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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report: May 6, 1998
THE KROGER CO.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
An Ohio Corporation No. 1-303 31-0345740
(State or other jurisdiction (Commission File (IRS Employer
of incorporation) Number) Number)
1014 Vine Street
Cincinnati, OH 45201
(Address of principal
executive offices)
Registrant's telephone number: (513) 762-4000
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Item 5. Other Events
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On April 16, 1998, The Kroger Co. filed Registration Statement
No. 333-50269 on Form S-3 with the Securities and Exchange
Commission pursuant to Rule 415 (hereinafter referred to as the
"Registration Statement"). The Registration Statement provides
for the issuance of Securities in an aggregate amount of
$800,000,000, and was declared effective on April 29, 1998.
Filed herewith as Exhibit 1.1 to the Registration Statement is
the form of Underwriting Agreement for the issuance of Debt
Securities.
Filed herewith as Exhibit 4.3 to the Registration Statement is
the form of Senior Indenture.
Filed herewith as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement is
the Opinion of Paul W. Heldman, Esq., including his consent.
Filed herewith as Exhibit 25.1 to the Registration Statement is
the Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1.
Item 7. Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and
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(c) Exhibits:
1.1 Form of Underwriting Agreement.
4.3 Form of Senior Indenture.
5.1 Opinion of Paul W. Heldman, Esq., including his
consent.
25.1 Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1.
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SIGNATURE
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Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereto duly authorized.
THE KROGER CO.
May 6, 1998 By: (Paul Heldman)
Paul Heldman
Senior Vice President, Secretary
& General Counsel
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EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No. Exhibit
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1.1 Form of Underwriting Agreement.
4.3 Form of Senior Indenture.
5.1 Opinion of Paul W. Heldman, Esq., including his consent.
25.1 Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1.
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The Kroger Co.
Debt Securities Exhibit 1.1
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Underwriting Agreement
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To the Representatives of the
several Underwriters named in the
respective Pricing Agreements
hereinafter described.
Dear Sirs:
From time to time The Kroger Co., an Ohio corporation (the "Company"),
proposes to enter into one or more Pricing Agreements (each a "Pricing
Agreement") in the form of Annex I hereto, with such additions and deletions as
the parties thereto may determine, and, subject to the terms and conditions
stated herein and therein, to issue and sell to the firms named in Schedule I to
the applicable Pricing Agreement (such firms constituting the "Underwriters"
with respect to such Pricing Agreement and the securities specified therein)
certain of its debt securities (the "Securities") specified in Schedule II to
such Pricing Agreement (with respect to such Pricing Agreement, the "Designated
Securities").
The terms and rights of any particular issuance of Designated Securities
shall be as specified in the Pricing Agreement relating thereto and in or
pursuant to the indenture (the "Indenture") identified in such Pricing
Agreement.
1. Particular sales of Designated Securities may be made from time to
time to the Underwriters of such Securities, for whom the firms designated as
representatives of the Underwriters of such Securities in the Pricing Agreement
relating thereto will act as representatives (the "Representatives"). The term
"Representatives" also refers to a single firm acting as sole representative of
the Underwriters and to Underwriters who act without any firm being designated
as their representative. This Underwriting Agreement shall not be construed as
an obligation of the Company to sell any of the Securities or as an obligation
of any of the Underwriters to purchase the Securities. The obligation of the
Company to issue and sell any of the Securities and the obligation of any of the
Underwriters to purchase any of the Securities shall be evidenced by the Pricing
Agreement with respect to the Designated Securities specified therein. Each
Pricing Agreement shall specify the aggregate principal amount of such
Designated Securities, the initial public offering price of such Designated
Securities, the purchase price to the Underwriters of such Designated
Securities, the names of the Underwriters of such Designated Securities, the
names of the Representatives of such Underwriters and the principal amount of
such Designated Securities to be purchased by each Underwriter and shall set
forth the date, time and manner of delivery to such Designated Securities and
payment therefor. The Pricing Agreement shall also specify (to the extent not
set forth in the Indenture and the registration statement and prospectus with
respect thereto) the terms of such Designated Securities. A Pricing Agreement
shall be in the form of an executed writing (which may be in counterparts), and
may be evidenced by an exchange of telegraphic communications or any other rapid
transmission device designed to produce a written record of communications
transmitted. The obligations of the Underwriters under this Agreement and each
Pricing Agreement shall be several and not joint.
2. The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, each of the
Underwriters that:
(a) A registration statement in respect of the Securities has been
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"); such
registration statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, each in
the form heretofore delivered or to be delivered to the Representatives
and, excluding exhibits to such registration statement, but including all
documents incorporated by reference in the prospectus contained therein, to
the Representatives for each of the other Underwriters, have been
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declared effective by the Commission in such form; no other document with
respect to such registration statement or document incorporated by
reference therein has heretofore been filed or transmitted for filing with
the Commission; and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of such
registration statement has been issued and no proceeding for that purpose
has been initiated or threatened by the Commission (any preliminary
prospectus included in such registration statement or filed with the
Commission pursuant to Rule 424(a) of the rules and regulations of the
Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), being
hereinafter called a "Preliminary Prospectus"; the various parts of such
registration statement, including all exhibits thereto and the documents
incorporated by reference in the prospectus contained in the registration
statement at the time such part of the registration statement became
effective but excluding Form T-1, each as amended at the time such part of
the registration statement became effective, being hereinafter called the
"Registration Statement"; the prospectus relating to the Securities, in the
form in which it has most recently been filed, or transmitted for filing,
with the Commission on or prior to the date of this Agreement, being
hereinafter called the "Prospectus"; any reference herein to any
Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and
include the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to the
applicable form under the Act, as of the date of such Preliminary
Prospectus or Prospectus, as the case may be; any reference to any
amendment or supplement to any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus
shall be deemed to refer to and include any documents filed after the date
of such Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus, as the case may be, under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and
incorporated by reference in such Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus, as
the case may be; any reference to any amendment to the Registration
Statement shall be deemed to refer to and include any annual report of the
Company filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after
the effective date of the Registration Statement that is incorporated by
reference in the Registration Statement; and any reference to the
Prospectus as amended or supplemented shall be deemed to refer to the
Prospectus as amended or supplemented in relation to the applicable
Designated Securities in the form in which it is filed with the Commission
pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act in accordance with Section 5(a)
hereof, including any documents incorporated by reference therein as of the
date of such filing);
(b) The documents incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, when
they became effective or were filed with the Commission, as the case may
be, conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Act or
the Exchange Act, as applicable, and the rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder, and none of such documents contained an untrue
statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading; and any further documents so filed and incorporated by
reference in the Prospectus or any further amendment or supplement thereto,
when such documents become effective or are filed with the Commission, as
the case may be, will conform in all material respects to the requirements
of the Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and the rules and
regulations of the Commission thereunder and will not contain an untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to
be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading; provided, however, that this representation and warranty shall
not apply to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in
conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by an
Underwriter of Designated Securities through the Representatives expressly
for use in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented relating to such
Securities;
(c) The Registration Statement and the Prospectus conform, and any
further amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus will conform, in all material respects to the requirements of
the Act and the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the "Trust
Indenture Act") and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder
and do not and will not, as of the applicable effective date as to the
Registration Statement and any amendment thereto and as of the applicable
filing date as to the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto,
contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading; provided, however, that this representation and
warranty shall not apply to any statements or omissions made in reliance
upon and in conformity with information furnished
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in writing to the Company by an Underwriter of Designated Securities
through the Representatives expressly for use in the Prospectus as amended
or supplemented relating to such Securities;
(d) The Company and its subsidiaries have not sustained since the
date of the latest audited financial statements included or incorporated by
reference in the Prospectus any material loss or interference with their
businesses, taken as a whole, from fire, explosion, flood or other
calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or
court or governmental action, order or decree, otherwise than as set forth
or contemplated in the Prospectus; and, since the respective dates as of
which information is given in the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus, there has not been any material change in the capital stock or
long-term debt of the Company and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis
or any material adverse change, or any development involving a prospective
material adverse change, in or affecting the general affairs, management,
financial position, stockholders' equity or results of operations of the
Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, otherwise than as set forth
or contemplated in the Prospectus;
(e) The Company and its subsidiaries have good and marketable title
in fee simple to all real property and good and marketable title to all
personal property owned by them, in each case free and clear of all liens,
encumbrances and defects except such as are described in the Prospectus or
such as do not materially affect the value of such property and do not
interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the
Company and its subsidiaries; and any real property and buildings held
under lease by the Company and its subsidiaries are held by them under
valid, subsisting and enforceable leases with such exceptions as are not
material and do not interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of
such property and buildings by the Company and its subsidiaries;
(f) The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as
a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Ohio, with
power and authority (corporate and other) to own its properties and conduct
its business as described in the Prospectus, and has been duly qualified as
a foreign corporation for the transaction of business and is in good
standing under the laws of each other jurisdiction in which it owns or
leases properties, or conducts any business, so as to require such
qualification, or is subject to no material liability or disability by
reason of the failure to be qualified in any such jurisdiction; and each
subsidiary of the Company has been duly incorporated and is validly
existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of its
jurisdiction of incorporation;
(g) The Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth in the
Prospectus, and all of the issued shares of capital stock of the Company
have been duly and validly authorized and issued and are fully paid and
non-assessable; and all of the issued shares of capital stock of each
subsidiary of the Company have been duly and validly authorized and issued,
are fully paid and non-assessable and (except for directors' qualifying
shares) are owned directly or indirectly by the Company, free and clear of
all liens, encumbrances, equities or claims;
(h) The Securities have been duly authorized, and, when Designated
Securities are issued and delivered pursuant to this Agreement and the
Pricing Agreement with respect to such Designated Securities against
payment of the consideration specified in the Pricing Agreement, such
Designated Securities will have been duly executed, authenticated, issued
and delivered and will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of
the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject, as to
enforcement, to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization and other laws of
general applicability relating to or affecting creditors' rights and to
general equity principles and will be entitled to the benefits provided by
the Indenture under which they are to be issued which will be substantially
in the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement; the
Indenture has been duly authorized and duly qualified under the Trust
Indenture Act and, at the Time of Delivery for such Designated Securities
(as defined in Section 4 hereof), the Indenture will constitute a valid and
legally binding instrument, enforceable in accordance with its terms,
subject, as to enforcement, to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization and
other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors'
rights and to general equity principles; and the Indenture conforms, and
the Designated Securities will conform, in all material respects, to the
descriptions thereof contained in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented
with respect to such Designated Securities;
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(i) The issue and sale of the Securities and the compliance by the
Company with all of the provisions of the Securities, the Indenture, this
Agreement and any Pricing Agreement, and the consummation of the
transactions herein and therein contemplated will not conflict with or
result in a breach of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a
default under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or
other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its
subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries
is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of
its subsidiaries is subject, nor will such action result in any violation
of the provisions of the Articles of Incorporation, as amended, or the
Regulations of the Company or any statute or any order, rule or regulation
of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the
Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their properties; and no
consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of
or with any such court or governmental agency or body is required for the
issue and sale of the Securities or the consummation by the Company of the
other transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Pricing Agreement
or the Indenture, except such as have been, or will have been prior to the
Time of Delivery, obtained under the Act and the Trust Indenture Act and
such consents, approvals, authorizations, registrations or qualifications
as may be required under state securities or Blue Sky laws in connection
with the purchase and distribution of the Securities by the Underwriters;
(j) Other than as set forth or contemplated in the Prospectus, there
are no legal or governmental proceedings pending to which the Company or
any of its subsidiaries is a party or of which any property of the Company
or any of its subsidiaries is the subject with respect to which there is a
reasonable likelihood of a determination which would individually or in the
aggregate have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial
position, stockholders' equity or results of operations of the Company and
its subsidiaries; and, to the best of the Company's knowledge, no such
proceedings are threatened or contemplated by governmental authorities or
threatened by others;
(k) None of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, any
Pricing Agreement or the Indenture (including, without limitation, the use
of the proceeds from the sale of the Securities) will violate or result in
a violation of Section 7 of the Exchange Act, or any regulation promulgated
thereunder, including, without limitation, Regulations G, T, U and X of the
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System;
(l) The Company is not subject to regulation under the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended;
(m) The Company will apply the net proceeds from the sale of
Securities for the purpose set forth in the Prospectus under the caption
"Use of Proceeds"; and
(n) Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P., who have audited certain financial
statements of the Company and its subsidiaries, are independent public
accountants as required by the Act and the rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder.
3. Upon the execution of the Pricing Agreement applicable to any
Designated Securities and authorization by the Representatives of the release
of such Designated Securities, the several Underwriters propose to offer such
Designated Securities for sale upon the terms and conditions set forth in the
Prospectus as amended or supplemented.
4. Designated Securities to be purchased by each Underwriter pursuant to
the Pricing Agreement relating thereto, in definitive form to the extent
practicable, and in such authorized denominations and registered in such names
as the Representatives may request upon at least forty-eight hours' prior notice
to the Company, shall be delivered by or on behalf of the Company to the
Representatives for the account of such Underwriter, against payment by such
Underwriter or on its behalf of the purchase price therefor by certified or
official bank check or checks, payable to the order of the Company in the funds
specified in such Pricing Agreement, all at the place and time and date
specified in such Pricing Agreement or at such other place and time and date as
the Representatives and the Company may agree upon in writing, such time and
date being herein called the "Time of Delivery" for such Securities.
5. The Company agrees with each of the Underwriters of any Designated
Securities:
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(a) To prepare the Prospectus as amended and supplemented in relation
to the applicable Designated Securities in a form approved by the
Representatives and to file such Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) under
the Act not later than the Commission's close of business on the second
business day following the execution and delivery of the Pricing Agreement
relating to the applicable Designated Securities or, if applicable, such
earlier time as may be required by Rule 424(b); to make no further
amendment or any supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus as
amended or supplemented after the date of the Pricing Agreement relating to
such Securities and prior to the Time of Delivery for such Securities which
shall be disapproved by the Representatives for such Securities promptly
after reasonable notice thereof; to advise the Representatives promptly of
any such amendment or supplement after such Time of Delivery and furnish
the Representatives with copies thereof; to file promptly all reports and
any definitive proxy or information statements required to be filed by the
Company with the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d)
of the Exchange Act for so long as the delivery of a prospectus is required
in connection with the offering or sale of such Securities, and during such
same period to advise the Representatives, promptly after it receives
notice thereof, of the time when any amendment to the Registration
Statement has been filed or becomes effective or any supplement to the
Prospectus or any amended Prospectus has been filed with the Commission, of
the issuance by the Commission of any stop order or of any order preventing
or suspending the use of any prospectus relating to the Securities, of the
suspension of the qualification of such Securities for offering or sale in
any jurisdiction, of the initiation of or threatening of any proceeding for
any such purpose, or of any request by the Commission for the amending or
supplementing of the Registration Statement or Prospectus or for additional
information; and, in the event of the issuance of any such stop order or of
any such order preventing or suspending the use of any prospectus relating
to the Securities or suspending any such qualification, to use promptly its
best efforts to obtain its withdrawal;
(b) Promptly from time to time to take such action as the
Representatives may reasonably request to qualify such Securities for
offering and sale under the securities laws of such jurisdictions in the
United States as the Representatives may request and to comply with such
laws so as to permit the continuance of sales and dealings therein in such
jurisdictions for as long as may be necessary to complete the distribution
of such Securities, provided that in connection therewith the Company shall
not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or to file a general
consent to service of process in any jurisdiction;
(c) To furnish the Underwriters with copies of the Prospectus as
amended or supplemented in such quantities as the Representatives may from
time to time reasonably request, and, if the delivery of a prospectus is
required at any time prior to the expiration of nine months after the time
of issue of the Prospectus in connection with the offering or sale of any
Designated Securities and if at such time any event shall have occurred as
a result of which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would
include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the
light of the circumstances under which they were made when such Prospectus
is delivered, not misleading, or, if for any other reason it shall be
necessary during such same period to amend or supplement the Prospectus or
to file under the Exchange Act any document incorporated by reference in
the Prospectus in order to comply with the Act, the Exchange Act or the
Trust Indenture Act, to notify the Representatives and upon their request
to file such document and to prepare and furnish without charge to each
Underwriter and to any dealer in securities as many copies as the
Representatives may from time to time reasonably request of an amended
Prospectus or a supplement to the Prospectus which will correct such
statement or omission or effect such compliance; and in case any
Underwriter is required to deliver a prospectus in connection with sales of
any Designated Securities at any time nine months or more after the time of
issue of the Prospectus as amended or supplemented with respect to such
Designated Securities, upon the request of the Representatives but at the
expense of such Underwriter, to prepare and deliver to such Underwriter as
many copies as it may request of a further amended or supplemented
Prospectus for such Designated Securities complying with Section 10(a)(3)
of the Act;
(d) To make generally available to its security holders as soon as
practicable, but in any event not later than eighteen months after the
effective date of the Registration Statement (as defined in Rule 158(c) ),
an earning statement of the Company and its subsidiaries (which need not be
audited)
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complying with Section 11 (a) of the Act and the rules and regulations of
the Commission thereunder (including at the option of the Company Rule
158); and
(e) During the period beginning from the date of the Pricing
Agreement for such Designated Securities and continuing to and including
the earlier of (i) the termination of trading restrictions for such
Designated Securities, as notified to the Company by the Representatives,
and (ii) the Time of Delivery for such Designated Securities, not to offer,
sell, contract to sell or otherwise dispose of any debt securities of the
Company which mature more than one year after such Time of Delivery and
which are substantially similar to such Designated Securities, without the
prior written consent of the Representatives.
6. The Company covenants and agrees with the several Underwriters that
the Company will pay or cause to be paid the following: (i) the fees,
disbursements and expenses of the Company's counsel and accountants in
connection with the registration of the Securities under the Act and all other
expenses in connection with the preparation, printing and filing of the
Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus and
amendments and supplements thereto and the mailing and delivering of copies
thereof to the Underwriters and dealers; (ii) the cost of printing or producing
any Agreement among Underwriters, this Agreement, any Pricing Agreement, any
Indenture, any Blue Sky and Legal Investment Memoranda and any other documents
in connection with the offering, purchase, sale and delivery of the Securities;
(iii) all expenses in connection with the qualification of the Securities for
offering and sale under state securities laws as provided in Section 5(b)
hereof, including the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the
Underwriters in connection with such qualification and in connection with the
Blue Sky and legal investment surveys; (iv) any fees charged by securities
rating services for rating the Securities; (v) any filing fees incident to
securing any required review by the National Association of Securities Dealers,
Inc. of the terms of the sale of the Securities; (vi) the cost of preparing the
Securities; (vii) the fees and expenses of any Trustee and any agent of any
Trustee and the fees and disbursements of counsel for any Trustee in connection
with any Indenture and the Securities; (viii) the fees and disbursements of
counsel for the Underwriters to the extent they exceed such amount as may be
specified in the Pricing Agreements; and (ix) all other costs and expenses
incident to the performance of its obligations hereunder which are not otherwise
specifically provided for in this Section. It is understood, however, that,
except as provided in this Section, Section 8 and Section 11 hereof, the
Underwriters will pay all of their own costs and expenses, including, but not
limited to, the fees and disbursements of their counsel up to such amount as may
be specified in the Pricing Agreements, transfer taxes on resale of any of the
Securities by them, and any advertising expenses connected with any offers they
may make.
