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AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON MARCH 15, 1999.
REGISTRATION NO. 333-
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
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FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
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THE KROGER CO.
(EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)
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OHIO 31-0345740
(STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION) IDENTIFICATION NO.)
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1014 VINE STREET
CINCINNATI, OHIO 45202
(513) 762-4000
(ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE, OR
REGISTRANT'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)
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PAUL W. HELDMAN, ESQ.
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, SECRETARY AND GENERAL COUNSEL
THE KROGER CO.
1014 VINE STREET
CINCINNATI, OHIO 45202
(513) 762-4000
(NAME, ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE,
OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)
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APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC: From time to
time after the effective date of this Registration Statement.
If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered
pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following
box. [ ]
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a
delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest
reinvestment plans, check the following box. [X]
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box
and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier
effective registration statement for the same offering. [ ]
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c)
under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement
for the same offering. [ ]
If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434,
please check the following box. [ ]
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
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PROPOSED MAXIMUM PROPOSED MAXIMUM
TITLE OF EACH CLASS OF OFFERING PRICE PER AGGREGATE OFFERING AMOUNT OF
SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED AMOUNT TO BE REGISTERED UNIT(1) PRICE(2) REGISTRATION FEE
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Debt Securities(4)(9)...............
Preferred Stock(5)(6)(9)............
Depositary Shares(6)(9).............
Common Stock, $1 par value per share
(including Preferred Stock
Purchase Rights)(7)(9)............ (3) (3) (3) (3)
Warrants(8)(9)......................
Total....................... $2,000,000,000(9) 100% $2,000,000,000(9) $556,000(11)
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(1) The proposed maximum offering price per unit will be determined by us in
connection with the issuance of the securities.
(2) The proposed maximum aggregate offering price has been estimated solely to
calculate the registration fee under Rule 457(o).
(3) Not applicable under General Instruction II.D. of Form S-3.
(4) Subject to note (10) below, we are registering an indeterminate principal
amount of Debt Securities. If any Debt Securities are issued at an original
issue discount, then the offering price will be in such greater principal
amount as will result in an aggregate initial offering price not to exceed
$2,000,000,000 less the dollar amount of any securities previously issued.
(5) Subject to note (10) below, we are registering an indeterminate number of
shares of Preferred Stock.
(6) Subject to note (10) below, we are registering an indeterminate number of
Depositary Shares to be evidenced by Depositary Receipts issued under a
Deposit Agreement. If we elect to offer fractional interests in shares of
Preferred Stock, Depositary Receipts will be distributed for such
fractional interests and the shares of Preferred Stock will be issued to
the depositary under the Deposit Agreement.
(7) Subject to note (10) below, we are registering an indeterminate number of
shares of Common Stock. We are also registering an indeterminate number of
shares of Common Stock to be issued, upon conversion or redemption of
Preferred Stock or Debt Securities. Includes associated Preferred Stock
Purchase Rights (the "Rights"). Until the occurrence of certain prescribed
events, none of which has occurred, the Rights are not exercisable, are
evidenced by the certificates representing the Common Stock, and will be
transferred only with the Common Stock.
(8) Subject to note (10) below, we are registering an indeterminate amount and
number of Warrants, representing rights to purchase Debt Securities,
Preferred Stock or Common Stock.
(9) Subject to note (10) below, we are registering an indeterminate number of
shares of Debt Securities, Preferred Stock, Depositary Shares and Common
Stock, to be issued upon conversion or redemption, or upon the exercise of
Warrants, Debt Securities, Preferred Stock or Depositary Shares.
(10) In no event, will the aggregate initial offering price of all securities
exceed $2,000,000,000 or the equivalent in one or more foreign currencies,
foreign currency units, or composite currencies. The aggregate amount of
Common Stock registered is further limited to that which is permissible
under Rule 415(a)(4) under the Securities Act. The registered securities
may be sold separately or as units with other registered securities.
(11) Of this amount, $27,800 previously paid relating to the amount of
Securities remaining and carried forward under Rule 429.
PURSUANT TO RULE 429 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, THIS
REGISTRATION STATEMENT CONTAINS A PROSPECTUS THAT ALSO RELATES TO $100,000,000
OF SECURITIES REMAINING AS REGISTERED UNDER REGISTRATION STATEMENT NO. 333-50269
TO THE EXTENT REMAINING ON THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT.
THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR
DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT SHALL
FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS REGISTRATION
STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(A) OF
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME
EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, ACTING
PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(A), MAY DETERMINE.
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THE INFORMATION IN THIS PROSPECTUS IS NOT COMPLETE AND
MAY BE CHANGED. WE MAY NOT SELL THESE SECURITIES UNTIL
THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FILED WITH THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION IS EFFECTIVE. THIS PROSPECTUS
IS NOT AN OFFER TO SELL THESE SECURITIES AND IT IS NOT
SOLICITING AN OFFER TO BUY THESE SECURITIES IN ANY
STATE WHERE THE OFFER OR SALE IS NOT PERMITTED.
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION DATED MARCH 15, 1999
PROSPECTUS
$2,000,000,000
THE KROGER CO.
DEBT SECURITIES
PREFERRED STOCK
DEPOSITARY SHARES
COMMON STOCK
WARRANTS
We will provide specific terms of these securities in supplements to this
prospectus. You should read this prospectus and any supplement carefully before
you invest.
We may offer any of the following securities from time to time:
- debt securities;
- preferred stock;
- depositary shares relating to preferred stock;
- common stock; and
- warrants to purchase debt securities, common stock or preferred stock.
------------------------
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities
commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this
prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a
criminal offense.
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March , 1999
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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PAGE
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About This Prospectus....................................... 2
Where You Can Find More Information......................... 2
The Kroger Co............................................... 4
Consolidated Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges............. 4
Use of Proceeds............................................. 4
Plan of Distribution........................................ 5
Description of Debt Securities.............................. 5
Description of Capital Stock................................ 9
Description of the Depositary Shares........................ 12
Description of the Warrants................................. 15
Experts..................................................... 17
Legal Opinions.............................................. 17
</TABLE>
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the
SEC utilizing a "shelf" registration process. Under this shelf process, we may
sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus in one or
more offerings up to a total dollar amount of $2,000,000,000. This prospectus
provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each
time we sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will
contain specific information about the terms of that offering. The prospectus
supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this
prospectus. You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement
together with additional information described under the heading "Where You Can
Find More Information."
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
Kroger files annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy statements and
other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any document we file at
the SEC's public reference rooms at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C.
20549, Citicorp Center, 500 West Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois
60661-2511, and 7 World Trade Center, Suite 1300, New York, New York 10048.
Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public
reference rooms. Our SEC filings are also available to the public from the SEC's
Web site at http://www.sec.gov.
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The SEC allows us to "incorporate by reference" the information we file
with them. This means that we can disclose important information to you by
referring you to these documents. The information incorporated by reference is
an important part of this prospectus, and information that we file later with
the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. We incorporate
by reference the documents listed below, which we have already filed with the
SEC, and any future filings we make with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14
or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 until we sell all of the
securities.
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KROGER SEC FILINGS (FILE NO. 1-303) PERIOD
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Annual Report on Form 10-K......... Year ended December 27, 1997 (as
amended on April 27, 1998).
Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q..... Quarters ended March 21, 1998; June
13, 1998; and October 3, 1998 (as
amended on March 3, 1999).
Current Reports on Form 8-K........ January 22, 1998; February 25, 1998;
April 15, 1998; May 11, 1998; June
26, 1998; July 15, 1998; October 20,
1998; October 22, 1998; December 8,
1998; December 11, 1998; January 8,
1999; January 15, 1999; and January
28, 1999.
Registration Statement on Form
8-A/A, dated April 4, 1997, as
amended on Form 8-A/A, dated
October 18, 1998................... Description of preferred stock
purchase rights
</TABLE>
You may request a copy of these filings, other than any exhibits, unless we
have specifically incorporated by reference an exhibit in this prospectus, at no
cost, by writing or telephoning us at the following address:
The Kroger Co.
1014 Vine Street
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202-1100
(513) 762-4000
Attention: Paul Heldman
This prospectus is part of a registration statement we filed with the SEC.
We have incorporated into this registration statement exhibits that include a
form of proposed underwriting agreement and indenture. You should read the
exhibits carefully for provisions that may be important to you.
You should rely on the information incorporated by reference or provided in
this prospectus or any prospectus supplement. We have not authorized anyone to
provide you with different information. We are not making an offer of these
securities in any state where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume
that the information in this prospectus or the documents incorporated by
reference is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of this
prospectus or those documents.
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THE KROGER CO.
Kroger was founded in 1883 and incorporated in Ohio in 1902. As of December
27, 1997, we were the largest grocery retailer in the United States based on
annual sales. We also manufacture and process food that our supermarkets sell.
Our principal executive offices are located at 1014 Vine Street, Cincinnati,
Ohio 45202-1100, and our telephone number is (513) 762-4000.
As of October 3, 1998, we operated 1,398 supermarkets, most of which are
leased. Of those, we operated 1,138 supermarkets principally under the Kroger
name in the Midwestern and Southeastern United States. As of September 26, 1998,
Dillon Companies, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kroger, operated 260
supermarkets directly or through its wholly-owned subsidiaries. The Dillon
supermarkets, principally located in Colorado, Kansas, Arizona, and Missouri,
operate under the names "King Soopers," "Dillon Food Stores," "Fry's Food
Stores," "City Market," "Gerbes Supermarkets," and "Sav-Mor."
