SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) December 18, 1998
FLEET FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
RHODE ISLAND
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
1-6366 05-0341324
(Commission File Number) (IRS Employer Identification No.)
One Federal Street, Boston, MA 02110
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: 617-346-4000
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
<PAGE>
Item 5. Other Events.
Pursuant to a Purchase Agreement dated December 15, 1998 by and among Fleet
Financial Group, Inc. ("Fleet"), Fleet Capital Trust V ("Fleet Capital" or the
"Trust") and Lehman Brothers, Chase Securities Inc., Goldman, Sachs & Co. and
Blaylock & Partners, L.P. (the "Underwriters"), a copy of which is attached
hereto as Exhibit 1, Fleet Capital agreed to issue and sell to the Underwriters
250,000 Floating Rate Capital Securities (the "Capital Securities"), which
represent undivided preferred beneficial interests in the assets of Fleet
Capital. The closing of the sale of the Capital Securities will take place on
December 18, 1998.
Fleet will own all of the Common Securities (the "Common Securities," and
together with the Capital Securities, the "Trust Securities") representing
undivided beneficial interests in the assets of Fleet Capital. Upon an event of
default under Fleet Capital's Declaration of Trust (the "Declaration"), the
holders of Capital Securities will have a preference over the holders of the
Common Securities with respect to payments of distributions and payments upon
redemption, liquidation and otherwise. Fleet Capital exists for the sole purpose
of issuing the Trust Securities and investing the proceeds thereof in an
equivalent amount of Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Debentures due 2028 (the
"Junior Subordinated Debentures") of Fleet. The Junior Subordinated Debentures
will mature on December 18, 2028 (the "Stated Maturity").
The Capital Securities and Junior Subordinated Debentures were registered
under a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (No. 333-62905) filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Registration Statement").
Holders of the Capital Securities are entitled to receive cumulative cash
distributions at an annual rate, reset quarterly, equal to Three-Month LIBOR
plus 1.00% on the liquidation amount of $1,000 per Capital Security, accruing
from the date of original issuance and payable quarterly in arrears on March 18,
June 18, September 18 and December 18 of each year, commencing March 18, 1999
("distributions"). The payment of distributions out of moneys held by Fleet
Capital and payments on liquidation of Fleet Capital or the redemption of
Capital Securities are guaranteed by Fleet (the "Guarantee"). The Guarantee
covers payments of distributions and other payments on the Capital Securities if
and to the extent that Fleet Capital has funds available therefor, which will
not be the case unless Fleet has made a payment of interest or principal or
other payments on the Junior Subordinated Debentures held by Fleet Capital as
its sole asset. The Guarantee, when taken together with Fleet's obligations
under the Junior Subordinated Debentures and the related Indenture and its
obligations under the Declaration, including its liabilities to pay costs,
expenses, debts and obligations of Fleet Capital (other than with respect to the
Trust Securities), provide a full and unconditional guarantee of amounts due on
the Capital Securities.
The obligations of Fleet under the Guarantee are subordinate and junior in
right of payment to all other liabilities of Fleet and rank pari passu with the
most senior preferred stock issued, from time to time, if any, by Fleet. The
obligations of Fleet under the Junior Subordinated Debentures are subordinate
and junior in right of payment to all present and future Senior Indebtedness and
Other Financial Obligations (each as defined in the Registration Statement) of
Fleet, which aggregated approximately $5.7 billion (holding company only) at
September 30, 1998, and rank pari passu with Fleet's other general unsecured
creditors. In addition, because Fleet is a holding company, the Junior
Subordinated Debentures are effectively subordinated to all existing and future
liabilities of Fleet's subsidiaries, including depositors.
So long as Fleet shall not be in default in the payment of interest on the
Junior Subordinated Debentures, Fleet has the right to defer payments of
interest on the Junior Subordinated Debentures by extending the interest payment
period on the Junior Subordinated Debentures at any time for up to 20
consecutive quarters (each, an "Extension Period"), provided that an Extension
Period may not extend beyond the Stated Maturity of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures. If interest payments are so deferred, distributions on the Capital
Securities will also be deferred. During such Extension Period, distributions
will continue to accrue with interest thereon (to the extent permitted by
applicable law) at a variable annual rate, reset quarterly, equal to Three-Month
LIBOR plus 1.00% per annum compounded quarterly, and during any Extension
Period, holders of Capital Securities will be required to include such deferred
interest in their gross income for United States federal income tax purposes in
advance of receipt of the cash distributions with respect to such deferred
interest. There could be multiple Extension Periods of varying lengths
throughout the term of the Junior Subordinated Debentures.
The Trust Securities will be subject to mandatory redemption (i) in whole
but not in part, on the Stated Maturity upon repayment of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures, (ii) in whole but not in part, at any time prior to
December 18, 2003, contemporaneously with the optional prepayment of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures upon the occurrence and continuation of a Special Event
(as defined in the Registration Statement), and (iii) in whole or in part, on or
after December 18, 2003, contemporaneously with the optional prepayment by Fleet
of the Junior Subordinated Debentures, in each case at a redemption price of
$1,000 per Trust Security, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon.
The Junior Subordinated Debentures will be prepayable prior to the Stated
Maturity at the option of Fleet (i) in whole or in part, from time to time, on
or after December 18, 2003 or (ii) at any time prior to December 18, 2003, in
whole but not in part, upon the occurrence and continuation of a Special Event,
in either case at a prepayment price (the "Prepayment Price") equal to 100% of
the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the
date of prepayment.
Fleet will have the right at any time to liquidate Fleet Capital and cause
the Junior Subordinated Debentures to be distributed to the holders of the Trust
Securities. Any such redemption or distribution of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures may require the prior approval of the Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System, if such approval is then required under applicable law,
rules, guidelines or policies. In the event of the involuntary or voluntary
dissolution, winding-up or termination of Fleet Capital, the holders of the
Capital Securities will be entitled to receive for each Capital Security a
liquidation amount of $1,000 plus accrued and unpaid distributions thereon
(including interest thereon) to the date of payment, unless, in connection with
such dissolution, the Junior Subordinated Debentures are distributed to the
holders of the Capital Securities.
Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
The following exhibits are filed as part of this report:
Item 601
Exhibit Table
Reference Exhibit Title
1 Purchase Agreement dated December 15, 1998 by and among
Fleet, the Trust and Lehman Brothers, Chase Securities Inc.,
Goldman, Sachs & Co. and Blaylock & Partners, L.P.
4(a) Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of Fleet Capital
Trust V dated December 18, 1998 between Fleet and The First
National Bank of Chicago, as Trustee.
4(b) Indenture dated December 18, 1998 between Fleet and The
First National Bank of Chicago, as Trustee.
4(c) First Supplemental Indenture dated December 18, 1998 between
Fleet and The First National Bank of Chicago, as Trustee.
4(d) Form of Capital Security (included in Exhibit 4(a)).
4(e) Form of Junior Subordinated Debenture (included in Exhibit
4(c)).
4(f) Capital Securities Guarantee dated December 18, 1998 between
Fleet and The First National Bank of Chicago, as Trustee.
8 Tax Opinion of Edwards & Angell, LLP.
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed in its behalf
by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
FLEET FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.
By:/s/William C. Mutterperl
---------------------------------------
William C. Mutterperl
Executive Vice President,
Secretary and General Counsel
Date: December 18, 1998
EXHIBIT 1
==============================================================================
FLEET FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.
(a Rhode Island corporation); and
FLEET CAPITAL TRUST V
(a Delaware statutory business trust)
250,000 Capital Securities
Floating Rate Capital Securities
(Liquidation Amount $1,000 Per Capital Security)
PURCHASE AGREEMENT
Dated: December 15, 1998
<PAGE>
==============================================================================
Table of Contents
SCHEDULES
Schedule A - List of UnderwritersSch A-1
Schedule B - List of
SubsidiariesSch B-1
EXHIBITS
Exhibit A - Form of Opinion of Company's CounselA-1
Exhibit B - Form of
Opinion of Trust's Special Delaware CounselB-1
Exhibit C - Form of
Lock-up LetterC-1
<PAGE>
FLEET FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.
(a Rhode Island corporation)
FLEET CAPITAL TRUST V
(a Delaware statutory business trust)
250,000 Capital Securities
Floating Rate Capital Securities
(Liquidation Amount $1,000 Per Capital Security)
December 15, 1998
LEHMAN BROTHERS INC.
American Express Tower
10th Floor
World Financial Center
New York, New York 10285
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Fleet Capital Trust V (the "Trust"), a statutory business trust organized
under the Business Trust Act (the "Delaware Act") of the State of Delaware
(Chapter 38, Title 12 of the Delaware Code, 12 Del. C. ss. ss. 3801 et seq.)
confirms its agreement with Lehman Brothers Inc. (Lehman Brothers") and each of
the Underwriters named in Schedule A hereto (collectively the "Underwriters,"
which term shall also include any underwriter substituted as hereinafter
provided in Section 10 hereof), for whom Lehman Brothers is acting as
Representative (in such capacity, the "Representative") with respect to the
issue and sale by the Trust and the purchase by the Underwriters, acting
severally and not jointly, of the respective numbers of Floating Rate Capital
Securities (liquidation amount $1,000 per capital security) ("Capital
Securities") set forth in said Schedule A hereto. The Capital Securities are
more fully described in the Prospectus (as defined below).
The Capital Securities will be guaranteed by Fleet Financial Group, Inc. (a
Rhode Island corporation) (the "Company"), to the extent set forth in the
Prospectus (as defined below), with respect to distributions and amounts payable
upon liquidation or redemption (the "Capital Securities Guarantee"), pursuant to
the Capital Securities Guarantee Agreement (the "Capital Securities Guarantee
Agreement") to be dated as of Closing Time (as defined below), executed and
delivered by the Company and The First National Bank of Chicago (the "Guarantee
Trustee"), a national banking association not in its individual capacity but
solely as trustee, for the benefit of the holders from time to time of the
Capital Securities. The Company and the Trust each understand that the
Underwriters propose to make a public offering of the Capital Securities as soon
as the Representative deems advisable after this Agreement has been executed and
delivered, and the Declaration (as defined herein), the Indenture (as defined
herein), and the Capital Securities Guarantee Agreement have been qualified
under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the "1939 Act"). The entire
proceeds from the sale of the Capital Securities will be combined with the
entire proceeds from the sale by the Trust to the Company of its common
securities (the "Common Securities") guaranteed by the Company, to the extent
set forth in the Prospectus, with respect to distributions and amounts payable
upon liquidation or redemption (the "Common Securities Guarantee" and, together
with the Capital Securities Guarantee, the "Guarantees") pursuant to the Common
Securities Guarantee Agreement (the "Common Securities Guarantee Agreement" and,
together with the Capital Securities Guarantee Agreement, the "Guarantee
Agreements"), to be dated as of Closing Time, executed and delivered by the
Company for the benefit of the holders from time to time of the Common
Securities, and will be used by the Trust to purchase the Floating Rate Junior
Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures due 2028 (the "Debentures") issued
by the Company. The Capital Securities and the Common Securities will be issued
pursuant to the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of the Trust, to be
dated as of Closing Time (the "Declaration"), among the Company, as Sponsor, The
First National Bank of Chicago, as institutional trustee (the "Institutional
Trustee"), First Chicago Delaware Inc., as Delaware trustee (the "Delaware
Trustee"), and Eugene M. McQuade, Douglas L. Jacobs and John R. Rodehorst, as
regular trustees (the "Regular Trustees" and together with the Institutional
Trustee and the Delaware Trustee, the "Trustees"), and the holders from time to
time of undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust. The
Debentures will be issued pursuant to an Indenture, dated as of December 18,
1998 (the "Indenture"), between the Company and The First National Bank of
Chicago as trustee (the "Indenture Trustee"), as supplemented by a Supplemental
Indenture to be dated as of Closing Time (the "Supplemental Indenture"), between
the Company and the Indenture Trustee. The Capital Securities, the Capital
Securities Guarantee and the Debentures are collectively referred to herein as
the "Securities." Capitalized terms used herein without definition have the
respective meanings specified in the Prospectus.
The Company and the Trust have filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission") a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (No.
333-62905), including the related preliminary prospectus, covering the
registration of the Securities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"1933 Act"), which permits the delayed or continuous offering of securities
pursuant to Rule 415 of the rules and regulations of the Commission under the
1933 Act (the "1933 Act Regulations"). Promptly after execution and delivery of
this Agreement, the Company will either (i) prepare and file a prospectus
(including a prospectus supplement relating to the Securities) in accordance
with the provisions of Rule 430A ("Rule 430A") of the 1933 Act Regulations, if
applicable, and paragraph (b) of Rule 424 ("Rule 424(b)") of the 1933 Act
Regulations or (ii) if the Company has elected to rely upon Rule 434 ("Rule
434") of the 1933 Act Regulations, prepare and file a term sheet (a "Term
Sheet") in accordance with the provisions of Rule 434 and Rule 424(b). The
information included in such prospectus or in such Term Sheet, as the case may
be, that was omitted from such registration statement at the time it became
effective but that is deemed to be part of such registration statement at the
time it became effective (a) pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 430A is referred
to as "Rule 430A Information" or (b) pursuant to paragraph (d) of Rule 434 is
referred to as "Rule 434 Information". Such registration statement, including
the exhibits thereto, schedules thereto, if any, and the documents incorporated
by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the 1933 Act, at the
time it became effective and including the Rule 430A Information and the Rule
434 Information, as applicable, is herein called the "Registration Statement."
Any registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the 1933 Act
Regulations is herein referred to as the "Rule 462(b) Registration Statement",
and after such filing, the term "Registration Statement" shall include the Rule
462(b) Registration Statement. The final prospectus, including the documents
incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the 1933
Act, in the form first furnished to the Underwriters for use in connection with
the offering of the Capital Securities is herein called the "Prospectus." For
purposes of this Agreement, all references to the Registration Statement, the
Prospectus or any Term Sheet or any amendment or supplement to any of the
foregoing shall be deemed to include the copy filed with the Commission pursuant
to its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system ("EDGAR").
All references in this Agreement to financial statements and schedules and
other information which is "contained," "included" or "stated" in the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus (or other references of like import)
shall be deemed to mean and include all such financial statements and schedules
and other information which is incorporated by reference in the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus, as the case may be; and all references in this
Agreement to amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus shall be deemed to mean and include the filing of any document under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "1934 Act") which is incorporated by
reference in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, as the case may be.
SECTION 1. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.
(a) Representations and Warranties by the Company and the Trust. The
Company and the Trust jointly and severally represent and warrant to each
Underwriter as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Time referred to in
Section 2(b) hereof, and agrees with each Underwriter, as follows:
(i) Compliance with Registration Requirements. The Company meets
the requirements for use of Form S-3 under the 1933 Act. Each of the
Registration Statement and any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement has
become effective under the 1933 Act and no stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement has been issued under the 1933 Act and no
proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are pending or,
to the knowledge of the Company and the Trust, are contemplated by the
Commission, and any request on the part of the Commission for
additional information has been complied with.
At the respective times the Registration Statement, any Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement and any post-effective amendments thereto became
effective, at the date hereof, and at the Closing Time, the Registration
Statement, the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, and any amendments and
supplements thereto complied and will comply in all material respects with the
requirements of the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations and the 1939 Act and
the rules and regulations of the Commission under the 1939 Act (the "1939 Act
Regulations") and did not 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. Neither the Prospectus nor any
amendments or supplements thereto, at the time the Prospectus or any such
amendment or supplement was issued and at the Closing Time, included or will
include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or will omit to state
a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light
of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. If Rule 434 is
used, the Company and the Trust will comply with the requirements of Rule 434.
The representations and warranties in this subsection shall not apply (A) to
statements in or omissions from the Registration Statement or Prospectus made in
reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Trust or the
Company in writing by any Underwriter through Lehman Brothers expressly for use
in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or (B) to that part of the
Registration Statement that constitutes the Statements of Eligibility and
Qualification on Form T-1 (the "Forms T-1) under the Trust Indenture Act of the
Indenture Trustee, the Institutional Trustee and the Guarantee Trustee.
Each preliminary prospectus and the prospectus filed as part of the
Registration Statement as originally filed or as part of any amendment thereto,
or filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the 1933 Act, complied when so filed in all
material respects with the 1933 Act Regulations and the Prospectus delivered to
the Underwriters for use in connection with this offering was identical to the
electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to
EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.
(ii) Incorporated Documents. The documents incorporated or deemed
to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus, at the time they were or hereafter are filed with the
Commission, complied and will comply in all material respects with the
requirements of the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder (the "1934 Act Regulations") and, when read
together with the other information in the Prospectus, at the time the
Registration Statement became effective, at the date hereof and at the
time the Prospectus was issued and at the Closing Time, did not 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.
(iii) Independent Accountants. The accountants who certified the
financial statements and supporting schedules included in the
Registration Statement are independent public accountants as required
by the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations.
(iv) Financial Statements. The financial statements included in
the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, together with the
related schedules and notes, present fairly the financial position of
the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries at the dates indicated
and the statement of operations, stockholders' equity and cash flows
of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries for the periods
specified; said financial statements have been prepared in conformity
with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") applied on a
consistent basis throughout the periods involved. The supporting
schedules, if any, included in the Registration Statement present
fairly in accordance with GAAP the information required to be stated
therein. The selected financial data and the summary financial
information included in the Prospectus present fairly the information
shown therein and have been compiled on a basis consistent with that
of the audited financial statements included in the Registration
Statement.
(v) No Material Adverse Change in Business. Since the respective
dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement
and the Prospectus, except as otherwise stated therein, (A) there has
been no material adverse change in the condition, financial or
otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or business prospects
of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise,
whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business (a "Material
Adverse Effect"), (B) there have been no transactions entered into by
the Company or any of its subsidiaries, other than those in the
ordinary course of business, which are material with respect to the
Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, and (C)
there has been no dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid
or made by the Company on any class of its capital stock, except for
dividends paid by the Company in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice.
(vi) Good Standing of the Company. Each of the Company and the
subsidiaries of the Company listed on Schedule B hereto, (the
"Significant Subsidiaries") has been duly incorporated and is validly
existing as a corporation or national banking association in good
standing under the laws of the jurisdiction in which it is chartered
or organized, with full corporate power and authority to own its
properties and conduct its business as described in the Prospectus;
the Company is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation
under the laws of the State of New York and the laws of the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts; and neither the Company nor any
Significant Subsidiary is required to be qualified to do business as a
foreign corporation under the laws of any other jurisdiction, and the
Company is duly registered as a bank holding company under the Bank
Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended.
(vii) Existence of Trust. The Trust has been duly created and is
validly existing in good standing as a business trust under the
Delaware Act, is and will be treated as a "grantor trust" for federal
income tax purposes under existing law, has the business trust power
and authority to conduct its business as presently conducted and as
described in the Prospectus, and is not required to be authorized to
do business in any other jurisdiction.
(viii) Common Securities. The Common Securities have been duly
authorized by the Declaration and, when issued and delivered by the
Trust to the Company in accordance with the terms of the Declaration
and against payment therefor as described in the Prospectus, will be
validly issued and (subject to the terms of the Declaration) fully
paid and nonassessable undivided beneficial interests in the assets of
the Trust; the issuance of the Common Securities is not subject to
preemptive or other similar rights; no holder thereof will be subject
to personal liability by reason of being such a holder; and at the
Closing Time, all of the issued and outstanding Common Securities of
the Trust will be directly owned by the Company free and clear of any
security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance, claim or
equity.
(ix) Authorization of Declaration. The Declaration has been duly
authorized by the Company and duly qualified under the 1939 Act and,
when validly executed and delivered by the Company and the Regular
Trustees, and assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery
of the Declaration by the Delaware Trustee and the Institutional
Trustee, the Declaration will constitute a valid and binding
obligation of the Company and the Regular Trustees, enforceable
against the Company and the Regular Trustees in accordance with its
terms, except as enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency (including, without limitation, all laws relating to
fraudulent transfers), reorganization, moratorium or similar laws
affecting enforcement of creditors' rights generally and except as
enforcement thereof is subject to general principles of equity
(regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in
equity or at law).
(x) Guarantee Agreements. The Capital Securities Guarantee
Agreement has been duly authorized by the Company and duly qualified
under the 1939 Act and, when validly executed and delivered by the
Company, and assuming due authorization, execution and delivery of the
Capital Securities Guarantee Agreement by the Guarantee Trustee, will
constitute a valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable
against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as
enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency
(including, without limitation, all laws relating to fraudulent
transfers), reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting
enforcement of creditors' rights generally and except as enforcement
thereof is subject to general principles of equity (regardless of
whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at
law).
(xi) Capital Securities. The Capital Securities have been duly
authorized by the Declaration and, when authenticated in the manner
provided for in the Declaration and issued and delivered pursuant to
this Agreement against payment of the consideration set forth herein,
will be validly issued and (subject to the terms of the Declaration)
fully paid and nonassessable undivided beneficial interests in the
assets of the Trust; the issuance of the Capital Securities is not
subject to preemptive or other similar rights; and holders of Capital
Securities will be entitled to the same limitation of personal
liability extended to stockholders of private corporations for profit
incorporated under the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware.
(xii) Authorization of Indenture. The Indenture has been duly
authorized by the Company and duly qualified under the 1939 Act and,
when duly executed and delivered by the Company and assuming the due
authorization, execution and delivery of the Indenture by the
Indenture Trustee, will constitute a valid and binding agreement of
the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its
terms, except as enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency (including, without limitation, all laws relating to
fraudulent transfers), reorganization, moratorium or similar laws
affecting enforcement of creditors' rights generally and except as
enforcement thereof is subject to generally and except as enforcement
thereof is subject to general principles of equity (regardless of
whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at
law).
(xiii) Authorization of Debentures. The Debentures have been duly
authorized by the Company, and when executed, authenticated, issued
and delivered in the manner provided for in the Indenture and sold and
paid for as provided in this Agreement, the Debentures will constitute
valid and binding obligations of the Company entitled to the benefits
of the Indenture and enforceable against the Company in accordance
with their terms, except as enforcement thereof may be limited by
bankruptcy, insolvency (including, without limitation, all laws
relating to fraudulent transfers), reorganization, moratorium or
similar laws affecting enforcement of creditors' rights generally and
except as enforcement thereof is subject to general principles of
equity (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a
proceeding in equity or at law).
(xiv) Authorization of Agreement. This Agreement has been duly
authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the Trust.
(xv) Absence of Defaults and Conflicts. The execution and
delivery by the Company and the Trust of, and the performance by the
Company and the Trust of their obligations under, this Agreement, the
execution and delivery by the Company of, and the performance by the
Company of its obligations under, the Declaration, the Capital
Securities Guarantee Agreement and the Indenture, the issuance and
delivery by the Trust of the Common Securities and Capital Securities
and the consummation of the sale of the Capital Securities and the
fulfillment of the terms herein contemplated will not conflict with or
result in a breach of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute
a default under (in each case material to the Company and its
subsidiaries (including the Trust) considered as a whole or as to the
Trust separately), any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan
agreement, guarantee, lease, financing agreement or other similar
agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its
subsidiaries (including the Trust) is a party or by which the Company
or any of its subsidiaries (including the Trust) is bound or to which
any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries (including the Trust) is subject, nor will such actions
result in any violation of the provisions of the certificate of
incorporation or by-laws of the Company or the Declaration of the
Trust, nor will such actions result in any violation (in each case
material to the Company and its subsidiaries (including the Trust)
considered as a whole or as to the Trust separately) of any statute or
any order, rule or regulation of any court or regulatory authority or
other governmental body having jurisdiction over the Trust or the
Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their properties; and no
consent, approval, authorization or order of, or qualification with,
any governmental body or agency is required for, and the absence of
which would materially affect, the performance by the Company and the
Trust of their obligations under this Agreement and the issuance and
delivery of the Capital Securities, except such approvals as will be
obtained under the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act or the 1939 Act and as may
be required by the securities or Blue Sky laws of the various states
or the securities laws of non-U.S. jurisdictions in connection with
the sale of the Capital Securities.
(xvi) Absence of Proceedings. There is no action, suit,
proceeding, inquiry or investigation before or brought by any court or
governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, now pending, or, to
the knowledge of the Company or the Trust, threatened, against or
affecting the Company or any subsidiary, which is required to be
disclosed in the Registration Statement (other than as disclosed
therein), or which might reasonably be expected to result in a
Material Adverse Effect, or which might reasonably be expected to
materially and adversely affect the properties or assets of the
Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole or the consummation of
the transactions contemplated in this Agreement or the performance by
the Company or the Trust of its obligations hereunder; the aggregate
of all pending legal or governmental proceedings to which the Company
or any subsidiary is a party or of which any of their respective
property or assets is the subject which are not described in the
Registration Statement, including ordinary routine litigation
incidental to the business, could not reasonably be expected to result
in a Material Adverse Effect.
(xvii) Possession of Licenses and Permits. The Company and its
subsidiaries possess such permits, licenses, approvals, consents and
other authorizations (collectively, "Governmental Licenses") issued by
the appropriate federal, state, local or foreign regulatory agencies
or bodies necessary to conduct the business now operated by them,
except for such Governmental Licenses the absence of which would not
cause a Material Adverse Effect; the Company and its subsidiaries are
in compliance with the terms and conditions of all such Governmental
Licenses, except where the failure so to comply would not, singly or
in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; all of the
Governmental Licenses are valid and in full force and effect, except
when the invalidity of such Governmental Licenses or the failure of
such Governmental Licenses to be in full force and effect would not
have a Material Adverse Effect; and neither the Company nor any of its
subsidiaries has received any notice of proceedings relating to the
revocation or modification of any such Governmental Licenses which,
singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision,
ruling or finding, would result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(xviii) Compliance with Cuba Act. The Company and the Trust have
complied with, and is and will be in compliance with, the provisions
of that certain Florida act relating to disclosure of doing business
with Cuba, codified as Section 517.075 of the Florida statutes, and
the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the "Cuba Act") or
is exempt therefrom.
(xix) Investment Company Act. Neither the Company nor the Trust
is, and upon the issuance and sale of the Capital Securities as herein
contemplated and the application of the net proceeds therefrom as
described in the Prospectus neither 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 "1940
Act").
(b) Officer's Certificates. Any certificate signed by any officer of the
Company or the Trust delivered to Underwriters or to counsel for the
Underwriters shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company or the
Trust, respectively, to each Underwriter as to the matters covered thereby.
SECTION 2. SALE AND DELIVERY TO UNDERWRITERS; CLOSING.
(a) Capital Securities. On the basis of the representations and warranties
herein contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the
Trust agrees to sell to each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, and each
Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees to purchase from the Company, at
the purchase price of $979.77 per Capital Security, the number of Capital
Securities set forth in Schedule A opposite the name of such Underwriter, plus
any additional number of Capital Securities which such Underwriter may become
obligated to purchase pursuant to the provisions of Section 10 hereof, subject,
in each case, to such adjustments among the Underwriters as they in their sole
discretion shall make to eliminate any sales or purchases of fractional
securities. As compensation to the Underwriters for their commitments hereunder
and in view of the fact that the proceeds of the sale of the Capital Securities
will be used to purchase the Debentures, the Company hereby agrees to pay at the
Closing Time to the Underwriters a commission of $10.00 per Capital Security
purchased by the Underwriters.
(b) Payment. Payment of the purchase price for, and delivery of
certificates for, the Capital Securities shall be made at the offices of
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, 919 Third Avenue, New York, New York
10022, or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the Underwriters, the
Company and the Trust, at 9:00 A.M. (Eastern time) on the third (fourth, if the
pricing occurs after 4:30 p.m. (Eastern time) on any given day) business day
after the date hereof (unless postponed in accordance with the provisions of
Section 10), or such other time not later than ten business days after such date
as shall be agreed upon by the Underwriters, the Company and the Trust (such
time and date of payment and delivery being herein called "Closing Time").
Payment shall be made to the Trust by wire transfer of immediately
available funds to the order of the Trust, against delivery to the Underwriters
of certificates for the Capital Securities to be purchased by them. It is
understood that each Underwriter has authorized the Representative, for its
account, to accept delivery of, receipt for, and make payment of the purchase
price for the Capital Securities which it has agreed to purchase. Lehman
Brothers, individually and not as representative of the Underwriters, may (but
shall not be obligated to) make payment of the purchase price for the Capital
Securities to be purchased by any Underwriter whose funds have not been received
by the Closing Time, but such payment shall not relieve such Underwriter from
its obligations hereunder.
At Closing Time the Company will pay, or cause to be paid, the commission
payable at such time under this Section 2 to Lehman Brothers on behalf of the
Underwriters by wire transfer of immediately available funds.
(c) Denominations; Registration. Certificates for the Capital Securities
shall be in such denominations and registered in such names as the
Representative may request in writing at least two full business days before the
Closing Time. The certificates for the Capital Securities will be made available
for examination and packaging by the Representative in The City of New York not
later than 10:00 A.M. (Eastern time) on the business day prior to the Closing
Time.
SECTION 3. COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY AND THE TRUST.
The Company and the Trust jointly and severally covenant with each
Underwriter as follows:
(a) Compliance with Securities Regulations and Commission Requests. The
Company and the Trust, subject to Section 3(b), will comply with the
requirements of Rule 424, Rule 430A or Rule 434, as applicable, and will notify
the Underwriters immediately, and confirm the notice in writing, (i) when any
post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement shall become effective,
or any supplement to the Prospectus or any amended Prospectus shall have been
filed, (ii) of the receipt of any comments from the Commission, (iii) of any
request by the Commission for any amendment to the Registration Statement or any
amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or for additional information, and
(iv) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of any order preventing or
suspending the use of any prospectus, or of the suspension of the qualification
of the Capital Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or of the
initiation or threatening of any proceedings for any of such purposes. The
Company and the Trust will promptly effect the filings necessary pursuant to
Rule 424(b) and will take such steps as it deems necessary to ascertain promptly
whether the form of prospectus transmitted for filing under Rule 424(b) was
received for filing by the Commission and, in the event that it was not, it will
promptly file such prospectus. The Company and the Trust will make every
reasonable effort to prevent the issuance of any stop order and, if any stop
order is issued, to obtain the lifting thereof at the earliest possible moment.
(b) Filing of Amendments. The Company and the Trust will give the
Representative notice of their intention to file or prepare any amendment to the
Registration Statement (including any filing under Rule 462(b)), any Term Sheet
or any amendment, supplement or revision to either the prospectus included in
the Registration Statement at the time it became effective or to the Prospectus,
whether pursuant to the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act or otherwise, will furnish the
Representative with copies of any such documents to, and consult with, the
Representative and their counsel within a reasonable amount of time prior to
such proposed filing or use, as the case may be, and will not file or use any
such document to which the Representative or counsel for the Representative
shall reasonably object in writing; provided, however, that the foregoing shall
not apply to any of the Company's filings with the Commission required to be
filed pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the 1934 Act, copies of
which such filings the Company will cause to be delivered to the Representative
promptly after being transmitted for filing with the Commission.
(c) Delivery of Registration Statements. The Company has furnished or will
deliver to the Representative and counsel for the Representative, without
charge, signed copies of the Registration Statement as originally filed and of
each amendment thereto (including exhibits filed therewith or incorporated by
reference therein and, upon request, documents incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated by reference therein), and will also deliver to the Representative,
without charge, a conformed copy of the Registration Statement as originally
filed and of each amendment thereto (without exhibits) for the Representative.
The copies of the Registration Statement and each amendment thereto furnished to
the Underwriters will be identical to the electronically transmitted copies
thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent
permitted by Regulation S-T.
(d) Delivery of Prospectuses. The Company will deliver to each Underwriter,
without charge, as many copies of the Prospectus as such Underwriter reasonably
requests, and the Company and the Trust hereby consent to the use of such copies
for purposes permitted by the 1933 Act. The Company will furnish to each
Underwriter, without charge, during the period when the Prospectus is required
to be delivered under the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act, such number of copies of the
Prospectus (as amended or supplemented) as such Underwriter may reasonably
request. The Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto furnished to
the Underwriters will be identical to the electronically transmitted copies
thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent
permitted by Regulation S-T.
(e) Continued Compliance with Securities Laws. The Company and the Trust
will comply with the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations and the 1934 Act and
the 1934 Act Regulations so as to permit the completion of the distribution of
the Securities as contemplated in this Agreement and in the Prospectus. If at
any time when a prospectus is required by the 1933 Act to be delivered in
connection with sales of the Capital Securities, any event shall occur or
condition shall exist as a result of which it is necessary, in the opinion of
counsel for the Underwriters and for the Company or Trust, to amend the
Registration Statement or amend or supplement the Prospectus in order that the
Prospectus will not include any untrue statements of a material fact or omit to
state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein not
misleading in the light of the circumstances existing at the time it is
delivered to a purchaser, or if it shall be necessary, in the opinion of such
counsel, at any such time to amend the Registration Statement or amend or
supplement the Prospectus in order to comply with the requirements of the 1933
Act or the 1933 Act Regulations, the Company and the Trust will promptly prepare
and file with the Commission, subject to Section 3(b), such amendment or
supplement as may be necessary to correct such statement or omission or to make
the Registration Statement or the Prospectus comply with such requirements, and
the Company will furnish to the Underwriters such number of copies of such
amendment or supplement as the Underwriters may reasonably request.
(f) Blue Sky Qualifications. The Company and the Trust will each use its
best efforts, in cooperation with the Underwriters, to qualify the Capital
Securities for offering and sale under the applicable securities laws of such
states and other jurisdictions (domestic or foreign) as the Underwriters may
designate and to maintain such qualifications in effect for a period of not less
than one year from the date hereof; provided, however, that neither the Company
nor the Trust shall be obligated to file any general consent to service of
process or to qualify as a foreign corporation or as a dealer in securities in
any jurisdiction in which it is not so qualified or to subject itself to
taxation in respect of doing business in any jurisdiction in which it is not
otherwise so subject. In each jurisdiction in which the Capital Securities have
been so qualified, the Company and the Trust will file such statements and
reports as may be required by the laws of such jurisdiction to continue such
qualification in effect for a period of not less than one year from the date
hereof. The Company and the Trust will also supply the Underwriters with such
information as is necessary for the determination of the legality of the Capital
Securities for investment under the laws of such jurisdictions as the
Underwriters may request.
(g) Rule 158. The Company will timely file such reports pursuant to the
1934 Act as are necessary in order to make generally available to its
securityholders as soon as practicable an earnings statement for the purposes
of, and to provide the benefits contemplated by, the last paragraph of Section
11(a) of the 1933 Act.
(h) Restriction on Sale of Securities. During a period of 7 days from the
date of the Prospectus, neither the Company nor the Trust will, without the
prior written consent of Lehman Brothers, (i) directly or indirectly, offer,
pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase,
purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to
purchase or otherwise transfer or dispose of any Capital Securities or
Debentures (or any equity or debt securities substantially similar to the
Capital Securities or Debentures, respectively). The foregoing sentence shall
not apply to the Capital Securities or Debentures to be sold hereunder.
(i) Reporting Requirements. The Company and the Trust, during the period
when the Prospectus is required to be delivered under the 1933 Act or the 1934
Act, will file all documents required to be filed with the Commission pursuant
to the 1934 Act within the time periods required by the 1934 Act and the 1934
Act Regulations.
SECTION 4 PAYMENT OF EXPENSES.
(a) Expenses. The Company will pay all expenses incident to the performance
of its and the Trust's obligations under this Agreement, including (i) the
preparation, printing and filing of the Registration Statement (including
financial statements and exhibits) as originally filed and of each amendment
thereto, (ii) the preparation, printing and delivery to the Underwriters of this
Agreement, any Agreement among Underwriters and such other documents as may be
required in connection with the offering, purchase, sale, issuance or delivery
of the Capital Securities, (iii) the preparation, issuance and delivery of the
certificates for the Capital Securities to the Underwriters, including any stock
or other transfer taxes and any stamp or other duties payable upon the sale,
issuance or delivery of the Capital Securities to the Underwriters, (iv) the
fees and disbursements of the Company's and the Trust's counsel, accountants and
other advisors, (v) the qualification of the Capital Securities under securities
laws in accordance with the provisions of Section 3(f) hereof, including filing
fees and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters
in connection therewith and in connection with the preparation of the Blue Sky
Survey and any supplement thereto, if any, (vi) the printing and delivery to the
Underwriters of copies of each preliminary prospectus, any Term Sheets and of
the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto, (vii) the printing and
delivery to the Underwriters of copies of the Blue Sky Survey and any supplement
thereto, if any, (viii) the fees and expenses of any transfer agent or registrar
for the Capital Securities, (ix) the fees and expenses of the Indenture Trustee,
including the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Indenture Trustee in
connection with the Indenture and the Debentures, (x) the fees and expenses of
the Delaware Trustee, the Institutional Trustee and the Guarantee Trustee,
including the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Delaware Trustee, the
Institutional Trustee and the Guarantee Trustee, (xi) any fees payable in
connection with the rating of the Capital Securities and the Debentures and
(xii) the cost and charges associated with the approval of the Capital
Securities by The Depositary Trust Company for "book-entry" transfer; provided,
however, that the Underwriters agree to reimburse the expenses payable by the
Company in connection with the offering of the Capital Securities, estimated at
$312,500.
(b) Termination of Agreement. If this Agreement is terminated by the
Underwriters in accordance with the provisions of Section 5 or Section 9(a)(i)
hereof, the Company shall reimburse the Underwriters for all of their
out-of-pocket expenses, including the reasonable fees and disbursements of
counsel for the Underwriters.
SECTION 5 CONDITIONS OF UNDERWRITERS' OBLIGATIONS.
The obligations of the several Underwriters hereunder are subject to the
accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company and the Trust
contained in Section 1 hereof or in certificates of any officer of the Company
or any Trustee delivered pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance
by the Company and the Trust of their respective covenants and other obligations
hereunder, and to the following further conditions:
(a) Effectiveness of Registration Statement. The Registration Statement,
including any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, has become effective and at
Closing Time no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement shall have been issued under the 1933 Act or proceedings therefor
initiated or threatened by the Commission, and any request on the part of the
Commission for additional information shall have been complied with to the
reasonable satisfaction of counsel to the Underwriters. A prospectus shall have
been filed with the Commission in accordance with Rule 424(b) (or a
post-effective amendment providing such information shall have been filed and
declared effective) or, if the Company has elected to rely upon Rule 434, a Term
Sheet shall have been filed with the Commission in accordance with Rule 424(b).
(b) Opinion of Counsel for Company. At Closing Time, the Representative
shall have received the favorable opinion, dated as of Closing Time, of Edwards
& Angell, counsel for the Company, in form and substance satisfactory to counsel
for the Underwriters, together with signed or reproduced copies of such letter
for each of the other Underwriters substantially to the effect set forth in
Exhibit A hereto and to such further effect as counsel to the Underwriters may
reasonably request. Such counsel may also state that, insofar as such opinion
involves factual matters, they have relied, to the extent they deem proper, upon
certificates of officers of the Company and its subsidiaries and certificates of
public officials.
(c) Opinion of Special Delaware Counsel for the Trust. At Closing Time, the
Representative shall have received the favorable opinion, dated as of the
Closing Time, of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, special Delaware
counsel to the Trust, together with signed or reproduced copies of such letter
for each of the Underwriters to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto and to
such further effect as counsel to the Underwriters may reasonably request.
(d) Opinion of Counsel for Underwriters. At Closing Time, the
Representative shall have received the favorable opinion, dated as of Closing
Time, of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, counsel for the Underwriters,
together with signed or reproduced copies of such letter for each of the other
Underwriters with respect to the validity of the Capital Securities, the
Registration Statement, the Prospectus and other related matters as the
Underwriters may reasonably request. In giving such opinion such counsel may
rely, as to all matters governed by the laws of jurisdictions other than the law
of the State of New York, the federal law of the United States, the Business
Trust Act of the State of Delaware and the General Corporation Law of the State
of Delaware, upon the opinions of counsel satisfactory to the Underwriters. Such
counsel may also state that, insofar as such opinion involves factual matters,
they have relied, to the extent they deem proper, upon certificates of officers
of the Company and its subsidiaries and certificates of public officials.
(e) Officers' Certificates. At Closing Time, there shall not have been,
since the date hereof or since the respective dates as of which information is
given in the Prospectus, (A) any material adverse change in the condition,
financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or business
prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise,
whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, and the
Representative shall have received a certificate of the Chairman, the President,
a Vice Chairman or a Vice President of the Company and of the chief financial or
chief accounting officer or the Treasurer of the Company, dated as of Closing
Time, to the effect that (i) there has been no such material adverse change,
(ii) the representations and warranties in Section 1(a) hereof are true and
correct with the same force and effect as though expressly made at and as of
Closing Time (except for representations or warranties which by their terms
speak as of a different date or dates), (iii) the Company has complied in all
material respects with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part
to be performed or satisfied at or prior to Closing Time, and (iv) no stop order
suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued and
no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are pending or are, to
the best of the Company's knowledge, threatened by the Commission; or (B) any
material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the
earnings or business affairs of the Trust, and the Representative shall have
received a certificate of a Regular Trustee of the Trust, dated as of Closing
Time, to the effect that (i) there has been no such material adverse change,
(ii) the representations and warranties in Section 1(a) hereof are true and
correct with the same force and effect as though expressly made at and as of
Closing Time (except for representations or warranties which by their terms
speak as of a different date or dates), (iii) the Trust has complied in all
material respects with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part
to be performed or satisfied at or prior to Closing Time, and (iv) no stop order
suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued and
no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are pending or are, to
the best of the Trust's knowledge, threatened by the Commission.
(f) Accountant's Comfort Letter. At the Closing Time, the Representative
shall have received from KPMG Peat Marwick LLP ("KPMG") a letter dated such
date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative, together with
signed or reproduced copies of such letter for each of the Underwriters
containing statements and information of the type ordinarily included in
accountants' "comfort letters" to underwriters with respect to the financial
statements and certain financial information contained in the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus.
(g) Lock-up Agreements. At the date of this Agreement, the Representative
shall have received an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto
signed by the Company and the Trust.
(h) Maintenance of Rating. At Closing Time, the Capital Securities shall be
rated at least a2 by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. and [BBB] by Standard &
Poor's Ratings Group, a division of McGraw-Hill, Inc., and the Company shall
have delivered to the Underwriters a letter dated the Closing Time, from each
such rating agency, or other evidence satisfactory to the Representative,
confirming that the Capital Securities have such ratings; and since the date of
this Agreement, there shall not have occurred a downgrading in the rating
assigned to the Capital Securities or any of the Company's capital securities by
any "nationally recognized statistical rating agency", as that term is defined
by the Commission for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under the 1933 Act, and no such
organization shall have publicly announced that it has under surveillance or
review its rating of the Securities or any of the Company's capital securities.
(i) Additional Documents. At Closing Time counsel for the Underwriters
shall have been furnished with such documents and opinions as they may require
for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon the issuance and sale of the
Capital Securities as herein contemplated, or in order to evidence the accuracy
of any of the representations or warranties, or the fulfillment of any of the
conditions, herein contained; and all proceedings taken by the Company and Trust
in connection with the issuance and sale of the Capital Securities as herein
contemplated shall be satisfactory in form and substance to the Representative
and counsel for the Underwriters.
(j) Termination of Agreement. If any condition specified in this Section
shall not have been fulfilled when and as required to be fulfilled, this
Agreement may be terminated by the Underwriters by notice to the Company at any
time at or prior to Closing Time and such termination shall be without liability
of any party to any other party except as provided in Section 4 and except that
Sections 1, 6, 7 and 8 shall survive any such termination and remain in full
force and effect.
SECTION 6 INDEMNIFICATION.
(a) Indemnification of Underwriters. Each of the Company and the Trust
jointly and severally agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter and
each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of Section
15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act as follows:
(i) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and
expense whatsoever, as incurred, arising out of any untrue statement
or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the
Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including the Rule
430A Information and the Rule 434 Information, if applicable, or the
omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to
be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading or arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact included in the Prospectus (or any
amendment or supplement thereto), or the omission or alleged omission
therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading;
(ii) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and
expense whatsoever, as incurred, to the extent of the aggregate amount
paid in settlement of any litigation, or any investigation or
proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or
threatened, or of any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue
statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or
omission provided that (subject to Section 6(e) below) any such
settlement is effected with the written consent of the Company; and
(iii) against any and all expense whatsoever, as incurred
(including the fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by Lehman
Brothers), reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or
defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding
by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any
claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or
any such alleged untrue statement or omission, to the extent that any
such expense is not paid under (i) or (ii) above;
provided, however, that this indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss,
liability, claim, damage or expense to the extent arising out of any untrue
statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance
upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any
Underwriter through Lehman Brothers expressly for use in the Registration
Statement (or any amendment thereto), including the Rule 430A Information and
the Rule 434 Information, if applicable, or the Prospectus (or any amendment or
supplement thereto).
(b) Indemnification of Trust by Company. The Company agrees to indemnify
the Trust against all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever as
due from the Trust under Section 6(a) hereunder.
(c) Indemnification of Trust, Company, Directors and Officers. Each
Underwriter severally agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and the
Trust, the Company's directors, each of the Company's officers and the Trustee
of the Trust who signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who
controls the Company and the Trust within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933
Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act against any and all loss, liability, claim,
damage and expense described in the indemnity contained in subsection (a) of
this Section, as incurred, but only with respect to untrue statements or
omissions, or alleged untrue statements or omissions, made in the Registration
Statement (or any amendment thereto), including the Rule 430A Information and
Rule 434 Information, if applicable, or the Prospectus (or any amendment or
supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with written information
furnished to the Company by such Underwriter through Lehman Brothers expressly
for use in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) or the
Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto).
(d) Actions against Parties; Notification. Each indemnified party shall
give notice as promptly as reasonably practicable to each indemnifying party of
any action commenced against it in respect of which indemnity may be sought
hereunder, but failure to so notify an indemnifying party shall not relieve such
indemnifying party from any liability hereunder to the extent it is not
materially prejudiced as a result thereof and in any event shall not relieve it
from any liability which it may have otherwise than on account of this indemnity
agreement. In the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 6(a) above,
counsel to the indemnified parties shall be selected by Lehman Brothers, and, in
the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 6(c) above, counsel to the
indemnified parties shall be selected by the Company, in each case reasonably
acceptable to the indemnifying party. An indemnifying party may participate at
its own expense in the defense of any such action; provided, however, that
counsel to the indemnifying party shall not (except with the consent of the
indemnified party) also be counsel to the indemnified party. In no event shall
the indemnifying parties be liable for fees and expenses of more than one
counsel (in addition to any local counsel) separate from their own counsel for
all indemnified parties in connection with any one action or separate but
similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same
general allegations or circumstances. No indemnifying party shall, without the
prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or
consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any litigation, or any
investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or
threatened, or any claim whatsoever in respect of which indemnification or
contribution could be sought under this Section 6 or Section 7 hereof (whether
or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties thereto), unless
such settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an unconditional release of
each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such litigation,
investigation, proceeding 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.
(e) Settlement without Consent if Failure to Reimburse. If at any time an
indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the
indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel, such indemnifying party
agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of the nature contemplated by
Section 6(a) (ii) effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is
entered into more than 45 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the
aforesaid request, (ii) such indemnifying party shall have received notice of
the terms of such settlement at least 30 days prior to such settlement being
entered into and (iii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed such
indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such
settlement.
SECTION 7. CONTRIBUTION.
If the indemnification provided for in Section 6 hereof is for any reason
unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect
of any losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses referred to therein;
then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the aggregate amount of such
losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by such indemnified
party, as incurred, (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the
relative benefits received by the Company and the Trust on the one hand and the
Underwriters on the other hand from the offering of the Capital Securities
pursuant to this Agreement or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) is
not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect
not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the
relative fault of the Company and the Trust on the one hand and of the
Underwriters on the other hand in connection with the statements or omissions,
which resulted in such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses, as well
as any other relevant equitable considerations.
The relative benefits received by the Company and the Trust on the one hand
and the Underwriters on the other hand in connection with the offering of the
Capital Securities pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed to be in the same
respective proportions as the total net proceeds from the offering of the
Capital Securities pursuant to this Agreement (before deducting expenses)
received by the Company and the total underwriting discount received by the
Underwriters, in each case as set forth on the cover of the Prospectus, or, if
Rule 434 is used, the corresponding location on the Term Sheet, bear to the
aggregate initial public offering price of the Securities as set forth on such
cover.
The relative fault of the Company and the Trust on the one hand and the
Underwriters on the other hand shall be determined by reference to, among other
things, whether any such untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information
supplied by the Company or by the Underwriters and the parties' relative intent,
knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such
statement or omission.
The Company, the Trust and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just
and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 7 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 Section 7. The aggregate
amount of losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by an
indemnified party and referred to above in this Section 7 shall be deemed to
include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified
party in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any
investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or
threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, no Underwriter shall be
required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total
price at which the 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 any 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 1933 Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person
who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
For purposes of this Section 7, each person, if any, who controls an
Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of
the 1934 Act shall have the same rights to contribution as such Underwriter, and
each director of the Company, each officer of the Company and the Trustee of the
Trust who signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who
controls the Company or the Trust within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933
Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act shall have the same rights to contribution as
the Company. The Underwriters' respective obligations to contribute pursuant to
this Section 7 are several in proportion to the number of Capital Securities set
forth opposite their respective names in Schedule A hereto and not joint.
SECTION 8 REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND AGREEMENTS TO SURVIVE DELIVERY.
All representations, warranties and agreements contained in this Agreement
or in certificates of officers of the Company or the Trustees of the Trust or
any of its other subsidiaries submitted pursuant hereto, shall remain operative
and in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on
behalf of any Underwriter or controlling person, or by or on behalf of the
Company, and shall survive delivery of the Capital Securities to the
Underwriters.
SECTION 9 TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT.
(a) Termination; General. The Representative may terminate this Agreement,
by notice to the Company and the Trust, at any time at or prior to Closing Time
(i) if there has been, since the time of execution of this Agreement or since
the respective dates as of which information is given in the Prospectus, any
material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the
earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Company and its
subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, whether or not arising in the
ordinary course of business, or (ii) if there has occurred any material adverse
change in the financial markets in the United States, any outbreak of
hostilities or escalation thereof or other calamity or crisis or any change or
development involving a prospective change in national or international
political, financial or economic conditions, in each case the effect of which is
such as to make it, in the judgment of the Representative, impracticable to
market the Capital Securities or to enforce contracts for the sale of the
Capital Securities, or (iii) if trading in any securities of the Company has
been suspended or materially limited by the Commission or the New York Stock
Exchange, or if trading generally on the American Stock Exchange or the New York
Stock Exchange or in the Nasdaq National Market has been suspended or materially
limited, or minimum or maximum prices for trading have been fixed, or maximum
ranges for prices have been required, by any of said exchanges or by such system
or by order of the Commission, the National Association of Securities Dealers,
Inc. or any other governmental authority, or (iv) if a banking moratorium has
been declared by either Federal or New York authorities.
(b) Liabilities. If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to this Section,
such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party
except as provided in Section 4 hereof, and provided further that Sections 1, 6,
7 and 8 shall survive such termination and remain in full force and effect.
SECTION 10 DEFAULT BY ONE OR MORE OF THE UNDERWRITERS.
If one or more of the Underwriters shall fail at Closing Time to purchase
the Capital Securities which it or they are obligated to purchase under this
Agreement (the "Defaulted Securities"), the Representative shall have the right,
within 24 hours thereafter, to make arrangements for one or more of the
non-defaulting Underwriters, or any other underwriters, to purchase all, but not
less than all, of the Defaulted Securities in such amounts as may be agreed upon
and upon the terms herein set forth; if, however, the Representative shall not
have completed such arrangements within such 24-hour period, then:
(a) if the number of Defaulted Securities does not exceed 10% of
the number of Capital Securities to be purchased on such date, each of
the non-defaulting Underwriters shall be obligated, severally and not
jointly, to purchase the full amount thereof in the proportions that
their respective underwriting obligations hereunder bear to the
underwriting obligations of all non-defaulting Underwriters, or
(b) if the number of Defaulted Securities exceeds 10% of the
number of Capital Securities to be purchased on such date, this
Agreement shall terminate without liability on the part of any
non-defaulting Underwriter.
No action taken pursuant to this Section shall relieve any defaulting
Underwriter from liability in respect of its default.
In the event of any such default which does not result in a termination of
this Agreement either the Representative or the Company shall have the right to
postpone Closing Time, for a period not exceeding seven days in order to effect
any required changes in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or in any other
documents or arrangements. As used herein, the term "Underwriter" includes any
person substituted for an Underwriter under this Section 10.
SECTION 11 NOTICES.
All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and
shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed or transmitted by any standard
form of telecommunication. Notices to the Representative shall be directed to
Lehman Brothers at American Express Tower, 19th Floor, World Financial Center,
New York, New York 10285, attention of General Counsel; notices to the Trust
shall be directed to it at The First National Bank of Chicago, One North State
Street, 9th Floor, Chicago, Illinois, attention of Corporate Trust Administrator
and notices to the Company shall be directed to it at Fleet Financial Group,
Inc., One Federal Street, Boston, Massachusetts, 02110, attention of General
Counsel.
SECTION 12 PARTIES.
This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the
Underwriters, the Company and the Trust and their respective successors. Nothing
expressed or mentioned in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to
give any person, firm or corporation, other than the Underwriters, the Company
and the Trust and their respective successors and the controlling persons and
officers and directors referred to in Sections 6 and 7 and their heirs and legal
representatives, any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in
respect of this Agreement or any provision herein contained. This Agreement and
all conditions and provisions hereof are intended to be for the sole and
exclusive benefit of the Underwriters, the Company and the Trust and their
respective successors, and said controlling persons and officers and directors
and their heirs and legal representatives, and for the benefit of no other
person, firm or corporation. No purchaser of Securities from any Underwriter
shall be deemed to be a successor by reason merely of such purchase.
SECTION 13 GOVERNING LAW AND TIME.
THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. SPECIFIED TIMES OF DAY REFER TO NEW YORK CITY
TIME.
SECTION 14 EFFECT OF HEADINGS.
The Article and Section headings herein and the Table of Contents are for
convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement,
please sign and return to the Company and the Trust a counterpart hereof,
whereupon this instrument, along with all counterparts, will become a binding
agreement between the Underwriters, the Company and the Trust in accordance with
its terms.
Very truly yours,
FLEET FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.
By: /s/ Authorized Signatory
-------------------------
Name:
Title:
FLEET CAPITAL TRUST V
By: /s/ Authorized Signatory
-------------------------
Name:
Title: Regular Trustee
By: /s/ Authorized Signatory
-------------------------
Name:
Title: Regular Trustee
CONFIRMED AND ACCEPTED, as of the date first above written:
LEHMAN BROTHERS INC.
By: LEHMAN BROTHERS INC.
By:---------------------------------
Authorized Signatory
Acting on behalf of the Underwriters named in Schedule A annexed hereto.
<PAGE>
SCHEDULE A
Number of Capital
Name of Underwriter Securities
Lehman Brothers Inc. 147,500
Chase Securities Inc. 45,000
Goldman, Sachs & Co. 45,000
Blaylock & Partners, L.P. 12,500
Total 250,000
<PAGE>
SCHEDULE B
List of Significant Subsidiaries
Fleet National Bank
Fleet Bank, National Association
<PAGE>
Exhibit A
Form of opinion, dated as of Closing Time, of Edwards & Angell, counsel for
the Company and the Trust, substantially to the effect that:
(i) Each of the Company and the subsidiaries of the Company
listed on Schedule B hereto, (the "Significant Subsidiaries") has been
duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation or national
banking association in good standing under the laws of the
jurisdiction in which it is chartered or organized, with full
corporate power and authority to own its properties and conduct its
business as described in the Prospectus; the Company is duly qualified
to do business as a foreign corporation under the laws of the State of
New York; and neither the Company nor any Significant Subsidiary is
required to be qualified to do business as a foreign corporation under
the laws of any other jurisdiction, and the Company is duly registered
as a bank holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956,
as amended.
(ii) All the outstanding shares of the capital stock of the
Significant Subsidiaries have been duly and validly authorized and
issued and are fully paid and (except as provided in 12 U.S.C. ss. 55
in the case of Fleet National Bank and Fleet Bank, National
Association) nonassessable, and, except as otherwise set forth in the
Prospectus, all outstanding shares of capital stock of the Significant
Subsidiaries are owned by the Company, free and clear of any perfected
security interest and, to the knowledge of such counsel, after due
inquiry, any other security interests claims, liens or encumbrances.
(iii) The Purchase Agreement has been duly authorized by the
Company and has been duly executed and delivered by each of the
Company and the Trust.
(iv) The Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the Company and constitutes a valid and binding
obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in
accordance with its terms, except as enforcement thereof may be
limited by bankruptcy, insolvency (including, without limitation, all
laws relating to fraudulent transfers), reorganization, moratorium or
similar laws affecting enforcement of creditors' rights generally and
except as enforcement thereof is subject to general principles of
equity (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a
proceeding in equity or at law).
(v) The Debentures have been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the Company and when the Debentures have been duly
authenticated by the Indenture Trustee in accordance with the
provisions of the Indenture and delivered to and paid for by the
Trust, the Debentures will constitute valid and binding obligations of
the Company entitled to the benefits of the Indenture and enforceable
against the Company in accordance with their terms, except as
enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency
(including, without limitation, all laws relating to fraudulent
transfers), reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting
enforcement of creditors' rights generally and except as enforcement
thereof is subject to general principles of equity (regardless of
whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at
law).
(vi) The Declaration has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the Company; and, assuming the due authorization,
execution and delivery of the Declaration by First Chicago Delaware
Inc. and The First National Bank of Chicago, the Declaration
constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Company and is
enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except
as enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency
(including, without limitation, all laws relating to fraudulent
transfers), reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting
enforcement of creditors' rights generally and except as enforcement
thereof is subject to general principles of equity (regardless of
whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at
law).
(vii) The Capital Securities Guarantee Agreement has been duly
authorized, executed and delivered by the Company, and is a valid and
binding agreement of the Company enforceable against the Company in
accordance with its terms, except as enforcement thereof may be
limited by bankruptcy, insolvency (including, without limitation, all
laws relating to fraudulent transfers), reorganization, moratorium or
similar laws affecting enforcement of creditors' rights generally and
except as enforcement thereof is subject to general principles of
equity (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a
proceeding in equity or at law).