7. The obligations of the Underwriters of any Designated Securities under
the Pricing Agreement relating to such Designated Securities shall be subject,
in the discretion of the Representatives, to the condition that all
representations and warranties and other statements of the Company in or
incorporated by reference in the Pricing Agreement relating to such Designated
Securities are, at and as of the Time of Delivery for such Designated
Securities, true and correct, the condition that the Company shall have
performed all of its obligations hereunder theretofore to be performed, and the
following additional conditions:
(a) The Prospectus as amended or supplemented in relation to the
applicable Designated Securities shall have been filed with the Commission
pursuant to Rule 424(b) within the applicable time period prescribed for
such filing by the rules and regulations under the Act and in accordance
with Section 5 (a) hereof; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of
the Registration Statement or any part thereof shall have been issued and
no proceeding for that purpose shall have been initiated or threatened by
the Commission; and all requests for additional information on the part of
the Commission shall have been complied with to the Representatives'
reasonable satisfaction;
(b) Counsel for the Underwriters shall have furnished to the
Representatives such opinion or opinions, dated the Time of Delivery for
such Designated Securities, with respect to the incorporation of the
Company, the validity of the Indenture, the Designated Securities, the
Registration Statement, the Prospectus as amended or supplemented and other
related matters as the Representatives may reasonably request, and such
counsel shall have received such papers and information as they may
reasonably request to enable them to pass upon such matters;
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(c) Paul Heldman, Senior Vice President, Secretary and General
Counsel of the Company, shall have furnished to the Representatives his
written opinion, dated the Time of Delivery for such Designated Securities,
in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives, to the effect
that:
(i) The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly
existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of Ohio,
with corporate power and authority to own its properties and conduct
its business as described in the Prospectus as amended or
supplemented;
(ii) The Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth
in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented, and all of the issued
shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly and validly
authorized and issued and are fully paid and non-assessable;
(iii) The Company has been duly qualified as a foreign
corporation for the transaction of business and is in good standing
under the laws of each other jurisdiction in which it owns or leases
properties, or conducts any business, so as to require such
qualification, or is subject to no material liability or disability by
reason of the failure to be so qualified in any such jurisdiction
(such counsel being entitled to rely in respect of the opinion in this
clause upon opinions of local counsel and in respect of matters of
fact upon certificates of officers of the Company, provided that such
counsel shall state that he believes that both the Underwriters and he
are justified in relying upon such opinions and certificates);
(iv) Each subsidiary of the Company, with respect to which the
Company owns, directly or indirectly, a 50% or greater equity interest
(each a "subsidiary"), has been duly incorporated and is validly
existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of its
jurisdiction of incorporation; and all of the issued shares of capital
stock of each such subsidiary have been duly and validly authorized
and issued, are fully paid and non-assessable, and (except for
directors' qualifying shares) are owned directly or indirectly by the
Company, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities or
claims, other than as described in the Prospectus (such counsel being
entitled to rely in respect of the opinion in this clause upon
opinions of local counsel and in respect of matters of fact upon
certificates of officers of the Company, provided that such counsel
shall state that he believes that both the Underwriters and he are
justified in relying upon such opinions and certificates);
(v) The Company and its subsidiaries have good and marketable
title in fee simple to all real property owned by them, in each case
free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and defects except such as
are described in the Prospectus or such as do not materially affect
the value of such property and do not interfere with the use made and
proposed to be made of such property by the Company and its
subsidiaries; and any real property and buildings held under lease by
the Company and its subsidiaries are held by them under valid,
subsisting and enforceable leases with such exceptions as are not
material and do not interfere with the use made and proposed to be
made of such property and buildings by the Company and its
subsidiaries (in giving the opinion in this clause, such counsel may
state that no examination of record titles for the purpose of such
opinion has been made, and that he is relying upon a general review of
the titles of the Company and its subsidiaries, upon opinions of local
counsel and abstracts, reports and policies of title companies
rendered or issued at or subsequent to the time of acquisition of such
property by the Company or its subsidiaries, upon opinions of counsel
to the lessors of such property and, in respect of matters of fact,
upon certificates of officers of the Company or its subsidiaries,
provided that such counsel shall state that he believes that both the
Underwriters and he are justified in relying upon such opinions,
abstracts, reports, policies and certificates);
(vi) To the best of such counsel's knowledge and other than as
set forth in the Prospectus, there are no legal or governmental
proceedings pending to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is
a party or of which any property of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries is the subject with respect to which there is a
reasonable likelihood of determinations which would individually or in
the aggregate have a material adverse effect on the consolidated
financial position, stockholders' equity or results of operations of
the Company and its subsidiaries; and, to the best of such counsel's
knowledge, no such proceedings are threatened or contemplated by
governmental authorities or threatened by others;
-7-
<PAGE>
(vii) This Agreement and the Pricing Agreement with respect to
the Designated Securities have been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the Company;
(viii) The Designated Securities have been duly authorized,
executed, authenticated, issued and delivered, and the Designated
Securities (assuming that (i) the Trustee has all requisite power and
authority to perform its obligations under the Indenture and has made
all necessary filings and received all necessary consents, (ii) the
Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the
Trustee and (iii) the Trustee's certificates of authentication have
been manually executed by an authorized officer of the Trustee)
constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable
against the Company in accordance with their terms and are entitled to
the benefits of the Indenture, except that (a) such enforcement may be
subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, or
other laws now or hereafter in effect affecting creditors' rights
generally, and (b) the enforceability thereof is subject to the
general principles of equity (whether such enforceability is
considered in a proceeding in equity or at law); provided, however,
that such counsel need express no opinion as to the application or
effect of any applicable fraudulent conveyance, fraudulent transfer,
fraudulent obligation or preferential transfer laws or any laws
governing the distribution of assets of the Company to its
stockholders; and the terms of the Designated Securities and the
Indenture conform in all material respects to the descriptions thereof
in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented;
(ix) The Indenture (i) has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the Company and (ii) (assuming that (a) the Trustee has
all requisite power and authority to perform its obligations under the
Indenture and has made all necessary filings and received all
necessary consents, and (b) the Indenture has been duly authorized,
executed and delivered by the Trustee) constitutes a valid and binding
instrument of the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms,
except (a) that such enforcement may be subject to bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, or other laws now or hereafter
in effect affecting creditors' rights generally, and (b) that the
enforceability thereof is subject to general principles of equity
(whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity
or at law); provided, however, that such counsel need express no
opinion as to the application or effect of any applicable fraudulent
conveyance, fraudulent transfer, fraudulent obligation or preferential
transfer laws or any laws governing the distribution of assets of the
Company to its stockholders; and the Indenture has been duly qualified
under the Trust Indenture Act;
(x) The issuance and sale of the Designated Securities and the
compliance by the Company with all of the provisions of the Designated
Securities, the Indenture, this Agreement and the Pricing Agreement
with respect to the Designated Securities and the consummation of the
transactions herein and therein contemplated, to the best of such
counsel's knowledge, will not conflict with or result in a breach of
any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, any
indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement
or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a
party or by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is bound or
to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries is subject, nor will such actions result in any violation
of the provisions of the Articles of Incorporation, as amended, or the
Regulations of the Company or any statute of the United States of
America or of Ohio or any other statute known to such counsel or any
order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body
having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any
of their properties; provided, however, that such counsel need express
no opinion as to the application or effect of any applicable
fraudulent conveyance, fraudulent transfer, fraudulent obligation or
preferential transfer laws or any laws governing the distribution of
assets of the Company to its stockholders;
(xi) To the best of such counsel's knowledge, no consent,
approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of or
with any such court or governmental agency or body is required for the
issuance and sale of the Designated Securities or the consummation of
the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement or such Pricing
Agreement or the Indenture, except such as have been obtained under
the Act and the Trust Indenture Act and such consents, approvals,
authoriza-
-8-
<PAGE>
tions, registrations or qualifications as may be required under state
securities or Blue Sky laws in connection with the purchase and
distribution of the Designated Securities by the Underwriters and as
may be required due to the Underwriters' or the Trustees' legal or
regulatory status;
(xii) The Company is not subject to regulation under the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended;
(xiii) The documents incorporated by reference in the Prospectus
as amended or supplemented (other than (a) the financial statements,
notes and schedules thereto included or incorporated by reference
therein and (b) other financial and statistical information included
or incorporated by reference therein, as to all of which such counsel
need express no opinion), when they became effective or were filed
with the Commission, as the case may be, complied as to form in all
material respects with the requirements of the Act or the Exchange
Act, as applicable, and the rules and regulations of the Commission
thereunder; and such counsel has no reason to believe that any of such
documents, when they became effective or were so filed, as the case
may be, contained, in the case of a registration statement which
became effective under the Act, an untrue statement of a material fact
or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or, in the
case of other documents which were filed under the Act or the Exchange
Act with the Commission, an untrue statement of a material fact or
omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
were made when such documents were so filed, not misleading; and
(xiv) The Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended
or supplemented and any further amendments and supplements thereto
made by the Company prior to the Time of Delivery for the Designated
Securities (other than (a) the financial statements, notes and
schedules thereto included or incorporated by reference therein, (b)
other financial and statistical information included or incorporated
by reference therein or (c) the Forms T-1 filed as exhibits to the
Registration Statement, as to all of which such counsel need express
no opinion) comply as to form in all material respects with the
requirements of the Act and the Trust Indenture Act and the rules and
regulations thereunder; such counsel has no reason to believe that, as
of its effective date, the Registration Statement or any further
amendment thereto made by the Company prior to the Time of Delivery
(other than (a) the financial statements, notes and schedules thereto
included or incorporated by reference therein, (b) other financial and
statistical information included or incorporated by reference therein
or (c) the Forms T-1 filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement,
as to all of which such counsel need express no opinion) contained an
untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading or that, as of its date, the Prospectus as
amended or supplemented or any further amendment or supplement thereto
made by the Company prior to the Time of Delivery (other than (a) the
financial statements, notes and schedules thereto included or
incorporated by reference therein, (b) other financial and statistical
information included or incorporated by reference therein or (c) the
Forms T-1 filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement, as to all
of which such counsel need express no opinion) contained an untrue
statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact
necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances in which they were made, not misleading or that, as of
the Time of Delivery, either the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus as amended or supplemented or any further amendment or
supplement thereto made by the Company prior to the Time of Delivery
(other than (a) the financial statements, notes and schedules thereto
included or incorporated by reference therein, (b) other financial and
statistical information included or incorporated by reference therein
or (c) the Forms T-1 filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement,
as to all of which such counsel need express no opinion) contains an
untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact
necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances in which they were made, not misleading; and such
counsel does not know of any amendment to the Registration Statement
required to be filed or any contracts or other documents of a
character required to be filed as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement or required to be incorporated by reference into the
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<PAGE>
Prospectus as amended or supplemented or required to be described in
the Registration Statement or the Prospectus as amended or
supplemented which are not filed or incorporated by reference or
described as required;
(d) On the date of the Pricing Agreement for such Designated Securities
and at the Time of Delivery for such Designated Securities, the independent
accountants of the Company who have certified the financial statements of
the Company and its subsidiaries included or incorporated by reference in
the Registration Statement shall have furnished to the Representatives
letters, dated the respective dates of delivery of such letters, to the
effect set forth in Annex II hereto, in form and substance satisfactory to
the Representatives;
(e) [Intentionally Omitted]
(f)(i) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries shall have
sustained since the date of the latest audited financial statements
included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus as amended or
supplemented any loss or interference with its business from fire,
explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or
from any labor dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree,
otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Prospectus as amended or
supplemented, and (ii) since the respective dates as of which information
is given in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented there shall not have
been any change in the capital stock or long-term debt of the Company or
any of its subsidiaries or any change, or any development involving a
prospective change, in or affecting the general affairs, management,
financial position, stockholders' equity or results of operations of the
Company and its subsidiaries, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated
in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented, the effect of which, in any
such case described in Clause (i) or (ii), is in the judgment of the
Representatives so material and adverse as to make it impracticable or
inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the delivery of the
Designated Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the
Prospectus as amended or supplemented;
(g) On or after the date of the Pricing Agreement relating to the
Designated Securities (i) no downgrading shall have occurred in the rating
accorded the Company's debt securities by any "nationally recognized
statistical rating organization," as that term is defined by the Commission
for purposes of Rule 436(g) (2) under the Act and (ii) no such organization
shall have publicly announced that it has under surveillance or review,
with possible negative implications, its rating of any of the Company's
debt securities;
(h) On or after the date of the Pricing Agreement relating to the
Designated Securities there shall not have occurred any of the following:
(i) a suspension or material limitation in trading in securities generally
on the New York Stock Exchange; (ii) a general moratorium on commercial
banking activities in New York declared by either Federal or New York State
authorities; or (iii) the outbreak or escalation of hostilities involving
the United States or the declaration by the United States of a national
emergency or war, if the effect of any such event specified in this Clause
(iii) in the judgment of the Representatives makes it impracticable or
inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the delivery of the
Designated Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated by the
Prospectus as amended and supplemented; and
(i) The Company shall have furnished or caused to be furnished to the
Representatives at the Time of Delivery for the Designated Securities a
certificate or certificates of officers of the Company satisfactory to the
Representatives as to the accuracy of the representations and warranties of
the Company herein at and as of such Time of Delivery, as to the
performance by the Company of all of its obligations hereunder to be
performed at or prior to such Time of Delivery, as to the matters set forth
in subsections (a) and (f) of this Section and as to such other matters as
the Representatives may reasonably request.
8. (a) The Company will indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter
against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which
such Underwriter may become subject, under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such
losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out
of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact contained in any
-10-
<PAGE>
Preliminary Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus supplement, the Registration
Statement, the Prospectus as amended or supplemented and any other prospectus
relating to the Securities, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or arise out
of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading, and will reimburse each Underwriter for any legal or
other expenses reasonably incurred by such Underwriter in connection with
investigating or defending any such action or claim; provided, however, that the
Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss,
claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in any Preliminary
Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus supplement, the Registration Statement,
the Prospectus as amended or supplemented and any other prospectus relating to
the Securities, or any such amendment or supplement in reliance upon and in
conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter
of Designated Securities through the Representatives expressly for use in the
Prospectus as amended or supplemented relating to such Securities.
(b) Each Underwriter will indemnify and hold harmless the Company
against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the Company may
become subject, under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims,
damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based
upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
contained in any Preliminary Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus supplement,
the Registration Statement, the Prospectus as amended or supplemented and any
other prospectus relating to the Securities, or any amendment or supplement
thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to
state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements therein not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to
the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission
or alleged omission was made in any Preliminary Prospectus, any preliminary
prospectus supplement, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus as amended or
supplemented and any other prospectus relating to the Securities, or any such
amendment or supplement in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Company by such Underwriter through the
Representatives expressly for use therein; and will reimburse the Company for
any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company in connection
with investigating or defending any such action or claim.
(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under subsection (a)
or (b) above of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party
shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying
party under such subsection, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the
commencement thereof; but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party shall
not relieve it from any liability which it may have to any indemnified party
otherwise than under such subsection. In case any such action shall be brought
against any indemnified party and it shall notify the indemnifying party of the
commencement thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate
therein and, to the extent that it shall wish, jointly with any other
indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with
counsel satisfactory to such indemnified party (who shall not, except with the
consent of the indemnified party, be counsel to the indemnifying party), and,
after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its
election so to assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying party shall not be
liable to such indemnified party under such subsection for any legal expenses of
other counsel or any other expenses, in each case subsequently incurred by such
indemnified party, in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable
costs of investigation.
(d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 is unavailable
to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under subsection (a) or
(b) above in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions
in respect thereof) referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall
contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result
of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof)
in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received
by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters of the Designated Securities
on the other from the offering of the Designated Securities to which such loss,
claim, damage or liability (or action in respect thereof) relates. If, however,
the allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is not permitted
by applicable law or if the indemnified party failed to give the notice required
under subsection (c) above, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to
such amount paid or payable by such indemnified party in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative
fault of the Company on the one hand
-11-
<PAGE>
and the Underwriters of the Designated Securities on the other in connection
with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages
or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof), as well as any other relevant
equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company on the
one hand and such Underwriters on the other shall be deemed to be in the same
proportion as the total net proceeds from such offering (before deducting
expenses) received by the Company bear to the total underwriting discounts and
commissions received by such Underwriters, in each case as set forth in the
table on the cover page of the Prospectus as amended or supplemented to relate
to a particular offering of Designated Securities. The relative fault shall be
determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state
a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company on the one hand
or such Underwriters on the other and the parties' relative intent, knowledge,
access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or
omission. The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and
equitable if contribution pursuant to this subsection (d) were determined by pro
rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such
purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the
equitable considerations referred to above in this subsection (d). The amount
paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims,
damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to above in this
subsection (d) shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably
incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending
any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (d),
no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the
amount by which the total price at which the applicable Designated Securities
underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public
exceeds the amount of any damages which such Underwriter has otherwise been
required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission
or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within
the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from
any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The
obligations of the Underwriters of Designated Securities in this subsection (d)
to contribute are several in proportion to their respective underwriting
obligations with respect to such Securities and not joint.
(e) The obligations of the Company under this Section 8 shall be in
addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have and shall extend,
upon the same terms and conditions, to each person, if any, who controls any
Underwriter within the meaning of the Act; and the obligations of the
Underwriters under this Section 8 shall be in addition to any liability which
the respective Underwriters may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same
terms and conditions, to each officer and director of the Company and to each
person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Act.
9. (a) If any Underwriter shall default in its obligation to purchase the
Designated Securities which it has agreed to purchase under the Pricing
Agreement relating to such Designated Securities, the Representatives may in
their discretion arrange for themselves or another party or other parties to
purchase such Designated Securities on the terms contained herein. If within
thirty-six hours after such default by any Underwriter the Representatives do
not arrange for the purchase of such Designated Securities, then the Company
shall be entitled to a further period of thirty-six hours within which to
procure another party or other parties satisfactory to the Representatives to
purchase such Designated Securities on such terms. In the event that, within the
respective prescribed period, the Representatives notify the Company that they
have so arranged for the purchase of such Designated Securities, or the Company
notifies the Representatives that it has so arranged for the purchase of such
Designated Securities, the Representatives or the Company shall have the right
to postpone the Time of Delivery for such Designated Securities for a period of
not more than seven days, in order to effect whatever changes may thereby be
made necessary in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus as amended or
supplemented, or in any other documents or arrangements, and the Company agrees
to file promptly any amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or
the Prospectus which in the opinion of the Representatives may thereby be made
necessary. The term "Underwriter" as used in this Agreement shall include any
person substituted under this Section with like effect as if such person had
originally been a party to the Pricing Agreement with respect to such Designated
Securities.
(b) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the
Designated Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the
Representatives and the Company as provided in subsection (a) above, the
aggregate principal amount of such Designated Securities which remains
unpurchased does
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<PAGE>
not exceed one-eleventh of the aggregate principal amount of the Designated
Securities, then the Company shall have the right to require each non-defaulting
Underwriter to purchase the principal amount of Designated Securities which such
Underwriter agreed to purchase under the Pricing Agreement relating to such
Designated Securities and, in addition, to require each non-defaulting
Underwriter to purchase its pro rata share (based on the principal amount of
Designated Securities which such Underwriter agreed to purchase under such
Pricing Agreement) of the Designated Securities of such defaulting Underwriter
or Underwriters for which such arrangements have not been made; but nothing
herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter from liability for its default.
(c) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the
Designated Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the
Representatives and the Company as provided in subsection (a) above, the
aggregate principal amount of Designated Securities which remains unpurchased
exceeds one-eleventh of the aggregate principal amount of the Designated
Securities, as referred to in subsection (b) above, or if the Company shall not
exercise the right described in subsection (b) above to require non-defaulting
Underwriters to purchase Designated Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or
Underwriters, then the Pricing Agreement relating to such Designated Securities
shall thereupon terminate, without liability on the part of any non-defaulting
Underwriter or the Company, except for the expenses to be borne by the Company
and the Underwriters as provided in Section 6 hereof and the indemnity and
contribution agreements in Section 8 hereof; but nothing herein shall relieve a
defaulting Underwriter from liability for its default.
10. The respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties
and other statements of the Company and the several Underwriters, as set forth
in this Agreement or made by or on behalf of them, respectively, pursuant to
this Agreement, shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any
investigation (or any statement as to the results thereof) made by or on behalf
of any Underwriter or any controlling person of any Underwriter, or the Company,
or any officer or director or controlling person of the Company, and shall
survive delivery of and payment for the Securities.
11. If any Pricing Agreement shall be terminated pursuant to Section 9
hereof, the Company shall not then be under any liability to any Underwriter
with respect to the Designated Securities covered by such Pricing Agreement
except as provided in Section 6 and Section 8 hereof; but, if for any other
reason Designated Securities are not delivered by or on behalf of the Company as
provided herein, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters through the
Representatives for all out-of-pocket expenses approved in writing by the
Representatives, including fees and disbursements of counsel, reasonably
incurred by the Underwriters in making preparations for the purchase, sale and
delivery of such Designated Securities, but the Company shall then be under no
further liability to any Underwriter with respect to such Designated Securities
except as provided in Section 6 and Section 8 hereof.
12. In all dealings hereunder, the Representatives of the Underwriters of
Designated Securities shall act on behalf of each of such Underwriters, and the
parties hereto shall be entitled to act and rely upon any statement, request,
notice or agreement on behalf of any Underwriter made or given by such
Representatives jointly or by such of the Representatives, if any, as may be
designated for such purpose in the Pricing Agreement.
All statements, requests, notices and agreements hereunder shall be in
writing, and if to the Underwriters shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex or
facsimile transmission to the address of the Representatives as set forth in the
Pricing Agreement; and if to the Company shall be delivered or sent by mail,
telex or facsimile transmission to the address of the Company set forth in the
Registration Statement: Attention: Secretary; provided, however, that any notice
to an Underwriter pursuant to Section 8(c) hereof shall be delivered or sent by
mail, telex or facsimile transmission to such Underwriter at its address set
forth in its Underwriters' Questionnaire, or telex constituting such
Questionnaire, which address will be supplied to the Company by the
Representatives upon request. Any such statements, requests, notices or
agreements shall take effect upon receipt thereof.
13. This Agreement and each Pricing Agreement shall be binding upon, and
inure solely to the benefit of, the Underwriters, the Company and, to the extent
provided in Section 8 and Section 10 hereof, the officers and directors of the
Company and each person who controls the Company or any Underwriter, and their
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<PAGE>
respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns, and no
other person shall acquire or have any right under or by virtue of this
Agreement or any such Pricing Agreement. No purchaser of any of the Securities
from any Underwriter shall be deemed a successor or assign by reason merely of
such purchase.
14. Time shall be of the essence of each Pricing Agreement. As used
herein, "business day" shall mean any day when the Commission's office in
Washington, D.C. is open for business.
15. This Agreement and each Pricing Agreement shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
16. This Agreement and each Pricing Agreement may be executed by any one
or more of the parties hereto and thereto in any number of counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such respective counterparts
shall together constitute one and the same instrument.
Very truly yours,
The Kroger Co.
By:
------------------------------
Name:
Title:
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<PAGE>
ANNEX I
Pricing Agreement
-----------------
[Names of Co-Representative(s),]
As Representatives of the several
Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto,
____________________, 19__
Dear Sirs:
The Kroger Co., an Ohio corporation (the "Company"), proposes, subject to
the terms and conditions stated herein and in the Underwriting Agreement, dated
____________________ (the "Underwriting Agreement"), to issue and sell to the
Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (the "Underwriters") the Securities
specified in Schedule II hereto (the "Designated Securities"). Each of the
provisions of the Underwriting Agreement is incorporated herein by reference in
its entirety, and shall be deemed to be a part of this Agreement to the same
extent as if such provisions had been set forth in full herein; and each of the
representations and warranties set forth therein shall be deemed to have been
made at and as of the date of this Pricing Agreement, except that each
representation and warranty which refers to the Prospectus in Section 2 of the
Underwriting Agreement shall be deemed to be a representation or warranty as of
the date of the Underwriting Agreement in relation to the Prospectus (as therein
defined), and also a representation and warranty as of the date of this Pricing
Agreement in relation to the Prospectus as amended or supplemented relating to
the Designated Securities which are the subject of this Pricing Agreement. Each
reference to the Representatives herein and in the provisions of the
Underwriting Agreement so incorporated by reference shall be deemed to refer to
you. Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Underwriting
Agreement are used herein as therein defined. The Representatives designated to
act on behalf of the Representatives and on behalf of each of the Underwriters
of the Designated Securities pursuant to Section 12 of the Underwriting
Agreement and the address of the Representatives referred to in such Section 12
are set forth at the end of Schedule II hereto.
An amendment to the Registration Statement, or a supplement to the
Prospectus, as the case may be, relating to the Designated Securities, in the
form heretofore delivered to you is now proposed to be filed with the
Commission.
Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the
Underwriting Agreement incorporated herein by reference, the Company agrees to
issue and sell to each of the Underwriters, and each of the Underwriters agrees,
severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company, at the time and place
and at the purchase price to the Underwriters set forth in Schedule II hereto,
the principal amount of Designated Securities set forth opposite the name of
such Underwriter in Schedule I hereto.
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please sign and
return to us __ counterparts hereof, and upon acceptance hereof by you, on
behalf of each of the Underwriters, this letter and such acceptance hereof,
including the provisions of the Underwriting Agreement incorporated herein by
reference, shall constitute a binding agreement between each of the Underwriters
and the Company. It is understood that your acceptance of this letter on behalf
of each of the Underwriters is or will be pursuant to the authority set forth in
a form of Agreement among Underwriters, the form of which shall be submitted to
the Company for examination upon request, but without warranty on the part of
the Representatives as to the authority of the signers thereof.
Very truly yours,
<PAGE>
The Kroger Co.
By:
-----------------------------------
Name:
Title:
Accepted as of the date hereof:
[Name(s) of Co-Representative(s)]
On behalf of each of the Underwriters
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<PAGE>
SCHEDULE I
Principal
Amount of
Designated
Securities
to be
Underwriter Purchased
----------- ----------
[Name(s) of Co-Representative(s)................................. $
[Names of other Underwriters]....................................
----------
Total.................................... $
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<PAGE>
SCHEDULE II
Title of Designated Securities:
[ %] [Floating Rate] [Zero Coupon] [Notes]
[Debentures] due
Aggregate principal amount:
[$]
Price to Public:
% of the principal amount of the Designated Securities, plus accrued
interest from to
[and accrued amortization, if any, from to ]
Purchase Price by Underwriters:
% of the principal amount of the Designated Securities, plus accrued
interest from to
[and accrued amortization, if any, from to ]
Specified funds for payment of purchase price:
[New York] Clearing House funds
Indenture:
Indenture dated , 19 , between the Company and , as Trustee
Maturity:
Interest Rate:
[ %] [Zero Coupon] [See Floating Rate Provisions]
Interest Payment Dates:
[months and dates]
Redemption Provisions:
[No provisions for redemption]
[The Designated Securities may be redeemed, otherwise than through the
sinking fund, in whole or in part at the option of the Company, in the amount
of [$] or an integral multiple thereof,
[on or after , at the following redemption prices
(expressed in percentages of principal amount). If [redeemed on or before
, %, and if] redeemed during the 12-month period beginning
,
Redemption
Year Price
---- ----------
and thereafter at 100% of their principal amount, together in each case with
accrued interest to the redemption date.]
