, no Default or Event of Default shall
have occurred and be continuing and the aggregate amount of all Secured Funded
Debt does not exceed 5% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets as of the end of the
immediately preceding fiscal quarter and (vii) renewals, extensions or
refundings of Secured Funded Debt permitted by clauses (i) through (vi) above,
provided that the amount of such Secured Funded Debt is not increased unless
otherwise permitted by such clauses. (Section 1007)
"Secured Funded Debt" means Funded Debt of any Restricted Subsidiary (other
than MFS) or which is secured by a mortgage, security interest, pledge,
conditional sale or other title retention agreement or other lien upon any
assets of the Company, MFS or any other Restricted Subsidiary (other than
liabilities in connection with capital lease obligations or industrial
development bonds). (Section 101)
"Funded Debt" means Indebtedness having a final maturity of more than one
year from the date of determination thereof or which is renewable or extendible
at the option of the obligor for a period or periods more than one year from
such date of determination. (Section 101)
"Indebtedness" means all obligations of the Company, MFS or any other
Restricted Subsidiary which, in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles consistently applied, shall be classified as liabilities on the most
recently available consolidated balance sheet of the Company and the Restricted
Subsidiaries (other than liabilities for minority interests or deferred taxes),
together with the following obligations of the Company, MFS or any other
Restricted Subsidiary, determined in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles consistently applied, whether or not classified as
liabilities (other than obligations with respect to leases of real property or
interests therein that are classified as operating leases in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied): (i) indebtedness
for borrowed money and deferred payment obligations representing the unpaid
purchase price of property, assets or services; (ii) capitalized lease
obligations; (iii) guarantees and endorsements of obligations of others,
directly or indirectly, and all other repurchase agreements and indebtedness in
effect guaranteed through an agreement, contingent or otherwise, to purchase
such indebtedness, or to purchase or sell property, or to purchase or sell
services, primarily for the purpose of enabling the debtor to make payment of
the indebtedness or to assure the owner of the indebtedness against loss, or to
supply funds to or in any manner invest in the debtor, or otherwise to assure a
creditor against loss (but excluding guarantees and endorsements of notes, bills
and checks made in the ordinary course of business and of obligations of
Restricted Subsidiaries); and (iv) indebtedness secured by any mortgage, lien,
pledge, conditional sale agreement, title retention agreement, or other security
interest or encumbrance upon property owned by the Company, MFS or any other
Restricted Subsidiary, even though such indebtedness has not been assumed and
notwithstanding that the rights and remedies of the seller, lender or lessor
under such agreement in the event of default may be limited to repossession or
sale of such property. (Section 101)
"Attributable Debt" means the obligations incurred by MFS, the Company or
any Restricted Subsidiary as lessee in connection with sale and leaseback
transactions, in each case valued at the lesser of (i) the fair market value of
the property subject to such transaction or (ii) the present value (discounted
to present value in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles
consistently applied) of the obligation of the lessee for rental payments (other
than contingent rental payments and amounts required to be paid on account of
maintenance, repairs, insurance, taxes, assessments and similar charges) during
the term of such lease. (Section 101)
"Consolidated Net Tangible Assets" means the total amount of all assets of
the Company, MFS and the other Restricted Subsidiaries determined on a
consolidated basis in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles
consistently applied, less the sum (without duplication) of (i) the amount, if
any, at which intangible assets (including goodwill, trade names, trademarks,
patents, organization expenses and other similar intangibles) and unamortized
debt discount and expense appear on a consolidated balance sheet, (ii) any
write-up of tangible assets after the date of the Indenture, (iii) all
investments, loans or advances made by the Company, MFS or any other Restricted
Subsidiary in or to any Unrestricted Subsidiary (valued at the book value
thereof) and (iv) all liabilities other than minority interests, deferred taxes
and the aggregate amount of Funded Debt of the Company, MFS and the other
Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis (eliminating intercompany
items). (Section 101)
Restrictions on Liens. The Company may not, and may not permit any
Restricted Subsidiary to, create or incur, or suffer to be incurred or to exist,
any mortgage, pledge, security interest, lien, encumbrance or charge of any kind
on its or such Restricted Subsidiary's property or assets, whether now owned or
hereafter acquired, or upon any income or profits therefrom, or transfer any
property for the purpose of subjecting the same to the payment of obligations in
priority to the payment of its or any Restricted Subsidiary's general creditors,
or acquire or agree to acquire any property or assets upon conditional sale
agreements or other title retention devices, except (i) liens securing
Indebtedness existing on the date of the Indenture (the principal amount of such
Indebtedness outstanding on June 28, 1996 was $4,052,402), (ii) liens securing
Indebtedness incurred to finance the purchase, construction or other acquisition
of assets after the date of the Indenture, provided that (A) any such lien shall
attach only to such asset and (B) at the time of acquisition of such asset, the
amount remaining unpaid on the Indebtedness secured by such lien shall not
exceed 100% of the lesser of the total purchase price or fair market value of
such asset, (iii) liens for property taxes and assessments or governmental
charges or levies, and liens securing claims or demands of mechanics, suppliers,
carriers, landlords and other like Persons, provided that payment thereof is
being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and adequate reserves
have been set aside with respect thereto, (iv) liens incurred or deposits made
in the ordinary course of business (A) in connection with worker's compensation,
unemployment insurance, social security and other like laws or (B) to secure the
performance of letters of credit, bids, tenders, sales contracts, leases,
statutory obligations, surety, appeal and performance bonds and other similar
obligations, in each case not incurred in connection with the borrowing of
money, the obtaining of advances or the payment of the deferred purchase price
of property, (v) attachment, judgment and other similar liens arising in
connection with court proceedings, provided that execution and other enforcement
are effectively stayed and all claims which the liens secure are being contested
in good faith by appropriate proceedings, (vi) liens securing Indebtedness of a
Restricted Subsidiary to the Company or to a Restricted Subsidiary, (vii) liens
on real property, interests therein or related fixtures and equipment subject to
leases that are classified as operating leases in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles consistently applied, (viii) minor reservations,
exceptions, encroachments, easements, rights-of-way, covenants, conditions,
restrictions and other minor title exceptions and (ix) liens securing
Indebtedness incurred after the date of the Indenture and not otherwise
permitted by clauses (i) through (viii) above, provided that, (1) at the time of
the issuance, assumption, guarantee, incurrence or creation thereof no Default
or Event of Default is continuing or would be created thereby, and (2) after
giving effect thereto and to the application of the proceeds thereof, the
aggregate amount of all such Indebtedness does not exceed 10% of Consolidated
Net Tangible Assets as of the end of the immediately preceding fiscal quarter.
(Section 1008)
The Company, MFS or any other Restricted Subsidiary may subject any of its
properties to any lien or encumbrance otherwise prohibited by the foregoing
paragraph provided that, concurrently with the imposition of any such lien, the
Debt Securities are secured equally and ratably with all other obligations
secured thereby (as evidenced by an opinion of counsel). (Section 1008)
Restrictions on Sale and Leaseback Transactions. The Company may not, and
may not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, sell any property and then lease
back that property or similar property under a lease that (i) is entered into
more than 365 days after the later of the date of acquisition of such property
by the Company, MFS or any other Restricted Subsidiary or the date of completion
and occupancy by the Company, MFS or any other Restricted Subsidiary of
improvements constructed on such property and (ii) has a term of more than three
years, or is renewable or extendible for a total term of more than three years,
unless, after giving effect to such transaction and to the application of the
proceeds thereof, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing and the aggregate amount of all Attributable Debt does not exceed 10%
of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets as of the end of the immediately preceding
fiscal quarter.
(Section 1009)
Restrictions on Mergers, Consolidations, Conveyances and Transfers. The
Company may not, and may not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, merge or
consolidate with or into any other Person or convey, transfer or lease its
properties or assets substantially as an entirety to any other Person, except
(i) any Restricted Subsidiary may merge or consolidate with or into the Company
or any wholly-owned Restricted Subsidiary so long as, in any merger or
consolidation involving the Company, the Company is the surviving or continuing
corporation, (ii) any wholly-owned Restricted Subsidiary formed solely to
facilitate transfers of properties or assets accounted for as sales under
generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied may convey or
transfer such properties or assets substantially as an entirety to any other
Person and (iii) the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary may merge or
consolidate with or into any other Person or convey, transfer or lease its
properties or assets substantially as an entirety to any other Person if (A) the
Person into which the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary is merged or the
Person formed by such consolidation, or the Person that acquires by conveyance
or transfer, or that leases, the properties or assets of the Company or such
Restricted Subsidiary substantially as an entirety, is organized and validly
existing under the laws of the United States and expressly assumes, by written
instrument, all of the obligations of the Company or MFS, as the case may be,
under the Indenture, (B) at the time of such transaction and after giving effect
thereto, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing
and (C) certain other conditions are met. (Article VIII)
Events of Default
An Event of Default with respect to the Debt Securities of any series is
defined in the Indenture as being: (i) default for 30 days in payment of any
interest with respect to any Debt Security of such series; (ii) default in
payment of principal or any premium with respect to any Debt Security of such
series when due upon maturity, redemption or otherwise; (iii) default in making
any sinking fund payment or payment under any analogous provision when due with
respect to any Debt Security of such series; (iv) default by MFS in the
performance, or breach, of any other covenant or warranty in the Indenture
(other than a covenant or warranty included therein solely for the benefit of
series of Debt Securities other than that series) or any Debt Security of such
series which shall not have been remedied for a period of 60 days after notice
to MFS by the Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal
amount of the Debt Securities of such series then outstanding; (v) certain
events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the Company or MFS; (vi)
any acceleration of the maturity of any Indebtedness of the Company, MFS or any
other Restricted Subsidiary for borrowed money in an aggregate principal amount
exceeding $20,000,000, or a failure to pay such Indebtedness at its stated
maturity; provided, that an Event of Default shall not be deemed to occur with
respect to the acceleration of the maturity of any such Indebtedness if the
event that caused such acceleration shall be cured or such acceleration shall be
rescinded within 10 days, or (vii) any other Event of Default established for
the Debt Securities of such series. No Event of Default with respect to any
particular series of Debt Securities necessarily constitutes an Event of Default
with respect to any other series of Debt Securities. The Indenture provides that
the Trustee thereunder may withhold notice to the holders of the Debt Securities
of any series of the occurrence of a default with respect to the Debt Securities
of such series (except a default in payment of principal, premium, if any,
interest, if any, or sinking fund payments, if any) if the Trustee considers it
in the interest of the holders to do so.
The Indenture provides that if an Event of Default with respect to any
series of Debt Securities issued thereunder shall have occurred and be
continuing, either the Trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal
amount of the Debt Securities of such series then outstanding may declare the
principal amount (or if any Debt Securities of such series are Original Issue
Discount Securities, such lesser amount as may be specified in the terms
thereof) of all the Debt Securities of such series to be due and payable
immediately; provided that in the case of certain events of bankruptcy,
insolvency or reorganization, such principal amount (or portion thereof) shall
automatically become due and payable. However, at any time after an acceleration
with respect to the Debt Securities of any series has occurred, but before a
judgment or decree based on such acceleration has been obtained, the holders of
a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Debt Securities of such series
may, under certain circumstances, rescind and annul such acceleration (Section
502). For information as to waiver of defaults, see "Description of Debt
Securities -- Modification, Waiver and Meetings." Reference is made to the
Prospectus Supplement relating to each series of Debt Securities which are
Original Issue Discount Securities or Indexed Securities for the particular
provisions relating to acceleration of the Maturity of a portion of the
principal amount of such Original Issue Discount Securities or Indexed
Securities upon the occurrence of an Event of Default and the continuation
thereof.
Subject to the provisions of Trust Indenture Act of 1939 requiring the
Trustee, during an Event of Default under the Indenture, to act with the
requisite standard of care, a Trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of
its rights or powers under the Indenture at the request or direction of any of
the holders of Debt Securities of any series unless such holders have offered
such Trustee reasonable indemnity. Subject to the foregoing, holders of a
majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Debt Securities of any
series shall have the right, subject to certain limitations, to direct the time,
method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the
Trustee under the Indenture with respect to such series. The Indenture requires
the annual filing by the Company and MFS with the Trustee of a certificate as to
whether or not the Company or MFS is in default under the terms of the
Indenture.
No holder of a Debt Security of any series will have any right to institute
any proceeding with respect to the Indenture, or for the appointment of a
receiver or a trustee, or for any other remedy thereunder, unless (i) such
holder has previously given to the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event
of Default with respect to the Debt Securities of that series, (ii) the holders
of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Debt Securities
of that series have made written request, and such holder or holders have
offered reasonable indemnity, to such Trustee to institute such proceeding as
trustee and (iii) such Trustee has failed to institute such proceeding, and has
not received from the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
outstanding Debt Securities of that series a direction inconsistent with such
request, within 60 days after such notice, request and offer (Section 507).
However, such limitations do not apply to a suit instituted by a holder of a
Debt Security for the enforcement of payment of the principal of or any premium
or interest on such Debt Security on or after the applicable due date specified
in such Debt Security (Section 508).
The Company and MFS each will be required to furnish to the Trustee
annually a statement by certain of its officers as to whether or not, to their
knowledge, it is in default in the performance or observance of any of the
terms, provisions and conditions of the Indenture and, if so, specifying all
such known defaults (Section 1005).
Modification, Waivers and Meetings
The Indenture contains provisions permitting the Company or MFS and the
Trustee thereunder, with the consent of the holders of a majority in principal
amount of the outstanding Debt Securities of each series and affected by a
modification or amendment, to modify or amend any of the provisions of the
Indenture or of the Debt Securities of such series or the rights of the holders
of the Debt Securities of such series under the Indenture, provided that no such
modification or amendment shall, among other things, (i) change the stated
maturity of the principal of, or premium, if any, or any installment of
interest, if any, on any Debt Securities or reduce the principal amount thereof
or any premium thereon, or reduce the rate of interest thereon, or reduce the
amount of principal of any Original Issue Discount Securities that would be due
and payable upon an acceleration of the maturity thereof, or adversely affect
any right of repayment at the option of any holder, or change any place where,
or the Currency in which, any Debt Securities issued under the Indenture are
payable, or impair the holder's right to institute suit to enforce the payment
of any such Debt Securities, or make any change that adversely affects the
right, if any, to convert or exchange such Debt Securities for other securities
in accordance with their terms or (ii) reduce the aforesaid percentage of Debt
Securities of any series, the consent of the holders of which is required for
any such modification or amendment or the consent of whose holders is required
for any waiver (of compliance with certain provisions of the Indenture or
certain defaults thereunder and their consequences) or reduce the requirements
for a quorum or voting at a meeting of holders of such Debt Securities. The
Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Company, MFS, and the Trustee,
without the consent of the holders of any Debt Securities issued thereunder, to
modify or amend the Indenture in order to, among other things, (a) add to the
Events of Default or the covenants of the Company or MFS for the benefit of the
holders of all or any series of Debt Securities; (b) to add or change any
provisions of the Indenture to facilitate the issuance of Bearer Securities; (c)
to establish the form or terms of Debt Securities of any series and any related
coupons; (d) to cure any ambiguity or correct or supplement any provision
therein which may be inconsistent with other provisions therein, or to make any
other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under the
Indenture which shall not adversely affect the interests of the holders of any
series of Debt Securities in any material respect; or (e) to amend or supplement
any provision contained in the Indenture, provided that such amendment or
supplement does not apply to any outstanding Debt Securities issued prior to the
date of such amendment or supplement and entitled to the benefits of such
provision.
The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding
Debt Securities of any series may waive, insofar as that series is concerned,
compliance by the Company or MFS with certain restrictive provisions of the
Indenture. The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
outstanding Debt Securities of any series may, on behalf of all holders of Debt
Securities of that series, waive any past default under the Indenture with
respect to Debt Securities of that series and its consequences, except a default
in the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest, if any, on
any Debt Securities of such series or in respect of a covenant or provision
which cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each
outstanding Debt Securities of such series affected.
The Indenture contains provisions for convening meetings of the holders of
Debt Securities of each series. A meeting may be called at any time by the
Trustee, and also, upon request, by MFS or the holders of at least 10% in
principal amount of the outstanding Debt Securities of such series, in any such
case upon notice given in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture.
Except for any consent which must be given by the holder of each outstanding
Debt Security affected thereby, as described above, any resolution presented at
a meeting or adjourned meeting duly reconvened at which a quorum (as described
below) is present may be adopted by the affirmative vote of the holders of a
majority in principal amount of the outstanding Debt Securities of that series;
provided, however, that any resolution with respect to any request, demand,
authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action which may be
made, given or taken by the holders of a specified percentage, which is less
than a majority, in principal amount of the outstanding Debt Securities of a
series may be adopted at a meeting or adjourned meeting duly reconvened at which
a quorum is present by the affirmative vote of the holders of such specified
percentage in principal amount of the outstanding Debt Securities of that
series. Any resolution passed or decision taken at any meeting of holders of
Debt Securities of any series duly held in accordance with the Indenture will be
binding on all holders of Debt Securities of that series and the related
coupons. The quorum at any meeting called to adopt a resolution, and at any
reconvened meeting, will be persons holding or representing a majority in
principal amount of the outstanding Debt Securities of a series, subject to
certain exceptions.
Discharge, Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance
Upon the direction of MFS, the Indenture shall cease to be of further
effect with respect to any series of Debt Securities issued thereunder specified
by MFS (subject to the survival of certain provisions thereof, including the
obligation to pay Additional Amounts to the extent described below) when (i)
either (A) all outstanding Debt Securities of such series and, in the case of
Bearer Securities, all coupons appertaining thereto, have been delivered to the
Trustee for cancellation (subject to certain exceptions) or (B) all Debt
Securities of such series have become due and payable or will become due and
payable at their stated maturity within one year or are to be called for
redemption within one year and MFS has deposited with the Trustee, in trust,
funds in U.S. dollars or in such other currency in which such Debt Securities
are payable in an amount sufficient to pay the entire indebtedness on such Debt
Securities in respect of principal (and premium, if any) and interest, if any,
(and, to the extent that (x) the Debt Securities of such series provide for the
payment of Additional Amounts upon the occurrence of certain events of taxation,
assessment or governmental charge with respect to payments on such Debt
Securities and (y) the amount of any such Additional Amounts is at the time of
deposit reasonably determinable by MFS, any such Additional Amounts) to the date
of such deposit (if such Debt Securities have become due and payable) or to the
Maturity thereof, as the case may be, (ii) MFS has paid all other sums payable
under the Indenture with respect to the Debt Securities of such series, and
(iii) certain other conditions are met. If the Debt Securities of any such
series provide for the payment of Additional Amounts, MFS will remain obligated,
following such deposit, to pay (and the Guarantee of the Company will continue
to apply to such payment of) Additional Amounts on such Debt Securities to the
extent that the amount thereof exceeds the amount deposited in respect of such
Additional Amounts as aforesaid.
Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, MFS may
elect with respect to any series of Debt Securities either (a) to defease and be
discharged from any and all obligations with respect to such Debt Securities
(except for, among other things, the obligation to pay Additional Amounts, if
any, upon the occurrence of certain events of taxation, assessment or
governmental charge with respect to payments on such Debt Securities to the
extent that the amount thereof exceeds the amount deposited in respect of such
Additional Amounts as provided below, and the obligations to register the
transfer or exchange of such Debt Securities, to replace temporary or mutilated,
destroyed, lost or stolen Debt Securities, to maintain an office or agency in
respect of such Debt Securities, to hold moneys for payment in trust, and, if
applicable, to exchange or convert such Debt Securities into other securities in
accordance with their terms) ("defeasance"), or (b) to omit to comply with its
obligations with respect to certain restrictive covenants in Section 1005
(Statement as to Compliance), Section 1010 (Waiver of Certain Covenants), and,
to the extent specified pursuant to Section 301 (Amount Unlimited; Issuable in
Series), and any other covenant applicable to such Debt Securities in the
Indenture and, if indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, its
obligations with respect to any other covenant applicable to the Debt Securities
of such series, and any omission to comply with such obligations shall not
constitute a default or an Event of Default with respect to the Debt Securities
of such series ("covenant defeasance"), in either case upon the irrevocable
deposit with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee), in trust for such
purpose, of an amount, in U.S. dollars or in such other currency in which such
Debt Securities are payable at Stated Maturity, and/or Government Obligations
(as defined in the Indenture) which through the payment of principal and
interest in accordance with their terms will provide money, in an amount
sufficient to pay the principal of and any premium and any interest on (and, to
the extent that (x) the Debt Securities of such series provide for the payment
of Additional Amounts and (y) the amount of any such Additional Amounts is at
the time of deposit reasonably determinable by MFS, any such Additional Amounts
with respect to) such Debt Securities, and any mandatory sinking fund or
analogous payments thereon, on the due dates therefor, whether upon maturity,
redemption or otherwise.
Such defeasance or covenant defeasance shall only be effective if, among
other things, (i) it shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute
a default under, the Indenture or any other material agreement to which MFS is a
party or is bound, and (ii) MFS has delivered to the Trustee an opinion of
counsel (as specified in the Indenture) to the effect that the holders of such
Debt Securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax
purposes as a result of such defeasance or covenant defeasance, as the case may
be, and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same
manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such defeasance or
covenant defeasance had not occurred. It shall also be a condition to the
effectiveness of such defeasance (but not covenant defeasance) that no Event of
Default or event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become an
Event of Default with respect to Debt Securities of such series shall have
occurred and been continuing on the date of, or during the period ending on the
91st day after the date of, such deposit into trust.
Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, if after
MFS has deposited funds and/or Government Obligations to effect defeasance or
covenant defeasance with respect to Debt Securities of any series, (a) the
holder of a Debt Security of such series is entitled to, and does, elect
pursuant to the Indenture or the terms of such Debt Security to receive payment
in a Currency other than that in which such deposit has been made in respect of
such Debt Security, or (b) a Conversion Event (as defined below) occurs in
respect of the Foreign Currency in which such deposit has been made, the
indebtedness represented by such Debt Security shall be deemed to have been, and
will be, fully discharged and satisfied through the payment of the principal of
(and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on such Debt Security as such Debt
Security becomes due out of the proceeds yielded by converting the amount so
deposited in respect of such Debt Security into the currency in which such Debt
Security becomes payable as a result of such election or such Conversion Event
based on (x) in the case of payments made pursuant to clause (a) above, the
applicable market exchange rate for such Foreign Currency in effect on the
second business day prior to such payment date, or (y) with respect to a
Conversion Event, the applicable market exchange rate for such Foreign Currency
in effect (as nearly as feasible) at the time of the Conversion Event.
"Conversion Event" means the cessation of use of (i) a Foreign Currency both by
the government of the country or the confederation which issued such Foreign
Currency and for the settlement of transactions by a central bank or other
public institutions of or within the international banking community, (ii) the
ECU both within the European Monetary System and for the settlement of
transactions by public institutions of or within the European Union or (iii) any
currency unit or composite currency other than the ECU for the purposes for
which it was established.
In the event MFS effects covenant defeasance with respect to any Debt
Securities and such Debt Securities are declared due and payable because of the
occurrence of any Event of Default other than an Event of Default with respect
to any other covenant as to which there has been covenant defeasance, the amount
of monies and/or Government Obligations deposited with the Trustee to effect
such covenant defeasance may not be sufficient to pay amounts due on such Debt
Securities at the time of any acceleration resulting from such Event of Default.
However, MFS would remain liable to make payment of such amounts due at the time
of acceleration.
The applicable Prospectus Supplement may further describe the provisions,
if any, permitting or restricting such defeasance or covenant defeasance with
respect to the Debt Securities of a particular series.
Title
The Company, MFS, the Trustee and any agent of any of them may treat the
person in whose name a registered Debt Security is registered as the absolute
owner thereof (whether or not such Debt Security may be overdue) for the purpose
of making payment and for all other purposes (Section 308).
Governing Law
The Indenture and the Debt Securities will be governed by, and construed in
accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.
Regarding the Trustee
The Trust Indenture Act of 1939 contains limitations on the rights of a
trustee, should it become a creditor of the Company or MFS, as the case may be,
to obtain payment of claims in certain cases or to realize on certain property
received by it in respect of any such claims, as security or otherwise. The
Trustee is permitted to engage in other transactions with MFS, the Company and
its other subsidiaries from time to time, provided that if such Trustee acquires
any conflicting interest it must eliminate such conflict upon the occurrence of
an Event of Default under the Indenture, or else resign. In that event, MFS
would be required to appoint a successor Trustee.
DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK
The Company has authorized 250,000,000 shares of Common Stock, par value
$2.00 per share. As of May 31, 1996, there were 48,596,271 shares of Common
Stock outstanding. The following brief description of the Common Stock does not
purport to be complete and is subject in all respects to applicable Virginia law
and to the provisions of the Company's Restated Articles of Incorporation and
its By-laws, copies of which have been filed with the Commission.
Holders of Common Stock are entitled to such dividends as may be declared
by the Board of Directors out of funds legally available therefor after payment
of dividends on any outstanding Preferred Stock and are entitled to one vote for
each share of Common Stock held by them with respect to all matters upon which
they are entitled to vote.
The Company's Restated Articles of Incorporation contain a provision that
reduces the shareholder vote required for amending the Articles of Incorporation
in certain circumstances from the two-thirds vote generally applicable to a
simple majority vote. The majority vote will be applicable except when the
effect of the amendment is (a) to reduce the shareholder vote required to
approve a merger, a statutory share exchange, a sale of all or substantially all
of the assets of the Company or the dissolution of the Company, or (b) to delete
all or any part of such provision. In addition, the vote required by other
provisions of the Restated Articles of Incorporation is necessary if such
provisions require the approval of more than a majority of the votes entitled to
be cast.
Preferred Stock
The Company has authorized 3,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, par value
$10.00 per share. As of May 31, 1996, there were no shares of Preferred Stock
outstanding. The Board of Directors of the Company, without further action by
the stockholders, is authorized to designate and issue in series Preferred Stock
and to fix as to any series the dividend rate, redemption prices, preferences on
dissolution, the terms of any sinking fund, conversion rights, voting right, and
any other preferences of special rights and qualifications. Shares of Common
Stock would be subject to the preferences, rights and powers of any such shares
of Preferred Stock as set forth in the Company's Restated Articles of
Incorporation and the resolutions establishing one or more series of Preferred
Stock. Holders of the Preferred Stock, if and when issued, will be entitled to
vote as required under applicable Virginia law. Such law includes provisions for
the voting of the Preferred Stock in the case of any amendment to the Restated
Articles of Incorporation affecting the rights of holders of the Preferred
Stock, the payment of certain stock dividends, merger or consolidation, sale of
all or substantially all of the Company's assets and dissolution. There are no
agreements or understandings for the designation of series of Preferred Stock or
the issuance of shares thereunder, except pursuant to the Shareholders' Rights
Plan discussed below.
Shareholders' Rights Plan
The following summary of certain provisions of the Company's Shareholders'
Rights Plan and the Rights Agreement dated as of February 17, 1988 between the
Company and Crestar Bank as Rights Agent, as amended by Supplements No. 1
through No. 4 dated as of September 15, 1989 (together, as amended, the "Rights
Agreement"), does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by
reference to the Rights Agreement, including the form of Rights Certificate
attached thereto, each of which has been filed with the Commission and is
incorporated by reference herein.
On February 17, 1988 the Board of Directors of the Company declared a
dividend distribution of one preferred share purchase right (a "Right") on each
outstanding share of Common Stock pursuant to a Shareholders' Rights Plan. The
Rights are exercisable only upon the attainment of, or the commencement of a
tender offer to attain, a specified ownership interest in the Company by a
person or group. When exercisable, each Right would entitle its holder to
purchase one-hundredth of a newly issued share of cumulative Participating
Preferred Stock, Series A, par value $10.00 per share (the "Series A Preferred
Stock") at an exercise price of $75, subject to adjustment. A total of 750,000
shares of Series A Preferred Stock has been reserved. Each share of Series A
Preferred Stock shall entitle the holder to 100 votes and has an aggregate
dividend rate of 100 times the amount paid to holders of the Common Stock. Upon
occurrence of certain events, each holder of a Right will become entitled to
purchase shares of Common Stock having a value of twice the Right's then current
exercise price in lieu of Series A Preferred Stock. Each share of Common Stock
offered pursuant to this Prospectus and an accompanying Prospectus Supplement
shall have one Right attached to it.
Virginia Stock Corporation Act
The Virginia Stock Corporation Act contains provisions governing
"Affiliated Transactions." These provisions, with several exceptions discussed
below, require approval of certain material transactions between a Virginia
corporation and any beneficial holder of more than 10% of any class of its
outstanding voting shares (an "Interested Shareholder") by the holders of at
least two-thirds of the remaining voting shares. Affiliated Transactions subject
to this approval requirement include mergers, share exchanges, material
dispositions of corporate assets not in the ordinary course of business, any
dissolution of the corporation proposed by or on behalf of an Interested
Shareholder, or any reclassification, including reverse stock splits,
recapitalization or merger of the corporation with its subsidiaries which
increases the percentage of voting shares owned beneficially by an Interested
Shareholder by more than 5%.
For three years following the time that an Interested Shareholder becomes
an owner of 10% of the outstanding voting shares, a Virginia corporation cannot
engage in an Affiliated Transaction with such Interested Shareholder without
approval of two-thirds of the voting shares other than those shares beneficially
owned by the Interested Shareholder, and majority approval of the "Disinterested
Directors." A Disinterested Director means, with respect to a particular
Interested Shareholder, a member of the Company's Board of Directors who was (1)
a member on the date on which an Interested Shareholder became an Interested
Shareholder and (2) recommended for election by, or was elected to fill a
vacancy and received the affirmative vote of, a majority of the Disinterested
Directors then on the Board. At the expiration of the three year period, the
statute requires approval of Affiliated Transactions by two-thirds of the voting
shares other than those beneficially owned by the Interested Shareholder.
The principal exceptions to the special voting requirement apply to
transactions proposed after the three year period has expired and require either
that the transaction be approved by a majority of the corporation's
Disinterested Directors or that the transaction satisfy the fair-price
requirements of the statute. In general, the fair-price requirements provide
that in a two-step acquisition transaction, the Interested Shareholder must pay
the shareholders in the second step either the same amount of cash or the same
amount and type of consideration paid to acquire the Virginia corporation's
shares in the first step.
None of the foregoing limitations and special voting requirements applies
to a transaction with an Interested Shareholder who has been an Interested
Shareholder since the effective date of the statute (January 26, 1988) or who
became an Interested Shareholder by gift or inheritance from such a person or
whose acquisition of shares making such person an Interested Shareholder was
approved by a majority of the Virginia corporation's Disinterested Directors.
These provisions were designed to deter certain takeovers of Virginia
corporations. In addition, the statute provides that, by affirmative vote of a
majority of the voting shares other than shares owned by any Interested
Shareholder, a corporation can adopt an amendment to its articles of
incorporation or bylaws providing that the Affiliated Transactions provisions
shall not apply to the corporation. The Company has not "opted out" of the
Affiliated Transactions provisions.
Virginia law provides that shares acquired in a transaction that would
cause the acquiring person's voting strength to meet or exceed any of three
thresholds (20%, 33-1/3% or 50%) have no voting rights unless granted by a
majority vote of shares not owned by the acquiring person or any officer or
employee-director of the Virginia corporation. This provision empowers an
acquiring person to require the Virginia corporation to hold a special meeting
of shareholders to consider the matter within 50 days of its request. The Board
of Directors of a Virginia corporation can opt out of this provision at any time
before four days after receipt of a control share acquisition notice.
Transfer Agent
The transfer agent for the Common Stock is Wachovia Bank of North Carolina,
N.A.
DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS
The Company may issue (either separately or together with other Securities)
warrants for the purchase of Common Stock (the "Warrants"). The Warrants are to
be issued under warrant agreements (each a "Warrant Agreement") to be entered
into between the Company and a bank or trust company, as warrant agent ("Warrant
Agent"), all as set forth in the Prospectus Supplement relating to the
particular issue of Warrants. The form of Warrant Agreement, including the form
of certificates representing the Warrants ("Warrant Certificates"), that will be
entered into with respect to a particular offering of Warrants will be filed as
an exhibit to or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement. The
following summary of certain provisions of the Warrant Agreement and the
Warrants and the summary of certain terms of the particular Warrant Agreement
and Warrants set forth in the applicable Prospectus Supplement do not purport to
be complete and are subject to, and are qualified in their entirety by reference
to, all the provisions of the particular Warrant Agreement and the related
Warrant Certificates, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The following description of the Warrants sets forth certain general terms
and provisions of the Warrants and the related Warrant Agreement to which any
Prospectus Supplement may relate. Certain other terms of any Warrants and the
related Warrant Agreement will be described in the applicable Prospectus
Supplement. If so indicated in the accompanying Prospectus Supplement, the terms
of the Warrants offered thereby and the related Warrant Agreement may differ
from the terms set forth below.
General
Reference is made to the applicable Prospectus Supplement for the terms of
the Warrants offered thereby, including (where applicable): (1) the title and
aggregate number of such Warrants; (2) the number of shares of Common Stock that
may be purchased upon exercise of each such Warrant; (3) the price, or the
manner of determining the price, at which such shares may be purchased upon such
exercise; (4) if other than cash, the property and manner in which the exercise
price of such Warrants may be paid; and any minimum number of such Warrants that
are exercisable at any one time; (5) the time or times at which, or period or
periods during which, such Warrants may be exercised and the expiration date of
such Warrants; (6) the terms of any right of the Company to redeem such
Warrants; (7) the terms of any right of the Company to accelerate the exercise
of such Warrants upon the occurrence of certain events; (8) whether such
Warrants will be sold with any other Securities, and the date, if any, on and
after which such Warrants and any such other Securities will be separately
transferable; (9) whether Warrants will be issued in registered or bearer form;
(10) a discussion of certain Federal income tax, accounting and other special
considerations, procedures and limitations relating to such Warrants; and (11)
any other terms of such Warrants.
Warrant Certificates may be surrendered for transfer or exchange for new
Warrant Certificates of authorized denominations at any office or agency of the
relevant Warrant Agent maintained for such purpose, subject to the terms of the
related Warrant Agreement. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable
Prospectus Supplement, Warrant Certificates will be issued in denominations
evidencing any whole number of Warrants. No service charge will be made for any
permitted transfer or exchange of Warrant Certificates, but the Company or the
Warrant Agent may require payment of any tax or other governmental charge
payable in connection therewith.
Exercise of Warrants
Each Warrant will entitle the holder to purchase such number of shares of
Common Stock at such exercise price as shall in each case be set forth in, or be
determinable from, the Prospectus Supplement relating to such Warrants, by
payment of such exercise price in the Currency and in the manner specified in
the Prospectus Supplement. Warrants may be exercised at any time up to the date
and time specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement for the expiration
thereof. After the specified expiration time on the specified date of
expiration, unexercised Warrants will become void.
Upon receipt at an office or agency indicated in the applicable Prospectus
Supplement of (i) payment of the exercise price and (ii) the Warrant Certificate
properly completed and duly executed, the Company will, as soon as practicable,
issue and deliver the shares of Common Stock purchasable upon such exercise.
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, fractional
shares of Common Stock will not be issued upon the exercise of Warrants and, in
lieu thereof, the Company will make a cash payment in an amount determined as
provided in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. If less than all of the
Warrants represented by such Warrant Certificate are exercised, a new Warrant
Certificate will be issued for the remaining number of Warrants. The holder of a
Warrant will be required to pay any tax or other governmental charge that may be
imposed in connection with any transfer involved in the issuance of Common Stock
purchased upon such exercise.
Modifications
Any Warrant Agreement and the terms of the related Warrants may be modified
or amended by the Company and the applicable Warrant Agent, without the consent
of any holder of the related Warrants, for the purpose of curing any ambiguity,
or of curing, correcting or supplementing any defective or inconsistent
provision contained therein, or in any other manner that the Company deems
necessary or desirable and that will not materially and adversely affect the
interests of the holders of the related Warrants.
The Company and the applicable Warrant Agent may also modify or amend the
applicable Warrant Agreement and the terms of the related Warrants with the
consent of the holders of not less than a majority in number of the then
outstanding unexercised Warrants affected thereby; provided that no such
modification or amendment that accelerates the expiration date, increases the
exercise price, or reduces the number of outstanding Warrants the consent of
whose holders is required for any such amendment or modification, may be made
without the consent of each holder affected thereby.
No Rights as Holders
Holders of Warrants for the purchase of shares of Common Stock are not
entitled, by virtue of being such holders, to vote, consent or receive notice as
stockholders of the Company in respect of any meeting of stockholders for the
election of directors of the Company or any other matter, or to exercise any
other rights whatsoever as stockholders of the Company, or to receive any
dividends or distributions, if any, on the Common Stock.
UNITED STATES TAXATION
The following summary of the principal United States federal income tax
consequences of ownership of Debt Securities is based upon the opinion of
McGuire, Woods, Battle & Boothe, L.L.P., special tax counsel to the Company and
MFS. It deals only with Debt Securities held as capital assets, and not with
special classes of holders, such as dealers in securities or currencies, banks,
tax-exempt organizations, life insurance companies, persons that hold Debt
Securities that are part of a hedge or that are hedged against currency risks or
that are part of a straddle or conversion transaction, or persons whose
functional currency is not the U.S. dollar. It also does not deal with Holders
other than original purchasers who purchase Debt Securities at the original
offering price and thus does not deal with the "market discount rules."
Moreover, the summary deals only with Debt Securities that are due to mature not
later than 30 years from the date on which they are issued. The United States
federal income tax consequences of ownership of Debt Securities that are due to
mature more than 30 years from their date of issue will be discussed in an
applicable Prospectus Supplement. The summary is based on the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), its legislative history, existing and
proposed regulations thereunder, judicial decisions, and published rulings and
other administrative guidance issued by the Internal Revenue Service (the
"Service"), as currently in effect, all of which are subject to change at any
time, possibly with retroactive effect. Additionally, the discussions below
under "Original Issue Discount -- Debt Securities Subject to Contingencies
Including Optional Redemption" and "Original Issue Discount -Variable Debt
Securities" take into account Treasury Regulations that were issued as final
regulations on June 11, 1996 and that will apply to Debt Securities issued on or
after August 13, 1996.
Prospective purchasers of Debt Securities should consult their own tax
advisors concerning the consequences of ownership of Debt Securities, in their
particular circumstances, under the Code and the applicable laws of any State,
local or foreign taxing jurisdiction.
The federal income tax consequences of ownership of other Securities,
including Common Stock and Warrants, will be discussed in an applicable
Prospectus Supplement.
United States Holders
Payments of Interest
Except as provided below under "Original Issue Discount", interest on a
Debt Security (including "qualified stated interest" on a "Discount Debt
Security", as defined below) will be taxable to a United States Holder as
ordinary income at the time it is received or accrued, depending on the holder's
method of accounting for tax purposes. A United States Holder is a beneficial
owner who or that is (i) a citizen or resident of the United States, (ii) a
domestic corporation or (iii) otherwise subject to United States federal income
taxation on a net income basis in respect of the Debt Security.
If an interest payment is denominated in, or determined by reference to, a
currency, composite currency or basket of currencies other than the U.S. dollars
(a "foreign currency"), the amount of income recognized by a cash basis United
States Holder will be the U.S. dollar value of the interest payment, based on
the exchange rate in effect on the date of receipt, regardless of whether the
payment is in fact converted into U.S. dollars.
An accrual basis United States Holder may determine the amount of income
recognized with respect to an interest payment denominated in, or determined by
reference to, a foreign currency in accordance with either of two methods. Under
the first method, the amount of income accrued will be based on the average
exchange rate in effect during the interest accrual period (or, with respect to
an accrual period that spans two taxable years, the part of the period within
the taxable year).
Under the second method, the United States Holder may elect to determine
the amount of income accrued on the basis of the exchange rate in effect on the
last day of the accrual period or, in the case of an accrual period that spans
two taxable years, the exchange rate in effect on the last day of the part of
the period within the taxable year. Additionally, if a payment of interest is
actually received within five business days of the last day of the accrual
period or taxable year, an electing accrual basis United States Holder may
instead translate such accrued interest into U.S. dollars at the exchange rate
in effect on the day of actual receipt. Any such election must apply to all debt
instruments held by the United States Holder at the beginning of the first
taxable year to which the election applies or thereafter acquired by the United
States Holder, and may not be revoked without the consent of the Service.
Upon receipt of an interest payment (including a payment attributable to
accrued but unpaid interest upon the sale or retirement of a Debt Security)
denominated in, or determined by reference to, a foreign currency, the accrual
basis United States Holder will recognize ordinary income or loss measured by
the difference between (x) the average exchange rate used to accrue the interest
income represented by such payment, or the exchange rate as determined under the
second method described above if the United States Holder elects that method,
and (y) the exchange rate in effect on the date of receipt, regardless of
whether the payment is in fact converted into U.S. dollars.
Original Issue Discount
General. A Debt Security with a maturity of more than one year from the
date of issue will be treated as issued at an original issue discount (a
"Discount Debt Security") if its "stated redemption price at maturity" exceeds
its issue price by more than a "de minimis amount" (as defined below).
Generally, the issue price of a Debt Security will be the first price at which a
substantial amount of Debt Securities included in the issue of which the Debt
Security is a part are sold to persons other than bond houses, brokers, or
similar persons or organizations acting in the capacity of underwriters,
placement agents, or wholesalers. The stated redemption price at maturity of a
Debt Security is the total of all payments provided by the Debt Security that
are not payments of "qualified stated interest." A qualified stated interest
payment generally is any one of a series of stated interest payments on a Debt
Security that are unconditionally payable at least annually at a single fixed
rate (with certain exceptions for lower rates paid during some periods) applied
to the outstanding principal amount of the Debt Security. Special rules for
determining qualified stated interest payable on certain Debt Securities bearing
interest at a variable rate are described below under "Original Issue Discount -
- - Variable Rate Debt Securities".
In general, if a Debt Security's stated redemption price at maturity
exceeds its issue price by less than an amount equal to 1/4 of 1 percent of the
Debt Security's stated redemption price at maturity multiplied by the number of
complete years to its maturity (the "de minimis amount"), then such excess, if
any, constitutes "de minimis original issue discount" and the Debt Security is
not a Discount Debt Security. Unless the election described below under
"Election to Treat All Interest as Original Issue Discount" is made, a United
States Holder of a Debt Security with de minimis original issue discount must
include such de minimis original issue discount in income as stated principal
payments on the Debt Security are made. The includible amount with respect to
each such payment will equal the total amount of the Debt Security's de minimis
original issue discount multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the
amount of the principal payment made and the denominator of which is the stated
principal amount of the Debt Security.
United States Holders of Discount Debt Securities having a maturity of more
than one year from their date of issue must, generally, include in computing
their taxable income original issue discount ("OID") calculated on a
constant-yield method before the receipt of cash attributable to such income,
and generally will have to include in income increasingly greater amounts of OID
over the life of the Debt Security. The amount of OID includible in income by a
United States Holder of a Discount Debt Security is the sum of the daily
portions of OID with respect to the Discount Debt Security for each day during
the taxable year or portion of the taxable year on which the United States
Holder holds such Discount Debt Security ("accrued OID"). The daily portion is
determined by allocating to each day in any "accrual period" a pro rata portion
of the OID allocable to that accrual period. Accrual periods with respect to a
Debt Security may be of any length selected by the United States Holder and may
vary in length over the term of the Debt Security as long as (i) no accrual
period is longer than one year and (ii) each scheduled payment of interest or
principal on the Debt Security occurs on either the final or first day of an
accrual period. The amount of OID allocable to an accrual period equals the
excess of (a) the product of the Discount Debt Security's adjusted issue price
at the beginning of the accrual period and such Debt Security's yield to
maturity (determined on the basis of compounding at the close of each accrual
period and properly adjusted for the length of the accrual period) over (b) the
sum of the payments of qualified stated interest on the Debt Security allocable
to the accrual period. The "adjusted issue price" of a Discount Debt Security at
the beginning of any accrual period is the issue price of the Debt Security
increased by (x) the amount of accrued OID for y made on the Debt Security that
were not qualified stated interest payments. For purposes of determining the
amount of OID allocable to an accrual period, if an interval between payments of
qualified stated interest on the Debt Security contains more than one accrual
period, the amount of qualified stated interest payable at the end of the
interval (including any qualified stated interest that is payable on the first
day of the accrual period immediately following the interval) is allocated pro
rata on the basis of relative lengths of each accrual period in the interval,
and the adjusted issue price at the beginning of each accrual period in the
interval must be increased by the amount of any qualified stated interest that
has accrued prior to the first day of the accrual period but that is not payable
until the end of the interval. The amount of OID allocable to an initial short
accrual period may be computed using any reasonable method if all other accrual
periods other than a final short accrual period are of equal length. The amount
of OID allocable to the final accrual period is the difference between (x) the
amount payable at the maturity of the Debt Security (other than any payment of
qualified stated interest) and (y) the Debt Security's adjusted issue price as
of the beginning of the final accrual period.
