SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
Current Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report: November 19, 1996
CONSECO, INC.
State of Incorporation:
Indiana
Commission File Number IRS Employer Id. Number
No. 1-9250 No. 35-1468632
Address of Principal Executive Offices:
11825 North Pennsylvania Street
Carmel, Indiana 46032
Telephone No.
(317) 817-6100
S:\ACCTING\SECRPT\CNC8-K96.NOV
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CONSECO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS.
On November 19, 1996, Conseco, Inc. ("Conseco")announced the closing of the
public offering of 11 million of the 9.16 percent Trust Originated Preferred
Securities SM ("TOPrS SM") of Conseco Financing Trust I, a subsidiary of
Conseco, at $25 per security. Each TOPrS security will pay cumulative cash
distributions at the annual rate of 9.16 percent of the stated $25 liquidiation
amount per security, payable quarterly commencing December 31, 1996. The TOPrS
are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Conseco. Proceeds from the offering
of approximately $265.5 million (after underwriting and other associated costs)
will be used to repay bank debt.
SM - "Trust Originated Preferred Securities" and "TOPrS" are service marks of
Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.
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CONSECO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
ITEM 7(c). EXHIBITS.
1.1 Underwriting Agreement for 11,000,000 Preferred Securities of Conseco
Financing Trust I, dated November 14, 1996.
1.2 Pricing Agreement for 11,000,000 Preferred Securities of Conseco
Financing Trust I, dated November 14, 1996
4.17.1 Subordinated Indenture, dated as of November 14, 1996, between
Conseco, Inc. and Fleet National Bank, as Trustee.
4.17.2 First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of November 14, 1996, between
Conseco, Inc. and Fleet National Bank, as Trustee.
4.17.3 9.16% Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debenture due 2026.
4.18.1 Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of Conseco Financing Trust
I, dated as of November 14, 1996, among Conseco, Inc.,as sponsor, the
Trustees named therein and the holders from time to time of undivided
beneficial interests in the assets of Conseco Financing Trust I.
4.18.2 Global Certificate for Preferred Security of Conseco Financing
Trust I.
4.18.3 Preferred Securities Guarantee Agreement, dated as of November 19,
1996, between Conseco, Inc. and Fleet National Bank.
12.1 Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Preferred
Dividends at September 30, 1996.
12.2 Pro forma Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges and
Preferred Dividends at June 30, 1996.
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CONSECO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
Date: November 19, 1996
CONSECO, INC.
By: /s/ROLLIN M. DICK
----------------------
Rollin M. Dick
Executive Vice President
and Chief Financial Officer
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11,000,000 Preferred Securities
CONSECO FINANCING TRUST I
(a Delaware Trust)
9.16% Trust Originated Preferred Securities(sm) ("TOPrS(sm)")
(Liquidation Amount of $25.00 per Preferred Security)
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
November 14, 1996
MERRILL LYNCH & CO.
MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH
INCORPORATED
DEAN WITTER REYNOLDS INC.
DONALDSON, LUFKIN & JENRETTE SECURITIES
CORPORATION
PAINEWEBBER INCORPORATED
PRUDENTIAL SECURITIES INCORPORATED
SANDS BROTHERS & CO., LTD.
As the Representatives of the several Underwriters
c/o Merrill Lynch & Co.
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated
Merrill Lynch World Headquarters
World Financial Center
North Tower
New York, New York 10281
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Conseco Financing Trust I (the "Trust"), a statutory business trust
organized under the Business Trust Act (the "Delaware Act") of the State of
Delaware (Chapter 38, Title 12, of the Delaware Code, 12 Del. C. Sections 3801
et seq.), and Conseco, Inc., an Indiana corporation (the "Company" and, together
with the Trust, the "Offerors"), confirm their agreement (the "Agreement") with
Merrill Lynch & Co., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated
("Merrill Lynch"), Dean Witter Reynolds Inc., Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette
Securities Corporation, PaineWebber Incorporated, Prudential Securities
Incorporated and Sands Brothers & Co., Ltd. as representatives (in such
capacity, collectively, the "Representatives") of the
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(sm) "Trust Originated Preferred Securities" and "TOPrS" are
service marks of Merrill Lynch & Co. Inc.
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several Underwriters named in Schedule A hereto (collectively, the
"Underwriters", which term shall also include any underwriter substituted as
hereinafter provided in Section 10 hereof), with respect to the sale by the
Trust and the purchase by the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, of
the respective number of 9.16% Trust Originated Preferred Securities
(liquidation amount of $25 per preferred security) of the Trust ("Preferred
Securities") set forth in said Schedule A, except as may otherwise be provided
in the Pricing Agreement, as hereinafter defined. The Preferred Securities will
be guaranteed by the Company with respect to distributions and payments upon
liquidation, redemption and otherwise (the "Preferred Securities Guarantee")
pursuant to the Preferred Securities Guarantee Agreement (the "Preferred
Securities Guarantee Agreement"), dated as of November 19, 1996, between the
Company and Fleet National Bank, as trustee (the "Guarantee Trustee"), and in
certain circumstances described in the Prospectus, the Trust will distribute
Subordinated Debentures (as defined herein) to holders of Preferred Securities.
The 11,000,000 Preferred Securities to be purchased by the Underwriters,
together with the related Preferred Securities Guarantee and the Subordinated
Debentures, are collectively referred to herein as the "Securities".
Prior to the purchase and public offering of the Preferred Securities
by the several Underwriters, the Offerors and the Representatives, acting on
behalf of the several Underwriters, shall enter into an agreement substantially
in the form of Exhibit A hereto (the "Pricing Agreement"). The Pricing Agreement
may take the form of an exchange of any standard form of written
telecommunication between the Offerors and the Representatives and shall specify
such applicable information as is indicated in Exhibit A hereto. The offering of
the Preferred Securities will be governed by this Agreement, as supplemented by
the Pricing Agreement. From and after the date of the execution and delivery of
the Pricing Agreement, this Agreement shall be deemed to incorporate the Pricing
Agreement.
The Company, the Trust, Conseco Financing Trust II and Conseco
Financing Trust III (collectively, the "Conseco Trusts") have filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") a registration statement
on Form S-3 (No. 333- 14991) and pre-effective amendment nos. 1 and 2 thereto
covering the registration of securities of the Company and the Conseco Trusts,
including the Securities, under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"1933 Act"), including the related preliminary prospectus or prospectuses, and
the offering thereof from time to time in accordance with Rule 415 of the rules
and regulations of the Commission under the 1933 Act (the "1933 Act
Regulations") and the Company has filed such post-effective amendments thereto
as may be required prior to the execution of the Pricing Agreement. Such
registration statement, as so amended, has been declared effective by the
Commission. Such registration statement, as so amended, including the exhibits
and schedules thereto, if any, and the information, if any, deemed to
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be a part thereof pursuant to Rule 430A(b) of the 1933 Act Regulations (the
"Rule 430A Information") or Rule 434(d) of the 1933 Act Regulations (the "Rule
434 Information"), is referred to herein as the "Registration Statement"; and
the final prospectus and the prospectus supplement relating to the offering of
the Securities, in the form first furnished to the Underwriters by the Company
for use in connection with the offering of the Securities, are collectively
referred to herein as the "Prospectus"; provided, however, that all references
to the "Registration Statement" and the "Prospectus" shall be deemed to include
all documents incorporated therein by reference pursuant to the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act"), prior to the execution of the
applicable Pricing Agreement; provided, further, that if the Offerors file a
registration statement with the Commission pursuant to Section 462(b) of the
1933 Act Regulations (the "Rule 462(b) Registration Statement"), then after such
filing, all references to "Registration Statement" shall be deemed to include
the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement; and provided, further, that if the
Offerors elect to rely upon Rule 434 of the 1933 Act Regulations, then all
references to "Prospectus" shall be deemed to include the final or preliminary
prospectus and the applicable term sheet or abbreviated term sheet (the "Term
Sheet"), as the case may be, in the form first furnished to the Underwriters by
the Company in reliance upon Rule 434 of the 1933 Act Regulations, and all
references in this Purchase Agreement to the date of the Prospectus shall mean
the date of the Term Sheet. A "preliminary prospectus" shall be deemed to refer
to any prospectus used before the registration statement became effective and
any prospectus that omitted, as applicable, the Rule 430A Information, the Rule
434 Information or other information to be included upon pricing in a form of
prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the 1933 Act
Regulations, that was used after such effectiveness and prior to the execution
and delivery of the applicable Pricing Agreement. For purposes of this
Agreement, all references to the Registration Statement, any preliminary
prospectus, the Prospectus or any Term Sheet or any amendment or supplement to
any of the foregoing shall be deemed to include the copy filed with the
Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval
system ("EDGAR").
All references in this Agreement to financial statements and schedules
and other information which is "contained," "included" or "stated" in the
Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or other
references of like import) shall be deemed to mean and include all such
financial statements and schedules and other information which is incorporated
by reference in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the
Prospectus, as the case may be; and all references in this Agreement to
amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement, any preliminary
prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to mean and include the filing of
any document under the 1934 Act which is incorporated by reference in
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the Registration Statement, such preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus, as
the case may be.
The Offerors understand that the Underwriters propose to make a public
offering of the Securities as soon as the Represen tatives deem advisable after
the Pricing Agreement has been executed and delivered and the Declaration (as
defined herein), the Indenture (as defined herein), and the Preferred Securities
Guarantee Agreement have been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939,
as amended (the "1939 Act"). The entire proceeds from the sale of the Preferred
Securities will be combined with the entire proceeds from the sale by the Trust
to the Company of its common securities (the "Common Securities," and together
with the Preferred Securities, the "Trust Securities"), as guaranteed by the
Company, to the extent set forth in the Prospectus, with respect to
distributions and payments upon liquidation and redemption (the "Common
Securities Guarantee" and together with the Preferred Securities Guarantee, the
"Guarantees") pursuant to the Common Securities Guarantee Agreement (the "Common
Securities Guarantee Agreement" and, together with the Preferred Securities
Guarantee Agreement, the "Guarantee Agreements"), dated as of November 19, 1996,
between the Company and the Guarantee Trustee, as Trustee, and will be used by
the Trust to purchase $275,000,000 of 9.16% subordinated deferrable interest
debentures (the "Subordinated Debentures") issued by the Company. The Preferred
Securities and the Common Securities will be issued pursuant to the amended and
restated declaration of trust of the Trust, dated as of November 14, 1996 (the
"Declaration"), among the Company, as Sponsor, Stephen C. Hilbert, Rollin M.
Dick and Lawrence W. Inlow (the "Regular Trustees"), Fleet National Bank, as
Property Trustee (the "Property Trustee"), and First Union Bank of Delaware (the
"Delaware Trustee," and, together with the Property Trustee and the Regular
Trustees, the "Trustees"), and the holders from time to time of undivided
beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust. The Subordinated Debentures
will be issued pursuant to an indenture, dated as of November 14, 1996 (the
"Base Indenture"), between the Company and Fleet National Bank as trustee (the
"Debt Trustee"), as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture dated as of
November 14, 1996 (the "Supplemental Indenture," and together with any other
amendments or supplements thereto, the "Indenture"), between the Company and the
Debt Trustee.
SECTION 1. Representations and Warranties.
(a) The Offerors jointly and severally represent and warrant to each
Underwriter as of the date hereof and as of the date of the Pricing Agreement
(such later date being hereinafter referred to as the "Representation Date")
that:
(i) No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement has been issued and no proceeding for that purpose has
been initiated or, to the knowledge and information
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of the Offerors after due and diligent inquiry, threatened by the Commission.
(ii) The Company and the Conseco Trusts meet, and at the
respective times of the commencement and consummation of the Offering of the
Securities will meet, the requirements for the use of Form S-3 under the 1933
Act. Each of the Registration Statement and any Rule 462(b) Registration
Statement has become effective under the 1933 Act. At the respective times the
Registration Statement, any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement and any
post-effective amendments thereto (including the filing of the Company's most
recent Annual Report on Form 10-K with the Commission) became effective and at
each Representation Date, the Registration Statement, any Rule 462 Registration
Statement and any amendments and supplements thereto complied and will comply in
all material respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act
Regulations and the 1939 Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission
under the 1939 Act (the "1939 Act Regulations") and did not and will not contain
an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.
At the date of the Prospectus and at the Closing Time, the Prospectus and any
amendments and supplements thereto did not and will not include an untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order
to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which
they were made, not misleading. If the Offerors elect to rely upon Rule 434 of
the 1933 Act Regulations, the Offerors will comply with the requirements of Rule
434. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the representations and warranties in this
subsection shall not apply to (A) statements in or omissions from the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus made in reliance upon and in conformity
with information furnished to the Offerors in writing by any Underwriter through
Merrill Lynch expressly for use in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus
or (B) that part of the Registration Statement which shall constitute the
Statement of Eligibility (Form T-1) under the 1939 Act.
Each preliminary prospectus and prospectus filed as part of
the Registration Statement as originally filed or as part of any amendment
thereto, or filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the 1933 Act, complied when so
filed in all material respects with the 1933 Act Regulations and, if applicable,
each preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus delivered to the Underwriters for
use in connection with the offering of Securities will, at the time of such
delivery, be identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed
with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by
Regulation S-T.
(iii) The documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated
by reference in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, at the time they
were or hereafter are filed or last amended, as the case may be, with the
Commission, complied and
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will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the 1934 Act, and
the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (the "1934 Act
Regulations"), and at the time of filing or as of the time of any subsequent
amendment, did not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were or
are made, not misleading; and any additional documents deemed to be incorporated
by reference in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus will, if and when
they are filed with the Commission, or when amended, as appropriate, comply in
all material respects with the requirements of the 1934 Act and the 1934 Act
Regulations and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit
to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading after the date hereof; provided, however, that
this representation and warranty shall not apply to statements contained in or
omitted from the Registration Statement or the Prospectus in reliance upon, and
in conformity with, information furnished to the Company in writing by any
Underwriter through Merrill Lynch expressly for use in the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus.
(iv) Coopers & Lybrand, LLP, the accountants who certified the
financial statements and supporting schedules of the Company included or
incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, are independent public
accountants with respect to the Company and its subsidiaries as required by the
1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations.
(v) The financial statements of the Company included or
incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus,
together with the related schedules and notes, present fairly the financial
position of the Company and its subsidiaries as of the dates indicated and the
results of their operations for the periods specified. Except as otherwise
stated in the Registration Statement, said financial statements have been
prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles applied on
a consistent basis. The supporting schedules included or incorporated by
reference in the Registration Statement present fairly the information required
to be included therein. The ratios of earnings to fixed charges (including
preferred stock dividends) included in the Prospectus have been calculated in
compliance, in all material respects, with Item 503(d) of Regulation S-K of the
Commission. The selected financial data and the summary financial information
included in the Prospectus present fairly the information shown therein and have
been compiled on a basis consistent with that of the audited financial
statements included in the Registration Statement. The pro forma financial
statements of the Company and its subsidiaries and the related notes thereto
included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus present fairly the
information shown therein, have been prepared in accordance with the
Commission's rules and guidelines with respect to pro forma
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financial statements and have been properly compiled on the bases described
therein, and the assumptions used in the preparation thereof are reasonable and
the adjustments used therein are appropriate to give effect to the transactions
and circumstances referred to therein.
(vi) The statutory financial statements of each of the
Company's insurance subsidiaries, from which certain ratios and other
statistical data contained in the Registration Statement have been derived, have
for each relevant period been prepared in accordance with accounting practices
prescribed or permitted by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners,
and with respect to each insurance subsidiary, the appropriate Insurance
Department of the state of domicile of such insurance subsidiary, and such
accounting practices have been applied on a consistent basis throughout the
periods involved, except as disclosed therein.
(vii) Since the respective dates as of which information is
given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and except as otherwise
stated or contemplated therein, (A) there has been no material adverse change
and no development which would reasonably be expected to result in a material
adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings or
business affairs of the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one
enterprise, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, or
American Travellers Corporation ("American Travellers"), Capitol American
Financial Corporation ("Capitol American") and Transport Holdings Inc.
("Transport Holdings") (each, an "Acquired Company" and collectively, the
"Acquired Companies") and their respective subsidiaries, in each case,
considered as one enterprise, (B) there have been no transactions entered into
by the Company or any of its subsidiaries which are material to the Company and
its subsidiaries, considered as one enterprise, or any of the Acquired Companies
or their respective subsidiaries, in each case, considered as one enterprise,
other than those entered into in the ordinary course of business, and (C) except
for regular quarterly dividends, there has been no dividend or distribution of
any kind declared, paid or made by the Company on any class of its capital stock
or by any of the Acquired Companies on any class of their capital stock.
(viii) The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly
existing as a corporation under the laws of the State of Indiana, with corporate
power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its
business as presently conducted and as described in the Prospectus or in the
Company's Annual Report filed on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995;
and the Company is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business
and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is
required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the
conduct of business, except where the failure to so qualify or be in good
standing
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would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the
condition, financial or otherwise, or the earnings or business affairs of the
Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one enterprise.
(ix) Each of the subsidiaries has been duly incorporated and
is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the
jurisdiction of its incorporation, has the corporate power and authority to own,
lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as presently
conducted and as described in the Prospectus or in the Company's Annual Report
filed on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995; and is duly qualified
as a foreign corporation to transact business and is in good standing in each
jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of the
ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except where the
failure to so qualify or be in good standing would not reasonably be expected to
have a material adverse effect on the condition, financial or otherwise, or the
earnings or business affairs of the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as
one enterprise; and the outstanding shares of capital stock of each subsidiary
of the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and
nonassessable and, except as described in the Prospectus, all such shares are
owned by the Company or by a subsidiary of the Company.
(x) The Company and each of its subsidiaries hold all material
licenses, certificates and permits from governmental authorities (including,
without limitation, insurance licenses from the insurance departments of the
various states where the subsidiaries write insurance business (the "Insurance
Licenses") which are necessary to the conduct of their businesses; the Company
and its subsidiaries have fulfilled and performed all material obligations
necessary to maintain their respective Insurance Licenses, and no event or
events have occurred which could reasonably be expected to result in the
impairment, modification, termination or revocation of such Insurance Licenses.
(xi) The authorized, issued and outstanding capital stock of
the Company is as set forth in the Prospectus; since the date indicated in the
Prospectus there has been no change in the consolidated capitalization of the
Company and its subsidiaries (except for subsequent issuances, if any, pursuant
to stock option agreements or employee benefit plans); and all of the issued and
outstanding capital stock of the Company has been duly authorized and validly
issued, is fully paid and nonassessable and conforms to the descriptions thereof
contained in the Prospectus and the Registration Statement.
(xii) The Trust has been duly created and is validly existing
in good standing as a business trust under the Delaware Act with the power and
authority to own property and to conduct its business as described in the
Registration Statement and
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Prospectus and to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement,
the Pricing Agreement, the Preferred Securities, the Common Securities and the
Declaration; the Trust is duly qualified to transact business as a foreign
company and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification
is necessary, except where the failure to so qualify or be in good standing
would not have a material adverse effect on the Trust; the Trust is not a party
to or otherwise bound by any agreement other than those described in the
Prospectus; the Trust is and will, under current law, be classified for United
States federal income tax purposes as a grantor trust and not as an association
taxable as a corporation.
(xiii) The Common Securities have been duly authorized by the
Declaration and, when issued and delivered by the Trust to the Company against
payment therefor as described in the Registration Statement and Prospectus, will
be validly issued and will represent undivided beneficial interests in the
assets of the Trust and will conform in all material respects to the description
thereof contained in the Prospectus; the issuance of the Common Securities is
not subject to preemptive or other similar rights; and at the Closing Time all
of the issued and outstanding Common Securities of the Trust will be directly
owned by the Company free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge,
lien, encumbrance, claim or equitable right.
(xiv) This Agreement and the Pricing Agreement have been duly
authorized, executed and delivered by each of the Offerors.
(xv) The Declaration has been duly authorized by the Company
and, at the Closing Time, will have been duly executed and delivered by the
Company and the Trustees, and assuming due authorization, execution and delivery
of the Declaration by the Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee, the
Declaration will, at the Closing Time, be a valid and binding obligation of the
Company and the Regular Trustees, enforceable against the Company and the
Regular Trustees in accordance with its terms, except to the extent that
enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
moratorium or other similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally or by
general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in
a proceeding at law or in equity) (the "Bankruptcy Exceptions") and will conform
in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Prospectus.
(xvi) Each of the Guarantee Agreements has been duly
authorized by the Company and, when validly executed and delivered by the
Company, and, in the case of the Preferred Securities Guarantee Agreement,
assuming due authorization, execution and delivery of the Preferred Securities
Guarantee by the Guarantee Trustee, will constitute a valid and binding
obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with
its terms except to the extent that enforcement
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thereof may be limited by the Bankruptcy Exceptions, and each of the Guarantees
and the Guarantee Agreements will conform in all material respects to the
description thereof contained in the Prospectus.
(xvii) The Preferred Securities have been duly authorized for
issuance and sale to the Underwriters and, when issued and delivered against
payment therefor as provided herein, will be validly issued and fully paid and
non-assessable undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust and
will conform in all material respects to the description thereof contained in
the Prospectus; the issuance of the Preferred Securities is not subject to
preemptive or other similar rights.
(xviii) The Indenture has been duly authorized and qualified
under the 1939 Act and, at the Closing Time, will have been duly executed and
delivered and will constitute a valid and binding agreement of the Company,
enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms except to the
extent that enforcement thereof may be limited by the Bankruptcy Exceptions; the
Indenture will conform in all material respects to the description thereof
contained in the Prospectus.
(xix) The Subordinated Debentures have been duly authorized by
the Company and, at the Closing Time, will have been duly executed by the
Company and, when authenticated in the manner provided for in the Indenture and
delivered against payment therefor as described in the Prospectus, will
constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the
Company in accordance with their terms except to the extent that enforcement
thereof may be limited by the Bankruptcy Exceptions, and will be in the form
contemplated by, and entitled to the benefits of, the Indenture and will conform
in all material respects to the description thereof in the Prospectus.
(xx) Each of the Regular Trustees of the Trust is an employee
of the Company and has been duly authorized by the Company to execute and
deliver the Declaration.
(xxi) Each of (A) the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as
of August 25, 1996 (the "American Travellers Merger Agreement"), by and between
the Company and American Travellers, (B) the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated
as of August 25, 1996 (the "Capitol American Merger Agreement"), by and among
the Company, CAF Acquisition Company ("CAF") and Capitol American, and (C) the
Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as September 25, 1996 (the "Transport
Holdings Merger Agreement" and together with the American Travellers Merger
Agreement and the Capitol American Merger Agreement, the "Merger Agreements") by
and between the Company and Transport Holdings, has been duly authorized,
executed and delivered by the Company and, in the case of the Capitol American
Merger Agreement, CAF and constitute valid and binding obligations of the
Company and, in the case of the Capitol American Merger Agreement, CAF
enforceable against the
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Company and, in the case of the Capitol American Merger Agreement, CAF in
accordance with their terms, except as enforcement thereof may be limited by the
Bankruptcy Exceptions, and neither the Company nor CAF, nor, to the knowledge
and information of the Company after due and diligent inquiry, any of the
Acquired Companies is in default in the observance of the terms and conditions
thereof.
(xxii) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in
violation of its charter or by-laws or in default in the performance or
observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any
material contract, indenture, mortgage, loan agreement, note, lease or other
instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by
which it or any of them may be bound, or to which any of the property or assets
of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject, or in violation of any
applicable law, administrative regulation or administrative or court order or
decree, which violation or default would, singly or in the aggregate, reasonably
be expected to have a material adverse effect on the condition, financial or
otherwise, or the earnings or business affairs of the Company and its
subsidiaries, considered as one enterprise; the Trust is not in violation of the
Declaration or its certificate of trust filed with the State of Delaware on
October 28, 1996 (the "Certificate of Trust"); the execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement, the Pricing Agreement, the Declaration, the
Preferred Securities, the Common Securities, the Indenture, the Subordinated
Debentures, the Guarantee Agreements and the Guarantees and the consummation of
the transactions contemplated herein and therein, and compliance by the Offerors
with their respective obligations hereunder and thereunder will not conflict
with or constitute a breach of, or a default under, or result in the creation or
imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the
Trust, the Company or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to, any contract,
indenture, mortgage, loan agreement, note, lease or other instrument to which
the Trust, the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which it or
any of them may be bound, or to which any of the property or assets of the
Trust, the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject, except for a conflict,
breach, default, lien, charge or encumbrance which would not reasonably be
expected to have a material adverse effect on the condition, financial or
otherwise, or the earnings or business affairs of the Company and its
subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, nor will such action result in any
violation of the provisions of the Certificate of Trust, the charter or by-laws
of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any applicable law, administrative
regulation or administrative or court decree.
(xxiii) There is no action, suit or proceeding before or by
any court or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign (including,
without limitation, any proceeding to revoke or deny renewal of any Insurance
Licenses), now pending, or, to
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<PAGE>
the knowledge and information of the Company after due and diligent inquiry,
threatened, against or affecting the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any
of the Acquired Companies or any of their respective subsidiaries which is
required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or
which is reasonably likely to result in any material adverse change in the
condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings or business affairs of the
Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one enterprise, or any of the
Acquired Companies and their respective subsidiaries, in each case, considered
as one enterprise, or which could be reasonably likely to materially and
adversely affect a material portion of the properties or assets thereof or which
is reasonably likely to materially and adversely affect the consummation of this
Agreement, the Pricing Agreement, the Guarantee Agreements, the Indenture or the
transactions contemplated herein or therein; all pending legal or governmental
proceedings to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of the
Acquired Companies or their respective subsidiaries is a party or of which any
of their respective property or assets is the subject which are not described in
the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, including ordinary routine
litigation incidental to the business of the Company or any of its subsidiaries,
or any of the Acquired Companies or their respective subsidiaries, are,
considered in the aggregate, not material; and there are no contracts or
documents of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of the Acquired
Companies or their respective subsidiaries which are required to be filed as
exhibits to the Registration Statement, or to be incorporated by reference
therein, by the 1933 Act, the 1933 Act Regulations, the 1934 Act or the 1934 Act
Regulations, which have not been so filed or incorporated by reference.
(xxiv) No authorization, approval or consent of any court or
governmental authority or agency is necessary in connection with the issuance
and sale of the Common Securities or the offering, issuance and sale of the
Preferred Securities, the Subordinated Debentures or the Guarantees hereunder,
or the consummation by the Offerors of any other transactions contemplated
hereby, except such as have been obtained and made under the federal securities
laws or state insurance laws and such as may be required under state or foreign
securities laws.
(xxv) The Securities conform in all material respects to the
statements relating therein contained in the Prospectus and the Registration
Statement.
(xxvi) There are no holders of securities of the Company with
currently exercisable registration rights to have any securities registered as
part of the Registration Statement or included in the offering contemplated by
this Agreement.
(xxvii) No order preventing or suspending the use of any
preliminary prospectus with respect to the Securities has been issued and no
proceedings for that purpose are pending,
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<PAGE>
threatened, or, to the knowledge and information of the Offerors after due and
diligent inquiry, contemplated by the Commission; to the knowledge and
information of the Offerors after due and diligent inquiry, no order suspending
the offering of the Securities in any jurisdiction designated by the
Underwriters pursuant to Section 3(f) of this Agreement has been issued and, to
the knowledge and information of the Offerors after due and diligent inquiry, no
proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or threatened or are
contemplated, and any request of the Commission for additional information (to
be included in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or otherwise) has been
complied with.
(xxviii) Each of the Offerors has full power and authority to
execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement, the Pricing
Agreement, the Declaration, the Guarantee Agreements and the Indenture and the
Offerors have full corporate power and authority to issue, sell and deliver the
Securities.
(xxix) The Offerors have not taken, directly or indirectly,
any action designed to, or that might be reasonably expected to, cause or result
in manipulation of the price of the Securities or any of the capital stock of
the Company.
(xxx) None of the Trust or the Company or any of its
subsidiaries is, and upon the issuance and sale of the Securities as herein
contemplated and the application of the net proceeds therefrom as described in
the Prospectus will not be, an "investment company" or an entity "controlled" by
an "investment company" as such terms are defined in the Investment Company Act
of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act").
(xxxi) The Company is in compliance with all provisions of
Section 1 of the Laws of Florida, Chapter 92-198, An Act Relating to Disclosure
of Doing Business with Cuba.
(xxxii) No "forward looking statement" (as defined in Rule 175
under the 1933 Act) contained in the Registration Statement, any preliminary
prospectus or the Prospectus was made or reaffirmed without a reasonable basis
or was disclosed other than in good faith.
(b) The Offerors jointly and severally represent and warrant to each
Underwriter as of the date hereof and as of the date of the Representation Date,
with respect to each of the Acquired Companies that:
(i) Such Acquired Company meets, and at the respective times
of the commencement and consummation of the Offering of the Securities will
meet, the requirements for the use of Form S-3 under the 1933 Act.
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<PAGE>
(ii) With respect to such Acquired Company, the documents
incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus, at the time they were or hereafter are filed or
last amended, as the case may be, with the Commission, complied and will comply
in all material respects with the requirements of the 1934 Act, and the 1934 Act
Regulations, and at the time of filing or as of the time of any subsequent
amendment, did not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were or
are made, not misleading; and, with respect to such Acquired Company, any
additional documents deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus will, if and when they are filed with the
Commission, or when amended, as appropriate, comply in all material respects
with the requirements of the 1934 Act and the 1934 Act Regulations and will not
contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading after the date hereof.
(iii) The accountants who certified the financial statements
and supporting schedules of such Acquired Company included or incorporated by
reference in the Registration Statement, are independent public accountants with
respect to the Company and its subsidiaries as required by the 1933 Act and the
1933 Act Regulations.
(iv) The financial statements of such Acquired Company
included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus, together with the related schedules and notes, present fairly the
financial position of such Acquired Company and its subsidiaries as of the dates
indicated and the results of their operations for the periods specified. Except
as otherwise stated in the Registration Statement, said financial statements
have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles
applied on a consistent basis. The supporting schedules included or incorporated
by reference in the Registration Statement present fairly the information
required to be included therein. The selected financial data and the summary
financial information included in the Prospectus present fairly the information
shown therein and have been compiled on a basis consistent with that of the
audited financial statements included in the Registration Statement.
(v) The statutory financial statements of each of such
Acquired Company's insurance subsidiaries, from which certain ratios and other
statistical data contained in the Registration Statement have been derived, have
for each relevant period been prepared in accordance with accounting practices
prescribed or permitted by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners,
and with respect to each insurance subsidiary, the appropriate Insurance
Department of the state of domicile of such insurance
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<PAGE>
subsidiary, and such accounting practices have been applied on a consistent
basis throughout the periods involved, except as disclosed therein.
(vi) With respect to such Acquired Company, since the
respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement
and the Prospectus, and except as otherwise stated or contemplated therein, (A)
there has been no material adverse change and no development which would
reasonably be expected to result in a material adverse change in the condition,
financial or otherwise, or in the earnings or business affairs of such Acquired
Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one enterprise, (B) there have been
no transactions entered into by such Acquired Company or any of its subsidiaries
which are material to such Acquired Company and its subsidiaries, considered as
one enterprise, other than those entered into in the ordinary course of
business, and (C) except for regular quarterly dividends, there has been no
dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by such Acquired
Company on any class of its capital stock.
(vii) Such Acquired Company has been duly incorporated and is
validly existing as a corporation under the laws of the State of its
incorporation, with corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its
properties and to conduct its business as presently conducted and as described
in the Prospectus or in such Acquired Company's Annual Report filed on Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 1995; and such Acquired Company is duly
qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business and is in good standing
in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason
of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except where
the failure to so qualify or be in good standing would not reasonably be
expected to have a material adverse effect on the condition, financial or
otherwise, or the earnings or business affairs of such Acquired Company and its
subsidiaries, considered as one enterprise.
(viii) Such Acquired Company and each of its subsidiaries hold
all material licenses, certificates and permits from governmental authorities
(including, without limitation, Insurance Licenses) which are necessary to the
conduct of their businesses; such Acquired Company and its subsidiaries have
fulfilled and performed all material obligations necessary to maintain their
respective Insurance Licenses, and no event or events have occurred which could
reasonably be expected to result in the impairment, modification, termination or
revocation of such Insurance Licenses.
(ix) The authorized, issued and outstanding capital stock of
such Acquired Company is as set forth in the Prospectus; since the date
indicated in the Prospectus there has been no change in the consolidated
capitalization of such Acquired Company and its subsidiaries (except for
subsequent issuances, if
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<PAGE>
any, pursuant to stock option agreements or employee benefit plans); and all of
the issued and outstanding capital stock of such Acquired Company has been duly
authorized and validly issued, is fully paid and nonassessable and conforms to
the descriptions thereof contained in the Prospectus and the Registration
Statement.
(x) The Merger Agreement between such Acquired Company and the
Company has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by such Acquired
Company, constitutes a valid and binding obligation of such Acquired Company,
enforceable against such Acquired Company in accordance with its terms except to
the extent that enforcement thereof may be limited by the Bankruptcy Exceptions,
and such Acquired Company is not in default in the observance of the terms and
conditions thereof.
(xi) There is no action, suit or proceeding before or by any
court or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign (including, without
limitation, any proceeding to revoke or deny renewal of any Insurance Licenses),
now pending, or, to the knowledge and information of such Acquired Company after
due and diligent inquiry, threatened, against or affecting such Acquired Company
which is required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus, or which is reasonably likely to result in any material adverse
change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings or business
affairs of such Acquired Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one
enterprise, or which could be reasonably likely to materially and adversely
affect a material portion of the properties or assets thereof.
(c) Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company, any of the
Acquired Companies or a Trustee of the Trust and delivered to the
Representatives or to counsel for the Underwriters shall be deemed a
representation and warranty by the Company or the Trust, as the case may be, to
each Underwriter as to the matters covered thereby.
SECTION 2. Sale and Delivery to Underwriters; Closing.
(a) On the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained
and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Trust agrees to
sell to each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, and each Underwriter,
severally and not jointly, agrees to purchase from the Trust, at the price per
security set forth in the Pricing Agreement, the number of Preferred Securities
set forth in Schedule A hereto opposite the name of such Underwriter, plus any
additional number of Preferred Securities which such Underwriter may become
obligated to purchase pursuant to the provisions of Section 10 hereof.
(1) If the Offerors have elected not to rely upon Rule 430A of
the 1933 Act Regulations, the initial public offering price per Security and the
purchase price per Security
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<PAGE>
to be paid by the several Underwriters for the Securities have each been
determined and set forth in the Pricing Agreement, dated the date hereof, and
any necessary amendments to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus will
be filed before the Registration Statement becomes effective.
(2) If the Offerors have elected to rely upon Rule 430A of the
1933 Act Regulations, the purchase price per Security to be paid by the several
Underwriters shall be an amount equal to the initial public offering price per
Preferred Security, less an amount per Preferred Security to be determined by
agreement between the Underwriters and the Offerors. The initial public offering
price per Preferred Security shall be a fixed price to be determined by
agreement between the Underwriters and the Offerors. The initial public offering
price and the purchase price, when so determined, shall be set forth in the
Pricing Agreement. In the event that such prices have not been agreed upon and
the Pricing Agreement has not been executed and delivered by all parties thereto
by the close of business on the fourth business day following the date of this
Agreement, this Agreement shall terminate forthwith, without liability of any
party to any other party, unless otherwise agreed to by the Offerors and the
Underwriters.