As of September 26, 1998, we operated 811 convenience stores under the
trade names of "Kwik Shop," "Quik Stop Markets," "Tom Thumb Food Stores,"
"Turkey Hill Minit Markets," "Loaf 'N Jug," and "Mini Mart." These convenience
stores offer a limited assortment of staple food items and general merchandise
and, in most cases, sell gasoline.
CONSOLIDATED RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
The table below presents our consolidated ratio of earnings to fixed
charges for the periods shown:
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THREE QUARTERS ENDED FISCAL YEARS ENDED
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OCTOBER 3, DECEMBER 27, DECEMBER 28, DECEMBER 30, DECEMBER 30, JANUARY 1,
1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1994
(40 WEEKS) (52 WEEKS) (52 WEEKS) (52 WEEKS) (52 WEEKS) (52 WEEKS)
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2.2 2.5 2.2 2.0 1.8 1.5
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"Earnings" includes:
- earnings before tax expense;
- cumulative effect of changes in accounting; and
- extraordinary loss, plus fixed charges,
and excludes capitalized interest.
"Fixed charges" includes:
- interest, including capitalized interest, on all indebtedness;
- amortization of deferred financing costs; and
- that portion of rental expense that we believe is representative of
interest.
USE OF PROCEEDS
We will use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities to repay
amounts under our revolving credit facilities, to retire debt, and for other
general corporate purposes.
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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
We may sell the securities in any one or more of the following ways:
- directly to investors;
- to investors through agents or dealers;
- through underwriting syndicates led by one or more managing underwriters;
and
- through one or more underwriters acting alone.
If we use underwriters in the sale, the obligations of the underwriters to
purchase the securities will be subject to conditions. The underwriters will be
obligated to purchase all the securities offered, if any are purchased. The
underwriters will acquire the securities for their own account. The underwriters
may resell the securities in one or more transactions, including negotiated
transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined
at the time of sale. The underwriters may change from time to time any initial
public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or re-allowed or
paid to dealers.
We may use agents in the sale of securities. Unless indicated in the
prospectus supplement, the agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the
period of its appointment.
If we use a dealer in the sale of the securities, we will sell the
securities to the dealer as principal. The dealer may then resell the securities
to the public at varying prices it determines at the time of resale.
We also may sell the securities in connection with a remarketing upon their
purchase, in accordance with a redemption or repayment, by a remarketing firm
acting as principal for its own account or as our agent. Remarketing firms may
be deemed to be underwriters in connection with the securities they remarket.
We may authorize underwriters, dealers or agents to solicit offers to
purchase the securities under a delayed delivery contract providing for payment
and delivery at a future date.
We will identify any underwriters or agents and describe their
compensation, including any discounts or commissions, in a prospectus
supplement. Underwriters, dealers and agents that participate in the
distribution of the offered securities may be underwriters as defined in the
Securities Act of 1933. Any discounts or commissions received by them from us
and any profit on the resale of the securities by them may be treated as
underwriting discounts and commissions.
We may have agreements with the underwriters, dealers and agents to
indemnify them against some civil liabilities, including liabilities under the
Securities Act of 1933, or to contribute to payments that the underwriters,
dealers or agents may be required to make. Underwriters, dealers or agents may
engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us in the ordinary course
of their business.
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
This prospectus describes the terms and provisions of the debt securities.
When we offer to sell a particular series of debt securities, we will describe
the specific terms of the securities in a supplement to this prospectus. The
prospectus supplement also will indicate
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whether the general terms and provisions described in this prospectus apply to
the particular series of debt securities.
The debt securities will be issued under an indenture between Kroger and a
trustee to be selected by us. The indenture allows us to have different trustees
for each debt security offering.
We have summarized the material terms of the indenture below. The indenture
is included as an exhibit to the registration statement for these securities
that we have filed with the SEC. You should read the indenture for the
provisions that are important to you.
PRINCIPAL TERMS OF THE DEBT SECURITIES
The debt securities will rank equally and ratably with all of our other
unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness.
A prospectus supplement relating to any series of debt securities being
offered will include specific terms relating to that series of debt securities.
These terms will include some or all of the following:
- their type and title;
- their total principal amount and currency or currency unit;
- the denominations in which they are authorized to be issued;
- the percentage of their principal amount at which they will be issued;
- the date on which they will mature;
- if they bear interest, the interest rate or the method by which the
interest rate will be determined;
- the times at which any interest will be payable or the manner of
determining the interest payment dates;
- any optional or mandatory redemption periods and the redemption or
purchase price;
- any sinking fund requirements;
- any special United States federal income tax considerations;
- whether they are to be issued in the form of one or more temporary or
permanent global securities and, if so, the identity of the depositary
for the global securities;
- any information with respect to book-entry procedures;
- the manner in which the amount of any payments of principal and interest
determined by reference to an index are determined; and
- any other specific terms not inconsistent with the indenture.
DENOMINATIONS, REGISTRATION, TRANSFER AND PAYMENT
We will issue the debt securities in registered form without coupons or in
the form of one or more global securities, as described below under "Global
securities." We will issue registered securities denominated in U.S. dollars
only in denominations of $1,000 or any integral multiple of $1,000. We will
issue global securities in a denomination equal to the total principal amount of
outstanding debt securities of the series represented by the global
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security. We will describe the denomination of debt securities denominated in a
foreign or composite currency in a prospectus supplement.
You may present registered securities for registration of transfer at the
office of the registrar or at the office of any transfer agent designated by us.
We will pay principal and any premium and interest on registered securities
at the office of the paying agent. We may choose to make any interest payment
(1) by check mailed to the holder's address appearing in the register or (2) by
wire transfer to an account maintained by the holder as specified in the
register. We will make interest payments to the person in whose name the debt
security is registered at the close of business on the day or days specified by
us.
The trustee's principal office in the City of New York, Chicago,
Cincinnati, or other location, will be designated as the sole paying agent for
payments on registered securities.
GLOBAL SECURITIES
We will deposit global securities with the depositary identified in the
prospectus supplement. A global security is a security, typically held by a
depositary, that represents the beneficial interests of a number of purchasers
of the security.
After we issue a global security, the depositary will credit on its
book-entry registration and transfer system the respective principal amounts of
the debt securities represented by the global security to the accounts of
persons that have accounts with the depositary. These account holders are known
as "participants." The underwriters or agents participating in the distribution
of the debt securities will designate the accounts to be credited. Only a
participant or a person that holds an interest through a participant may be the
beneficial owner of a global security. Ownership of beneficial interests in the
global security will be shown on, and the transfer of that ownership will be
effected only through, records maintained by the depositary and its
participants.
We and the trustee will treat the depositary or its nominee as the sole
owner or holder of the debt securities represented by a global security. Except
as set forth below, owners of beneficial interests in a global security will not
be entitled to have the debt securities represented by the global security
registered in their names. They also will not receive or be entitled to receive
physical delivery of the debt securities in definitive form and will not be
considered the owners or holders of the debt securities.
Principal, any premium and any interest payments on debt securities
represented by a global security registered in the name of a depositary or its
nominee will be made to the depositary or its nominee as the registered owner of
the global security. None of Kroger, the trustee or any paying agent will have
any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or
payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in the global
security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to
the beneficial ownership interests.
We expect that the depositary, upon receipt of any payments, will
immediately credit participants' accounts with payments in amounts proportionate
to their respective beneficial interests in the principal amount of the global
security as shown on the depositary's records. We also expect that payments by
participants to owners of beneficial interests in the global security will be
governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is the case with
the securities held for the accounts of customers registered in "street names"
and will be the responsibility of the participants.
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If the depositary is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as
depositary and a successor depositary is not appointed by us within ninety days,
we will issue registered securities in exchange for the global security. In
addition, we may at any time in our sole discretion determine not to have any of
the debt securities of a series represented by global securities. In that event,
we will issue debt securities of that series in definitive form in exchange for
the global securities.
EVENTS OF DEFAULT
When we use the term "Event of Default" in the indenture, here are examples
of what we mean:
- we fail to pay the principal or any premium on any debt security when
due;
- we fail to deposit any sinking fund payment when due;
- we fail to pay interest when due on any security for 30 days;
- we fail to comply with any other covenant in the debt securities and this
failure continues for 60 days after we receive written notice of it;
- we default in any of our other indebtedness in excess of $50,000,000, and
that results in an acceleration of maturity; or
- we take specified actions relating to our bankruptcy, insolvency or
reorganization.
The supplemental indenture or the form of security for a particular series
of debt securities may include additional Events of Default or changes to the
Events of Default described above. You should refer to the prospectus supplement
for the Events of Default relating to a particular series of debt securities. A
default under one series of debt securities will not necessarily be a default
under another series.
If an Event of Default for debt securities of any series occurs and is
continuing, the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of
all of the debt securities of that series outstanding may require us to
immediately repay all of the principal and interest due on the debt securities
of that series. The holders of a majority in principal amount of all of the debt
securities of that series may rescind this accelerated payment requirement, if
the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree by a court and if
all existing Events of Default have been cured or waived.
If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the trustee may pursue any
remedy available to it to collect payment or to enforce the performance of any
provision of the debt securities or the indenture.
The holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities may
generally waive an existing default and its consequences.
MODIFICATION OF THE INDENTURE
The indenture may be amended without the consent of any holder of debt
securities:
- to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency;
- to permit a successor to assume our obligations under the indenture;
- to add additional covenants for the benefit of holders;
- to add additional Events of Default;
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- to add or change provisions necessary to facilitate the issuance of
securities; or
- to entitle the securities to the benefit of security.