(viii) The Indenture, Capital Securities Guarantee Agreement and
the Declaration have each been duly qualified under the 1939 Act.
(ix) The holders of outstanding shares of capital stock of the
Company are not entitled to any preemptive rights under the Articles
of Incorporation or By-Laws of the Company or the laws of the State of
Rhode Island to subscribe for the Capital Securities or the
Debentures.
(x) The documents incorporated by reference in the Prospectus
(other than the financial statements and supporting schedules included
therein or omitted therefrom, as to which such counsel need express no
opinion), when they were filed with the Commission complied as to form
in all material respects with the requirements of the 1934 Act and the
rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.
(xi) The statements made in the Prospectus under the captions
"Description of the Capital Securities", "Description of the
Guarantee", "Description of the Junior Subordinated Debentures" and
"Effect of Obligations Under the Junior Subordinated Debentures and
the Guarantee", insofar as such statements purport to summarize
certain provisions of the Capital Securities, the Common Securities,
the Debentures, the Capital Securities Guarantee, the Indenture, the
Declaration, the Capital Securities Guarantee Agreement and the
Articles of Incorporation of the Company, to the extent that they
constitute matters of law or legal conclusions, have been reviewed by
such counsel and fairly summarize the information required to be
disclosed therein.
(xii) Neither the issue and sale by the Trust of the Capital
Securities, nor the consummation of any other of the transactions
contemplated by the Purchase Agreement nor the fulfillment of the
terms in the Purchase Agreement will conflict with, result in a breach
of, or constitute a default under the charter or by-laws of the
Company or the organizational documents or Declaration of the Trust or
the terms of any indenture or other agreement or instrument known to
such counsel and to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a
party or bound, or any order or regulation known to such counsel to be
applicable to the Company or any of its subsidiaries of any
governmental body or arbitrator having jurisdiction over the Company
or any of its subsidiaries.
(xiii) Neither the Company nor the Trust is required to be
registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
(xiv) There is no pending or, to the best knowledge of such
counsel, threatened action, suit or proceeding before any court or
governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the
Company or any of its subsidiaries, of a character required to be
disclosed in the Registration Statement which is not adequately
disclosed in the Prospectus, and there is no franchise, contract or
other document of a character required to be described in the
Registration Statement or Prospectus, or to be filed as an exhibit,
which is not described or filed as required.
(xv) Such counsel has been orally advised by the Commission that
the Registration Statement was declared effective under the 1933 Act
on September 24, 1998; any required filing of the Prospectus pursuant
to Rule 424(b) under the 1933 Act has been made in the manner and
within the time period required by Rule 424(b) and, such counsel has
been orally advised by the Commission that no stop order suspending
the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued by the
Commission and, no proceeding for that purpose is pending or, to such
Counsel's knowledge, threatened by the Commission.
(xvi) No consent, approval, authorization or order of any court
or governmental agency or body is required for the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement, except such as
have been obtained under the 1933 Act and such as may be required
under the blue sky laws of any jurisdiction in connection with the
purchase and distribution of the Capital Securities by the
Underwriters and such other approvals (specified in such opinion) as
have been obtained.
(xvii) No holders of securities of the Company have rights to the
registration of such securities under the Registration Statement,
except for certain piggyback registration rights with respect to the
common stock of the Company.
(xviii) The Registration Statement, as of its effective date, and
the Prospectus, as of its date, appeared on their face to be
appropriately responsive in all material respects to the requirements
of the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations, except that in each case
such counsel need not express an opinion as to the financial
statements, schedules and other financial and statistical data
included therein or excluded therefrom or the exhibits to the
Registration Statement, and such counsel need not assume any
responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the
statements contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus
except for those made under the captions "Description of Capital
Securities", "Description of the Guarantee", "Description of the
Junior Subordinated Debentures", "Effect of Obligations Under the
Junior Subordinated Debentures and the Guarantee", and "Description of
Capital Stock" in the Prospectus insofar as they relate to provisions
of documents therein described.
Additionally, in giving its opinion, such counsel shall state that such
counsel has participated in conferences with representatives of the
Underwriters, officers and other representatives of the Company and
representatives of the independent certified public accountants of the Company,
at which conferences the contents of the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus and related matters were discussed, and although such counsel does
not pass upon and does not assume any responsibility for the accuracy,
completeness or fairness of the statements contained in the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus (except and only to the extent as set forth in
paragraphs (xxviii) above), on the basis of the foregoing (relying as to
materiality to a large extent upon the discussions with and representations and
opinions of officers and other representatives of the Company), no facts have
come to the attention of such counsel which lead such counsel to believe that
the Registration Statement at the time it became effective or at the date hereof
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 the Prospectus, as of its date or the date of such
opinion, included 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, not misleading; provided that such
counsel does not express any comment with respect to the financial statements
including the notes thereto and supporting schedules, or any other financial and
statistical data set forth or referred to in the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus.
<PAGE>
Exhibit B
Form of opinion, dated as of Closing Time, of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher
& Flom LLP, special Delaware counsel for the Trust, substantially to the effect
that:
(i) the Trust has been duly created and is validly existing in
good standing as a business trust under the Delaware Act; all filings
required under the laws of the State of Delaware with respect to the
creation and valid existence of the Trust as a business trust have
been made; and the Trust has the trust power and authority to conduct
its business, as described in the Prospectus.
(ii) the Amended and Restated Declaration is a valid and binding
obligation of the Company and the Trustees, enforceable against the
Company and the Trustees in accordance with its terms, except to the
extent that enforcement thereof may be limited by (i) bankruptcy,
insolvency (including without limitation, all laws relating to
fraudulent transfers), reorganization, moratorium or other similar
laws now or hereafter in effect relating to creditors' rights
generally and (ii) general principles of equity (regardless of whether
enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and
except to the extent that the rights to indemnity and contribution
contained therein may be limited by state or securities laws or the
public policy underlying such laws.
(iii) the Capital Securities have been duly authorized for
issuance in accordance with the Amended and Restated Declaration and,
subject to the qualifications set forth below, when certificates
therefor in the form examined by us are issued, executed and
authenticated in accordance with the Amended and Restated Declaration
and delivered and paid for in accordance with the Purchase Agreement,
will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable undivided
beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust and will entitle the
holders of the Capital Securities to the benefits of the Amended and
Restated Declaration except to the extent that enforcement of the
Amended and Restated Declaration may be limited by (i) bankruptcy,
insolvency (including without limitation, all laws relating to
fraudulent transfers), reorganization, moratorium or other similar
laws now or hereafter in effect relating to creditors' rights
generally and (ii) general principles of equity (regardless of whether
enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and
except to the extent that the rights to indemnity and contribution
contained therein may be limited by state or securities laws or the
public policy underlying such laws; and the holders of the Capital
Securities will be entitled to the same limitation of personal
liability extended to stockholders of private corporations for profit
organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
We bring to your attention, however, that the holders of Capital
Securities may be obligated, pursuant to the Amended and Restated
Declaration, to make payments, including (i) to provide indemnity
and/or security in connection with and pay taxes or governmental
charges arising from transfers of Capital Securities and the issuance
of replacement Capital Securities, and (ii) to provide security and
indemnity in connection with requests of or directions to the
Institutional Trustee to exercise its rights and powers under the
Amended and Restated Declaration.
(iv) the issuance of the Capital Securities is not subject to
preemptive or other similar rights under the Delaware Act or the
Amended and Restated Declaration.
(v) under the Amended and Restated Declaration and the Delaware
Act, the Trust has the requisite trust power and authority to execute
and deliver the Purchase Agreement, and to perform its obligations
under the Purchase Agreement and to consummate the transactions
contemplated thereby. The Purchase Agreement has been duly authorized,
executed and delivered by the Trust.
(vi) the statements made in the Prospectus under the caption
"Description of the Capital Securities" insofar as such statements
constitute summaries of Delaware law are accurate in all material
respects.
<PAGE>
Exhibit C
Form of lock-up pursuant to Section 5(g)
_______, 1998
LEHMAN BROTHERS INC.
Chase Securities Inc.
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Blaylock & Partners, L.P.
c/o Lehman Brothers Inc.
Three World Financial Center
New York, New York 10285
Re: Proposed Public Offering by Fleet Financial Group, Inc.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The undersigned, Fleet Financial Group, Inc., a Rhode Island corporation
(the "Company") and Fleet Capital Trust V, a Delaware Statutory business trust
(the "Trust") understand that Lehman Brothers Inc. ("Lehman Brothers"), Chase
Securities Inc., Goldman, Sachs & Co. and Blaylock & Partners, L.P. propose to
enter into a Purchase Agreement (the "Purchase Agreement") with the Company and
the Trust, providing for the public offering of $250,000,000 of the Trust's
Floating Rate Capital Securities ("Capital Securities"). In connection with the
foregoing, the Company will deposit in the Trust its Floating Rate Junior
Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures due 2028 (the "Junior Subordinated
Debentures"). In recognition of the benefit that such an offering will confer
upon the undersigned and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt
and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the undersigned agrees with
each underwriter to be named in the Purchase Agreement that, during a period of
seven (7) days from the date of the Purchase Agreement, the undersigned will
not, without the prior written consent of Lehman Brothers, directly or
indirectly, (i) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or
contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option,
right or warrant for the sale of, or otherwise dispose of or transfer any
Capital Securities, any security convertible into or exchangeable into or
exercisable for Capital Securities or Junior Subordinated Debentures or any debt
securities substantially similar to the Junior Subordinated Debentures or
equity securities substantially similar to the Capital Securities, whether now
owned or hereafter acquired by the undersigned or with respect to which the
undersigned has or hereafter acquires the power of disposition, or file any
registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, with
respect to any of the foregoing or (ii) enter into any swap or any other
agreement or any transaction that transfers, in whole or in part, directly or
indirectly, the economic consequence of ownership of Capital Securities, any
security convertible into or exchangeable into or exercisable for Capital
Securities or Junior Subordinated Debentures or any debt securities
substantially similar to the Junior Subordinated Debentures or equity
securities substantially similar to the Capital Securities, whether any such
swap or transaction is to be settled by delivery of Capital Securities, Junior
Subordinated Debentures or other securities, in cash or otherwise.
Very truly yours,
FLEET FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.
By:
_________________________________________
Name:
Title:
FLEET CAPITAL TRUST V
By:
_________________________________________
Name:
Title: Regular Trustee
By:
_________________________________________
Name:
Title: Regular Trustee
EXHIBIT 4(a)
AMENDED AND RESTATED
DECLARATION OF TRUST
OF
FLEET CAPITAL TRUST V
Dated as of December 18, 1998
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
ARTICLE I
INTERPRETATION AND DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.1 Definitions 1
ARTICLE II
TRUST INDENTURE ACT
SECTION 2.1 Trust Indenture Act; Application 6
SECTION 2.2 Lists of Holders of Securities 6
SECTION 2.3 Reports by the Institutional Trustee 7
SECTION 2.4 Periodic Reports to Institutional Trustee 7
SECTION 2.5 Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent 7
SECTION 2.6 Events of Default; Waiver 7
SECTION 2.7 Event of Default; Notice 9
ARTICLE III
ORGANIZATION
SECTION 3.1 Name 9
SECTION 3.2 Office 9
SECTION 3.3 Purpose 9
SECTION 3.4 Authority 10
SECTION 3.5 Title to Property of the Trust 10
SECTION 3.6 Powers and Duties of the Regular Trustees 10
SECTION 3.7 Prohibition of Actions by the Trust and the Trustees 12
SECTION 3.8 Powers and Duties of the Institutional Trustee 13
SECTION 3.9 Certain Duties and Responsibilities of the
Institutional Trustee 14
SECTION 3.10 Certain Rights of the Institutional Trustee 16
SECTION 3.11 Delaware Trustee 17
SECTION 3.12 Execution of Documents 17
SECTION 3.13 Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities 17
SECTION 3.14 Duration of Trust 17
SECTION 3.15 Mergers 18
ARTICLE IV
SPONSOR
SECTION 4.1 Sponsor's Purchase of Common Securities 19
SECTION 4.2 Responsibilities of the Sponsor 19
SECTION 4.3 Right to Proceed 19
SECTION 4.4 Expenses 19
ARTICLE V
TRUSTEES
SECTION 5.1 Number of Trustees 20
SECTION 5.2 Delaware Trustee 21
SECTION 5.3 Institutional Trustee; Eligibility 21
SECTION 5.4 Certain Qualifications of the Regular Trustees
and the Delaware Trustee Generally 22
SECTION 5.5 Regular Trustees 22
SECTION 5.6 Appointment, Removal and Resignation of Trustees 22
SECTION 5.7 Vacancies among Trustees 23
SECTION 5.8 Effect of Vacancies 23
SECTION 5.9 Meetings 23
SECTION 5.10 Delegation of Power 24
SECTION 5.11 Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business 24
ARTICLE VI
DISTRIBUTIONS
SECTION 6.1 Distributions 24
ARTICLE VII
ISSUANCE OF SECURITIES
SECTION 7.1 General Provisions Regarding Securities 24
SECTION 7.2 Paying Agent 25
ARTICLE VIII
TERMINATION OF TRUST
SECTION 8.1 Termination of Trust 26
ARTICLE IX
TRANSFER OF INTERESTS
SECTION 9.1 Transfer of Securities 26
SECTION 9.2 Transfer of Certificates 27
SECTION 9.3 Deemed Security Holders 28
SECTION 9.4 Book Entry Interests 28
SECTION 9.5 Notices to Depository Institution 29
SECTION 9.6 Appointment of Successor Depository Institution 29
SECTION 9.7 Definitive Capital Security Certificates 29
SECTION 9.8 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Certificates 30
ARTICLE X
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY OF
HOLDERS OF SECURITIES, TRUSTEES OR OTHERS
SECTION 10.1 Liability 30
SECTION 10.2 Exculpation 30
SECTION 10.3 Fiduciary Duty 31
SECTION 10.4 Indemnification 31
SECTION 10.5 Outside Businesses 33
ARTICLE XI
ACCOUNTING
SECTION 11.1 Fiscal Year 34
SECTION 11.2 Certain Accounting Matters 34
SECTION 11.3 Banking 34
SECTION 11.4 Withholding 34
ARTICLE XII
AMENDMENTS AND MEETINGS
SECTION 12.1 Amendments 35
SECTION 12.2 Meetings of the Holders of Securities;
Action by Written Consent 36
ARTICLE XIII
REPRESENTATIONS OF INSTITUTIONAL TRUSTEE
AND DELAWARE TRUSTEE
SECTION 13.1 Representations and Warranties of Institutional Trustee 37
SECTION 13.2 Representations and Warranties of Delaware Trustee 38
ARTICLE XIV
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 14.1 Notices 38
SECTION 14.2 Governing Law 39
SECTION 14.3 Intention of the Parties 39
SECTION 14.4 Headings 39
SECTION 14.5 Successors and Assigns 39
SECTION 14.6 Partial Enforceability 39
SECTION 14.7 Counterparts 40
Signatures 41
ANNEX I TERMS OF SECURITIES A-1
EXHIBIT A-1 FORM OF CAPITAL SECURITY CERTIFICATE A1-1
EXHIBIT A-2 FORM OF COMMON SECURITY CERTIFICATE A2-1
EXHIBIT B SPECIMEN OF DEBENTURE B-1
EXHIBIT C PURCHASE AGREEMENT C-1
<PAGE>
CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE*
Section of
Trust Indenture Act Section of
of 1939, as amended Declaration
310(a) 5.3(a)
310(b) 5.3(c)
310(c) Inapplicable
311(a) and (b) 5.3(c)
311(c) Inapplicable
312(a) 2.2(a)
312(b) 2.2(b)
313 2.3
314(a) 2.4
314(b) Inapplicable
314(c) 2.5
314(d) Inapplicable
314(e) 310(a)
314(f) Inapplicable
315(a) 3.9(b)
315(b) 2.7(a)
315(c) 3.9(a)
315(d) 3.9(b)
316(a) and (b) 2.6 and Annex I (Sections 5 and 6)
316(c) 3.6(e)
317(a) 3.8(c)
317(b) 3.8(h)
* This Cross-Reference Table does not constitute part of the Declaration
and shall not affect the interpretation of any of its terms or
provisions.
<PAGE>
AMENDED AND RESTATED
DECLARATION OF TRUST
OF
FLEET CAPITAL TRUST V
December 18, 1998
THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED DECLARATION OF TRUST ("Declaration") is dated and
effective as of December 18, 1998, by the Trustees (as defined herein), the
Sponsor (as defined herein) and by the holders, from time to time, of undivided
beneficial interests in the Trust to be issued pursuant to this Declaration.
WHEREAS, the Trustees and the Sponsor established Fleet Capital Trust V
(the "Trust"), a statutory business trust under the Business Trust Act (as
defined herein), pursuant to a Declaration of Trust dated as of November 1, 1996
(the "Original Declaration"), and a Certificate of Trust filed with the
Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on November 1, 1996 (the
"Certificate of Trust") for the sole purpose of issuing and selling certain
securities representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the
Trust and investing the proceeds thereof in certain Debentures of the Debenture
Issuer (both as defined herein); and
WHEREAS, as of the date hereof, no Securities have been issued; and
WHEREAS, all of the Trustees and the Sponsor, by this Declaration, hereby
amend and restate each and every term and provision of the Original Declaration.
NOW, THEREFORE, it being the intention of the parties hereto to continue
the Trust as a business trust under the Business Trust Act and that this
Declaration constitute the governing instrument of such business trust, the
Trustees declare that all assets contributed to the Trust will be held in trust
for the benefit of the Holders, subject to the provisions of this Declaration.
ARTICLE I
INTERPRETATION AND DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.1 Definitions.
Unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) capitalized terms used in this Declaration but not defined in the
preamble above have the respective meanings assigned to them in this Section
1.1;
(b) a term defined anywhere in this Declaration has the same meaning
throughout;
(c) all references to "the Declaration" or "this Declaration" are to this
Declaration as modified, supplemented or amended from time to time;
(d) all references in this Declaration to Articles, Sections, Annexes and
Exhibits are to Articles and Sections of, and Annexes and Exhibits to, this
Declaration;
(e) a term defined in the Trust Indenture Act has the same meaning when
used in this Declaration unless otherwise defined in this Declaration or unless
the context otherwise requires; and
(f) a reference to the singular includes the plural and vice versa.
"Additional Interest" has the meaning set forth in Section 2(d) of Annex I.
"Affiliate" has the same meaning as given to that term in Rule 405 of the
Securities Act or any successor rule thereunder.
"Agent" means any Paying Agent.
"Authorized Officer" of a Person means any executive officer, president,
vice-president, assistant vice-president, treasurer, assistant treasurer,
secretary, assistant secretary or other officer of such Person generally
authorized to bind such Person.
"Book Entry Interest" means a beneficial interest in a Global Certificate,
ownership and transfers of which shall be maintained and made through book
entries by a Depository Institution as described in Section 9.4.
"Business Day" means any day other than a day on which Federal or State
banking institutions in the Borough of Manhattan, New York, New York or Chicago,
Illinois are authorized or obligated by law, executive order or regulation to
close.
"Business Trust Act" means Chapter 38 of Title 12 of the Delaware Code, 12
Del. Code Section 3801 et seq., as it may be amended from time to time, or any
successor legislation.
"Capital Guarantee Trustee" means The First National Bank of Chicago, a
national banking association, as trustee under the Capital Securities Guarantee
until a successor is appointed thereunder, and thereafter means such successor
trustee.
"Capital Securities" has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1(a).
"Capital Securities Guarantee" means the guarantee agreement to be dated as
of December 18, 1998, of the Sponsor in respect of the Capital Securities.
"Capital Security Beneficial Owner" means, with respect to a Book Entry
Interest, a Person who is the beneficial owner of such Book Entry Interest, as
reflected on the books of the Depository Institution, or on the books of a
Person maintaining an account with such Depository Institution (directly as a
Depository Institution Participant or as an indirect participant, in each case
in accordance with the rules of such Depository Institution).
"Capital Security Certificate" means a certificate representing a Capital
Security substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1.
"Certificate" means a Common Security Certificate or a Capital Security
Certificate.
"Closing Date" means the "Closing Time" as defined in the Purchase
Agreement.
"Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to
time, or any successor legislation.
"Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"Common Securities" has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1(a).
"Common Securities Guarantee" means the guarantee agreement to be dated as
of December 18, 1998 of the Sponsor in respect of the Common Securities.
"Common Security Certificate" means a definitive certificate in fully
registered form representing a Common Security substantially in the form of
Exhibit A-2.
"Company Indemnified Person" means (a) any Regular Trustee; (b) any
Affiliate of any Regular Trustee; (c) any officers, directors, shareholders,
members, partners, employees, representatives or agents of any Regular Trustee;
or (d) any officer, employee or agent of the Trust or its Affiliates.
"Compound Interest" has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a) of Annex I.
"Corporate Trust Office" means the office of the Institutional Trustee at
which the corporate trust business of the Institutional Trustee shall, at any
particular time, be principally administered, which office at the date of
execution of this Agreement is located at One First National Plaza, Suite 0126,
Chicago, Illinois 60670-0126.
"Coupon Rate" has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a) of Annex I.
"Covered Person" means: (a) any officer, director, shareholder, partner,
member, representative, employee or agent of (i) the Trust or (ii) the Trust's
Affiliates; and (b) any Holder of Securities.
"Creditor" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.4.
"Debentures" means the Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Deferrable
Interest Debentures due 2028 issued by the Debenture Issuer to the Trust.
"Debenture Issuer" means Fleet Financial Group, Inc., a Rhode Island
corporation, in its capacity as issuer of the Debentures under the Indenture.
"Debt Trustee" means The First National Bank of Chicago, a national banking
association, as trustee under the Indenture until a successor is appointed
thereunder, and thereafter means such successor trustee.
"Delaware Trustee" has the meaning set forth in Section 5.2.
"Definitive Capital Security Certificates" has the meaning set forth in
Section 9.4.
"Depository Institution" shall mean DTC, another clearing agency, or any
successor registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act, or other
applicable statute or regulation, which, in each case, shall be designated by
the Debenture Issuer pursuant to either Section 2.03 or 2.11 of the Indenture.
"Depository Institution Participant" means a broker, dealer, bank, other
financial institution or other Person for whom from time to time the Depository
Institution effects book-entry transfers and pledges of securities deposited
with the Depository Institution.
"Direct Action" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.8(e).
"Distribution" means a distribution payable to Holders of Securities in
accordance with Section 6.1.
"Distribution Payment Date" has the meaning set forth in Section 2(b) of
Annex I.
"DTC" means The Depository Trust Company, the initial Depository
Institution.
"Event of Default" in respect of the Securities means an Event of Default
under the Indenture which has occurred and is continuing in respect of the
Debentures.
"Exchange Act" means the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
from time to time, or any successor legislation.
"Extension Period" has the meaning set forth in Section 2(b) of Annex I.
"Federal Reserve Board" means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
System.
"Fiduciary Indemnified Person" has the meaning set forth in Section
10.4(b).
"Global Certificate" has the meaning set forth in Section 9.4.
"Holder" means a Person in whose name a Certificate representing a Security
is registered, such Person being a beneficial owner within the meaning of the
Business Trust Act.
"Indemnified Person" means a Company Indemnified Person or a Fiduciary
Indemnified Person.
"Indenture" means the Indenture dated as of December 18, 1998, among the
Debenture Issuer and the Debt Trustee, and any indenture supplemental thereto
pursuant to which the Debentures are to be issued.
"Institutional Trustee" means the Trustee meeting the eligibility
requirements set forth in Section 5.3.
"Institutional Trustee Account" has the meaning set forth in Section
3.8(c).
"Investment Company" means an investment company as defined in the
Investment Company Act.
"Investment Company Act" means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended from time to time, or any successor legislation.
"Legal Action" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6(g).
"Liquidation" has the meaning set forth in Section 3 of Annex I.
"Liquidation Distribution" has the meaning set forth in Section 3 of Annex
I.
"List of Holders" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(a).
"Majority in liquidation amount of the Securities" means, except as
provided in the terms of the Capital Securities set forth in Annex I hereto or
by the Trust Indenture Act, Holder(s) of outstanding Securities voting together
as a single class or, as the context may require, Holders of outstanding Capital
Securities or Holders of outstanding Common Securities voting separately as a
class, who are the record owners of more than 50% of the aggregate liquidation
amount (including the stated amount that would be paid on redemption,
liquidation or otherwise, plus accrued and unpaid Distributions to the date upon
which the voting percentages are determined) of all outstanding Securities of
the relevant class.
"NYSE" means the New York Stock Exchange, Inc.
"Officers' Certificate" means, with respect to any Person, a certificate
signed by two Authorized Officers of such Person. Any Officers' Certificate
delivered with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for
in this Declaration shall include:
(a) a statement that each Authorized Officer signing the Certificate has
read the covenant or condition and the definitions relating thereto;
(b) a brief statement of the nature and scope of the examination or
investigation undertaken by each Authorized Officer in rendering the
Certificate;
(c) a statement that each such Authorized Officer has made such examination
or investigation as, in such Authorized Officer's opinion, is necessary to
enable such Authorized Officer to express an informed opinion as to whether or
not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and
(d) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such Authorized
Officer, such condition or covenant has been complied with.
"Paying Agent" has the meaning set forth in Section 7.2.
"Payment Amount" has the meaning set forth in Section 6.1.
"Person" means a legal person, including any individual, corporation,
estate, partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock company, limited
liability company, trust, unincorporated association, or government or any
agency or political subdivision thereof, or any other entity of whatever nature.
"Prepayment Price" has the meaning set forth in Section 4(b) of Annex I.
"Pro Rata" has the meaning set forth in Section 8 of Annex I.
"Purchase Agreement" means the Purchase Agreement for the offering and sale
of Capital Securities in the form of Exhibit C.
"Quorum" means a majority of the Regular Trustees or, if there are only two
Regular Trustees, both of them.
"Redemption/Distribution Notice" has the meaning set forth in Section 4(f)
of Annex I.
"Redemption Price" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(a) of
Annex I.
"Regular Trustee" has the meaning set forth in Section 5.1.
"Regulatory Capital Event" has the meaning set forth in Section 4(c) of
Annex I.
"Related Party" means, with respect to the Sponsor, any direct or indirect
wholly owned subsidiary of the Sponsor or any other Person that owns, directly
or indirectly, 100% of the outstanding voting securities of the Sponsor.
"Resignation Request" has the meaning set forth in Section 5.6(c).
"Responsible Officer" means, with respect to the Institutional Trustee, any
officer within the Corporate Trust Office of the Institutional Trustee,
including any vice-president, any assistant vice-president, any assistant
secretary, the treasurer, any assistant treasurer or other officer of the
Corporate Trust Office of the Institutional Trustee customarily performing
functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and
also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other
officer to whom such matter is referred because of that officer's knowledge of
and familiarity with the particular subject.
"Rule 3a-5" means Rule 3a-5 under the Investment Company Act.
"Securities" means the Common Securities and the Capital Securities.
"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to
time, or any successor legislation.
"Securities Guarantees" means the Common Securities Guarantee and the
Capital Securities Guarantee.
"Special Event" has the meaning set forth in Section 4(c) of Annex I.
"Sponsor" means Fleet Financial Group, Inc., a Rhode Island corporation, or
any successor entity in a merger, consolidation or amalgamation, in its capacity
as sponsor of the Trust.
"Stated Maturity" has the meaning set forth in Section 4(a) of Annex I.
"Successor Delaware Trustee" has the meaning set forth in Section
5.6(b)(ii).
"Successor Entity" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.15(b)(i).
"Successor Institutional Trustee" has the meaning set forth in Section
5.6(b)(i).
"Successor Securities" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.15(b)(i).
"Super Majority" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.6(a)(ii).
"Tax Event" has the meaning set forth in Section 4(c) of Annex I hereto.
"10% in liquidation amount of the Securities" means, except as provided in
the terms of the Capital Securities set forth in Annex I hereto or by the Trust
Indenture Act, Holder(s) of outstanding Securities voting together as a single
class or, as the context may require, Holders of outstanding Capital Securities
or Holders of outstanding Common Securities voting separately as a class, who
are the record owners of 10% or more of the aggregate liquidation amount
(including the stated amount that would be paid on redemption, liquidation or
otherwise, plus accrued and unpaid Distributions to the date upon which the
voting percentages are determined) of all outstanding Securities of the relevant
class.
"Transfer Agent" has the meaning set forth in Section 9.2(e).
"Treasury Regulations" means the income tax regulations, including
temporary and proposed regulations, promulgated under the Code by the United
States Treasury, as such regulations may be amended from time to time (including
corresponding provisions of succeeding regulations).
"Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended
from time to time, or any successor legislation.
"Trustee" or "Trustees" means each Person who has signed this Declaration
as a trustee, so long as such Person shall continue in office in accordance with
the terms hereof, and all other Persons who may from time to time be duly
appointed, qualified and serving as Trustees in accordance with the provisions
hereof, and references herein to a Trustee or the Trustees shall refer to such
Person or Persons solely in their capacity as trustees hereunder.
ARTICLE II
TRUST INDENTURE ACT
SECTION 2.1 Trust Indenture Act; Application.
(a) This Declaration is subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture
Act that are required to be part of this Declaration and shall, to the extent
applicable, be governed by such provisions.
(b) The Institutional Trustee shall be the only Trustee which is a trustee
for the purposes of the Trust Indenture Act.
(c) If, and to the extent that, any provision of this Declaration limits,
qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by Sections 310 to 317,
inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act, the duties imposed by the Trust Indenture
Act shall control.
(d) The application of the Trust Indenture Act to this Declaration shall
not affect the nature of the Securities as equity securities representing
undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust.
SECTION 2.2 Lists of Holders of Securities.
(a) Each of the Sponsor and the Regular Trustees on behalf of the Trust
shall provide the Institutional Trustee (i) within 14 days after each record
date for payment of Distributions, a list, in such form as the Institutional
Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Holders ("List
of Holders") as of such record date, provided that neither the Sponsor nor the
Regular Trustees on behalf of the Trust shall be obligated to provide such List
of Holders at any time the List of Holders does not differ from the most recent
List of Holders given to the Institutional Trustee by the Sponsor and the
Regular Trustees on behalf of the Trust, and (ii) at any other time, within 30
days of receipt by the Trust of a written request for a List of Holders as of a
date no more than 14 days before such List of Holders is given to the
Institutional Trustee. The Institutional Trustee shall preserve, in as current a
form as is reasonably practicable, all information contained in the Lists of
Holders given to it or which it receives in its capacity as Paying Agent (if
acting in such capacity) provided that the Institutional Trustee may destroy any
List of Holders previously given to it on receipt of a new List of Holders.
(b) The Institutional Trustee shall comply with its obligations under
Sections 311(a), 311(b) and 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 2.3 Reports by the Institutional Trustee.
Within 60 days after May 15 of each year, the Institutional Trustee shall
provide to the Holders of the Capital Securities reports as are required by
Section 313 of the Trust Indenture Act, if any, in the form and in the manner
provided by Section 313 of the Trust Indenture Act. The Institutional Trustee
shall also comply with the requirements of Section 313(d) of the Trust Indenture
Act.
SECTION 2.4 Periodic Reports to Institutional Trustee.
Each of the Sponsor and the Regular Trustees on behalf of the Trust shall
provide to the Institutional Trustee, the Holders and the Securities and
Exchange Commission such documents, reports and information as required by
Section 314 (if any) and the compliance certificate required by Section 314 of
the Trust Indenture Act in the form, in the manner and at the times required by
Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act (provided that any certificate to be
provided pursuant to Section 314(a)(4) of the Trust Indenture Act shall be
provided within 120 days of the end of each fiscal year).
SECTION 2.5 Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent.
Each of the Sponsor and the Regular Trustees on behalf of the Trust shall
provide to the Institutional Trustee such evidence of compliance with any
conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Declaration that relate to
any of the matters set forth in Section 314(c) of the Trust Indenture Act. Any
certificate or opinion required to be given by an officer pursuant to Section
314(c)(1) may be given in the form of an Officers' Certificate.
SECTION 2.6 Events of Default; Waiver.
(a) Subject to Section 2.6(c), the Holders of a Majority in liquidation
amount of Capital Securities may, by vote, on behalf of the Holders of all of
the Capital Securities, waive any past Event of Default in respect of the
Capital Securities and its consequences, provided that, if the underlying Event
of Default under the Indenture:
(i) is not waivable under the Indenture, the Event of Default under
the Declaration shall also not be waivable; or
(ii) requires the consent or vote of greater than a majority in
principal amount of the holders of the Debentures (a "Super Majority") to
be waived under the Indenture, then the Event of Default under the
Declaration may only be waived by the vote of the Holders of at least the
proportion in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities that the
relevant Super Majority represents of the aggregate principal amount of the
Debentures outstanding; or
(iii) requires the consent or vote of each holder of Debentures to be
waived under the Indenture, then the Event of Default under the Declaration
may only be waived by each Holder of Capital Securities.
The foregoing provisions of this Section 2.6(a) shall be in lieu of Section
316(a)(1)(B) of the Trust Indenture Act and such Section 316(a)(1)(B) of the
Trust Indenture Act is hereby expressly excluded from this Declaration and the
Securities, as permitted by the Trust Indenture Act. Upon such waiver, any such
default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default with respect to the
Capital Securities arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for
every purpose of this Declaration, but no such waiver shall extend to any
subsequent or other default or an Event of Default with respect to the Capital
Securities or impair any right consequent thereon. Any waiver by the Holders of
the Capital Securities of an Event of Default with respect to the Capital
Securities shall also be deemed to constitute a waiver by the Holders of the
Common Securities of any such Event of Default with respect to the Common
Securities for all purposes of this Declaration without any further act, vote,
or consent of the Holders of the Common Securities.
(b) Subject to Section 2.6(c), the Holders of a Majority in liquidation
amount of the Common Securities may, by vote, on behalf of the Holders of all of
the Common Securities, waive any past Event of Default with respect to the
Common Securities and its consequences, provided that, if the underlying Event
of Default under the Indenture:
(i) is not waivable under the Indenture, except where the Holders of
the Common Securities are deemed to have waived such Event of Default under
the Declaration as provided below in this Section 2.6(b), then the Event of
Default under the Declaration shall also not be waivable; or
(ii) requires the consent or vote of (A) a Super Majority to be
waived, then the Event of Default under the Declaration may only be waived
by the vote of the Holders of at least the proportion in liquidation amount
of the Common Securities that the relevant Super Majority represents of the
aggregate principal amount of the Debentures outstanding or (B) each holder
of Debentures to be waived, then the Event of Default under the Declaration
may only be waived by each Holder of Capital Securities, except where the
Holders of the Common Securities are deemed to have waived such Event of
Default under the Declaration as provided below in this Section 2.6(b);
provided further, each Holder of Common Securities will be deemed to have
waived any such Event of Default and all Events of Default with respect to
the Common Securities and its consequences until all Events of Default with
respect to the Capital Securities have been cured, waived or otherwise
eliminated, and until such Events of Default have been so cured, waived or
otherwise eliminated, the Institutional Trustee will be deemed to be acting
solely on behalf of the Holders of the Capital Securities and only the
Holders of the Capital Securities will have the right to direct the
Institutional Trustee in accordance with the terms of the Securities set
forth in Annex I hereto. If any Event of Default with respect to the
Capital Securities is waived by the Holders of Capital Securities as
provided in this Declaration, the Holders of Common Securities agree that
such waiver shall also constitute the waiver of such Event of Default with
respect to the Common Securities for all purposes under this Declaration
without any further act, vote or consent of the Holders of the Common
Securities. Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.6(b),
upon such waiver, any such default shall cease to exist and any Event of
Default with respect to the Common Securities arising therefrom shall be
deemed to have been cured for every purpose of this Declaration, but no
such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or Event of
Default with respect to the Common Securities or impair any right
consequent thereon. The foregoing provisions of this Section 2.6(b) shall
be in lieu of Sections 316(a)(1)(A) and 316(a)(1)(B) of the Trust Indenture
Act and such Sections 316(a)(1)(A) and 316(a)(1)(B) of the Trust Indenture
Act are hereby expressly excluded from this Declaration and the Securities,
as permitted by the Trust Indenture Act. Subject to the foregoing
provisions of this Section 2.6(b), upon such waiver, any such default shall
cease to exist and any Event of Default with respect to the Common
Securities arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured for every
purpose of this Declaration, but no such waiver shall extend to any
subsequent or other default or Event of Default with respect to the Common
Securities or impair any right consequent thereon.
(c) The right of any Holder to receive payment of Distributions in
accordance with this Declaration and the terms of the Securities set forth in
Annex I on or after the respective payment dates therefor, or to institute suit
for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such payment dates, shall
not be impaired without the consent of each such Holder.
(d) A waiver of an Event of Default under the Indenture by the
Institutional Trustee at the written direction of the Holders of the Capital
Securities constitutes a waiver of the corresponding Event of Default under this
Declaration. The foregoing provisions of this Section 2.6(d) shall be in lieu of
Section 316(a)(1)(B) of the Trust Indenture Act and such Section 316(a)(1)(B) of
the Trust Indenture Act is hereby expressly excluded from this Declaration and
the Securities, as permitted by the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 2.7 Event of Default; Notice.
(a) The Institutional Trustee shall, within 90 days after the occurrence of
an Event of Default, transmit by mail, first class postage prepaid, to the
Holders, notice of all defaults with respect to the Securities actually known to
a Responsible Officer, unless such defaults have been cured before the giving of
such notice (the term "defaults" for the purposes of this Section 2.7(a) being
hereby defined to be an Event of Default as defined in the Indenture, not
including any periods of grace provided for therein and irrespective of the
giving of any notice provided therein); provided that, except for a default in
the payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any of the
Debentures or in the payment of any sinking fund installment established for the
Debentures, the Institutional Trustee shall be protected in withholding such
notice if and so long as a Responsible Officer in good faith determines that the
withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Holders; and provided
further, that in the case of any default of the character specified in Section
5.01(c) of the Indenture, no such notice to Holders shall be given until at
least 60 days after the occurrence thereof but shall be given within 90 days
after such occurrence.
(b) The Institutional Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any
default except:
(i) a default under Sections 5.01(a), (b), (d), (e) and (f) of the
Indenture; or
(ii) any default as to which the Institutional Trustee shall have
received written notice or of which a Responsible Officer charged with the
administration of the Declaration shall have actual knowledge.
ARTICLE III
ORGANIZATION
SECTION 3.1 Name.
The Trust continued by this Declaration is named "Fleet Capital Trust V,"
as such name may be modified from time to time by the Regular Trustees following
written notice to the Holders. The Trust's activities may be conducted under the
name of the Trust or any other name deemed advisable by the Regular Trustees.
SECTION 3.2 Office.
The address of the principal office of the Trust is c/o Fleet Financial
Group, Inc., One Federal Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02110. Upon ten (10)
Business Days' written notice to the Holders of Securities, the Regular Trustees
may designate another principal office.
SECTION 3.3 Purpose.
The exclusive purposes and functions of the Trust are (i) to issue (a) its
Capital Securities pursuant to the Purchase Agreement in exchange for cash and
(b) its Common Securities to the Sponsor in exchange for cash, and to use the
aggregate proceeds of the sale of the Securities to purchase the Debentures,
(ii) to enter into such agreements and arrangements as may be necessary in
connection with the issuance and sale of the Securities and to take all actions,
and exercise such discretion, as may be necessary or desirable in connection
with the issuance and sale of the Securities and to file such registration
statements or make such other filings under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act
or state securities or "Blue Sky" laws as may be necessary or desirable in
connection with the Offer and the issuance and sale of the Securities, and (iii)
except as otherwise limited herein, to engage in only those other activities
necessary or incidental thereto. As more specifically provided in Section 3.7,
the Trust shall not borrow money, issue debt or reinvest proceeds derived from
investments, pledge any of its assets, or otherwise undertake (or permit to be
undertaken) any activity that would cause the Trust not to be classified for
United States federal income tax purposes as a grantor trust.
SECTION 3.4 Authority.
Subject to the limitations provided in this Declaration and to the specific
duties of the Institutional Trustee, the Regular Trustees shall have exclusive
and complete authority to carry out the purposes of the Trust. Any action taken
by the Regular Trustees in accordance with their powers shall constitute the act
of and serve to bind the Trust and any action taken by the Institutional Trustee
on behalf of the Trust in accordance with its powers shall constitute the act of
and serve to bind the Trust. In dealing with the Trustees acting on behalf of
the Trust, no person shall be required to inquire into the authority of the
Trustees to bind the Trust. Persons dealing with the Trust are entitled to rely
conclusively on the power and authority of the Trustees as set forth in this
Declaration.
SECTION 3.5 Title to Property of the Trust.
Except as provided in Section 3.8 with respect to the Debentures and the
Institutional Trustee Account or as otherwise provided in this Declaration,
legal title to all assets of the Trust shall be vested in the Trust. The Holders
shall not have legal title to any part of the assets of the Trust, but shall
have an undivided beneficial interest in the assets of the Trust.
SECTION 3.6 Powers and Duties of the Regular Trustees.
The Regular Trustees shall have the exclusive power, duty and authority to
cause the Trust to engage in the following activities:
(a) to issue and sell the Securities in accordance with this Declaration;
provided, however, that the Trust may issue no more than one series of Capital
Securities and no more than one series of Common Securities; and, provided
further, that there shall be no interests in the Trust other than the
Securities, and the issuance of Securities shall be limited to a one-time
simultaneous issuance of both Capital Securities and Common Securities on the
Closing Date;
(b) in connection with the issue of the Capital Securities, at the
direction of the Sponsor, to:
(i) execute and file with the Commission one or more registration
statements on Form S-3 prepared by the Sponsor, including any and all
amendments thereto, pertaining to the Capital Securities;
(ii) execute and file any documents prepared by the Sponsor, or take
any acts as determined by the Sponsor to be necessary in order to qualify
or register all or part of the Capital Securities in any State in which the
Sponsor has determined to qualify or register such Capital Securities for
exchange;
(iii) execute and file an application, prepared by the Sponsor, to the
NYSE or any other national stock exchange or the NASDAQ Stock Market's
National Market for listing or quotation upon notice of issuance of any
Capital Securities;
(iv) execute and file with the Commission a registration statement on
Form 8-A, including any amendments thereto, prepared by the Sponsor,
relating to the registration of the Capital Securities under Section 12(b)
of the Exchange Act;
(v) execute and enter into the Purchase Agreement providing for the
sale of the Capital Securities; and
(vi) execute and deliver letters, documents or instruments with DTC.
(c) to acquire the Debentures with the proceeds of the sale of the Capital
Securities and the Common Securities; provided, however, that the Regular
Trustees shall cause legal title to the Debentures to be held of record in the
name of the Institutional Trustee for the benefit of the Holders;
(d) to give the Sponsor and the Institutional Trustee prompt written notice
of the occurrence of a Special Event;
(e) to establish a record date with respect to all actions to be taken
hereunder that require a record date be established, including and with respect
to, for the purposes of Section 316(c) of the Trust Indenture Act,
Distributions, voting rights, redemptions and exchanges, and to issue relevant
notices to the Holders of Securities as to such actions and applicable record
dates;
(f) to take all actions and perform such duties as may be required of the
Regular Trustees pursuant to the terms of the Securities set forth in Annex I
hereto;
(g) to bring or defend, pay, collect, compromise, arbitrate, resort to
legal action, or otherwise adjust claims or demands of or against the Trust
("Legal Action"), unless pursuant to Section 3.8(e), the Institutional Trustee
has the exclusive power to bring such Legal Action;
(h) to employ or otherwise engage employees and agents (who may be
designated as officers with titles) and managers, contractors, advisors, and
consultants and pay reasonable compensation for such services;
(i) to cause the Trust to comply with the Trust's obligations under the
Trust Indenture Act;
(j) to give the certificate required by Section 314(a)(4) of the Trust
Indenture Act to the Institutional Trustee, which certificate may be executed by
any Regular Trustee;
(k) to incur expenses that are necessary or incidental to carry out any of
the purposes of the Trust;
(l) to act as, or appoint another Person to act as, registrar, transfer
agent and paying agent for the Securities;
(m) to give prompt written notice to the Holders of any notice received
from the Debenture Issuer of its election to defer payments of interest on the
Debentures by extending the interest payment period under the Indenture;
(n) to execute all documents or instruments, perform all duties and powers,
and do all things for and on behalf of the Trust in all matters necessary or
incidental to the foregoing;
(o) to take all action that may be necessary or appropriate for the
preservation and the continuation of the Trust's valid existence, rights,
franchises and privileges as a statutory business trust under the laws of the
State of Delaware and of each other jurisdiction in which such existence is
necessary to protect the limited liability of the Holders or to enable the Trust
to effect the purposes for which the Trust was created;
(p) to take any action, not inconsistent with this Declaration or with
applicable law, that the Regular Trustees determine in their discretion to be
necessary or desirable in carrying out the activities of the Trust as set out in
this Section 3.6, including, but not limited to:
(i) causing the Trust not to be deemed to be an Investment Company
required to be registered under the Investment Company Act;
(ii) causing the Trust to be classified for United States federal
income tax purposes as a grantor trust; and
(iii) cooperating with the Debenture Issuer to ensure that the
Debentures will be treated as indebtedness of the Debenture Issuer for
United States federal income tax purposes,
provided that such actions do not adversely affect the interests of
Holders; and
(q) to take all action necessary to cause all applicable tax returns and
tax information reports that are required to be filed with respect to the Trust
to be duly prepared and filed by the Regular Trustees, on behalf of the Trust.
The Regular Trustees shall exercise the powers set forth in this Section
3.6 in a manner that is consistent with the purposes and functions of the Trust
set out in Section 3.3, and the Regular Trustees shall not take any action that
is inconsistent with the purposes and functions of the Trust set forth in
Section 3.3.
Subject to this Section 3.6, the Regular Trustees shall have none of the
powers or the authority of the Institutional Trustee set forth in Section 3.8.
Any expenses incurred by the Regular Trustees pursuant to this Section 3.6
shall be reimbursed by the Debenture Issuer.
SECTION 3.7 Prohibition of Actions by the Trust and the Trustees.
(a) The Trust shall not, and the Trustees (including the Institutional
Trustee) shall cause the Trust not to, engage in any activity other than in
connection with the purpose of the Trust or other than as required or authorized
by this Declaration. In particular, the Trust shall not, and the Trustees
(including the Institutional Trustee) shall cause the Trust not to:
(i) invest any proceeds received by the Trust from holding the
Debentures, but shall distribute all such proceeds to Holders pursuant to
the terms of this Declaration and of the Securities;
(ii) acquire any assets other than as expressly provided herein;
(iii) possess Trust property for other than a Trust purpose;
(iv) make any investments, other than investments represented by the
Debentures;
(v) possess any power or otherwise act in such a way as to vary the
Trust assets or the terms of the Securities in any way whatsoever;
(vi) issue any securities or other evidences of beneficial ownership
of, or beneficial interest in, the Trust other than the Securities;
(vii) incur any indebtedness for borrowed money; or
(viii) other than as provided in this Declaration or Annex I hereto,
(A) direct the time, method and place of exercising any trust or power
conferred upon the Debt Trustee with respect to the Debentures, (B) waive
any past default that is waivable under the Indenture, (C) exercise any
right to rescind or annul any declaration that the principal of all the
Debentures held in the Trust shall be due and payable, or (D) consent to
any amendment, modification or termination of the Indenture or the
Debentures if such action would cause the Trust to be classified for United
States federal income tax purposes as other than a grantor trust or would
cause the Trust to be deemed an Investment Company required to be
registered under the Investment Company Act.
SECTION 3.8 Powers and Duties of the Institutional Trustee.
(a) The legal title to the Debentures shall be owned by and held of record
in the name of the Institutional Trustee in trust for the benefit of the
Holders. The right, title and interest of the Institutional Trustee to the
Debentures shall vest automatically in each Person who may hereafter be
appointed as Institutional Trustee in accordance with Section 5.6. Such vesting
and cessation of title shall be effective whether or not conveyancing documents
with regard to the Debentures have been executed and delivered.
(b) The Institutional Trustee shall not transfer its right, title and
interest in the Debentures to the Regular Trustees or to the Delaware Trustee
(if the Institutional Trustee does not also act as Delaware Trustee).
(c) The Institutional Trustee shall:
(i) establish and maintain a segregated non-interest bearing trust
account (the "Institutional Trustee Account") in the name of and under the
exclusive control of the Institutional Trustee on behalf of the Holders
and, upon the receipt of payments of funds made in respect of the
Debentures held by the Institutional Trustee, deposit such funds into the
Institutional Trustee Account and make payments to the Holders from the
Institutional Trustee Account in accordance with Section 6.1. Funds in the
Institutional Trustee Account shall be held uninvested until disbursed in
accordance with this Declaration;
(ii) engage in such ministerial activities as shall be necessary or
appropriate to effect the redemption of the Securities to the extent the
Debentures are redeemed or mature; and
(iii) upon written notice of distribution issued by the Regular
Trustees in accordance with the terms of the Securities, engage in such
ministerial activities as shall be necessary or appropriate to effect the
distribution of the Debentures to Holders in accordance with the provisions
of the Indenture.
(d) The Institutional Trustee shall take all actions and perform such
duties as may be specifically required of the Institutional Trustee pursuant to
the terms of the Securities.
(e) The Institutional Trustee shall take any Legal Action which arises out
of or in connection with (i) an Event of Default of which a Responsible Officer
has actual knowledge or (ii) the Institutional Trustee's duties and obligations
under this Declaration or the Trust Indenture Act. If the Institutional Trustee
fails to enforce its rights under the Debentures after a Holder of Capital
Securities has made a written request, such Holder may institute a legal
proceeding against the Debenture Issuer to enforce the Institutional Trustee's
rights under the Debentures without first instituting any legal proceeding
against the Institutional Trustee or any other person or entity. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and such
event is attributable to the failure of the Debenture Issuer to pay interest or
principal on the Debentures on the date such interest or principal is otherwise
payable (or in the case of redemption, on the redemption date), then a Holder of
Capital Securities may directly institute a proceeding for enforcement of
payment to such Holder of the principal of, or interest on, the Debentures
having a principal amount equal to the aggregate liquidation amount of the
Capital Securities of such Holder (a "Direct Action") on or after the respective
due date specified in the Debentures. Notwithstanding any payments made to such
Holder of Capital Securities by the Debenture Issuer in connection with a Direct
Action, the Debenture Issuer shall remain obligated to pay the principal of or
interest on the Debentures held by the Trust or the Institutional Trustee of the
Trust, and the Debenture Issuer shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holder
of such Capital Securities with respect to payments on the Capital Securities.
Except as provided in the preceding sentences and in the Capital Securities
Guarantee, the Holders of Capital Securities will not be able to exercise
directly any other remedy available to the holders of the Debentures.
(f) The Institutional Trustee shall not resign as a Trustee unless either:
(i) the Trust has been completely liquidated and the proceeds of the
liquidation distributed to the Holders pursuant to the terms of the
Securities; or
(ii) a Successor Institutional Trustee has been appointed and has
accepted that appointment in accordance with Section 5.6.
(g) The Institutional Trustee shall have the legal power to exercise all of
the rights, powers and privileges of a holder of Debentures under the Indenture
and, if an Event of Default actually known to a Responsible Officer occurs and
is continuing, the Institutional Trustee shall, for the benefit of Holders,
enforce its rights as holder of the Debentures subject to the rights of the
Holders pursuant to the terms of such Securities.
(h) The Institutional Trustee may authorize one or more Persons (each, a
"Paying Agent") to pay Distributions, redemption payments or liquidation
payments on behalf of the Trust with respect to all securities and any such
Paying Agent shall comply with Section 317(b) of the Trust Indenture Act. Any
Paying Agent may be removed by the Institutional Trustee at any time and a
successor Paying Agent or additional Paying Agents may be appointed at any time
by the Institutional Trustee, in each case without prior notice to the Holders.
The Paying Agent may perform such functions whenever the Institutional Trustee
may do so. Each reference in this Declaration to payment to the Holders by the
Institutional Trustee includes such payment by a Paying Agent. A Paying Agent
has the same rights as the Institutional Trustee to deal with the Sponsor or an
Affiliate, and itself may be the Trust, an Affiliate of the Trust or a Related
Party of the Sponsor. The Institutional Trustee hereby appoints First Chicago
Trust Company of New York to initially act as Paying Agent for the Securities.
(i) The Institutional Trustee shall give prompt written notice to the
Holders of the Securities of any notice received by it from the Debenture Issuer
of the Debenture Issuer's election to defer payments of interest on the
Debentures by extending the interest payment period with respect thereto.
(j) The Institutional Trustee shall notify all Holders of the Capital
Securities of any notice of default received from the Debt Trustee with respect
to the Debentures. Such notice shall state that such event of default under the
Indenture also constitutes an Event of Default hereunder.
(k) Subject to this Section 3.8, the Institutional Trustee shall have none
of the duties, liabilities, powers or the authority of the Regular Trustees set
forth in Section 3.6.
The Institutional Trustee shall exercise the powers set forth in this
Section 3.8 and in Sections 3.9 and 3.10 in a manner that is consistent with the
purposes and functions of the Trust set out in Section 3.3, and the
Institutional Trustee shall not take any action that is inconsistent with the
purposes and functions of the Trust set out in Section 3.3.
SECTION 3.9 Certain Duties and Responsibilities of the Institutional
Trustee.
(a) The Institutional Trustee, before the occurrence of any Event of
Default and after the curing of all Events of Default that may have occurred,
shall undertake to perform only such duties as are specifically set forth in
this Declaration and no implied covenants shall be read into this Declaration
against the Institutional Trustee. In case an Event of Default has occurred
(that has not been cured or waived pursuant to Section 2.6) of which a
Responsible Officer has actual knowledge, the Institutional Trustee shall
exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Declaration, and use
the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent person would
exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his or her own
affairs.
(b) No provision of this Declaration shall be construed to relieve the
Institutional Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own
negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that:
(i) prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default and after the
curing or waiving of all such Events of Default that may have occurred:
(A) the duties and obligations of the Institutional Trustee
shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this
Declaration and the Institutional Trustee shall not be
liable except for the performance of such duties and
obligations as are specifically set forth in this
Declaration, and no implied covenants or obligations shall
be read into this Declaration against the Institutional
Trustee; and
(B) in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Institutional
Trustee, the Institutional Trustee may conclusively rely, as
to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the
opinions expressed therein, upon any certificates or
opinions furnished to the Institutional Trustee and
conforming to the requirements of this Declaration; but in
the case of any such certificates or opinions that by any
provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished
to the Institutional Trustee, the Institutional Trustee
shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine
whether or not they conform to the requirements of this
Declaration;
(ii) the Institutional Trustee shall not be liable for any error of
judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer, unless it shall be
proved that the Institutional Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the
pertin ent facts;
(iii) the Institutional Trustee shall not be liable with respect to
any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance
with the direction of the Holders of not less than a Majority in
liquidation amount of the Securities relating to the time, method and place
of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Institutional
Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Institutional
Trustee under this Declaration;
(iv) no provision of this Declaration shall require the Institutional
Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur personal
financial liability in the performance of any of its duties or in the
exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable
grounds for believing that the repayment of such funds or liability is not
reasonably assured to it under the terms of this Declaration or adequate
indemnity against such risk is not reasonably assured to it;
(v) the Institutional Trustee's sole duty with respect to the custody,
safe keeping and physical preservation of the Debentures and the
Institutional Trustee Account shall be to deal with such property in a
similar manner as the Institutional Trustee deals with similar property for
its own account, subject to the protections and limitations on liability
afforded to the Institutional Trustee under this Declaration and the Trust
Indenture Act;
(vi) the Institutional Trustee shall have no duty or liability for or
with respect to the value, genuineness, existence or sufficiency of the
Debentures or the payment of any taxes or assessments levied thereon or in
connection therewith;
(vii) the Institutional Trustee shall not be liable for any interest
on any money received by it except as it may otherwise agree with the
Sponsor. Money held by the Institutional Trustee need not be segregated
from other funds held by it except in relation to the Institutional Trustee
Account maintained by the Institutional Trustee pursuant to Section
3.8(c)(i) and except to the extent otherwise required by law; and
(viii) the Institutional Trustee shall not be responsible for
monitoring the compliance by the Regular Trustees or the Sponsor with their
respective duties under this Declaration, nor shall the Institutional
Trustee be liable for any default or misconduct of the Regular Trustees or
the Sponsor.
SECTION 3.10 Certain Rights of the Institutional Trustee.