-4-
<PAGE>
[on any interest payment date falling in or after , at the
election of the Company, at a redemption price equal to the principal amount
thereof, plus accrued interest to the date of redemption.]
[Other possible redemption provisions, such as mandatory redemption upon
occurrence of certain events or redemption for changes in tax law]
[Restriction on refunding]
Sinking Fund Provisions:
[No sinking fund provisions]
[The Designated Securities are entitled to the benefit of a sinking fund to
retire [$] principal amount of Designated Securities on
in each of the years through at 100% of their principal
amount plus accrued interest] [,together with [cumulative] [noncumulative]
redemptions at the option of the Company to retire an additional [$]
principal amount of Designated Securities in the years through
at 100% of their principal amount plus accrued interest].
[If Securities are extendable debt Securities, insert --
Extendable provisions:
Securities are repayable on , [insert date and years],
at the option of the holder, at their principal amount with accrued interest.
Initial annual interest rate will be %, and thereafter annual interest
rate will be adjusted on , and to a rate not less than
% of the effective annual interest rate on U.S. Treasury obligations with
-year maturities as of the [insert date 15 days prior to maturity date] prior
to such [insert maturity date].]
[If Securities are Floating Rate debt Securities, insert --
Floating rate provisions:
Initial annual interest rate will be % through [and thereafter
will be adjusted [monthly] [on each , , and
] [to an annual rate of % above the average rate for -year
[month] [securities] [certificates of deposit] issued by and
[insert names of banks].] [and the annual interest rate [thereafter] [from
through ] will be the interest yield equivalent of the weekly average
per annum market discount rate for -month Treasury bills plus
% of Interest Differential (the excess, if any, of (i) then current weekly
average per annum secondary market yield for -month certificates of
deposit over (ii) then current interest yield equivalent of the weekly
average per annum market discount rate for -month Treasury bills);
[from and thereafter the rate will be the then current interest
yield equivalent plus % of Interest Differential].]
Defeasance provisions:
Time of Delivery:
-5-
<PAGE>
Closing Location:
Names and addresses of Representatives:
Designated Representatives:
Address for Notices, etc.:
[Other Terms]:
-6-
<PAGE>
ANNEX II
Pursuant to Section 7 (d) of the Underwriting Agreement, the accountants
shall furnish letters to the Underwriters to the effect that:
(i) They are independent certified public accountants with respect
to the Company and its subsidiaries within the meaning of the Act and the
applicable published rules and regulations thereunder;
(ii) In their opinion, the financial statements and any
supplementary financial information and schedules audited (and, if
applicable, prospective financial statements and/or pro forma financial
information examined) by them and included or incorporated by reference in
the Registration Statement or the Prospectus comply as to form in all
material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act or
the Exchange Act, as applicable, and the related published rules and
regulations thereunder; and, if applicable, they have made a review in
accordance with standards established by the American Institute of
Certified Public Accountants of the consolidated interim financial
statements, selected financial data, pro forma financial information,
prospective financial statements and/or condensed financial statements
derived from audited financial statements of the Company for the periods
specified in such letter, as indicated in their reports thereon, copies of
which have been furnished to the representatives of the Underwriters (the
"Representatives");
(iii) The unaudited selected financial information with respect to
the consolidated results of operations and financial position of the
Company for the five most recent fiscal years included in the Prospectus
and included or incorporated by reference in Item 6 of the Company's Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the most recent fiscal year agrees with the
corresponding amounts (after restatement where applicable) in the audited
consolidated financial statements for five such fiscal years which were
included or incorporated by reference in the Company's Annual Reports on
Form 10-K for such fiscal years;
(iv) On the basis of limited procedures, not constituting an audit
in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, consisting of a
reading of the unaudited financial statements and other information
referred to below, a reading of the latest available interim financial
statements of the Company and its subsidiaries, inspection of the minute
books of the Company and its subsidiaries since the date of the latest
audited financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the
Prospectus, inquiries of officials of the Company and its subsidiaries
responsible for financial and accounting matters and such other inquiries
and procedures as may be specified in such letter, nothing came to their
attention that caused them to believe that:
(A) the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of income,
consolidated balance sheets and consolidated statements of cash flows
included or incorporated by reference in the Company's Quarterly Reports on
Form 10-Q incorporated by reference in the Prospectus do not comply as to
form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements
of the Exchange Act as it applies to Form 10-Q and the related published
rules and regulations thereunder or are not in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles applied on a basis substantially consistent
with the basis for the audited consolidated statements of income,
consolidated balance sheets and consolidated statements of cash flows
included or incorporated by reference in the Company's Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the most recent fiscal year;
(B) any other unaudited income statement data and balance sheet items
included in the Prospectus do not agree with the corresponding items in the
unaudited consolidated financial statements from which such data and items
were derived, and any such unaudited data and items were not determined on
a basis substantially consistent with the basis for the corresponding
amounts in the audited consolidated financial statements included or
incorporated by reference in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the most recent fiscal year;
(C) the unaudited financial statements which were not included in the
Prospectus but from which were derived the unaudited condensed financial
statements referred to in clause (A) and any unaudited income statement
data and balance sheet items included in the Prospectus and referred to in
Clause (B) were not determined on a basis substantially consistent with the
basis for the audited financial statements included or incorporated by
reference in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the most recent
fiscal year;
(D) any unaudited pro forma consolidated condensed financial
statements included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus do not
comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting
requirements of the Act and the published rules and regulations thereunder
or the pro forma adjustments have not been properly applied to the
historical amounts in the compilation of those statements;
<PAGE>
(E) as of a specified date not more than five days prior to the date
of such letter, there have been any changes in the consolidated capital
stock (other than issuances of capital stock upon exercise of options and
stock appreciation rights, upon earn-outs of performance shares and upon
conversions of convertible securities, in each case which were outstanding
on the date of the latest balance sheet included or incorporated by
reference in the Prospectus, and sales of capital stock to employee benefit
plans of the Company) or any increase in the consolidated long-term debt of
the Company and its subsidiaries, or any decreases in consolidated net
current assets or net assets or other items specified by the
Representatives, or any increases in any items specified by the
Representatives, in each case as compared with amounts shown in the latest
balance sheet included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus,
except in each case for changes, increases or decreases which the
Prospectus discloses have occurred or may occur or which are described in
such letter; and
(F) for the period from the date of the latest financial statements
included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus to the specified
date referred to in Clause (E) there were any decreases in consolidated net
revenues or operating profit or the total or per share amounts of
consolidated net income or other items specified by the Representatives, or
any increases in any items specified by the Representatives, in each case
as compared with the comparable period of the preceding year and with any
other period of corresponding length specified by the Representatives,
except in each case for increases or decreases which the Prospectus
discloses have occurred or may occur or which are described in such letter;
and
(v) In addition to the audit referred to in their report(s) included
or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus and the limited procedures,
inspection of minute books, inquiries and other procedures referred to in
paragraphs (iii) and (iv) above, they have carried out certain specified
procedures, not constituting an audit in accordance with generally accepted
auditing standards, with respect to certain amounts, percentages and
financial information specified by the Representatives, which are derived
from the general accounting records of the Company and its subsidiaries,
which appear in the Prospectus (excluding documents incorporated by
reference), or in Part II of, or in exhibits and schedules to, the
Registration Statement specified by the Representatives or in documents
incorporated by reference in the Prospectus specified by the
Representatives, and have compared certain of such amounts, percentages and
financial information with the accounting records of the Company and its
subsidiaries and have found them to be in agreement.
All references in this Annex II to the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer
to the Prospectus (including the documents incorporated by reference therein) as
defined in the Underwriting Agreement as of the date of the letter delivered on
the date of the Pricing Agreement for purposes of such letter and to the
Prospectus as amended or supplemented (including the documents incorporated by
reference therein) in relation to the applicable Designated Securities for
purposes of the letter delivered at the Time of Delivery for such Designated
Securities.
<PAGE>
Exhibit 4.3
===============================================================================
THE KROGER CO.
TO
---------------------------
Trustee
---------------
INDENTURE
Dated as of
-----------
---------------
SENIOR DEBT SECURITIES
===============================================================================
<PAGE>
THE KROGER CO.
Certain Sections of this Indenture relating to
Sections 310 through 318, inclusive, of the
Trust Indenture Act of 1939:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Trust Indenture
Act Section Indenture Section
<S> <C>
(S) 310(a)(1) ............................................. 609
(a)(2) ............................................. 609
(a)(3) ............................................. Not Applicable
(a)(4) ............................................. Not Applicable
(b) ............................................. 608
610
(S) 311(a) ............................................. 613
(b) ............................................. 613
(S) 312(a) ............................................. 701
702(a)
(b) ............................................. 702(b)
(c) ............................................. 702(c)
(S) 313(a) ............................................. 703(a)
(b) ............................................. 703(a)
(c) ............................................. 703(a)
(d) ............................................. 703(b)
(S) 314(a) ............................................. 704
(a)(4) ............................................. 101
1004
(b) ............................................. Not Applicable
(c)(1) ............................................. 102
(c)(2) ............................................. 102
(c)(3) ............................................. Not Applicable
(d) ............................................. Not Applicable
(e) ............................................. 102
(S) 315(a) ............................................. 601
(b) ............................................. 602
(c) ............................................. 601
(d) ............................................. 601
(e) ............................................. 514
(S) 316(a) ............................................. 101
(a)(1)(A)............................................. 502
512
(a)(1)(B)............................................. 513
(a)(2) ............................................. Not Applicable
(b) ............................................. 508
(c) ............................................. 104(c)
(S) 317(a)(1) ............................................. 503
(a)(2) ............................................. 504
(b) ............................................. 1003
(S) 318(a) ............................................. 107
</TABLE>
- --------------------
NOTE: This reconciliation and tie shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a
part of the Indenture.
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
__________
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Page
----
<C> <S> <C>
PARTIES..................................................................... 1
RECITALS OF THE COMPANY..................................................... 1
ARTICLE ONE
-----------
DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION
Section 101. Definitions................................................. 1
Act......................................................... 2
Administrative Agents....................................... 2
Affiliate; control.......................................... 2
Authenticating Agent........................................ 2
Bank Agreement.............................................. 2
Board of Directors.......................................... 3
Board Resolution............................................ 3
Business Day................................................ 3
Capital Stock............................................... 3
Commission.................................................. 3
Company..................................................... 3
Company Request; Company Order.............................. 3
Corporate Trust Office...................................... 3
corporation................................................. 4
Defaulted Interest.......................................... 4
Depositary.................................................. 4
Event of Default............................................ 4
Exchange Act................................................ 4
Global Security............................................. 4
Holder...................................................... 4
Indebtedness................................................ 4
Indenture................................................... 5
interest.................................................... 5
Interest Payment Date....................................... 5
Lien........................................................ 5
Maturity.................................................... 5
Officers' Certificate....................................... 5
Opinion of Counsel.......................................... 6
Original Issue Discount Security............................ 6
Outstanding................................................. 6
Paying Agent................................................ 7
Person...................................................... 7
Place of Payment............................................ 7
Predecessor Security........................................ 7
Redemption Date............................................. 8
Redemption Price............................................ 8
Regular Record Date......................................... 8
</TABLE>
- ---------------
NOTE: This table of contents shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a part
of the Indenture.
<PAGE>
-ii-
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Page
----
<C> <S> <C>
Securities.................................................. 8
Security Register and Security Registrar.................... 8
Special Record Date......................................... 8
Stated Maturity............................................. 8
Subsidiary.................................................. 8
Trustee..................................................... 8
Trust Indenture Act......................................... 9
Vice President.............................................. 9
Wholly-owned Subsidiary..................................... 9
Section 102. Compliance Certificates and Opinions........................ 9
Section 103. Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee...................... 10
Section 104. Acts of Holders; Record Dates............................... 10
Section 105. Notices, Etc., to Trustee and Company....................... 12
Section 106. Notice to Holders; Waiver................................... 13
Section 107. Conflict with Trust Indenture Act........................... 13
Section 108. Effect of Headings and Table of Contents.................... 13
Section 109. Successors and Assigns...................................... 14
Section 110. Separability Clause......................................... 14
Section 111. Benefits of Indenture....................................... 14
Section 112. Governing Law............................................... 14
Section 113. Legal Holidays.............................................. 14
ARTICLE TWO
-----------
SECURITY FORMS
Section 201. Forms Generally............................................. 15
Section 202. Form of Face of Security.................................... 15
Section 203. Form of Reverse of Security................................. 17
Section 204. Form of Legend for Global Securities........................ 22
Section 205. Form of Trustee's Certificate of Authentication............. 23
ARTICLE THREE
-------------
THE SECURITIES
Section 301. Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series........................ 23
Section 302. Denominations............................................... 27
Section 303. Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating.............. 27
Section 304. Temporary Securities........................................ 29
Section 305. Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange......... 29
Section 306. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen
</TABLE>
- ---------------
NOTE: This table of contents shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a part
of the Indenture.
<PAGE>
-iii-
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Page
----
<C> <S> <C>
Securities................................................. 31
Section 307. Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved.............. 32
Section 308. Persons Deemed Owners....................................... 34
Section 309. Cancellation................................................ 34
Section 310. Computation of Interest..................................... 35
ARTICLE FOUR
------------
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE
Section 401. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture..................... 35
Section 402. Application of Trust Money.................................. 36
ARTICLE FIVE
------------
REMEDIES
Section 501. Events of Default........................................... 37
Section 502. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.......... 39
Section 503. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by
Trustee.................................................... 41
Section 504. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim............................ 41
Section 505. Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities. 42
Section 506. Application of Money Collected.............................. 42
Section 507. Limitation on Suits......................................... 43
Section 508. Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium
and Interest............................................... 44
Section 509. Restoration of Rights and Remedies.......................... 44
Section 510. Rights and Remedies Cumulative.............................. 44
Section 511. Delay or Omission Not Waiver................................ 44
Section 512. Control by Holders.......................................... 45
Section 513. Waiver of Past Defaults..................................... 45
Section 514. Undertaking for Costs....................................... 45
Section 515. Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws..................... 46
ARTICLE SIX
-----------
THE TRUSTEE
Section 601. Certain Duties and Responsibilities......................... 46
Section 602. Notice of Defaults.......................................... 46
Section 603. Certain Rights of Trustee................................... 47
Section 604. Not Responsible for Recitals or
</TABLE>
- ---------------
NOTE: This table of contents shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a part
of the Indenture.
<PAGE>
-iv-
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Page
----
<C> <S> <C>
Issuance of Securities..................................... 48
Section 605. May Hold Securities......................................... 49
Section 606. Money Held in Trust......................................... 49
Section 607. Compensation and Reimbursement.............................. 49
Section 608. Disqualification; Conflicting Interests..................... 50
Section 609. Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility..................... 50
Section 610. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor........... 50
Section 611. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor...................... 52
Section 612. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business. 54
Section 613. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company........... 54
Section 614. Appointment of Authenticating Agent......................... 54
ARTICLE SEVEN
-------------
HOLDERS' LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY
Section 701. Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders... 56
Section 702. Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders...... 57
Section 703. Reports by Trustee.......................................... 57
Section 704. Reports by Company.......................................... 58
ARTICLE EIGHT
-------------
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE
Section 801. Company and Subsidiaries May Consolidate, Etc., Only on
Certain Terms.............................................. 58
Section 802. Successor Substituted....................................... 58
ARTICLE NINE
------------
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES
Section 901. Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders.......... 59
Section 902. Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders............. 60
Section 903. Execution of Supplemental Indentures........................ 62
Section 904. Effect of Supplemental Indentures........................... 62
</TABLE>
- ---------------
NOTE: This table of contents shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a part
of the Indenture.
<PAGE>
-v-
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Page
----
<C> <S> <C>
Section 905. Conformity with Trust Indenture Act......................... 62
Section 906. Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures.......... 62
ARTICLE TEN
-----------
COVENANTS
Section 1001. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest.................. 63
Section 1002. Maintenance of Office or Agency............................. 63
Section 1003. Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust........... 64
Section 1004. Statement by Officers as to Default......................... 65
Section 1005. Existence................................................... 65
Section 1006. Maintenance of Properties................................... 66
Section 1007. Payment of Taxes and Other Claims........................... 66
Section 1008. Waiver of Certain Covenants................................. 66
ARTICLE ELEVEN
--------------
REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES
Section 1101. Applicability of Article.................................... 67
Section 1102. Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee....................... 67
Section 1103. Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed........... 67
Section 1104. Notice of Redemption........................................ 68
Section 1105. Deposit of Redemption Price................................. 69
Section 1106. Securities Payable on Redemption Date....................... 69
Section 1107. Securities Redeemed in Part................................. 69
ARTICLE TWELVE
--------------
SINKING FUNDS
Section 1201. Applicability of Article.................................... 70
Section 1202. Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities....... 70
Section 1203. Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund................... 71
TESTIMONIUM................................................................. 72
SIGNATURES AND SEALS........................................................ 72
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS............................................................. 73
</TABLE>
- ---------------
NOTE: This table of contents shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a part
of the Indenture.
<PAGE>
INDENTURE, dated as of _________, 19__, between The Kroger Co., a
corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Ohio
(herein called the "Company"), having its principal office at 1014 Vine Street,
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202, and ______________________________, a
____________________________duly organized and existing under the laws of
________, as Trustee (herein called the "Trustee").
RECITALS OF THE COMPANY
The Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this
Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of its unsecured
debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness (herein called the
"Securities"), to be issued in one or more series as in this Indenture provided.
All things necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement of the
Company, in accordance with its terms, have been done.
NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:
For and in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the
Securities by the Holders thereof, it is mutually agreed, for the equal and
proportionate benefit of all Holders of the Securities or of series thereof, as
follows:
ARTICLE ONE
Definitions and Other Provisions
of General Application
Section
101 Definitions.
-----------
For all purposes of this Indenture, except as otherwise expressly
provided or unless the context otherwise requires:
(1) the terms defined in this Article have the meanings assigned to
them in this Article and include the plural as well as the singular;
(2) all other terms used herein which are defined in the Trust
Indenture Act, either directly or by reference therein, have the meanings
assigned to them therein;
<PAGE>
(3) all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the
meanings assigned to them in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles, and, except as otherwise herein expressly provided, the term
"generally accepted accounting principles" with respect to any computation
required or permitted hereunder shall mean such accounting principles as
are generally accepted and applied by the Company on March 22, 1997; and
(4) 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 sub division.
"Act", when used with respect to any Holder, has the meaning specified
in Section 104.
"Administrative Agents" means Citibank, N.A. and The Chase Manhattan
Bank, as Administrative Agents under the Bank Agreement, and, upon notice to the
Company and the Trustee, any successors thereto under the Bank Agreement.
"Affiliate" of any specified Person means any other Person directly or
indirectly controlling or con trolled by or under direct or indirect common
control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition,
"control" when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to
direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly,
whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise;
and the terms "controlling" and "controlled" have meanings correlative to the
foregoing.
"Authenticating Agent" means any Person authorized by the Trustee
pursuant to Section 614 to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate
Securities of one or more series.
"Bank Agreement" means the 364-Day Credit Agreement and the Five-Year
Credit Agreement, both dated as of May 28, 1997, among the Company, the Lenders
named therein, the Administrative Agents, and the Syndication Agent and
Documentation Agent named therein, as such Agreement (including, without
limitation, any "Loan Documents" (as defined in the Bank Agreement)) has been or
may be amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from
time to time, and includes any
-2-
<PAGE>
agreement extending the maturity of, refinancing or otherwise restructuring
(including, but not limited to, the inclusion of additional borrowers thereunder
that are Subsidiaries of the Company) all or any portion of the Obligations
under such Agreement or any successor agreement.
"Board of Directors" means either the board of directors of the
Company or any duly authorized committee of that board.
"Board Resolution" means a copy of a resolution certified by the
Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been duly adopted by
the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of such
certification, and delivered to the Trustee.
"Business Day", when used with respect to any Place of Payment, means
each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is not a day on which
banking institutions in that Place of Payment are authorized or obligated by law
or executive order to close.
"Capital Stock" means any and all shares, interests, participations,
warrants, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock.
"Commission" means 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.
"Company" means the Person named as the "Company" in the first
paragraph of this instrument until a successor Person shall have become such
pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter
"Company" shall mean such successor Person.
"Company Request" or "Company Order" means a writ ten request or order
signed in the name of the Company by its Chairman of the Board, its Vice
Chairman of the Board, its President or a Vice President, and by its Treasurer,
an Assistant Treasurer, its Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, and delivered
to the Trustee.
"Corporate Trust Office" means the principal office of the Trustee in
______________________________________________________________ at which at any
particular time its corporate trust business shall be administered.
-3-
<PAGE>
"corporation" means a corporation, association, company, joint-stock
company or business trust.
"Defaulted Interest" has the meaning specified in Section 307.
"Depositary" means, with respect to the Securities of any series
issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, the
clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act specified for that purpose as
contemplated by Section 301.
"Event of Default" has the meaning specified in Section 501.
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as it may be
amended and any successor act thereto.
"Global Security" means a Security bearing the legend specified in
Section 204 evidencing all or part of a series of Securities, authenticated and
delivered to the Depositary for such series or its nominee, and registered in
the name of such Depositary or nominee.
"Holder" means a Person in whose name a Security is registered in the
Security Register.
"Indebtedness" means (without duplication), with respect to any
Person, (i) every obligation of such Person for money borrowed, (ii) every
obligation of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar
instruments, (iii) every obligation of such Person issued or assumed as the
deferred purchase price of property, every conditional sale obligation and every
obligation under any title retention agreement, in each case if on terms
permitting any portion of the purchase price to be paid beyond one year from the
date of purchase (but excluding trade accounts payable arising in the ordinary
course of business which are not overdue by more than 90 days or which are being
contested in good faith), (iv) every obligation of such Person issued or
contracted for as payment in consideration of the purchase by such Person or an
Affiliate of such Person of the Capital Stock or substantially all of the assets
of another Person or a merger or consolidation to which such Person or an
Affiliate of such Person was a party, (v) every obligation of the type referred
to in clauses (i) through (iv) of other Persons and all dividends of other
Persons for the payment of which, in either case, such Person is responsible or
liable, directly or indirectly, as obligor, guarantor or otherwise, and (vi)
every obligation of the type referred to in clauses (i)
-4-
<PAGE>
through (v) of other Persons secured by any Lien on any property or asset of
such Person (whether or not such obligation is assumed by such Person), the
amount of such obligation being deemed to be the lesser of the value of such
property or assets or the amount of the obligation so secured. "Indebtedness,"
however, does not include any obligation of any Person under any interest rate
swap, cap, collar or similar arrangement.
"Indenture" means this instrument as originally executed or as it may
from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures
supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof,
including, for all purposes of this instrument, and any such supplemental
indenture, the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are deemed to be a
part of and govern this instrument and any such supplemental indenture,
respectively. The term "Indenture" shall also include the terms of particular
series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 301.