Acquisition Premium. A United States Holder that purchases a Debt Security
for an amount less than or equal to the sum of all amounts payable on the Debt
Security after the purchase date (other than payments of qualified stated
interest) but in excess of its adjusted issue price (any such excess being
"acquisition premium") and that does not make the election described below under
"Election to Treat All Interest as Original Issue Discount" is permitted to
reduce the daily portions of OID by a fraction, the numerator of which is the
excess of the United States Holder's adjusted basis in the Debt Security
immediately after its purchase over the adjusted issue price of the Debt
Security, and the denominator of which is the excess of the sum of all amounts
payable on the Debt Security after the purchase date, other than payments of
qualified stated interest, over the Debt Security's adjusted issue price.
Pre-Issuance Accrued Interest. If (i) a portion of the initial purchase
price of a Debt Security is attributable to pre-issuance accrued interest, (ii)
the first stated interest payment on the Debt Security is to be made within one
year of the Debt Security's issue date and (iii) the payment will equal or
exceed the amount of pre-issuance accrued interest, then the United States
Holder may elect to decrease the issue price of the Debt Security by the amount
of pre-issuance accrued interest. In that event, a portion of the first stated
interest payment will be treated as a return of the excluded pre-issuance
accrued interest and not as an amount payable on the Debt Security.
Debt Securities Subject to Contingencies Including Optional Redemption. In
the case of Debt Securities issued on or after August 13, 1996, in general, if a
Debt Security provides for an alternative payment schedule or schedules
applicable upon the occurrence of a contingency or contingencies (other than a
remote or incidental contingency) and the timing and amounts of the payments
that comprise each payment schedule are known as of the issue date, special
rules apply for purposes of determining the yield and maturity of the Debt
Security. If, based on all the facts and circumstances as of the issue date, a
single payment schedule, including the stated payment schedule, is significantly
more likely than not to occur, then, in general, the yield and maturity of the
Debt Security are computed based on that payment schedule.
If there is no single payment schedule that is significantly more likely
than not to occur (other than because of a mandatory sinking fund), the amount
of interest taken into account for each accrual period would be determined by
constructing a projected payment schedule for the Debt Security and applying
rules similar to those for accruing OID on a noncontingent debt instrument. This
method is applied by first determining the yield at which MFS would issue a
fixed rate debt instrument with terms and conditions similar to the contingent
payment Debt Security (the comparable yield) and then determining a payment
schedule as of the issue date that would produce the comparable yield.
Notwithstanding the general rules for determining yield and maturity in the
case of Debt Securities subject to contingencies, if MFS or the Holder has an
unconditional option or options that, if exercised, would require payments to be
made on the Debt Security under an alternative payment schedule or schedules,
then (i) in the case of an option or options of MFS, MFS will be deemed to
exercise or not exercise an option or combination of options in the manner that
minimizes the yield on the Debt Security and (ii) in the case of an option or
options of the Holder, the Holder will be deemed to exercise or not exercise an
option or combination of options in the manner that maximizes the yield on the
Debt Security. If both MFS and the Holder have options described in the
preceding sentence, those rules apply to such options in the order in which they
may be exercised. For purposes of those calculations, the yield on the Debt
Security is determined by using any date on which the Debt Security may be
redeemed or repurchased as the maturity date and the amount payable on such date
in accordance with the terms of the Debt Security as the principal amount
payable at maturity.
If a contingency (including the exercise of an option) fails to occur, or
actually occurs but in a manner inconsistent with the assumption made according
to the above rules (a "change in circumstances") then, except to the extent that
a portion of the Debt Security is repaid as a result of the change in
circumstances and solely for purposes of the accrual of OID, the yield and
maturity of the Debt Security are redetermined by treating the Debt Security as
having been retired and reissued on the date of the change in circumstances for
an amount equal to the Debt Security's adjusted issue price on that date.
The federal income tax treatment of Debt Securities providing for
alternative payment schedules applicable upon the occurrence of one or more
contingencies will be described in greater detail in the applicable Prospectus
Supplement.
Election to Treat All Interest as Original Issue Discount. A United States
Holder may elect to include in gross income all interest that accrues on a Debt
Security using the constant-yield method described above under the heading
"Original Issue Discount -- General", with the modifications described below.
For purposes of this election, interest includes stated interest, OID, de
minimis original issue discount, market discount, de minimis market discount and
unstated interest, as adjusted by any amortizable bond premium (described below
under "Debt Securities Purchased at a Premium") or acquisition premium.
In applying the constant-yield method to a Debt Security with respect to
which this election has been made, the issue price of the Debt Security will
equal the electing United States Holder's adjusted basis in the Debt Security
immediately after its acquisition, the issue date of the Debt Security will be
the date of its acquisition by the electing United States Holder, and no
payments on the Debt Security will be treated as payments of qualified stated
interest. This election will generally apply only to the Debt Security with
respect to which it is made and may not be revoked without the consent of the
Service. If this election is made with respect to a Debt Security with
amortizable bond premium, then the electing United States Holder will be deemed
to have elected to apply amortizable bond premium against interest with respect
to all debt instruments with amortizable bond premium (other than debt
instruments the interest on which is excludible from gross income) held by the
electing United States Holder as of the beginning of the taxable year in which
the Debt Security with respect to which the election is made is acquired or
thereafter acquired. The deemed election with respect to amortizable bond
premium may not be revoked without the consent of the Service.
Variable Rate Debt Securities. A "Variable Rate Debt Security" is a Debt
Security that: (i) has an issue price that does not exceed the total
noncontingent principal payments by more than the lesser of (1) .015 multiplied
by the product of (x) the total noncontingent principal payments and (y) the
number of complete years to maturity from the issue date, or (2) 15 percent of
the total noncontingent principal payments; (ii) does not provide for any stated
interest other than stated interest compounded or paid at least annually at (1)
one or more "qualified floating rates", (2) a single fixed rate and one or more
qualified floating rates, (3) a single "objective rate" or (4) a single fixed
rate and a single objective rate that is a "qualified inverse floating rate";
(iii) provides that a qualified floating rate or objective rate in effect at any
time during the term of the instrument must be set at a "current value" of that
rate (i.e., the value of the rate on any day that is no earlier than 3 months
prior to the first day on which that value is in effect and no later than 1 year
following that first day); and (iv) does not provide for any contingent
principal payments other than as provided in clause (i) of this sentence.
In the case of Debt Securities issued on or after August 13, 1996, a
variable rate is a "qualified floating rate" if (i) variations in the value of
the rate can reasonably be expected to measure contemporaneous variations in the
cost of newly borrowed funds in the currency in which the Debt Security is
denominated or (ii) it is equal to the product of a qualified floating rate
described in clause (i) and either (a) a fixed multiple that is greater than .65
but not more than 1.35, or (b) a fixed multiple greater than .65 but not more
than 1.35, increased or decreased by a fixed rate. A rate is not a qualified
floating rate, however, if the rate is subject to certain restrictions
(including caps, floors, governors or other similar restrictions) unless such
restrictions are fixed throughout the term of the Debt Security or are not
reasonably expected to significantly affect the yield on the Debt Security.
In the case of Debt Securities issued on or after August 13, 1996, an
"objective rate" is a rate, other than a qualified floating rate, that is
determined using a single, fixed formula and that is based on objective
financial or economic information, including one or more qualified floating
rates or the yield or changes in the price of one or more actively traded items
of personal property other than stock or debt of the issuer or a related party.
A variable rate is not an objective rate, however, if it is based on information
within the control of the issuer or a related party or is unique to the
circumstances of the issuer or a related party, or if it is reasonably expected
that the average value of the rate during the first half of the Debt Security's
term will be either significantly less than or significantly greater than the
average value of the rate during the final half of the Debt Security's term. An
objective rate is a "qualified inverse floating rate" if (i) the rate is equal
to a fixed rate minus a qualified floating rate, and (ii) the variations in the
rate can reasonably be expected to inversely reflect contemporaneous variations
in the cost of the qualified floating rate.
In general, if a Variable Rate Debt Security provides for stated interest
at a single qualified floating rate or objective rate, all stated interest on
the Debt Security is qualified stated interest and the amount of OID, if any, is
determined by using, in the case of a qualified floating rate or qualified
inverse floating rate, a fixed rate equal to the value as of the issue date of
the qualified floating rate or qualified inverse floating rate, or, in the case
of any other objective rate, a fixed rate that reflects the yield reasonably
expected for the Debt Security.
If a Variable Rate Debt Security does not provide for stated interest at a
single qualified floating rate or objective rate or at a fixed rate (other than
at a single fixed rate for an initial period), the amount of interest and OID
accruals on the Debt Security are generally determined by (i) determining a
fixed rate substitute for each variable rate provided under the Variable Rate
Debt Security (generally, the value of each variable rate as of the issue date
or, in the case of an objective rate that is not a qualified inverse floating
rate, a rate that reflects the reasonably expected yield on the note), (ii)
constructing the equivalent fixed rate debt instrument (using the fixed rate
substitute described above), (iii) determining the amount of qualified stated
interest and OID with respect to the equivalent fixed rate debt instrument, and
(iv) making the appropriate adjustments for actual variable rates during the
applicable accrual period.
If a Variable Rate Debt Security provides for stated interest either at one
or more qualified floating rates or at a qualified inverse floating rate, and in
addition provides for stated interest at a single fixed rate (other than at a
single fixed rate for an initial period), the amount of interest and OID
accruals are determined as in the immediately preceding paragraph with the
modification that the Variable Rate Debt Security is treated, for purposes of
the first three steps of the determination, as if it provided for a qualified
floating rate (or a qualified inverse floating rate, as the case may be) rather
than the fixed rate. The qualified floating rate (or qualified inverse floating
rate) replacing the fixed rate must be such that the fair market value of the
Variable Rate Debt Security as of the issue date would be approximately the same
as the fair market value of an otherwise identical debt instrument that provides
for the qualified floating rate (or qualified inverse floating rate) rather than
the fixed rate.
The federal income tax treatment of any Debt Security that provides for
payments of stated interest at a variable rate, but does not meet the foregoing
requirements of a Variable Rate Debt Security, will be described in the
applicable Prospectus Supplement.
Short-Term Debt Securities. In general, an individual or other cash basis
United States Holder of a Debt Security with a term of one year or less (a
"short-term Debt Security") is not required to accrue OID (as specially defined
below for the purposes of this paragraph) for United States federal income tax
purposes unless it elects to do so (but may be required to include any stated
interest in income as the interest is received). Accrual basis United States
Holders and certain other United States Holders, including banks, regulated
investment companies, dealers in securities, common trust funds, United States
Holders who hold Debt Securities as part of certain identified hedging
transactions, certain pass-through entities and cash basis United States Holders
who so elect, are required to accrue OID on short-term Debt Securities on either
a straight-line basis or under the constant-yield method (based on daily
compounding), at the election of the United States Holder.
In the case of a United States Holder not required and not electing to
include OID in income currently, any gain realized on the sale or retirement of
the short-term Debt Security will be ordinary income to the extent of the OID
accrued on a straight-line basis (unless an election is made to accrue the OID
under the constant-yield method) through the date of sale or retirement. United
States Holders who are not required and do not elect to accrue OID on short-term
Debt Securities will be required to defer deductions for interest on borrowings
allocable to short-term Debt Securities in an amount not exceeding the deferred
income until the deferred income is realized.
For purposes of determining the amount of OID subject to these rules, all
interest payments on a short-term Debt Security, including stated interest, are
included in the short- term Debt Security's stated redemption price at maturity.
Foreign Currency Discount Debt Securities. OID for any accrual period on a
Discount Debt Security that is denominated in, or determined by reference to, a
foreign currency will be determined in the foreign currency and then translated
into U.S. dollars in the same manner as stated interest accrued by an accrual
basis United States Holder, as described under "Payments of Interest". Upon
receipt of an amount attributable to OID (whether in connection with a payment
of interest or the sale or retirement of a Debt Security), a United States
Holder may recognize ordinary income or loss.
Debt Securities Purchased at a Premium
A United States Holder that purchases a Debt Security for an amount in
excess of its principal amount may elect to treat such excess as "amortizable
bond premium", in which case the amount required to be included in the United
States Holder's income each year with respect to interest on the Debt Security
will be reduced by the amount of amortizable bond premium allocable (based on
the Debt Security's yield to maturity) to such year. In the case of a Debt
Security that is denominated in, or determined by reference to, a foreign
currency, bond premium will be computed in units of foreign currency, and
amortizable bond premium will reduce interest income in units of the foreign
currency. At the time amortized bond premium offsets interest income, exchange
gain or loss (taxable as ordinary income or loss) is realized measured by the
difference between exchange rates at that time and at the time of the
acquisition of the Debt Securities. Any election to amortize bond premium shall
apply to all bonds (other than bonds the interest on which is excludible from
gross income) held by the United States Holder at the beginning of the first
taxable year to which the election applies or thereafter acquired by the United
States Holder, and is irrevocable without the consent of the Service. See also
"Original Issue Discount - Election to Treat All Interest as Original Issue
Discount."
Purchase, Sale and Retirement of the Debt Securities
A United States Holder's tax basis in a Debt Security will generally be its
U.S. dollar cost (as defined below), increased by the amount of any OID or
market discount included in the United States Holder's income with respect to
the Debt Security and the amount, if any, of income attributable to de minimis
original issue discount and de minimis market discount included in the United
States Holder's income with respect to the Debt Security, and reduced by (i) the
amount of any payments that are not qualified stated interest payments, and (ii)
the amount of any amortizable bond premium applied to reduce interest on the
Debt Security. The U.S. dollar cost of a Debt Security purchased with a foreign
currency will generally be the U.S. dollar value of the purchase price on the
date of purchase or, in the case of Debt Securities traded on an established
securities market, as defined in the applicable Treasury Regulations, that are
purchased by a cash basis United States Holder (or an accrual basis United
States Holder that so elects), on the settlement date for the purchase.
A United States Holder will generally recognize gain or loss on the sale or
retirement of a Debt Security equal to the difference between the amount
realized on the sale or retirement and its tax basis in the Debt Security. The
amount realized on a sale or retirement for an amount in foreign currency will
be the U.S. dollar value of such amount on (i) the date payment is received in
the case of a cash basis United States Holder, (ii) the date of disposition in
the case of an accrual basis United States Holder or (iii) in the case of Debt
Securities traded on an established securities market, as defined in the
applicable Treasury Regulations, sold by a cash basis United States Holder (or
an accrual basis United States Holder that so elects), on the settlement date
for the sale. Except to the extent described above under "Original Issue
Discount - Short-Term Debt Securities" or described in the next succeeding
paragraph or attributable to accrued but unpaid interest, gain or loss
recognized on the sale or retirement of a Debt Security will be capital gain or
loss and will be long-term capital gain or loss if the Debt Security was held
for more than one year.
Gain or loss recognized by a United States Holder on the sale or retirement
of a Debt Security that is attributable to changes in exchange rates will be
treated as ordinary income or loss. However, exchange gain or loss is taken into
account only to the extent of total gain or loss realized on the transaction.
Exchange of Amounts in Other Than U.S. Dollars
Foreign currency received as interest on a Debt Security or on the sale or
retirement of a Debt Security will have a tax basis equal to its U.S. dollar
value at the time such interest is received or at the time of such sale or
retirement. Foreign currency that is purchased will generally have a tax basis
equal to the U.S. dollar value of the foreign currency on the date of purchase.
Any gain or loss recognized on a sale or other disposition of a foreign currency
(including its use to purchase Debt Securities or upon exchange for U.S.
dollars) will be ordinary income or loss.
Indexed Debt Securities
The applicable Prospectus Supplement will contain a discussion of any
special United States federal income tax rules with respect to Indexed
Securities (other than Debt Securities subject to the rules governing Variable
Rate Debt Securities).
United States Alien Holders
For purposes of this discussion, a "United States Alien Holder" is any
holder of a Debt Security who is (i) a nonresident alien individual or (ii) a
foreign corporation, partnership or estate or trust, in each case not subject to
United States federal income tax on a net income basis in respect of income or
gain from a Debt Security. This discussion assumes that the Debt Security or
coupon is not subject to the rules of Section 871(h) (4) (A) of the Code
(relating to interest payments that are determined by reference to the income,
profits, changes in the value of property or other attributes of the debtor or a
related party). In addition, solely with respect to United States federal estate
tax, the discussion assumes that the Debt Security had a maturity date, when
issued, that was not less than 184 days from the date of issuance.
Under present United States federal income and estate tax law, and subject
to the discussion of backup withholding below:
(1) payments of principal, premium (if any) and interest, including OID, by
MFS or any of its paying agents to any holder of a Debt Security or coupon that
is a United States Alien Holder will not be subject to United States federal
withholding tax if, in the case of interest or OID, (i) the beneficial owner of
the Debt Security or coupon does not actually or constructively own 10% or more
of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of MFS entitled to
vote, (ii) the beneficial owner of the Debt Security is not a controlled foreign
corporation that is related to MFS through stock ownership, and (iii) if the
Debt Security is a Registered Security, either (a) the beneficial owner of the
Debt Security certifies to MFS or its agent, under penalties of perjury, that it
is not a United States Holder and provides its name and address or (b) a
securities clearing organization, bank or other financial institution that holds
customers' securities in the ordinary course of its trade or business (a
"financial institution") and holds the Debt Security on behalf of a beneficial
owner certifies to MFS or its agent, under penalties of perjury, that such
statement has been received from the beneficial owner by it or by a financial
institution between it and the beneficial owner and furnishes the payor with a
copy thereof; and (iv) in the case of a Debt Security which is not a Registered
Security, the Debt Security is offered, sold and delivered in compliance with
applicable restrictions relating to issuance of debt obligations which are not
in registered form and payments on the Debt Securities are made in accordance
with the applicable procedures relating to the issuance of debt obligations
which are not in registered form (both of which restrictions and procedures will
be described in the applicable Prospectus Supplement);
(2) a United States Alien Holder of a Debt Security or coupon will not be
subject to United States federal withholding tax on any gain realized on the
sale or exchange of a Debt Security or coupon; and
(3) a Debt Security or coupon held by an individual who at death is not a
citizen or resident of the United States will not be includible in the
individual's gross estate for purposes of the United States federal estate tax
as a result of the individual's death if (a) the individual did not actually or
constructively own 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes
of stock of MFS entitled to vote and (b) the income on the Debt Security would
not have been effectively connected with a United States trade or business of
the individual at the individual's death.
Recently proposed Internal Revenue Service Treasury regulations (the
"Proposed Regulations") would provide alternative methods for satisfying the
certification requirement described in clause (1)(iii) above. The Proposed
Regulations also would require in the case of Debt Securities held by a foreign
partnership, that (x) the certification described in clause (1)(iii) above be
provided by the partners rather than by the foreign partnership and (y) the
partnership provide certain information, including a United States taxpayer
identification number. A look-through rule would apply in the case of tiered
partnerships. The Proposed Regulations are proposed to be effective for payments
made after December 31, 1997. There can be no assurance that the Proposed
Regulations will be adopted or as to the provisions that they will include if
and when adopted in temporary or final form.
Backup Withholding and Information Reporting
United States Holders. In general, information reporting requirements will
apply to payments of principal, any premium and interest on a Debt Security and
the proceeds of the sale of a Debt Security before maturity within the United
States to, and to the accrual of OID on a Discount Debt Security with respect
to, non-corporate United States Holders, and "backup withholding" at a rate of
31% will apply to such payments and to payments of OID if the United States
Holder fails to provide an accurate taxpayer identification number or to report
all interest and dividends required to be shown on its federal income tax
returns.
United States Alien Holders. Under current law, information reporting and
backup withholding will not apply to payments of principal, premium (if any) and
interest (including OID) made by the Company or a paying agent to a United
States Alien Holder on a Debt Security if, in the case of Debt Securities which
are Registered Securities, either of the certifications described in clause (1)
(iii) under 'United States Alien Holders' above is received, provided that the
payor does not have actual knowledge that the holder is a United States person.
The Company or a paying agent, however, may report (on Internal Revenue Service
Form 1042S) payments of interest (including OID) on Debt Securities that are
Registered Securities. See the discussion above with respect to the Proposed
Regulations.
Payments of the proceeds from the sale by a United States Alien Holder of a
Debt Security made to or through a foreign office of a broker will not be
subject to information reporting or backup withholding, except that if the
broker is a United States person, a controlled foreign corporation for United
States tax purposes or a foreign person 50% or more of whose gross income is
effectively connected with a United States trade or business for a specified
three-year period, information reporting may apply to such payments. Payments of
the proceeds from the sale of a Debt Security to or through the United States
office of a broker is subject to information reporting and backup withholding
unless the holder or beneficial owner certifies as to its non-United States
status or otherwise establishes an exemption from information reporting and
backup withholding.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
The Company or MFS may sell Securities to or through underwriters, and also
may sell Securities directly to other purchasers or through agents.
The distribution of the Securities may be effected from time to time in one
or more transactions at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, or at
market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to such
prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices.
Sales of Common Stock offered hereby may be effected from time to time in
one or more transactions on the NYSE or in negotiated transactions or a
combination of such methods of sale, at market prices prevailing at the time of
sale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or at other negotiated
prices. In connection with distributions of Common Stock or otherwise, the
Company may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers in connection
with which such broker-dealers may sell Common Stock registered hereunder in the
course of hedging through short sales the positions they assume with the
Company.
In connection with the sale of Securities, underwriters or agents may
receive compensation from the Company or MFS or from purchasers of Securities
for whom they may act as agents in the form of discounts, concessions or
commissions. Underwriters may sell Securities to or through dealers, and such
dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or
commissions from the underwriters and/or commissions from the purchasers for
whom they may act as agents. Underwriters, dealers and agents that participate
in the distribution of Securities may be deemed to be underwriters, and any
discounts or commissions received by them from the Company or MFS and any profit
on the resale of Securities by them may be deemed to be underwriting discounts
and commissions, under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Act"). Any such
underwriter or agent will be identified, and any such compensation received from
the Company or MFS will be described, in the Prospectus Supplement.
Under agreements which may be entered into by the Company and, in the case
of Debt Securities, MFS, underwriters and agents who participate in the
distribution of Securities may be entitled to indemnification by the Company
and, in the case of Debt Securities, MFS against certain liabilities, including
liabilities under the Act.
Certain of the underwriters or agents and their associates may be customers
of, engage in transactions with and perform services for the Company or MFS in
the ordinary course of business.
VALIDITY OF SECURITIES
The validity of the Securities to which this Prospectus relates will be
passed upon for the Company and, in the case of Debt Securities, MFS by McGuire,
Woods, Battle & Boothe, L.L.P., Richmond, Virginia, which serves as general
counsel to the Company. As of June 27, 1996, partners and associates of McGuire,
Woods, Battle & Boothe, L.L.P., who performed services in connection with the
offering made by this Prospectus, owned of record and beneficially 2574 shares
of Common Stock. Robert L. Burrus, Jr., a director of the Company, is a partner
of that firm. The validity of the Securities offered hereby will be passed upon
for any relevant Underwriters by Sullivan & Cromwell, New York, New York, who
will rely upon the opinion of McGuire, Woods, Battle & Boothe, L.L.P. with
respect to matters of Virginia law.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements and the related financial statement
schedule incorporated in this Prospectus by reference from Heilig-Meyers
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended February 29, 1996, have
been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent auditors, as stated in their
report which is incorporated herein by reference, and has been so incorporated
in reliance upon the report of such firm given their authority as experts in
accounting and auditing.
<PAGE>
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution
SEC registration fee..........................................$137,932
Accountants' fees and expenses................................$ 35,000
Attorneys' fees and expenses..................................$100,000
Printing and engraving expenses...............................$ 15,000
Fees and expenses of trustee..................................$ 10,000
State qualification fees and expenses.........................$ 23,500
Rating agencies' fees.........................................$150,000
Miscellaneous.................................................$ 3,568
Total....................................................$475,000
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All fees and expenses other than the SEC registration fee are estimated.
Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers
Article V of the Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company provides:
1. Definitions. For purposes of this Article the following definitions
shall apply:
(a) "Corporation" means this Corporation only and no predecessor
entity or other legal entity;
(b) "expenses" include counsel fees, expert witness fees, and costs of
investigation, litigation and appeal, as well as any amounts expended in
asserting a claim for indemnification;
(c) "liability" means the obligation to pay a judgment, settlement,
penalty, fine, or other such obligation, including, without limitation, any
excise tax assessed with respect to an employee benefit plan;
(d) "legal entity" means a corporation, partnership, joint venture,
trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise;
(e) "predecessor entity" means a legal entity the existence of which
ceased upon its acquisition by the Corporation in a merger or otherwise; and
(f) "proceeding" means any threatened, pending, or completed action,
suit, proceeding or appeal whether civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative and whether formal or informal.
2. Limit On Liability. In every instance permitted by the Virginia Stock
Corporation Act, as it exists on the date hereof or may hereafter be amended,
the liability of a director or officer of the Corporation to the Corporation or
its shareholders arising out of a single transaction, occurrence or course of
conduct shall be eliminated.
3. Indemnification of Directors and Officers. The Corporation shall
indemnify any individual who is, was or is threatened to be made a party to a
proceeding (including a proceeding by or in the right of the Corporation)
because such individual is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or
because such individual is or was serving the Corporation or any other legal
entity in any capacity at the request of the Corporation while a director or
officer of the Corporation against all liabilities and reasonable expenses
incurred in the proceeding, except such liabilities and expenses as are incurred
because of such individual's willful misconduct or knowing violation of the
criminal law. Service as a director or officer of a legal entity controlled by
the Corporation shall be deemed service at the request of the Corporation. The
determination that indemnification under this Section 3 is permissible and the
evaluation as to the reasonableness of expenses in a specific case shall be
made, in the case of a director, as provided by law, and in the case of an
officer, as provided in Section 4 of this Article; provided, however, that if a
majority of the directors of the Corporation has changed after the date of the
alleged conduct giving rise to a claim for indemnification, such determination
and evaluation shall, at the option of the person claiming indemnification, be
made by special legal counsel agreed upon by the Board of Directors and such
person. Unless a determination has been made that indemnification is not
permissible, the Corporation shall make advances and reimbursements for expenses
incurred by a director or officer in a proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking
from such director or officer to repay the same if it is ultimately determined
that such director or officer is not entitled to indemnification. Such
undertaking shall be an unlimited, unsecured general obligation of the director
or officer and shall be accepted without reference to such director's or
officer's ability to make repayment. The termination of a proceeding by
judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or
its equivalent shall not of itself create a presumption that a director or
officer acted in such a manner as to make such director or officer ineligible
for indemnification. The Corporation is authorized to contract in advance to
indemnify and make advances and reimbursements for expenses to any of its
directors or officers to the same extent provided in this Section.
4. Indemnification of Others. The Corporation may, to a lesser extent or to
the same extent that it is required to provide indemnification and make advances
and reimbursements for expenses to its directors and officers pursuant to
Section 3, provide indemnification and make advances and reimbursements for
expenses to its employees and agents, the directors, officers, employees and
agents of its subsidiaries and predecessor entities, and any person serving any
other legal entity in any capacity at the request of the Corporation, and may
contract in advance to do so. The determination that indemnification under this
Section 4 is permissible, the authorization of such indemnification and the
evaluation as to the reasonableness of expenses in a specific case shall be made
as authorized from time to time by general or specific action of the Board of
Directors, which action may be taken before or after a claim for indemnification
is made, or as otherwise provided by law. No person's rights under Section 3 of
this Article shall be limited by the provisions of this Section 4.
5. Miscellaneous. The rights of each person entitled to indemnification
under this Article shall inure to the benefit of such person's heirs, executors
and administrators. Special legal counsel selected to make determinations under
this Article may be counsel for the Corporation. Indemnification pursuant to
this Article shall not be exclusive of any other right of indemnification to
which any person may be entitled, including indemnification pursuant to a valid
contract, indemnification by legal entities other than the Corporation and
indemnification under policies of insurance purchased and maintained by the
Corporation or others. However, no person shall be entitled to indemnification
by the Corporation to the extent such person is indemnified by another,
including an insurer. The Corporation is authorized to purchase and maintain
insurance against any liability it may have under this Article or to protect any
of the persons named above against any liability arising from their service to
the Corporation or any other legal entity at the request of the Corporation
regardless of the Corporation's power to indemnify against such liability. The
provisions of this Article shall not be deemed to preclude the Corporation from
entering into contracts otherwise permitted by law with any individuals or legal
entities, including those named above. If any provision of this Article or its
application to any person or circumstance is held invalid by a court of
competent jurisdiction, the invalidity shall not affect other provisions or
applications of this Article, and to this end the provisions of this Article are
severable.
6. Application; Amendments. The provisions of this Article shall be
applicable from and after its adoption even though some or all of the underlying
conduct or events relating to a proceeding may have occurred before its
adoption. No amendment, modification or repeal of this Article shall diminish
the right provided hereunder to any person arising from conduct or events
occurring before the adoption of such amendment, modification or repeal.
The Ninth Article of the Certificate of Incorporation of MFS provides:
NINTH: This Corporation shall, to the maximum extent permitted from time to
time under the law of the State of Delaware, indemnify and upon request shall
advance expenses to any person who is or was a party or is threatened to be made
a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, proceeding or
claim, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of
the fact that such person is or was or has agreed to be a director or officer of
this corporation or while a director or officer is or was serving at the request
of this corporation as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee or agent
of any corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise,
including service with respect to employee benefit plans, against expenses
(including attorney's fees and expenses), judgment, fines, penalties and amounts
paid in settlement incurred in connection with the investigation, preparation to
defend or defense of such action, suit, proceeding or claim; provided, however,
that the foregoing shall not require this corporation to indemnify or advance
expenses to any person in connection with any action, suit, proceeding, claim or
counterclaims initiated by or on behalf of such person. Such indemnification
shall not be exclusive of other indemnification rights arising under any by-law,
agreement, vote of directors or stockholders or otherwise and shall inure to the
benefit of the heirs and legal representatives of such person. Any person
seeking indemnification under this Ninth Paragraph shall be deemed to have met
the standard of conduct required for such indemnification unless the contrary
shall be established. Any repeal or modification of the foregoing provisions of
this Ninth Paragraph shall not adversely effect any right or protection of a
director or officer of this corporation with respect to any acts or omissions of
such director or officer occurring prior to such repeal or modification.
The Company and MFS maintain liability insurance which may provide
indemnification, including indemnification against liabilities under the
Securities Act of 1933, to the officers and directors of the Company and MFS in
certain circumstances.
In the Underwriting Agreements, forms of which are filed as Exhibit 1.1 and
1.2 hereto, the Underwriters will agree to indemnify, under certain conditions,
the Company and MFS, their directors, certain of their officers and persons who
control the Company and MFS within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the "Securities Act") against certain liabilities.
Item 16. Exhibits
1.1 Proposed form of Underwriting Agreement for Common Stock.
1.2 Proposed form of Underwriting Agreement for Debt Securities.
4.1 Proposed form of Indenture among the Company, MFS and First Union National
Bank of Virginia, as Trustee, including proposed form of Debt Securities
and Guarantees.
4.2 Company's Restated Articles of Incorporation, filed with the Commission as
Exhibit 3a to Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended February 28, 1990, are expressly incorporated herein by this
reference.
4.3 Articles of Amendment to Company's Restated Articles of Incorporation,
filed with the Commission as Exhibit 4 to Company's Form 8 (Amendment No. 5
to Form 8-A filed April 26, 1983) filed August 6, 1992, are expressly
incorporated herein by this reference.
4.4 Articles of Amendment to Company's Restated Articles of Incorporation,
filed with the Commission as Exhibit 3(c) to Company's Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 28, 1993, are expressly
incorporated herein by this reference.
4.5 Articles of Amendment to Company's Restated Articles of Incorporation,
filed with the Commission as Exhibit 3(d) to Company's Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 28, 1995, are expressly
incorporated herein by this reference.
4.6 Company's By-laws, as amended.
4.7 Certificate of Incorporation of MFS as in effect since December 21, 1989.
4.8 By-laws of MFS as in effect since February 27, 1990.
4.9 Rights Agreement dated as of February 17, 1988 (the "Rights Agreement")
between Company and Crestar Bank, filed with the Commission as Exhibit (2)
to Company's Registration Statement on Form 8-A dated February 19, 1988, is
expressly incorporated herein by this reference.
4.10Supplements Nos. 1-4 dated September 15, 1989 to Rights Agreement filed
with the Commission as Exhibits 2(a)-(d) to Form 8 filed with the
Commission on September 20, 1989, are expressly incorporated herein by this
reference.
5.1 Opinion and consent of McGuire, Woods, Battle & Boothe, L.L.P. as to the
validity of the Securities.
8.1 Opinion and consent of McGuire, Woods, Battle & Boothe, L.L.P. as to
certain tax matters.
12.1 Computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges.
23.1 Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.
23.2 Consents of McGuire, Woods, Battle & Boothe, L.L.P. (included as part of
Exhibits 5.1 and 8.1).
25.1 Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility and Qualification under the Trust
Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of First Union National Bank of
Virginia.
Item 17. Undertakings
1. The undersigned registrants hereby undertake:
(a) 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 the registration statement (or the most recent
post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate,
represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the
registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or
decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of
securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any
deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range
may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission
pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act of 1933 if, in the
aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20%
change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the
"Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the effective registration
statement.
(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of
distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any
material change to such information in the registration statement;
provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(i) and (a)(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 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in
the registration statement.
(b) 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 offered therein, and the offering of such
securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering
thereof.
(c) 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.
2. The undersigned registrants hereby undertake that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the
registrants' annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange
Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual
report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by
reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration
statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such
securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering
thereof.
3. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the
registrant pursuant to the provisions described under Item 15 above, or
otherwise, the registrant 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 registrant of expenses
incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant
in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public
policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final
adjudication of such issue.
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the Company certifies
that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements
for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City
of Richmond and Commonwealth of Virginia, on July 8, 1996.
HEILIG-MEYERS COMPANY
By: /s/ William C. DeRusha
---------------------------
William C. DeRusha
Chairman of the Board
Principal Executive Officer
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement
has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the date
indicated.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Signature Title Date
<S> <C>
/s/ William C. DeRusha Chairman of the Board; July 8, 1996
- ----------------------------- Principal Executive
William C. DeRusha Officer; Director
/s/ Troy A. Peery, Jr. President; Director July 8, 1996
- -------------------------------
Troy A. Peery, Jr.
/s/ Joseph R. Jenkins Executive Vice July 8, 1996
- --------------------------------- President; Principal
Joseph R. Jenkins Financial Officer
/s/ William J. Dieter Senior Vice President, July 8, 1996
- --------------------------------- Accounting; Principal
William J. Dieter Accounting Officer
/s/ Hyman Meyers Director July 8, 1996
- -----------------------------
Hyman Meyers
/s/ S. Sidney Meyers Director July 8, 1996
- -----------------------------
S. Sidney Meyers
/s/ Nathaniel Krumbein Director July 8, 1996
- -----------------------------
Nathaniel Krumbein
/s/ Alexander Alexander Director July 8, 1996
- -----------------------------
Alexander Alexander
/s/ Robert L. Burrus, Jr. Director July 8, 1996
- -----------------------------
Robert L. Burrus, Jr.
/s/ Benjamin F. Edwards, III Director July 8, 1996
- -----------------------------
Benjamin F. Edwards, III
/s/ Alan G. Fleischer Director July 8, 1996
- -----------------------------
Alan G. Fleischer
/s/ Lawrence N. Smith Director July 8, 1996
- -----------------------------
Lawrence N. Smith
/s/George A. Thornton, III Director July 8, 1996
- -----------------------------
George A. Thornton, III
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, MFS certifies that it has
reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing
on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the County of New
Castle and State of Delaware, on June 28, 1996.
MACSAVER FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
By: s/Joseph R. Jenkins
--------------------------
Joseph R. Jenkins
President
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement
has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the date
indicated.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Signature Title Date
<S> <C>
/s/ Joseph R. Jenkins President and Principal June 28, 1996
- -------------------------------- Executive Officer; Director
Joseph R. Jenkins
/s/ Roy B. Goodman Vice President and Principal June 28, 1996
- ----------------------------- Financial Officer; Director
Roy B. Goodman
/s/ William J. Dieter Director June 28, 1996
- -----------------------------
William J. Dieter
/s/ William E. Helms Director June 28, 1996
- -----------------------------
William E. Helms
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit
No. Description
1.1 Proposed form of Underwriting Agreement for Common Stock.
1.2 Proposed form of Underwriting Agreement for Debt Securities.
4.1 Proposed form of Indenture among the Company, MFS and First Union
National Bank of Virginia, as Trustee, including
proposed form of Debt Securities and Guarantees.
4.6 Company's By-laws, as amended.
4.7 Certificate of Incorporation of MFS as in effect since December 21, 1989.
4.8 By-laws of MFS as in effect since February 27, 1990.
5.1 Opinion and consent of McGuire, Woods, Battle & Boothe, L.L.P. as to the
validity of the Securities.
8.1 Opinion and consent of McGuire, Woods, Battle & Boothe, L.L.P. as to
certain tax matters.
12.1 Computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges.
23.1 Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.
23.2 Consents of McGuire, Woods, Battle & Boothe, L.L.P. (included as part of
Exhibits 5.1 and 8.1).
25.1 Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility and Qualification under the Trust
Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of First Union National Bank of
Virginia.
Draft of June 27, 1996
Heilig-Meyers Company
Common Stock
Underwriting Agreement
______________, 199_
To the Representatives of the several Underwriters named in the respective
Pricing Agreements hereinafter described.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
From time to time Heilig-Meyers Company, a Virginia corporation (the
"Company"), proposes 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, to 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 shares of its Common Stock, $2.00 par value per share
(the "Shares") specified in Schedule II to such Pricing Agreement (with respect
to such Pricing Agreement, the "Firm Shares"). If specified in such Pricing
Agreement, the Company may grant to the Underwriters the right to purchase at
their election an additional number of shares, specified in such Pricing
Agreement as provided in Section 3 hereof (the "Optional Shares"). The Firm
Shares and the Optional Shares, if any, which the Underwriters elect to purchase
pursuant to Section 3 hereof are herein collectively called the "Designated
Shares".
The terms and rights of any particular issuance of Designated Shares
shall be as specified in the Pricing Agreement relating thereto.
1. Particular sales of Designated Shares may be made from time to time
to the Underwriters of such Shares, for whom the firms designated as
representatives of the Underwriters of such Shares 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 the Company to sell any of the Shares or as an obligation of
any of the Underwriters to purchase any of the Shares. The obligation of the
Company to issue and sell any of the Shares and the obligation of any of the
Underwriters to purchase any of the Shares shall be evidenced by the Pricing
Agreement with respect to the Designated Shares specified therein. Each Pricing
Agreement shall specify the aggregate number of the Firm Shares, the maximum
number of Optional Shares, if any,
<PAGE>
the initial public offering price of such Firm and Optional Shares or the manner
of determining such price, the purchase price to the Underwriters of such
Designated Shares, the names of the Underwriters of such Designated Shares, the
names of the Representatives of such Underwriters, the number of such Designated
Shares 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 Shares, 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 Shares. 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 obligations of the
Underwriters under this Agreement and each Pricing Agreement shall be several
and not joint.
2. The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, each
of the Underwriters that:
(a) A registration statement on Form S-3 (File No 33-.... )
(the "Initial Registration Statement") in respect of the Shares 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 have 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 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 all exhibits thereto
and the documents incorporated by reference in the prospectus contained
in the Initial Registration Statement at the time such part of the
Initial Registration Statement became effective or such part of the
Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, if any, became or hereafter becomes
effective, 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 Shares, 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; any reference to any amendment to the
Registration Statement shall be deemed to refer to and include any
annual report of 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 Shares 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 Company by an Underwriter of
Designated Shares through the Representatives expressly for use in the
Prospectus as amended or supplemented relating to such Shares;
(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 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 Company by an Underwriter of
Designated Shares through the Representatives expressly for use in the
Prospectus as amended or supplemented relating to such Shares;
(d) Neither the Company nor any of its 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 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;
(e) The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly
existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the
Commonwealth of Virginia, with power and authority (corporate and
other) to own its properties and conduct its business as described in
the Prospectus and has been duly qualified as a foreign corporation for
the transaction of business and is in good standing under the laws of
each other jurisdiction in which it owns or leases properties, or
conducts any business, so as to require such qualification, or is
subject to no material liability or disability by reason of failure to
be so qualified in any such jurisdiction; and each subsidiary of the
Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a
corporation in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of
incorporation and has been duly qualified as a foreign corporation for
the transaction of business and is in good standing under the laws of
each other jurisdiction in which it owns or leases properties, or
conducts any business, so as to require such qualification, or is
subject to no material liability or disability by reason of failure to
be so qualified in any such jurisdiction;
(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 and conform to the description of the Stock
contained in the Prospectus; and all of the issued shares of capital
stock of each subsidiary of the Company have been duly and validly
authorized and issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and (except
for directors' qualifying shares) are owned directly or indirectly by
the Company, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities or
claims;
(g) The Shares have been duly and validly authorized, and,
when the Firm Shares are issued and delivered pursuant to this
Agreement and the Pricing Agreement with respect to such Designated
Shares and, in the case of any Optional Shares, pursuant to
Over-allotment Options (as defined in Section 3 hereof) with respect to
such Shares, such Designated Shares will be duly and validly issued and
fully paid and non-assessable; the Shares conform to the description
thereof contained in the Registration Statement and the Designated
Shares will conform to the description thereof contained in the
Prospectus as amended or supplemented with respect to such Designated
Shares;
(h) The issue and sale of the Shares and the compliance by the
Company with all of the provisions of this Agreement, any Pricing
Agreement and each Over-allotment Option, if any, 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 is a party or by which the Company is bound or to which any
of the property or assets of the Company is subject, nor will such
action result in any violation of the provisions of the Articles of
Incorporation or By-laws of the Company 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 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 and sale of the Shares or the consummation by the Company of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Pricing Agreement or
any Over-allotment Option, 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 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 Shares by the Underwriters;
(i) 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 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; and, to the best of
the Company's knowledge, no such proceedings are threatened or
contemplated by governmental authorities or threatened by others;
(j) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in
violation of its Articles of Incorporation or By-laws 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 to which
it is a party or by which it or any of its properties may be bound;
(k) The statements set forth in the Prospectus as amended or
supplemented under the caption "Description of Common Stock", insofar
as they purport to constitute a summary of the terms of the Company's
common stock (including the Shareholders Rights Plan and preferred
stock issuable pursuant thereto), under the caption "United States
Taxation", and under the captions "Plan of Distribution" and
"Underwriting", insofar as they purport to describe the provisions of
the laws and documents referred to therein, are accurate, complete and
fair;
(l) The Company is not and, after giving effect to the
offering and sale of the Shares, will not 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");
(m) Neither the Company nor any of its affiliates does
business with the government of Cuba or with
any person or affiliate located in Cuba within the meaning of the U.S.
Treasury Department's Cuban Assets Control Regulations, the Cuban
Liberty and Democratic Solidarity ("LIBERTAD") Act of 1996 or Section
517.075, Florida Statutes; and
(n) Deloite & 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.
3. Upon the execution of the Pricing Agreement applicable to any
Designated Shares and authorization by the Representatives of the release of the
Firm Shares, the several Underwriters propose to offer the Firm Shares for sale
upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Prospectus as amended or
supplemented.
The Company may specify in the Pricing Agreement applicable to any
Designated Shares that the Company thereby grants to the Underwriters the right
(an "Overallotment Option") to purchase at their election up to the number of
Optional Shares 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 Shares. Any such election to purchase Optional Shares may be
exercised by written notice from the Representatives to the Company, given
within a period specified in the Pricing Agreement, setting forth the aggregate
number of Optional Shares to be purchased and the date on which such Optional
Shares 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 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 Shares to be added to the number of Firm Shares
to be purchased by each Underwriter as set forth in Schedule I to the Pricing
Agreement applicable to such Designated Shares shall be, in each case, the
number of Optional Shares which the Company has been advised by the
Representatives have been attributed to such Underwriter; provided that, if the
Company has not been so advised, the number of Optional Shares to be so added
shall be, in each case, that proportion of Optional Shares which the number of
Firm Shares to be purchased by such Underwriter under such Pricing Agreement
bears to the aggregate number of Firm Shares (rounded as the Representatives may
determine to the nearest 100 shares). The total number of Designated Shares to
be purchased by all the Underwriters pursuant to such Pricing Agreement shall be
the aggregate number of Firm Shares set forth in Schedule I to such Pricing
Agreement plus the aggregate number of Optional Shares which the Underwriters
elect to purchase.