The indenture may be amended with the written consent of the holders of at
least 50% in principal amount of the debt securities of the series affected by
the amendment. Holders of at least 50% in principal amount of the debt
securities may waive our compliance with any provision of the indenture or the
debt securities by giving notice to the trustee.
However, no amendment or waiver that
- changes the maturity of principal or any installment of principal or
interest;
- reduces the amount of principal or interest or premium payable on
redemption;
- reduces the amount of debt securities whose holders must consent to an
amendment or waiver;
- modifies provisions related to rights of holders to redeem securities at
their option; or
- changes other rights of holders as specifically identified in the
indenture
will be effective against any holder without the holder's consent.
OTHER DEBT SECURITIES
In addition to the debt securities described above, we may issue
subordinated debt securities that rank junior to our senior debt securities.
These debt securities will be described in a prospectus supplement and will be
issued pursuant to an indenture entered into between Kroger and a trustee that
we select. The indenture will be filed with the SEC and qualified under the
Trust Indenture Act.
OTHER LIMITATIONS
The prospectus supplement may contain provisions that limit our ability to
consolidate or merge with other companies. It also may contain provisions that
limit our right to incur liens and to engage in sale and leaseback transactions.
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
Our Amended Articles of Incorporation authorize us to issue 1,000,000,000
shares of common stock, $1 par value per share, and 5,000,000 shares of
cumulative preferred stock, $100 par value per share. At our annual meeting of
shareholders in 1999, we will ask shareholders to authorize an increase in the
authorized shares of common stock to 2,000,000,000. As of March 3, 1999, there
were outstanding 257,638,006 shares of common stock and no shares of cumulative
preferred stock.
COMMON STOCK
All outstanding common stock is, and any stock issued under this prospectus
will be, fully paid and nonassessable. Subject to rights of preferred
stockholders if any preferred stock is issued and outstanding, holders of common
stock
- are entitled to any dividends validly declared;
- will share ratably in our net assets in the event of a liquidation; and
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- are entitled to one vote per share, unless they are entitled to
cumulative voting for the election of directors.
The common stock has no conversion rights. Holders of common stock have no
preemption, subscription, redemption, or call rights related to those shares.
The Bank of New York is the transfer agent and registrar for our common
stock.
PREFERRED STOCK
This prospectus describes the terms and provisions of our preferred stock.
When we offer to sell a particular series of preferred stock, we will describe
the specific terms of the securities in a supplement to this prospectus. The
prospectus supplement will also indicate whether the terms and provisions
described in this prospectus apply to the particular series of preferred stock.
The preferred stock will be issued under a certificate of designations relating
to each series of preferred stock. It is also subject to our Amended Articles of
Incorporation.
We have summarized the material portions of the certificate of designations
below. The certificate of designations will be filed with the SEC in connection
with an offering of preferred stock.
Our Amended Articles of Incorporation authorize us to issue 5,000,000
shares of preferred stock, par value $100 per share. Our Board is authorized to
designate any series of preferred stock and the powers, preferences and rights
of the preferred stock without further shareholder action. As of March 3, 1999,
we had no shares of preferred stock outstanding. On that same date, 50,000
shares were reserved for issuance under our warrant dividend plan. These shares
are designated "Series A Preferred Shares."
Our Board is authorized to determine or fix the following terms for each
series of preferred stock, which will be described in a prospectus supplement:
- the designation and number of shares;
- the dividend rate;
- the payment date for dividends and the date from which dividends are
cumulative;
- our redemption rights and the redemption prices;
- amounts payable to holders on our liquidation, dissolution or winding up;
- the amount of the sinking fund, if any;
- whether the shares will be convertible or exchangeable, and if so the
prices and terms; and
- whether future shares of the series or any future series or other class
of stock is subject to any restrictions, and if so the nature of the
restrictions.
When we issue shares of preferred stock, they will be fully paid and
nonassessable.
Dividends
The holders of preferred stock will be entitled to receive cash dividends
if declared by our Board of Directors out of funds we can legally use for
payment. The prospectus supplement will indicate the dividend rates and the
dates on which we will pay dividends. The rates may be fixed or variable or
both. If the dividend rate is variable, the formula used to determine the
dividend rate will be described in the prospectus supplement. We
10
<PAGE> 12
will pay dividends to the holders of record as they appear on the record dates
fixed by our Board.
Our Board will not declare and pay a dividend on any series of preferred
stock unless full dividends for all series of preferred stock ranking equal as
to dividends have been declared or paid and sufficient funds are set aside for
payment. If dividends are not paid in full, we will declare any dividends pro
rata among the preferred stock of each series and any series of preferred stock
ranking equal to any other series as to dividends. A "pro rata" declaration
means that the dividends we declare per share on each series of preferred stock
will bear the same relationship to each other that the full accrued dividends
per share on each series of the preferred stock bear to each other.
Unless all dividends on the preferred stock have been paid in full, we will
not declare or pay any dividends or set aside sums for payment of dividends or
distributions on any common stock or on any class of security ranking junior to
the series of preferred stock, except for dividends or distributions paid for
with securities ranking junior to the preferred stock. We also will not redeem,
purchase, or otherwise acquire any securities ranking junior to the series of
preferred stock as to dividends or liquidation preferences, except by conversion
into or exchange for stock junior to the series of preferred stock.
Convertibility
We will not convert or exchange any series of preferred stock for other
securities or property, unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement.
Redemption and sinking fund
We will not redeem or pay into a sinking fund any series of preferred
stock, unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement.
Liquidation rights
If we voluntarily or involuntarily liquidate, dissolve or wind up our
business, holders of any series of preferred stock will be entitled to receive
the liquidation preference per share specified in the prospectus supplement and
all accrued and unpaid dividends. We will pay these amounts to the holders of
each series of the preferred stock, and all amounts owing on any preferred stock
ranking equally with that series of preferred stock as to distributions upon
liquidation. These payments will be made out of our assets available for
distribution to shareholders before any distribution is made to holders of
common stock or any class of stock ranking junior to the series of preferred
stock as to dividends and liquidation preferences.
In the event there are insufficient assets to pay the liquidation
preferences for all equally-ranked classes of preferred stock in full, we will
allocate the remaining assets equally among all series of equally-ranked
preferred stock based upon the aggregate liquidation preference for all
outstanding shares for each series. This distribution means that the
distribution we pay to the holders of all shares ranking equal as to
distributions if we dissolve, liquidate or wind up our business will bear the
same relationship to each other that the full distributable amounts for which
the holders are respectively entitled if we dissolve, liquidate or wind up our
business bear to each other. After we pay the full amount of the liquidation
preference to which they are entitled, the holders of shares of a series of
preferred stock will not be entitled to participate in any further distribution
of our assets.
11
<PAGE> 13
Voting rights
Holders of preferred stock will be entitled to one vote per share, unless
otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement or otherwise required by law.
Transfer agent and registrar
The prospectus supplement for each series of preferred stock will name the
transfer agent and registrar.
PREFERRED STOCK PURCHASE RIGHTS
On February 28, 1996, we adopted a shareholders' rights plan providing for
stock purchase rights to owners of Kroger common shares. The shareholders'
rights plan was amended and restated on April 4, 1997, and further amended on
October 18, 1998. Each right, when exercisable, entitles the holder to purchase
from us one ten-thousandth of a share. The rights will become exercisable, and
separately tradeable, ten days after a person or group acquires 10% or more of
our common shares or ten business days following a tender offer or exchange
offer resulting in a person or group having beneficial ownership of 10% or more
of our common shares. In the event the rights become exercisable, each right
will entitle the holder the right, if that holder pays the exercise price, to
purchase Kroger common shares, having a market value of twice the exercise price
of the right. Under other circumstances, including some acquisitions of Kroger
in a merger or other business combination transaction, or if 50% or more of our
assets or earning power are sold under some circumstances, each right will
entitle the holder to receive upon payment of the exercise price, shares of
common stock of the acquiring company with a market value of twice the exercise
price. At our option, the rights, before becoming exercisable, are redeemable in
their entirety at a price of $.01 per right. The rights may be adjusted and
expire March 19, 2006.
This summary is qualified by the full text of the shareholders' rights
plan. A copy of this plan is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement
and is incorporated into this prospectus by reference.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DEPOSITARY SHARES
This prospectus describes the terms and provisions of our depositary
shares. When we offer to sell depositary shares, we will describe the specific
terms for the securities in a supplement to this prospectus. The prospectus
supplement also will indicate whether the terms and provisions described in this
prospectus apply to the depositary shares being offered.
We have summarized the material portions of the deposit agreement below.
The deposit agreement will be filed with the SEC in connection with an offering
of depositary shares.
We may offer fractional interests in preferred stock, rather than full
shares of preferred stock. If we do, we will provide for a depositary to issue
to the public receipts for depositary shares, each of which will represent
ownership of and entitlement to all rights and preferences of a fractional
interest in a share of preferred stock of a specified series. These rights
include dividend, voting, redemption and liquidation rights. The applicable
fraction will be specified in a prospectus supplement. The shares of preferred
stock represented by the depositary shares will be deposited with a depositary
named in a
12
<PAGE> 14
prospectus supplement, under a deposit agreement among us, the depositary and
the holders of the depositary receipts.
The depositary shares will be evidenced by depositary receipts issued under
the deposit agreement. The depositary will be the transfer agent, registrar and
dividend disbursing agent for the depositary shares. Holders of depositary
receipts agree to be bound by the deposit agreement, which requires holders to
file proof of residence and pay charges.