"interest", when used with respect to an Original Issue Discount
Security which by its terms bears interest only after Maturity, means interest
payable after Maturity.
"Interest Payment Date", when used with respect to any Security, means
the Stated Maturity of an instalment of interest on such Security.
"Lien" means, with respect to any property or asset, any mortgage or
deed of trust, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, security
interest, lien, charge, easement (other than any easement not materially
impairing usefulness or marketability), encumbrance, preference, priority or
other security agreement or preferential arrangement of any kind or nature
whatsoever on or with respect to such property or asset (including, without
limitation, any conditional sale or other title retention agreement having
substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing).
"Maturity", when used with respect to any Security, means the date on
which the principal of such Security or an instalment of principal becomes due
and payable as therein or herein provided, whether at the Stated Maturity or by
declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise.
"Officers' Certificate" means a certificate signed by the Chairman of
the Board, a Vice Chairman of the Board, the President or a Vice President, and
by the Treasurer, an
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<PAGE>
Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, of the Company,
and delivered to the Trustee. One of the officers signing an Officers'
Certificate given pursuant to Section 1004 shall be the principal executive,
financial or accounting officer of the Company.
"Opinion of Counsel" means a written opinion of counsel, who may be an
employee of the Company or counsel for the Company, and who shall be acceptable
to the Trustee.
"Original Issue Discount Security" means any Security which provides
for an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon
a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502.
"Outstanding", when used with respect to Securities, means, as of the
date of determination, all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered
under this Indenture, except:
(i) Securities theretofore cancelled by the Trustee or delivered to
the Trustee for cancellation;
(ii) Securities for whose payment or redemption money in the
necessary amount has been theretofore deposited with the Trustee or any
Paying Agent (other than the Company) in trust or set aside and segregated
in trust by the Company (if the Company shall act as its own Paying Agent)
for the Holders of such Securities; provided that, if such Securities are
to be redeemed, notice of such redemption has been duly given pursuant to
this Indenture or provision therefor satisfactory to the Trustee has been
made; and
(iii) Securities which have been paid pursuant to Section 306 or in
exchange for or in lieu of which other Securities have been authenticated
and delivered pursuant to this Indenture, other than any such Securities in
respect of which there shall have been presented to the Trustee proof
satisfactory to it that such Securities are held by a bona fide purchaser
in whose hands such Securities are valid obligations of the Company;
provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite
principal amount of the Outstanding
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<PAGE>
Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice,
consent or waiver hereunder, (i) the principal amount of an Original Issue
Discount Security that shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the amount of
the principal thereof that would be due and payable as of the date of such
determination upon acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502,
(ii) the principal amount of a Security denominated in one or more foreign
currencies or currency units shall be the U.S. dollar equivalent, determined in
the manner provided as contemplated by Section 301 on the date of original
issuance of such Security, of the principal amount (or, in the case of an
Original Issue Discount Security, the U.S. dollar equivalent on the date of
original issuance of such Security of the amount determined as provided in (i)
above) of such Security, and (iii) Securities owned by the Company or any other
obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other
obligor shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in
determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such
request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, only
Securities which the Trustee knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded.
Securities so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as
Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the
pledgee's right so to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee
is not the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of
the Company or of such other obligor.
"Paying Agent" means any Person authorized by the Company to pay the
principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities on behalf of the
Company.
"Person" means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint
venture, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or
political subdivision thereof.
"Place of Payment", when used with respect to the Securities of any
series, means the place or places where the principal of and any premium and
interest on the Securities of that series are payable as specified as
contemplated by Section 301.
"Predecessor Security" of any particular Security means every previous
Security evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such
particular Security; and, for the purposes of this definition, any Security
authenticated and delivered under Section 306 in exchange for or in lieu of a
mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen
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<PAGE>
Security shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the mutilated, destroyed,
lost or stolen Security.
"Redemption Date", when used with respect to any Security to be
redeemed, means the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this
Indenture.
"Redemption Price", when used with respect to any Security to be
redeemed, means the price at which it is to be redeemed pursuant to this
Indenture.
"Regular Record Date" for the interest payable on any Interest Payment
Date on the Securities of any series means the date specified for that purpose
as contemplated by Section 301.
"Securities" has the meaning stated in the first recital of this
Indenture and more particularly means any Securities authenticated and delivered
under this Indenture.
"Security Register" and "Security Registrar" have the respective
meanings specified in Section 305.
"Special Record Date" for the payment of any Defaulted Interest means
a date fixed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 307.
"Stated Maturity", when used with respect to any Security or any
instalment of principal thereof or interest thereon, means the date specified in
such Security as the fixed date on which the principal of such Security or such
instalment of principal or interest is due and payable.
"Subsidiary" means a corporation more than 50% of the outstanding
voting stock of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company or by one
or more other Subsidiaries, or by the Company and one or more other
Subsidiaries. For the purposes of this definition, "voting stock" means stock
which ordinarily has voting power for the election of directors, whether at all
times or only so long as no senior class of stock has such voting power by
reason of any contingency.
"Trustee" means the Person named as the "Trustee" in the first
paragraph of this instrument until a successor Trustee shall have become such
pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter
"Trustee" shall mean or include each Person who is then a Trustee hereunder, and
if at any time there is more than one such Person, "Trustee" as used with
respect to the Securities of any
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<PAGE>
series shall mean the Trustee with respect to Securities of that series.
"Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as in
force at the date as of which this instrument was executed; provided, however,
that in the event the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is amended after such date,
"Trust Indenture Act" means, to the extent required by any such amendment, the
Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as so amended.
"Vice President", when used with respect to the Company or the
Trustee, means any vice president, whether or not designated by a number or a
word or words added before or after the title "vice president".
"Wholly-owned Subsidiary" means a Subsidiary, all of the outstanding
Capital Stock of which (other than directors' qualifying shares) shall at the
time be owned by the Company or by one or more Wholly-owned Subsidiaries or by
the Company and one or more Wholly-owned Subsidiaries.
Section 102. Compliance Certificates and Opinions.
Upon any application or request by the Company to the Trustee to take
any action under any provision of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to
the Trustee such certificates and opinions as may be required under the Trust
Indenture Act. Each such certificate or opinion shall be given in the form of an
Officers' Certificate, if to be given by an officer of the Company, or an
Opinion of Counsel, if to be given by counsel, and shall comply with the
requirements of the Trust Indenture Act and any other requirements set forth in
this Indenture.
Every certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a
condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture shall include
(1) a statement that each individual signing such certificate or
opinion has read such covenant or condition and the definitions herein
relating thereto;
(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;
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<PAGE>
(3) a statement that, in the opinion of each such individual, he has
made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to
express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition
has been complied with; and
(4) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such individual,
such condition or covenant has been complied with.
Section 103. Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee.
In any case where several matters are required to be certified by, or
covered by an opinion of, any specified Person, it is not necessary that all
such matters be certified by, or covered by the opinion of, only one such
Person, or that they be so certified or covered by only one document, but one
such Person may certify or give an opinion with respect to some matters and one
or more other such Persons as to other matters, and any such Person may certify
or give an opinion as to such matters in one or several documents.
Any certificate or opinion of an officer of the Company may be based,
insofar as it relates to legal mat ters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or
representations by, counsel, unless such officer knows, or in the exercise of
reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations
with respect to the matters upon which his certificate or opinion is based are
erroneous. Any such certificate or opinion of counsel may be based, insofar as
it relates to factual matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or
representations by, an officer or officers of the Company stating that the
information with respect to such factual matters is in the possession of the
Company, unless such counsel knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should
know, that the certificate or opinion or repre sentations with respect to such
matters are erroneous.
Where any Person is required to make, give or execute two or more
applications, requests, consents, certificates, statements, opinions or other
instruments under this Indenture, they may, but need not, be consolidated and
form one instrument.
Section 104. Acts of Holders; Record Dates.
(a) Any request, demand, authorization, direc tion, notice, consent,
waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by
Holders may be
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<PAGE>
embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar
tenor signed by such Holders in person or by agent duly appointed in writing;
and, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become
effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered to the Trustee and,
where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company. Such instrument or
instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein
sometimes referred to as the "Act" of the Holders signing such instrument or
instruments. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing
appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture
and (subject to Section 601) conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Company,
if made in the manner provided in this Section.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, a Holder, including
a Depositary that is a Holder of a Global Security, may make, give or take, by a
proxy, or proxies, duly appointed in writing, any request, demand,
authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided in
this Indenture to be made, given or taken by Holders, and a Depositary that is a
Holder of a Global Security may provide its proxy or proxies to the beneficial
owners of interests in any such Global Security.
(b) The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such
instrument or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness of such
execution or by a certificate of a notary public or other officer authorized by
law to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual signing
such instrument or writing acknowledged to him the execution thereof. Where such
execution is by a signer acting in a capacity other than his individual
capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof
of his authority. The fact and date of the execution of any such instrument or
writing, or the authority of the Person executing the same, may also be proved
in any other manner which the Trustee deems sufficient.
(c) The Company may, in the circumstances permitted by the Trust
Indenture Act, and to the extent required by this Indenture shall, fix any day
as the record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of Securities of
any series entitled to give or take any request, demand, authorization,
direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, or to vote on any action,
authorized or permitted to be given or taken by Holders of Securities of such
series; provided, however, that in no event may the Company set a record date
for the purpose of determining the Holders of
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<PAGE>
the Securities entitled to give or take any request, demand, authorization,
direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action pursuant to Section 501, 502
(other than the second paragraph thereof), 507 or 512. Except as otherwise
provided herein, if not set by the Company prior to the first solicitation of a
Holder of Securities of such series made by any Person in respect of any such
action, or, in the case of any such vote, prior to such vote, the record date
for any such action or vote shall be the 30th day (or, if later, the date of the
most recent list of Holders required to be provided pursuant to Section 701)
prior to such first solicitation or vote, as the case may be. With regard to any
record date for action to be given or taken or voted upon by the Holders of one
or more series of Securities, only the Holders of Securities of such series on
such date (or their duly designated proxies) shall be entitled to give or take,
or vote on, the relevant action.
(d) The ownership of Securities shall be proved by the Security
Register.
(e) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent,
waiver or other Act of the Holder of any Security shall bind every future Holder
of the same Security and the Holder of every Security issued upon the
registration of transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof in
respect of anything done, omitted or suffered to be done by the Trustee or the
Company in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such action is made upon
such Security.
Section 105. Notices, Etc., to Trustee and Company.
Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver
or Act of Holders or other document provided or permitted by this Indenture to
be made upon, given or furnished to, or filed with,
(1) the Trustee by any Holder or by the Company shall be sufficient
for every purpose hereunder if made, given, furnished or filed in writing
to or with the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office, Attention:
................., or
(2) the Company by the Trustee or by any Holder shall be sufficient
for every purpose hereunder (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if
in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to the Company
addressed to it at the address of its
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<PAGE>
principal office specified in the first paragraph of this instrument or at
any other address previously furnished in writing to the Trustee by the
Company.
Section 106. Notice to Holders; Waiver.
Where this Indenture provides for notice to Holders of any event, such
notice shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein expressly provided)
if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder affected
by such event, at his address as it appears in the Security Register, not later
than the latest date (if any), and not earlier than the earliest date (if any),
prescribed for the giving of such notice. In any case where notice to Holders is
given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any
notice so mailed, to any particular Holder shall affect the sufficiency of such
notice with respect to other Holders. Where this Indenture provides for notice
in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to
receive such notice, either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be
the equivalent of such notice. Waivers of notice by Holders shall be filed with
the Trustee, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity
of any action taken in reliance upon such waiver.
In case by reason of the suspension of regular mail service or by
reason of any other cause it shall be impracticable to give such notice by mail,
then such notification as shall be made with the approval of the Trustee shall
constitute a sufficient notification for every purpose hereunder.
Section 107. Conflict with Trust Indenture Act.
If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with a
provision of the Trust Indenture Act that is required under such Act to be a
part of and govern this Indenture, the latter provision shall control. If any
provision of this Indenture modifies or excludes any provision of the Trust
Indenture Act that may be so modified or excluded, the latter provision shall be
deemed to apply to this Indenture as so modified or to be excluded.
Section 108. Effect of Headings and Table of Contents.
The Article and Section headings herein and the Table of Contents are
for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.
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<PAGE>
Section 109. Successors and Assigns.
All covenants and agreements in this Indenture by the Company shall
bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.
Section 110. Separability Clause.
In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Securities shall be
invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of
the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
Section 111. Benefits of Indenture.
Nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities, express or implied,
shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto and their successors
hereunder and the Holders, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy
or claim under this Indenture.
Section 112. Governing Law.
This Indenture and the Securities shall be governed by and construed
in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
Section 113. Legal Holidays.
In any case where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated
Maturity of any Security shall not be a Business Day at any Place of Payment,
then (notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or of the Securities
(other than a provision of the Securities of any series which specifically
states that such provision shall apply in lieu of this Section)) payment of
interest or principal (and premium, if any) need not be made at such Place of
Payment on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day at
such Place of Payment with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest
Payment Date or Redemption Date, or at the Stated Maturity, provided that no
interest shall accrue for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date,
Redemption Date or Stated Maturity, as the case may be.
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<PAGE>
ARTICLE TWO
Security Forms
Section 201. Forms Generally.
---------------
The Securities of each series shall be in substantially the form set
forth in this Article, or in such other form as shall be established by or
pursuant to a Board Resolution or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto,
in each case with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and
other variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture, and may have
such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or
endorsements placed thereon as may be required to comply with the rules of any
securities exchange or as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the
officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution of the
Securities. If the form of Securities of any series is established by action
taken pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such
action shall be certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the
Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Company
Order contemplated by Section 303 for the authentication and delivery of such
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 executing such Securities, as evidenced by their
execution of such Securities.
Section 202. Form of Face of Security.
------------------------
[Insert any legend required by the Internal Revenue Code and the
---------------------------------------------------------------
regulations thereunder.]
- -----------------------
THE KROGER CO.
............................................
No. ......... $ ........
The Kroger Co., a corporation duly organized and existing under the
laws of the State of Ohio (herein called the "Company", which term includes any
successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value
received, hereby promises to pay to ...........................................,
or registered assigns, the principal sum of ...................................
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............................ Dollars on .....................................
.................. [if the Security is to bear interest prior to Maturity,
insert -- , and to pay interest thereon from ............. or from the most
recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided
for, semi-annually on ............ and ............ in each year, commencing
........., at the rate of ....% per annum, until the principal hereof is paid or
made available for payment [if applicable, insert -- , and at the rate of ....%
per annum on any overdue principal and premium and on any overdue instalment of
interest]. The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on
any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in such Indenture, be paid to the
Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is
registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such
interest, which shall be the ....... or ....... (whether or not a Business Day),
as the case may be, next preceding such Interest Payment Date. Any such interest
not so punctually paid or duly provided for will forthwith cease to be payable
to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person
in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is
registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of
such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be
given to Holders of Securities of this series not less than 10 days prior to
such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not
inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the
Securities of this series may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required
by such exchange, all as more fully provided in said Indenture].
[If the Security is not to bear interest prior to Maturity, insert --
The principal of this Security shall not bear interest except in the case of a
default in payment of principal upon acceleration, upon redemption or at Stated
Maturity and in such case the overdue principal of this Security shall bear
interest at the rate of ....% per annum, which shall accrue from the date of
such default in payment to the date payment of such principal has been made or
duly provided for. Interest on any overdue principal shall be payable on demand.
Any such interest on any overdue principal that is not so paid on demand shall
bear interest at the rate of ......% per annum, which shall accrue from the date
of such demand for payment to the date payment of such interest has been made or
duly provided for, and such interest shall also be payable on demand.]
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<PAGE>
Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and [if applicable,
insert -- any such] interest on this Security will be made at the office or
agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in ............, in such coin
or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal
tender for payment of public and private debts [if applicable, insert -- ;
provided, however, that at the option of the Company payment of interest may be
made by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such
address shall appear in the Security Register].
Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Security
set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes
have the same effect as if set forth at this place.
Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by
the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof by manual signature, this Security
shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or
obligatory for any purpose.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly
executed under its corporate seal.
Dated:
THE KROGER CO.
By.....................................
Attest:
.................................
Section 203. Form of Reverse of Security.
---------------------------
This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the
Company (herein called the "Securities"), issued and to be issued in one or more
series under an Indenture, dated as of ............., 1998 (herein called the
"Indenture"), between the Company and ..............., as Trustee (herein called
the "Trustee", which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture),
to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby
made for a statement of the respective rights, limi-
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<PAGE>
tations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee
and the Holders of the Securities and of the terms upon which the Securities
are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. This Security is one of the
series designated on the face hereof[, limited in aggregate principal amount to
$...........].
[If applicable, insert -- The Securities of this series are subject to
redemption upon not less than 30 days' notice by mail, [if applicable, insert --
(1) on ........... in any year commencing with the year ...... and ending with
the year ...... through operation of the sinking fund for this series at a
Redemption Price equal to 100% of the principal amount, and (2)] at any time [on
or after .........., 19..], as a whole or in part, at the election of the
Company, at the following Redemption Prices (expressed as percentages of the
principal amount): If redeemed [on or before ..............., ___%, and if
redeemed] during the 12-month period beginning ............. of the years
indicated,
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Redemption Redemption
Year Price Year Price
- ---- ---------- ---- ----------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
</TABLE>
and thereafter at a Redemption Price equal to .....% of the principal amount,
together in the case of any such redemption [if applicable, insert -- (whether
through operation of the sinking fund or otherwise)] with accrued interest to
the Redemption Date, but interest instalments whose Stated Maturity is on or
prior to such Redemption Date will be payable to the Holders of such Securities,
or one or more Predecessor Securities, of record at the close of business on the
relevant Record Dates referred to on the face hereof, all as provided in the
Indenture.]
[If applicable, insert -- The Securities of this series are subject to
redemption upon not less than 30 days' notice by mail, (1) on ............ in
any year commencing with the year .... and ending with the year .... through
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<PAGE>
operation of the sinking fund for this series at the Redemption Prices for
redemption through operation of the sinking fund (expressed as percentages of
the principal amount) set forth in the table below, and (2) at any time [on or
after ............], as a whole or in part, at the election of the Company, at
the Redemption Prices for redemption otherwise than through operation of the
sinking fund (expressed as percentages of the principal amount) set forth in the
table below: If redeemed during the 12-month period beginning ............ of
the years indicated,
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Redemption Price
For Redemption Redemption Price For
Through Operation Redemption Otherwise
of the Than Through Operation
Year Sinking Fund of the Sinking Fund
- ---- ----------------- ----------------------
<S> <C> <C>
</TABLE>
and thereafter at a Redemption Price equal to .....% of the principal amount,
together in the case of any such redemption (whether through operation of the
sinking fund or otherwise) with accrued interest to the Redemption Date, but
interest instalments whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to such Redemption
Date will be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more
Predecessor Securities, of record at the close of business on the relevant
Record Dates referred to on the face hereof, all as provided in the Indenture.]
[Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may not, prior to
............., redeem any Securities of this series as contemplated by [Clause
(2) of] the preceding paragraph as a part of, or in anticipation of, any
refunding operation by the application, directly or indirectly, of moneys
borrowed having an interest cost to the Company (calculated in accordance with
generally accepted financial practice) of less than .....% per annum.]
[The sinking fund for this series provides for the redemption on
............ in each year beginning with the year ....... and ending with the
year ...... of [not less than $.......... ("mandatory sinking fund") and not
more
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<PAGE>
than] $......... aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series.
Securities of this series acquired or redeemed by the Company otherwise than
through [mandatory] sinking fund payments may be credited against subsequent
[mandatory] sinking fund payments otherwise required to be made [in the inverse
order in which they become due].]
[If the Security is subject to redemption, insert -- In the event of
redemption of this Security in part only, a new Security or Securities of this
series and of like tenor for the unredeemed portion hereof will be issued in the
name of the Holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof.]
[If the Security is not an Original Issue Discount Security, insert --
If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and
be continuing, the principal of the Securities of this series may be declared
due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.]
[If the Security is an Original Issue Discount Security, insert -- If
an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and be
continuing, an amount of principal of the Securities of this series may be
declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the
Indenture. Such amount shall be equal to -- insert formula for determining the
amount. Upon payment (i) of the amount of principal so declared due and payable
and (ii) of interest on any overdue principal and overdue interest, all of the
Company's obligations in respect of the payment of the principal of and
interest, if any, on the Securities of this series shall terminate.]
The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided,
the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the
Company and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each series to be
affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the
consent of the Holders of 66 2/3% in principal amount of the Securities at the
time Outstanding of each series to be affected. The Indenture also contains
provisions permitting the Holders of specified percentages in principal amount
of the Securities of each series at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the
Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive compliance by the Company
with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the
Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of
this Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all
future
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<PAGE>
Holders of this Security and of any Security issued upon the registration of
transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not
notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security.
As set forth in, and subject to, the provisions of the Indenture, no
Holder of any Security will have any right to institute any proceeding with
respect to the Indenture or for any remedy thereunder, unless such Holder shall
have previously given to the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of
Default, the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding
Securities shall have made written request, and offered reasonable indemnity, to
the Trustee to institute such proceeding as trustee, and the Trustee shall not
have received from the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the
Outstanding Securities a direction inconsistent with such request and shall have
failed to institute such proceeding within 60 days; provided, however, that such
limitations do not apply to a suit instituted by the Holder hereof for the
enforcement of payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or any interest
on this Security on or after the respective due dates expressed herein.
No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Security
or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which
is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and any premium and
interest on this Security at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or
currency, herein prescribed.
As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations
therein set forth, the transfer of this Security is registerable in the Security
Register, upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the
office or agency of the Company in any place where the principal of and any
premium and interest on this Security are payable, duly endorsed by, or
accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the
Company and the Security Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or his
attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities of
this series and of like tenor, of authorized denominations and for the same
aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or
transferees.
The Securities of this series are issuable only in registered form
without coupons in denominations of $....... and any integral multiple thereof.
As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set
forth, Securities of this series are exchangeable for a like
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<PAGE>
aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series and of like tenor of a
different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the
same.
No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer
or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover
any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.
Prior to due presentment of this Security for registration of
transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee
may treat the Person in whose name this Security is registered as the owner
hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Security be overdue, and neither
the Company, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the
contrary.
All terms used in this Security which are defined in the Indenture
shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.
Section 204. Form of Legend for Global Securities.
------------------------------------
Any Global Security authenticated and delivered hereunder shall bear a
legend in substantially the following form:
"This Security is a Global Security within the meaning of the
Indenture hereinafter referred to and is registered in the name of a
Depositary or a nominee of a Depositary. This Security is not exchangeable
for Securities registered in the name of a Person other than the Depositary
or its nominee except in the limited circumstances described in the
Indenture, and no transfer of this Security (other than a transfer of this
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 the limited circumstances described
in the Indenture."
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<PAGE>
Section 205. Form of Trustee's Certificate of
Authentication.
The Trustee's certificates of authentication shall be in substantially
the following form:
This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to
in the within-mentioned Indenture.
.............................,
As Trustee
By...........................
Authorized Officer
ARTICLE THREE
The Securities
Section 301. Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series.