(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 3.9:
(i) the Institutional Trustee may rely and shall be protected in
acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate,
statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order,
bond, debenture or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and
to have been signed, sent or presented by the proper party or parties;
(ii) any direction or act of the Sponsor or the Regular Trustees
contemplated by this Declaration shall be sufficiently evidenced by an
Officers' Certificate;
(iii) whenever in the administration of this Declaration, the
Institutional Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or
established before taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the
Institutional Trustee (unless other evidence is herein specifically
prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, request and
conclusively rely upon an Officers' Certificate which, upon receipt of such
request, shall be promptly delivered by the Sponsor or the Regular
Trustees;
(iv) the Institutional Trustee shall have no duty to see to any
recording, filing or registration of any instrument (including any
financing or continuation statement or any filing under tax or securities
laws) or any rerecording, refiling or registration thereof;
(v) the Institutional Trustee may consult with counsel or other
experts and the advice or opinion of such counsel and experts with respect
to legal matters or advice within the scope of such experts' area of
expertise 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 accordance with such advice or opinion, which counsel may be
counsel to the Sponsor or any of its Affiliates, and may include any of its
employees. The Institutional Trustee shall have the right at any time to
seek instructions concerning the administration of this Declaration from
any court of competent jurisdiction;
(vi) the Institutional Trustee shall be under no obligation to
exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Declaration at
the request, order or direction of any Holder, unless such Holder shall
have provided to the Institutional Trustee reasonable security and
indemnity against the costs, expenses (including attorneys' fees and
expenses and the expenses of the Institutional Trustee's agents, nominees
or custodians) and liabilities that might be incurred by it in complying
with such request or direction, including such reasonable advances as may
be requested by the Institutional Trustee provided, that, nothing contained
in this Section 3.10(a)(vi) shall be taken to relieve the Institutional
Trustee, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, of its obligation to
exercise the rights and powers vested in it by this Declaration;
(vii) the Institutional Trustee shall not be bound to make any
investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution,
certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request,
consent, order, approval, bond, debenture, coupon or other paper or
document, but the Institutional Trustee, in its discretion, may make such
further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see
fit;
(viii) the Institutional Trustee may execute any of the trusts or
powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or
through agents, custodians, nominees or attorneys and the Institutional
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;
(ix) any action taken by the Institutional Trustee or its agents
hereunder shall bind the Trust and the Holders; and the signature of the
Institutional Trustee or its agents alone shall be sufficient and effective
to perform any such action and no third party shall be required to inquire
as to the authority of the Institutional Trustee to so act or as to its
compliance with any of the terms and provisions of this Declaration, both
of which shall be conclusively evidenced by the Institutional Trustee's or
its agent's taking such action;
(x) whenever in the administration of this Declaration the
Institutional Trustee shall deem it desirable to receive instructions with
respect to enforcing any remedy or right or taking any other action
hereunder, the Institutional Trustee (i) may request instructions from the
Holders which instructions may only be given by the Holders of the same
proportion in liquidation amount of the Securities as would be entitled to
direct the Institutional Trustee under the terms of the Securities in
respect of such remedy, right or action, (ii) may refrain from enforcing
such remedy or right or taking such other action until such instructions
are received, and (iii) shall be protected in conclusively relying on or
acting in or accordance with such instructions; and
(xi) except as otherwise expressly provided by this Declaration, the
Institutional Trustee shall not be under any obligation to take any action
that is discretionary under the provisions of this Declaration.
(b) No provision of this Declaration shall be deemed to impose any duty or
obligation on the Institutional Trustee to perform any act or acts or exercise
any right, power, duty or obligation conferred or imposed on it, in any
jurisdiction in which it shall be illegal, or in which the Institutional Trustee
shall be unqualified or incompetent in accordance with applicable law, to
perform any such act or acts, or to exercise any such right, power, duty or
obligation. No permissive power or authority available to the Institutional
Trustee shall be construed to be a duty.
SECTION 3.11 Delaware Trustee.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Declaration other than Section
5.2, the Delaware Trustee shall not be entitled to exercise any powers, nor
shall the Delaware Trustee have any of the duties and responsibilities of the
Regular Trustees or the Institutional Trustee described in this Declaration.
Except as set forth in Section 5.2, the Delaware Trustee shall be a Trustee for
the sole and limited purpose of fulfilling the requirements of Section 3807 of
the Business Trust Act. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the
Delaware Trustee shall not be liable for the acts or omissions to act of the
Trust or of the Regular Trustees except such acts as the Delaware Trustee is
expressly obligated or authorized to undertake under this Declaration or the
Business Trust Act and except for the gross negligence or willful misconduct of
the Delaware Trustee.
SECTION 3.12 Execution of Documents.
Unless otherwise determined by the Regular Trustees, and except as
otherwise required by the Business Trust Act or applicable law, any one of the
Regular Trustees is authorized to execute on behalf of the Trust any documents
which the Regular Trustees have the power and authority to execute pursuant to
Section 3.6.
SECTION 3.13 Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities.
The recitals contained in this Declaration and the Securities shall be
taken as the statements of the Sponsor, and the Trustees do not assume any
responsibility for their correctness. The Trustees make no representations as to
the value or condition of the property of the Trust or any part thereof. The
Trustees make no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this
Declaration or the Securities.
SECTION 3.14 Duration of Trust.
The Trust, unless terminated pursuant to the provisions of Article VIII
hereof, shall have existence until December 18, 2052.
SECTION 3.15 Mergers.
(a) The Trust may not consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or be
replaced by, or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets
substantially as an entirety to any corporation or other body, except as
described in Section 3.15(b) and (c).
(b) The Trust may, with the consent of the Regular Trustees or, if there
are more than two, a majority of the Regular Trustees, and without the consent
of the Holders, the Institutional Trustee or the Delaware Trustee, consolidate,
amalgamate, merge with or into, or be replaced by a trust organized as such
under the laws of any State of the United States; provided that:
(i) if the Trust is not the survivor, such successor entity (the
"Successor Entity") either:
(A) expressly assumes all of the obligations of the Trust under
the Securities; or
(B) substitutes for the Capital Securities other securities
having substantially the same terms as the Capital
Securities (the "Successor Securities") so long as the
Successor Securities rank the same as the Capital Securities
rank with respect to Distributions and payments upon
liquidation, redemption and otherwise;
(ii) the Debenture Issuer expressly acknowledges a trustee of the
Successor Entity that possesses the same powers and duties as the
Institutional Trustee as the holder of the Debentures;
(iii) the Capital Securities or any Successor Securities are listed,
or any Successor Securities will be listed upon notification of issuance,
on any national securities exchange or with another organization on which
the Capital Securities are then listed or quoted;
(iv) such merger, consolidation, amalgamation or replacement does not
cause the Capital Securities (including any Successor Securities) to be
downgraded by any nationally recognized statistical rating organization;
(v) such merger, consolidation, amalgamation or replacement does not
adversely affect the rights, preferences and privileges of the Holders
(including any Successor Securities) in any material respect (other than
with respect to any dilution of such Holders' interests in the Successor
Entity);
(vi) such Successor Entity has a purpose identical to that of the
Trust;
(vii) prior to such merger, consolidation, amalgamation or
replacement, the Debenture Issuer has received an opinion of a nationally
recognized independent counsel to the Trust experienced in such matters to
the effect that:
(A) such merger, consolidation, amalgamation or replacement does
not adversely affect the rights, preferences and privileges
of the Holders (including any Successor Securities) in any
material respect (other than with respect to any dilution of
the Holders' interest in the Successor Entity); and
(B) following such merger, consolidation, amalgamation or
replacement, neither the Trust nor the Successor Entity will
be required to register as an Investment Company;
(C) following such merger, consolidation, amalgamation or
replacement, the Trust (or the Successor Entity) will be
treated as a grantor trust for United States federal income
tax purposes; and
(viii) the Sponsor guarantees the obligations of such Successor Entity
under the Successor Securities at least to the extent provided by the
Capital Securities Guarantee and the Common Securities Guarantee.
(c) Notwithstanding Section 3.15(b), the Trust shall not, except with the
consent of Holders of 100% in liquidation amount of the Securities, consolidate,
amalgamate, merge with or into, or be replaced by any other entity or permit any
other entity to consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or replace it, if
such consolidation, amalgamation, merger or replacement would cause the Trust or
Successor Entity to be classified as other than a grantor trust for United
States federal income tax purposes.
ARTICLE IV
SPONSOR
SECTION 4.1 Sponsor's Purchase of Common Securities.
On the Closing Date the Sponsor will purchase all of the Common Securities
issued by the Trust, in an amount at least equal to 3% of the total capital of
the Trust, at the same time as the Capital Securities are issued pursuant to the
Purchase Agreement.
SECTION 4.2 Responsibilities of the Sponsor.
In connection with the issue and sale of the Capital Securities, the
Sponsor shall have the exclusive right and responsibility to engage in the
following activities:
(a) to prepare for filing by the Trust with the Commission one or more
registration statements on Form S-3 in relation to the Capital Securities,
including any amendments thereto;
(b) to determine the states in which to take appropriate action to qualify
or register for sale all or part of the Capital Securities and to do any and all
such acts, other than actions which must be taken by the Trust, and advise the
Trust of actions it must take, and prepare for execution and filing any
documents to be executed and filed by the Trust, as the Sponsor deems necessary
or advisable in order to comply with the applicable laws of any such states;
(c) if so determined by the Sponsor, to prepare for filing by the Trust an
application to the NYSE or any other national stock exchange or the NASDAQ
National Market for listing or quotation upon notice of issuance of the Capital
Securities;
(d) if so determined by the Sponsor, to prepare for filing by the Trust
with the Commission a registration statement on Form 8-A relating to the
registration of the Capital Securities under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act,
including any amendments thereto; and
(e) to negotiate the terms of the Purchase Agreement providing for the
issuance of the Capital Securities.
SECTION 4.3 Right to Proceed.
The Sponsor acknowledges the rights of the Holders to institute a Direct
Action as set forth in Section 3.8(e) hereto.
SECTION 4.4 Expenses.
In connection with the offering, sale and issuance of the Debentures to the
Institutional Trustee and in connection with the sale of the Securities by the
Trust, the Debenture Issuer, in its capacity as borrower with respect to the
Debentures, shall:
(a) pay all costs and expenses relating to the offering, sale and issuance
of the Debentures, including commissions to the underwriters payable pursuant to
the Purchase Agreement and compensation of the Trustee under the Indenture in
accordance with the provisions of Section 6.06 of the Indenture;
(b) be responsible for and shall pay all debts and obligations (other than
with respect to the Securities) and all costs and expenses of the Trust
(including, but not limited to, costs and expenses relating to the organization,
maintenance and dissolution of the Trust, the offering, sale and issuance of the
Securities (including commissions to the underwriters in connection therewith),
the fees and expenses (including reasonable counsel fees and expenses) of the
Institutional Trustee, the Delaware Trustee and the Regular Trustees (including
any amounts payable under Article X of this Declaration), the costs and expenses
relating to the operation of the Trust, including without limitation, costs and
expenses of accountants, attorneys, statistical or bookkeeping services,
expenses for printing and engraving and computing or accounting equipment,
paying agent(s), registrar(s), transfer agent(s), duplicating, travel and
telephone and other telecommunications expenses and costs and expenses incurred
in connection with the acquisition, financing, and disposition of Trust assets
and the enforcement by the Institutional Trustee of the rights of the Holders of
the Capital Securities);
(c) be primarily liable for any indemnification obligations arising with
respect to this Declaration; and
(d) pay any and all taxes (other than United States withholding taxes
attributable to the Trust or its assets) and all liabilities, costs and expenses
with respect to such taxes of the Trust.
The Debenture Issuer's obligations under this Section 4.4 shall be for the
benefit of, and shall be enforceable by, any person to whom such debts,
obligations, costs, expenses and taxes are owed (a "Creditor") whether or not
such Creditor has received notice hereof. Any such Creditor may enforce the
Debenture Issuer's obligations under this Section 4.4 directly against the
Debenture Issuer and the Debenture Issuer irrevocably waives any right of remedy
to require that any such Creditor take any action against the Trust or any other
Person before proceeding against the Debenture Issuer. The Debenture Issuer
agrees to execute such additional agreements as may be necessary or desirable in
order to give full effect to the provisions of this Section 4.4.
ARTICLE V
TRUSTEES
SECTION 5.1 Number of Trustees.
(a) The number of Trustees initially shall be five. At any time before the
issuance of any Securities, the Sponsor may, by written instrument, increase or
decrease the number of Trustees. After the issuance of any Securities, the
number of Trustees may be increased or decreased by vote of the Holders of a
majority in liquidation amount of the Common Securities voting as a class at a
meeting of the Holders of the Common Securities; provided, however, that, the
number of Trustees shall in no event be less than two; and provided further that
(i) one Trustee, in the case of a natural person, shall be a person who is a
resident of the State of Delaware or that, if not a natural person, is an entity
which has its principal place of business in the State of Delaware (the
"Delaware Trustee"); (ii) there shall be at least one Trustee who is an employee
or officer of, or is affiliated with the Sponsor (a "Regular Trustee"); and
(iii) one Trustee shall be the Institutional Trustee for so long as this
Declaration is required to qualify as an indenture under the Trust Indenture
Act, and such Trustee may also serve as Delaware Trustee if it meets the
applicable requirements.
(b) Any action taken by Holders of Common Securities pursuant to this
Article V shall be taken at a meeting of Holders of Common Securities convened
for such purpose or by written consent of such Holders.
(c) Except as otherwise provided herein, no amendment may be made to this
Section 5.1 which would change any rights with respect to the number, existence
or appointment and removal of Trustees, except with the consent of each Holder
of Common Securities.
SECTION 5.2 Delaware Trustee.
If required by the Business Trust Act, one Trustee (the "Delaware Trustee")
shall be:
(a) a natural person who is a resident of the State of Delaware; or
(b) if not a natural person, an entity which has its principal place of
business in the State of Delaware, and otherwise meets the requirements of
applicable law, provided that, if the Institutional Trustee has its principal
place of business in the State of Delaware and otherwise meets the requirements
of applicable law, then the Institutional Trustee shall also be the Delaware
Trustee and Section 3.11 shall have no application.
The initial Delaware Trustee shall be First Chicago Delaware Inc., an
affiliate of the Institutional Trustee, until removed or replaced in accordance
with Section 5.6.
SECTION 5.3 Institutional Trustee; Eligibility.
(a) There shall at all times be one Trustee which shall act as
Institutional Trustee which shall:
(i) not be an Affiliate of the Sponsor; and
(ii) be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of
the United States of America or any State or Territory thereof or of the
District of Columbia, or a corporation or Person permitted by the
Commission to act as an institutional trustee under the Trust Indenture
Act, authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers, having
a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 (US), and subject to
supervision or examination by Federal, State, Territorial or District of
Columbia authority. If such corporation publishes reports of condition at
least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of the supervising
or examining authority referred to above, then for the purposes of this
Section 5.3(a)(ii), the combined capital and surplus of such corporation
shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its
most recent report of condition so published.
(b) If at any time the Institutional Trustee shall cease to be eligible to
so act under Section 5.3(a), the Institutional Trustee shall immediately resign
in the manner and with the effect set forth in Section 5.6(c).
(c) If the Institutional Trustee has or shall acquire any "conflicting
interest" within the meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act or
becomes a creditor of the Sponsor during the time periods specified in Section
311 of the Trust Indenture Act, the Institutional Trustee and the Holder of the
Common Securities (as if it were the obligor referred to in Section 310(b) of
the Trust Indenture Act) shall in all respects comply with the provisions of
Section 310(b) and 311 of the Trust Indenture Act, as applicable.
(d) The (i) Amended and Restated Declaration of Fleet Capital Trust I dated
February 4, 1997, (ii) the Preferred Securities Guarantee Agreement dated
February 4, 1997 relating to Fleet Capital Trust I, (iii) the Amended and
Restated Declaration of Fleet Capital Trust II dated December 11, 1996, (iv) the
Capital Securities Guarantee Agreement dated December 11, 1996 relating to Fleet
Capital Trust II, (v) the Amended and Restated Declaration of Fleet Capital
Trust III dated January 29, 1998, (vi) the Preferred Securities Guarantee
Agreement dated January 29, 1998 relating to Fleet Capital Trust III, (vii) the
Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of Fleet Capital Trust IV dated as of
April 28, 1998, (viii) the Preferred Securities Guarantee Agreement dated as of
April 28, 1998 relating to Fleet Capital Trust IV, and (ix) the Capital
Securities Guarantee shall be deemed to be specifically described in this
Declaration for the purposes of clause (i) of the first proviso contained in
Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
(e) The initial Institutional Trustee shall be The First National Bank of
Chicago until removed or replaced in accordance with Section 5.6.
SECTION 5.4 Certain Qualifications of the Regular Trustees and the Delaware
Trustee Generally.
Each Regular Trustee and the Delaware Trustee (unless the Institutional
Trustee also acts as Delaware Trustee) shall be either a natural person who is
at least 21 years of age or a legal entity that shall act through one or more
Authorized Officers.
SECTION 5.5 Regular Trustees.
The initial Regular Trustees shall be Eugene M. McQuade, Douglas L. Jacobs
and John R. Rodehorst.
(a) Except as expressly set forth in this Declaration and except if a
meeting of the Regular Trustees is called with respect to any matter over which
the Regular Trustees have power to act, any power of the Regular Trustees may be
exercised by, or with the consent of, any one such Regular Trustee.
(b) Unless otherwise determined by the Regular Trustees, and except as
otherwise required by the Business Trust Act or applicable law, any one of the
Regular Trustees is authorized to execute on behalf of the Trust any documents
which the Regular Trustees have the power and authority to execute pursuant to
Section 3.6; and
(c) a Regular Trustee may, by power of attorney consistent with applicable
law, delegate to any other natural person over the age of 21 his or her power
for the purposes of signing any documents which the Regular Trustees have power
and authority to cause the Trust to execute pursuant to Section 3.6.
SECTION 5.6 Appointment, Removal and Resignation of Trustees.
(a) Subject to Section 5.6(b), Trustees may be appointed or removed without
cause at any time:
(i) until the issuance of any Securities, by written instrument
executed by the Sponsor; and
(ii) after the issuance of any Securities, by vote of the Holders of a
Majority in liquidation amount of the Common Securities voting as a class
at a meeting of the Holders of the Common Securities.
(b) (i) The Trustee that acts as Institutional Trustee shall not be removed
in accordance with Section 5.6(a) until a successor institutional Trustee
possessing the qualifications to act as Institutional Trustee under Section
5.3(a) (a "Successor Institutional Trustee") has been appointed and has accepted
such appointment by written instrument executed by such Successor Institutional
Trustee and delivered to the Regular Trustees, the Sponsor and the Institutional
Trustee being removed; and
(ii) the Trustee that acts as Delaware Trustee shall not be removed in
accordance with this Section 5.6(a) until a successor Trustee possessing
the qualifications to act as Delaware Trustee under Sections 5.2 and 5.4 (a
"Successor Delaware Trustee") has been appointed and has accepted such
appointment by written instrument executed by such Successor Delaware
Trustee and delivered to the Regular Trustees, the Sponsor and the Delaware
Trustee being removed.
(c) A Trustee appointed to office shall hold office until his successor
shall have been appointed or until his death, removal or resignation. Any
Trustee may resign from office (without need for prior or subsequent accounting)
by an instrument (a "Resignation Request") in writing signed by the Trustee and
delivered to the Sponsor and the Trust, which resignation shall take effect upon
such delivery or upon such later date as is specified therein; provided,
however, that:
(i) no such resignation of the Trustee that acts as the Institutional
Trustee shall be effective:
(A) until a Successor Institutional Trustee has been appointed
and has accepted such appointment by instrument executed by
such Successor Institutional Trustee and delivered to the
Trust, the Sponsor and the resigning Institutional Trustee;
or
(B) until the assets of the Trust have been completely
liquidated and the proceeds thereof distributed to the
holders of the Securities; and
(ii) no such resignation of the Trustee that acts as the Delaware
Trustee shall be effective until a Successor Delaware Trustee has been
appointed and has accepted such appointment by instrument executed by such
Successor Delaware Trustee and delivered to the Trust, the Sponsor and the
resigning Delaware Trustee.
(d) The Holders of the Common Securities shall use their best efforts to
promptly appoint a Successor Institutional Trustee or Successor Delaware Trustee
as the case may be if the Institutional Trustee or the Delaware Trustee delivers
a Resignation Request in accordance with this Section 5.6.
(e) If no Successor Institutional Trustee or Successor Delaware Trustee
shall have been appointed and accepted appointment as provided in this Section
5.6 within 60 days after delivery to the Sponsor and the Trust of a Resignation
Request, the resigning Institutional Trustee or Delaware Trustee, as applicable,
may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for appointment of a Successor
Institutional Trustee or Successor Delaware Trustee. Such court may thereupon,
after prescribing such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe,
appoint a Successor Institutional Trustee or Successor Delaware Trustee, as the
case may be.
(f) No Institutional Trustee or Delaware Trustee shall be liable for the
acts or omissions to act of any Successor Institutional Trustee or Successor
Delaware Trustee, as the case may be.
SECTION 5.7 Vacancies among Trustees.
If a Trustee ceases to hold office for any reason and the number of
Trustees is not reduced pursuant to Section 5.1, or if the number of Trustees is
increased pursuant to Section 5.1, a vacancy shall occur. A resolution
certifying the existence of such vacancy by the Regular Trustees or, if there
are more than two, a majority of the Regular Trustees, shall be conclusive
evidence of the existence of such vacancy. The vacancy shall be filled with a
Trustee appointed in accordance with Section 5.6.
SECTION 5.8 Effect of Vacancies.
The death, resignation, retirement, removal, bankruptcy, dissolution,
liquidation, incompetence or incapacity to perform the duties of a Trustee shall
not operate to annul the Trust. Whenever a vacancy in the number of Regular
Trustees shall occur, until such vacancy is filled by the appointment of a
Regular Trustee in accordance with Section 5.6, the Regular Trustees in office,
regardless of their number, shall have all the powers granted to the Regular
Trustees and shall discharge all the duties imposed upon the Regular Trustees by
this Declaration.
SECTION 5.9 Meetings.
If there is more than one Regular Trustee, meetings of the Regular Trustees
shall be held from time to time upon the call of any Regular Trustee. Regular
meetings of the Regular Trustees may be held at a time and place fixed by
resolution of the Regular Trustees. Notice of any in-person meetings of the
Regular Trustees shall be hand delivered or otherwise delivered in writing
(including by facsimile, with a hard copy by overnight courier) not less than 48
hours before such meeting. Notice of any telephonic meetings of the Regular
Trustees or any committee thereof shall be hand delivered or otherwise delivered
in writing (including by facsimile, with a hard copy by overnight courier) not
less than 24 hours before a meeting. Notices shall contain a brief statement of
the time, place and anticipated purposes of the meeting. The presence (whether
in person or by telephone) of a Regular Trustee at a meeting shall constitute a
waiver of notice of such meeting except where a Regular Trustee attends a
meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any activity
on the ground that the meeting has not been lawfully called or convened. Unless
provided otherwise in this Declaration, any action of the Regular Trustees may
be taken at a meeting by vote of a majority of the Regular Trustees present
(whether in person or by telephone) and eligible to vote with respect to such
matter, provided that a Quorum is present, or without a meeting by the unanimous
written consent of the Regular Trustees. In the event there is only one Regular
Trustee, any and all action of such Regular Trustee shall be evidenced by a
written consent of such Regular Trustee.
SECTION 5.10 Delegation of Power.
The Regular Trustees shall have power to delegate from time to time to such
of their number or to officers of the Trust the doing of such things and the
execution of such instruments either in the name of the Trust or the names of
the Regular Trustees or otherwise as the Regular Trustees may deem expedient, to
the extent such delegation is not prohibited by applicable law or contrary to
the provisions of the Trust, as set forth herein.
Section 5.11 Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business.
Any corporation into which the Institutional Trustee or the Delaware
Trustee, as the case may be, may be merged or converted or with which either may
be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or
consolidation to which the Institutional Trustee or the Delaware Trustee, as the
case may be, shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or
substantially all the corporate trust business of the Institutional Trustee or
the Delaware Trustee, as the case may be, shall be the successor of the
Institutional Trustee or the Delaware Trustee, as the case may be, 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.
ARTICLE VI
DISTRIBUTIONS
SECTION 6.1 Distributions.
Holders shall receive Distributions (as defined herein) in accordance with
the applicable terms of the relevant Holder's Securities as set forth in Annex
I. If and to the extent that the Debenture Issuer makes a payment of interest
(including Compound Interest and Additional Interest), premium and/or principal
on the Debentures held by the Institutional Trustee (the amount of any such
payment being a "Payment Amount"), the Institutional Trustee shall and is
directed, to the extent funds are available for that purpose, to make a
distribution (a "Distribution") of the Payment Amount to Holders.
ARTICLE VII
ISSUANCE OF SECURITIES
SECTION 7.1 General Provisions Regarding Securities.
(a) The Regular Trustees shall on behalf of the Trust issue one class of
capital securities (the "Capital Securities"), representing undivided beneficial
interests in the assets of the Trust having such terms as are set forth in Annex
I (which terms are incorporated by reference in, and made a part of, this
Declaration as if specifically set forth herein) and one class of common
securities (the "Common Securities"), representing undivided beneficial
interests in the assets of the Trust having such terms as are set forth in Annex
I (which terms are incorporated by reference in, and made a part of, this
Declaration as if specifically set forth herein). The Trust shall issue no
securities or other interests in the assets of the Trust other than the Capital
Securities and the Common Securities. Each Security shall be dated the date of
its authentication.
(b) The Certificates shall be signed on behalf of the Trust by a Regular
Trustee. Such signature shall be the manual or facsimile signature of any
present or any future Regular Trustee. Typographical and other minor errors or
defects in any such reproduction of any such signature shall not affect the
validity of any Security. In case any Regular Trustee of the Trust who shall
have signed any of the Securities shall cease to be such Regular Trustee before
the Certificates so signed shall be delivered by the Trust, such Certificates
nevertheless may be delivered as though the person who signed such Certificates
had not ceased to be such Regular Trustee; and any Certificate may be signed on
behalf of the Trust by such persons who, at the actual date of execution of such
Security, shall be the Regular Trustees of the Trust, although at the date of
the execution and delivery of the Declaration any such person was not such a
Regular Trustee. Certificates shall be printed, lithographed or engraved or may
be produced in any other manner as is reasonably acceptable to the Regular
Trustees, as evidenced by their execution thereof, and may have such letters,
numbers or other marks of identification or designation and such legends or
endorsements as the Regular Trustees may deem appropriate, or as may be required
to comply with any law or with any rule or regulation of any stock exchange on
which Securities may be listed, or to conform to usage. Pending the preparation
of definitive Certificates, the Regular Trustees on behalf of the Trust may
execute and the Institutional Trustee shall authenticate, temporary Certificates
(printed, lithographed or typewritten), substantially in the form of the
definitive Certificates in lieu of which they are issued, but with such
omissions, insertions and variations as may be appropriate for temporary
Certificates all as may be determined by the Regular Trustees on behalf of the
Trust upon the same conditions and in substantially the same manner, and with
like effect, as definitive Certificates. Without unnecessary delay, the Regular
Trustees on behalf of the Trust will execute and furnish and the Institutional
Trustee shall authenticate, definitive Certificates and thereupon any or all
temporary Certificates may be surrendered to the transfer agent and registrar in
exchange therefor (without charge to the Holders).
(c) A Security shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual
signature of an authorized signatory of the Institutional Trustee. The signature
shall be conclusive evidence that the Security has been authenticated under this
Declaration.
The Institutional Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent acceptable to
the Trust to authenticate Securities. An authenticating agent may authenticate
Securities whenever the Institutional Trustee may do so. Each reference in this
Declaration to authentication by the Institutional Trustee includes
authentication by such agent. An authenticating agent has the same rights as the
Institutional Trustee to deal with the Sponsor or an Affiliate, and may itself
be an Affiliate of the Trust or a Related Party of the Sponsor. The
Institutional Trustee hereby appoints First Chicago Trust Company of New York to
initially act as authenticating agent for the Securities.
(d) The consideration received by the Trust for the issuance of the
Securities shall constitute a contribution to the capital of the Trust and shall
not constitute a loan to the Trust.
(e) Upon issuance of the Securities as provided in this Declaration, the
Securities so issued shall be deemed to be validly issued, fully paid and
non-assessable.
(f) Every Person, by virtue of having become a Holder or a Capital Security
Beneficial Owner in accordance with the terms of this Declaration, shall be
deemed to have expressly assented and agreed to the terms of, and shall be bound
by, this Declaration.
SECTION 7.2 Paying Agent.
In the event that the Capital Securities are not in book-entry only form,
the Trust shall maintain in the Borough of Manhattan, City of New York, State of
New York, an office or agency where the Capital Securities may be presented for
payment ("Paying Agent"). The Trust may appoint the Paying Agent and may appoint
one or more additional paying agents in such other locations as it shall
determine. The term "Paying Agent" includes any additional paying agent. The
Trust may change any Paying Agent without prior notice to any Holder. The Trust
shall notify the Institutional Trustee of the name and address of any Agent not
a party to this Declaration. If the Trust fails to appoint or maintain another
entity as Paying Agent, the Institutional Trustee shall act as such. The Trust
or any of its Affiliates may act as Paying Agent. First Chicago Trust Company of
New York shall initially act as Paying Agent for the Capital Securities and the
Common Securities.
ARTICLE VIII
TERMINATION OF TRUST
SECTION 8.1 Termination of Trust.
(a) The Declaration and the Trust shall terminate and be of no further
force or effect:
(i) on December 18, 2052, the expiration of the term of the Trust;
(ii) upon the bankruptcy of the Sponsor or the Trust;
(iii) upon the filing of a certificate of dissolution or its
equivalent with respect to the Sponsor, the filing of a certificate of
cancellation with respect to the Trust after having obtained the consent of
the Holders of at least a Majority in liquidation amount of the Securities
voting together as a single class to file such certificate of cancellation,
or the revocation of the Sponsor's charter and the expiration of 90 days
after the date of revocation without a reinstatement thereof;
(iv) upon the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of the Holder
of the Common Securities, the Sponsor or the Trust;
(v) when all of the Securities shall have been called for redemption
and the amounts necessary for redemption thereof, including any Additional
Interest or Compound Interest, shall have been paid to the Holders in
accordance with the terms of the Securities;
(vi) upon the distribution of all of the Debentures to the Holders in
exchange for all of the Securities in accordance with the terms of the
Securities; or
(vii) before the issuance of any Securities, with the consent of all
of the Regular Trustees and the Sponsor.
(b) As soon as is practicable after the occurrence of an event referred to
in Section 8.1(a), the Trustees shall file a certificate of cancellation with
the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.
(c) The provisions of Section 3.9 and Article X shall survive the
termination of the Trust.
ARTICLE IX
TRANSFER OF INTERESTS
SECTION 9.1 Transfer of Securities.
(a) Securities may only be transferred, in whole or in part, in accordance
with the terms and conditions set forth in this Declaration and in the terms of
the Securities. Any transfer or purported transfer of any Security not made in
accordance with this Declaration shall be null and void.
(b) Subject to this Article IX, Capital Securities shall be freely
transferable.
(c) The Sponsor may not transfer the Common Securities.
SECTION 9.2 Transfer of Certificates.
(a) General. The Regular Trustees shall provide for the registration of
Certificates and of transfers of Certificates, which will be effected without
charge but only upon payment (with such indemnity as the Regular Trustees may
require) in respect of any tax or other government charges that may be imposed
in relation to it. Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any
Certificate, the Regular Trustees shall cause one or more new Certificates to be
issued and authenticated by the Institutional Trustee in the name of the
designated transferee or transferees. Every Certificate surrendered for
registration of transfer shall be accompanied by a written instrument of
transfer in form satisfactory to the Regular Trustees duly executed by the
Holder or such Holder's attorney duly authorized in writing. Each Certificate
surrendered for registration of transfer shall be canceled by the Regular
Trustees. A transferee of a Certificate shall be entitled to the rights and
subject to the obligations of a Holder hereunder upon the receipt by such
transferee of a Certificate. By acceptance of a Certificate, each transferee
shall be deemed to have agreed to be bound by this Declaration.
(b) Transfer of a Definitive Capital Security Certificate for a Beneficial
Interest in a Global Certificate. Upon receipt by the Institutional Trustee of a
Definitive Capital Security Certificate, duly endorsed or accompanied by
appropriate instruments of transfer, in form satisfactory to the Institutional
Trustee, requesting transfer of such Definitive Capital Security Certificate for
a beneficial interest in a Global Certificate, the Institutional Trustee shall
cancel such Definitive Capital Security Certificate and cause, or direct the
Depository Institution to cause, the aggregate number of Capital Securities
represented by the appropriate Global Certificate to be increased accordingly.
If no Global Certificates are then outstanding, the Trust shall issue and the
Institutional Trustee shall authenticate, upon written order of any Regular
Trustee, an appropriate number of Capital Securities in global form.
(c) Transfer of a Beneficial Interest in a Global Certificate for a
Definitive Capital Security Certificate. Upon receipt by the Institutional
Trustee from the Depository Institution or its nominee on behalf of any Person
having a beneficial interest in a Global Certificate of written instructions or
such other form of instructions as is customary for the Depository Institution
or the person designated by the Depository Institution, requesting transfer of a
beneficial interest in a Global Certificate for a Definitive Capital Security
Certificate, then the Institutional Trustee or the securities custodian, at the
direction of the Institutional Trustee, will cause, in accordance with the
standing instructions and procedures existing between the Depository Institution
and the securities custodian, the aggregate principal amount of the Global
Certificate to be reduced on its books and records and, following such
reduction, the Trust will execute and the Institutional Trustee will
authenticate and deliver to the transferee a Definitive Capital Security
Certificate.
Definitive Capital Security Certificates issued in exchange for a
beneficial interest in a Global Certificate shall be registered in such names
and in such authorized denominations as the Depository Institution, pursuant to
instructions from its Depository Institution Participants or indirect
participants or otherwise, shall instruct the Institutional Trustee. The
Institutional Trustee shall deliver such Capital Securities to the persons in
whose names such Capital Securities are so registered in accordance with the
instructions of the Depository Institution.
(d) Transfer and Exchange of Global Certificates. Notwithstanding any other
provisions of this Declaration, a Global Certificate may not be transferred as a
whole except by the Depository Institution to a nominee of the Depository
Institution or another nominee of the Depository Institution or by the
Depository Institution or any such nominee to a successor Depository Institution
or a nominee of such successor Depository Institution.
(e) The Institutional Trustee may appoint a transfer agent and registrar
("Transfer Agent") acceptable to the Trust to perform the functions set forth in
this Section 9.2. The Transfer Agent may perform such functions whenever the
Institutional Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Declaration to
registration and transfer of Capital Securities by the Institutional Trustee
includes such activities by the Transfer Agent. The Transfer Agent has the same
rights as the Institutional Trustee to deal with the Sponsor or an Affiliate,
and itself may be the Trust, an Affiliate of the Trust or a Related Party of the
Sponsor. The Institutional Trustee hereby appoints First Chicago Trust Company
of New York to initially act as Transfer Agent for the Capital Securities.
SECTION 9.3 Deemed Security Holders.
The Trustees may treat the Person in whose name any Certificate shall be
registered on the books and records of the Trust as the sole holder of such
Certificate and of the Securities represented by such Certificate for purposes
of receiving Distributions and for all other purposes whatsoever and,
accordingly, shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or
interest in such Certificate or in the Securities represented by such
Certificate on the part of any Person, whether or not the Trust shall have
actual or other notice thereof.
SECTION 9.4 Book-Entry Interests.
Unless otherwise specified in the terms of the Capital Securities set forth
in Annex I, the Capital Securities Certificates, on original issuance, will be
executed and issued by the Trust and authenticated by the Institutional Trustee
in the form of one or more, fully-registered, global Capital Security
Certificates (each a "Global Certificate"), to be delivered to DTC, the initial
Depository Institution, by, or on behalf of, the Trust. Such Global Certificates
shall initially be registered on the books and records of the Trust in the name
of DTC or its nominee, and no Capital Security Beneficial Owner will receive a
definitive Capital Security Certificate representing such Capital Security
Beneficial Owner's interests in such Global Certificates, except as provided in
Section 9.7. Unless and until definitive, fully registered Capital Security
Certificates (the "Definitive Capital Security Certificates") have been issued
to the Capital Security Beneficial Owners pursuant to Section 9.7:
(a) the provisions of this Section 9.4 shall be in full force and effect;
(b) the Trust and the Trustees shall be entitled to deal with the
Depository Institution, with respect to such Capital Security Beneficial Owners,
for all purposes of this Declaration (including the payment of Distributions on
the Global Certificates and receiving approvals, votes or consents hereunder) as
the Holder of such Capital Securities and the sole holder of the Global
Certificates and shall have no obligation to such Capital Security Beneficial
Owners;
(c) to the extent that the provisions of this Section 9.4 conflict with any
other provisions of this Declaration, the provisions of this Section 9.4 shall
control; and
(d) the rights of such Capital Security Beneficial Owners shall be
exercised only through the Depository Institution and shall be limited to those
established by law and agreements between such Capital Security Beneficial
Owners and the Depository Institution and/or the Depository Institution
Participants. The Depository Institution will make book-entry transfers among
the Depository Institution Participants and receive and transmit payments of
Distributions on the Global Certificates to such Depository Institution
Participants.
Depository Institution Participants shall have no rights under this
Declaration with respect to any Global Certificate held on their behalf by the
Depository Institution or by the Institutional Trustee as the custodian of the
Depository Institution or under such Global Certificate, and the Depository
Institution may be treated by the Trust, the Institutional Trustee and any agent
of the Trust or the Institutional Trustee as the absolute owner of such Global
Certificate for all purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing
herein shall prevent the Trust, the Institutional Trustee or any agent of the
Trust or the Institutional Trustee from giving effect to any written
certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the Depository
Institution or impair, as between the Depository Institution and its Depository
Institution Participants, the operation of customary practices of such
Depository Institution governing the exercise of the rights of a holder of a
beneficial interest in any Global Certificate.
At such time as all beneficial interests in a Global Certificate have
either been exchanged for Definitive Capital Security Certificates to the extent
permitted by this Declaration or redeemed, repurchased or canceled in accordance
with the terms of this Declaration, such Global Certificate shall be returned to
the Depository Institution for cancellation or retained and canceled by the
Institutional Trustee. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial
interest in a Global Certificate is exchanged for Definitive Capital Security
Certificates, or if Definitive Capital Security Certificates are exchanged for a
beneficial interest in a Global Certificate, Capital Securities represented by
such Global Certificate shall be reduced or increased and an adjustment shall be
made on the books and records of the Institutional Trustee (if it is then the
securities custodian for such Global Certificate) with respect to such Global
Certificate, by the Institutional Trustee or the securities custodian, to
reflect such reduction or increase.
SECTION 9.5 Notices to Depository Institution.
Whenever a notice or other communication to the Capital Security Holders is
required under this Declaration, unless and until Definitive Capital Security
Certificates shall have been issued to the Capital Security Beneficial Owners
pursuant to Section 9.7, the Regular Trustees shall give all such notices and
communications specified herein to be given to the Capital Security Holders to
the Depository Institution, and shall have no notice obligations to the Capital
Security Beneficial Owners.
SECTION 9.6 Appointment of Successor Depository Institution.
If any Depository Institution elects to discontinue its services as
securities depositary with respect to the Capital Securities, the Regular
Trustees may, in their sole discretion, appoint a successor Depository
Institution with respect to such Capital Securities.
SECTION 9.7 Definitive Capital Security Certificates.
If:
(a) a Depository Institution elects to discontinue its services as
securities depositary with respect to the Capital Securities and a successor
Depository Institution is not appointed within 90 days after such discontinuance
pursuant to Section 9.6; or
(b) the Regular Trustees elect after consultation with the Sponsor to
terminate the book-entry system through the Depository Institution with respect
to the Capital Securities; or
(c) there shall have occurred a Declaration Event of Default
then:
(d) Definitive Capital Security Certificates shall be prepared by the
Regular Trustees on behalf of the Trust with respect to such Capital Securities;
and
(e) upon surrender of the Global Certificates by the Depository
Institution, accompanied by registration instructions, the Regular Trustees
shall cause Definitive Capital Security Certificates to be delivered to Capital
Security Beneficial Owners in accordance with the instructions of the Depository
Institution. Neither the Trustees nor the Trust shall be liable for any delay in
delivery of such instructions and each of them may conclusively rely on and
shall be protected in relying on, said instructions of the Depository
Institution. The Definitive Capital Security Certificates shall be printed,
lithographed or engraved or may be produced in any other manner as is reasonably
acceptable to the Regular Trustees, as evidenced by their execution thereof, and
may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification or designation
and such legends or endorsements as the Regular Trustees may deem appropriate,
or as may be required to comply with any law or with any rule or regulation made
pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation of any stock exchange on which
Capital Securities may be listed, or to conform to usage.
SECTION 9.8 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Certificates.
If:
(a) any mutilated Certificates should be surrendered to the Regular
Trustees, or if the Regular Trustees shall receive evidence to their
satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Certificate; and
(b) there shall be delivered to the Regular Trustees, the Institutional
Trustee or any authenticating agent such security or indemnity as may be
required by them to keep each of them harmless.
then, in the absence of notice that such Certificate shall have been acquired by
a bona fide purchaser, any Regular Trustee on behalf of the Trust shall execute
and deliver and the Institutional Trustee shall authenticate, in exchange for or
in lieu of any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Certificate, a new
Certificate of like denomination. In connection with the issuance of any new
Certificate under this Section 9.8, the Regular Trustees may require the payment
of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be
imposed in connection therewith. Any duplicate Certificate issued pursuant to
this Section shall constitute conclusive evidence of an ownership interest in
the relevant Securities, as if originally issued, whether or not the lost,
stolen or destroyed Certificate shall be found at any time.
ARTICLE X
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY OF
HOLDERS OF SECURITIES, TRUSTEES OR OTHERS
SECTION 10.1 Liability.
(a) Except as expressly set forth in this Declaration, the Securities
Guarantees and the terms of the Securities, the Sponsor shall not be:
(i) personally liable for the return of any portion of the capital
contributions (or any return thereon) of the Holders which shall be made
solely from assets of the Trust; and
(ii) be required to pay to the Trust or to any Holder any deficit upon
dissolution of the Trust or otherwise.
(b) The Debenture Issuer shall be liable for all of the debts and
obligations of the Trust (other than with respect to the Securities) to the
extent not satisfied out of the Trust's assets.
(c) Pursuant to Section 3803(a) of the Business Trust Act, the Holders
shall be entitled to the same limitation of personal liability extended to
stockholders of private corporations for profit organized under the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
SECTION 10.2 Exculpation.
(a) No Indemnified Person shall be liable, responsible or accountable in
damages or otherwise to the Trust or any Covered Person for any loss, damage or
claim incurred by reason of any act or omission performed or omitted by such
Indemnified Person in good faith on behalf of the Trust and in a manner such
Indemnified Person reasonably believed to be within the scope of the authority
conferred on such Indemnified Person by this Declaration or by law, except that
an Indemnified Person shall be liable for any such loss, damage or claim
incurred by reason of such Indemnified Person's gross negligence or willful
misconduct with respect to such acts or omissions.
(b) An Indemnified Person shall be fully protected in relying in good faith
upon the records of the Trust and upon such information, opinions, reports or
statements presented to the Trust by any Person as to matters the Indemnified
Person reasonably believes are within such other Person's professional or expert
competence and who has been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the
Trust, including information, opinions, reports or statements as to the value
and amount of the assets, liabilities, profits, losses, or any other facts
pertinent to the existence and amount of assets from which Distributions to
Holders might properly be paid.
SECTION 10.3 Fiduciary Duty.
(a) To the extent that, at law or in equity, an Indemnified Person has
duties (including fiduciary duties) and liabilities relating thereto to the
Trust or to any other Covered Person, an Indemnified Person acting under this
Declaration shall not be liable to the Trust or to any other Covered Person for
its good faith reliance on the provisions of this Declaration. The provisions of
this Declaration, to the extent that they restrict the duties and liabilities of
an Indemnified Person otherwise existing at law or in equity (other than the
duties imposed on the Institutional Trustee under the Trust Indenture Act), are
agreed by the parties hereto to replace such other duties and liabilities of
such Indemnified Person.
(b) Unless otherwise expressly provided herein:
(i) whenever a conflict of interest exists or arises between an
Indemnified Person and any Covered Persons; or
(ii) whenever this Declaration or any other agreement contemplated
herein or therein provides that an Indemnified Person shall act in a manner
that is, or provides terms that are, fair and reasonable to the Trust or
any Holder,
the Indemnified Person shall resolve such conflict of interest, take such action
or provide such terms, considering in each case the relative interest of each
party (including its own interest) to such conflict, agreement, transaction or
situation and the benefits and burdens relating to such interests, any customary
or accepted industry practices, and any applicable generally accepted accounting
practices or principles. In the absence of bad faith by the Indemnified Person,
the resolution, action or term so made, taken or provided by the Indemnified
Person shall not constitute a breach of this Declaration or any other agreement
contemplated herein or of any duty or obligation of the Indemnified Person at
law or in equity or otherwise.
(c) Whenever in this Declaration an Indemnified Person is permitted or
required to make a decision:
(i) in its "discretion" or under a grant of similar authority, the
Indemnified Person shall be entitled to consider such interests and factors
as it desires, including its own interests, and shall have no duty or
obligation to give any consideration to any interest of or factors
affecting the Trust or any other Person; or
(ii) in its "good faith" or under another express standard, the
Indemnified Person shall act under such express standard and shall not be
subject to any other or different standard imposed by this Declaration or
by applicable law.
SECTION 10.4 Indemnification.
(a) (i) The Debenture Issuer shall indemnify, to the full extent permitted
by law, any Company Indemnified Person who was or is a party or is threatened to
be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or
proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than
an action by or in the right of the Trust) by reason of the fact that he is or
was a Company Indemnified Person against expenses (including attorneys' fees),
judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred
by him in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if he acted in good
faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best
interests of the Trust, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding,
had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. The termination of
any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or
upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a
presumption that the Company Indemnified Person did not act in good faith and in
a manner which he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best
interests of the Trust, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding,
had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.
(ii) The Debenture Issuer shall indemnify, to the full extent
permitted by law, any Company Indemnified Person who was or is a party or
is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed
action or suit by or in the right of the Trust to procure a judgment in its
favor by reason of the fact that he is or was a Company Indemnified Person
against expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably
incurred by him in connection with the defense or settlement of such action
or suit if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to
be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Trust and except that no
such indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter
as to which such Company Indemnified Person shall have been adjudged to be
liable to the Trust unless and only to the extent that the Court of
Chancery of Delaware or the court in which such action or suit was brought
shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of
liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is
fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which such
Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.
(iii) To the extent that a Company Indemnified Person shall be
successful on the merits or otherwise (including dismissal of an action
without prejudice or the settlement of an action without admission of
liability) in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in
paragraphs (i) and (ii) of this Section 10.4(a), or in defense of any
claim, issue or matter therein, he shall be indemnified, to the full extent
permitted by law, against expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and
reasonably incurred by him in connection therewith.
(iv) Any indemnification under paragraphs (i) and (ii) of this Section
10.4(a) (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the Debenture Issuer
only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that
indemnification of the Company Indemnified Person is proper in the
circumstances because he has met the applicable standard of conduct set
forth in paragraphs (i) and (ii). Such determination shall be made (1) by
the Regular Trustees by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of such
Regular Trustees who were not parties to such action, suit or proceeding,
(2) if such a quorum is not obtainable, or, even if obtainable, if a quorum
of disinterested Regular Trustees so directs, by independent legal counsel
in a written opinion, or (3) by the Common Security Holder of the Trust.
(v) Expenses (including attorneys' fees) incurred by a Company
Indemnified Person in defending a civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative action, suit or proceeding referred to in paragraphs (i) and
(ii) of this Section 10.4(a) shall be paid by the Debenture Issuer in
advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon
receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such Company Indemnified
Person to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that he is
not entitled to be indemnified by the Debenture Issuer as authorized in
this Section 10.4(a). Notwithstanding the foregoing, no advance shall be
made by the Debenture Issuer if a determination is reasonably and promptly
made (i) by the Regular Trustees by a majority vote of a quorum of
disinterested Regular Trustees, (ii) if such a quorum is not obtainable,
or, even if obtainable, if a quorum of disinterested Regular Trustees so
directs, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion or (iii) by the
Debenture Issuer, that, based upon the facts known to the Regular Trustees,
counsel or the Debenture Issuer, as the case may be, at the time such
determination is made, such Company Indemnified Person acted in bad faith
or in a manner that such person did not believe to be in or not opposed to
the best interests of the Trust, or, with respect to any criminal
proceeding, that such Company Indemnified Person believed or had reasonable
cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. In no event shall any advance be
made in instances where the Regular Trustees, independent legal counsel or
Debenture Issuer reasonably determine that such person deliberately
breached his duty to the Trust or its Holders.
(vi) The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or
granted pursuant to, the other paragraphs of this Section 10.4(a) shall not
be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking
indemnification and advancement of expenses may be entitled under any
agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors of the Debenture
Issuer or Capital Security Holders or otherwise, both as to action in his
official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such
office. All rights to indemnification under this Section 10.4(a) shall be
deemed to be provided by a contract between the Debenture Issuer and each
Company Indemnified Person who serves in such capacity at any time while
this Section 10.4(a) is in effect. Any repeal or modification of this
Section 10.4(a) shall not affect any rights or obligations then existing.
(vii) The Debenture Issuer or the Trust may purchase and maintain
insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a Company Indemnified
Person against any liability asserted against him and incurred by him in
any such capacity, or arising out of his status as such, whether or not the
Debenture Issuer would have the power to indemnify him against such
liability under the provisions of this Section 10.4(a).
(viii) For purposes of this Section 10.4(a), references to "the Trust"
shall include, in addition to the resulting or surviving entity, any
constituent entity (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in
a consolidation or merger, so that any person who is or was a director,
trustee, officer or employee of such constituent entity, or is or was
serving at the request of such constituent entity as a director, trustee,
officer, employee or agent of another entity, shall stand in the same
position under the provisions of this Section 10.4(a) with respect to the
resulting or surviving entity as he would have with respect to such
constituent entity if its separate existence had continued.
(ix) The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or
granted pursuant to, this Section 10.4(a) shall, unless otherwise provided
when authorized or ratified, continue as to a person who has ceased to be a
Company Indemnified Person and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs,
executors and administrators of such a person.
(b) The Debenture Issuer agrees to indemnify the (i) Institutional Trustee,
(ii) the Delaware Trustee, (iii) any Affiliate of the Institutional Trustee and
the Delaware Trustee, and (iv) any officers, directors, shareholders, members,
partners, employees, representatives, custodians, nominees or agents of the
Institutional Trustee and the Delaware Trustee (each of the Persons in (i)
through (iv) being referred to as a "Fiduciary Indemnified Person") for, and to
hold each Fiduciary Indemnified Person harmless against, any loss, liability or
expense incurred without negligence or bad faith on its part, arising out of or
in connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts
hereunder, including the costs and expenses (including reasonable legal fees and
expenses) of defending itself against or investigating any claim or liability in
connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties
hereunder. The obligation to indemnify as set forth in this Section 10.4(b)
shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Declaration.
SECTION 10.5 Outside Businesses.
Any Covered Person, the Sponsor, the Delaware Trustee and the Institutional
Trustee may engage in or possess an interest in other business ventures of any
nature or description, independently or with others, similar or dissimilar to
the business of the Trust, and the Trust and the Holders shall have no rights by
virtue of this Declaration in and to such independent ventures or the income or
profits derived therefrom, and the pursuit of any such venture, even if
competitive with the business of the Trust, shall not be deemed wrongful or
improper. No Covered Person, the Sponsor, the Delaware Trustee, or the
Institutional Trustee shall be obligated to present any particular investment or
other opportunity to the Trust even if such opportunity is of a character that,
if presented to the Trust, could be taken by the Trust, and any Covered Person,
the Sponsor, the Delaware Trustee and the Institutional Trustee shall have the
right to take for its own account (individually or as a partner or fiduciary) or
to recommend to others any such particular investment or other opportunity. Any
Covered Person, the Delaware Trustee and the Institutional Trustee may engage or
be interested in any financial or other transaction with the Sponsor or any
Affiliate of the Sponsor, or may act as depositary for, trustee or agent for, or
act on any committee or body of holders of, securities or other obligations of
the Sponsor or its Affiliates.
ARTICLE XI
ACCOUNTING
SECTION 11.1 Fiscal Year.
The fiscal year ("Fiscal Year") of the Trust shall be the calendar year, or
such other year as is required by the Code.
SECTION 11.2 Certain Accounting Matters.
(a) At all times during the existence of the Trust, the Regular Trustees
shall keep, or cause to be kept, full books of account, records and supporting
documents, which shall reflect in reasonable detail, each transaction of the
Trust. The books of account shall be maintained on the accrual method of
accounting, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles,
consistently applied. The Trust shall use the accrual method of accounting for
United States federal income tax purposes. The books of account and the records
of the Trust shall be examined by and reported upon as of the end of each Fiscal
Year of the Trust by a firm of independent certified public accountants selected
by the Regular Trustees. The books and records of the Trust, together with a
copy of the Declaration and a certified copy of the Certificate of Trust, and
any amendment thereto shall at all times be maintained at the principal office
of the Trust and shall be open for inspection for any examination by any Holder
or its duly authorized representative for any purpose reasonably related to its
interest in the Trust during normal business hours.
(b) The Regular Trustees shall cause to be prepared and delivered to each
of the Holders, within 90 days after the end of each Fiscal Year of the Trust,
annual financial statements of the Trust, including a balance sheet of the Trust
as of the end of such Fiscal Year, and the related statements of income or loss;
(c) The Regular Trustees shall cause to be duly prepared and delivered to
each of the Holders, any annual United States federal income tax information
statement, required by the Code, containing such information with regard to the
Securities held by each Holder as is required by the Code and the Treasury
Regulations. Notwithstanding any right under the Code to deliver any such
statement at a later date, the Regular Trustees shall endeavor to deliver all
such statements within 30 days after the end of each Fiscal Year of the Trust.
(d) The Regular Trustees shall cause to be duly prepared and filed with the
appropriate taxing authority, an annual United States federal income tax return,
on a Form 1041 or such other form required by United States federal income tax
law, and any other annual income tax returns required to be filed by the Regular
Trustees on behalf of the Trust with any state or local taxing authority.
SECTION 11.3 Banking.
The Trust shall maintain one or more bank accounts in the name and for the
sole benefit of the Trust; provided, however, that all payments of funds in
respect of the Debentures held by the Institutional Trustee shall be made
directly to the Institutional Trustee Account and no other funds of the Trust
shall be deposited in the Institutional Trustee Account. The sole signatories
for such accounts shall be designated by the Regular Trustees; provided,
however, that the Institutional Trustee shall designate the signatories for the
Institutional Trustee Account.
SECTION 11.4 Withholding.
The Trust and the Regular Trustees shall comply with all withholding
requirements under United States federal, state and local law. The Trust shall
request, and the Holders shall provide to the Trust, such forms or certificates
as are necessary to establish an exemption from withholding with respect to each
Holder, and any representations and forms as shall reasonably be requested by
the Trust to assist it in determining the extent of, and in fulfilling, its
withholding obligations. The Regular Trustees shall file required forms with
applicable jurisdictions and, unless an exemption from withholding is properly
established by a Holder, shall remit amounts withheld with respect to the Holder
to applicable jurisdictions. To the extent that the Trust is required to
withhold and pay over any amounts to any authority with respect to distributions
or allocations to any Holder, the amount withheld shall be deemed to be a
distribution in the amount of the withholding to the Holder. In the event of any
claimed over withholding, Holders shall be limited to an action against the
applicable jurisdiction. If the amount required to be withheld was not withheld
from actual Distributions made, the Trust may reduce subsequent Distributions by
the amount of such withholding.
ARTICLE XII
AMENDMENTS AND MEETINGS
SECTION 12.1 Amendments.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in this Declaration or by any applicable
terms of the Securities, this Declaration may only be amended by a written
instrument approved and executed by:
(i) the Regular Trustees (or, if there are more than two Regular
Trustees, a majority of the Regular Trustees);
(ii) if the amendment affects the rights, powers, duties, obligations
or immunities of the Institutional Trustee, the Institutional Trustee; and
(iii) if the amendment affects the rights, powers, duties, obligations
or immunities of the Delaware Trustee, the Delaware Trustee;
(b) No amendment shall be made, and any such purported amendment shall be
void and ineffective:
(i) unless, in the case of any proposed amendment, the Institutional
Trustee shall have first received an Officers' Certificate from each of the
Trust and the Sponsor that such amendment is permitted by, and conforms to,
the terms of this Declaration (including the terms of the Securities);
(ii) unless, in the case of any proposed amendment which affects the
rights, powers, duties, obligations or immunities of the Institutional
Trustee, the Institutional Trustee shall have first received:
(A) an Officers' Certificate from each of the Trust and the
Sponsor that such amendment is permitted by, and conforms
to, the terms of this Declaration (including the terms of
the Securities); and
(B) an opinion of counsel (who may be counsel to the Sponsor or
the Trust) that such amendment is permitted by, and conforms
to, the terms of this Declaration (including the terms of
the Securities); and
(iii) to the extent the result of such amendment would be to:
(A) cause the trust to fail to continue to be classified for
purposes of United States federal income taxation as a
grantor trust;
(B) reduce or otherwise adversely affect the powers of the
Institutional Trustee in contravention of the Trust
Indenture Act; or
(C) cause the Trust to be deemed to be an Investment Company
required to be registered under the Investment Company Act;
(c) At such time after the Trust has issued any Securities that remain
outstanding, any amendment that would adversely affect the rights, privileges or
preferences of any Holder may be effected only with such additional requirements
as may be set forth in the terms of such Securities;
(d) Sections 4.4, 9.1(c) and this Section 12.1 shall not be amended without
the consent of all of the Holders of the Securities;
(e) Article IV shall not be amended without the consent of the Holders of a
Majority in liquidation amount of the Common Securities and;
(f) The rights of the holders of the Common Securities under Article V to
increase or decrease the number of, and appoint and remove Trustees shall not be
amended without the consent of the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount
of the Common Securities; and
(g) Notwithstanding Section 12.1(c), this Declaration may be amended
without the consent of the Holders to:
(i) cure any ambiguity;
(ii) correct or supplement any provision in this Declaration that may
be defective or inconsistent with any other provision of this Declaration;
(iii) add to the covenants, restrictions or obligations of the
Sponsor;
(iv) conform to any change in Rule 3a-5 or written change in
interpretation or application of Rule 3a-5 by any legislative body, court,
government agency or regulatory authority which amendment does not have a
material adverse effect on the right, preferences or privileges of the
Holders; and
(v) preserve the status of the Trust as a grantor trust for federal
income tax purposes.
SECTION 12.2 Meetings of the Holders of Securities; Action by Written
Consent.
(a) Meetings of the Holders of any class of Securities may be called at any
time by the Regular Trustees (or as provided in the terms of the Securities) to
consider and act on any matter on which Holders of such class of Securities are
entitled to act under the terms of this Declaration, the terms of the Securities
or the rules of any stock exchange on which the Capital Securities are listed or
admitted for trading. The Regular Trustees shall call a meeting of the Holders
of such class if directed to do so by the Holders of at least 10% in liquidation
amount of such class of Securities. Such direction shall be given by delivering
to the Regular Trustees one or more calls in a writing stating that the signing
Holders wish to call a meeting and indicating the general or specific purpose
for which the meeting is to be called. Any Holders calling a meeting shall
specify in writing the Certificates held by the Holders exercising the right to
call a meeting and only those Securities specified shall be counted for purposes
of determining whether the required percentage set forth in the second sentence
of this paragraph has been met.