(b) Delivery of certificates for the Securities shall be made at the
offices of the Underwriters in New York, and payment of the purchase price for
the Securities shall be made at the offices of LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae,
L.L.P., 125 West 55th Street, New York, New York 10019 or at such other place as
shall be agreed upon by the Underwriters and the Offerors, at 10:00 a.m. (New
York time) on the third business day after the date the Registration Statement
becomes effective (or, if the Offerors have elected to rely upon Rule 430A, the
third full business day after execution of the Pricing Agreement (or, if pricing
of the Securities occurs after 4:30 p.m. Eastern time, on the fourth full
business day thereafter)), or such other time not later than ten business days
after such date as shall be agreed upon by the Underwriters and the Offerors
(such time and date of payment and delivery being herein called the "Closing
Time"). Payment for the Preferred Securities purchased by the Underwriters shall
be made to the Trust by wire transfer of immediately available funds, payable to
the order of the Trust, against delivery to the respective accounts of the
Underwriters of certificates for the Preferred Securities to be purchased by it.
Certificates for the Preferred Securities shall be in such denominations and
registered in such names as the Underwriters may request in writing at least two
full business days before the Closing Time. Merrill Lynch, individually and not
as representative of the Underwriters, may (but shall not be obligated to) make
payment of the purchase price for the Preferred Securities, if any, to be
purchased by any Underwriter whose check has not been received by the Closing
Time, but such payment shall not relieve such Underwriter from its obligations
hereunder. The certificates for the Preferred Securities will be
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<PAGE>
made available for examination and packaging by the Underwriters no later than
10:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the last business day prior to the Closing
Time.
SECTION 3. Covenants of the Offerors. The Offerors agree with each
Underwriter as follows:
(a) Promptly following the execution of this Agreement, the Offerors
will cause the Prospectus, including as a part thereof a prospectus supplement
relating to the Securities to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424
of the 1933 Act Regulations and the Offerors will promptly advise the
Underwriters when such filing has been made. Prior to the filing, the Offerors
will cooperate with the Underwriters in the preparation of such prospectus
supplement to assure that the Underwriters have no reasonable objection to the
form or content thereof when filed or mailed.
(b) The Offerors, subject to Section 3(b), will comply with the
requirements of Rule 430A of the 1933 Act Regulations and/or Rule 434 of the
1933 Act Regulations if and as applicable, and will notify the Underwriters
immediately, and confirm the notice in writing, (i) of the effectiveness of any
post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or the filing of any
supplement or amendment to the Prospectus, (ii) the receipt of any comments from
the Commission, (iii) of any request by the Commission for any amendment to the
Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or for
additional information, (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order
suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the initiation of
any proceedings for that purpose and (v) of the issuance by any state securities
commission or other regulatory authority of any order suspending the
qualification or the exemption from qualification of the Securities under state
securities or Blue Sky laws or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding
for such purpose. The Offerors will make every reasonable effort to prevent the
issuance of any stop order and, if any stop order is issued, to obtain the
lifting thereof at the earliest possible moment.
(c) The Company will give the Underwriters notice of its intention to
file or prepare any amendment to the Registration Statement (including any
post-effective amendment and any filing under Rule 462(b) of the 1933 Act
Regulations), any Term Sheet or any amendment, supplement or revision to either
the prospectus included in the Registration Statement at the time it became
effective or to the Prospectus, whether pursuant to the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act
or otherwise; will furnish the Underwriters with copies of any such Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement, Term Sheet, amendment, supplement or revision a
reasonable amount of time prior to such proposed filing or use, as the case may
be; and will not file any such Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, Term Sheet,
amendment, supplement or revision to which the Underwriters or counsel for the
Underwriters shall object.
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<PAGE>
(d) The Company will deliver to Merrill Lynch and counsel for the
Underwriters, without charge, signed copies of the Registration Statement as
originally filed and of each amendment thereto (including exhibits filed
therewith or incorporated by reference therein and documents incorporated or
deemed to be incorporated by reference therein) and signed copies of all
consents and certificates of experts and will also deliver to Merrill Lynch,
without charge, a conformed copy of the Registration Statement as originally
filed and of each amendment thereto (without exhibits) for each of the
Underwriters. If applicable, the copies of the Registration Statement and each
amendment thereto furnished to the Underwriters will be identical to the
electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to
EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.
(e) The Company will deliver to each Underwriter, without charge, as
many copies of each preliminary prospectus as such Underwriter may reasonably
request, and the Company hereby consents to the use of such copies for purposes
permitted by the 1933 Act. The Company will furnish to each Underwriter, without
charge, during the period when the Prospectus is required to be delivered under
the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act, such number of copies of the Prospectus (as
amended or supplemented) as such Underwriter may reasonably request. If
applicable, the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto furnished
to the Underwriters will be identical to the electronically transmitted copies
thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent
permitted by Regulation S-T.
(f) The Offerors will comply with the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act
Regulations and the 1934 Act and the 1934 Act Regulations so as to permit the
completion of the distribution of the Securities as contemplated in this
Agreement and in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. If at any time
when the Prospectus is required by the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act to be delivered
in connection with sales of the Securities, any event shall occur or condition
shall exist as a result of which it is necessary, in the reasonable opinion of
counsel for the Underwriters or for the Offerors, to amend the Registration
Statement in order that the Registration Statement will not contain an untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or to
amend or supplement the Prospectus in order that the Prospectus will not include
an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of
the circumstances existing at the time it is delivered to a purchaser, or if it
shall be necessary, in the reasonable opinion of such counsel, at any such time
to amend the Registration Statement or amend or supplement the Prospectus in
order to comply with the requirements of the 1933 Act or the 1933 Act
Regulations, the Offerors will promptly prepare and file with the Commission,
subject to Section 3(b), such amendment or
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<PAGE>
supplement as may be necessary to correct such statement or omission or to make
the Registration Statement or the Prospectus comply with such requirements, and
the Offerors will furnish to the Underwriters, without charge, such number of
copies of such amendment or supplement as the Underwriters may reasonably
request.
(g) The Offerors will use their best efforts, in cooperation with the
Underwriters, to qualify the Securities for offering and sale under the
applicable securities laws of such states and other jurisdictions (domestic or
foreign) as Merrill Lynch may designate; provided, however, that the Company
shall not be obligated to qualify as a foreign corporation in any jurisdiction
in which it is not so qualified or subject itself to taxation in respect of
doing business in any jurisdiction in which it is not otherwise so subject. In
each jurisdiction in which the Securities have been so qualified, the Company
will file such statements and reports as may be required by the laws of such
jurisdiction to continue such qualification in effect for so long as may be
required in connection with distribution of the Securities.
(h) The Company will make generally available to its securityholders as
soon as practicable, but not later than 45 days (or 90 days, in the case of a
period that is also the Company's fiscal year) after the close of the period
covered thereby, an earnings statement of the Company (in form complying with
the provisions of Rule 158 of the 1933 Act Regulations) covering a twelve-month
period beginning not later than the first day of the Company's fiscal quarter
next following the "effective date" (as defined in said Rule 158) of the
Registration Statement.
(i) The Trust will use the net proceeds received by it from the sale
of the Securities in the manner specified in the Prospectus under " Use of
Proceeds".
(j) If, at the time that the Registration Statement became (or in the
case of a post-effective amendment becomes) effective, any information shall
have been omitted therefrom in reliance upon Rule 430A or Rule 434 of the 1933
Act Regulations, then immediately following the execution of the Pricing
Agreement, the Company will prepare, and file or transmit for filing with the
Commission in accordance with such Rule 430A or Rule 434 and Rule 424(b) of the
1933 Act Regulations, copies of an amended Prospectus, or Term Sheet, or, if
required by such Rule 430A, a post-effective amendment to the Registration
Statement (including an amended Prospectus), containing all information so
omitted.
(k) If Offerors elect to rely upon Rule 462(b), the Offerors shall both
file a Rule 462(b) Registration Statement with the Commission in compliance with
Rule 462(b) and pay the applicable fees in accordance with Rule 111 of the 1933
Act Regulations by the earlier of (i) 10:00 p.m. Eastern time on the
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<PAGE>
date of the Pricing Agreement and (ii) the time confirmations are sent or given,
as specified by Rule 462(b)(2).
(l) The Company, during the period when the Prospectus is required to
be delivered under the 1933 Act, will file all documents required to be filed
with the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the 1934
Act within the time periods required by the 1934 Act and the 1934 Act
Regulations.
(m) The Offerors will use its best efforts to effect the listing of the
Preferred Securities (including the Preferred Securities Guarantee with respect
thereto) on the New York Stock Exchange and to cause the Securities to be
registered under the 1934 Act. If the Preferred Securities are exchanged for
Subordinated Debentures, the Company will use its best efforts to effect the
listing of the Subordinated Debentures on the exchange on which the Preferred
Securities were then listed and to cause the Subordinated Debentures to be
registered under the 1934 Act.
(n) During a period of 90 days from the date of the Pricing Agreement,
neither the Trust nor the Company will, without the prior written consent of
Merrill Lynch on behalf of the Underwriters, directly or indirectly, sell, offer
to sell, grant any option for the sale of, or otherwise dispose of, or enter
into any agreement to sell, any Preferred Securities, any security convertible
into or exchangeable or exercisable for Preferred Securities, or the
Subordinated Debentures or any debt securities substantially similar to the
Subordinated Debentures or any equity securities substantially similar to the
Preferred Securities (except the Subordinated Debentures and the Preferred
Securities issued pursuant to this Agreement).
(o) During a period of one year from the Closing Time, to make
generally available to the Underwriters copies of all reports and other
communications (financial or other) mailed to stockholders, and to deliver to
the Underwriters promptly after they are available, copies of any reports and
financial statements furnished to or filed with the Commission or any national
securities exchange on which any class of securities of the Company is listed
(such financial statements to be on a consolidated basis to the extent the
accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries are consolidated in reports
furnished to its stockholders generally or to the Commission).
SECTION 4. Payment of Expenses. The Company will pay all expenses
incident to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement and the
Pricing Agreement, including, without limitation, expenses related to the
following, if incurred: (i) the preparation, delivery, printing and filing of
the Registration Statement and Prospectus as originally filed (including
financial statements and exhibits) and of each amendment thereto, (ii) the
printing and delivery to the Underwriters of this Agreement, the Pricing
Agreement, any Agreement among Underwriters and such other documents as may be
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<PAGE>
required in connection with offering, purchase, sale and delivery of the
Securities, (iii) the preparation, issuance and delivery of the certificates for
the Preferred Securities, (iv) the fees and disbursements of the Company's
counsel, accountants and other advisors or agents (including the transfer agents
and registrars) as well as fees and disbursements of the Trustees and any
Depositary, and their respective counsel, (v) the qualification of the
Securities under securities laws in accordance with the provisions of Section
3(g), including filing fees and the fees and disbursements of counsel for the
Underwriters in connection therewith and in connection with the preparation of
the Blue Sky Survey and any Legal Investment Survey, (vi) the printing and
delivery to the Underwriters of copies of the Registration Statement as
originally filed and of each amendment thereto, of each preliminary prospectus,
any Term Sheet and of the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto,
(vii) the printing and delivery to the Underwriters of copies of the Blue Sky
Survey and any Legal Investment Survey, (viii) any fees payable in connection
with the rating of the Preferred Securities by nationally recognized statistical
rating organizations; (ix) the filing fees incident to, and the fees and
disbursements of counsel to the Underwriters in connection with, the review, if
any, by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD") of the
terms of the sale of the Preferred Securities; (x) any fees payable to the
Commission; and (xi) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the
listing of the Preferred Securities and, if applicable, the Subordinated
Debentures on the New York Stock Exchange.
If this Agreement is terminated by the Representatives in accordance
with the provisions of Section 5 or Section 9(a)(i) hereof, the Company shall
reimburse the Underwriters for all of their out-of-pocket expenses, including
the reasonable fees and disbursements of LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae, L.L.P.,
counsel for the Underwriters.
SECTION 5. Conditions of Underwriters' Obligations. The obligations of
the Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Preferred Securities pursuant to
this Agreement are subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties
of the Offerors herein contained or in certificates of any officer of the
Company or any subsidiary or the trustees of the Trust delivered pursuant to the
provisions hereof, to the performance by the Offerors of their obligations
hereunder, and to the following further conditions:
(a) The Registration Statement, including any Rule 462(b) Registration
Statement, shall have become effective under the 1933 Act not later than 5:30
p.m., New York City time, on the date hereof, and on the date hereof and at the
Closing Time, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement or any part thereof shall have been issued under the 1933 Act or
proceedings therefor initiated or threatened by the Commission, and any request
on the part of the Commission for
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<PAGE>
additional information shall have been complied with to the satisfaction of
counsel to the Underwriters. A prospectus containing information relating to the
description of the Securities, the specific method of distribution and similar
matters shall have been filed with the Commission in accordance with Rule
424(b)(1), (2), (3), (4) or (5), as applicable (or any required post-effective
amendment providing such information shall have been filed and declared
effective in accordance with the requirements of Rule 430A), or, if the Company
has elected to rely upon Rule 434 of the 1933 Act Regulations, a Term Sheet
including the Rule 434 Information shall have been filed with the Commission in
accordance with Rule 424(b)(7).
(b) At the Closing Time the Underwriters shall have received:
(1) The favorable opinion, dated as of the Closing Time, of
Lawrence W. Inlow, Executive Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel of
the Company, in form and substance satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters,
to the effect that:
(i) The Company has been duly incorporated and is
validly existing as a corporation under the laws of the State of
Indiana; and the Company has the corporate power and authority under
the laws of the State of Indiana and under its charter to own, lease
and operate its properties and to conduct its business as presently
conducted and as described in the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus or in the Company's Annual Report filed on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 1995.
(ii) To the knowledge and information of such counsel
after due and diligent inquiry, the Company is duly qualified as a
foreign corporation to transact business and is in good standing in
each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by
reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of
business, except where the failure to so qualify or be in good standing
would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on
the condition, financial or otherwise, or the earnings or business
affairs of the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one
enterprise.
(iii) The authorized, issued and outstanding capital
stock of the Company is as set forth in the Prospectus (except for
subsequent issuances, if any, pursuant to stock option agreements or
employee benefit plans), and the shares of issued and outstanding
capital stock of the Company have been duly authorized and validly
issued and are fully paid and non-assessable.
(iv) Each subsidiary of the Company has been duly
incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing
under the laws of the jurisdiction of its
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<PAGE>
incorporation, has the corporate power and authority to own, lease and
operate its properties and to conduct its business as presently
conducted and as described in the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus or in the Company's Annual Report filed on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 1995. Nothing has come to the attention of such
counsel to lead such counsel to believe that any subsidiary is not duly
qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business or is not in
good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is
required, except where the failure to so qualify or be in good standing
would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on
the condition, financial or otherwise, or the earnings or business
affairs of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one
enterprise. All of the shares of issued and outstanding capital stock
of each subsidiary of the Company have been duly authorized and validly
issued, are fully paid and nonassessable, and, except as set forth in
the Prospectus, all such shares are owned by the Company or by a
subsidiary of the Company.
(v) The forms of certificates used to evidence the
Securities comply with all applicable statutory requirements, with any
applicable requirements of the Company's Amended Articles of
Incorporation and by-laws, and with the requirements of the New York
Stock Exchange.
(vi) The Trust is not required to be qualified and in
good standing as a foreign company in Indiana, except to the extent
that the failure to so qualify or be in good standing would not have a
material adverse effect on the Trust; and the Trust is not a party to
or otherwise bound by any agreement other than those described in the
Prospectus.
(vii) The Declaration has been duly authorized,
executed and delivered by the Company and the Trustees and is a valid
and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company
and each of the Regular Trustees in accordance with its terms, except
as enforcement thereof may be limited by the Bankruptcy Exceptions; and
the Declaration has been duly qualified under the 1939 Act.
(viii) All legally required proceedings in connection
with the authorization, issuance and validity of the Securities and the
sale of the Securities in accordance with this Agreement (other than
the filing of post-issuance reports, the non-filing of which would not
render the Securities invalid) have been taken and all legally required
orders, consents or other authorizations or approvals of any other
public boards or bodies in connection with the authorization, issuance
and validity of the Securities and the sale of the Securities in
accordance with this Agreement (other than in connection with or in
compliance with the provisions of the securities or Blue Sky laws of
any
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<PAGE>
jurisdictions, as to which no opinion need be expressed) have been
obtained and are in full force and effect.
(ix) The Registration Statement, including any Rule
462(b) Registration Statement, is effective under the 1933 Act; any
required filing of the Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) has been made
in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b); and
no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement has been issued under the 1933 Act or proceedings therefor
initiated, or, to such counsel's knowledge and information after due
and diligent inquiry, threatened by the Commission.
(x) The Registration Statement, including any Rule
462(b) Registration Statement, each of the incorporated documents and
the Prospectus, and each amendment or supplement thereto (other than
the financial statements or other financial information or statistical
data included therein and the Statements of Eligibility on Forms T-1
with respect to each of the Property Trustee, the Debt Trustee and the
Guarantee Trustee, as to which no opinion need be rendered), as of
their respective effective or issue dates, or when amended, as
appropriate, complied as to form in all material respects with the
requirements of the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act and the Rules and
Regulations thereunder; and the Declaration, the Indenture, the
Preferred Securities Guarantee Agreement filed with the Commission as
part of the Registration Statement complied as to form in all material
respects with the requirements of the 1939 Act and the 1939 Act
Regulations.
(xi) Each of the documents incorporated by reference
in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus at the time they were
filed or last amended (other than the financial statements or other
financial or statistical data included therein, as to which such
counsel need express no belief) complied as to form in all material
respects with the requirements of the 1934 Act, and the 1934 Act
Regulations, as applicable.
(xii) The Company and each of the Conseco Trusts meet
the registrant requirements for use of Form S-3 under the 1933 Act
Regulations.
(xiii) The Common Securities, the Preferred
Securities, the Subordinated Debentures, each of the Guarantees, the
Declaration, the Indenture and each of the Guarantee Agreements conform
in all material respects to the descriptions thereof contained in the
Prospectus.
(xiv) The information in the Prospectus under the
captions "The Company", "Pending Acquisitions By The Company", "Conseco
Financing Trust I", "Risk Factors", "Use of Proceeds", "Capitalization",
"Description of the
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<PAGE>
Preferred Securities", "Description of the Trust Guarantee",
"Description of the Subordinated Debentures" and "Effect of Obligations
under the Subordinated Debentures and the Trust Guarantee", to the
extent that they involve matters of law, summaries of legal matters,
the Company's Charter and bylaws or legal proceedings, or legal
conclusions, has been reviewed by such counsel and is correct in all
material respects.
(xv) All of the issued and outstanding Common
Securities of the Trust are directly owned by the Company free and
clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance,
claim or equitable right.
(xvi) This Agreement and the Pricing Agreement have
been duly authorized, executed and delivered by each of the Trust and
the Company and constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company
and the Trust, enforceable against the Company and the Trust in
accordance with their terms, except (1) to the extent that enforcement
thereof may be limited by Bankruptcy Exceptions and (2) that no opinion
is given as to the enforceability of the indemnity and contribution
provisions under this Agreement and the Pricing Agreement.
(xvii) Each of the Guarantee Agreements has been duly
authorized, executed and delivered by the Company; the Preferred
Securities Guarantee Agreement, assuming it is duly authorized,
executed, and delivered by the Guarantee Trustee, constitutes a valid
and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company
in accordance with its terms, except to the extent that enforcement
thereof may be limited by Bankruptcy Exceptions; and the Preferred
Securities Guarantee Agreement has been duly qualified under the 1939
Act.
(xviii) The Indenture has been duly executed and
delivered by the Company and, assuming due authorization, execution,
and delivery thereof by the Debt Trustee, is a valid and binding
obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in
accordance with its terms, except to the extent that enforcement
thereof may be limited by the Bankruptcy Exceptions; and the Indenture
has been duly qualified under the 1939 Act.
(xix) The Subordinated Debentures are in the form
contemplated by the Indenture, have been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the Company and, when authenticated by the Debt Trustee in
the manner provided for in the Indenture and delivered against payment
therefor as provided in this Agreement, will constitute valid and
binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in
accordance with their terms, except to the extent
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<PAGE>
that enforcement thereof may be limited by the Bankruptcy Exceptions.
(xx) The issuance and delivery of the Securities, the
execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Pricing Agreement, the
Declaration, the Preferred Securities, the Common Securities, the
Indenture, the Subordinated Debentures, the Guarantee Agreements and
the Guarantees and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
herein and therein, and the compliance by each of the Offerors with
their respective obligations hereunder and thereunder will not conflict
with or constitute a breach of, or default under, or result in the
creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any
property or assets of the Trust, the Company or any of its subsidiaries
pursuant to, any material contract, indenture, mortgage, loan agreement
(except as described in the Prospectus, as to which a waiver has been
obtained), note, lease or other instrument to which the Trust, the
Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which it or any of
them may be bound, or to which any of the property or assets of the
Trust, the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject, except for a
conflict, breach, default, lien, charge or encumbrance which would not
reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the
condition, financial or otherwise, or the earnings or business affairs
of the Trust, the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one
enterprise nor will such action result in any violation of the
provisions of the Certificate of Trust of the Trust, the charter or
by-laws of the Company, or any material applicable law, administrative
regulation or administrative or court decree.
(xxi) To the knowledge and information of such
counsel after due and diligent inquiry, there are no statutes or
regulations required to be described or incorporated by reference in
the Registration Statement which are not described or incorporated by
reference as required and there are no legal or governmental
proceedings pending or threatened which are required to be disclosed or
incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, other than
those disclosed or incorporated by reference therein.
(xxii) To the knowledge and information of such
counsel after due and diligent inquiry, there are no contracts,
indentures, mortgages, loan agreements, notes, leases or other
instruments required to be described or referred to or incorporated by
reference in the Registration Statement or to be filed as exhibits
thereto other than those described or referred to or incorporated by
reference therein or filed as exhibits thereto; the descriptions
thereof or references thereto are true and correct in all material
respects and no default exists in the due performance or observance of
any material obligation,
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<PAGE>
agreement, covenant or condition contained in any contract, indenture,
mortgage, loan agreement, note, lease or other instrument so described,
referred to or incorporated by reference or filed, which default would
reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company
and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise.
(xxiii) No authorization, approval or consent of any
court or governmental authority or agency is necessary in connection
with the issuance and sale of the Preferred Securities by the Trust to
the Underwriters or the performance by the Trust and the Company of
their respective obligations in this Agreement, the Pricing Agreement,
the Indenture, the Subordinated Debentures, the Guarantee Agreements,
the Declaration and the Preferred Securities, except such as have been
obtained and made under the federal securities laws or state insurance
laws and such as may be required under the state or foreign securities
laws.
(xxiv) No authorization, approval, consent, order,
registration or qualification of or with any court or federal or New
York or Delaware state governmental authority or agency is required for
the issuance and sale of the Preferred Securities by the Trust to the
Underwriters or the performance by the Trust and the Company of their
respective obligations in this Agreement, the Pricing Agreement, the
Indenture, the Subordinated Debentures, the Preferred Securities
Guarantee Agreement, the Preferred Securities Guarantee, the
Declaration and the Preferred Securities except such as has been
obtained and made under the federal securities laws or such as may be
required under state or foreign securities or Blue Sky laws.
(xxv) The Company and each of its subsidiaries hold
all material licenses, certificates and permits from all governmental
authorities (including, without limitation, the Insurance Licenses)
which are necessary to the conduct of their businesses; the Company and
its subsidiaries have fulfilled and performed all material obligations
necessary to maintain their respective Insurance Licenses, and no event
or events have occurred which could reasonably be expected to result in
the material impairment, modification, termination or revocation of
such Insurance Licenses.
(xxvi) None of the Trust or the Company or any of its
subsidiaries is an "investment company" or an entity "controlled" by an
"investment company," as such terms are defined in the 1940 Act.
(xxvii) All consents and waivers required in
connection with the issuance and delivery of the Securities, the
execution and delivery of the Purchase Agreement, the Pricing
Agreement, the Declaration, the Preferred Securities, the Common
Securities, the Indenture, the
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<PAGE>
Subordinated Debt Securities, the Guarantee Agreement and the
Guarantees and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
therein have been obtained.
Moreover, such counsel shall confirm that nothing has come to such counsel's
attention that would lead such counsel to believe that the Registration
Statement, including any information provided pursuant to Rule 430A and related
schedules and Rule 434 (except for financial statements or other financial
information or statistical data included or incorporated by reference therein,
as to which counsel need express no belief), at the time it became effective or
at the Representation Date, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or
omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein not misleading or that the Prospectus (except for
financial statements and other financial data included or incorporated by
reference therein, as to which counsel need express no belief), at the
Representation Date (unless the term "Prospectus" refers to a prospectus which
has been provided to the Underwriters by the Company for use in connection with
the offering of the Preferred Securities which differs from the Prospectus on
file at the Commission at the time the Registration Statement became effective,
in which case at the time it is first provided to the Underwriters for such use)
or at Closing Time, included (or includes) an untrue statement of a material
fact or omitted or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading.
(2) The favorable opinion, dated as of the Closing Time, of
Locke Reynolds Boyd & Weisell, special counsel to the Company, in form and
substance satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters, to the effect that the
statements in the Prospectus under the caption "United States Federal Income
Taxation" have been reviewed by such counsel and, insofar as they constitute
legal conclusions or matters of law, fairly summarize the matters referred to
therein.
Moreover, such counsel shall confirm that nothing has come to such counsel's
attention that would lead such counsel to believe that the Registration
Statement, including any information provided pursuant to Rule 430A or Rule 434
(except for financial statements or other financial information or statistical
data included or incorporated by reference therein, as to which such counsel
need express no belief), at the time it became effective or at the
Representation Date, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted
to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading or that the Prospectus (except for financial
statements and other financial data included or incorporated by reference
therein, as to which such counsel need express no belief), at the Representation
Date (unless the term "Prospectus" refers to a prospectus which has been
provided to the Underwriters by the Company for use in connection with the
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<PAGE>
offering of the Securities which differs from the Prospectus on file at the
Commission at the time the Registration Statement becomes effective, in which
case at the time it is first provided to the Underwriters for such use) or at
the Closing Time, included an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to
state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(3) The favorable opinion, dated as of Closing Time, of
Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A., special Delaware counsel to the Offerors, in
form and substance satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters, to the effect
that:
(i) The Trust has been duly created and is validly
existing in good standing as a business trust under the Delaware Act,
and all filings required under the laws of the State of Delaware with
respect to the creation and valid existence of the Trust as a business
trust have been made.
(ii) Under the Delaware Act and the Declaration, the
Trust has the business trust power and authority to own property and
conduct its business, all as described in the Prospectus.
(iii) The Declaration constitutes a valid and binding
obligation of the Company and the Trustees and is enforceable against
the Company and the Trustees in accordance with its terms, subject, as
to enforcement, to (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium,
receivership, reorganization, liquidation, fraudulent conveyance and
other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of
creditors generally, (ii) principles of equity, including applicable
law relating to fiduciary duties (regardless of whether considered and
applied in a proceeding in equity or at law), and (iii) the effect of
applicable public policy on the enforceability of provisions relating
to indemnification or contribution.
(iv) Under the Delaware Act and the Declaration, the
Trust has the business trust power and authority to (i) execute and
deliver, and to perform its obligations under, this Agreement and the
Pricing Agreement and (ii) issue, and perform its obligations under,
the Trust Securities.
(v) Under the Delaware Act and the Declaration, the
execution and delivery by the Trust of this Agreement and the Pricing
Agreement, and the performance by the Trust of its obligations
hereunder and under the Pricing Agreement, have been duly authorized by
all necessary action on the part of the Trust.
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<PAGE>
(vi) Under the Delaware Act, the certificate attached
to the Declaration as Exhibit A-1 is an appropriate form of certificate
to evidence ownership of the Preferred Securities; the Preferred
Securities have been duly authorized by the Declaration and are duly
and validly issued and, subject to qualifications hereinafter expressed
in this paragraph (vi), fully paid and nonassessable undivided
beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust; the holders of the
Preferred Securities, as beneficial owners of the Trust, will be
entitled to the same limitation of personal liability extended to
stockholders of private corporations for profit organized under the
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware; said counsel may note
that the holders of the Preferred Securities may be obligated to make
payments as set forth in the Declaration.
(vii) The Common Securities have been duly authorized
by the Declaration and are duly and validly issued and represent
undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust.
(viii) Under the Delaware Act and the Declaration,
the issuance of the Trust Securities is not subject to preemptive
rights.
(ix) The issuance and sale by the Trust of the Trust
Securities, the purchase by the Trust of the Subordinated Debentures,
the execution, delivery and performance by the Trust of this Agreement
and the Pricing Agreement, the consummation by the Trust of the
transactions contemplated hereby and by the Pricing Agreement and
compliance by the Trust with its obligations hereunder and thereunder
will not violate (i) any of the provisions of the Certificate of Trust
or the Declaration or (ii) any applicable Delaware law or
administrative regulation.
(4) The favorable opinion, dated as of Closing Time, of Reid &
Riege, P.C., counsel to Fleet National Bank, as Property Trustee under the
Declaration, and Guarantee Trustee under the Preferred Securities Guarantee
Agreements, in form and substance satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters,
to the effect that:
(i) Fleet National Bank is a national banking
association with trust powers, formed and authorized to transact the
business of banking under the laws of the United States with all
necessary power and authority to execute and deliver, and to carry out
and perform its obligations under the terms of the Declaration and the
Preferred Securities Guarantee Agreement.
(ii) The execution, delivery and performance by the
Property Trustee of the Declaration and the execution, delivery and
performance by the Guarantee Trustee of the
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<PAGE>
Preferred Securities Guarantee Agreement have been duly authorized by
all necessary corporate action on the part of the Property Trustee and
the Guarantee Trustee, respectively. The Declaration and the Preferred
Securities Guarantee Agreement have been duly executed and delivered by
the Property Trustee and the Guarantee Trustee, respectively, and
constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Property
Trustee and the Guarantee Trustee, respectively, enforceable against
the Property Trustee and the Guarantee Trustee, respectively, in
accordance with their terms, except to the extent the enforcement
thereof may be limited by the Bankruptcy Exceptions.
(iii) The execution, delivery and performance of the
Declaration and the Preferred Securities Guarantee Agreement by the
Property Trustee and the Guarantee Trustee, respectively, do not
conflict with or constitute a breach of the Articles of Organization or
Bylaws of the Property Trustee and the Guarantee Trustee, respectively.
(iv) No consent, approval or authorization of, or
registration with or notice to, any federal banking authority is
required for the execution, delivery or performance by the Property
Trustee and the Guarantee Trustee of the Declaration and the Preferred
Securities Guarantee Agreement.
(5) With respect to each Acquired Company, the favorable
opinions, dated as of the Closing Time, of Lawrence W. Inlow, Executive Vice
President, Secretary and General Counsel of the Company, in form and substance
satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters, to the effect that:
(i) Such Acquired Company has been duly incorporated
and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the
laws of the State of its incorporation; and such Acquired Company has
the corporate power and authority under the laws of the State of its
incorporation and under its charter to own, lease and operate its
properties and to conduct its business as described in the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus or in such Acquired Company's Annual
Report filed on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995.
(ii) To the knowledge and information of such counsel
after due and diligent inquiry, such Acquired Company is duly qualified
as a foreign Corporation to transact business and is in good standing
in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether
by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of
business, except where the failure to so qualify or be in good standing
would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on
the condition,
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<PAGE>
financial or otherwise, or the earnings or business affairs of such
Acquired Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one enterprise.
(iii) The authorized, issued and outstanding capital
stock of such Acquired Company is as set forth in the Prospectus
(except for subsequent issuances, if any, pursuant to stock option
agreements or employee benefit plans), and the shares of issued and
outstanding capital stock of such Acquired Company have been duly
authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable.
(iv) Each subsidiary of such Acquired Company has
been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good
standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, has
the corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its
properties and to conduct its business as presently conducted and as
described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or in such
Acquired Company's Annual Report filed on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 1995. Nothing has come to the attention of such counsel to
lead such counsel to believe that any subsidiary is not duly qualified
as a foreign corporation to transact business or is not in good
standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required,
except where the failure to so qualify or be in good standing would not
reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the
condition, financial or otherwise, or the earnings or business affairs
of such Acquired Company and its subsidiaries considered as one
enterprise. All of the shares of issued and outstanding capital stock
of each subsidiary of such Acquired Company has been duly authorized
and validly issued, is fully paid and nonassessable, and all such
shares are owned by such Acquired Company or by a subsidiary of such
Acquired Company.
(v) Each of the documents of such Acquired Company
incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus at the time they were filed or last amended (other than the
financial statements or other financial or statistical data included
therein, as to which such counsel need express no belief) complied as
to form in all material respects with the requirements of the 1934 Act,
and the 1934 Act Regulations, as applicable.
(vi) The statements made in the Joint Proxy
Statement-Prospectus of the Company and such Acquired Company, as
applicable, and under the relevant captions in the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus with respect to such Acquired Company and
any corresponding statements in any similar documents of later date
which are incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and
Prospectus, to the extent that they involve matters of law, summaries
of
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<PAGE>
legal matters, such Acquired Company's charter and bylaws or legal
proceedings, or legal conclusions, have been reviewed by such counsel
and are correct in all material respects.
(vii) The Merger Agreement between such Acquired
Company and the Company (and any of its affiliates) has been duly
authorized, executed and delivered by such Acquired Company and
constitutes a valid and binding obligation of such Acquired Company,
enforceable against such Acquired Company in accordance with its terms,
except to the extent that enforcement thereof may be limited by
Bankruptcy Exceptions, and to the knowledge and information of such
counsel after due and diligent inquiry such Acquired Company is not in
default in the observance of the terms and conditions thereof.
(viii) To the knowledge and information of such
counsel after due and diligent inquiry, with respect to such Acquired
Company, there are no statutes or regulations required to be described
or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement which are
not described or incorporated by reference as required and there are no
legal or governmental proceedings pending or threatened which are
required to be disclosed or incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement, other than those disclosed or incorporated by
reference therein.
(ix) Such Acquired Company and its subsidiaries hold
all material licenses, certificates and permits from all governmental
authorities (including, without limitation, the Insurance Licenses)
which are necessary to the conduct of their businesses; such Acquired
Company and its subsidiaries have fulfilled and performed all material
obligations necessary to maintain their respective Insurance Licenses,
and no event or events have occurred which could reasonably be expected
to result in the material impairment, modification, termination or
revocation of such Insurance Licenses.
Moreover, such counsel shall confirm that nothing has come to such counsel's
attention with respect to such Acquired Company that would lead such counsel to
believe that the Registration Statement, including any information provided
pursuant to Rule 430A and related schedules and Rule 434 (except for financial
statements or other financial information or statistical data included or
incorporated by reference therein, as to which counsel need express no belief),
at the time it became effective or at the Representation Date, contained an
untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading
or that the Prospectus (except for financial statements and other financial data
included or incorporated by reference therein, as to which counsel need express
no belief), at the Representation Date
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<PAGE>
(unless the term "Prospectus" refers to a prospectus which has been provided to
the Underwriters by the Company for use in connection with the offering of the
Preferred Securities which differs from the Prospectus on file at the Commission
at the time the Registration Statement became effective, in which case at the
time it is first provided to the Underwriters for such use) or at Closing Time,
included (or includes) an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or
omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading.
(6) The favorable opinion, dated as of Closing Time, of
LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae, L.L.P., counsel for the Underwriters, with
respect to the Preferred Securities, the Indenture, the Preferred Securities
Guarantee Agreement, this Agreement, the Pricing Agreement, the Registration
Statement, the Prospectus and other related matters as you may require, and the
Company shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as they request for
the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters. In rendering such
opinion, LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae, L.L.P. may rely as to matters governed
by the laws of Indiana and Delaware upon the opinions referred to in Sections
5(b)(1) and 5(b)(3) hereto.
(c) Between the date of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Time,
no material adverse change shall have occurred in the condition, financial or
otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the
Trust or the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, or any
of the Acquired Companies and their respective subsidiaries, in each case,
considered as one enterprise, whether or not in the ordinary course of business.