The aggregate principal amount of Securities which may be
authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited.
The Securities may be issued in one or more series. There shall be
established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution and, subject to Section 303,
set forth, or determined in the manner provided, in an Officers' Certificate,
or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the
issuance of Securities of any series,
(1) the title of the Securities of the series (which shall distinguish
the Securities of the series from Securities of any other series);
(2) 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 Section 304, 305, 306, 906 or 1107 and except for any
Securities which, pursuant to Section 303, are deemed never to
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have been authenticated and delivered hereunder);
(3) the Person to whom any interest on a Security of the series shall
be payable, if other than the Person in whose name that Security (or one or
more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the
Regular Record Date for such interest;
(4) the date or dates on which the principal of the Securities of the
series is payable;
(5) the rate or rates at which the Securities of the series shall bear
interest, if any, the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue,
the Interest Payment Dates on which any such interest shall be payable and
the Regular Record Date for any interest payable on any Interest Payment
Date;
(6) the place or places where the principal of and any premium and
interest on Securities of the series shall be payable;
(7) the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which
and the terms and conditions upon which Securities of the series may be
redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company;
(8) the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem or purchase
Securities of the series pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous
provisions or at the option of a Holder thereof and the period or periods
within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions
upon which Securities of the series shall be redeemed or purchased, in
whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;
(9) if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple
thereof, the denominations in which Securities of the series shall be
issuable;
(10) the currency, currencies or currency units in which payment of
the
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<PAGE>
principal of and any premium and interest on any Securities of the series
shall be payable if other than the currency of the United States of America
and the manner of determining the equivalent thereof in the currency of the
United States of America for purposes of the definition of "Outstanding" in
Section 101;
(11) if the amount of payments of principal of or any premium or
interest on any Securities of the series may be determined with reference
to an index, the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;
(12) if the principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities
of the series is to be payable, at the election of the Company or a Holder
thereof, in one or more currencies or currency units other than that or
those in which the Securities are stated to be payable, the currency,
currencies or currency units in which payment of the principal of and any
premium and interest on Securities of such series as to which such election
is made shall be payable, and the periods within which and the terms and
conditions upon which such election is to be made;
(13) if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the
principal amount of Securities of the series which shall be payable upon
declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section
502;
(14) 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
Depositary or Depositaries with respect to such Global Security or
Securities and the circumstances under which any such Global Security may
be registered for transfer or exchange, or authenticated and delivered, in
the name of a Person other than such Depositary or its nominee, if other
than as set forth in Section 305;
(15) any other event or events of default applicable with respect to
the
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<PAGE>
Securities of the series in addition to those provided in Section 501(1)
through (7);
(16) any other covenant or warranty included for the benefit of
Securities of the series in addition to (and not inconsistent with) those
included in this Indenture for the benefit of Securities of all series, or
any other covenant or warranty included for the benefit of Securities of
the series in lieu of any covenant or warranty included in this Indenture
for the benefit of Securities of all series, or any provision that any
covenant or warranty included in this Indenture for the benefit of
Securities of all series shall not be for the benefit of Securities of such
series, or any combination of such covenants, warranties or provisions;
(17) the terms pursuant to which (i) the Company may consolidate with
or merge into any other Person, (ii) any Subsidiary of the Company may
consolidate with or merge into another Person in a transaction in which
such Subsidiary remains a Subsidiary, (iii) any other Person may
consolidate with or merge into any Subsidiary in which such Subsidiary
remains a Subsidiary, or (iv) any other Person may, directly or indirectly,
sell, assign, convey, transfer or lease its properties substantially as an
entirety to the Company; and
(18) any other terms of the series (which terms shall not be
inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, except as permitted by
Section 901(5)).
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 the Board Resolution referred to above and (subject to Section 303) set
forth, or determined in the manner provided, in the Officers' Certificate
referred to above 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, a copy of an appropriate record of such action
shall be certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company and
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<PAGE>
delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Officers'
Certificate setting forth the terms of the series.
Section 302. Denominations.
The Securities of each series shall be issuable in registered form
without coupons in such denominations as shall be specified as contemplated by
Section 301. In the absence of any such provisions with respect to the
Securities of any series, the Securities of such series shall be issuable in
denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof.
Section 303. Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating.
The Securities shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its
Chairman of the Board, its Vice Chairman of the Board, its President or one of
its Vice Presidents, under its corporate seal reproduced thereon attested by its
Secretary or one of its Assistant Secretaries. The signature of any of these
officers on the Securities may be manual or facsimile.
Securities bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of individuals
who were at any time the proper officers of the Company shall bind the Company,
notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased to hold such
offices prior to the authentication and delivery of such Securities or did not
hold such offices at the date of such Securities.
At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of
this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities of any Series executed by the
Company to the Trustee for authentication, together with a Company Order for the
authentication and delivery of such Securities, and the Trustee in accordance
with the Company Order shall authenticate and deliver such Securities. If the
form or terms of the Securities of the series have been established in or
pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions as permitted by Sections 201 and 301,
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 601) shall be fully protected in
relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating,
(a) if the form of such Securities has been established by or pursuant
to Board Resolution as permitted by Section 201, that
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<PAGE>
such form has been established in conformity with the provisions of this
Indenture;
(b) if the terms of such Securities have been established by or
pursuant to Board Resolution as permitted by Section 301, that such terms
have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;
and
(c) 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 enforceable in accordance with
their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer,
reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability
relating to or affecting creditors' rights and to general equity
principles.
If such form or terms have been so established, the Trustee shall not be
required to authenticate such Securities if the issue of such Securities
pursuant to this Indenture will affect the Trustee's own rights, duties or
immunities under the Securities and this Indenture or otherwise in a manner
which is not reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.
Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 301 and of the preceding
paragraph, if all Securities of a series are not to be originally issued at one
time, it shall not be necessary to deliver the Officers' Certificate otherwise
required pursuant to Section 301 or the Company Order and Opinion of Counsel
otherwise required pursuant to such preceding paragraph at or prior to the time
of authentication of each Security of such series if such documents are
delivered at or prior to the authentication upon original issuance of the first
Security of such series to be issued.
Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.
No Security shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or
be valid or obligatory for any purpose unless there appears on such Security a
certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for herein
executed by the Trustee by manual signature, and such certificate upon any
Security shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Security
has been duly authen-
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<PAGE>
ticated and delivered hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Security
shall have been authenticated and delivered hereunder but never issued and sold
by the Company, and the Company shall deliver such Security to the Trustee for
cancellation as provided in Section 309, for all purposes of this Indenture such
Security shall be deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered
hereunder and shall never be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.
Section 304. Temporary Securities.
Pending the preparation of definitive Securities of any series, the
Company may execute, and upon Company Order the Trustee shall authenticate and
deliver, temporary Securities which are printed, lithographed, typewritten,
mimeographed or otherwise produced, in any authorized denomination,
substantially of the tenor of the definitive Securities in lieu of which they
are issued and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and
other variations as the officers executing such Securities may determine, as
evidenced by their execution of such Securities.
If temporary Securities of any series are issued, the Company will
cause definitive Securities of that series to be prepared without unreasonable
delay. After the preparation of definitive Securities of such series, the
temporary Securities of such series shall be exchangeable for definitive
Securities of such series upon surrender of the temporary Securities of such
series at the office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment for that
series, without charge to the Holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one
or more temporary Securities of any series the Company shall execute and the
Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor one or more
definitive Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of
a like aggregate principal amount and tenor. Until so exchanged the temporary
Securities of any series shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits
under this Indenture as definitive Securities of such series and tenor.
Section 305. Registration, Registration of
Transfer and Exchange.
The Company shall cause to be kept at the Corporate Trust Office of
the Trustee a register (the register maintained in such office and in any other
office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment being herein sometimes
collectively referred to as the "Security Register") in which, subject to such
reasonable regulations as it may
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<PAGE>
prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration of Securities and of
transfers of Securities. The Trustee is hereby appointed "Security Registrar"
for the purpose of registering Securities and transfers of Securities as herein
provided.
Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Security of any
series at the office or agency in a Place of Payment for that series, the
Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the
name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Securities
of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate
principal amount and tenor.
At the option of the Holder, Securities of any series may be exchanged
for other Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of
a like aggregate principal amount and tenor, upon surrender of the Securities
to be exchanged at such office or agency. Whenever any Securities are so
surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall
authenticate and deliver, the Securities which the Holder making the exchange is
entitled to receive.
All Securities issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of
Securities shall be the valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same
debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Securities
surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.
Every Security presented or surrendered for registration of transfer
or for exchange shall (if so required by the Company or the Trustee) be duly
endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form
satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed, by the
Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing.
No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or
exchange of Securities, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient
to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection
with any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, other than
exchanges pursuant to Section 304, 906 or 1107 not involving any transfer.
The Company shall not be required (i) to issue, register the transfer
of or exchange Securities of any series during a period beginning at the opening
of business 15 days before the day of the mailing of a notice of redemp-
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tion of Securities of that series selected for redemption under Section 1103 and
ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing, or (ii) to register
the transfer of or exchange any Security so selected for redemption in whole or
in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Security being redeemed in part.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Global Security shall be registered
for transfer or exchange, or authenticated and delivered, whether pursuant to
this Section, Section 304, 306, 906 or 1107 or otherwise, in the name of a
Person other than the Depositary for such Global Security or its nominee until
(i) the Depositary with respect to a Global Security notifies the Company that
it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Global Security or
the Depositary ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act,
(ii) the Company executes and delivers to the Trustee a Company Order that such
Global Security shall be so transferable and exchangeable or (iii) there shall
have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default, or any event which after
notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute an Event of Default, with
respect to the Securities of such series. Upon the occurrence in respect of any
Global Security of any series of any one or more of the conditions specified in
clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) of the preceding sentence or such other conditions as
may be specified as contemplated by Section 301 for such series, such Global
Security may be registered for transfer or exchange for Securities registered in
the names of, or authenticated and delivered to, such Persons as the Depositary
with respect to such series shall direct.
Except as provided in the preceding paragraph, any Security
authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange
for, or in lieu of, any Global Security, whether pursuant to this Section,
Section 304, 306, 906 or 1107 or otherwise, shall also be a Global Security and
bear the legend specified in Section 204.
Section 306. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen
Securities.
-------------------------------------
If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee, the Company
shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange
therefor a new Security of the same series and of like tenor and principal
amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.
If there shall be delivered to the Company and the Trustee (i)
evidence to their satisfaction of the destruc-
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<PAGE>
tion, loss or theft of any Security and (ii) such security or indemnity as may
be required by them to save each of them and any agent of either of them
harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Company or the Trustee that such
Security has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Company shall execute
and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in lieu of any such destroyed,
lost or stolen Security, a new Security of the same series and of like tenor and
principal amount and bearing a number not con temporaneously outstanding.
In case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security has
become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may,
instead of issuing a new Security, pay such Security.
Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section, the Company
may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other
governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other
expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith.
Every new Security of any series issued pursuant to this Section in
lieu of any mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall constitute an
original additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the
mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be at any time enforceable
by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally
and proportionately with any and all other Securities of that series duly issued
hereunder.
The provisions of this Section are exclusive and shall preclude (to
the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement
or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities.
Section 307. Payment of Interest; Interest Rights
Preserved.
------------------------------------
Except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 301 with
respect to any series of Securities, interest on any Security which is payable,
and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall
be paid to the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor
Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date
for such interest.
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Any interest on any Security of any series which is payable, but is
not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date (herein
called "Defaulted Interest") shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder
on the relevant Regular Record Date by virtue of having been such Holder, and
such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Company, at its election in each
case, as provided in Clause (1) or (2) below:
(1) The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest
to the Persons in whose names the Securities of such series (or their
respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business
on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which
shall be fixed in the following manner. The Company shall notify the
Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid
on each Security of such series and the date of the proposed payment, and
at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of
money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such
Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee
for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when
deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to
such Defaulted Interest as in this Clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee
shall fix a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest
which shall be not more than 15 days and not less than 10 days prior to the
date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by
the Trustee of the notice of the proposed pay ment. The Trustee shall
promptly notify the Company of such Special Record Date and, in the name
and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed
payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to
be mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder of Securities of
such series at his address as it appears in the Security Register, not less
than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date. Notice of the proposed
payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor
having been so mailed, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Per-
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sons in whose names the Securities of such series (or their respective
Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on such
Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the
following Clause (2).
(2) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on the
Securities of any series 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 Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant
to this Clause, such manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the
Trustee.
Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section, each Security
delivered under this Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in exchange
for or in lieu of any other Security shall carry the rights to interest accrued
and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Security.
Section 308. Persons Deemed Owners.
---------------------
Prior to due presentment of a Security for registration of transfer,
the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat
the Person in whose name such Security is registered as the owner of such
Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and any premium
and (subject to Section 307) any interest on such Security and for all other
purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Security be overdue, and neither the
Company, the Trustee nor any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be
affected by notice to the contrary.
Section 309. Cancellation.
------------
All Securities surrendered for payment, redemption, registration of
transfer or exchange or for credit against any sinking fund payment shall, if
surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee
and shall be promptly cancelled by it. The Company may at any time deliver to
the Trustee for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated and
delivered hereunder which the Company may have acquired in any manner
whatsoever, and may deliver to the Trustee (or to any other Person for delivery
to the Trustee) for cancellation any Securities
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<PAGE>
previously authenticated hereunder which the Company has not issued and sold,
and all Securities so delivered shall be promptly cancelled by the Trustee. No
Securities shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Securities
cancelled as provided in this Section, except as expressly permitted by this
Indenture. All cancelled Securities held by the Trustee shall be disposed of as
directed by a Company Order.
Section 310. Computation of Interest.
-----------------------
Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for
Securities of any series, interest on the Securities of each series shall be
computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.
ARTICLE FOUR
Satisfaction and Discharge
Section 401. Satisfaction and Discharge of
Indenture.
-----------------------------
This Indenture shall upon Company Request cease to be of further
effect (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or
exchange of Securities herein expressly provided for), and the Trustee, at the
expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging
satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, when
(1) either
(A) all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered (other
than (i) Securities which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which
have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 306 and (ii) Securities
for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or
segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the
Company or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 1003) have
been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or
(B) all such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for
cancellation
(i) have become due and payable, or
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<PAGE>
(ii) will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity
within one year, or
(iii) are to be called for redemption within one year under
arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of
redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the
Company,
and the Company, in the case of (i), (ii) or (iii) above, has deposited or
caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for the
purpose an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness
on such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for
cancellation, for principal and any premium and interest to the date of
such deposit (in the case of Securities which have become due and payable)
or to the Stated Maturity or Redemption Date, as the case may be;
(2) the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable
hereunder by the Company; and
(3) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate
and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent
herein provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this
Indenture have been complied with.
Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the
obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 607, the obligations of
the Trustee to any Authenticating Agent under Section 614 and, if money shall
have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (B) of Clause (1) of
this Section, the obligations of the Trustee under Section 402 and the last
paragraph of Section 1003 shall survive.
Section 402. Application of Trust Money.
--------------------------
Subject to provisions of the last paragraph of Section 1003, all money
deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 401 shall be held in trust and
applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities and this
Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any
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<PAGE>
Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the
Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal and any
premium and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with the
Trustee.
ARTICLE FIVE
Remedies
Section 501. Events of Default.
-----------------
"Event of Default", wherever used herein with respect to Securities of
any series, means any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such
Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected
by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or
any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body):
(1) default in the payment of any interest upon any Security of that
series when it becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for
a period of 30 days; or
(2) default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any,
on) any Security of that series at its Maturity; or
(3) default in the deposit of any sinking fund payment, when and as
due by the terms of a Security of that series; or
(4) default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or warranty
of the Company in this Indenture (other than a cove nant or warranty a
default in whose performance or whose breach is elsewhere in this Section
specifically dealt with or which has expressly been included in this
Indenture solely for the benefit of series of Securities other than that
series), and continuance of such default or breach for a period of 60 days
after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the
Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of
at least 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that
series a written notice specifying such
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default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such
notice is a "Notice of Default" hereunder; or
(5) a default under any Indebtedness by the Company (including a
default with respect to Securities of any series other than that series) or
under any bond, debenture, note, mortgage, indenture or instrument under
which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any
Indebtedness by the Company (including this Indenture) with a principal
amount then outstanding in excess of $50,000,000, whether such Indebtedness
now exists or shall hereafter be created, which default shall constitute a
failure to pay the principal of such Indebtedness at final maturity or
shall have resulted in such Indebtedness becoming or being declared due and
payable prior to the date on which it would otherwise have become due and
payable, without such Indebtedness having been discharged, or such
acceleration having been rescinded or annulled, within a period of 10 days
after there shall have 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 of that
series a written notice specifying such default and requiring the Company
to cause such Indebtedness to be discharged or cause such acceleration to
be rescinded or annulled and stating that such notice is a "Notice of
Default" hereunder; or
(6) the entry by a court having jurisdiction in the premises of (A) a
decree or order for relief in respect of the Company in an involuntary case
or proceeding under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization or other similar law or (B) a decree or order adjudging the
Company a bankrupt or insolvent, or approving as properly filed a petition
seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition of or in
respect of the Company under any applicable Federal or State law, or
appointing a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee,
sequestrator or other similar official of the Company or of any
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substantial part of its property, or ordering the winding up or liquidation
of its affairs, and the continuance of any such decree or order for relief
or any such other decree or order unstayed and in effect for a period of 90
consecutive days; or
(7) the commencement by the Company of a voluntary case or proceeding
under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization or other similar law or of any other case or proceeding to
be adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent, or the consent by it to the entry
of a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company in an involuntary
case or proceeding under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or to the commencement of
any bankruptcy or insolvency case or proceeding against it, or the filing
by it of a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief
under any applicable Federal or State law, or the consent by it to the
filing of such petition or to the appointment of or taking possession by
a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other
similar official of the Company or of any substantial part of its property,
or the making by it of a general assignment for the benefit of creditors,
or the admission by it in writing of its inability to pay its debts
generally as they become due, or the taking of corporate action by the
Company in furtherance of any such action; or
(8) any other Event of Default provided with respect to Securities of
that series.
Section 502. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission
and Annulment.
------------------------------------
If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series at the
time Outstanding occurs and is continuing, then in every such case the Trustee
or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding
Securities of that series may declare the principal amount (or, if any of the
Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion
of the principal amount of such Securities as may be specified in the terms
thereof) of all of the Securities of that series to be due
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and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company and the
Administrative Agents (and to the Trustee if given by Holders), and upon any
such declaration such principal amount (or specified amount) shall become due
and payable five Business Days after the receipt by the Company and the
Administrative Agents of such written notice, provided such Event of Default is
then continuing; provided, however, that the preceding proviso shall not
restrict the availability of other rights or remedies that the Trustee or the
Holders may have.
At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to
Securities of any series has been made and before a judgment or decree for
payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as hereinafter in this
Article provided, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the
Outstanding Securities of that series, by written notice to the Company and the
Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if
(1) the Company has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum
sufficient to pay
(A) all overdue interest on all Securities of that series,
(B) the principal of (and premium, if any, on) any Securities of
that series which have become due otherwise than by such declaration
of acceleration and any interest thereon at the rate or rates
prescribed therefor in such Securities,
(C) interest upon overdue interest at the rate or rates
prescribed therefor in such Securities, and
(D) all sums paid or advanced by the Trustee hereunder and the
reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the
Trustee, its agents and counsel;
and
(2) all Events of Default with respect to Securities of that series,
other than the non-payment of the principal of Securities of that series
which have become due solely by
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such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived as
provided in Section 513.
No such rescission shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right
consequent thereon.
Section 503. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits
for Enforcement by Trustee.
------------------------------------
The Company covenants that if
(1) default is made in the payment of any interest on any Security
when such inter est becomes due and payable and such default continues for
a period of 30 days, or
(2) default is made in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if
any, on) any Security at the Maturity thereof,
the Company will, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to it, for the benefit of the
Holders of such Securities, the whole amount then due and payable on such
Securities for principal and any premium and interest and interest on any
overdue principal and premium and on any overdue interest, at the rate or rates
prescribed therefor in such Securities, and, in addition thereto, such further
amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection,
including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of
the Trustee, its agents and counsel.
If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series occurs
and is continuing, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and
enforce its rights and the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series by
such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual
to protect and enforce any such rights, whether for the specific enforcement of
any covenant or agreement in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any
power granted herein, or to enforce any other proper remedy.
Section 504. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.
--------------------------------
In case of any judicial proceeding relative to the Company (or any
other obligor upon the Securities), its property or its creditors, the Trustee
shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or
otherwise, to take any and all actions authorized under the Trust Indenture Act
in order to have claims of the Holders and the Trustee allowed in any such
proceeding. In particular, the Trustee shall be authorized to collect and
receive any
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moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to
distribute the same; and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator,
sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby
authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee and, in the event
that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the
Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it for the reasonable
compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents
and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 607.
No provision of this Indenture shall be deemed to authorize the
Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder
any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the
Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof or to authorize the Trustee to
vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding; provided,
however, the Trustees may vote on behalf of the Holders for the election of a
trustee in bankruptcy or similar official and may be a member of a creditors or
other similar committee.
Section 505. Trustee May Enforce Claims Without
Possession of Securities.
All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or the Securities
may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of
the Securities or the production thereof in any proceeding relating thereto, and
any such proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name
as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall, after
provision for the payment of the reasonable compensation, expenses,
disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, be for the
ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities in respect of which such
judgment has been recovered.
Section 506. Application of Money Collected.
Any money collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article shall be
applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and,
in case of the distribution of such money on account of principal or any premium
or interest, upon presentation of the Securities and the notation thereon of the
payment if only partially paid and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:
FIRST: To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee under Section
607; and
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SECOND: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid for
principal of and any premium and interest on the Securities in respect of
which or for the benefit of which such money has been collected, ratably,
without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due
and payable on such Securities for principal and any premium and interest,
respectively.
Section 507. Limitation on Suits.
No Holder of any Security of any series shall have any right to
institute any proceeding, judicial or other wise, with respect to this
Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other
remedy hereunder, unless
(1) such Holder has previously given written notice to the Trustee of
a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of that
series;
(2) the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the
Outstanding Securities of that series shall have made written request to
the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default
in its own name as Trustee hereunder;
(3) such Holder or Holders have offered to the Trustee reasonable
indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in
compliance with such request;
(4) the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request
and offer of indemnity has failed to institute any such proceeding; and
(5) no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given
to the Trustee during such 60-day period by the Holders of a majority in
principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series;
it being understood and intended that no one or more of such Holders shall have
any right in any manner whatever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision
of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other of
such Holders, or to obtain or to seek to obtain
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priority or preference over any other of such Holders or to enforce any right
under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and
ratable benefit of all of such Holders.
Section 508. Unconditional Right of Holders to
Receive Principal, Premium and Interest.
Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of
any Security shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to
receive payment of the principal of and any premium and (subject to Section 307)
any interest on such Security on the Stated Maturity or Maturities expressed in
such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the Redemption Date) and to
institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, and such rights shall
not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.
Section 509. Restoration of Rights and Remedies.