(b) Except to the extent otherwise provided in the terms of the Securities,
the following provisions shall apply to meetings of Holders:
(i) notice of any such meeting shall be given to all the Holders
having a right to vote thereat at least 7 days and not more than 60 days
before the date of such meeting. Whenever a vote, consent or approval of
the Holders is permitted or required under this Declaration or the rules of
any stock exchange on which the Capital Securities are listed or admitted
for trading, such vote, consent or approval may be given at a meeting of
the Holders. Any action that may be taken at a meeting of the Holders may
be taken without a meeting if a consent in writing setting forth the action
so taken is signed by the Holders owning not less than the minimum amount
of Securities in liquidation amount that would be necessary to authorize or
take such action at a meeting at which all Holders having a right to vote
thereon were present and voting. Prompt notice of the taking of action
without a meeting shall be given to the Holders entitled to vote who have
not consented in writing. The Regular Trustees may specify that any written
ballot submitted to the Holders for the purpose of taking any action
without a meeting shall be returned to the Trust within the time specified
by the Regular Trustees;
(ii) each Holder may authorize any Person to act for it by proxy on
all matters in which a Holder is entitled to participate, including waiving
notice of any meeting, or voting or participating at a meeting. No proxy
shall be valid after the expiration of 11 months from the date thereof
unless otherwise provided in the proxy. Every proxy shall be revocable at
the pleasure of the Holder executing it. Except as otherwise provided
herein, all matters relating to the giving, voting or validity of proxies
shall be governed by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware
relating to proxies, and judicial interpretations thereunder, as if the
Trust were a Delaware corporation and the Holders were stockholders of a
Delaware corporation;
(iii) each meeting of the Holders shall be conducted by the Regular
Trustees or by such other Person that the Regular Trustees may designate;
and
(iv) unless the Business Trust Act, this Declaration, the terms of the
Securities, the Trust Indenture Act or the listing rules of any stock
exchange on which the Capital Securities are then listed or trading,
otherwise provides, the Regular Trustees, in their sole discretion, shall
establish all other provisions relating to meetings of Holders, including
notice of the time, place or purpose of any meeting at which any matter is
to be voted on by any Holders, waiver of any such notice, action by consent
without a meeting, the establishment of a record date, quorum requirements,
voting in person or by proxy or any other matter with respect to the
exercise of any such right to vote.
ARTICLE XIII
REPRESENTATIONS OF INSTITUTIONAL TRUSTEE
AND DELAWARE TRUSTEE
SECTION 13.1 Representations and Warranties of Institutional Trustee.
The Trustee that acts as initial Institutional Trustee represents and
warrants to the Trust and to the Sponsor at the date of this Declaration, and
each Successor Institutional Trustee represents and warrants to the Trust and
the Sponsor at the time of the Successor Institutional Trustee's acceptance of
its appointment as Institutional Trustee that:
(a) the Institutional Trustee is a national banking association with trust
powers, duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of
the United States, with trust power and authority to execute and deliver, and to
carry out and perform its obligations under the terms of, this Declaration;
(b) the execution, delivery and performance by the Institutional Trustee of
this Declaration has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on
the part of the Institutional Trustee. This Declaration has been duly executed
and delivered by the Institutional Trustee, and constitutes the legal, valid and
binding obligation of the Institutional Trustee, enforceable against it in
accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, reorganization,
moratorium, insolvency, and other similar laws affecting creditors' rights
generally and to general principles of equity and the discretion of the court
(regardless of whether the enforcement of such remedies is considered in a
proceeding in equity or at law);
(c) the execution, delivery and performance of this Declaration by the
Institutional Trustee does not conflict with or constitute a breach of the
Articles of Incorporation or By-laws of the Institutional Trustee; and
(d) no consent, approval or authorization of, or registration with or
notice to, any State or Federal banking authority is required for the execution,
delivery or performance by the Institutional Trustee, of this Declaration.
(e) on the Closing Date, the Institutional Trustee will be the record
holder of the Debentures and the Institutional Trustee has not knowingly created
any liens or encumbrances on such Debentures.
(f) the Institutional Trustee satisfies the qualifications set forth in
Section 5.3.
SECTION 13.2 Representations and Warranties of Delaware Trustee.
The Trustee that acts as initial Delaware Trustee represents and warrants
to the Trust and to the Sponsor at the date of this Declaration, and each
Successor Delaware Trustee represents and warrants to the Trust and the Sponsor
at the time of the Successor Delaware Trustee's acceptance of its appointment as
Delaware Trustee that:
(a) The Delaware Trustee is a Delaware corporation, duly organized, validly
existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with
authority to execute and deliver, and to carry out and perform its obligations
under the terms of, this Declaration.
(b) The Delaware Trustee has been authorized to perform its obligations
under the Certificate of Trust and this Declaration. The Declaration under
Delaware law constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Delaware
Trustee, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, subject to
applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, moratorium, insolvency, and other similar
laws affecting creditors' rights generally and to general principles of equity
and the discretion of the court (regardless of whether the enforcement of such
remedies is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
(c) No consent, approval or authorization of, or registration with or
notice to, any State or Federal banking authority is required for the execution,
delivery or performance by the Delaware Trustee, of this Declaration.
(d) The Delaware Trustee is a natural person who is a resident of the State
of Delaware or, if not a natural person, an entity which has its principal place
of business in the State of Delaware.
ARTICLE XIV
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 14.1 Notices.
All notices provided for in this Declaration shall be in writing, duly
signed by the party giving such notice, and shall be delivered, telecopied or
mailed by registered or certified mail, as follows:
(a) if given to the Trust, in care of the Regular Trustees at the Trust's
mailing address set forth below (or such other address as the Trust may give
notice of to the Holders):
Fleet Capital Trust V
c/o Fleet Financial Group, Inc.
One Federal Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02110
Attention: General Counsel
(b) if given to the Delaware Trustee, at the mailing address set forth
below (or such other address as the Delaware Trustee may give notice of to the
Holders):
First Chicago Delaware Inc.
300 King Street
Wilmington, Delaware 19801
Attention: Corporate Trust Administrator
(c) if given to the Institutional Trustee, at the Institutional Trustee's
mailing address set forth below (or such other address as the Institutional
Trustee may give notice of to the Holders):
The First National Bank of Chicago
One First National Plaza
Suite 0126, 9th Floor
Chicago, Illinois 60670-0126
Attention: Corporate Trust Administration
(d) if given to the Holder of the Common Securities, at the mailing address
of the Sponsor set forth below (or such other address as the Holder of the
Common Securities may give notice to the Trust):
Fleet Financial Group, Inc.
One Federal Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02110
Attention: General Counsel
(e) if given to any other Holder, at the address set forth on the books and
records of the Trust.
All such notices shall be deemed to have been given when received in
person, telecopied with receipt confirmed, or mailed by first class mail,
postage prepaid except that if a notice or other document is refused delivery or
cannot be delivered because of a changed address of which no notice was given,
such notice or other document shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date
of such refusal or inability to deliver.
SECTION 14.2 Governing Law.
THIS DECLARATION AND THE RIGHTS OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE GOVERNED
BY AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE AND ALL
RIGHTS AND REMEDIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY SUCH LAWS WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES
OF CONFLICT OF LAWS.
SECTION 14.3 Intention of the Parties.
It is the intention of the parties hereto that the Trust be classified for
United States federal income tax purposes as a grantor trust. The provisions of
this Declaration shall be interpreted to further this intention of the parties.
SECTION 14.4 Headings.
Headings contained in this Declaration are inserted for convenience of
reference only and do not affect the interpretation of this Declaration or any
provision hereof.
SECTION 14.5 Successors and Assigns.
Whenever in this Declaration any of the parties hereto is named or referred
to, the successors and assigns of such party shall be deemed to be included, and
all covenants and agreements in this Declaration by the Sponsor and the Trustees
shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns,
whether so expressed.
SECTION 14.6 Partial Enforceability.
If any provision of this Declaration, or the application of such provision
to any Person or circumstance, shall be held invalid, the remainder of this
Declaration, or the application of such provision to persons or circumstances
other than those to which it is held invalid, shall not be affected thereby.
SECTION 14.7 Counterparts.
This Declaration may contain more than one counterpart of the signature
page and this Declaration may be executed by the affixing of the signature of
each of the Trustees to one of such counterpart signature pages. All of such
counterpart signature pages shall be read as though one, and they shall have the
same force and effect as though all of the signers had signed a single signature
page.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused these presents to be
executed as of the day and year first above written.
By: /s/ Eugene M. McQuade
-------------------------------------
Eugene M. McQuade,
as Regular Trustee
By: /s/ Douglas L. Jacobs
-------------------------------------
Douglas L. Jacobs,
as Regular Trustee
By: /s/ John R. Rodehorst
-------------------------------------
John R. Rodehorst,
as Regular Trustee
FIRST CHICAGO DELAWARE INC.,
as Delaware Trustee
Name: /s/ Authorized Signatory
------------------------------------
Title:
THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO,
as Institutional Trustee
Name: /s/ Authorized Signatory
------------------------------------
Title:
FLEET FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.,
as Sponsor
By: /s/ Eugene M. McQuade
-------------------------------------
Name: Eugene M. McQuade
Title: Vice Chairman and
Chief Financial Officer
<PAGE>
ANNEX I
TERMS OF FLOATING RATE CAPITAL SECURITIES
TERMS OF FLOATING RATE COMMON SECURITIES
Pursuant to Section 7.1 of the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust,
dated as of December 18, 1998 (as amended from time to time, the "Declaration"),
the designation, rights, privileges, restrictions, preferences and other terms
and provisions of the Securities are set out below (each capitalized term used
but not defined herein has the meaning set forth in the Declaration or, if not
defined in the Declaration, as defined in the Prospectus referred to below):
1. Designation and Number.
(a) Capital Securities. 250,000 Capital Securities of the Trust with an
aggregate stated liquidation amount with respect to the assets of the Trust of
Two Hundred Fifty Million Dollars ($250,000,000) and a stated liquidation amount
with respect to the assets of the Trust of $1,000 per capital security, are
hereby designated for the purposes of identification only as "Floating Rate
Capital Securities" (the "Capital Securities"). The Capital Security
Certificates evidencing the Capital Securities shall be substantially in the
form of Exhibit A-1 to the Declaration, with such changes and additions thereto
or deletions therefrom as may be required by ordinary usage, custom or practice
or to conform to the rules of any stock exchange on which the Capital Securities
are listed.
(b) Common Securities. 7,732 Common Securities of the Trust with an
aggregate stated liquidation amount with respect to the assets of the Trust of
Seven Million Seven Hundred Thirty Two Thousand Dollars ($7,732,000) and a
stated liquidation amount with respect to the assets of the Trust of $1,000 per
common security, are hereby designated for the purposes of identification only
as "Floating Rate Common Securities" (the "Common Securities"). The Common
Security Certificates evidencing the Common Securities shall be substantially in
the form of Exhibit A-2 to the Declaration, with such changes and additions
thereto or deletions therefrom as may be required by ordinary usage, custom or
practice.
(c) The Capital Securities and the Common Securities represent undivided
beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust.
(d) In connection with the purchase of the Securities, the Sponsor will
deposit in the Trust, and the Trust will purchase, respectively, as trust
assets, Debentures of the Sponsor having an aggregate principal amount equal to
$257,732,000, and bearing interest at an annual rate equal to the annual
Distribution rate on the Capital Securities and Common Securities and having
payment and redemption provisions which correspond to the payment and redemption
provisions of the Capital Securities and Common Securities.
2. Distributions.
(a) Distributions payable on each Security will be at a variable annual
rate, reset quarterly, equal to Three-Month LIBOR (as hereinafter defined) plus
1.00% (the "Coupon Rate") of the stated liquidation amount of $1,000 per
Security, such rate being the rate of interest payable on the Debentures to be
held by the Institutional Trustee. Distributions in arrears for more than one
quarter will bear interest thereon compounded quarterly at the Coupon Rate
("Compound Interest") (to the extent permitted by applicable law). The term
"Distributions" as used herein includes such cash distributions and any such
interest (including Additional Interest and Compound Interest) payable unless
otherwise stated. A Distribution will be made by the Institutional Trustee only
to the extent that payments are made in respect of the Debentures held by the
Institutional Trustee and to the extent the Trust has funds available in the
Institutional Trustee Account. The amount of Distributions payable for any
period will be computed on the basis of the actual number of days in such period
(which number of actual days shall include the first day but exclude the last
day of such period) divided by 360.
First Chicago Trust Company of New York as Calculation Agent (the
"Calculation Agent"), will calculate the interest rate for each interest period
on the Debentures (an "Interest Period") based on Three-Month LIBOR determined
as of two London Banking Days (defined as any day on which dealings in deposits
in U.S. dollars are transacted in the London interbank market) prior to the
first day of such Interest Period (each, a "Determination Date"). "Three-Month
LIBOR" means, with respect to an Interest Period relating to an interest payment
date on the Debentures (an "Interest Payment Date") (in the following order of
priority):
(1) the rate (expressed as a percentage per annum) for Eurodollar
deposits having a three-month maturity that appears on Telerate
Page 3750 as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the related
Determination Date;
(2) if such rate does not appear on Telerate Page 3750 as of 11:00
a.m. (London time) on the related Determination Date, Three-Month
LIBOR will be the arithmetic mean of the offered rates (expressed
as percentages per annum) (unless Page 3750 by its terms provides
only for a single rate, in which case such single rate shall be
used) for Eurodollar deposits having a three-month maturity that
appear (or, if only a single rate is required as aforesaid,
appears) on Reuters Monitor Money Rates Service Page LIBO
("Reuters Page LIBO") as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such
Determination Date;
(3) if such rates or rate do not appear on Reuters Page LIBO as of
11:00 a.m. (London time) on the related Determination Date, the
Calculation Agent will request the principal London offices of
four major reference banks in the London interbank market, as
selected by the Calculation Agent, to provide the Calculation
Agent with such banks' offered quotations (expressed as
percentages per annum) for Eurodollar deposits having a
three-month maturity to prime banks in the London interbank
market as of approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such
Determination Date and in a principal amount that is
representative for a single transaction in Eurodollar deposits in
such market at such time. If at least two quotations are
provided, Three-Month LIBOR will be the arithmetic mean of such
quotations;
(4) if fewer than two such quotations are provided as requested in
clause (3) above, the Calculation Agent will request three major
New York City banks to provide such banks' offered quotations
(expressed as percentages per annum) to leading European banks
for loans in Eurodollars having a three-month maturity as of
11:00 a.m. (London time) on such Determination Date and in a
principal amount that is representative for a single transaction
in Eurodollar deposits in such market at such time. If at least
two such quotations are provided, Three-Month LIBOR will be the
arithmetic mean of such quotations; and
(5) if fewer than two such quotations are provided as requested in
clause (4) above, Three-Month LIBOR will be Three-Month LIBOR as
determined on the previous Determination Date.
If the rate for Eurodollar deposits having a three-month maturity that
initially appears on Telerate Page 3750 or Reuters Page LIBO, as the case may
be, as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the related Determination Date is
superseded on Telerate Page 3750 or Reuters Page LIBO, as the case may be, by a
corrected rate before 12:00 noon (London time) on such Determination Date, the
corrected rate as so substituted on the applicable page will be the applicable
Three-Month LIBOR for such Determination Date.
"Telerate Page 3750" means the display designated as "Page 3750" on the Dow
Jones Telerate Service (or such other page as may replace Page 3750 on that
service or such other service or services as may be nominated by the British
Bankers' Association as the information vendor for the purpose of displaying
London interbank offered rates for U.S. dollar deposits).
All percentages resulting from any calculations on the Debentures will be
rounded, if necessary, to the nearest one hundred-thousandth of a percentage
point, with five one-millionths of a percentage point rounded upward (e.g.,
9.876545% (or .09876545) being rounded to 9.87655% (or .0987655)), and all
dollar amounts used or resulting from such calculation will be rounded to the
nearest cent (with one-half cent being rounded upward).
The Calculation Agent will, upon the request of the holder of any
Securities or Debentures, provide the interest rate then in effect. All
calculations made by the Calculation Agent in the absence of manifest error
shall be conclusive for all purposes and binding on the Sponsor and the holders
of the Securities and Debentures.
(b) Distributions on the Securities will be cumulative, will accrue from
December 18, 1998 and, except as otherwise described below, will be payable
quarterly in arrears, on March 18, June 18, September 18 and December 18 of each
year, commencing on March 18, 1999, when, as and if available for payment,
except as otherwise described below (a "Distribution Payment Date"). So long as
the Debenture Issuer shall not be in default in the payment of interest on the
Debentures, the Debenture Issuer has the right under the Indenture to defer
payments of interest on the Debentures by extending the interest payment period
from time to time on the Debentures for a period not exceeding 20 consecutive
quarters (each an "Extension Period"), during which Extension Period no interest
shall be due and payable on the Debentures, provided that no Extension Period
shall last beyond the Stated Maturity of the Debentures. As a consequence of
such deferral, Distributions will also be deferred. Despite such deferral,
quarterly Distributions will continue to accrue with interest thereon (to the
extent permitted by applicable law) at the Coupon Rate compounded quarterly to
the extent permitted by law during any such Extension Period. Prior to the
termination of any such Extension Period, the Debenture Issuer may further
extend such Extension Period; provided that such Extension Period, together with
all such previous and further extensions thereof, may not exceed 20 consecutive
quarters or extend beyond the Stated Maturity of the Debentures. Any interest
accrued on the Debentures during an Extension Period shall be paid Pro Rata to
holders of Debentures on the first payment date following the Extension Period
and the Payment Amount shall be paid Pro Rata to the Holders on the first
Distribution Payment Date following the Extension Period. Upon the termination
of any Extension Period and the payment of all amounts then due, the Debenture
Issuer may commence a new Extension Period, subject to the above requirements.
In the event that the Debenture Issuer exercises this right, then (i) the
Debenture Issuer shall not declare or pay any dividend on, make a distribution
with respect to, or redeem, purchase or acquire, or make a liquidation payment
with respect to, any of its capital stock (other than (a) purchases or
acquisitions of shares of its common stock in connection with the satisfaction
by the Debenture Issuer of its obligations under any employee benefit plans or
any other contractual obligation of the Debenture Issuer (other than a
contractual obligation ranking pari passu with or junior to the Debentures), (b)
as a result of a reclassification of the Debenture Issuer's capital stock or the
exchange or conversion of one class or series of the Debenture Issuer's capital
stock for another class or series of the Debenture Issuer's capital stock or (c)
the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Debenture Issuer's capital
stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock or
the security being converted or exchanged), (ii) the Debenture Issuer shall not
make any payment of interest, principal or premium, if any, on or repay,
repurchase or redeem any debt securities issued by the Debenture Issuer that
rank pari passu with or junior to such Debentures and (iii) the Debenture Issuer
shall not make any guarantee payments with respect to the foregoing (other than
pursuant to the Capital Securities Guarantee).
(c) Distributions on the Securities will be payable promptly by the
Institutional Trustee upon receipt of immediately available funds to the Holders
thereof as they appear on the books and records of the Trust on the relevant
record dates, which will be, as long as the Capital Securities remain in
book-entry form, one Business Day prior to the relevant payment date and, in the
event the Capital Securities are not in book-entry form, the 15th day of the
month in which the relevant payment date occurs. The record dates and
distribution dates shall be the same as the record dates and payment dates on
the Debentures. Distributions payable on any Securities that are not punctually
paid on any Distribution Payment Date, as a result of the Debenture Issuer
having failed to make the corresponding interest payment on the Debentures, will
forthwith cease to be payable to the Person in whose name such Securities are
registered on the relevant record date, and such defaulted Distribution will
instead be payable to the Person in whose name such Securities are registered on
the special record date established by the Regular Trustees, which record date
shall correspond to the special record date or other specified date determined
in accordance with the Indenture; provided, however, that Distributions shall
not be considered payable on any Distribution Payment Date falling within an
Extension Period unless the Debenture Issuer has elected to make a full or
partial payment of interest accrued on the Debentures on such Distribution
Payment Date. Distributions on the Securities will be paid by the Trust. All
Distributions paid with respect to the Securities shall be paid on a Pro Rata
basis to Holders thereof entitled thereto. If any date on which Distributions
are payable on the Securities is not a Business Day, then such Distribution date
will be postponed to the next succeeding day that is a Business Day.
(d) If at any time while the Institutional Trustee is the Holder of any
Securities, the Trust or the Institutional Trustee is required to pay any taxes,
duties, assessments or governmental charges of whatever nature (other than
withholding taxes) imposed by the United States, or any other taxing authority,
then, in any such case, the Debenture Issuer will pay as additional interest
("Additional Interest") on the Securities held by the Institutional Trustee,
such amounts as shall be required so that the net amounts received and retained
by the Trust and the Institutional Trustee after paying any such taxes, duties,
assessments or other governmental charges will be equal to the amounts the Trust
and the Institutional Trustee would have received had no such taxes, duties,
assessments or other governmental charges been imposed.
(e) In the event that there is any money or other property held by or for
the Trust that is not accounted for hereunder, such property shall be
distributed Pro Rata among the Holders.
3. Liquidation Distribution Upon Dissolution.
In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution,
winding-up or termination of the Trust (each a "Liquidation"), the Holders on
the date of the Liquidation will be entitled to receive Pro Rata out of the
assets of the Trust available for distribution to Holders after satisfaction of
liabilities of creditors distributions in an amount equal to the aggregate of
the stated liquidation amount of $1,000 per Security plus accrued and unpaid
Distributions thereon to the date of payment (such amount being the "Liquidation
Distribution"), unless, in connection with such Liquidation, Debentures in an
aggregate stated principal amount equal to the aggregate stated liquidation
amount of such Securities, with an interest rate equal to the Coupon Rate of,
and bearing accrued and unpaid interest in an amount equal to the accrued and
unpaid Distributions on, such Securities, shall be distributed on a Pro Rata
basis to the Holders in exchange for such Securities.
4. Redemption and Distribution.
(a) Redemption of the Securities will occur simultaneously with any
repayment of the Debentures. The Debentures will mature on December 18, 2028
(the "Stated Maturity"), and are prepayable as set forth in this Section 4. Upon
the repayment of the Debentures in whole or in part, whether at maturity or upon
redemption, the proceeds from such repayment or payment shall be simultaneously
applied to redeem Securities having an aggregate liquidation amount equal to the
aggregate principal amount of the Debentures so repaid or redeemed at the
Redemption Price. Securities redeemed upon maturity of the Debentures will be
redeemed at a redemption price of $1,000 per Security plus an amount equal to
accrued and unpaid Distributions thereon at the date of redemption, payable in
cash (the "Redemption Price"). If fewer than all the outstanding Securities are
to be so redeemed, the Securities will be redeemed Pro Rata and the Capital
Securities to be redeemed will be as described in Section 4(f)(ii) below. Any
prepayment of the Debentures and related redemption of Capital Securities under
subsection (b) below may require the prior approval of the Federal Reserve Board
if such approval is then required under applicable law, rules, guidelines or
policies.
(b) The Debentures are prepayable prior to the Stated Maturity at the
option of the Company (i) in whole or in part, from time to time, on or after
December 18, 2003 or (ii) at any time prior to December 18, 2003, in whole but
not in part, upon the occurrence and continuation of a Special Event, in either
case at a prepayment price (the "Prepayment Price") equal to 100% of the
principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon (including
Additional Interest and Compound Interest, if any) to the date of prepayment.
(c) The following terms used herein shall be defined as follows:
"Regulatory Capital Event" means that the Debenture Issuer shall have
received an opinion of independent bank regulatory counsel experienced in such
matters to the effect that, as a result of (a) any amendment to, or change
(including any announced prospective change) in, the laws (or any regulations
thereunder) of the United States or any rules, guidelines or policies of the
Federal Reserve Board or (b) any official administrative pronouncement or
judicial decision interpreting or applying such laws or regulations, which
amendment or change is effective or such pronouncement or decision is announced
on or after the Issue Date, the Capital Securities do not constitute, or within
90 days of the date thereof, will not constitute, Tier 1 capital (or its
equivalent) for purposes of the Federal Reserve Board's capital guidelines for
bank holding companies; provided, however, that the distribution of the
Debentures in connection with the liquidation of the Trust by the Debenture
Issuer and the treatment thereafter of the Debentures as other than Tier 1
capital shall not in and or itself constitute a Regulatory Capital Event unless
such liquidation shall have occurred in connection with a Tax Event.
"Special Event" means a Tax Event or a Regulatory Capital Event, as the
case may be.
"Tax Event" means that the Regular Trustees shall have received an opinion
of a nationally recognized independent tax counsel experienced in such matters
to the effect that, as a result of (a) any amendment to, or change (including
any announced prospective change) in, the laws or any regulations thereunder of
the United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or
therein, or (b) any official administrative pronouncement or judicial decision
interpreting or applying such laws or regulations, which amendment or change is
effective or such pronouncement or decision is announced on or after the date of
the original issuance of the Securities, there is more than an insubstantial
risk that (i) the Trust is, or will be within 90 days of the date of such
opinion, subject to United States federal income tax with respect to income
received or accrued on the Debentures, (ii) interest payable on the Debentures
is not, or within 90 days of the date thereof will not be, deductible by the
Company, in whole or in part, for United States federal income tax purposes, or
(iii) the Trust is, or will be within 90 days of the date thereof, subject to
more than a de minimis amount of other taxes, duties or other governmental
charges.
(d) The Trust may not redeem fewer than all the outstanding Securities
unless all accrued and unpaid Distributions have been paid on all Securities for
all quarterly Distribution periods terminating on or before the date of
redemption.
(e) The Debenture Issuer will have the right at any time to liquidate the
Trust and cause the Debentures to be distributed to the Holders, subject to the
prior approval of the Federal Reserve Board if such approval is then required
under applicable law, rules, guidelines or policies. If the Debentures are
distributed to the Holders and the Capital Securities are then listed on an
exchange, the Debenture Issuer will use its best efforts to cause the Debentures
to be listed on the NYSE or on such other exchange as the Capital Securities are
then listed.
On the date fixed for any distribution of Debentures upon dissolution of
the Trust, (i) the Capital Securities will no longer be deemed to be
outstanding, (ii) the Depository Institution or its nominee, as the record
holder of the Capital Securities, will receive a registered global certificate
or certificates representing the Debentures to be delivered upon such
distribution, and (iii) any certificates representing Capital Securities not
held by the Depository Institution or its nominee will be deemed to represent
Debentures having an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate stated
liquidation amount of, with an interest rate identical to the distribution rate
of, and accrued and unpaid interest equal to accrued and unpaid distributions
on, such Capital Securities until such certificates are presented to the
Debenture Issuer or its agent for transfer or reissuance.
(f) Redemption or Distribution Procedures.
(i) Notice of any redemption of the Debentures, or notice of
distribution of Debentures in exchange for the Securities (a
"Redemption/Distribution Notice") will be given by the Trust by
mail to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed or exchanged not
fewer than 30 nor more than 60 days before the date fixed for
redemption or exchange thereof which, in the case of a
redemption, will be the date fixed for redemption of the
Debentures. For purposes of the calculation of the date of
redemption or exchange and the dates on which notices are given
pursuant to this Section 4(f)(i), a Redemption/Distribution
Notice shall be deemed to be given on the day such notice is
first mailed by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to Holders.
Each Redemption/Distribution Notice shall be addressed to the
Holders at the address of each such Holder appearing in the books
and records of the Trust. No defect in the
Redemption/Distribution Notice or in the mailing of either
thereof with respect to any Holder shall affect the validity of
the redemption or exchange proceedings with respect to any other
Holder.
(ii) In the event that fewer than all the outstanding Securities are
to be redeemed, the Securities to be redeemed shall be redeemed
Pro Rata from each Holder, it being understood that, in respect
of Capital Securities registered in the name of and held of
record by the Depository Institution or its nominee, the
distribution of the proceeds of such redemption will be made to
each Depository Institution Participant (or Person on whose
behalf such nominee holds such securities) in accordance with the
procedures applied by such agency or nominee.
(iii)If Securities are to be redeemed and the Trust gives a
Redemption/Distribution Notice, which notice may only be issued
if the Debentures are redeemed as set out in this Section 4
(which notice will be irrevocable), then by 12:00 noon, New York
City time, on the redemption date, the Debenture Issuer will
deposit with one or more paying agents an amount of money
sufficient to redeem on the redemption date all the Securities so
called for redemption at the Redemption Price. If a
Redemption/Distribution Notice shall have been given and funds
deposited as required, if applicable, then immediately prior to
the close of business on the date of such deposit, or on the
redemption date, as applicable, distributions will cease to
accrue on the Securities so called for redemption and all rights
of Holders of such Securities so called for redemption will
cease, except the right of the Holders of such Securities to
receive the Redemption Price, but without interest on such
Redemption Price. On presentation and surrender of such
Securities at a place of payment specified in said notice, the
said Securities or the specified portions thereof shall be paid
and redeemed by the Trust at the Redemption Price. Neither the
Regular Trustees nor the Trust shall be required to register or
cause to be registered the transfer of any Securities that have
been so called for redemption. If any date fixed for redemption
of Securities is not a Business Day, then the redemption date
will be postponed to the next succeeding day that is a Business
Day. If payment of the Redemption Price in respect of any
Securities is improperly withheld or refused and not paid either
by the Institutional Trustee or by the Sponsor as guarantor
pursuant to the relevant Securities Guarantee, Distributions on
such Securities will continue to accrue from the original
redemption date to the actual date of payment, in which case the
actual payment date will be considered the date fixed for
redemption for purposes of calculating the Redemption Price.
(iv) The Trust shall not be required to (i) issue, or register the
transfer or exchange of, any Securities during a period beginning
at the opening of business 15 days before the mailing of a notice
of redemption of Securities and ending at the close of business
on the day of the mailing of the relevant notice of redemption
and (ii) register the transfer or exchange of any Securities so
selected for redemption, in whole or in part, except the
unredeemed portion of any Securities being redeemed in part.
(v) Subject to the foregoing and applicable law (including, without
limitation, United States federal securities laws and regulations
of the Federal Reserve Board), the Sponsor or any of its
subsidiaries may at any time and from time to time purchase
outstanding Capital Securities by tender, in the open market or
by private agreement.
5. Voting Rights - Capital Securities.
(a) Except as provided under Sections 5(b) and 7 and as otherwise required
by law and the Declaration, the Holders of the Capital Securities will have no
voting rights.
(b) Subject to the requirements set forth in the immediately following
paragraph, the Holders of a majority in aggregate liquidation amount of the
Capital Securities, voting separately as a class, have the right to direct the
time, method, and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to
the Institutional Trustee, or to direct the exercise of any trust or power
conferred upon the Institutional Trustee under the Declaration, including the
right to direct the Institutional Trustee, as holder of the Debentures, to (i)
exercise the remedies available to it under the Indenture as holder of the
Debentures, (ii) waive any past Event of Default and its consequences that is
waivable under Section 5.07 of the Indenture, (iii) exercise any right to
rescind or annul a declaration that the principal of all the Debentures shall be
due and payable, or (iv) consent to any amendment, modification or termination
of the Indenture or the Debentures where such consent shall be required;
provided, however, that, where a consent or action under the Indenture would
require the consent or act of a Super Majority, only the Holders of at least
such Super Majority in aggregate liquidation amount of the Capital Securities
may direct the Institutional Trustee to give such consent or take such action;
and provided further, that where a consent or action under the Indenture is only
effective against each holder of Debentures who has consented thereto, such
consent or action will only be effective against a holder of Capital Securities
who directs the Institutional Trustee to give such consent or take such action.
A waiver of an Indenture Event of Default will constitute a waiver of the
corresponding Declaration Event of Default. The Institutional Trustee shall not
revoke any action previously authorized or approved by a vote of the Holders of
the Capital Securities. If the Institutional Trustee fails to enforce its rights
under the Debentures after a holder of record of Capital Securities has made a
written request, such holder of record of Capital Securities may institute a
legal proceeding directly against the Debenture Issuer to enforce the
Institutional Trustee's rights under the Debentures without first instituting
any legal proceeding against the Institutional Trustee or any other person or
entity. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Event of Default has occurred and
is continuing and such event is attributable to the failure of the Debenture
Issuer to pay interest or principal on the Debentures on the date such interest
or principal is otherwise payable (or in the case of redemption, on the
redemption date), then a Holder of Capital Securities may institute a Direct
Action for enforcement of payment to such Holder of the principal of or interest
on the Debentures having a principal amount equal to the aggregate liquidation
amount of the Capital Securities of such holder on or after the respective due
date specified in the Debentures. Notwithstanding any payments made to such
Holder of Capital Securities by the Debenture Issuer in connection with a Direct
Action, the Debenture Issuer shall remain obligated to pay the principal of or
interest on the Debentures held by the Trust or the Institutional Trustee of the
Trust, and the Debenture Issuer shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holder
of such Capital Securities with respect to payments on the Capital Securities to
the extent of any payments made by the Debenture Issuer to such Holder in any
Direct Action. Except as provided in the preceding sentences, the Holders of
Capital Securities will not be able to exercise directly any other remedy
available to the holders of the Debentures.
Except with respect to directing the time, method and place of conducting a
proceeding for a remedy, the Institutional Trustee shall not take any of the
actions described in clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) above unless the Institutional
Trustee has obtained an opinion of a nationally-recognized tax counsel
experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result of such action, the
Trust will not fail to be classified as a grantor trust for United States
federal income tax purposes.
Any approval or direction of Holders of Capital Securities may be given at
a separate meeting of Holders of Capital Securities convened for such purpose,
at a meeting of all of the Holders of Securities in the Trust or pursuant to
written consent. The Regular Trustees will cause a notice of any meeting at
which Holders of Capital Securities are entitled to vote, or of any matter upon
which action by written consent of such Holders is to be taken, to be mailed to
each Holder of record of Capital Securities. Each such notice will include a
statement setting forth (i) the date of such meeting or the date by which such
action is to be taken, (ii) a description of any resolution proposed for
adoption at such meeting on which such Holders are entitled to vote or of such
matter upon which written consent is sought and (iii) instructions for the
delivery of proxies or consents.
No vote or consent of the Holders of the Capital Securities will be
required for the Trust to redeem and cancel Capital Securities or to distribute
the Debentures in accordance with the Declaration and the terms of the
Securities.
Notwithstanding that Holders of Capital Securities are entitled to vote or
consent under any of the circumstances described above, any of the Capital
Securities that are owned by the Sponsor or any Affiliate of the Sponsor shall
not be entitled to vote or consent and shall, for purposes of such vote or
consent, be treated as if they were not outstanding.
Holders of the Capital Securities will have no rights to appoint or remove
the Trustees, who may be appointed, removed or replaced solely by the Sponsor,
as Holder of all of the Common Securities.
6. Voting Rights - Common Securities.
(a)Except as provided under Sections 6(b), (c) and 7 and as otherwise
required by law and the Declaration, the Holders of the Common Securities will
have no voting rights.
(b)The Holders of the Common Securities are entitled, in accordance with
Article V of the Declaration, to vote to appoint, remove or replace any Trustee
or to increase or decrease the number of Trustees.
(c)Subject to Section 2.6 of the Declaration and only after the Event of
Default with respect to the Capital Securities has been cured, waived, or
otherwise eliminated and subject to the requirements of the second to last
sentence of this paragraph, the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of
the Common Securities, voting separately as a class, may direct the time,
method, and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the
Institutional Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the
Institutional Trustee under the Declaration, including (i) directing the time,
method, place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Debt
Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Debt Trustee with
respect to the Debentures, (ii) waive any past default and its consequences that
is waivable under Section 5.07 of the Indenture, or (iii) exercise any right to
rescind or annul a declaration that the principal of all the Debentures shall be
due and payable; provided that, where a consent or action under the Indenture
would require the consent or act of a Super Majority of holders of Debentures
affected thereby the Institutional Trustee may only give such consent or take
such action at the written direction of the Holders of at least the proportion
in liquidation amount of the Common Securities which the relevant Super Majority
represents of the aggregate principal amount of the Debentures outstanding; and
provided further, that where a consent or action under the Indenture would
require the consent or action of each holder of Debentures, each holder of
Capital Securities must direct the Institutional Trustee to give such consent or
take such action. Pursuant to this Section 6(c), the Institutional Trustee shall
not revoke any action previously authorized or approved by a vote of the Holders
of the Capital Securities. Except with respect to directing the time, method and
place of conducting a proceeding for a remedy, the Institutional Trustee shall
not take any action in accordance with the directions of the Holders of the
Common Securities under this paragraph unless the Institutional Trustee has
obtained an opinion of a nationally-recognized tax counsel experienced in such
matters to the effect that, as a result of such action, the Trust will not fail
to be classified as a grantor trust for United States federal income tax
purposes. If the Institutional Trustee fails to enforce its rights under the
Declaration, any Holder of Common Securities may institute a legal proceeding
directly against any Person to enforce the Institutional Trustee's rights under
the Declaration, without first instituting a legal proceeding against the
Institutional Trustee or any other Person.
Any approval or direction of Holders of Common Securities may be given at a
separate meeting of Holders of Common Securities convened for such purpose, at a
meeting of all of the Holders of Securities in the Trust or pursuant to written
consent. The Regular Trustees will cause a notice of any meeting at which
Holders of Common Securities are entitled to vote, or of any matter upon which
action by written consent of such Holders is to be taken, to be mailed to each
Holder of record of Common Securities. Each such notice will include a statement
setting forth (i) the date of such meeting or the date by which such action is
to be taken, (ii) a description of any resolution proposed for adoption at such
meeting on which such Holders are entitled to vote or of such matter upon which
written consent is sought and (iii) instructions for the delivery of proxies or
consents.
No vote or consent of the Holders of the Common Securities will be required
for the Trust to redeem and cancel Common Securities or to distribute the
Debentures in accordance with the Declaration and the terms of the Securities.
7. Amendments to Declaration and Indenture.
(a) In addition to any requirements under Section 12.1 of the Declaration,
if any proposed amendment to the Declaration provides for, or the Regular
Trustees otherwise propose to effect, (i) any action that would adversely affect
the powers, preferences or special rights of the Securities, whether by way of
amendment to the Declaration or otherwise, or (ii) the dissolution, winding-up
or termination of the Trust, other than as described in Section 8.1 of the
Declaration, then the Holders of outstanding Securities voting together as a
single class will be entitled to vote on such amendment or proposal (but not on
any other amendment or proposal) and such amendment or proposal shall not be
effective except with the approval of the Holders of at least a Majority in
liquidation amount of the Securities affected thereby, provided, that, if any
amendment or proposal referred to in clause (i) above would adversely affect
only the Capital Securities or only the Common Securities, then only the
affected class will be entitled to vote on such amendment or proposal and such
amendment or proposal shall not be effective except with the approval of a
Majority in liquidation amount of such class of Securities.
(b) In the event the consent of the Institutional Trustee, as the holder of
the Debentures, is required under the Indenture with respect to any amendment,
modification or termination on the Indenture, the Institutional Trustee shall
request the written direction of the Holders of the Securities with respect to
such amendment, modification or termination and shall vote with respect to such
amendment, modification or termination as directed by a Majority in liquidation
amount of the Securities voting together as a single class; provided, however,
that where a consent under the Indenture would require the consent of a Super
Majority, the Institutional Trustee may only give such consent at the direction
of the Holders of at least the proportion in liquidation amount of the
Securities which the relevant Super Majority represents of the aggregate
principal amount of the Debentures outstanding; and provided, further, that
where a consent or action under the Indenture is only effective against each
holder of Debentures who has consented thereto, such consent or action will only
be effective against a holder of Capital Securities who directs the
Institutional Trustee to give such consent or take such action; and provided,
further, that the Institutional Trustee shall not take any action in accordance
with the directions of the Holders of the Securities under this Section 7(b)
unless the Institutional Trustee has obtained an opinion of a nationally
recognized tax counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that for the
purposes of United States federal income tax the Trust will not be classified as
other than a grantor trust on account of such action.
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, no amendment or modification may be made
to the Declaration if such amendment or modification would (i) cause the Trust
to be classified for purposes of United States federal income taxation as other
than a grantor trust, (ii) reduce or otherwise adversely affect the powers of
the Institutional Trustee or (iii) cause the Trust to be deemed an "investment
company" which is required to be registered under the Investment Company Act.
8. Pro Rata.
A reference in these terms of the Securities to any payment, distribution
or treatment as being "Pro Rata" shall mean pro rata to each Holder according to
the aggregate stated liquidation amount of the Securities held by the relevant
Holder in relation to the aggregate stated liquidation amount of all Securities
outstanding unless, in relation to a payment, an Event of Default under the
Declaration has occurred and is continuing, in which case any funds available to
make such payment shall be paid first to each Holder of the Capital Securities
pro rata according to the aggregate stated liquidation amount of Capital
Securities held by the relevant Holder relative to the aggregate stated
liquidation amount of all Capital Securities outstanding, and only after
satisfaction of all amounts owed to the Holders of the Capital Securities, to
each Holder of Common Securities pro rata according to the aggregate stated
liquidation amount of Common Securities held by the relevant Holder relative to
the aggregate stated liquidation amount of all Common Securities outstanding.
9. Ranking.
The Capital Securities rank pari passu, and payment thereon shall be made
Pro Rata, with the Common Securities except that, where an Event of Default
occurs and is continuing, the rights of Holders of the Common Securities to
receive payment of periodic Distributions and payments upon liquidation,
redemption and otherwise will be subordinated to the rights of the Holders of
the Capital Securities.
10. Acceptance of Securities Guarantee and Indenture.
Each Holder of Capital Securities and Common Securities, by the acceptance
thereof, agrees to the provisions of the Capital Securities Guarantee and the
Common Securities Guarantee, respectively, including the subordination
provisions therein, and to the provisions of the Indenture.
11. No Preemptive Rights.
The Holders shall have no preemptive rights to subscribe for any additional
securities.
12. Miscellaneous.
These terms constitute a part of the Declaration.
The Sponsor will provide a copy of the Declaration, the Capital Securities
Guarantee or the Common Securities Guarantee (as may be appropriate), and the
Indenture to a Holder without charge on written request to the Sponsor at its
principal place of business.
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT A-1
This Capital Security is a Global Certificate within the meaning of the
Declaration hereinafter referred to and is registered in the name of The
Depository Trust Company (the "Depositary") or a nominee of the Depositary. This
Capital Security is exchangeable for Capital Securities registered in the name
of a person other than the Depositary or its nominee only in the limited
circumstances described in the Declaration and no transfer of this Capital
Security (other than a transfer of this Capital Security as a whole by the
Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary or by a nominee of the Depositary to
the Depositary or another nominee of the Depositary) may be registered except in
limited circumstances.
Unless this Capital Security is presented by an authorized representative
of The Depository Trust Company (55 Water Street, New York)to Fleet Capital
Trust V or its agent for registration of transfer, exchange or payment, and any
Capital Security issued is registered in the name of Cede & Co. or such other
name as requested by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust
Company and any payment hereon is made to Cede & Co., ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR
OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY A PERSON IS WRONGFUL inasmuch as the
registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein.
THIS SECURITY IS NOT A SAVINGS ACCOUNT, DEPOSIT ACCOUNT OR
OTHER OBLIGATION OF A BANK AND IS NOT INSURED BY THE FEDEAL
DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENTAL
AGENCY.
<PAGE>
FORM OF CAPITAL SECURITY CERTIFICATE
Certificate Number [ ] Number of Capital Securities [ ]
CUSIP NO. [ ]
Certificate Evidencing Capital Securities
of
FLEET CAPITAL TRUST V
Floating Rate Capital Securities
(liquidation amount $1,000 per Capital Security)
FLEET CAPITAL TRUST V, a statutory business trust formed under the laws of
the State of Delaware (the "Trust"), hereby certifies that _________________
(the "Holder") is the registered owner of capital securities of the Trust
representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust
designated the Floating Rate Capital Securities (liquidation amount $1,000 per
Capital Security) (the "Capital Securities"). The Capital Securities are
transferable on the books and records of the Trust, in person or by a duly
authorized attorney, upon surrender of this certificate duly endorsed and in
proper form for transfer. The designation, rights, privileges, restrictions,
preferences and other terms and provisions of the Capital Securities represented
hereby are issued and shall in all respects be subject to the provisions of the
Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of the Trust dated as of December 18,
1998, as the same may be amended from time to time (the "Declaration"),
including the designation of the terms of the Capital Securities as set forth in
Annex I to the Declaration. Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall
have the meaning given them in the Declaration. The Holder is entitled to the
benefits of the Capital Securities Guarantee to the extent provided therein. The
Sponsor will provide a copy of the Declaration, the Capital Securities Guarantee
and the Indenture to a Holder without charge upon written request to the Trust
at its principal place of business.
Upon receipt of this certificate, the Holder is bound by the Declaration
and is entitled to the benefits thereunder.
In addition, the Holder is deemed to have (i) agreed to the terms of the
Indenture and the Debentures, including that the Debentures are subordinate and
junior in right of payment to all present and future Senior Indebtedness and
Other Financial Obligations (as defined in the Indenture) as and to the extent
provided in the Indenture and (ii) agreed to the terms of the Capital Securities
Guarantee, including that the Capital Securities Guarantee is subordinate and
junior in right of payment to all other liabilities of the Sponsor, including
the Debentures, except those made pari passu or subordinate by their terms, and
pari passu with the most senior preferred or preference stock now or hereafter
issued by the Sponsor and with any guarantee now or hereafter entered into by
the Sponsor in respect of any preferred or preference stock of any Affiliate of
the Sponsor.
By acceptance, the Holder agrees to treat, for United States federal income
tax purposes, the Debentures as indebtedness and the Capital Securities as
evidence of indirect beneficial ownership in the Debentures.
Unless the Institutional Trustee's Certificate of Authentication hereon has
been properly executed, these Capital Securities shall not be entitled to any
benefit under the Declaration or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Trust has executed this certificate this 18th day
of December, 1998.
FLEET CAPITAL TRUST V
By: /s/ John R. Rodehorst
-------------------------------------
Name: John R. Rodehorst
Title: Regular Trustee
<PAGE>
TRUSTEE'S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
This is one of the Capital Securities referred to in the within-mentioned
Declaration.
Dated: December 18, 1998
The First National Bank of Chicago,
as Institutional Trustee
By:----------------------------------
Authorized Signatory
<PAGE>
[FORM OF REVERSE OF SECURITY]
Distributions payable on each Capital Security will be at a variable annual
rate, reset quarterly, equal to Three-Month LIBOR (as defined in Annex I to the
Declaration) plus 1.00% (the "Coupon Rate") of the stated liquidation amount of
$1,000 per Capital Security, such rate being the rate of interest payable on the
Debentures to be held by the Institutional Trustee. Distributions in arrears for
more than one quarter will bear interest thereon compounded quarterly at the
Coupon Rate ("Compound Interest") (to the extent permitted by applicable law).
The term "Distributions" as used herein includes such cash distributions and any
such interest (including Additional Interest and Compound Interest) payable
unless otherwise stated. A Distribution will be made by the Institutional
Trustee only to the extent that payments are made in respect of the Debentures
held by the Institutional Trustee and to the extent the Institutional Trustee
has funds available in the Institutional Trustee Account. The amount of
Distributions payable for any period will be computed on the basis of the actual
number of days in each interest period (which number of actual days shall
include the first day but exclude the last day of such interest period) divided
by 360.
Except as otherwise described below, Distributions on the Capital
Securities will be cumulative, will accrue from December 18, 1998 and will be
payable quarterly in arrears on March 18, June 18, September 18 and December 18
of each year, commencing on March 18, 1999 to Holders of record on the relevant
record dates, which will be, as long as the Capital Securities remain in
book-entry form, one Business Day prior to the relevant payment date and, in the
event the Capital Securities are not in book-entry form, the 15th day of the
month in which the relevant payment date occurs. Such payment dates shall
correspond to the interest payment dates on the Debentures. The Debenture Issuer
has the right under the Indenture to defer payments of interest by extending the
interest payment period from time to time on the Debentures for a period not
exceeding 20 consecutive quarters (each an "Extension Period"), provided that no
Extension Period shall last beyond the date of the maturity of the Debentures
and, as a consequence of such deferral, quarterly Distributions will also be
deferred. Despite such deferral, quarterly Distributions will continue to accrue
with interest thereon (to the extent permitted by applicable law) at the Coupon
Rate compounded quarterly during any such Extension Period. Prior to the
termination of any such Extension Period, the Debenture Issuer may further
extend such Extension Period; provided that such Extension Period together with
all such previous and further extensions thereof may not exceed 20 consecutive
quarters or extend beyond the maturity of the Debentures. Payments of accrued
Distributions will be payable to Holders as they appear on the books and records
of the Trust on the first record date after the end of the Extension Period.
Upon the termination of any Extension Period and the payment of all amounts then
due, the Debenture Issuer may commence a new Extension Period, subject to the
above requirements.
The Capital Securities shall be redeemable as provided in the Declaration.
<PAGE>
ASSIGNMENT
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned assigns and transfers this Capital
Security Certificate to:
(Insert assignee's social security or tax identification number)
(Insert address and zip code of assignee)
and irrevocably appoints _________________________________________________
to transfer this Capital Security Certificate on the books of the Trust.
The agent may substitute another to act for him or her.
Date: -----------------------------------
Signature:-------------------------------
(Sign exactly as your name appears on the
other side of this Capital Security Certificate)
(Signature(s) must be guaranteed by an "eligible
guarantor institution" meeting the requirements of
the Trustee, which requirements include membership
or participation in STAMP or such other "signature
guaranty program" as may be determined by the
Trustee in addition to or in substitution for
STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.)
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT A-2
FORM OF COMMON SECURITY CERTIFICATE
Certificate Number [ ] Number of Common Securities [ ]
Certificate Evidencing Common Securities
of
FLEET CAPITAL TRUST V
Floating Rate Common Securities
(liquidation amount $1,000 per Common Security)
FLEET CAPITAL TRUST V, a statutory business trust formed under the laws of
the State of Delaware (the "Trust"), hereby certifies that _______________ (the
"Holder") is the registered owner of common securities of the Trust representing
undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust designated the
Floating Rate Common Securities (liquidation amount $1,000 per Common Security)
(the "Common Securities"). The Common Securities are transferable on the books
and records of the Trust, in person or by a duly authorized attorney, upon
surrender of this certificate duly endorsed and in proper form for transfer. The
designation, rights, privileges, restrictions, preferences and other terms and
provisions of the Common Securities represented hereby are issued and shall in
all respects be subject to the provisions of the Amended and Restated
Declaration of Trust of the Trust dated as of December 18, 1998, as the same may
be amended from time to time (the "Declaration"), including the designation of
the terms of the Common Securities as set forth in Annex I to the Declaration.
Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meaning given them
in the Declaration. The Holder is entitled to the benefits of the Common
Securities Guarantee to the extent provided therein. The Sponsor will provide a
copy of the Declaration, the Common Securities Guarantee and the Indenture to a
Holder without charge upon written request to the Sponsor at its principal place
of business.
Upon receipt of this certificate, the Sponsor is bound by the Declaration
and is entitled to the benefits thereunder.
In addition, the Holder is deemed to have (i) agreed to the terms of the
Indenture and the Debentures, including that the Debentures are subordinate and
junior in right of payment to all present and future Senior Indebtedness and
Other Financial Obligations (as defined in the Indenture) as and to the extent
provided in the Indenture and (ii) agreed to the terms of the Common Securities
Guarantee, including that the Common Securities Guarantee is subordinate and
junior in right of payment to all other liabilities of the Sponsor, including
the Debentures, except those made pari passu or subordinate by their terms, and
pari passu with the most senior preferred or preference stock now or hereafter
issued by the Sponsor and with any guarantee now or hereafter entered into by
the Sponsor in respect of any preferred or preference stock of any Affiliate of
the Sponsor.
By acceptance, the Holder agrees to treat, for United States federal income
tax purposes, the Debentures as indebtedness and the Common Securities as
evidence of indirect beneficial ownership in the Debentures.
Unless the Institutional Trustee's Certificate of Authentication hereon has
been properly executed, these Common Securities shall not be entitled to any
benefit under the Declaration or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Trust has executed this certificate this 18th day
of December, 1998.
FLEET CAPITAL TRUST V
By: /s/ Eugene M. McQuade
-------------------------------------
Name: Eugene M. McQuade
Title: Regular Trustee
<PAGE>
TRUSTEE'S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
This is one of the Common Securities referred to in the
within-mentioned Declaration.
Dated: December 18, 1998
The First National Bank of Chicago,
as Institutional Trustee
By:---------------------------------
Authorized Signatory
<PAGE>
[FORM OF REVERSE OF SECURITY]
Distributions payable on each Common Security will be at a variable annual
rate, reset quarterly, equal to Three-Month LIBOR (as defined in Annex I to the
Declaration) plus 1.00% of the stated liquidation amount of $1,000 per Common
Security, such rate being the rate of interest payable on the Debentures to be
held by the Institutional Trustee. Distributions in arrears for more than one
quarter will bear interest thereon compounded quarterly at the Coupon Rate
("Compound Interest") (to the extent permitted by applicable law). The term
"Distributions" as used herein includes such cash distributions and any such
interest (including Additional Interest and Compound Interest) payable unless
otherwise stated. A Distribution will be made by the Institutional Trustee only
to the extent that payments are made in respect of the Debentures held by the
Institutional Trustee and to the extent the Institutional Trustee has funds
available in the Institutional Trustee Account. The amount of Distributions
payable for any period will be computed on the basis of the actual number of
days in each interest period (which number of actual days shall include the
first day but exclude the last day of such interest period) divided by 360.
Except as otherwise described below, distributions on the Common Securities
will be cumulative, will accrue from December 18, 1998 and will be payable
quarterly in arrears, on March 18, June 18, September 18 and December 18 of each
year, commencing on March 18, 1999, to Holders of record on the relevant record
dates, which will be, as long as the Capital Securities remain in book-entry
form, one Business Day prior to the relevant payment date and, in the event the
Capital Securities are not in book-entry form, the 15th day of the month in
which the relevant payment date occurs. Such payment dates shall correspond to
the interest payment dates on the Debentures. The Debenture Issuer has the right
under the Indenture to defer payments of interest by extending the interest
payment period from time to time on the Debentures for a period not exceeding 20
consecutive quarters (each an "Extension Period"), provided that no Extension
Period shall last beyond the date of the maturity of the Debentures and, as a
consequence of such deferral, quarterly Distributions will also be deferred.
Despite such deferral, quarterly Distributions will continue to accrue with
interest thereon (to the extent permitted by applicable law) at the Coupon Rate
compounded quarterly during any such Extension Period. Prior to the termination
of any such Extension Period, the Debenture Issuer may further extend such
Extension Period; provided that such Extension Period together with all such
previous and further extensions thereof may not exceed 20 consecutive quarters
or extend beyond the maturity date of the Debentures. Payments of accrued
Distributions will be payable to Holders as they appear on the books and records
of the Trust on the first record date after the end of the Extension Period.
Upon the termination of any Extension Period and the payment of all amounts then
due, the Debenture Issuer may commence a new Extension Period, subject to the
above requirements.
The Common Securities shall be redeemable as provided in the Declaration.
<PAGE>
ASSIGNMENT
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned assigns and transfers this Common
Security Certificate to:
(Insert assignee's social security or tax identification number)
(Insert address and zip code of assignee)
and irrevocably appoints _____________________________________________________
this Common Security Certificate on the books of the Trust. The agent may
substitute another to act for him or her.
Date:--------------------------------------
Signature:---------------------------------
(Sign exactly as your name appears on the other
side of this Common Security Certificate)
(Signature(s) must be guaranteed by an "eligible
guarantor institution" meeting the requirements of
the Trustee, which requirements include membership
or participation in STAMP or such other "signature
guaranty program" as may be determined by the
Trustee in addition to or in substitution for
STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.)
EXHIBIT 4(b)
FLEET FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.
INDENTURE
DATED AS OF DECEMBER 18, 1998
THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO
AS TRUSTEE
JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES
<PAGE>
TIE-SHEET
of provisions of the Trust Indenture Act with Indenture dated as of
December 18, 1998 between Fleet Financial Group, Inc. and
The First National Bank of Chicago, Trustee:
ACT SECTION INDENTURE SECTION
310(a)(1) 6.09
310(a)(2) 6.09
310(a)(3) N/A
310(a)(4) N/A
310(b) 6.08; 6.10(a), (b) and (d)
310(c) N/A
311(a) and (b) 6.13
311(c) N/A
312(a) 4.01; 4.02(a)
312(b) and (c) 4.02(b) and (c)
313(a) 4.04(a)
313(b)(1) N/A
313(b)(2) 4.04(b)
313(c) 4.04(c)
313(d) 4.04(d)
314(a) 4.03
314(b) N/A
314(c)(1) and (2) 13.06
314(c)(3) N/A
314(d) N/A
314(e) 13.06
314(f) N/A
315(a), (c) and (d) 6.01
315(b) 5.08
315(e) 5.09
316(a)(1) 5.01; 5.07
316(a)(2) Omitted
316(a) last sentence 7.04
316(b) 5.04
317(a) 5.02
317(b) 3.04(a)
318(a) 13.08
THIS TIE-SHEET IS NOT PART OF THE INDENTURE AS EXECUTED.
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS*
Page
Parties 1
Recitals 1
Authorization of Indenture 1
Compliance with Legal Requirements 1
Purpose of and Consideration for Indenture 1
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.01. Definitions 1
Additional Provisions 1
Affiliate 1
Authenticating Agent 1
Bankruptcy Law 2
Board of Directors 2
Board Resolution 2
Business Day 2
Certificate 2
Certificate of Authentication 2
Commission 2
Common Securities 2
Common Securities Guarantee 2
Company 2
Custodian 2
Declaration 2
Default 2
Defaulted Interest 3
Defeasance Agent 3
Depository Institution 3
Discharge 3
Event of Default 3
Fleet Capital Trust 3
Fleet Common Stock 3
Global Security 3
Indenture 3
Institutional Trustee 3
Interest 3
Interest Payment Date 3
Mortgage 3
Officers' Certificate 4
Opinion of Counsel 4
Other Financial Obligations 4
Outstanding 4
Person 4
Predecessor Security 4
* THIS TABLE OF CONTENTS SHALL NOT, FOR ANY PURPOSE, BE DEEMED TO BE
A PART OF THE INDENTURE.