(d) At Closing Time, the Representatives shall have received a
certificate of an executive officer of the Company and a certificate of a
Regular Trustee of the Trust, and dated as of Closing Time, to the effect that:
(i) There has been no material adverse change in the
condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs
or business prospects of the Trust or the Company and its subsidiaries
considered as one enterprise, whether or not in the ordinary course of
business.
(ii) The representations and warranties in Section 1
hereof are true and correct as though expressly made at and as of
Closing Time.
(iii) The Trust and the Company have complied with
all agreements and satisfied all conditions on their part to be
performed or satisfied at or prior to Closing Time.
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<PAGE>
(iv) No stop order suspending the effectiveness of
the Registration Statement has been issued and no proceedings for that
purpose have been initiated or threatened by the Commission.
(e) At the time of the execution of this Agreement, the Representatives
shall have received:
(1) from Coopers & Lybrand, LLP, with respect to each of the
Company (including Life Partners Group, Inc. ("LPG") and its subsidiaries on a
consolidated basis with respect to the period ending September 30, 1996) and
LPG, and from KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, with respect to each of Capitol American
and Transport Holdings, a letter, in each case, dated such date, in form and
substance satisfactory to the Representatives, to the effect that (i) they are
independent public accountants with respect to the Company, LPG, Capitol
American and Transport Holdings and their respective subsidiaries, as
applicable, within the meaning of the 1933 Act, the 1933 Act Regulations, the
1934 Act and the 1934 Act Regulations; (ii) it is their opinion that the
financial statements and supporting schedules included or incorporated by
reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and covered by their
opinions therein comply with the applicable accounting requirements of the 1933
Act and the 1933 Act Regulations and the 1934 Act and the 1934 Act Regulations;
(iii) based upon limited procedures set forth in detail in such letter, nothing
has come to their attention which causes them to believe that (A) the unaudited
financial information of the Company, LPG, Capitol American and Transport
Holdings and their respective subsidiaries, as applicable, included or
incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus do
not comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting
requirements of the 1933 Act, the 1933 Act Regulations, the 1934 Act and the
1934 Act Regulations or are not presented in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles applied on a basis substantially consistent with that of
the audited financial statements included in the Registration Statement, or (B)
any unaudited pro forma consolidated financial statements or any unaudited pro
forma consolidating financial statements included or incorporated by reference
in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus do not comply as to form in all
material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the 1933 Act
and the 1933 Act Regulations and the 1934 Act and the 1934 Act Regulations or
the pro forma adjustments have not been properly applied to the historical
amounts in the compilation of those statements, or (C) as of a specified date
not more than five days prior to the date of this Agreement, there was any
increase in consolidated long-term debt (consolidated notes payable with respect
to Capitol American) or, at the date of the latest available balance sheet read
by such accountants, there was any decrease in consolidated total assets or
shareholders' equity, as compared with amounts shown on the latest balance sheet
included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, or (D) for the period
from the closing date of
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<PAGE>
the latest income statement included in the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus to the closing date of the latest available income statement read by
such accountants, there were any decreases, as compared with the corresponding
period of the previous year and with the period of corresponding length ended
the date of the latest income statement included in the Registration Statement
and the Prospectus, in consolidated premiums (including annuity deposits, if
applicable) collected (earned with respect to Capitol American), net investment
income, total revenues, earnings applicable to common stock or net income per
fully diluted common share except, in all cases set forth in this clause (iii),
for changes, increases or decreases which the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus discloses have occurred or may occur or which are described in such
letter; (iv) they have examined the statutory financial statements of each of
the Company's, LPG's, Capitol American's and Transport Holdings' insurance
subsidiaries required to have such an audit, as applicable, and in their opinion
such statements, with respect to each insurance subsidiary, have for each
relevant period been prepared in accordance with accounting practices prescribed
or permitted by the appropriate Insurance Department of the state of domicile of
such subsidiary, and such accounting practices have been applied on a consistent
basis throughout the periods involved, except as disclosed therein; and (v) in
addition to the examination referred to in their opinions and the limited
procedures referred to in clause (iii) above, they have carried out certain
specified procedures, not constituting an audit, with respect to certain
amounts, percentages, ratios and financial information that has been derived
from the accounting and financial records of the Company, LPG, Capitol American
and Transport Holdings that are subject to internal accounting controls which
are included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and
Prospectus and which are specified by the Underwriters, and have found such
amounts, percentages, ratios and financial information to be in agreement with
the relevant accounting and financial records of the Company, LPG, Capitol
American and Transport Holdings and their subsidiaries identified in such
letter, as applicable.
(2) from Arthur Andersen LLP a letter, with respect to
American Travellers, dated such date, in form and substance satisfactory to the
Representatives, to the effect that (i) they are independent public accountants
with respect to American Travellers and its respective subsidiaries, as
applicable, within the meaning of the 1933 Act, the 1933 Act Regulations, the
1934 Act and the 1934 Act Regulations; (ii) it is their opinion that the
financial statements and supporting schedules included or incorporated by
reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and covered by their
opinions therein comply with the applicable accounting requirements of the 1933
Act and the 1933 Act Regulations and the 1934 Act and the 1934 Act Regulations;
(iii) based upon limited procedures set forth in detail in such letter, nothing
has come to their attention which causes them to believe that (A) the unaudited
financial information of American
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<PAGE>
Travellers and its subsidiaries, included or incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus (not including the unaudited
consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 1996, and the consolidated
statements of income, cash flows, and shareholders' equity for the nine-month
period ended September 30, 1996 included in American Travellers quarterly report
on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 1996, incorporated by reference
in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (the "American Travellers Third
Quarter Financial Information")) do not comply as to form in all material
respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the 1933 Act, the 1933
Act Regulations, the 1934 Act and the 1934 Act Regulations or are not presented
in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a basis
substantially consistent with that of the audited financial statements included
in the Registration Statement, or (B) any unaudited pro forma consolidated
financial statements or any unaudited pro forma consolidating financial
statements included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement
and the Prospectus do not comply as to form in all material respects with the
applicable accounting requirements of the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations
and the 1934 Act and the 1934 Act Regulations or the pro forma adjustments have
not been properly applied to the historical amounts in the compilation of those
statements, or (C) as of a specified date not more than five days prior to the
date of this Agreement, there was any increase in consolidated long-term debt
or, at the date of the latest available balance sheet read by such accountants,
there was any decrease in consolidated total assets or shareholders' equity, as
compared with amounts shown on the latest balance sheet included in the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus, or (D) for the period from the
closing date of the latest income statement included in the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus to the closing date of the latest available income
statement read by such accountants, there were any decreases, as compared with
the corresponding period of the previous year and with the period of
corresponding length ended the date of the latest income statement included in
the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, in consolidated premiums
(including annuity deposits, if applicable) collected, net investment income,
total revenues, earnings applicable to common stock or net income per fully
diluted common share except, in all cases set forth in this clause (iii), for
changes, increases or decreases which the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus discloses have occurred or may occur or which are described in such
letter; (iv) they have examined the statutory financial statements of American
Travellers' insurance subsidiaries required to have such an audit, and in their
opinion such statements, with respect to each insurance subsidiary, have for
each relevant period been prepared in accordance with accounting practices
prescribed or permitted by the appropriate Insurance Department of the state of
domicile of such subsidiary, and such accounting practices have been applied on
a consistent basis throughout the periods involved, except as disclosed therein;
and (v) in addition to the examination referred to in
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<PAGE>
their opinions and the limited procedures referred to in clause (iii) above,
they have carried out certain specified procedures, not constituting an audit,
with respect to certain amounts, percentages, ratios and financial information
that has been derived from the accounting and financial records of American
Travellers that are subject to internal accounting controls which are included
or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and Prospectus (not
including the American Travellers Third Quarter Financial Information) and which
are specified by the Underwriters, and have found such amounts, percentages,
ratios and financial information to be in agreement with the relevant accounting
and financial records of American Travellers and its subsidiaries identified in
such letter.
(f) At the Closing Time, the Underwriters shall have received:
(1) from Coopers & Lybrand, LLP, with respect to the Company
(including LPG and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis), and from KPMG Peat
Marwick LLP, with respect to each of Capitol American and Transport Holdings, a
letter, in each case, dated as of the Closing Time, to the effect that they
reaffirm the statements made in the letter furnished pursuant to subsection
(e)(1) of this Section, except that (i) such statements shall include any
financial statements and pro forma financial information incorporated by
reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus which are filed
subsequent to the date of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date and (ii)
the specified date referred to shall be a date not more than five days prior to
the Closing Time and, if the Company has elected to rely on Rule 430A under the
1933 Act Regulations, to the further effect that they have carried out
procedures as specified in clause (iv) of subsection (e)(1) of this Section with
respect to certain amounts, percentages and financial information specified by
the Underwriters and deemed to be a part of the Registration Statement pursuant
to Rule 430(A)(b) and have found such amounts, percentages and financial
information to be in agreement with the records specified in such clause (iv).
(2) from Arthur Andersen LLP, with respect to American
Travellers, dated as of the Closing Time, to the effect that they reaffirm the
statements made in the letter furnished pursuant to subsection (e)(2) of this
Section, except that (i) the statements made in the letter pursuant to clause
(iii)(A) of subsection (e)(2) of this Section shall include the American
Travellers Third Quarter Financial Information and (ii) the specified date
referred to shall be a date not more than five days prior to the Closing Time
and, if the Company has elected to rely on Rule 430A under the 1933 Act
Regulations, to the further effect that they have carried out procedures as
specified in clause (iv) of subsection (e)(2) of this Section with respect to
certain amounts, percentages and financial information specified by the
Underwriters and deemed to be a part of the Registration Statement pursuant to
Rule 430(A)(b) and have found such amounts,
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<PAGE>
percentages and financial information to be in agreement with the records
specified in such clause (iv).
(g) At Closing Time, counsel for the Underwriters shall have been
furnished with such documents and opinions as they may require for the purpose
of enabling them to pass upon the issuance and sale of the Securities as herein
contemplated and related proceedings, or in order to evidence the accuracy of
any of the representations or warranties, or the fulfillment of any of the
conditions herein contained; and all proceedings taken by the Company in
connection with the issuance and sale of the Securities as herein contemplated
shall be satisfactory in form and substance to the Underwriters and counsel for
the Underwriters.
(h) At Closing Time, the Preferred Securities shall be rated in one of
the four highest rating categories for long term debt ("Investment Grade") by
any nationally recognized statistical rating agency, and the Trust shall have
delivered to the Representatives a letter, dated the Closing Time, from such
nationally recognized statistical rating agency, or other evidence satisfactory
to the Representatives, confirming that the Preferred Securities have Investment
Grade ratings; and there shall not have occurred any decrease in the ratings of
any of the debt securities of the Company or any of the Acquired Companies or of
the Preferred Securities by any "nationally recognized statistical rating
organization" (as defined for purposes of Rule 436(g) under the 1933 Act
Regulations) and such organization shall not have publicly announced that it has
under surveillance or review, with possible negative implications, its rating of
any of the debt securities of the Company or of the Preferred Securities.
(i) At Closing Time, the Preferred Securities shall have been approved
for listing on the New York Stock Exchange upon notice of issuance.
(j) The NASD shall not have raised any objection with respect to the
fairness and reasonableness of the underwriting terms and arrangements.
If any condition specified in this Section 5 shall not have been
fulfilled when and as required to be fulfilled, this Agree ment may be
terminated by the Underwriters by notice to the Company at any time at or prior
to Closing Time, and such termi nation shall be without liability of any party
to any other party except as provided in Section 4.
SECTION 6. Indemnification.
(a) The Offerors agree to jointly and severally indemnify and hold
harmless each Underwriter and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter
within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act as follows:
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<PAGE>
(i) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and
expense whatsoever, as incurred, arising out of any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the
Registration Statement (or any amend ment thereto), including the Rule
430A Information and the Rule 434 Information deemed to be a part
thereof, if applicable, or the omission or alleged omission therefrom
of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements therein not misleading or arising out of any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact included in
any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or
supplement thereto), or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a
material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
(ii) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and
expense whatsoever, as incurred, to the extent of the aggregate amount
paid in settlement of any litigation, or any investigation or
proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened,
or of any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or
omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission, provided
that (subject to Section 6(d) below) any such settlement is effected
with the written consent of the Offerors; and
(iii) against any and all expense whatsoever, as incurred
(including the fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by Merrill
Lynch), reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending
against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any
governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim
whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any
such alleged untrue statement or omission, to the extent that any such
expense is not paid under (i) or (ii) above;
provided, however, that the foregoing indemnity agreement shall not apply to any
loss, liability, claim, damage or expense to the extent arising out of any
untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in
reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the
Offerors by any Underwriter through Merrill Lynch expressly for use in the
Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including the Rule 430(A)
Information and the Rule 434 Information deemed to be a part thereof, if
applicable, or any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or
supplement thereto). The foregoing indemnity with respect to any untrue
statement contained in or omission from a preliminary prospectus shall not inure
to the benefit of any Underwriter (or any person controlling such Underwriter)
from whom the person asserting any such loss, liability, claim, damage or
expense purchased any of the Securities that are the subject thereof if such
person was
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<PAGE>
not sent or given a copy of the Prospectus (or the Prospectus as amended or
supplemented) (in each case exclusive of the documents from which information is
incorporated by reference) at or prior to the written confirmation of the sale
of such Securities to such person and the untrue statement contained in or
omission from such preliminary prospectus was corrected in the Prospectus (or
the Prospectus as amended or supplemented).
(b) Each Underwriter severally agrees to indemnify and hold harmless
the Company, its directors, each of its officers who signed the Registration
Statement, the Trust and each of its Trustees who signed the Registration
Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning
of Section 15 of the 1933 Act against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage
and expense described in the indemnity contained in subsection (a) of this
Section, as incurred, but only with respect to untrue statements or omissions,
or alleged untrue statements or omissions, made in the Registration Statement
(or any amendment thereto), including the Rule 430(A) Information and the Rule
434 Information deemed to be a part thereof, if applicable, or any preliminary
prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) in
reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the
Offerors by such Underwriter through Merrill Lynch expressly for use in the
Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) or such preliminary prospectus
or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto).
(c) Each indemnified party shall give notice as promptly as reasonably
practicable to each indemnifying party of any action commenced against it in
respect of which indemnity may be sought hereunder, but failure to so notify an
indemnifying party shall not relieve such indemnifying party from any liability
hereunder to the extent it is not materially prejudiced as a result thereof and
in any event shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have otherwise
than on account of this indemnity agreement. In the case of parties indemnified
pursuant to Section 6(a) above, counsel to the indemnified parties shall be
selected by Merrill Lynch, and, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to
Section 6(b) above, counsel to the indemnified parties shall be selected by the
Offerors. An indemnifying party may participate at its own expense in the
defense of any such action; provided, however, that counsel to the indemnifying
party shall not (except with the consent of the indemnified party) also be
counsel to the indemnified party. In no event shall the indemnifying parties be
liable for fees and expenses of more than one counsel (in addition to any local
counsel) separate from their own counsel for all indemnified parties in
connection with any one action or separate but similar or related actions in the
same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances.
No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the
indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any
judgment with respect to any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by
any
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<PAGE>
governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever in
respect of which indemnification or contribution could be sought under this
Section 6 or Section 7 hereof (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual
or potential parties thereto), unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i)
includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability
arising out of such litigation investigation, proceeding or claim and (ii) does
not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure
to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.
(d) If at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an
indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of
counsel, such indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any
settlement of the nature contemplated by Section 6(a)(ii) effected without its
written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 45 days after
receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request, (ii) such
indemnifying party shall have received notice of the terms of such settlement at
least 30 days prior to such settlement being entered into and (iii) such
indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed such indemnified party in
accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement.
SECTION 7. Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in Section
6 hereof is for any reason unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an
indemnified party in respect of any losses, liabilities, claims, damages or
expenses referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to
the aggregate amount of such losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses
incurred by such indemnified party, as incurred, (i) in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Offerors on the one
hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, from the offering of the
Securities pursuant to this Agreement or (ii) if the allocation provided by
clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i)
above but also the relative fault of the Offerors on the one hand, and the
Underwriters, on the other hand, in connection with the statements or omissions
which resulted in such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses, as well
as any other relevant equitable considerations.
The relative benefits received by Offerors on the one hand, and the
Underwriters, on the other hand, in connection with the offering of the
Securities pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed to be in the same
respective proportions as the total net proceeds from the offering of such
Securities (before deducting expenses) received by the Offerors and the total
underwriting discount received by the Underwriters, in each case as set forth on
the cover of the Prospectus, or, if Rule 434 is used, the corresponding location
on the Term Sheet, bear to the aggregate
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<PAGE>
initial public offering price of such Securities as set forth on such cover.
The relative fault of the Offerors, on the one hand, and the
Underwriters, on the other hand, shall be determined by reference to, among
other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to
information supplied by the Offerors or by the Underwriters and the parties'
relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or
prevent such statement or omission.
The Offerors and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and
equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 7 were determined by pro rata
allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such
purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the
equitable considerations referred to above in this Section 7. The aggregate
amount of losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by an
indemnified party and referred to above in this Section 7 shall be deemed to
include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified
party in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any
investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or
threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, no Underwriter shall
be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total
price at which the Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public
were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which such
Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or
alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.
No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of
Section 11(f) of the 1933 Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person
who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
For purposes of this Section 7, each person, if any, who controls an
Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of
the 1934 Act shall have the same rights to contribution as such Underwriter, and
each director of the Company, each officer of the Company and each Trustee of
the Trust who signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who
controls the Company or the Trust within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933
Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act shall have the same rights to contribution as
the Offerors. The Underwriters' respective obligations to contribute pursuant to
this Section 7 are several in proportion to the number or aggregate principal
amount, as the case may be, of Preferred
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<PAGE>
Securities set forth opposite their respective names in Schedule A to this
Agreement, and not joint.
SECTION 8. Representations, Warranties and Agreements to Survive
Delivery. All representations, warranties and agreements contained in this
Agreement and the Pricing Agreement, or con tained in certificates of officers
of the Company, the Trust and the Acquired Companies submitted pursuant hereto,
shall remain operative and in full force and effect, regardless of any
investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or controlling person, or
by or on behalf of the Company, and shall survive delivery of and payment for
the Preferred Securities to the Underwriters.
SECTION 9. Termination of Agreement.
(a) The Representatives may terminate this Agreement, by notice to the
Company at any time at or prior to Closing Time, if (i) there has been, since
the date of this Agreement or since the respective dates as of which information
is given in the Registration Statement, any material adverse change or any
development which could reasonably be expected to result in a prospective
material adverse change, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business
affairs or business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as
one enterprise, or any of the Acquired Companies and their respective
subsidiaries, in each case, considered as one enterprise, whether or not arising
in the ordinary course of business, or (ii) there has occurred (A) any material
adverse change in the financial markets in the United States or, if the
Preferred Securities or any related underlying Securities include Debt
Securities denominated or payable in, or indexed to, one or more foreign or
composite currencies, in the international financial markets or (B) any outbreak
of hostilities or escalation of hostilities or other calamity or crisis, or (C)
any change or development involving a prospective change in national or
international political, financial or economic conditions the effect of which is
such as to make it, in the judgment of the Underwriters, impracticable to market
the Preferred Securities or to enforce contracts for the sale of the Preferred
Securities, or (iii) trading in securities of the Company or any of the Acquired
Companies has been suspended or limited by the Commission, NASD, the American
Stock Exchange or the New York Stock Exchange, or if trading generally on either
the American Stock Exchange, the New York Stock Exchange or in the
over-the-counter market has been suspended or limited, or minimum or maximum
prices for trading have been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices for securities
have been required, by either of said exchanges or by such system or by order of
the Commission, NASD or any other governmental authority, or (iv) a banking
moratorium has been declared by either Federal, New York or Indiana authorities
or, if the Preferred Securities or any related Underlying Securities include
Debt Securities denominated or payable in, or indexed to, one or
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<PAGE>
more foreign or composite currencies, by the relevant authorities in the related
foreign country or countries.
(b) If this Agreement and the Pricing Agreement are terminated pursuant
to this Section 9, such termination shall be without liability of any party to
any other party except as provided in Section 4, and provided, further, that
Sections 1, 6, 7 and 8 shall survive such termination and remain in full force
and effect.
SECTION 10. Default by One or More of the Underwriters. If one or more
of the Underwriters shall fail at the Closing Time to purchase the Securities
which it or they are obligated to purchase under this Agreement and the Pricing
Agreement (the "Defaulted Securities"), then Merrill Lynch shall have the right,
within 24 hours thereafter, to make arrangements for one or more of the
non-defaulting Underwriters, or any other underwriters, to purchase all, but not
less than all, of the Defaulted Securities in such amounts as may be agreed upon
and upon the terms herein set forth; if, however, Merrill Lynch shall not have
completed such arrangements within such 24-hour period, then:
(a) if the number or aggregate principal amount, as the case may be, of
Defaulted Securities does not exceed 10% of the total number or aggregate
principal amount, as the case may be, of Preferred Securities, the
non-defaulting Underwriters shall be obligated, severally and not jointly, to
purchase the full amount thereof in the proportions that their respective
underwriting obligations hereunder bear to the underwriting obligations of all
non-defaulting Underwriters, or
(b) if the number or aggregate principal amount, as the case may be, of
Defaulted Securities exceeds 10% of the total number or aggregate principal
amount, as the case may be, of Preferred Securities to be purchased on such date
pursuant to this Agreement, this Agreement shall terminate without liability on
the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter.
No action taken pursuant to this Section 10 shall relieve any
defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of its default.
In the event of any such default which does not result in a termination
of this Agreement, either Merrill Lynch or the Company shall have the right to
postpone the Closing Time for a period not exceeding seven days in order to
effect any required changes in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or
in any other documents or arrangements.
SECTION 11. Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder
shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed or
transmitted by any standard form of telecommunication. Notices to the
Underwriters shall be directed to Merrill Lynch at Merrill Lynch World
Headquarters, World
-46-
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11/14/96 8:37 pm
<PAGE>
Financial Center, North Tower, New York, New York 10281, Attention of David C.
Sherwood, Managing Director, with a copy to LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae,
L.L.P., 125 West 55th Street, New York, New York 10019-5389, Attention: Michael
Groll, Esq.; notices to the Company shall be directed to it at 11825 North
Pennsylvania Street, Carmel, Indiana 46032, Attention: Lawrence W. Inlow, Esq.,
with a copy to Locke Reynolds Boyd & Weisell, 1000 Capital Center South, 201
North Illinois Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46204, Attention: Stephen J.
Dutton, Esq.
SECTION 12. Parties. This Agreement and the Pricing Agree ment shall
each inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Offerors and the
Underwriters and their respective successors. Nothing expressed or mentioned in
this Agreement or the Pricing Agreement is intended or shall be construed to
give any person, firm or corporation, other than the Underwriters and the
Offerors and their respective successors and the controlling persons and
officers and directors referred to in Sections 6 and 7 and their heirs and legal
representatives, any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in
respect of this Agreement or the Pricing Agreement or any provision herein or
therein contained. This Agreement and the Pricing Agreement and all conditions
and provisions hereof and thereof are intended to be for the sole and exclusive
benefit of the parties hereto and thereto and their respective successors and
legal representatives, and said controlling persons and officers and directors
and their heirs and legal representatives, and for the benefit of no other
person, firm or corporation. No purchaser of Securities from any Underwriter
shall be deemed to be a successor by reason merely of such purchase.
SECTION 13. GOVERNING LAW AND TIME. THIS AGREEMENT AND THE PRICING
AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORD ANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE
STATE OF NEW YORK APPLICABLE TO AGREE MENTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED IN SAID
STATE. SPECIFIED TIMES OF DAY REFER TO NEW YORK CITY TIME UNLESS OTHERWISE
INDICATED.
SECTION 14. Effect of Headings. The Article and Section headings
herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.
-47-
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<PAGE>
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our
agreement, please sign and return to the Trust a counterpart hereof, whereupon
this instrument, along with all counterparts, shall become a binding agreement
among the Underwriters and the Offerors in accordance with its terms.
Very truly yours,
CONSECO, INC.
By:/s/ ROLLIN M. DICK
-------------------------------
Name:Rollin M. Dick
Title:Executive Vice President
CONSECO FINANCING TRUST I
By:/s/ STEPHEN C. HILBERT
------------------------
Name: Stephen C. Hilbert
Title: Regular Trustee
By:/s/ ROLLIN M. DICK
----------------------
Name: Rollin M. Dick
Title: Regular Trustee
By:/s/ LAWRENCE W. INLOW
-----------------------
Name: Lawrence W. Inlow
Title: Regular Trustee
CONFIRMED AND ACCEPTED, as of the date first above written:
MERRILL LYNCH & CO.
MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH
INCORPORATED
DEAN WITTER REYNOLDS INC.
DONALDSON, LUFKIN & JENRETTE SECURITIES
CORPORATION
PAINEWEBBER INCORPORATED
PRUDENTIAL SECURITIES INCORPORATED
SANDS BROTHERS & CO., LTD.
By: MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH
INCORPORATED
By:/s/ JOHN P. TULLSEN, JR.
-------------------------
Authorized Signatory:
For themselves and as the Representatives of the several Underwriters named in
Schedule A hereto.
- -48-
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<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SCHEDULE A
Name of Underwriter Number of Shares
------------------- ----------------
<S> <C>
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated..................................................... 2,277,500
Dean Witter Reynolds Inc.................................................. 2,277,500
PaineWebber Incorporated.................................................. 2,277,500
Prudential Securities Incorporated........................................ 2,277,500
Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette
Securities Corporation........................................... 350,000
Sands Brothers & Co., Ltd................................................. 350,000
Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc................................................... 85,000
Alex. Brown & Sons Incorporated........................................... 85,000
Cowen & Company........................................................... 85,000
Dain Bosworth Incorporated................................................ 85,000
Dillon, Read & Co. Inc.................................................... 85,000
A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc.................................................. 85,000
EVEREN Securities, Inc.................................................... 85,000
McDonald & Company Securities, Inc........................................ 85,000
The Ohio Company.......................................................... 85,000
Oppenheimer & Co., Inc.................................................... 85,000
Piper Jaffray Inc......................................................... 85,000
Raymond James & Associates, Inc........................................... 85,000
Tucker Anthony Incorporated............................................... 85,000
Wheat, First Securities, Inc.............................................. 85,000
Total............................................................ 11,000,000
</TABLE>
-49-
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<PAGE>
EXHIBIT A
11,000,000 Preferred Securities
CONSECO FINANCING TRUST I
(a Delaware business trust)
9.16% Trust Originated Preferred Securitiessm ("TOPrSSM")
(Liquidation Amount of $25 Per Security)
PRICING AGREEMENT
MERRILL LYNCH & CO. November 14, 1996
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner
& Smith Incorporated as
Representative of the several
Underwriters named in the within-
mentioned Underwriting Agreement
Merrill Lynch World Headquarters
World Financial Center
North Tower
New York, New York 10281
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Reference is made to the Underwriting Agreement, dated November 14,
1996 (the "Underwriting Agreement"), relating to the purchase by the several
Underwriters named in Schedule A thereto, for whom Merrill Lynch & Co., Merrill
Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Dean Witter Reynolds Inc.,
Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation, PaineWebber Incorporated,
Prudential Securities Incorporated and Sands Brothers & Co., Ltd. are acting as
representatives (the "Representatives"), of the above 9.16% Trust Originated
Preferred Securities (the "Preferred Securities"), of Conseco Financing Trust I,
a Delaware business trust (the "Trust").
Pursuant to Section 2 of the Underwriting Agreement, the Trust and
Conseco, Inc. (the "Company"), an Indiana corporation, agree with each
Underwriter as follows:
1. The initial public offering price per security for the Preferred
Securities, determined as provided in said Section 2, shall be $25.00.
2. The purchase price per security for the Preferred Securities to be
paid by the several Underwriters shall be $25.00, being an amount equal to the
initial public offering price set forth above.
3. The compensation to be paid by the Company to the several
Underwriters in respect of their commitments hereunder shall be an amount in
same day funds of $.7875 per Preferred Security.
_____________________________
SM "Trust Originated Preferred Securities" and "TOPrS" are service marks
of Merrill Lynch & Co. Inc.
- 1 -
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<PAGE>
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our
agreement, please sign and return to the Trust a counterpart hereof, whereupon
this instrument, along with all counterparts, will become a binding agreement
among the Underwriters and the Offerors in accordance with its terms.
Very truly yours,
CONSECO, INC.
By:
-----------------------------
Name:
Title:
CONSECO FINANCING TRUST I
By:
------------------------------
Name: Stephen C. Hilbert
Title: Regular Trustee
By:
------------------------------
Name: Rollin M. Dick
Title: Regular Trustee
By:
------------------------------
Name: Lawrence W. Inlow
Title: Regular Trustee
CONFIRMED AND ACCEPTED, as of the date first above written:
MERRILL LYNCH & CO.
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated
DEAN WITTER REYNOLDS INC.
DONALDSON, LUFKIN & JENRETTE SECURITIES
CORPORATION
PAINEWEBBER INCORPORATED
PRUDENTIAL SECURITIES INCORPORATED
SANDS BROTHERS & CO., LTD.
By: MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH
INCORPORATED
By:_________________________
Authorized Signatory:
For themselves and as the Representatives of the several Underwriters named in
the Underwriting Agreement.
- 2 -
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11,000,000 Preferred Securities
CONSECO FINANCING TRUST I
(a Delaware business trust)
9.16% Trust Originated Preferred Securitiessm ("TOPrSSM")
(Liquidation Amount of $25 Per Security)
PRICING AGREEMENT
MERRILL LYNCH & CO. November 14, 1996
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner
& Smith Incorporated as
Representative of the several
Underwriters named in the within-
mentioned Underwriting Agreement
Merrill Lynch World Headquarters
World Financial Center
North Tower
New York, New York 10281
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Reference is made to the Underwriting Agreement, dated November 14,
1996 (the "Underwriting Agreement"), relating to the purchase by the several
Underwriters named in Schedule A thereto, for whom Merrill Lynch & Co., Merrill
Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Dean Witter Reynolds Inc.,
Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation, PaineWebber Incorporated,
Prudential Securities Incorporated and Sands Brothers & Co., Ltd. are acting as
representatives (the "Representatives"), of the above 9.16% Trust Originated
Preferred Securities (the "Preferred Securities"), of Conseco Financing Trust I,
a Delaware business trust (the "Trust").
Pursuant to Section 2 of the Underwriting Agreement, the Trust and
Conseco, Inc. (the "Company"), an Indiana corporation, agree with each
Underwriter as follows:
1. The initial public offering price per security for the Preferred
Securities, determined as provided in said Section 2, shall be $25.00.
2. The purchase price per security for the Preferred Securities to be
paid by the several Underwriters shall be $25.00, being an amount equal to the
initial public offering price set forth above.
3. The compensation to be paid by the Company to the several
Underwriters in respect of their commitments hereunder shall be an amount in
same day funds of $.7875 per Preferred Security.
_____________________________
SM "Trust Originated Preferred Securities" and "TOPrS" are service marks
of Merrill Lynch & Co. Inc.
- 1 -
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11/14/96 8:37 pm
<PAGE>
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our
agreement, please sign and return to the Trust a counterpart hereof, whereupon
this instrument, along with all counterparts, will become a binding agreement
among the Underwriters and the Offerors in accordance with its terms.
Very truly yours,
CONSECO, INC.
By: /s/ ROLLIN M. DICK
-----------------------------
Name:Rollin M. Dick
Title:Executive Vice President
CONSECO FINANCING TRUST I
By: /s/STEPHEN C.HILBERT
------------------------------
Name: Stephen C. Hilbert
Title: Regular Trustee
By: /s/ROLLIN M. DICK
------------------------------
Name: Rollin M. Dick
Title: Regular Trustee
By: /s/LAWRENCE W. INLOW
------------------------------
Name: Lawrence W. Inlow
Title: Regular Trustee
CONFIRMED AND ACCEPTED, as of the date first above written:
MERRILL LYNCH & CO.
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated
DEAN WITTER REYNOLDS INC.
DONALDSON, LUFKIN & JENRETTE SECURITIES
CORPORATION
PAINEWEBBER INCORPORATED
PRUDENTIAL SECURITIES INCORPORATED
SANDS BROTHERS & CO., LTD.
By: MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH
INCORPORATED
By:/s/ JOHN P. TULLSEN, JR.
------------------------
Authorized Signatory:
For themselves and as the Representatives of the several Underwriters named in
the Underwriting Agreement.