4. Certificates for the Firm Shares and the Optional Shares to be
purchased by each Underwriter pursuant to the Pricing Agreement relating
thereto, in the form 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 Company, shall be delivered
by or on behalf of the Company 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 or certified or official bank check or
checks, payable to the order of the Company in the funds specified in such
Pricing Agreement, (i) with respect to the Firm Shares, 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 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 Shares, 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 Shares,
or at such other time and date as the Representatives 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 Company agrees with each of the Underwriters of any
Designated Shares:
(a) To prepare the Prospectus as amended and supplemented in
relation to the applicable Designated Shares 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 applicable Designated Shares 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 Shares and prior to any Time of
Delivery for such Shares which shall be disapproved by the
Representatives for such Shares promptly after reasonable notice
thereof; to advise the Representatives promptly of any such amendment
or supplement after any Time of Delivery for such Shares 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 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 such
Shares, 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 Shares, of the suspension of the
qualification of such Shares 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 Shares or suspending any such qualification,
promptly to use its best efforts to obtain the withdrawal of such
order;
(b) Promptly from time to time to take such action as the
Representatives may reasonably request to qualify such Shares 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 Shares, provided that in connection therewith the
Company shall not 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 this Agreement and from time
to time, to furnish the Underwriters with copies of the Prospectus as
amended or supplemented in New York City 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 Shares 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 or the
Exchange 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) 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 Shares and continuing to and including
the later of (i) the termination of trading restrictions for such
Designated Shares, as notified to the Company by the Representatives
and (ii) the last Time of Delivery for such Designated Shares, not to
offer, sell, contract to sell or otherwise dispose of, except as
provided hereunder, any securities of the Company that are
substantially similar to the Designated Shares, including but not
limited to any securities that are convertible into or exchangeable
for, or that represent the right to receive, Stock or any such
substantially similar securities (other than pursuant to employee stock
option plans existing on, or upon the conversion of convertible or
exchangeable securities outstanding as of, the date of the Pricing
Agreement for such Designated Shares) without the prior written consent
of the Representatives; and
(f) If the Company elects to rely upon Rule 462(b), 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 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
the Company 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 Shares 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
Blue Sky Memorandum, closing documents (including compilations thereof) and any
other documents in connection with the offering, purchase, sale and delivery of
the Shares; (iii) all expenses in connection with the qualification of the
Shares 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) and any fees charged by a securities rating services for
rating the Shares; (iv) 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 Shares; (v) the cost of preparing certificates for the Shares;
(vi) the cost and charges of any transfer agent or registrar or dividend
disbursing agent; and (vii) 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
Shares by them, and any advertising expenses connected with any offers they may
make.
7. The obligations of the Underwriters of any Designated Shares under
the Pricing Agreement relating to such Designated Shares shall be subject, in
the discretion of the Representatives, to the condition that all representations
and warranties and other statements of the Company in or incorporated by
reference in the Pricing Agreement relating to such Designated Shares are, at
and as of each Time of Delivery for such Designated Shares, true and correct,
the condition that the Company shall have performed all of its obligations
hereunder theretofore to be performed, and the following additional conditions:
(a) The Prospectus as amended or supplemented in relation to
such Designated Shares 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 Company has 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 Shares, with respect to the incorporation of the
Company, the validity of the Designated Shares being delivered at such
Time of Delivery, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, and 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 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 Shares,
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 Commonwealth of Virginia, with power and authority
(corporate and other) to own 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
(including the Designated Shares being delivered at such Time
of Delivery) have been duly and validly authorized and issued
and are fully paid and non-assessable; and the Designated
Shares conform to the description thereof 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 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; 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 Shares have been duly
authorized, executed and delivered by the Company;
(v) The issue and sale of the Designated
Shares being delivered at such Time of Delivery and the
compliance by the Company with all of the provisions of this
Agreement and the Pricing Agreement with respect to the
Designated Shares 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 is a
party or by which the Company is bound or to which any of the
property or assets of the Company is subject, nor will such
action result in any violation of the provisions of the
Articles of Incorporation or By-laws of the Company or any
statute or any order, rule or regulation known to such counsel
of any court or governmental agency or body having
jurisdiction over the Company or any of its 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 Shares being delivered at such Time of
Delivery or the consummation by the Company of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement or such Pricing
Agreement, except such as have been obtained under the 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 Shares by the Underwriters;
(vii) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries
is in violation of its Articles of Incorporation or By-laws 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 to which it is a party or by
which it or any of its properties may be bound;
(viii) The statements set forth in the Prospectus as
amended or supplemented under the caption "Description of
Common Stock", insofar as they purport to constitute a summary
of the Company's common stock (including the Shareholders
Rights Plan and preferred stock issuable pursuant thereto),
under the caption "United States Taxation", and under the
captions "Plan of Distribution" and "Underwriting", insofar as
they purport to describe the provisions of the laws and
documents referred to therein, are accurate, complete and
fair;
(ix) The Company is not an "Investment Company"
or an entity "controlled" by an "Investment Company", as such
terms are defined in the Investment Company Act;
(x) 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 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
(xi) The Registration Statement and the Prospectus as
amended or supplemented, and any further amendments and
supplements thereto made by 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 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 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 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) On the date of the Pricing Agreement for such Designated
Shares and at each Time of Delivery for such Designated Shares, 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, 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 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);
(e) (i) Neither the Company nor any of its 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 Shares 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 or decree, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the
Prospectus as amended prior to the date of the Pricing Agreement
relating to the Designated Shares, 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 Shares
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 prior to
the date of the Pricing Agreement relating to the Designated Shares,
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 Shares on the terms and in
the manner contemplated in the Prospectus as amended relating to the
Designated Shares;
(f) On or after the date of the Pricing Agreement relating to
the Designated Shares (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;
(g) On or after the date of the Pricing Agreement relating to
the Designated Shares 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 on the
New York Stock Exchange; (iii) a general moratorium on commercial
banking activities declared by either Federal or New York or Virginia
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 Shares or Optional Shares or both on the terms and
in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus as first amended or
supplemented relating to the Designated Shares;
(h) The Shares at each Time of Delivery shall have been duly
listed, subject to notice of issuance, on the New York Stock Exchange;
(i) 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 this Agreement;
and
(j) The Company shall have furnished or caused to be furnished
to the Representatives at each Time of Delivery for the Designated
Shares certificates of officers of the Company satisfactory to the
Representatives as to the accuracy of the representations and
warranties of the Company herein at and as of such Time of Delivery, as
to the performance by 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 (e) of this Section and as to such
other matters as the Representatives may reasonably request.
8. (a) The Company 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 Shares, 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 the Company shall
not 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 Shares, or any such amendment or supplement in reliance upon and in
conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter
of Designated Shares through the Representatives expressly for use in the
Prospectus as amended or supplemented relating to such Shares.
(b) Each Underwriter will indemnify and hold harmless the Company
against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the Company 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 Shares, 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 Shares, or any such
amendment or supplement in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Company by such Underwriter through the
Representatives expressly for use therein; and will reimburse the Company for
any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company 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 the indemnifying
party under such subsection, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the
commencement thereof; but the omission so to notify the 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 Company on the one hand and the Underwriters
of the Designated Shares on the other from the offering of the Designated Shares
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 Company on the one hand and the Underwriters
of the Designated Shares 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 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 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
of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact
relates to information supplied by 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 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 Shares
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 Shares in this subsection (d) to
contribute are several in proportion to their respective underwriting
obligations with respect to such Shares and not joint.
(e) The obligations of the Company under this Section 8 shall be in
addition to any liability which 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 Company and to each
person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Act.
9. (a) If any Underwriter shall default in its obligation to purchase
the Firm Shares or Optional Shares which it has agreed to purchase under the
Pricing Agreement relating to such Shares, the Representatives may in their
discretion arrange for themselves or another party or other parties to purchase
such Shares 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 Shares or Optional Shares, as the case may be, then the Company
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 Shares on such terms. In the event that, within the respective
prescribed period, the Representatives notify the Company that they have so
arranged for the purchase of such Shares, or the Company notifies the
Representatives that it has so arranged for the purchase of such Shares, the
Representatives or the Company shall have the right to postpone a Time of
Delivery for such Shares 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 Company agrees to file promptly any
amendments or supplements to the Registration 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 Shares.
(b) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the
Firm Shares or Optional Shares, as the case may be, of a defaulting Underwriter
or Underwriters by the Representatives and the Company as provided in subsection
(a) above, the aggregate number of such Shares which remains unpurchased does
not exceed one-eleventh of the aggregate number of the Firm Shares or Optional
Shares, as the case may be, to be purchased at the respective Time of Delivery,
then the Company shall have the right to require each non-defaulting Underwriter
to purchase the number of Firm Shares or Optional Shares, as the case may be,
which such Underwriter agreed to purchase under the Pricing Agreement relating
to such Designated Shares and, in addition, to require each non-defaulting
Underwriter to purchase its pro rata share (based on the number of Firm Shares
or Optional Shares, as the case may be, which such Underwriter agreed to
purchase under such Pricing Agreement) of the Firm Shares or Optional Shares, 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 Shares or Optional Shares, as the case may be, of a defaulting Underwriter
or Underwriters by the Representatives and the Company as provided in subsection
(a) above, the aggregate number of Firm Shares or Optional Shares, as the case
may be, which remains unpurchased exceeds one-eleventh of the aggregate number
of the Firm Shares or Optional Shares, as the case may be, to be purchased at
the respective Time of Delivery, as referred to in subsection (b) above, or if
the Company shall not exercise the right described in subsection (b) above to
require non-defaulting Underwriters to purchase Firm Shares or Optional Shares,
as the case may be, of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters, then the
Pricing Agreement relating to such Firm Shares or the Over-allotment Option
relating to such Optional Shares, as the case may be, shall thereupon terminate,
without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter or the Company,
except for the expenses to be borne by 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 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 Company,
or any officer or director or controlling person of the Company, and shall
survive delivery of and payment for the Shares.
11. If any Pricing Agreement or Over-allotment Option shall be
terminated pursuant to Section 9 hereof, the Company shall not then be under any
liability to any Underwriter with respect to the Firm Shares or Optional Shares
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
Shares are not delivered by or on behalf of 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
Shares, but the Company shall then be under no further liability to any
Underwriter with respect to such Designated Shares except as provided in
Sections 6 and 8 hereof.
12. In all dealings hereunder, the Representatives of the Underwriters
of Designated Shares 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 Company shall be delivered or sent by mail,
telex or facsimile transmission to the address of the Company 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 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, the Company and, to the
extent provided in Sections 8 and 10 hereof, the officers and directors of the
Company and each person who controls 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 Shares 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.
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.
<PAGE>
Very truly yours,
Heilig-Meyers Company
By:
...........................................
Name:
Title:
<PAGE>
ANNEX I
Pricing Agreement
[Names of Representatives]
As Representatives of the several
Underwriters named in Schedule I
hereto
[Address of Representatives]
________ __, 199_
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Heilig-Meyers Company, a Virginia corporation (the "Company"),
proposes, subject to the terms and conditions stated herein and in the
Underwriting Agreement, dated ________ __, 1996 (the "Underwriting Agreement"),
to issue and sell to the Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (the
"Underwriters") the Shares specified in Schedule II hereto (the "Designated
Shares" consisting of Firm Shares and any Optional Shares the Underwriters may
elect to purchase). 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 Shares which are the
subject of this Pricing Agreement. Each reference to the Representatives 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
Representatives designated to act on behalf of the Representatives and on behalf
of each of the Underwriters of the Designated Shares pursuant 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 Registration Statement, or a supplement to the
Prospectus, as the case may be, relating to the Designated Shares, 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 Company agrees
to issue and sell to each of the Underwriters, and each of the Underwriters
agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company, at the time and
place and at the purchase price to the Underwriters set forth in Schedule II
hereto, the number of Firm Shares 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 Shares, as
provided below, the Company agrees to issue and sell to each of the
Underwriters, and each of the Underwriters agrees, severally and not jointly, to
purchase from the Company at the purchase price to the Underwriters set forth in
Schedule II hereto that portion of the number of Optional Shares as to which
such election shall have been exercised.
The Company hereby grants to each of the Underwriters the right to
purchase at their election up to the number of Optional Shares 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 Shares. Any such election to purchase Optional Shares may
be exercised by written notice from the Representatives to the Company given
within a period of 30 calendar days after the date of this Pricing Agreement,
setting forth the aggregate number of Optional Shares to be purchased and the
date on which such Optional Shares 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 Company otherwise agree in writing, no
earlier than two or later than ten business days after the date of such notice.
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 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 Company for examination, upon request, but without warranty on the part of
the Representatives as to the authority of the signers thereof.
<PAGE>
Very truly yours,
Heilig-Meyers Company
By:
.......................................................
Name:
Title:
<PAGE>
Accepted as of the date hereof:
[Names of Representatives]
By:
.........................................................
Name:
Title:
On behalf of each of the Underwriters
<PAGE>
SCHEDULE I
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C>
Maximum Number
of Optional
Number of Shares Which
Firm Shares May be
Underwriter to be Purchased Purchased
[Names of Representatives]
[Names of other Underwriters]
Total
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
SCHEDULE II
Title of Designated Shares:
Number of Designated Shares:
Number of Firm Shares:
Maximum Number of Optional Shares:
Initial Offering Price to Public:
[$........ per Share] [Formula]
Purchase Price by Underwriters:
[$........ per Share] [Formula]
[Commission Payable to Underwriters:
$........ per Share in [specify same form of funds
as in Specified Funds below]
Form of Designated Shares:
Definitive form, to be made available for checking
[and packaging] at least twenty-four hours prior to
the Time of Delivery at the office of [The
Depository Trust Company or its designated
custodian] [the Representatives]
Specified Funds for Payment of Purchase Price:
Federal (same-day) funds
[Describe any blackout provisions with respect to
the Designated Shares]
Time of Delivery:
........ a.m. (New York City time),
..............., 19..
Closing Location:
Names and Addresses of Representatives:
Designated Representatives:
Address for Notices, etc.:
[Other Terms:]
<PAGE>
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 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 audited (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 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;
(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
Shares for purposes of the letter delivered at the Time of Delivery for such
Designated Shares.
Draft of June 27, 1996
MACSAVER FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
Debt Securities
unconditionally guaranteed as to the payment of principal, premium,
if any, and interest by
Heilig-Meyers Company
Underwriting Agreement
______________, 1996
To the Representatives of the
several Underwriters named in the
respective Pricing Agreements
hereinafter described.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
From time to time MacSaver Financial Services, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), and Heilig-Meyers Company, a Virginia corporation
(the AGuarantor"), 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, the Company proposes to 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 debt securities (the "Debt
Securities") specified in Schedule II to such Pricing Agreement (with respect to
such Pricing Agreement, the ADesignated Debt Securities"). Such Debt Securities,
including the Designated Debt Securities, will be unconditionally guaranteed as
to the payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest (the "Guarantees") by
the Guarantor. The Debt Securities and the Guarantees are hereinafter
collectively called the "Securities", and the Designated Debt Securities and the
Guarantees relating thereto ("Designated Guarantees") are hereinafter
collectively called the ("Designated Securities").
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 indenture (the "Indenture") identified in such Pricing
Agreement.
1. Particular sales of Designated Securities may be made from time to
time to the Underwriters of such Securities, for whom the firms designated as
representatives of the Underwriters of such 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 an Underwriter or Underwriters who act without any firm
being designated as its or their representatives. This Underwriting Agreement
shall not be construed as an obligation of the Company or the Guarantor to sell
any of the Securities or as an obligation of any of the Underwriters to purchase
the Securities. The obligation of each of the Company and the Guarantor to issue
and sell any of the Securities, on the one hand, and the obligation of any of
the Underwriters to purchase any of the Securities, on the other hand, shall be
evidenced by the Pricing Agreement with respect to the Designated Securities
specified therein. Each Pricing Agreement shall specify the aggregate principal
amount of the Designated Debt Securities comprising a part of such Designated
Securities, the initial public offering price of such Designated Securities, 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 and the principal amount of such Designated Debt Securities
to be purchased by each Underwriter and shall set forth the date, time and
manner of delivery of such Designated Securities and payment therefor. The
Pricing Agreement shall also specify (to the extent not set forth in the
Indenture and 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
obligations of the Underwriters under this Agreement and each Pricing Agreement
shall be several and not joint.
2. Each of the Company and the Guarantor, jointly and
severally, represents and warrants to, and agrees with, each of the
Underwriters that:
(a) A registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 33-....
(The "Initial Registration Statement") in respect of the Securities
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 contained therein, to the
Representatives for each of the other Underwriters, have 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 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 all exhibits thereto
and the documents incorporated by reference in the prospectus contained
in the Initial Registration Statement at the time such part of the
Initial Registration Statement became effective or such part of the
Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, if any, became or hereafter becomes
effective but excluding Form 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, 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, being 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; any reference to any amendment to the Registration Statement
shall be deemed to refer to and include any annual report of the
Company or the Guarantor filed pursuant to Sections 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 Company and the Guarantor 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 Company and the
Guarantor 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, the Guarantor nor any of their
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 debt of the Company,
the Guarantor or any of their 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,
the Guarantor or any of their subsidiaries, otherwise than as set forth
or contemplated in the Prospectus;
(e) The Company been duly incorporated and is validly existing
as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of
Delaware and the Guarantor has been duly incorporated and is validly
existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the
Commonwealth of Virginia, and each has power and authority (corporate
and other) to own its properties and conduct its business as described
in the Prospectus, and each has been duly qualified as a foreign
corporation for the transaction of business and is in good standing
under the laws of each other jurisdiction in which it owns or leases
properties, or conducts any business, so as to require such
qualification, or is subject to no material liability or disability by
reason of failure to be so qualified in any such jurisdiction; and each
subsidiary of the Company or the Guarantor has been duly incorporated
and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the
laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation and has been duly qualified
as a foreign corporation for the transaction of business and is in good
standing under the laws of each other jurisdiction in which it owns or
leases properties, or conducts any business, so as to require such
qualification, or is subject to no material liability or disability by
reason of failure to be so qualified in any such jurisdiction;
(f) Each of the Company and the Guarantor has an authorized
capitalization as set forth in the Prospectus, and all of the issued
shares of capital stock of each of the Company and the Guarantor have
been duly and validly authorized and issued and are fully paid and
non-assessable and conform to the description of the Securities
contained in the Prospectus; and all of the issued shares of capital
stock of each subsidiary of the Company or the Guarantor have been duly
and validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and non-assessable
and (except for directors' qualifying shares) are owned directly or
indirectly by the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, free
and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities or claims;
(g) The Securities have been duly authorized, and, when
Designated Debt Securities are issued and delivered pursuant to this
Agreement and the Pricing Agreement with respect to such Designated
Securities, such Designated Securities will have been duly executed,
authenticated, issued and delivered and will constitute valid and
legally binding obligations of the Company (in the case of Designated
Debt Securities) and (in the case of Designated Guarantees) entitled to
the benefits provided by the Indenture, which will be substantially in
the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement; the
Indenture has been duly authorized and duly qualified under the Trust
Indenture Act and, at the Time of Delivery for such Designated
Securities (as defined in Section 4 hereof), the Indenture will
constitute a valid and legally binding instrument, enforceable in
accordance with its 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 conforms, and the Designated Securities
will conform, to the descriptions thereof contained in the Prospectus
as amended or supplemented with respect to such Designated Securities;
(h) The issue and sale of the Securities and the compliance by
the Company and the Guarantor with all of the provisions of the
Securities, the Indenture, this Agreement and any Pricing Agreement,
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 to which the Company or the Guarantor or any of
their subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or the Guarantor
or any of their subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the property
or assets of the Company or the Guarantor is subject, nor will such
action result in any violation of the provisions of the Articles of
Incorporation or By-laws of the Company or the Guarantor or any statute
or any order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or
body having jurisdiction over the Company or the Guarantor or any of
their 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 and sale of the Securities or the consummation by the Company or
the Guarantor of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any
Pricing Agreement or the Indenture, except such as have been, or will
have been prior to the Time of Delivery, 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 Securities by the Underwriters;
(i) The statements set forth in the Prospectus as amended or
supplemented under the caption "Description of Debt Securities",
insofar as they purport to constitute a summary of the terms of the
Securities, under the caption "United States Taxation", and under the
captions "Plan of Distribution" and "Underwriting", insofar as they
purport to describe the provisions of the laws and documents referred
to therein, are accurate, complete and fair;
(j) Neither the Company, the Guarantor nor any of their
subsidiaries is in violation of its Articles of Incorporation or
By-laws 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 to which it is a party or by which it or any of
its properties may be bound;
(k) Other than as set forth in the Prospectus, there are no
legal or governmental proceedings pending to which the Company, the
Guarantor or any of their subsidiaries is a party or of which any
property of the Company, the Guarantor or any of their subsidiaries is
the subject which, if determined adversely to the Company, the
Guarantor or any of their 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, the Guarantor or their subsidiaries; and, to
the best of the Company's and the Guarantor's knowledge, no such
proceedings are threatened or contemplated by governmental authorities
or threatened by others;
(l) Neither the Company nor the Guarantor 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");
(m) None of the Company, the Guarantor or any of their
affiliates does business with the government of Cuba or with any
person or affiliate located in Cuba within the meaning of the
U.S. Treasury Department's Cuban Assets Control Regulations, the
Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity ("LIBERTAD") Act of 1996 or
Section 517.075, Florida Statutes; and
(n) Deloitte & Touche LLP, who have certified certain
financial statements of the Guarantor and its subsidiaries (including
the Company), are independent public accountants as required by the Act
and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.
3. Upon the execution of the Pricing Agreement applicable to any
Designated Securities and authorization by the Representatives of the release of
such Designated Securities, the several Underwriters propose to offer such
Designated Securities for sale upon the terms and conditions set forth in the
Prospectus as amended or supplemented.
4. Designated Securities to be purchased by each Underwriter pursuant
to the Pricing Agreement relating thereto, in the form 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 Company, shall be delivered by or on behalf of the Company and the Guarantor
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 or certified or official bank check or checks, payable to the order of
the Company in the funds specified in such Pricing Agreement, 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 and the Company may
agree upon in writing, such time and date being herein called the "Time of
Delivery" for such Securities.
5. Each of the Company and the Guarantor, jointly and
severally, agrees with each of the Underwriters of any Designated
Securities:
(a) To prepare the Prospectus as amended or supplemented in
relation to the applicable 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 applicable 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 the 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 such Time of Delivery 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 Company or the Guarantor with the Commission pursuant to Section
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 such 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 such Securities 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, to promptly use its best efforts to obtain the
withdrawal of such order;
(b) Promptly from time to time to take such action as the
Representatives may reasonably request to qualify such Securities 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 Securities, provided that in connection therewith
neither the Company nor the Guarantor 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 this Agreement and from time
to time, to furnish the Underwriters with copies of the Prospectus as
amended or supplemented in New York City 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 Securities 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) To make generally available to its securityholders 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 of the
Guarantor and their 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 or the
Guarantor, 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 Company by the
Representatives and (ii) the Time of Delivery for such Designated
Securities, not to offer, sell, contract to sell or otherwise dispose
of any debt securities of the Company or the Guarantor, or any
guarantees by the Company or the Guarantor of debt securities of
others, which mature more than one year after such Time of Delivery and
which are substantially similar to such Designated Debt Securities or
Designated Guarantees, without the prior written consent of the
Representatives; and
(f) If the Company elects to rely upon Rule 462(b), 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 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. Each of the Company and the Guarantor, jointly and severally,
covenants and agrees with the several Underwriters that the Company will pay or
cause to be paid the following: (i) the fees, disbursements and expenses of
their counsel and accountants in connection with the registration of the
Securities 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 Indenture, any Blue Sky and Legal
Investment Memoranda, 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 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 and Legal Investment Surveys; (iv) any fees charged by securities
rating services for rating the Securities; (v) any filing fees incident to, and
the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with,
any required review by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. of
the terms of the sale of the Securities; (vi) the cost of preparing the
Securities; (vii) the fees and expenses of any Trustee and any agent of any
Trustee and the fees and disbursements of counsel for any Trustee in connection
with any Indenture and the Securities; and (viii) all other costs and expenses
incident to the performance of its obligations hereunder 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 Company and the
Guarantor in or incorporated by reference in the Pricing Agreement relating to
such Designated Securities are, at and as of the Time of Delivery for such
Designated Securities, true and correct, the condition that the Company and the
Guarantor shall have 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
the applicable 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 Company has elected
to rely upon Rule 462(b), the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement shall
have become effective 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 the Time of Delivery for such
Designated Securities, with respect to the incorporation of the
Company, the validity of the Designated Securities being delivered at
such Time of Delivery, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, and
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 Company and the Guarantor satisfactory to
the Representatives shall have furnished to the Representatives their
written opinion (a draft of each such opinion is attached as Annex
III(b) hereto), dated the Time of Delivery for such Designated
Securities, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives,
to the effect that:
(i) Each of the Company and the Guarantor has been duly
incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good
standing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia, with
power and authority (corporate and other) to own its
properties and conduct its business as described in the
Prospectus as amended or supplemented;
(ii) Each of the Company and the Guarantor 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 and the Guarantor have been duly
and validly authorized and issued and are fully paid and
non-assessable;
(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, the
Guarantor or any of their subsidiaries is a party or of which
any property of the Company, the Guarantor or any of their
subsidiaries is the subject which, if determined adversely to
the Company, the Guarantor or any of their 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, the Guarantor and their subsidiaries; 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 Company and the
Guarantor;
(v) The Designated Securities have been duly authorized,
executed, authenticated, issued and delivered and constitute
valid and legally binding obligations of the Company (in the
case of the Designated Debt Securities) and the Guarantor (in
the case of the Designated Guarantees) entitled to the
benefits provided by the Indenture; and the Designated
Securities and the Indenture conform to the descriptions
thereof in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented;
(vi) The Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the parties thereto and constitutes a valid and
legally binding instrument, enforceable in accordance with its
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 has been duly qualified
under the Trust Indenture Act;
(vii) The issue and sale of the Designated Securities and
the compliance by the Company and the Guarantor with all of
the provisions of the Designated Securities, the Indenture,
this Agreement and the Pricing Agreement with respect to the
Designated Securities 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, the
Guarantor or any of their subsidiaries is a party or by which
the Company, the Guarantor or any of their subsidiaries is
bound or to which any of the property or assets of the
Company, the Guarantor or any of their subsidiaries is
subject, nor will such actions result in any violation of the
provisions of the Articles of Incorporation or By-laws of the
Company or the Guarantor or any statute or any order, rule or
regulation known to such counsel of any court or governmental
agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company, the
Guarantor or any of their subsidiaries or any of their
properties;
(viii) 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 or the consummation by the
Company or the Guarantor of the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement or such Pricing Agreement or the Indenture,
except such as have been obtained under the Act and the Trust
Indenture Act and such consents, approvals, authorizations,
orders, 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;
(ix) None of the Company, the Guarantor or any of their
subsidiaries are in violation of their By-laws or Articles of
Incorporation or in default in the performance or observance
of any material obligation, agreement, covenant or condition
contained in any contract, indenture, mortgage, loan
agreement, note, lease or other instrument to which it is a
party or by which it or any of its properties may be bound;
(x) The statements set forth in the Prospectus as
amended or supplemented under the caption ADescription of Debt
Securities", insofar as they purport to constitute a summary
of the terms of the Securities, under the caption "United
States Taxation", and under the captions "Plan of
Distribution" and "Underwriting", insofar as they purport to
describe the provisions of the laws and documents referred to
therein, are accurate, complete and fair;
(xi) Neither the Company nor the Guarantor is an
"investment company" or an entity "controlled" by an
"investment company", as such terms are defined in the
Investment Company Act;
(xii) 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 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
(xiii) The Registration Statement and the Prospectus as
amended or supplemented and any further amendments and
supplements thereto made by the Company or the Guarantor prior
to the Time of Delivery for the Designated Securities (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 Trust Indenture 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 (x)
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 Company or the Guarantor
prior to the 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 Company or the Guarantor
prior to the 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 the Time of Delivery, either the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus as amended or supplemented or any
further amendment or supplement thereto made by the Company or
the Guarantor prior to the 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) 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 such Designated Securities and at the Time of Delivery
for such Designated Securities, the independent accountants of the
Company and the Guarantor who have certified the financial statements
of the Guarantor and its subsidiaries (including the Company) 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, 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 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);
(e) (i) None of the Company, the Guarantor or any of their
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 or decree, 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, the Guarantor or any of
their 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, the Guarantor or any of its subsidiaries, 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,
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 first amended or
supplemented relating to the Designated Securities;
(f) 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 or the Guarantor' 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 or
the Guarantor's debt securities or preferred stock;
(g) 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 or the Guarantor's
securities on the New York Stock Exchange; (iii) a general moratorium
on commercial banking activities declared by either Federal or New York
or Virginia 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 Designated Securities on the
terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus as first amended
or supplemented relating to the Designated Securities;
(h) 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 this Agreement;
and
(i) The Company and the Guarantor shall have furnished or
caused to be furnished to the Representatives at the Time of Delivery
for the Designated Securities a certificate or certificates of officers
of the Company and the Guarantor satisfactory to the Representatives as
to the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company
and the Guarantor herein at and as of such Time of Delivery, as to the
performance by the Company and the Guarantor of all of their respective
obligations hereunder to be performed at or prior to such Time of
Delivery, as to the matters set forth in subsections (a) and (e) of
this Section and as to such other matters as the Representatives may
reasonably request.
8. (a) Each of the Company and the Guarantor, 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 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 Company nor the Guarantor 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 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 Company and
the Guarantor against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the
Company or the Guarantor 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 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 Company by such Underwriter
through the Representatives expressly for use therein; and will reimburse the
Company and the Guarantor for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by
the Company and the Guarantor 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 the indemnifying
party under such subsection, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the
commencement thereof; but the omission so to notify the 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 a 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 Company and the Guarantor 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 Company and the
Guarantor 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 Company and the Guarantor 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 Company and the
Guarantor 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 of a material fact
or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to
information supplied by the Company and the Guarantor 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 Company, the Guarantor and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just
and equitable if contribution 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 Company and the Guarantor under this Section
8 shall be in addition to any liability which the Company or the Guarantor 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
Company or the Guarantor and to each person, if any, who controls the Company or
the Guarantor within the meaning of the Act.
9. (a) If any Underwriter shall default in its obligation to purchase
the Designated Securities which it has agreed to purchase under the Pricing
Agreement relating to such Designated Securities, the Representatives may in
their discretion arrange for themselves or another party or other parties to
purchase such Designated 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 Designated Securities, then the Company
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 Designated Securities on such terms. In the event that, within the
respective prescribed period, the Representatives notify the Company that they
have so arranged for the purchase of such Designated Securities, or the Company
notifies the Representatives that it has so arranged for the purchase of such
Designated Securities, the Representatives or the Company shall have the right
to postpone the Time of Delivery for such Designated 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 Company agrees
to file promptly any amendments or supplements to the Registration 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
Designated Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the
Representatives and the Company as provided in subsection (a) above, the
aggregate principal amount of such Designated Securities which remains
unpurchased does not exceed one-eleventh of the aggregate principal amount of
the Designated Securities, then the Company shall have the right to require each
non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase the principal amount of Designated
Securities 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
principal amount of Designated Securities which such Underwriter agreed to
purchase under such Pricing Agreement) of the Designated Securities 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
Designated Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the
Representatives and the Company as provided in subsection (a) above, the
aggregate principal amount of Designated Securities which remains unpurchased
exceeds one-eleventh of the aggregate principal amount of the Designated
Securities, as referred to in subsection (b) above, or if the Company shall not
exercise the right described in subsection (b) above to require non-defaulting
Underwriters to purchase Designated Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or
Underwriters, then the Pricing Agreement relating to such Designated Securities
shall thereupon terminate, without liability on the part of any non-defaulting
Underwriter, the Company or the Guarantor, except for the expenses to be borne
by the Company, the Guarantor 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 Company, the Guarantor 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
Company, or any officer or director or controlling person of the Company or the
Guarantor, and shall survive delivery of and payment for the Securities.
11. If any Pricing Agreement shall be terminated pursuant to Section 9
hereof, neither the Company nor the Guarantor shall then be under any liability
to any Underwriter with respect to the Designated Securities covered by such
Pricing Agreement 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
Company and the Guarantor as provided herein, the Company and the Guarantor,
jointly and severally, 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 neither the Company nor the
Guarantor shall then be under any 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 Company or the Guarantor shall be delivered or
sent by mail, telex or facsimile transmission to the address of the Company or
the Guarantor, as applicable, 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 Company and the Guarantor 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, the Company, the Guarantor
and, to the extent provided in Sections 8 and 10 hereof, the officers and
directors of the Company, the Guarantor and each person who controls the
Company, the Guarantor 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, "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.
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.
Very truly yours,
MacSaver Financial Services, Inc.
By: ..........................................
Name:
Title:
Heilig-Meyers Company
By: ..........................................
Name:
Title:
<PAGE>
ANNEX I
Pricing Agreement
[Names of Representatives]
As Representatives of the several
Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto
[Address of Representatives]
, 199_
Ladies and Gentlemen:
MacSaver Financial Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), proposes, subject to the terms and conditions stated herein and in
the Underwriting Agreement, dated _____ __, 1996 (the "Underwriting Agreement"),
to issue and sell to the Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (the
"Underwriters") the Notes specified in Schedule II hereto (the "Notes"). The
Notes will be unconditionally guaranteed as to the payment of principal,
premium, if any, and interest (the "Guarantees") by Heilig-Meyers Company, a
Virginia corporation (the "Guarantor"). The Notes and the Guarantees are
hereinafter collectively called the "Securities". 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 Notes and the
Guarantees (together, the Designated Securities which are the subject of this
Pricing Agreement). Each reference to the Representatives 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 Representatives
designated to act on behalf of the Representatives and on behalf of each of the
Underwriters of the Designated Securities pursuant to Section 12 of the
Underwriting Agreement and the address of the Representatives referred to in
such Section 12 are set forth at the end of Schedule II hereto.
An amendment to the 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, the Company and the
Guarantor agree to issue and the Company agrees to sell to each of the
Underwriters, and each of the Underwriters agrees, severally and not jointly, to
purchase from the Company, at the time and place and at the purchase price to
the Underwriters set forth in Schedule II hereto, the principal amount of
Designated Securities set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in
Schedule I hereto.
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 among each of the Underwriters,
the Company and the Guarantor. 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 Company and the Guarantor for examination upon
request, but without warranty on the part of the Representatives as to the
authority of the signers thereof.
Very truly yours,
MacSaver Financial Services, Inc.
By: ..........................................
Name:
Title:
Heilig-Meyers Company
By: ..........................................
Name:
Title:
Accepted as of the date hereof:
[Names of Representatives]
By: .......................................................
Name:
Title:
On behalf of each of the Underwriters
<PAGE>
SCHEDULE I
Principal
Amount of
Designated
Securities
to be
Underwriter Purchased
[Names of Representatives] $
[Names of other Underwriters]
Total $
<PAGE>
SCHEDULE II
Title of Designated Securities:
[ %] [Floating Rate] [Zero Coupon] [Notes]
[Debentures] due ,
Aggregate principal amount:
[$]
Price to Public:
% of the principal amount of the Designated Securities, plus
accrued interest[, if any,] from to [and accrued
amortization[, if any,] from to ]
Purchase Price by Underwriters:
% of the principal amount of the Designated Securities, plus accrued
interest from to [and accrued amortization[, if any,] from
to ]
Form of Designated Securities:
[Definitive form to be made available for checking and packaging at
least twenty-four hours prior to the Time of Delivery at the office of
[The Depository Trust Company or its designated custodian] [the
Representatives]]
[Book-entry only form represented by one or more global securities
deposited with The Depository Trust Company (ADTC") or its designated
custodian, to be made available for checking by the Representatives at
least twenty-four hours prior to the Time of Delivery at the office of
DTC.]
Specified funds for payment of purchase price:
Federal (same day) funds
Time of Delivery:
a.m. (New York City time), , 19
Indenture:
Indenture dated , 19 , among the
Company, the Guarantor and , as Trustee
Maturity:
Interest Rate:
[ %] [Zero Coupon] [See Floating Rate Provisions]
Interest Payment Dates:
[months and dates, commencing ....................., 19..]
Redemption Provisions:
[No provisions for redemption]
[The Designated Securities may be redeemed, otherwise than through the
sinking fund, in whole or in part at the option of the Company, in the
amount of [$ ] or an integral multiple thereof,
[on or after , at the following redemption prices (expressed
in percentages of principal amount). If [redeemed on or
before , %, and if] redeemed during the 12-month period
beginning ,
Redemption
Year Price
and thereafter at 100% of their principal amount, together in each case
with accrued interest to the redemption date.]
[on any interest payment date falling on or after , , at the election
of the Company, at a redemption price equal to the principal amount
thereof, plus accrued interest to the date of redemption.]]
[Other possible redemption provisions, such as mandatory redemption
upon occurrence of certain events or redemption for changes in tax law]
[Restriction on refunding]
Sinking Fund Provisions:
[No sinking fund provisions]
[The Designated Securities are entitled to the benefit of
a sinking fund to retire [$ ] principal amount of Designated
Securities on in each of the years through
at 100% of their principal amount plus accrued interest[,
together with [cumulative] [noncumulative] redemptions at the option of
the Company to retire an additional [$ ] principal amount of Designated
Securities in the years through at 100% of their principal amount plus
accrued interest.]
[If Designated Securities are extendable debt
securities, insert-- Extendable provisions:
Designated Securities are repayable on , [insert date and years], at
the option of the holder, at their principal amount with accrued
interest. The initial annual interest rate will be %, and thereafter
the annual interest rate will be adjusted on , and to a rate not less
than % of the effective annual interest rate on U.S. Treasury
obligations with -year maturities as of the [insert date 15 days prior
to maturity date] prior to such [insert maturity date].]
[If Designated Securities are floating rate debt securities, insert--
Floating rate provisions:
Initial annual interest rate will be % through [and thereafter will be
adjusted [monthly] [on each , , and ] [to an annual rate of % above the
average rate for -year [month][securities][certificates of deposit]
issued by
and [insert names of banks].] [and the annual interest rate
[thereafter] [from through ] will be the interest yield
equivalent of the weekly average per annum market
discount rate for -month Treasury bills plus % of Interest Differential
(the excess, if any, of (i) the then current weekly average per annum
secondary market yield for -month certificates of deposit over (ii) the
then current interest yield equivalent of the weekly average per annum
market discount rate for -month Treasury bills); [from and thereafter
the rate will be the then current interest yield equivalent plus % of
Interest Differential].]
Defeasance provisions:
Closing location for delivery of Designated Securities:
Additional Closing Conditions:
Names and addresses of Representatives:
Designated Representatives:
Address for Notices, etc.:
[Other Terms:]
<PAGE>
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 Guarantor and its subsidiaries (including the Company)
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 audited (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 Guarantor and the Company for the
periods specified in such letter, as indicated in their reports
thereon, copies of which have been separately furnished to the
representative or representatives of the Underwriters (the
"Representatives") such term to include an Underwriter or Underwriters
who act without any firm being designated as its or their
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 Guarantor's quarterly
report 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 Guarantor and 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
Guarantor and the Company for the five most recent fiscal years
included in the Prospectus and included or incorporated by reference in
Item 6 of the Guarantor'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 five such fiscal years which were included or
incorporated by reference in the Guarantor'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 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 Guarantor, the Company and their
subsidiaries, inspection of the minute books of the Guarantor, the
Company and their subsidiaries since the date of the latest audited
financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the
Prospectus, inquiries of officials of the Guarantor, the Company and
their 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
Guarantor'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
Guarantor'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 Guarantor'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 Guarantor'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;
(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 Guarantor,
the Company and their 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 audit 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 audit 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 Guarantor, the Company and their 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 Guarantor, the Company and their
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.
MACSAVER FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC., Issuer
and
HEILIG-MEYERS COMPANY, Guarantor
to
__________________________________, Trustee
---------------
INDENTURE
Dated as of ________, 1996
Debt Securities
<PAGE>
Reconciliation and tie between
Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (the "Trust Indenture Act")
and Indenture
Trust Indenture
Act Section Indenture Section
Section 310(a)(1) 607
(a)(2) 607
(b) 608
Section 311 612
Section 312(a) 701
(b) 702
(c) 702
Section 313(a) 703
(b)(2) 703
(c) 703
(d) 703
Section 314(a) 704
(c)(1) 102
(c)(2) 102
(e) 102
(f) 102
Section 315(a) 601
(b) 602
(c) 601, 602
(d) 601
(e) 515
Section 316(a) 101
(a)(1)(A) 502, 512
(a)(1)(B) 513
(b) 508
Section 317(a)(1) 503
(a)(2) 504
(b) 1003
Section 318(a) 108
- ---------------------------------
Note: This reconciliation and tie shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be
part of the Indenture.
Attention should also be directed to Section 318(c) of the Trust
Indenture Act, which provides that the provisions of Sections 310 to and
including 317 are a part of the govern every qualified indenture, whether or not
physically contained herein.
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ARTICLE ONE DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION
<S> <C>
Section 101. Definitions. 2
Section 102. Compliance Certificates and Opinions. 14
Section 103. Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee. 14
Section 104. Acts of Holders. 15
Section 105. Notices, Etc. to Trustee, Company and Guarantor. 17
Section 106. Notice to Holders of Securities; Waiver. 17
Section 107. Language of Notices. 18
Section 108. Conflict with Trust Indenture Act. 19
Section 109. Effect of Headings and Table of Contents. 19
Section 110. Successors and Assigns. 19
Section 111. Separability Clause. 19
Section 112. Benefits of Indenture. 19
Section 113. Governing Law. 19
Section 114. Legal Holidays. 19
Section 115. Judgment Currency. 20
ARTICLE TWO SECURITIES AND GUARANTEE FORMS
Section 201. Forms Generally. 21
Section 202. Guarantee by Guarantor: Form of Guarantee. 21
Section 203. Form of Trustee's Certificate of Authentication. 24
Section 204. Securities in Global Form. 24
ARTICLE THREE THE SECURITIES
Section 301. Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series. 25
Section 302. Currency; Denominations. 29
Section 303. Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating. 30
Section 304. Temporary Securities. 32
Section 305. Registration, Transfer and Exchange. 33
Section 306. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities. 36
Section 307. Payment of Interest and Certain Additional Amounts; Rights to
Interest and Certain Additional Amounts Preserved. 38
Section 308. Persons Deemed Owners. 39
Section 309. Cancellation.40
Section 310. Computation of Interest. 41
ARTICLE FOUR SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE
Section 401. Satisfaction and Discharge. 41
Section 402. Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance. 43
Section 403. Application of Trust Money. 47
ARTICLE FIVE REMEDIES
Section 501. Events of Default. 48
Section 502. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment. 50
Section 503. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for
Enforcement by Trustee. 51
Section 504. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim. 52
Section 505. Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of
Securities or Coupons. 53
Section 506. Application of Money Collected. 53
Section 507. Limitations on Suits. 54
Section 508. Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive
Principal and Any Premium, Interest and
Additional Amounts. 54
Section 509. Restoration of Rights and Remedies. 55
Section 510. Rights and Remedies Cumulative. 55
Section 511. Delay or Omission not Waiver. 55
Section 512. Control by Holders of Securities. 56
Section 513. Waiver of Past Defaults. 56
Section 514. Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws. 56
Section 515. Undertaking for Costs. 57
ARTICLE SIX THE TRUSTEE
Section 601. Certain Rights of Trustee. 57
Section 602. Notice of Defaults. 58
Section 603. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance
of Securities. 59
Section 604. May Hold Securities. 59
Section 605. Money Held in Trust. 59
Section 606. Compensation and Reimbursement. 60
Section 607. Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility. 60
Section 608. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor. 61
Section 609. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor. 62
Section 610. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession
to Business. 64
Section 611. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.. 64
Section 612. Appointment of Authenticating Agent. 64
ARTICLE SEVEN
HOLDERS LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE, COMPANY, AND GUARANTOR
Section 701. Company and Guarantor to Furnish Trustee Names
and Addresses of Holders. 66
Section 702. Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders. 67
Section 703. Reports by Trustee. 67
Section 704. Reports by Company and Guarantor. 68
ARTICLE EIGHT CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE OR TRANSFER
Section 801. Restrictions on Mergers, Consolidations,
Conveyances and Transfers. 69
Section 802. Successor Person Substituted for Guarantor or Company. 70
ARTICLE NINE SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES
Section 901. Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders. 70
Section 902. Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Holders. 72
Section 903. Execution of Supplemental Indentures. 73
Section 904. Effect of Supplemental Indentures. 74
Section 905. Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures. 74
Section 906. Conformity with Trust Indenture Act. 74
ARTICLE TEN COVENANTS
Section 1001. Payment of Principal, Any Premium, Interest
and Additional Amounts. 74
Section 1002. Maintenance of Office or Agency. 75
Section 1003. Money for Securities Payments to be Held in Trust. 76
Section 1004. Additional Amounts. 78
Section 1005. Statement as to Compliance. 80
Section 1006. Payment of Taxes and Other Claims 80
Section 1007. Restriction on Secured Funded Debt 80
Section 1008. Restriction on Liens 81
Section 1009. Restriction on Sale and Lease-Back Transactions 82
Section 1010. Redesignation of Subsidiaries 83
Section 1011. Waiver of Certain Covenants 83
ARTICLE ELEVEN REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES
Section 1101. Applicability of Article. 84
Section 1102. Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee. 84
Section 1103. Selection by Trustee of Securities to be Redeemed. 84
Section 1104. Notice of Redemption. 85
Section 1105. Deposit of Redemption Price. 86
Section 1106. Securities Payable on Redemption Date. 86
Section 1107. Securities Redeemed in Part. 87
ARTICLE TWELVE SINKING FUNDS
Section 1201. Applicability of Article. 88
Section 1202. Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments With Securities. 88
Section 1203. Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund. 89
ARTICLE THIRTEEN GUARANTEES
Section 1301. Guarantee 90
Section 1302. Execution and Delivery of Guarantees 91
ARTICLE FOURTEEN
REPAYMENT AT THE OPTION OF HOLDERS
Section 1401. Applicability of Article. 92
ARTICLE FIFTEEN SECURITIES IN FOREIGN CURRENCIES
Section 1501. Applicability of Article. 92
<PAGE>
ARTICLE SIXTEEN MEETINGS OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES
Section 1601. Purposes for Which Meetings May Be Called. 93
Section 1602. Call, Notice and Place of Meetings. 93
Section 1603. Persons Entitled to Vote at Meetings. 94
Section 1604. Quorum; Action. 94
Section 1605. Determination of Voting Rights; Conduct and
Adjournment of Meetings. 95
Section 1606. Counting Votes and Recording Action of Meetings. 96
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
INDENTURE, dated as of July __, 1996 (the "Indenture"), among MacSaver
Financial Services, Inc., a corporation duly organized and existing under the
laws of the State of Delaware (hereinafter called the "Company"), having its
principal executive office located at 2 Read's Way, Suite 224, New Castle,
Delaware 19720, Heilig-Meyers Company, a corporation duly organized and existing
under the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia (hereinafter called the
"Guarantor"), having its principal office at 2235 Staples Mill Road, Richmond,
VA 23230, and [_________________________], a banking association duly organized
and existing under the laws of the United States of America (hereinafter called
the "Trustee"), having its Corporate Trust Office located at
[___________________________].