Preferred Securities 4
Preferred Securities Guarantee 4
Principal office of the Trustee 4
Responsible Officer 4
Security or Securities 5
Security Register 5
Securityholder or holder of Securities 5
Senior Indebtedness 5
Subsidiary 5
Trustee 5
Trust Indenture Act 5
Trust Securities 5
U.S. Government Obligations 5
ARTICLE II
SECURITIES
SECTION 2.01. Forms Generally 6
SECTION 2.02. Form of Trustee's Certificate of Authentication 6
SECTION 2.03. Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series 6
SECTION 2.04. Authentication and Dating 8
SECTION 2.05. Date and Denomination of Securities 8
SECTION 2.06. Execution of Securities 10
SECTION 2.07. Exchange and Registration of Transfer of Securities 10
SECTION 2.08. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Securities 11
SECTION 2.09. Temporary Securities 11
SECTION 2.10. Cancellation of Securities Paid, etc. 12
SECTION 2.11. Global Securities 12
ARTICLE III
PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY
SECTION 3.01. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest 13
SECTION 3.02. Offices for Notices and Payments, etc. 13
SECTION 3.03. Appointments to Fill Vacancies in Trustee's Office 13
SECTION 3.04. Provision as to Paying Agent 13
SECTION 3.05. Certificate to Trustee 14
SECTION 3.06. Compliance with Consolidation Provisions 14
SECTION 3.07. Limitation on Dividends; Transactions with
Affiliates 14
SECTION 3.08. Covenants as to Fleet Capital Trusts 14
SECTION 3.09. Notice of Default 15
ARTICLE IV
SECURITYHOLDERS' LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE
COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE
SECTION 4.01. Securityholders' Lists 15
SECTION 4.02. Preservation and Disclosure of Lists 15
SECTION 4.03. Reports by Company 16
SECTION 4.04. Reports by the Trustee 17
ARTICLE V
REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS
ON EVENT OF DEFAULT
SECTION 5.01. Events of Default 17
SECTION 5.02. Payment of Securities on Default; Suit Therefor 19
SECTION 5.03. Application of Moneys Collected by Trustee 20
SECTION 5.04. Proceedings by Securityholders 20
SECTION 5.05. Proceedings by Trustee 21
SECTION 5.06. Remedies Cumulative and Continuing 21
SECTION 5.07. Direction of Proceedings and Waiver of Defaults by
Majority of Securityholders 21
SECTION 5.08. Notice of Defaults 22
SECTION 5.09. Undertaking to Pay Costs 22
ARTICLE VI
CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE
SECTION 6.01. Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee 23
SECTION 6.02. Reliance on Documents, Opinions, etc. 23
SECTION 6.03. No Responsibility for Recitals, etc. 24
SECTION 6.04. Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agents,
Transfer Agents or Registrar May Own Securities 24
SECTION 6.05. Moneys to be Held in Trust 25
SECTION 6.06. Compensation and Expenses of Trustee 25
SECTION 6.07. Officers' Certificate as Evidence 25
SECTION 6.08. Conflicting Interest of Trustee 25
SECTION 6.09. Eligibility of Trustee 25
SECTION 6.10. Resignation or Removal of Trustee 26
SECTION 6.11. Acceptance by Successor Trustee 27
SECTION 6.12. Succession by Merger, etc. 27
SECTION 6.13. Limitation on Rights of Trustee as a Creditor 28
SECTION 6.14. Authenticating Agents 28
ARTICLE VII
CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS
SECTION 7.01. Action by Securityholders 29
SECTION 7.02. Proof of Execution by Securityholders 29
SECTION 7.03. Who Are Deemed Absolute Owners 29
SECTION 7.04. Securities Owned by Company Deemed Not Outstanding 30
SECTION 7.05. Revocation of Consents; Future Holders Bound 30
ARTICLE VIII
SECURITYHOLDERS' MEETINGS
SECTION 8.01. Purposes of Meetings 30
SECTION 8.02. Call of Meetings by Trustee 30
SECTION 8.03. Call of Meetings by Company or Securityholders 31
SECTION 8.04. Qualifications for Voting 31
SECTION 8.05. Regulations 31
SECTION 8.06. Voting 31
ARTICLE IX
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES
SECTION 9.01. Supplemental Indentures without Consent of
Securityholders 32
SECTION 9.02. Supplemental Indentures with Consent of
Securityholders 33
SECTION 9.03. Compliance with Trust Indenture Act; Effect
of Supplemental Indentures 34
SECTION 9.04. Notation on Securities 34
SECTION 9.05. Evidence of Compliance of Supplemental Indenture
to be Furnished Trustee 34
ARTICLE X
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE, CONVEYANCE AND LEASE
SECTION 10.01. Company May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms 34
SECTION 10.02. Successor Corporation to be Substituted for Company 35
SECTION 10.03. Opinion of Counsel to be Given Trustee 35
ARTICLE XI
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE
SECTION 11.01. Discharge of Indenture 35
SECTION 11.02. Deposited Moneys and U.S. Government Obligations
to be Held in Trust by Trustee 36
SECTION 11.03. Paying Agent to Repay Moneys Held 36
SECTION 11.04. Return of Unclaimed Moneys 36
SECTION 11.05. Defeasance Upon Deposit of Moneys or U.S.
Government Obligations 36
ARTICLE XII
IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS,
OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
SECTION 12.01. Indenture and Securities Solely Corporate
Obligations 37
ARTICLE XIII
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
SECTION 13.01. Successors 38
SECTION 13.02. Official Acts by Successor Corporation 38
SECTION 13.03. Surrender of Company Powers 38
SECTION 13.04. Addresses for Notices, etc. 38
SECTION 13.05. Governing Law 38
SECTION 13.06. Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent 38
SECTION 13.07. Legal Holidays 39
SECTION 13.08. Trust Indenture Act to Control 39
SECTION 13.09. Table of Contents, Headings, etc. 39
SECTION 13.10. Execution in Counterparts 39
SECTION 13.11. Separability 39
SECTION 13.12. Assignment 39
SECTION 13.13. Acknowledgment of Rights 40
ARTICLE XIV
REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES-- MANDATORY AND OPTIONAL SINKING FUND
SECTION 14.01. Applicability of Article 40
SECTION 14.02. Notice of Redemption; Selection of Securities 40
SECTION 14.03. Payment of Securities Called for Redemption 41
SECTION 14.04. Mandatory and Optional Sinking Fund 41
ARTICLE XV
SUBORDINATION OF SECURITIES
SECTION 15.01. Agreement to Subordinate 42
SECTION 15.02. Default on Senior Indebtedness 43
SECTION 15.03. Liquidation; Dissolution; Bankruptcy 43
SECTION 15.04. Subrogation 44
SECTION 15.05. Trustee to Effectuate Subordination 45
SECTION 15.06. Notice by the Company 45
SECTION 15.07. Rights of the Trustee; Holders of Senior
Indebtedness and Other Financial Obligations 46
SECTION 15.08. Subordination May Not Be Impaired 46
Testimonium 47
Signatures 47
Notarizations 48
<PAGE>
THIS INDENTURE, dated as of December 18, 1998, between Fleet Financial
Group, Inc., a Rhode Island corporation (hereinafter sometimes called the
"Company"), and The First National Bank of Chicago, a national banking
association, as trustee (hereinafter sometimes called the "Trustee"),
W I T N E S S E T H :
WHEREAS, for its lawful corporate purposes, the Company has duly authorized
the issuance from time to time of its junior subordinated unsecured debentures,
notes or other evidence of indebtedness to be issued in one or more series (the
"Securities") up to such principal amount or amounts as may from time to time be
authorized in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and, to provide the
terms and conditions upon which the Securities are to be authenticated, issued
and delivered, the Company has duly authorized the execution of this Indenture;
and
WHEREAS, all acts and things necessary to make this Indenture a valid
agreement according to its terms, have been done and performed;
NOW, THEREFORE, This Indenture Witnesseth:
In consideration of the premises, and the purchase of the Securities by the
holders thereof, the Company covenants and agrees with the Trustee for the equal
and proportionate benefit of the respective holders from time to time of the
Securities or of a series thereof, as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.01. Definitions.
The terms defined in this Section 1.01 (except as herein otherwise
expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires) for all purposes of
this Indenture and of any indenture supplemental hereto shall have the
respective meanings specified in this Section 1.01. All other terms used in this
Indenture which are defined in the Trust Indenture Act, as amended (the "Trust
Indenture Act"), or which are by reference therein defined in the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), shall (except as herein otherwise
expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires) have the meanings
assigned to such terms in said Trust Indenture Act and in said Securities Act as
in force at the date of this Indenture as originally executed. All accounting
terms used herein and not expressly defined shall have the meanings assigned to
such terms in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and the
term "generally accepted accounting principles" means such accounting principles
as are generally accepted at the time of any computation. The words "herein",
"hereof" and "hereunder" and other words of similar import refer to this
Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other
subdivision. Any reference to the singular includes the plural and vice versa
(unless the context otherwise requires).
"Additional Provisions" shall have the meaning given to such term in
Section 15.01.
"Affiliate" means, with respect to a specified Person, (a) any Person
directly or indirectly owning, controlling or holding with power to vote, 10% or
more of the outstanding voting securities or other ownership interests of the
specified Person, (b) any Person 10% or more of whose outstanding voting
securities or other ownership interests are directly or indirectly owned,
controlled or held with power to vote by the specified Person, (c) any Person
directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with
the specified Person, (d) a partnership in which the specified Person is a
general partner, (e) any officer or director of the specified Person, and (f) if
the specified Person is an individual, any entity of which the specified Person
is an officer, director or general partner.
"Authenticating Agent" shall mean any agent or agents of the Trustee which
at the time shall be appointed and acting pursuant to Section 6.14.
"Bankruptcy Law" shall mean Title 11, U.S. Code, or any similar federal or
state law for the relief of debtors.
"Board of Directors" shall mean the Board of Directors or the Executive
Committee or any other duly authorized committee thereof of the Company.
"Board Resolution" shall mean a copy of a resolution certified by the
Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been duly adopted by
the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of such
certification.
"Business Day" shall mean, with respect to any series of Securities, any
day other than a day on which Federal or State banking institutions in the
Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York or Chicago, Illinois are authorized
or obligated by law, executive order or regulation to close.
"Certificate" shall mean a certificate signed by the principal executive
officer, the principal financial officer or the principal accounting officer of
the Company.
"Certificate of Authentication" shall mean the certificate issued by the
Trustee or the Authenticating Agent as to the form of Security issued under the
Indenture.
"Commission" shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from
time to time constituted, created under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or,
if at any time after the execution of this instrument such Commission is not
existing and performing the duties now assigned to it under the Trust Indenture
Act, then the body performing such duties at such time.
"Common Securities" shall mean undivided beneficial interests in the assets
of a Fleet Capital Trust which rank pari passu with Preferred Securities issued
by such Fleet Capital Trust; provided, however, that upon the occurrence of an
Event of Default, the rights of holders of Common Securities to payment in
respect of distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise
are subordinated to the rights of holders of Preferred Securities.
"Common Securities Guarantee" shall mean any guarantee that the Company may
enter into with any Person or Persons that operate directly or indirectly for
the benefit of holders of Common Securities of such Fleet Capital Trust.
"Company" shall mean Fleet Financial Group, Inc., a Rhode Island
corporation, and, subject to the provisions of Article Ten hereof, shall include
its successors and assigns.
The term "custodian" shall mean any receiver, trustee, assignee,
liquidator, or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.
"Declaration", with respect to a Fleet Capital Trust, shall mean the
Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of such Fleet Capital Trust.
"Default" means any event, act or condition that with notice or lapse of
time, or both, would constitute an Event of Default.
"Defaulted Interest" shall have the meaning given to such term in Section
2.05.
"Defeasance Agent" shall have the meaning given to such term in Section
11.05(c).
"Depository Institution" shall mean, with respect to Securities of any
series, for which the Company shall determine that such Securities will be
issued as a Global Security, The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York,
another clearing agency, or any successor registered as a clearing agency under
the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), or
other applicable statute or regulation, which, in each case, shall be designated
by the Company pursuant to either Section 2.03 or 2.11.
"Discharged" shall have the meaning given to such term in Section 11.05(b).
"Event of Default" shall mean any event specified in Section 5.01,
continued for the period of time, if any, and after the giving of the notice, if
any, therein designated.
"Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
"Fleet Capital Trust" shall mean each of Fleet Capital Trust V, Fleet
Capital Trust VI, Capital Trust VII, Fleet Capital Trust VIII, Fleet Capital
Trust IX, and Fleet Capital Trust X, each a Delaware business trust, or any
other similar trust created for the purpose of issuing securities in connection
with the issuance of Securities under this Indenture.
"Fleet Common Stock" shall mean the Common Stock, par value $0.01 per
share, of the Company or any other class of stock resulting from changes or
reclassifications of such Common Stock consisting solely of changes in par
value, or from par value to no par value, or from no par value to par value.
Subject to the anti-dilution provisions of any convertible Security, however,
shares of Fleet Common Stock issuable on conversion of a Security shall include
only shares of the class designated as Common Stock of the Company at the date
of the supplemental indenture, Board Resolution or other instrument authorizing
such Security or shares of any class or classes resulting from any
reclassification or reclassifications thereof and which have no preference in
respect of the payment of dividends or the distribution of assets upon any
voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Company
and which are not subject to redemption by the Company, provided that if at any
time there shall be more than one such resulting class, the shares of each such
class then so issuable shall be substantially in the proportion which the total
number of shares of such class resulting from all such reclassifications bears
to the total number of shares of such classes resulting from all such
reclassifications.
"Global Security" means, with respect to any series of Securities, a
Security executed by the Company and delivered by the Trustee to the Depository
Institution or pursuant to the Depository Institution's instruction, all in
accordance with the Indenture, which shall be registered in the name of the
Depository Institution or its nominee.
"Indenture" shall mean this instrument as originally executed or, if
amended or supplemented as herein provided, as so amended or supplemented, or
both, and shall include the form and terms of particular series of Securities
established as contemplated hereunder.
"Institutional Trustee" has the meaning set forth in the Declaration of the
applicable Fleet Capital Trust.
The term "interest" shall mean, when used with respect to non-interest
bearing Securities, interest payable at maturity.
"Interest Payment Date", when used with respect to any installment of
interest on a Security of a particular series, shall mean the date specified in
such Security or in a Board Resolution or in an indenture supplemental hereto
with respect to such series as the fixed date on which an installment of
interest with respect to Securities of that series is due and payable.
The term "mortgage" shall mean and include any mortgage, pledge, lien,
security interest, conditional sale or other title retention agreement or other
similar encumbrance.
"Officers' Certificate" shall mean a certificate signed by the Chairman of
the Board, the President or any Vice President, and by the Treasurer, an
Assistant Treasurer, the Controller, an Assistant Controller, the Secretary or
an Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Trustee. Each such
certificate shall include the statements provided for in Section 13.06 if and to
the extent provided by the provisions of such Section.
"Opinion of Counsel" shall mean an opinion in writing signed by legal
counsel experienced in the matters as to which such opinion is being delivered,
who may be an employee of or counsel to the Company, or may be other counsel
satisfactory to the Trustee. Each such opinion shall include the statements
provided for in Section 13.06 if and to the extent required by the provisions of
such Section.
"Other Financial Obligations" means all obligations of the Company to make
payment pursuant to the terms of financial instruments, such as (i) securities
contracts and foreign currency exchange contracts, (ii) derivative instruments,
such as swap agreements (including interest rate and foreign exchange rate swap
agreements), cap agreements, floor agreements, collar agreements, interest rate
agreements, foreign exchange rate agreements, options, commodity futures
contracts, commodity option contracts and (iii) in the case of both (i) and (ii)
above, similar financial instruments, other than (A) obligations on account of
Senior Indebtedness and (B) obligations on account of indebtedness for money
borrowed ranking pari passu with or subordinate to the Securities.
The term "outstanding" (except as otherwise provided in Section 7.01), when
used with reference to Securities, shall, subject to the provisions of Section
7.04, mean, as of any particular time, all Securities authenticated and
delivered by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent under this Indenture,
except
(a) Securities theretofore cancelled by the Trustee or the
Authenticating Agent or delivered to the Trustee for
cancellation;
(b) Securities, or portions thereof, for the payment or redemption of
which moneys in the necessary amount shall have been deposited in
trust with the Trustee or with any paying agent (other than the
Company) or shall have been set aside and segregated in trust by
the Company (if the Company shall act as its own paying agent);
provided that, if such Securities, or portions thereof, are to be
redeemed prior to maturity thereof, notice of such redemption
shall have been given as in Article Fourteen provided or
provision satisfactory to the Trustee shall have been made for
giving such notice; and
(c) Securities in lieu of or in substitution for which other
Securities shall have been authenticated and delivered pursuant
to the terms of Section 2.08 unless proof satisfactory to the
Company and the trustee is presented that any such Securities are
held by bona fide holders in due course.
"Person" shall mean any individual, corporation, partnership, joint
venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or
government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.
"Predecessor Security" of any particular Security means every previous
Security evidencing all or a portion of the same debt and as that evidenced by
such particular Security; and, for the purposes of this definition, any Security
authenticated and delivered under Section 2.08 in lieu of a lost, destroyed or
stolen Security shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the lost, destroyed
or stolen Security.
"Preferred Securities" shall mean undivided beneficial interests in the
assets of a Fleet Capital Trust which rank pari passu with Common Securities
issued by such Fleet Capital Trust whether or not designated for the purposes of
identification as preferred securities or capital securities; provided, however,
that upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, the rights of holders of Common
Securities to payment in respect of distributions and payments upon liquidation,
redemption and otherwise are subordinated to the rights of holders of Preferred
Securities.
"Preferred Securities Guarantee" shall mean any guarantee that the Company
may enter into with The First National Bank of Chicago or other Persons that
operate directly or indirectly for the benefit of holders of Preferred
Securities of such Fleet Capital Trust.
The term "principal office of the Trustee", or other similar term, shall
mean the principal office of the Trustee, at which at any particular time its
corporate trust business shall be administered.
"Responsible Officer" means, with respect to the Trustee, any officer
within the corporate trust office of the Trustee, including any vice-president,
any assistant vice-president, any assistant secretary, the treasurer, any
assistant treasurer or other officer of the corporate trust office of the
Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of
the above designated officers and also means, with respect to a particular
corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred
because of that officer's knowledge of and familiarity with the particular
subject.
"Security" or "Securities" shall have the meaning stated in the first
recital of this Indenture and more particularly means any security or
securities, as the case may be, authenticated and delivered under this
Indenture.
"Security Register" shall have the meaning given to such term in Section
2.07.
"Securityholder", "holder of Securities", or other similar terms, shall
mean any person in whose name at the time a particular Security is registered on
the register kept by the Company or the Trustee for that purpose in accordance
with the terms hereof.
"Senior Indebtedness" means, with respect to the Company, (i) the
principal, premium, if any, and interest in respect of (A) indebtedness of the
Company for money borrowed and (B) indebtedness evidenced by securities,
debentures, bonds or other similar instruments issued by the Company, (ii) all
capital lease obligations of the Company, (iii) all obligations of the Company
issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property, all conditional
sale obligations of the Company and all obligations of the Company under any
title retention agreement (but excluding trade accounts payable arising in the
ordinary course of business), (iv) all obligations of the Company for the
reimbursement of any letter of credit, banker's acceptance, security purchase
facility or similar credit transaction, (v) all obligations of the type referred
to in clauses (i) through (iv) above of other persons for the payment of which
the Company is responsible or liable as obligor, guarantor or otherwise and (vi)
all obligations of the type referred to in clauses (i) through (v) above of
other persons secured by any lien on any property or asset of the Company
(whether or not such obligation is assumed by the Company), except that Senior
Indebtedness shall not include (i) any such indebtedness that is by its terms
subordinated to or ranks pari passu with the Securities and (ii) any
indebtedness between and among the Company or its Affiliates, including all
other debt securities and guarantees in respect to those debt securities, issued
to any other trust, or a trustee of such trust, partnership or other entity
affiliated with the Company that is a financing vehicle of the Company (a
"financing entity") in connection with the issuance by such financing entity of
Preferred Securities or other securities that rank pari passu with, or junior
to, the Preferred Securities.
"Subsidiary" shall mean with respect to any Person, (i) any corporation at
least a majority of whose outstanding voting stock of which is owned, directly
or indirectly, by such Person or by one or more of its Subsidiaries, or by such
Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries, (ii) any general partnership, joint
venture or similar entity, at least a majority of whose outstanding partnership
or similar interests shall at the time be owned by such Person, or by one or
more of its Subsidiaries, or by such Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries
and (iii) any limited partnership of which such Person or any of its
Subsidiaries is a general partner. For the purposes of this definition, "voting
stock" means shares, interests, participations or other equivalents in the
equity interest (however designated) in such Person having ordinary voting power
for the election of a majority of the directors (or the equivalent) of such
Person, other than shares, interests, participations or other equivalents having
such power only by reason of the occurrence of a contingency.
"Trustee" shall mean the Person identified as "Trustee" in the first
paragraph hereof, and, subject to the provisions of Article Six hereof, shall
also include its successors and assigns as Trustee hereunder. The term "Trustee"
as used with respect to a particular series of the Securities shall mean the
trustee with respect to that series.
"Trust Indenture Act" shall mean the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as in
force at the date of execution of this Indenture, except as provided in Section
9.03.
"Trust Securities" shall mean Common Securities and Preferred Securities of
a Fleet Capital Trust.
"U.S. Government Obligations" shall mean securities that are (i) direct
obligations of the United States of America for the payment of which its full
faith and credit is pledged or (ii) obligations of a Person controlled or
supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of
America the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and
credit obligation by the United States of America, which, in either case under
clauses (i) or (ii) are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer
thereof, and shall also include a depository receipt issued by a bank or trust
company as custodian with respect to any such U.S. Government Obligation or a
specific payment of interest on or principal of any such U.S. 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
U.S. Government Obligation or the specific payment of interest on or principal
of the U.S. Government Obligation evidenced by such depository receipt.
ARTICLE II
SECURITIES
SECTION 2.01. Forms Generally.
The Securities of each series shall be in substantially the form as shall
be established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution and as set forth in an
Officers' Certificate of the Company 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 any law or with
any rules made pursuant thereto or with any rules of any securities exchange or
all as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the officers of the Company
executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution of the Securities.
The definitive Securities 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, as evidenced by their
execution of such Securities.
SECTION 2.02. Form of Trustee's Certificate of Authentication.
The Trustee's Certificate of Authentication on all Securities shall be in
substantially the following form:
This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to
in the within-mentioned Indenture.
The First National Bank of Chicago
as Trustee
By:_______________________________________
Authorized Signatory
SECTION 2.03. 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 up to the aggregate principal amount of securities of that series
from time to time authorized by or pursuant to a Board Resolution of the Company
or pursuant to one or more indentures supplemental hereto. Prior to the initial
issuance of Securities of any series, there shall be established in or pursuant
to a Board Resolution of the Company and set forth in an Officers' Certificate
of the Company or established in one or more indentures supplemental:
(a) the title of the Securities of the series (which shall distinguish the
Securities of the series from all other Securities);
(b) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of the
series which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for
Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in
exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of the series pursuant to Sections
2.07, 2.08, 2.09, 9.04 or 14.03);
(c) the date or dates on which the principal of and premium, if any, on the
Securities of the series is payable;
(d) the rate or rates at which the Securities of the series shall bear
interest, if any, or the method by which such interest may be determined, the
date or dates from which such interest shall accrue, the Interest Payment Dates
on which such interest shall be payable or the manner of determination of such
Interest Payment Dates and the record dates for the determination of holders to
whom interest is payable on any such Interest Payment Dates;
(e) the place or places where the principal of, and premium, if any, and
any interest on Securities of the series shall be payable;
(f) the right, if any, to extend the interest payment periods and the
duration of such extension;
(g) the price or prices at which, the period or periods within which and
the terms and conditions upon which Securities of the series may be redeemed, in
whole or in part, at the option of the Company, pursuant to any sinking fund or
otherwise;
(h) the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem, purchase or repay
Securities of the series pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or
at the option of a Securityholder thereof and the price or prices at which, and
the period or periods within which, and the terms and conditions upon which,
Securities of the series shall be redeemed, purchased or repaid, in whole or in
part, pursuant to such obligation;
(i) if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple
thereof, the denominations in which Securities of the series shall be issuable;
(j) any Events of Default with respect to the Securities of a particular
series, if not set forth herein;
(k) the form of the Securities of the series including the form of the
Certificate of Authentication of such series;
(l) any trustee, authenticating or paying agents, warrant agents, transfer
agents or registrars with respect to the Securities of such series;
(m) whether the Securities of the series shall be issued in whole or in
part in the form of one or more Global Securities and, in such case, the
Depository Institution for such Global Security or Securities, and whether
beneficial owners of interests in any such Global Securities may exchange such
interests for other Securities of such series in the manner provided in Section
2.07, and the manner and the circumstances under which and the place or places
where any such exchanges may occur if other than in the manner provided in
Section 2.07, and any other terms of the series relating to the global nature of
the Global Securities of such series and the exchange, registration or transfer
thereof and the payment of any principal thereof, or interest or premium, if
any, thereon; and
(n) any other terms of the series (which terms shall not be inconsistent
with the provisions of this Indenture).
All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical except as
to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to such
resolution of the Board of Directors or in any such indenture supplemental
hereto.
If any of the terms of the series are established by action taken pursuant
to a Board Resolution of the Company, a copy of an appropriate record of such
action shall be certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the
Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the
Officers' Certificate of the Company setting forth the terms of the series.
SECTION 2.04. Authentication and Dating.
At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this
Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities of any series executed by the
Company to the Trustee for authentication, and the Trustee shall thereupon
authenticate and deliver said Securities to or upon the written order of the
Company, signed by its Chairman of the Board of Directors, President or one of
its Vice Presidents and by its Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, Secretary or
any Assistant Secretary, without any further action by the Company hereunder. In
authenticating such Securities, and accepting the additional responsibilities
under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall be
entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 6.01) shall be fully protected in
relying upon:
(a) a copy of any Board Resolution or Resolutions relating thereto and, if
applicable, an appropriate record of any action taken pursuant to such
resolution, in each case certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of
the Company;
(b) an executed supplemental indenture, if any;
(c) an Officers' Certificate setting forth the form and terms of the
Securities as required pursuant to Sections 2.01 and 2.03, respectively; and
(d) an Opinion of Counsel prepared in accordance with Section 13.06 which
shall also state:
(i) that the form of such Securities has been established by or
pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors or by a
supplemental indenture as permitted by Section 2.01 in
conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;
(ii) that the terms of such Securities have been established by or
pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors or by a
supplemental indenture as permitted by Section 2.03 in
conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;
(iii) that such Securities, when authenticated and delivered by the
Trustee and issued by the Company in the manner and subject to
any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will
constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company;
(iv) that all laws and requirements in respect of the execution and
delivery by the Company of the Securities have been complied
with and that authentication and delivery of the Securities by
the Trustee will not violate the terms of the Indenture; and
(v) such other matters as the Trustee may reasonably request.
The Trustee shall have the right to decline to authenticate and deliver any
Securities under this Section if the Trustee, being advised by counsel,
determines that such action may not lawfully be taken or if the Trustee in good
faith by its board of directors or trustees, executive committee, or a trust
committee of directors or trustees and/or vice presidents shall determine that
such action would expose the Trustee to personal liability to existing holders.
SECTION 2.05. Date and Denomination of Securities.
The Securities shall be issuable in such form and in such denominations as
shall be specified as contemplated by Section 2.03. In the absence of any such
specification with respect to the Securities of any series, the Securities of
such Series shall be issuable as registered Securities without coupons and in
the denominations of $1,000 and any multiple thereof. The Securities shall be
numbered, lettered, or otherwise distinguished in such manner or in accordance
with such plans as the officers of the Company executing the same may determine
with the approval of the Trustee as evidenced by the execution and
authentication thereof.
Every Security shall be dated the date of its authentication, shall bear
interest, if any, from such date and shall be payable on such dates, in each
case, as contemplated by Section 2.03. The interest installment on any Security
that is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest
Payment Date for Securities of that series shall be paid to the Person in whose
name said Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the
close of business on the regular record date for such interest installment. In
the event that any Security of a particular series or portion thereof is called
for redemption and the redemption date is subsequent to a regular record date
with respect to any Interest Payment Date and prior to such Interest Payment
Date, interest on such Security will be paid upon presentation and surrender of
such Security as provided in Section 3.01.
Any interest on any Security that is payable, but is not punctually paid or
duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date for any Security of the same
series (herein called "Defaulted Interest") shall forthwith cease to be payable
to the registered holder on the relevant regular record date by virtue of having
been such holder, and such Defaulted Interest shall be paid by the Company, at
its election, as provided in clause (1) or clause (2) below:
(a) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on
Securities to the Persons in whose names such Securities (or
their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the
close of business on a special record date for the payment of
such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following
manner: the Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the
amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each such
Security and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same
time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of
money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in
respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements
satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of
the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in
trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted
Interest as in this clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall
fix a special record date for the payment of such Defaulted
Interest which shall not be more than 15 nor less than 10 days
prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10
days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the
proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company
of such special record date and, in the name and at the expense
of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of
such Defaulted Interest and the special record date therefor to
be mailed, first class postage prepaid, to each Securityholder at
his or her address as it appears in the Security Register (as
hereinafter defined), not less than 10 days prior to such special
record date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted
Interest and the special record date therefor having been mailed
as aforesaid, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the
Persons in whose names such Securities (or their respective
Predecessor Securities) are registered on such special record
date and shall be no longer payable pursuant to the following
clause (b).
(b) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on any
Securities in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the
requirements of any securities exchange on which such Securities
may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such
exchange, if, after notice given by the Company to the Trustees
of the proposed payment pursuant to this clause, such manner of
payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.
Unless otherwise set forth in a Board Resolution of the Company or one or
more indentures supplemental hereto establishing the terms of any series of
Securities pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof, the term "regular record date" as
used in this Section with respect to a series of Securities with respect to any
Interest Payment Date for such series shall mean either the fifteenth day of the
month in which an Interest Payment Date established for such series pursuant to
Section 2.01 hereof shall occur, if such Interest Payment Date is the last day
of a month, or the last day of the month immediately preceding the month in
which an Interest Payment Date established for such series pursuant to Section
2.01 hereof shall occur, if such Interest Payment Date is the fifteenth day of a
month, whether or not such date is a Business Day.
Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section, each Security of a
series delivered under this Indenture upon transfer of or in exchange for or in
lieu of any other Security of such series shall carry the rights to interest
accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, that were carried by such other Security.
SECTION 2.06. Execution of Securities.
The Securities shall be signed in the name and on behalf of the Company by
the facsimile signature of its Chairman of the Board of Directors, President or
one of its Vice Presidents and by the facsimile signature of its Treasurer, one
of its Assistant Treasurers, Secretary or one of its Assistant Secretaries,
under its corporate seal which may be affixed thereto or printed, engraved or
otherwise reproduced thereon, by facsimile or otherwise, and which need not be
attested. Only such Securities as shall bear thereon a Certificate of
Authentication substantially in the form hereinbefore recited, executed by the
Trustee or the Authenticating Agent, shall be entitled to the benefits of this
Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose. Such certificate by the
Trustee or the Authenticating Agent upon any Security executed by the Company
shall be conclusive evidence that the Security so authenticated has been duly
authenticated and delivered hereunder and that the holder is entitled to the
benefits of this Indenture.
In case any officer of the Company who shall have signed any of the
Securities shall cease to be such officer before the Securities so signed shall
have been authenticated and delivered by the Trustee or the Authenticating
Agent, or disposed of by the Company, such Securities nevertheless may be
authenticated and delivered or disposed of as though the person who signed such
Securities had not ceased to be such officer of the Company; and any Security
may be signed on behalf of the Company by such persons as, at the actual date of
the execution of such Security, shall be the proper officers of the Company,
although at the date of the execution of this Indenture any such person was not
such an officer.
SECTION 2.07. Exchange and Registration of Transfer of Securities.
Subject to Section 2.03(i), Securities of any series may be exchanged for a
like aggregate principal amount of Securities of the same series of other
authorized denominations. Securities to be exchanged may be surrendered at the
principal office of the Trustee or at any office or agency to be maintained by
the Company for such purpose as provided in Section 3.02, and the Company or the
Trustee shall execute and register and the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent
shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor the Security or Securities
which the Securityholder making the exchange shall be entitled to receive. Upon
due presentment for registration of transfer of any Security of any series at
the principal office of the Trustee or at any office or agency of the Company
maintained for such purpose as provided in Section 3.02, the Company or the
Trustee shall execute and register and the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent
shall authenticate and deliver in the name of the transferee or transferees a
new Security or Securities of the same series for a like aggregate principal
amount. Registration or registration of transfer of any Security by the Trustee
or by any agent of the Company appointed pursuant to Section 3.02, and delivery
of such Security, shall be deemed to complete the registration or registration
of transfer of such Security.
The Company or the Trustee shall keep, at the principal office of the
Trustee, a register for each series of Securities issued hereunder (the
"Security Register") in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may
prescribe, the Company or the Trustee shall register all Securities and shall
register the transfer of all Securities as in this Article Two provided. Such
register shall be in written form or in any other form capable of being
converted into written form within a reasonable time.
All Securities presented for registration of transfer or for exchange or
payment shall (if so required by the Company, the Trustee or the Authenticating
Agent) be duly endorsed by, or be accompanied by a written instrument or
instruments of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee or
the Authenticating Agent duly executed by, the holder of such Security or his
attorney duly authorized in writing.
No service charge shall be made for any exchange or registration of
transfer of Securities, but the Company or the Trustee may require payment of a
sum sufficient to cover any tax, fee or other governmental charge that may be
imposed in connection therewith.
The Company or the Trustee shall not be required to exchange or register a
transfer of (a) any Security for a period of 15 days next preceding the date of
selection of Securities of such series for redemption, or (b) any Securities of
any series selected, called or being called for redemption in whole or in part,
except in the case of any Securities of any series to be redeemed in part, the
portion thereof not so to be redeemed.
SECTION 2.08. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Securities.
In case any temporary or definitive Security shall become mutilated or be
destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company shall execute, and upon its request the
Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, a new Security of the same series
bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding, in exchange and substitution
for the mutilated Security, or in lieu of and in substitution for the Security
so destroyed, lost or stolen. In every case the applicant for a substituted
Security shall furnish to the Company and the Trustee such security or indemnity
as may be required by them to save each of them harmless, and, in every case of
destruction, loss or theft, the applicant shall also furnish to the Company and
the Trustee evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of
such Security and of the ownership thereof.
The Trustee may authenticate any such substituted Security and deliver the
same upon the written request or authorization of any officer of the Company.
Upon the issuance of any substituted Security, the Company may require the
payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that
may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses connected therewith.
In case any Security which has matured or is about to mature or has been called
for redemption in full shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen,
the Company may, instead of issuing a substitute Security, pay or authorize the
payment of the same (without surrender thereof except in the case of a mutilated
Security) if the applicant for such payment shall furnish to the Company and the
Trustee such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of
them harmless and, in case of destruction, loss or theft, evidence satisfactory
to the Company and to the Trustee of the destruction, loss or theft of such
Security and of the ownership thereof.
Every substituted Security of any series issued pursuant to the provisions
of this Section 2.08 by virtue of the fact that any such Security is destroyed,
lost or stolen shall constitute an additional contractual obligation of the
Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be found at
any time, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally
and proportionately with any and all other Securities of the same series duly
issued hereunder. All Securities shall be held and owned upon the express
condition that, to the extent permitted by applicable law, the foregoing
provisions are exclusive with respect to the replacement or payment of
mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities and shall preclude any and all
other rights or remedies notwithstanding any law or statute existing or
hereafter enacted to the contrary with respect to the replacement or payment of
negotiable instruments or other securities without their surrender.
SECTION 2.09. Temporary Securities.
Pending the preparation of definitive Securities of any series, the Company
may execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver temporary Securities
(printed or lithographed). Temporary Securities shall be issuable in any
authorized denomination, and substantially in the form of the definitive
Securities but with such omissions, insertions and variations as may be
appropriate for temporary Securities, all as may be determined by the Company.
Every such temporary Security shall be executed by the Company and be
authenticated by the Trustee upon the same conditions and in substantially the
same manner, and with the same effect, as the definitive Securities. Without
unreasonable delay the Company will execute and deliver to the Trustee or the
Authenticating Agent definitive Securities and thereupon any or all temporary
Securities of such series may be surrendered in exchange therefor, at the
principal office of the Trustee or at any office or agency maintained by the
Company for such purpose as provided in Section 3.02, and the Trustee or the
Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and deliver in exchange for such
temporary Securities a like aggregate principal amount of such definitive
Securities. Such exchange shall be made by the Company at its own expense and
without any charge therefor except that in case of any such exchange involving a
registration of transfer the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to
cover any tax, fee or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation
thereto. 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 the same series authenticated and delivered hereunder.
SECTION 2.10. Cancellation of Securities Paid, etc.
All Securities surrendered for the purpose of payment, redemption, exchange
or registration of transfer, shall, if surrendered to the Company or any paying
agent, be surrendered to the Trustee and promptly cancelled by it, or, if
surrendered to the Trustee or any Authenticating Agent, shall be promptly
cancelled by it, and no Securities shall be issued in lieu thereof except as
expressly permitted by any of the provisions of this Indenture. All Securities
cancelled by any Authenticating Agent shall be delivered to the Trustee. The
Trustee shall destroy cancelled Securities and shall deliver a certificate of
such destruction to the Company. If the Company shall acquire any of the
Securities, however, such acquisition shall not operate as a redemption or
satisfaction of the indebtedness represented by such Securities unless and until
the same are surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation.
SECTION 2.11. Global Securities.
(a) If the Company shall establish pursuant to Section 2.03 that the
Securities of a particular series are to be issued as a Global Security, then
the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall, in accordance with Section
2.04, authenticate and deliver, a Global Security that (i) shall represent, and
shall be denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of,
all of the outstanding Securities of such series, (ii) shall be registered in
the name of the Depository Institution or its nominee, (iii) shall be delivered
by the Trustee to the Depository Institution or pursuant to the Depository
Institution's instruction and (iv) shall bear a legend substantially to the
following effect: "Except as otherwise provided in Section 2.11 of the
Indenture, this Security may be transferred, in whole but not in part, only to
another nominee of the Depository Institution or to a successor Depository
Institution or to a nominee of such successor Depository Institution."
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2.07, the Global Security of
a series may be transferred, in whole but not in part and in the manner provided
in Section 2.07, only to another nominee of the Depository Institution for such
series or to a successor Depository Institution for such series selected or
approved by the Company or to a nominee of such successor Depository
Institution.
(c) If at any time the Depository Institution for a series of the
Securities notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as
Depository Institution for such series or if at any time the Depository
Institution for such series shall no longer be registered or in good standing
under the Exchange Act, or other applicable statute or regulation, and a
successor Depository Institution for such series is not appointed by the Company
within 90 days after the Company receives such notice or becomes aware of such
condition, as the case may be, this Section 2.11 shall no longer be applicable
to the Securities of such series and the Company will execute, and subject to
Section 2.07, the Trustee will authenticate and deliver, the Securities of such
series in definitive registered form without coupons, in authorized
denominations, and in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal
amount of the Global Security of such series in exchange for such Global
Security. In addition, the Company may at any time determine that the Securities
of any series shall no longer be represented by a Global Security and that the
provisions of this Section 2.11 shall no longer apply to the Securities of such
series. In such event the Company will execute and, subject to Section 2.07, the
Trustee, upon receipt of an Officers' Certificate evidencing such determination
by the Company, will authenticate and deliver the Securities of such series in
definitive registered form without coupons, in authorized denominations, and in
an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global
Security of such series in exchange for such Global Security. Upon the exchange
of the Global Security for such Securities in definitive registered form without
coupons, in authorized denominations, the Global Security shall be cancelled by
the Trustee. Such Securities in definitive registered form issued in exchange
for the Global Security pursuant to this Section 2.11(c) shall be registered in
such names and in such authorized denominations as the Depository Institution,
pursuant to instructions from its direct or indirect participants or otherwise,
shall instruct the Trustee. The Trustee shall deliver such Securities to the
Depository Institution for delivery to the Persons in whose names such
Securities are so registered.
ARTICLE III
PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY.
SECTION 3.01. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest.
The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of each series of
Securities that it will duly and punctually pay or cause to be paid the
principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, each of the Securities of
that series at the place, at the respective times and in the manner provided in
such Securities. Each installment of interest on the Securities of any series
may be paid by mailing checks for such interest payable to the order of the
holders of Securities entitled thereto as they appear on the Security Register
or by wire transfer to an account appropriately designated by the holders of
Securities entitled thereto.
SECTION 3.02. Offices for Notices and Payments, etc.
So long as any of the Securities remains outstanding, the Company will
maintain in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, an office or agency
where the Securities of each series may be presented for payment, an office or
agency where the Securities of that Series may be presented for registration of
transfer and for exchange as in this Indenture provided, and an office or agency
where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of
that Series or of this Indenture may be served. The Company will give to the
Trustee written notice of the location of any such office or agency and of any
change of location thereof. Until otherwise designated from time to time by the
Company in a notice to the Trustee, or specified as contemplated by Section
2.03, any such office or agency for all of the above purposes shall be the
office or agency of the Trustee. In case the Company shall fail to maintain any
such office or agency in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, or
shall fail to give such notice of the location or of any change in the location
thereof, presentations and demands may be made and notices may be served at the
principal office of the Trustee.
In addition to any such office or agency, the Company may from time to time
designate one or more offices or agencies outside the Borough of Manhattan, The
City of New York, where the Securities may be presented for registration of
transfer and for exchange in the manner provided in this Indenture, and the
Company may from time to time rescind such designation, as the Company may deem
desirable or expedient; provided, however, that no such designation or
rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain
any such office or agency in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, for
the purposes above mentioned. The Company will give to the Trustee prompt
written notice of any such designation or rescission thereof.
SECTION 3.03. Appointments to Fill Vacancies in Trustee's Office.
The Company, whenever necessary to avoid or fill a vacancy in the office of
Trustee, will appoint, in the manner provided in Section 6.10, a Trustee, so
that there shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder.
SECTION 3.04. Provision as to Paying Agent.
(a) If the Company shall appoint a paying agent other than the Trustee with
respect to the Securities of any series, it will cause such paying agent to
execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such agent shall agree
with the Trustee, subject to the provision of this Section 3.04:
(1) that it will hold all sums held by it as such agent for the
payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, or interest, if
any, on, the Securities of such series (whether such sums have
been paid to it by the Company or by any other obligor on the
Securities of such series) in trust for the benefit of the
holders of the Securities of such series; and
(2) that it will give the Trustee notice of any failure by the
Company (or by any other obligor on the Securities of such
series) to make any payment of the principal of, and premium, if
any, or interest, if any, on, the Securities of such series when
the same shall be due and payable.
(b) If the Company shall act as its own paying agent, it will, on or before
each due date of the principal of and premium, if any, or interest, if any, on
the Securities of any series, set aside, segregate and hold in trust for the
benefit of the holders of the Securities of such series a sum sufficient to pay
such principal, premium or interest so becoming due and will notify the Trustee
of any failure to take such action and of any failure by the Company (or by any
other obligor under the Securities of such series) to make any payment of the
principal of, and premium, if any, or interest, if any, on, the Securities of
such series when the same shall become due and payable.
(c) Anything in this Section 3.04 to the contrary notwithstanding, the
Company may, at any time, for the purpose of obtaining a satisfaction and
discharge with respect to one or more or all series of Securities hereunder, or
for any other reason, pay or cause to be paid to the Trustee all sums held in
trust for any such series by the Trustee or any paying agent hereunder, as
required by this Section 3.04, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the
trusts herein contained.
(d) Anything in this Section 3.04 to the contrary notwithstanding, the
agreement to hold sums in trust as provided in this Section 3.04 is subject to
Sections 11.03 and 11.04.
SECTION 3.05. Certificate to Trustee.
The Company will deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of
each fiscal year, commencing with the first calendar year following the issuance
of Securities of any series under this Indenture, so long as Securities of any
series are outstanding hereunder, an Officers' Certificate stating that in the
course of the performance by the signers of their duties as officers of the
Company they would normally have knowledge of any default by the Company in the
performance of any covenants contained herein, stating whether or not they have
knowledge of any such default and, if so, specifying each such default of which
the signers have knowledge and the nature thereof.
SECTION 3.06. Compliance with Consolidation Provisions.
The Company will not, while any of the Securities remain outstanding,
consolidate with, or merge into, or merge into itself, or sell or convey all or
substantially all of its property to any other company unless the provisions of
Article Ten hereof are complied with.
SECTION 3.07. Limitation on Dividends; Transactions with Affiliates.
If Securities are issued to a Fleet Capital Trust or a trustee of such
trust in connection with the issuance of Trust Securities by such Fleet Capital
Trust and (i) there shall have occurred an Event of Default, or (ii) the Company
shall be in default with respect to its payment of any obligations under the
Preferred Securities Guarantee or Common Securities Guarantee relating to such
Fleet Capital Trust, then (a) the Company shall not declare or pay any dividend
on, make any distribution with respect to, or redeem, purchase, acquire or make
a liquidation payment with respect to, any of its capital stock (other than (i)
purchases or acquisitions of shares of Fleet Common Stock in connection with the
satisfaction by the Company of its obligations under any employee benefit plans
or any other contractual obligation of the Company (other than a contractual
obligation ranking pari passu with or junior to the Securities), (ii) as a
result of a reclassification of the Company's capital stock or the exchange or
conversion of one class or series of the Company's capital stock for another
class or series of the Company's capital stock or (iii) the purchase of
fractional interests in shares of the Company's capital stock pursuant to the
conversion or exchange provisions of such Company capital stock or the security
being converted or exchanged), (b) the Company shall not make any payment of
interest, principal or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any
debt securities issued by the Company that rank pari passu with or junior to the
Securities; and (c) the Company shall not make any guarantee payments with
respect to the foregoing (other than pursuant to the Preferred Securities
Guarantee).
SECTION 3.08. Covenants as to Fleet Capital Trusts.
In the event Securities are issued to a Fleet Capital Trust or a trustee of
such trust in connection with the issuance of Trust Securities by such Fleet
Capital Trust, for so long as such Trust Securities remain outstanding, the
Company will (i) maintain 100% direct or indirect ownership of the Common
Securities of such Fleet Capital Trust; provided, however, that any permitted
successor of the Company under the Indenture may succeed to the Company's
ownership of the Common Securities, (ii) use its reasonable efforts to cause
such Fleet Capital Trust (a) to remain a statutory business trust, except in
connection with a distribution of Securities to the holders of Trust Securities
in liquidation of such Fleet Capital Trust, the redemption of all of the Trust
Securities of such Fleet Capital Trust or certain mergers, consolidations or
amalgamations, each as permitted by the Declaration of such Fleet Capital Trust,
and (b) to otherwise continue not to be treated as an association taxable as a
corporation or partnership for United States federal income tax purposes and
(iii) use its reasonable efforts to cause each holder of Trust Securities to be
treated as owning an individual beneficial interest in the Securities.
SECTION 3.09. Notice of Default.
The Company shall file with the Trustee written notice of the occurrence of
any Event of Default within 30 business days of its becoming aware of any such
Event of Default.
ARTICLE IV
SECURITYHOLDERS' LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE
COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE.
SECTION 4.01. Securityholders' Lists.
The Company covenants and agrees that it will furnish or cause to be
furnished to the Trustee:
(a) on a semi-annual basis on each regular record date for each series of
Securities, a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the
names and addresses of the Securityholders of such series of Securities as of
such record date (and on dates to be determined pursuant to Section 2.03 for
non-interest bearing securities in each year); and
(b) at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, within 30
days after the receipt by the Company, 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, except that no such lists need be furnished so long as the Trustee
is in possession thereof by reason of its acting as Security registrar for such
series.
SECTION 4.02. Preservation and Disclosure of Lists.
(a) The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably
practicable, all information as to the names and addresses of the holders of
each series of Securities (1) contained in the most recent list furnished to it
as provided in Section 4.01 or (2) received by it in the capacity of Securities
registrar (if so acting) hereunder. The Trustee may destroy any list furnished
to it as provided in Section 4.01 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.
(b) In case three or more holders of Securities of any series (hereinafter
referred to as "applicants") apply in writing to the Trustee and furnish to the
Trustee reasonable proof that each such applicant has owned a Security of such
series for a period of at least 6 months preceding the date of such application,
and such application states that the applicants desire to communicate with other
holders of Securities of such series or with holders of all Securities with
respect to their rights under this Indenture or under such Securities and is
accompanied by a copy of the form of proxy or other communication which such
applicants propose to transmit, then the Trustee shall within 5 Business Days
after the receipt of such application, at its election, either:
(1) afford such applicants access to the information preserved at the
time by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions of
subsection (a) of this Section 4.02; or
(2) inform such applicants as to the approximate number of holders of
such series or all Securities, as the case may be, whose names
and addresses appear in the information preserved at the time by
the Trustee in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a)
of this Section 4.02, and as to the approximate cost of mailing
to such Securityholders the form of proxy or other communication,
if any, specified in such application.
If the Trustee shall elect not to afford such applicants access to such
information, the Trustee shall, upon the written request of such
applicants, mail to each Securityholder of such series or all
Securities, as the case may be, whose name and address appear in the
information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with the
provisions of subsection (a) of this Section 4.02 a copy of the form of
proxy or other communication which is specified in such request with
reasonable promptness after a tender to the Trustee of the material to
be mailed and of payment, or provision for the payment, of the
reasonable expenses of mailing, unless within 5 days after such tender,
the Trustee shall mail to such applicants and file with the Commission,
together with a copy of the material to be mailed, a written statement
to the effect that, in the opinion of the Trustee, such mailing would
be contrary to the best interests of the holders of Securities of such
series or all Securities, as the case may be, or would be in violation
of applicable law. Such written statement shall specify the basis of
such opinion. If the Commission, after opportunity for a hearing upon
the objections specified in the written statement so filed, shall enter
an order refusing to sustain any of such objections or if, after the
entry of an order sustaining one or more of such objections, the
Commission shall find, after notice and opportunity for hearing, that
all the objections so sustained have been met and shall enter an order
so declaring, the Trustee shall mail copies of such material to all
such Securityholders with reasonable promptness after the entry of such
order and the renewal of such tender; otherwise the Trustee shall be
relieved of any obligation or duty to such applicants respecting their
application.
(c) Each and every holder of Securities, by receiving and holding the same,
agrees with the Company and the Trustee that neither the Company nor the Trustee
nor any paying agent 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 the provisions of subsection (b) of this Section 4.02,
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 said subsection (b).
SECTION 4.03. Reports by Company.
(a) The Company covenants and agrees to file with the Trustee, within 15
days after the Company is 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 may be required to
file with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange
Act; or, if the Company is not required to file information, documents or
reports pursuant to either of such sections, then to 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
Exchange Act 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.
(b) The Company covenants and agrees to file with the Trustee and the
Commission, in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed from time to
time by the Commission, such additional information, documents and reports with
respect to compliance by the Company with the conditions and covenants provided
for in this Indenture as may be required from time to time by such rules and
regulations.
(c) The Company covenants and agrees to transmit by mail to all holders of
Securities, as the names and addresses of such holders appear upon the Security
Register, within 30 days after the filing thereof with the Trustee, such
summaries of any information, documents and reports required to be filed by the
Company pursuant to subsections (a) and (b) of this Section 4.03 as may be
required by rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the
Commission.
(d) The Company covenants and agrees to furnish to the Trustee within 120
days of the end of each fiscal year, the compliance certificate required by
Section 314(a)(4) of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 4.04. Reports by the Trustee.
(a) The term "reporting date", as used in this Section, shall be May 15 of
each year, commencing with the first May 15 after the first issuance of
Securities of a series for which the Trustee is acting as Trustee pursuant to
this Indenture. Within 60 days after the reporting date in each year, the
Trustee shall transmit by mail to all holders of Securities as provided in
Section 313(c) of the Trust Indenture Act, as their names and addresses appear
in the Security Register, a brief report dated as of such reporting date, if
required by Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act.
(b) The Trustee shall transmit to the Securityholders for each series, as
hereinafter provided, a brief report with respect to the character and amount of
any advances (and if the Trustee elects so to state, the circumstances
surrounding the making thereof) made by the Trustee (as such), since the date of
the last report transmitted pursuant to the provisions of subsection (a) of this
Section 4.04 (or, if no such report has yet been so transmitted, since the date
of execution of this Indenture), for the reimbursement of which it claims or may
claim a lien or charge prior to that of the Securities of such series on
property or funds held or collected by it as Trustee, and which it has not
previously reported pursuant to this subsection, if such advances remaining
unpaid at any time aggregate more than 10% of the principal amount of Securities
for such series outstanding at such time, such report to be transmitted within
90 days after such time.
(c) Reports pursuant to this Section 4.04 shall be transmitted by mail,
first class postage prepaid to all holders of Securities as required by Section
313(c) of the Trust Indenture Act.
(d) A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission to
Securityholders, be filed by the Trustee with each stock exchange upon which the
Securities of any applicable series are listed and also with the Commission. The
Company will notify the Trustee when and as the Securities of any series become
listed on any stock exchange.
(e) The Trustee shall comply with Sections 313(b) and 313(c) of the Trust
Indenture Act.
ARTICLE V
REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS
ON EVENT OF DEFAULT.
SECTION 5.01. Events of Default.
In case one or more of the following Events of Default with respect to
Securities of any series or such other events as may be established with respect
to the Securities of that series as contemplated by Section 2.03 hereof shall
have occurred and be continuing:
(a) default in the payment of any interest upon any Securities of that
series when it becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a
period of 30 days; provided, however, that a valid extension of an interest
payment period by the Company in accordance with the terms of any particular
series of Securities established as contemplated in this Indenture, shall not
constitute a default in the payment of interest for this purpose; or
(b) default in the payment of all or any part of the principal of, or
premium, if any, on, any Securities of that series as and when the same shall
become due and payable either at maturity, upon redemption (including redemption
for a sinking fund, if any), by declaration or otherwise; provided, however,
that a valid extension of the maturity of such Securities in accordance with the
terms of any particular series of Securities established as contemplated in this
Indenture, shall not constitute a default in the payment of principal or
premium, if any, for this purpose; or
(c) default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or warranty of
the Company in this Indenture (other than a covenant or warranty a default in
whose performance or whose breach is elsewhere in this Section specifically
dealt with and other than those set forth exclusively in terms of any particular
series of Securities established as contemplated in this Indenture), and
continuance of such default or breach for a period of 90 days after there has
been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee or to
the Company and the Trustee by the holders of at least 25% in principal amount
of the outstanding Securities, a written notice specifying such default or
breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a "Notice
of Default" hereunder; or
(d) a court having jurisdiction in the premises shall enter a decree or
order for relief in respect of the Company in an involuntary case under any
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in
effect, or appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee,
sequestrator (or similar official) of the Company or for any substantial part of
its property, or ordering the winding-up or liquidation of its affairs and such
decree or order shall remain unstayed and in effect for a period of 90
consecutive days; or
(e) the Company shall commence a voluntary case under any applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, shall
consent to the entry of an order for relief in an involuntary case under any
such law, or shall consent to the appointment of or taking possession by a
receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, custodian, sequestrator (or other
similar official) of the Company or of any substantial part of its property, or
shall make any general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or shall fail
generally to pay its debts as they become due; or
(f) in the event Securities are issued to a Fleet Capital Trust or a
trustee of such trust in connection with the issuance of Trust Securities by
such Fleet Capital Trust, such Fleet Capital Trust shall have voluntarily or
involuntarily dissolved, wound-up its business or otherwise terminated its
existence except in connection with (i) the distribution of Securities to
holders of Trust Securities in liquidation of their interests in such Fleet
Capital Trust, (ii) the redemption of all of the outstanding Trust Securities of
such Fleet Capital Trust or (iii) certain mergers, consolidations or
amalgamations, each as permitted by the Declaration of such Fleet Capital Trust.
If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, then, and in each and
every such case, unless the principal of all of the Securities of such series
shall have already become due and payable, either the Trustee or the holders of
not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of that series
then outstanding hereunder, by notice in writing to the Company (and to the
Trustee if given by Securityholders), may declare the entire principal of all
Securities of that series and the interest accrued thereon, if any, to be due
and payable immediately, and upon any such declaration the same shall become
immediately due and payable.
The foregoing provisions, however, are subject to the condition that if, at
any time after the principal of the Securities of any series (or of all the
Securities, as the case may be) shall have been so declared due and payable, and
before any judgment or decree for the payment of the moneys due shall have been
obtained or entered as hereinafter provided, the Company shall pay or shall
deposit with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of
interest upon all the Securities of such series (or of all the Securities, as
the case may be) and the principal of and premium, if any, on any and all
Securities of such series (or of all the Securities, as the case may be) which
shall have become due otherwise than by acceleration (with interest upon such
principal and premium, if any, and, to the extent that payment of such interest
is enforceable under applicable law, on overdue installments of interest, at the
same rate as the rate of interest specified in the Securities of such series (or
at the respective rates of interest of all the Securities, as the case may be),
to the date of such payment or deposit) and such amount as shall be sufficient
to cover reasonable compensation to the Trustee and each predecessor Trustee,
their respective agents, attorneys and counsel, and all other expenses and
liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee and each predecessor
Trustee except as a result of negligence or bad faith, and if any and all Events
of Default under the Indenture, other than the non-payment of the principal of
or premium, if any, on Securities which shall have become due by acceleration,
shall have been cured, waived or otherwise remedied as provided in this
Indenture, then and in every such case the holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the Securities of such series (or of all the Securities, as
the case may be) then outstanding, by written notice to the Company and to the
Trustee, may waive all defaults with respect to that series (or with respect to
all Securities, as the case may be, in such case, treated as a single class) and
rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences, but no such waiver or
rescission and annulment shall extend to or shall affect any subsequent default
or shall impair any right consequent thereon.