If the Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceeding to enforce
any right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been
discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to
the Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case, subject to any
determination in such proceeding, the Company, the Trustee and the Holders shall
be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder and
thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and the Holders shall
continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted.
Section 510. Rights and Remedies Cumulative.
Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or
payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities in the last paragraph
of Section 306, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the
Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or
remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be
cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or
now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or
employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the
concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.
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Section 511. Delay or Omission Not Waiver.
No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Securities
to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair
any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or
an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article or by law
to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as
often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders, as the case
may be.
Section 512. Control by Holders.
The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding
Securities of any series shall have the right to direct the time, method and
place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or
exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee, with respect to the
Securities of such series, provided that
(1) such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or
with this Indenture, and
(2) the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee
which is not inconsistent with such direction.
Section 513. Waiver of Past Defaults.
The Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the
Outstanding Securities of any series may on behalf of the Holders of all the
Securities of such series waive any past default hereunder with respect to such
series and its consequences, except a default
(1) in the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on
any Security of such series, or
(2) in respect of a covenant or provision hereof which under Article
Nine cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of
each Outstanding Security of such series affected.
Upon any such waiver, such default shall cease to exist, and any Event
of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every
purpose of this Inden-
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ture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or
impair any right consequent thereon.
Section 514. Undertaking for Costs.
In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this
Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or
omitted by it as Trustee, a court may require any party litigant in such suit to
file an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and may assess costs against
any such party litigant, in the manner and to the extent provided in the Trust
Indenture Act; provided that neither this Section nor the Trust Indenture Act
shall be deemed to authorize any court to require such an undertaking or to make
such an assessment in any suit instituted by the Company.
Section 515. Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws.
The Company covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that
it will not at any time insist upon, or plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim
or take the benefit or advantage of, any usury, stay or extension law wherever
enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the covenants
or the performance of this Indenture; and the Company (to the extent that it may
lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law
and covenants that it will not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any
power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of
every such power as though no such law had been enacted.
ARTICLE SIX
The Trustee
Section 601. Certain Duties and Responsibilities.
The duties and responsibilities of the Trustee shall be as provided by
the Trust Indenture Act. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no provision of this
Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise
incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder,
or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable
grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against
such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it. Whether or not therein
expressly so pro vided, every provision of this Indenture relating to the
conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protec-
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tion to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section.
Section 602. Notice of Defaults.
If a default occurs hereunder with respect to Securities of any
series, the Trustee shall give the Holders of Securities of such series notice
of such default as and to the extent provided by the Trust Indenture Act;
provided, however, that in the case of any default of the character specified in
Section 501(4) with respect to Securities of such series, no such notice to
Holders shall be given until at least 30 days after the occurrence thereof. For
the purpose of this Section, the term "default" means any event which is, or
after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default with
respect to Securities of such series.
Section 603. Certain Rights of Trustee.
Subject to the provisions of Section 601:
(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, direction, consent, order,
bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or
document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented
by the proper party or parties;
(b) any request or direction of the Company mentioned herein shall be
sufficiently evidenced by a Company Request or Company Order and any
resolution of the Board of Directors may be sufficiently evidenced by a
Board Resolution;
(c) whenever in the administration of this Indenture the Trustee shall
deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking,
suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Trustee (unless other
evidence be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad
faith on its part, rely upon an Officers' Certificate;
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(d) the Trustee may consult with counsel and the written advice of
such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete
authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or
omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon;
(e) the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the
rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction
of any of the Holders pursuant to this Indenture, unless such Holders shall
have offered to the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the
costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance
with such request or direction;
(f) the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the
facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement,
instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order,
bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or
document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry
or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the
Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it
shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the
Company, personally or by agent or attorney; and
(g) the Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or
perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents or
attorneys and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or
negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed with due care by
it hereunder.
Section 604. Not Responsible for Recitals or
Issuance of Securities.
The recitals contained herein and in the Securities, except the
Trustee's certificates of authentication, shall be taken as the statements of
the Company, and the Trustee or any Authenticating Agent assumes no responsi-
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bility for their correctness. The Trustee makes no representations as to the
validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities. The Trustee or
any Authenticating Agent shall not be accountable for the use or application by
the Company of Securities or the proceeds thereof.
Section 605. May Hold Securities.
The Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any Paying Agent, any Security
Registrar or any other agent of the Company, in its individual or any other
capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and, subject to Sections
608 and 613, may otherwise deal with the Company with the same rights it would
have if it were not Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent, Security
Registrar or such other agent.
Section 606. Money Held in Trust.
Money held by the Trustee in trust hereunder need not be segregated
from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustee shall be
under no liability for interest on any money received by it hereunder except as
otherwise agreed with the Company.
Section 607. Compensation and Reimbursement.
The Company agrees
(1) to pay to the Trustee from time to time reasonable compensation
for all services rendered by it hereunder (which compensation shall not be
limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee
of an express trust);
(2) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse the
Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and
advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any provision
of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses
and disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any such expense,
disbursement or advance as may be attributable to its negligence or bad
faith; and
(3) to indemnify the Trustee for, and to hold it harmless against, any
loss, lia-
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bility 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 of
defending itself against any claim or liability in connection with the
exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder.
Section 608. Disqualification; Conflicting
Interests.
If the Trustee has or shall acquire a conflicting interest within the
meaning of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall either eliminate such
interest or resign, to the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject to
the provisions of, the Trust Indenture Act and this Indenture.
Section 609. Corporate Trustee Required;
Eligibility.
There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder which shall be a
Person that is eligible pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act to act as such and
has a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 [and its Corporate
Trust Office in ...............................]. If such Person publishes
reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements
of said supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this
Section, the combined capital and surplus of such Person shall be deemed to be
its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of
condition so published. If at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in
accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately in
the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article.
Section 610. Resignation and Removal;
Appointment of Successor.
(a) No resignation or removal of the Trustee and no appointment of a
successor Trustee pursuant to this Article shall become effective until the
acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee in accordance with the
applicable requirements of Section 611.
(b) The Trustee may resign at any time with respect to the Securities
of one or more series by giving written notice thereof to the Company. If the
instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee required by Section 611
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shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of
such notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition any court of
competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect
to the Securities of such series.
(c) The Trustee may be removed at any time with respect to the
Securities of any series by Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount
of the Outstanding Securities of such series, delivered to the Trustee and to
the Company.
(d) If at any time:
(1) the Trustee shall fail to comply with Section 608 after written
request therefor by the Company or by any Holder who has been a bona fide
Holder of a Security for at least six months, or
(2) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible under Section 609 and
shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by
any such Holder, or
(3) the Trustee shall become incapable of acting or shall be adjudged
a bankrupt or insolvent or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property
shall be appointed or any public officer shall take charge or control of
the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of
rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation,
then, in any such case, (i) the Company by a Board Resolution may remove the
Trustee with respect to all securities, or (ii) subject to Section 514, any
Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months
may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court
of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee with respect to all
Securities and the appointment of a successor Trustee or Trustees.
(e) If the Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of
acting, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of Trustee for any cause, with
respect to the Securities of one or more series, the Company, by a Board
Resolution, shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or Trustees with respect
to the Securities of that or those series (it being understood that any such
successor Trustee may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one or
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more or all of such series and that at any time there shall be only one Trustee
with respect to the Securities of any particular series) and shall comply with
the applicable requirements of Section 611. If, within one year after such
resignation, removal or incapability, or the occurrence of such vacancy, a
successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any Series shall be
appointed by Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the
Outstanding Securities of such series delivered to the Company and the retiring
Trustee, the successor Trustee so appointed shall, forthwith upon its acceptance
of such appointment in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section
611, become the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series
and to that extent supersede the successor Trustee appointed by the Company. If
no successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any Series shall have
been so appointed by the Company or the Holders and accepted appointment in the
manner required by Section 611, any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a
Security of such series for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and
all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for
the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such
series.
(f) The Company shall give notice of each resignation and each
removal of the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series and each
appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series
to all Holders of Securities of such series in the manner provided in Section
106. Each notice shall include the name of the successor Trustee with respect to
the Securities of such series and the address of its Corporate Trust Office.
Section 611. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.
--------------------------------------
(a) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with
respect to all Securities, every such successor Trustee so appointed shall
execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to the retiring Trustee an
instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal
of the retiring Trustee shall become effective and such successor Trustee,
without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the
rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee; but, on the request
of the Company or the successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall, upon
payment of its charges, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such
successor Trustee all the rights, powers and trusts of the retiring Trustee and
shall duly assign, transfer and deliver
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to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee
hereunder.
(b) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with
respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Company, the
retiring Trustee and each successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of
one or more series shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto
wherein each successor Trustee shall accept such appointment and which (1) shall
contain such provisions as shall be necessary or desirable to transfer and
confirm to, and to vest in, each successor Trustee all the rights, powers,
trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that
or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates, (2)
if the retiring Trustee is not retiring with respect to all Securities, shall
contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm
that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with
respect to the Securities of that or those series as to which the retiring
Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the retiring Trustee, and
(3) shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be
necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts
hereunder by more than one Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or
in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the
same trust and that each such Trustee shall be trustee of a trust or trusts
hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by
any other such Trustee; and upon the execution and delivery of such supplemental
indenture the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become
effective to the extent provided therein and each such successor Trustee,
without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the
rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the
Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor
Trustee relates; but, on request of the Company or any successor Trustee, such
retiring Trustee shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor
Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder with
respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of
such successor Trustee relates.
(c) Upon request of any such successor Trustee, the Company shall
execute any and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in and
confirming to such successor Trustee all such rights, powers and trusts referred
to in paragraph (a) and (b) of this Section, as the case may be.
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(d) No successor Trustee shall accept its appointment unless at the
time of such acceptance such successor Trustee shall be qualified and eligible
under this Article.
Section 612. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Any corporation into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or
with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger,
conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any
corporation succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust business
of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder, provided such
corporation shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article,
without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of
any of the parties hereto. In case any Securities shall have been authenticated,
but not delivered, by the Trustee then in office, any successor by merger,
conversion or consolidation to such authenticating Trustee may adopt such
authentication and deliver the Securities so authenticated with the same effect
as if such successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Securities.
Section 613. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.
-------------------------------------------------
If and when the Trustee shall be or become a creditor of the Company
(or any other obligor upon the Securities), the Trustee shall be subject to the
provisions of the Trust Indenture Act regarding the collection of claims against
the Company (or any such other obligor).
Section 614. Appointment of Authenticating Agent.
-----------------------------------
The Trustee may appoint an Authenticating Agent or Agents with respect
to one or more series of Securities which shall be authorized to act on behalf
of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of such series issued upon original
issue and upon exchange, registration of transfer or partial redemption thereof
or pursuant to Section 306, and Securities so authenticated shall be entitled to
the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all
purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee hereunder. Wherever reference is
made in this Indenture to the authentication and delivery of Securities by the
Trustee or the Trustee's certificate of authentication, such reference shall be
deemed to include authentication and delivery on behalf of the Trustee by an
Authenticating Agent and a certificate of authentication executed on behalf of
the
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Trustee by an Authenticating Agent. Each Authenticating Agent shall be
acceptable to the Company and shall at all times be a corporation organized and
doing business under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof
or the District of Columbia, authorized under such laws to act as Authenticating
Agent, having a combined capital and surplus of not less than $50,000,000 and
subject to supervision or examination by Federal or State authority. If such
Authenticating Agent publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant
to law or to the requirements of said supervising or examining authority, then
for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such
Authenticating Agent shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as
set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time an
Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the
provisions of this Section, such Authenticating Agent shall resign immediately
in the manner and with the effect specified in this Section.
Any corporation into which an Authenticating Agent may be merged or
converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting
from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which such Authenticating Agent
shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to the corporate agency or
corporate trust business of an Authenticating Agent, shall continue to be an
Authenticating Agent, provided such corporation shall be otherwise eligible
under this Section, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further
act on the part of the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent.
An Authenticating Agent may resign at any time by giving written
notice thereof to the Trustee and to the Company. The Trustee may at any time
terminate the agency of an Authenticating Agent by giving written notice thereof
to such Authenticating Agent and to the Company. Upon receiving such a notice of
resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time such
Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the
provisions of this Section, the Trustee may appoint a successor Authenticating
Agent which shall be acceptable to the Company and shall mail written notice of
such appointment by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to all Holders of
Securities of the series with respect to which such Authenticating Agent will
serve, as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register. Any
successor Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder
shall become vested with all the rights, powers and duties of its predecessor
hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as an Authenticating Agent.
No
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successor Authenticating Agent shall be appointed unless eligible under the
provisions of this Section.
The Trustee agrees to pay to each Authenticating Agent from time to
time reasonable compensation for its services under this Section, and the
Trustee shall be entitled to be reimbursed for such payments, subject to the
provisions of Section 607.
If an appointment with respect to one or more series is made pursuant
to this Section, the Securities of such series may have endorsed thereon, in
addition to the Trustee's certificate of authentication, an alternative
certificate of authentication in the following form:
This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein
referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
........................,
As Trustee
By......................,
As Authenticating Agent
By......................
Authorized Officer
ARTICLE SEVEN
Holders' Lists and Reports by Trustee and Company
Section 701. Company to Furnish Trustee
Names and Addresses of Holders.
------------------------------
The Company will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee
(a) semi-annually, either (i) not later than _______________ and
___________________ in each year in the case of Original Issue Discount
Securities of any series which by their terms bear interest only after
Maturity, or (ii) not more than 15 days after each Regular Record Date
in the case of Securities of any other series, a list of
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each series of Securities, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably
require, of the names and addresses of the Holders of each such series as
of the preceding ______________ or ______________ or Regular Record Date,
as the case may be, 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;
excluding from any such list names and addresses received by the Trustee in its
capacity as Security Registrar.
Section 702. Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders.
------------------------------------------------------
(a) The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably
practicable, the names and addresses of Holders contained in the most recent
list furnished to the Trustee as provided in Section 701 and the names and
addresses of Holders received by the Trustee in its capacity as Security
Registrar. The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in
Section 701 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.
(b) The rights of the Holders to communicate with other Holders with
respect to their rights under this Indenture or under the Securities, and the
corresponding rights and privileges of the Trustee, shall be as provided by the
Trust Indenture Act.
(c) 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 agent of either of them shall be held accountable by reason of any
disclosure of information as to names and addresses of Holders made pursuant to
the Trust Indenture Act.
Section 703. Reports by Trustee.
------------------
(a) The Trustee shall transmit to Holders such reports concerning the
Trustee and its actions under this Indenture as may be required pursuant to the
Trust Indenture Act at the times and in the manner provided pursuant thereto.
(b) A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such
transmission to Holders, be filed by the Trustee
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with each stock exchange upon which any Securities are listed, with the
Commission and with the Company. The Company will notify the Trustee when any
Securities are listed on any stock exchange.
Section 704. Reports by Company.
------------------
The Company shall file with the Trustee and the Commission, and
transmit to Holders, such information, documents and other reports, and such
summaries thereof, as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act at the
times and in the manner provided pursuant to such Act; provided that any such
information, documents or reports required to be filed with the Commission
pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 shall be
filed with the Trustee within 15 days after the same is so required to be filed
with the Commission.
ARTICLE EIGHT
Consolidation, Merger, Conveyance, Transfer or Lease
Section 801. Company and Subsidiaries May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain
---------------------------------------------------------------
Terms.
-----
The Company (a) shall not consolidate with or merge into any other
Person or, directly or indirectly, transfer, convey, sell, lease or otherwise
dispose of all or substantially all of its properties and assets as an entirety
to any Person; (b) shall not permit any Subsidiary to consolidate with or merge
into another Person (other than a Wholly-owned Subsidiary) in a transaction in
which such Subsidiary remains a Subsidiary; (c) shall not permit (i) any other
Person to consolidate with or merge into the Company or (ii) any other Person
(other than a Wholly-owned Subsidiary) to consolidate with or merge into any
Subsidiary in a transaction in which such Subsidiary remains a Subsidiary; and
(d) shall not permit any other Person to, directly or indirectly, sell, assign,
convey, transfer or lease its properties substantially as an entirety to the
Company except as provided pursuant to Section 301(17).
Section 802. Successor Substituted.
---------------------
Upon any consolidation of the Company with, or merger of the Company
into, any other Person or any conveyance, transfer or lease of the properties
and assets of the Company substantially as an entirety in accordance with
Section 801, the successor Person formed by such consolidation or into which the
Company is merged or to
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which such conveyance, transfer or lease is made shall succeed to, and be
substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under
this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named
as the Company herein, and thereafter, except in the case of a lease, the
predecessor Person shall be relieved of all obligations and covenants under this
Indenture and the Securities.
ARTICLE NINE
Supplemental Indentures
Section 901. Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders.
--------------------------------------------------
Without the consent of any Holders, the Company, when authorized by a
Board Resolution, and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may enter
into one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in form satisfactory to the
Trustee, for any of the following purposes:
(1) to evidence the succession of another Person to the Company and
the assumption by any such successor of the covenants of the Company
herein and in the Securities; or
(2) to add to the covenants of the Company for the benefit of the
Holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such covenants are to be
for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such
covenants are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such
series) or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the
Company; or
(3) to add any additional Events of Default; or
(4) to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture to
such extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the issuance of
Securities in bearer form, registrable or not registrable as to principal,
and with or without interest coupons, or to permit or facilitate the
issuance of Securities in uncertificated form; or
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(5) to add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of this
Indenture in respect of one or more series of Securities, provided that any
such addition, change or elimination (i) shall neither (A) apply to any
Security of any series created prior to the execution of such supplemental
indenture and entitled to the benefit of such provision nor (B) modify the
rights of the Holder of any such Security with respect to such provision or
(ii) shall become effective only when there is no such Security
Outstanding; or
(6) to secure the Securities; or
(7) to establish the form or terms of Securities of any series as
permitted by Sections 201 and 301; or
(8) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment
hereunder by a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or
more series and to add to or change any of the provisions of this
Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the
administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, pursuant
to the requirements of Section 611(b); or
(9) to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision
herein which may be inconsistent with any other provision herein, or to
make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising
under this Indenture, provided that such action pursuant to this clause (9)
shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of
any series in any material respect.
Section 902. Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders.
-----------------------------------------------
With the consent of the Holders of not less than 50% in principal
amount of the Outstanding Securities of each series affected by such
supplemental indenture, by Act of said Holders delivered to the Company and the
Trustee, the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee may
enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of
adding any provisions to or
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changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or
of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of Securities of such
series under this Indenture; provided, however, that no such supplemental
indenture shall, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security
affected thereby,
(1) change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any instalment
of principal of or interest on, any Security, or reduce the principal
amount thereof or (unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section
301) the rate of interest thereon or any premium payable upon the
redemption thereof, or reduce the amount of the principal of an Original
Issue Discount Security that would be due and payable upon a declaration of
acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502, or change any
Place of Payment where, or the coin or currency in which, any Security or
any premium or interest thereon is payable, or impair the right to
institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the
Stated Maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the
Redemption Date), or
(2) reduce the percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding
Securities of any series, the consent of whose Holders is required for any
such supplemental indenture, or the consent of whose Holders is required
for any waiver (of compliance with certain provisions of this Indenture or
certain defaults hereunder and their consequences) provided for in this
Indenture, or
(3) modify any of the provisions of this Section, Section 513 or
Section 1008, except to increase any such percentage or to provide that
certain other provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived
without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected
thereby, provided, however, that this clause shall not be deemed to require
the consent of any Holder with respect to changes in the references to "the
Trustee" and concomitant changes in this Section and Section 1008, or the
deletion of this proviso, in accordance with the requirements of Sections
611(b) and 901(8).
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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 the Holders of Securities of such series with respect to such covenant
or other provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under this
Indenture of the Holders of Securities of any other series.
It shall not be necessary for any Act of Holders under this Section to
approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall
be sufficient if such Act shall approve the substance thereof.
Section 903. Execution of Supplemental Indentures.
------------------------------------
In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any
supplemental indenture permitted by this Article or the modifications thereby of
the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive,
and (subject to Section 601) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an
Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is
authorized or permitted by this Indenture. The Trustee may, but shall not be
obligated to, enter into any such supplemental indenture which affects the
Trustee's own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.
Section 904. Effect of Supplemental Indentures.
---------------------------------
Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture under this Article,
this Indenture shall be modified in accordance therewith, and such supplemental
indenture shall form a part of this Indenture for all purposes; and every Holder
of Securities theretofore or thereafter authenticated and delivered hereunder
shall be bound thereby.
Section 905. Conformity with Trust Indenture Act.
-----------------------------------
Every supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article shall
conform to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act.
Section 906. Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures.
--------------------------------------------------
Securities of any series authenticated and delivered after the
execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to this Article may, and shall
if required by the Trustee, bear a notation in form approved by the Trustee as
to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture.
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If the Company shall so determine, new Securities of any series so modified as
to conform, in the opinion of the Trustee and the Company, to any such
supplemental indenture may be prepared and executed by the Company and
authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in exchange for Outstanding
Securities of such series.
ARTICLE TEN
Covenants
Section 1001. 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 the principal of and any premium
and interest on the Securities of that series in accordance with the terms of
the Securities and this Indenture.
Section 1002. Maintenance of Office or Agency.
-------------------------------
The Company will maintain in each Place of Payment for any series of
Securities an office or agency where Securities of that series may be presented
or surrendered for payment, where Securities of that series may be surrendered
for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or
upon the Company in respect of the Securities of that series and this Indenture
may be served. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the
location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any
time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or
shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations,
surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust
Office of the Trustee, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent
to receive all such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.
The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other
offices or agencies where the Securities of one or more series may be presented
or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind
such designations; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission
shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain an office
or agency in each Place of Payment for Securities of any series for such
purposes. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such
designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other
office or agency.
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Section 1003. Money for Securities Payments to
Be Held in Trust.
If the Company shall at any time act as its own Paying Agent with
respect to any series of Securities, it will, on or before each due date of the
principal of or any premium or interest on any of the Securities of that series,
segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto a
sum sufficient to pay the principal and any premium and interest so becoming due
until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein
provided and will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to
act.
Whenever the Company shall have one or more Paying Agents for any
series of Securities, it will, prior to each due date of the principal of or any
premium or interest on any Securities of that series, deposit with a Paying
Agent a sum sufficient to pay such amount, such sum to be held as provided by
the Trust Indenture Act, and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the
Company will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.
The Company will cause each Paying Agent for any series of Securities
other than the Trustee to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in
which such Paying Agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the pro visions
of this Section, that such Paying Agent will (i) comply with the provisions of
the Trust Indenture Act applicable to it as a Paying Agent and (ii) during the
continuance of any default by the Company (or any other obligor upon the
Securities of that series) in the making of any payment in respect of the
Securities of that series, and upon the written request of the Trustee,
forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums held in trust by such Paying Agent for
payment in respect of the Securities of that series.
The Company may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the
satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or for any other purpose, pay, or
by Company Order direct any Paying Agent to pay, to the Trustee all sums held in
trust by the Company or such Paying Agent, such sums to be held by the Trustee
upon the same trusts as those upon which such sums were held by the Company or
such Paying Agent; and, upon such payment by any Paying Agent to the Trustee,
such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to
such money.
Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held
by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of or any premium or
interest on any Secu-
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rity of any series and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal,
premium or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on
Company Request, or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such
trust; and the Holder of such Security shall thereafter, as an unsecured general
creditor, look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the
Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability
of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided, however,
that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such
repayment, may at the expense of the Company cause to be published once, in a
newspaper published in the English language, customarily published on each
Business Day and of general circulation in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of
New York, notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date
specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such
publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid
to the Company.
Section 1004. Statement by Officers as to Default.
The Company will deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end
of each fiscal year of the Company ending after the date hereof, an Officers'
Certificate, stating whether or not to the best knowledge of the signers thereof
the Company is in default in the performance and observance of any of the terms,
provisions and conditions of this Indenture (without regard to any period of
grace or requirement of notice provided hereunder) and, if the Company shall be
in default, specifying all such defaults and the nature and status thereof of
which they may have knowledge.
Section 1005. Existence.
Subject to Article Eight, the Company will do or cause to be done all
things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its existence,
rights (charter and statutory) and franchises; provided, however, that the
Company shall not be required to preserve any such right or franchise if the
Board of Directors shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer
desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company.
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Section 1006. Maintenance of Properties.
The Company will cause all properties used or useful in the conduct of
its business or the business of any material Subsidiary to be maintained and
kept in good condition, repair and working order and supplied with all necessary
equipment and will cause to be made all necessary repairs, renewals,
replacements, betterments and improvements thereof, all as in the judgment of
the Company may be necessary so that the business carried on in connection
therewith may be properly and advantageously conducted at all times; provided,
however, that nothing in this Section shall prevent the Company from
discontinuing the operation or maintenance of any of such properties if such
discontinuance is, in the judgment of the Company, desirable in the conduct of
its business or the business of any Subsidiary.
Section 1007. Payment of Taxes and Other Claims.
The Company will pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged,
before the same shall become delinquent, (1) all taxes, assessments and
governmental charges levied or imposed upon the Company or any material
Subsidiary or upon the income, profits or property of the Company or any
material Subsidiary, and (2) all lawful claims for labor, materials and supplies
which, if unpaid, might by law become a lien upon the property of the Company or
any material Subsidiary; provided, however, that the Company shall not be
required to pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged any such tax,
assessment, charge or claim whose amount, applicability or validity is being
contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, if a reserve or other
appropriate provision shall have been made therefor in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles.
Section 1008. Waiver of Certain Covenants.
The Company may omit in any particular instance to comply with any
term, provision or condition set forth in Sections 1006 to 1007, inclusive, with
respect to the Securities of any series if before the time for such compliance
the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding
Securities of such series shall, by Act of such Holders, either waive such
compliance in such instance or generally waive compliance with such term,
provision or condition, but no such waiver shall extend to or affect such term,
provision or condition except to the extent so expressly waived, and, until such
waiver shall become effective, the obligations of the Company and the duties
of the
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Trustee in respect of any such term, provision or condition shall remain in full
force and effect.
ARTICLE ELEVEN
Redemption of Securities
Section 1101. Applicability of Article.
Securities of any series which are redeemable before their Stated
Maturity shall be redeemable in accordance with their terms and (except as
otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Securities of any series)
in accordance with this Article.
Section 1102. Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee.
The election of the Company to redeem any Securities shall be
evidenced by a Board Resolution. In case of any redemption at the election of
the Company of less than all the Securities of any series, the Company shall, at
least 35 days prior to the Redemption Date fixed by the Company (unless a
shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), notify the Trustee of such
Redemption Date, of the principal amount of Securities of such series to be
redeemed and, if applicable, of the tenor of the Securities to be redeemed. In
the case of any redemption of Securities prior to the expiration of any
restriction on such redemption provided in the terms of such Securities or
elsewhere in this Indenture, the Company shall furnish the Trustee with an
Officers' Certificate evidencing compliance with such restriction.
Section 1103. Selection by Trustee of Securities
to Be Redeemed.
If less than all the Securities of any series are to be redeemed
(unless all of the Securities of such series and of a specified tenor are to be
redeemed), the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more
than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee, from the Outstanding
Securities of such series not previously called for redemption, by such method
as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate and which may provide for the
selection for redemption of portions (equal to the minimum authorized
denomination for Securities of that series or any integral multiple thereof) of
the principal amount of Securities of such series of a denomination larger than
the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of that series. If less than
all of the Securities of such series
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and of a specified tenor are to be redeemed, the particular Securities to be
redeemed shall be selected not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by
the Trustee, from the Outstanding Securities of such series and specified tenor
not previously called for redemption in accordance with the preceding sentence.
The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company and the Security
Registrar in writing of the Securities selected for redemption and, in the case
of any Securities selected for partial redemption, the principal amount thereof
to be redeemed.
For all purposes of this Indenture, unless the context otherwise
requires, all provisions relating to the redemption of Securities shall relate,
in the case of any Securities redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the
portion of the principal amount of such Securities which has been or is to be
redeemed.
Section 1104. Notice of Redemption.
--------------------
Notice of redemption shall be given by first-class mail, postage
prepaid, mailed not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption
Date, to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed, at his address appearing in
the Security Register.
All notices of redemption shall state:
(1) the Redemption Date,
(2) the Redemption Price,
(3) if less than all the Outstanding Securities of any series are to
be redeemed, the identification (and, in the case of partial redemption of
any Securities, the principal amounts) of the particular Securities to be
redeemed,
(4) that on the Redemption Date the Redemption Price will become due
and payable upon each such Security to be redeemed and, if applicable, that
interest thereon will cease to accrue on and after said date,
(5) the place or places where such Securities are to be surrendered
for payment of the Redemption Price, and
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(6) that the redemption is for a sinking fund, if such is the case.
Notice of redemption of Securities to be redeemed at the election of
the Company shall be given by the Company or, at the Company's request, by the
Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company and shall be irrevocable.
Section 1105. Deposit of Redemption Price.
---------------------------
Prior to any Redemption Date, the Company shall deposit with the
Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying
Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 1003) an amount of
money sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of, and (except if the Redemption
Date shall be an Interest Payment Date) accrued interest on, all the Securities
which are to be redeemed on that date.
Section 1106. Securities Payable on Redemption Date.
-------------------------------------
Notice of redemption having been given as aforesaid, the Securities so
to be redeemed shall, on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at the
Redemption Price therein specified, and from and after such date (unless the
Company shall default in the payment of the Redemption Price and accrued
interest) such Securities shall cease to bear interest. Upon surrender of any
such Security for redemption in accordance with said notice, such Security shall
be paid by the Company at the Redemption Price, together with accrued interest
to the Redemption Date; provided, however, that, unless otherwise specified as
contemplated by Section 301, instalments of interest whose Stated Maturity is on
or prior to the Redemption Date shall be payable to the Holders of such
Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as such at the
close of business on the relevant Record Dates according to their terms and the
provisions of Section 307.
If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon
surrender thereof for redemption, the principal and any premium shall, until
paid, bear interest from the Redemption Date at the rate prescribed therefor in
the Security.
Section 1107. Securities Redeemed in Part.
---------------------------
Any Security which is to be redeemed only in part shall be surrendered
at a Place of Payment therefor (with, if the Company or the Trustee so requires,
due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory
-69-
<PAGE>
to the Company and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder thereof or his
attorney duly authorized in writing), and the Company shall execute, and the
Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security without
service charge, a new Security or Securities of the same series and of like
tenor, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder, in aggregate
principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the
principal of the Security so surrendered.
ARTICLE TWELVE
Sinking Funds
Section 1201. Applicability of Article.
------------------------
The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to any sinking fund
for the retirement of Securities of a series except as otherwise specified as
contemplated by Section 301 for Securities of such series.
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". If provided for by the terms of Securities of any series,
the cash amount of any sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as
provided in Section 1202. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the
redemption of Securities of any series as provided for by the terms of
Securities of such series.
Section 1202. Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments
with Securities.
-------------------------------------
The Company (1) may deliver Outstanding Securities of a series (other
than any previously called for redemption) and (2) may apply as a credit
Securities of a series which have been redeemed either at the election of the
Company pursuant to the terms of such Securities or through the application of
permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the terms of such
Securities, in each case in satisfaction of all or any part of any sinking fund
payment with respect to the Securities of such series required to be made
pursuant to the terms of such Securities as provided for by the terms of such
series; provided that such Securities have not been previously so credited.
Such Securities shall be received and credited for such purpose by the
-70-
<PAGE>
Trustee at the Redemption Price specified in such Securities for redemption
through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such sinking fund
payment shall be reduced accordingly.
Section 1203. Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund.
-----------------------------------------
Not less than 60 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for any
series of Securities, the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officers'
Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing sinking fund payment for
that series pursuant to the terms of that series, the portion thereof, if any,
which is to be satisfied by payment of cash and the portion thereof, if any,
which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting Securities of that series
pursuant to Section 1202 and will also deliver to the Trustee any Securities to
be so delivered. Not less than 45 days before each such sinking fund payment
date the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking
fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 1103 and cause notice of
the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the
Company in the manner provided in Section 1104. Such notice having been duly
given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the
manner stated in Sections 1106 and 1107.
This instrument may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of
which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts
shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.
_____________________________
-71-
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to
be duly executed, and their respective corporate seals to be hereunto affixed
and attested, all as of the day and year first above written.
THE KROGER CO.
By
------------------------
Attest:
- ------------------------
, as Trustee
------------
By
------------------------
Attest:
- ------------------------
-72-
<PAGE>
STATE OF NEW YORK )
) ss.:
COUNTY OF NEW YORK )
On the day of , , before me personally came
---- ----------- ----
, to me known, who, being by me duly sworn, did
- ---------------------------
depose and say that he is of The Kroger Co., one of
----------------------------
the corporations described in and which executed the foregoing instrument; that
he knows the seal of said corporation; that the seal affixed to said instrument
is such 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.
------------------------
STATE OF NEW YORK )
) ss.:
COUNTY OF NEW YORK )
On the day of , , before me personally came
---- ----------- ----
, to me known, who, being by me duly sworn, did
- ---------------------------
depose and say that he is of
-------------------- -------------------------
, one of the corporations described in and
- ---------------------------------
which executed the foregoing instrument; that he knows the seal of said
corporation; that the seal affixed to said instrument is such 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.
------------------------
-73-
<PAGE>
Exhibit 5.1
The Kroger Co.
1014 Vine Street
Cincinnati, OH 45202-1100
May 6, 1998
Board of Directors
The Kroger Co.
1014 Vine Street
Cincinnati, OH 45202
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I am familiar with the proceedings taken and proposed to be taken by The Kroger
Co., an Ohio corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the issuance of up
to $800 million aggregate principal amount of Securities (the "Securities").
I have acted as counsel to the Company in connection with its preparation of (1)
a Registration Statement relating to such issuance of the Securities and the
public sale thereof on Form S-3 filed by the Company with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "Registration Statement") for the registration of the
Securities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"); (2) the
form of Underwriting Agreement filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement
(the "Underwriting Agreement"); and (3) the form of Senior Indenture filed as an
exhibit to the Registration Statement (the "Indenture"). I have examined the
aforementioned documents; the Amended Articles of Incorporation and Regulations
of the Company; the corporate minutes of the proceedings of the directors and
shareholders of the Company; and such other records and documents as I have
deemed necessary in order to express the opinions hereinafter set forth.
Based upon the foregoing, I am of the opinion that, when the Indenture has been
duly executed and delivered, and the Securities have been duly executed and
authenticated in accordance with the terms of the Indentures and issued and sold
in accordance with the Underwriting Agreement, the Securities will constitute
the valid and binding obligations of the Company.
The foregoing opinion is subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, or other
laws affecting creditors' rights generally, as from time to time in effect, and
to general equity principles.
<PAGE>
I consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement and to the reference to me in the Registration Statement under the
caption "Validity of Securities" therein. In giving such consent, I do not admit
that I am in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7
of the Act.
Very truly yours,
(Paul W. Heldman)
Paul W. Heldman
Senior Vice President, Secretary
and General Counsel
<PAGE>
Exhibit 25.1
Securities Act of 1933 File No. 333-50269
---------
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM T-1
__________________________________________________
STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY
UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939
OF A CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE
PURSUANT TO SECTION 305(b) (2) / X /
__________________________________________________
STAR BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
(Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)
A National Banking Association 31-0841368
---------------------------------
(IRS Employer Identification No.)
425 Walnut Street
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
-------------------------------------------------- ----------
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
/S/ Robert T. Jones
--------------------
Robert T. Jones
Senior Trust Officer
Star Bank, National Association
425 Walnut Street
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
(513) 632-4427
(Name, address, and telephone number of agent for services)
-----------------------------------------------------------
THE KROGER CO.
---------------------------------------------------
(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)
Ohio 31-0345740
------------------------ ---------------------------------
(State of Incorporation) (IRS Employer Identification No.)
1014 Vine Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
---------------------------------------- ----------
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Senior Debt Securities
----------------------
(Title of the Indenture securities)
<PAGE>
1. General Information. Furnish the following information as Trustee --
(a) Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to
which it is subject.
Comptroller of the Currency, Washington, D.C.
Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, Ohio
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Washington, D.C.
(b) Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.
The Trustee is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.
2. Affiliations with obligor. If the obligor is an affiliate of the trustee,
describe each such affiliation.
The obligor is not an affiliate of the Trustee (including its parent and
any affiliates).
3. Voting Securities of the trustee. Furnish the following information as to
each class of voting securities of the trustee (and its
parent). As of _____________ (insert date within 31
days)
Col A. Col B
---------------- --------------------
(Title of Class) (Amount Outstanding)
4. Trusteeships under other Indentures. If the trustee is a trustee under
another Indenture under which any other securities, or
certificates of interest or participation in any other
securities, of the obligor are outstanding, furnish the
following information:
(a) Title of the securities outstanding under each such other
indenture.
(b) A brief statement of the facts relied upon as a basis for
the claim that no conflicting interest within the meaning
of Section 310(b) (1) of the Act arises as a result of the
trusteeship under any such other indenture, including a
statement as to how the indenture securities will rank as
compared with the securities issued under such other
indenture.
5. Interlocking directorates and similar relationships with the obligor or
underwriters.
If the trustee (including its parent and any other affiliates)
or any of the directors or executive officers of the trustee is
a director, officer, partner, employee, appointee, or
representative of the obligor or of any underwriter for the
obligor, identify each such person having any such connection
and state the nature of each such connection.
2
<PAGE>
6. Voting securities of the trustee (including its parent and any affiliate)
owned by the obligor or its officials. Furnish the following information as
to the voting securities of the trustee (including its parent and any
affiliates) owned beneficially by the obligor and each director, partner and
executive officer of the obligor:
As of _______________________ (insert date within 31 days)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Col. A. Col. B. Col. C Col. D
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Percentage of
Voting Securities
Represented by
Amount Owned Amount Given
Name of Owner Title of Class Beneficially in Col. C
</TABLE>
7. Voting securities of the trustee (including its parent and any affiliates)
owned by underwriters or their officials. Furnish the following information
as to the voting securities of the trustee (including its parent and any
affiliates) owned beneficially by each underwriter for the obligor and each
director, partner, and executive officer of each such underwriter:
As of ___________________(insert date within 31 days)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Col. A. Col. B. Col. C Col. D
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Percentage of
Voting Securities
Represented by
Amount Owned Amount Given
Name of Owner Title of Class Beneficially in Col. C
</TABLE>
8. Securities of the obligor owned or held by the trustee (including its parent
and any affiliates). Furnish the following information as to securities of
the obligor owned beneficially or held as collateral security for obligations
default by the trustee (including its parent and any affiliates):
As of ___________________(insert date within 31 days)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Col. A. Col. B. Col. C Col. D
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Amount Owned
Whether the Beneficially or
Securities Are Held as Collateral Percent of
Voting or Security for Class Represented
Nonvoting obligations in .by Amount Given
Title of Class Securities Default in Col. C
</TABLE>
3
<PAGE>
9. Securities of underwriters owned or held by the trustee (including its
parent and any affiliates). If the trustee (including its parent and any
affiliates) owns beneficially or holds as collateral security for
obligations in default any securities of an underwriter for the obligor,
furnish the following information as to each class of securities of such
underwriter any of which are so owned or held by the trustee:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Col. A Col. B Col. C Col. D
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Amount Owned
Beneficially or
Held as Collateral Percent of
Security for Class Represented
Title of Issuer Obligations in by Amount
and Title of Amount Default by Given in
Class Outstanding Trustee Col. C
</TABLE>
10. Ownership or holdings by the trustee (including its parent
and any affiliates) of voting securities of certain affiliates or
security holders of the obligor. If the trustee (including its parent
and any affiliates) owns beneficially or holds as collateral security
for obligations in default voting securities of a person who, to the
knowledge of the trustee (1) owns 10% or more of the voting securities
of the obligor or (2) is an affiliate, other than a subsidiary, of the
obligor, furnish the following information as to the voting securities
of such person:
As of _______________________(insert date within 31 days)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Col. A Col. B Col. C Col. D
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Amount Owned
Beneficially or
Held as Collateral Percent of
Security for Class Represented
Title of Issuer Obligations in by Amount
and Title of Amount Default by Given in
Class Outstanding Trustee Col. C
</TABLE>
11. Ownership or holdings by the trustee (including its parent and
any affiliates) of any securities of a person owning 50 percent or more
of the voting securities of the obligor. If the trustee (including its
parent and any affiliates) owns beneficially or holds as collateral
security for obligations in default any securities of a person who, to
the knowledge of the trustee, owns 50 percent or more of the voting
securities of the obligor, furnish the following information as to each
class of securities of such person any of which are so owned or held by
the trustee (including its parent and affiliates):
As of ______________________(insert date within 31 days)
4
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Col. A Col. B Col. C Col. D
Amount Owned
Beneficially or Percent of
Held as Collateral Class
Title of Issuer Security for Represented by
and Title of Amount Obligations in Amount Given
Class Outstanding Default by Trustee in Col. C
--------------- ----------- ------------------ --------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
</TABLE>
12. Indebtedness of the Obligor to the Trustee. Except as noted in the
instructions, if the obligor is indebted to the trustee, furnish the
following information:
As of ____________________ (insert date with 31 days)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Col. A Col. B Col. C
Amount
Nature of Indebtedness Outstanding Due Date
---------------------- ----------- --------
<S> <C> <C>
</TABLE>
13. Defaults by the Obligor.
a) State whether there is or has been a default with respect to the
securities under this indenture. Explain the nature of any such
default.
b) If the Trustee is a trustee under another indenture under which
any other securities, or certificates of interest or
participation in any other securities, of the obligor are
outstanding, or is trustee for more than one outstanding series
or securities under the indenture, state whether there has been a
default under any such indenture or series, identify the
indenture or series affected, and explain the nature of any such
default.
As of ____________________ (insert date with 31 days)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Col. A Col. B Col. C Col. D
Amount Owned
Beneficially or Percent of
Held as Collateral Class
Title of Issuer Security for Represented by
and Title of Amount Obligations in Amount Given
Class Outstanding Default by Trustee in Col. C
--------------- ----------- ------------------ --------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
</TABLE>
14. Affiliations with the Underwriters. If any underwriter is an affiliate
of the
5
<PAGE>
trustee (including its parent and any affiliates), described each such
affiliation.
15. Foreign Trustee. Identify the order or rule pursuant to which the foreign
trustee is authorized to act as sole trustee under indentures qualified or
to be qualified under the Act.
16. List of Exhibits. List below all exhibits filed as part of this statement of
eligibility.
1. A copy of the Articles of Association of Star Bank, National Association,
as now in effect.
2. A copy of the certificate of authority of The First National Bank of
Cincinnati (now Star Bank, National Association) to commence business
dated September 1, 1922.
3. A copy of the authorization of The First National Bank of Cincinnati
(now Star Bank, National Association) to exercise corporate trust powers.
4. A copy of existing By-Laws to Star Bank, National Association, Cincinnati
(now Star Bank, National Association)
5. The consent of the Trustee required by section 321 (b) of the Trust
Indenture Act of 1939.
6. A copy of the latest report of condition of Star Bank, National
Association, published pursuant to law or the requirements of its
supervising or examining authority.
6
<PAGE>
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, the
Trustee, Star Bank, National Association, a national banking association
organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, has duly
caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of Cincinnati and State
of Ohio on the 5th day of May, 1998.
STAR BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
By: /S/ Robert T. Jones
-------------------------
Robert T. Jones
Senior Trust Officer
7
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 1
Comptroller of the Currency
Administrator of National Banks
Washington, D.C. 20219
CERTIFICATE
I, Eugene A. Ludwig, Comptroller of the Currency, do hereby certify that:
1. The Comptroller of the Currency, pursuant to Revised Statutes 324, et. seq.,
as amended, 12 U.S.C. 1, et seq., as amended, has possession, custody and
control of all records pertaining to the chartering, regulation and supervision
of all National Banking Associations.
2. "Star Bank, National Association", Cincinnati, Ohio, (Charter No.24), is a
National Banking Association formed under the laws of the United States and is
authorized thereunder to transact the business of banking on the date of this
Certificate.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto
subscribed my name and caused my name and
caused my seal of office to be affixed to
(SEAL) these presents at the Treasury Department,
in the City of Washington and District of
Columbia, this 18th day of December, 1996.
(Signed)Eugene A. Ludwig
Comptroller of the Currency
8
<PAGE>
Comptroller of the Currency
Administrator of National Banks
Washington, D.C. 20219
CERTIFICATE
I, Eugene A. Ludwig, Comptroller of the Currency hereby certify that the
document hereto attached is a true and complete copy, as recorded in this Office
of the currently effective Articles of Association for "Star Bank, National
Association", Cincinnati, Ohio, (Charter No. 24).
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto
subscribed my name and caused my seal of
office to be affixed to these presents at
the Treasury Department, in the City of
Washington and District of Columbia, this
(SEAL)
18th day of December, 1996.
(Signed) Eugene A. Ludwig
Comptroller of the Currency
9
<PAGE>
STAR BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
CHARTER NO. 24
ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
FIRST: The title of this Association shall be "Star Bank, National
Association".
SECOND: The main office of the Association shall be in the city of Cincinnati,
County of Hamilton, State of Ohio. The general business of the Association shall
be conducted at its main office and its branches.
THIRD: The Board of Directors of this Association shall consist of not less
than five (5) nor more than twenty-five (25) shareholders, the exact number of
Directors within such minimum and maximum limits to be fixed and determined from
time to time by resolution of a majority of the full Board of Directors or by
resolution of the shareholders at any annual or special meeting thereof. Unless
otherwise provided by the laws of the United States, any vacancy in the Board of
Directors for any reason, including an increase in the number thereof, may be
filled by action of the Board of Directors.
FOURTH: The annual meeting of the shareholders for the election of Directors
and the transaction of whatever other business may be brought before said
meeting shall be held at the main office or such other place as the Board of
Directors may designate, on the day of each year specified thereof by the
Bylaws, but of no election is held on that day, it may be held on any subsequent
day according to the provisions of law; and all elections shall be held
according to the provisions of law; and all elections shall be held according to
such lawful regulations as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors.