- 2 -
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CONSECO, INC.
to
FLEET NATIONAL BANK, Trustee
SUBORDINATED INDENTURE
-----------------------------
Dated as of November 14, 1996
-----------------------------
Providing for Issuance of Subordinated
Debt Securities in Series
<PAGE>
{Reconciliation and tie between Subordinated Indenture, dated as of November 14,
1996, and the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
TRUST INDENTURE ACT SUBORDINATED
OF 1939 SECTION INDENTURE SECTION
- ------------------- -----------------
<S> <C> <C>
310 (a) (1)............................................................ 6.12
(a) (2)............................................................ 6.12
(a) (3)............................................................ TIA
(a) (4)............................................................ Not applicable
(a) (5)............................................................ TIA
(b)................................................................ 6.10; 6.12(b); TIA
311 (a)................................................................ TIA
(b)................................................................ TIA
312 (a)................................................................ 6.8
(b)................................................................ TIA
(c)................................................................ TIA
313 (a)................................................................ 6.7; TIA
(b)................................................................ TIA
(c)................................................................ TIA
(d)................................................................ TIA
314 (a)................................................................ 9.6; 9.7; TIA
(b)................................................................ Not Applicable
(c) (1)............................................................ 1.2
(c) (2)............................................................ 1.2
(c) (3)............................................................ Not Applicable
(d)................................................................ Not Applicable
(e)................................................................ TIA
(f)................................................................ TIA
315 (a)................................................................ 6.1
(b)................................................................ 6.6
(c)................................................................ 6.1
(d) (1)............................................................ TIA
(d) (2)............................................................ TIA
(d) (3)............................................................ TIA
(e)................................................................ TIA
<PAGE>
316 (a) (last sentence)................................................ 1.1
(a) (1) (A)........................................................ 5.2; 5.8
(a) (1)(B)......................................................... 5.7
(b)................................................................ 5.9; 5.10
(c)................................................................ TIA
317 (a) (1)............................................................ 5.3
(a) (2)............................................................ 5.4
(b)................................................................ 9.3
318 (a)................................................................ 1.11
(b)................................................................ TIA
(c)................................................................ 1.11; TIA
- -----------------------
</TABLE>
This reconciliation and tie section does not constitute part
of the Subordinated Indenture.}
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
----------------- PAGE
<S> <C> <C>
ARTICLE 1 Definitions and other Provisions of
General Application........................................................ 1
1.1. Definitions................................................................ 1
1.2. Compliance Certificates and Opinions....................................... 10
1.3. Form-of Documents Delivered to Trustee..................................... 11
1.4. Acts of Holders............................................................ 12
1.5. Notices, etc., to Trustee and Company...................................... 14
1.6. Notice-to Holders; Waiver.................................................. 15
1.7. Headings and Table of Contents............................................. 16
1.8. Successor and Assigns...................................................... 16
1.9. Separability............................................................... 16
1.10. Benefits of Indenture...................................................... 16
1.11. Governing Law.............................................................. 16
1.12. Legal Holidays............................................................. 16
ARTICLE 2 Security Forms............................................................. 17
2.1. Forms Generally............................................................ 17
2.2. Form of Trustee's Certificate of
Authentication............................................................. 17
2.3. Securities in Global Form.................................................. 18
2.4. Form of Legend for Securities in
Global Form................................................................ 18
ARTICLE 3 The Securities............................................................. 19
3.1. Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series....................................... 19
3.2. Denominations.............................................................. 23
3.3. Execution, Authentication, Delivery and
Dating..................................................................... 23
3.4. Temporary Securities....................................................... 26
3.5. Registration, Transfer and Exchange........................................ 27
3.6. Replacement Securities..................................................... 32
3.7. Payment of Interest; Interest Rights
Preserved.................................................................. 33
3.8. Persons Deemed Owners...................................................... 35
3.9. Cancellation............................................................... 36
3.10. Computation of Interest.................................................... 36
3.11. CUSIP Numbers.............................................................. 36
3.12. Currency and Manner of Payment in Respect
of Securities.............................................................. 36
3.13. Appointment and Resignation of Exchange
Rate Agent................................................................. 41
3.14. Agreed Tax Treatment....................................................... 42
</TABLE>
i
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PAGE
<S> <C> <C>
ARTICLE 4 Satisfaction, Discharge and Defeasance..................................... 42
4.1. Termination of Company's Obligations
Under the Indenture........................................................ 42
4.2. Application of Trust Funds................................................. 44
4.3. Applicability of Defeasance
Provisions; Company's Option to Effect
Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.......................................... 44
4.4. Defeasance and Discharge................................................... 44
4.5. Covenant Defeasance........................................................ 45
4.6. Conditions to Defeasance or Covenants
Defeasance................................................................. 46
4.7. Deposited Money and Government Obligations
to Be Held in Trust........................................................ 48
4.8. Repayment to Company....................................................... 49
4.9. Indemnity for Government Obligations....................................... 49
4.10. Reinstatement.............................................................. 49
ARTICLE 5 Defaults and Remedies...................................................... 49
5.1. Events of Default.......................................................... 49
5.2. Acceleration; Rescission and Annulment..................................... 52
5.3. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits
for Enforcement by Trustee................................................. 52
5.4. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim........................................... 53
5.5. Trustee May Enforce Claims Without
Possession of Securities................................................... 53
5.6. Delay or Omission Not Waiver............................................... 53
5.7. Waiver of Past Defaults.................................................... 54
5.8. Control by Majority........................................................ 54
5.9. Limitation on Suits by Holders............................................. 54
5.10. Rights of Holders to receive Payment....................................... 55
5.11. Application of Money Collected............................................. 55
5.12. Restoration of Rights and Remedies......................................... 56
5.13. Rights and Remedies Cumulative............................................. 56
5.14. Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension
Laws....................................................................... 56
5.15. Undertaking for Costs...................................................... 57
ARTICLE 6 The Trustee................................................................ 57
6.1. Certain Duties and Responsibilities of
the Trustee................................................................ 57
6.2. Rights of Trustee.......................................................... 57
6.3. Trustee May Hold Securities................................................ 58
6.4. Money Held-in Trust........................................................ 59
6.5. Trustee's Disclaimer....................................................... 59
6.6. Notice of Defaults......................................................... 59
6.7. Reports by Trustee to Holders.............................................. 59
</TABLE>
ii
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PAGE
<S> <C> <C>
6.8. Securityholder Lists....................................................... 59
6.9. Compensation and Indemnity................................................. 60
6.10. Replacement of Trustee..................................................... 61
6.11. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor..................................... 62
6.12. Eligibility; Disqualification.............................................. 64
6.13. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or
Succession to Business..................................................... 64
6.14. Appointment of Authenticating Agent........................................ 64
ARTICLE 7 Consolidation, Merger or Sale by the
Company.................................................................... 66
7.1. Consolidation, Merger or Sale of Assets
Permitted.................................................................. 66
ARTICLE 8 Supplemental Indentures.................................................... 67
8.1. Supplemental Indentures Without
Consent of Holders......................................................... 67
8.2. Supplemental Indentures With Consent
of Holders................................................................. 69
8.3. Compliance with Trust Indenture Act........................................ 70
8.4. Execution of Supplemental Indentures....................................... 70
8.5. Effect of Supplemental Indentures.......................................... 70
8.6. Reference in Securities to Supplemental
Indentures................................................................. 70
ARTICLE 9 Covenants.................................................................. 71
9.1. Payment of Principal, Premium if any,
and Interest............................................................... 71
9.2. Maintenance of Office or Agency............................................ 71
9.3. Money for Securities Payments to be
Held in Trust; Unclaimed Money............................................. 72
9.4. Corporate Existence........................................................ 74
9.5. Reports by the Company..................................................... 74
9.6. Annual Review Certificate; Notice of
Defaults or Events of Default.............................................. 75
9.7. Books of Record and Account................................................ 75
ARTICLE 10 Redemption................................................................. 76
10.1. Applicability of Article................................................... 76
10.2. Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee...................................... 76
10.3. Selection of Securities to Be Redeemed..................................... 76
10.4. Notice of Redemption....................................................... 77
10.5. Deposit of Redemption Price................................................ 78
10.6. Securities Payable on Redemption Date...................................... 78
10.7. Securities Redeemed in Part................................................ 79
ARTICLE 11 Sinking Funds.............................................................. 80
11.1. Applicability of Article................................................... 80
</TABLE>
iii
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PAGE
<S> <C> <C>
11.2. Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments
with Securities............................................................ 80
11.3. Redemption of Securities for Sinking
Fund....................................................................... 81
ARTICLE 12 Subordination.............................................................. 81
12.1. Agreement to Subordinate................................................... 81
12.2. Certain Definitions........................................................ 81
12.3. Liquidation; Dissolution; Bankruptcy;
Etc........................................................................ 82
12.4. Default on Senior Indebtedness............................................. 83
12.5. When Distribution Must Be Paid Over........................................ 83
12.6. Notice by Company.......................................................... 84
12.7. Subrogation................................................................ 84
12.8. Relative Rights............................................................ 84
12.9. Subordination May Not Be Impaired by
Company.................................................................... 85
12.10. Distribution............................................................... 85
12.11. Rights of Trustee and Paying Agent......................................... 85
12.12. Authorization to Effect Subordination...................................... 86
iv
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
SUBORDINATED INDENTURE, dated as of November 14, 1996, from Conseco,
Inc., an Indiana corporation (the "Company"), to Fleet National Bank, Trustee, a
national banking corporation (the "Trustee").
RECITALS
The Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this
Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of its unsecured
subordinated debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness ("Securities")
to be issued in one or more series as herein provided.
All things necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement of the
Company, in accordance with its terms, have been done.
For and in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the
Securities by the Holders thereof, it is mutually covenanted and agreed as
follows for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities:
ARTICLE 1
DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS
OF GENERAL APPLICATION
Section 1.1. DEFINITIONS. (a) For all purposes of this Indenture,
except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires:
(1) the terms defined in this Article have the meanings
assigned to them in this Article and include the plural as well as the
singular;
(2) all other terms used herein which are defined in the Trust
Indenture Act, either directly or by reference therein, have the
meanings assigned to them therein;
(3) all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the
meanings assigned to them in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles; 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.
"AFFILIATE" of a specified Person mean any Person directly or
indirectly controlling or controlled by, or under direct or indirect common
control with, such specified Person. For purposes of this definition, "control"
when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to direct the
management and
<PAGE>
policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership
of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms "controlling" and
"controlled" have meanings correlative to the foregoing.
"AGENT" means any Paying Agent or Registrar.
"AUTHENTICATING AGENT" means any authenticating agent appointed by the
Trustee pursuant to Section 6.14.
"AUTHORIZED NEWSPAPER" means a newspaper of general circulation, in the
official language of the country of publication or in the English language
customarily published on each Business Day whether or not published on
Saturdays, Sundays or holidays. Whenever successive publications in an
Authorized Newspaper are required hereunder they may be made (unless otherwise
expressly provided herein) on the same or different days of the week and in the
same or different Authorized Newspapers.
"BEARER SECURITY" means any Security issued hereunder which is payable
to bearer.
"BOARD" or "BOARD OF DIRECTORS" means the Board of Directors of the
Company, the Executive Committee or any other duly authorized committee thereof.
"BOARD RESOLUTION" means a copy of a resolution of the Board of
Directors, 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 the certificate, and delivered to the Trustee.
"BUSINESS DAY", when used with respect to any Place of Payment or any
other particular location referred to in this Indenture or in the Securities,
means unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to
Section 3.1, each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is not a
day on which banking institutions in that Place of Payment or particular
location are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.
"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 Indenture such Commission is not existing
and performing the duties now assigned to it under the Trust Indenture Act, then
the body performing such duties at such time.
"COMPANY" means the party named as the Company in the first paragraph
of this Indenture until a successor corporation shall have become such pursuant
to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter means such
successor.
2
<PAGE>
"COMPANY ORDER" and "COMPANY REQUEST" mean, respectively, a written
order or request signed in the name of the Company by two Officers, one of whom
must be the Chairman of the Board, the President, the Chief Financial Officer,
the Treasurer, the Assistant Treasurer, the Controller or a Vice President of
the Company.
"CONVERSION EVENT" means the cessation of use of (i) a Foreign Currency
both by the issuer of such currency and for the settlement of transactions by a
central bank or other public institutions of or within the international banking
community, (ii) the ECU both within the European Monetary System and for the
settlement of transactions by public institutions of or within the European
Communities or (iii) any Currency Unit other than the ECU for the purposes for
which it was established.
"CORPORATE TRUST OFFICE" means the office of the Trustee at which at
any particular time its corporate trust business shall be principally
administered, which office at the date hereof is located at 777 Main Street,
Hartford, Connecticut 06115, Attention: Corporate Trust Administration.
"CURRENCY UNIT" for all purposes of this Indenture shall include any
composite currency.
"DEBT" means indebtedness for money borrowed.
"DEFAULT" means any event which is or after notice or passage of time,
or both, would be, an Event of Default.
"DEPOSITORY", when used with respect to the Securities of or within any
series issuable or issued in whole or in part in global form, means the Person
designated as Depository by the Company pursuant to Section 3.1 until a
successor Depository shall have become such pursuant to the applicable
provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter shall mean or include each Person
which is then a Depository hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one
such Person, shall be a collective reference to such Persons.
"DOLLAR" means the currency of the United States as at the time of
payment is legal tender for the payment of public and private debts.
"ECU" means the European Currency Unit as defined and revised from time
to time by the Council of the European Communities.
"EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES" means the European Economic Community, the
European Coal and Steel Community and the European Atomic Energy Community.
3
<PAGE>
"EUROPEAN MONETARY SYSTEM" means the European Monetary System
established by the Resolution of December 5, 1978 of the Council of the European
Communities.
"EXCHANGE RATE AGENT", when used with respect to Securities of or
within any series, means, unless otherwise specified with respect to any
Securities pursuant to Section 3.1, a New York Clearing House bank designated
pursuant to Section 3.1 or Section 3.13 (which may include any such bank acting
as Trustee hereunder).
"EXCHANGE RATE OFFICER'S CERTIFICATE" means a certificate setting forth
(i) the applicable Market Exchange Rate or the applicable bid quotation and (ii)
the Dollar or Foreign Currency amounts of principal (and premium, if any) and
interest, if any, (on an aggregate basis and on the basis of a Security having
the lowest denomination principal amount in the relevant currency or currency
unit), payable with respect to a Security of any series on the basis of such
Market Exchange Rate or the applicable bid quotation, signed by the Chief
Financial Officer, the Treasurer, the Controller, any Vice President or the
Assistant Treasurer of the Company.
"FOREIGN CURRENCY" means any currency issued by the government of one
or more countries other than the United States or by any recognized
confederation or association of such governments.
"GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS" means securities which are (i) direct
obligations of the United States or if specified as contemplated by Section 3.1,
the government which issued the currency in which the Securities of a particular
series are payable, for the payment of which its full faith and credit is
pledged or (ii) obligations a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as
an agency or instrumentality of the United States or if specified as
contemplated by Section 3.1, such government which issued the foreign currency
in which the Securities of such series are payable, the payment of which is
unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United
States or such other government, which, in either case are not callable or
redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and shall also include a
depository receipt issued by a bank or trust company as custodian with respect
to any such Government Obligation or a specific payment of interest on or
principal of any such Government obligation held by such custodian for the
account of the holder of a depository receipt, PROVIDED that (except as required
by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount
payable to the holder of such depository receipt from any amount received by the
custodian in respect of the Government Obligation evidenced by such depository
receipt.
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"HOLDER" means, with respect to a Bearer Security, a bearer thereof or
of a coupon appertaining thereto and, with respect to a Registered Security, a
person in whose name a Security is registered on the Register.
"INDENTURE" means this Subordinated Indenture as originally executed or
as amended or supplemented from time to time and shall include the forms and
terms of particular series of Securities established as contemplated hereunder.
"INDEXED SECURITY" means a Security the terms of which provide that the
principal amount thereof payable at Stated Maturity may be more or less than the
principal face amount thereof at original issuance.
"INTEREST", 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 installment of interest on such Security.
"MARKET EXCHANGE RATE" means, unless otherwise specified with respect
to any Securities pursuant to Section 3.1(i) for any conversion involving a
currency unit on the one hand and Dollars or any Foreign Currency on the other,
the exchange rate between the relevant currency unit and Dollars or such Foreign
Currency calculated by the method specified pursuant to Section 3.1 for the
Securities of the relevant series, (ii) for any conversion of Dollars into any
Foreign Currency, the noon buying rate for such Foreign Currency for cable
transfers quoted in New York City as certified for customs purposes by the
Federal Reserve Bank of New York and (iii) for any conversion of one Foreign
Currency into Dollars or another Foreign Currency, the spot rate at noon local
time in the relevant market at which, in accordance with normal banking
procedures, the Dollars or Foreign Currency into which conversion is being made
could be purchased with the Foreign Currency from which conversion is being made
from major banks located in New York City, London or any other principal market
for Dollars or such purchased Foreign Currency, in each case Determined by the
Exchange Rate Agent. Unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities
pursuant to Section 3.1, in the event of the unavailability of any of the
exchange rates provided for in the foregoing clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), the
Exchange Rate Agent shall use, in its sole discretion and without liability on
its part, such quotation of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York as of the most
recent available date, or quotations from one or more major banks in New York
City, London or other principal market for such currency or currency unit in
question (which may include any such bank acting as Trustee under this
Indenture), or such other quotations as the Exchange Rate Agent shall deem
appropriate. If
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there is more than one market for dealing in any currency or currency unit by
reason of foreign exchange regulations or otherwise the market to be used in
respect of such currency or currency unit shall be that upon which a nonresident
issuer of securities designated in such currency or currency unit would purchase
such currency or currency unit in order to make payments in respect of such
securities.
"MATURITY", when used with respect to any Security, means the date on
which the principal of such Security or an installment of principal becomes due
and payable as therein or herein provided, whether at the Stated Maturity or by
declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise.
"OFFICER" means the Chairman of the Board, the President, any Vice
President, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer, the Assistant Treasurer,
the Controller, the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Company.
"OFFICERS' CERTIFICATE", when used with respect to the Company, means a
certificate signed by two Officers, one of whom must be the Chairman of the
Board, the President, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer, the Assistant
Treasurer, the Controller or a Vice President of the Company.
"OPINION OF COUNSEL" means a written opinion from the general counsel
of the Company or other legal counsel who is reasonably acceptable to the
Trustee. Such counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company.
"ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT SECURITY" means any Security which provides
for an amount less than the stated principal amount thereof to be due and
payable upon declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to
Section 5.2.
"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, or portions thereof, for whose payment or
redemption money or Government Obligations 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
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act as its own Paying Agent) for the Holders of such Securities and any
coupons appertaining thereto PROVIDED that if such Securities are to be
redeemed, notice of such redemption has been duly given pursuant to
this Indenture or provisions therefor satisfactory to the Trustee have
been made;
(iii) Securities, except to the extent provided in Sections
4.4 and 4.5, with respect to which the Company has effected defeasance
and/or covenant defeasance as provided in Article 4; and
(iv) Securities which have been paid pursuant to Section 3.6
or in exchange for or in lieu of which other Securities have been
authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture, other than any
such Securities in respect of which there shall have been presented to
the Trustee proof satisfactory to it that such Securities are held by a
bona fide purchaser in whose hands such Securities are valid
obligations of the Company;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite
principal amount of the Outstanding Securities have given any request, demand,
authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, or whether
sufficient funds are available for redemption or for any other purpose and for
the purpose of making the calculations required by section 313 of the Trust
Indenture Act, (W) the principal amount of any Original Issue Discount
Securities that may be counted in making such determination or calculation and
that shall be deemed to be Outstanding for such purpose shall be equal to the
amount of principal thereof that would be (or shall have been declared to be)
due and payable at the time of such determination upon a declaration of
acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.2, (X) the principal
amount of any Security denominated in a Foreign Currency that may be counted in
making such determination or calculation and that shall be deemed Outstanding
for such purpose shall be equal to the Dollar equivalent, determined as of the
date such Security is originally issued by the Company as set forth in an
Exchange Rate Officer's Certificate delivered to the Trustee, of the principal
amount (or, in the case of an Original Issue Discount Security, the Dollar
equivalent as of such date of original issuance of the amount determined as
provided in clause (W) above) of such Security, (Y) the principal amount of any
Indexed Security that may be counted in making such determination or calculation
and that shall be deemed Outstanding for such purpose shall be equal to the
principal face amount of such Indexed Security at original issuance, unless
otherwise provided with respect to such Security pursuant to Section 3.1, and
(Z) 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
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<PAGE>
Trustee shall be protected in making such calculation or in relying upon any
such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver only
Securities which the Trustee actually 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, premium, if any, or interest and any other payments on any
Securities on behalf of the Company.
"PERIODIC OFFERING" means an offering of Securities of a series from
time to time the specific terms of which Securities, including, without
limitation, the rate or rates of interest or formula for determining the rate or
rates of interest thereon, if any, the Maturity thereof and the redemption
provisions if any, with respect thereto, are to be determined by the Company
upon the issuance of such Securities.
"PERSON" means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited
liability company, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust,
unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision
thereof.
"PLACE OF PAYMENT", when used with respect to the Securities of or
within any series, means the place or places where the principal of, premium, if
any, and interest and any other payments on such Securities are payable as
specified as contemplated by Sections 3.1 and 9.2.
"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 3.6 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.
"PRINCIPAL AMOUNT", when used with respect to any Security, means the
amount of principal, if any, payable in respect thereof at Maturity; PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that when used with respect to an Indexed Security in any context other
than the making of payments at Maturity, "principal amount" means the principal
face amount of such Indexed Security at original issuance.
"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.
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"REDEMPTION PRICE", when used with respect to any Security to be
redeemed, in whole or in part, means the price at which it is to be redeemed
pursuant to this Indenture.
"REGISTERED SECURITY" means any Security issued hereunder and
registered as to principal and interest in the Register.
"REGULAR RECORD DATE" for the interest payable on any Interest Payment
Date on the Securities of or within any series means the date specified for that
purpose as contemplated by Section 3.1.
"RESPONSIBLE OFFICER", when used with respect to the Trustee, shall
mean any officer in the Corporate Trust Office, including any vice president,
any assistant vice president, the secretary, the treasurer, any assistant
treasurer, the cashier, any assistant cashier, any senior trust officer, any
trust officer, the controller, any assistant controller, or any officer of the
Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by the
persons who at the time shall be such officers in the Corporate Trust Office,
respectively, or to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of his
knowledge of and familiarity with a particular subject.
"SECURITY" or "SECURITIES" has the meaning stated in the first recital
of this Indenture and more particularly means a Security or Securities of the
Company issued, authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.
"SPECIAL RECORD DATE" for the payment of any Defaulted Interest means a
date fixed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 3.7.
"STATED MATURITY", when used with respect to any Security or any
installment of principal thereof or interest thereon, means the date specified
in such Security or in a coupon representing such installment of interest as the
fixed date on which the principal of such Security or such installment of
principal or interest is due and payable.
"SUBSIDIARY" of any Person means any Person of which at least a
majority of capital stock having ordinary voting power for the election of
directors or other governing body of such Person is owned by such Person
directly or through one or more Subsidiaries of such Person.
"TOTAL ASSETS" means, at any date, the total assets appearing on the
most recently prepared consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its
consolidated Subsidiaries as at the end of a fiscal quarter of the Company,
prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
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"TRUST INDENTURE ACT" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as in
effect on the date of this Indenture, except as provided in Section 8.3.
"TRUSTEE" means the party named as such in the first paragraph of this
Indenture until a successor Trustee replaces it pursuant to the applicable
provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter means such successor Trustee and
if, at any time, there is more than one Trustee, "Trustee" as used with respect
to the Securities of any series shall mean the Trustee with respect to the
Securities of that series.
"UNITED STATES" means, unless otherwise specified with respect to the
Securities of any series as contemplated by Section 3.1, the United States of
America (including the States and the District of Columbia), its territories,
its possessions and other areas subject to its jurisdiction.
"U.S. PERSON" means, unless otherwise specified with respect to the
Securities of any series as contemplated by Section 3.1, a citizen, national or
resident of the United States, a corporation, partnership or other entity
created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or any political
subdivision thereof, or an estate or trust, the income of which is subject to
United States federal income taxation regardless of its source.
(b) The following terms shall have the meanings specified in the
Sections referred to opposite such term below:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
TERM SECTION
---- -------
<S> <C>
"Act" 1.4(a)
"Bankruptcy Law" 5.1
"Component Currency" 3.12(d)
"Conversion Date" 3.12(d)
"Custodian" 5.1
"Defaulted Interest" 3.7(b)
"Election Date" 3.12(h)
"Event of Default" 5.1
"Notice of Default" 5.1(3)
"Register" 3.5
"Registrar" 3.5
"Senior Indebtedness" 12.2
"Valuation Date" 3.7(c)
</TABLE>
Section 1.2. 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 an Officers'
Certificate stating that all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this
Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with and an Opinion
of Counsel stating that in the opinion of such counsel all
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<PAGE>
such conditions precedent, if any, have been complied with, except that in the
case of any such application or request as to which the furnishing of such
documents is specifically required by any provision of this Indenture relating
to such particular application or request, no additional certificate or opinion
need be furnished.
Every certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a
condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than pursuant to
Sections 2.3 and 9.6) shall include:
(1) a statement that each individual signing such certificate
or opinion has read such condition or covenant 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 condition
or covenant 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 1.3. FORM OF DOCUMENTS DELIVERED TO TRUSTEE. In any case where
several matters are required to be certified by, or covered by an opinion of any
specified Person, it is not necessary that all such matters be certified by, or
covered by the opinion of, only one such Person or that they be so certified or
covered by only one document, but one such Person may certify or give an opinion
with respect to some matters and one or more other such Persons as to other
matters, and any such Person may certify or give an opinion as to such matters
in one or several documents.
Any certificate or opinion of an officer of the Company may be based,
insofar as it relates to legal 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 as to such matters are
erroneous.
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Any certificate, statement or opinion of an officer of the Company or
of counsel may be based, insofar as it relates to accounting matters, upon a
certificate or opinion of or representations by an accountant or firm of
accountants in the employ of the Company, unless such officer or counsel, as the
case may be, knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the
certificate or opinion or representations with respect to the accounting matters
upon which his certificate, statement or opinion is based are erroneous.
Where any Person is required to make, give or execute two or more
applications, requests, consents, certificates, statements, opinions or other
instruments under this Indenture, they may, but need not, be consolidated and
form one instrument.
Section 1.4. ACTS OF HOLDERS. (a) Any request, demand, authorization,
direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to
be given 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 conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the
Company, if made in the manner provided in this Section.
(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 acknowledgements 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 ownership of Bearer Securities may be proved by the production
of such Bearer Securities or by a certificate executed by any trust company,
bank, banker or other depository, wherever situated, if such certificate shall
be deemed by the Trustee to be satisfactory, showing that at the date therein
mentioned such Person had on deposit with such depository, or exhibited to it,
the Bearer Securities therein described; or such acts may be proved by
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<PAGE>
the certificate or affidavit of the Person holding such Bearer Securities, if
such certificate or affidavit is deemed by the Trustee to be satisfactory. The
Trustee and the Company may assume that such ownership of any Bearer Security
continues until (i) another such certificate or affidavit bearing a later date
issued in respect of the same Bearer Security is produced, (ii) such Bearer
Security is produced to the Trustee by some other Person, (iii) such Bearer
Security is surrendered in exchange for a Registered Security or (iv) such
Bearer Security is no longer Outstanding. The ownership of Bearer Securities may
also be proved in any other manner which the Trustee deems sufficient.
(d) The ownership of Registered Securities shall be proved by the
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.
(f) If the Company shall solicit from the Holders of any series any
request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act,
the Company may, at its option, by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, fix in
advance a record date for the determination of Holders of such series entitled
to give such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver
or other Act, but the Company shall have no obligation to do so, PROVIDED that
the Company may not set a record date for, and the provisions of this paragraph
shall not apply with respect to, the giving or making of any notice,
declaration, request or direction referred to in the next paragraph. If such a
record date is fixed, such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice,
consent, waiver or other Act may be given before or after such record date, but
only the Holders of record at the close of business on such record date shall be
deemed to be Holders for the purposes of determining whether Holders of the
requisite proportion of outstanding Securities have authorized or agreed or
consented to such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent,
waiver or other Act and for that purpose the Outstanding Securities shall be
computed as of such record date; PROVIDED that no such authorization, agreement
or consent by the Holders on such record date shall be deemed effective unless
it shall become effective pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture not later
than six months after the record date.
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(g) The Trustee may set any day as a record date for the purpose of
determining the Holders of any series entitled to join in the giving or making
of (i) any Notice of Default, (ii) any declaration of acceleration referred to
in Section 5.2, (iii) any direction referred to in Section 5.8 or (iv) any
request to institute proceedings referred to in Section 5.9(2) in each case with
respect to Securities of such series. If such a record date is fixed pursuant to
this Paragraph, the relevant action may be taken or given before or after such
record date, but only the Holders of record at the close of business on such
record date shall be deemed to be holders of a series for the purposes of
determining whether Holders of the requisite proportion of Outstanding
Securities of such series have authorized or agreed or consented to such action,
and for that purpose the Outstanding Securities of such series shall be computed
as of such record date; PROVIDED that no such action by Holders on such record
date shall be deemed effective unless it shall become effective pursuant to the
provisions of this Indenture not later than six months after the record date.
Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to prevent the Trustee from setting
a new record date for any action for which a record date has previously been set
pursuant to this paragraph (whereupon the record date previously set shall
automatically and with no action by any Person be cancelled and of no effect),
and nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to render ineffective any
action taken by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding
Securities of the relevant series on the date such action is taken. Promptly
after any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Trustee, at the
Company's expense, shall cause notice of such record date and the proposed
action by Holders to be given to the Company in writing and to each Holder of
Securities of the relevant series in the manner set forth in Section 1.6.
Section 1.5. 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 (unless otherwise herein
expressly provided) in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid,
to the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office, Attention:
Corporate Trust Administration, or
(2) the Company by the Trustee or by any Holder shall be
sufficient for every purpose hereunder (unless otherwise herein
expressly provided) in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid,
to the Company addressed to it at Conseco, Inc., 11825 N. Pennsylvania
Street, Carmel, Indiana 46032, Attention: General Counsel or at any
other address previously furnished in writing to the Trustee by the
Company.
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<PAGE>
Section 1.6. NOTICE TO HOLDERS; WAIVER. Where this Indenture provides
for notice to Holders of any event, (i) if any of the Securities affected by
such event are Registered Securities, such notice to the Holders thereof shall
be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing
and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each such Holder affected by such
event, at his address as it appears in the Register within the time prescribed
for the giving of such notice and, (ii) if any of the Securities affected by
such event are Bearer Securities, notice to the Holders thereof shall be
sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein or in the terms of such Bearer
Securities expressly provided) if published once in an Authorized Newspaper in
New York, New York, and in such other city or cities, if any, as may be
specified as contemplated by Section 3.1.
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 of Registered Securities or the sufficiency of any notice to
Holders of Bearer Securities given as provided herein. In any case where notice
is given to Holders by publication, neither the failure to publish such notice,
nor any defect in any notice so published, shall affect the sufficiency of such
notice with respect to other Holders of Bearer Securities or the sufficiency of
any notice to Holders of Registered Securities given as provided herein. Any
notice mailed to a Holder in the manner herein prescribed shall be conclusively
deemed to have been received by such Holder, whether or not such Holder actually
receives such notice.
If by reason of the suspension of regular mail service or by reason of
any other cause it shall be impracticable to give such notice as provided above,
then such notification as shall be made with the approval of the Trustee shall
constitute a sufficient notification for every purpose hereunder. If it is
impossible or, in the opinion of the Trustee, impracticable to give any notice
by publication in the manner herein required, then such publication in lieu
thereof as shall be made with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute a
sufficient publication of such notice.
Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or
waiver required or permitted under this Indenture shall be in the English
language, except that any published notice may be in an official language of the
country of publication.
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 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.
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Section 1.7. HEADINGS AND TABLE OF CONTENTS. The Article and Section
headings herein and the Table of Contents are for convenience only and shall not
affect the construction hereof.
Section 1.8. SUCCESSOR AND ASSIGNS. All covenants and agreements in
this Indenture by the Company shall bind its successor and assigns, whether so
expressed or not.
Section 1.9. SEPARABILITY. In case any provision of this Indenture or
the Securities shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity,
legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be
affected or impaired thereby.
Section 1.10. BENEFITS OF INDENTURE. Nothing in this Indenture or in
the Securities, expressed or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the
parties hereto and their successors hereunder, the Holders of Senior
Indebtedness and the Holders, any benefit or any legal or equitable right,
remedy or claim under this Indenture.
Section 1.11. GOVERNING LAW. THIS INDENTURE, THE SECURITIES AND ANY
COUPONS APPERTAINING THERETO SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE
WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS
OF LAWS. This Indenture is subject to the Trust Indenture Act and if any
provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with any provision of the Trust
Indenture Act, which 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 which
may be so modified or excluded the latter provision shall be deemed to apply to
this Indenture as so modified or to be excluded, as the case may be. Whether or
not this Indenture is required to be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act,
the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act required to be included in an
indenture in order for such indenture to be so qualified shall be deemed to be
included in this Indenture with the same effect as if such provisions were set
forth herein and any provisions hereof which may not be included in an indenture
which is so qualified shall be deemed to be deleted or modified to the extent
such provisions would be required to be deleted or modified in an indenture so
qualified.
Section 1.12. LEGAL HOLIDAYS. In any case where any Interest Payment
Date, Redemption Date, sinking fund payment date, Stated Maturity or Maturity of
any Security shall not be a Business Day at any Place of Payment, then
(notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or of any Security or
coupon other than a provision in the Securities of any series which specifically
states that such provision shall apply in lieu of this Section), payment of
principal, premium, if any, or interest need not be made at such Place of
Payment on such date, but may be made on the next
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succeeding Business Day at such Place of Payment with the same force and effect
as if made on such date; PROVIDED that no interest shall accrue on the amount so
payable for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, Redemption
Date, sinking fund payment date, Stated Maturity or Maturity, as the case may
be.
ARTICLE 2
SECURITY FORMS
Section 2.1. FORMS GENERALLY. The Securities of each series and the
coupons, if any, to be attached thereto shall be in substantially such 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 Depository
therefor or as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the officers
executing such Securities and coupons, if any, as evidenced by their execution
of the Securities and coupons, if any. If temporary Securities of any series are
issued as permitted by Section 3.4, the form thereof also shall be established
as provided in the preceding sentence. If the forms of Securities and coupons,
if any, of any series are established by, or by action taken pursuant to, a
Board Resolution, a copy of the Board Resolution together with an appropriate
record of any such action taken pursuant thereto, including a copy of the
approved form of Securities or coupons, if any, 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 3.3 for
the authentication and delivery of such Securities.
Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1, Bearer
Securities shall have interest coupons attached.
The definitive Securities and coupons, if any, 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 and
coupons, if any, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities and coupons,
if any.
Section 2.2. FORM OF TRUSTEE'S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION. The
Trustee's certificate of authentication shall be in substantially the following
form:
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This is one of the Securities of the series described in the
within-mentioned Indenture.
__________________________,
as Trustee
By _________________________
Authorized Signatory
Section 2.3. SECURITIES IN GLOBAL FORM. If Securities of or within a
series are issuable in whole or in part in global form, any such Security may
provide that it shall represent the aggregate or specified amount of Outstanding
Securities from time to time endorsed thereon and may also provide that the
aggregate amount of Outstanding Securities represented thereby may from time to
time be reduced or increased to reflect exchanges. Any endorsement of a Security
in global form to reflect the amount, or any increase or decrease in the amount,
or changes in the rights of Holders, of Outstanding Securities represented
thereby, shall be made in such manner and by such Person or Persons as shall be
specified therein or in the Company Order to be delivered to the Trustee
pursuant to Section 3.3 or 3.4. Subject to the provisions of Section 3.3 and, if
applicable, Section 3.4, the Trustee shall deliver and redeliver any security in
permanent global form in the manner and upon instructions given by the Person or
Persons specified therein or in the applicable Company Order. Any instructions
by the Company with respect to endorsement or delivery or redelivery of a
Security in global form shall be in writing but need not comply with Section 1.2
hereof and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel.
The provisions of the last paragraph of Section 3.3 shall apply to any
Security in global form if such Security was never issued and sold by the
Company and the Company delivers to the Trustee the Security in global form
together with written instructions (which need not comply with Section 1.2 and
need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel) with regard to the reduction
in the principal amount of Securities represented thereby, together with the
written statement contemplated by the last paragraph of Section 3.3.
Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2.1 and 3.7, unless otherwise
specified as contemplated by Section 3.1, payment of principal of, premium, if
any, and interest on any Security in permanent global form shall be made to the
Person or Persons specified therein.
Section 2.4. FORM OF LEGEND FOR SECURITIES IN GLOBAL FORM. Any
Registered Security in global form authenticated and delivered hereunder shall
bear a legend in substantially the following form with such changes as may be
required by the Depository:
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THIS SECURITY IS IN GLOBAL FORM WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE
INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A
DEPOSITORY OR A NOMINEE OF A DEPOSITORY. UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS
EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR SECURITIES IN CERTIFICATED FORM IN
THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE, THIS SECURITY MAY
NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITORY TO A NOMINEE OF
THE DEPOSITORY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY TO THE DEPOSITORY OR
ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY OR BY THE DEPOSITORY OR ANY SUCH
NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITORY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR
DEPOSITORY.
ARTICLE 3
THE SECURITIES
Section 3.1. AMOUNT UNLIMITED; ISSUABLE IN SERIES. (a) The aggregate
principal amount of Securities which may be authenticated and delivered under
this Indenture is unlimited. The Securities may be issued from time to time in
one or more series.