RECITALS
The Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this
Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of its senior unsecured
debentures, notes or other evidences of Indebtedness (hereinafter called the
"Securities"), unlimited as to principal amount, to bear such rates of interest,
to mature at such time or times, to be issued in one or more series and to have
such other provisions as shall be fixed as provided in this Indenture. All
things necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement of the Company, in
accordance with its terms, have been done.
The Guarantor has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this
Indenture to provide for the Guarantees by it with respect to the Securities as
set forth in this Indenture.
The Guarantor desires to make the Guarantees provided for herein, and
has determined that such Guarantees are necessary and convenient to the conduct
of the business of the Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Guarantor.
All things necessary to make the Guarantees, when executed by the
Guarantor and endorsed on the Securities authenticated and delivered hereunder,
the valid obligations of the Guarantor, and to make this Indenture a valid
agreement of the Guarantor, in accordance with its terms, have been done.
This Indenture is subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act
of 1939, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Securities and
Exchange Commission promulgated thereunder that are required to be part of this
Indenture and, to the extent applicable, shall be governed by such provisions.
NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:
For and in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the
Securities by the Holders (as herein defined) thereof, it is mutually covenanted
and agreed, for the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders of the
Securities or of any series thereof and any Coupons (as herein defined), as
follows:
ARTICLE ONE
DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION
Section 101. Definitions.
Except as otherwise expressly provided in or pursuant to this Indenture
or unless the context otherwise requires, for all purposes of this Indenture:
(1) the terms defined in this Article have the meanings assigned
to them in this Article and include the plural as well as the singular;
(2) all other terms used herein which are defined in the Trust
Indenture Act, either directly or by reference therein, have the meanings
assigned to them therein;
(3) all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings
assigned to them in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in
the United States of America and, except as otherwise herein expressly provided,
the terms "generally accepted accounting principles" or "GAAP" with respect to
any computation required or permitted hereunder shall mean such accounting
principles as are generally accepted in the United States of America,
consistently applied, at the date of such computation;
(4) the words "Article" and "Section" refer to an Article and
Section, respectively, of this Indenture;
(5) the words "herein", "hereof", "hereto" 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; and
(6) the word "or" is always used inclusively (for example, the phrase
"A or B" means "A or B or both", not "either A or B but not both").
Certain terms used principally in certain Articles hereof are defined
in those Articles.
"Act", when used with respect to any Holders, has the meaning specified
in Section 104.
"Additional Amounts" has the meaning specified in Section 1004.
"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.
"Attributable Debt" means at any date the obligations incurred by the
Company, the Guarantor or any Restricted Subsidiary as lessee in connection with
a sale and leaseback transaction, valued at the lesser of (i) the fair market
value of the property subject to such transaction or (ii) the present value
(discounted to present value in accordance with GAAP consistently applied) of
the obligation of the lessee for Rentals during the term of such lease.
"Authenticating Agent" means any Person authorized by the Trustee
pursuant to Section 611 to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate
Securities of one or more series.
"Authorized Newspaper" means a newspaper, in an official language of
the place of publication or in the English language, customarily published on
each day that is a Business Day in the place of publication, whether or not
published on days that are Legal Holidays in the place of publication, and of
general circulation in each place in connection with which the term is used or
in the financial community of each such place. Where successive publications are
required to be made in Authorized Newspapers, the successive publications may be
made in the same or in different newspapers in the same city meeting the
foregoing requirements and in each case on any day that is a Business Day in the
place of publication.
"Bankruptcy Law" has the meaning specified in Section 501.
"Bearer Security" means any Security in the form established pursuant
to Section 201 which is payable to bearer.
"Board of Directors," when used with reference to the Company or the
Guarantor, means either the board of directors or any duly authorized committee
of such board of directors of the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be.
"Board Resolution," when used with reference to the Company or the
Guarantor, means a copy of one or more resolutions, certified by the Corporate
Secretary or an Assistant Corporate Secretary of the Company or the Guarantor,
as the case may be, to have been duly adopted by its respective Board of
Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification,
and delivered to the Trustee.
"Business Day", with respect to any Place of Payment or other location,
means, unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to
Section 301, any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banking
institutions in such Place of Payment or other location are authorized or
obligated by law, regulation or executive order to close.
"Capitalized Lease Obligations" means at any date the amount determined
in accordance with GAAP which represents the capitalized value of all
Capitalized Leases which appear on the liability side of the consolidated
balance sheet of the Guarantor and its Restricted Subsidiaries.
"Capitalized Leases" means all leases of real or personal property
entered into by the Company, the Guarantor or any Restricted Subsidiary as
lessee, the obligation for Rentals with respect to which is required to be
capitalized on the liability side of the consolidated balance sheet thereof in
accordance with GAAP.
"Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from time
to time constituted, created under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, or, if at any time after the execution of this Indenture such
Commission is not existing and performing the duties now assigned to it under
the Trust Indenture Act, then the body performing such duties at such time.
"Company" means the Person named as the "Company" in the first
paragraph of this Indenture until a successor Person shall have become such
pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter
"Company" shall mean such successor Person.
"Company Request" and "Company Order" mean, respectively, a written
request or order, as the case may be, signed in the name of the Company by any
two Officers or by any Officer and either an Assistant Treasurer or an Assistant
Corporate Secretary, of the Company and delivered to the Trustee.
"Consolidated Net Tangible Assets" means at any date the total amount
of all assets of the Company, the Guarantor and the Restricted Subsidiaries
determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied,
less the sum (without duplication) of:
(i) the amount, if any, at which intangible assets (including
goodwill, trade names, trademarks, patents, organization expense and
other similar intangibles) and unamortized debt discount and expense
appear on a consolidated balance sheet;
(ii) any write-up of tangible assets after the date of
this Indenture;
(iii) all investments, loans or advances made by the
Company, the Guarantor or any Restricted Subsidiary in or to any
Unrestricted Subsidiary (valued at the book value thereof); and
(iv) all liabilities other than Minority Interests, deferred
taxes and the aggregate amount of Funded Debt of the Company, the
Guarantor and the Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis
(after eliminating intercompany items).
"Conversion Event" means the cessation of use of (i) a Foreign Currency
both by the government of the country or the confederation which issued such
Foreign Currency and for the settlement of transactions by a central bank or
other public institutions of or within the international banking community, (ii)
the ECU both within the European Monetary System and for the settlement of
transactions by public institutions of or within the European Union or (iii) any
currency unit or composite currency other than the ECU for the purposes for
which it was established.
"Corporate Trust Office" means either (i) the principal corporate trust
office of the Trustee at which at any particular time its corporate trust
business shall be administered, which office at the date of original execution
of this Indenture is located at [______________ ____________________________],
or (ii) for purposes of Sections 301(9) and 1002, "Corporate Trust Office" means
the principal corporate trust office of the Trustee in the Borough of Manhattan,
The City of New York at which at any particular time its corporate trust
business shall be administered in The City of New York, which office at the date
of original execution of this Indenture is located at
[_________________________________]; provided that, for purposes of any request,
demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or Act of Holders or
other document or notice provided or permitted by this Indenture to be made
upon, given or furnished to, or filed with, the Trustee, whether pursuant to
Section 105 or otherwise, "Corporate Trust Office" means any office referred to
in clause (i) or (ii) of this paragraph.
"Corporation" and "corporation" includes corporations, associations,
companies and business trusts.
"Coupon" means any interest coupon appertaining to a Bearer Security.
"Currency", with respect to any payment, deposit or other transfer in
respect of the principal of or any premium or interest on or any Additional
Amounts with respect to any Security, means Dollars or the Foreign Currency, as
the case may be, in which such payment, deposit or other transfer is required to
be made by or pursuant to the terms hereof or such Security and, with respect to
any other payment, deposit or transfer pursuant to or contemplated by the terms
hereof or such Security, means Dollars.
"CUSIP Number" means the alphanumeric designation assigned to a
Security by Standard & Poor's Ratings Services, CUSIP Service Bureau.
"Default" means any event or condition the occurrence of which would,
with the lapse of time or the giving of notice, or both, constitute an Event of
Default.
"Defaulted Interest" has the meaning specified in Section 307.
"Dollars" or "$" means a dollar or other equivalent unit of legal
tender for payment of public or private debts in the United States of America.
"ECU" means the European Currency Units as defined and revised from
time to time by the Council of the European Community.
"European Monetary System" means the European Monetary System
established by the Resolution of December 5, 1978 of the Council of the European
Community.
"European Union" means the European Community, the European Coal and
Steel Community and the European Atomic Energy Community.
"Event of Default" has the meaning specified in Section 501.
"Foreign Currency" means any currency, currency unit or composite
currency, including, without limitation, the ECU, issued by the government of
one or more countries other than the United States of America or by any
recognized confederation or association of such governments.
"Funded Debt" means Indebtedness having a final maturity of more than
one year from the date of determination thereof, or which is renewable or
extendable at the option of the obligor for a period or periods more than one
year from such date of determination.
"GAAP" means such accounting principles as are generally accepted in
the United States of America as of the date or time of any computation required
hereunder.
"Government Obligations" means securities which are (i) direct
obligations of the United States of America or the other government or
governments in the confederation which issued the Foreign Currency in which the
principal of or any premium or interest on such Security or any Additional
Amounts in respect thereof shall be payable, in each case where the payment or
payments thereunder are supported by the full faith and credit of such
government or governments or (ii) obligations of a Person controlled or
supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of
America or such other government or governments, in each case where the timely
payment or payments thereunder are unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith
and credit obligation by the United States of America or such other government
or governments, and which, in the case of (i) or (ii), are not callable or
redeemable at the option of the issuer or issuers thereof, and shall also
include a depository receipt issued by a bank or trust company as custodian with
respect to any such Government Obligation or a specific payment of interest on
or principal of or other amount with respect to any such Government Obligation
held by such custodian for the account of the holder of a depository receipt,
provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to
make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depository
receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the Government
Obligation or the specific payment of interest on or principal of or other
amount with respect to the Government Obligation evidenced by such depository
receipt.
"Guarantee" means any guarantee of the Guarantor endorsed on a Security
authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture and shall include the
guarantees set forth in Section 202.
"Guarantor" means the Person named as "Guarantor" 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
"Guarantor" shall include such successor corporation.
"Guarantor Request" and "Guarantor Order" mean, respectively, a written
request or order, as the case may be, signed in the name of the Guarantor by any
two Officers or by any Officer and either an Assistant Treasurer or an Assistant
Corporate Secretary, of the Guarantor and delivered to the Trustee.
"Holder", in the case of any Registered Security, means the Person in
whose name such Security is registered in the Security Register and, in the case
of any Bearer Security, means the bearer thereof and, in the case of any Coupon,
means the bearer thereof.
"Indebtedness" means and includes all obligations of the Company, the
Guarantor and the Restricted Subsidiaries which, in accordance with GAAP
consistently applied, are classified as liabilities on the most recently
available consolidated balance sheet of the Guarantor and the Restricted
Subsidiaries (other than liabilities for Minority Interests or deferred taxes),
together with the following obligations of the Company, the Guarantor or any
Restricted Subsidiary, determined in accordance with GAAP consistently applied,
whether or not classified as liabilities:
(1) indebtedness for borrowed money and deferred payment
obligations representing the unpaid purchase price of property, assets or
services;
(2) Capitalized Lease Obligations;
(3) guarantees and endorsements of obligations of others, directly or
indirectly, and all other repurchase agreements and indebtedness in effect
guaranteed through an agreement, contingent or otherwise, to purchase such
indebtedness, or to purchase or sell property, or to purchase or sell services,
primarily for the purpose of enabling the debtor to make payment of the
indebtedness or to assure the owner of the indebtedness against loss, or to
supply funds to or in any manner invest in the debtor, or otherwise to assure a
creditor against loss (but excluding guarantees and endorsements of notes, bills
and checks made in the ordinary course of business and of obligations of
Restricted Subsidiaries); and
(4) indebtedness secured by any mortgage, lien, pledge, conditional
sale agreement, title retention agreement, or other security interest or
encumbrance upon property owned by the Company, the Guarantor or a Restricted
Subsidiary, even though such indebtedness has not been assumed and
notwithstanding that the rights and remedies of the seller, lender or lessor
under such agreement in the event of default may be limited to repossession or
sale of such property.
"Indenture" means this instrument 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, with respect to any
Security, by the terms and provisions of such Security and any Coupon
appertaining thereto established pursuant to Section 301 (as such terms and
provisions may be amended pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof).
"Independent Public Accountants" means accountants or a firm of
accountants that, with respect to the Company and any other obligor under the
Securities or the Coupons, are independent public accountants within the meaning
of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations
promulgated by the Commission thereunder, who may be the independent public
accountants regularly retained by the Company or who may be other independent
public accountants. Such accountants or firm shall be entitled to rely upon any
Opinion of Counsel as to the interpretation of any legal matters relating to
this Indenture or certificates required to be provided hereunder.
"Indexed Security" means a Security the terms of which provide that the
principal amount thereof payable at Stated Maturity may be more or less than the
principal face amount thereof at original issuance.
"interest", with respect to any Original Issue Discount Security which
by its terms bears interest only after Maturity, means interest payable after
Maturity and, when used with respect to a Security which provides for the
payment of Additional Amounts pursuant to Section 1004, includes such Additional
Amounts.
"Interest Payment Date", with respect to any Security, means the Stated
Maturity of an installment of interest on such Security.
"Investment Company Act" means the Investment Company Act of 1940 and
any statute successor thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.
"Judgment Currency" has the meaning specified in Section 116.
"Legal Holidays" has the meaning specified in Section 114.
"Lien" means any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit
arrangement, encumbrance, security interest, lien (statutory or other), or
preference, priority or other security or similar agreement or preferential
arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever (including, without limitation, any
conditional sale or other title retention agreement having substantially the
same economic effect as any of the foregoing).
"Maturity", with respect to any Security, means the date on which the
principal of such Security or an installment of principal becomes due and
payable as provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, whether at the Stated
Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, notice of redemption or repurchase,
notice of option to elect repayment or otherwise, and includes the Redemption
Date.
"Minority Interests" means any shares of stock of any class of a
Restricted Subsidiary (other than directors' qualifying shares as required by
law) that are not owned by the Company, the Guarantor and/or one or more
Restricted Subsidiaries. Minority Interests shall be valued by valuing Minority
Interests constituting preferred stock at the voluntary or involuntary
liquidating value of such preferred stock, whichever is greater, and by valuing
Minority Interests constituting common stock at the book value of capital and
surplus applicable thereto adjusted, if necessary, to reflect any changes from
the book value of such common stock required by the foregoing method of valuing
Minority Interests in preferred stock.
"New York Banking Day" has the meaning specified in Section 116.
"Office" or "Agency", with respect to any Securities, means an office
or agency of the Company maintained or designated in a Place of Payment for such
Securities pursuant to Section 1002 or any other office or agency of the Company
maintained or designated for such Securities pursuant to Section 1002 or, to the
extent designated or required by Section 1002 in lieu of such office or agency,
the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.
"Officer" means the Chairman of the Board, the President, any Vice
President (whether or not designated by a number or word added before or after
the title vice president), the Treasurer or the Corporate Secretary of the
Company or the Guarantor, as the case requires.
"Officers' Certificate" of the Company or Guarantor, as the case may
be, means a certificate signed by two Officers or by any Officer and either an
Assistant Treasurer or an Assistant Corporate Secretary of the Company or the
Guarantor, as the case may be, that complies with the requirements of Section
314(e) of the Trust Indenture Act and is delivered to the Trustee.
"Opinion of Counsel" means a written opinion of counsel, who (unless
otherwise provided herein) may be an employee of or counsel for the Company or
the Guarantor, as the case may be, or other counsel who shall be reasonably
acceptable to the Trustee, that, if required by the Trust Indenture Act,
complies with the requirements of Section 314(e) of the Trust Indenture Act.
"Original Issue Discount Security" means any Security issued pursuant
to this Indenture which provides for an amount less than the principal face
amount thereof to be due and payable upon acceleration of the Maturity thereof
pursuant to Section 502.
"Outstanding", when used with respect to any Securities, means, as of
the date of determination, all such Securities theretofore authenticated and
delivered under this Indenture, except:
(1) any such Security theretofore canceled by the Trustee or the
Security Registrar or delivered to the Trustee or the Security Registrar for
cancellation;
(2) any such Security for whose payment at the Maturity thereof money
in the necessary amount has been theretofore deposited pursuant hereto (other
than pursuant to Section 402) with the Trustee or any Paying Agent (other than
the Company or the Guarantor) in trust or set aside and segregated in trust by
the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be (if the Company or Guarantor
shall act as its own Paying Agent) for the Holders of such Securities and any
Coupons appertaining thereto, provided that, if such Securities are to be
redeemed, notice of such redemption has been duly given pursuant to this
Indenture or provision therefore satisfactory to the Trustee has been made;
(3) any such Security with respect to which the Company has effected
defeasance or covenant defeasance pursuant to Section 402, except to the extent
provided in Section 402; and
(4) any such Security which has been paid pursuant to Section 306 or in
exchange for or in lieu of which other Securities have been authenticated and
delivered pursuant to this Indenture, unless there shall have been presented to
the Trustee proof satisfactory to it that such Security is held by a bona fide
purchaser in whose hands such Security is a valid obligation of the Company;
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 or are present at
a meeting of Holders of Securities for quorum purposes, (i) the principal amount
of an Original Issue Discount Security that may be counted in making such
determination and that shall be deemed to be Outstanding for such purposes shall
be equal to the amount of the principal thereof that pursuant to the terms of
such Original Issue Discount Security would be declared (or shall have been
declared to be) due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration thereof
pursuant to Section 502 at the time of such determination, and (ii) the
principal amount of any Indexed Security that may be counted in making such
determination and that shall be deemed outstanding for such purpose shall be
equal to the principal face amount of such Indexed Security at original
issuance, unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, and (iii)
the principal amount of a Security denominated in a Foreign Currency shall be
the Dollar equivalent, determined on the date of original issuance of such
Security, of the principal amount (or, in the case of an Original Issue Discount
Security, the Dollar equivalent on the date of original issuance of such
Security of the amount determined as provided in (i) above) of such Security,
and (iv) Securities beneficially owned by the Company, the Guarantor or any
other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company, the Guarantor
or such other obligor shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding,
except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in making any
such determination or relying upon any such request, demand, authorization,
direction, notice, consent or waiver, only Securities which the Trustee knows to
be so owned shall be so disregarded. Securities so owned which shall have been
pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes
to the satisfaction of the Trustee (a) the pledgee's right so to act with
respect to such Securities and (b) that the pledgee is not the Company, the
Guarantor or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Coupons appertaining
thereto or an Affiliate of the Company, the Guarantor or such other obligor.
"Paying Agent" means any Person authorized by the Company or the
Guarantor to pay the principal of, or any premium or interest on, or any
Additional Amounts with respect to, any Security or any Coupon on behalf of the
Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be.
"Person" means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture,
joint-stock company, limited liability company, trust, unincorporated
organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.
"Place of Payment", with respect to any Security, means the place or
places where the principal of, or any premium or interest on, or any Additional
Amounts with respect to such Security are payable as provided in or pursuant to
this Indenture or such Security.
"Predecessor Security" of any particular Security means every previous
Security evidencing all or a portion of the same indebtedness as that evidenced
by such particular Security; and, for the purposes of this definition, any
Security authenticated and delivered under Section 306 in exchange for or in
lieu of a lost, destroyed, mutilated or stolen Security or any Security to which
a mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Coupon appertains shall be deemed to
evidence the same indebtedness as the lost, destroyed, mutilated or stolen
Security or the Security to which a mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Coupon
appertains.
"Redemption Date", with respect to any Security or portion thereof to
be redeemed, means the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this
Indenture or such Security.
"Redemption Price", with respect to any Security or portion thereof to
be redeemed, means the price at which it is to be redeemed as determined by or
pursuant to this Indenture or such Security.
"Registered Security" means any Security established pursuant to
Section 201 which is registered in the Security Register.
"Regular Record Date" for the interest payable on any Registered
Security on any Interest Payment Date therefor means the date, if any, specified
in or pursuant to this Indenture or such Security as the "Regular Record Date".
"Rentals" means all fixed rents (including as such all payments which
the lessee is obligated to make to the lessor on termination of the lease or
surrender of the leased property) payable by the Company, the Guarantor or a
Restricted Subsidiary as lessee under a lease of real or personal property,
exclusive of any amounts required to be paid by the Company, the Guarantor or a
Restricted Subsidiary (whether or not designated as rents or additional rents)
on account of maintenance, repairs, insurance, taxes, assessments and similar
charges and contingent rents (such as those based on sales). Fixed rents under
any so-called "percentage leases" shall be computed solely on the basis of the
minimum rents, if any, required to be paid by the lessee regardless of sales
volume or gross revenues.
"Required Currency" has the meaning specified in Section 115.
"Responsible Officer", when used with respect to the Trustee, means any
officer of the Trustee in its Corporate Trust Office 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.
"Restricted Subsidiary" means the Company and any other Subsidiary (i)
which is organized under the laws of the United States or any State thereof or
Canada or Puerto Rico, (ii) which conducts substantially all of its business and
has substantially all of its assets within the United States or Canada or Puerto
Rico, (iii) of which more than 80% (by number of votes) of the voting securities
or other ownership interests having ordinary voting power to elect a majority of
the corporate directors or other persons performing similar functions of such
Subsidiary is owned by the Company, the Guarantor and/or one or more Restricted
Subsidiaries, and (iv) which is not designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary in
accordance with Section 1010 of this Indenture.
"Secured Funded Debt" means all Funded Debt of any Restricted
Subsidiary (other than the Company) which is secured by a mortgage, security
interest, pledge, conditional sale or other title retention agreement, or other
lien upon any assets of the Company, the Guarantor or a Restricted Subsidiary
(other than liabilities in connection with Capitalized Lease Obligations or
revenue bonds the interest on which is exempt from federal income tax pursuant
to section 103(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended (or any
successor provision thereof)).
"Security" or "Securities" means any note or notes, bond or bonds,
debenture or debentures, or any other evidences of indebtedness, as the case may
be, authenticated and delivered under this Indenture; provided, however, that,
if at any time there is more than one Person acting as Trustee under this
Indenture, "Securities", with respect to any such Person, shall mean Securities
authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, exclusive, however, of
Securities of any series as to which such Person is not Trustee.
"Security Register" and "Security Registrar" have the respective
meanings specified in Section 305.
"Special Record Date" for the payment of any Defaulted Interest on any
Registered Security means a date fixed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 307.
"Stated Maturity", with respect to any Security or any installment of
principal thereof or interest thereon or any Additional Amounts with respect
thereto, means the date established by or pursuant to this Indenture or such
Security as the fixed date on which the principal of such Security or such
installment of principal or interest is, or such Additional Amounts are, due and
payable.
"Subsidiary" means a corporation or other entity a majority of the
outstanding voting securities or other ownership interests having ordinary
voting power to elect a majority of the corporate directors or other Persons
performing similar functions of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by the
Guarantor or by one or more other Subsidiaries, or by the Guarantor and one or
more other Subsidiaries.
"Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
amended, and any reference herein to the Trust Indenture Act or a particular
provision thereof shall mean such Act or provision, as the case may be, as
amended or replaced from time to time or as supplemented from time to time by
rules or regulations adopted by the Commission under or in furtherance of the
purposes of such Act or provision, as the case may be.
"Trustee" means the Person named as the "Trustee" in the first
paragraph of this instrument until a successor Trustee shall have become such
with respect to one or more series of Securities pursuant to the applicable
provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter "Trustee" shall mean or include
each Person who is then a Trustee hereunder; provided, however, that 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
such series.
"United States", except for purposes of the definition of "Restricted
Subsidiary" and except as otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or
any Security, means the United States of America (including the states thereof
and the District of Columbia), its territories and possessions and other areas
subject to its jurisdiction.
"United States Alien", except as otherwise provided in or pursuant to
this Indenture or any Security, means any Person who, for United States Federal
income tax purposes, is a foreign corporation, a non-resident alien individual,
a non-resident alien fiduciary of a foreign estate or trust, or a foreign
partnership one or more of the members of which is, for United States Federal
income tax purposes, a foreign corporation, a non-resident alien individual or a
non-resident alien fiduciary of a foreign estate or trust.
"Unrestricted Subsidiary" means any Subsidiary which has been
designated by the Board of Directors of the Guarantor as an Unrestricted
Subsidiary in accordance with Section 1010 of this Indenture, and any Subsidiary
which does not come within the definition of a Restricted Subsidiary.
"U.S. Depository" or "Depository" means, with respect to any Security
issuable or issued in the form of one or more global Securities, the Person
designated as U.S. Depository or Depository by the Company in or pursuant to
this Indenture, which Person must be, to the extent required by applicable law
or regulation, a clearing agency registered under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended, and, if so provided with respect to any Security, any
successor to such Person. If at any time there is more than one such Person,
"U.S. Depository" or "Depository" shall mean, with respect to any Securities,
the qualifying entity which has been appointed with respect to such Securities.
"Vice President", when used with respect to the Company, the Guarantor
or the Trustee, means any vice president, whether or not designated by a number
or a word or words added before or after the title "Vice President".
Section 102. Compliance Certificates and Opinions.
Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Indenture, upon any
application or request by the Company or the Guarantor to the Trustee to take
any action under any provision of this Indenture, the Company or the Guarantor,
as the case may be, shall furnish to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate
stating that all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture
relating to the proposed action have been complied with and an Opinion of
Counsel stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions
precedent, if any, have been complied with, except that in the case of any such
application or request as to which the furnishing of such documents or any of
them is specifically required by any provision of this Indenture relating to
such particular application or request, no additional certificate or opinion
need be furnished.
Section 103. Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee.
In any case where several matters are required to be certified by, or
covered by an opinion of, any specified Person, it is not necessary that all
such matters be certified by, or covered by the opinion of, only one such
Person, or that they be 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 Company or the
Guarantor may be based, insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon an Opinion
of Counsel, unless such officer knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care
should know, that the opinion with respect to the matters upon which his
certificate or opinion is based are erroneous. Any such Opinion of Counsel may
be based, insofar as it relates to factual matters, upon a certificate or
opinion of, or representations by, an officer or officers of the Company or the
Guarantor stating that the information with respect to such factual matters is
in the possession of the Company or the Guarantor 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 or any Security, they may, but need not, be
consolidated and form one instrument.
Section 104. Acts of Holders.
(1) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent,
waiver or other action provided by or pursuant to this Indenture to be given or
taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of
substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by an agent duly
appointed in writing. If, but only if, Securities of a series are issuable as
Bearer Securities, any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice,
consent, waiver or other action provided in or pursuant to this Indenture to be
given or taken by Holders of Securities of such series may, alternatively, be
embodied in and evidenced by the record of Holders of Securities of such series
voting in favor thereof, either in person or by proxies duly appointed in
writing, at any meeting of Holders of Securities of such series duly called and
held in accordance with the provisions of Article Sixteen, or a combination of
such instruments and any such record. Except as herein otherwise expressly
provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments
or record or both are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly
required, to the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be. Such instrument
or instruments and any such record (and the action embodied therein and
evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the "Act" of the Holders
signing such instrument or instruments or so voting at any such meeting. Proof
of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent,
or of the holding by any Person of a Security, shall be sufficient for any
purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Section 315 of the Trust Indenture
Act) conclusive in favor of the Trustee, the Company and the Guarantor and any
agent of the Trustee, the Company, or the Guarantor, if made in the manner
provided in this Section. The record of any meeting of Holders of Securities
shall be proved in the manner provided in Section 1506.
Without limiting the generality of this Section 104, unless otherwise
provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, a Holder, including a U.S. Depository
that is a Holder of a global Security, may make, give or take, by a proxy, or
proxies, duly appointed in writing, any request, demand, authorization,
direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act provided in or pursuant to this
Indenture or the Securities to be made, given or taken by Holders, and a U.S.
Depository that is a Holder of a global Security may provide its proxy or
proxies to the beneficial owners of interests in any such global Security
through such U.S. Depository's standing instructions and customary practices.
(2) The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such
instrument or writing may be proved in any reasonable manner which the Trustee
deems sufficient and in accordance with such reasonable rules as the Trustee may
determine; and the Trustee may in any instance require further proof with
respect to any of the matters referred to in this Section.
(3) The ownership, principal amount and serial numbers of Registered
Securities held by any Person, and the date of the commencement and the date of
the termination of holding the same, shall be proved by the Security Register.
(4) The ownership, principal amount and serial numbers of Bearer
Securities held by any Person, and the date of the commencement and the date of
the termination of holding the same, may be proved by the production of such
Bearer Securities or by a certificate executed, as depositary, by any trust
company, bank or other depositary reasonably acceptable to the Company and the
Guarantor, wherever situated, if such certificate shall be deemed by the
Company, the Guarantor and the Trustee to be satisfactory, showing that at the
date therein mentioned such Person had on deposit with such depositary, or
exhibited to it, the Bearer Securities therein described; or such facts may be
proved by the certificate or affidavit of the Person holding such Bearer
Securities, if such certificate or affidavit is deemed by the Company and the
Trustee to be satisfactory. The Trustee, the Company and the Guarantor may
assume that such ownership of any Bearer Security continues until (i) another
certificate or affidavit bearing a later date issued in respect of the same
Bearer Security is produced, or (ii) such Bearer Security is produced to the
Trustee by some other Person, or (iii) such Bearer Security is surrendered in
exchange for a Registered Security, or (iv) such Bearer Security is no longer
Outstanding. The ownership, principal amount and serial numbers of Bearer
Securities held by the Person so executing such instrument or writing and the
date of the commencement and the date of the termination of holding the same may
also be proved in any other manner which the Company, the Guarantor and the
Trustee deem sufficient.
(5) If the Company shall solicit from the Holders of any Registered
Securities any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent,
waiver or other Act, the Company may at its option (but is not obligated to), by
a Company Board Resolution, fix in advance a record date for the determination
of Holders of Registered Securities entitled to give such request, demand,
authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act. If such a record
date is fixed, such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent,
waiver or other Act may be given before or after such record date, but only the
Holders of Registered Securities of record at the close of business on such
record date shall be deemed to be Holders for the purpose of determining whether
Holders of the requisite proportion of Outstanding Securities have authorized or
agreed or consented to such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice,
consent, waiver or other Act, and for that purpose the Outstanding Securities
shall be computed as of such record date; provided that no such authorization,
agreement or consent by the Holders of Registered Securities shall be deemed
effective unless it shall become effective pursuant to the provisions of this
Indenture not later than six months after the record date.
(6) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent,
waiver or other Act by the Holder of any Security shall bind every future Holder
of the same Security and the Holder of every Security issued upon the
registration of transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof in
respect of anything done or suffered to be done by the Trustee, any Security
Registrar, any Paying Agent, the Company or the Guarantor in reliance thereon,
whether or not notation of such Act is made upon such Security.
(7) Without limiting the foregoing, a Holder entitled hereunder to give
or 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 different part of such principal amount.
Section 105. Notices, Etc. to Trustee, Company and Guarantor.
Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver
or other 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, the Company or the Guarantor 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 Company or the Guarantor by the Trustee or any Holder shall be
sufficient for every purpose hereunder (unless otherwise herein expressly
provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to the Company
or the Guarantor addressed to the attention of its Treasurer 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 Company
or the Guarantor.
Section 106. Notice to Holders of Securities; Waiver.
Except as otherwise expressly provided in or pursuant to this
Indenture, where this Indenture provides for notice to Holders of Securities of
any event,
(1) such notice shall be sufficiently given to Holders of Registered
Securities if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder
of a Registered Security affected by such event, at his address as it appears in
the Security Register, not later than the latest date, and not earlier than the
earliest date, prescribed for the giving of such notice; and
(2) such notice shall be sufficiently given to Holders of Bearer
Securities, if any, if published in an Authorized Newspaper in The City of New
York and, if such Securities are then listed on any stock exchange outside the
United States, in an Authorized Newspaper in such city as the Company shall
advise the Trustee that such stock exchange so requires, on a Business Day at
least twice, the first such publication to be not earlier than the earliest date
and the second such publication not later than the latest date prescribed for
the giving of such notice.
In any case where notice to Holders of Registered Securities is given
by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice
so mailed, to any particular Holder of a Registered Security shall affect the
sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders of Registered
Securities or the sufficiency of any notice to Holders of Bearer Securities
given as provided herein. Any notice which is mailed in the manner herein
provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given or provided. In
the case by reason of the suspension of regular mail service or by reason of any
other cause it shall be impracticable to give such notice by mail, then such
notification as shall be made with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute
a sufficient notification for every purpose hereunder.
In case by reason of the suspension of publication of any Authorized
Newspaper or Authorized Newspapers or by reason of any other cause it shall be
impracticable to publish any notice to Holders of Bearers Securities as provided
above, then such notification to Holders of Bearer Securities as shall be given
with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute sufficient notice to such
Holders for every purpose hereunder. Neither failure to give notice by
publication to Holders of Bearer Securities as provided above, nor any defect in
any notice so published, shall affect the sufficiency of any notice mailed to
Holders of Registered Securities as provided above.
Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice may
be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice, either
before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such
notice. Waivers of notice by Holders of Securities shall be filed with the
Trustee, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of
any action taken in reliance upon such waiver.
Section 107. Language of Notices.
Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent,
election or waiver required or permitted under this Indenture shall be in the
English language, except that, if the Company so elects, any published notice
may be in an official language of the country of publication.
<PAGE>
Section 108. Conflict with Trust Indenture Act.
If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with any duties
under any required provision of the Trust Indenture Act imposed hereon by
Section 318(c) thereof, such required provision shall control.
Section 109. 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 110. Successors and Assigns.
All covenants and agreements in this Indenture by the Company or the
Guarantor shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.
Section 111. Separability Clause.
In case any provision in this Indenture, any Security or any Coupon or
Guarantee 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 112. Benefits of Indenture.
Nothing in this Indenture, any Security, any Coupon, or in the
Guarantees, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties
hereto, any Security Registrar, any Paying Agent and their successors hereunder
and the Holders of Securities or Coupons, any benefit or any legal or equitable
right, remedy or claim under this Indenture.
Section 113. Governing Law.
This Indenture, the Securities, any Coupons and the Guarantees shall be
governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York
applicable to agreements made or instruments entered into and, in each case,
performed in said state.
Section 114. Legal Holidays.
Unless otherwise specified in or pursuant to this Indenture or any
Securities, in any case where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date, Stated
Maturity or Maturity of any Security shall not be a Business Day at any Place of
Payment, then (notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, any
Security, Coupon or Guarantee other than a provision in any Security, Coupon or
Guarantee that specifically states that such provision shall apply in lieu of
this Section) payment of interests or principal (and premium, if any) need not
be made at such Place of Payment on such date, but such payment may be made on
the next succeeding Business Day at such Place of Payment with the same force
and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or at the
Stated Maturity or Maturity, and no interest shall accrue on the amount payable
on such date or at such time for the period from and after such Interest Payment
Date, Stated Maturity or Maturity, as the case may be, to the next succeeding
Business Day.
Section 115. Judgment Currency.
Each of the Company and the Guarantor agrees, to the fullest extent
that it may effectively do so under applicable law, that
(1) if for the purpose of obtaining judgment in any court it is
necessary to convert the sum due in respect of the principal of, or premium or
interest, if any, or Additional Amounts on the Securities of any series (the
"Required Currency") into a currency in which a judgment will be rendered (the
"Judgment Currency"), the rate of exchange used shall be the rate at which in
accordance with normal banking procedures the Trustee could purchase in The City
of New York the Required Currency with the Judgment Currency on the New York
Banking Day preceding that on which a final unappealable judgment is given and
(2) its obligations under this Indenture to make payments in the
Required Currency (i) shall not be discharged or satisfied by any tender, or any
recovery pursuant to any judgment (whether or not entered in accordance with
clause (1)), in any currency other than the Required Currency, except to the
extent that such tender or recovery shall result in the actual receipt, by the
payee, of the full amount of the Required Currency expressed to be payable in
respect of such payments, (ii) shall be enforceable as an alternative or
additional cause of action for the purpose of recovering in the Required
Currency the amount, if any, by which such actual receipt shall fall short of
the full amount of the Required Currency so expressed to be payable and (iii)
shall not be affected by judgment being obtained for any other sum due under
this Indenture. For purposes of the foregoing, "New York Banking Day" means any
day except a Saturday, Sunday or a legal holiday in The City of New York or a
day on which banking institutions in The City of New York are authorized or
obligated by law, regulation or executive order to be closed.
ARTICLE TWO
SECURITIES AND GUARANTEE FORMS
Section 201. Forms Generally.
Each Registered Security, Bearer Security, Coupon and temporary or
permanent global Security issued pursuant to this Indenture shall be in the form
established by or pursuant to a Company Board Resolution or in one or more
indentures supplemental hereto, shall have such appropriate insertions,
omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by or
pursuant to this Indenture or any indenture supplemental hereto, and the
Guarantees shall be in substantially the form set forth in Section 202 or in
such other form as shall be established pursuant to a Guarantor 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 the rules of any securities exchange or as may,
consistently herewith, be determined by the officers executing such Security,
Coupon or Guarantee as evidenced by their execution of such Security, Coupon or
Guarantee. If the form of Registered Security, Bearer Security, Coupon,
temporary or permanent global Security or Guarantee is established by action
taken pursuant to a Board Resolution of the Company or the Guarantor, as the
case may be, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified
by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company or the Guarantor, as
the case may be, and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the
Company Order contemplated by Section 303 for the authentication and delivery of
such Registered Security, Bearer Security, Coupon, temporary or permanent global
Security or Guarantee.
Unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or any
Securities, the Securities shall be issuable in registered form without Coupons.
Definitive Securities, definitive Coupons and the Guarantees shall be
printed, lithographed or engraved on steel engraved borders or may be produced
in any other manner, all as determined by the officers of the Company executing
such Securities, Coupons or Guarantees, as evidenced by their execution of such
Securities, Coupons or Guarantees.
Section 202. Guarantee by Guarantor: Form of Guarantee.
The Guarantor by its execution of this Indenture hereby agrees with
each Holder of a Security authenticated and delivered by the Trustee, and with
the Trustee on behalf of each such Holder, to be unconditionally bound by the
terms and provisions of the Guarantee set forth below and authorizes the
Chairman of the Board, President or Vice President or the Treasurer of the
Guarantor to execute, manually or by facsimile signature in the name and on
behalf of the Guarantor, and to confirm such Guarantee to the Holder of each
such Security by its execution and delivery of each such Security, with such
Guarantee endorsed thereon, authenticated and delivered by the Trustee. When
delivered pursuant to the provisions of Section 303 hereof, the Guarantee so set
forth on the Security shall bind the Guarantor notwithstanding the fact that
such Guarantee does not bear the signature of the Guarantor.
Guarantees to be endorsed on the Securities shall, subject to Section
201, be in substantially the form set forth below:
GUARANTEE
For value received, Heilig-Meyers Company, a corporation
organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia (herein called
the "Guarantor," which term includes any successor corporation under
the Indenture referred to in the Security upon which this Guarantee is
endorsed), hereby unconditionally guarantees to the Holder of the
Security upon which this Guarantee is endorsed and to the Trustee on
behalf of the Trustee and such Holder the due and punctual payment of
the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such Security, any
other amount due and payable pursuant to the terms of the Indenture and
the due and punctual payment of the sinking fund or analogous payments
referred to therein if any, when and as the same shall become due and
payable, whether at the Stated Maturity, by declaration of
acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise, according to the terms
thereof and of the Indenture referred to therein. In case of the
failure of MacSaver Financial Services, Inc., a corporation organized
under the laws of Delaware (herein called the "Company," which term
includes any successor corporation under such Indenture), punctually to
make any such payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest, the
Guarantor hereby agrees to cause any such payment to be made punctually
when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at the
Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption
or otherwise, and as if such payment were made by the Company.
The Guarantor hereby agrees that its obligations hereunder shall be as
if it were principal debtor and not merely surety, and shall be
absolute and unconditional, irrespective of, and shall be unaffected
by, any invalidity, irregularity or unenforceability of such Security
or such Indenture, any failure to enforce the provisions of such
Security or such Indenture, or any waiver, modification or indulgence
granted to the Company with respect thereto, by the holder of such
Security or the Trustee or any other circumstance which may otherwise
constitute a legal or equitable discharge of a surety or guarantor. The
Guarantor hereby waives the benefits of division and discussion,
diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a
court in the event of merger, insolvency or bankruptcy of the Company,
any right to require a proceeding first against the Company, protest or
notice with respect to such Security or the indebtedness evidenced
thereby and all demands whatsoever, and covenants that this Guarantee
will not be discharged except by strict and complete performance of the
obligations contained in such Security and this Guarantee. The
Guarantor hereby agrees that, in the event of a default in payment of
principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such Security, or
default in any sinking fund or analogous payment referred to therein,
legal proceedings may be instituted by the Trustee on behalf of, or by,
the Holder of such Security, on the terms and conditions set forth in
the Indenture, directly against the Guarantor to enforce this Guarantee
without first proceeding against the Company.
The Guarantor shall be subrogated to all rights of the Holder
of such Security and the Trustee against the Company in respect of any
amounts paid to such Holder by the Guarantor on account of such
Security pursuant to the provisions of this Guarantee or the Indenture;
provided, however, that the Guarantor shall not be entitled to enforce,
or to receive any payments arising out of or based upon, such right of
subrogation until the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on
all Securities issued under such Indenture shall have been paid in
full.
No reference herein to such Indenture and no provision of this
Guarantee or of such Indenture shall alter or impair the guarantee of
the Guarantor, which is absolute and unconditional, of the due and
punctual payment of principal, premium (if any), and interest on the
Security upon which this Guarantee is endorsed.
This Guarantee shall not be valid or obligatory for any
purpose until the certificate of authentication of the Security upon
which this Guarantee is endorsed shall have been manually executed by
or on behalf of the Trustee under such Indenture.
All terms used in this Guarantee which are defined in such
Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in such Indenture.
This Guarantee shall be deemed to be a contract made under the
laws of the State of New York, and for all purposes shall be governed
by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Guarantor has caused this Guarantee to
be duly executed under its corporate seal and dated the date on the face hereof.
HEILIG-MEYERS COMPANY
By: _________________________________
Title: _________________________________
Attest:
- ----------------------------------
Each Guarantee shall be dated the date of the Security upon which it is
endorsed. Reference is made to Article Thirteen for further provisions with
respect to the Guarantees.
Section 203. Form of Trustee's Certificate of Authentication.
Subject to Section 611, the Trustee's certificate 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.
---------------------------------------,
as Trustee
Dated:
By:____________________________________
Authorized Officer
Section 204. Securities in Global Form.
Unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or any
Securities, the Securities shall not be issuable in global form. If Securities
of a series shall be issuable in temporary or permanent global form, any such
Security may provide that it or any number of such Securities shall represent
the aggregate amount of all Outstanding Securities of such series (or such
lesser amount as is permitted by the terms thereof) from time to time endorsed
thereon and may also provide that the aggregate amount of Outstanding Securities
represented thereby may from time to time be increased or reduced to reflect
exchanges. Any endorsement of any Security in global form to reflect the amount,
or any increase or decrease in the amount, or changes in the rights of Holders,
of Outstanding Securities represented thereby shall be made in such manner and
by such Person or Persons as shall be specified therein or in the Company Order
or Guarantor Order to be delivered pursuant to Section 303 or 304 with respect
thereto. Subject to the provisions of Section 303 and, if applicable, Section
304, the Trustee shall deliver and redeliver any Security in permanent global
form in the manner and upon instructions given by the Person or Persons
specified therein or in the applicable Company Order or Guarantor Order. If a
Company Order pursuant to Section 303 or 304 has been, or simultaneously is,
delivered, any instructions by the Company with respect to a Security in global
form shall be in writing but need not be accompanied by or contained in a
Company Officers' Certificate and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of
Counsel.
Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 307, unless otherwise
specified in or pursuant to this Indenture or any Securities, payment of
principal of, any premium and interest on, and any Additional Amounts in respect
of any Security in temporary or permanent global form shall be made to the
Person or Persons specified therein.
Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 308 and except as provided in
the preceding paragraph, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company
and the Trustee shall treat as the Holder of such principal amount of
Outstanding Securities represented by a global Security (i) in the case of a
global Security in registered form, the Holder of such global Security in
registered form, or (ii) in the case of a global Security in bearer form, the
Person or Persons specified pursuant to Section 301.
ARTICLE THREE
THE SECURITIES
Section 301. Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series.
The aggregate principal amount of Securities which may be authenticated
and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited. The Securities may be issued in
one or more series.
With respect to any Securities to be authenticated and delivered
hereunder, there shall be established in or pursuant to a Company Board
Resolution and set forth in a Company Officers' Certificate, or established in
one or more indentures supplemental hereto prior to the issuance of any
Securities of a series,
(1) the title or designation of such Securities and the series in
which such Securities shall be included;
(2) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of
such title or designation or the Securities of such series which may be
authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities
authenticated and delivered upon registration or transfer of, or in exchange
for, or in lieu of, other Securities of such series pursuant to Section 304,
305, 306, 905 or 1107, upon repayment in part of any Registered Security of such
series pursuant to Article Fourteen, upon surrender in part of any Registered
Security for conversion or exchange into other securities pursuant to its terms,
or pursuant to the terms of such Securities);
(3) if such Securities are to be issuable as Registered Securities, as
Bearer Securities or alternatively as Bearer Securities and Registered
Securities, and whether the Bearer Securities are to be issuable with Coupons,
without Coupons or both, and any restrictions applicable to the offer, sale or
delivery of the Bearer Securities and the terms, if any, upon which Bearer
Securities may be exchanged for Registered Securities and vice versa;
(4) if any of such Securities are to be issuable in global form, when
any of such Securities are to be issuable in global form and (i) whether such
Securities are to be issued in temporary or permanent global form or both, (ii)
whether beneficial owners of interests in any such global Security may exchange
such interests for Securities of the same series and of like tenor and of any
authorized form and denomination, and the circumstances under which any such
exchanges may occur, if other than in the manner specified in Section 305, and
(iii) the name of the Depository or the U.S. Depository, as the case may be,
with respect to any global Security;
(5) if any of such Securities are to be issuable as Bearer Securities
or in global form, the date as of which any such Bearer Security or global
Security shall be dated (if other than the date of original issuance of the
first of such Securities to be issued);
(6) if any of such Securities are to be issuable as Bearer Securities,
whether interest in respect of any portion of a temporary Bearer Security in
global form payable in respect of an Interest Payment Date therefor prior to the
exchange, if any, of such temporary Bearer Security for definitive Securities
shall be paid to any clearing organization with respect to the portion of such
temporary Bearer Security held for its account and, in such event, the terms and
conditions (including any certification requirements) upon which any such
interest payment received by a clearing organization will be credited to the
Persons entitled to interest payable on such Interest Payment Date;
(7) the date or dates, or the method or methods, if any, by which such
date or dates shall be determined, on which the principal of such Securities is
payable;
(8) the rate or rates at which such Securities shall bear interest, if
any, or the method or methods, if any, by which such rate or rates are to be
determined, the date or dates, if any, from which such interest shall accrue or
the method or methods, if any, by which such date or dates are to be determined,
the Interest Payment Dates, if any, on which such interest shall be payable and
the Regular Record Date, if any, for the interest payable on Registered
Securities on any Interest Payment Date, whether and under what circumstances
Additional Amounts on such Securities or any of them shall be payable, the
notice, if any, to Holders regarding the determination of interest on a floating
rate Security and the manner of giving such notice, and the basis upon which
interest shall be calculated if other than that of a 360-day year of twelve
30-day months;
(9) if in addition to or other than the Borough of Manhattan, The City
of New York, the place or places where the principal of, any premium and
interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to such Securities shall be
payable, any of such Securities that are Registered Securities may be
surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange, any of such Securities may
be surrendered for conversion or exchange and notices or demands to or upon the
Company or the Guarantor in respect of such Securities and this Indenture may be
served, the extent to which, or the manner in which, any interest payment or
Additional Amounts on a global Security on an Interest Payment Date will be paid
and the manner in which any principal of or premium, if any, on any global
Security will be paid;
(10) whether any of such Securities are to be redeemable at the option
of the Company and, if so, the date or dates on which, the period or periods
within which, the price or prices at which and the other terms and conditions
upon which such Securities may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option
of the Company and, if other than by a Company Board Resolution, the manner in
which any election by the Company to redeem the Securities shall be evidenced;
(11) if the Company is obligated to redeem or purchase any of such
Securities pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provision or at the option
of any Holder thereof and, if so, the date or dates on which, the period or
periods within which, the price or prices at which and the other terms and
conditions upon which such Securities shall be redeemed or purchased, in whole
or in part, pursuant to such obligation, and any provisions for the remarketing
of such Securities so redeemed or purchased;
(12) the denominations in which any of such Securities that are
Registered Securities shall be issuable if other than denominations of $1,000
and any integral multiple thereof, and the denominations in which any of such
Securities that are Bearer Securities shall be issuable if other than the
denomination of $5,000;
(13) if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the
principal amount of any of such Securities that shall be payable upon
declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502 or
the method by which such portion is to be determined;
(14) if other than Dollars, the Foreign Currency in which payment of
the principal of, any premium or interest on or any Additional Amounts with
respect to any of such Securities shall be payable;
(15) if the principal of, any premium or interest on or any Additional
Amounts with respect to any of such Securities are to be payable, at the
election of the Company or a Holder thereof or otherwise, in Dollars or in a
Foreign Currency other than that in which such Securities are stated to be
payable, the date or dates on which, the period or periods within which, and the
other terms and conditions upon which, such election may be made, and the time
and manner of determining the exchange rate between the Currency in which such
Securities are stated to be payable and the Currency in which such Securities or
any of them are to be paid pursuant to such election, and any deletions from or
modifications of or additions to the terms of this Indenture to provide for or
to facilitate the issuance of Securities denominated or payable, at the election
of the Company or a Holder thereof or otherwise, in a Foreign Currency;
(16) if the amount of payments of principal of, any premium or interest
on or any Additional Amounts with respect to such Securities may be determined
with reference to an index, indices, formula or other method or methods (which
index, indices, formula or method or methods may be based, without limitation,
on one or more Currencies, commodities, equity indices or other indices), and,
if so, the terms and conditions upon which and the manner in which such amounts
shall be determined and paid or payable;
(17) any deletions from, modifications of or additions to the Events of
Default or covenants of the Company with respect to any of such Securities,
whether or not such Events of Default or covenants are consistent with the
Events of Default or covenants set forth herein;
(18) if either or both of Section 402(2) relating to defeasance or
Section 402(3) relating to covenant defeasance shall not be applicable to the
Securities of such series, or any covenants in addition to those specified in
Section 402(3) relating to the Securities of such series which shall be subject
to covenant defeasance, and any deletions from, or modifications or additions
to, the provisions of Article Four in respect of the Securities of such series;
(19) if any of such Securities are to be issuable upon the exercise
of warrants, and the time, manner and place for such Securities to be
authenticated and delivered;
(20) if any of such Securities are to be issuable in global form and
are to be issuable in definitive form (whether upon original issue or upon
exchange of a temporary Security) only upon receipt of certain certificates or
other documents or satisfaction of other conditions, then the form and terms of
such certificates, documents or conditions;
(21) if there is more than one Trustee, the identity of the Trustee
and, if not the Trustee, the identity of each Security Registrar, Paying Agent
or Authenticating Agent with respect to such Securities; and
(22) any other terms of such Securities and any deletions from or
modifications or additions to this Indenture in respect of such Securities
(which terms shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture,
except as permitted by Section 901(11))..
All Securities (and Guarantees endorsed thereon) of any one series and
all Coupons, if any, appertaining to Bearer Securities of such series shall be
substantially identical except as to Currency of payments due thereunder,
denomination and the rate of interest, or method of determining the rate of
interest, if any, Maturity, and the date from which interest, if any, shall
accrue and except as may otherwise be provided by the Company in or pursuant to
the Company Board Resolution and set forth in the Company Officers' Certificate
or in any indenture or indentures supplemental hereto pertaining to such series
of Securities. The terms of the Securities of any series may provide, without
limitation, that the Securities shall be authenticated and delivered by the
Trustee on original issue from time to time upon telephonic or written order of
persons designated in the Company Officers' Certificate or supplemental
indenture (telephonic instructions to be promptly confirmed in writing by such
person) and that such persons are authorized to determine, consistent with such
Company Officers' Certificate or any applicable supplemental indenture, such
terms and conditions of the Securities of such series as are specified in such
Company Officers' Certificate or supplemental indenture. All Securities of any
one series need not be issued at the same time and, unless otherwise so provided
by the Company, a series may be reopened for issuances of additional Securities
of such series.
If any of the terms of the Securities of any series shall be
established and approved by action taken by or pursuant Board Resolutions of the
Company and the Guarantor, respectively, copies of appropriate records of such
actions shall be certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the
Company and the Guarantor, respectively, and delivered to the Trustee at or
prior to the delivery of the Officers' Certificates setting forth the terms of
such series.
Section 302. Currency; Denominations.
Unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, the
principal of, any premium and interest on and any Additional Amounts with
respect to the Securities shall be payable in Dollars. Unless otherwise provided
in or pursuant to this Indenture, Registered Securities denominated in Dollars
shall be issuable in registered form without Coupons in denominations of $1,000
and any integral multiple thereof, and the Bearer Securities denominated in
Dollars shall be issuable in the denomination of $5,000. Securities not
denominated in Dollars shall be issuable in such denominations as are
established with respect to such Securities in or pursuant to this Indenture.
Section 303. Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating.
Securities shall be executed on behalf of the Company by any Officer
under its corporate seal reproduced thereon and attested by its Corporate
Secretary (provided that the Corporate Secretary shall not attest his or her own
signature as an Officer) or one of its Assistant Corporate Secretaries. Coupons
shall be executed on behalf of the Company by the Corporate Secretary or one of
the Assistant Corporate Secretaries of the Company. The signature of any of
these officers on the Securities or any Coupons appertaining thereto may be
manual or facsimile.
Securities, Coupons appertaining thereto and Guarantees bearing the
manual or facsimile signatures of individuals who were at any time the proper
officers of the Company or the Guarantor shall bind the Company and the
Guarantor, respectively, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them
have ceased to hold such offices prior to the authentication and delivery of
such Securities, Coupons or Guarantees or did not hold such offices at the date
of such Securities, Coupons or Guarantees.
At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of
this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities, together with any Coupons
appertaining thereto, executed by the Company, having endorsed thereon
Guarantees of the Guarantor, to the Trustee for authentication and, provided
that the Company Board Resolution and Company Officers' Certificate or
supplemental indenture or indentures with respect to such Securities referred to
in Section 301 and a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of such
Securities and a Guarantor Order approving the delivery of the Guarantees
endorsed thereon have been delivered to the Trustee, the Trustee in accordance
with the Company and Guarantor Orders and subject to the provisions hereof and
of such Securities shall authenticate and deliver such Securities having such
Guarantees. In authenticating such Securities, and accepting the additional
responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities and any
Coupons appertaining thereto, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and
(subject to Sections 315(a) through 315(d) of the Trust Indenture Act) shall be
fully protected in relying upon,
1. an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that:
2. the form or forms and terms of such Securities and
Coupons, if any, and Guarantees have been established or approved by or pursuant
to Board Resolutions of the Company and the Guarantor in conformity with
Sections 201 and 301 of this Indenture;
3. all conditions precedent to the authentication and delivery
of such Securities and Coupons, if any, appertaining thereto, and of such
Guarantees have been complied with and that such Securities, Coupons and
Guarantees, when completed by appropriate insertions, executed under the
Company's corporate seal and attested by duly authorized officers of the Company
(in the case of the Securities or Coupons) or when completed by appropriate
insertions, executed under the Guarantor's corporate seal and attested by duly
authorized officers of the Guarantor (in the case of the Guarantee), delivered
by duly authorized officers of the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be,
to the Trustee for authentication pursuant to this Indenture, and authenticated
and delivered by the Trustee and issued by the Company and the Guarantor in the
manner and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will
constitute legally valid and binding obligations of the Company and of the
Guarantor, respectively, enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject, in
the case of the Securities to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
moratorium, arrangement, fraudulent conveyance, fraudulent transfer or other
similar laws of general applicability to the Company and relating to or
affecting creditors' rights and to general principles of equity (regardless of
whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding in equity or at law), and subject,
in the case of the Guarantees, to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
moratorium, arrangement, fraudulent conveyance, fraudulent transfer or other
similar laws of general applicability to the Guarantor and relating to or
affecting creditors' rights and to general principles of equity (regardless of
whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding in equity or at law); and
4. this Indenture has been qualified under the Trust
Indenture Act; and
5. a Company Officers' Certificate and Guarantor Officer's Certificate,
each stating that, to the best knowledge of the Persons executing such
certificate, no Default, or Event of Default with respect to any of the
Securities shall have occurred and be continuing.
If all the Securities of any series are not to be issued at one time,
unless requested by the Trustee, it shall not be necessary to deliver an Opinion
of Counsel at the time of issuance of each Security, but such opinion, with such
modifications as counsel shall deem appropriate, shall be delivered at or before
the time of issuance of the first Security of such series. After any such first
delivery, any separate request by the Company that the Trustee authenticate
Securities of such series for original issue will be deemed to be a
certification by the Company that all conditions precedent provided for in this
Indenture relating to authentication and delivery of such Securities continue to
have been complied with.
The Trustee shall not be required to authenticate or to cause an
Authenticating Agent to authenticate any 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 which is not reasonably acceptable to the Trustee or if the Trustee,
being advised by counsel, determines that such action may not lawfully be taken.
Each Registered Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.
Each Bearer Security and any temporary Bearer Security in global form shall be
dated as of the date specified in or pursuant to this Indenture.
No Security or Guarantee endorsed thereon or Coupon appertaining to
such 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 in Section
203 or 611 executed by or on behalf of the Trustee or by the Authenticating
Agent by the manual signature of one of its authorized officers. Such
certificate upon any Security shall be conclusive evidence, and the only
evidence, that such Security has been duly authenticated and delivered
hereunder. Except as permitted by Section 306 or 307, the Trustee shall not
authenticate and deliver any Bearer Security (or related Guarantee) unless all
Coupons appertaining thereto then matured have been detached and canceled.
Section 304. Temporary Securities.
Pending the preparation of definitive Securities, the Company may
execute and deliver to the Trustee and, upon Company Order and a Guarantor
Order, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the manner provided in
Section 303, temporary Securities in lieu thereof which are printed,
lithographed, typewritten, mimeographed or otherwise produced, in any authorized
denomination, substantially of the tenor of the definitive Securities in lieu of
which they are issued, in registered form or, if authorized in or pursuant to
this Indenture, in bearer form with one or more Coupons or without Coupons, and
having endorsed thereon Guarantees of the Guarantor substantially of the tenor
of the definitive Guarantees, with such appropriate insertions, omissions,
substitutions and other variations as the officers executing such Securities or
Guarantees may determine, as conclusively evidenced by their execution of such
Securities or Guarantees. Such temporary Securities may be in global form.
Except in the case of temporary Securities in global form, which shall
be exchanged in accordance with the provisions thereof, if temporary Securities
are issued, the Company shall cause definitive Securities to be prepared without
unreasonable delay. After the preparation of definitive Securities of the same
series and containing terms and provisions that are identical to those of any
temporary Securities, such temporary Securities shall be exchangeable for such
definitive Securities with Guarantees of the Guarantor endorsed thereon upon
surrender of such temporary Securities at an Office or Agency for such
Securities, without charge to any Holder thereof. Upon surrender for
cancellation of any one or more temporary Securities (accompanied by any
unmatured Coupons appertaining thereto), the Company shall execute and the
Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a like principal
amount of definitive Securities of authorized denominations of the same series
and containing identical terms and provisions which have endorsed thereon the
Guarantees of the Guarantor; provided, however, that no definitive Bearer
Security, except as provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, shall be
delivered in exchange for a temporary Registered Security; and provided,
further, that a definitive Bearer Security shall be delivered in exchange for a
temporary Bearer Security only in compliance with the conditions set forth in or
pursuant to this Indenture. Unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this
Indenture with respect to a temporary global Security, 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 305. Registration, Transfer and Exchange.
With respect to the Registered Securities of each series, if any, the
Company shall cause to be kept a register (each such register being herein
sometimes referred to as the "Security Register") at an Office or Agency for
such series in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may
prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration of the Registered
Securities of such series and of transfers of the Registered Securities of such
series. Such Office or Agency shall be the "Security Registrar" for that series
of Securities. Unless otherwise specified in or pursuant to this Indenture or
the Securities, the Trustee shall be the initial Security Registrar for each
series of Securities. The Company shall have the right to remove and replace
from time to time the Security Registrar for any series of Securities; provided
that no such removal or replacement shall be effective until a successor
Security Registrar with respect to such series of Securities shall have been
appointed by the Company and shall have accepted such appointment. In the event
that the Trustee shall not be or shall cease to be Security Registrar with
respect to a series of Securities, it shall have the right to examine the
Security Register for such series at all reasonable times. There shall be only
one Security Register for each series of Securities.
Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Registered Security
of any series at any Office or Agency for such series, the Company shall
execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the
designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Registered Securities of
the same series denominated as authorized in or pursuant to this Indenture, of a
like aggregate principal amount bearing a number not contemporaneously
outstanding and containing identical terms and provisions, having endorsed
thereon the Guarantee duly executed by the Guarantor.
At the option of the Holder, Registered Securities of any series may be
exchanged for other Registered Securities of the same series containing
identical terms and provisions, in any authorized denominations, and of a like
aggregate principal amount, upon surrender of the Securities to be exchanged at
any Office or Agency for such series. Whenever any Registered Securities are so
surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall
authenticate and deliver, the Registered Securities which the Holder making the
exchange is entitled to receive, having endorsed thereon Guarantees of the
Guarantor which the Holder is entitled to receive.
If provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, with respect to
Securities of any series, at the option of the Holder, Bearer Securities of such
series may be exchanged for Registered Securities of such series containing
identical terms, denominated as authorized in or pursuant to this Indenture and
in the same aggregate principal amount, upon surrender of the Bearer Securities
to be exchanged at any Office or Agency for such series, with all unmatured
Coupons and all matured Coupons in default thereto appertaining. If the Holder
of a Bearer Security is unable to produce any such unmatured Coupon or Coupons
or matured Coupon or Coupons in default, such exchange may be effected if the
Bearer Securities are accompanied by payment in funds acceptable to the Company
and the Trustee in an amount equal to the face amount of such missing Coupon or
Coupons, or the surrender of such missing Coupon or Coupons may be waived by the
Company and the Trustee if there is furnished to them such security or indemnity
as they may require to save each of them and any Paying Agent harmless. If
thereafter the Holder of such Bearer Security shall surrender to any Paying
Agent any such missing Coupon in respect of which such a payment shall have been
made, such Holder shall be entitled to receive the amount of such payment;
provided, however, that, except as otherwise provided in Section 1002, interest
represented by Coupons shall be payable only upon presentation and surrender of
those Coupons at an Office or Agency for such series located outside the United
States. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in case a Bearer Security of any series
is surrendered at any such Office or Agency for such series in exchange for a
Registered Security of such series and like tenor after the close of business at
such Office or Agency on (i) any Regular Record Date and before the opening of
business at such Office or Agency on the relevant Interest Payment Date, or (ii)
any Special Record Date and before the opening of business at such Office or
Agency on the related date for payment of Defaulted Interest, such Bearer
Security shall be surrendered without the Coupon relating to such Interest
Payment Date or proposed date of payment, as the case may be (or, if such Coupon
is so surrendered with such Bearer Security, such Coupon shall be returned to
the Person so surrendering the Bearer Security), and interest or Defaulted
Interest, as the case may be, shall not be payable on such Interest Payment Date
or proposed date for payment, as the case may be, in respect of the Registered
Security issued in exchange for such Bearer Security, but shall be payable only
to the Holder of such Coupon when due in accordance with the provisions of this
Indenture.
If provided in or pursuant to this Indenture with respect to Securities
of any series, at the option of the Holder, Registered Securities of such series
may be exchanged for Bearer Securities upon such terms and conditions as may be
provided in or pursuant to this Indenture with respect to such series.
Whenever any Securities are surrendered for exchange as contemplated by
the immediately preceding two paragraphs, the Company shall execute, and the
Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Securities, having endorsed thereon
Guarantees of the Guarantor, which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to
receive.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, except as otherwise provided in or
pursuant to this Indenture, any global Security shall be exchangeable for
definitive Securities only if (i) the Depository is at any time unwilling,
unable or ineligible to continue as Depository and a successor depository is not
appointed by the Company within 90 days of the date the Company is so informed
in writing, (ii) the Company executes and delivers to the Trustee a Company
Order to the effect that such global Security shall be so exchangeable, or (iii)
an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to the
Securities. If the beneficial owners of interests in a global Security are
entitled to exchange such interests for definitive Securities as the result of
an event described in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) of the preceding sentence, then
without unnecessary delay but in any event not later than the earliest date on
which such interests may be so exchanged, the Company shall deliver to the
Trustee definitive Securities in such form and denominations as are required by
or pursuant to this Indenture, and of the same series, containing identical
terms and in aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such
global Security, executed by the Company. On or after the earliest date on which
such interests may be so exchanged, such global Security shall be surrendered
from time to time by the U.S. Depository or such other Depository as shall be
specified in the Company Order with respect thereto, and in accordance with
instructions given to the Trustee and the U.S. Depository or such other
Depository, as the case may be (which instructions shall be in writing but need
not be contained in or accompanied by an Officers' Certificate or be accompanied
by an Opinion of Counsel), as shall be specified in the Company Order with
respect thereto to the Trustee, as the Company's agent for such purpose, to be
exchanged, in whole or in part, for definitive Securities as described above
without charge. The Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery,
in exchange for each portion of such surrendered global Security, a like
aggregate principal amount of definitive Securities of the same series of
authorized denominations and of like tenor as the portion of such global
Security to be exchanged, which (unless such Securities are not issuable both as
Bearer Securities and as Registered Securities, in which case the definitive
Securities exchanged for the global Security shall be issuable only in the form
in which the Securities are issuable, as provided in or pursuant to this
Indenture) shall be in the form of Bearer Securities or Registered Securities,
or any combination thereof, as shall be specified by the beneficial owner
thereof, but subject to the satisfaction of any certification or other
requirements to the issuance of Bearer Securities; provided, however, that no
such exchanges may occur during a period beginning at the opening of business 15
days before any selection of Securities of the same series to be redeemed and
ending on the relevant Redemption Date; and provided, further, that (unless
otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture) no Bearer Security
delivered in exchange for a portion of a global Security shall be mailed or
otherwise delivered to any location in the United States. Promptly following any
such exchange in part, such global Security shall be returned by the Trustee to
such Depository or the U.S. Depository, as the case may be, or such other
Depository or U.S. Depository referred to above in accordance with the
instructions of the Company referred to above. If a Registered Security is
issued in exchange for any portion of a global Security after the close of
business at the Office or Agency for such Security where such exchange occurs on
or after (i) any Regular Record Date for such Security and before the opening of
business at such Office or Agency on the next Interest Payment Date, or (ii) any
Special Record Date for such Security and before the opening of business at such
Office or Agency on the related proposed date for payment of interest or
Defaulted Interest, as the case may be, interest shall not be payable on such
Interest Payment Date or proposed date for payment, as the case may be, in
respect of such Registered Security, but shall be payable on such Interest
Payment Date or proposed date for payment, as the case may be, only to the
Person to whom interest in respect of such portion of such global Security shall
be payable in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.
All Securities issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of
Securities, and all Guarantees endorsed thereon, shall be the valid obligations
of the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, evidencing the same debt
and entitling the Holders thereof to the same benefits under this Indenture as
the Securities and all the Guarantees endorsed thereon surrendered upon such
registration of transfer or exchange.
Every Registered Security presented or surrendered for registration of
transfer or for exchange or redemption shall (if so required by the Company or
the Security Registrar for such Security) be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by
a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the
Security Registrar for such Security duly executed by the Holder thereof or his
attorney duly authorized in writing.
No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or
exchange, or redemption of Securities, but the Company may require payment of a
sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge and any other
expenses (including fees and expenses of the Trustee) that may be imposed in
connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, other
than exchanges pursuant to Section 304, 905 or 1107, or upon repayment in part
of any Registered Security pursuant to Article Fourteen, in each case not
involving any transfer.
Except as otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, the
Company shall not be required (i) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange
any Securities during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days
before the day of the selection for redemption of Securities of like tenor and
the same series under Section 1103 and ending at the close of business on the
day of such selection, or (ii) to register the transfer of or exchange any
Registered Security so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except in
the case of any Security to be redeemed in part, the portion thereof not to be
redeemed, or (iii) to exchange any Bearer Security so selected for redemption
except, to the extent provided with respect to such Bearer Security, that such
Bearer Security may be exchanged for a Registered Security of like tenor and the
same series, provided that such Registered Security shall be immediately
surrendered for redemption with written instruction for payment consistent with
the provisions of this Indenture or (iv) to issue, register the transfer of or
exchange any Security which, in accordance with its terms, has been surrendered
for repayment at the option of the Holder, except the portion, if any, of such
Security not to be so repaid.
Section 306. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities.
If any mutilated Security or a Security with a mutilated Coupon
appertaining to it is surrendered to the Trustee, subject to the provisions of
this Section 306, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate
and deliver in exchange therefor a new Security of the same series containing
identical terms and of like principal amount, having endorsed thereon the
Guarantee of the Guarantor, and bearing a number not contemporaneously
outstanding, with Coupons appertaining thereto corresponding to the Coupons, if
any, appertaining to the surrendered Security.
If there be delivered to the Company, the Guarantor and the Trustee (i)
evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security
or Coupon, and (ii) such security or indemnity as may be required by them to
save each of them and any agent of either of them harmless, then, in the absence
of notice to the Company, the Guarantor or the Trustee that such Security or
Coupon has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Company shall execute
and, upon the Company's request the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in
exchange for or in lieu of any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen
Security or in exchange for the Security to which a destroyed, lost or stolen
Coupon appertains with all appurtenant Coupons not destroyed, lost or stolen, a
new Security of the same series containing identical terms and of like principal
amount, having endorsed thereon the Guarantee of the Guarantor, and bearing a
number not contemporaneously outstanding, with Coupons corresponding to the
Coupons, if any, appertaining to such destroyed, lost or stolen Security or to
the Security to which such destroyed, lost or stolen Coupon appertains.
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 306, in case
any mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security or Coupon has become or is
about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may, instead of
issuing a new Security, pay such Security or Coupon; provided, however, that
payment of principal of, any premium or interest on or any Additional Amounts
with respect to any Bearer Securities shall, except as otherwise provided in
Section 1002, be payable only at an Office or Agency for such Securities located
outside the United States and, unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this
Indenture, any interest on Bearer Securities and any Additional Amounts with
respect to such interest shall be payable only upon presentation and surrender
of the Coupons appertaining thereto.
Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section, the Company
may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other
governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other
expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith.
Every new Security with any Coupons appertaining thereto, and the
Guarantee of the Guarantor endorsed thereon, issued pursuant to this Section in
lieu of any mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security, or in exchange for a
Security to which a mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Coupon appertains shall
constitute a separate obligation of the Company and the Guarantor, respectively,
whether or not the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security and Coupons
appertaining thereto or the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Coupon 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
such series and any Coupons, and related Guarantees, duly issued hereunder.
The provisions of this Section, as amended or supplemented pursuant to
this Indenture with respect to particular Securities or generally, shall be
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 or Coupons.
Section 307. Payment of Interest and Certain Additional Amounts;
Rights to Interest and Certain Additional Amounts
Preserved.
Unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, any
interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to any Registered Security
which shall be payable, and are punctually paid or duly provided for, on any
Interest Payment Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name such Security
(or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered as of the close of
business on the Regular Record Date for such interest. Unless otherwise provided
in or pursuant to this Indenture, in case a Bearer Security is surrendered in
exchange for a Registered Security after the close of business at an Office or
Agency for such Security on any Regular Record Date therefor and before the
opening of business at such Office or Agency on the next succeeding Interest
Payment Date therefor, such Bearer Security shall be surrendered without the
Coupon relating to such Interest Payment Date and interest shall not be payable
on such Interest Payment Date in respect of the Registered Security issued in
exchange for such Bearer Security, but shall be payable only to the Holder of
such Coupon when due in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.
Unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, any
interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to any Registered Security
which shall be payable, but shall not be punctually paid or duly provided for,
on any Interest Payment Date for such Registered Security (herein called
"Defaulted Interest") shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder thereof
on the relevant Regular Record Date by virtue of having been such Holder; and
such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Company, at its election in each
case, as provided in Clause (1) or (2) below:
6. The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to
the Person in whose name such Registered Security (or a Predecessor Security
thereof) shall be registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date
for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the
following manner. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount
of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on such Registered Security and the
date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit
with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be
paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements
satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit on or prior to the date of the
proposed payment, such money when so deposited to be held in trust for the
benefit of the Person entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this Clause
provided. Thereupon, the Trustee shall fix a Special Record Date for the payment
of such Defaulted Interest which shall be not more than 15 days and not less
than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days
after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The
Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such Special Record Date and, in
the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed
payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be
mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to the Holder of such Registered Security
(or a Predecessor Security thereof) at his address as it appears in the Security
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 Company cause a
similar notice to be published at least once in an Authorized Newspaper 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 Person in whose name such Registered
Security (or a Predecessor Security thereof) shall be registered at the close of
business on such Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to
the following clause (2). In case a Bearer Security is surrendered at the Office
or Agency for such Security in exchange for a Registered Security after the
close of business at such Office or Agency on any Special Record Date and before
the opening of business at such Office or Agency on the related proposed date
for payment of Defaulted Interest, such Bearer Security shall be surrendered
without the Coupon relating to such Defaulted Interest and Defaulted Interest
shall not be payable on such proposed date of payment in respect of the
Registered Security issued in exchange for such Bearer Security, but shall be
payable only to the Holder of such Coupon when due in accordance with the
provisions of this Indenture.
7. The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest in any other
lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange
on which such Security may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by
such exchange, if, after notice given by the Company to the Trustee of the
proposed payment pursuant to this Clause, such manner of payment shall be deemed
practicable by the Trustee.
Unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or the
Securities of any particular series, at the option of the Company, interest on
Registered Securities that bear interest may be paid by mailing a check to the
address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the
Security Register or by transfer to an account maintained by the payee with a
bank located in the United States.
Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section and Section 305,
each Security delivered under this Indenture upon registration of 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, which were carried by such other
Security.
Section 308. Persons Deemed Owners.
Prior to due presentment of a Registered Security for registration of
transfer, the Company, the Guarantor, the Trustee and any agent of the Company,
the Guarantor or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name such Registered
Security is registered in the Security Register as the absolute owner of such
Registered Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of, any
premium and (subject to Sections 305 and 307) interest on and any Additional
Amounts with respect to such Registered Security and for all other purposes
whatsoever, whether or not any payment with respect to such Registered Security
shall be overdue, and neither the Company, the Guarantor, the Trustee or any
agent of the Company, the Guarantor or the Trustee shall be affected by notice
to the contrary.
The Company, the Guarantor, the Trustee and any agent of the Company,
the Guarantor or the Trustee may treat the bearer of any Bearer Security or the
bearer of any Coupon as the absolute owner of such Security or Coupon for the
purpose of receiving payment thereof or on account thereof and for all other
purposes whatsoever, whether or not any payment with respect to such Security or
Coupon shall be overdue, and neither the Company, the Guarantor, the Trustee or
any agent of the Company, the Guarantor, 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 Depository shall have any rights under this Indenture with respect
to such global Security, and such Depository may be treated by the Company, the
Guarantor, the Trustee, and any agent of the Company, the Guarantor or the
Trustee as the owner of such global Security for all purposes whatsoever. None
of the Company, the Guarantor, the Trustee, any Paying Agent or the Security
Registrar will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the
records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership
interests of a global Security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any
records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.
Section 309. Cancellation.
All Securities and Coupons surrendered for payment, redemption,
registration of transfer, exchange or conversion or for credit against any
sinking fund payment shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee,
be delivered to the Trustee, and any such Securities and Coupons, as well as
Securities and Coupons surrendered directly to the Trustee for any such purpose,
shall be canceled promptly by the Trustee. The Company or the Guarantor may at
any time deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Securities or Coupons
previously authenticated and delivered hereunder which the Company or the
Guarantor may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and all Securities or
Coupons so delivered shall be canceled promptly by the Trustee. No Securities or
Coupons shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Securities or
Coupons canceled as provided in this Section, except as expressly permitted by
or pursuant to this Indenture. All canceled Securities and Coupons held by the
Trustee shall be destroyed by the Trustee, unless by a Company Order the Company
directs their return to it.
<PAGE>
Section 310. Computation of Interest.
Except as otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or in the
Securities of any series, interest on the Securities shall be computed on the
basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.
ARTICLE FOUR
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE
Section 401. Satisfaction and Discharge.
Upon the direction of the Company by a Company Order, this Indenture
shall cease to be of further effect with respect to any series of Securities
specified in such Company Order and any Coupons appertaining thereto (except as
to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of Securities
herein expressly provided for), and the Trustee, on receipt of a Company Order,
at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging
satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture as to such series, when
8.either
9. all Securities of such series theretofore authenticated and
delivered and all Coupons appertaining thereto (other than (i) Coupons
appertaining to Bearer Securities of such series surrendered in exchange for
Registered Securities of such series and maturing after such exchange whose
surrender is not required or has been waived as provided in Section 305, (ii)
Securities and Coupons of such series which have been destroyed, lost or stolen
and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 306, (iii) Coupons
appertaining to Securities of such series called for redemption and maturing
after the relevant Redemption Date whose surrender has been waived as provided
in Section 1107, and (iv) Securities and Coupons of such series for whose
payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in
trust by the Company or the Guarantor and thereafter repaid to the Company or
the Guarantor or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 1003) have
been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or
10. all Securities of such series and, in the case of (i)
or (ii) below, any Coupons appertaining thereto not theretofore delivered to the
Trustee for cancellation
11. have become due and payable, or
12. will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity
within one year, or
1. if redeemable at the option of the Company, 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 Company, and the Company or the Guarantor, in the case of (i),
(ii) or (iii) above, has deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee
as trust funds in trust for such purpose, money in the Currency in which such
Securities are payable in an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the
entire indebtedness on such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto
not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, including the
principal of, any premium and interest on, and, to the extent that the
Securities of such series provide for the payment of Additional Amounts
thereon and the amount of any such Additional Amounts is at the time of
deposit reasonably determinable by the Company (in the exercise by the Company
of its sole and absolute discretion), any Additional Amounts with respect
to, such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto, to the date of such
deposit (in the case of Securities which have become due and payable) or to the
Maturity thereof, as the case may be;
2. the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, has paid or
caused to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company or the
Guarantor with respect to the Outstanding Securities of such series and any
Coupons appertaining thereto; and
3. the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate
and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein
provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture as to
such series have been complied with.
In the event there are Securities of two or more series hereunder, the
Trustee shall be required to execute an instrument acknowledging satisfaction
and discharge of this Indenture only if requested to do so with respect to
Securities of such series as to which it is Trustee and if the other conditions
thereto are met.
Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with
respect to any series of Securities, the obligations of the Company and the
Guarantor to the Trustee under Section 606, the obligations of the Company and
the Guarantor to any Authenticating Agent under Section 611, and, if money shall
have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (b) of clause (1) of
this Section, the obligations of the Company, the Guarantor and the Trustee with
respect to the Securities of such series under Sections 305, 306, 403, 1002 and
1003, and with respect to the payment of Additional Amounts, if any, with
respect to such Securities as contemplated by Section 1004 (but only to the
extent that the Additional Amounts payable with respect to such Securities
exceed the amount deposited in respect of such Additional Amounts pursuant to
Section 401(1)(b)), shall survive.
<PAGE>
Section 402. Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance.
4. Unless, pursuant to Section 301, either or both of (i) defeasance of
the Securities of or within a series under clause (2) of this Section 402 or
(ii) covenant defeasance of the Securities of or within a series under clause
(3) of this Section 402 shall not be applicable with respect to the Securities
of such series, then such provisions, together with the other provisions of this
Section 402 (with such modifications thereto as may be specified pursuant to
Section 301 with respect to any Securities), shall be applicable to such
Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto, and the Company may at its
option by Board Resolution, at any time, with respect to such Securities and any
Coupons appertaining thereto, elect to have Section 402(2) or Section 402(3) be
applied to such Outstanding Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto upon
compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Section 402.
5. Upon the Company's exercise of the above option applicable to this
Section 402(2) with respect to any Securities of or within a series, the Company
and the Guarantor shall be deemed to have been discharged from their respective
obligations with respect to such Outstanding Securities and any Coupons
appertaining thereto, and with respect to the corresponding Guarantees, on the
date the conditions set forth in clause (4) of this Section 402 are satisfied
(hereinafter, "defeasance"). For this purpose, such defeasance means that the
Company and the Guarantor shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire
indebtedness represented by such Outstanding Securities and Guarantees and any
Coupons appertaining thereto, which shall thereafter be deemed to be
"Outstanding" only for the purposes of clause (5) of this Section 402 and the
other Sections of this Indenture referred to in clauses (i) and (ii) below, and
to have satisfied all of its other obligations under such Securities and any
Coupons appertaining thereto and under such corresponding Guarantees and this
Indenture insofar as such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto and
such Guarantees are concerned (and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company,
shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the
following which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged
hereunder: (i) the rights of Holders of such Outstanding Securities and
Guarantees and any Coupons appertaining thereto to receive, solely from the
trust fund described in clause (4) of this Section 402 and as more fully set
forth in such Section, payments in respect of the principal of (and premium, if
any) and interest, if any, on, and Additional Amounts, if any, with respect to,
such Securities and Guarantees and any Coupons appertaining thereto when such
payments are due, (ii) the obligations of the Company and the Trustee with
respect to such Securities under Sections 304, 305, 306, 403, 1002 and 1003,
with respect to the payment of Additional Amounts, if any, on such Securities as
contemplated by Section 1004 (but only to the extent that the Additional Amounts
payable with respect to such Securities exceed the amount deposited in respect
of such Additional Amounts pursuant to Section 401(4)(a) below), and any
obligation of the Guarantor relating to a surviving obligation of the Company,
(iii) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder
and (iv) this Section 402. The Company may exercise its option under this
Section 402(2) notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under clause (3)
of this Section 402 with respect to such Securities and any Coupons appertaining
thereto.
6. Upon the Company's exercise of the above option applicable to this
Section 402(3) with respect to any Securities of or within a series, the Company
and the Guarantor, as the case may be, shall be released from its obligations
under Sections 1005 and 1011 and, to the extent specified pursuant to Section
301, any other covenant applicable to such Securities, with respect to such
Outstanding Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto on and after the
date the conditions set forth in clause (4) of this Section 402 are satisfied
(hereinafter, "covenant defeasance"), and such Securities and any Coupons
appertaining thereto shall thereafter be deemed to be not "Outstanding" for the
purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or Act of Holders (and
the consequences of any thereof) in connection with any such covenant, but shall
continue to be deemed "Outstanding" for all other purposes hereunder. For this
purpose, such covenant defeasance means that, with respect to such Outstanding
Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto, the Company and the Guarantor
may omit to comply with, and shall have no liability in respect of, any term,
condition or limitation set forth in any such Section or such other covenant,
whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to
any such Section or such other covenant or by reason of reference in any such
Section or such other covenant to any other provision herein or in any other
document and such omission to comply shall not constitute a default or an Event
of Default under Section 501(4) or 501(9) or otherwise, as the case may be, but,
except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Securities
and Coupons appertaining thereto, and the Guarantees endorsed thereon, shall be
unaffected thereby.
7. The following shall be the conditions to application of clause (2)
or (3) of this Section 402 to any Outstanding Securities of or within a series
and any Coupons appertaining thereto, or to any Guarantees endorsed thereon:
8. The Company shall irrevocably have deposited or caused to
be deposited with the Trustee (or another trustee satisfying the requirements of
Section 607 who shall agree to comply with the provisions of this Section 402
applicable to it) as trust funds in trust for the purpose of making the
following payments, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely
to, the benefit of the Holders of such Securities and any Coupons appertaining
thereto, (1) an amount in Dollars or in such Foreign Currency in which such
Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto are then specified as payable at
Stated Maturity, or (2) Government Obligations applicable to such Securities and
Coupons appertaining thereto (determined on the basis of the Currency in which
such Securities and Coupons appertaining thereto are then specified as payable
at Stated Maturity) which through the scheduled payment of principal and
interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide, not
later than one day before the due date of any payment of principal of (and
premium, if any) and interest, if any, on such Securities and any Coupons
appertaining thereto, money in an amount, or (3) a combination thereof, in any
case, in an amount, sufficient, without consideration of any reinvestment of
such principal and interest, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of
independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof
delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge, and which shall be applied by
the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee) to pay and discharge, (y) the
principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on, and, to the extent
that such Securities provide for the payment of Additional Amounts thereon and
the amount of any such Additional Amounts is at the time of deposit reasonably
determinable by the Company, any Additional Amounts with respect to, such
Outstanding Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto on the Stated
Maturity of such principal or installment of principal or interest and (z) any
mandatory sinking fund payments or analogous payments applicable to such
Outstanding Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto on the day on which
such payments are due and payable in accordance with the terms of this Indenture
and of such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto.
9. Such defeasance or covenant defeasance shall not result in
a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, this Indenture or any
other material agreement or instrument to which the Company or the Guarantor is
a party or by which it is bound.
10. No Default or Event of Default with respect to such
Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto shall have occurred and be
continuing on the date of such deposit and, with respect to defeasance only, at
any time during the period ending on the 91st day after the date of such deposit
(it being understood that this condition shall not be deemed satisfied until the
expiration of such period).
11. In the case of an election under clause (2) of this
Section 402, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of
Counsel stating that (i) the Company has received from the Internal Revenue
Service a letter ruling, or there has been published by the Internal Revenue
Service a Revenue Ruling, or (ii) since the date of execution of this Indenture,
there has been a change in the applicable Federal income tax law, in either case
to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion shall confirm that, the
Holders of such Outstanding Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto will
not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result
of such defeasance and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same
amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if
such defeasance had not occurred.
12. In the case of an election under clause (3) of this
Section 402, the Company and the Guarantor shall have delivered to the Trustee
an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the Holders of such Outstanding
Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto will not recognize income, gain
or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such defeasance or
covenant defeasance, as the case may be, and will be subject to Federal income
tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have
been the case if such defeasance or covenant defeasance, as the case may be, had
not occurred.
13. The Company and the Guarantor shall have delivered to the
Trustee an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that
all conditions precedent to the defeasance or covenant defeasance under clause
(2) or (3) of this Section 402 (as the case may be) have been complied with.
(g) Each of the Company and the Guarantor shall have delivered
to the Trustee an Officer's Certificate to the effect that neither such
Securities nor any other Securities of the same series, if then listed on any
securities exchange, will be delisted as a result of such deposit.
(h) Such defeasance or covenant defeasance shall not cause the
Trustee to have a conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture
Act (assuming all Securities are in default within the meaning of such Act).
(i) Such defeasance or covenant defeasance shall not result in
the trust arising from such deposit constituting an investment company within
the meaning of the Investment Company Act unless such trust shall be registered
under such Act or exempt from registration thereunder.
(j) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section
402(4), such defeasance or covenant defeasance shall be effected in compliance
with any additional or substitute terms, conditions or limitations which may be
imposed on the Company or the Guarantor in connection therewith pursuant to
Section 301.
14. Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 1003,
all money and Government Obligations (or other property as may be provided
pursuant to Section 301) (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the
Trustee (or other qualifying trustee -- collectively for purposes of this
Section 402(5) and Section 403, the "Trustee") pursuant to clause (4) of Section
402 in respect of any Outstanding Securities of any series and any Coupons
appertaining thereto shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in
accordance with the provisions of such Securities and any Coupons appertaining
thereto and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any
Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the
Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Securities and any Coupons
appertaining thereto of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of
principal (and premium, if any) and interest and Additional Amounts, if any, but
such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required
by law.