FIFTH: The authorized amount of capital stock of this Association shall be
3,640,000 shares of common stock of the par value of five dollars ($5.00) each,
but said capital stack may be increased or decreased from time to time, in
accordance with the provisions of the laws of the United States.
No holder of shares of the capital stock of any class of the Association shall
have any pre-emptive or preferential right of subscription to any shares of any
class of stock of the Association, whether now or hereafter authorized, or to
any obligations convertible into stock of the Association issued or sold, nor
any right of subscription to any thereof other than such, if any, as the Board
of Directors, in its discretion, may from time to time determine and at such
price as the Board of Directors may from time to time fix.
The Association, at any time and from time to time, may authorize and issue debt
obligations, whether or not subordinated, without the approval of the
shareholders.
SIXTH: The Board of Directors shall appoint one of its members President of
this Association, who shall be Chairman of the Board, unless the Board appoints
another Director to be the
10
<PAGE>
Chairman. The Board of Directors shall have the power to appoint one or more
Vice Presidents; and to appoint a Cashier and such other officers and employees
as may be required to transact the business of this Association. The Board of
Directors shall have the power to define the duties of the officers and
employees of the Association; to fix the salaries to be paid to them; to dismiss
them; to require bonds from them and to fix the penalty thereof; to regulate the
manner in which any increase of the capital of the Association shall be made; to
manage and administer the business and affairs of the Association; to make all
bylaws that it may be lawful for them to make and generally to do and perform
all acts that it may be legal for a Board of Directors to do and perform.
SEVENTH: The Board of Directors, without need for approval of shareholders,
shall have the power to change the location of the main office of this
Association to any other place within the limits of Cincinnati, Ohio, without
the approval of the shareholders, and shall have the power to establish or
change the location of any branch or branches of the Association to any other
location, without the approval of the shareholders, but subject to the approval
of the Comptroller of the Currency.
EIGHTH: The corporate existence of this Association shall continue until
terminated in accordance with the laws of the United States.
NINTH: The Board of Directors of this Association, the Chairman of the Board,
the President, or any three of more shareholders owning, in the aggregate, not
less than twenty-five percent of the stock of this Association, may call a
special meeting of shareholders at any time. Unless otherwise provided by the
laws of the United States, a notice of the time, place, and purpose of every
annual and special meeting of the shareholders shall be given by first-class
mail, postage prepaid, mailed at least ten days prior to the date of such
meeting to each shareholder of record at his address as shown upon the books of
this Association.
TENTH: Any person, his heirs, executors, or administrators, may be
indemnified or reimbursed by the Association for reasonable expenses actually
incurred in connection with any action, suit, or proceeding, civil or criminal,
to which he or they shall be made a party by reason of his being or having been
a director, officer, or employee of the Association or of any firm, corporation,
or organization which he served in any such capacity at the request of the
Association. Provided, however, that no person shall be so indemnified or
reimbursed in relation to any matter in such action, suit, or proceeding as to
which he shall finally be adjudged to have been guilty of or liable for gross
negligence, willful misconduct or criminal acts in the performance of his duties
to the Association. And, provided further, that no person shall be so
indemnified or reimbursed in relation to any matter in such action, suit, or
proceeding which has been made the subject of a compromise settlement except
with the approval of a court of competent jurisdiction, or the holders of record
of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Association, or the Board of
Directors, acting by vote of Directors not parties to the same or substantially
the same action, suit or proceeding, constituting a majority of the whole number
of Directors. And, provided further, that no director, officer or employee shall
be so indemnified or reimbursed for expenses, penalties or other payments
incurred in an administrative proceeding or action instituted by an appropriate
bank regulatory agency where said proceeding or action results in a final order
11
<PAGE>
assessing civil money penalties or requiring affirmative action by an individual
or individuals in the form of payments to this Association. The foregoing right
of indemnification shall not be exclusive of other rights to which such person,
his heirs, executors, or administrators, may be entitled as a matter of law. The
Association may, upon the affirmative vote of a majority of its Board of
Directors, purchase insurance for the purpose of indemnifying its directors,
officers and other employees to the extent that such indemnification is allowed
in the preceding paragraph. Such insurance may, but need not, be for the benefit
of all directors, officers, or employees.
ELEVENTH: These Articles of Association may be amended at any regular or special
meeting of the shareholders by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority
of the stock of this Association, unless the vote of the holders of a greater
amount of stock is required by law and in that case by the vote of the holders
of such greater amount.
12
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 2
COPY OF THE CERTIFICATE OF AUTHORITY OF THE TRUSTEE TO COMMENCE BUSINESS:
NO. 24
E Pluribus Unum
TREASURY DEPARTMENT
Office of Comptroller of the Currency
Washington, D.C., September 1, 1992
WHEREAS, the Act of Congress of the United States, entitled, "An Act to
amend section 5136, Revised Statutes of the United States, relating to corporate
powers of associations, so as to provide succession thereof for a period of
ninety-nine years or until dissolved, and to apply said section as so amended to
all national banking association", approved by the President on July 1, 1922,
provided that all national banking associations organized and operating under
any law of the United States on July 1, 1922 should have succession until
ninety-nine years from that date, unless such association should be sooner
dissolved by the act of its shareholders owning two-thirds of its stock, or
unless its franchise should become forfeited by reason of violation of law, or
unless it should be terminated by an Act of Congress hereinafter enacted;
NOW THEREFORE, I, D. R. Crissinger Comptroller of the Currency, do hereby
certify that The First National Bank of Cincinnati and State of Ohio , was
organized and operating under the laws of the United States on July 1, 1922, and
that its corporate existence was extended for the period of ninety-nine years
from that date in accordance with and subject to the condition in the Act of
Congress hereinbefore recited.
(SEAL) IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, witness my hand
and seal of office this first day of September,
1922
(Signed) D. R. Crissinger
----------------------------------------
Comptroller of the Currency
13
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 3
THE AUTHORIZATION OF THE TRUSTEE TO EXERCISE CORPORATE TRUST POWERS:
FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD
Washington, D.C.
October 9, 1919
Pursuant to authority vested in the Federal Reserve Board by the Act of
Congress approved December 23, 1913, known as the Federal Reserve Act, as
amended by the Act of September 26, 1918, the
FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CINCINNATI
has been granted the right to act, when not in contravention of State or local
law, as TRUSTEE, EXECUTOR, ADMINISTRATOR, REGISTRAR OF STOCKS AND BONDS,
GUARDIAN OF ESTATES, ASSIGNEE, RECEIVER OR IN ANY OTHER FIDUCIARY CAPACITY IN
WHICH STATE BANKS, TRUST COMPANIES OR OTHER CORPORATIONS WHICH COME INTO
COMPETITION WITH NATIONAL BANKS ARE PERMITTED TO ACT UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE
OF OHIO. The exercise of such rights shall be subject to regulations prescribed
by the Federal Reserve Board.
Federal Reserve Board,
By W. P. G. Harding
Governor.
ATTEST:
W. T. Chapman
Secretary.
STATE OF OHIO
DEPARTMENT OF BANKS AND BANKING
Certificate of Authority No. 17
NATIONAL BANKS
I, Philip C. Berg, Superintendent of Banks, do hereby certify that the
First National Bank of Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio has complied with all
the requirements provided by law and is authorized to transact the business of a
trust company and to perform all the functions granted to such companies by the
laws of this state.
Given under my hand and official Seal at Columbus,
Ohio, this twenty-fifth day of November, A.D. 1919
Philip C. Berg,
Superintendent of Banks.
(SEAL)
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 4
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BY-LAWS
-------
STAR BANK, N.A., CINCINNATI
---------------------------
ARTICLE I
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MEETINGS OF SHAREHOLDERS
------------------------
SECTION 1. ANNUAL MEETING
The annual meeting of shareholders shall be held in the main banking house of
the Association at 11:00 a.m. on the second Tuesday in February of each year.
Notice of such meeting shall be mailed to shareholders not less than ten (10)
nor more than sixty (60) days prior to the meeting date.
SECTION 2. SPECIAL MEETINGS
Special meetings of shareholders may be called and held at such times and upon
such notice as is specified in the Articles of Association.
SECTION 3. QUORUM
A majority of the outstanding capital stock represented in person or by proxy
shall constitute a quorum of any meeting of the shareholders, unless otherwise
provided by law, but less than a quorum may adjourn any meeting, from time to
time, and the meeting amy be held as adjourned without further notice.
SECTION 4. INSPECTORS
The Board of Directors may, and in the event of its failure so to do, the
Chairman of the Board shall appoint Inspectors of Election who shall determine
the presence of a quorum, the validity of proxies, and the results of all
elections and all other matters voted upon by shareholders at all annual and
special meetings of shareholders.
SECTION 5. VOTING
In deciding on questions at meetings of shareholders, except in the election of
directors, each shareholder shall be entitled to one vote for each share of
stock held. A majority of votes cast shall decide each matter submitted to the
shareholders, except where by law a larger vote is required. In all elections
of directors, each shareholder shall have the right to vote the number of shares
owned by him for as many persons as there are directors to be elected, or to
cumulate such shares and give one candidate as many votes as the number of
directors multiplied by the number
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<PAGE>
of his shares equal, or to distribute them on the same principle among as many
candidates as he shall think fit.
ARTICLE II
----------
SECTION 1. TERM OF OFFICE
The directors of this Association shall hold office for one year and until their
successors are duly elected and qualified.
SECTION 2. REGULAR MEETINGS
The organization meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held as soon as
practical following the annual meeting of shareholders at the main banking
house. Other regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held without
notice at 11:00 a.m. on the second Tuesday of each month except February, at the
main banking house, or, provided notice is given by telegram, letter, telephone
or in person to every Director, at such time and place as may be designated in
the notice of the meeting. When any regular meeting of the Board falls on a
holiday, the meeting shall be held on the next banking business day, unless the
Board shall designate some other day.
SECTION 3. SPECIAL MEETINGS
Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the Chairman of the
Board of the Association, or at the request of three or more Directors. Notice
of the time, place and purposes of such meetings shall be given by telegram,
letter, telephone or in person to every Director.
SECTION 4. QUORUM
A majority of the entire membership of the Board shall constitute a quorum at
any meeting of the Board.
SECTION 5. NECESSARY VOTE
A majority of those Directors present and voting at any meeting of the Board of
Directors shall decide each matter considered, except where otherwise required
by law or the Articles or By-Laws of this Association.
SECTION 6. COMPENSATION
Directors, excluding full-time employees of the Bank, shall receive such
reasonable compensation as may be fixed from time to time by the Board of
Directors.
SECTION 7. ELECTION-AGE LIMITATION
No person shall be elected or reelected a Director after reaching his seventieth
(70th) birthday, provided that any person who is a Director on December 10,
1985, may continue to be reelected a Director until he reaches his seventy-fifth
(75th) birthday.
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<PAGE>
SECTION 8 RETIREMENT-AGE LIMITATION
Every Director of the Bank shall retire no later than the first month next
following his seventieth (70th) birthday, except for any person who was a
Director on December 10, 1985, who shall retire not later that the first of the
next month following his seventy-fifth (75th) birthday.
SECTION 9 DIRECTORS EMERITUS
The Board shall have the right from time to time to choose as Directors Emeritus
persons who have had prior service as members of the Board and who may receive
such compensation as shall be fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE III
-----------
OFFICERS
--------
SECTION 1 WHO SHALL CONSTITUTE
The Officers of the Association shall be a Chairman of the Board, a President, a
Secretary, and other officers such as Chairman of the Executive Committee, Vice
Chairman of the Board, Executive Vice Presidents, Senior Vice Presidents, Vice
Presidents, Assistant Secretaries, Trust Officers, Trust Investment Officers,
Trust Real Estate Officers, Assistant Trust Officers, a Controller, Assistant
Controller, an Auditor and Assistant Auditors, as the Board may appoint from
time to time. Any person may hold two offices. The Chairman of the Board, all
Vice Chairmen of the Board and the President shall at all times be members of
the Board of Directors.
SECTION 2 TERM OF OFFICE
All officers shall be elected for and shall hold office for one year and until
their successors are elected and qualified, subject to the right in the Board of
Directors by a majority vote of the entire membership to discharge any officer
at any time.
SECTION 3 CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD (Amended 12/13/88-see attachment)
The Chairman of the Board shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the
Association and shall have all duties, responsibilities and powers of the Chief
Executive Officer. He shall, when present, preside at all meetings of
shareholders and directors and shall be ex officio a member of all committees of
the Board. He shall name all members of the committees of the Board, subject to
the confirmation thereof by the Board.
In the event that there is a vacancy in the position of President or in the
event of the absence or incapacity of the President, the Chairman may appoint,
or in the event of his failure to do so, the Board of Directors or the Executive
Committee thereof may designate any Vice Chairman of the
17
<PAGE>
Board, any Executive Vice President or any Senior Vice President of the
Association temporarily to exercise the powers and perform the duties of the
Chairman as Chief Executive Officer when the Chairman is absent or
incapacitated.
The Board of Directors shall have the power to elect a Chairman of the Executive
Committee. Any such Chairman of the Executive Committee shall participate in
the formation of the policies of the Association and shall have such other
duties as may be assigned to him from time to time by the President or by the
Board of Directors.
SECTION 4 PRESIDENT (amended 12/13/88-see attachment)
The President shall participate in the formation and supervision of the policies
and operations of the Association and shall perform such other duties as may be
assigned to him from time to time by the Board of Directors or by the Chairman
of the Board. In the event that there is a vacancy in the position of the
Chairman of the Board, the President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the
Association and shall have all the powers and perform all the duties of the
Chairman of the Board, including the same power to name temporarily a Chief
Executive Officer to serve in the absence of the President.
SECTION 5 CHAIRMAN OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
The Board of Directors shall have the power to elect a Chairman of the Executive
Committee. Any such Chairman of the Executive Committee shall participate in
the formation of the policies of the Association and shall have such other
duties as may be assigned to him from time to time by the President or by the
Board of Directors.
SECTION 6 VICE CHAIRMEN OF THE BOARD
The Board of Directors shall have the power to elect one or more Vice Chairmen
of the Board of Directors. Any such Vice Chairmen of the Board shall
participate in the formation of the policies of the Association and shall have
such other duties as may be assigned to him from time to time by the Chairman of
the Board or by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 7 OTHER OFFICERS
The Secretary and all other officers appointed by the Board of Directors shall
have such duties as defined by law and as may from time to time be assigned to
them by the Chief Executive Officer or the Board of Directors.
SECTION 8 RETIREMENT
Every officer of the Association shall retire not later than the first of the
month next following his sixty-fifth (65th) birthday. The Board of Directors
may, in its discretion, set the retirement date and terms of retirement of an
officer at a date later than provided above.
18
<PAGE>
ARTICLE IV
COMMITTEES
SECTION 1 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
There shall be a standing committee of Directors in this Association to be known
as the Executive Committee. This Committee shall meet at 11:00 a.m. on the
first and fourth Tuesday of each month. It shall have all of the powers of the
Board of Directors between meetings of the Board, except as the Board only by
law is authorized to perform or exercise. All actions of the Executive
Committee shall be reported to the Board of Directors. In the event that any
member of the Executive Committee is unable to attend a meeting of that
committee, the Chairman of the Board or the President may, at his discretion,
appoint another Director to attend said meeting of the Executive Committee and
for that meeting to serve as a member of the Executive Committee with full power
to act in place of the absent regular member of the committee.
SECTION 2 COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
There shall be a standing committee of directors of this Association to be known
as the Compensation Committee who shall review the compensation of all Executive
Officers and those officers who participate in the Profit Sharing Pool as well
as fees for directors of the Association. They will recommend specific
compensation arrangements to the Board of Directors for their confirmation.
SECTION 3 COMMITTEE ON AUDIT
There shall be a standing committee of Directors of this Association to be known
as the Committee on Audit, none of whose members shall be active officers of the
Association. This Committee shall make or cause to be made a suitable
examination of the affairs of the Association and the Trust Department at least
once during each period of twelve months. The results of such examination shall
be reported in writing to the Board at the next regular meeting thereafter
stating whether the Association and/or Trust Department is in a sound solvent
condition, whether adequate internal audit controls and procedures are being
maintained and make such recommendations as it deems advisable.
SECTION 4 TRUST COMMITTEE
There shall be a standing committee of Directors of this Association to be known
as the Trust Committee. The Trust Committee shall determine policies of the
Department and review actions of the Trust Investment Committee. All actions of
the Trust Committee shall be reported to the Board of Directors.
SECTION 5 TRUST INVESTMENT COMMITTEE
There shall be a standing committee of this Association to be known as the Trust
Investment Committee composed of officers of the Association. The Trust
Investment Committee or such
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<PAGE>
officers as may be duly designated by the Trust Investment Committee, shall pass
upon the acceptance of all trusts, the closing out or relinquishment of all
trusts and the making, retention, or disposition of all investments of trust
funds in conformity with policies established by the Trust Committee. Actions of
the Trust Investment Committee shall be reported to the Trust Committee.
SECTION 6 PENSION COMMITTEE
There shall be a standing committee of directors or officers of this
Association to be known as the Pension Committee, who shall have the powers and
duties as set forth in the Association's Employees' Pension Plan. A report of
the condition of the pension fund shall be submitted annually to the Board of
Directors.
SECTION 7 OTHER COMMITTEES
The Chairman may appoint, from time to time, other committees for such purposes
and with such powers as he or the Board may direct.
ARTICLE V
SEAL
SECTION 1 IMPRESSION
The following is an impression of the seal of this Association.
August 25, 1988
20
<PAGE>
RESOLVED, That Section 3 of Article III of the By-Laws of the Bank shall be
amended to read:
SECTION 3 CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
The Chairman of the Board shall have general executive powers and duties and
shall perform such other duties as amy be assigned from time to time by the
Board of Directors. In addition, unless the Board of Directors shall have
designated the President to be the Chief Executive Officer, the Chairman of the
Board shall be the Chief Executive Officer and shall have all the powers and
duties of the Chief Executive Officer. He shall, when present, preside at all
meetings of shareholders and directors and shall be ex officio a member of all
committees of the Board. He shall name all members of the committees of the
Board, subject to the confirmation thereof by the Board.
If he is Chief Executive Officer, in the event that there is a vacancy in the
position of President or in the event of the absence or incapacity of the
President, the Chairman may appoint, or in the event of his failure to do so,
the Board of Directors or the Executive Committee thereof may designate, any
Vice Chairman of the Board, any Executive Vice President or any Senior Vice
President of the Association temporarily to exercise the powers and perform the
duties of the Chairman as Chief Executive Officer when the Chairman is absent or
incapacitated.
If the President has been designated Chief Executive Officer by the Board of
Directors, in the event that there is a vacancy in the position of the President
or in the event of the absence or incapacity of the President, the Chairman
shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Association and shall have all the
powers and perform all the duties of the President, including the powers to name
temporarily a Chief Executive Officer to serve in the absence of the Chairman.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That Section 4 of Article III of the By-Laws of the bank shall
be amended to read:
SECTION 4 PRESIDENT
The President shall have general executive powers and duties and shall perform
such other duties as may be assigned from time to time by the Board of
Directors. In addition, if designated by the Board of Directors, the President
shall be the Chief Executive Officer and shall have all the powers and duties of
the Chief Executive Officer, including the same power to name temporarily a
Chief Executive Officer to serve in the absence of the President if there is a
vacancy in the position of the Chairman or in the event of the absence or
incapacity of the Chairman.
If the Chairman has been designated Chief Executive Officer by the Board of
Directors, in the event that there is a vacancy in the position of the Chairman
of the Board or in the event of the absence or incapacity of the Chairman of the
Board, the President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Association and
shall have all the powers and perform all the duties of the Chairman of the
Board, including the same power to name temporarily a Chief Executive Officer to
serve in the absence of the President.
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<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 5
THE CONSENT OF THE TRUSTEE
REQUIRED BY 321 (b) OF THE ACT
Star Bank, National Association, the Trustee executing the statement of
eligibility and qualification to which this Exhibit is attached does hereby
consent that reports of examinations of the undersigned by Federal, State,
Territorial or District authorities may be furnished by such authorities to the
Securities and Exchange Commission upon request therefor in accordance with the
provisions of 321 (b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.
STAR BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
May 5, 1998 BY: /S/ Robert T. Jones
----------- ------------------------------
Date Robert T. Jones
Senior Trust Officer
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<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 6
Consolidated Report of Condition
Star Bank, National Association
for March 31, 1998
All schedules are to be reported in thousands of dollars. Unless otherwise
indicated, report the amount outstanding as of the last business day of the
quarter.
Balance Sheet
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Dollar Amounts in Thousands
<S> <C>
ASSETS
1. Cash and balances due from depository
institutions
a. Noninterest-bearing balances and currency
and coin $ 569,175
b. Interest-bearing balances 13,174
2. Securities:
a. Held-to-maturity securities 146,006
b. Available-for-sale securities 2,035,442
3. Federal funds sold and securities
purchased under agreements to resell
in domestic offices of the bank and of
its Edge and Agreements subsidiaries,
and in YBFs 29,300
a. Federal funds sold 0
b. Securities purchased under
agreements to resell 0
4. Loans and lease financing
receivables: 9,702,966
a. Loans and leases, net of
unearned income 145,439
b. LESS: Allowance for loan and
lease losses
c. LESS: Allocated transfer risk
reserve
d. Loans and leases, net of unearned income,
allowance, and reserve 9,557,527
5. Trading assets 3,307
6. Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized
leases) 176,194
7. Other real estate owned 5,196
8. Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and
associated companies 4,332
9. Customers' liability to this bank on acceptances
outstanding 11,113
10. Intangible assets 621,615
11. Other assets 369,312
12. Total assets $13,541,693
</TABLE>
23
<PAGE>
Consolidated Report of Condition Star Bank, National Association
for March 31, 1998 Continued
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Dollar Amounts Dollar Amounts
in Thousands in Thousands
<S> <C> <C>
LIABILITIES
13. Deposits:
a. In domestic offices $10,346,592
(1) Noninterest-bearing $1,944,061
(2) Interest-bearing 8,402,531
b. In foreign offices, Edge and Agreement subsidiaries, and IBFs 111,323
(1) Noninterest-bearing 0
(2) Interest-bearing 111,323
14. Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to
repurchase in domestic offices of the bank and of its Edge and
Agreement subsidiaries, and in IBFs: 1,091,147
a. Federal funds purchased
b. Securities sold under agreements to repurchase
15. a. Demand notes issued to the U.S. Treasury 1,029
b. Trading liabilities 0
16. Other borrowed money:
a. With original maturity of one year or less 7,308
b. With original maturity of more than one year 102,370
17. Mortgage indebtedness and obligations under capitalizated leases
18. Bank's liability on acceptances executed and outstanding 11,113
19. Subordinated notes and debentures 247,757
20. Other liabilities 233,363
21. Total liabilities 12,152,002
22. Limited-life preferred stock and related surplus 0
23. Perpetual preferred stock and related surplus 0
24. Common Stock 18,200
25. Surplus [exclude all surplus related to preferred stock] 810,707
26. a. Undivided profits and capital reserves 551,824
b. Net unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale 8,960
securities
27. Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments 0
28. Total equity capital 1,389,691
29. Total liabilities, limited-life preferred stock, and equity capital $13,541,693
</TABLE>
24