DIVIDENDS
The depositary will distribute all cash dividends or other cash
distributions received to the record holders of depositary receipts in
proportion to the number of depositary shares owned by them on the relevant
record date. The record date will be the same date as the record date we fix for
the applicable series of preferred stock.
If we make a non-cash distribution, the depositary will distribute property
to the holders of depositary receipts, unless the depositary determines, after
consultation with us, that it is not feasible to make this distribution. If this
occurs, the depositary may, with our approval, adopt any other method for the
distribution as it deems appropriate, including the sale of the property and
distribution of the net proceeds from the sale.
LIQUIDATION PREFERENCE
If we voluntarily or involuntarily liquidate, dissolve or wind up our
business, the holders of each depositary share will receive the fraction of the
liquidation preference accorded each share of the applicable series of preferred
stock.
REDEMPTION
If we redeem the series of preferred stock underlying the depositary
shares, we will redeem the depositary shares from the redemption proceeds of the
preferred stock held by the depositary. Whenever we redeem any preferred stock
held by the depositary, the depositary will redeem on the same redemption date
the number of depositary shares representing the preferred stock being redeemed.
The depositary will mail the notice of redemption between 30 to 60 days prior to
the date fixed for redemption to the record holders of the depositary receipts.
VOTING
The depositary will promptly mail information contained in any notice of
meeting it receives from us to the record holders of the depositary receipts.
Each record holder of depositary receipts will be entitled to instruct the
depositary as to its exercise of its voting rights pertaining to the number of
shares of preferred stock represented by its depositary shares. The depositary
will try, if practical, to vote the preferred stock underlying the depositary
shares according to the instructions received. We will agree to try to take all
action that the depositary finds necessary in order to enable the depositary to
vote the preferred stock in that manner. The depositary will not vote any of the
preferred stock for which it does not receive specific instructions from the
holders of depositary receipts.
WITHDRAWAL OF PREFERRED STOCK
If holders surrender depositary receipts at the principal office of the
depositary and pay any unpaid amount due to the depositary, the owner of the
depositary shares is entitled to receive the number of whole shares of preferred
stock and all money and other property
13
<PAGE> 15
represented by the depositary shares. Partial shares of preferred stock will not
be issued. If the holder delivers depositary receipts evidencing a number of
depositary shares that represent more than a whole number of shares of preferred
stock, the depositary will issue a new depositary receipt evidencing the excess
number of depositary shares to that holder. Holders of preferred stock received
in exchange for depositary shares will no longer be entitled to deposit these
shares under the deposit agreement or to receive depositary receipts.
AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION OF DEPOSIT AGREEMENT
The form of depositary receipt evidencing the depositary shares and any
provision of the deposit agreement may be amended by agreement between us and
the depositary. However, any amendment that materially and adversely alters the
rights of the holders, other than any change in fees, of depositary shares will
not be effective unless approved by the holders of at least a majority of the
depositary shares then outstanding. An amendment may not impair the right of any
owner of any depositary shares to surrender its depositary receipt with
instructions to the depositary in exchange for preferred stock, money and
property, except in order to comply with mandatory provisions of applicable law.
The deposit agreement may be terminated by us or the depositary only if:
- all outstanding depositary shares have been redeemed; or
- there has been a final distribution to the holders of the preferred stock
in connection with the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our
business, and the distribution has been made to all the holders of
depositary shares.
CHARGES OF DEPOSITARY
We will pay all transfer and other taxes and governmental charges
attributable solely to the depositary arrangements. We will pay the depositary's
charges for the initial deposit of the preferred stock and the initial issuance
of the depositary shares, any redemption of the preferred stock and all
exchanges for preferred stock. Holders of depositary receipts will pay transfer,
income and other taxes and governmental charges and other charges stated in the
deposit agreement to be for their accounts. In some circumstances, the
depositary may refuse to transfer depositary shares, may withhold dividends and
distributions and may sell the depositary shares if those charges are not paid.
OBLIGATIONS OF DEPOSITARY
The depositary will forward to the holders of depositary receipts all
reports and communications from us that are delivered to it and that we are
required to furnish to the holders of the preferred stock. In addition, the
depositary will make available for inspection by holders of depositary receipts
at its principal office, and at other places it deems advisable, any reports and
communications received from us.
We will not assume, and the depositary will not assume, any obligation or
any liability under the deposit agreement to holders of depositary receipts
other than for gross negligence or willful misconduct. We will not be liable,
and the depositary will not be liable, if we are prevented or delayed by law or
any circumstance beyond our control in performing our obligations under the
deposit agreement. Our obligations and the depositary's obligations under the
deposit agreement will be limited to performance in good faith of our and their
duties. We and the depositary will not be obligated to prosecute or defend any
legal proceeding related to any depositary shares or preferred stock unless we
receive satisfactory indemnity. We and the depositary may rely on written advice
of our
14
<PAGE> 16
counsel or accountants, on information provided by holders of depositary
receipts or other persons believed in good faith to be competent to give this
information. We also may rely on documents believed to be genuine and to have
been signed or presented by the proper party or parties.
RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL OF DEPOSITARY
The depositary may resign at any time by delivering to us notice of its
election to do so. At any time we may remove the depositary. The resignation or
removal will take effect after a successor depositary is appointed and has
accepted the appointment. We must appoint a successor within 60 days after
delivery of the notice for resignation or removal and the successor depositary
must be a bank or trust company having its principal office in the United States
and having a combined capital and surplus of at least $150,000,000.
FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
Owners of the depositary shares will be treated for federal income tax
purposes as if they were owners of the preferred stock underlying the depositary
shares. Accordingly, the owners will be entitled to take into account for
federal income tax purposes income and deductions to which they would be
entitled if they were holders of the preferred stock. In addition:
- no gain or loss will be recognized for federal income tax purposes upon
the withdrawal of preferred stock in exchange for depositary shares;
- the tax basis of each share of preferred stock to an exchanging owner of
depositary shares will, when exchanged, be the same as the aggregate tax
basis of the depositary shares being exchanged; and
- the holding period for preferred stock in the hands of an exchanging
owner of depositary shares will include the period during which that
person owned the depositary shares.
DESCRIPTION OF THE WARRANTS
This prospectus describes the terms and provisions of the warrants. When we
offer to sell warrants, we will describe the specific terms of the warrants and
warrant agreement in a supplement to this prospectus. The prospectus supplement
also will indicate whether the terms and provisions described in this prospectus
apply to the warrants being offered.
We have summarized the material portions of the warrant agreement below.
The warrant agreement will be filed with the SEC in connection with an offering
of warrants. You should read the warrant agreement for the provisions that are
important to you.
We may issue warrants for the purchase of our debt securities, preferred
stock or common stock. Warrants may be issued alone or together with debt
securities, preferred stock or common stock offered by any prospectus supplement
and may be attached to or separate from those securities. Each series of
warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into
between us and a bank or trust company, as warrant agent. The warrant agent will
act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants and will not assume any
obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders or
beneficial owners of warrants.
15
<PAGE> 17
DEBT WARRANTS
The prospectus supplement relating to a particular issue of warrants to
issue debt securities will describe the terms of the debt warrants, including
the following:
- their title;
- their offering price;
- their aggregate number;
- the designation and terms of the debt securities that can be purchased
when they are exercised;
- the designation and terms of the debt securities that are issued with the
warrants and the number of warrants issued with each debt security;
- the date when they and any debt securities issued will be separately
transferable;
- the principal amount of debt securities that can be purchased when they
are exercised and the purchase price;
- the date on which the right to exercise warrants begins and the date on
which the right expires;
- the minimum or maximum amount of warrants that may be exercised at any
one time;
- whether they and the debt securities that may be issued when they are
exercised will be issued in registered or bearer form;
- information about book-entry procedures;
- the currency or currency units in which the offering price and the
exercise price are payable;
- a discussion of material United States federal income tax considerations;
- the antidilution provisions; and
- the redemption or call provisions.
STOCK WARRANTS
The prospectus supplement relating to any particular issue of warrants to
issue common stock or preferred stock will describe the terms of the stock
warrants, including the following:
- their title;
- their offering price;
- their aggregate number;
- the designation and terms of the common stock or preferred stock that can
be purchased when they are exercised;
- the designation and terms of the common stock or preferred stock that is
issued and the number of warrants issued with shares of each common stock
or preferred stock;
16
<PAGE> 18
- the date when they and any common stock or preferred stock issued will be
separately transferable;
- the number of shares of common stock or preferred stock that can be
purchased when they are exercised and the purchase price;
- the date on which the right to exercise them begins and the date on which
the right expires;
- the minimum or maximum amount that may be exercised at any one time;
- the currency or currency units in which the offering price and the
exercise price are payable;
- a discussion of material United States federal income tax considerations;
- the antidilution provisions; and
- the redemption or call provisions.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements of The Kroger Co. as of December 27,
1997 and December 28, 1996, and for the for the fiscal years ended December 27,
1997, December 26, 1996, and December 30, 1995, which appear in Kroger's Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 27, 1997, incorporated by
reference in this prospectus, have been incorporated herein in reliance on the
report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent public accountants, given on
the authority of that firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
Documents incorporated by reference in the future in this prospectus will
include financial statements, related schedules, if required, and auditors'
reports. The financial statements and schedules will have been audited to the
extent and for the periods identified in the reports by the firm submitting the
report. If audited financials are incorporated by reference, it will be based on
reports given on the authority of the issuing firm as experts in accounting and
auditing.
LEGAL OPINIONS
The validity of the securities we are offering will be passed upon for us
by Paul Heldman, Esq., Senior Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel of
Kroger. As of February 5, 1999, Mr. Heldman owned approximately 29,118 shares of
Kroger common stock, and had options to acquire an additional 179,583 shares.