Unless otherwise specified in or pursuant to this Indenture or any
Securities, if, after a deposit referred to in Section 402(4)(a) has been made,
(a) the Holder of a Security in respect of which such deposit was made is
entitled to, and does, elect pursuant to Section 301 or the terms of such
Security to receive payment in a Currency other than that in which the deposit
pursuant to Section 402(4)(a) has been made in respect of such Security, or (b)
a Conversion Event occurs in respect of the Foreign Currency in which the
deposit pursuant to Section 402(4)(a) has been made, the indebtedness
represented by such Security and any Coupons appertaining thereto shall be
deemed to have been, and will be, fully discharged and satisfied through the
payment of the principal of (and premium, if any), and interest, if any, on, and
Additional Amounts, if any, with respect to, such Security as the same becomes
due out of the proceeds yielded by converting (from time to time as specified
below in the case of any such election) the amount or other property deposited
in respect of such Security into the Currency in which such Security becomes
payable as a result of such election or Conversion Event based on (x) in the
case of payments made pursuant to clause (a) above, the applicable market
exchange rate for such Currency in effect on the second Business Day prior to
each payment date, or (y) with respect to a Conversion Event, the applicable
market exchange rate for such Foreign Currency in effect (as nearly as feasible)
at the time of the Conversion Event.
The Company and the Guarantor shall pay and indemnify the Trustee
against any tax, fee or other charge, imposed on or assessed against the
Government Obligations deposited pursuant to this Section 402 or the principal
or interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other
charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of such Outstanding
Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto.
Anything in this Section 402 to the contrary notwithstanding, the
Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon Company
Request any money or Government Obligations (or other property and any proceeds
therefrom) held by it as provided in clause (4) of this Section 402 which, in
the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants
expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, are in
excess of the amount thereof which would then be required to be deposited to
effect a defeasance or covenant defeasance, as applicable, in accordance with
this Section 402.
Section 403. Application of Trust Money.
Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 1003, all
money and Government Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section
401 or 402 shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the
provisions of the Securities, the Coupons and this Indenture, to the payment,
either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company or the
Guarantor acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the
Persons entitled thereto, of the principal, premium, interest and Additional
Amounts for whose payment such money has or Government Obligations have been
deposited with or received by the Trustee; but such money and Government
Obligations need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent
required by law.
ARTICLE FIVE
REMEDIES
Section 501. Events of Default.
"Event of Default", wherever used herein with respect to 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) unless
such event is specifically deleted or modified in or pursuant to the
supplemental indenture, Company Board Resolution or Company Officers'
Certificate establishing the terms of such Series pursuant to this Indenture:
15. default in the payment of any interest on, or any Additional
Amounts payable in respect of any interest on, any Security of such series when
such interest or such Additional Amounts, as the case may be, become due and
payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days, whether or not
such payment is prohibited by the subordination provisions of Article Sixteen or
Article Seventeen; or
16. default in the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, on,
or any Additional Amounts payable in respect of the principal of or premium, if
any, on, any Security of such series when due upon Maturity (whether upon
redemption or otherwise), whether or not such payment is prohibited by the
subordination provisions of Article Sixteen or Article Seventeen; or
17. default in the payment of any sinking fund payment, or
analogous payment, when and as due by the terms of a Security of such series,
whether or not such payment is prohibited by the subordination provisions of
Article Sixteen or Article Seventeen; or
18. default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or warranty
of the Company or the Guarantor in this Indenture or any Security of such series
(other than a covenant or warranty for which the consequences of breach or
nonperformance are addressed elsewhere in this Section 501 or in the Securities
or in a covenant or warranty which has expressly been included in this Indenture
or a Security of that series, whether or not by means of a Supplemental
Indenture, solely for the benefit of Securities of a series other than such
series), and continuance of such default or breach for a period of 60 days after
there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company and the
Guarantor by the Trustee or to the Company, the Guarantor and the Trustee by the
Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of
such series 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
19. the Company or the Guarantor pursuant to or under or within
the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:
(a) commences a voluntary case or proceeding;
(b) consents to the entry of an order for relief against
it in an involuntary case or proceeding or the commencement of any case against
it;
(c) consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or
for any substantial part of its property;
(d) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its
creditors;
(e) files a petition in bankruptcy or answer or consent
seeking reorganization or relief; or
(f) consents to the filing of such petition or the
appointment of or taking possession by a Custodian; or
20. a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree
under any Bankruptcy Law that:
(a) is for relief against the Company or the Guarantor in
an involuntary case or proceeding, or adjudicates the Company or the Guarantor
insolvent or bankrupt;
(b) appoints a Custodian of the Company or the Guarantor
or for any substantial part of their respective property; or
(c) orders the winding up or liquidation of the Company
or the Guarantor; and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 90
days; or
(7) a default by the Company or the Guarantor (including a default with
respect to Securities of any series other than that series) or any Restricted
Subsidiary of the Guarantor under any indenture including this Indenture or
instrument evidencing, or under which the Company, the Guarantor or any
Restricted Subsidiary of the Guarantor has at the date of this Indenture or
shall hereafter have, any indebtedness for money borrowed with a principal
amount then outstanding in excess of $20,000,000 (or its equivalent in any other
currency) shall happen and be continuing and such indebtedness shall have been
accelerated so that the same shall be or become due and payable prior to the
date on which the same would otherwise have become due and payable, and such
acceleration shall not be rescinded or annulled within 10 days after written
notice thereof shall have been given, by registered or certified mail, to the
Company and the Guarantor by the Trustee, or to the Company, the Guarantor and
the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the
Outstanding Securities of that series; provided, however, that if such default
under such indenture or instrument shall be remedied or cured by the Company or
the Guarantor, as the case may be, or waived by the holders of such
indebtedness, then the Event of Default hereunder by reason thereof shall be
deemed likewise to have been thereupon remedied, cured or waived without further
action upon the part of either the Trustee or any of the Holders; provided
further, however, that subject to the provisions of Section 601, the Trustee
will not be considered to have knowledge of any default by the Company or the
Guarantor under this Section 501 unless the Trustee shall have received written
or actual notice of such default; or
(8) any other Event of Default provided in or pursuant to this
Indenture with respect to Securities of such series.
"Bankruptcy Law" means Title 11, United States Code, or any similar
Federal or state law for the relief of debtors. "Custodian" means any receiver,
trustee, assignee, liquidator, sequestrator, custodian or similar official under
any Bankruptcy Law.
Section 502. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.
If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series at the
time Outstanding occurs and is continuing, then the Trustee or the Holders of
not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such
series may declare the principal of all the Securities of such series, or such
lesser amount as may be provided for in the Securities of such series, to be due
and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company and the Guarantor
(and to the Trustee if given by the Holders), and upon any such declaration such
principal or such lesser amount shall become immediately due and payable.
Notwithstanding any other provision of Section 502, if an Event of Default
specified in Section 501(5) or 501(6) occurs, all principal of, any premium and
interest on, and any Additional Amounts on the Securities then Outstanding shall
be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part
of the Trustee or the Holders.
At any time after Securities of any series have been accelerated 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 not less
than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such
series, by written notice to the Company, the Guarantor and the Trustee, may
rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if
21. the Company or the Guarantor has paid or deposited with the
Trustee a sum of money sufficient to pay
22. all overdue installments of any interest on any
Securities of such series and any Coupons appertaining thereto and any
Additional Amounts with respect thereto,
23. the principal of and any premium on any Securities of such
series which have become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration
and any Additional Amounts with respect thereto and, to the extent the payment
of such interest is lawful, interest thereon at the rate or rates borne by or
provided for in such Securities,
24. to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful,
interest upon overdue installments of any interest and any Additional Amounts
with respect thereto at the rate or rates borne by or provided for in such
Securities, and
25. 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 all other amounts due the Trustee under
Section 606; and
(2) all Events of Default with respect to Securities of such series,
other than the non-payment of the principal of, any premium and interest on, and
any Additional Amounts with respect to Securities of such series which shall
have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, shall have been
cured or waived as provided in Section 513.
No such rescission shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right
consequent thereon.
Section 503. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement
by Trustee.
The Company covenants that if
26. default is made in the payment of any installment of interest on or
any Additional Amounts with respect to any Security or any Coupon appertaining
thereto when such interest or Additional Amounts shall have become due and
payable and such default continues for a period of 30 days, or
27. default is made in the payment of the principal of or any
premium on any Security at its Maturity,
the Company shall, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to the Trustee, for the
benefit of the Holders of such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto,
the whole amount of money then due and payable with respect to such Securities
and any Coupons appertaining thereto, with interest upon the overdue principal,
any premium and, to the extent that payment of such interest shall be legally
enforceable, upon any overdue installments of interest and Additional Amounts at
the rate or rates borne by or provided for in such Securities, and, in addition
thereto, such further amount of money as shall be sufficient to cover the costs
and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses,
disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel and all other
amounts due to the Trustee under Section 606.
If the Company fails to pay the money it is required to pay the Trustee
pursuant to the preceding paragraph forthwith upon the demand of the Trustee,
the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, may institute a
judicial proceeding for the collection of the money so due and unpaid, and may
prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree, and may enforce the same
against the Company, the Guarantor or any other obligor upon such Securities and
any Coupons appertaining thereto and collect the monies adjudged or decreed to
be payable in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company, the
Guarantor or any other obligor upon such Securities and any Coupons appertaining
thereto, 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
and any Coupons appertaining thereto 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 such Securities or in aid of the exercise of any power granted
herein or therein, or to enforce any other proper remedy.
Section 504. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.
In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation,
bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other
judicial proceeding relative to the Company, the Guarantor or any other obligor
upon the Securities or the property of the Company, the Guarantor, or such other
obligor or their creditors, the Trustee (irrespective of whether the principal
of the Securities shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by
declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made
any demand on the Company or the Guarantor for the payment of any overdue
principal, premium, interest or Additional Amounts) shall be entitled and
empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise, to take any and all
actions authorized under the Trust Indenture Act in order to have claims of the
Holders and the Trustee allowed in any such proceeding, including;
28. to file and prove a claim for the whole amount, or such lesser
amount as may be provided for in the Securities of such series, of the principal
and any premium, interest and Additional Amounts owing and unpaid in respect of
the Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto and to file such other
papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims
of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses,
disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents or counsel) and of the
Holders of Securities or any Coupons allowed in such judicial proceeding, and
29. to collect and receive any monies 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
of Securities or any Coupons to make such payments to the Trustee and, in the
event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to
the Holders of Securities or any Coupons, to pay to the Trustee any amount due
to it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances
of the Trustee, its agents and counsel and any other amounts due the Trustee
under Section 606.
Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to
authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder of a Security
or any Coupon any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition
affecting the Securities or Coupons or the rights of any Holder thereof, or to
authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder of a
Security or any Coupon in any such proceeding; provided, however, that the
Trustee may, on behalf of the Holders of Securities or any coupons, vote for the
election of a trustee in bankruptcy or similar official and be a member of a
creditors or other similar committee.
Section 505. Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of
Securities or Coupons.
All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or any of the
Securities or Coupons may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the
possession of any of the Securities or Coupons 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 or judgment, after provision for the payment of the reasonable
compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents
and counsel, shall be for the ratable benefit of each and every Holder of a
Security or Coupon in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.
Section 506. Application of Money Collected.
Any money collected by the Trustee 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 on account of principal, or any
premium, interest or Additional Amounts, upon presentation of the Securities or
Coupons, or both, as the case may be, 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 606;
SECOND: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid upon
the Securities and any Coupons for principal and any premium, interest
and Additional Amounts 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 aggregate amounts due and payable on such
Securities and Coupons for principal and any premium, interest and
Additional Amounts, respectively;
THIRD: The balance, if any, to the Person or Persons entitled
thereto.
Section 507. Limitations on Suits.
No Holder of any Security of any series or any Coupons appertaining
thereto shall have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise,
with respect to this Indenture, the Guarantees, the Securities of any series or
any Coupons appertaining thereto, or for the appointment of a receiver or
trustee, 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 such series;
(2) the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the
Outstanding Securities of such 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
principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such 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 of, any provision of this
Indenture or any Security to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any
other such Holders or Holders of Securities of any other series, or to obtain or
to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other 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.
Section 508. Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal
and Any Premium, Interest and Additional Amounts.
Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of
any Security or Coupon shall have the right, which is absolute and
unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of, any premium and (subject
to Section 307) interest on, and any Additional Amounts with respect to such
Security or such Coupon, as the case may be, on the respective Stated Maturity
or Maturities therefor specified in such Security or Coupon (or, in the case of
redemption, on the Redemption Date or, in the case of repayment at the option of
such Holder if provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, on the date such
repayment is due) and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment,
and such rights shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.
Section 509. Restoration of Rights and Remedies.
If the Trustee or any Holder of a Security or a Coupon 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 or to such Holder, then and in every such
case the Company, the Guarantor, the Trustee and each such Holder 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 and each such Holder shall continue as though no such proceeding had
been instituted.
Section 510. Rights and Remedies Cumulative.
Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment
of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities or Coupons in the last
paragraph of Section 306, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved
to the Trustee or to each and every Holder of a Security or a Coupon is intended
to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy, to the
extent permitted by law, shall 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, to the extent permitted by law, prevent the
concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.
Section 511. Delay or Omission not Waiver.
No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Security or
Coupon to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default 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 any Holder of a Security or a Coupon may be
exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the
Trustee or by such Holder, as the case may be.
Section 512. Control by Holders of Securities.
The Holders of a majority in 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 and any Coupons appertaining thereto, provided that
30. such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law
or with this Indenture or with the Securities of such series,
31. the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the
Trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction.
Section 513. Waiver of Past Defaults.
The Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the
Outstanding Securities of any series on behalf of the Holders of all the
Securities of such series and any Coupons appertaining thereto may waive any
past default hereunder with respect to such series and its consequences, except
a default
(1) in the payment of the principal of, any premium or interest
on, or any Additional Amounts with respect to, any Security of such series or
any Coupons appertaining thereto, or
(2) in respect of a covenant or provision hereof which under Article
Nine cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each
Outstanding Security of such series affected.
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 514. Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws.
Each of the Company and the Guarantor covenants that (to the extent
that it may lawfully do so) 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 each of the
Company and the Guarantor expressly waives (to the extent that it may lawfully
do so) 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.
Section 515. Undertaking for Costs.
All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Security by
his acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its
discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under
this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or
omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of any
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 515 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 principal amount of 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, if any, on or Additional Amounts,
if any, with respect to any Security on or after the respective Stated
Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on or
after the Redemption Date, and, in the case of repayment, on or after the date
for repayment).
ARTICLE SIX
THE TRUSTEE
Section 601. Certain Rights of Trustee.
Subject to Sections 315(a) through 315(d) of the Trust Indenture Act:
32. the Trustee may rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining
from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion,
report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note,
coupon, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document reasonably
believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper
party or parties;
33. any request or direction of the Company or the Guarantor mentioned
herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Company Request or a Company Order
or Guarantor Request or Guarantor Order, as the case may be (in each case, other
than delivery of any Security, together with any Coupons appertaining thereto,
to the Trustee for authentication and delivery pursuant to Section 303 which
shall be sufficiently evidenced as provided therein) and any resolution of the
Board of Directors of the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, shall be
sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution of the Company or the Guarantor, as
the case may be;
34. 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
shall be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its
part, rely upon an Officers' Certificate;
35. the Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection and the
written 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;
36. the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the
rights or powers vested in it by or pursuant to this Indenture at the request or
direction of any of the Holders of Securities of any series or any Coupons
appertaining thereto pursuant to this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have
offered to the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the costs,
expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such
request or direction;
37. 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, debenture,
note, coupon, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, but the
Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into
such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to
make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine,
during business hours and upon reasonable notice, the books, records and
premises of the Company and the Guarantor, personally or by agent or attorney;
and
38. 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 602. Notice of Defaults.
Within 90 days after 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 entitled to receive reports pursuant to
Section 703(3), notice of such Default hereunder known to the Trustee, 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, if any, on, or Additional Amounts or any sinking fund or purchase
fund installment with respect to, 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 determine that the withholding
of such notice is in the best interest of the Holders of Securities and Coupons
of such series, and provided, further, that in the case of any Default of the
character specified in Section 501(4) with respect to Securities of such series,
no such notice to Holders shall be given until at least 30 days after the
occurrence thereof.
Section 603. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities.
The recitals contained herein and in the Securities, except the
Trustee's certificate of authentication, and in any Coupons shall be taken as
the statements of the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, 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 or Coupons appertaining
thereto or the Guarantees, except that the Trustee represents that it is duly
authorized to execute and deliver this Indenture, authenticate the Securities
and perform its obligations hereunder and that the statements made by it in a
Statement of Eligibility and Qualification on Form T-1 supplied to the Company
are true and accurate, subject to the qualifications set forth therein. Neither
the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent shall be accountable for the use or
application by the Company of the Securities or the proceeds thereof.
Section 604. May Hold Securities.
The Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any Paying Agent, any Security
Registrar or any other Person that may be an agent of the Trustee, the Company,
or the Guarantor, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner
or pledgee of Securities or Coupons and, subject to Sections 310(b) and 311 of
the Trust Indenture Act, may otherwise deal with the Company and the Guarantor
with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Authenticating Agent,
Paying Agent, Security Registrar or such other agent.
Section 605. Money Held in Trust.
Except as provided in Section 403 and Section 1003, money held by the
Trustee in trust hereunder need not be segregated from other funds except to the
extent required by law and shall be held uninvested. The Trustee shall be under
no liability for interest on any money received by it hereunder except as
otherwise agreed in writing with the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may
be.
Section 606. Compensation and Reimbursement.
Each of the Company and the Guarantor agrees:
39. to pay to the Trustee from time to time reasonable compensation as
shall be agreed in writing between the Company on the one hand and the Trustee
on the other for all services rendered by the Trustee hereunder (which
compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the
compensation of a trustee of an express trust);
40. except as otherwise expressly provided herein, 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 the Trustee's negligence or bad faith; and
41. to indemnify the Trustee and its agents for, and to hold them
harmless against, any loss, liability or expense incurred without negligence or
bad faith on their part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or
administration of the trust or trusts hereunder, including the costs and
expenses of defending themselves against any claim or liability in connection
with the exercise or performance of any of their powers or duties hereunder,
except to the extent that any such loss, liability or expense was due to the
Trustee's negligence or bad faith.
As security for the performance of the obligations of the Company under
this Section, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities of any
series upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such,
except funds held in trust for the payment of principal of, and premium or
interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to Securities or any Coupons
appertaining thereto.
Any compensation or expense incurred by the Trustee after a default
specified by Section 501 is intended to constitute an expense of administration
under any then applicable bankruptcy or insolvency law. "Trustee" for purposes
of this Section 606 shall include any predecessor Trustee but the negligence or
bad faith of any Trustee shall not affect the rights of any other Trustee under
this Section 606.
Section 607. Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility.
There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder that is a Corporation,
organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America, any
state thereof or the District of Columbia, eligible under Section 310(a)(1) of
the Trust Indenture Act to act as trustee under an indenture qualified under the
Trust Indenture Act and that has a combined capital and surplus (computed in
accordance with Section 310(a)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act) of at least
$50,000,000 subject to supervision or examination by Federal or state authority.
If at any time the Trustee 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.
Section 608. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.
(1) No resignation or removal of the Trustee and no appointment of a
successor Trustee pursuant to this Article shall become effective until the
acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee pursuant to Section 609.
(2) The Trustee may resign at any time with respect to the Securities
of one or more series by giving written notice thereof to the Company. If the
instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee required by Section 609 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.
(3) 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 principal amount
of the Outstanding Securities of such series, delivered to the Trustee and to
the Company and the Guarantor.
(4) If at any time:
(a) the Trustee shall fail to comply with the obligations
imposed upon it under Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act with respect to
Securities of any series after written request therefor by the Company, the
Guarantor or any Holder of a Security of such series who has been a bona fide
Holder of a Security of such series for at least six months, or
(b) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible under Section 607
and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company, the
Guarantor or any such Holder, or
(c) 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 Company, by or pursuant to a Board Resolution,
may remove the Trustee with respect to all Securities or the Securities of such
series, or (ii) subject to Section 315(e) of the Trust Indenture Act, any Holder
of a Security who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security of such series for
at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated,
petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee with
respect to all Securities of such series and the appointment of a successor
Trustee or Trustees.
(5) 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 Company, by or pursuant to
a Board Resolution, shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or Trustees with
respect to the Securities of that or those series (it being understood that any
such successor Trustee may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one or
more or all of such series and that at any time there shall be only one Trustee
with respect to the Securities of any particular series) and shall comply with
the applicable requirements of Section 609. 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 principal amount of the
Outstanding Securities of such series delivered to the Company and the retiring
Trustee, the successor Trustee so appointed shall, forthwith upon its acceptance
of such appointment in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section
609, become the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series
and to that extent supersede the successor Trustee appointed by the Company. If
no successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall have
been so appointed by the Company or the Holders of Securities and accepted
appointment in the manner required by Section 609, any Holder of a Security who
has been a bona fide Holder of a Security of such series for at least six months
may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court
of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with
respect to the Securities of such series.
(6) The Company 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 Registered Securities, if any, of such series as their names and
addresses appear in the Security Register and, if Securities of such series are
issued as Bearer Securities, by publishing notice of such event once in an
Authorized Newspaper in each Place of Payment located outside the United States.
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 609. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.
(1) Upon the appointment hereunder of any successor Trustee with
respect to all Securities, such successor Trustee so appointed shall execute,
acknowledge and deliver to the Company, the Guarantor and 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 hereunder of the retiring Trustee;
but, on the request of the Company, the Guarantor or such successor Trustee,
such retiring Trustee, upon payment of its charges, shall execute and deliver an
instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights, powers and
trusts of the retiring Trustee and, subject to Section 1003, shall duly assign,
transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by
such retiring Trustee hereunder, subject nevertheless to its claim, if any,
provided for in Section 606.
(2) Upon the appointment hereunder of any successor Trustee with
respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Company, the
Guarantor, the retiring Trustee and such successor Trustee shall execute and
deliver an indenture supplemental hereto wherein each successor 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, such
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, (b) 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 (c) 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, 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 that no
Trustee shall be responsible for any notice given to, or received by, or any act
or failure to act on the part of any other Trustee hereunder, 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, such retiring Trustee shall have no further responsibility for the
exercise of rights and powers or for the performance of the duties and
obligations vested in the Trustee under this Indenture with respect to the
Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor
Trustee relates other than as hereinafter expressly set forth, and 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 Company, the Guarantor
or such successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee, upon payment of its charges
with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment
of such successor relates and subject to Section 1003 shall duly assign,
transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee, to the extent contemplated by
such supplemental indenture, the 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, subject to its claim,
if any, provided for in Section 606.
(3) Upon request of any Person appointed hereunder as a successor
Trustee, the Company or the Guarantor shall execute any and all instruments for
more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor Trustee all
such rights, powers and trusts referred to in paragraph (1) or (2) of this
Section, as the case may be.
(4) No Person shall accept its appointment hereunder as a successor
Trustee unless at the time of such acceptance such successor Person shall be
qualified and eligible under this Article.
Section 610. 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 Securities so authenticated with the same
effect as if such successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Securities.
Section 611. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company .
If and when the Trustee shall be or become a creditor of the Company,
the Guarantor 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 Company, the Guarantor or any such other obligor.
Section 612. Appointment of Authenticating Agent.
The Trustee may appoint one or more Authenticating Agents acceptable to
the Company with respect to one or more series of Securities which shall be
authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of that or
those series issued upon original issue, exchange, registration of transfer,
partial redemption or partial repayment, or pursuant to Section 306, 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
and a certificate of authentication executed on behalf of the Trustee by an
Authenticating Agent.
Each Authenticating Agent shall be acceptable to the Company and,
except as provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, shall at all times be a
corporation that would be permitted by the Trust Indenture Act to act as trustee
under an indenture qualified under the Trust Indenture Act, is authorized under
applicable law and by its charter to act as an Authenticating Agent and has a
combined capital and surplus (computed in accordance with Section 310(a)(2) of
the Trust Indenture Act) of at least $50,000,000. If at any time an
Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the
provisions of this Section, it 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 agency or corporate trust business of an Authenticating Agent,
shall be the successor of such 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, the Company and the Guarantor. The Trustee may at any
time terminate the agency of an Authenticating Agent by giving written notice
thereof to such Authenticating Agent, the Company and the Guarantor. 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 Section, the Trustee may appoint a successor
Authenticating Agent which shall be acceptable to the Company and shall (i) mail
written notice of such appointment by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to all
Holders of Registered Securities, if any, of the series with respect to which
such Authenticating Agent shall serve, as their names and addresses appear in
the Security Register, and (ii) if Securities of the series are issued as Bearer
Securities, publish notice of such appointment at least once in an Authorized
Newspaper in the place where such successor Authenticating Agent has its
principal office if such office is located outside the United States. 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
provisions of this Section.
The Company agrees to pay each Authenticating Agent from time to time
reasonable compensation for its services under this Section. If the Trustee
makes such payments, it shall be entitled to be reimbursed for such payments,
subject to the provisions of Section 606.
The provisions of Sections 308, 603 and 604 shall be applicable to each
Authenticating Agent.
If an Authenticating Agent is appointed with respect to one or more
series of Securities pursuant to this Section, the Securities of such series may
have endorsed thereon, in addition to the Trustee's certificate of
authentication, an alternate certificate of authentication in substantially the
following form:
This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein
referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
----------------------------------,
As Trustee
By:
As Authenticating Agent
By:
Authorized Officer
If all of the Securities of any series may not be originally issued at
one time, and if the Trustee does not have an office capable of authenticating
Securities upon original issuance located in a Place of Payment where the
Company wishes to have Securities of such series authenticated upon original
issuance, the Trustee, if so requested in writing (which writing need not be
accompanied by or contained in an Officers' Certificate by the Company), shall
appoint in accordance with this Section an Authenticating Agent having an office
in a Place of Payment designated by the Company with respect to such series of
Securities.
ARTICLE SEVEN
HOLDERS LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE, COMPANY, AND GUARANTOR
Section 701. Company and Guarantor to Furnish Trustee Names and
Addresses of Holders.
In accordance with Section 312(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, with
respect to each series of the Securities, the Company and the Guarantor shall
furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee
(1) semi-annually, not later than August 1 and February 1 of the year
or upon such other dates as are set forth in or pursuant to the Board Resolution
or indenture supplemental hereto authorizing such series, a list for each series
of Securities, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names
and addresses of Holders as of the applicable date, and
(2) at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, within
30 days after the receipt by the Company or the Guarantor 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,
excluding from any such list names and addresses received by the Trustee in its
capacity as Security Registrar.
Section 702. Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders.
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 701 and the names and
addresses of Holders received by the Trustee in its capacity as Security
Registrar. The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in
Section 701 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.
The rights of the 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 by the
Trust Indenture Act.
Every Holder of Securities or Coupons, by receiving and holding the
same, agrees with the Company, the Guarantor and the Trustee that neither the
Company, the Guarantor nor the Trustee, nor any agent of any of them, shall be
held accountable by reason of the disclosure of any such information as to the
names and addresses of the Holders of Securities in accordance with Section
312(c) of the Trust Indenture Act, regardless of the source from which such
information was derived, and that the Trustee shall not be held accountable by
reason of mailing any material pursuant to a request made under Section 312(b)
of the Trust Indenture Act.
Section 703. Reports by Trustee.
(1) Within 60 days after [July 15] of each year commencing with the
first [July 15] following the first issuance of Securities pursuant to Section
301, if required by Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall
transmit, pursuant to Section 313(c) of the Trust Indenture Act, a brief report
dated as of such [July 15] with respect to any of the events specified in said
Section 313(a) which may have occurred since the later of the immediately
preceding [July 15] and the date of this Indenture.
(2) The Trustee shall transmit to Holders the 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 specified therein.
(3) Reports pursuant to this Section shall be transmitted in the manner
and to the Persons required by Sections 313(c) and 313(d) of the Trust Indenture
Act.
Section 704. Reports by Company and Guarantor.
The Company and the Guarantor, pursuant to Section 314(a) of the Trust
Indenture Act, shall:
(1) file with the Trustee, within 15 days after the Company and the
Guarantor are required to file the same with the Commission, copies of the
annual reports and of the information, documents and other reports (or copies of
such portions of any of the foregoing as the Commission may from time to time by
rules and regulations prescribe) which the Company and the Guarantor may be
required to file with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; or, if the Company or the Guarantor is not
required to file information, documents or reports pursuant to either of said
Sections, then they shall file with the Trustee and the Commission, in
accordance with rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the
Commission, such of the supplementary and periodic information, documents and
reports which may be required pursuant to Section 13 of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 in respect of a security listed and registered on a national
securities exchange as may be prescribed from time to time in such rules and
regulations;
(2) file with the Trustee and the Commission, in accordance with rules
and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission, such additional
information, documents and reports with respect to compliance by the Company and
the Guarantor, with the conditions and covenants of this Indenture as may be
required from time to time by such rules and regulations; and
(3) transmit within 30 days after the filing thereof with the Trustee,
in the manner and to the extent provided in Section 313(c) of the Trust
Indenture Act, such summaries of any information, documents and reports required
to be filed by the Company and the Guarantor pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2)
of this Section as may be required by rules and regulations prescribed from time
to time by the Commission.
<PAGE>
ARTICLE EIGHT
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE OR TRANSFER
Section 801. Restrictions on Mergers, Consolidations, Conveyances
and Transfers.
The Guarantor shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary
to, consolidate or amalgamate with or merge into any other Person or convey,
transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to, any
Person, and the Guarantor shall not permit any Person to consolidate or
amalgamate with or merge into the Guarantor or any Restricted Subsidiary or
convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety
to the Guarantor or any Restricted Subsidiary, unless:
42. in case the Guarantor or any Restricted Subsidiary shall
consolidate or amalgamate with or merge into any other Person or convey,
transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any
other Person, the Person formed by such consolidation or amalgamation or into
which the Guarantor or such Restricted Subsidiary is merged or the Person which
acquires by conveyance or transfer or which leases the properties and assets of
the Guarantor or such Restricted Subsidiary substantially as an entirety shall
be organized and validly existing under the laws of the United States and, in
the case of the Guarantor or the Company, 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 any premium and interest on all the Securities or the due and punctual
performance of the Guarantees, as the case may be, and the performance of every
covenant of this Indenture on the part of the Guarantor and the Company to be
performed or observed;
43. immediately after giving effect to such transaction and treating
any indebtedness which becomes an obligation of the Company, the Guarantor or
any Subsidiary as a result of such transaction as having been incurred by the
Company, the Guarantor or such Subsidiary at the time of such transaction, no
Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing;
(3) if, as a result of any such consolidation, amalgamation or merger
or such conveyance, transfer or lease, properties or assets of the Guarantor
would become subject to a mortgage, pledge, lien, security interest or other
encumbrance which would not be permitted by this Indenture, the Guarantor or
such successor Person, as the case may be, shall take such steps as shall be
necessary effectively to secure the Securities equally and ratably with (or
prior to) all indebtedness secured thereby; and
(4) the Guarantor shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers'
Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel each stating that such consolidation,
amalgamation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease and such supplemental
indenture, if any, comply with this Article and that all conditions precedent
herein provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with;
provided, however, that (i) any Restricted Subsidiary may consolidate,
amalgamate or merge with or into the Company or any other wholly-owned
Restricted Subsidiary so long as, in any consolidation, amalgamation or merger
involving the Company, the Company is the surviving or continuing Person, and
(ii) any wholly-owned Restricted Subsidiary formed solely to facilitate a
transfer of financial assets accounted for as a sale under generally accepted
accounting principles may convey or transfer its properties or assets
substantially as an entirety to any other Person.
Section 802. Successor Person Substituted for Guarantor or Company.
Upon any consolidation, amalgamation or merger by the Guarantor or the
Company, as the case may be, with or into any other Person, or any conveyance or
transfer or lease of the properties and assets of the Guarantor or the Company,
as the case may be, substantially as an entirety to any Person in accordance
with Section 801, the successor Person formed by such consolidation or
amalgamation or into which the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, 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 Company
or the Guarantor, as the case may be, under this Indenture with the same effect
as if such successor Person had been named as the Company or the Guarantor, as
the case may be, herein; and thereafter except in the case of a lease, the
Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be (which term shall for this purpose
mean the Person named as the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, in
the first paragraph of this Indenture or any successor corporation which shall
theretofore become such in the manner described in Section 801) shall be
discharged from all obligations and covenants under this Indenture, the
Securities and the Coupons and the Guarantees, as the case may be, and may be
dissolved and liquidated.
ARTICLE NINE
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES
Section 901. Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders.
Without the consent of any Holders of Securities or Coupons, the
Company, when authorized by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, the Guarantor,
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:
44. to evidence the succession of another Person to the Company or
the Guarantor, as the case may be, and the assumption by any such successor of
the covenants of the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, contained
herein and in the Securities or the Guarantees; or
45. to add to the covenants of the Company or the Guarantor for the
benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Securities (as shall be specified
in such supplemental indenture or indentures and if such covenants are to be for
the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such covenants
are being included solely for the benefit of such series) or to surrender any
right or power herein conferred upon the Company or the Guarantor; or
46. to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture to
provide that Bearer Securities may be registrable as to principal, to change or
eliminate any restrictions on the payment of principal of, any premium or
interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to Securities, to permit
Bearer Securities to be issued in exchange for Registered Securities, to permit
Bearer Securities to be exchanged for Bearer Securities of other authorized
denominations or to permit or facilitate the issuance of Securities in
uncertificated form, provided any such action shall not adversely affect the
interests of the Holders of Securities of any series or any Coupons appertaining
thereto in any material respect; or
47. to establish the form or terms of Securities of any series and
any Coupons appertaining thereto as permitted by Sections 201 and 301 or of the
related Guarantees as permitted by Section 202; or
48. 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 610;
or
49. to cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any provision
herein which 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 which shall not adversely affect the interests of the
Holders of Securities of any series then Outstanding or any Coupons appertaining
thereto in any material respect; or
50. to add any additional Events of Default with respect to all or any
series of Securities (as shall be specified in such supplemental indenture 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 such Series); or
51. to supplement any of the provisions of this Indenture to such
extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the defeasance and
discharge of any series of Securities pursuant to Article Four, provided that
any such action shall not adversely affect the interests of any Holder of a
Security of such series and any Coupons appertaining thereto or any other
Security or Coupon in any material respect; or
52. to secure the Securities and Guarantees pursuant to the terms
of Section 1007 or otherwise; or
53. to make provisions with respect to conversion or exchange
rights of Holders of Securities of any series; or
54. to amend or supplement any provision contained herein or in any
supplemental indenture (which amendment or supplement may apply to one or more
series of Securities or to one or more Securities within any series as specified
in such supplemental indenture or indentures), provided that such amendment or
supplement does not apply to any Outstanding Security issued prior to the date
of such supplemental indenture and entitled to the benefits of such provision or
modify the rights of the Holder of any such Security with respect to such
provision..
Section 902. Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Holders.
With the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in
principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of each series affected by such
supplemental indenture, by Act of said Holders delivered to the Company, the
Guarantor and the Trustee, the Company, when authorized by or pursuant to a
Board Resolution, the Guarantor, when authorized by or pursuant to 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 the
Securities of such series 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, without the consent of the Holder of each
Outstanding Security affected thereby, shall
(1) change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any premium or
installment of principal or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect
to, any Security, or any sinking fund or analogous payment in respect thereof,
or reduce the principal amount thereof or the rate (or modify the calculation of
such rate) of interest thereon or any Additional Amounts with respect thereto,
or any premium payable upon the redemption thereof or otherwise, or change the
obligation of the Company to pay Additional Amounts pursuant to Section 1004, or
reduce the amount of the principal of any Security that would be due and payable
upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section
502 or the amount thereof provable in bankruptcy pursuant to Section 504,
adversely affect the right of repayment at the option of any Holder as
contemplated by Article Fourteen, or change the Place of Payment, Currency in
which the principal of, any premium or interest on, or any Additional Amounts
with respect to any Security or any sinking or analogous fund payment in respect
thereof, 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, in the case of repayment at the
option of the Holder, on or after the date for repayment), or
(2) reduce the percentage in 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
reduce the requirements of Section 1504 for quorum or voting, or
(3) modify any of the provisions of this Section, Section 513 or
Section 1011, 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 Outstanding Security affected thereby; or.
(4) change in any manner adverse to the interests of the Holders of any
Outstanding Securities the terms and conditions of the obligations of the
Guarantor in respect of the due and punctual payment of the principal thereof
and any premium or interest thereon or any sinking or analogous fund payments
provided in respect thereof.
A supplemental indenture which changes or eliminates any covenant or
other provision of this Indenture which shall have been included expressly and
solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of Securities, or which
modifies the rights of the Holders of Securities of such 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.
It shall not be necessary for any Act of Holders of Securities 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.
Section 903. Execution of Supplemental Indentures.
As a condition to executing, or accepting the additional trusts created
by, any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article or the modifications
thereby of the trust created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to
receive, and (subject to Section 315 of the Trust Indenture Act) shall be fully
protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of
such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture. The
Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any such supplemental
indenture which affects the Trustee's own rights, duties or immunities under
this Indenture or otherwise.
Section 904. 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 a Security theretofore or thereafter authenticated and delivered hereunder
and of any Coupon appertaining thereto shall be bound thereby.
Section 905. Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures.
Securities of any series authenticated and delivered after the
execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to this Article may, and shall
if required by the Trustee, bear a notation in form approved by the Trustee as
to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Company and
the Guarantor shall so determine, new Securities of any series so modified as to
conform, in the opinion of the Trustee, the Company and the Guarantor, to any
such supplemental indenture may be prepared and executed by the Company, the
Guarantees of the Guarantor may be endorsed thereon and such securities
authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in exchange for Outstanding
Securities of such series.
Section 906. 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.
ARTICLE TEN
COVENANTS
Section 1001. Payment of Principal, Any Premium, Interest and
Additional Amounts.
The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of each series of
Securities that it will duly and punctually pay the principal of, any premium
and interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to the Securities of
each series in accordance with the terms thereof, any Coupons appertaining
thereto and this Indenture. Any interest due on any Bearer Security on or before
the Maturity thereof, and any Additional Amounts payable with respect to such
interest, shall be payable only upon presentation and surrender of the Coupons
appertaining thereto for such interest as they severally mature.
Section 1002. Maintenance of Office or Agency.
The Company and the Guarantor shall maintain in each Place of Payment
for any series of Securities, an Office or Agency where Securities of such
series, and Guarantees with respect thereto, (but not Bearer Securities, except
as otherwise provided below, unless such Place of Payment is located outside the
United States), may be presented or surrendered for payment, where Securities of
such series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange, and
where notices and demands to or upon the Company and the Guarantor in respect of
the Securities of such series relating thereto and this Indenture may be served.
If Securities of a series are issuable as Bearer Securities, the Company shall
maintain, subject to any laws or regulations applicable thereto, an Office or
Agency in a Place of Payment for such series which is located outside the United
States where Securities of such series and any Coupons appertaining thereto, and
Guarantees with respect thereto, may be presented and surrendered for payment;
provided, however, that if the Securities of such series are listed on The Stock
Exchange of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland or the Luxembourg
Stock Exchange or any other stock exchange located outside the United States and
such stock exchange shall so require, the Company shall maintain a Paying Agent
in London, Luxembourg or any other required city located outside the United
States, as the case may be, so long as the Securities of such series are listed
on such exchange. The Company and the Guarantor will give prompt written notice
to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such Office
or Agency. If at any time the Company or the Guarantor shall fail to maintain
any such required 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, except that Bearer
Securities of such series and any Coupons appertaining thereto, and Guarantees
with respect thereto, may be presented and surrendered for payment at the place
specified for that purpose with respect to such Securities as provided in or
pursuant to this Indenture, and the Company and the Guarantor hereby appoint the
Trustee as their agent to receive all such presentations, surrenders, notices
and demands.
Except as otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, no
payment of principal, premium, interest or Additional Amounts with respect to
Bearer Securities shall be made at any Office or Agency in the United States or
by check mailed to any address in the United States or by transfer to an account
maintained with a bank located in the United States; provided, however, if
amounts owing with respect to any Bearer Securities shall be payable in Dollars,
payment of principal of, any premium or interest on and any Additional Amounts
with respect to any such Security, or Guarantees with respect thereto, may be
made at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee or any Office or Agency
designated by the Company in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, if
(but only if) payment of the full amount of such principal, premium, interest or
Additional Amounts at all offices outside the United States maintained for such
purpose by the Company in accordance with this Indenture is illegal or
effectively precluded by exchange controls or other similar restrictions.
The Company and the Guarantor may also from time to time designate one
or more other Offices or Agencies where the Securities of one or more series,
and Guarantees endorsed thereon, may be presented or surrendered for any or all
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
Company or the Guarantor of its obligation to maintain an Office or Agency in
each Place of Payment for Securities of any series for such purposes. The
Company and the Guarantor shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any
such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such
other Office or Agency. Unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this
Indenture, the Company and the Guarantor hereby designate as the Place of
Payment for each series of Securities, and the Guarantees endorsed thereon, the
Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, and initially appoint the Corporate
Trust Office of the Trustee as the Company's and the Guarantor's Office or
Agency in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York for such purpose. The
Company and the Guarantor may subsequently appoint a different Office or Agency
in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York for the Securities of any
series, and the Guarantees endorsed thereon.
Section 1003. Money for Securities Payments to be Held in Trust.
If the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, shall at any time
act as its own Paying Agent with respect to any series of Securities, it shall,
on or before each due date of the principal of, any premium or interest on or
Additional Amounts with respect to any of the Securities of such series,
segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto a
sum in the Currency or Currencies in which the Securities of such series are
payable (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301 for the
Securities of such series) sufficient to pay the principal or any premium,
interest or Additional Amounts so becoming due until such sums shall be paid to
such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided, and shall promptly
notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.
Whenever the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, shall have
one or more Paying Agents for any series of Securities, it shall, on or prior to
each due date of the principal of, any premium or interest on or any Additional
Amounts with respect to any Securities of such series, deposit with any Paying
Agent a sum (in the Currency or Currencies described in the preceding paragraph)
sufficient to pay the principal or any premium, interest or Additional Amounts
so becoming due, such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons
entitled thereto, and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Company or
the Guarantor, as the case may be, will promptly notify the Trustee of its
action or failure so to act.
The Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, shall cause each
Paying Agent for any series of Securities 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
shall:
(1) hold all sums held by it for the payment of the principal of, any
premium or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to Securities of
such 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 provided in or
pursuant to this Indenture;
(2) give the Trustee notice of any default by the Company or the
Guarantor (or any other obligor upon the Securities of such series) in the
making of any payment of the principal of, any premium or interest on or any
Additional Amounts with respect to the Securities of such series; and
(3) at any time during the continuance of any such default, upon the
written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so held in
trust by such Paying Agent.
The Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, may at any time, for
the purpose of obtaining the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or for
any other purpose, pay, or by Company Order of the Company or the Guarantor
direct any Paying Agent to pay, to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the
Company, the Guarantor or such Paying Agent, such sums to be held by the Trustee
upon the same terms as those upon which such sums were held by the Company, the
Guarantor 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 sums.
Except as otherwise provided herein or pursuant hereto, any money
deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company or
the Guarantor, as the case may be, in trust for the payment of the principal of,
any premium or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to any
Security of any series or any Coupon appertaining thereto and remaining
unclaimed for two years after such principal or any such premium or interest or
any such Additional Amounts shall have become due and payable shall be paid to
the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, on Company Request, or (if
then held by the Company or the Guarantor) shall be discharged from such trust;
and the Holder of such Security or any Coupon appertaining thereto, or
Guarantees endorsed thereon, shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor,
look only to the Company or the Guarantor (pursuant to the Guarantee) for
payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with
respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company or the Guarantor
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 Company cause to be published once, in an Authorized
Newspaper in each Place of Payment for such series or to be mailed to Holders of
Registered Securities of such series, or both, 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 or mailing, any unclaimed balance of
such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company or the Guarantor, as the
case may be.
Section 1004. Additional Amounts.