(b) The following matters shall be established with respect to each
series of Securities issued hereunder (i) by a Board Resolution, (ii) by action
taken pursuant to a Board Resolution and (subject to Section 3.3) set forth, or
determined in the manner provided, in an Officers' Certificate or (iii) in one
or more indentures supplemental hereto:
(1) the title of the Securities of the series (which title
shall distinguish the Securities of the series from all other series of
Securities);
(2) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the
Securities of the series which may be authenticated and delivered under
this Indenture (which limit shall not pertain to Securities
authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in
exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of the series pursuant to
Section 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 8.6, or 10.7);
(3) the date or dates on which the principal of and premium,
if any, on the Securities of the series is payable or the method of
determination thereof;
(4) the rate or rates at which the Securities of the series
shall bear interest, if any, or the method of calculating such rate or
rates of interest, the date or dates
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from which such interest shall accrue or the method by which such date
or dates shall be determined, the Interest Payment Dates on which any
such interest shall be payable and, with respect to Registered
Securities, the Regular Record Date, if any, for the interest payable
on any Registered Security on any Interest Payment Date;
(5) the place or places where the principal of, premium, if
any, and interest, if any, on Securities of the series shall be
payable;
(6) the period or periods within which, the price or prices at
which, the currency or currencies (including currency unit or units) in
which, and the other terms and conditions upon which, Securities of the
series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the
Company and, if other than as provided in Section 10.3, the manner in
which the particular Securities of such series (if less than all
Securities of such series are to be redeemed) are to be selected for
redemption;
(7) the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem or
purchase Securities of the series pursuant to any sinking fund or
analogous provisions or upon the happening of a specified event or at
the option of a Holder thereof and the period or periods within which,
the price or prices at which, and the other terms and conditions upon
which, Securities of the series shall be redeemed or purchased, in
whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;
(8) if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral
multiple thereof, if Registered Securities, and if other than the
denomination of $5,000 and any integral multiple thereof, if Bearer
Securities, the denominations in which Securities of the series shall
be issuable;
(9) if other than Dollars, the currency or currencies
(including currency unit or units) in which the principal of, premium,
if any, and interest, if any, on the Securities of the series shall be
payable, or in which the Securities of the series shall be denominated
and the particular provisions applicable thereto in accordance with, in
addition to, or in lieu of the provisions of Section 3.12;
(10) if the payments of principal of, premium, if any, or
interest, if any, on the Securities of the series are to be made, at
the election of the Company or a Holder, in a currency or currencies
(including currency unit or units) other than that in which such
Securities are denominated or designated to be payable, the currency or
currencies (including currency unit or units) in which such payments
are to be made, the terms and conditions of such payments and the
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manner in which the exchange rate with respect to such payments shall
be determined, and the particular provisions applicable thereto in
accordance with, in addition to, or in lieu of, the provisions of
Section 3.12;
(11) if the amount of payments of principal of, premium, if
any, and interest, if any, on the Securities of the series shall be
determined with reference to an index, formula or other method (which
index, formula or method may be based, without limitation, on a
currency or currencies (including currency unit or units) other than
that in which the Securities of the series are denominated or
designated to be payable), the index, formula or other method by which
such amounts shall be determined;
(12) if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion
of the principal amount of such Securities of the series which shall be
payable upon declaration of acceleration thereof pursuant to Section
5.2 or the method by which such portion shall be determined;
(13) if the principal amount payable at the Stated Maturity of
any Securities of the series will not be determinable as of any one or
more dates prior to the Stated Maturity, the amount which shall be
deemed to be the principal amount of such Securities as of any such
date for any purpose thereunder or hereunder, including the principal
amount thereof which shall be due and payable upon any Maturity other
than the Stated Maturity or which shall be deemed to be Outstanding as
of any date prior to the Stated Maturity (or, in any such case, the
manner in which such amount deemed to be the principal amount shall be
determined);
(14) if other than as provided in Section 3.7, the Person to
whom, any interest on any Registered Security of the series shall be
payable and the manner in which, or the Person to whom, any interest on
any Bearer Securities of the series shall be payable;
(15) provisions, if any, granting special rights to the
Holders of Securities of the series upon the occurrence of such events
as may be specified;
(16) any deletions from, modifications of or additions to the
Events of Default set forth in Section 5.1 or covenants of the Company
set forth in Article 9 pertaining to the Securities of the series;
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(17) under what circumstances, if any, the Company will pay
additional amounts on the Securities of that series held by a Person
who is not a U.S. Person in respect of taxes or similar charges
withheld or deducted and, if so, whether the Company will have the
option to redeem such Securities rather than pay such additional
amounts (and the terms of any such option);
(18) whether Securities of the series shall be issuable as
Registered Securities or Bearer Securities (with or without interest
coupons), or both, and any restrictions applicable to the offering,
sale or delivery of Bearer Securities and, if other than as provided in
Section 3.5, the terms upon which Bearer Securities of a series may be
exchanged for Registered Securities of the same series and vice versa;
(19) the date as of which any Bearer Securities of the series
and any temporary global Security representing Outstanding Securities
of the series shall be dated if other than the date of original
issuance of the first Security of the series to be issued;
(20) the forms of the Securities and coupons, if any, of the
series;
(21) the applicability, if any, to the Securities of or within
the series of Sections 4.4 and 4.5, or such other means of defeasance
or covenant defeasance as may be specified for the Securities and
coupons, if any, of such series, and, if the Securities are payable in
a currency other than Dollars, whether, for the purpose of such
defeasance or covenant defeasance, the term "Government Obligations"
shall include obligations referred to in the definition of such term
which are not obligations of the United States or an agency or
instrumentality of the United States;
(22) if other than the Trustee, the identity of the Registrar
and any Paying Agent;
(23) the designation of the initial Exchange Rate Agent, if
any;
(24) if the Securities of the series shall be issued in whole
or in part in global form (i) the Depository for such global
Securities, (ii) the form of any legend in addition to or in lieu of
that in Section 2.4 which shall be borne by such global security, (iii)
whether beneficial owners of interests in any Securities of the series
in global form may exchange such interests for certificated Securities
of such series and of like tenor of any authorized form and
denomination, and (iv) if other than as provided in Section 3.5, the
circumstances under which any such exchange may occur; and
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(25) any other terms of the series (which terms shall not be
inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture) including any terms
which may be required by or advisable under United States laws or
regulations or advisable (as determined by the Company) in connection
with the marketing of Securities of the series.
(c) All Securities of any one series and coupons, if any, appertaining
to any Bearer Securities of such series shall be substantially identical except
as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided (i) by a Board
Resolution, (ii) by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution and (subject to
Section 3.3) set forth, or determined in the manner provided, in the related
Officers' Certificate or (iii) in an indenture supplemental hereto. All
Securities of any one series need not be issued at the same time and, unless
otherwise provided, a series may be reopened, without the consent of the
Holders, for issuances of additional Securities of such series.
(d) If any of the terms of the Securities of any series are established
by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of such Board Resolution
shall be certified by the Corporate 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 or providing the manner for determining, the
terms of the Securities of such series, and an appropriate record of any action
taken pursuant thereto in connection with the issuance of any Securities of such
series shall be delivered to the Trustee prior to the authentication and
delivery thereof.
Section 3.2. DENOMINATIONS. Unless otherwise provided as contemplated
by Section 3.1 any Registered Securities of a series shall be issuable in
denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof and any Bearer
Securities of a series shall be issuable in the denomination of $5,000 and any
integral multiples thereof.
Section 3.3. EXECUTION, AUTHENTICATION, DELIVERY AND DATING. Securities
shall be executed on behalf of the Company by two Officers. The Company's seal
shall be reproduced on the Securities. The signatures of any of these officers
on the Securities may be manual or facsimile. The coupons, if any, of Bearer
Securities shall bear the facsimile signature of two officers.
Securities and coupons 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.
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At any time and from time to time, the Company may deliver Securities,
together with any coupons appertaining thereto, 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; PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that in the case of Securities offered in a Periodic Offering, the
Trustee shall authenticate and deliver such Securities from time to time in
accordance with such other procedures (including, without limitation, the
receipt by the Trustee of oral or electronic instructions from the Company or
its duly authorized agents, promptly confirmed in writing) acceptable to the
Trustee as may be specified by or pursuant to a Company Order delivered to the
Trustee prior to the time of the first authentication of Securities of such
series.
If the form or terms of the Securities of a series have been
established by or pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions as permitted by
Sections 2.1 and 3.1, in authenticating such Securities and accepting the
additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities,
the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to section 315(a) through
(d) of the Trust Indenture Act) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an
Opinion of Counsel stating,
(1) if the forms of such Securities and any coupons have been
established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution as permitted by
Section 2.1, that such forms have been established in conformity with
the provisions of this Indenture;
(2) if the terms of such Securities and any coupons have been
established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution as permitted by
Section 3.1, that such terms have been, or in the case of Securities of
a series offered in a Periodic Offering, will be, established in
conformity with the provisions of this Indenture, subject in the case
of Securities offered in a Periodic Offering, to any conditions
specified in such Opinion of Counsel; and
(3) that such Securities together with any coupons
appertaining thereto, 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 other similar laws of general
applicability relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors'
rights and to general equity principles and except further as
enforcement thereof may be limited by (A) requirements that a claim
with respect to any Securities
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denominated other than in Dollars (or a Foreign Currency or currency
unit judgment in respect of such claim) be converted into Dollars at a
rate of exchange prevailing on a date determined pursuant to applicable
law or (B) governmental authority to limit, delay or prohibit the
making of payments in Foreign Currencies or currency units or payments
outside the United States.
Notwithstanding that such form or terms have been so established, the Trustee
shall have the right to decline to authenticate such Securities if, in the
written opinion of counsel to the Trustee (which counsel may be an employee of
the Trustee) reasonably acceptable to the Company, the issue of such Securities
pursuant to this Indenture will adversely affect the Trustee's own rights,
duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise in a manner which is not
reasonably acceptable to the Trustee. Notwithstanding the generality of the
foregoing, the Trustee will not be required to authenticate Securities
denominated in a Foreign Currency if the Trustee reasonably believes that it
would be unable to perform its duties with respect to such Securities.
Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3.1 and of the two preceding
paragraphs, if all of the Securities of any series are not to be issued at one
time, it shall not be necessary to deliver the Officers' Certificate otherwise
required pursuant to Section 3.1 or the Company Order and Opinion of Counsel
otherwise required pursuant to the two preceding paragraphs in connection with
the authentication of each Security of such series if such documents, with
appropriate modifications to cover such future issuances, are delivered at or
prior to the authentication upon original issuance of the first Security of such
series to be issued.
With respect to Securities of a series offered in a Periodic Offering,
the Trustee may rely, as to the authorization by the Company of any of such
Securities, the form and terms thereof and the legality, validity, binding
effect and enforceability thereof, upon the Opinion of Counsel and the other
documents delivered pursuant to Sections 2.1 and 3.1 and this Section, as
applicable, in connection with the first authentication of Securities of such
series.
If the Company shall establish pursuant to Section 3.1 that the
Securities of a series are to be issued in whole or in part in global form, then
the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall, in accordance with this Section
and the Company Order with respect to such series, authenticate and deliver one
or more Securities in global form that (i) shall represent and shall be
denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of the
Outstanding Securities of such series to be represented by such Security or
Securities in global form, (ii) shall be registered, if a Registered Security,
in the name of the Depository for such Security or Securities in global form or
the nominee of such
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Depository, (iii) shall be delivered by the Trustee to such Depository or
pursuant to such Depository's instruction and (iv) shall bear the legends set
forth in Section 2.4 and the terms of the Board Resolution or supplemental
indenture relating to such series.
Each Depository designated pursuant to Section 3.1 for a Registered
Security in global form must, at the time of its designation and at all times
while it serves as Depository, be a clearing agency registered under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and any other applicable statute or regulation.
The Trustee shall have no responsibility to determine if the Depository is so
registered. Each Depository shall enter into an agreement with the Trustee
governing the respective duties and rights of such Depository and the Trustee
with regard to Securities issued in global form.
Each Registered Security shall be dated the date of its authentication
and each Bearer Security shall be dated as of the date specified as contemplated
by Section 3.1.
No Security or coupon appertaining thereto shall be entitled to any
benefits under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose until
authenticated by the manual signature of one of the authorized signatories of
the Trustee or an Authenticating Agent and no coupon shall be valid until the
Security to which it appertains has been so authenticated. Such signature upon
any Security shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such
Security has been duly authenticated and delivered under this Indenture and is
entitled to the benefits of this Indenture. Except as permitted by Section 3.6
or 3.7, the Trustee shall not authenticate and deliver any Bearer Security
unless all appurtenant coupons for interest then matured have been detached and
cancelled.
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 3.9 together with a written statement (which need not comply
with Section 1.2 and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel) stating
that such Security has never been issued and sold by the Company, for all
purposes of this Indenture such Security shall be deemed never to have been
authenticated and delivered hereunder and shall not be entitled to the benefits
of this Indenture.
Section 3.4. 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 of such
series which are printed, lithographed, typewritten, mimeographed or otherwise
produced, in any authorized denomination, substantially of the tenor and form,
with or without coupons, of the definitive Securities in lieu of
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which they are issued and with such appropriate insertions, omissions,
substitutions and other variations as the officers executing such Securities may
determine, as conclusively evidenced by their execution of such Securities and
coupons, if any. In the case of Securities of any series, such temporary
Securities may be in global form, representing all or a portion of the
Outstanding Securities of such series.
Except in the case of temporary Securities in global form, each of
which shall be exchanged in accordance with the provisions thereof, if temporary
Securities of any series are issued, the Company will cause definitive
Securities of such series to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After
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 pursuant to Section 9.2 in a Place of Payment for such series,
without charge to the Holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more
temporary Securities of any series (accompanied by any unmatured coupons
appertaining thereto), the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall
authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a like principal amount of
definitive Securities of the same series of authorized denominations and of like
tenor; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that no definitive Bearer Security shall be delivered
in exchange for a temporary Registered Security; and PROVIDED FURTHER that no
definitive Bearer Security shall be delivered in exchange for a temporary Bearer
Security unless the Trustee shall have received from the person entitled to
receive the definitive Bearer Security a certificate substantially in the form
approved in or pursuant to the Board Resolutions relating thereto and such
delivery shall occur only outside the United States. 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 except as
otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1.
Section 3.5. REGISTRATION, TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE. The Company shall
cause to be kept at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee or in any office
or agency to be maintained by the Company in accordance with Section 9.2 in a
Place of Payment a register (the "Register") in which, subject to such
reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the
registration of Registered Securities and the registration of transfers of
Registered Securities. The Register shall be in written form or any other form
capable of being converted into written form within a reasonable time. The
Trustee is hereby appointed "Registrar" for the purpose of registering
Registered Securities and transfers of Registered Securities as herein provided.
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Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Registered Security
of any series at the office or agency maintained pursuant to Section 9.2 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 Registered Securities of the same series, of any
authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount containing
identical terms and provisions.
Bearer Securities or any coupons appertaining thereto shall be
transferable by delivery.
At the option of the Holder, Registered Securities of any series
(except a Registered Security in global form) may be exchanged for other
Registered Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of
a like aggregate principal amount containing identical terms and provisions,
upon surrender of the Registered Securities to be exchanged at such office or
agency. Whenever any Registered Securities are so surrendered for exchange, the
Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the
Registered Securities which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to
receive. Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1, Bearer
Securities may not be issued in exchange for Registered Securities.
Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1, at the
option of the Holder, Bearer Securities of such series may be exchanged for
Registered Securities (if the Securities of such series are issuable in
registered form) or Bearer Securities (if Bearer Securities of such series are
issuable in more than one denomination and such exchanges are permitted by such
series) of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of like tenor
and aggregate principal amount, upon surrender of the Bearer Securities to be
exchanged at any such office or agency, with all unmatured coupons and all
matured coupons in default thereto appertaining. If the Holder of a Bearer
Security is unable to produce any such unmatured coupon or coupons or matured
coupon or coupons in default, such exchange may be effected if the Bearer
Securities are accompanied by payment in funds acceptable to the Company and the
Trustee in an amount equal to the face amount of such missing coupon or coupons,
or the surrender of such missing coupon or coupons may be waived by the Company
and the Trustee if there be furnished to them such security or indemnity as they
may require to save each of them and any Paying Agent harmless. If thereafter
the Holder of such Security shall surrender to any Paying Agent any such missing
coupon in respect of which such a payment shall have been made, such Holder
shall be entitled to receive the amount of such payment; PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
that, except as otherwise provided in Section 9.2, interest represented by
coupons shall be payable only upon presentation and surrender of those coupons
at an office or agency located outside the United States. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, in case any Bearer Security
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of any series is surrendered at any such office or agency in exchange for a
Registered Security of the same series after the close of business at such
office or agency on (i) any Regular Record Date and before the opening of
business at such office or agency on the relevant Interest Payment Date, or (ii)
any Special Record Date and before the opening of business at such office or
agency on the related date for payment of Defaulted Interest, such Bearer
Security shall be surrendered without the coupon relating to such Interest
Payment Date or proposed date of payment, as the case may be (or, if such coupon
is so surrendered with such Bearer Security, such coupon shall be returned to
the person so surrendering the Bearer Security), and interest or Defaulted
Interest, as the case may be, will not be payable on such Interest Payment Date
or proposed date for payment, as the case may be, in respect of the Registered
Security issued in exchange for such Bearer Security, but will be payable only
to the Holder of such coupon, when due in accordance with the provisions of this
Indenture.
Each Security issued in global form authenticated under this Indenture
shall be registered in the name of the Depository designated for such series or
a nominee thereof and delivered to such Depository or a nominee thereof or
custodian therefor, and each such Security issued in global form shall
constitute a single Security for all purposes of this Indenture.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, unless and until
it is exchanged in whole or in part for Securities in certificated form in the
circumstances described below, a Security in global form representing all or a
portion of the Securities of a series may not be transferred except as a whole
by the Depository for such series to a nominee of such Depository or by a
nominee of such Depository to such Depository or another nominee of such
Depository or by such Depository or any such nominee to a successor Depository
for such series or a nominee of such successor Depository.
If at any time the Depository for the Securities of a series notifies
the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depository for the
Securities of such series or if at any time the Depository for the Securities of
such series shall no longer be eligible under Section 3.3, the Company shall
appoint a successor Depository with respect to the Securities of such series. If
a successor Depository for the Securities of such series is not appointed by the
Company within 90 days after the Company receives such notice or becomes aware
of such ineligibility, the Company's election pursuant to Section 3.1(b)(23)
shall no longer be effective with respect to the Securities of such series and
the Company shall execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order for
the authentication and delivery of certificated Securities of such series of
like tenor, shall authenticate and deliver, Securities of such series of like
tenor in certificated
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form, in authorized denominations and in an aggregate principal amount equal to
the principal amount of the Security or Securities of such series of like tenor
in global form in exchange for such Security or Securities in global form.
The Company may at any time in its sole discretion determine that
Securities issued in global form shall no longer be represented by such a
Security or Securities in global form. In such event the Company shall execute,
and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order for the authentication and
delivery of certificated Securities of such series of like tenor, shall
authenticate and deliver, Securities of such series of like tenor in
certificated form, in authorized denominations and in an aggregate principal
amount equal to the principal amount of the Security or Securities of such
series of like tenor in global form in exchange for such Security or Securities
in global form.
If specified by the Company pursuant to Section 3.1 with respect to a
series of Securities, the Depository for such series may surrender a Security in
global form of such series in exchange in whole or in part for Securities of
such series in certificated form on such terms as are acceptable to the Company
and such Depository. Thereupon, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall
authenticate and deliver, without service charge,
(i) to each Person specified by such Depository a new
certificated Security or Securities of the same series of like tenor,
of any authorized denomination as requested by such Person in aggregate
principal amount equal to and in exchange for such Person's beneficial
interest in the Security in global form; and
(ii) to such Depository a new Security in global form of like
tenor in a denomination equal to the difference, if any, between the
principal amount of the surrendered Security in global form and the
aggregate principal amount of certificated securities delivered to
Holders thereof.
Upon the exchange of a Security in global form for Securities in
certificated form, such Security in global form shall be cancelled by the
Trustee. Unless expressly provided with respect to the Securities of any series
that such Security may be exchanged for Bearer Securities, Securities in
certificated form issued in exchange for a Security in global form pursuant to
this Section shall be registered in such names and in such authorized
denominations as the Depository for such Security in global form, pursuant to
instructions from its direct or indirect participants or otherwise, shall
instruct the Trustee. The Trustee shall deliver such Securities to the Persons
in whose names such Securities are so registered.
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Whenever any Securities are 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 upon any
exchange of Securities shall be the valid obligations of the Company, evidencing
the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the
Securities surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.
Every Registered Security presented or surrendered for registration of
transfer or for exchange shall (if so required by the Company, the Registrar or
the Trustee) be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of
transfer in form satisfactory to the Company, the Registrar and the Trustee 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 for
any 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 or transfer or exchange of Securities, other
than exchanges pursuant to Section 3.4 or 10.7 not involving any transfer.
If the Securities of any series (or of any series and specified tenor)
are to be redeemed in part, the Company shall not be required (i) to issue,
register the transfer of, or exchange any Securities for a period beginning at
the opening of business 15 days before any selection or redemption of Securities
of like tenor and of the series of which such Security is a part and ending at
the close of business on the earliest date on which the relevant notice of
redemption is deemed to have been given to all Holders of Securities of like
tenor and of such series to be redeemed; (ii) to register the transfer of or
exchange any Registered Security so selected for redemption, in whole or in
part, except the unredeemed portion of any Security being redeemed in part; or
(iii) to exchange any Bearer Security so selected for redemption, except that
such a Bearer Security may be exchanged for a Registered Security of that series
and like tenor; PROVIDED that such Registered Security shall be simultaneously
surrendered for redemption.
The foregoing provisions relating to registration, transfer and
exchange may be modified, supplemented or superseded with respect to any series
of Securities by a Board Resolution or in one or more indentures supplemental
hereto.
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Section 3.6. REPLACEMENT SECURITIES. If a mutilated Security or a
Security with a mutilated coupon appertaining to it is surrendered to the
Trustee, together with, in proper cases, such security or indemnity as may be
required by the Company or the Trustee to save each of them harmless, the
Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver a
replacement Registered Security, if such surrendered Security was a Registered
Security, or a replacement Bearer Security with coupons corresponding to the
coupons appertaining to the surrendered Security, if such surrendered Security
was a Bearer Security, of the same series and date of maturity, if the Trustee's
requirements are met.
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 or
Security with a destroyed, lost or stolen coupon and (ii) such security or
indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and any agent of
either of them harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Company or the
Trustee that such Security or coupon 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 or in exchange for the Security
to which a destroyed, lost or stolen coupon appertains (with all appurtenant
coupons not destroyed, lost or stolen), a replacement Registered Security, if
such Holder's claim appertains to a Registered Security, or a replacement Bearer
Security with coupons corresponding to the coupons appertaining to the
destroyed, lost or stolen Bearer Security or the Bearer Security to which such
lost, destroyed or stolen coupon appertains, if such Holder's claim appertains
to a Bearer Security, of the same series and principal amount, containing
identical terms and provisions and bearing a number not contemporaneously
outstanding with coupons corresponding to the coupons, if any, appertaining to
the destroyed, lost or stolen Security.
In case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security or
coupon has become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its
discretion may, instead of issuing a new Security or coupon, pay such Security
or coupon; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that payment of principal of and any premium or
interest on Bearer Securities shall, except as otherwise provided in Section
9.2, be payable only at an office or agency located outside the United States
and, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1, any interest on
Bearer Securities shall be payable only upon presentation and surrender of the
coupons appertaining thereto.
Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section, the Company
may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other
governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other
expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee, its agents and
counsel) connected therewith.
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Every new Security of any series with its coupons, if any, issued
pursuant to this Section in lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Security, or
in exchange for a Security to which a destroyed, lost or stolen coupon
appertains, shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of
the Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Security and its
coupon, if any, or the destroyed, lost or stolen coupon, shall be at any time
enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this
Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of that
series and their coupons, if any, 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 or coupons.
Section 3.7. PAYMENT OF INTEREST; INTEREST RIGHTS PRESERVED. (a) Unless
otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 3.1 with respect to any series of
Securities, interest, if any, on any Registered 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 at the office or agency maintained for such purpose pursuant
to Section 9.2; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that at the option of the Company, interest
on any series of Registered Securities that bear interest may be paid (i) by
check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as it shall appear on
the Register of Holders of Securities of such series or (ii) at the expense of
the Company, by wire transfer to an account maintained by the Person entitled
thereto as specified in the Register of Holders of Securities of such series.
Unless otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 3.1 with respect
to any series of Securities, (i) interest, if any, on Bearer Securities shall be
paid only against presentation and surrender of the coupons for such interest
installments as are evidenced thereby as they mature and (ii) original issue
discount, if any, on Bearer Securities shall be paid only against presentation
and surrender of such Securities; in either case at the office of a Paying Agent
located outside the United States, unless the Company shall have otherwise
instructed the Trustee in writing and delivered an Opinion of Counsel stating
that payment in the United States does not cause any Bearer Security to be
treated as a "registration-required obligation" under United States laws and
regulations. The interest, if any, on any temporary Bearer Security shall be
paid, as to any installment of interest evidenced by a coupon attached thereto
only upon presentation and surrender of such coupon and, as to other
installments of interest, only upon presentation of such Security for notation
thereon of the payment of such interest. If at the time a payment of principal
of or
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interest, if any, on a Bearer Security or coupon shall become due, the payment
of the full amount so payable at the office or offices of all the Paying Agents
outside the United States is illegal or effectively precluded because of the
imposition of exchange controls or other similar restrictions on the payment of
such amount in Dollars, then the Company may instruct the Trustee in writing to
make such payments at a Paying Agent located in the United States, and shall
deliver an Opinion of Counsel stating that such payment in the United States
would not cause such Bearer Security to be treated as a "registration-required
obligation" under United States laws and regulations.
(b) Unless otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 3.1 with
respect to any series of Securities, any interest on Registered Securities 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 Holders on the relevant Regular Record Date by virtue
of their having been such Holders, and such Defaulted Interest may be paid by
the Company, at its election in each case, as provided in clause (1) or (2)
below:
(1) The Company may elect to make payment of such Defaulted
Interest to the Persons in whose names such Registered Securities (or
their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of
business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted
Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner. The Company
shall 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 (1) 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 such Registered Securities at his address as
it appears in the Register, not less than 10 days prior to such Special
Record Date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest
and the
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Special Record Date therefor having been so mailed, such Defaulted
Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names such Registered
Securities (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered
at the close of business on such Special Record Date and shall no
longer be payable pursuant to the following clause (2).
(2) The Company may make payment of such Defaulted Interest to
the Persons in whose names such Registered Securities (or their
respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of
business on a specified date in any other lawful manner not
inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which
such Registered 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 (2), such
manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.
(c) Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section and Section
3.5, 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 3.8. PERSONS DEEMED OWNERS. Prior to due presentment of any
Registered 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
Registered Security is registered as the owner of such Registered Security for
the purpose of receiving payment of principal of, premium, if any, and (subject
to Section 3.7) interest on such Registered Security and for all other purposes
whatsoever, whether or not such Registered 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.
The Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee
may treat the bearer of any Bearer Security and the bearer of any coupon as the
absolute owner of such Bearer Security or coupon for the purpose of receiving
payment thereof or on account thereof and for all other purposes whatsoever,
whether or not such Bearer Security or coupon 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.
None of the Company, the Trustee or any agent of the Company or the
Trustee shall have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records
relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests of a
Security in global form, or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any
records relating to such beneficial ownership interests. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, with respect to any Security in global form, nothing herein shall
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prevent the Company or the Trustee, or any agent of the Company or the Trustee,
from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization
furnished by any Depository (or its nominee), as a Holder, with respect to such
Security in global form or impair, as between such Depository and owners of
beneficial interests in such Security in global form, the operation of customary
practices governing the exercise of the rights of such Depository (or its
nominee) as Holder of such Security in global form.
Section 3.9. CANCELLATION. The Company at any time may deliver
Securities and coupons to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar and any
Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any Securities and coupons surrendered
to them for replacement, for registration of transfer, or for exchange or
payment. The Trustee shall cancel all Securities and coupons surrendered for
replacement, for registration of transfer, or for exchange, payment, redemption
or cancellation and may, but shall not be required to, dispose of cancelled
Securities and coupons and issue a certificate of destruction to the Company.
The Company may not issue new Securities to replace Securities that it has paid
or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.
Section 3.10. COMPUTATION OF INTEREST. Except as otherwise specified
as contemplated by Section 3.1, interest on the Securities of each series shall
be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.
Section 3.11. CUSIP NUMBERS. The Company in issuing the Securities may
use "CUSIP" numbers (if then generally in use), and, in such case, the Trustee
shall use "CUSIP" numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders;
PROVIDED that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the
correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Securities or as contained
in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other
identification numbers printed on the Securities, and any such redemption shall
not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers.
Section 3.12. CURRENCY AND MANNER OF PAYMENT IN RESPECT OF SECURITIES.
(a) Unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to
section 3.1, with respect to Registered Securities of any series not permitting
the election provided for in paragraph (b) below or the Holders of which have
not made the election provided for in paragraph (b) below, and with respect to
Bearer Securities of any series except as provided in paragraph (d)
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below, payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on
any Registered or Bearer Security of such series will be made in the currency or
currencies or currency unit or units in which such Registered Security or Bearer
Security, as the case may be, is payable. The provisions of this Section 3.12
may be modified or superseded pursuant to Section 3.1 with respect to any
Securities.
(b) It may be provided pursuant to Section 3.1, with respect to
Registered Securities of any series, that Holders shall have the option, subject
to paragraphs (d) and (e) below, to receive payments of principal of, premium,
if any, or interest, if any, on such Registered Securities in any of the
currencies or currency units which may be designated for such election by
delivering to the Trustee (or the applicable Paying Agent) a written election
with signature guarantees and in the applicable form established pursuant to
Section 3.1, not later than the close of business on the Election Date
immediately preceding the applicable payment date. If a Holder so elects to
receive such payments in any such currency or currency unit, such election will
remain in effect for such Holder or any transferee of such Holder until changed
by such Holder or such transferee by written notice to the Trustee (or any
applicable Paying Agent) for such series of Registered Securities (but any such
change must be made not later than the close of business on the Election Date
immediately preceding the next payment date to be effective for the payment to
be made on such payment date, and no such change of election may be made with
respect to payments to be made on any Registered Security of such series with
respect to which an Event of Default has occurred or with respect to which the
Company has deposited funds pursuant to Article 4 or with respect to which a
notice of redemption has been given by or on behalf of the Company). Any Holder
of any such Registered Security who shall not have delivered any such election
to the Trustee (or any applicable Paying Agent) not later than the close of
business on the applicable Election Date will be paid the amount due on the
applicable payment date in the relevant currency or currency unit as provided in
Section 3.12(a). The Trustee (or the applicable Paying Agent) shall notify the
Exchange Rate Agent as soon as practicable after the Election Date of the
aggregate principal amount of Registered Securities for which Holders have made
such written election.
(c) If the election referred to in paragraph (b) above has been
provided for with respect to any Registered Securities of a series pursuant to
Section 3.1, then, unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.1 with
respect to any such Registered Securities, not later than the fourth Business
Day after the Election Date for each payment date for such Registered
Securities, the Exchange Rate Agent will deliver to the Company a written notice
specifying, in the currency or currencies or currency unit or units in which
Registered Securities of such series are payable, the respective aggregate
amounts of principal of, premium, if any,
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and interest, if any, on such Registered Securities to be paid on such payment
date, and specifying the amounts in such currency or currencies or currency unit
or units so payable in respect of such Registered Securities as to which the
Holders of Registered Securities denominated in any currency or currencies or
currency unit or units shall have elected to be paid in another currency or
currency unit as provided in paragraph (b) above. If the election referred to in
paragraph (b) above has been provided for with respect to any Registered
Securities of a series pursuant to Section 3.1, and if at least one Holder has
made such election, then, unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.1, on
the second Business Day preceding such payment date the Company will deliver to
the Trustee (or the applicable Paying Agent) an Exchange Rate Officers'
Certificate in respect of the Dollar, Foreign Currency or Currencies, ECU or
other currency unit payments to be made on such payment date. Unless otherwise
specified pursuant to Section 3.1, the Dollar, Foreign Currency or Currencies,
ECU or other currency unit amount receivable by Holders of Registered Securities
who have elected payment in a currency or currency unit as provided in paragraph
(b) above shall be determined by the Company on the basis of the applicable
Market Exchange Rate in effect on the second Business Day (the "Valuation Date")
immediately preceding each payment date, and such determination shall be
conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.
(d) If a Conversion Event occurs with respect to a Foreign Currency,
ECU or any other currency unit in which any of the Securities are denominated or
payable otherwise than pursuant to an election provided for pursuant to
paragraph (b) above, then, with respect to each date for the payment of
principal of, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the applicable
Securities denominated or payable in such Foreign Currency, ECU or such other
currency unit occurring after the last date on which such Foreign Currency, ECU
or such other currency unit was used (the "Conversion Date"), the Dollar shall
be the currency of payment for use on each such payment date (but such Foreign
Currency, ECU or such other currency unit that was previously the currency of
payment shall, at the Company's election, resume being the currency of payment
on the first such payment date preceded by 15 Business Days during which the
circumstances which gave rise to the Dollar becoming such currency no longer
prevail). Unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.1 the Dollar amount
to be paid by the Company to the Trustee or any applicable Paying Agent and by
the Trustee or any applicable Paying Agent to the Holders of such Securities
with respect to such payment date shall be, in the case of a Foreign Currency
other than a currency unit, the Dollar Equivalent of the Foreign Currency or in
the case of a Foreign Currency that is a currency unit, the Dollar Equivalent of
the Currency Unit, in each case as determined by the Exchange Rate Agent in the
manner provided in paragraph (f) or (g) below.
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(e) Unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.1, if the Holder
of a Registered Security denominated in any currency or currency unit shall have
elected to be paid in another currency or currency unit or in other currencies
as provided in paragraph (b) above, and (i) a Conversion Event occurs with
respect to any such elected currency or currency unit, such Holder shall receive
payment in the currency or currency unit in which payment would have been made
in the absence of such election and (ii) if a Conversion Event occurs with
respect to the currency or currency unit in which payment would have been made
in the absence of such election, such Holder shall receive payment in Dollars as
provided in paragraph (d) of this Section 3.12 (but, subject to any contravening
valid election pursuant to paragraph (b) above, the elected payment currency or
currency unit, in the case of the circumstances described in clause (i) above,
or the payment currency or currency unit in the absence of such election, in the
case of the circumstances described in clause (ii) above, shall, at the
Company's election, resume being the currency or currency unit of payment with
respect to Holders who have so elected, but only with respect to payments on
payment dates preceded by 15 Business Days during which the circumstances which
gave rise to such currency or currency unit, in the case of the circumstances
described in clause (i) above, or the Dollar, in the case of the circumstances
described in clause (ii) above, as applicable, becoming the currency or currency
unit of payment, no longer prevail).
(f) The "Dollar Equivalent of the Foreign Currency" shall be determined
by the Exchange Rate Agent and shall be obtained for each subsequent payment
date by the Exchange Rate Agent by converting the specified Foreign Currency
into Dollars at the Market Exchange Rate on the Conversion Date.
(g) The "Dollar Equivalent of the Currency Unit" shall be determined by
the Exchange Rate Agent and, subject to the provisions of paragraph (h) below,
shall be the sum of each amount obtained by converting the Specified Amount of
each Component Currency (as each such term is defined in paragraph (h) below)
into Dollars at the Market Exchange Rate for such Component Currency on the
Valuation Date with respect to each payment.
(h) For purposes of this Section 3.12 the following terms shall have
the following meanings:
A "Component Currency" shall mean any currency which, on the Conversion
Date, was a component currency of the relevant currency unit, including, but not
limited to, ECU.
"Election Date" shall mean the Regular Record Date for the applicable
series of Registered Securities as specified pursuant to Section 3.1 by which
the written election referred to in Section 3.12(b) may be made.
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A "Specified Amount" of a Component Currency shall mean the number of
units of such Component Currency or fractions thereof which such Component
Currency represented in the relevant currency unit, including, but not limited
to, ECU, on the Conversion Date. If after the Conversion Date the official unit
of any Component Currency is altered by way of combination or subdivision, the
Specified Amount of such Component Currency shall be divided or multiplied in
the same proportion. If after the Conversion Date two or more Component
Currencies are consolidated into a single currency, the respective Specified
Amounts of such Component Currencies shall be replaced by an amount in such
single currency equal to the sum of the respective Specified Amounts of such
consolidated Component Currencies expressed in such single currency, and such
amount shall thereafter be a Specified Amount and such single currency shall
thereafter be a Component Currency. If after the Conversion Date any Component
Currency shall be divided into two or more currencies, the Specified Amount of
such Component Currency shall be replaced by specified amounts of such two or
more currencies, the sum of which, at the Market Exchange Rate of such two or
more currencies on the date of such replacement, shall be equal to the Specified
Amount of such former Component Currency and such amounts shall thereafter be
Specified Amounts and such currencies shall thereafter be Component Currencies.