17
<PAGE> 19
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
ITEM 14. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION.
The expenses in connection with the issuance and distribution of the
Securities being registered, other than underwriting compensation, are estimated
as follows:
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Registration Fee for Registration Statement.......... $556,000
Accounting Fees and Expenses......................... 75,000
Blue Sky Fees and Expenses........................... 15,000
Legal Fees and Expenses.............................. 100,000
Printing and Engraving Fees.......................... 100,000
Miscellaneous........................................ 50,000
--------
TOTAL.............................................. $896,000*
========
</TABLE>
- -------------------------
* All amounts are estimated except for the registration fee.
ITEM 15. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.
Under the Registrant's Regulations (bylaws) each present or former
director, officer or employee of the Registrant and each person who is serving
or shall have served at the request of the Registrant as a director, officer, or
employee of another corporation (and his heirs, executors and administrators)
will be indemnified by the Registrant against expenses actually and necessarily
incurred by him, and also against expenses, judgments, decrees, fines,
penalties, or amounts paid in settlement, in connection with the defense of any
pending or threatened action, suit, or proceeding, criminal or civil, to which
he is or may be made a party by reason of being or having been such director,
officer, or employee, provided (1) he is adjudicated or determined not to have
been negligent or guilty of misconduct in the performance of his duty to the
Registrant or such other corporation, (2) he is determined to have acted in good
faith in what he reasonably believed to be the best interest of the Registrant
or of such other corporation, and (3) in any matter the subject of a criminal
action, suit, or proceeding, he is determined to have had no reasonable cause to
believe that his conduct was unlawful. See also Ohio Revised Code, Section
1701.13.
The Registrant also maintains directors' and officers' reimbursement and
liability insurance pursuant to policies with aggregate limits of $125 million.
ITEM 16. EXHIBITS
<TABLE>
<C> <C> <S>
1.1 -- Form of Underwriting Agreement, filed as Exhibit 1.1 to the
Registration Statement of The Kroger Co. on Form S-3
(Registration No. 333-50269) as incorporated by reference to
its Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 6, 1998.
</TABLE>
II-1
<PAGE> 20
<TABLE>
<C> <C> <S>
4.1 -- Amended Articles of Incorporation of The Kroger Co. are
incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of The Kroger Co.'s
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended October
3, 1998. The Kroger Co.'s Regulations are incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 4.2 of The Kroger Co.'s Registration
Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 33-57552) filed with
the SEC on January 28, 1993.
4.2 -- Rights Agreement, including form of Rights Certificate,
incorporated by reference to The Kroger Co.'s Registration
Statements on Form 8-A/A dated April 4, 1997 and October 18,
1998.
4.3 -- Form of Senior Indenture (including form of securities).
*4.4 -- Certificate of Designation of series of preferred shares.
*4.5 -- Form of Deposit Agreement for depositary shares.
*4.6 -- Form of Warrant Agreement, including form of warrant
certificate.
5.1 -- Opinion of Paul Heldman, Esq., including his consent.
12.1 -- Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to The Kroger
Co.'s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
October 3, 1998.
23.1 -- Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
23.2 -- Consent of Paul Heldman, Esq., included in Exhibit 5.1.
24.1 -- Powers of Attorney.
*25.1 -- Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility and Qualification under
the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.
</TABLE>
- -------------------------
* To be filed as an Exhibit to a document to be incorporated by reference for
the specific offering of securities, if any, to which it relates.
ITEM 17. UNDERTAKINGS.
(a) The Registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made
of the Securities registered hereby, a post-effective amendment to this
Registration Statement: (i) to include any prospectus required by Section
10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933; (ii) to reflect in the prospectus
any facts or events arising after the effective date of the Registration
Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which,
individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the
information set forth in this Registration Statement; (iii) to include any
material information with respect to the plan of distribution not
previously disclosed in this Registration Statement or any material change
to such information in this Registration Statement; provided, however, that
the undertakings set forth in clauses (1)(i) and (1)(ii) above do not apply
if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by
those clauses is contained in periodic reports filed by the Registrant
pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 that are incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed
to be a new Registration
II-2
<PAGE> 21
Statement relating to the Securities offered therein, and the offering of
such Securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide
offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment
any of the Securities being registered which remain unsold at the
termination of the offering.
(b) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for the purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
Registrant's Annual Report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an
employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new Registration Statement
relating to the Securities offered therein, and the offering of such Securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of
the Registrant pursuant to the provisions of Item 15 of Part II or otherwise,
the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and
Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed
in said Act and is therefore unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling
person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in
the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent,
submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such
indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities
Act, and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
(d) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes to file an application for
the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under
subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act in accordance with the
rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission under Section 305(b)(2) of
the Act.
II-3
<PAGE> 22
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Cincinnati, State of Ohio, on March 15, 1999.
THE KROGER CO.
BY /s/ BRUCE M. GACK
------------------------------------
Bruce M. Gack
Assistant Secretary
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the date indicated.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SIGNATURE TITLE
--------- -----
<S> <C> <C>
* /s/ REUBEN V. ANDERSON Director
- ---------------------------------------------
Reuben V. Anderson
* /s/ JOHN L. CLENDENIN Director
- ---------------------------------------------
John L. Clendenin
* /s/ DAVID B. DILLON Director, President and
- --------------------------------------------- Chief Operating Officer
David B. Dillon
* /s/ JOHN T. LAMACCHIA Director
- ---------------------------------------------
John T. LaMacchia
* /s/ EDWARD M. LIDDY Director
- ---------------------------------------------
Edward M. Liddy
* /s/ W. RODNEY MCMULLEN Senior Vice President and
- --------------------------------------------- Chief Financial Officer
W. Rodney McMullen
* /s/ CLYDE R. MOORE Director
- ---------------------------------------------
Clyde R. Moore
* /s/ T. BALLARD MORTON, JR. Director
- ---------------------------------------------
T. Ballard Morton, Jr.
* /s/ THOMAS H. O'LEARY Director
- ---------------------------------------------
Thomas H. O'Leary
</TABLE>
II-4
<PAGE> 23
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SIGNATURE TITLE DATE
--------- ----- ----
<S> <C> <C>
* /s/ KATHERINE D. ORTEGA Director
- ---------------------------------------------
Katherine D. Ortega
* /s/ JOSEPH A. PICHLER Chairman of the Board of
- --------------------------------------------- Directors, Chief Executive
Joseph A. Pichler Officer, and Director
* /s/ J. MICHAEL SCHLOTMAN Vice President and
- --------------------------------------------- Corporate
J. Michael Schlotman Controller -- Principal
Accounting Officer
Director
- ---------------------------------------------
Martha Romayne Seger
Director
- ---------------------------------------------
Bobby S. Shackouls
* /s/ JAMES D. WOODS Director
- ---------------------------------------------
James D. Woods
*By /s/ BRUCE M. GACK
- ---------------------------------------------
Bruce M. Gack
As Attorney-in-fact
March 15, 1999
</TABLE>
II-5
<PAGE> 24
EXHIBIT INDEX
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SEQUENTIAL
EXHIBIT PAGE
NUMBER DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION NUMBER
- ------- -------------------- ----------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
1.1 -- Form of Underwriting Agreement, filed as Exhibit 1.1 to
the Registration Statement of The Kroger Co. on Form S-3
(Registration No. 333-50269) as incorporated by reference
to its Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 6, 1998. ....
4.1 -- Amended Articles of Incorporation of The Kroger Co. are
incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of The Kroger
Co.'s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
October 3, 1998. The Kroger Co.'s Regulations are
incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of The Kroger
Co.'s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration
No. 33-57552) filed with the SEC on January 28, 1993. ...
4.2 -- Rights Agreement, including form of Rights Certificate,
incorporated by reference to The Kroger Co.'s
Registration Statements on Form 8-A/A dated April 4, 1997
and October 18, 1998.....................................
4.3 -- Form of Senior Indenture (including form of
securities). ............................................
*4.4 -- Certificate of Designation of series of preferred
shares. .................................................
*4.5 -- Form of Deposit Agreement for depositary shares. ........
*4.6 -- Form of Warrant Agreement, including form of warrant
certificate. ............................................
5.1 -- Opinion of Paul Heldman, Esq., including his consent. ...
12.1 -- Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to The Kroger
Co.'s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
October 3, 1998. ........................................
23.1 -- Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. ..................
23.2 -- Consent of Paul Heldman, Esq., included in Exhibit
5.1. ....................................................
24.1 -- Powers of Attorney. .....................................
*25.1 -- Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility and Qualification under
the Trust Indenture Act of 1939. ........................
</TABLE>
- -------------------------
* To be filed as an Exhibit to a document to be incorporated by reference for
the specific offering of securities, if any, to which it relates.
<PAGE> 1
Exhibit 4.3
THE KROGER CO.
TO
.............................
Trustee
----------
INDENTURE
Dated as of __________
----------
SENIOR DEBT SECURITIES
<PAGE> 2
THE KROGER CO.