In case the Trustee shall have proceeded to enforce any right under this
Indenture and such proceedings shall have been discontinued or abandoned because
of such rescission or annulment or for any other reason or shall have been
determined adversely to the Trustee, then and in every such case the Company,
the Trustee and the holders of the Securities shall be restored respectively to
their several positions and rights hereunder, and all rights, remedies and
powers of the Company, the Trustee and the holders of the Securities shall
continue as though no such proceeding had been taken.
SECTION 5.02. Payment of Securities on Default; Suit Therefor.
The Company covenants that (a) in case an Event of Default under Section
5.01(a), (b), (c), (d) or (f) shall have occurred and be continuing, then, upon
demand of the Trustee, the Company will pay to the Trustee, for the benefit of
the holders of the Securities of that series, the whole amount that then shall
have become due and payable on all such Securities of that series for principal
and premium, if any, or interest, or both, as the case may be, with interest
upon the overdue principal and premium, if any, and (to the extent that payment
of such interest is enforceable under applicable law and, if the Securities are
held by a Fleet Capital Trust or a trustee of such trust, without duplication of
any other amounts paid by Fleet Capital Trust or trustee in respect thereof)
upon the overdue installments of interest at the rate borne by the Securities of
that series; and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be
sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including a reasonable
compensation to the Trustee, its agents, attorneys and counsel, and any expenses
or liabilities incurred by the Trustee hereunder other than through its
negligence or bad faith.
In case the Company shall fail forthwith to pay such amounts upon such
demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, shall
be entitled and empowered to institute any actions or proceedings at law or in
equity for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, and may prosecute any
such action or proceeding to judgment or final decree, and may enforce any such
judgment or final decree against the Company or any other obligor on such
Securities and collect in the manner provided by law out of the property of the
Company or any other obligor on such Securities wherever situated the moneys
adjudged or decreed to be payable.
In case an Event of Default under Section 5.01(d) or (e) shall have
occurred, the Trustee, irrespective of whether the principal of the Securities
of any series shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by
declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made
any demand pursuant to the provisions of this Section 5.02, shall be entitled
and empowered, by intervention in such proceedings or otherwise, to file and
prove a claim or claims for the whole amount of principal and interest owing and
unpaid in respect of the Securities of such series and, in case of any judicial
proceedings, to file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may
be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including
any claim for reasonable compensation to the Trustee and each predecessor
Trustee, and their respective agents, attorneys and counsel, and for
reimbursement of all expenses and liabilities incurred, and all advances made,
by the Trustee and each predecessor Trustee, except as a result of negligence or
bad faith) and of the Securityholders allowed in such judicial proceedings
relative to the Company or any other obligor on the Securities of any series, or
to the creditors or property of the Company or such other obligor, unless
prohibited by applicable law and regulations, to vote on behalf of the holders
of the Securities or any series in any election of a trustee or a standby
trustee in arrangement, reorganization, liquidation or other bankruptcy or
insolvency proceedings or person performing similar functions in comparable
proceedings, and to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or
deliverable on any such claims, and to distribute the same after the deduction
of its charges and expenses; and any receiver, assignee or trustee in bankruptcy
or reorganization is hereby authorized by each of the Securityholders 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 Securityholders, to pay to the
Trustee such amounts as shall be sufficient to cover reasonable compensation to
the Trustee, each predecessor Trustee and their respective agents, attorneys and
counsel, and all other expenses and liabilities incurred, and all advances made,
by the Trustee and each predecessor Trustee except as a result of negligence or
bad faith.
Nothing herein contained shall be construed to authorize the Trustee to
authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Securityholder any
plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the
Securities of any series or the rights of any holder thereof or to authorize the
Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Securityholder in any such
proceeding.
All rights of action and of asserting claims under this Indenture, or under
any of the Securities, may be enforced by the Trustee without the possession of
any of the Securities, or the production thereof on any trial or other
proceeding relative thereto, and any such suit or proceeding instituted by the
Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any
recovery of judgment shall be for the ratable benefit of the holders of the
Securities.
In any proceedings brought by the Trustee (and also any proceedings
involving the interpretation of any provision of this Indenture to which the
Trustee shall be a party) the Trustee shall be held to represent all the holders
of the Securities, and it shall not be necessary to make any holders of the
Securities parties to any such proceedings.
SECTION 5.03. Application of Moneys Collected by Trustee.
Any moneys collected by the Trustee shall be applied in the order
following, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee for the distribution of
such moneys, upon presentation of the several Securities in respect of which
moneys have been collected, and stamping thereon the payment, if only partially
paid, and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:
First: To the payment of costs and expenses of collection applicable to
such series and reasonable compensation to the Trustee, its agents, attorneys
and counsel, and of all other expenses and liabilities incurred, and all
advances made, by the Trustee except as a result of its negligence or bad faith;
Second: To the payment of all Senior Indebtedness and Other Financial
Obligations of the Company if and to the extent required by Article Fifteen
hereof;
Third: In case the principal of the outstanding Securities in respect of
which moneys have been collected shall not have become due and be unpaid, to the
payment of the amounts then due and unpaid upon Securities of such series for
principal (and premium, if any), and interest on the Securities of such series,
in respect of which or for the benefit of which money has been collected,
ratably, without preference of priority of any kind, according to the amounts
due on such Securities for principal (and premium, if any) and interest,
respectively.
SECTION 5.04. Proceedings by Securityholders.
No holder of any Security of any series shall have any right by virtue of
or by availing of any provision of this Indenture to institute any suit, action
or proceeding in equity or at law upon or under or with respect to this
Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other
remedy hereunder, unless such holder previously shall have given to the Trustee
written notice of an Event of Default and of the continuance thereof with
respect to the Securities of such series specifying such Event of Default, as
hereinbefore provided, and unless also the holders of not less than 25% in
aggregate principal amount of the Securities of that series then outstanding
shall have made written request upon the Trustee to institute such action, suit
or proceeding in its own name as Trustee hereunder and shall have offered to the
Trustee such reasonable indemnity as it may require against the costs, expenses
and liabilities to be incurred therein or thereby, and the Trustee for 60 days
after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity shall have
failed to institute any such action, suit or proceeding, it being understood and
intended, and being expressly covenanted by the taker and holder of every
Security with every other taker and holder and the Trustee, that no one or more
holders of Securities of any series shall have any right in any manner whatever
by virtue of or by availing of any provision of this Indenture to affect,
disturb or prejudice the rights of any other holder of Securities, or to obtain
or seek to obtain priority over or preference to any other such holder, or to
enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and
for the equal, ratable and common benefit of all holders of Securities of the
applicable series.
Notwithstanding any other provisions in this Indenture, however, the right
of any holder of any Security to receive payment of the principal of (premium,
if any) and interest, if any, on such Security, on or after the same shall have
become due and payable, or to institute suit for the enforcement of any such
payment, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such holder
and by accepting a Security hereunder it is expressly understood, intended and
covenanted by the taker and holder of every Security of such series with every
other such taker and holder and the Trustee, that no one or more holders of
Securities of such series shall have any right in any manner whatsoever by
virtue or by availing of any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or
prejudice the rights of the holders of any other such Securities, or to obtain
or seek to obtain priority over or preference to any other such holder, or to
enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and
for the equal, ratable and common benefit of all holders of Securities of such
series. For the protection and enforcement of the provisions of this Section,
each and every Securityholder and the Trustee shall be entitled to such relief
as can be given either at law or in equity.
The Company and the Trustee acknowledge that pursuant to each Amended and
Restated Declaration, the holders of Preferred Securities are entitled, in the
circumstances and subject to the limitations set forth therein, to commence a
Direct Action (as defined therein) with respect to any Event of Default under
this Indenture.
SECTION 5.05. Proceedings by Trustee.
In case of an Event of Default hereunder the Trustee may in its discretion
proceed to protect and enforce the rights vested in it by this Indenture by such
appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to
protect and enforce any of such rights, either by suit in equity or by action at
law or by proceeding in bankruptcy or otherwise, whether for the specific
enforcement of any covenant or agreement contained in this Indenture or in aid
of the exercise of any power granted in this Indenture, or to enforce any other
legal or equitable right vested in the Trustee by this Indenture or by law.
SECTION 5.06. Remedies Cumulative and Continuing.
Except as otherwise provided in the last paragraph of Section 2.08 with
respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, lost or stolen Securities,
all powers and remedies given by this Article Five to the Trustee or to the
Securityholders shall, to the extent permitted by law, be deemed cumulative and
not exclusive of any other powers and remedies available to the Trustee or the
holders of the Securities, by judicial proceedings or otherwise, to enforce the
performance or observance of the covenants and agreements contained in this
Indenture or otherwise established with respect to such series, and no delay or
omission of the Trustee or of any holder of any of the Securities to exercise
any right or power accruing upon any Event of Default occurring and continuing
as aforesaid shall impair any such right or power, or shall be construed to be a
waiver of any such default or an acquiescence therein; and, subject to the
provisions of Section 5.04, every power and remedy given by this Article Five or
by law to the Trustee or to the Securityholders may be exercised from time to
time, and as often as shall be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the
Securityholders.
SECTION 5.07. Direction of Proceedings and Waiver of Defaults by Majority
of Securityholders.
The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities
of any or all series affected (voting as one class) at the time outstanding
shall have the right to direct the time, method, and place of conducting any
proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or
power conferred on the Trustee; provided, however, that (subject to the
provisions of Section 6.01) the Trustee shall have the right to decline to
follow any such direction if the Trustee shall determine that the action so
directed would be unjustly prejudicial to the holders not taking part in such
direction or if the Trustee being advised by counsel determines that the action
or proceeding so directed may not lawfully be taken or if the Trustee in good
faith by its board of directors or trustees, executive committee, or a trust
committee of directors or trustees and/or Responsible Officers shall determine
that the action or proceedings so directed would involve the Trustee in personal
liability. Prior to any declaration accelerating the maturity of any series of
the Securities, or of all the Securities, as the case may be, the holders of a
majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of that series at the
time outstanding may on behalf of the holders of all of the Securities of such
series waive any past default or Event of Default including any default
established pursuant to Section 2.03 and its consequences except a default (a)
in the payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any of the
Securities, (b) in respect of covenants or provisions hereof which cannot be
modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each Security affected,
or (c) a default of the covenants contained in Section 3.06; provided, however,
that if the Securities of such series are held by a Fleet Capital Trust or a
trustee of such trust, such waiver or modification to such waiver shall not be
effective until the holders of a majority in liquidation preference of Trust
Securities of the applicable Fleet Capital Trust shall have consented to such
waiver or modification to such waiver; provided further, that if the consent of
the Holder of each outstanding Security is required, such waiver shall not be
effective until each holder of the Trust Securities of the applicable Fleet
Capital Trust shall have consented to such waiver. Upon any such waiver, the
default covered thereby shall be deemed to be cured for all purposes of this
Indenture and the Company, the Trustee and the holders of the Securities of such
series shall be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder,
respectively; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default
or impair any right consequent thereon. Upon any such waiver the Company, the
Trustee and the holders of the Securities of that series (or of all Securities,
as the case may be) shall be restored to their former positions and rights
hereunder, respectively; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or
other default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon.
Whenever any default or Event of Default hereunder shall have been waived as
permitted by this Section 5.07, said default or Event of Default shall for all
purposes of the Securities of that series (or of all Securities, as the case may
be) and this Indenture be deemed to have been cured and to be not continuing.
The foregoing provisions shall be in lieu of Sections 316(a)(1)(A) and
316(a)(1)(B) of the Trust Indenture Act and such sections are hereby expressly
excluded from this Indenture and the Securities, as permitted by the Trust
Indenture Act.
SECTION 5.08. Notice of Defaults.
The Trustee shall, within 90 days after the occurrence of a default with
respect to the Securities of any series, mail to all Securityholders of that
series, as the names and addresses of such holders appear upon the Security
Register, notice of all defaults with respect to that series known to the
Trustee, unless such defaults shall have been cured before the giving of such
notice (the term "defaults" for the purpose of this Section 5.08 being hereby
defined to be the events specified in clauses (a), (b), (c), (d), (e) and (f) of
Section 5.01, not including periods of grace, if any, provided for therein, and
irrespective of the giving of written notice specified in clause (c) of Section
5.01); and provided that, except in the case of default in the payment of the
principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any of the Securities of such
series, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long
as the board of directors, the executive committee, or a trust committee of
directors and/or Responsible Officers of the Trustee in good faith determines
that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Securityholders
of such series; and provided further, that in the case of any default of the
character specified in Section 5.01(c), no such notice to Securityholders of
such series shall be given until at least 60 days after the occurrence thereof
but shall be given within 90 days after such occurrence.
SECTION 5.09. Undertaking to Pay 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 an
undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in its
discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys' fees,
against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and
good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; but the
provisions of this Section 5.09 shall not apply to any suit instituted by the
Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Securityholder, or group of
Securityholders of any series, holding in the aggregate more than 10% in
principal amount of the Securities of that series outstanding, or to any suit
instituted by any Securityholder for the enforcement of the payment of the
principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Security against the
Company on or after the same shall have become due and payable.
ARTICLE VI
CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE
SECTION 6.01. Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee.
With respect to the holders of any series of Securities issued hereunder,
the Trustee, prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to
securities of that series and after the curing or waiving of all Events of
Default which may have occurred, with respect to securities of that series,
undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set
forth in this Indenture. In case an Event of Default with respect to the
Securities of a series has occurred (which has not been cured or waived) the
Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this
Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a
prudent man would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his
own affairs.
No provision of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve the Trustee
from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act or
its own willful misconduct, except that
(a) prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to
Securities of a series and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default
with respect to that series which may have occurred
(1) the duties and obligations of the Trustee with respect to
Securities of a series shall be determined solely by the express
provisions of this Indenture, and the Trustee shall not be liable
except for the performance of such duties and obligations with
respect to such series as are specifically set forth in this
Indenture, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read
into this Indenture against the Trustee; and
(2) in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Trustee, the
Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements
and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon any
certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming
to the requirements of this Indenture; but, in the case of any
such certificates or opinions which by any provision hereof are
specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee
shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or
not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture;
(b) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good
faith by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, unless it shall be proved that
the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and;
(c) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or
omitted to be taken by it in good faith, in accordance with the direction of the
Securityholders pursuant to Section 5.07, relating to the time, method and place
of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or
exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this Indenture.
None of the provisions contained in this Indenture shall require the
Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur personal financial
liability in the performance of any of its duties or in the exercise of any of
its rights or powers, if there is reasonable ground for believing that the
repayment of such funds or liability is not reasonably assured to it under the
terms of this Indenture or adequate indemnity against such risk is not
reasonably assured to it.
SECTION 6.02. Reliance on Documents, Opinions, etc.
Except as otherwise provided in Section 6.01:
(a) the Trustee may rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining
from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion,
report, notice, request, consent, order, bond, note, debenture or other paper or
document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by
the proper party or parties;
(b) any request, direction, order or demand of the Company mentioned herein
shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Officers' Certificate (unless other
evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed); and any Board
Resolution may be evidenced to the Trustee by a copy thereof certified by the
Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company;
(c) the Trustee may consult with counsel and any advice or 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
accordance with such advice or Opinion of Counsel;
(d) the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights
or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request, order or direction of
any of the Securityholders, pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, unless
such Securityholders shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable security or
indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities which may be incurred
therein or thereby;
(e) the Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted by it
in good faith and believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or
rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture; nothing contained herein
shall, however, relieve the Trustee of the obligation, upon the occurrence of an
Event of Default with respect to a series of the Securities (that has not been
cured or waived) to exercise with respect to Securities of that series such of
the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and to use the same degree
of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use
under the circumstances in the conduct of his or her own affairs;
(f) the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts
or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument,
opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, approval, bond, debenture,
coupon or other paper or document, unless requested in writing to do so by the
holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding
Securities of the series affected thereby; provided, however, that if the
payment within a reasonable time to the Trustee of the costs, expenses or
liabilities likely to be incurred by it in the making of such investigation is,
in the opinion of the Trustee, not reasonably assured to the Trustee by the
security afforded to it by the terms of this Indenture, the Trustee may require
reasonable indemnity against such expense or liability as a condition to so
proceeding; and
(g) the Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or
perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents (including
any Authenticating Agent), custodians, nominees or attorneys, and the Trustee
shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any
such agent or attorney appointed by it with due care.
SECTION 6.03. No Responsibility for Recitals, etc.
The recitals contained herein and in the Securities (except in the
certificate of authentication of the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent) shall
be taken as the statements of the Company and the Trustee and the Authenticating
Agent assume no responsibility for the correctness of the same. The Trustee and
the Authenticating Agent make no representations as to the validity or
sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities. The Trustee and the
Authenticating Agent shall not be accountable for the use or application by the
Company of any Securities or the proceeds of any Securities authenticated and
delivered by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent in conformity with the
provisions of this Indenture.
SECTION 6.04. Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agents, Transfer Agents
or Registrar May Own Securities.
The Trustee or any Authenticating Agent or any paying agent or any transfer
agent or any Security registrar, in its individual or any other capacity, may
become the owner or pledgee of Securities with the same rights it would have if
it were not Trustee, Authenticating Agent, paying agent, transfer agent or
Security registrar.
SECTION 6.05. Moneys to be Held in Trust.
Subject to the provisions of Section 11.04, all moneys received by the
Trustee or any paying agent shall, until used or applied as herein provided, be
held in trust for the purpose for which they were received, but need not be
segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustee
and any paying agent shall be under no liability for interest on any money
received by it hereunder except as otherwise agreed with the Company. So long as
no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, all interest allowed
on any such moneys shall be paid from time to time upon the written order of the
Company, signed by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the President, any
Vice President, the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer of the Company.
SECTION 6.06. Compensation and Expenses of Trustee.
The Company, as borrower, covenants and agrees to pay to the Trustee from
time to time, and the Trustee shall be entitled to, reasonable compensation
(which shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the
compensation of a trustee of an express trust), and the Company will pay or
reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses,
disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with
any of the provisions of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation
and the expenses and disbursements of its counsel and of all persons not
regularly in its employ and any amounts paid by the Trustee to any
Authenticating Agent pursuant to Section 6.14) except any such expense,
disbursement or advance as may arise from its negligence or bad faith. The
Company also covenants to indemnify the Trustee (and its officers, agents,
directors and employees) for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss,
liability or expense incurred without negligence or bad faith on the part of the
Trustee and arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or
administration of this trust, including the costs and expenses of defending
itself against any claim of liability in the premises. The obligations of the
Company under this Section 6.06 to compensate and indemnify the Trustee and to
pay or reimburse the Trustee for expenses, disbursements and advances shall
constitute additional indebtedness hereunder, and shall survive the resignation
or removal of the Trustee and the termination of this Indenture. Such additional
indebtedness shall be secured by a lien prior to that of the Securities upon all
property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such, except funds held
in trust for the benefit of the holders of particular Securities.
SECTION 6.07. Officers' Certificate as Evidence.
Except as otherwise provided in Sections 6.01 and 6.02, whenever in the
administration of the provisions of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it
necessary or desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking or
omitting any action hereunder, such matter (unless other evidence in respect
thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of negligence or
bad faith on the part of the Trustee, be deemed to be conclusively proved and
established by an Officers' Certificate delivered to the Trustee, and such
certificate, in the absence of negligence or bad faith on the part of the
Trustee, shall be full warrant to the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by
it under the provisions of this Indenture upon the faith thereof.
SECTION 6.08. Conflicting Interest of Trustee.
If the Trustee has or shall acquire any "conflicting interest" within the
meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee and the
Company shall in all respects comply with the provisions of Section 310(b) of
the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 6.09. Eligibility of Trustee.
The Trustee hereunder shall at all times be a corporation organized and
doing business under the laws of the United States of America or any state or
territory thereof or of the District of Columbia or a corporation or other
Person permitted to act as trustee by the Commission authorized under such laws
to exercise corporate trust powers, having a combined capital and surplus of at
least $50,000,000 (US) and subject to supervision or examination by federal,
state, territorial, or District of Columbia authority. If such corporation
publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the
requirements of the aforesaid supervising or examining authority, then for the
purposes of this Section 6.09 the combined capital and surplus of such
corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth
in its most recent report of condition so published.
The Company may not, nor may any Person directly or indirectly controlling,
controlled by, or under common control with the Company, serve as Trustee.
In case at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance
with the provisions of this Section 6.09, the Trustee shall resign immediately
in the manner and with the effect specified in Section 6.10.
SECTION 6.10. Resignation or Removal of Trustee.
(a) The Trustee, or any trustee or trustees hereafter appointed, may at any
time resign with respect to one or more or all series of Securities by giving
written notice of such resignation to the Company and by mailing notice thereof
to the holders of the applicable series of Securities at their addresses as they
shall appear on the Security Register. Upon receiving such notice of
resignation, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor trustee or trustees
with respect to the applicable series by written instrument, in duplicate,
executed by order of its Board of Directors, one copy of which instrument shall
be delivered to the resigning Trustee and one copy to the successor trustee. If
no successor trustee shall have been so appointed with respect to any series of
Securities and have accepted appointment within 30 days after the mailing of
such notice of resignation to the affected Securityholders, the resigning
Trustee may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of
a successor trustee, or any Securityholder who has been a bona fide holder of a
Security or Securities of the applicable series for at least six months may,
subject to the provisions of Section 5.09, on behalf of himself and all others
similarly situated, petition any such court for the appointment of a successor
trustee. Such court may thereupon, after such notice, if any, as it may deem
proper and prescribe, appoint a successor trustee.
(b) In case at any time any of the following shall occur --
(i) the Trustee shall fail to comply with the provisions of Section
6.08 after written request therefor by the Company or by any
Securityholder who has been a bona fide holder of a Security or
Securities for at least six months, or
(ii) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the
provisions of Section 6.09 and shall fail to resign after written
request therefor by the Company or by any such Securityholder, or
(iii)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, the Company may remove the Trustee and appoint a
successor trustee by written instrument, in duplicate, executed by order of the
Board of Directors, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the
Trustee so removed and one copy to the successor trustee, or, subject to the
provisions of Section 5.09, any Securityholder who has been a bona fide holder
of a Security or Securities of the applicable series for at least six months
may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court
of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of
a successor trustee. Such court may thereupon, after such notice, if any, as it
may deem proper and prescribe, remove the Trustee and appoint a successor
trustee.
(c) The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Securities of any series at the time outstanding may at any time remove the
Trustee with respect to such series and nominate a successor trustee with
respect to the applicable series of Securities or all series, as the case may
be, which shall be deemed appointed as successor trustee with respect to the
applicable series unless within 10 days after such nomination the Company
objects thereto, in which case the Trustee so removed or any Securityholder of
the applicable series, upon the terms and conditions and otherwise as provided
in subsection (a) of this Section 6.10, may petition any court of competent
jurisdiction for an appointment of a successor trustee with respect to such
series.
(d) Any resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a
successor trustee pursuant to any of the provisions of this Section 6.10 shall
become effective upon acceptance of appointment by the successor trustee as
provided in Section 6.11.
SECTION 6.11. Acceptance by Successor Trustee.
Any successor trustee appointed as provided in Section 6.10 shall execute,
acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to its predecessor trustee an
instrument accepting such appointment hereunder, and thereupon the resignation
or removal of the retiring trustee with respect to all or any applicable series
shall become effective and such successor trustee, without any further act, deed
or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, duties and
obligations with respect to such series of its predecessor hereunder, with like
effect as if originally named as trustee herein; but, nevertheless, on the
written request of the Company or of the successor trustee, the trustee ceasing
to act shall, upon payment of any amounts then due it pursuant to the provisions
of Section 6.06, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such
successor trustee all the rights and powers of the trustee so ceasing to act and
shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor trustee all property
and money held by such retiring trustee thereunder. Upon request of any such
successor trustee, the Company shall execute any and all instruments in writing
for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor trustee
all such rights and powers. Any trustee ceasing to act shall, nevertheless,
retain a lien upon all property or funds held or collected by such trustee to
secure any amounts then due it pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.06.
If a successor trustee is appointed with respect to the Securities of one
or more (but not all) series, the Company, the retiring trustee and each
successor trustee with respect to the Securities of any applicable series shall
execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto which shall contain such
provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the
rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring trustee with respect to the
Securities of any series as to which the predecessor trustee is not retiring
shall continue to be vested in the predecessor trustee, and shall add to or
change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide
for or facilitate the administration of the trustee hereunder by more than one
trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental
indenture shall constitute such trustees co-trustees of the same trust and that
each such trustee shall be trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and
apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such trustee.
No successor trustee shall accept appointment as provided in this Section
6.11 unless at the time of such acceptance such successor trustee shall be
qualified under the provisions of Section 6.08 and eligible under the provisions
of Section 6.09.
Upon acceptance of appointment by a successor trustee as provided in this
Section 6.11, the Company shall mail notice of the succession of such trustee
hereunder to the holders of Securities of any applicable series at their
addresses as they shall appear on the Security Register. If the Company fails to
mail such notice within 10 days after the acceptance of appointment by the
successor trustee, the successor trustee shall cause such notice to be mailed at
the expense of the Company.
SECTION 6.12. Succession by Merger, etc.
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 without
the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of
the parties hereto.
In case at the time such successor to the Trustee shall succeed to the
trusts created by this Indenture any of the Securities of any series shall have
been authenticated but not delivered, any such successor to the Trustee may
adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor trustee, and deliver
such Securities so authenticated; and in case at that time any of the Securities
of any series shall not have been authenticated, any successor to the Trustee
may authenticate such Securities either in the name of any predecessor hereunder
or in the name of the successor trustee; and in all such cases such certificates
shall have the full force which it is anywhere in the Securities of such series
or in this Indenture provided that the certificate of the Trustee shall have;
provided, however, that the right to adopt the certificate of authentication of
any predecessor Trustee or authenticate Securities of any series in the name of
any predecessor Trustee shall apply only to its successor or successors by
merger, conversion or consolidation.
SECTION 6.13. Limitation on Rights of Trustee as a Creditor.
The Trustee shall comply with Section 311(a) of the Trust Indenture Act,
excluding any creditor relationship described in Section 311(b) of the Trust
Indenture Act. A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to
Section 311(a) of the Trust Indenture Act to the extent included therein.
SECTION 6.14. Authenticating Agents.
There may be one or more Authenticating Agents appointed by the Trustee
upon the request of the Company with power to act on its behalf and subject to
its direction in the authentication and delivery of Securities of any series
issued upon exchange or transfer thereof as fully to all intents and purposes as
though any such Authenticating Agent had been expressly authorized to
authenticate and deliver Securities of such series; provided, that the Trustee
shall have no liability to the Company for any acts or omissions of the
Authenticating Agent with respect to the authentication and delivery of
Securities of any series. Any such Authenticating Agent shall at all times be a
corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or
of any state or territory thereof or of the District of Columbia authorized
under such laws to act as Authenticating Agent, having a combined capital and
surplus of at least $5,000,000 (US) and being subject to supervision or
examination by federal, state, territorial or District of Columbia authority. If
such corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually pursuant to
law or the requirements of such authority, then for the purposes of this Section
6.14 the combined capital and surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be
its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of
condition so published. If at any time 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 herein specified in this Section.
Any corporation into which any Authenticating Agent may be merged or
converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting
from any merger, consolidation or conversion to which any Authenticating Agent
shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to the corporate trust business
of any Authenticating Agent, shall be the successor of such Authenticating Agent
hereunder, if such successor corporation is otherwise eligible under this
Section 6.14 without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on
the part of the parties hereto or such Authenticating Agent.
Any Authenticating Agent may at any time resign with respect to one or more
or all series of Securities by giving written notice of resignation to the
Trustee and to the Company. The Trustee may at any time terminate the agency of
any Authenticating Agent with respect to one or more or all series of Securities
by giving written notice of termination to such Authenticating Agent and to the
Company. Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination,
or in case at any time any Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible under
this Section 6.14, the Trustee may, and upon the request of the Company shall,
promptly appoint a successor Authenticating Agent with respect to the applicable
series eligible under this Section 6.14, shall give written notice of such
appointment to the Company and shall mail notice of such appointment to all
holders of the applicable series of Securities as the names and addresses of
such holders appear on the Security Register. Any successor Authenticating Agent
with respect to all or any series upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder
shall become vested with all rights, powers, duties and responsibilities with
respect to such series of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if
originally named as Authenticating Agent herein.
The Trustee agrees to pay to any Authenticating Agent from time to time
reasonable compensation for its services, and the Trustee shall be entitled to
be reimbursed for such payments, subject to Section 6.06. Any Authenticating
Agent shall have no responsibility or liability for any action taken by it as
such in accordance with the directions of the Trustee.
ARTICLE VII
CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS
SECTION 7.01. Action by Securityholders.
Whenever in this Indenture it is provided that the holders of a specified
percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any or all series
may take any action (including the making of any demand or request, the giving
of any notice, consent or waiver or the taking of any other action) the fact
that at the time of taking any such action the holders of such specified
percentage have joined therein may be evidenced (a) by any instrument or any
number of instruments of similar tenor executed by such Securityholders in
person or by agent or proxy appointed in writing, or (b) by the record of such
holders of Securities voting in favor thereof at any meeting of such
Securityholders duly called and held in accordance with the provisions of
Article Eight hereof, or (c) by a combination of such instrument or instruments
and any such record of such a meeting of such Securityholders.
If the Company shall solicit from the Securityholders of any series any
request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other
action, the Company may, at its option, as evidenced by an Officers'
Certificate, fix in advance a record date for such series for the determination
of Securityholders entitled to give such request, demand, authorization,
direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, but the Company shall have
no obligation to do so. If such a record date is fixed, such request, demand,
authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action may be given
before or after the record date, but only the Securityholders of record at the
close of business on the record date shall be deemed to be Securityholders for
the purposes of determining whether Securityholders of the requisite proportion
of outstanding Securities of that series have authorized or agreed or consented
to such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or
other action, and for that purpose the outstanding Securities of that series
shall be computed as of the record date; provided, however, that no such
authorization, agreement or consent by such Securityholders on the record date
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.
SECTION 7.02. Proof of Execution by Securityholders.
Subject to the provisions of Section 6.01, 6.02 and 8.05, proof of the
execution of any instrument by a Securityholder or his agent or proxy shall be
sufficient if made in accordance with such reasonable rules and regulations as
may be prescribed by the Trustee or in such manner as shall be satisfactory to
the Trustee. The ownership of Securities shall be proved by the Security
Register or by a certificate of the Security registrar. The Trustee may require
such additional proof of any matter referred to in this Section as it shall deem
necessary.
The record of any Securityholders' meeting shall be proved in the manner
provided in Section 8.06.
SECTION 7.03. Who Are Deemed Absolute Owners.
Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of any Security, the
Company, the Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any paying agent, any transfer
agent and any Security registrar may deem the person in whose name such Security
shall be registered upon the Security Register to be, and may treat him as, the
absolute owner of such Security (whether or not such Security shall be overdue)
for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account of the principal of,
premium, if any, and interest on such Security and for all other purposes; and
neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent nor any paying
agent nor any transfer agent nor any Security registrar shall be affected by any
notice to the contrary. All such payments so made to any holder for the time
being or upon his order shall be valid, and, to the extent of the sum or sums so
paid, effectual to satisfy and discharge the liability for moneys payable upon
any such Security.
SECTION 7.04. Securities Owned by Company Deemed Not Outstanding.
In determining whether the holders of the requisite aggregate principal
amount of Securities have concurred in any direction, consent or waiver under
this Indenture, Securities which are owned by the Company or any other obligor
on the Securities or by any person directly or indirectly controlling or
controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Company or any
other obligor on the Securities shall be disregarded and deemed not to be
outstanding for the purpose of any such determination; provided that for the
purposes of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any
such direction, consent or waiver, only Securities which the Trustee knows are
so owned shall be so disregarded. Securities so owned which have been pledged in
good faith may be regarded as outstanding for the purposes of this Section 7.04
if the pledgee shall establish to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee's
right to vote such Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company or any
such other obligor or person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by
or under direct or indirect common control with the Company or any such other
obligor. In the case of a dispute as to such right, any decision by the Trustee
taken upon the advice of counsel shall be full protection to the Trustee.
SECTION 7.05. Revocation of Consents; Future Holders Bound.
At any time prior to (but not after) the evidencing to the Trustee, as
provided in Section 7.01, of the taking of any action by the holders of the
percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Security specified in this
Indenture in connection with such action, any holder of a Security (or any
Security issued in whole or in part in exchange or substitution therefor) the
serial number of which is shown by the evidence to be included in the Securities
the holders of which have consented to such action may, by filing written notice
with the Trustee at its principal office and upon proof of holding as provided
in Section 7.02, revoke such action so far as concerns such Security (or so far
as concerns the principal amount represented by any exchanged or substituted
Security). Except as aforesaid any such action taken by the holder of any
Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such holder and upon all future
holders and owners of such Security, and of any Security issued in exchange or
substitution therefor, irrespective of whether or not any notation in regard
thereto is made upon such Security or any Security issued in exchange or
substitution therefor.
ARTICLE VIII
SECURITYHOLDERS' MEETINGS
SECTION 8.01. Purposes of Meetings.
A meeting of Securityholders of any or all series may be called at any time
and from time to time pursuant to the provisions of this Article Eight for any
of the following purposes:
(a) to give any notice to the Company or to the Trustee, or to give any
directions to the Trustee, or to consent to the waiving of any default hereunder
and its consequences, or to take any other action authorized to be taken by
Securityholders pursuant to any of the provisions of Article Five hereof;
(b) to remove the Trustee and nominate a successor trustee pursuant to the
provisions of Article Six hereof;
(c) to consent to the execution of an indenture or indentures supplemental
hereto pursuant to the provisions of Section 9.02; or
(d) to take any other action authorized to be taken by or on behalf of the
holders of any specified aggregate principal amount of such Securities under any
other provision of this Indenture or under applicable law.
SECTION 8.02. Call of Meetings by Trustee.
The Trustee may at any time call a meeting of Securityholders of any or all
series to take any action specified in Section 8.01, to be held at such time and
at such place in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, as the Trustee
shall determine. Notice of every meeting of the Securityholders of any or all
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 mailed to
holders of Securities of each series affected at their addresses as they shall
appear on the Securities register of such series. Such notice shall be mailed
not less than 20 nor more than 180 days prior to the date fixed for the meeting.
SECTION 8.03. Call of Meetings by Company or Securityholders.
In case at any time the Company pursuant to a resolution of the Board of
Directors, or the holders of at least 10% in aggregate principal amount of the
Securities of any or all series, as the case may be, then outstanding, shall
have requested the Trustee to call a meeting of Securityholders of any or all
series, as the case may be, by written request setting forth in reasonable
detail the action proposed to be taken at the meeting, and the Trustee shall not
have mailed the notice of such meeting within 20 days after receipt of such
request, then the Company or such Securityholders may determine the time and the
place in said Borough of Manhattan for such meeting and may call such meeting to
take any action authorized in Section 8.01, by mailing notice thereof as
provided in Section 8.02.
SECTION 8.04. Qualifications for Voting.
To be entitled to vote at any meeting of Securityholders a person shall (a)
be a holder of one or more Securities with respect to which the meeting is being
held or (b) a person appointed by an instrument in writing as proxy by a holder
of one or more such Securities. The only persons who shall be entitled to be
present or to speak at any meeting of Securityholders shall be the persons
entitled to vote at such meeting and their counsel and any representatives of
the Trustee and its counsel and any representatives of the Company and its
counsel.
SECTION 8.05. Regulations.
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture, the Trustee may
make such reasonable regulations as it may deem advisable for any meeting of
Securityholders, in regard to proof of the holding of Securities 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 think fit.
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 or by Securityholders as provided in Section 8.03, in which case the
Company or the Securityholders 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 majority vote of the meeting.
Subject to the provisions of Section 7.04, at any meeting each holder of
Securities with respect to which such meeting is being held or proxy therefor
shall be entitled to one vote for each $1,000 principal amount of Securities
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 other than by virtue of Securities held
by him or instruments in writing as aforesaid duly designating him as the person
to vote on behalf of other Securityholders. Any meeting of Securityholders duly
called pursuant to the provisions of Section 8.02 or 8.03 may be adjourned from
time to time by a majority of those present, whether or not constituting a
quorum, and the meeting may be held as so adjourned without further notice.
SECTION 8.06. Voting.
The vote upon any resolution submitted to any meeting of holders of
Securities with respect to which such meeting is being held shall be by written
ballots on which shall be subscribed the signatures of such holders or of their
representatives by proxy and the serial number or numbers of the Securities 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 in duplicate of the proceedings of each meeting of Securityholders 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 mailed as provided in Section 8.02. The record shall show the serial
numbers of the Securities voting in favor of or against any resolution. The
record shall be signed and verified by the affidavits of the permanent chairman
and secretary of the meeting and one of the duplicates shall be delivered to the
Company and the other 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.
ARTICLE IX
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES
SECTION 9.01. Supplemental Indentures without Consent of Securityholders.
The Company and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time enter
into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto (which shall conform to the
provisions of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect), without the consent of
the Securityholders, for one or more of the following purposes:
(a) to evidence the succession of another corporation to the Company, or
successive successions, and the assumption by the successor corporation of the
covenants, agreements and obligations of the Company pursuant to Article Ten
hereof;
(b) to add to the covenants of the Company such further covenants,
restrictions or conditions for the protection of the holders of all or any
series of Securities (and if such covenants are to be for the benefit of less
than all series of Securities stating that such covenants are expressly being
included for the benefit of such series) as the Board of Directors and the
Trustee shall consider to be for the protection of the holders of such
Securities, and to make the occurrence, or the occurrence and continuance, of a
default in any of such additional covenants, restrictions or conditions a
default or an Event of Default permitting the enforcement of all or any of the
several remedies provided in this Indenture as herein set forth; provided,
however, that in respect of any such additional covenant, restriction or
condition such supplemental indenture may provide for a particular period of
grace after default (which period may be shorter or longer than that allowed in
the case of other defaults) or may provide for an immediate enforcement upon
such default or may limit the remedies available to the Trustee upon such
default;
(c) to provide for the issuance under this Indenture of Securities in
coupon form (including Securities registrable as to principal only) and to
provide for exchangeability of such Securities with the Securities issued
hereunder in fully registered form and to make all appropriate changes for such
purpose;
(d) to cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any provision
contained herein or in any supplemental indenture which may be defective or
inconsistent with any other provision contained herein or in any supplemental
indenture, or to make such other provisions in regard to matters or questions
arising under this Indenture; provided that any such action shall not adversely
affect the interests of the holders of the Securities;
(e) to add to, delete from, or revise the terms of Securities of any series
as permitted by Section 2.01 and 2.03, including, without limitation, any terms
relating to the issuance, exchange, registration or transfer of Securities
issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities and the
payment of any principal thereof, or interest or premium, if any, thereon;
(f) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by
a successor trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series and to
add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary
to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more
than one trustee, pursuant to the requirements of Section 6.11;
(g) to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any
Securityholder in any material respect; or
(h) to provide for the issuance of and establish the form and terms and
conditions of the Securities of any series, to establish the form of any
certifications required to be furnished pursuant to the terms of this Indenture
or any series of Securities, or to add to the rights of the holders of any
series of Securities.
The Trustee is hereby authorized to join with the Company in the execution
of any such supplemental indenture, to make any further appropriate agreements
and stipulations which may be therein contained and to accept the conveyance,
transfer and assignment of any property thereunder, but the Trustee shall not be
obligated to, but may in its discretion, enter into any such supplemental
indenture which affects the Trustee's own rights, duties or immunities under
this Indenture or otherwise.
Any supplemental indenture authorized by the provisions of this Section
9.01 may be executed by the Company and the Trustee without the consent of the
holders of any of the Securities at the time outstanding, notwithstanding any of
the provisions of Section 9.02.
SECTION 9.02. Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Securityholders.
With the consent (evidenced as provided in Section 7.01) of the holders of
not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities at the
time outstanding of all series affected by such supplemental indenture (voting
as a class), and in the case of Securities issued to a Fleet Capital Trust, the
holders of a majority in aggregate liquidation amount of the related Preferred
Securities, the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee
may from time to time and at any time enter into an indenture or indentures
supplemental hereto (which shall conform to the provisions of the Trust
Indenture Act then in effect) for the purpose of adding any provisions to or
changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or
of any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the
holders of the Securities of each series so affected; provided, however, that no
such supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the holders of each
Security affected thereby (and each Preferred Security, if applicable), (i)
extend the fixed maturity of any Security of any series, or reduce the rate or
extend the time of payment of interest thereon, or reduce the principal amount
thereof or any premium thereon, or reduce any amount payable on redemption
thereof or make the principal thereof or any interest or premium thereon payable
in any coin or currency other than that provided in the Securities, or impair or
affect the right of any Securityholder to institute suit for payment thereof or
the right of repayment, if any, at the option of the holder, without the consent
of the holder of each Security so affected, (ii) reduce the aforesaid percentage
of Securities the holders of which are required to consent to any such
supplemental indenture or (iii) otherwise materially adversely affect the
interest of the holders of any series of the Securities or the Preferred
Securities; provided, further, that if the Securities of such series are held by
a Fleet Capital Trust or a trustee of such trust, such supplemental indenture
shall not be effective until the holders of a majority in liquidation preference
of Trust Securities of the applicable Trust shall have consented to such
supplemental indenture; provided further, that if the consent of the holder of
each outstanding Security is required, such supplemental indenture shall not be
effective until each holder of the Trust Securities of the applicable Fleet
Capital Trust shall have consented to such supplemental indenture.
A supplemental indenture which changes or eliminates any covenant or other
provision of this Indenture which has expressly been included solely for the
benefit of one or more particular series of Securities, or which modifies the
rights of Securityholders of such series with respect to such covenant or
provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under this Indenture or the
Securityholders of any other series.
Upon the request of the Company accompanied by a copy of a resolution of
the Board of Directors certified by its Secretary or Assistant Secretary
authorizing the execution of any such supplemental indenture, and upon the
filing with the Trustee of evidence of the consent of Securityholders as
aforesaid, the Trustee shall join with the Company in the execution of such
supplemental indenture unless such supplemental indenture affects the Trustee's
own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which
case the Trustee may in its discretion, but shall not be obligated to, enter
into such supplemental indenture. The Trustee may receive an Opinion of Counsel
as conclusive evidence that any supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this
Article is authorized or permitted by, and conforms to, the terms of this
Article and that it is proper for the Trustee under the provisions of this
Article to join in the execution thereof.
Promptly after the execution by the Company and the Trustee of any
supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Section, the Trustee
shall transmit by mail, first class postage prepaid, a notice, setting forth in
general terms the substance of such supplemental indenture, to the
Securityholders of all series affected thereby as their names and addresses
appear upon the Security Register. Any failure of the Trustee to mail such
notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect
the validity of any such supplemental indenture.
It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Securityholders under this
Section 9.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental
indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such consent shall approve the
substance thereof.
SECTION 9.03. Compliance with Trust Indenture Act; Effect of Supplemental
Indentures.
Any supplemental indenture executed pursuant to the provisions of this
Article Nine shall comply with the Trust Indenture Act, as then in effect. Upon
the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this
Article Nine, this Indenture shall be and be deemed to be modified and amended
in accordance therewith and the respective rights, limitations of rights,
obligations, duties and immunities under this Indenture of the Trustee, the
Company and the holders of Securities of each series affected thereby shall
thereafter be determined, exercised and enforced hereunder subject in all
respects to such modifications and amendments and all the terms and conditions
of any such supplemental indenture shall be and be deemed to be part of the
terms and conditions of this Indenture for any and all purposes.
SECTION 9.04. Notation on Securities.
Securities of any series authenticated and delivered after the execution of
any supplemental indenture affecting such series pursuant to the provisions of
this Article Nine may bear a notation in form approved by the Trustee as to any
matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Company or the
Trustee shall so determine, new Securities of any series so modified as to
conform, in the opinion of the Trustee and the Board of Directors, to any
modification of this Indenture contained in any such supplemental indenture may
be prepared and executed by the Company, authenticated by the Trustee or the
Authenticating Agent and delivered in exchange for the Securities of any series
then outstanding.
SECTION 9.05. Evidence of Compliance of Supplemental Indenture to be
Furnished Trustee.
The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Sections 6.01 and 6.02, may
receive an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive
evidence that any supplemental indenture executed pursuant hereto complies with
the requirements of this Article Nine.
ARTICLE X
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE, CONVEYANCE AND LEASE.
SECTION 10.01. Company May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms.
Nothing contained in this Indenture or in any of the Securities shall
prevent any consolidation or merger of the Company with or into any other
corporation or corporations organized under the laws of a domestic jurisdiction
(whether or not affiliated with the Company, as the case may be), or successive
consolidations or mergers in which the Company, as the case may be, or its
successor or successors shall be a party or parties, or shall prevent any sale,
conveyance, transfer or other disposition of the property of the Company, as the
case may be, or its successor or successors as an entirety, or substantially as
an entirety, to any other corporation organized under the laws of a domestic
jurisdiction (whether or not affiliated with the Company, as the case may be, or
its successor or successors) authorized to acquire and operate the same;
provided, however, that the Company hereby covenants and agrees that, upon any
such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition, the
due and punctual payment, in the case of the Company, of the principal of
(premium, if any) and interest on all of the Securities of all series in
accordance with the terms of each series, according to their tenor and the due
and punctual performance and observance of all the covenants and conditions of
this Indenture with respect to each series or established with respect to such
series to be kept or performed by the Company as the case may be, shall be
expressly assumed, by supplemental indenture (which shall conform to the
provisions of the Trust Indenture Act, as then in effect) satisfactory in form
to the Trustee executed and delivered to the Trustee by the entity formed by
such consolidation, or into which the Company, as the case may be, shall have
been merged, or by the entity which shall have acquired such property; provided,
further, that after giving effect thereto, no Default shall have occurred and be
continuing hereunder.
SECTION 10.02. Successor Corporation to be Substituted for Company.
In case of any such consolidation, merger, conveyance or transfer and upon
the assumption by the successor corporation, by supplemental indenture, executed
and delivered to the Trustee and satisfactory in form to the Trustee, of the due
and punctual payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on
all of the Securities and the due and punctual performance and observance of all
of the covenants and conditions of this Indenture to be performed or observed by
the Company, such successor corporation shall succeed to and be substituted for
the Company, with the same effect as if it had been named herein as the party of
the first part, and the Company thereupon shall be relieved of any further
liability or obligation hereunder or upon the Securities. Such successor
corporation thereupon may cause to be signed, and may issue either in its own
name or in the name of Fleet Financial Group, Inc., any or all of the Securities
issuable hereunder which theretofore shall not have been signed by the Company
and delivered to the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent; and, upon the order of
such successor corporation instead of the Company and subject to all the terms,
conditions and limitations in this Indenture prescribed, the Trustee or the
Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and deliver any Securities which
previously shall have been signed and delivered by the officers of the Company
to the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent for authentication, and any
Securities which such successor corporation thereafter shall cause to be signed
and delivered to the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent for that purpose. All
the Securities so issued shall in all respects have the same legal rank and
benefit under this Indenture as the Securities theretofore or thereafter issued
in accordance with the terms of this Indenture as though all of such Indentures
had been issued at the date of the execution hereof.
SECTION 10.03. Opinion of Counsel to be Given Trustee.
The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Sections 6.01 and 6.02, may
receive an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any consolidation,
merger, conveyance or transfer, and any assumption, permitted or required by the
terms of this Article Ten complies with the provisions of this Article Ten.
ARTICLE XI
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE.
SECTION 11.01. Discharge of Indenture.
When (a) the Company shall deliver to the Trustee for cancellation all
Securities theretofore authenticated (other than any Securities which shall have
been destroyed, lost or stolen and which shall have been replaced or paid as
provided in Section 2.08) and not theretofore cancelled, or (b) all the
Securities not theretofore cancelled or delivered to the Trustee for
cancellation shall have become due and payable, or are by their terms to become
due and payable within one year or are to be called for redemption within one
year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of
redemption, and the Company shall deposit with the Trustee, in trust, funds
sufficient to pay at maturity or upon redemption all of the Securities (other
than any Securities which shall have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which
shall have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 2.08) not theretofore
cancelled or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, including principal and
premium, if any, and interest due or to become due to such date of maturity or
redemption date, as the case may be, but excluding, however, the amount of any
moneys for the payment of principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on the
Securities (1) theretofore repaid to the Company in accordance with the
provisions of Section 11.04, or (2) paid to any State or to the District of
Columbia pursuant to its unclaimed property or similar laws, and if in either
case the Company shall also pay or cause to be paid all other sums payable
hereunder by the Company, then this Indenture shall cease to be of further
effect, except that the provisions of Sections 2.05, 2.07, 2.08, 3.01, 3.02,
3.04, 6.06, 6.10 and 11.04 hereof shall survive until such Securities shall
mature and be paid. Thereafter, Sections 6.10 and 11.04 shall survive, and the
Trustee, on demand of the Company accompanied by any Officers' Certificate and
an Opinion of Counsel and at the cost and expense of the Company, shall execute
proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction of and discharging this Indenture,
the Company, however, hereby agreeing to reimburse the Trustee for any costs or
expenses thereafter reasonably and properly incurred by the Trustee in
connection with this Indenture or the Securities.
SECTION 11.02. Deposited Moneys and U.S. Government Obligations to be Held
in Trust by Trustee.
Subject to the provisions of Section 11.04, all moneys and U.S. Government
Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Sections 11.01 or 11.05 shall
be held in trust and applied by it to the payment, either directly or through
any paying agent (including the Company if acting as its own paying agent), to
the holders of the particular Securities for the payment of which such moneys or
U.S. Government Obligations have been deposited with the Trustee, of all sums
due and to become due thereon for principal, premium, if any, and interest.
SECTION 11.03. Paying Agent to Repay Moneys Held.
Upon the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture all moneys then held
by any paying agent of the Securities (other than the Trustee) shall, upon
demand of the Company, be repaid to it or paid to the Trustee, and thereupon
such paying agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to
such moneys.
SECTION 11.04. Return of Unclaimed Moneys.
Any moneys deposited with or paid to the Trustee or any paying agent for
payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on Securities and
not applied but remaining unclaimed by the holders of Securities for 3 years
after the date upon which the principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on
such Securities, as the case may be, shall have become due and payable, shall be
repaid to the Company by the Trustee or such paying agent on written demand; and
the holder of any of the Securities shall thereafter look only to the Company
for any payment which such holder may be entitled to collect and all liability
of the Trustee or such paying agent with respect to such moneys shall thereupon
cease.
SECTION 11.05. Defeasance Upon Deposit of Moneys or U.S. Government
Obligations.
(a) The Company shall be deemed to have been Discharged (as defined below)
from its respective obligations with respect to any series of Securities upon
satisfaction of the applicable conditions set forth below with respect to any
series of Securities:
(i) The Company shall have deposited or caused to be deposited
irrevocably with the Trustee or the Defeasance Agent (as defined
below) as trust funds in trust, specifically pledged as security
for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the holders of the
Securities of such series (A) money in an amount, or (B) U.S.
Government Obligations which through the payment of interest and
principal in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will
provide, not later than one day before the due date of any
payment, money in an amount, or (C) a combination of (A) and (B),
sufficient, in the opinion (with respect to (B) and (C)) of a
nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants
expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the
Trustee and the Defeasance Agent, if any, to pay and discharge
each installment of principal (including any mandatory sinking
fund payments) of, and interest and premium, if any, on, the
outstanding Securities of such series on the dates such
installments of principal, interest or premium are due;
(ii) if the Securities of such series are then listed on any national
securities exchange, the Company shall have delivered to the
Trustee and the Defeasance Agent, if any, an Opinion of Counsel
to the effect that the exercise of the option under this Section
11.05 would not cause such Securities to be delisted from such
exchange;
(iii)no Event of Default or event which with notice or lapse of time
would become an Event of Default with respect to the Securities
of such series shall have occurred and be continuing on the date
of such deposit; and
(iv) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee and the
Defeasance Agent, if any, an Opinion of Counsel to the effect
that holders of the Securities of such series will not recognize
income, gain or loss for United States Federal income tax
purposes as a result of the exercise of the option under this
Section 11.05 and will be subject to United States Federal income
tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same
times as would have been the case if such option had not been
exercised, and, in the case of the Securities of such series
being Discharged, such opinion shall be accompanied by a private
letter ruling to that effect received from the United States
Internal Revenue Service or a revenue ruling pertaining to a
comparable form of transaction to that effect published by the
United States Internal Revenue Service.
(b) "Discharged" means that the Company shall be deemed to have paid and
discharged the entire indebtedness represented by, and obligations under, the
Securities of such series and to have satisfied all the obligations under this
Indenture relating to the Securities of such series (and the Trustee, at the
expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the
same), except (A) the rights of holders of Securities of such series to receive,
from the trust fund described in clause (1) above, payment of the principal of
and the interest and premium, if any, on such Securities when such payments are
due; (B) the Company's obligations with respect to such Securities under
Sections 2.07, 2.08, 5.02 and 11.04; and (C) the rights, powers, trusts, duties
and immunities of the Trustee hereunder.
(c) "Defeasance Agent" means another financial institution which is
eligible to act as Trustee hereunder and which assumes all of the obligations of
the Trustee necessary to enable the Trustee to act hereunder. In the event such
a Defeasance Agent is appointed pursuant to this section, the following
conditions shall apply:
(i) The Trustee shall have approval rights over the document
appointing such Defeasance Agent and the document setting forth
such Defeasance Agent's rights and responsibilities;
(ii) The Defeasance Agent shall provide verification to the Trustee
acknowledging receipt of sufficient money and/or U.S. Government
Obligations to meet the applicable conditions set forth in this
Section 11.05;
(iii)The Trustee shall determine whether the Company shall be deemed
to have been Discharged from its respective obligations with
respect to any series of Securities.
ARTICLE XII
IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS,
OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS.
SECTION 12.01. Indenture and Securities Solely Corporate Obligations.
No recourse for the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or
interest on any Security, or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect
thereof, and no recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of
the Company in this Indenture or in any supplemental indenture, or in any
Security, or because of the creation of any indebtedness represented thereby,
shall be had against any incorporator, stockholder, officer or director, as
such, past, present or future, of the Company or of any successor corporation of
the Company, either directly or through the Company or any successor corporation
of the Company, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law,
or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise; it being
expressly understood that all such liability is hereby expressly waived and
released as a condition of, and as a consideration for, the execution of this
Indenture and the issue of the Securities.
ARTICLE XIII
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.
SECTION 13.01. Successors.
All the covenants, stipulations, promises and agreements in this Indenture
contained by the Company shall bind its successors and assigns whether so
expressed or not.
SECTION 13.02. Official Acts by Successor Corporation.
Any act or proceeding by any provision of this Indenture authorized or
required to be done or performed by any board, committee or officer of the
Company shall and may be done and performed with like force and effect by the
like board, committee or officer of any corporation that shall at the time be
the lawful sole successor of the Company.
SECTION 13.03. Surrender of Company Powers.
The Company by instrument in writing executed by authority of 2/3
(two-thirds) of its Board of Directors and delivered to the Trustee may
surrender any of the powers reserved to the Company, and thereupon such power so
surrendered shall terminate both as to the Company, as the case may be, and as
to any successor corporation.
SECTION 13.04. Addresses for Notices, etc.
Any notice or demand which by any provision of this Indenture is required
or permitted to be given or served by the Trustee or by the holders of
Securities on the Company may be given or served by being deposited postage
prepaid by registered or certified mail in a post office letter box addressed
(until another address is filed by the Company with the Trustee for the purpose)
to the Company, One Federal Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02110, Attention:
General Counsel. Any notice, direction, request or demand by any Securityholder
to or upon the Trustee shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given or made,
for all purposes, if given or made in writing at the office of the Trustee,
addressed to the Trustee, One First National Plaza, Suite 0126, 9th Floor,
Chicago, Illinois 60670-0126, Attention: Corporate Trust Administration.
SECTION 13.05. Governing Law.
This Indenture and each Security 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 said State.
SECTION 13.06. Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent.
Upon any application or demand by the Company to the Trustee to take any
action under any of the provisions of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish
to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate stating that in the opinion of the
signers 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 have been complied with.
Each certificate or opinion provided for in this Indenture and delivered to
the Trustee with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for
in this Indenture shall include (1) a statement that the person making such
certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition; (2) a brief
statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon
which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are
based; (3) a statement that, in the opinion of such person, he has made such
examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an
informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been
complied with; and (4) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such
person, such condition or covenant has been complied with.
SECTION 13.07. Legal Holidays.
In any case where the date of payment of interest on or principal of the
Securities will be in The City of New York, New York or Chicago, Illinois a
legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions are authorized by law to
close, the payment of such interest on or principal of the Securities need not
be made on such date but may be made on the next succeeding day not in the City
a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions are authorized by law to
close, with the same force and effect as if made on the date of payment and no
interest shall accrue for the period from and after such date.
SECTION 13.08. Trust Indenture Act to Control.
(a) If and to the extent that any provision of this Indenture limits,
qualifies or conflicts with another provision included in this Indenture which
is required to be included in this Indenture by any of Sections 310 to 317,
inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act, such required provision shall control.
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, any provisions contained in this
Indenture as to directions and waivers by Securityholders or impairment of
Securityholders' rights to payment shall be in lieu of Sections 316(a)(1)(A) and
316(a)(1)(B) of the Trust Indenture Act and such sections are hereby expressly
excluded from this Indenture and the Securities, as permitted by the Trust
Indenture Act.
SECTION 13.09. Table of Contents, Headings, etc.
The table of contents and the titles and headings of the articles and
sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only,
are not to be considered a part hereof, and shall in no way modify or restrict
any of the terms or provisions hereof.
SECTION 13.10. Execution in Counterparts.
This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which
shall be an original, but such counterparts shall together constitute but one
and the same instrument.
SECTION 13.11. Separability.
In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Indenture or in
the Securities of any series shall for any reason be held to be invalid, illegal
or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability
shall not affect any other provisions of this Indenture or of such Securities,
but this Indenture and such Securities shall be construed as if such invalid or
illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein or therein.
SECTION 13.12. Assignment.