All payments of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on
Securities of any series, and all payments on the Guarantees, shall be made
without set-off, counterclaim, fees, liabilities or similar deductions, and free
and clear of, and without deduction or withholding for, taxes, levies, imposts,
duties, charges or fees of whatsoever nature now or hereafter imposed, levied,
collected, deducted, withheld or assessed by or on behalf of the Government of
the United States, or any state or other political subdivision or taxing
authority thereof or therein ("Taxes"). If the Company, the Guarantor, or any
agent of either is required by law or regulation to make any deduction or
withholding for or on account of Taxes, the Company or Guarantor, as the case
may be, shall pay such additional amounts ("Additional Amounts") as shall be
necessary in order that the net amounts received by the Holders of the
Securities of any series or the holders or beneficial owners of any interest
therein or rights in respect thereof after such deduction or withholding shall
equal the amount that would have been receivable thereunder in the absence of
such deduction or withholding, except that no such Additional Amounts shall be
payable:
(1) to any Holder of a Security or any interest therein or rights in
respect thereof where such deduction or withholding is required by reason of
such Holder having some connection with the Government of the United States, or
any state or other political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or thereon
other than the mere holding of a payment in respect to such security;
(2) in respect of any deduction or withholding that would not have been
required but for the presentation by the Holder of a Security for payment on a
date more than 30 days after the Stated Maturity or the date on which payment
thereof is duly provided for, whichever occurs later; or
(3) in respect of any deduction or withholding that would not have been
required but for the failure to comply with any certification, identification or
other reporting requirements concerning the nationality, residence, identity or
connection with the Government of the United States, or any state, or other
political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein, of the Holder of a
Security or any interest therein or rights in respect thereof, if compliance is
required by the Government of the United States, or any state, or other
political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein, as a precondition
to exemption from such deduction or withholding.
If the Company, the Guarantor or any successor to either of them under
the Indenture shall be incorporated under the laws of a jurisdiction other than
the United States, any state thereof, the Company or its successor will pay, and
the Guarantor or its successor will jointly and severally guarantee the payment
of, and the Company or the Guarantor shall provide notice to the Trustee of the
payment of, such additional amounts ("Other Additional Amounts") as may be
necessary in order that every net payment on each Security, after withholding
for or on account of any present or future tax, assessment or other governmental
charge imposed upon or as a result of such payment by such other jurisdiction
(or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein), will be
not less than the amount provided for in such Security to be then due and
payable; provided, however, that (i) the Other Additional Amounts payable to a
Holder of a Security will be reduced to the extent that such withholding reduces
any tax liability to which such Holder of the Security was and is subject both
prior to and after such incorporation in another jurisdiction and (ii) the
exceptions listed in paragraphs (1) through (3) shall apply, substituting for
the United States the relevant jurisdiction that imposes the tax giving rise to
the payment of Other Additional Amounts.
Whenever in this Indenture there is mentioned, in any context, the
payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on, or in respect of, any
Security of any series or any Coupon or the net proceeds received on the sale or
exchange of any Security of any series, such mention shall be deemed to include
mention of the payment of Additional Amounts provided by the terms of such
series established hereby or pursuant hereto to the extent that, in such
context, Additional Amounts are, were or would be payable in respect thereof
pursuant to such terms, and express mention of the payment of Additional Amounts
(if applicable) in any provision hereof shall not be construed as excluding
Additional Amounts in those provisions hereof where such express mention is not
made.
Except as otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or the
Securities of any series, if the Securities of a series provide for the payment
of Additional Amounts, at least 10 days prior to the first Interest Payment Date
with respect to such series of Securities (or if the Securities of such series
shall not bear interest prior to Maturity, the first day on which a payment of
principal is made), and at least 10 days prior to each date of payment of
principal or interest if there has been any change with respect to the matters
set forth in the below-mentioned Officers' Certificate, the Company shall
furnish to the Trustee and the principal Paying Agent or Paying Agents, if other
than the Trustee, an Officers' Certificate instructing the Trustee and such
Paying Agent or Paying Agents whether such payment of principal of and premium,
if any, or interest, if any, on the Securities of such series shall be made to
Holders of Securities of such series or the Coupons appertaining thereto who are
United States Aliens without withholding for or on account of any tax,
assessment or other governmental charge described in the Securities of such
series. If any such withholding shall be required, then such Officers'
Certificate shall specify by country the amount, if any, required to be withheld
on such payments to such Holders of Securities or Coupons, and the Company
agrees to pay to the Trustee or such Paying Agent the Additional Amounts
required by the terms of such Securities. The Company covenants to indemnify the
Trustee and any Paying Agent for, and to hold them harmless against, any loss,
liability or expense reasonably incurred without negligence or bad faith on
their part arising out of or in connection with actions taken or omitted by any
of them in reliance on any Officers' Certificate furnished pursuant to this
Section.
Section 1005. Statement as to Compliance.
Each of the Company and the Guarantor will deliver to the Trustee,
within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company and the
Guarantor, as the case may be, an Officers' Certificate, stating as to each
signer, that
55. a review of the activities of the Company or the Guarantor, as
the case may be, during such year and of performance under this Indenture has
been made under his or her supervision; and
56. to the best of his or her knowledge, based on such review, (a) the
Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, has fulfilled all its obligations
under this Indenture throughout such year, or, if there has been a material
default in the fulfillment of any such obligation, specifying each such default
known to him or her and the nature and status thereof, and (b) no event has
occurred and is continuing which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both
would become, an Event of Default, or, if such an event has occurred and is
continuing, specifying each such event known to him or her and the nature and
status thereof.
Section 1006. Payment of Taxes and Other Claims.
The Guarantor will pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged,
before the same shall become delinquent, (1) all taxes, assessments and
governmental charges levied or imposed upon the Guarantor or any Subsidiary or
upon the income, profits or property of the Guarantor or any Subsidiary, and (2)
all lawful claims for labor, materials and supplies which, if unpaid, might by
law become a lien upon the property of the Guarantor or any Subsidiary;
provided, however, that the Guarantor shall not be required to pay or discharge
or cause to be paid or discharged any such tax, assessment, charge or claim
whose amount, applicability or validity is being contested in good faith by
appropriate proceedings.
Section 1007. Restriction on Secured Funded Debt .
The Guarantor shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary
to, issue, assume, guarantee, incur, create or otherwise become liable in
respect of any Secured Funded Debt, unless the Debt Securities are secured
equally and ratably with (or prior to) such Secured Funded Debt, except:
(1) Secured Funded Debt of a Restricted Subsidiary outstanding as
of thbe date of this Indenture;
(2) Secured Funded Debt of a Restricted Subsidiary payable to the
Guarantor or to a Restricted Subsidiary;
(3) Secured Funded Debt of any corporation or other entity outstanding
at the time such corporation or other entity became a Restricted Subsidiary (and
not incurred in contemplation thereof);
(4) Secured Funded Debt and Attributable Debt otherwise permitted
under this Indenture;
(5) Secured Funded Debt not otherwise permitted by clauses (1) through
(4) above, provided that, (i) at the time of the issuance, assumption,
guarantee, incurrence or creation thereof no Default or Event of Default is
continuing or would be created thereby and (ii) after giving effect thereto and
to the application of the proceeds thereof, no Default or Event of Default shall
have occurred and be continuing and the aggregate amount of all Secured Funded
Debt of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries does not exceed 5% of
Consolidated Net Tangible Assets as of the end of the immediately preceding
fiscal quarter; and
(6) renewals, extensions and refundings of Secured Funded Debt
permitted by this Section 1007, provided that, the amount of such Secured Funded
Debt is not increased unless otherwise permitted by this Section 1007.
Section 1008. Restriction on Liens .
The Guarantor shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary
to, create or incur, or suffer to be incurred or to exist, any mortgage, pledge,
security interest, lien, encumbrance or charge of any kind on its or such
Restricted Subsidiary's property or assets, whether now owned or hereafter
acquired, or upon any income or profits therefrom, or transfer any property for
the purpose of subjecting the same to the payment of obligations in priority to
the payment of its or any Restricted Subsidiary's general creditors, or acquire
or agree to acquire any property or assets upon conditional sale agreements or
other title retention devices, except:
(1) liens securing Indebtedness existing on the date of this
Indenture;
(2) liens securing Indebtedness incurred to finance the purchase,
construction or other acquisition of assets after the date of this Indenture,
provided that (i) any such lien shall attach only to such asset and (ii) at the
time of acquisition of such asset, the amount remaining unpaid on the
Indebtedness secured by such lien shall not exceed 100% of the lesser of the
total purchase price or fair market value of such asset;
(3) liens for property taxes and assessments or governmental charges or
levies, and liens securing claims or demands of mechanics, suppliers, carriers,
landlords and other like Persons, provided that payment thereof is being
contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and adequate reserves have
been set aside with respect thereto;
(4) liens incurred or deposits made in the ordinary course of business
(i) in connection with worker's compensation, unemployment insurance, social
security and other like laws or (ii) to secure the performance of letters of
credit, bids, tenders, sales contracts, leases, statutory obligations, surety,
appeal and performance bonds and other similar obligations, in each case not
incurred in connection with the borrowing of money, the obtaining of advances or
the payment of the deferred purchase price of property;
(5) attachment, judgment and other similar liens arising in connection
with court proceedings, provided that execution and other enforcement are
effectively stayed and all claims which the liens secure are being actively
contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings;
(6) liens securing Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary to the
Guarantor or to a Restricted Subsidiary;
(7) minor reservations, exceptions, encroachments, easements,
rights-of-way, covenants, conditions, restrictions and other minor title
exceptions; and
(8) liens securing Indebtedness incurred after the date of this
Indenture and not otherwise permitted by clauses (1) through (7) above, provided
that (i) at the time of the issuance, assumption, incurrence, or creation
thereof no Default or Event of Default is continuing or would be created thereby
and (ii) after giving effect thereto and to the application of the proceeds
thereof, the aggregate amount of all such Indebtedness does not exceed 10% of
Consolidated Net Tangible Assets as of the end of the immediately preceding
fiscal quarter.
The Company, the Guarantor or any Restricted Subsidiary may subject any
of their properties to any lien or encumbrance otherwise prohibited by the
foregoing provisions of this Section 1008, provided that concurrently with the
imposition of any such lien, the Securities are secured equally and ratably with
all other obligations secured thereby (as evidenced by an Opinion of Counsel
satisfactory to the Trustee). Without limiting the foregoing, if the Company,
the Guarantor or any Restricted Subsidiary subjects any property to any lien
prohibited by this Section 1008, the Securities shall have the benefit, to the
full extent provided by applicable law, of an equitable lien on such property
securing the Securities.
Section 1009. Restriction on Sale and Lease-Back Transactions .
The Guarantor shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary
to, sell any property and then lease back that property or similar property
under a lease that (i) is entered into more than 365 days after the date of
acquisition of such property by the Company, the Guarantor or any Restricted
Subsidiary or the date of completion and occupancy by the Company, the Guarantor
or any Restricted Subsidiary of improvements constructed thereon, whichever is
later, and (ii) has a term of more than three years, or is renewable or
extendable for a total term of more than three years, unless, after giving
effect to such transaction and to the application of the proceeds thereof, no
Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and the
aggregate amount of all Attributable Debt of the Guarantor and the Restricted
Subsidiaries does not exceed 10% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets as of the
end of the immediately preceding fiscal quarter.
Section 1010. Redesignation of Subsidiaries .
(1) The Guarantor may designate any Restricted Subsidiary, other than
the Company, as an Unrestricted Subsidiary if immediately thereafter (i) such
Subsidiary shall not own, directly or indirectly, any Funded Debt or capital
stock of any Restricted Subsidiary, (ii) the Guarantor could incur additional
Secured Funded Debt in compliance with Section 1007(5) (iii) neither the
Guarantor nor any Restricted Subsidiary guarantees any obligations of such
Subsidiaries and (iv) no Default or Event of Default would exist; provided,
however, that the Guarantor shall not designate the Company as an Unrestricted
Subsidiary and will at all times ensure that all of the outstanding shares of
capital stock of the Company (other than directors' qualifying shares) and all
Indebtedness of the Company are owned, directly or indirectly, by the Guarantor
and/or one or more Subsidiaries.
(2) The Guarantor will not designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary as a
Restricted Subsidiary unless immediately thereafter (i) such Subsidiary is in
compliance with all of the covenants of this Indenture applicable to Restricted
Subsidiaries, (ii) the Guarantor could incur additional Secured Funded Debt in
compliance with Section 1007(5) and (iii) no Default or Event of Default would
exist. Any Unrestricted Subsidiary which is designated a Restricted Subsidiary
shall be deemed to have incurred all its Indebtedness and entered into all
leases under which it is obligated as lessee at the time it is designated a
Restricted Subsidiary.
(3) Each change in the designation of a Subsidiary shall be made by
resolution of the Board of Directors of the Guarantor (or the Executive
Committee thereof), and the Guarantor shall within 30 days after such action
give written notice thereof to the Trustee.
Section 1011. Waiver of Certain Covenants.
The Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, may omit in any
particular instance to comply with any term, provision or condition set forth in
Sections 1007 to 1009, inclusive, with respect to the Securities of any series
if before the time for such compliance the Holders of at least a majority in
principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series, by Act of such
Holders, either shall waive such compliance in such instance or generally shall
have waived compliance with such term, provision or condition, but no such
waiver shall extend to or affect such term, provision or condition except to the
extent so expressly waived, and, until such waiver shall become effective, the
obligations of the Company and the Guarantor and the duties of the Trustee in
respect of any such term, provision or condition shall remain in full force and
effect.
ARTICLE ELEVEN
REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES
Section 1101. Applicability of Article.
Redemption of Securities of any series at the option of the Company as
permitted or required by the terms of such Securities shall be made in
accordance with the terms of such Securities and (except as otherwise provided
herein or pursuant hereto) this Article.
Section 1102. Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee.
The election of the Company to redeem any Securities shall be evidenced
by or pursuant to a Board Resolution. In case of any redemption at the election
of the Company of less than all of the Securities of any series, the Company
shall, at least 60 days prior to the Redemption Date fixed by the Company
(unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), notify the
Trustee of such Redemption Date and of the principal amount of Securities of
such series to be redeemed and, in the event that the Company shall determine
that the Securities of any series to be redeemed shall be selected from
Securities of such series having the same issue date, interest rate or interest
rate formula, Stated Maturity and other terms (the "Equivalent Terms"), the
Company shall notify the Trustee of such Equivalent Terms.
Section 1103. Selection by Trustee of Securities to be Redeemed.
If less than all of the Securities of any series are to be redeemed or
if less than all of the Securities of any series with Equivalent Terms 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 or from the Outstanding Securities of such series with
Equivalent Terms, as the case may be, 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 portions of the principal amount of
Registered Securities of such series; provided, however, that no such partial
redemption shall reduce the portion of the principal amount of a Registered
Security of such series not redeemed to less than the minimum denomination for a
Security of such series established herein or pursuant hereto.
The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company and the Security
Registrar (if other than itself) in writing of the Securities selected for
redemption and, in the case of any Securities selected for partial redemption,
the principal amount thereof to be redeemed.
For all purposes of this Indenture, unless the context otherwise
requires, all provisions relating to the redemption of Securities shall relate,
in the case of any Securities redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the
portion of the principal of such Securities which has been or is to be redeemed.
Section 1104. Notice of Redemption.
Notice of redemption shall be given in the manner provided in Section
106, not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date, unless
a shorter period is specified in the Securities to be redeemed, to each Holder
of Securities to be redeemed at his address appearing in the Security Register.
Failure to give notice by mailing in the manner herein provided to the Holder of
any Registered Securities designated for redemption as a whole or in part, or
any defect in the notice to any such Holder, shall not affect the validity of
the proceedings for the redemption of any other Securities or portion thereof.
Any notice that is mailed to the Holder of any Registered Securities in the
manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given,
whether or not such Holder receives the notice.
All notices of redemption shall identify the Securities to be redeemed
and shall state:
57. the Redemption Date,
58. the Redemption Price,
59. if less than all Outstanding Securities of any series are to
be redeemed, the identification (and, in the case of partial redemption, the
principal amount) of the particular Security or Securities to be redeemed,
60. in case any Security is to be redeemed in part only, the notice
which relates to such Security shall state that on and after the Redemption
Date, upon surrender of such Security, the Holder of such Security will receive,
without charge, a new Security or Securities of authorized denominations for the
principal amount thereof remaining unredeemed,
61. that, on the Redemption Date, the Redemption Price shall become due
and payable upon each such Security or portion thereof to be redeemed, and, if
applicable, that interest thereon shall cease to accrue on and after said date,
62. the place or places where such Securities, together (in the case of
Bearer Securities) with all Coupons appertaining thereto, if any, maturing after
the Redemption Date, are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price
and any accrued interest and Additional Amounts pertaining thereto,
63. that the redemption is for a sinking fund, if such is the case,
64. that, unless otherwise specified in such notice, Bearer Securities
of any series, if any, surrendered for redemption must be accompanied by all
Coupons maturing subsequent to the date fixed for redemption or the amount of
any such missing Coupon or Coupons will be deducted from the Redemption Price,
unless security or indemnity satisfactory to the Company, the Trustee and any
Paying Agent is furnished,
65. if Bearer Securities of any series are to be redeemed and any
Registered Securities of such series are not to be redeemed, and if such Bearer
Securities may be exchanged for Registered Securities not subject to redemption
on the Redemption Date pursuant to Section 305 or otherwise, the last date, as
determined by the Company, on which such exchanges may be made, and
66. the CUSIP number or the Euroclear or the Cedel reference
numbers of such Securities, if any (or any other numbers used by a Depository to
identify such Securities).
Notice of redemption of Securities to be redeemed at the election of
the Company shall be given by the Company or, at the Company's request, by the
Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company.
Section 1105. Deposit of Redemption Price.
On or prior to any Redemption Date, the Company shall deposit, with
respect to the Securities of any series called for redemption pursuant to
Section 1104, with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Company is
acting as its own Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in
Section 1003) an amount of money in the applicable Currency sufficient to pay
the Redemption Price of, and (except if the Redemption Date shall be an Interest
Payment Date, unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301 for or in the
Securities of such series) any accrued interest on and Additional Amounts with
respect thereto, all such Securities or portions thereof which are to be
redeemed on that date.
Section 1106. Securities Payable on Redemption Date.
Notice of redemption having been given as aforesaid, the Securities so
to be redeemed shall, on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at the
Redemption Price therein specified, and from and after such date (unless the
Company shall default in the payment of the Redemption Price and accrued
interest) such Securities shall cease to bear interest and the Coupons for such
interest appertaining to any Bearer Securities so to be redeemed, except to the
extent provided below, shall be void. Upon surrender of any such Security for
redemption in accordance with said notice, together with all Coupons, if any,
appertaining thereto maturing after the Redemption Date, such Security shall be
paid by the Company at the Redemption Price, together with any accrued interest
and Additional Amounts to the Redemption Date; provided, however, that, except
as otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or the Bearer Securities
of such series, installments of interest on Bearer Securities whose Stated
Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption Date shall be payable only upon
presentation and surrender of Coupons for such interest (at an Office or Agency
located outside the United States except as otherwise provided in Section 1002),
and provided, further, that, except as otherwise specified in or pursuant to
this Indenture or the Registered Securities of such series, installments of
interest on Registered Securities whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the
Redemption Date shall be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or
more Predecessor Securities, registered as such at the close of business on the
Regular Record Dates therefor according to their terms and the provisions of
Section 307.
If any Bearer Security surrendered for redemption shall not be
accompanied by all appurtenant Coupons maturing after the Redemption Date, such
Security may be paid after deducting from the Redemption Price an amount equal
to the face amount of all such missing Coupons, or the surrender of such missing
Coupon or Coupons may be waived by the Company and the Trustee if there be
furnished to them such security or indemnity as they may require to save each of
them and any Paying Agent harmless. If thereafter the Holder of such Security
shall surrender to the Trustee or any Paying Agent any such missing Coupon in
respect of which a deduction shall have been made from the Redemption Price,
such Holder shall be entitled to receive the amount so deducted; provided,
however, that any interest or Additional Amounts represented by Coupons shall be
payable only upon presentation and surrender of those Coupons at an Office or
Agency for such Security located outside of the United States except as
otherwise provided in Section 1002.
If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon
surrender thereof for redemption, the principal and any premium, until paid,
shall bear interest from the Redemption Date at the rate prescribed therefor in
the Security.
Section 1107. Securities Redeemed in Part.
Any Registered Security which is to be redeemed only in part shall be
surrendered at any Office or Agency for such Security (with, if the Company or
the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer
in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder
thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing) and the Company shall
execute, the Guarantees of the Guarantor shall be endorsed on and the Trustee
shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security without service
charge, a new Registered Security or Securities of the same series, containing
identical terms and provisions, of any authorized denomination as requested by
such Holder in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the
unredeemed portion of the principal of the Security so surrendered. If a
Security in global form is so surrendered, the Company shall execute, and the
Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the U.S. Depository or other
Depository for such Security in global form as shall be specified in the Company
Order with respect thereto to the Trustee, without service charge, a new
Security in global form in a denomination equal to and in exchange for the
unredeemed portion of the principal of the Security in global form so
surrendered.
ARTICLE TWELVE
SINKING FUNDS
Section 1201. Applicability of Article.
The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to any sinking fund
for the retirement of Securities of a series, except as otherwise permitted or
required in or pursuant to this Indenture or any Security of such series issued
pursuant to this Indenture.
The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the
terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as a "mandatory sinking
fund payment", and any payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by
the terms of Securities of such series is herein referred to as an "optional
sinking fund payment". If provided for by the terms of Securities of any series,
the cash amount of any sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as
provided in Section 1202. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the
redemption of Securities of any series as provided for by the terms of
Securities of such series and this Indenture.
Section 1202. Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments With
Securities.
The Company or the Guarantor may, in satisfaction of all or any part of
any sinking fund payment with respect to the Securities of any series to be made
pursuant to the terms of such Securities (1) deliver Outstanding Securities of
such series (other than any of such Securities previously called for redemption
or any of such Securities in respect of which cash shall have been released to
the Company), together in the case of any Bearer Securities of such series with
all unmatured Coupons appertaining thereto, and (2) apply as a credit Securities
of such series which have been redeemed either at the election of the Company
pursuant to the terms of such series of Securities or through the application of
permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the terms of such
Securities, provided that such Securities have not been previously so credited.
Such Securities shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee
at the Redemption Price specified in such Securities for redemption through
operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such sinking fund payment shall
be reduced accordingly. If as a result of the delivery or credit of Securities
of any series in lieu of cash payments pursuant to this Section 1202, the
principal amount of Securities of such series to be redeemed in order to exhaust
the aforesaid cash payment shall be less than $100,000, the Trustee need not
call Securities of such series for redemption, except upon Company Request, and
such cash payment shall be held by the Trustee or a Paying Agent and applied to
the next succeeding sinking fund payment, provided, however, that the Trustee or
such Paying Agent shall at the request of the Company from time to time pay over
and deliver to the Company any cash payment so being held by the Trustee or such
Paying Agent upon delivery by the Company to the Trustee of Securities of that
series purchased by the Company having an unpaid principal amount equal to the
cash payment requested to be released to the Company.
Section 1203. Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund.
Not less than 75 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for any
series of Securities, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers'
Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund
payment for that series pursuant to the terms of that series, the portion
thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash and the portion
thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting of
Securities of that series pursuant to Section 1202, and the optional amount, if
any, to be added in cash to the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment, and
will also deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so credited and not
theretofore delivered. If such Officers' Certificate shall specify an optional
amount to be added in cash to the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment,
the Company shall thereupon be obligated to pay the amount therein specified.
Not more than 75 days or less than 45 days before each such sinking fund payment
date the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking
fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 1103 and cause notice of
the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the
Company in the manner provided in Section 1104. Such notice having been duly
given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the
manner stated in Sections 1106 and 1107.
<PAGE>
ARTICLE THIRTEEN
GUARANTEES
Section 1301. Guarantee .
The Guarantor hereby unconditionally guarantees to each Holder of a
Security authenticated and delivered by the Trustee, and to the Trustee on
behalf of such Holder, the due and punctual payment of the principal of and any
premium and interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to interest, if
any, on such Security and the due and punctual payment of any sinking fund or
analogous payments provided for pursuant to the terms of such Security, when and
as the same shall become due and payable, whether at the State Maturity, by
declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise, in accordance
with the terms of such Security and of this Indenture, and any and all other
amounts owed by the Company to the Trustee under the terms of this Indenture. In
case of the failure of the Company punctually to make any such payment, the
Guarantor hereby agrees to cause such payment to be made punctually when and as
the same shall become due and payable, whether at the State Maturity or by
declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise, and as if such
payment were made by the Company.
The Guarantor hereby agrees that any amounts to be paid by it hereunder
shall be paid without deduction or withholding for or on account of any and all
present or future tax, duty, assessment or governmental charge imposed upon or
as a result of such payment by the Government of the United States, or any state
or other political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein, or if
deduction or withholding of any such tax, duty, assessment or charge shall at
any time be required by or on behalf of the Government of the United States or
any such state, political subdivision or taxing authority, the Guarantor shall
pay such additional amount in respect of principal, premium, if any, and
interest, if any, as may be necessary in order that the net amounts paid to the
Holder of a Security or the Trustee on behalf of the Holder of such Security, as
the case may be, pursuant to this guarantee after such deduction or withholding
shall not be less than the amount provided for in such Security to be then due
and payable; except that no such additional amount shall be payable in respect
of any Security to any Holder (a) who is subject to such tax, duty, assessment
or governmental charge in respect of such Security by reason of his being
connected with the United States otherwise than merely by the holding or
ownership of such Security, or (b) who is not dealing at arm's length with the
Guarantor (within the meaning of the Internal Revenue Code as amended from time
to time).
The Guarantor hereby agrees that its obligations hereunder shall be
unconditional, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of
such Security or this Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same,
any waiver or consent by the Holder of such Security or by the Trustee with
respect to any provisions thereof or of this Indenture, the obtaining of any
judgment against the Company or any action to enforce the same or any other
circumstances which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or
defense of a guarantor. The Guarantor hereby waives the benefits of division and
discussion, diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a
court in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of the Company, any right to
require a proceeding first against he Company, protest or notice with respect to
such Security or the indebtedness evidenced thereby or with respect to any
sinking fund payment required pursuant to the terms of such Security and all
demands whatsoever, and covenants that this guarantee will not be discharged in
respect of such Security except by complete performance of the obligations
contained in such Security and in this guarantee. The Guarantor hereby agrees
that, in the event of a default in payment of principal (or premium, if any) or
interest, if any, on such Security, or a default in any sinking fund or
analogous payment referred to therein, legal proceedings may be instituted by
the Trustee on behalf of, or by, the Holder of such Security, on the terms and
conditions set forth in this Indenture, directly against the Guarantor to
enforce this guarantee without first proceeding against the Company.
The Guarantor shall be subrogated to all rights of the Holders of the
Securities of a particular series against the Company in respect of any amounts
paid by the Guarantor on account of such Security pursuant to the provisions of
this guarantee or this Indenture; provided, however, that the Guarantor shall
not be entitled to enforce or to receive any payments arising out of, or based
upon, such right of subrogation until the principal of (and premium, if any) and
interest, if any, on all Securities of such series issued hereunder shall have
been paid in full.
Section 1302. Execution and Delivery of Guarantees .
The Guarantees to be endorsed on the Securities of each series shall
include the terms of the guarantee set forth in Section 1301 (except that
references to premium and interest need be included only if any premium or
interest, respectively, is provided for in the terms of such series) and any
other terms that may be set forth in the form established pursuant to Section
202 with respect to such series. The Guarantor hereby agrees to execute the
Guarantees, in a form established pursuant to Section 202, to be endorsed on
each Security authenticated and delivered by the Trustee.
The Guarantees shall be executed on behalf of the Guarantor by its
Chairman of the Board, a Vice Chairman of the Board, its President or one of its
Vice Presidents, under its corporate seal reproduced thereon attested by its
Secretary or one of its Assistant Secretaries. The signature of any of these
officers on the Guarantees may be manual or facsimile.
Guarantees bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of individuals
who were at any time the proper officers of the Guarantor shall bind the
Guarantor, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have cased to
hold such offices prior to the authentication and delivery of such Guarantees or
did not hold such offices at the date of such Guarantees.
The delivery of any Security by the Trustee, after the authentication
thereof hereunder, shall constitute due delivery of the Guarantee endorsed
thereon on behalf of the Guarantor. The Guarantor hereby agrees that its
Guarantee set forth in Section 1301 shall remain in full force and effect
notwithstanding any failure to endorse a Guarantee on any Security.
ARTICLE FOURTEEN
REPAYMENT AT THE OPTION OF HOLDERS
Section 1401. Applicability of Article.
Securities of any series which are repayable at the option of the
Holders thereof before their Stated Maturity shall be repaid in accordance with
the terms of the Securities of such series. The repayment of any principal
amount of Securities pursuant to such option of the Holder to require repayment
of Securities before their Stated Maturity, for purposes of Section 309, shall
not operate as a payment, redemption or satisfaction of the Indebtedness
represented by such Securities unless and until the Company, at its option,
shall deliver or surrender the same to the Trustee with a directive that such
Securities be canceled. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in
this Section 1401, in connection with any repayment of Securities, the Company
may arrange for the purchase of any Securities by an agreement with one or more
investment bankers or other purchasers to purchase such Securities by paying to
the Holders of such Securities on or before the close of business on the
repayment date an amount not less than the repayment price payable by the
Company on repayment of such Securities, and the obligation of the Company to
pay the repayment price of such Securities shall be satisfied and discharged to
the extent such payment is so paid by such purchasers.
ARTICLE FIFTEEN
SECURITIES IN FOREIGN CURRENCIES
Section 1501. Applicability of Article.
Whenever this Indenture provides for any distribution to Holders of
Securities of any series in which not all of such Securities are denominated in
the same Currency, in the absence of any provision to the contrary in or
pursuant to this Indenture or the Securities of such series, any amount in
respect of any Security denominated in a Currency other than Dollars shall be
treated for any such distribution as that amount of Dollars that could be
obtained for such amount on such reasonable basis of exchange and as of the
record date with respect to Registered Securities of such series (if any) for
such distribution (or, if there shall be no applicable record date, such other
date reasonably proximate to the date of such distribution) as the Company may
specify in a written notice to the Trustee or, in the absence of such written
notice, as the Trustee may determine.
ARTICLE SIXTEEN
MEETINGS OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES
Section 1601. Purposes for Which Meetings May Be Called.
A meeting of Holders of Securities of any series may be called at any
time and from time to time pursuant to this Article to make, give or take any
request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act
provided by this Indenture to be made, given or taken by Holders of Securities
of such series.
Section 1602. Call, Notice and Place of Meetings.
(1) The Trustee may at any time call a meeting of Holders of Securities
of any series for any purpose specified in Section 1601, to be held at such time
and at such place in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, or, if
Securities of such series have been issued in whole or in part as Bearer
Securities, in London or in such place outside the United States as the Trustee
shall determine. Notice of every meeting of Holders of Securities of any series,
setting forth the time and the place of such meeting and in general terms the
action proposed to be taken at such meeting, shall be given, in the manner
provided in Section 106, not less than 21 nor more than 180 days prior to the
date fixed for the meeting.
(2) In case at any time the Company (by or pursuant to a Board
Resolution) or the Holders of at least 10% in principal amount of the
Outstanding Securities of any series shall have requested the Trustee to call a
meeting of the Holders of Securities of such series for any purpose specified in
Section 1601, by written request setting forth in reasonable detail the action
proposed to be taken at the meeting, and the Trustee shall not have mailed
notice of or made the first publication of the notice of such meeting within 21
days after receipt of such request (whichever shall be required pursuant to
Section 106) or shall not thereafter proceed to cause the meeting to be held as
provided herein, then the Company or the Holders of Securities of such series in
the amount above specified, as the case may be, may determine the time and the
place in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, or, if Securities of
such series are to be issued as Bearer Securities, in London for such meeting
and may call such meeting for such purposes by giving notice thereof as provided
in clause (1) of this Section.
Section 1603. Persons Entitled to Vote at Meetings.
To be entitled to vote at any meeting of Holders of Securities of any
series, a Person shall be (1) a Holder of one or more Outstanding Securities of
such series, or (2) a Person appointed by an instrument in writing as proxy for
a Holder or Holders of one or more Outstanding Securities of such series by such
Holder or Holders. The only Persons who shall be entitled to be present or to
speak at any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series shall be the Persons
entitled to vote at such meeting and their counsel, any representatives of the
Trustee and its counsel and any representatives of the Company and its counsel.
Section 1604. Quorum; Action.
The Persons entitled to vote a majority in principal amount of the
Outstanding Securities of a series shall constitute a quorum for a meeting of
Holders of Securities of such series; provided, however, that if any action is
to be taken at such meeting with respect to a consent or waiver which this
Indenture expressly provides may be given by the Holders of at least 66-2/3% in
principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of a series, the Persons entitled
to vote 66-2/3% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series
shall constitute a quorum. In the absence of a quorum within 30 minutes after
the time appointed for any such meeting, the meeting shall, if convened at the
request of Holders of Securities of such series, be dissolved. In any other case
the meeting may be adjourned for a period of not less than 10 days as determined
by the chairman of the meeting prior to the adjournment of such meeting. In the
absence of a quorum at any such adjourned meeting, such adjourned meeting may be
further adjourned for a period of not less than 10 days as determined by the
chairman of the meeting prior to the adjournment of such adjourned meeting.
Notice of the reconvening of any adjourned meeting shall be given as provided in
Section 1602(1), except that such notice need be given only once not less than
five days prior to the date on which the meeting is scheduled to be reconvened.
Notice of the reconvening of an adjourned meeting shall state expressly the
percentage, as provided above, of the principal amount of the Outstanding
Securities of such series which shall constitute a quorum.
Except as limited by the proviso to Section 902, any resolution
presented to a meeting or adjourned meeting duly reconvened at which a quorum is
present as aforesaid may be adopted only by the affirmative vote of the Holders
of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series;
provided, however, that, except as limited by the proviso to Section 902, any
resolution with respect to any consent or waiver which this Indenture expressly
provides may be given by the Holders of at least 66-2/3% in principal amount of
the Outstanding Securities of a series may be adopted at a meeting or an
adjourned meeting duly convened and at which a quorum is present as aforesaid
only by the affirmative vote of the Holders of 66-2/3% in principal amount of
the Outstanding Securities of that series; and provided, further, that, except
as limited by the proviso to Section 902, any resolution with respect to any
request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act
which this Indenture expressly provides may be made, given or taken by the
Holders of a specified percentage, which is less than a majority, in principal
amount of the Outstanding Securities of a series may be adopted at a meeting or
an adjourned meeting duly reconvened and at which a quorum is present as
aforesaid by the affirmative vote of the Holders of such specified percentage in
principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series.
Any resolution passed or decision taken at any meeting of Holders of
Securities of any series duly held in accordance with this Section shall be
binding on all the Holders of Securities of such series and the Coupons
appertaining thereto, whether or not such Holders were present or represented at
the meeting.
Section 1605. Determination of Voting Rights; Conduct and
Adjournment of Meetings.
(1) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture, the Trustee
may make such reasonable regulations as it may deem advisable for any meeting of
Holders of Securities of such series in regard to proof of the holding of
Securities of such series and of the appointment of proxies and in regard to the
appointment and duties of inspectors of votes, the submission and examination of
proxies, certificates and other evidence of the right to vote, and such other
matters concerning the conduct of the meeting as it shall deem appropriate.
Except as otherwise permitted or required by any such regulations, the holding
of Securities shall be proved in the manner specified in Section 104 and the
appointment of any proxy shall be proved in the manner specified in Section 104
or by having the signature of the person executing the proxy witnessed or
guaranteed by any trust company, bank or banker authorized by Section 104 to
certify to the holding of Bearer Securities. Such regulations may provide that
written instruments appointing proxies, regular on their face, may be presumed
valid and genuine without the proof specified in Section 104 or other proof.
(2) The Trustee shall, by an instrument in writing, appoint a temporary
chairman of the meeting, unless the meeting shall have been called by the
Company, the Guarantor or by Holders of Securities as provided in Section
1602(2), in which case the Company, the Guarantor or the Holders of Securities
of the series calling the meeting, as the case may be, shall in like manner
appoint a temporary chairman. A permanent chairman and a permanent secretary of
the meeting shall be elected by vote of the Persons entitled to vote a majority
in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series represented at
the meeting.
(3) At any meeting, each Holder of a Security of such series or proxy
shall be entitled to one vote for each $1,000 principal amount of Securities of
such series held or represented by him; provided, however, that no vote shall be
cast or counted at any meeting in respect of any Security challenged as not
Outstanding and ruled by the chairman of the meeting to be not Outstanding. The
chairman of the meeting shall have no right to vote, except as a Holder of a
Security of such series or proxy.
(4) Any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series duly called
pursuant to Section 1602 at which a quorum is present may be adjourned from time
to time by Persons entitled to vote a majority in principal amount of the
Outstanding Securities of such series represented at the meeting; and the
meeting may be held as so adjourned without further notice.
Section 1606. Counting Votes and Recording Action of Meetings.
The vote upon any resolution submitted to any meeting of Holders of
Securities of any series shall be by written ballots on which shall be
subscribed the signatures of the Holders of Securities of such series or of
their representatives by proxy and the principal amounts and serial numbers of
the Outstanding Securities of such series held or represented by them. The
permanent chairman of the meeting shall appoint two inspectors of votes who
shall count all votes cast at the meeting for or against any resolution and who
shall make and file with the secretary of the meeting their verified written
reports in triplicate of all votes cast at the meeting. A record, at least in
triplicate, of the proceedings of each meeting of Holders of Securities of any
series shall be prepared by the secretary of the meeting and there shall be
attached to said record the original reports of the inspectors of votes on any
vote by ballot taken thereat and affidavits by one or more persons having
knowledge of the facts setting forth a copy of the notice of the meeting and
showing that said notice was given as provided in Section 1602 and, if
applicable, Section 1604. Each copy shall be signed and verified by the
affidavits of the permanent chairman and secretary of the meeting and one such
copy shall be delivered to the Company, another to the Guarantor, and another to
the Trustee to be preserved by the Trustee, the latter to have attached thereto
the ballots voted at the meeting. Any record so signed and verified shall be
conclusive evidence of the matters therein stated.
* * * * *
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.
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be
duly executed, and their respective corporate seals to be hereunto affixed, all
as of the day and year first above written.
MACSAVER FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
By
Name:
Title:
(SEAL)
Attest:
- ---------------------------------
Secretary
HEILIG-MEYERS COMPANY
By
Name:
Title:
Attest:
- ---------------------------------
Secretary
[NAME OF TRUSTEE]
By
Name:
Title:
Attest:
- ---------------------------------
STATE OF )
: SS.:
COUNTY OF )
On the _____ day of ________________, 199_, before me personally came
_______________, to me known, who, being by me duly sworn, did depose and say
that he is a _____________ of MacSaver Financial Services, Inc., a Delaware
corporation, one of the corporations described in and which executed the
foregoing instrument; that he knows the seal of said Corporation; that the seal
affixed to said instrument is such Corporation's seal; that it was so affixed by
authority of the Board of Directors of said Corporation; and that he signed his
name thereto by like authority.
Notary Public
[NOTARIAL SEAL]
STATE OF )
<PAGE>
On the _____ day of ________________, 199_, before me personally came
_______________, to me known, who, being by me duly sworn, did depose and say
that he is a _____________ of Heilig-Meyers Company, a Virginia corporation, one
of the corporations described in and which executed the foregoing instrument;
that he knows the seal of said Corporation; that the seal affixed to said
instrument is such Corporation's seal; that it was so affixed by authority of
the Board of Directors of said Corporation; and that he signed his name thereto
by like authority.
Notary Public
[NOTARIAL SEAL]
STATE OF )
: SS.:
COUNTY OF )
On the _____ day of ________________, 199_, before me personally came
_______________, to me known, who, being by me duly sworn, did depose and say
that he is a _____________ of ________________, a banking association organized
and existing under the laws of the United States of America, one of the persons
described in and who executed the foregoing instrument; that he knows the seal
of said Corporation; that the seal affixed to said instrument is such
Corporation's seal; that it was so affixed by authority of the Board of
Directors of said Corporation; and that he signed his name thereto by like
authority.
Notary Public
[NOTARIAL SEAL]
Exhibit 4.6
BY-LAWS
OF
HEILIG-MEYERS COMPANY
ARTICLE 1 - OFFICES
A. The principal office of the Corporation shall be at 3228 West Cary
Street, Richmond, Virginia. The Corporation may also have offices at such other
places, within or without the State of Virginia, as the Board of Directors may,
from time to time, appoint, or the business of the Corporation may require.
B. The registered office of the Corporation shall be its initial
registered office as shown in the Articles of Incorporation or at such other
place in Virginia as the Board of Directors shall, from time to time, appoint,
and may, but need not, be at the principal office of the Corporation.
ARTICLE II - STOCK AND OTHER SECURITIES
A. Certificates of Stock shall be in such form as is required by law
and approved by the Board of Directors. Each stockholder shall be entitled to a
certificate signed by either the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive
Officer or a Vice President, and by either the Treasurer or an Assistant
Treasurer or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary or any other officer
authorized by resolution of the Board of Directors. Each certificate may (but
need not) be sealed with the seal of the Corporation or a facsimile thereof.
B. The signatures of the officers upon a stock certificate, bond, note
or debenture issued by the Corporation may be facsimiles if such stock
certificate is countersigned by a transfer agent or registered by a registrar,
other than the Corporation itself or an employees of the Corporation, or if such
bond, note or debenture is countersigned or otherwise authenticated by the
signature of a trustee. If any officer who has signed, or whose facsimile
signature has been placed upon, a stock certificate, bond, note or debenture,
shall be ceased to be such officer before such certificate, bond, note or
debenture is issued, or may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as
if he were such officer at the date of its issue.
C. Only stockholders of record on the stock transfer books of the
Corporation shall be entitled to be treated by the Corporation as the holders of
the stock standing in their respective names, and except to the extent, if any,
required by law, the Corporation shall not be obligated to recognize any
equitable or other claim to, or interest in, any share on the part of any other
person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof.
D. Transfers of stock shall be made on the stock transfer books only
upon surrender of the certificate therefor, endorsed or accompanied by a written
assignment signed by the holder of record or by his duly authorized
attorney-in-fact. The Board of Directors may, from time to time, make reasonable
regulations governing transfers of stock and other securities. No share shall be
transferred, unless otherwise required by law, if such transfer would violate
the terms of any written agreement to which the Corporation, and either the
transferor or transferee, is a party.
E. In case of the loss, mutilation or destruction of a stock
certificate, bond, note or debenture, a duplicate may be issued upon such terms,
and bearing such legend, if any, as the Board of Directors may lawfully
prescribe.
ARTICLE III - STOCKHOLDERS' MEETING
A. Meetings of the stockholders shall be held at the principal office
of the Corporation, or at such other place, within or without the State of
Virginia, as the Board of Directors may designate from time to time. At least
ten (10) days before each meeting, a complete list of the stockholders entitled
to vote at such meeting, or any adjournment thereof, with the address and number
of shares held by each, shall be prepared, kept on file subject to inspection by
any stockholder during regular business hours, at the principal office of the
Corporation or its registered office or the office of its transfer agent or
registrar.
B. The annual meeting of the stockholders shall be held on the second
Wednesday of July of each year (and if such day is a legal holiday, on the next
business day) or such other date as may be set by the Board of Directors, for
the purpose of electing Directors and transacting such other business as may
properly come before the meeting.
C. Special meetings of the stockholders may be called by the Chairman
of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Secretary or the
Board of Directors.
D. Written notice stating the place, day and hour of the meeting, and,
in the case of a special meeting (or required by law or the Articles of
Incorporation or these By-Laws), the purpose or purposes for which the meeting
was called, shall be given to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting.
Such notice shall be given either personally or by mail, by or at the direction
of the officer or other person or persons calling the meeting not more than
fifty (50) days nor less than ten (10) days before the date of the meeting
(except that such notice shall be given not less than twenty-five (25) days
before a meeting called to act on a plan of merger of consolidation, or on
proposal to amend the Articles of Incorporation or to reduce stated capital, or
to sell,, lease, exchange, mortgage or pledge for a consideration other than
money, all or substantially all the property or assets of the Corporation, if
not in the usual and regular course of its business and such notice shall be
accompanied by a copy of any proposed amendment or plan of reduction, merger or
consolidation). Notice to a stockholder shall be deemed given when deposited in
the United States mail, with postage prepaid, addressed to the stockholder at
his address as it appears on the stock transfer books of the Corporation.
Any stockholder who attends a meeting shall be deemed to have had
timely and proper notice of the meeting, unless the attends for the express
purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business because the meeting is
not lawfully called or convened.
E. Notice of any meeting may be waived, and any action may be taken by
the stockholders without a meeting if a consent in writing, setting forth the
action to be taken, shall be signed by all the stockholders entitled to vote
thereon, in accordance with Sections 13.1-27 and 13.1-28 of the Virginia Stock
Corporation Act.
F. The stock transfer books may be closed by order of the Board of
Directors for not more than fifty (50) days for the purpose of determining
stockholders entitled to notice of, or to vote at, any meeting of the
stockholders or any adjournment thereof (or entitled to receive payment of any
dividend, or in order to make a determination of stockholders for any other
purpose). In lieu of closing such books, the Board of Directors may fix in
advance, as the record date for any such determination, a date not more than
fifty (50) days before the date on which such meeting is to be held (or such
payment is to be made, or other action requiring such determination is to be
taken). If the books are not thus closed or the record date is not thus fixed,
then the date on which the notice of the meeting was mailed (or on which such
dividend is declared or such other action approved by the Board of Directors)
shall be the record date.