Certain Sections of this Indenture relating to
Sections 310 through 318, inclusive, of the
Trust Indenture Act of 1939:
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Trust Indenture
Act Section Indenture Section
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Section310(a)(1) ............................................... 609
(a)(2) ............................................... 609
(a)(3) ............................................... Not Applicable
(a)(4) ............................................... Not Applicable
(b) ............................................... 608
610
Section311(a) ............................................... 613
(b) ............................................... 613
Section312(a) ............................................... 701
702(a)
(b) ............................................... 702(b)
(c) ............................................... 702(c)
Section313(a) ............................................... 703(a)
(b) ............................................... 703(a)
(c) ............................................... 703(a)
(d) ............................................... 703(b)
Section314(a) ............................................... 704
(a)(4) ............................................... 101
1004
(b) ............................................... Not Applicable
(c)(1) ............................................... 102
(c)(2) ............................................... 102
(c)(3) ............................................... Not Applicable
(d) ............................................... Not Applicable
(e) ............................................... 102
Section315(a) ............................................... 601
(b) ............................................... 602
(c) ............................................... 601
(d) ............................................... 601
(e) ............................................... 514
Section316(a) ............................................... 101
(a)(1)(A) 502
512
(a)(1)(B) 513
(a)(2) ............................................... Not Applicable
(b) ............................................... 508
(c) ............................................... 104(c)
Section317(a)(1) ............................................... 503
(a)(2) ............................................... 504
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Trust Indenture
Act Section Indenture Section
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(b) ............................................... 1003
Section318(a) ............................................... 107
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NOTE: This reconciliation and tie shall not, for any
purpose, be deemed to be a part of the Indenture.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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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.................................................... 3
Bank Agreement.......................................................... 3
Board of Directors...................................................... 3
Board Resolution........................................................ 3
Business Day............................................................ 3
Capital Stock........................................................... 3
Commission.............................................................. 3
Company................................................................. 4
Company Request; Company Order.......................................... 4
Corporate Trust Office.................................................. 4
corporation............................................................. 4
Defaulted Interest...................................................... 4
Depositary.............................................................. 4
Event of Default........................................................ 4
Exchange Act............................................................ 4
Global Security......................................................... 4
Holder.................................................................. 5
Indebtedness............................................................ 5
Indenture............................................................... 5
interest................................................................ 6
Interest Payment Date................................................... 6
Lien.................................................................... 6
Maturity................................................................ 6
Officers' Certificate................................................... 6
Opinion of Counsel...................................................... 7
Original Issue Discount Security........................................ 7
Outstanding............................................................. 7
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deemed to be a part of the Indenture.
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Paying Agent............................................................ 8
Person.................................................................. 8
Place of Payment........................................................ 8
Predecessor Security.................................................... 9
Redemption Date......................................................... 9
Redemption Price........................................................ 9
Regular Record Date..................................................... 9
Securities.............................................................. 9
Security Register and Security
Registrar.............................................................. 9
Special Record Date..................................................... 9
Stated Maturity......................................................... 9
Subsidiary.............................................................. 9
Trustee................................................................. 10
Trust Indenture Act..................................................... 10
Vice President.......................................................... 10
Wholly-owned Subsidiary................................................. 10
Section 102. Compliance Certificates and Opinions.................................... 10
Section 103. Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee.................................. 11
Section 104. Acts of Holders; Record Dates........................................... 12
Section 105. Notices, Etc., to Trustee and Company................................... 14
Section 106. Notice to Holders; Waiver............................................... 15
Section 107. Conflict with Trust Indenture Act....................................... 15
Section 108. Effect of Headings and
Table of Contents...................................................... 16
Section 109. Successors and Assigns.................................................. 16
Section 110. Separability Clause..................................................... 16
Section 111. Benefits of Indenture................................................... 16
Section 112. Governing Law........................................................... 16
Section 113. Legal Holidays.......................................................... 16
ARTICLE TWO
SECURITY FORMS
Section 201. Forms Generally......................................................... 17
Section 202. Form of Face of Security................................................ 20
Section 203. Form of Reverse of Security............................................. 20
Section 204. Form of Legend for Global Securities.................................... 25
Section 205. Form of Trustee's Certificate of
Authentication......................................................... 26
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deemed to be a part of the Indenture.
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ARTICLE THREE
THE SECURITIES
Section 301. Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series.................................... 26
Section 302. Denominations........................................................... 30
Section 303. Execution, Authentication, Delivery
and Dating............................................................. 31
Section 304. Temporary Securities.................................................... 33
Section 305. Registration, Registration of Transfer
and Exchange........................................................... 34
Section 306. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen
Securities............................................................. 36
Section 307. Payment of Interest; Interest Rights
Preserved.............................................................. 37
Section 308. Persons Deemed Owners................................................... 39
Section 309. Cancellation............................................................ 39
Section 310. Computation of Interest................................................. 40
ARTICLE FOUR
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE
Section 401. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture................................. 40
Section 402. Application of Trust Money.............................................. 42
ARTICLE FIVE
REMEDIES
Section 501. Events of Default....................................................... 42
Section 502. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission
and Annulment.......................................................... 45
Section 503. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits
for Enforcement by Trustee............................................. 47
Section 504. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim........................................ 48
Section 505. Trustee May Enforce Claims Without
Possession of Securities............................................... 48
Section 506. Application of Money Collected.......................................... 49
Section 507. Limitation on Suits..................................................... 49
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deemed to be a part of the Indenture.
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Section 508. Unconditional Right of Holders to
Receive Principal, Premium and
Interest............................................................... 50
Section 509. Restoration of Rights and Remedies...................................... 51
Section 510. Rights and Remedies Cumulative.......................................... 51
Section 511. Delay or Omission Not Waiver............................................ 51
Section 512. Control by Holders...................................................... 52
Section 513. Waiver of Past Defaults................................................. 52
Section 514. Undertaking for Costs................................................... 53
Section 515. Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws................................. 53
ARTICLE SIX
THE TRUSTEE
Section 601. Certain Duties and Responsibilities..................................... 53
Section 602. Notice of Defaults...................................................... 54
Section 603. Certain Rights of Trustee............................................... 54
Section 604. Not Responsible for Recitals or
Issuance of Securities................................................. 56
Section 605. May Hold Securities..................................................... 56
Section 606. Money Held in Trust..................................................... 56
Section 607. Compensation and Reimbursement.......................................... 57
Section 608. Disqualification; Conflicting
Interests.............................................................. 57
Section 609. Corporate Trustee Required;
Eligibility............................................................ 58
Section 610. Separate Trustee; Resignation and Removal;
Appointment of Successor................................................ 58
Section 611. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.................................. 60
Section 612. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or
Succession to Business................................................. 62
Section 613. Preferential Collection of Claims
Against Company........................................................ 62
Section 614. Appointment of Authenticating Agent..................................... 63
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deemed to be a part of the Indenture.
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ARTICLE SEVEN
HOLDERS' LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY
Section 701. Company to Furnish Trustee Names and
Addresses of Holders................................................... 65
Section 702. Preservation of Information;
Communications to Holders.............................................. 66
Section 703. Reports by Trustee...................................................... 66
Section 704. Reports by Company...................................................... 67
ARTICLE EIGHT
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE
Section 801. Company and Subsidiaries May
Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms................................ 67
Section 802. Successor Substituted................................................... 68
ARTICLE NINE
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES
Section 901. Supplemental Indentures Without Consent
of Holders............................................................. 68
Section 902. Supplemental Indentures with Consent of
Holders................................................................ 70
Section 903. Execution of Supplemental Indentures.................................... 72
Section 904. Effect of Supplemental Indentures....................................... 72
Section 905. Conformity with Trust Indenture Act..................................... 72
Section 906. Reference in Securities to Supplemental
Indentures............................................................. 72
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deemed to be a part of the Indenture.
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ARTICLE TEN
COVENANTS
Section 1001. Payment of Principal, Premium and
Interest............................................................... 73
Section 1002. Maintenance of Office or Agency......................................... 73
Section 1003. Money for Securities Payments to Be
Held in Trust.......................................................... 74
Section 1004. Statement by Officers as to Default..................................... 75
Section 1005. Existence............................................................... 76
Section 1006. Maintenance of Properties............................................... 76
Section 1007. Payment of Taxes and Other Claims....................................... 76
Section 1008. Waiver of Certain Covenants............................................... 77
ARTICLE ELEVEN
REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES
Section 1101. Applicability of Article................................................ 77
Section 1102. Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee................................... 77
Section 1103. Selection by Trustee of Securities to
Be Redeemed............................................................ 78
Section 1104. Notice of Redemption.................................................... 79
Section 1105. Deposit of Redemption Price............................................. 79
Section 1106. Securities Payable on Redemption Date................................... 80
Section 1107. Securities Redeemed in Part............................................. 80
ARTICLE TWELVE
SINKING FUNDS
Section 1201. Applicability of Article................................................ 81
Section 1202. Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments
with Securities........................................................ 81
Section 1203. Redemption of Securities for Sinking
Fund................................................................... 82
TESTIMONIUM........................................................................................ 83
SIGNATURES AND SEALS............................................................................... 83
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.................................................................................... 84
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NOTE: This table of contents shall not, for any purpose, be
deemed to be a part of the Indenture.
<PAGE> 10
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
<PAGE> 11
Article and include the plural as well as the singular;
(2) all other terms used herein which are defined in the Trust
Indenture Act, either directly or by reference therein, have the meanings
assigned to them therein;
(3) all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings
assigned to them in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles, 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 subdivision.
"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 controlled by or under direct or indirect common
control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition,
"control" when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to
direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly,
whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise;
and the terms "controlling" and "controlled" have meanings correlative to the
foregoing.
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"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 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
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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 written 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.
"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
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<PAGE> 14
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) 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
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<PAGE> 15
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 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.
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<PAGE> 16
"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;
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<PAGE> 17
provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite
principal amount of the Outstanding 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
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<PAGE> 18
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 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
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<PAGE> 19
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" initially 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 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
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<PAGE> 20
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;
(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 Per
son, 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.