The Company will have the right at all times to assign any of its
respective rights or obligations under this Indenture to a direct or indirect
wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company, provided that, in the event of any such
assignment, the Company, as the case may be, will remain liable for all such
obligations. Subject to the foregoing, the Indenture is binding upon and inures
to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and
assigns. This Indenture may not otherwise be assigned by the parties hereto.
SECTION 13.13. Acknowledgment of Rights.
The Company acknowledges that, with respect to any Securities held by a
Fleet Capital Trust or a trustee of such trust, if the Institutional Trustee of
such Trust fails to enforce its rights under this Indenture as the holder of the
series of Securities held as the assets of such Fleet Capital Trust, any holder
of Preferred Securities may institute legal proceedings directly against the
Company to enforce such Institutional Trustee's rights under this Indenture
without first instituting any legal proceedings against such Institutional
Trustee or any other person or entity. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an
Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and such event is attributable
to the failure of the Company to pay interest or principal on the applicable
series of Securities on the date such interest or principal is otherwise payable
(or in the case of redemption, on the redemption date), the Company acknowledges
that a holder of Preferred Securities may directly institute a proceeding for
enforcement of payment to such holder of the principal of or interest on the
applicable series of Securities having a principal amount equal to the aggregate
liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities of such holder on or after the
respective due date specified in the applicable series of Securities.
ARTICLE XIV
REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES -- MANDATORY AND
OPTIONAL SINKING FUND
SECTION 14.01. Applicability of Article.
The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to the Securities of any
series which are redeemable before their maturity or to any sinking fund for the
retirement of Securities of a series except as otherwise specified as
contemplated by Section 2.03 for Securities of such series.
SECTION 14.02. Notice of Redemption; Selection of Securities.
In case the Company shall desire to exercise the right to redeem all, or,
as the case may be, any part of the Securities of any series in accordance with
their terms, it shall fix a date for redemption and shall mail a notice of such
redemption at least 30 and not more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for
redemption to the holders of Securities of such series so to be redeemed as a
whole or in part at their last addresses as the same appear on the Security
Register. Such mailing shall be by first class mail. The notice if mailed in the
manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given,
whether or not the holder receives such notice. In any case, failure to give
such notice by mail or any defect in the notice to the holder of any Security of
a series designated for redemption as a whole or in part shall not affect the
validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Security of such
series.
Each such notice of redemption shall specify the date fixed for redemption,
the redemption price at which Securities of such series are to be redeemed, the
place or places of payment, that payment will be made upon presentation and
surrender of such Securities, that interest accrued to the date fixed for
redemption will be paid as specified in said notice, and that on and after said
date interest thereon or on the portions thereof to be redeemed will cease to
accrue. If less than all the Securities of such series are to be redeemed the
notice of redemption shall specify the numbers of the Securities of that series
to be redeemed. In case any Security of a series is to be redeemed in part only,
the notice of redemption shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof
to be redeemed and shall state that on and after the date fixed for redemption,
upon surrender of such Security, a new Security or Securities of that series in
principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof will be issued.
Prior to the redemption date specified in the notice of redemption given as
provided in this Section, the Company will deposit with the Trustee or with one
or more paying agents an amount of money sufficient to redeem on the redemption
date all the Securities so called for redemption at the appropriate redemption
price, together with accrued interest to the date fixed for redemption.
If less than all the Securities of a series are to be redeemed, the Company
will give the Trustee notice not less than 60 days prior to the redemption date
as to the aggregate principal amount of Securities of that series to be redeemed
and the Trustee shall select, in such manner as in its sole discretion it shall
deem appropriate and fair, the Securities of that series or portions thereof (in
integral multiples of $1,000, except as otherwise set forth in the applicable
form of Security) to be redeemed.
SECTION 14.03. Payment of Securities Called for Redemption.
If notice of redemption has been given as provided in Section 14.02 or
Section 14.04, the Securities or portions of Securities of the series with
respect to which such notice has been given shall become due and payable on the
date and at the place or places stated in such notice at the applicable
redemption price, together with interest accrued to the date fixed for
redemption, and on and after said date (unless the Company shall default in the
payment of such Securities at the redemption price, together with interest
accrued to said date) interest on the Securities or portions of Securities of
any series so called for redemption shall cease to accrue. On presentation and
surrender of such Securities at a place of payment specified in said notice, the
said Securities or the specified portions thereof shall be paid and redeemed by
the Company at the applicable redemption price, together with interest accrued
thereon to the date fixed for redemption.
Upon presentation of any Security of any series redeemed in part only, the
Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the
holder thereof, at the expense of the Company, a new Security or Securities of
such series of authorized denominations, in principal amount equal to the
unredeemed portion of the Security so presented.
SECTION 14.04. Mandatory and Optional Sinking Fund.
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 any series is herein referred to as an "optional sinking
fund payment". The last date on which any such payment may be made is herein
referred to as a "sinking fund payment date".
In lieu of making all or any part of any mandatory sinking fund payment
with respect to any Securities of a series in cash, the Company may at its
option (a) deliver to the Trustee Securities of that series theretofore
purchased by the Company and (b) may apply as a credit Securities of that series
which have been redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the
terms of such Securities or through the application of optional sinking fund
payments pursuant to the next succeeding paragraph, in each case in satisfaction
of all or any part of any mandatory sinking fund payment, provided that such
Securities have not been previously so credited. Each such Security so delivered
or applied as a credit shall be credited at the sinking fund redemption price
for such Securities and the amount of any mandatory sinking fund shall be
reduced accordingly. If the Company intends so to deliver or credit such
Securities with respect to any mandatory sinking fund payment it shall deliver
to the Trustee at least 60 days prior to the next succeeding sinking fund
payment date for such series (a) a certificate signed by any Vice President, the
Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer of the Company specifying the portion of
such sinking fund payment, if any, to be satisfied by payment of cash and the
portion of such sinking fund payment, if any, which is to be satisfied by
delivering and crediting such Securities and (b) any Securities to be so
delivered. All Securities so delivered to the Trustee shall be cancelled by the
Trustee and no Securities shall be authenticated in lieu thereof. If the Company
fails to deliver such certificate and Securities at or before the time provided
above, the Company shall not be permitted to satisfy any portion of such
mandatory sinking fund payment by delivery or credit of Securities.
At its option the Company may pay into the sinking fund for the retirement
of Securities of any particular series, on or before each sinking fund payment
date for such series, any additional sum in cash as specified by the terms of
such series of Securities. If the Company intends to exercise its right to make
any such optional sinking fund payment, it shall deliver to the Trustee at least
60 days prior to the next succeeding sinking fund payment date for such Series a
certificate signed by any Vice President, the Treasurer or any Assistant
Treasurer of the Company stating that the Company intends to exercise such
optional right and specifying the amount which the Company intends to pay on
such sinking fund payment date. If the Company fails to deliver such certificate
at or before the time provided above, the Company shall not be permitted to make
any optional sinking fund payment with respect to such sinking fund payment
date. To the extent that such right is not exercised in any year it shall not be
cumulative or carried forward to any subsequent year.
If the sinking fund payment or payments (mandatory or optional) made in
cash plus any unused balance of any preceding sinking fund payments made in cash
shall exceed $50,000 (or a lesser sum if the Company shall so request) with
respect to the Securities of any particular series, it shall be applied by the
Trustee or one or more paying agents on the next succeeding sinking fund payment
date to the redemption of Securities of such series at the sinking fund
redemption price together with accrued interest to the date fixed for
redemption. The Trustee shall select, in the manner provided in Section 14.02,
for redemption on such sinking fund payment date a sufficient principal amount
of Securities of such series to absorb said cash, as nearly as may be, and the
Trustee shall, at the expense and in the name of the Company, thereupon cause
notice of redemption of Securities of such series to be given in substantially
the manner and with the effect provided in Sections 14.02 and 14.03 for the
redemption of Securities of that series in part at the option of the Company,
except that the notice of redemption shall also state that the Securities of
such series are being redeemed for the sinking fund. Any sinking fund moneys not
so applied or allocated by the Trustee or any paying agent to the redemption of
Securities of that series shall be added to the next cash sinking fund payment
received by the Trustee or such paying agent and, together with such payment,
shall be applied in accordance with the provisions of this Section 14.04. Any
and all sinking fund moneys held by the Trustee or any paying agent on the
maturity date of the Securities of any particular series, and not held for the
payment or redemption of particular Securities of such series, shall be applied
by the Trustee or such paying agent, together with other moneys, if necessary,
to be deposited sufficient for the purpose, to the payment of the principal of
the Securities of that series at maturity.
On or before each sinking fund payment date, the Company shall pay to the
Trustee or to one or more paying agents in cash a sum equal to all interest
accrued to the date fixed for redemption on Securities to be redeemed on the
next following sinking fund payment date pursuant to this Section.
Neither the Trustee nor any paying agent shall redeem any Securities of a
series with sinking fund moneys, and the Trustee shall not mail any notice of
redemption of Securities for such series by operation of the sinking fund,
during the continuance of a default in payment of interest on such Securities or
of any Event of Default (other than an Event of Default occurring as a
consequence of this paragraph), except that if the notice of redemption of any
Securities shall theretofore have been mailed in accordance with the provisions
hereof, the Trustee or any paying agent shall redeem such Securities if cash
sufficient for that purpose shall be deposited with the Trustee or such paying
agent for that purpose in accordance with the terms of this Article Fourteen.
Except as aforesaid, any moneys in the sinking fund for such series at the time
when any such default or Event of Default shall occur and any moneys thereafter
paid into the sinking fund shall, during the continuance of such default or
Event of Default, be held as security for the payment of all such Securities;
provided, however, that in case such Event of Default or default shall have been
cured or waived as provided herein, such moneys shall thereafter be applied on
the next succeeding sinking fund payment date on which such moneys may be
applied pursuant to the provisions of this Section 14.04.
ARTICLE XV
SUBORDINATION OF SECURITIES
SECTION 15.01. Agreement to Subordinate.
The Company covenants and agrees, and each holder of Securities issued
hereunder and under any supplemental indenture or by any resolutions by the
Board of Directors ("Additional Provisions") by such Securityholder's acceptance
thereof likewise covenants and agrees, that all Securities shall be issued
subject to the provisions of this Article Fifteen; and each holder of a
Security, whether upon original issue or upon transfer or assignment thereof,
accepts and agrees to be bound by such provisions.
The payment by the Company of the principal of, premium, if any, and
interest on all Securities issued hereunder and under any Additional Provisions
shall, to the extent and in the manner hereinafter set forth, be subordinated
and junior in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior
Indebtedness and Other Financial Obligations of the Company and rank pari passu
and equivalent to creditor obligations of those holding general unsecured claims
not entitled to statutory priority under the United States Bankruptcy Code or
otherwise, in each case whether outstanding at the date of this Indenture or
thereafter incurred.
No provision of this Article Fifteen shall prevent the occurrence of any
default or Event of Default hereunder.
SECTION 15.02. Default on Senior Indebtedness.
No payment may be made of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on
the Securities, or in respect of any redemption, retirement, purchase or other
acquisition of any of the Securities, at any time when (i) there is a default in
the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, interest on or otherwise in
respect of any Senior Indebtedness, whether at maturity or at a date fixed for
prepayment or by declaration or otherwise, or (ii) any event of default with
respect to any Senior Indebtedness has occurred and is continuing, or would
occur as a result of such payment on the Securities or any redemption,
retirement, purchase or other acquisition of any of the Securities, permitting
the holders of such Senior Indebtedness (or a trustee on behalf of the holders
thereof) to accelerate the maturity thereof.
In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment shall be
received by the Trustee when such payment is prohibited by the preceding
paragraph of this Section 15.02, such payment shall be held in trust for the
benefit of, and shall be paid over or delivered to, the holders of Senior
Indebtedness and Other Financial Obligations or their respective
representatives, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to
which any of such Senior Indebtedness and Other Financial Obligations may have
been issued, as their respective interests may appear, but only to the extent
that the holders of the Senior Indebtedness and Other Financial Obligations (or
their representative or representatives or a trustee) notify the Trustee in
writing within 90 days of such payment of the amounts then due and owing on the
Senior Indebtedness and Other Financial Obligations and only the amounts
specified in such notice to the Trustee shall be paid to the holders of Senior
Indebtedness and Other Financial Obligations.
SECTION 15.03. Liquidation; Dissolution; Bankruptcy.
Upon any payment by the Company or distribution of assets of the Company of
any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, to creditors
upon any dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization of the Company,
whether voluntary or involuntary or in bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or
other proceedings, all amounts due upon all Senior Indebtedness and Other
Financial Obligations of the Company shall first be paid in full, or payment
thereof provided for in money in accordance with their terms, before any payment
is made by the Company on account of the principal (and premium, if any) or
interest on the Securities; and upon any such dissolution or winding-up or
liquidation or reorganization, any payment by the Company, or distribution of
assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or
securities, to which the Securityholders or the Trustee would be entitled to
receive from the Company, except under the provisions of this Article Fifteen,
shall be paid by the Company or by any receiver, trustee in bankruptcy,
liquidating trustee, agent or other Person making such payment or distribution,
or by the Securityholders or by the Trustee under the Indenture if received by
them or it, directly to the holders of Senior Indebtedness and Other Financial
Obligations of the Company (pro rata to such holders on the basis of the
respective amounts of Senior Indebtedness and Other Financial Obligations held
by such holders, as calculated by the Company) or their representative or
representatives, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to
which any instruments evidencing such Senior Indebtedness and Other Financial
Obligations may have been issued, as their respective interests may appear, to
the extent necessary to pay such Senior Indebtedness and Other Financial
Obligations in full, in money or money's worth, after giving effect to any
concurrent payment or distribution to or for the holders of such Senior
Indebtedness and Other Financial Obligations, before any payment or distribution
is made to the Securityholders or to the Trustee.
In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment or
distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash,
property or securities, prohibited by the foregoing, shall be received by the
Trustee before all Senior Indebtedness and Other Financial Obligations of the
Company are paid in full, or provision is made for such payment in money in
accordance with its terms, such payment or distribution shall be held in trust
for the benefit of and shall be paid over or delivered to the holders of such
Senior Indebtedness and Other Financial Obligations or their representative or
representatives, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to
which any instruments evidencing such Senior Indebtedness and Other Financial
Obligations may have been issued, and their respective interests may appear, as
calculated by the Company, for application to the payment of all Senior
Indebtedness and Other Financial Obligations of the Company, as the case may be,
remaining unpaid to the extent necessary to pay such Senior Indebtedness and
Other Financial Obligations in full in money in accordance with its terms, after
giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to or for the benefit of
the holders of such Senior Indebtedness and Other Financial Obligations.
For purposes of this Article Fifteen, the words "cash, property or
securities" shall not be deemed to include shares of stock of the Company as
reorganized or readjusted, or securities of the Company or any other corporation
provided for by a plan of reorganization or readjustment, the payment of which
is subordinated at least to the extent provided in this Article Fifteen with
respect to the Securities to the payment of all Senior Indebtedness and Other
Financial Obligations of the Company, as the case may be, that may at the time
be outstanding, provided that (i) such Senior Indebtedness and Other Financial
Obligations is assumed by the new corporation, if any, resulting from any such
reorganization or readjustment, and (ii) the rights of the holders of such
Senior Indebtedness and Other Financial Obligations are not, without the consent
of such holders, altered by such reorganization or readjustment. The
consolidation of the Company with, or the merger of the Company into, another
corporation or the liquidation or dissolution of the Company following the
conveyance or transfer of its property as an entirety, or substantially as an
entirety, to another corporation upon the terms and conditions provided for in
Article Ten of this Indenture shall not be deemed a dissolution, winding-up,
liquidation or reorganization for the purposes of this Section 15.03 if such
other corporation shall, as a part of such consolidation, merger, conveyance or
transfer, comply with the conditions stated in Article Ten of this Indenture.
Nothing in Section 15.02 or in this Section 15.03 shall apply to claims of, or
payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Section 6.06 of this Indenture.
SECTION 15.04. Subrogation.
Subject to the payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness and Other
Financial Obligations of the Company, the rights of the Securityholders shall be
subrogated to the rights of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness and Other
Financial Obligations to receive payments or distributions of cash, property or
securities of the Company, as the case may be, applicable to such Senior
Indebtedness and Other Financial Obligations until all amounts owing on the
Securities shall be paid in full; and, for the purposes of such subrogation, no
payments or distributions to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness and Other
Financial Obligations of any cash, property or securities to which the
Securityholders or the Trustee would be entitled except under the provisions of
this Article Fifteen, and no payment over pursuant to the provisions of this
Article Fifteen to or for the benefit of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness
and Other Financial Obligations by Securityholders or the Trustee, shall, as
between the Company, its creditors other than holders of Senior Indebtedness and
Other Financial Obligations of the Company, and the holders of the Securities,
be deemed to be a payment by the Company to or on account of such Senior
Indebtedness and Other Financial Obligations. It is understood that the
provisions of this Article Fifteen are and are intended solely for the purposes
of defining the relative rights of the holders of the Securities, on the one
hand, and the holders of such Senior Indebtedness and Other Financial
Obligations, on the other hand.
Nothing contained in this Article Fifteen or elsewhere in this Indenture,
any Additional Provisions or in the Securities is intended to or shall impair,
as between the Company, its creditors other than the holders of Senior
Indebtedness and Other Financial Obligations of the Company, and the holders of
the Securities, the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and
unconditional, to pay to the holders of the Securities the principal of,
premium, if any, and interest on, the Securities as and when the same shall
become due and payable in accordance with their terms, or is intended to or
shall affect the relative rights of the holders of the Securities and creditors
of the Company, as the case may be, other than the holders of Senior
Indebtedness and Other Financial Obligations of the Company, as the case may be,
nor shall anything herein or therein prevent the Trustee or the holder of any
Security from exercising all remedies otherwise permitted by applicable law upon
default under the Indenture, subject to the rights, if any, under this Article
Fifteen of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness and Other Financial
Obligations in respect of cash, property or securities of the Company, as the
case may be, received upon the exercise of any such remedy.
Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company referred to in
this Article Fifteen, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Article Six of
this Indenture, and the Securityholders shall be entitled to conclusively rely
upon any order or decree made by any court of competent jurisdiction in which
such dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization proceedings are
pending, or a certificate of the receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidation
trustee, agent or other Person making such payment or distribution, delivered to
the Trustee or to the Securityholders, for the purposes of ascertaining the
Persons entitled to participate in such distribution, the holders of Senior
Indebtedness, Other Financial Obligations and other indebtedness of the Company,
as the case may be, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts
paid or distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this
Article Fifteen.
SECTION 15.05. Trustee to Effectuate Subordination.
Each Securityholder by such Securityholder's acceptance thereof authorizes
and directs the Trustee on such Securityholder's behalf to take such action as
may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination provided in this
Article Fifteen and appoints the Trustee such Securityholder's attorney-in-fact
for any and all such purposes.
SECTION 15.06. Notice by the Company.
The Company shall give prompt written notice to a Responsible Officer of
any fact known to the Company that would prohibit the making of any payment of
monies to or by the Trustee in respect of the Securities pursuant to the
provisions of this Article Fifteen. Notwithstanding the provisions of this
Article Fifteen or any other provision of this Indenture or any Additional
Provisions, the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of the existence of
any facts that would prohibit the making of any payment of monies to or by the
Trustee in respect of the Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Article
Fifteen, unless and until a Responsible Officer shall have received written
notice thereof from the Company or a holder or holders of Senior Indebtedness or
Other Financial Obligations or from any trustee therefor; and before the receipt
of any such written notice, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Article
Six of this Indenture, shall be entitled in all respects to assume that no such
facts exist; provided, however, that if the Trustee shall not have received the
notice provided for in this Section 15.06 at least two Business Days prior to
the date upon which by the terms hereof any money may become payable for any
purpose (including, without limitation, the payment of the principal of (or
premium, if any) or interest on any Security), then, anything herein contained
to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall have full power and authority
to receive such money and to apply the same to the purposes for which they were
received, and shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary that may be
received by it within two Business Days prior to such date.
The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Article Six of this Indenture,
shall be entitled to conclusively rely on the delivery to it of a written notice
by a Person representing himself to be a holder of Senior Indebtedness or Other
Financial Obligations of the Company, as the case may be (or a trustee on behalf
of such holder), to establish that such notice has been given by a holder of
such Senior Indebtedness or Other Financial Obligations or a trustee on behalf
of any such holder or holders. In the event that the Trustee determines in good
faith that further evidence is required with respect to the right of any Person
as a holder of such Senior Indebtedness or Other Financial Obligations to
participate in any payment or distribution pursuant to this Article Fifteen, the
Trustee may request such Person to furnish evidence to the reasonable
satisfaction of the Trustee as to the amount of such Senior Indebtedness or
Other Financial Obligations held by such Person, the extent to which such Person
is entitled to participate in such payment or distribution and any other facts
pertinent to the rights of such Person under this Article Fifteen, and, if such
evidence is not furnished, the Trustee may defer any payment to such Person
pending judicial determination as to the right of such Person to receive such
payment.
SECTION 15.07. Rights of the Trustee; Holders of Senior Indebtedness and
Other Financial Obligations.
The Trustee in its individual capacity shall be entitled to all the rights
set forth in this Article Fifteen in respect of any Senior Indebtedness or Other
Financial Obligations at any time held by it, to the same extent as any other
holder of Senior Indebtedness or Other Financial Obligations, and nothing in
this Indenture or any Additional Provisions shall deprive the Trustee of any of
its rights as such holder.
With respect to the holders of Senior Indebtedness or Other Financial
Obligations of the Company, the Trustee undertakes to perform or to observe only
such of its covenants and obligations as are specifically set forth in this
Article Fifteen, and no implied covenants or obligations with respect to the
holders of such Senior Indebtedness or Other Financial Obligations shall be read
into this Indenture or any Additional Provisions against the Trustee. The
Trustee shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the holders of such
Senior Indebtedness or Other Financial Obligations and, subject to the
provisions of Article Six of this Indenture, the Trustee shall not be liable to
any holder of such Senior Indebtedness or Other Financial Obligations if it
shall pay over or deliver to Securityholders, the Company or any other Person
money or assets to which any holder of such Senior Indebtedness or Other
Financial Obligations shall be entitled by virtue of this Article Fifteen or
otherwise.
SECTION 15.08. Subordination May Not Be Impaired.
No right of any present or future holder of any Senior Indebtedness or
Other Financial Obligations of the Company to enforce subordination as herein
provided shall at any time in any way be prejudiced or impaired by any act or
failure to act on the part of the Company, as the case may be, or by any act or
failure to act, in good faith, by any such holder, or by any noncompliance by
the Company, as the case may be, with the terms, provisions and covenants of
this Indenture, regardless of any knowledge thereof that any such holder may
have or otherwise be charged with.
Without in any way limiting the generality of the foregoing paragraph, the
holders of Senior Indebtedness or Other Financial Obligations of the Company
may, at any time and from time to time, without the consent of or notice to the
Trustee or the Securityholders, without incurring responsibility to the
Securityholders and without impairing or releasing the subordination provided in
this Article Fifteen or the obligations hereunder of the holders of the
Securities to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness or Other Financial
Obligations, do any one or more of the following: (i) change the manner, place
or terms of payment or extend the time of payment of, or renew or alter, such
Senior Indebtedness or Other Financial Obligations, or otherwise amend or
supplement in any manner such Senior Indebtedness or Other Financial Obligations
or any instrument evidencing the same or any agreement under which such Senior
Indebtedness or Other Financial Obligations is outstanding; (ii) sell, exchange,
release or otherwise deal with any property pledged, mortgaged or otherwise
securing such Senior Indebtedness or Other Financial Obligations; (iii) release
any Person liable in any manner for the collection of such Senior Indebtedness
or Other Financial Obligations; and (iv) exercise or refrain from exercising any
rights against the Company, as the case may be, and any other Person.
[The rest of this page is left blank intentionally]
<PAGE>
The First National Bank of Chicago hereby accepts the trusts in this
Indenture declared and provided, upon the terms and conditions hereinabove set
forth.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be
duly executed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized and their
respective corporate seals to be hereunto duly affixed and attested, all as of
the day and year first above written.
[Seal] FLEET FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.
Attest:
/s/ William C. Mutterperl By /s/ Eugene M. McQuade
------------------------------- ----------------------------
William C. Mutterperl Eugene M. McQuade
Secretary Vice Chairman and
Chief Financial Officer
[Seal] THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO,
Attest: as Trustee
/s/ Authorized Signatory By /s/ Authorized Signatory
- -------------------------------- --------------------------
Title:
<PAGE>
STATE OF RHODE ISLAND )
COUNTY OF PROVIDENCE ) ss.:
On the ____ day of ___________, 1998 before me personally came Eugene M.
McQuade, to me known, who, being by me duly sworn, did depose and say that he
resides at 50 Downing Street, East Greenwich, Rhode Island; that he is Vice
Chairman and Chief Financial Officer of Fleet Financial Group, Inc., one of the
corporations described in and which executed the above instrument; that he knows
the corporate seal of said corporation; that the seal affixed to the said
instrument is such corporate 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
[seal] Commission expires:
STATE OF )
COUNTY OF ) ss.:
On the _____ day of ________________, 1998, before me personally came
__________________________, to me known, who, being by me duly sworn, did depose
and say that he resides at ___________________; that he is ___________________
of The First National Bank of Chicago, one of the corporations described in and
which executed the above instrument; that he knows the corporate seal of said
corporation; that the seal affixed to the said instrument is such corporate
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
[seal] Commission expires:
EXHIBIT 4(c)
FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
between
FLEET FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.
and
THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO
Dated as of December 18, 1998
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS*
Page
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.1 Definition of Terms 1
ARTICLE II
GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE DEBENTURES
SECTION 2.1 Designation and Principal Amount 3
SECTION 2.2 Maturity 3
SECTION 2.3 Form and Payment 3
SECTION 2.4 Global Debenture 3
SECTION 2.5 Interest 4
ARTICLE III
REDEMPTION OF THE DEBENTURES
SECTION 3.1 Optional Redemption 5
SECTION 3.2 Redemption Procedures 5
SECTION 3.3 No Sinking Fund 5
SECTION 3.4 Required Approval 5
ARTICLE IV
EXTENSION OF INTEREST PAYMENT PERIOD
SECTION 4.1 Extension of Interest Payment Period 5
SECTION 4.2 Notice of Extension 6
SECTION 4.3 Limitation of Transactions 6
ARTICLE V
EXPENSES
SECTION 5.1 Payment of Expenses 7
SECTION 5.2 Payment Upon Resignation or Removal 7
ARTICLE VI
COVENANT TO LIST ON EXCHANGE
SECTION 6.1 Listing on an Exchange 8
ARTICLE VII
FORM OF DEBENTURE
SECTION 7.1 Form of Debenture 8
*THIS TABLE OF CONTENTS SHALL NOT, FOR ANY PURPOSE, BE DEEMED TO BE A PART OF
THIS FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE.
ARTICLE VIII
ORIGINAL ISSUE OF DEBENTURES
SECTION 8.1 Original Issue of Debentures 12
ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 9.1 Ratification of Indenture 12
SECTION 9.2 Trustee Not Responsible for Recitals 12
SECTION 9.3 Governing Law 13
SECTION 9.4 Separability 13
SECTION 9.5 Counterparts 13
<PAGE>
FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, dated as of December 18, 1998 (the "First
Supplemental Indenture"), between Fleet Financial Group, Inc., a Rhode Island
corporation (the "Company"), and The First National Bank of Chicago, as trustee
(the "Trustee") under the Indenture dated as of December 18, 1998 between the
Company and the Trustee (the "Indenture").
WHEREAS, the Company executed and delivered the Indenture to the Trustee to
provide for the future issuance of the Company's unsecured junior subordinated
debt securities to be issued from time to time in one or more series as might be
determined by the Company under the Indenture, in an unlimited aggregate
principal amount which may be authenticated and delivered as provided in the
Indenture;
WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of the Indenture, the Company desires to
provide for the establishment of a new series of such securities to be known as
its Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures due 2028
(the "Debentures"), the form and substance of such Debentures and the terms,
provisions and conditions thereof to be set forth as provided in the Indenture
and this First Supplemental Indenture;
WHEREAS, the Company and Fleet Capital Trust V a Delaware statutory
business trust (the "Trust"), has offered to the public $250,000,000 aggregate
liquidation amount of its Floating Rate Capital Securities (the "Capital
Securities"), representing preferred undivided beneficial interests in the
assets of the Trust, and proposes to invest the proceeds from such offering,
together with the proceeds of the issuance and sale by the Trust to the Company
of $7,732,000 aggregate liquidation amount of its Floating Rate Common
Securities (the "Common Securities"), in $257,732,000 aggregate principal amount
of the Debentures; and
WHEREAS, the Company has requested that the Trustee execute and deliver
this First Supplemental Indenture and all requirements necessary to make this
First Supplemental Indenture a valid instrument in accordance with its terms,
and to make the Debentures, when executed by the Company and authenticated and
delivered by the Trustee, the valid obligations of the Company, have been
performed, and the execution and delivery of this First Supplemental Indenture
has been duly authorized in all respects.
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the purchase and acceptance of the
Debentures by the Holders thereof, and for the purpose of setting forth, as
provided in the Indenture, the form and substance of the Debentures and the
terms, provisions and conditions thereof, the Company covenants and agrees with
the Trustee as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.1. Definition of Terms.
Unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) a term defined in the Indenture has the same meaning when used in this
First Supplemental Indenture;
(b) a term defined anywhere in this First Supplemental Indenture has the
same meaning throughout;
(c) the singular includes the plural and vice versa;
(d) a reference to a Section or Article is to a Section or Article of this
First Supplemental Indenture;
(e) headings are for convenience of reference only and do not affect
interpretation;
(f) the following terms have the meanings given to them in the Declaration:
(i) Purchase Agreement; (ii) Delaware Trustee; (iii) Distributions; (iv)
Institutional Trustee; (v) Capital Securities Guarantee; (vi) Capital Security
Certificate; and (vii) Regular Trustee.
(g) the following terms have the meanings given to them in this Section
1.1(g):
"Additional Interest" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.5(c).
"Compound Interest" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.1.
"Coupon Rate" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.5(a).
"Creditor" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.1.
"Declaration" means the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of Fleet
Capital Trust V, a Delaware statutory business trust, dated as of December 18,
1998.
"Deferred Interest" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.1.
"Dissolution Event" means the dissolution of the Trust and distribution of
the Debentures held by the Institutional Trustee pro rata to the holders of the
Trust Securities in accordance with the Declaration, such event to occur at the
option of the Company at any time.
"Extended Interest Payment Period" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 4.1.
"Federal Reserve Board" means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
System.
"Global Debenture" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(a).
"Holder" means any person in whose name at the time a Debenture is
registered on the Security Register.
"Interest Payment Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.5(a).
"Non Book-Entry Capital Securities" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 2.4(a).
"Prepayment Price" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1.
"Regulatory Capital Event" means that the Company shall have received an
opinion of independent bank regulatory counsel experienced in such matters to
the effect that, as a result of (a) any amendment to, or change (including any
announced prospective change) in, the laws (or any regulations thereunder) of
the United States or any rules, guidelines or policies of the Federal Reserve
Board or (b) any official administrative pronouncement or judicial decision
interpreting or applying such laws or regulations, which amendment or change is
effective or such pronouncement or decision is announced on or after the date of
original issuance of the Capital Securities, the Capital Securities do not
constitute, or within 90 days of the date thereof, will not constitute, Tier 1
capital (or its equivalent) for purposes of the Federal Reserve Board's capital
guidelines for bank holding companies; provided, however, that the distribution
of the Debentures in connection with the liquidation of the Trust by the Company
and the treatment thereafter of the Debentures as other than Tier 1 capital
shall not in and or itself constitute a Regulatory Capital Event unless such
liquidation shall have occurred in connection with a Tax Event.
"Special Event" means a Tax Event or a Regulatory Capital Event, as the
case may be.
"Stated Maturity" means the date on which the Debentures mature and on
which the principal shall be due and payable, together with all accrued and
unpaid interest thereon including Compound Interest and Additional Interest, if
any, which date shall be December 18, 2028.
"Tax Event" means that the Regular Trustees shall have received an opinion
of a nationally recognized independent tax counsel experienced in such matters
to the effect that, as a result of (a) any amendment to, or change (including
any announced prospective change) in, the laws or any regulations thereunder of
the United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or
therein, or (b) any official administrative pronouncement or judicial decision
interpreting or applying such laws or regulations, which amendment or change is
effective or such pronouncement or decision is announced on or after the date of
the original issuance of the Debentures, there is more than an insubstantial
risk that (i) the Trust is, or will be within 90 days of the date of such
opinion, subject to United States federal income tax with respect to income
received or accrued on the Debentures, (ii) interest payable by the Company on
the Debentures is not, or within 90 days of the date thereof will not be,
deductible by the Company, in whole or in part, for United States federal income
tax purposes, or (iii) the Trust is, or will be within 90 days of the date of
such opinion, subject to more than a de minimis amount of other taxes, duties or
other governmental charges.
"Three-Month LIBOR" shall be calculated as follows:
First Chicago Trust Company of New York as Calculation Agent (the
"Calculation Agent"), will calculate the interest rate for each interest period
on the Debentures (an "Interest Period") based on Three-Month LIBOR determined
as of two London Banking Days (defined as any day on which dealings in deposits
in U.S. dollars are transacted in the London interbank market) prior to the
first day of such Interest Period (each, a "Determination Date"). "Three-Month
LIBOR" means, with respect to an Interest Period relating to an Interest Payment
Date (in the following order of priority):
(1) the rate (expressed as a percentage per annum) for Eurodollar
deposits having a three-month maturity that appears on Telerate
Page 3750 as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the related
Determination Date;
(2) if such rate does not appear on Telerate Page 3750 as of 11:00
a.m. (London time) on the related Determination Date, Three-Month
LIBOR will be the arithmetic mean of the offered rates (expressed
as percentages per annum) (unless Page 3750 by its terms provides
only for a single rate, in which case such single rate shall be
used) for Eurodollar deposits having a three-month maturity that
appear (or, if only a single rate is required as aforesaid,
appears) on Reuters Monitor Money Rates Service Page LIBO
("Reuters Page LIBO") as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such
Determination Date;
(3) if such rates or rate do not appear on Reuters Page LIBO as of
11:00 a.m. (London time) on the related Determination Date, the
Calculation Agent will request the principal London offices of
four major reference banks in the London interbank market, as
selected by the Calculation Agent, to provide the Calculation
Agent with such banks' offered quotations (expressed as
percentages per annum) for Eurodollar deposits having a
three-month maturity to prime banks in the London interbank
market as of approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such
Determination Date and in a principal amount that is
representative for a single transaction in Eurodollar deposits in
such market at such time. If at least two quotations are
provided, Three-Month LIBOR will be the arithmetic mean of such
quotations;
(4) if fewer than two such quotations are provided as requested in
clause (3) above, the Calculation Agent will request three major
New York City banks to provide such banks' offered quotations
(expressed as percentages per annum) to leading European banks
for loans in Eurodollars having a three-month maturity as of
11:00 a.m. (London time) on such Determination Date and in a
principal amount that is representative for a single transaction
in Eurodollar deposits in such market at such time. If at least
two such quotations are provided, Three-Month LIBOR will be the
arithmetic mean of such quotations; and
(5) if fewer than two such quotations are provided as requested in
clause (4) above, Three-Month LIBOR will be Three-Month LIBOR as
determined on the previous Determination Date.
If the rate for Eurodollar deposits having a three-month maturity that
initially appears on Telerate Page 3750 or Reuters Page LIBO, as the case may
be, as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the related Determination Date is
superseded on Telerate Page 3750 or Reuters Page LIBO, as the case may be, by a
corrected rate before 12:00 noon (London time) on such Determination Date, the
corrected rate as so substituted on the applicable page will be the applicable
Three-Month LIBOR for such Determination Date.
"Telerate Page 3750" means the display designated as "Page 3750" on the Dow
Jones Telerate Service (or such other page as may replace Page 3750 on that
service or such other service or services as may be nominated by the British
Bankers' Association as the information vendor for the purpose of displaying
London interbank offered rates for U.S. dollar deposits).
All percentages resulting from any calculations on the Debentures will be
rounded, if necessary, to the nearest one hundred-thousandth of a percentage
point, with five one-millionths of a percentage point rounded upward (e.g.,
9.876545% (or .09876545) being rounded to 9.87655% (or .0987655)), and all
dollar amounts used or resulting from such calculation will be rounded to the
nearest cent (with one-half cent being rounded upward).
The Calculation Agent will, upon the request of the holder of any
Debentures, provide the interest rate then in effect. All calculations made by
the Calculation Agent in the absence of manifest error shall be conclusive for
all purposes and binding on the Company and the holders of the Debentures.
ARTICLE II
GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE DEBENTURES
SECTION 2.1. Designation and Principal Amount.
There is hereby authorized a series of Securities designated the "Floating
Rate Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures due 2028", limited in
aggregate principal amount to $257,732,000 which amount shall be as set forth in
any written order of the Company for the authentication and delivery of
Debentures pursuant to Section 2.04 of the Indenture.
SECTION 2.2. Maturity. The Debentures shall mature on December 18, 2028
(the "Stated Maturity").
SECTION 2.3. Form and Payment.
Except as provided in Section 2.4, the Debentures shall be issued in fully
registered certificated form without interest coupons. Principal and interest on
the Debentures issued in certificated form will be payable, the transfer of such
Debentures will be registrable and such Debentures will be exchangeable for
Debentures bearing identical terms and provisions at the office or agency of the
Trustee in New York, New York; provided, however, that payment of interest may
be made at the option of the Company by check mailed to the Holder entitled
thereto at such address as shall appear in the Security Register or by wire
transfer to an account appropriately designated by the Holder, entitled thereto.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as the Holder of any Debentures is the
Institutional Trustee, the payment of the principal of and interest (including
Compound Interest and Additional Interest, if any) on such Debentures held by
the Institutional Trustee will be made at such place and to such account as may
be designated by the Institutional Trustee.
SECTION 2.4. Global Debenture.
(a) In connection with a Dissolution Event,
(i) the Debentures in certificated form may be presented to the
Trustee by the Institutional Trustee in exchange for a global
Debenture in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate
principal amount of all outstanding Debentures (a "Global
Debenture"), to be registered in the name of the Depository
Institution, or its nominee, and delivered by the Trustee to the
Depository Institution for crediting to the accounts of its
participants pursuant to the instructions of the Regular
Trustees. The Company upon any such presentation shall execute a
Global Debenture in such aggregate principal amount and deliver
the same to the Trustee for authentication and delivery in
accordance with the Indenture and this First Supplemental
Indenture. Payments on the Debentures issued as a Global
Debenture will be made to the Depository Institution; and
(ii) if any Capital Securities are held in non book-entry certificated
form, the Debentures in certificated form may be presented to the
Trustee by the Institutional Trustee and any Capital Security
Certificate which represents Capital Securities other than
Capital Securities held by the Depository Institution or its
nominee ("Non Book-Entry Capital Securities") will be deemed to
represent beneficial interests in Debentures presented to the
Trustee by the Institutional Trustee having an aggregate
principal amount equal to the aggregate liquidation amount of the
Non Book-Entry Capital Securities until such Capital Security
Certificates are presented to the Security registrar for transfer
or reissuance, at which time such Capital Security Certificates
will be cancelled and a Debenture, registered in the name of the
holder of the Capital Security Certificate or the transferee of
the holder of such Capital Security Certificate, as the case may
be, with an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate
liquidation amount of the Capital Security Certificate cancelled,
will be executed by the Company and delivered to the Trustee for
authentication and delivery in accordance with the Indenture and
this First Supplemental Indenture. On issue of such Debentures,
Debentures with an equivalent aggregate principal amount that
were presented by the Institutional Trustee to the Trustee will
be deemed to have been cancelled.
(b) A Global Debenture may be transferred, in whole but not in part, only
to another nominee of the Depository Institution, or to a successor Depository
Institution selected or approved by the Company or to a nominee of such
successor Depository Institution.
(c) If (i) at any time the Depository Institution notifies the Company that
it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depository Institution or if at any
time the Depository Institution for such series shall no longer be registered or
in good standing under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or other
applicable statute or regulation, and a successor Depository Institution for
such series is not appointed by the Company within 90 days after the Company
receives such notice or becomes aware of such condition, as the case may be,
(ii) the Company at any time determines that the Debentures shall no longer be
solely represented by a Global Debenture or (iii) there shall have occurred an
Event of Default, then the Company shall execute, and, subject to Article II of
the Indenture, the Trustee, upon written notice from the Company, shall
authenticate and deliver the Debentures in definitive registered form without
coupons, in authorized denominations, and in an aggregate principal amount equal
to the principal amount of the Global Debenture in exchange for such Global
Debenture. In such event the Company shall execute, and, subject to Section 2.07
of the Indenture, the Trustee, upon receipt of an Officers' Certificate
evidencing such determination by the Company, shall authenticate and deliver the
Debentures in definitive registered form without coupons, in authorized
denominations, and in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal
amount of the Global Debenture in exchange for such Global Debenture. Upon the
exchange of the Global Debenture for such Debentures in definitive registered
form without coupons, in authorized denominations, the Global Debenture shall be
cancelled by the Trustee. Such Debentures in definitive registered form issued
in exchange for the Global Debenture shall be registered in such names and in
such authorized denominations as the Depository Institution, pursuant to
instructions from its direct or indirect participants or otherwise, shall
instruct the Trustee. The Trustee shall deliver such Securities to the
Depository Institution for delivery to the Persons in whose names such
Securities are so registered.
SECTION 2.5. Interest.
(a) Each Debenture will bear interest at a variable annual rate, reset
quarterly, equal to Three-Month LIBOR plus 1.00% (the "Coupon Rate") from the
original date of issuance until the principal thereof becomes due and payable,
and on any overdue principal and, to the extent that payment of such interest is
enforceable under applicable law, on any overdue installment of interest at the
Coupon Rate, compounded quarterly, payable quarterly in arrears on March 18,
June 18, September 18 and December 18 of each year (each, an "Interest Payment
Date"), commencing on March 18, 1999, to the Person in whose name such Debenture
or any predecessor Debenture is registered at the close of business on the
relevant record date, which will be, as long as the Capital Securities remain in
book-entry form (or if no Capital Securities remain outstanding, as long as the
Debentures remain in book entry form), one Business Day prior to the relevant
Interest Payment Date and, in the event the Capital Securities are not in
book-entry form (or if no Capital Securities remain outstanding, in the event
the Debentures are not in book entry form), the 15th day of the month in which
the relevant Interest Payment Date occurs, except as otherwise provided pursuant
to the provisions of Article IV hereof.
(b) The amount of interest payable for any period will be computed on the
basis of the actual number of days in each interest period (which number of
actual days shall include the first day but exclude the last day of such
interest period) divided by 360. In the event that any date on which interest is
payable on the Debentures is not a Business Day, then payment of interest
payable on such date will be made on the next succeeding day which is a Business
Day.
(c) If, at any time while the Institutional Trustee is the holder of any
Junior Subordinated Debentures, the Trust or the Institutional Trustee is
required to pay any taxes, duties, assessments or governmental charges of
whatever nature (other than withholding taxes) imposed by the United States, or
any other taxing authority, then, in any such case, the Company will pay as
additional interest ("Additional Interest") on the Debentures held by the
Institutional Trustee, such additional amounts as shall be required so that the
net amounts received and retained by the Trust and by the Institutional Trustee
after paying such taxes, duties, assessments or other governmental charges will
be equal to the amounts the Trust and the Institutional Trustee would have
received had no such taxes, duties, assessments or other governmental charges
been imposed.
ARTICLE III
REDEMPTION OF THE DEBENTURES
SECTION 3.1 Optional Redemption
The Debentures are prepayable prior to the Stated Maturity at the option of
the Company (i) in whole or in part, from time to time, on or after December 18,
2003 or (ii) at any time prior to December 18, 2003, in whole but not in part,
upon the occurrence and continuation of a Special Event, in either case at a
prepayment price (the "Prepayment Price") equal to 100% of the principal amount
thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon (including Additional Interest
and Compound Interest, if any) to the date of prepayment.
SECTION 3.2 Redemption Procedures
Notice of any redemption will be mailed at least 30 days but not more than
60 days before the redemption date to each Holder of Debentures to be prepaid at
its registered address. Unless the Company defaults in payment of the prepayment
price, on and after the redemption date interest shall cease to accrue on such
Debentures called for redemption. If the Debentures are only partially redeemed
pursuant to Section 3.1, the Debentures will be redeemed pro rata or by lot or
by any other method utilized by the Trustee; provided, that if at the time of
redemption the Debentures are registered as a Global Debenture, the Depository
Institution shall determine, in accordance with its procedures, the principal
amount of such Debentures held by each Depository Institution participant to be
redeemed. The Prepayment Price shall be paid prior to 12:00 noon, New York time,
on the date of such prepayment or at such earlier time as the Company
determines; provided that the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount
sufficient to pay the Prepayment Price by 10:00 a.m., New York time, on the date
such prepayment price is to be paid.
SECTION 3.3. No Sinking Fund.
The Debentures are not entitled to the benefit of any sinking fund.
SECTION 3.4. Required Approval.
Any redemption of the Debentures in accordance with the foregoing Sections
may require the prior approval of the Federal Reserve Board if such approval is
then required under applicable law, rules, guidelines or policies.
ARTICLE IV
EXTENSION OF INTEREST PAYMENT PERIOD
SECTION 4.1. Extension of Interest Payment Period.
So long as the Company shall not be in default in the payment of interest
on the Debentures, the Company shall have the right, at any time and from time
to time during the term of the Debentures, to defer payments of interest by
extending the interest payment period of such Debentures for a period not
exceeding 20 consecutive quarters (the "Extended Interest Payment Period"),
during which Extended Interest Payment Period no interest shall be due and
payable; provided that no Extended Interest Payment Period may extend beyond the
Stated Maturity. To the extent permitted by applicable law, interest, the
payment of which has been deferred because of the extension of the interest
payment period pursuant to this Section 4.1, will bear interest thereon at the
Coupon Rate compounded quarterly for each quarter of the Extended Interest
Payment Period ("Compound Interest"). At the end of the Extended Interest
Payment Period, the Company shall pay all interest accrued and unpaid on the
Debentures, including any Additional Interest and Compound Interest (together,
"Deferred Interest") that shall be payable to the Holders in whose names the
Debentures are registered in the Security Register on the record date for the
first Interest Payment Date after the end of the Extended Interest Payment
Period. Before the termination of any Extended Interest Payment Period, the
Company may further extend such period, provided that such period together with
all such further extensions thereof shall not exceed 20 consecutive quarters, or
extend beyond the Stated Maturity of the Debentures. Upon the termination of any
Extended Interest Payment Period and upon the payment of all Deferred Interest
then due, the Company may commence a new Extended Interest Payment Period,
subject to the foregoing requirements. No interest shall be due and payable
during an Extended Interest Payment Period, except at the end thereof, but the
Company may prepay at any time all or any portion of the interest accrued during
an Extended Interest Payment Period.
SECTION 4.2. Notice of Extension.
(a) If the Institutional Trustee is the only registered Holder at the time
the Company selects an Extended Interest Payment Period, the Company shall give
written notice to the Regular Trustees, the Institutional Trustee and the
Trustee of its selection of such Extended Interest Payment Period one Business
Day before the earlier of (i) the next succeeding date on which Distributions on
the Trust Securities issued by the Trust are payable, or (ii) the date the Trust
is required to give notice of the record date, or the date such Distributions
are payable, to the New York Stock Exchange or other applicable self-regulatory
organization or to holders of the Capital Securities issued by the Trust, but in
any event at least one Business Day before such record date.
(b) If the Institutional Trustee is not the only Holder at the time the
Company selects an Extended Interest Payment Period, the Company shall give the
Holders of the Debentures and the Trustee written notice of its selection of
such Extended Interest Payment Period at least ten Business Days before the
earlier of (i) the next succeeding Interest Payment Date, or (ii) the date the
Company is required to give notice of the record date or the Interest Payment
Date to the New York Stock Exchange or other applicable self-regulatory
organization or to Holders of the Debentures.
(c) The quarter in which any notice is given pursuant to paragraphs (a) or
(b) of this Section 4.2 shall be counted as one of the 20 quarters permitted in
the maximum Extended Interest Payment Period permitted under Section 4.1.
SECTION 4.3. Limitation of Transactions.
If (i) the Company shall exercise its right to defer payment of interest as
provided in Section 4.1 and the Extended Interest Payment Period is continuing,
or (ii) there shall have occurred any Event of Default, as defined in the
Indenture, or (iii) there shall have occurred any Event of Default, as defined
in the Capital Securities Guarantee, then (a) the Company shall not declare or
pay any dividend on, make any distribution with respect to, or redeem, purchase,
acquire or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of its capital stock
(other than (1) purchases or acquisitions of shares of its common stock in
connection with the satisfaction by the Company of its obligations under any
employee benefit plans or any other contractual obligation of the Company (other
than a contractual obligation ranking pari passu with or junior to the
Debentures), (2) as a result of a reclassification of the Company's capital
stock or the exchange or conversion of one class or series of the Company's
capital stock for another class or series of the Company's capital stock or (3)
the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Company's capital stock
pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock or the
security being converted or exchanged), (b) the Company shall not make any
payment of interest, principal or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or
redeem any debt securities issued by the Company that rank pari passu with or
junior to the Debentures and (c) the Company shall not make any guarantee
payments with respect to the foregoing (other than pursuant to the Capital
Securities Guarantee).
ARTICLE V
EXPENSES
SECTION 5.1. Payment of Expenses.
In connection with the offering, sale and issuance of the Debentures to the
Institutional Trustee and in connection with the sale of the Trust Securities by
the Trust, the Company, in its capacity as borrower with respect to the
Debentures, shall:
(a) pay all costs and expenses relating to the offering, sale and issuance
of the Debentures, including commissions to the underwriter payable pursuant to
the Purchase Agreement and compensation of the Trustee under the Indenture in
accordance with the provisions of Section 6.06 of the Indenture;
(b) be responsible for and shall pay all debts and obligations (other than
with respect to the Trust Securities) and all costs and expenses of the Trust
(including, but not limited to, costs and expenses relating to the organization,
maintenance and dissolution of the Trust, the offering, sale and issuance of the
Trust Securities (including commissions to the underwriters in connection
therewith), the fees and expenses (including reasonable counsel fees and
expenses) of the Institutional Trustee, the Delaware Trustee and the Regular
Trustees (including any amounts payable under Article 10 of the Declaration),
the costs and expenses relating to the operation of the Trust, including without
limitation, costs and expenses of accountants, attorneys, statistical or
bookkeeping services, expenses for printing and engraving and computing or
accounting equipment, paying agent(s), registrar(s), transfer agent(s),
duplicating, travel and telephone and other telecommunications expenses and
costs and expenses incurred in connection with the acquisition, financing, and
disposition of Trust assets and the enforcement by the Institutional Trustee of
the rights of the holders of the Capital Securities);
(c) be liable for any indemnification obligations arising with respect to
the Declaration; and
(d) pay any and all taxes (other than United States withholding taxes
attributable to the Trust or its assets) and all liabilities, costs and expenses
with respect to such taxes of the Trust.
The Company's obligations under this Section 5.1 shall be for the benefit
of, and shall be enforceable by, any Person to whom such debts, obligations,
costs, expenses and taxes are owed (a "Creditor") whether or not such Creditor
has received notice hereof. Any such Creditor may enforce the Company's
obligations under this Section 5.1 directly against the Company and the Company
irrevocably waives any right of remedy to require that any such Creditor take
any action against the Trust or any other Person before proceeding against the
Company. The Company agrees to execute such additional agreements as may be
necessary or desirable in order to give full effect to the provisions of this
Section 5.1.
SECTION 5.2. Payment Upon Resignation or Removal.
Upon termination of this First Supplemental Indenture or the Indenture or
the removal or resignation of the Trustee, unless otherwise stated, the Company
shall pay to the Trustee all amounts accrued to the date of such termination,
removal or resignation that are payable pursuant to Section 6.06 of the
Indenture. Upon termination of the Declaration or the removal or resignation of
the Delaware Trustee or the Institutional Trustee, as the case may be, pursuant
to Section 5.6 of the Declaration, the Company shall pay to the Delaware Trustee
or the Institutional Trustee, as the case may be, all amounts accrued to the
date of such termination, removal or resignation.
ARTICLE VI
COVENANT TO LIST ON EXCHANGE
SECTION 6.1. Listing on an Exchange.
If the Debentures are distributed to the holders of the Securities issued
by the Trust, and the Capital Securities are then so listed, the Company will
use its best efforts to list such Debentures on the New York Stock Exchange,
Inc. or on such other exchange as the Capital Securities are then listed.
ARTICLE VII
FORM OF DEBENTURE
SECTION 7.1. Form of Debenture.
The Debentures and the Trustee's Certificate of Authentication to be
endorsed thereon are to be substantially in the following forms:
(FORM OF FACE OF DEBENTURE)
IF THE DEBENTURE IS TO BE A GLOBAL DEBENTURE, INSERT - This Debenture is a
Global Debenture within the meaning of the Indenture hereinafter referred to and
is registered in the name of a Depositary or a nominee of a Depositary. This
Debenture is exchangeable for Debentures registered in the name of a person
other than the Depositary or its nominee only in the limited circumstances
described in the Indenture, and no transfer of this Debenture (other than a
transfer of this Debenture as a whole by the Depositary to a nominee of the
Depositary or by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or another
nominee of the Depositary) may be registered except in limited circumstances.
Unless this Debenture is presented by an authorized representative of The
Depository Trust Company (55 Water Street, New York, New York) to the issuer or
its agent for registration of transfer, exchange or payment, and any Debenture
issued is registered in the name of Cede & Co. or such other name as requested
by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company and any payment
hereon is made to Cede & Co., ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE
OR OTHERWISE BY A PERSON IS WRONGFUL since the registered owner hereof, Cede &
Co., has an interest herein.
No. 1
FLEET FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.
FLOATING RATE JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEFERRABLE INTEREST DEBENTURE
DUE 2028
FLEET FINANCIAL GROUP, INC., a Rhode Island corporation (the "Company",
which term includes any successor corporation under the Indenture hereinafter
referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to The First National
Bank of Chicago, as Institutional Trustee of Fleet Capital Trust V under that
certain Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust dated as of December 18, 1998,
or registered assigns, the principal sum of Two Hundred Fifty Seven Million
Seven Hundred Thirty Two Thousand Dollars ($257,732,000) on December 18, 2028
(the "Stated Maturity"), and to pay interest on said principal sum from December
18, 1998, or from the most recent interest payment date (each such date, an
"Interest Payment Date") to which interest has been paid or duly provided for,
quarterly (subject to deferral as set forth herein) in arrears on March 18, June
18, September 18 and December 18 of each year commencing March 18, 1999, at a
variable annual rate, reset quarterly, equal to Three-Month LIBOR (as defined on
the reverse) plus 1.00% until the principal hereof shall have become due and
payable, and on any overdue principal and premium, if any, and (without
duplication and to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under
applicable law) on any overdue installment of interest at the same rate per
annum compounded quarterly. The amount of interest payable on any Interest
Payment Date shall be computed on the basis of the actual number of days in each
interest period (which number of actual days shall include the first day but
exclude the last day of such interest period) divided by 360. In the event that
any date on which interest is payable on this Debenture is not a Business Day,
then payment of interest payable on such date will be made on the next
succeeding day that is a Business Day. The interest installment so payable, and
punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as
provided in the Indenture, be paid to the person in whose name this Debenture
(or one or more Predecessor Securities, as defined in said Indenture) is
registered at the close of business on the relevant record dates, which will be,
as long as this Debenture remains in book-entry form, one Business Day prior to
the relevant Interest Payment Date and, in the event this Debenture is not in
book-entry form, the 15th day of the month in which the relevant Interest
Payment Date occurs. Payments of interest may be deferred by the Company
pursuant to the provisions of Article IV of the Supplemental Indenture. Any such
interest installment not punctually paid or duly provided for shall forthwith
cease to be payable to the registered Holders on such regular record date and
may be paid to the Person in whose name this Debenture (or one or more
Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a special
record date to be fixed by the Trustee for the payment of such defaulted
interest, notice whereof shall be given to the registered Holders of this series
of Debentures not less than 10 days prior to such special record date, or may be
paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the
requirements of any securities exchange on which the Debentures may be listed,
and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully
provided in the Indenture. The principal of (and premium, if any) and the
interest on this Debenture shall be payable at the office or agency of the
Trustee maintained for that purpose in any coin or currency of the United States
of America that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and
private debts; provided, however, that payment of interest may be made at the
option of the Company by check mailed to the registered Holder at such address
as shall appear in the Security Register. Notwithstanding the foregoing, so long
as the Holder of this Debenture is the Institutional Trustee, the payment of the
principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on this Debenture will be made
at such place and to such account as may be designated by the Institutional
Trustee.
The indebtedness evidenced by this Debenture is, to the extent provided in
the Indenture, subordinate and junior in right of payment to the prior payment
in full of all Senior Indebtedness and Other Financial Obligations, and this
Debenture is issued subject to the provisions of the Indenture with respect
thereto. Each Holder of this Debenture, by accepting the same, (a) agrees to and
shall be bound by such provisions, (b) authorizes and directs the Trustee on his
or her behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to
acknowledge or effectuate the subordination so provided and (c) appoints the
Trustee his or her attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes. Each Holder
hereof, by his or her acceptance hereof, hereby waives all notice of the
acceptance of the subordination provisions contained herein and in the Indenture
by each holder of Senior Indebtedness and Other Financial Obligations, whether
now outstanding or hereafter incurred, and waives reliance by each such holder
upon said provisions.
This Debenture shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture
hereinafter referred to, be valid or become obligatory for any purpose until the
Certificate of Authentication hereon shall have been signed by or on behalf of
the Trustee.
The provisions of this Debenture are continued on the reverse side hereof
and such continued provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as
though fully set forth at this place.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be executed.
Dated: December 18, 1998
FLEET FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.
By: /s/ Douglas L. Jacobs
----------------------------
Name: Douglas L. Jacobs
Title: Treasurer
Attest:
By: /s/ John R. Rodehorst
- ---------------------------------
Name: John R. Rodehorst
Title: Assistant Treasurer
CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
This is one of the Securities of the series designated herein referred to
in the within-mentioned Indenture.