G. The Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer or the
President shall preside as Chairman over the meetings of stockholders. If
neither the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer nor the President
is present, the meeting shall elect a chairman. The Secretary, or, in his
absence, an Assistant Secretary, shall act as Secretary of such meeting. If no
such officer is present, the chairman shall appoint the Secretary of the
meeting.
H. Two inspectors of election may be appointed by the Board of
Directors before each meeting of the stockholders; and if no such appointment
has been made, or if any inspector thus appointed shall not be present, the
Chairman may, and if requested by stockholders holding in the aggregate at least
one-fifth (1/5) of the stock entitled to vote at the meeting shall, appoint such
an inspector or inspectors to determine the qualifications of voters, the
validity of proxies and the number of shares represented at the meeting, to
supervise voting, and to ascertain the results thereof.
I. A stockholder may vote either in person or by proxy executed in
writing by the stockholder or by his duly authorized attorney-in-fact. No proxy
shall be valid after eleven (11) months from its date unless otherwise provided
in the proxy. A proxy may be revoked at any time before the shares to which it
relates are voted by written notice, which may be in the form of a substitute
proxy to the secretary of the meeting. A proxy apparently executed in the name
of a partnership or other Corporation, or by one of several fiduciaries, shall
be presumed to be valid until challenged, and the burden of proving invalidity
shall rest upon the challenger.
J. The procedure at each meeting of the stockholders shall be
determined by the Chairman of the meeting, and (subject to paragraph H of this
Article III) the vote on all questions before any meeting shall be taken in such
manner as the Chairman prescribes. However, upon the demand of stockholders
holding in the aggregate at least one-fifth (1/5) of the stock entitled to vote
on any questions, such vote shall be by ballot.
K. A quorum at any meeting of stockholders shall be a majority of the
shares entitled to vote, represented in person or by proxy. The affirmative vote
of a majority of such quorum shall be the act of the stockholders, unless a
greater vote is required by the Virginia Stock Corporation Act or the Articles
of Incorporation (except that in elections of directors, those receiving the
greatest number of votes shall be elected even though less than such a
majority). Less than a quorum may, by the vote of a majority of the shares
present and entitled to vote, adjourn the meeting to a fixed time and place,
without further notice; and if a quorum shall then be present in person or by
proxy, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted if a
quorum had been present at the meeting as originally called.
L. All committees of stockholders created at any meeting of the
stockholders shall be appointed by the Chairman of the meeting unless otherwise
directed by the meeting.
ARTICLE IV - BOARD OF DIRECTORS
A. The Board of Directors shall consist of eleven (11) persons, none of
whom need be residents of Virginia or stockholders of the Corporation.
Nominations for the election of directors may be made by the Directors or a
nominating committee appointed by the Board of Directors or by any stockholder
entitled to vote in the election of directors. A stockholder entitled to vote in
the election of directors may nominate one or more persons for election as a
director at an annual or special meeting of stockholders only if written notice
of such stockholder's intent to make such nomination has been given, either by
personal delivery to the Secretary of the Corporation not later than the close
of business on the tenth day following the date on which notice of such meeting
is first mailed to stockholders or by Untied States mail, postage prepaid, to
the Secretary of the Corporation postmarked not later than the tenth day
following the date on which notice of such meeting is first mailed to
stockholders. Each notice required by this section shall set forth: (1) the name
and address of the stockholder who intends to make the nomination; (2) the name,
address, and principal occupation of each proposed nominee; (3) a representation
that the stockholder is entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear
in person or by proxy at the meeting to nominate the person or persons specified
in the notice; and (4) the consent of each proposed nominee to serve as a
director of the Corporation if so elected. The Chairman of the meeting may
refuse to acknowledge the nomination of any person not made in compliance with
the foregoing procedure.
B. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held without
notice at such time and place as the Board of Directors may designate from time
to time (and, in the absence of such designation, at the principal office of the
Corporation). A regular meeting shall be held as soon as practicable after each
annual meeting of the stockholders for the purpose of electing officers and
transacting such other business as may properly come before the meeting.
C. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called at any time
by the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer or by any director.
D. Notice of the time and place of each special meeting shall be given
to each director either by mail, telegraph, or written communication delivered
to the address of such director as it appears in the records of the Corporation,
at least twenty-four (24) hours before such meeting. Neither the business to be
transacted at, nor the purpose of, any meeting of the Board of Directors need be
specified in the notice or any waiver of notice of such meeting.
A director who attends a meeting shall be deemed to have had
timely and proper notice thereof, unless he attends for the express purpose of
objecting to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully
called or convened.
E. Notice of any meeting may be waived, and any action may be taken by
the Board of Directors (or by any committee thereof) without a meeting if a
consent in writing, setting forth the action taken, shall be signed by all the
directors (or members of the committee, as the case may be), in accordance with
Sections 13.1-41 and 13.1-41.1 of the Virginia Stock Corporation Act.
F. Each director shall be elected to hold office until the next
succeeding annual meeting, and shall hold office until his successor shall have
been elected and qualifies, or until such earlier time as he shall resign, die
or be removed. No decrease in the number of directors by amendment to these
By-Laws shall change the term of any incumbent director.
G. Any director may be removed, with or without cause, by a vote of the
holders of a majority of the number of shares entitled to vote at an election of
directors.
H. Any vacancy in the Board of Directors (including any vacancy
resulting from an increase of not more than two (2) in the number of directors)
may be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors,
even though less than a quorum, unless sooner filled by the stockholders.
I. A quorum at a meeting of the Board of Directors shall be a majority
of the number of directors fixed by these By-Laws. The act of the majority of
the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act
of the Board of Directors.
J. An Executive Committee consisting of at least two (2) or more
directors may be designated by a resolution adopted by a majority of the number
of directors fixed by these By-Laws. To the extent provided in such resolution,
such Executive Committee shall have and may exercise all of the authority of the
Board of Directors except to approve an amendment to the Articles of
Incorporation or a plan of merger or consolidation.
Other committees with limited authority may be designated by
resolution adopted by a majority of the directors present at a meeting at which
a quorum is present.
Regular meetings of any committee may be held without notice
at such time and place as shall be fixed by a majority of the committee. Special
meetings of any committee may be called at the request of the Chairman of the
Board and Chief Executive Officer or any member of the committee. Notice of such
special meetings shall be given by the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive
Officer or any member of any such committee, and shall be deemed duly given, or
may be waived, or action may be taken without a meeting, as provided in
paragraphs D and E of this Article IV. A majority of any such committee shall
constitute a quorum, and the act of a majority of those present at any meeting
at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the committee, unless otherwise
provided by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE V - OFFICERS, AGENTS AND EMPLOYEES
A. The officers of the Corporation shall be a Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer, a President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer, each of whom
shall be elected by the Board of Directors at the regular meeting of the Board
of Directors to be held as soon as practicable after each annual meeting of the
stockholders, and any officer may be elected at any meeting of the Board of
Directors. Any officer may hold more than one office and he may, but need not be
a director, except that the same person may not be Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer and Secretary, and the Chairman of the Board and Chief
Executive Officer shall be a director. The Board may elect one or more Vice
Presidents and any other officers and assistant officers and may fill any
vacancies. The officers shall have such authority and perform such duties as
generally pertain to their offices and as may lawfully be provided by these
By-Laws or by resolution of the Board of Directors not inconsistent with these
By-Laws.
B. The Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer shall have
general supervision over, responsibility for, and control of the other officers,
agents, and employees of the Corporation and shall preside as Chairman at
meetings of the stockholders and the directors. The Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer shall also perform such duties and shall also have such
authority as may lawfully be required of or conferred upon him by the Board of
Directors.
C. The President and each Vice President shall perform such duties and
shall have such authority as may be lawfully required of or conferred upon him
by the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer or the Board of
Directors. The President shall, during the absence, disqualification, or
incapacity of the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, exercise
all the functions and perform all the duties of the Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer.
D. The Secretary shall, as Secretary of the meeting, record all
proceedings at stockholders' meetings and directors' meetings, in books kept for
that purpose. He shall maintain the record of stockholders of the Corporation,
giving the names and addresses of all stockholders and the number, classes and
series of the shares held by each; and, unless otherwise prescribed by the Board
of Directors, he shall maintain the stock transfer books.
E. The Treasurer shall have custody of all moneys and securities of the
Corporation. He shall deposit the same in the name and to the credit of the
Corporation in such depositories as may be designated by the Board of Directors,
disburse the funds of the Corporation as may be required, and cause books and
records of account to be kept in accordance with generally accepted accounting
practices and principles.
F. During the absence, disqualification, or incapacity of any officer
of the Corporation other than the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive
Officer, the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer may be written
order, or the Board of Directors may by resolution, delegate the power of each
such officer to any other officer or employee of the Corporation.
G. Each officer shall be elected to hold office until the next
succeeding regular meeting of the Board of Directors to be held as soon as
practicable after each annual meeting of the stockholders, or for such longer or
shorter term as the Board of Directors may lawfully specify; and he shall hold
office until his successor shall have been elected and qualified, or until such
earlier time as he shall resign, die or be removed.
H. Any officer may be removed, with or without cause, at any time
whenever the Board of Directors in its absolute discretion shall consider that
the best interests of the Corporation would be served thereby. Any officer or
agent appointed otherwise than by the Board of Directors may be removed with or
without cause at any time by any officer having authority to appoint such an
officer or agent, except as may be otherwise provided in these By-Laws, whenever
such officer in his absolute discretion shall consider that the best interests
of the Corporation will be served thereby. Any such removal shall be without
prejudice to the recovery of damages for breach of the contract rights, if any,
of the person removed. Election or appointment of an officer or agent shall not
of itself create contract rights.
I. Checks, drafts, notes and orders for the payment of money shall be
signed by such officer or officers or such other person or persons as the Board
of Directors may, from time to time, authorize, and any endorsement of such
paper in the ordinary course of business shall be similarly made, except that
any officer or assistant officer of the Corporation may endorse checks, drafts
or notes for collection or deposit to the credit of the Corporation. The
signature of any such officer or other person may be a facsimile when authorized
by the Board of Directors.
J. Unless otherwise provided by resolution of the Board of Directors,
the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer may, from time to time,
himself or by such proxies, attorneys, or agents of the Corporation as he shall
designate in the name and on behalf of the Corporation, cast the votes to which
the Corporation may be entitled as a stockholder or otherwise in any other
Corporation, at meetings, or consent in writing to any action by any such
Corporation. He may instruct the person or persons so appointed as to the manner
of casting such votes or giving such consent, and may execute or cause to be
executed on behalf of the Corporation and under its corporate seal, or
otherwise, such written proxies consents, waivers, or other instruments as he
may deem necessary or desirable in the premises.
ARTICLE VI - SEAL
The seal of the Corporation shall be a flat-face circular die, of which
there may any number of counterparts or facsimiles, in such form as the Board of
Directors shall, from time to time, adopt as the corporate seal of the
Corporation.
ARTICLE VII - AMENDMENTS
These By-Laws may be repealed or changed, and new By-Laws made, by the
stockholders entitled to vote at any annual or special meeting, or by the Board
of Directors at any regular or special meeting. By-Laws made by the directors
may be repealed or changed by the stockholders; and By-Laws made by the
stockholders may be repealed or changed by the directors, except as, and to the
extent that, the stockholders prescribe that the By-Laws, or any specified
By-Law, shall not be altered, amended or repealed by the directors.
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
MacSAVER FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
FIRST. The name of the corporation is MacSaver Financial Services, Inc.
SECOND. The address of the corporation's registered office in the State
of Delaware is 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801. The name of its
registered agent at such address is The Corporation Trust Company, located in
New Castle County.
THIRD. The purpose of the corporation is to engage in any lawful act
or activity for which corporations may be organized under the General
Corporation Law of Delaware.
FOURTH. The total number of shares which the corporation shall have
authority to issue is 3,000 shares of common stock, which shall have no par
value.
FIFTH. The name and mailing address of the incorporator is David W.
Robertson, Esquire, c/o McGuire, Woods, Battle & Boothe, One James Center,
Richmond, Virginia 23219.
SIXTH. The board of directors of the corporation is expressly
authorized to make, alter or repeal by-laws of the corporation but the
stockholders may make additional by-laws and may alter or repeal any by-law
whether adopted by them or otherwise.
SEVENTH. Whenever a compromise or arrangement is proposed between the
corporation and its creditors or any class of them and/or between this
corporation and its stockholders or any class of them, any court of equitable
jurisdiction within the State of Delaware may, on the application in a summary
way of this corporation or of any creditor or stockholder thereof or on the
application of any receiver or receivers appointed for this corporation under
ss. 291 of Title 8 of the Delaware Code or on the application of trustees in
dissolution or of any receiver or receivers appointed for this corporation under
ss. 279 of Title 8 of the Delaware Code order a meeting of the creditors or
class of creditors, and/or of the stockholders or class of stockholders of this
corporation, as the case may be, to be summoned in such manner as the said court
directs. If a majority in number representing three fourths in value of the
creditors or class of creditors, and/or of the stockholders or class of
stockholders of this corporation, as the case may be, agree to any compromise or
arrangement and to any reorganization of this corporation as consequence of such
compromise or arrangement, the said compromise or arrangement and the said
reorganization shall, if sanctioned by the court to which the said application
has been made, be binding on all the creditors or class of creditors, and/or on
all the stockholders or class of stockholders, of this corporation, as the case
may be, and also on this corporation.
EIGHTH. 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 that exculpation from liability is not
permitted under the Delaware General Corporation Law as in effect at the time
such liability is determined. No amendment or repeal of this Eighth Paragraph
shall apply to or have any effect on the liability or alleged liability of any
director of the corporation for or with respect to any acts or omissions of such
director occurring prior to such amendment.
NINTH. This corporation shall, to the maximum extent permitted from
time to time under the law of the State of Delaware, indemnify and upon request
shall advance expenses to any person who is or was a party or is threatened to
be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, proceeding
or claim, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of
the fact that such person is or was or has agreed to be a director or officer of
this corporation or while a director or officer is or was serving at the request
of this corporation as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee or agent
of any corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise,
including service with respect to employee benefit plans, against expenses
(including attorney's fees and expenses), judgments, fines, penalties and
amounts paid in settlement incurred in connection with the investigation,
preparation to defend or defense of such action, suit, proceeding or claim;
provided, however, that the foregoing shall not require this corporation to
indemnify or advance expenses to any person in connection with any action, suit,
proceeding, claim or counterclaim initiated by or on behalf of such person. Such
indemnification shall not be exclusive of other indemnification rights arising
under any by-law, agreement, vote of directors or stockholders or otherwise and
shall inure to the benefit of the heirs and legal representatives of such
person. Any person seeking indemnification under this Ninth Paragraph shall be
deemed to have met the standard of conduct required for such indemnification
unless the contrary shall be established. Any repeal or modification of the
foregoing provisions of this Ninth Paragraph shall not adversely affect any
right or protection of a director or officer of this corporation with respect to
any acts or omissions of such director or officer occurring prior to such repeal
or modification.
TENTH. Election of directors need not be by written ballot except and
to the extent provided in the by-laws of the corporation.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have signed this certificate of incorporation
this 21st day of December, 1989.
/s/ David W. Robertson
BYLAWS
OF
MACSAVER FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
ARTICLE I - OFFICES
A. The principal office of the Corporation shall be at 42 Reads Way,
Suite C, New Castle, Delaware 19720, or at such other location within the State
of Delaware as the President may designate from time to time as convenient for
the business of the Corporation.
B. The registered office of the Corporation shall be the
principal office of the Corporation.
ARTICLE II - STOCK AND OTHER SECURITIES
A. Certificates of Stock shall be in such form as is required by law
and approved by the Board of Directors. Each stockholder shall be entitled to a
certificate signed by either the President or a Vice President, and by either
the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer or the Secretary or an Assistant
Secretary or any other officer authorized by resolution of the Board of
Directors. Each certificate may (but need not) be sealed with the seal of the
Corporation or a facsimile thereof.
B. The signatures of the officers upon a stock certificate, bond, note
or debenture issued by the Corporation may be facsimiles if such stock
certificate is countersigned by a transfer agent or registered by a registrar,
other than the Corporation itself or an employee of the Corporation, or if such
bond, note or debenture is countersigned or otherwise authenticated by the
signature of a trustee. If any officer who has signed, or whose facsimile
signature has been placed upon, a stock certificate, bond, note or debenture,
shall have ceased to be such officer before such certificate, bond, note or
debenture is issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as
if he were such officer at the date of its issue.
C. Only stockholders of record on the stock transfer books of the
Corporation shall be entitled to be treated by the Corporation as the holders of
the stock standing in their respective names, and except to the extent, if any,
required by law, the Corporation shall not be obligated to recognize any
equitable or other claim to, or interest in, any share on the part of any other
person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof.
D. Transfers of stock shall be made on the stock transfer books only
upon surrender of the certificate therefor, endorsed or accompanied by a written
assignment signed by the holder of record or by his duly authorized
attorney-in-fact. The Board of Directors may, from time to time, make reasonable
regulations governing transfers of stock and other securities. No share shall be
transferred, unless otherwise required by law, if such transfer would violate
the terms of any written agreement to which the Corporation and either the
transferor or transferee is a party.
E. In the case of the loss, mutilation or destruction of a stock
certificate, bond, note or debenture, a duplicate may be issued upon such terms,
and bearing such legend, if any, as the Board of Directors may lawfully
prescribe.
ARTICLE III - STOCKHOLDERS' MEETINGS
A. Meetings of the stockholders shall be held at the principal office
of the Corporation or at such other place within the State of Delaware as the
Board of Directors may designate from time to time. For at least ten (10) days
before each meeting, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at
such meeting or any adjournment thereof, with the address and number of shares
held by each, shall be prepared and kept open to the examination of any
stockholder during ordinary business hours, at the place where the meeting is to
be held.
B. The annual meeting of the stockholders shall be held on the second
Wednesday of July of each year (and if such day is a legal holiday, on the next
business day) or such other date as may be set by the Board of Directors, for
the purpose of electing Directors and transacting such other business as may
properly come before the meeting.
C. Special meetings of the stockholders may be called by the
President, the Secretary or the Board of Directors.
D. Written notice stating the place, day and hour of the meeting, and,
in the case of a special meeting (or if required by law or the Articles of
Incorporation or these Bylaws), the purpose or purposes for which the meeting
was called, shall be given to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting.
Such notice shall be given either personally or by mail, by or at the direction
of the officer or other person or persons calling the meeting not more than
sixty (60) days nor less than ten (10) days before the date of the meeting
(except that such notice shall be given not less than twenty (20) days before a
meeting called to act on a plan of merger or consolidation or to sell, lease,
exchange, mortgage or pledge for a consideration other than money all or
substantially all the property or assets of the Corporation, if not in the usual
and regular course of its business, and such notice shall be accompanied by a
copy of any plan of reduction, merger or consolidation). Notice to a stockholder
shall be deemed given when deposited in the United States mail, with postage
prepaid, addressed to the stockholder at his address as it appears on the stock
transfer books of the Corporation.
Any stockholder who attends a meeting shall be deemed to have had
timely and proper notice of the meeting, unless he attends for the express
purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business because the meeting is
not lawfully called or convened.
E. Notice of any meeting may be waived, and any action may be taken by
the stockholders without a meeting if a consent in writing, setting forth the
action to be taken, shall be signed by the holders of outstanding stock having
not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize
or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon
were present and voted.
F. The Board of Directors may fix, in advance, a record date, which
shall not be more than sixty (60) days before the date of such meeting nor more
than sixty (60) days prior to any other action, in order that the corporation
may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting
of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, or to express consent to corporate
action in writing without a meeting, or entitled to receive payment of any
dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights, or entitled to
exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock or
for the purpose of any lawful action. If no record date is fixed, then the date
on which the notice of the meeting was mailed (or on which such other action is
approved by the Board of Directors) shall be the record date.
G. The President shall preside as Chairman over the meetings of
stockholders. If the President is not present, the meeting shall elect a
chairman. The Secretary, or, in his absence, an Assistant Secretary, shall act
as Secretary of such meeting. If no such officer is present, the chairman shall
appoint the Secretary of the meeting.
H. Two inspectors of election may be appointed by the Board of
Directors before each meeting of the stockholders; and if no such appointment
has been made, or if any inspector thus appointed shall not be present, the
Chairman may, and if requested by stockholders holding in the aggregate at least
one-fifth (1/5) of the stock entitled to vote at the meeting shall, appoint such
an inspector or inspectors to determine the qualifications of voters, the
validity of proxies and the number of shares represented at the meeting, to
supervise voting, and to ascertain the results thereof.
I. A stockholder may vote either in person or by proxy executed in
writing by the stockholder or by his duly authorized attorney-in-fact. No proxy
shall be valid after three (3) years from its date unless otherwise provided in
the proxy. A revocable proxy may be revoked at any time before the shares to
which it relates are voted by written notice, which may be in the form of a
substitute proxy to the secretary of the meeting. A duly executed proxy shall be
irrevocable if it states that it is irrevocable and if, and only as long as, it
is coupled with an interest sufficient in law to support an irrevocable power. A
proxy may be made irrevocable regardless of whether the interest with which it
is coupled is an interest in the stock itself or an interest in the corporation
generally. A proxy apparently executed in the name of a partnership or other
Corporation, or by one of several fiduciaries, shall be presumed to be valid
until challenged, and the burden of proving invalidity shall rest upon the
challenger.
J. The procedure at each meeting of the stockholders shall be
determined by the Chairman of the meeting, and (subject to paragraph H of this
Article III) the vote on all questions before any meeting shall be taken in such
manner as the Chairman prescribes. However, upon the demand of stockholders
holding in the aggregate at least one-fifth (1/5) of the stock entitled to vote
on any questions, such vote shall be by ballot.
K. A quorum at any meeting of stockholders shall be a majority of the
shares entitled to vote, represented in person or by proxy. The affirmative vote
of a majority of such quorum shall be the act of the stockholders, unless a
greater vote is required by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware
or the Certificate of Incorporation (except that in elections of directors,
those receiving the greatest number of votes shall be elected even though less
than such a majority). Less than a quorum may, by the vote of a majority of the
shares present and entitled to vote, adjourn the meeting to a fixed time and
place, without further notice; and if a quorum shall then be present in person
or by proxy, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted if
a quorum had been present at the meeting as originally called.
L. All committees of stockholders created at any meeting of the
stockholders shall be appointed by the Chairman of the meeting unless otherwise
directed by the meeting.
ARTICLE IV - BOARD OF DIRECTORS
A. The Board of Directors shall consist of not less than one (1) or
more than five (5) persons as may be fixed from time to time by resolution of
the Board of Directors, none of whom need be residents of Delaware or
stockholders of the Corporation. Nominations for the election of directors may
be made by the Directors or a nominating committee appointed by the Board of
Directors or by any stockholder entitled to vote in the election of directors.
B. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held without
notice at the principal office of the Corporation at such time as the Board of
Directors may designate from time to time. A regular meeting shall be held as
soon as practicable after each annual meeting of the stockholders for the
purpose of electing officers and transacting such other business as may properly
come before the meeting.
C. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called at
any time by the President or by any director.
D. Notice of the time and place of each special meeting shall be given
to each director either by mail, telegraph, or written communication delivered
to the address of such director as it appears in the records of the Corporation
at least twenty-four (24) hours before such meeting. Neither the business to be
transacted at, nor the purpose of, any meeting of the Board of Directors need be
specified in the notice or any waiver of notice of such meeting.
A director who attends a meeting shall be deemed to have had
timely and proper notice thereof, unless he attends for the express purpose of
objecting to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully
called or convened.
E. Notice of any meeting may be waived, and any action may be taken by
the Board of Directors (or by any committee thereof) without a meeting if a
consent in writing, setting forth the action taken, shall be signed by all the
directors (or members of the committee, as the case may be), in accordance with
ss. 141(f) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
F. Each director shall be elected to hold office until the next
succeeding annual meeting, and shall hold office until his successor shall have
been elected and qualifies, or until such earlier time as he shall resign, die
or be removed. No decrease in the number of directors by amendment to these
Bylaws shall change the term of any incumbent director.
G. Any director may be removed, with or without cause, by a vote
of the holders of a majority of the number of shares entitled to vote at an
election of directors.
H. Any vacancy in the Board of Directors (including any vacancy
resulting from an increase of not more than two (2) in the number of directors)
may be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors,
even though less than a quorum, unless sooner filled by the stockholders.
I. A quorum at a meeting of the Board of Directors shall be a
majority of the number of directors fixed by these Bylaws. The act of the
majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present
shall be the act of the Board of Directors.
J. An Executive Committee consisting of at least two (2) or more
directors may be designated by a resolution adopted by a majority of the number
of directors fixed by these Bylaws. To the extent provided in such resolution,
such Executive Committee shall have and may exercise all of the authority of the
Board of Directors except to approve an amendment to the Certificate of
Incorporation or a plan of merger or consolidation.
Other committees with limited authority may be designated by
resolution adopted by a majority of the directors present at a meeting at which
a quorum is present.
Regular meetings of any committee may be held without notice
at such time and place as shall be fixed by a majority of the committee. Special
meetings of any committee may be called at the request of the President. Officer
or any member of the committee. Notice of such special meetings shall be given
by the President or any member of any such committee, and shall be deemed duly
given, or may be waived, or action may be taken without a meeting, as provided
in paragraphs D and E of this Article IV. A majority of any such committee shall
constitute a quorum, and the act of a majority of those present at any meeting
at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the committee, unless otherwise
provided by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE V - OFFICERS, AGENTS AND EMPLOYEES
A. The officers of the Corporation shall be a President, a Secretary,
and a Treasurer, each of whom shall be elected by the Board of Directors at the
regular meeting of the Board of Directors to be held as soon as practicable
after each annual meeting of the stockholders, and any officer may be elected at
any meeting of the Board of Directors. Any officer may hold more than one office
and he may, but need not be a director, except that the same person may not be
President and Secretary. The Board may elect one or more Vice Presidents and any
other officers and assistant officers and may fill any vacancies. The officers
shall have such authority and perform such duties as generally pertain to their
offices and as may lawfully be provided by these Bylaws or by resolution of the
Board of Directors not inconsistent with these Bylaws.
B. The President shall have general supervision over, responsibility
for, and control of the other officers, agents, and employees of the Corporation
and shall preside as Chairman at meetings of the stockholders and the directors.
The President shall also perform such duties and shall also have such authority
as may lawfully be required of or conferred upon him by the Board of Directors.
C. Each Vice President shall perform such duties and shall have
such authority as may be lawfully required of or conferred upon him by the
President or the Board of Directors.
D. The Secretary shall, as Secretary of the meeting, record all
proceedings at stockholders' meetings and directors' meetings, in books kept for
that purpose. He shall maintain the record of stockholders of the Corporation,
giving the names and addresses of all stockholders and the number, classes and
series of the shares held by each; and, unless otherwise prescribed by the Board
of Directors, he shall maintain the stock transfer books.
E. The Treasurer shall have custody of all moneys and securities of the
Corporation. He shall deposit the same in the name and to the credit of the
Corporation in such depositories as may be designated by the Board of Directors,
disburse the funds of the Corporation as may be required, and cause books and
records of account to be kept in accordance with generally accepted accounting
practices and principles.
F. During the absence, disqualification, or incapacity of any
officer of the Corporation other than the President, the President may by
written order, or the Board of Directors may by resolution, delegate the power
of each such officer to any other officer or employee of the Corporation.
G. Each officer shall be elected to hold office until the next
succeeding regular meeting of the Board of Directors to be held as soon as
practicable after each annual meeting of the stockholders, or for such longer or
shorter term as the Board of Directors may lawfully specify; and he shall hold
office until his successor shall have been elected and qualified, or until such
earlier time as he shall resign, die or be removed.
H. Any officer may be removed, with or without cause, at any time
whenever the Board of Directors in its absolute discretion shall consider that
the best interests of the Corporation would be served thereby. Any officer or
agent appointed otherwise than by the Board of Directors may be removed with out
without cause at any time by any officer having authority to appoint such an
officer or agent, except as may be otherwise provided in these Bylaws, whenever
such officer in his absolute discretion shall consider that the best interests
of the Corporation will be served thereby. Any such removal shall be without
prejudice to the recovery of damages for breach of the contract rights, if any,
of the person removed. Election or appointment of an officer or agent shall not
of itself create contract rights.
I. Checks, drafts, notes and orders for the payment of money shall be
signed by such officer or officers or such other person or persons as the Board
of Directors may authorize from time to time, and any endorsement of such paper
in the ordinary course of business shall be similarly made, except that any
officer or assistant officer of the Corporation may endorse checks, drafts or
notes for collection or deposit to the credit of the Corporation. The signature
of any such officer or other person may be a facsimile when authorized by the
Board of Directors.
J. Unless otherwise provided by resolution of the Board of Directors,
the President may, from time to time, himself or by such proxies, attorneys, or
agents of the Corporation as he shall designate in the name and on behalf of the
Corporation, cast the votes to which the Corporation may be entitled as a
stockholder or otherwise in any other Corporation, at meetings, or consent in
writing to any action by any such Corporation. He may instruct the person or
persons so appointed as to the manner of casting such votes or giving such
consent, and may execute or cause to be executed on behalf of the Corporation
and under its corporate seal, or otherwise, such written proxies consents,
waivers, or other instruments as he may deem necessary or desirable in the
premises.
ARTICLE VI - SEAL
The seal of the Corporation shall be a flat-face circular die, of which
there may be any number of counterparts or facsimiles, in such form as the Board
of Directors shall, from time to time, adopt as the corporate seal of the
Corporation.
ARTICLE VII - AMENDMENTS
These Bylaws may be repealed or changed, and new Bylaws made, by the
stockholders entitled to vote at any annual or special meeting, or by the Board
of Directors at any regular or special meeting. Bylaws made by the directors may
be repealed or changed by the stockholders; and Bylaws made by the stockholders
may be repealed or changed by the directors, except as, and to the extent that,
the stockholders prescribe that the Bylaws, or any specified Bylaw, shall not be
altered, amended or repealed by the directors.
Exhibit 5.1
McGuire, Woods, Battle & Boothe, L.L.P.
One James Center
901 East Cary Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219
July 8, 1996
Heilig-Meyers Company
2235 Staples Mill Road
Richmond, Virginia 23230
MacSaver Financial Services, Inc.
2 Reads Ways, Suite 224
New Castle, Delaware 19720
Re: Registration Statement on Form S-3
$400,000,000 Aggregate Principal
Amount of Securities
Ladies and Gentlemen:
In connection with the registration of $400,000,000 aggregate principal
amount of (i) common stock, par value $2.00 per share (the "Common Stock"), of
Heilig-Meyers Company, a Virginia corporation ("Heilig-Meyers"), (ii) warrants
to purchase the Common Stock of Heilig-Meyers (the "Warrants"), (iii) debt
securities (the "Debt Securities")of MacSaver Financial Services, Inc., a
Delaware corporation ("MFS"), and (iv) the guarantees of the Debt Securities
(the "Guarantees" and, collectively with the Common Stock , Warrants and Debt
Securities, the "Securities") by Heilig-Meyers, under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the "Act"), on Form S-3 to be filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "Commission") on the date hereof (the "Registration
Statement"), and the offering of such Securities from time to time, as set forth
in the prospectus contained in the Registration Statement (the "Prospectus") and
as to be set forth in one or more supplements to the Prospectus (each a
"Prospectus Supplement"), you have requested our opinion with respect to the
matters set forth below.
In connection with this opinion, we have made such legal and factual
examinations and inquiries, including an examination of originals or copies,
certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such documents,
corporate records and instruments, as we have deemed necessary or appropriate
for purposes of this opinion.
Capitalized terms used herein without definition have the meanings
ascribed to them in the Registration Statement.
Subject to the foregoing and the other matters set forth herein, it is
our opinion that as of the date hereof:
1. Heilig-Meyers has authority pursuant to its Restated Articles of
Incorporation to issue up to 250,000,000 shares of Common Stock. Upon adoption
by the Board of Directors of Heilig-Meyers of a resolution in form and content
as required by applicable law and upon issuance and delivery of and payment for
such shares in the manner contemplated by the Registration Statement and/or the
applicable Prospectus Supplement and by such resolution, the shares of Common
Stock to be sold pursuant to the Registration Statement and/or Prospectus
Supplement will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
2. The Debt Securities have been duly authorized by all necessary
corporate action of MFS, and when the Debt Securities have been duly established
by an Indenture, and duly executed, authenticated and delivered by or on behalf
of MFS against payment therefor in accordance with the terms of an Indenture and
as contemplated by the Registration Statement and/or the applicable Prospectus
Supplement, the Debt Securities will constitute legally valid and binding
obligations of MFS, enforceable against MFS in accordance with their terms.
3. The Guarantees have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate
action of Heilig-Meyers, and when the Guarantees have been duly established by
the Indenture, and duly executed in accordance with the terms of the Indenture
and upon due execution, authentication and delivery of the Debt Securities and
upon payment therefor in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and as
contemplated by the Registration Statement and/or the applicable Prospectus
Supplement, will be legally valid and binding obligations of Heilig-Meyers.
4. The registration of the Warrants pursuant to the Registration
Statement has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action of
Heilig-Meyers. Upon adoption by the Board of Directors of Heilig-Meyers of a
resolution in form and content as required by applicable law with respect to the
Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants, and when the Warrants have
been duly established by a Warrant Agreement, and duly executed and delivered by
or on behalf of the Company against payment therefor in accordance with the
terms of a Warrant Agreement and as contemplated by the Registration Statement
and/or the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the Warrants will constitute
legally valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the
Company in accordance with their terms.
The opinions set forth above are subject to the following exceptions,
limitations and qualifications: (i) the effect of bankruptcy, insolvency,
fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws now or
hereafter in effect relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of
creditors; (ii) the effect of general principles of equity, whether enforcement
is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law, and the discretion of the
court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought; (iii) the
unenforceability under certain circumstances under law or court decisions of
provisions providing for the indemnification of or contribution to a party with
respect to a liability where such indemnification or contribution is contrary to
public policy; and (iv) the enforceability of obligations under the Indenture
may be limited by (A) requirements that a claim with respect to any Securities
denominated other than in U.S. dollars (or a foreign currency or foreign
currency unit judgment in respect to such claim) be converted into United States
dollars at a rate of exchange prevailing on a date determined pursuant to
applicable law; and (B) governmental authority to limit, delay or prohibit the
making of payments in foreign currency or currency units or payments outside the
United States.
To the extent that the obligations of Heilig-Meyers and MFS under the
Indenture may be dependent upon such matters, we assume for purposes of this
opinion that the Trustee is duly organized, validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization; that the Trustee is
duly qualified to engage in the activities contemplated by the Indenture; that
the Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Trustee
and constitutes the legally valid, binding and enforceable obligation of the
Trustee enforceable against the Trustee in accordance with its terms; that the
Trustee is in compliance, generally and with respect to acting as a trustee
under the Indenture, with all applicable laws and regulations; and that the
Trustee has the requisite organizational and legal power and authority to
perform its obligations under the Indenture.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement and to reference to us under the heading relating to the
validity of the Securities in the Registration Statement (including the
applicable Prospectus Supplement relating to such Securities). We do not admit
by giving this consent that we are in the category of persons whose consent is
required under Section 7 of the Act.
Very truly yours,
MCGUIRE WOODS BATTLE & BOOTHE, L.L.P.
Exhibit 8.1
McGuire, Woods, Battle & Boothe, L.L.P.
One James Center
901 East Cary Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219
July 8, 1996
Heilig-Meyers Company
2235 Staples Mill Road
Richmond, Virginia 23230
MacSaver Financial Services, Inc.
2 Reads Ways, Suite 224
New Castle, Delaware 19720
Re: Registration Statement on Form S-3
$400,000,000 Aggregate Principal
Amount of Securities
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have been requested, as your special tax counsel, to render federal
tax advice in connection with the registration of $400,000,000 aggregate
principal amount of (i) common stock, par value $2.00 per share (the "Common
Stock"), of Heilig-Meyers Company, a Virginia corporation ("Heilig-Meyers"),
(ii) warrants to purchase the Common Stock of Heilig-Meyers (the "Warrants"),
(iii) debt securities (the "Debt Securities")of MacSaver Financial Services,
Inc., a Delaware corporation ("MFS"), and (iv) the guarantees of the Debt
Securities (the "Guarantees" and, collectively with the Common Stock , Warrants
and Debt Securities, the "Securities") by Heilig-Meyers, under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), on Form S-3 to be filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") on the date hereof (the "Registration
Statement"), and the offering of such Securities from time to time, as set forth
in the prospectus contained in the Registration Statement (the "Prospectus") and
as to be set forth in one or more supplements to the Prospectus (each a
"Prospectus Supplement").
We have reviewed the statements set forth in the Registration Statement
under the heading "United States Taxation" and hereby advise you that such
statements, insofar as they are or refer to statements of United States law or
legal conclusions relating thereto, are accurate in all material respects.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement and to the reference to us under the heading "United
States Taxation" in the Registration Statement. We do not admit by giving this
consent that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under
Section 7 of the Securities Act.
Very truly yours,
MCGUIRE WOODS BATTLE & BOOTHE, L.L.P.
Heilig-Meyers Company
Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
(dollar amounts in thousands)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Fiscal Year Ended February 28(29)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1996 1995 1994 1993 1992
---------------- ---------------- ---------------- ---------------- ------------
<S> <C>
Net Income Before Taxes 64,527 105,901 87,154 59,394 41,237
Interest 40,767 32,889 23,834 23,084 21,389
Property Rentals 21,868 33,631 22,345 17,143 0
Equipment Rentals 41,216 16,050 11,964 3,763 17,405
---------------- ---------------- ---------------- ---------------- ------------
Total Earnings Available 168,378 188,471 145,297 103,384 80,031
Fixed Charges:
Interest 40,767 32,889 23,834 23,084 21,389
Property Rentals 21,868 33,631 22,345 17,143 0
Equipment Rentals 41,216 16,050 11,964 3,763 17,405
---------------- ---------------- ---------------- ---------------- ------------
Total Fixed Charges 103,851 82,570 58,143 43,990 38,794
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges 1.62 2.28 2.50 2.35 2.06
</TABLE>
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT
We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement of
Heilig-Meyers Company and MacSaver Financial Services, Inc. on Form S-3 of our
report dated March 25, 1996, appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of
Heilig-Meyers Company and subsidiaries for the year ended February 29, 1996 and
to the reference to us under the heading "Experts" in the Prospectus, which is
part of this Registration Statement.
DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
Richmond, Virginia
July 8, 1996
(7716)\exh23.1
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM T-1
STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY AND QUALIFICATION
UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT FOR 1939, AS AMENDED,
OF A CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE
FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK OF VIRGINIA
(Exact name of Trustee as specified in its charter)
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
213 SOUTH JEFFERSON STREET
ROANOKE, VIRGINIA 24011 54-0211320
(Address of principal executive office) (Zip Code) (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<S><C>
HEILIG-MEYERS COMPANY MACSAVER FINANCIAL
SERVICES, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Virginia Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) (State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
54-0558861 62-1419691
(I.R.S. employer identification number) (I.R.S. employer
identification number)
2235 Staples Mill Road 2 Reads Way, Suite 224
Richmond, Virginia 23230 New Castle, Delaware 19720
(804) 359-9171 (302) 325-3841
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including (Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including
area code, of registrant's principal executive offices) area code, of registrant's principal executive offices)
</TABLE>
MACSAVER FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
(a subsidiary of Heilig-Meyers Company)
Debt Securities
<PAGE>
1. General information.
(a) The following are the names and addresses of each examining or
supervising authority to which the Trustee is subject:
The Comptroller of the Currency, Washington, D.C.
Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, Virginia.
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Washington, D.C.
Securities and Exchange Commission, Division of Market
Regulation, Washington, D.C.
(b) The Trustee is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.
2. Affiliations with obligor.
The obligor is not an affiliate of the Trustee.
(See Note 2 on Page 5)
3. Voting Securities of the Trustee.
The following information is furnished as to each class of
voting securities of the Trustee:
As of June 30, 1995
Column A Column B
Title of Class Amount Outstanding
Common Stock, par value $3.33-1/3 a share 171,837,000 shares
4. Trusteeships under other indentures.
The Trustee is not a trustee under another indenture under
which any other securities, or certificates of interest or
participation in any other securities, of the obligor are outstanding.
5. Interlocking directorates and similar relationships with the obligor or
underwriters.
Neither the Trustee nor any of the directors or executive
officers of the Trustee is a director, officer, partner, employee,
appointee or representative of the obligor or of any underwriter for
the obligor.
(See Note 2 on Page 5)
6. Voting securities of the Trustee owned by the obligor or its officials.
Voting securities of the Trustee owned by the obligor and its
directors, partners, executive officers, taken as a group, do not
exceed one percent of the outstanding voting securities of the Trustee.
(See Notes 1 and 2 on Page 5)
<PAGE>
7. Voting securities of the Trustee owned by underwriters or their
officials.
Voting securities of the Trustee owned by any underwriter and
its directors, partners, and executive officers, taken as a group, do
not exceed one percent of the outstanding voting securities of the
Trustee.
(See Note 2 on Page 5)
8. Securities of the obligor owned or held by the Trustee.
The amount of securities of the obligor which the Trustee owns
beneficially or holds as collateral security for obligation in default
does not exceed one percent of the outstanding securities of the
obligor.
(See Note 2 on Page 5)
9. Securities of underwriters owned or held by the Trustee.
The Trustee does not own beneficially or hold as collateral
security for obligations in default any securities of an underwriter
for the obligor.
(See Note 2 on Page 5)
10. Ownership or holdings by the Trustee of voting securities of certain
affiliates or security holders of the obligor.
The Trustee does not own beneficially or hold as collateral
security for obligations in default voting securities of a person, who,
to the knowledge of the Trustee (1) owns 10% or more of the voting
securities of the obligor or (2) is an affiliate, other than a
subsidiary, of the obligor.
(See Note 2 on Page 5)
11. Ownership of holders by the Trustee of any securities of a person
owning 50 percent or more of the voting securities of the obligor.
The Trustee does not own beneficially or hold as collateral
security for obligations in default any securities of a person who, to
the knowledge of Trustee, owns 50 percent or more of the voting
securities of the obligor. (See Note 2 on Page 5)
12. Indebtedness of the obligor to the Trustee.
The Trustee, First Union National Bank of Virginia is an affiliate bank
of First Union Corporation. First Union National Bank of Virginia, an affiliate
bank of First Union Corporation, is one of 15 banks participating in a
$400,000,000 revolving credit agreement for the obligor. The lead banks for the
revolver are NationsBank, Wachovia, Crestar and First Union National Bank. As of
May 31, 1996 the outstanding balance under the revolver is $120,000,000.
13. Defaults by the obligor.
Not applicable.
14. Affiliations with the underwriters.
No underwriter is an affiliate of the Trustee.
15. Foreign trustee.
Not applicable.
16. List of Exhibits.
(1) Incorporated by reference. See Exhibit 25 to Registration No.
33-57401, filed January 25, 1995.
(2) Incorporated by reference. See Exhibit 25 to Registration No.
33-57401, filed January 25, 1995.
(3) Incorporated by reference. See Exhibit 25 to Registration No.
33-57401, filed January 25, 1995..
(4) Incorporated by reference. See Exhibit 25 to Registration No.
33-57401, filed January 25, 1995.
(5) Inapplicable.
(6) Consent by the Trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Trust
Indenture Act of 1939. Included at Page 6 of this Form T-1
Statement.
(7) Report of condition of Trustee.
(8) Inapplicable.
(9) Inapplicable.
<PAGE>
NOTES
1. Since the Trustee is a member of First Union Corporation, a bank
holding company, all of the voting securities of the Trustee are held by First
Union Corporation. The securities of First Union Corporation are described in
Item 3.
2. Inasmuch as this Form T-1 is filed prior to the ascertainment by
the Trustee of all facts on which to base responsive answers to Items 2, 5, 6,
7, 8, 9, 10 and 11, the answers to said Items are based on incomplete
information. Items 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 may, however by considered as
correct unless amended by an amendment to this Form T-1.
<PAGE>
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
amended, the Trustee, FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK OF VIRGINIA, a national
association organized and existing under the laws of the United States of
America, has duly caused this statement of eligibility and qualification to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the
City of Richmond, and Commonwealth of Virginia on the 28th day of June , 1996.
FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK OF VIRGINIA
(Trustee)
BY: /s/ H H. Hall, Jr.
H H. Hall, Jr., Assistant Vice President
EXHIBIT T-1 (6)
CONSENT OF TRUSTEE
Under section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and in
connection with the proposed issuance by Macsaver Financial Services, Inc. of
its % Senior Debt Securities, First Union National Bank of Virginia, as the
Trustee herein named, hereby consents that reports of examinations of said
Trustee by Federal, State, Territorial or District authorities may be furnished
by such authorities to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon requests
therefor.
FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK OF VIRGINIA
BY: /s/ John M. Turner
John M. Turner, Vice President
Dated: June 28, 1996