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<PAGE> 21
Any certificate or opinion of an officer of the Company may be based,
insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or
representations by, counsel, unless such officer knows, or in the exercise of
reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations
with respect to 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 representations with respect to such
matters are erroneous.
Where any Person is required to make, give or execute two or more
applications, requests, consents, certificates, statements, opinions or other
instruments under this Indenture, they may, but need not, be consolidated and
form one instrument.
Section 104. Acts of Holders; Record Dates.
(a) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent,
waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by
Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of
substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by 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.
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<PAGE> 22
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 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,
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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 principal office specified in the first paragraph
of this instrument or at any other
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<PAGE> 24
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.
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<PAGE> 25
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.
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 pro visions 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
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<PAGE> 26
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.
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.
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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 .................. ................... 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
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<PAGE> 28
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.]
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
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<PAGE> 29
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, limitations 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
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<PAGE> 30
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,
Redemption Redemption
Year Price Year Price
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
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
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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,
Redemption Price
For Redemption Redemption Price For
Through Operation Redemption Otherwise
of the Than Through Operation
Year Sinking Fund of the Sinking Fund
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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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 50% 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
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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 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
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<PAGE> 34
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 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
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<PAGE> 35
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."
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
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<PAGE> 36
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 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;
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<PAGE> 37
(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
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
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<PAGE> 38
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 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
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<PAGE> 39
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
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
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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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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.
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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 authenticated 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, with out 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.
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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 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.
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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 redemption 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
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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 destruction, 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.
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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.
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:
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(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 payment. The Trustee shall
promptly notify the Company of such Special Record Date and, in the name and
at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of
such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be mailed,
first-class postage prepaid, to each 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 sons in whose names
the Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor
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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
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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
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
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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
(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
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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 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
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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 covenant 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 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
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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 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
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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 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
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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
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non-payment of the principal of Securities of that series which have
become due solely by 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.
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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 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,
disburse-
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ments 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
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 proceed-
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ings 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 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.
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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
there after 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.
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.
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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 Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or
other default or impair any right consequent thereon.
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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
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indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.
Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture
relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection
to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section.
Section 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;
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(c) whenever in the administration of this Indenture the Trustee
shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to
taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Trustee (unless
other evidence be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of
bad faith on its part, rely upon an Officers' Certificate;
(d) the Trustee may consult with counsel and the 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
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(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
responsibility 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.
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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, liability or expense incurred without negligence or bad faith
on its part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or
administration of the trust or trusts hereunder, including the costs and
expenses 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.
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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. Separate Trustee; Resignation and Removal; Appointment of
Successor.
(a) The Company may, but need not, appoint a separate Trustee for
any one or more series of Securities.
(b) 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.
(c) 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 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.
(d) The Trustee may be removed at any time with respect to the
Securities of any series by Act of the Hold-
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ers of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such
series, delivered to the Trustee and to the Company.
(e) 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.
(f) 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 more
or all of such series and that at any time there shall
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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.
(g) 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;
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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 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
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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.
(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
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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 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 super vision 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
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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 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
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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 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
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(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.
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(b) A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such
transmission to Holders, be filed by the Trustee 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).
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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 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
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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 pro visions 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
(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
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(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 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
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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
require ments of Sections 611(b) and 901(8).
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.
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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. 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.
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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 provisions 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;
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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 Security 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.
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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.
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
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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 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
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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 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.
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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
(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
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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 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
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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
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shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the Redemption
Price specified in such Securities for redemption through operation of the
sinking fund and the amount of such sinking fund payment shall be reduced
accordingly.
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.
-----------------------------
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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:
........................
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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.
........................
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<PAGE> 1
Exhibit 5.1
The Kroger Co.
1014 Vine Street
Cincinnati, OH 45202-1100
March 12, 1999
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 $2,000,000,000 aggregate principal amount of debt securities, preferred
stock, depositary shares, common stock, and warrants (collectively, the
"Securities"). I have acted as counsel to the Company in connection with its
preparation of 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"). I have examined the Registration Statement and the exhibits thereto; 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 (in the
case of debt securities) and the warrant agreement (in the case of warrants) has
been duly executed and delivered, and the Securities have been duly executed and
authenticated in accordance with the terms of the instruments under which they
are being issued, and issued and sold in accordance with the underwriting
agreement related thereto, 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> 2
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> 1
Exhibit 23.1
Consent of Independent Accountants
We consent to the incorporation by reference in this registration statement on
Form S-3 of our report dated January 22, 1998, on our audits of the consolidated
balance sheet of The Kroger Co. as of December 27, 1997 and December 28, 1996,
and the related consolidated statements of operations and accumulated deficit,
and cash flows for the years ended December 27, 1997, December 28, 1996, and
December 30, 1995. We also consent to the references to our firm under the
caption "Experts".
(PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP)
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Cincinnati, Ohio
March 12, 1999
<PAGE> 1
Exhibit 24.1
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, That the undersigned directors of THE KROGER
CO. (the "Company") hereby make, constitute and appoint Paul W. Heldman and
Bruce M. Gack, or either one of them, his or her true and lawful
attorneys-in-fact to sign and execute for and on his or her behalf, a
registration statement and any and all amendments thereto with respect to the
issuance and sale by the Company of up to $2,000,000,000 of Securities to be
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended, in such form as they, or either of them, may approve and to
do any and all other acts which said attorneys-in-fact, or either one of them,
may deem necessary or desirable to enable The Kroger Co. to comply with said Act
and the rules and regulations thereunder in connection with such sale.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned directors have hereunto set their hands and
seal, as of the 3rd day of December, 1998.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C>
(John L. Clendenin) (James D. Woods)
- ------------------------ -----------------------
John L. Clendenin James D. Woods
(Katherine D. Ortega) (Reuben V. Anderson)
- ------------------------ -----------------------
Katherine D. Ortega Reuben V. Anderson
(T. Ballard Morton, Jr.) (Clyde R. Moore)
- ------------------------ -----------------------
T. Ballard Morton, Jr. Clyde R. Moore
(Thomas H. O'Leary)
- ------------------------
Thomas H. O'Leary
(John T. LaMacchia)
- ------------------------
John T. LaMacchia
(Edward M. Liddy)
- ------------------------
Edward M. Liddy
</TABLE>
<PAGE> 2
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, That the undersigned officer of THE KROGER
CO. (the "Company") hereby makes, constitutes and appoints Paul W. Heldman and
Bruce M. Gack, or either one of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact to
sign and execute for and on his behalf, a registration statement and any and all
amendments thereto with respect to the issuance and sale by the Company of up to
$2,000,000,000 of Securities to be filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, in such form as
they, or either of them, may approve and to do any and all other acts which said
attorneys-in-fact, or either one of them, may deem necessary or desirable to
enable The Kroger Co. to comply with said Act and the rules and regulations
thereunder in connection with such sale.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand.
(W. Rodney McMullen) December 3, 1998
- --------------------
W. Rodney McMullen
Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
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POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, That the undersigned officer and director of
THE KROGER CO. (the "Company") hereby makes, constitutes and appoints Paul W.
Heldman and Bruce M. Gack, or either one of them, his true and lawful
attorneys-in-fact to sign and execute for and on his behalf, a registration
statement and any and all amendments thereto with respect to the issuance and
sale by the Company of up to $2,000,000,000 of Securities to be filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, in such form as they, or either of them, may approve and to do any and
all other acts which said attorneys-in-fact, or either one of them, may deem
necessary or desirable to enable The Kroger Co. to comply with said Act and the
rules and regulations thereunder in connection with such sale.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand.
(Joseph A. Pichler) December 3, 1998
- -------------------
Joseph A. Pichler
Chairman of the Board,
Chief Executive Officer and
Director
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POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, That the undersigned officer of THE KROGER
CO. (the "Company") hereby makes, constitutes and appoints Paul W. Heldman and
Bruce M. Gack, or either one of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact to
sign and execute for and on his behalf, a registration statement and any and all
amendments thereto with respect to the issuance and sale by the Company of up to
$2,000,000,000 of Securities to be filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, in such form as
they, or either of them, may approve and to do any and all other acts which said
attorneys-in-fact, or either one of them, may deem necessary or desirable to
enable The Kroger Co. to comply with said Act and the rules and regulations
thereunder in connection with such sale.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand.
(J. Michael Schlotman) December 3, 1998
- ------------------------
J. Michael Schlotman
Vice President and Corporate Controller
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POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, That the undersigned officer and director of
THE KROGER CO. (the "Company") hereby makes, constitutes and appoints Paul W.
Heldman and Bruce M. Gack, or either one of them, his true and lawful
attorneys-in-fact to sign and execute for and on his behalf, a registration
statement and any and all amendments thereto with respect to the issuance and
sale by the Company of up to $2,000,000,000 of Securities to be filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, in such form as they, or either of them, may approve and to do any and
all other acts which said attorneys-in-fact, or either one of them, may deem
necessary or desirable to enable The Kroger Co. to comply with said Act and the
rules and regulations thereunder in connection with such sale.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand.