The First National Bank of Chicago
as Trustee
By _______________________________________
Authorized Officer
REVERSE OF DEBENTURE
This Debenture is one of a duly authorized series of Debentures of the
Company (herein sometimes referred to as the "Debentures"), specified in the
Indenture, all issued or to be issued in one or more series under and pursuant
to an Indenture dated as of December 18, 1998, duly executed and delivered
between the Company and The First National Bank of Chicago as Trustee (the
"Trustee"), as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture dated as of
December 18, 1998, between the Company and the Trustee (the Indenture as so
supplemented, the "Indenture"), to which Indenture and all indentures
supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a description of the rights,
limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the
Trustee, the Company and the Holders of the Debentures. By the terms of the
Indenture, the Debentures are issuable in series that may vary as to amount,
date of maturity, rate of interest and in other respects as provided in the
Indenture. This series of Debentures is limited in aggregate principal amount as
specified in said First Supplemental Indenture.
"Three-Month LIBOR" shall be calculated as follows:
First Chicago Trust Company of New York as Calculation Agent (the
"Calculation Agent"), will calculate the interest rate for each interest period
on the Debentures (an "Interest Period") based on Three-Month LIBOR determined
as of two London Banking Days (defined as any day on which dealings in deposits
in U.S. dollars are transacted in the London interbank market) prior to the
first day of such Interest Period (each, a "Determination Date"). "Three-Month
LIBOR" means, with respect to an Interest Period relating to an Interest Payment
Date (in the following order of priority):
(1) the rate (expressed as a percentage per annum) for Eurodollar
deposits having a three-month maturity that appears on Telerate
Page 3750 as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the related
Determination Date;
(2) if such rate does not appear on Telerate Page 3750 as of 11:00
a.m. (London time) on the related Determination Date, Three-Month
LIBOR will be the arithmetic mean of the offered rates (expressed
as percentages per annum) (unless Page 3750 by its terms provides
only for a single rate, in which case such single rate shall be
used) for Eurodollar deposits having a three-month maturity that
appear (or, if only a single rate is required as aforesaid,
appears) on Reuters Monitor Money Rates Service Page LIBO
("Reuters Page LIBO") as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such
Determination Date;
(3) if such rates or rate do not appear on Reuters Page LIBO as of
11:00 a.m. (London time) on the related Determination Date, the
Calculation Agent will request the principal London offices of
four major reference banks in the London interbank market, as
selected by the Calculation Agent, to provide the Calculation
Agent with such banks' offered quotations (expressed as
percentages per annum) for Eurodollar deposits having a
three-month maturity to prime banks in the London interbank
market as of approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such
Determination Date and in a principal amount that is
representative for a single transaction in Eurodollar deposits in
such market at such time. If at least two quotations are
provided, Three-Month LIBOR will be the arithmetic mean of such
quotations;
(4) if fewer than two such quotations are provided as requested in
clause (3) above, the Calculation Agent will request three major
New York City banks to provide such banks' offered quotations
(expressed as percentages per annum) to leading European banks
for loans in Eurodollars having a three-month maturity as of
11:00 a.m. (London time) on such Determination Date and in a
principal amount that is representative for a single transaction
in Eurodollar deposits in such market at such time. If at least
two such quotations are provided, Three-Month LIBOR will be the
arithmetic mean of such quotations; and
(5) if fewer than two such quotations are provided as requested in
clause (4) above, Three-Month LIBOR will be Three-Month LIBOR as
determined on the previous Determination Date.
If the rate for Eurodollar deposits having a three-month maturity that
initially appears on Telerate Page 3750 or Reuters Page LIBO, as the case may
be, as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the related Determination Date is
superseded on Telerate Page 3750 or Reuters Page LIBO, as the case may be, by a
corrected rate before 12:00 noon (London time) on such Determination Date, the
corrected rate as so substituted on the applicable page will be the applicable
Three-Month LIBOR for such Determination Date.
"Telerate Page 3750" means the display designated as "Page 3750" on the Dow
Jones Telerate Service (or such other page as may replace Page 3750 on that
service or such other service or services as may be nominated by the British
Bankers' Association as the information vendor for the purpose of displaying
London interbank offered rates for U.S. dollar deposits).
All percentages resulting from any calculations on the Debentures will be
rounded, if necessary, to the nearest one hundred-thousandth of a percentage
point, with five one-millionths of a percentage point rounded upward (e.g.,
9.876545% (or .09876545) being rounded to 9.87655% (or .0987655)), and all
dollar amounts used or resulting from such calculation will be rounded to the
nearest cent (with one-half cent being rounded upward).
The Calculation Agent will, upon the request of the holder of any
Debentures, provide the interest rate then in effect. All calculations made by
the Calculation Agent in the absence of manifest error shall be conclusive for
all purposes and binding on the Company and the holders of the Debentures.
The Debenture is redeemable by the Company (i) in whole but not in part at
any time prior to December 18, 2003 upon the occurrence and continuation of a
Special Event (as defined in the Indenture) or (ii) in whole or in part on or
after December 18, 2003. Any redemption pursuant to this paragraph will be made
upon not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days notice, at a redemption price
equal to 100% of the principal amount plus any accrued but unpaid interest
thereon (including any Additional Interest and Compound Interest, if any) to the
date of such redemption (the "Prepayment Price"). The Prepayment Price shall be
paid prior to 12:00 noon, New York time, on the date of such redemption or at
such earlier time as the Company determines. If the Debentures are only
partially redeemed by the Company pursuant to an Optional Redemption, the
Debentures will be redeemed pro rata or by lot or by any other method utilized
by the Trustee; provided that if, at the time of redemption, the Debentures are
registered as a Global Debenture, the Depositary shall determine the principal
amount of such Debentures held by each Debenture holder to be redeemed in
accordance with its procedures.
In the event of redemption of this Debenture in part only, a new Debenture
or Debentures of this series for the unredeemed portion hereof will be issued in
the name of the Holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof.
In case an Event of Default, as defined in the Indenture, shall have
occurred and be continuing, the principal of all of the Debentures may be
declared, and upon such declaration shall become, due and payable, in the
manner, with the effect and subject to the conditions provided in the Indenture.
The Indenture contains provisions permitting the Company and the Trustee,
with the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the Debentures of each series affected at the time
outstanding, as defined in the Indenture, to execute supplemental indentures for
the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating
any of the provisions of the Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of
modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of the Debentures; provided,
however, that no such supplemental indenture shall (i) extend the fixed maturity
of any Debentures of any series, or reduce the principal amount thereof or any
premium thereon, or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest
thereon, or reduce any amount payable on redemption thereof or make the
principal thereon or any interest or premium thereon payable in any coin or
currency other than that provided in this Debenture, or impair or affect the
right of any Holder of a Debenture to institute suit for payment thereof or the
right of repayment, if any, at the option of the Holder, without the consent of
the Holder of each Debenture so affected, or (ii) reduce the aforesaid
percentage of Debentures, the Holders of which are required to consent to any
such supplemental indenture, without the consent of the Holders of each
Debenture then outstanding and affected thereby. The Indenture also contains
provisions permitting the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of
the Debentures of any series at the time outstanding affected thereby, on behalf
of all of the Holders of the Debentures of such series, to waive any past
default in the performance of any of the covenants contained in the Indenture,
or established pursuant to the Indenture with respect to such series, and its
consequences, except a default in the payment of the principal of or premium, if
any, or interest on any of the Debentures of such series. Any such consent or
waiver by the registered Holder of this Debenture (unless revoked as provided in
the Indenture) shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all
future Holders and owners of this Debenture and of any Debenture issued in
exchange hereof or in place hereof (whether by registration of transfer or
otherwise), irrespective of whether or not any notation of such consent or
waiver is made upon this Debenture.
No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Debenture or
of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is
absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and premium, if any, and
interest on this Debenture at the time and place and at the rate and in the
money herein prescribed.
The Company shall have the right at any time during the term of the
Debentures and from time to time to extend the interest payment period of such
Debentures for up to 20 consecutive quarters (an "Extended Interest Payment
Period"), at the end of which period the Company shall pay all interest then
accrued and unpaid (together with interest thereon at the rate specified for the
Debentures to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under
applicable law); provided that no Extended Interest Payment Period may last
beyond the Stated Maturity of the Debentures. Before the termination of any such
Extended Interest Payment Period, the Company may further extend such Extended
Interest Payment Period, provided that such Extended Interest Payment Period
together with all such further extensions thereof shall not exceed 20
consecutive quarters or last beyond the Stated Maturity date of the Debentures.
At the termination of any such Extended Interest Payment Period and upon the
payment of all accrued and unpaid interest and any additional amounts then due,
the Company may commence a new Extended Interest Payment Period.
As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set
forth, this Debenture is transferable by the registered Holder hereof on the
Security Register of the Company, upon surrender of this Debenture for
registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Trustee in the City and
State of New York accompanied by a written instrument or instruments of transfer
in form satisfactory to the Company or the Trustee duly executed by the
registered Holder hereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and
thereupon one or more new Debentures of authorized denominations and for the
same aggregate principal amount and series will be issued to the designated
transferee or transferees. No service charge will be made for any such transfer,
but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or
other governmental charge payable in relation thereto.
Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of this Debenture,
the Company, the Trustee, any paying agent and the Security registrar may deem
and treat the registered holder hereof as the absolute owner hereof (whether or
not this Debenture shall be overdue and notwithstanding any notice of ownership
or writing hereon made by anyone other than the Security registrar) for the
purpose of receiving payment of or on account of the principal hereof and
premium, if any, and interest due hereon and for all other purposes, and neither
the Company nor the Trustee nor any paying agent nor any Security registrar
shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.
No recourse shall be had for the payment of the principal of or the
interest on this Debenture, or for any claim based hereon, or otherwise in
respect hereof, or based on or in respect of the Indenture, against any
incorporator, stockholder, officer or director, past, present or future, as
such, of the Company or of any predecessor or successor corporation, whether by
virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any
assessment or penalty or otherwise, all such liability being, by the acceptance
hereof and as part of the consideration for the issuance hereof, expressly
waived and released.
The Debentures of this series are issuable only in registered form without
coupons in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof. As
provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations herein and therein
set forth, Debentures of this series so issued are exchangeable for a like
aggregate principal amount of Debentures of this series of a different
authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.
All terms used in this Debenture that are defined in the Indenture shall
have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.
ARTICLE VIII
ORIGINAL ISSUE OF DEBENTURES
SECTION 8.1. Original Issue of Debentures.
Debentures in the aggregate principal amount of $257,732,000, may, upon
execution of this First Supplemental Indenture or upon any written order of the
Company setting forth the amount therefor, be executed by the Company and
delivered to the Trustee for authentication, and the Trustee shall thereupon
authenticate and deliver said Debentures to or upon the written order of the
Company, signed by its Chairman, its President, or any Vice President and its
Treasurer, its Secretary, any Assistant Treasurer, or any Assistant Secretary,
without any further action by the Company.
ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 9.1. Ratification of Indenture.
The Indenture, as supplemented by this First Supplemental Indenture, is in
all respects ratified and confirmed, and this First Supplemental Indenture shall
be deemed part of the Indenture in the manner and to the extent herein and
therein provided.
SECTION 9.2. Trustee Not Responsible for Recitals.
The recitals herein contained are made by the Company and not by the
Trustee, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for the correctness thereof.
The Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or sufficiency of this
First Supplemental Indenture.
SECTION 9.3. Governing Law.
This First Supplemental Indenture and each Debenture shall be deemed to be
a contract made under the internal laws of the State of New York, and for all
purposes shall be construed in accordance with the laws of said State.
SECTION 9.4. Separability.
In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this First
Supplemental Indenture or in the Debentures shall for any reason be held to be
invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or
unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of this First
Supplemental Indenture or of the Debentures, but this First Supplemental
Indenture and the Debentures shall be construed as if such invalid or illegal or
unenforceable provision had never been contained herein or therein.
SECTION 9.5. Counterparts.
This First Supplemental Indenture may be executed in any number of
counterparts each of which shall be an original; but such counterparts shall
together constitute but one and the same instrument.
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this First Supplemental
Indenture to be duly executed by their respective officers thereunto duly
authorized and their respective corporate seals to be hereunto duly affixed and
attested, all as of the day and year first above written.
[Seal] FLEET FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.
Attest:
By: /s/ William C. Mutterperl By: /s/ Douglas L. Jacobs
- --------------------------------- ----------------------------
William C. Mutterperl Douglas L. Jacobs
Secretary Senior Vice President
and Treasurer
[Seal] THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO,
Attest: as Trustee
By: /s/ Authorized Signatory By: /s/ Authorized Signatory
- ----------------------------- ----------------------------
Title:
<PAGE>
STATE OF RHODE ISLAND )
COUNTY OF PROVIDENCE ) ss.:
On the ____ day of ______, 1998 before me personally came Douglas L.
Jacobs, to me known, who, being by me duly sworn, did depose and say that he
resides at 67 Orchard Avenue, Providence, Rhode Island; that he is Senior Vice
President and Treasurer of Fleet Financial Group, Inc., one of the corporations
described in and which executed the above instrument; that he knows the
corporate seal of said corporation; that the seal affixed to the said instrument
is such corporate 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
[seal] Commission expires:
STATE OF )
COUNTY OF ) ss.:
On the ___ day of ______, 1998, before me personally came
__________________________, to me known, who, being by me duly sworn, did depose
and say that he resides at ______________________________________; that he is
___________________ of The First National Bank of Chicago, one of the
corporations described in and which executed the above instrument; that he knows
the corporate seal of said corporation; that the seal affixed to the said
instrument is such corporate 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
[seal] Commission expires:
EXHIBIT 4(f)
CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
Fleet Capital Trust V
Dated as of December 18, 1998
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATIONS
SECTION 1.1 Definitions and Interpretation 1
ARTICLE II
TRUST INDENTURE ACT
SECTION 2.1 Trust Indenture Act; Application 4
SECTION 2.2 Lists of Holders of Securities 4
SECTION 2.3 Reports by the Capital Guarantee Trustee 4
SECTION 2.4 Periodic Reports to Capital Guarantee Trustee 4
SECTION 2.5 Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent 4
SECTION 2.6 Events of Default; Waiver 5
SECTION 2.7 Event of Default; Notice 5
SECTION 2.8 Conflicting Interests 5
ARTICLE III
POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF CAPITAL GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 3.1 Powers and Duties of the Capital Guarantee Trustee 5
SECTION 3.2 Certain Rights of Capital Guarantee Trustee 7
SECTION 3.3 Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Capital
Securities Guarantee 8
ARTICLE IV
CAPITAL GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 4.1 Capital Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility 8
SECTION 4.2 Appointment, Removal and Resignation of Capital
Guarantee Trustee 9
ARTICLE V
GUARANTEE
SECTION 5.1 Guarantee 9
SECTION 5.2 Waiver of Notice and Demand 10
SECTION 5.3 Obligations Not Affected 10
SECTION 5.4 Enforcement of Guarantee; Rights of Holders 10
SECTION 5.5 Guarantee of Payment 11
SECTION 5.6 Subrogation 11
SECTION 5.7 Independent Obligations 11
ARTICLE VI
LIMITATION OF TRANSACTIONS; SUBORDINATION
SECTION 6.1 Limitation of Transactions 11
SECTION 6.2 Ranking 12
ARTICLE VII
TERMINATION
SECTION 7.1 Termination 12
ARTICLE VIII
INDEMNIFICATION
SECTION 8.1 Exculpation 12
SECTION 8.2 Indemnification 13
ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 9.1 Successors and Assigns 13
SECTION 9.2 Amendments 13
SECTION 9.3 Notices 13
SECTION 9.4 Benefit 14
SECTION 9.5 Governing Law 14
SECTION 9.6 Genders 14
SECTION 9.7 Counterparts 14
<PAGE>
CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
This GUARANTEE AGREEMENT (the "Capital Securities Guarantee"), dated as of
December 18, 1998, is executed and delivered by Fleet Financial Group, Inc., a
Rhode Island corporation (the "Guarantor"), and The First National Bank of
Chicago, a national banking association, as trustee (the "Capital Guarantee
Trustee"), for the benefit of the Holders (as defined herein) of Fleet Capital
Trust V, a Delaware statutory business trust (the "Issuer").
WHEREAS, pursuant to an Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust (the
"Declaration"), dated as of December 18, 1998, among the trustees of the Issuer
named therein, the Guarantor, as sponsor, and the holders from time to time of
undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Issuer, the Issuer is
issuing on the date hereof 250,000 capital securities, having an aggregate
liquidation amount of $250,000,000 designated the Floating Rate Capital
Securities (the "Capital Securities"); and
WHEREAS, as incentive for the Holders to purchase the Capital Securities,
the Guarantor desires irrevocably and unconditionally to agree, to the extent
set forth in this Capital Securities Guarantee, to pay to the Holders the
Guarantee Payments (as defined herein) and to make certain other payments on the
terms and conditions set forth herein.
WHEREAS, the Guarantor is also executing and delivering a guarantee
agreement (the "Common Securities Guarantee") in substantially identical terms
to this Capital Securities Guarantee for the benefit of the holders of the
Common Securities (as defined herein), except that if an Event of Default (as
defined in the Indenture), has occurred and is continuing, the rights of holders
of the Common Securities to receive Guarantee Payments under the Common
Securities Guarantee are subordinated to the rights of Holders to receive
Guarantee Payments under this Capital Securities Guarantee.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the purchase by each Holder, which
purchase the Guarantor hereby agrees shall benefit the Guarantor, the Guarantor
executes and delivers this Capital Securities Guarantee for the benefit of the
Holders.
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION
SECTION 1.1 Definitions and Interpretation
In this Capital Securities Guarantee, unless the context otherwise
requires:
(a) capitalized terms used in this Capital Securities Guarantee but not
defined in the preamble above have the respective meanings assigned to them in
this Section 1.1;
(b) any capitalized term not defined in either the preamble above or this
Section 1.1 shall have the respective meanings assigned to them in the
Declaration in effect as of the date hereof;
(c) a term defined anywhere in this Capital Securities Guarantee has the
same meaning throughout;
(d) all references to "the Capital Securities Guarantee" or "this Capital
Securities Guarantee" are to this Capital Securities Guarantee as modified,
supplemented or amended from time to time;
(e) all references in this Capital Securities Guarantee to Articles and
Sections are to Articles and Sections of this Capital Securities Guarantee,
unless otherwise specified;
(f) a term defined in the Trust Indenture Act has the same meaning when
used in this Capital Securities Guarantee, unless otherwise defined in this
Capital Securities Guarantee or unless the context otherwise requires; and
(g) a reference to the singular includes the plural and vice versa.
"Affiliate" has the same meaning as given to that term in Rule 405 of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any successor rule thereunder.
"Authorized Officer" of a Person means any executive officer, president,
vice-president, assistant vice-president, treasurer, assistant treasurer,
secretary, assistant secretary or other officer of such Person generally
authorized to bind such Person.
"Business Day" means any day other than a day on which federal or state
banking institutions in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, or
Chicago, Illinois are authorized or obligated by any law, executive order or
regulation to close.
"Common Securities" means the securities representing common undivided
beneficial interests in the assets of the Issuer.
"Corporate Trust Office" means the office of the Capital Guarantee Trustee
at which the corporate trust business of the Capital Guarantee Trustee shall, at
any particular time, be principally administered, which office at the date of
execution of this Capital Securities Guarantee is located at One First National
Plaza, Suite 0126, Chicago, Illinois 60670-0126.
"Covered Person" means any Holder or beneficial owner of Capital
Securities.
"Debentures" means the Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Deferrable
Interest Debentures due 2028 issued by the Guarantor to the Issuer.
"Event of Default" means a default by the Guarantor on any of its payment
or other obligations under this Capital Securities Guarantee.
"Guarantee Payments" means the following payments or distributions, without
duplication, with respect to the Capital Securities, to the extent not paid or
made by the Issuer: (i) any accrued and unpaid Distributions (as defined in the
Declaration) that are required to be paid on such Capital Securities, to the
extent the Issuer shall have funds available therefor, (ii) the redemption
price, including all accrued and unpaid Distributions to the date of redemption
(the "Redemption Price"), to the extent the Issuer has funds available therefor,
with respect to any Capital Securities called for redemption by the Issuer, and
(iii) upon a voluntary or involuntary dissolution, winding-up or termination of
the Issuer (other than in connection with the distribution of Debentures to the
Holders or the redemption of all of the Capital Securities as provided in the
Declaration), the lesser of (a) the aggregate of the liquidation amount and all
accrued and unpaid Distributions on the Capital Securities to the date of
payment, to the extent the Issuer shall have funds available therefor, and (b)
the amount of assets of the Issuer remaining available for distribution to
Holders in liquidation of the Issuer (in either case, the "Liquidation
Distribution"). If an event of default under the Indenture has occurred and is
continuing, the rights of holders of the Common Securities to receive payments
under the Common Securities Guarantee Agreement are subordinated to the rights
of Holders to receive Guarantee Payments.
"Holder" means any holder, as registered on the books and records of the
Issuer, of any Capital Securities; provided, however, that, in determining
whether the holders of the requisite percentage of Capital Securities have given
any request, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, "Holder" shall not include the
Guarantor or any Affiliate of the Guarantor, but only to the extent that the
Issuer has actual knowledge of such ownership.
"Indemnified Person" means the Capital Guarantee Trustee, any Affiliate of
the Capital Guarantee Trustee, or any officers, directors, shareholders,
members, partners, employees, representatives, nominees, custodians or agents of
the Capital Guarantee Trustee.
"Indenture" means the Indenture dated as of December 18, 1998, among the
Guarantor (the "Debenture Issuer") and The First National Bank of Chicago, as
trustee, and any indenture supplemental thereto pursuant to which certain
subordinated debt securities of the Debenture Issuer are to be issued to the
Institutional Trustee of the Issuer.
"Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities" means, except as
provided by the Trust Indenture Act, a vote by Holder(s), voting separately as a
class, of more than 50% of the liquidation amount (including the stated amount
that would be paid on redemption, liquidation or otherwise, plus accrued and
unpaid Distributions to the date upon which the voting percentages are
determined) of all outstanding Capital Securities.
"Officers' Certificate" means, with respect to any Person, a certificate
signed by two Authorized Officers of such Person. Any Officers' Certificate
delivered with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for
in this Capital Securities Guarantee shall include:
(a) a statement that each Authorized Officer signing the Officers'
Certificate has read the covenant or condition and the definition relating
thereto;
(b) a brief statement of the nature and scope of the examination or
investigation undertaken by each Authorized Officer in rendering the Officers'
Certificate;
(c) a statement that each such Authorized Officer has made such examination
or investigation as, in such Authorized Officer's opinion, is necessary to
enable such Authorized Officer to express an informed opinion as to whether or
not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and
(d) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such Authorized
Officer, such condition or covenant has been complied with.
"Person" means a legal person, including any individual, corporation,
estate, partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock company, limited
liability company, trust, unincorporated association, or government or any
agency or political subdivision thereof, or any other entity of whatever nature.
"Capital Guarantee Trustee" means The First National Bank of Chicago, a
national banking association, until a Successor Capital Guarantee Trustee has
been appointed and has accepted such appointment pursuant to the terms of this
Capital Securities Guarantee and thereafter means each such Successor Capital
Guarantee Trustee.
"Resignation Request" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2(c).
"Responsible Officer" means, with respect to the Capital Guarantee Trustee,
any officer within the Corporate Trust Office of the Capital Guarantee Trustee,
including any vice president, any assistant vice president, any assistant
secretary, the treasurer, any assistant treasurer or other officer of the
Corporate Trust Office of the Capital Guarantee Trustee customarily performing
functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and
also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other
officer to whom such matter is referred because of that officer's knowledge of
and familiarity with the particular subject.
"Successor Capital Guarantee Trustee" means a successor Capital Guarantee
Trustee possessing the qualifications to act as Capital Guarantee Trustee under
Section 4.1.
"Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.
ARTICLE II
TRUST INDENTURE ACT
SECTION 2.1 Trust Indenture Act; Application
(a) This Capital Securities Guarantee is subject to the provisions of the
Trust Indenture Act that are required to be part of this Capital Securities
Guarantee and shall, to the extent applicable, be governed by such provisions.
(b) If and to the extent that any provision of this Capital Securities
Guarantee limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by Sections 310
to 317, inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act, such imposed duties shall
control.
(c) The application of the Trust Indenture Act to this Capital Securities
Guarantee shall not affect the nature of the Capital Securities as equity
securities representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the
Issuer.
SECTION 2.2 Lists of Holders of Securities
(a) The Guarantor shall provide the Capital Guarantee Trustee with a list,
in such form as the Capital Guarantee Trustee may reasonably require, of the
names and addresses of the Holders ("List of Holders") as of such date, (i)
within one Business Day after January 1 and June 30 of each year, and (ii) at
any other time within 30 days of receipt by the Guarantor of a written request
for a List of Holders. Such list shall be as of a date no more than 14 days
before such List of Holders is given to the Capital Guarantee Trustee. The
Guarantor shall not be obligated to provide such List of Holders if at any time
the List of Holders does not differ from the most recent List of Holders given
to the Capital Guarantee Trustee by the Guarantor. The Capital Guarantee Trustee
may destroy any List of Holders previously given to it on receipt of a new List
of Holders.
(b) The Capital Guarantee Trustee shall comply with its obligations under
Sections 311(a), 311(b) and 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 2.3 Reports by the Capital Guarantee Trustee
Within 60 days after May 15 of each year, the Capital Guarantee Trustee
shall provide to the Holders such reports as are required by Section 313 of the
Trust Indenture Act, if any, in the form and in the manner (including within the
specified timeframes) provided by Section 313 of the Trust Indenture Act. The
Capital Guarantee Trustee shall also comply with the requirements of Section
313(d) of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 2.4 Periodic Reports to Capital Guarantee Trustee
The Guarantor shall provide to the Capital Guarantee Trustee and to the
Securities and Exchange Commission such documents, reports and information as
required by Section 314 (if any) and the compliance certificate required by
Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act in the form, in the manner and at the
times required by Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 2.5 Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent
The Guarantor shall provide to the Capital Guarantee Trustee such evidence
of compliance with any conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this
Capital Securities Guarantee that relate to any of the matters set forth in
Section 314(c) of the Trust Indenture Act. Any certificate or opinion required
to be given by an officer pursuant to Section 314(c)(1) may be given in the form
of an Officers' Certificate.
SECTION 2.6 Events of Default; Waiver
(a) The Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of Capital Securities
may, by vote, on behalf of all of the Holders waive any past Event of Default
and its consequences. Upon such waiver, any such Event of Default shall cease to
exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been
cured, for every purpose of this Capital Securities Guarantee, but no such
waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or Event of Default or
impair any right consequent thereon.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this Section 2.6,
the right of any Holder of Capital Securities to receive payment of the
Guarantee Payments in accordance with this Capital Securities Guarantee, or to
institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, shall not be impaired
without the consent of each such Holder.
SECTION 2.7 Event of Default; Notice
(a) The Capital Guarantee Trustee shall, within 90 days after the
occurrence of an Event of Default, transmit by mail, first class postage
prepaid, to the Holders, notices of all Events of Default actually known to a
Responsible Officer of the Capital Guarantee Trustee, unless such defaults have
been cured before the giving of such notice, provided, that, the Capital
Guarantee Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long
as a Responsible Officer in good faith determines that the withholding of such
notice is in the interests of the Holders of the Capital Securities.
(b) The Capital Guarantee Trustee shall not be deemed to have actual
knowledge of any Event of Default unless the Capital Guarantee Trustee shall
have received written notice, or of which a Responsible Officer charged with the
administration of this Capital Securities Guarantee shall have obtained actual
knowledge.
SECTION 2.8 Conflicting Interests
The (i) Amended and Restated Declaration of Fleet Capital Trust I dated
February 4, 1997, (ii) the Capital Securities Guarantee Agreement dated February
4, 1997 relating to Fleet Capital Trust I, (iii) the Amended and Restated
Declaration of Fleet Capital Trust II dated December 11, 1996, (iv) the Capital
Securities Guarantee Agreement dated December 11, 1996 relating to Fleet Capital
Trust II, (v) the Amended and Restated Declaration of Fleet Capital Trust III
dated January 29, 1998, (vi) the Capital Securities Guarantee Agreement dated
January 29, 1998 relating to Fleet Capital Trust III, (vii) the Amended and
Restated Declaration of Trust of Fleet Capital Trust IV dated as of April 28,
1998, (viii) the Capital Securities Guarantee Agreement dated as of April 28,
1998 relating to Fleet Capital Trust IV, and (ix) the Declaration shall be
deemed to be specifically described in this Capital Securities Guarantee for the
purposes of clause (i) of the first proviso contained in Section 310(b) of the
Trust Indenture Act.
ARTICLE III
POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF CAPITAL
GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 3.1 Powers and Duties of the Capital Guarantee Trustee
(a) This Capital Securities Guarantee shall be held by the Capital
Guarantee Trustee in trust for the benefit of the Holders, and the Capital
Guarantee Trustee shall not transfer its right, title and interest in this
Capital Securities Guarantee to any Person except a Holder exercising his or her
rights pursuant to Section 5.4(d) or to a Successor Capital Guarantee Trustee on
acceptance by such Successor Capital Guarantee Trustee of its appointment to act
as Successor Capital Guarantee Trustee. The right, title and interest of the
Capital Guarantee Trustee shall automatically vest in any Successor Capital
Guarantee Trustee, and such vesting and cessation of title shall be effective
whether or not conveyancing documents have been executed and delivered pursuant
to the appointment of such Successor Capital Guarantee Trustee.
(b) If an Event of Default actually known to a Responsible Officer has
occurred and is continuing, the Capital Guarantee Trustee shall enforce this
Capital Securities Guarantee for the benefit of the Holders.
(c) This Capital Securities Guarantee and all moneys received by the
Capital Guarantee Trustee hereunder in respect of the Guarantee Payments will
not be subject to any right, charge, security interest, lien or claim of any
kind in favor of, or for the benefit of, the Capital Guarantee Trustee or its
agents or their creditors.
(d) The Capital Guarantee Trustee, before the occurrence of any Event of
Default and after the curing of all Events of Default that may have occurred,
shall undertake to perform only such duties as are specifically set forth in
this Capital Securities Guarantee, and no implied covenants shall be read into
this Capital Securities Guarantee against the Capital Guarantee Trustee. In case
an Event of Default has occurred (that has not been cured or waived pursuant to
Section 2.6) and is actually known to a Responsible Officer, the Capital
Guarantee Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by
this Capital Securities Guarantee, and use the same degree of care and skill in
its exercise thereof, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the
circumstances in the conduct of his or her own affairs.
(e) No provision of this Capital Securities Guarantee shall be construed to
relieve the Capital Guarantee Trustee from liability for its own negligent
action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except
that:
(i) prior to the occurrence of any Event of Default and after the
curing or waiving of all such Events of Default that may have
occurred:
(A) the duties and obligations of the Capital Guarantee Trustee
shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this
Capital Securities Guarantee, and the Capital Guarantee
Trustee shall not be liable except for the performance of
such duties and obligations as are specifically set forth in
this Capital Securities Guarantee, and no implied covenants
or obligations shall be read into this Capital Securities
Guarantee against the Capital Guarantee Trustee; and
(B) in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Capital
Guarantee Trustee, the Capital Guarantee Trustee may
conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the
correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon any
certificates or opinions furnished to the Capital Guarantee
Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Capital
Securities Guarantee; but in the case of any such
certificates or opinions that by any provision hereof are
specifically required to be furnished to the Capital
Guarantee Trustee, the Capital Guarantee Trustee shall be
under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not
they conform to the requirements of this Capital Securities
Guarantee;
(ii) the Capital Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable for any error
of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer, unless
it shall be proved that the Capital Guarantee Trustee was
negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts upon which such
judgment was made;
(iii)the Capital Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable with respect
to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in
accordance with the direction of the Holders of not less than a
Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities relating
to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for
any remedy available to the Capital Guarantee Trustee, or
exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Capital
Guarantee Trustee under this Capital Securities Guarantee; and
(iv) no provision of this Capital Securities Guarantee shall require
the Capital Guarantee Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or
otherwise incur personal financial liability in the performance
of any of its duties or in the exercise of any of its rights or
powers, if the Capital Guarantee Trustee shall have reasonable
grounds for believing that the repayment of such funds or
liability is not reasonably assured to it under the terms of this
Capital Securities Guarantee or indemnity, reasonably
satisfactory to the Capital Guarantee Trustee, against such risk
or liability is not reasonably assured to it.
SECTION 3.2 Certain Rights of Capital Guarantee Trustee
(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 3.1:
(i) The Capital Guarantee Trustee may conclusively rely, and shall be
fully protected in acting or refraining from acting upon, any
resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report,
notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture,
note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document
believed by it in good faith to be genuine and to have been
signed, sent or presented by the proper party or parties.
(ii) Any direction or act of the Guarantor contemplated by this
Capital Securities Guarantee shall be sufficiently evidenced by
an Officers' Certificate.
(iii)Whenever, in the administration of this Capital Securities
Guarantee, the Capital Guarantee Trustee shall deem it desirable
that a matter be proved or established before taking, suffering
or omitting any action hereunder, the Capital Guarantee Trustee
(unless other evidence is herein specifically prescribed) may, in
the absence of bad faith on its part, request and conclusively
rely upon an Officers' Certificate which, upon receipt of such
request, shall be promptly delivered by the Guarantor.
(iv) The Capital Guarantee Trustee shall have no duty to see to any
recording, filing or registration of any instrument (or any
rerecording, refiling or registration thereof).
(v) The Capital Guarantee Trustee may consult with counsel, and the
written advice or opinion of such counsel with respect to legal
matters 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 accordance with such advice or
opinion. Such counsel may be counsel to the Guarantor or any of
its Affiliates and may include any of its employees. The Capital
Guarantee Trustee shall have the right at any time to seek
instructions concerning the administration of this Capital
Securities Guarantee from any court of competent jurisdiction.
(vi) The Capital Guarantee Trustee shall be under no obligation to
exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Capital
Securities Guarantee at the request or direction of any Holder,
unless such Holder shall have provided to the Capital Guarantee
Trustee such security and indemnity, reasonably satisfactory to
the Capital Guarantee Trustee, against the costs, expenses
(including attorneys' fees and expenses and the expenses of the
Capital Guarantee Trustee's agents, nominees or custodians) and
liabilities that might be incurred by it in complying with such
request or direction, including such reasonable advances as may
be requested by the Capital Guarantee Trustee; provided that,
nothing contained in this Section 3.2(a)(vi) shall relieve the
Capital Guarantee Trustee, upon the occurrence of an Event of
Default which has not been cured or waived, of its obligation to
exercise the rights and powers vested in it by this Capital
Securities Guarantee and to use the same degree of care and skill
in this exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under
the circumstances in the conduct of his or her own affairs.
(vii)The Capital Guarantee Trustee shall not be bound to make any
investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution,
certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice,
request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other
evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, but the
Capital Guarantee Trustee, in its discretion, may make such
further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it
may see fit.
(viii) The Capital Guarantee Trustee may execute any of the trusts or
powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly
or by or through agents, nominees, custodians or attorneys, and
the Capital Guarantee 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.
(ix) Any action taken by the Capital Guarantee Trustee or its agents
hereunder shall bind the Holders, and the signature of the
Capital Guarantee Trustee or its agents alone shall be sufficient
and effective to perform any such action. No third party shall be
required to inquire as to the authority of the Capital Guarantee
Trustee to so act or as to its compliance with any of the terms
and provisions of this Capital Securities Guarantee, both of
which shall be conclusively evidenced by the Capital Guarantee
Trustee's or its agent's taking such action.
(x) Whenever in the administration of this Capital Securities
Guarantee the Capital Guarantee Trustee shall deem it desirable
to receive instructions with respect to enforcing any remedy or
right or taking any other action hereunder, the Capital Guarantee
Trustee (i) may request instructions from the Holders of a
Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities, (ii)
may refrain from enforcing such remedy or right or taking such
other action until such instructions are received, and (iii)
shall be protected in conclusively relying on or acting in
accordance with such instructions.
(b) No provision of this Capital Securities Guarantee shall be deemed to
impose any duty or obligation on the Capital Guarantee Trustee to perform any
act or acts or exercise any right, power, duty or obligation conferred or
imposed on it in any jurisdiction in which it shall be illegal, or in which the
Capital Guarantee Trustee shall be unqualified or incompetent in accordance with
applicable law, to perform any such act or acts or to exercise any such right,
power, duty or obligation. No permissive power or authority available to the
Capital Guarantee Trustee shall be construed to be a duty.
SECTION 3.3. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Capital Securities
Guarantee
The recitals contained in this Capital Securities Guarantee shall be taken
as the statements of the Guarantor, and the Capital Guarantee Trustee does not
assume any responsibility for their correctness. The Capital Guarantee Trustee
makes no representation as to the validity or sufficiency of this Capital
Securities Guarantee.
ARTICLE IV
CAPITAL GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 4.1 Capital Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility
(a) There shall at all times be a Capital Guarantee Trustee which shall:
(i) not be an Affiliate of the Guarantor; and
(ii) be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of
the United States of America or any state or territory thereof or
of the District of Columbia, or a corporation or Person permitted
by the Securities and Exchange Commission to act as an
institutional trustee under the Trust Indenture Act, authorized
under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers, having a
combined capital and surplus of at least 50 million U.S. dollars
($50,000,000), and subject to supervision or examination by
federal, state, territorial or District of Columbia authority. If
such corporation publishes reports of condition at least
annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of the
supervising or examining authority referred to above, then, for
the purposes of this Section 4.1(a)(ii), the combined capital and
surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its combined
capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of
condition so published.
(b) If at any time the Capital Guarantee Trustee shall cease to be eligible
to so act under Section 4.1(a), the Capital Guarantee Trustee shall immediately
resign in the manner and with the effect set out in Section 4.2(c).
(c) If the Capital Guarantee Trustee has or shall acquire any "conflicting
interest" within the meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, the
Capital Guarantee Trustee and Guarantor shall in all respects comply with the
provisions of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 4.2 Appointment, Removal and Resignation of Capital Guarantee
Trustee
(a) Subject to Section 4.2(b), the Capital Guarantee Trustee may be
appointed or removed without cause at any time by the Guarantor.
(b) The Capital Guarantee Trustee shall not be removed in accordance with
Section 4.2(a) until a Successor Capital Guarantee Trustee has been appointed
and has accepted such appointment by written instrument executed by such
Successor Capital Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor and to the
Capital Guarantee Trustee being removed.
(c) The Capital Guarantee Trustee appointed to office shall hold office
until a Successor Capital Guarantee Trustee shall have been appointed or until
its removal or resignation. The Capital Guarantee Trustee may resign from office
(without need for prior or subsequent accounting) by an instrument (a
"Resignation Request") in writing executed by the Capital Guarantee Trustee and
delivered to the Guarantor which resignation shall take effect upon such
delivery or upon such later date as is specified therein; provided, however,
that no such resignation of the Capital Guarantee Trustee shall be effective
until a Successor Capital Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has accepted
such appointment by instrument in writing executed by such Successor Capital
Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor and the resigning Capital
Guarantee Trustee.
(d) If no Successor Capital Guarantee Trustee shall have been appointed and
accepted appointment as provided in this Section 4.2 within 60 days after
delivery to the Guarantor of a Resignation Request, the resigning Capital
Guarantee Trustee may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for
appointment of a Successor Capital Guarantee Trustee. Such court may thereupon,
after prescribing such notice, if any, as it may deem proper, appoint a
Successor Capital Guarantee Trustee.
(e) No Capital Guarantee Trustee shall be liable for the acts or omissions
to act of any Successor Capital Guarantee Trustee.
(f) Upon termination of this Capital Securities Guarantee or removal or
resignation of the Capital Guarantee Trustee pursuant to this Section 4.2, the
Guarantor shall pay to the Capital Guarantee Trustee all amounts accrued to the
date of such termination, removal or resignation.
ARTICLE V
GUARANTEE
SECTION 5.1 Guarantee
The Guarantor irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to pay in full to the
Holders the Guarantee Payments (without duplication of amounts theretofore paid
by the Issuer), as and when due, regardless of any defense, right of set-off or
counterclaim that the Issuer may have or assert. The Guarantor's obligation to
make a Guarantee Payment may be satisfied by direct payment of the required
amounts by the Guarantor to the Holders or by causing the Issuer to pay such
amounts to the Holders.
SECTION 5.2 Waiver of Notice and Demand
The Guarantor hereby waives notice of acceptance of this Capital Securities
Guarantee and of any liability to which it applies or may apply, presentment,
demand for payment, any right to require a proceeding first against the Issuer
or any other Person before proceeding against the Guarantor, protest, notice of
nonpayment, notice of dishonor, notice of redemption and all other notices and
demands.
SECTION 5.3 Obligations Not Affected
The obligations, covenants, agreements and duties of the Guarantor under
this Capital Securities Guarantee shall in no way be affected or impaired by
reason of the happening from time to time of any of the following:
(a) the release or waiver, by operation of law or otherwise, of the
performance or observance by the Issuer of any express or implied agreement,
covenant, term or condition relating to the Capital Securities to be performed
or observed by the Issuer;
(b) the extension of time for the payment by the Issuer of all or any
portion of the Distributions, Redemption Price, Liquidation Distribution or any
other sums payable under the terms of the Capital Securities or the extension of
time for the performance of any other obligation under, arising out of, or in
connection with, the Capital Securities (other than an extension of time for
payment of Distributions, Redemption Price, Liquidation Distribution or other
sum payable that results from the extension of any interest payment period on
the Debentures or any extension of the maturity date of the Debentures permitted
by the Indenture);
(c) any failure, omission, delay or lack of diligence on the part of the
Holders to enforce, assert or exercise any right, privilege, power or remedy
conferred on the Holders pursuant to the terms of the Capital Securities, or any
action on the part of the Issuer granting indulgence or extension of any kind;
(d) the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, sale of any
collateral, receivership, insolvency, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of
creditors, reorganization, arrangement, composition or readjustment of debt of,
or other similar proceedings affecting, the Issuer or any of the assets of the
Issuer;
(e) any invalidity of, or defect or deficiency in, the Capital Securities;
(f) the settlement or compromise of any obligation guaranteed hereby or
hereby incurred; or
(g) any other circumstance whatsoever that might otherwise constitute a
legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor, it being the intent of
this Section 5.3 that the obligations of the Guarantor hereunder shall be
absolute and unconditional under any and all circumstances.
There shall be no obligation of the Holders to give notice to, or obtain
consent of, the Guarantor with respect to the happening of any of the foregoing.
SECTION 5.4 Enforcement of Guarantee; Rights of Holders
The Guarantor and the Capital Guarantee Trustee expressly acknowledge that:
(a) this Capital Securities Guarantee will be deposited with the Capital
Guarantee Trustee to be held for the benefit of the Holders;
(b) the Capital Guarantee Trustee has the right to enforce this Capital
Securities Guarantee on behalf of the Holders;
(c) the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Securities have
the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for
any remedy available to the Capital Guarantee Trustee in respect of this Capital
Securities Guarantee or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Capital
Guarantee Trustee under this Capital Securities Guarantee; and
(d) any Holder may institute a legal proceeding directly against the
Guarantor to enforce the Capital Guarantee Trustee's rights and the obligations
of the Guarantor under this Capital Securities Guarantee, without first
instituting a legal proceeding against the Issuer, the Capital Guarantee Trustee
or any other person or entity, and the Guarantor waives any right or remedy to
require that any action be brought first against the Issuer or any other person
or entity before proceeding directly against the Guarantor.
SECTION 5.5 Guarantee of Payment
This Capital Securities Guarantee creates a guarantee of payment and not of
collection. This Capital Securities Guarantee will not be discharged except by
payment of the Guarantee Payments in full (without duplication of amounts
therefor paid by the Issuer).
SECTION 5.6 Subrogation
The Guarantor shall be subrogated to all (if any) rights of the Holders
against the Issuer in respect of any amounts paid to such Holders by the
Guarantor under this Capital Securities Guarantee; provided, however, that the
Guarantor shall not (except to the extent required by mandatory provisions of
law) be entitled to enforce or exercise any right that it may acquire by way of
subrogation or any indemnity, reimbursement or other agreement, in all cases as
a result of payment under this Capital Securities Guarantee, if, at the time of
any such payment, any amounts are due and unpaid under this Capital Securities
Guarantee. If any amount shall be paid to the Guarantor in violation of the
preceding sentence, the Guarantor agrees to hold such amount in trust for the
Holders and to pay over such amount to the Holders.
SECTION 5.7 Independent Obligations
The Guarantor acknowledges that its obligations hereunder are independent
of the obligations of the Issuer with respect to the Capital Securities, and
that the Guarantor shall be liable as principal and as debtor hereunder to make
Guarantee Payments pursuant to the terms of this Capital Securities Guarantee
notwithstanding the occurrence of any event referred to in subsections (a)
through (g), inclusive, of Section 5.3 hereof.
ARTICLE VI
LIMITATION OF TRANSACTIONS; SUBORDINATION
SECTION 6.1 Limitation of Transactions
So long as any Capital Securities remain outstanding, if (a) there shall
have occurred an Event of Default, (b) there shall have occurred an Event of
Default (as defined by the Indenture) or (c) the Guarantor has exercised its
option to defer interest payments on the Debentures by extending the interest
payment period, as provided in Article IV of the First Supplemental Indenture to
the Indenture, and such period or extension thereof shall be continuing, then
(i) the Guarantor shall not declare or pay any dividend on, make any
distribution with respect to, or redeem, purchase, acquire, or make a
liquidation payment with respect to, any of its capital stock (other than (A)
purchases or acquisitions of shares of Guarantor's common stock in connection
with the satisfaction by the Guarantor of its obligations under any employee
benefit plans or any other contractual obligation of the Guarantor (other than a
contractual obligation ranking pari passu with or junior to the Debentures), (B)
as a result of a reclassification of the Guarantor's capital stock or the
exchange or conversion of one class or series of the Guarantor's capital stock
for another class or series of the Guarantor's capital stock or (C) the purchase
of fractional interests in shares of the Guarantor's capital stock pursuant to
the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock or the security
being converted or exchanged), (ii) the Guarantor shall not make any payment of
interest, principal or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any
debt securities issued by the Guarantor that rank pari passu with or junior to
the Debentures and (iii) the Guarantor shall not make any guarantee payments
with respect to the foregoing (other than pursuant to this Capital Securities
Guarantee).
In addition, so long as any Capital Securities remain outstanding, the
Guarantor (i) will remain the sole direct or indirect owner of all of the
outstanding Common Securities; provided that any permitted successor of the
Guarantor under the Indenture may succeed to the Guarantor's ownership of the
Common Securities and (ii) will not take any action which would cause the Issuer
to cease to be treated as a grantor trust for United States federal income tax
purposes except in connection with a distribution of Debentures as provided in
the Declaration.
SECTION 6.2 Ranking
This Capital Securities Guarantee will constitute an unsecured obligation
of the Guarantor and will rank (i) subordinate and junior in right of payment to
all other liabilities of the Guarantor, except those made pari passu or
subordinate by their terms, (ii) pari passu with the most senior capital or
preference stock now or hereafter issued by the Guarantor and with any guarantee
now or hereafter entered into by the Guarantor in respect of any capital or
preference stock of any Affiliate of the Guarantor, and (iii) senior to the
Guarantor's common stock.
ARTICLE VII
TERMINATION
SECTION 7.1 Termination
This Capital Securities Guarantee shall terminate and be of no further
force and effect upon (i) full payment of the Redemption Price of all Capital
Securities, (ii) upon the distribution of the Debentures to all of the Holders
or (iii) upon full payment of the amounts payable in accordance with the
Declaration upon liquidation of the Issuer. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this
Capital Securities Guarantee will continue to be effective or will be
reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any Holder must restore payment
of any sums paid under the Capital Securities or under this Capital Securities
Guarantee.
ARTICLE VIII
INDEMNIFICATION
SECTION 8.1 Exculpation
(a) No Indemnified Person shall be liable, responsible or accountable in
damages or otherwise to the Guarantor or any Covered Person for any loss, damage
or claim incurred by reason of any act or omission performed or omitted by such
Indemnified Person in good faith in accordance with this Capital Securities
Guarantee and in a manner that such Indemnified Person reasonably believed to be
within the scope of the authority conferred on such Indemnified Person by this
Capital Securities Guarantee or by law, except that an Indemnified Person shall
be liable for any such loss, damage or claim incurred by reason of such
Indemnified Person's negligence or willful misconduct with respect to such acts
or omissions.
(b) An Indemnified Person shall be fully protected in relying in good faith
upon the records of the Guarantor and upon such information, opinions, reports
or statements presented to the Guarantor by any Person as to matters the
Indemnified Person reasonably believes are within such other Person's
professional or expert competence and who has been selected with reasonable care
by or on behalf of the Guarantor, including information, opinions, reports or
statements as to the value and amount of the assets, liabilities, profits,
losses, or any other facts pertinent to the existence and amount of assets from
which Distributions to Holders might properly be paid.
SECTION 8.2 Indemnification
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Guarantor agrees to
indemnify each Indemnified Person for, and to hold each Indemnified Person
harmless against, any loss, liability or expense incurred by such Indemnified
Person by reason of any act or omission performed or omitted by such Indemnified
Person without negligence or bad faith on its part, arising out of or in
connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts
hereunder, including the costs and expenses (including reasonable legal fees and
expenses) of defending itself against, or investigating, any claim or liability
in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties
hereunder. The obligation to indemnify as set forth in this Section 8.2 shall
survive the resignation or removal of the Capital Guarantee Trustee and the
termination of this Capital Securities Guarantee.
ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 9.1 Successors and Assigns
All guarantees and agreements contained in this Capital Securities
Guarantee shall bind the successors, assigns, receivers, trustees and
representatives of the Guarantor and shall inure to the benefit of the Holders
of the Capital Securities then outstanding. Except in connection with any merger
or consolidation of the Guarantor with or into another entity or any sale,
transfer or lease of the Guarantor's assets to another entity, each as permitted
by the Indenture, the Guarantor may not assign its rights or delegate its
obligations under this Capital Securities Guarantee without the prior approval
of the Holders of at least a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital
Securities then outstanding.
SECTION 9.2 Amendments
Except with respect to any changes that do not adversely affect the rights
of Holders (in which case no consent of Holders will be required), this Capital
Securities Guarantee may only be amended with the prior approval of the Holders
of at least a Majority in liquidation amount of all the outstanding Capital
Securities. The provisions of Section 12.2 of the Declaration with respect to
meetings of Holders apply to the giving of such approval.
SECTION 9.3 Notices
All notices provided for in this Capital Securities Guarantee shall be in
writing, duly signed by the party giving such notice, and shall be delivered,
telecopied or mailed by registered or certified mail, as follows:
(a) If given to the Capital Guarantee Trustee, at the Capital Guarantee
Trustee's mailing address set forth below (or such other address as the Capital
Guarantee Trustee may give notice of to the Holders):
The First National Bank of Chicago
One First National Plaza
Suite 0126, 9th Floor
Chicago, Illinois 60670-0126
Attention: Corporate Trust Administration
(b) If given to the Guarantor, at the Guarantor's mailing address set forth
below (or such other address as the Guarantor may give notice of to the
Holders):
Fleet Financial Group, Inc.
One Federal Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02110
Attention: General Counsel
(c) If given to any Holder, at the address set forth on the books and
records of the Issuer.
All such notices shall be deemed to have been given when received in
person, telecopied with receipt confirmed, or mailed by first class mail,
postage prepaid except that if a notice or other document is refused delivery or
cannot be delivered because of a changed address of which no notice was given,
such notice or other document shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date
of such refusal or inability to deliver.
SECTION 9.4 Benefit
This Capital Securities Guarantee is solely for the benefit of the Holders
and, subject to Section 3.1(a), is not separately transferable from the Capital
Securities.
SECTION 9.5 Governing Law
THIS CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND
INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK AND ALL RIGHTS
AND REMEDIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY SUCH LAWS WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF
CONFLICT OF LAWS.
SECTION 9.6 Genders
The masculine, feminine and neuter genders used herein shall include the
masculine, feminine and neuter genders.
SECTION 9.7 Counterparts
This Capital Securities Guarantee may be executed in counterparts, each of
which shall be an original, but such counterparts shall together constitute one
and the same instrument.
<PAGE>
THIS CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE is executed as of the day and year first
above written.
FLEET FINANCIAL GROUP, INC., as Guarantor
By: /s/ Douglas L. Jacobs
------------------------------
Douglas L. Jacobs
Treasurer
THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO,
as Capital Guarantee Trustee
By: /s/ Authorized Signatory
------------------------------
Name:
Title:
EXHIBIT 8
December 18, 1998
Lehman Brothers Inc.
Chase Securities Inc.
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Blaylock & Partners, L.P.
c/o Lehman Brothers Inc.
Three World Financial Center
New York, NY 10285
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to Fleet Financial Group, Inc., a Rhode Island
corporation (the "Company"), and Fleet Capital Trust V, a Delaware business
trust (the "Trust"), in connection with the sale by (i) the Trust of
$250,000,000 of the Trust's Floating Rate Capital Securities, liquidation
preference $1,000 per capital security (the "Capital Securities"), representing
undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust and (ii) the Company
to the Trust of $257,732,000 aggregate principal amount of Floating Rate Junior
Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures due December 18, 2028 (the
"Debentures") to be issued by the Company.
The Capital Securities are guaranteed by the Company with respect to
distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise pursuant
to the Capital Securities Guarantee Agreement, dated as of December 18, 1998
("Capital Securities Guarantee Agreement"), between the Company and The First
National Bank of Chicago, as guarantee trustee.
In connection with the issuance of the Capital Securities, the Trust is
also issuing $7,732,000 of its Floating Rate Common Securities, liquidation
amount of $1,000 per common security (the "Common Securities"), representing
undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust.
The entire proceeds from the sale of the Capital Securities and the Common
Securities are to be used by the Trust to purchase the Debentures from the
Company. The Capital Securities and the Common Securities are to be issued
pursuant to the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of the Trust, dated as
of December 18, 1998 (the "Declaration"), among the Company, as sponsor, three
persons who are employees or officers of Fleet, Eugene M. McQuade, Douglas L.
Jacobs and John R. Rodehorst, as the regular trustees (the "Regular Trustees"),
The First National Bank of Chicago, as the institutional trustee, First Chicago
Delaware Inc., as Delaware trustee, and the holders from time to time of
undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust. The Debentures are to
be issued pursuant to an Indenture, dated as of December 18, 1998, as amended by
a First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 18, 1998 (as so amended,
the "Indenture"), between the Trust and The First National Bank of Chicago, as
debt trustee.
In connection with this opinion, we have examined originals or copies,
certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of (i) the Registration
Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-62905), filed by the Company and the
Trust with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") on
September 4, 1998 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"),
Amendment No. 1 thereto (as amended, the "Registration Statement"); (ii) the
Base Prospectus dated September 24, 1998 included as part of the Registration
Statement and Prospectus Supplement dated December 15, 1998 filed with the
Commission under Rule 424(b) of the Act (collectively, the "Prospectus"); (iii)
the Certificate of Trust filed by the Trust with the Secretary of State of the
State of Delaware on November 1, 1996; (iv) an executed copy of the Declaration
(including a designation of the terms of the Capital Securities); (v) the form
of the Capital Securities and a specimen certificate thereof; (vi) a copy of the
Capital Securities Guarantee Agreement; (vii) a copy of the Indenture; (viii)
the form of Debentures and a specimen certificate thereof; (ix) an executed copy
of the Purchase Agreement dated December 15, 1998 among the Company, the Trust
and you; and (x) the officer's certificate of the Company dated December 18,
1998. Furthermore, we have relied upon certain statements and representations
made by officers of the Company, the Regular Trustees and others. We have also
examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our
satisfaction, of such other documents, certificates and records as we have
deemed necessary or appropriate as a basis for the opinion set forth herein.
In rendering our opinion, we have participated in the preparation of the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus. Our opinion is conditioned on, among
other things, the initial and continuing accuracy of the facts, information,
covenants and representations set forth in the documents referred to above and
the statements and representations made by officers of the Company, the Regular
Trustees and others. In our examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all
signatures, the legal capacity of natural persons, the authenticity of all
documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of
all documents submitted to us as certified or photostatic copies and the
authenticity of the originals of such documents. We also have assumed that the
transactions relating to the issuance of the Capital Securities, the Common
Securities, and the Debentures will be consummated in the manner contemplated by
the Registration Statement and Prospectus.
In rendering our opinion, we have considered the current provisions of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), Treasury regulations
promulgated thereunder, judicial decisions and Internal Revenue Service rulings,
all of which are subject to change, which changes may be retroactively applied.
A change in the authorities upon which our opinion is based could affect our
conclusions. There can be no assurances, moreover, that any of the opinions
expressed herein will be accepted by the Internal Revenue Service or, if
challenged, by a court.
Based solely upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that under current
United States federal income tax law:
(1) The Trust will be classified as a grantor trust and not as an
association taxable as a corporation for United States federal income
tax purposes.
(2) The Debentures will be classified for United States federal income
tax purposes as indebtedness of the Company.
(3) Although the discussion set forth in the Prospectus Supplement
under the heading "UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAXATION" does not
purport to discuss all possible United States federal income tax
consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of Capital
Securities, such discussion constitutes, in all material respects, a
fair and accurate summary of the United States federal income tax
consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of Capital
Securities under current law.
Except as set forth above, we express no opinion to any party as to the tax
consequences, whether federal, state, local or foreign, of the issuance of the
Debentures, the Capital Securities, the Common Securities or any transaction
related to or contemplated by such issuance. This opinion is furnished to you
solely for your benefit in connection with the offering of the Capital
Securities and the Debentures and is not to be used circulated, quoted or
otherwise referred to for any other purpose or relied upon by any other person
without our prior written consent. We disclaim any undertaking to advise you of
any subsequent changes of the facts stated or assumed herein or any subsequent
changes in applicable law.
Very truly yours,
By: /s/ EDWARDS & ANGELL, LLP
-----------------------------
EDWARDS & ANGELL, LLP