If, after the Conversion Date of the relevant currency unit, including, but not
limited to, ECU, a Conversion Event (other than any event referred to above in
this definition of "Specified Amount") occurs with respect to any Component
Currency of such currency unit and is continuing on the applicable Valuation
Date, the Specified Amount of such Component Currency shall, for purposes of
calculating the Dollar Equivalent of the Currency Unit, be converted into
Dollars at the Market Exchange Rate in effect on the Conversion Date of such
Component Currency.
All decisions and determinations of the Exchange Rate Agent regarding
the Dollar Equivalent of the Foreign Currency, the Dollar Equivalent of the
Currency Unit, the Market Exchange Rate and changes in the Specified Amounts as
specified above shall be in its sole discretion and shall, in the absence of
manifest error, be conclusive for all purposes and irrevocably binding upon the
Company, the Trustee (and any applicable Paying Agent) and all Holders of
Securities denominated or payable in the relevant currency, currencies or
currency units. The Exchange Rate Agent shall promptly give written notice to
the Company and the Trustee of any such decision or determination.
In the event that the Company determines in good faith that a
Conversion Event has occurred with respect to a Foreign Currency, the Company
will promptly give written notice thereof specifying the Conversion Date to the
Trustee (or any applicable Paying Agent) and to the Exchange Rate Agent (and the
Trustee (or such Paying Agent) will promptly thereafter give notice in the
manner provided
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in Section 1.6 to the affected Holders) specifying the Conversion Date. In the
event the Company so determines that a Conversion Event has occurred with
respect to ECU or any other currency unit in which Securities are denominated or
payable, the Company will promptly give written notice thereof specifying the
Conversion Date and the specified amount of each component currency on the
Conversion Date to the Trustee (or any applicable Paying Agent) and to the
Exchange Rate Agent (and the Trustee (or such Paying Agent)) will promptly
thereafter give notice in the manner provided in Section 1.6 to the affected
Holders) specifying the Conversion Date and the Specified Amount of each
Component Currency on the Conversion Date. In the event the Company determines
in good faith that any subsequent change in any Component Currency as set forth
in the definition of Specified Amount above has occurred, the Company will
similarly give written notice to the Trustee (or any applicable Paying Agent)
and to the Exchange Rate Agent.
The Trustee of the appropriate series of Securities shall be fully
justified and protected in relying and acting upon information received by it
from the Company and the Exchange Rate Agent and shall not otherwise have any
duty or obligation to determine the accuracy or validity of such information
independent of the Company or the Exchange Rate Agent.
Section 3.13. APPOINTMENT AND RESIGNATION OF EXCHANGE RATE AGENT. (a)
Unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.1, if and so long as the
Securities of any series (i) are denominated in a currency other than Dollars or
(ii) may be payable in a currency other than Dollars, or so long as it is
required under any other provision of this Indenture, then the Company will
maintain with respect to each such series of Securities, or as so required, at
least one Exchange Rate Agent. The Company will cause the Exchange Rate Agent to
make the necessary foreign exchange determinations at the time and in the manner
specified pursuant to Section 3.12 for the purpose of determining the applicable
rate of exchange and, if applicable, for the purpose of converting the issued
currency or currencies or currency unit or units into the applicable payment
currency or currency unit for the payment of principal, premium, if any, and
interest, if any, pursuant to Section 3.12.
(b) No resignation of the Exchange Rate Agent and no appointment of a
successor Exchange Rate Agent pursuant to this Section shall become effective
until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Exchange Rate Agent as
evidenced by a written instrument delivered to the Company and the Trustee of
the appropriate series of Securities accepting such appointment executed by the
successor Exchange Rate Agent.
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(c) If the Exchange Rate Agent shall resign, be removed or become
incapable of acting, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of the Exchange
Rate Agency for any cause, with respect to the Securities of one or more series,
the Company, by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, shall promptly appoint a
successor Exchange Rate Agent or Exchange Rate Agents with respect to the
Securities of that or those series (it being understood that any such successor
Exchange Rate Agent may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one or
more or all of such series and that, unless otherwise specified pursuant to
Section 3.1, at any time there shall only be one Exchange Rate Agent with
respect to the Securities of any particular series that are originally issued by
the Company on the same date and that are initially denominated and/or payable
in the same currency or currencies or currency unit or units).
Section 3.14. AGREED TAX TREATMENT. Each Security issued hereunder
shall provide that the Company and the Holder of such Security agree (i) that
for United States federal, state and local tax purposes it is intended that such
Security constitute indebtedness and (ii) to file all United States federal,
state and local tax returns and reports on such basis (unless the Company or
such Holder, as the case may be, shall have received an opinion of independent
nationally recognized tax counsel to the effect that as a result of a change in
law after the date of the issuance of such Security the Company or such Holder,
as the case may be, is prohibited from filing on such basis).
ARTICLE 4
SATISFACTION, DISCHARGE AND DEFEASANCE
Section 4.1. TERMINATION OF COMPANY'S OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE INDENTURE.
(a) This Indenture shall upon a Company Request cease to be of further effect
with respect to Securities of or within any series and any coupons appertaining
thereto (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or
exchange of such Securities and replacement of such Securities which may have
been lost, stolen or mutilated as herein expressly provided for) and the
Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments
acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to such
Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto when
(1) either
(A) all such Securities previously authenticated and
delivered and all coupons appertaining thereto (other than (i)
such coupons appertaining to Bearer Securities surrendered in
exchange for Registered Securities and maturing after such
exchange, surrender of which is not
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required or has been waived as provided in Section 3.5, (ii)
such Securities and coupons which have been destroyed, lost or
stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in
Section 3.6, (iii) such coupons appertaining to Bearer
Securities called for redemption and maturing after the
relevant Redemption Date, surrender of which has been waived
as provided in Section 10.6 and (iv) such Securities and
coupons for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited
in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and
thereafter repaid to the Company or discharge from such trust
as provided in Section 9.3) have been delivered to the Trustee
for cancellation; or
(B) all Securities of such series and, in the case of
(i) or (ii) below, all coupons appertaining thereto 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) if redeemable at the option of the Company, are
to be called for redemption within one year under
arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of
notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the
expense, of the Company,
and the Company, in the case of (i), (ii) or (iii) above, has
irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the
Trustee as trust funds in trust for the purpose an amount in
the currency or currencies or currency unit or units in which
the Securities of such series are payable, sufficient to pay
and discharge the entire indebtedness on such Securities and
such coupons not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for
cancellation, for principal, premium, if any, and interest,
with respect thereto, to the date of such deposit (in the case
of Securities which have become due and payable) or to the
Stated Maturity or Redemption Date, as the case may be;
(2) the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums
payable hereunder by the Company; and
(3) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers'
Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions
precedent herein provided for relating to the satisfaction and
discharge of this Indenture as to such series have been complied with.
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Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligation
of the Company to the Trustee and any predecessor Trustee under Section 6.9, the
obligations of the Company to any Authenticating Agent under Section 6.14 and,
if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (B) of
clause (1) of this Section, the obligations of the Trustee under Section 4.2 and
the last paragraph of Section 9.3 shall survive.
Section 4.2. APPLICATION OF TRUST FUNDS. Subject to the revisions of
the last paragraph of Section 9.3, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant
to Section 4.1 shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the
provisions of the Securities, the coupons and this Indenture, to the payment,
either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its
own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto
of the principal, premium, if any and any interest for whose payment such money
has been deposited with or received by the Trustee, but such money need not be
segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.
Section 4.3. APPLICABILITY OF DEFEASANCE PROVISIONS; COMPANY'S OPTION
TO EFFECT DEFEASANCE OR COVENANT DEFEASANCE. If pursuant to Section 3.1
provision is made for either or both of (i) defeasance of the Securities of or
within a series under Section 4.4 or (ii) covenant defeasance of the Securities
of or within a series under Section 4.5, then the provisions of such Section or
Sections, as the case may be, together with the provisions of Sections 4.6
through 4.9 inclusive, with such modifications thereto as may be specified
pursuant to Section 3.1 with respect to any Securities, shall be applicable to
such Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto, and the Company may at its
option by or pursuant to Board Resolution, at any time, with respect to such
Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto, elect to have Section 4.4 (if
applicable) or Section 4.5 (if applicable) be applied to such Outstanding
Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto upon compliance with the
conditions set forth below in this Article.
Section 4.4. DEFEASANCE AND DISCHARGE. Upon the Company's exercise of
the option specified in Section 4.3 applicable to this Section with respect to
the Securities of or within a series, the Company shall be deemed to have been
discharged from its obligations with respect to such Securities and any coupons
appertaining thereto on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section
4.6 are satisfied (hereinafter "defeasance"). For this purpose, such defeasance
means that the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire
indebtedness represented by such Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto
which shall thereafter be deemed to be "Outstanding" only for the purposes of
Section 4.7 and the other Sections of this Indenture referred to in clause (ii)
of this Section, and to have satisfied all its other obligations under such
Securities and any coupons appertaining
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thereto and this Indenture insofar as such Securities and any coupons
appertaining thereto are concerned (and the Trustee, at the expense of the
Company, shall on a Company Order execute proper instruments acknowledging the
same), except the following which shall survive until otherwise terminated or
discharged hereunder: (i) the rights of Holders of such Securities and any
coupons appertaining thereto to receive, solely from the trust funds described
in Section 4.6 (a) and as more fully set forth in such Section, payments in
respect of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on such
Securities or any coupons appertaining thereto when such payments are due; (ii)
the Company's obligations with respect to such Securities under Sections 3.5,
3.6, 9.2 and 9.3 and with respect to the payment of additional amounts, if any,
payable with respect to such Securities as specified pursuant to Section 3.1(b);
(iii) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder
and (iv) this Article 4. Subject to compliance with this Article 4, the Company
may exercise its option under this Section notwithstanding the prior exercise of
its option under Section 4.5 with respect to such Securities and any coupons
appertaining thereto. Following a defeasance, payment of such Securities may not
be accelerated because of an Event of Default.
Section 4.5. COVENANT DEFEASANCE. Upon the Company's exercise of the
option specified in Section 4.3 applicable to this Section with respect to any
Securities of or within a series, the Company shall be released from its
obligations under Sections 7.1, 9.4 and 9.7 and, if specified pursuant to
Section 3.1, its obligations under any other covenant with respect to such
Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto on and after the date the
conditions set forth in Section 4.6 are satisfied (hereinafter, "covenant
defeasance"), and such Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto shall
thereafter be deemed to be not "Outstanding" for the purposes of any direction,
waiver, consent or declaration or Act of Holders (and the consequences of any
thereof) in connection with Sections 7.1, 9.4 and 9.7 or such other covenant,
but shall continue to be deemed "Outstanding" for all other purposes hereunder.
For this purpose, such covenant defeasance means that, with respect to such
Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto, the Company may omit to comply
with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation
set forth in any such Section or such other covenant, whether directly or
indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such Section or
such other covenant or by reason of reference in any such Section or such other
covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document and such
omission to comply shall not constitute a Default or an Event of Default under
Section 5.1(3) or 5.1(7) or otherwise, as the case may be, but, except as
specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Securities and any
coupons appertaining thereto shall be unaffected thereby.
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Section 4.6. CONDITIONS TO DEFEASANCE OR COVENANT DEFEASANCE. The
following shall be the conditions to application of Section 4.4 or Section 4.5
to any Securities of or within a series and any coupons appertaining thereto:
(a) The Company shall have deposited or caused to be deposited
irrevocably with the Trustee (or another trustee satisfying the
requirements of Section 6.12 who shall agree to comply with, and shall
be entitled to the benefits of, the provisions of Sections 4.3 through
4.9 inclusive and the last paragraph of Section 9.3 applicable to the
Trustee, for purposes of such Sections also a "Trustee") as trust funds
in trust for the purpose of making the payments referred to in clauses
(x) and (y) of this Section 4.6(a), specifically pledged as security
for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the Holders of such
Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto, with instructions to
the Trustee as to the application thereof, (A) money in an amount (in
such currency, currencies or currency unit or units in which such
Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto are then specified as
payable at Maturity), or (B) if Securities of such series are not
subject to repayment at the option of Holders, Government Obligations
which through the payment of interest and principal in respect thereof
in accordance with their terms will provide, not later than one day
before the due date of any payment referred to in clause (x) or (y) of
this Section 4.6(a), money in an amount or (C) a combination thereof in
an amount sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of
independent certified public accountants expressed in a written
certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge,
and which shall be applied by the Trustee to pay and discharge, (X) the
principal of, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on such Securities
and any coupons appertaining thereto on the Maturity of such principal
or installment of principal or interest and (Y) any mandatory sinking
fund payments applicable to such Securities on the day on which such
payments are due and payable in accordance with the terms of this
Indenture and such Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto.
Before such a deposit the Company may make arrangements satisfactory to
the Trustee for the redemption of Securities at a future date or dates
in accordance with Article 10 which shall be given effect in applying
the foregoing.
(b) Such defeasance or covenant defeasance shall not result in
a breach or violation of, or constitute a Default or Event of Default
under, this Indenture or result in a breach or violation of, or
constitute a default under, any other material agreement or instrument
to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound.
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(c) In the case of an election under Section 4.4, the Company
shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate and an
Opinion of Counsel to the effect that (i) the Company has received
from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a
ruling, or (ii) since the date of execution of this Indenture, there
has been a change in the applicable Federal income tax law, in either
case to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion shall confirm
that, the Holders of such Securities and any coupons appertaining
thereto will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax
purposes as a result of such defeasance and will be subject to Federal
income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same
times, as would have been the case if such deposit, defeasance and
discharge had not occurred.
(d) In the case of an election under Section 4.5, the Company
shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect
that the Holders of such Securities and any coupons appertaining
thereto will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax
purposes as a result of such covenant defeasance and will be subject to
Federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the
same times as would have been the case if such covenant defeasance had
not occurred.
(e) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an
Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all
conditions precedent to the defeasance under Section 4.4 or the
covenant defeasance under Section 4.5 (as the case may be), including
those contained in this Section 4.6 other than the 90 day period
specified in Section 4.6(g), have been complied with.
(f) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an
Officer's Certificate to the effect that neither such Securities nor
any other Securities of the same series, if then listed on any
securities exchange, will be delisted as a result of such deposit.
(g) No event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or
both would become, an Event of Default with respect to such Securities
or any other Securities shall have occurred and be continuing at the
time of such deposit or, with regard to any such event specified in
Sections 5.1(5) and (6), at any time on or prior to the 90th day after
the date of such deposit (it being understood that this condition shall
not be deemed satisfied until after such 90th day).
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(h) Such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in
the trust arising from such deposit constituting an investment company
within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940 unless such
trust shall be registered under such Act or exempt from registration
thereunder.
(i) Such defeasance or covenant defeasance shall be effected
in compliance with any additional or substitute terms, conditions or
limitations which may be imposed on the Company in connection therewith
as contemplated by Section 3.1.
(j) No event or condition shall exist that, pursuant to the
provisions of Article 12, would prevent the Company from making
payments of the principal of or interest on the Securities of such
series and coupons appertaining thereto on the date of such deposit.
Section 4.7. DEPOSITED MONEY AND GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS TO BE HELD IN
TRUST. Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 9.3, all money
and Government Obligations (or other property as may be provided pursuant to
Section 3.1) (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee
pursuant to Section 4.6 in respect of any Securities of any series and any
coupons appertaining thereto shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee,
in accordance with the provisions of such Securities and any coupons
appertaining thereto and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or
through any paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent)
as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Securities and any coupons
appertaining thereto of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of
principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, but such money need not be
segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.
Unless otherwise specified with respect to any Security pursuant to
Section 3.1, if, after a deposit referred to in Section 4.6(a) has been made,
(i) the Holder of a Security in respect of which such deposit was made is
entitled to, and does, elect pursuant to Section 3.12(b) or the terms of such
Security to receive payment in a currency or currency unit other than that in
which the deposit pursuant to Section 4.6(a) has been made in respect of such
Security, or (ii) a Conversion Event occurs as contemplated in Section 3.12(d)
or 3.12(e) or by the terms of any Security in respect of which the deposit
pursuant to Section 4.6(a) has been made, the indebtedness represented by such
Security and any coupons appertaining thereto shall be deemed to have been, and
will be, fully discharged and satisfied through the payment of the principal of,
premium, if any, and interest, if any, on such Security as the same becomes due
out of the proceeds yielded by converting (from time to time as specified below
in the case of any such election) the amount or other property deposited in
respect of
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such Security into the currency or currency unit in which such Security becomes
payable as a result of such election or Conversion Event based on the applicable
Market Exchange Rate for such currency or currency unit in effect on the second
Business Day prior to each payment date, except, with respect to a Conversion
Event, for such currency or currency unit in effect (as nearly as feasible) at
the time of the Conversion Event.
Section 4.8. REPAYMENT TO COMPANY. The Trustee (and any Paying Agent)
shall promptly pay to the Company upon Company Request any excess money or
securities held by them at any time.
Section 4.9. INDEMNITY FOR GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS. The Company shall
pay, and shall indemnify the Trustee against, any tax, fee or other charge
imposed on or assessed against Government Obligations deposited pursuant to this
Article or the principal and interest and any other amount received on such
Government Obligations.
Section 4.10. REINSTATEMENT. If the Trustee or the Paying Agent is
unable to apply any money in accordance with this Article with respect to any
Securities by reason of any order or judgment of any court or government
authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then
the obligations under this Indenture and such Securities from which the Company
has been discharged or released pursuant to Section 4.4 or 4.5 shall be revived
and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to this Article with
respect to such Securities, until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is
permitted to apply all money held in trust pursuant to Section 4.7 with respect
to such Securities in accordance with this Article; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if
the Company makes any payment of principal of or any premium or interest on any
such Security following such reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall
be subrogated to the rights (if any) of the Holders of such Securities to
receive such payment from the money so held in trust.
ARTICLE 5
DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES
Section 5.1. EVENTS OF DEFAULT. An "Event of Default" occurs with
respect to the Securities of any series if (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 an
order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body):
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(1) the Company defaults in the payment of interest on any
Security of that series or any coupon appertaining thereto or any
additional amount payable with respect to any Security of that series
as specified pursuant to Section 3.1(b) when the same becomes due and
payable and such default continues for a period of 30 days;
(2) the Company defaults in the payment of the principal of or
any premium on any Security of that series when the same becomes due
and payable at its Maturity or on redemption or otherwise, or in the
payment of a mandatory sinking fund payment when and as due by the
terms of the Securities of that series;
(3) the Company fails to comply in any material respect with
any of its agreements or covenants in, or any of the provisions of,
this Indenture with respect to any Security of that series (other than
an agreement, covenant or provision for which non-compliance is
elsewhere in this Section specifically dealt with), and such
non-compliance continues 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 the 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;
(4) a default under any mortgage, agreement, indenture or
instrument under which there may be issued, or by which there may be
secured, guaranteed or evidenced any Debt of the Company (including
this Indenture) whether such Debt now exists or shall hereafter be
created, in an aggregate principal amount then outstanding of
$25,000,000 or more, which default (a) shall constitute a failure to
pay any portion of the principal of such Debt when due and payable
after the expiration of any applicable grace period with respect
thereto or (b) shall result in such Debt becoming or being declared due
and payable prior to the date on which it would otherwise become due
and payable, and such acceleration shall not be rescinded or annulled,
or such Debt shall not be paid in full within a period of 30 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 aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities
of that series a written notice specifying such event of default and
requiring the Company to cause such acceleration to be rescinded or
annulled or to pay in full such Debt and stating that such notice is a
"Notice of Default" hereunder; (it being understood however, that the
Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of such default under
such agreement or instrument unless either (A) a
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Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall have actual knowledge of such
default or (B) a Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall have received
written notice thereof from the Company, from any Holder, from the
holder of any such indebtedness or from the trustee under any such
agreement or other instrument); PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if such default
under such agreement or instrument is remedied or cured by the Company
or waived by the holders of such indebtedness, then the Event of
Default hereunder by reason thereof shall be deemed likewise to have
been thereupon remedied, cured or waived without further action upon
the part of either the Trustee or any of such Holders; PROVIDED,
FURTHER, that the foregoing shall not apply to any secured Debt under
which the obligee has recourse (exclusive of recourse for ancillary
matters such as environmental indemnities, misapplication of funds,
costs of enforcement and the like) only to the collateral pledged for
repayment so long as the fair market value of such collateral does not
exceed 2% of Total Assets at the time of the default;
(5) the Company, pursuant to or within the meaning of any
Bankruptcy Law, (A) commences a voluntary case or proceeding, (B)
consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an
involuntary case or proceeding, (C) consents to the appointment of a
Custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its property, (D)
makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors (E) makes
an admission in writing of its inability to its debts generally as they
become due or (F) takes corporate action in furtherance of any such
action;
(6) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or
decree under any Bankruptcy Law that (A) is for relief against the
Company, in an involuntary case, (B) adjudges the Company as bankrupt
or insolvent, or approves as properly filed a petition seeking
reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition of or in respect
of the Company, or appoints a Custodian of the Company, or for all or
substantially all of its property, or (C) orders the liquidation of the
Company, and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60
days; or
(7) any other Event of Default provided as contemplated by
Section 3.1 with respect to Securities of that series.
As used in this Indenture, the term "Bankruptcy Law" means Title 11,
U.S. Code, or any similar federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization or other law for the relief of debtors. As used in this
Indenture, the term "Custodian" means any receiver, trustee, assignee,
liquidator or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.
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Section 5.2. ACCELERATION; RESCISSION AND ANNULMENT. If an Event of
Default with respect to the Securities of any series at the time Outstanding
occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in
aggregate principal amount of all of the Outstanding Securities of that series,
by written notice to the Company (and, if given by the Holders, to the Trustee),
may declare the principal (or, if the Securities of that series are Original
Issue Discount Securities or Indexed Securities, such portion of the original
principal amount as may be specified in the terms of that series) of and accrued
interest, if any, on all the Securities of that series to be due and payable and
upon any such declaration such principal (or, in the case of Original Issue
Discount Securities or Indexed Securities, such specified amount) and interest,
if any, shall be immediately due and payable, PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that payment of
principal and interest, if any, on the Securities of such series shall remain
subordinated to the extent provided in Article 12.
At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to
Securities of any series has been made and before a judgment or decree for
payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as hereinafter in this
Article provided, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Outstanding Securities of that series, by written notice to the Trustee, may
rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if all existing Defaults
and Events of Default with respect to Securities of that series, other than the
non-payment of the principal of Securities of that series which have become due
solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived as
provided in Section 5.7. No such rescission shall affect any subsequent default
or impair any right consequent thereon.
Section 5.3. COLLECTION OF INDEBTEDNESS AND SUITS FOR ENFORCEMENT BY
TRUSTEE. The Company covenants that if
(1) default is made in the payment of any interest on any
Security or coupon, if any, when such interest becomes due and payable
and such default continues for a period of 30 days, or
(2) default is made in the payment of the principal of (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 or coupons, if any, the whole amount then due and
payable on such Securities for principal, premium, if any, and interest and, to
the extent that payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable, interest
on any overdue principal, premium, if any, and on any overdue interest, at the
rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities or coupons, if
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any, 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, PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that payment of all such amounts shall remain
subordinated to the extent provided in Article 12.
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 secure any other proper remedy.
Section 5.4. TRUSTEE MAY FILE PROOFS OF CLAIM. The Trustee may file
such proofs of claim and other papers or documents and take such actions
authorized under the Trust Indenture Act as may be necessary or advisable in
order to have the claims of the Trustee and the Holders of Securities allowed in
any judicial proceedings relating to the Company, its creditors or its property.
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 6.9.
Section 5.5. 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, in its own name as an
express trust, without the possession of any of the Securities or the production
thereof in any proceeding relating thereto and any recovery of judgment shall,
after provision for the reasonable fees and expenses of the Trustee and its
counsel, be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities in respect
of which judgment was recovered.
Section 5.6. DELAY OR OMISSION NOT WAIVER. No delay or omission by the
Trustee or any Holder of any Securities to exercise any right or remedy accruing
upon an Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a
waiver of or acquiescence in any such Event of Default.
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Section 5.7. WAIVER OF PAST DEFAULTS. The Holders of a majority in
aggregate principal amount of Outstanding Securities of any series by written
notice to the Trustee may waive on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of
such series a past Default or Event of Default with respect to that series and
its consequences except (i) a Default or Event of Default in the payment of the
principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Security of such series or any
coupon appertaining thereto or (ii) in respect of a covenant or provision hereof
which pursuant to Section 8.2 cannot be amended or modified 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.
Section 5.8. CONTROL BY MAJORITY. The Holders of a majority in
aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of each series affected
(with each such series voting as a class) 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 it with respect to
Securities of that series; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that (i) the Trustee may refuse to
follow any direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture, (ii) the Trustee
may refuse to follow any direction that is unduly prejudicial to the rights of
the Holders of Securities of such series not consenting or of any other series
for which the Trustee is trustee, or that would in the good faith judgment of
the Trustee have a substantial likelihood of involving the Trustee in personal
liability and (iii) the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the
Trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction.
Section 5.9. LIMITATION ON SUITS BY HOLDERS. No Holder of any Security
of any series or any coupons appertaining thereto shall have any right to
institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to this Indenture,
or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy
hereunder, unless:
(1) the 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 at least 25% in aggregate principal amount
of the Outstanding Securities of that series have made a written
request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such
Event of Default in its own name as Trustee hereunder;
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(3) such Holder or Holders have offered to the Trustee
indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, liability or
expense to be, or which may be, incurred by the Trustee in pursuing the
remedy;
(4) the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice,
request and the offer of indemnity has failed to institute any such
proceedings; and
(5) during such 60 day period, the Holders of a majority in
aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series
have not given to the Trustee a direction inconsistent with such
written request.
No one or more 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 such Holders.
Section 5.10. RIGHTS OF HOLDERS TO RECEIVE PAYMENT. Notwithstanding any
other provision of this Indenture, but subject to Section 9.2, the right of any
Holder of a Security or coupon to receive payment of principal of, premium, if
any, and, subject to Sections 3.5 and 3.7, interest on the Security, on or after
the respective due dates expressed in the Security (or, in case of redemption,
on the redemption dates), and the right of any Holder of a coupon to receive
payment of interest due as provided in such coupon, or, subject to Section 5.9,
to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such
respective dates, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such
Holder.
Section 5.11. APPLICATION OF MONEY COLLECTED. If the Trustee collects
any money pursuant to this Article, it shall, subject to the subordination
provisions hereof, pay out the money 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, premium, if any, 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 Trustee for amounts due under Section 6.9;
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SECOND: to Holders of Securities and coupons in respect of
which or for the benefit of which such money has been collected for
amounts due and unpaid on such Securities for principal of, premium, if
any, and interest ratably, without preference or priority of any kind,
according to the amounts due and payable on such Securities for
principal, premium, if any, and interest, respectively; and
THIRD: to the Company.
The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to
Holders pursuant to this Section 5.11. At least 15 days before such record date,
the Trustee shall mail to each Holder and the Company a notice that states the
record date, the payment date and the amount to be paid.
Section 5.12. RESTORATION OF RIGHTS AND REMEDIES. If the Trustee or
any Holder has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under
this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any
reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder, then
and in every such case, subject to any determination in such proceeding, the
Company, the Trustee and the Holders shall be restored severally and
respectively to their former positions hereunder and thereafter all rights and
remedies of the Trustee and the Holders shall continue as though no such
proceeding had been instituted.
Section 5.13. 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 3.6, no right or
remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or the Holders is
intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and
remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to
every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law
or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy
hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or
employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.
Section 5.14. 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.
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Section 5.15. 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 or omitted by it as Trustee, a court in its discretion may
require the filing by any party litigant in the suit of an undertaking to pay
the costs of the suit, and the court in its discretion may assess reasonable
costs, including reasonable attorney's fees, against any party litigant in the
suit having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses
made by the party litigant.
ARTICLE 6
THE TRUSTEE
Section 6.1. CERTAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE TRUSTEE. (a)
Except during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Trustee's duties and
responsibilities under this Indenture shall be governed by Section 315(a) of the
Trust Indenture Act.
(b) In case an Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing, the Trustee shall exercise the rights and powers vested in it by
this Indenture and shall use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise
as a prudent man would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of
his own affairs.
Section 6.2. RIGHTS OF TRUSTEE. Subject to the provisions of the Trust
Indenture Act:
(a) The Trustee may rely and shall be protected in acting or
refraining from acting upon any document believed by it to be genuine
and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties.
The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the
document.
(b) Any request or direction of the Company mentioned herein
shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Company Request or Company Order
(other than delivery of any Security, together with any coupons
appertaining thereto, to the Trustee for authentication and delivery
pursuant to Section 3.3, which shall be sufficiently evidenced as
provided therein) and any resolution of the Board of Directors may be
sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution.
(c) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may
consult with counsel of its selection or require an Officers'
Certificate. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or
omits to take in good faith in reliance
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on a Board Resolution, the written or oral advice of counsel acceptable
to the Company and the Trustee (which advice, if oral, shall be
promptly confirmed in writing to the Trustee), a certificate of an
Officer or Officers delivered pursuant to Section 1.2, an Officers'
Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel.
(d) The Trustee may act through agents or attorneys and shall
not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent or
attorney appointed with due care.
(e) The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or
omits to take in good faith which it believes to be authorized or
within its rights or powers.
(f) The Trustee shall not be required 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 its rights or
powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that
repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or
liability is not reasonably assured to it.
(g) 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.
(h) 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 6.2.
Section 6.3. TRUSTEE MAY HOLD SECURITIES. The Trustee, any Paying
Agent, any Registrar or any other agent of the Company, in its individual or any
other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and coupons and,
subject to Sections 310(b) and 311 of the Trust Indenture Act, may otherwise
deal with the Company, an Affiliate or Subsidiary with the same rights it would
have if it were not Trustee, Paying Agent, Registrar or such other agent.
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Section 6.4. 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 upon in writing with the
Company.
Section 6.5. TRUSTEE'S DISCLAIMER. The recitals contained herein and in
the Securities, except the Trustee's certificate of authentication, shall be
taken as the statements of the Company, and the Trustee assumes no
responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee makes no representation as to
the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Securities or any coupon. The
Trustee shall not be accountable for the Company's use of the proceeds from the
Securities or for monies paid over to the Company pursuant to the Indenture.
Section 6.6. NOTICE OF DEFAULTS. If a Default occurs and is continuing
with respect to the Securities of any series and if it is actually known to a
Responsible Officer of the Trustee, the Trustee shall, within 90 days after it
occurs, transmit by mail to the Holders of Securities of such series, in the
manner and to the extent provided in Section 313(c) of the Trust Indenture Act,
notice of all Defaults known to it unless such Default shall have been cured or
waived; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that except in the case of a Default in payment on
the Securities of any series, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long
as the board of directors, the executive committee or a committee of its
Responsible Officers in good faith determines that withholding such notice is in
the interests of Holders of Securities of that series; and PROVIDED, FURTHER,
that in the case of any Default of the character specified in Section 5.1(3)
with respect to Securities of such series, no such notice to Holders shall be
given until at least 30 days after the occurrence thereof.
Section 6.7. REPORTS BY TRUSTEE TO HOLDERS. Within 60 days after each
May 15 of each year commencing with the first May 15 after the first issuance of
Securities pursuant to this Indenture, the Trustee shall transmit by mail to all
Holders of Securities as provided in Section 313(c) of the Trust Indenture Act a
brief report dated as of such May 15 if required by and in compliance with
Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act. A copy of each such report shall, at
the time of such transmission to Holders, be filed by the Trustee with each
stock exchange, if any, upon which the Securities are listed, with the
Commission and with the Company. The Company will promptly notify the Trustee
when the Securities are listed on any stock exchange.
Section 6.8. SECURITYHOLDER LISTS. The Trustee shall preserve in as
current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it
of the names and addresses of Holders of Securities of each series. If the
Trustee is not the Registrar, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee
semiannually on or before
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the last day of June and December in each year, and at such other times as the
Trustee may request in writing, a list, in such form and as of such date as the
Trustee may reasonably require, containing all the information in the possession
or control of the Registrar, the Company or any of its Paying Agents other than
the Trustee as to the names and addresses of Holders of Securities of each such
series. If there are Bearer Securities of any series Outstanding, even if the
Trustee is the Registrar, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee such a list
containing such information with respect to Holders of such Bearer Securities
only.
Section 6.9. COMPENSATION AND INDEMNITY. (a) The Company shall pay
to the Trustee from time to time such reasonable compensation for its services
as the Company and the Trustee shall agree in writing from time to time. The
Trustee's compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a
trustee of an express trust. The Company shall reimburse the Trustee upon
request for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by it in connection
with the performance of its duties under this Indenture, except any such expense
as may be attributable to its negligence or bad faith. Such expenses shall
include the reasonable compensation and expenses of the Trustee's agents and
counsel.
(b) The Company shall indemnify the Trustee for, and hold it
harmless against, any loss or liability, damage, claim or reasonable expense
including taxes (other than taxes based upon or determined or measured by the
income of the Trustee) incurred by it arising out of or in connection with its
acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts hereunder, including the
reasonable costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim or liability
in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties
hereunder. The Trustee shall notify the Company promptly of any claim for which
it may seek indemnity. The Company shall defend the claim and the Trustee shall
cooperate in the defense. The Trustee may have separate counsel and the Company
shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel. The Company need not
pay for any settlement made without its consent.
(c) The Company need not reimburse any expense or indemnify
against any loss or liability incurred by the Trustee through negligence or bad
faith.
(d) To secure the payment obligations of the Company pursuant
to this Section, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities of any
series on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, except that
held in trust to pay principal, premium, if any, and interest on particular
Securities.
When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection with
an Event of Default specified in Section 5.1(5) or Section 5.1(6), the expenses
(including the reasonable charges and expenses of its counsel) and the
compensation for the services are
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intended to constitute expenses of administration under any applicable Federal
or state bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law.
The provisions of this Section shall survive the termination of this
Indenture.
Section 6.10. REPLACEMENT OF TRUSTEE. (a) The resignation or removal
of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee shall become effective
only upon the successor Trustee's acceptance of appointment as provided in
Section 6.11.
(b) The Trustee may resign at any time with respect to the
Securities of any series by giving written notice thereof to the Company.
(c) The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of
the Outstanding Securities of any series may remove the Trustee with respect to
that series by so notifying the Trustee and the Company and may appoint a
successor Trustee for such series with the Company's consent.
(d) If at any time:
(1) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 310(b) of the
Trust Indenture Act 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 6.12
of this Indenture or Section 310(a) of the Trust Indenture Act and
shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or
by any Holder of a Security who has been a bona fide Holder of a
Security for at least six months, or
(3) the Trustee becomes incapable of acting, is adjudged a
bankrupt or an insolvent or a receiver or public officer takes charge
of the Trustee or its property or affairs for the purpose of
rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation,
then, in any such case, (i) the Company by or pursuant to a Board Resolution may
remove the Trustee with respect to all Securities, or (ii) subject to Section
315(e) of the Trust Indenture Act, 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.
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(e) If the instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee
required by Section 6.11 shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 30
days after the giving of such notice of resignation or removal, the Trustee
resigning or being removed may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for
the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such
series.
(f) If the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy
exists in the office of Trustee for any reason, with respect to Securities of
one or more series, the Company, by or pursuant to Board Resolution, shall
promptly appoint a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or
those series (it being understood that any such successor Trustee may be
appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more or all of such series
and that at any time there shall be only one Trustee with respect to the
Securities of any particular series) and shall comply with the applicable
requirements of Section 6.11. 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 6.11, 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 6.11, 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.