(David B. Dillon) December 3, 1998
- ------------------------
David B. Dillon
President, Chief Operating Officer, and
Director
<PAGE> 6
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The management of the Company has determined that it is advantageous to
the Company to purchase on the open market or to redeem or repay certain of its
outstanding indebtedness (the "Repurchased Debt");
WHEREAS, The amount of funds that can be expended for such Repurchased Debt is,
under certain circumstances, limited by the terms of the Indentures under its
publicly and privately issued debt (together the "Indentures"); and
WHEREAS, The Company is considering the issuance of debt, equity, and other
forms of securities (the "Securities") through private placement or through
public offering, and the use of the proceeds from the sale of the Securities to
purchase or redeem Repurchased Debt and for other general corporate purposes;
now, therefore,
RESOLVED, That, subject to the limitations set forth in these resolutions and
the Indentures, the Company is authorized to issue, from time to time, up to
$2,000,000,000 of Securities to the public, or to one or more institutional
investors, to be used to repay or refinance existing debt of the Company; and
further
RESOLVED, That as long as the proposed merger with Fred Meyer has been
consummated, debt Securities bearing an interest rate of not more than 8 percent
per annum may be issued by the Company and the determination of all terms and
conditions of the debt Securities is delegated to a Management Committee made up
of Joseph A. Pichler, David B. Dillon, W. Rodney McMullen, and Lawrence M.
Turner, any three of whom can act for the Management Committee; and further
RESOLVED, That Securities not issued under the immediately preceding resolution
may be issued on terms and conditions as determined by a committee of this Board
of Directors (the "Securities Committee") appointed in the next following
resolution; and further
RESOLVED, That in connection with the proposed public offering or private
placement of the Securities or the proposed debt repurchase program, the members
of the Financial Policy Committee are hereby appointed as the Securities
Committee, and that any three of them, at least two of whom have not served as
employees of the Company or its subsidiaries, are empowered to act as and for
the Securities Committee; and that the Securities Committee has all the
authority to act as and for the Board of Directors in the determination of
whether to issue the Securities, and, if issued, whether to offer the Securities
through a public offering or through private transactions, and whether to
purchase the Repurchased Debt; and further
RESOLVED, That the Management Committee or the Securities Committee, as the case
may be, may designate one or more persons, who may or may not be a member of the
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Committee, to act as and for the Committee in any capacity as the Committee may
direct; and further
RESOLVED, That the Management Committee or the Securities Committee, as the case
may be, may, at any time prior to December 31, 2000, authorize one or more
issuances and sales of the Securities by the Company and authorize one or more
purchases of Repurchased Debt for so long as, or at such times as, economically
advantageous to the Company, and, in connection with any such authorization,
issue, determine, approve, or appoint, as the case may be:
(a) the type of Security or Securities and title or titles thereof;
(b) the aggregate principal amount, not to exceed $2,000,000,000, the
denominations, and terms, of the Securities;
(c) the price at which the Securities are to be sold (which may be issued at
an "original issue discount" within the meaning of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended), and the interest rate or rates, if any, to be
established for the Securities, which rate or rates may vary from time to
time;
(d) the issuance of the Securities in any foreign currency or European
currency units and if European currency units are issued, the currency or
currencies in which interest is payable;
(e) the maturity or maturities; and, furthermore, the Securities Committee is
authorized to determine that any issue of Securities may be of varying
maturities and amounts;
(f) the sinking fund, if any, and related redemption prices of the
Securities;
(g) the optional redemption rights, if any, of the Company and of the holders
of the Securities, and related redemption prices and any limitations on
such redemption;
(h) the restrictive covenants, if any, to be imposed upon the Company
relating to any of the Securities;
(i) the form of Registration Statement on Form S-3, or such other form as the
Securities Committee determines (the "Registration Statement"), for the
purpose of registering the Securities, if so required, under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any amendments thereto;
(j) the amount of Repurchased Debt to be purchased or redeemed by the
Company;
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(k) the price at which any Repurchased Debt is to be purchased, if purchased;
(l) any underwriting, standby, or similar agreement between the Company and
an underwriter or underwriters;
(m) the use, form, execution, and delivery of the Securities, indentures,
note agreement, loan agreement, distribution agreement, reimbursement
agreement, warrant agreement, notes, or any other contracts or
agreements, including listing applications, as the Securities Committee
deems necessary or appropriate;
(n) any transfer, authenticating, placement, exchange, distribution, or
paying agent, or registrar, trustee or underwriter, or any other person
or entity to act in connection with the Securities or the Repurchased
Debt; including the selection of a financial institution or institutions,
whether foreign or domestic, to advise the Company;
(o) whether the issuance of the Securities or the purchase or redemption of
Repurchased Debt is permitted under the terms of the Indentures; and
(p) any other terms, conditions, and provisions as the Securities Committee
deems necessary or appropriate; and further
RESOLVED, That the elected officers of the Company be, and each of them hereby
is, authorized, in the name and on behalf of the Company, to execute the
Registration Statement with such changes therein as the officer executing the
same may approve, such execution to be conclusive evidence of such approval, and
to execute any and all amendments thereto as deemed necessary or desirable; and
further
RESOLVED, That upon the execution of the Registration Statement or any
amendments thereto, including post-effective amendments, by directors and
officers of the Company, as required by law, either in person or by a duly
authorized attorney or attorneys, the elected officers of the Company be, and
each of them hereby is, authorized to cause the Registration Statement and any
amendments thereto to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") and to execute and file all such instruments, make all such
payments, and to do such other acts and things as, in their opinion or in the
opinion of any of them, may be necessary or desirable in order to effect such
filing, to cause the Registration Statement to become effective, and to maintain
the Registration Statement in effect for as long as they deem it to be in the
best interests of the Company; and further
RESOLVED, That Paul W. Heldman and Bruce M. Gack, or either one of them, be, and
each of them hereby is, made, constituted, and appointed the true and lawful
attorneys-in-fact, with authority to sign and execute on behalf of this Company,
and on behalf of the directors and officers thereof in their official
capacities, the Registration Statement and any and all amendments thereto, which
either of them, in their discretion, deem necessary or advisable to be filed
with the Commission; and further
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RESOLVED, That Paul W. Heldman, Senior Vice President, Secretary and General
Counsel of the Company, whose address is 1014 Vine Street, Cincinnati, Ohio, be,
and he hereby is, designated as the Agent for Service to be named in the
Registration Statement, with authority to receive notices and communications
with respect to such Registration Statement and with all powers consequent upon
such designation under the rules and regulations of the Commission; and further
RESOLVED, That, subject to the limitations set forth in these resolutions, the
Management Committee or the Securities Committee, as the case may be, may
approve the form of the Securities; that the elected officers of the Company be,
and each of them hereby is, authorized to execute, in the name and on behalf of
the Company, the Securities; that the signature of each of such officers on the
Securities may be manual or by facsimile; that Securities bearing the manual or
facsimile signatures of individuals who were at any time the elected officers of
the Company will bind the Company notwithstanding that such individuals or any
of them cease to hold such offices; that the elected officers of the Company be,
and each of them hereby is, authorized to deliver or cause to be delivered the
Securities for authentication and delivery in the principal amount thereof as
shall have been determined by the Board or a Committee; and further
RESOLVED, That the elected officers of the Company be, and each of them hereby
is, authorized and directed, if such officer or officers deems it necessary in
connection with the offering of any of the Securities, to appoint a withholding
agent and attorney for the Company for the purpose of withholding any and all
taxes required to be withheld by the Company, under any Federal or other laws or
regulations from time to time in effect, from the interest paid from time to
time on the Securities, and to authorize and direct such agent to make any and
all payments and reports and to file any and all returns and accompanying
certificates with any governmental authority which such agent may be permitted
or required to make or file as such agent under such laws or regulations; and
further
RESOLVED, That the elected officers of the Company be, and each of them hereby
is, authorized in the name and on behalf of this Company to take any and all
action which they deem necessary or advisable to effect the registration or
qualification (or exemptions therefrom) of the Securities for issue, offer,
sale, or trade under the Blue Sky or securities laws of any State of the United
States of America, any Province of Canada, or of any other country and in
connection therewith to sign, execute, acknowledge, verify, deliver, file, and
publish all such applications, issuer's covenants, consents to service of
process, resolutions, and other papers and documents as may be required under
such laws, and to take any and all further action which they deem necessary or
advisable in order to maintain such registration or qualification of the
Securities for as long as they may deem necessary or as required by law; and
further
RESOLVED, That the elected officers of the Company be, and each of them hereby
is, authorized in the name and on behalf of this Company to execute and file an
application or applications for the listing of the Securities on the New York
Stock Exchange, to appear
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before officials of the New York Stock Exchange and to take any and all action,
and prepare, execute, and file any and all other applications and agreements,
including an indemnity agreement relating to the use of facsimile signatures in
the execution of the Securities, necessary, incidental, or convenient to
effectuate such listing; and further
RESOLVED, That the elected officers of the Company be, and each of them hereby
is, authorized in the name and on behalf of this Company to execute and cause to
be filed with the Commission and the New York Stock Exchange an application on
Form 8-A, or such other form as may be required for the purpose of registering
the Securities on a national securities exchange, pursuant to the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934; and further
RESOLVED, That the elected officers of the Company be, and each of them hereby
is, authorized and directed to advise the Company's senior lenders and the
trustees under the Indentures of the issuance of Securities or the purchase or
redemption of Repurchased Debt, as any such officer deems necessary or
appropriate; and further
RESOLVED, That the Management Committee or the Securities Committee, as the case
may be, and each of the elected officers of the Company be, and each of them
hereby is, authorized and directed to do and perform, or cause to be done and
performed, all such acts, deeds, and things and to make, execute, and deliver,
or cause to be made, executed, and delivered, all such agreements, undertakings,
documents, instruments, or certificates, in the name and on behalf of the
Company or otherwise, including, without limitation, indentures, loan
agreements, underwriting, placement, exchange or agency agreements, and trust
agreements, all as the applicable Committee or any of the elected officers deem
necessary or appropriate to effect the purposes and intent of the foregoing
resolutions.
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