Section 6.11. ACCEPTANCE OF APPOINTMENT BY SUCCESSOR. (a) In case of
the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to all Securities,
every such successor Trustee shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the
Company and to the retiring Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment.
Thereupon, the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become
effective, and the successor Trustee, without further act, deed or conveyance,
shall become vested with all the rights, powers and duties of the retiring
Trustee; but, on the request of the Company or the successor Trustee, such
retiring Trustee shall, upon payment of its charges, execute and deliver an
instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights, powers and
trusts of the retiring Trustee and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to
such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee
hereunder.
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(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 such successor Trustee shall execute and
deliver an indenture supplemental hereto wherein such successor Trustee shall
accept such appointment and which (i) shall contain such provisions as shall be
necessary or desirable to transfer and confirm to, and to vest in, such
successor Trustee all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring
Trustee with respect to the securities of that or those series to which the
appointment of such successor Trustee relates, (ii) 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 (iii) shall add to or change any of
the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or
facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee,
it being understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall
constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust and that each such
Trustee shall be trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from
any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee and upon
the execution and delivery of such supplemental indenture the resignation or
removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective to the extent provided
therein and each such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or
conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties
of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series
to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates; but, on request of
the Company or any successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall duly assign,
transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by
such retiring Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of that or those
series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates.
(c) Upon request of any such successor Trustee, the Company
shall execute any and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in
and confirming to such successor Trustee all such rights, powers and trusts
referred to in subparagraph (a) or (b) of this Section, as the case may be.
(d) No successor Trustee shall accept its appointment unless
at the time of such acceptance such successor Trustee shall be qualified and
eligible under the Trust Indenture Act.
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(e) 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
in the manner provided for notices to the Holders of Securities in Section 1.6.
Each notice shall include the name of the successor Trustee with respect to the
Securities of such series and the address of its Corporate Trust Office.
Section 6.12. ELIGIBILITY; DISQUALIFICATION. There shall at all times
be a Trustee hereunder which shall be eligible to act as Trustee under Section
310(a)(1) of the Trust Indenture Act and shall have a combined capital and
surplus of at least $75,000,000. If such corporation publishes reports of
condition at least annually, pursuant to law or the requirements of Federal,
State, Territorial or District of Columbia supervising or examining authority,
then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such
corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth
in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time the Trustee
shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the revisions of this Section, it
shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified
in this Article.
Section 6.13. 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 6.14. APPOINTMENT OF AUTHENTICATING AGENT. The Trustee may
appoint an Authenticating Agent or Agents with respect to one or more series of
Securities which shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to
authenticate Securities of such series issued upon original issue, exchange or
registration of transfer or partial redemption thereof, 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. Any such appointment shall be evidenced by an instrument in writing
signed by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, a copy of which instrument shall
be
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promptly furnished to the Company. Wherever reference is made in this Indenture
to the authentication and delivery of Securities by the Trustee or the Trustee's
certificate of authentication, such reference shall be deemed to include
authentication and delivery on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent
and a certificate of authentication executed on behalf of the Trustee by an
Authenticating Agent. Each Authenticating Agent shall be acceptable to the
Company and, except as may otherwise be provided pursuant to Section 3.1, shall
at all times be a bank or trust company or corporation organized and doing
business and in good standing under the laws of the United States of America or
of any State or the District of Columbia, authorized under such laws to act as
Authenticating Agent, having a combined capital and surplus of not less than
$25,000,000 and subject to supervision or examination by Federal or State
authorities. If such Authenticating Agent publishes reports of condition at
least annually, pursuant to law or the requirements of the aforesaid 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. In case at any time an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be
eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, such Authenticating
Agent shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in
this Section.
Any corporation into which an Authenticating Agent may be merged or
converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting
from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which such Authenticating Agent
shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to the corporate agency or
corporate trust business of an Authenticating Agent, shall continue to be an
Authenticating Agent, provided such corporation shall be otherwise eligible
under this Section, without the execution or filing of any paper or further act
on the part of the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent.
An Authenticating Agent for any series of Securities may at any time
resign by giving written notice of resignation to the Trustee for such series
and to the Company. The Trustee for any series of Securities may at any time
terminate the agency of an Authenticating Agent by giving written notice of
termination to such Authenticating Agent and to the Company. Upon receiving such
a notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time such
Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the
provisions of this Section, the Trustee for such series may appoint a successor
Authenticating Agent which shall be acceptable to the Company and shall give
notice of such appointment to all Holders of Securities of the series with
respect to which such Authenticating Agent will serve in the manner set forth in
Section 1.6. Any successor Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its
appointment hereunder shall become vested with
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all the rights, powers and duties of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect
as if originally named as an Authenticating Agent herein. No successor
Authenticating Agent shall be appointed unless eligible under the provisions of
this Section.
The Company agrees to pay to each Authenticating Agent from time to
time reasonable compensation including reimbursement of its reasonable expenses
for its services under this Section.
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 or in lieu of the Trustee's certificate of authentication, an
alternate certificate of authentication substantially in the following form:
This is one of the Securities of the series described in the
within-mentioned Indenture.
__________________________ ,
as Trustee
By ____________________________
as Authenticating Agent
By ____________________________
Authorized signatory
ARTICLE 7
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER OR SALE BY THE COMPANY
Section 7.1. CONSOLIDATION, MERGER OR SALE OF ASSETS PERMITTED. The
Company shall not consolidate or merge with or into, or transfer or lease all or
substantially all of its assets to, any Person unless:
(1) the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation
or merger (if other than the Company), or to which such transfer or
lease shall have been made, is a corporation organized and existing
under the laws of the United States, any State thereof or the District
of Columbia;
(2) the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation
or merger (if other than the Company), or to which such transfer or
lease shall have been made, assumes by supplemental indenture all the
obligations of the Company under the Securities and this Indenture;
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(3) immediately after giving effect to the transaction no
Default or Event of Default exists; and
(4) if, as a result of any such consolidation or merger or
such conveyance, transfer or lease, properties or assets of the Company
would become subject to a mortgage, pledge, lien, security interest or
other encumbrance which would not be permitted by the Securities of any
series, the Company or such successor Person, as the case may be, shall
take such steps as shall be necessary effectively to secure such
Securities equally and ratably with all indebtedness secured thereby.
The Company shall deliver to the Trustee prior to the proposed
transaction an Officer's Certificate to the foregoing effect and an Opinion of
Counsel stating that the proposed transaction and such supplemental indenture
comply with this Indenture and that all conditions precedent to the consummation
of the transaction under this Indenture have been met.
In the event of the assumption by a successor corporation as provided
in clause (2) above, such successor corporation shall succeed to and be
substituted for the Company hereunder and under the Securities with the same
effect as if it had been named hereunder and thereunder and any coupons
appertaining thereto and all such obligations of the Company shall terminate.
ARTICLE 8
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES
Section 8.1. 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
indentures supplemental hereto, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee,
for any of the following purposes:
(1) to evidence the succession of another corporation to the
Company and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants and
obligations of the Company herein and in the Securities; or
(2) to add to the covenants of the Company for the benefit of
the Holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such covenants
are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities,
stating that such covenants are expressly being included solely for the
benefit of such series) or to surrender any right or power herein
conferred upon the Company; or
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(3) to add any additional Events of Default with respect to
all or any series of Securities (and if such Events of Default are to
be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that
such Events of Default are expressly included solely for the benefit of
such series); or
(4) to add to or change any of the provisions of this
Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to facilitate the
issuance of Bearer Securities (including, without limitation, to
provide that Bearer Securities may be registrable as to principal only)
or to facilitate the issuance of Securities in global form; or
(5) to change or eliminate any of the provisions of this
Indenture, PROVIDED that any such change or elimination shall become
effective only when there is no Security Outstanding of any series
created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture which is
entitled to the benefit of such provision; or
(6) to secure the Securities; or
(7) to establish the form or terms of Securities of any
series as permitted by Sections 2.1 and 3.1; or
(8) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment
hereunder by a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one
or more series and to add to or change any of the provisions of this
Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the
administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee,
pursuant to the requirements of Section 6.11; or
(9) if allowed without penalty under applicable laws and
regulations, to permit payment in the United States (including any of
the States and the District of Columbia), its territories, its
possessions and other areas subject to its jurisdiction of principal,
premium, if any, or interest, if any, on Bearer Securities or coupons,
if any; or
(10) 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 such action shall not adversely affect the
interests of the Holders of Securities of any series; or
(11) to cure any ambiguity or correct any mistake, PROVIDED
such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of
Securities of any series; or
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(12) to modify the provisions of Article 12 (except with
respect to any Outstanding Securities, to the extent prohibited by
clause (5) of Section 8.2).
Section 8.2. SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES WITH CONSENT OF HOLDERS. With the
written consent of the Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount
of the Outstanding Securities of each series adversely affected by such
supplemental indenture (with the Securities of each series voting as a class),
the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee may enter
into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto to add any provisions to or
to change or eliminate any provisions of this Indenture or of any other
indenture supplemental hereto or to modify the rights of the Holders of such
Securities; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that without the consent of the Holder of each
Outstanding Security affected thereby, a supplemental indenture under this
Section may not:
(1) change the Stated Maturity of the principal of or premium,
if any, on, or any installment of principal of or premium, if any, or
interest on, any Security, or reduce the principal amount thereof or
the rate of interest thereon or any premium payable upon the redemption
thereof, or change the manner in which the amount of any principal
thereof or premium, if any, or interest thereon is determined or reduce
the amount of the principal of any Original Issue Discount Security or
Indexed Security that would be due and payable upon a declaration of
acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.2, or change
the Place of Payment where or the currency in which any Securities or
any premium or the interest thereon is payable, or impair the right to
institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the
Stated Maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the
Redemption Date);
(2) reduce the percentage in principal amount of the
Outstanding Securities affected thereby, 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;
(3) change any obligation of the Company to maintain an
office or agency in the places and for the purposes specified in
Section 9.2; or
(4) make any change in Section 5.7 or this 8.2 except to
increase any percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of
this Indenture cannot be modified or waived with the consent of the
Holders of each Outstanding Security affected thereby; or
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(5) modify the provisions of this Indenture with respect to
the subordination of the Outstanding Securities of any series in a
manner adverse to the Holders thereof.
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 is not necessary under this Section 8.2 for the Holders to consent
to the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it is
sufficient if they consent to the substance thereof.
Section 8.3. COMPLIANCE WITH TRUST INDENTURE ACT. Every amendment to
this Indenture or the Securities of one or more series shall be set forth in a
supplemental indenture that complies with the Trust Indenture Act as then in
effect.
Section 8.4. EXECUTION OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES. In executing, or
accepting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture permitted
by this Article or the modification thereby of the trusts created by this
Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and 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 8.5. 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 and of any coupon appertaining
thereto shall be bound thereby.
Section 8.6. REFERENCE IN SECURITIES TO SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES.
Securities, including any coupons, 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
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Company, shall so determine, new Securities including any coupons 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 including any coupons of such series.
ARTICLE 9
COVENANTS
Section 9.1. PAYMENT OF PRINCIPAL, PREMIUM, IF ANY, AND INTEREST. The
Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of the Holders of each series of
Securities that it will duly and punctually pay the principal of, premium, if
any, and interest together with additional amounts, if any, on the Securities of
that series in accordance with the terms of the Securities of such series, any
coupons appertaining thereto and this Indenture. Any installment of principal,
premium, if any, or interest shall be considered paid on the date it is due if
the Trustee or Paying Agent holds on that date money designated for and
sufficient to pay the installment.
Section 9.2. MAINTENANCE OF OFFICE OR AGENCY. If Securities of a
series are issued as Registered Securities, 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. If Securities of a
series are issuable as Bearer Securities, the Company will maintain, (i) subject
to any laws or regulations applicable thereto, an office or agency in a Place of
Payment for that series which is located outside the United States where
Securities of that series and related coupons may be presented and surrendered
for payment; PROVIDED, HOWEVER that if the Securities of that series are listed
on The International Stock Exchange of the United Kingdom and the Republic of
Ireland Limited, the Luxembourg Stock Exchange or any other stock exchange
located outside the United States and such stock exchange shall so require, the
Company will maintain a Paying Agent for the Securities of that series in
London, Luxembourg or any other required city located outside the United States,
as the case may be, so long as the Securities of that series are listed on such
exchange, and (ii) subject to any laws or regulations applicable thereto, an
office or agency in a Place of Payment for that series which is located outside
the United States, where Securities of that series may be surrendered for
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
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notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of any
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.
Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1, no payment
of principal, premium or interest on Bearer Securities shall be made at any
office or agency of the Company in the United States, by check mailed to any
address in the United States, by transfer to an account located in the United
States or upon presentation or surrender in the United States of a Bearer
Security or coupon for payment, even if the payment would be credited to an
account located outside the United States; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that, if the
Securities of a series are denominated and payable in Dollars, payment of
principal of and any premium or interest on any such Bearer Security shall be
made at the office of the Company's Paying Agent located within the United
States, if (but only if) payment in Dollars of the full amount of such
principal, premium or interest, as the case may be, at all offices or agencies
outside the United States maintained for the purpose by the Company in
accordance with this Indenture is illegal or effectively precluded by exchange
controls or other similar restrictions.
The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other
offices or agencies where the Securities (including any coupons, if any) 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 (including any coupons, if any) 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.
Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1, the Trustee
shall initially serve as Paying Agent.
Section 9.3. MONEY FOR SECURITIES PAYMENTS TO BE HELD IN TRUST;
UNCLAIMED MONEY. 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, premium, if any, 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, premium, if any, or interest so
becoming due until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed
of as herein provided and will promptly notify the Trustee in writing of its
action or failure so to act.
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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:
(1) hold all sums held by it for the payment of the principal
of, premium, if any, or interest on Securities of that series in trust
for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto until such sums shall
be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided;
(2) give the Trustee notice of any default by the Company (or
any other obligor upon the Securities of that series) in the making of
any payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest on the
Securities; and
(3) at any time during the continuance of any such default,
upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee
all sums so held in trust by such Paying Agent.
The Company 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 terms as those upon which such sums were held by the Company or
such Paying Agent; and, upon such payment by any Paying Agent to the Trustee,
such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to
such money.
Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held
by the Company, in trust for the payment of any principal, premium or interest
on any Security of any series and remaining unclaimed for two years after such
principal, premium, if any, 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 and coupon, if any,
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
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published in the English language, customarily published on each Business Day
and of general circulation in the City of New York, or cause to be mailed to
such Holder, notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date
specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such
publication or mailing of notice, any unclaimed balance of such money then
remaining will be repaid to the Company.
Section 9.4. CORPORATE EXISTENCE. Subject to Article 7, the Company
will at all times do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and
keep in full force and effect its corporate existence and its rights and
franchises; PROVIDED that nothing in this Section 9.4 shall prevent the
abandonment or termination of any right or franchise of the Company if, in the
opinion of the Company, such abandonment or termination is in the best interests
of the Company and not prejudicial in any material respect to the Holders of the
Securities.
Section 9.5. REPORTS BY THE COMPANY. The Company covenants:
(a) to file with the Trustee, within 30 days after the Company
is required to file the same with the Commission, copies of the annual
reports and of the information, documents and other reports (or copies
of such portions of any of the foregoing as the Commission may from
time to time by rules and regulations prescribe) which the Company may
be required to file with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or
Section 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; or,
if the Company is not required to file information, documents or
reports pursuant to either of such sections, then to file with the
Trustee and the Commission, in accordance with rules and regulations
prescribed from time to time by the Commission, such of the
supplementary and periodic information, documents and reports which may
be required pursuant to Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended, in respect of a security listed and registered on a
national securities exchange as may be prescribed from time to time in
such rules and regulations;
(b) to file with the Trustee and the Commission, in accordance
with the rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the
Commission, such additional information, documents and reports with
respect to compliance by the Company with the conditions and covenants
provided for in this Indenture as may be required from time to time by
such rules and regulations; and
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(c) to transmit to all Holders of Securities, within 30 days
after the filing thereof with the Trustee, in the manner and to the
extent provided in Section 313(c) of the Trust Indenture Act, such
summaries of any information, documents and reports required to be
filed by the Company pursuant to subsections (a) and (b) of this
Section 9.5 as may be required by rules and regulations prescribed from
time to time by the Commission.
Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is
for informational purposes only and the Trustee's receipt of such shall not
constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or
determinable from information contained therein, including information
concerning the Company's compliance with any of its covenants hereunder,
PROVIDED that the foregoing shall not relieve the Trustee of any of its
responsibilities hereunder.
Section 9.6. ANNUAL REVIEW CERTIFICATE; NOTICE OF DEFAULTS OR EVENTS
OF DEFAULT.
(a) The Company covenants and agrees to deliver to the
Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the
Company, a certificate from the principal executive officer, principal
financial officer or principal accounting officer as to his or her
knowledge of the Company's compliance with all conditions and covenants
under this Indenture. For purposes of this Section 9.6, such compliance
shall be determined without regard to any period of grace or
requirement of notice provided under this Indenture.
(b) The Company covenants and agrees to deliver to the
Trustee, within a reasonable time after the Company becomes aware of
the occurrence of a Default or an Event of Default, written notice of
the occurrence of such Default or Event of Default.
Section 9.7. BOOKS OF RECORD AND ACCOUNT. The Company will keep proper
books of record and account, either on a consolidated or individual basis. The
Company shall cause its books of record and account to be examined, either on a
consolidated or individual basis, by one or more firms of independent public
accountants not less frequently than annually. The Company shall prepare its
financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles.
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ARTICLE 10
REDEMPTION
Section 10.1. APPLICABILITY OF ARTICLE. Securities (including coupons,
if any) 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 3.1 for Securities of any series) in accordance with
this Article.
Section 10.2. ELECTION TO REDEEM; NOTICE TO TRUSTEE. The election of
the Company to redeem any Securities, including coupons, if any, shall be
evidenced by or pursuant to a Board Resolution. In the case of any redemption at
the election of the Company of less than all the Securities or coupons, if any,
of any series, the Company shall, at least 60 days prior to the Redemption Date
fixed by the Company (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the
Trustee), notify the Trustee of such Redemption Date, of the principal amount of
Securities of such series to be redeemed and, if applicable, of the tenor of the
Securities to be redeemed. In the case of any redemption of Securities (i) prior
to the expiration of any restriction on such redemption provided in terms of
such Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture or (ii) pursuant to an election
of the Company which is subject to a condition specified in the terms of such
Securities, the Company shall furnish the Trustee with an Officers' Certificate
evidencing compliance with such restriction or condition.
Section 10.3. SELECTION OF SECURITIES TO BE REDEEMED. Unlessotherwise
specified as contemplated by Section 3.1, if less than all the Securities
(including coupons, if any) of a series with the same terms are to be redeemed,
the Trustee, not more than 45 days prior to the redemption date, shall select
the Securities of the series to be redeemed in such manner as the Trustee shall
deem fair and appropriate and which may provide for the selection for redemption
of a portion of the principal amount of any Security of such series, PROVIDED
that the unredeemed portion of the principal amount of any Security shall be in
an authorized denomination (which shall not be less than the minimum authorized
denomination) for such Security. The Trustee shall make the selection from
Securities of the series that are Outstanding and that have not previously been
called for redemption and may provide for the selection for redemption of
portions (equal to the minimum authorized denomination for Securities, including
coupons, if any, of that series or any integral multiple thereof) of the
principal amount of Securities, including coupons, if any, of such series of a
denomination larger than the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of
that series. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the
Securities selected by the Trustee for redemption and, in the case of any
Securities selected for partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to be
redeemed. If the
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Company shall so direct, Securities registered in the name of the Company, any
Affiliate or any Subsidiary thereof shall not be included in the Securities
selected for redemption. If less than all the Securities of any series with
differing issue dates, interest rates and stated maturities are to be redeemed,
the Company in its sole discretion shall select the particular Securities to be
redeemed and shall notify the Trustee in writing thereof at least 45 days prior
to the relevant redemption date.
For Purposes of this Indenture, unless the context otherwise requires,
all provisions relating to the redemption of Securities (including coupons, if
any) shall relate, in the case of any Securities (including coupons, if any)
redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the principal amount
of such Securities (including coupons, if any) which has been or is to be
redeemed.
Section 10.4. NOTICE OF REDEMPTION. Unless otherwise specified as
contemplated by Section 3.1, notice of redemption shall be given in the manner
provided in Section 1.6 not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days prior to the
Redemption Date to the Holders of the Securities to be redeemed.
All notices of redemption shall state:
(1) the Redemption Date;
(2) the Redemption Price;
(3) if less than all the Outstanding Securities of a series
are to be redeemed, the identification (and in the case of partial
redemption, the principal amounts) of the particular Security or
Securities to be redeemed;
(4) in case any Security is to be redeemed in part only, the
notice which relates to such Security shall state that on and after the
Redemption Date, upon surrender of such Security, the holder will
receive, without a charge, a new Security or Securities of authorized
denominations for the principal amount thereof remaining unredeemed;
(5) the Place or Places of Payment where such Securities,
together in the case of Bearer Securities with all coupons appertaining
thereto, if any, maturing after the Redemption Date, are to be
surrendered for payment or the Redemption Price;
(6) that Securities of the series called for redemption and
all unmatured coupons, if any, appertaining thereto must be surrendered
to the Paying Agent to collect the Redemption Price;
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(7) that, on the Redemption Date, the Redemption Price will
become due and payable upon each such Security, or the portion thereof,
to be redeemed and, if applicable, that interest thereon will cease to
accrue on and after said date;
(8) that the redemption is for a sinking fund, if such is the
case;
(9) that, unless otherwise specified in such notice, Bearer
Securities of any series, if any, surrendered for redemption must be
accompanied by all coupons maturing subsequent to the Redemption Date
or the amount of any such missing coupon or coupons will be deducted
from the Redemption Price, unless security or indemnity satisfactory to
the Company, the Trustee and any Paying Agent is furnished; and
(10) the CUSIP number, if any, of the Securities.
Notice of redemption of Securities to be redeemed shall be given by the
Company or, at the Company's request, by the Trustee in the name and at the
expense of the Company.
Section 10.5. DEPOSIT OF REDEMPTION PRICE. On or 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, which it may not do
in the case of a sinking fund payment under Article 11, segregate and hold in
trust as provided in Section 9.3) an amount of money in the currency or
currencies (including currency unit or units) in which the Securities of such
series are payable (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.1 for
the Securities of such series) sufficient to pay on the Redemption Date the
Redemption Price of, and (unless the Redemption Date shall be an Interest
Payment Date) interest accrued to the Redemption Date on, all Securities or
portions thereof which are to be redeemed on that date.
Unless any Security by its terms prohibits any sinking fund payment
obligation from being satisfied by delivering and crediting Securities
(including Securities redeemed otherwise than through a sinking fund), the
Company may deliver such Securities to the Trustee for crediting against such
payment obligation in accordance with the terms of such Securities and this
Indenture.
Section 10.6. SECURITIES PAYABLE ON REDEMPTION DATE. Notice of
redemption having been given as aforesaid, the Securities so to be redeemed
shall, on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at the Redemption Price
therein specified, and from and after such date (unless the Company shall
default in the payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest) such
Securities shall cease to bear interest and the coupons for any such interest
appertaining to any Bearer Security so to be redeemed, except to the extent
provided below, shall be void. Except as provided in the next
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succeeding paragraph, upon surrender of any such Security, including coupons, if
any, 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 installments of interest on Bearer
Securities whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption Date shall be
payable only at an office or agency located outside the United States and it
possessions (except as otherwise provided in Section 9.2) and, unless otherwise
specified as contemplated by Section 3.1, only upon presentation and surrender
of coupons for such interest; and PROVIDED, FURTHER, that, unless otherwise
specified as contemplated by Section 3.1, installments of interest on Registered
Securities whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption Date shall be
payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor
Securities, registered as such at the close of business on the relevant Record
Dates according to their terms and the provisions of Section 3.7.
If any Bearer Security surrendered for redemption shall not be
accompanied by all appurtenant coupons maturing after the Redemption Date, such
Bearer Security may be paid after deducting from the Redemption Price any amount
equal to the face amount of all such missing coupons, or the surrender of such
missing coupon or coupons may be waived by the Company and the Trustee if there
be furnished to them such security or indemnity as they may require to save each
of them and any Paying Agent harmless. If thereafter the Holder of such Bearer
Security shall surrender to the Trustee or any Paying Agent any such missing
coupon in respect of which a deduction shall have been made from the Redemption
Price, such Holder shall be entitled to receive the amount so deducted;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that interest represented by coupons shall be payable only at
an office or agency located outside of the United States (except as otherwise
provided pursuant to Section 9.2) and, unless otherwise specified as
contemplated by Section 3.1, only upon presentation and surrender of those
coupons.
If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon
surrender thereof for redemption, the principal (and premium, if any) shall,
until paid, bear interest from the Redemption Date at the rate prescribed
therefor in the Security.
Section 10.7. SECURITIES REDEEMED IN PART. Upon surrender of a Security
that is redeemed in part at any Place of Payment therefor (with, if the Company
or the Trustee so require, 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), the
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Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the
Holder of that Security, without service charge, a new Security or Securities of
the same series, having the same form, terms and Stated Maturity, in any
authorized denomination equal in aggregate principal amount to the unredeemed
portion of the principal amount of the Security surrendered.
ARTICLE 11
SINKING FUNDS
Section 11.1. 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 3.1 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 11.2. 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 11.2. SATISFACTION OF SINKING FUND PAYMENTS WITH SECURITIES.
The Company (i) may deliver Outstanding Securities of a series (other than any
previously called for redemption) together, in the case of Bearer Securities of
such series, with all unmatured coupons appertaining thereto and (ii) may apply
as a credit Securities of a series which have been redeemed either at the
election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such Securities or through the
application of permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the terms of
such Securities, in each case in satisfaction of all or any part of any sinking
fund payment with respect to the Securities of such series required to be made
pursuant to the terms of such Securities as provided for by the terms of such
series; PROVIDED that such Securities have not been previously so credited. Such
Securities shall be received and credited for such purpose by the 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.
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Section 11.3. 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 11.2 and will also deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so
delivered. Not less than 30 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 10.3 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 10.4. Such notice having been duly given, the
redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner
stated in Sections 10.6 and 10.7.
ARTICLE 12
SUBORDINATION
Section 12.1. AGREEMENT TO SUBORDINATE. The Company agrees, and each
Holder by accepting a Security agrees, that the indebtedness evidenced by the
Security is subordinated in right of payment, to the extent and in the manner
provided in this Article 12, to the prior payment in full of all Senior
Indebtedness, and that the subordination is for the benefit of, and shall be
enforceable directly by, the holders of Senior Indebtedness, without any act or
notice of acceptance hereof or reliance hereon.
Section 12.2. CERTAIN DEFINITIONS.
"SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS" means (i) all indebtedness of the Company,
whether outstanding on the date hereof or thereafter created, incurred or
assumed, that is for borrowed money, or evidenced by a note or similar
instrument given in connection with the acquisition of any business, properties
or assets, including securities, (ii) any indebtedness of any other Person of
the kind described in the preceding clause (i) for the payment of which the
Company is responsible or liable as guarantor or otherwise and (iii) amendments,
renewals, extensions and refundings of any such indebtedness. Senior
Indebtedness shall continue to be Senior Indebtedness and to be entitled to the
benefits of the subordination provisions of this Article 12 irrespective of any
amendment, modification or waiver of any term of the Senior Indebtedness or
extension or renewal of the Senior Indebtedness.
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Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing, Senior Indebtedness
shall not include (A) any indebtedness of the Company to any of its
Subsidiaries, (B) indebtedness incurred for the purchase of goods or materials
or for services obtained in the ordinary course of business and (C) any
indebtedness which by its terms is expressly made PARI PASSU with or
subordinated to the Securities.
Section 12.3. LIQUIDATION; DISSOLUTION; BANKRUPTCY; ETC. In the event
of
(i) any insolvency, bankruptcy, receivership, liquidation,
reorganization, readjustment, composition or other similar proceeding
relating to the Company, its creditors or its property,
(ii) any proceeding for the liquidation, dissolution or other
winding up of the Company, voluntary or involuntary, whether or not
involving insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings,
(iii) any assignment by the Company for the benefit of
creditors, or
(iv) any other marshalling of the assets of the Company,
all Senior Indebtedness (including, without limitation, interest accruing after
the commencement of any such proceeding, assignment or marshalling of assets)
shall first be paid in full before any payment or distribution, whether in cash,
securities or other property, shall be made by the Company on account of the
Securities. In any such event, any payment or distribution, whether in cash,
securities or other property (other than securities of the Company or any other
corporation provided for by a plan of reorganization or a readjustment, the
payment of which is subordinate, at least to the extent provided in the
subordination provisions of this Indenture with respect to the indebtedness
evidenced by the Securities, to the payment of all Senior Indebtedness at the
time outstanding and to any securities issued in respect thereof under any such
plan of reorganization or readjustment) which would otherwise (but for the
provisions of this Article 12) be payable or deliverable in respect of the
Securities (including any such payment or distribution which may be payable or
deliverable by reason of the payment of any other indebtedness of the Company
being subordinated to the payment of the Securities) shall be paid or delivered
directly to the holders of Senior Indebtedness or to their representative or
trustee in accordance with the priorities then existing among such holders until
all Senior Indebtedness shall have been paid in full.
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Section 12.4. DEFAULT ON SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS. If (i) the Company
defaults in the payment of any principal or premium, if any, or interest on any
Senior Indebtedness when the same becomes due and payable, whether at maturity
or at a date fixed for prepayment or declaration or otherwise or (ii) an event
of default occurs with respect to any Senior Indebtedness permitting the holders
thereof to accelerate the maturity thereof and written notice of such event of
default (requesting that payments on the Securities cease) is given to the
Company by the holders of Senior Indebtedness, then unless and until such
default in payment or event of default shall have been cured or waived or shall
have ceased to exist no direct or indirect payment (in cash, property or
securities, by set-off or otherwise) shall be made or agreed to be made on
account of the Securities or interest thereon or in respect of any repayment,
redemption, retirement, purchase or other acquisition of the Securities. This
Article 12 shall not apply to any payments to be made on the Securities from
funds held in trust pursuant to Article 4 provided that Article 12 did not
prohibit the deposit of such funds into trust at the time of such deposit.
Section 12.5. WHEN DISTRIBUTION MUST BE PAID OVER. If a distribution
is made to the Trustee or any Holder at a time when a Responsible Officer of the
Trustee or such Holder, respectively, has actual knowledge that because of this
Article 12 such distribution should not have been made to it, the Trustee or
such Holder who receives the distribution shall hold it in trust for the benefit
of, and, upon written request, shall pay it over to, the holders of Senior
Indebtedness as their interests may appear, or their agent or representative or
the trustee under the indenture or other agreement (if any) pursuant to which
Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, as their respective interests may
appear, for application to the payment of all principal, premium, if any, and
interest then payable with respect to any Senior Indebtedness.
With respect to the holders of Senior Indebtedness, the Trustee
undertakes to perform only such obligations on the part of the Trustee as are
specifically set forth in this Article 12 and no implied covenants or
obligations with respect to the holders of Senior Indebtedness shall be read
into this Indenture against the Trustee. The Trustee shall not be deemed to owe
any fiduciary duty to the holders of Senior Indebtedness, and shall not be
liable to any such holders if the Trustee shall pay over or distribute to or on
behalf of Holders or the Company or any other Person money or assets to which
any holders of Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled by virtue of this Article
12, except if such payment is made as a result of the willful misconduct or
gross negligence of the Trustee.
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Section 12.6. NOTICE BY COMPANY. The Company shall promptly notify in
writing the Trustee and any Paying Agent of any facts known to the Company that
would cause a payment with respect to the Securities to violate this Article 12,
but failure to give such notice shall not affect the subordination of the
Securities to the Senior Indebtedness provided in this Article 12.
Section 12.7. SUBROGATION. Senior Indebtedness shall not be deemed to
have been paid in full unless the holders thereof shall have received cash,
securities or other property equal to the amount of such Senior Indebtedness
then outstanding. After all Senior Indebtedness is paid in full and until the
Securities are paid in full, Holders shall be subrogated (equally and ratably
with all other indebtedness as to which the right to receive payment is PARI
PASSU with the Securities) to the rights of holders of Senior Indebtedness to
receive distributions applicable to Senior Indebtedness to the extent that
distributions otherwise payable to the Holders have been applied to the payment
of Senior Indebtedness, and such payments or distributions received by any
Holder of Securities, by reason of such subrogation, of cash, securities or
other property which otherwise would be paid or distributed to the holders of
Senior Indebtedness, shall, as between the Company and its creditors other than
the holders of Senior Indebtedness on the one hand, and the Holders of
Securities, on the other, be deemed to be a payment by the Company on account of
Senior Indebtedness, and not on account of Securities.
Section 12.8. RELATIVE RIGHTS. This Article 12 defines the relative
rights of Holders and holders of Senior Indebtedness. Nothing in this Indenture
shall:
(i) impair as between the Company and Holders, the obligation
of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional to pay principal of
and interest on the Securities in accordance with their terms;
(ii) affect the relative rights of Holders and creditors of
the Company other than their rights in relation to holders of Senior
Indebtedness; or
(iii) prevent the Trustee or any Holder from exercising its
available remedies upon a Default or Event of Default, subject to the
rights of holders and owners of Senior Indebtedness to receive
distributions and payments otherwise payable to Holders.
If the Company fails because of this Article 12 to pay principal of or
interest on a Security on the due date, the failure is still a Default or Event
of Default.
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Section 12.9. SUBORDINATION MAY NOT BE IMPAIRED BY COMPANY. No present
or future holder of any Senior Indebtedness shall be prejudiced in the right to
enforce subordination of the indebtedness constituting the Securities by any act
or failure to act on the part of the Company.
Section 12.10. DISTRIBUTION. Upon any payment or distribution of assets
of the Company referred to in this Article 12, the Trustee and the Holders shall
be entitled to rely upon an order or decree made by any court of competent
jurisdiction or upon any certificate of the liquidating trustee or agent or
other person making any Distribution to the Trustee or to the Holders for the
purpose of ascertaining the Persons entitled to participate in such
distribution, the holders of the Senior Indebtedness and other Debt of the
Company, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or
distributed thereon and all other acts pertinent thereto or to this Article 12
and the Trustee and the Holders shall not be required to take any action with
respect to such payment or distribution in the absence of such order, decree or
certificate.
Section 12.11. RIGHTS OF TRUSTEE AND PAYING AGENT. Notwithstanding the
provisions of this Article 12 or any other provision of this Indenture, neither
the Trustee nor any Paying Agent shall be charged with knowledge of the
existence of any facts which would prohibit the making of any payment or
distribution by the Trustee or such Paying Agent, or the taking of any action by
the Trustee or such Paying Agent, and the Trustee or such Paying Agent may
continue to make payments on the Securities unless, in the case of the Trustee,
and in the case of such Paying Agent as long as the Trustee is such Paying
Agent, a Responsible Officer shall have received at the Corporate Trust Office
of the Trustee, and in the case of a Paying Agent other than the Trustee it
shall have received, in each case at least two Business Days prior to the date
of such payment, written notice of facts that would cause any such payment with
respect to the Securities to violate this Article 12 which notice must
specifically refer to this Article 12. The Trustee or any Paying Agent, as
applicable, shall promptly provide a copy of such notice to the Holders. Nothing
in this Article 12 shall limit the right of the holders of Senior Indebtedness
to recover payments as contemplated elsewhere in this Article 12 or impair the
claims of, or payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Section 6.9 hereof.
The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may hold Senior
Indebtedness with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, subject
to Trust Indenture Act Sections 310(b) and 311. Any Agent may do the same with
like rights.
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Section 12.12 AUTHORIZATION TO EFFECT SUBORDINATION. Each Holder of a
Security by his acceptance thereof authorizes and directs the Trustee on his
behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the
subordination as provided in this Article 12, and appoints the Trustee his
attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes.
This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of
which shall be an original, but such counterparts shall together constitute but
one instrument.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be
duly executed, and their respective corporate seals to be hereunto affixed and
attested, all as of the day and year first above written.
CONSECO, INC.
By:/s/ ROLLIN M. DICK
------------------------
Rollin M. Dick, Executive
Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer
{Seal}
Attest:
/s/ LAWRENCE W. INLOW
- ----------------------------
Lawrence W. Inlow, Secretary
FLEET NATIONAL BANK
By:/s/ MICHAEL HOPKINS
-------------------
Name:Michael Hopkins
Title:Vice President
G:\LEGAL\AGREEMNT\INDENTUR\SUBORDIN.FNB
86
FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
between
CONSECO, INC.
and
FLEET NATIONAL BANK, AS TRUSTEE
Dated as of November 14, 1996
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
<S> <C> <C>
SECTION 1.1. Definition of Terms.................................................................. 2
ARTICLE II
GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE DEBENTURES
SECTION 2.1. Designation and Principal Amount; Purchase Price; Payment of
Principal; Global Securities......................................................... 4
SECTION 2.2. Maturity............................................................................. 5
SECTION 2.3. Form and Payment. ................................................................... 6
SECTION 2.4. Global Debenture. ................................................................... 6
SECTION 2.5. Interest............................................................................. 7
SECTION 2.6. Authorized Denominations............................................................. 8
SECTION 2.7. Redemption........................................................................... 9
SECTION 2.8 Defeasance........................................................................... 9
SECTION 2.9 No Sinking Fund...................................................................... 9
SECTION 2.10 Depository........................................................................... 9
ARTICLE III
REDEMPTION OF THE DEBENTURES
SECTION 3.1. Special Event Redemption............................................................. 9
SECTION 3.2. Optional Redemption. ................................................................. 9
SECTION 3.3. Partial Redemption................................................................... 10
ARTICLE IV
EXTENSION OF INTEREST PAYMENT PERIOD
SECTION 4.1. Extension of Interest Payment Period................................................. 10
SECTION 4.2. Notice of Extension. ................................................................ 11
SECTION 4.3. Limitation of Transactions. ......................................................... 11
ARTICLE V
EXPENSES
SECTION 5.1. Payment of Expenses.................................................................. 12
SECTION 5.2. Payment Upon Resignation or Removal.................................................. 12
</TABLE>
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<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ARTICLE VI
COVENANT TO LIST ON EXCHANGE
<S> <C> <C>
SECTION 6.1. Listing on an Exchange. ............................................................. 13
ARTICLE VII
FORM OF DEBENTURE
SECTION 7.1. Form of Debenture.................................................................... 13
ARTICLE VIII
ORIGINAL ISSUE OF DEBENTURES
SECTION 8.1. Original Issue of Debentures......................................................... 21
SECTION 8.2. Reports by the Trustee............................................................... 21
ARTICLE IX
COVENANTS
SECTION 9.1. Covenants as to Trust................................................................ 22
ARTICLE X
DEFAULT
SECTION 10.1. Additional Event of Default.......................................................... 22
SECTION 10.2. Limitations on Waivers and Consents.................................................. 23
SECTION 10.3. Acknowledgment of Rights............................................................. 23
ARTICLE XI
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 11.1. Ratification of Indenture............................................................ 24
SECTION 11.2. Trustee Not Responsible for Recitals................................................. 24
SECTION 11.3. Governing Law........................................................................ 24
SECTION 11.4. Separability......................................................................... 24
SECTION 11.5. Counterparts......................................................................... 24
SECTION 11.6. Effect of Headings................................................................... 24
ii
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE dated as of November 14, 1996 (the "First
Supplemental Indenture") between Conseco, Inc., an Indiana corporation (the
"Issuer"), and Fleet National Bank, as trustee (the "Trustee") under the
Indenture dated as of November 14, 1996 between the Issuer and the Trustee (the
"Indenture").
WHEREAS, the Issuer executed and delivered the Indenture to the Trustee
to provide for the future issuance of the Issuer's unsecured subordinated
debentures, notes or other evidence of indebtedness (the "Securities") to be
issued from time to time in one or more series as might be determined by the
Issuer under the Indenture, in an unlimited aggregate principal amount which may
be authenticated and delivered as provided in the Indenture;
WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of the Indenture, the Issuer desires to
provide for the establishment of a new series of its Securities to be known as
its 9.16% Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures due 2026 (the
"Debentures"), the form and substance of such Debentures and the terms,
provisions and conditions thereof to be set forth as provided in the Indenture
and this First Supplemental Indenture;
WHEREAS, Conseco Financing Trust I, a Delaware statutory business trust
(the "Trust"), is offering to the public $275 million aggregate liquidation
amount of its 9.16% Trust Originated Preferred Securities (the "Preferred
Securities"), representing preferred undivided beneficial interests in the
assets of the Trust and proposes to invest the proceeds from such offering,
together with the proceeds of the issuance and sale by the Trust to the Issuer
of $8,600,000 aggregate liquidation amount of its 9.16% Trust Originated Common
Securities (the"Common Securities"), in $283,600,000 aggregate principal amount
of the Debentures;
WHEREAS, the Issuer has requested that the Trustee execute and deliver
this First Supplemental Indenture; and
WHEREAS, all requirements necessary to make this First Supplemental
Indenture a valid instrument in accordance with its terms and to make the
Debentures, when executed by the Issuer and authenticated and delivered by the
Trustee as provided in the Indenture, the valid obligations of the Issuer have
been performed, and the execution and delivery of this First Supplemental
Indenture has been duly authorized in all respects.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the purchase and acceptance of the
Debentures by the Holders thereof, and for the purpose of setting forth, as
provided in the Indenture, the form and substance of the Debentures and the
terms, provisions and conditions thereof, the Issuer covenants and agrees with
the Trustee as follows:
<PAGE>
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.1. Definition of Terms.
Unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) a term defined in the Indenture (including as set forth in
the first paragraph of Section 1.1 of the Indenture) has the same meaning when
used in this First Supplemental Indenture unless otherwise defined herein;
(b) a term defined anywhere in this First Supplemental Indenture
has the same meaning throughout;
(c) the singular includes the plural and vice versa;
(d) a reference to a Section or Article is to a Section or Article
of this First Supplemental Indenture unless otherwise specified herein;
(e) headings are for convenience of reference only and do not
affect interpretation;
(f) the following terms have the meanings given to them in
the Declaration (as defined herein) or in the terms of the Trust Securities
(as defined herein) as established in accordance with the Declaration:
(i) Affiliate;
(ii) Business Day;
(iii) Debenture Issuer;
(iv) Delaware Trustee;
(v) Distribution;
(vi) Investment Company Event;
(vii) Preferred Security Certificate;
(viii) Pricing Agreement;
(ix) Pro Rata;
(x) Property Trustee;
(xi) Regular Trustees;
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(xii) Securities;
(xiii) Securities Guarantees;
(xiv) Special Event;
(xv) Sponsor;
(xvi) Tax Event; and
(xvii) Underwriting Agreement;
(g) The following terms have the meanings given to them in this
Section 1.1(g):
"Additional Interest" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.5
(c).
"Compounded Interest" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.1.
"Coupon Rate" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.5(a).
"Declaration" means the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of
Conseco Financing Trust I, a Delaware statutory business trust, dated as of
November 14, 1996.
"Deferred Interest" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.1.
"Dissolution Event" means that as a result of an election by the
Issuer, the Trust is to be dissolved in accordance with the Declaration, and the
Debentures held by the Property Trustee are to be distributed to the holders of
the Trust Securities Pro Rata in accordance with the Declaration.
"Extended Interest Payment Period" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 4.1.
"Extension Conditions" means the following:
(i) the Issuer is not in bankruptcy or otherwise insolvent;
(ii) the Issuer is not in default on any Debentures issued
to the Trust or to any trustee of the Trust in connection with
the issuance of Trust Securities by the Trust;
(iii) the Issuer has made timely payments on the Debentures
for the immediately preceding six quarters without deferrals;
(iv) the Trust is not in arrears on payments of Distributions
on the Trust Securities;
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(v) the Debentures or the Preferred Securities are rated
investment grade by any one of Standard & Poor's Corporation,
Moody's Investors Service, Inc., Fitch Investor Service, LP,
Duff & Phelps Credit Rating Company or any other nationally
recognized statistical rating organization; and
(vi) the final maturity of such Debentures is no later than
the forty-ninth anniversary of the issuance of the Preferred
Securities.
"Global Debenture" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(a)
(i).
"Interest Deduction Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
2.2(b).
"Interest Payment Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.5
(a).
"Maturity Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(a).
"Non Book-Entry Preferred Securities" shall have the meaning set forth
in Section 2.4(a)(ii).
"Optional Redemption Price" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
3.2.
"Preceding Maturity Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
2.2(c).
"Redemption Price" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1.
"Scheduled Maturity Date" means November 30, 2026.
"Trust Securities" shall mean the Securities.
ARTICLE II
GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE DEBENTURES
SECTION 2.1. Designation and Principal Amount; Purchase Price; Payment of
Principal; Global Securities.
(a) There is hereby authorized a series of Securities designated the
"9.16% Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures due 2026," limited in
aggregate principal amount to $283,600,000 (not including Debentures
authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange
for, or in lieu of, other Debentures pursuant to Sections 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 8.6 or
10.7 of the Indenture), which amount shall be as set forth in a Company Order
for the authentication and delivery of Debentures pursuant to Section 3.3 of the
Indenture.
(b) The Debentures shall be issued for a purchase price equal to 100%
of the principal amount of such Debentures.
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<PAGE>
(c) The principal of the Debentures shall be due and payable in full on
the Maturity Date.
(d) The Debentures shall initially be issued in fully registered
non-book entry certificated form in the aggregate principal amount of
$283,600,000.
SECTION 2.2. Maturity.
(a) The Maturity Date means the date on which the Debentures mature and
on which the principal shall be due and payable together with all accrued and
unpaid interest thereon (including Compounded Interest, if any), which date
shall be the Scheduled Maturity Date unless the Maturity Date has been changed
pursuant to Section 2.2(c) or (d), in which case the Maturity Date shall be the
Maturity Date most recently established in accordance with Section 2.2(c) or
(d).
(b) The Interest Deduction Date shall mean the date which is six months
earlier than the ending date of the maximum term (beginning on the date of issue
of the Debentures and including any extensions thereof), as determined under any
federal statute applicable by its terms to the Debentures which is enacted at
any time after the issuance of the Debentures, of a debt instrument for which
interest is deductible for federal income tax purposes.
(c) If the Issuer has elected to dissolve the Trust and cause the
Debentures to be distributed to the holders of the Trust Securities in
liquidation of the Trust in accordance with Section 8.1(a)(v) of the
Declaration, then the Issuer may elect to shorten the Maturity Date to a date
not earlier than November 19, 2001, or extend the Maturity Date to a date which
is not later than the earlier of (i) November 30, 2045, or (ii) the Interest
Deduction Date, and such election shall be made, and such change in the Maturity
Date shall be effective, on such date as notice thereof has been given in
accordance with Section 2.2(e) so long as, in the case of an extension of the
Maturity Date, the Issuer meets the Extension Conditions on such date; provided
that (i) any such extension of the Maturity Date shall cease to be in effect
(and the Maturity Date shall be the Maturity Date in effect prior to such
extension (the "Preceding Maturity Date")) unless the Extension Conditions also
are met on the Preceding Maturity Date, and (ii) in no event shall an extended
Maturity Date be later than the Interest Deduction Date even if the Maturity
Date has previously been extended to a date beyond the Interest Deduction Date.
(d) The Issuer may at any time before the date which is 90 days before
the Maturity Date, elect to extend the Maturity Date for one or more periods,
but in no event to a date later than the earlier of (i) November 30, 2045, or
(ii) the Interest Deduction Date, and such election shall be made, and such
extension of the Maturity Date shall be effective, on such date as notice
thereof has been given in accordance with Section 2.2(e) so long as the Issuer
meets the Extension Conditions on such date; provided that (i) any such
extension of the Maturity Date shall cease to be in effect (and the Maturity
Date shall be the Preceding Maturity Date) unless the Extension Conditions also
are met on the Preceding Maturity Date, and (ii) in no event shall an extended
Maturity Date be later than the Interest Deduction Date even if the Maturity
Date has previously been extended to a date beyond the Interest Deduction Date.
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(e) If the Issuer desires to change the Maturity Date pursuant to
Section 2.2(c) or (d), the Issuer shall give notice to Holders of the
Debentures, the Property Trustee, the Trust and the Trustee of the new Maturity
Date.
SECTION 2.3. Form and Payment.
Except as provided in Section 2.4, the Debentures shall be issued as
Registered Securities in fully registered certificated form without interest
coupons. The place where principal of and interest (including the Compounded
Interest, if any) on the Debentures will be payable, the Debentures may be
surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange, and where notices and
demands to or upon the Issuer in r spect of the Debentures and the Indenture may
be served shall be the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, provided, however,
that payment of interest may be made at the option of the Issuer by wire
transfer to an account maintained by a Holder (upon appropriate instructions
from such Holder) or by check mailed to the Holder at such address as shall
appear in the Register. Notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as the Holder of
any Debentures is the Property Trustee, the payment of the principal of and
interest (including Compounded Interest, if any) on such Debentures held by the
Property Trustee will be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds at
such place and to such account as may be designated by the Property Trustee.
Payment of principal of the Debentures will only be made upon surrender of the
Debentures to the Trustee. The Debentures will be denominated in Dollars and
payment of principal and interest on the Debentures shall be made in Dollars.
SECTION 2.4. Global Debenture.
(a) In connection with a distribution of the Debentures to the holders
of the Trust Securities pursuant to the Declaration:
(i) The Debentures in certificated form to be distributed to
the holders of Preferred Securities may be presented to the Trustee by the
Property Trustee in exchange for a global Debenture in an aggregate principal
amount equal to the agg egate principal amount of all Outstanding Debentures of
such series (a "Global Debenture"), to be registered in the name of the
Depository, or its nominee, and delivered by the Trustee to the Depository for
crediting to the accounts of its participants pursuant to the instructions of
the Regular Trustees. The Issuer upon any such presentation shall execute a
Global Debenture in such aggregate principal amount and deliver the same to the
Trustee for authentication and delivery in accordance with the Indenture and
this First Supplemental Indenture. Payments on the Debentures issued as a Global
Debenture will be made to the Depository.
(ii) If any Preferred Securities are held in non book-entry
certificated form, the Debentures in certificated form may be presented to the
Trustee by the Property Trustee and any Preferred Security Certificate which
represents Preferred Securities other than Preferred Securities held by the
Depository or its nominee ("Non Book-Entry Preferred Securities") will be deemed
to represent beneficial interests in Debentures presented to the Trustee by the
Property Trustee having an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate
liquidation amount of the Non Book-Entry Preferred Securities until such
Preferred Security Certificates are presented to the Registrar for transfer or
reissuance at which time such Preferred Security Certificates will be canceled
and a Debenture, registered in the name of the holder of the
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Preferred Security Certificate or the transferee of the holder of such Preferred
Security Certificate, as the case may be, with an aggregate principal amount
equal to the aggregate liquidation amount of the Preferred Security Certificate
canceled, will be executed by the Issuer and delivered to the Trustee for
authentication and delivery in accordance with the Indenture and this First
Supplemental Indenture. On issue of such Debentures, Debentures with an
equivalent aggregate principal amount that were presented by the Property
Trustee to the Trustee will be deemed to have been canceled.
(b) Unless and until it is exchanged for Debentures in registered
certificated form, a Global Debenture may be transferred, in whole but not in
part, only by the Depository to a nominee of the Depository or by a nominee of
the Depository to the Depository or another nominee of the Depository or by the
Depository or any such nominee to a successor Depository selected or approved by
the Issuer or a nominee of such successor Depository.
(c) If at any time the Depository for the Debentures notifies the
Issuer that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depository for the
Debentures or if at any time the Depository for the Debentures shall no longer
be registered or in good standing as a clearing agency under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or other applicable statute or regulation, at
a time at which the Depository is required to be so registered to act as
Depository for the Debentures, and a successor Depository for such series is not
appointed by the Issuer within 90 days after the Issuer receives such notice or
becomes aware of such condition, as the case may be, the Issuer will execute,
and, subject to Article 3 of the Indenture, the Trustee, upon written notice
from the Issuer, will authenticate and deliver the Debentures in definitive
registered form without coupons, in authorized denominations, and in an
aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Debenture
in exchange for such Global Debenture. In addition, the Issuer, in its sole
discretion, may at any time determine that the Debentures shall no longer be
represented by a Global Debenture. In such event the Issuer will execute, and
subject to Article 3 of the Indenture, the Trustee, upon receipt of an Officers'
Certificate evidencing such determination by the Issuer, will authenticate and
deliver the Debentures in definitive registered form without coupons, in
authorized denominations, and in an aggregate principal amount equal to the
principal amount of the Global Debenture in exchange for such Global Debenture.
Upon the exchange of the Global Debenture for such Debentures in definitive
registered form without coupons, in authorized denominations, the Global
Debenture shall be canceled by the Trustee. Such Debentures in definitive
registered form issued in exchange for the Global Debenture shall be registered
in such names and in such authorized denominations as the Depository, pursuant
to instructions from its direct or indirect participants or otherwise, shall
instruct the Trustee in writing. The Trustee shall deliver such registered
certificated Debentures in definitive form in exchange for the Global Debenture
to the Depository for delivery to the Persons in whose names such Debentures are
so registered.
SECTION 2.5. Interest.
(a) The Debentures will bear interest at the fixed rate of 9.16% per
annum (the "Coupon Rate") from the original date of issuance or from the most
recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided
for until the principal thereof becomes due and payable, and on any overdue
principal and (to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under
applicable law) on any overdue installment of interest at the Coupon Rate,
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compounded quarterly, payable (subject to the provisions of Article IV)
quarterly in arrears on March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each
year (each, an "Interest Payment Date"), commencing on December 31, 1996.
Interest on the Debentures (except defaulted interest) shall be paid to the
Persons in whose name the Debentures are registered, at the close of business on
the regular Record Date for such interest installment (including Debentures that
are cancelled after the Record Date and before the Interest Payment Date),
which, with respect to any Debentures of which the Property Trustee is the
Holder or with respect to a Global Debenture, shall be the close of business on
the Business Day next preceding that Interest Payment Date. Notwithstanding the
foregoing sentence, if the Preferred Securities are no longer in book-entry only
form or if, pursuant to the Indenture and this First Supplemental Indenture the
Debentures are not represented by a Global Debenture, the Issuer may select a
regular Record Date for such interest installment which shall conform to the
rules of any securities exchange, interdealer quotation system or other
organization on which the Debentures are listed and which shall be at least one
Business Day but less than 60 Business Days before the applicable Interest
Payment Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any interest that is payable at
maturity shall be payable to the Person to whom principal payable at maturity
shall be payable.
(b) The amount of interest payable for any period will be computed on
the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months, and for any period shorter
than a full quarter on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed in such
90-day quarter. In the event that any date on which interest is payable on the
Debentures is not a Business Day, then payment of the interest payable on such
date will be made on the next succeeding day which is a Business Day (and
without any interest or other payment in respect of any such delay), except
that, notwithstanding any provision of the Indenture to the contrary, if such
Business Day is in the next succeeding calendar year, such payment shall be made
on the immediately preceding Business Day, in each case with the same force and
effect as if made on such date.
(c) If, at any time while the Property Trustee is the Holder of any
Debentures, the Trust or the Property Trustee is required to pay any taxes,
duties, assessment or governmental charges of whatever nature (other than
withholding taxes) imposed by the United States, or any other taxing authority,
then, in any case, the Company will pay as additional interest ("Additional
Interest") on the Debentures held by the Property Trustee, such additional
amounts as shall be required so that the net amounts received and retained by
the Trust and the Property Trustee after paying such taxes, duties, assessments
or other governmental charges will be equal to the amounts the Trust and the
Property Trustee would have received had no such taxes, duties, assessments or
other government charges been imposed.
SECTION 2.6. Authorized Denominations.
The Debentures shall be issuable in denominations of $25 and integral
multiples of $25 in excess thereof.
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SECTION 2.7. Redemption.
The Debentures are not subject to conversion at the option of the
Holder. The Debentures are not subject to redemption at the option of the Holder
and are subject to redemption at the option of the Issuer or otherwise as
provided in Article III hereof.
SECTION 2.8 Defeasance.
The Debentures shall not be subject to the provisions of Article 4 of
the Indenture concerning the satisfaction and discharge of the Issuer's
indebtedness and obligations under the Indenture and the termination of certain
covenants of the Issuer under the Indenture.
SECTION 2.9 No Sinking Fund.
The Debentures shall not be entitled to the benefit of any sinking fund
or analogous provision.
SECTION 2.10 Depository.
The Depository Trust Company (or its nominee) shall act as the initial
Depository for any Global Debenture which may be issued pursuant to this First
Supplemental Indenture.
ARTICLE III
REDEMPTION OF THE DEBENTURES
SECTION 3.1. Special Event Redemption.
If a Special Event has occurred and is continuing then, notwithstanding
Section 3.2 but subject to the provisions of Article 10 of the Indenture, the
Issuer shall have the right, upon not less than 30 days' nor more than 60 days'
notice to the Holders of the Debentures, to redeem the Debentures, in whole (but
not in part), for cash within 90 days following the occurrence of such Special
Event at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount to be redeemed
plus any accrued and unpaid interest thereon (including Compounded Interest, if
any) to the date of such redemption (the "Redemption Price"). The Redemption
Price shall be paid prior to 12:00 noon, New York time, on the date of such
redemption or at such earlier time as the Issuer determines and specifies in the
notice of redemption, provided the Issuer shall deposit with the Trustee an
amount sufficient to pay the Redemption Price at least one hour prior to the
time such Redemption Price is to be paid.
SECTION 3.2. Optional Redemption.
Subject to the provisions of Section 3.3 and Article 10 of the
Indenture, the Issuer shall have the right to redeem the Debentures, in whole or
in part, at any time or from time to time, on or after November 19, 2001, at a
redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount to be redeemed plus any
accrued and unpaid interest thereon, (including Compounded Interest,
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if any), to the date of such redemption (the "Optional Redemption Price"). Any
redemption pursuant to this paragraph will be made upon not less than 30 days
nor more than 60 days notice to the Holder of the Debentures, at the Optional
Redemption Price. The Optional Redemption Price shall be paid prior to 12:00
noon, New York time, on the date of such redemption or at such earlier time as
the Issuer determines and specifies in the notice of redemption, provided that
the Issuer shall deposit with the Trustee an amount sufficient to pay the
Optional Redemption Price at least one hour prior to the time, on the date such
Optional Redemption Price is to be paid.
SECTION 3.3. Partial Redemption.
(a) If a partial redemption of the Debentures would result in the
delisting of the Preferred Securities issued by the Trust from any national
securities exchange, interdealer quotation system or other organization on which
the Preferred Securities are then listed, the Issuer shall not be permitted to
effect such partial redemption and may only redeem the Debentures in whole.
(b) The Issuer may not redeem fewer than all of the Outstanding
Debentures unless all accrued and unpaid interest on the Debentures has been
paid as of the Interest Payment Date next preceding the Redemption Date.
(c) If the Debentures are only partially redeemed pursuant to Section
3.2, the Debentures will be redeemed pro rata or by lot or by any other method
utilized by the Trustee; provided that if at the time of redemption the
Debentures are registered as a Global Debenture, the Depository shall determine,
in accordance with its procedures, the principal amount of such Debentures
credited to each of its participant accounts to be redeemed.
ARTICLE IV
EXTENSION OF INTEREST PAYMENT PERIOD
SECTION 4.1. Extension of Interest Payment Period.
The Issuer shall have the right, at any time and from time to time
during the term of the Debentures, to defer payments of interest on the
Debentures by extending the interest payment period of the Debentures for a
period not exceeding 20 consecutive quarters (the "Extended Interest Payment
Period"), during which Extended Interest Payment Period no interest shall be due
and payable; provided that no Extended Interest Payment Period may extend beyond
the Maturity Date. To the extent permitted by applicable law, interest, the
payment of which has been deferred because of the extension of the interest
payment period pursuant to this Section 4.1, will bear interest thereon at the
Coupon Rate compounded quarterly for each quarter of the Extended Interest
Payment Period ("Compounded Interest"). At the end of the Extended Interest
Payment Period, the Issuer shall pay all interest accrued and unpaid on the
Debentures, including any Compounded Interest (all such interest the "Deferred
Interest") that shall be payable to the Holders of the Debentures in whose names
the Subordinated Debentures are registered in the Register as of the Record Date
relating to the Interest Payment Date that corresponds to the end
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of such Extended Interest Payment Period. Before the termination of any Extended
Interest Payment Period, the Issuer may further extend such period, provided
that such period together with all such previous and further extensions thereof
shall not exceed 20 consecutive quarters or extend beyond the Maturity Date.
Upon the termination of any Extended Interest Payment Period and upon the
payment of all Deferred Interest then due, the Issuer may commence a new
Extended Interest Payment Period, subject to the foregoing requirements. No
interest shall be due and payable during an Extended Interest Payment Period,
except at the end thereof, but the Issuer may prepay at any time all or any
portion of the Deferred Interest accrued during an Extended Interest Payment
Period.
SECTION 4.2. Notice of Extension.
(a) If the Property Trustee is the only registered Holder of the
Debentures at the time the Issuer selects an Extended Interest Payment Period,
the Issuer shall give written notice to the Trustee, the Regular Trustees and
the Property Trustee of its selection of such Extended Interest Payment Period
one Business Day before the earlier of (i) the next succeeding date on which
Distributions on the Trust Securities are payable, or (ii) the date the Regular
Trustees, on behalf of the Trust, are required to give notice of the record
date, or the date such Distributions are payable, to the New York Stock Exchange
or other applicable self-regulatory organization or to holders of the Preferred
Securities.
(b) If the Property Trustee is not the only Holder of the Debentures at
the time the Issuer selects an Extended Interest Payment Period, the Issuer
shall give the Trustee, the Property Trustee and the Holders of the Debentures
written notice of its selection of such Extended Interest Payment Period 10
Business Days before the earlier of (i) the next succeeding Interest Payment
Date, or (ii) the date the Issuer is required to give notice of the record or
payment date of such interest payment to the New York Stock Exchange or other
applicable self-regulatory organization or to Holders of the Debentures.
(c) The quarter in which any notice is given pursuant to paragraphs (a)
or (b) of this Section 4.2 shall be counted as one of the 20 quarters permitted
in the maximum Extended Interest Payment Period permitted under Section 4.1.
SECTION 4.3. Limitation of Transactions.
If the Issuer shall exercise its right to defer payment of interest as
provided in Section 4.1, during any Extended Interest Payment Period (a) the
Issuer shall not declare or pay any dividends on, make any distributions with
respect to, or redeem, purchase, acquire or make a liquidation payment with
respect to, any of its capital stock, (b) the Issuer shall not make any payment
of interest, principal or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any
debt securities issued by the Issuer that rank pari passu with or junior to the
Debentures and (c) the Issuer shall not make guarantee payments with respect to
the foregoing (other than pursuant to the Securities Guarantees); provided,
however, that notwithstanding the restriction in clause (a) above, the Issuer
may (i) declare and pay a stock dividend where the dividend stock is the same
stock as that on which the dividend is being paid and (ii) purchase or acquire
shares of its common stock in connection with the satisfaction by the Issuer of
its obligations under any employee benefit plans.
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ARTICLE V
EXPENSES
SECTION 5.1. Payment of Expenses.
In connection with the offering, sale and issuance of the Debentures to
the Property Trustee in connection with the sale of the Trust Securities by the
Trust and during the existence of the Trust, the Issuer, in its capacity as
borrower with respect to the Debentures, shall:
(a) pay all costs and expenses relating to the offering, sale and
issuance of the Debentures, including commissions to the underwriters payable
pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement and compensation of the Trustee under the
Indenture in accordance with the provisions of Section 6.9 of the Indenture;
(b) pay other debts and obligations of the Trust (other than with
respect to the Trust Securities) and all costs and expenses of the Trust
(including, but not limited to, costs and expenses relating to the organization,
maintenance and dissolution of the Trust, the offering, sale and issuance of the
Trust Securities (including commissions to the underwriters payable pursuant to
the Pricing Agreement), the retention of the Regular Trustees, reimbursement of
the Regular Trustees as provided in the Declaration, the fees and expenses of
the Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee, the trustee under the Preferred
Securities Guarantee and the Common Securities Guarantee, the costs and expenses
relating to the operation of the Trust, including without limitation, costs and
expenses of accountants, attorneys, statistical or bookkeeping services,
expenses for printing and engraving and computing or accounting equipment,
paying agent(s), registrar(s), transfer agent(s), duplicating, travel and
telephone and other telecommunications expenses and costs and expenses incurred
in connection with the acquisition, financing and disposition of Trust assets,
and the fees and expenses related to the enforcement by the Property Trustee of
the rights of the holders of the Preferred Securities) and all other amounts
payable by the Issuer pursuant to the Declaration;
(c) be primarily liable for any indemnification obligations arising
with respect to the Declaration; and
(d) pay any and all taxes, duties, assessments or governmental charges
of whatever nature (other than withholding taxes) imposed on the Trust or its
assets and all liabilities, costs and expenses of the Trust with respect to such
taxes, duties, assessments or governmental charges.
SECTION 5.2. Payment Upon Resignation or Removal.
Upon termination of this First Supplemental Indenture or the Indenture
or the removal or resignation of the Trustee pursuant to Section 6.10 of the
Indenture, the Issuer shall pay to the Trustee all amounts due to the Trustee
accrued to the date of such termination, removal or resignation. Upon
termination of the Declaration or the removal or resignation of the Delaware
Trustee or the Property Trustee, as the case may be, pursuant to Section 5.7 of
the Declaration,
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the Issuer shall pay to the Delaware Trustee or the Property Trustee, as the
case may be, all amounts due to such trustee accrued to the date of such
termination, removal or resignation.
ARTICLE VI
COVENANT TO LIST ON EXCHANGE
SECTION 6.1. Listing on an Exchange.
If the Debentures are to be distributed to the holders of the Preferred
Securities as described in Section 2.4(a), the Issuer will, if the Debentures
are not already so listed, use its best efforts to list such Subordinated
Debentures on the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. or on such other exchange or
other organization as the Preferred Securities are then listed.
ARTICLE VII
FORM OF DEBENTURE
SECTION 7.1. Form of Debenture.
The Debentures and the Trustee's Certificate of Authentication to be
endorsed thereon are to be substantially in the following forms:
(IF THE DEBENTURE IS TO BE IN A GLOBAL DEBENTURE, INSERT - This
Debenture is in Global form within the meaning of the Indenture hereinafter
referred to and is registered in the name of a Depository or a nominee of a
Depository. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for securities
in certificated form in the limited circumstances described in the indenture,
this security may not be transferred except as a whole by the depository to a
nominee of the Depository or by a nominee of the Depository to the Depository or
another nominee of the Depository or by the Depository or any such nominee to a
successor Depository or a nominee of such successor Depository.
Unless this Debenture is presented by an authorized representative of
The Depository Trust Company, a New York corporation ("DTC"), to the issuer or
its agent for registration of transfer, exchange or payment, and any Debenture
issued is registered in the name of Cede & Co. or such other name as requested
by an authorized representative of DTC (and any payment hereon is made to Cede &
Co. or to such other entity as is requested by an authorized representative of
DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO
ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL since the registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an
interest herein.)
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CONSECO, INC.
9.16% SUBORDINATED DEFERRABLE INTEREST DEBENTURE
No. ____ DUE NOVEMBER 30, 2026 REGISTERED
$______
Conseco, Inc., an Indiana corporation (the "Company", which term
includes any successor corporation under the Indenture hereinafter referred to),
for value received, hereby promises to pay to______ , or registered assigns, the
principal sum of______ Dollars on November 30, 2026 (or on such date that is no
earlier than November 19, 2001 or such date that is no later than the earlier
of: (i) November 30, 2045, or (ii) the Interest Deduction Date, if the Company
elects to shorten or extend the Maturity Date as further described herein), and
to pay interest on said principal sum from November 19, 1996, or from the most
recent interest payment date (each such date, an "Interest Payment Date") to
which interest has been paid or duly provided for, quarterly (subject to
deferral as set forth herein) in arrears on March 31, June 30, September 30 and
December 31 of each year commencing December 31, 1996, at the rate of 9.16% per
annum until the principal hereof shall have become due and payable, and on any
overdue principal and (without duplication and to the extent that payment of
such interest is enforceable under applicable law) on any overdue installment of
interest at the same rate per annum compounded quarterly. The amount of interest
payable on any Interest Payment Date shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day
year of twelve 30-day months, and for any period shorter than a full quarter on
the basis of the actual number of days elapsed in such 90-day quarter. In the
event that any date on which interest is payable on this Debenture is not a
Business Day, then payment of interest payable on such date will be made on the
next succeeding day that is a Business Day (and without any interest or other
payment in respect of any such delay), except that, if such Business Day is in
the next succeeding calendar year, such payment shall be made on the immediately
preceding Business Day, in each case with the same force and effect as if made
on such date. The interest installment so payable, and punctually paid or duly
provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in the Indenture,
be paid to the person in whose name this Debenture is registered at the close of
business on the regular record date for such interest installment, which shall
be the close of business on the Business Day next preceding such Interest
Payment Date. [If the Preferred Securities are no longer represented by a global
certificate or if the Debentures are not represented by a global debenture -
which shall be the close of business on the Business Day next preceding such
Interest payment.] Notwithstanding the foregoing, any interest that is payable
on the Maturity Date shall be payable to the Person to whom principal payable at
the Maturity Date shall be payable. Any such interest installment not punctually
paid or duly provided for shall forthwith cease to be payable to the registered
Holders on such regular record date and may be paid to the Person in whose name
this Debenture (or one or more Predecessor Security) is registered at the close
of business on a special record date to be fixed in accordance with the
provisions of Section 3.7(b) of the Indenture. The principal of and the interest
on this Debenture shall be payable at the office or agency of the Trustee
maintained for that purpose in any coin or currency of the United States of
America that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and
private debts; provided, however, that payment of
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interest may be made at the option of the Company by check mailed to the
registered Holder at such address as shall appear in the Register.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as the Holder of this Debenture is the
Property Trustee, the payment of the principal of and interest on this Debenture
will be made by wire transfer in immediately available funds at such place and
to such account as may be designated by the Property Trustee. Payment of
principal of the Debentures will only be made upon surrender of the Debentures
to the Trustee or Paying Agent.
The indebtedness evidenced by this Debenture is, to the extent provided
in the Indenture, subordinate and junior in right of payment to the prior
payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness, and this Debenture is issued subject
to the provisions of the Indenture with respect thereto. Each Holder of this
Debenture, by accepting the same, (a) agrees to and shall be bound by such
provisions, (b) authorizes and directs the Trustee on his or her behalf to take
such action as may be necessary or appropriate to acknowledge or effectuate the
subordination so provided and (c) appoints the Trustee his or her
attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes. Each Holder hereof, by his or
her acceptance hereof, hereby waives all notice of the acceptance of the
subordination provisions contained herein and in the Indenture by each holder of
Senior Indebtedness, whether now outstanding or hereafter incurred, and waives
reliance by each such holder upon said provisions.
This Debenture shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture
hereinafter referred to, be valid or become obligatory for any purpose until the
Certificate of Authentication hereon shall have been signed by or on behalf of
the Trustee.
The provisions of this Debenture are continued on the reverse side
hereof and such continued provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect
as though fully set forth at this place.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly
executed under its corporate seal.
Dated: _________________, 1996.
CONSECO, INC.
By: _________________________________
By: _________________________________
SEAL
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(FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION)
CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
This is one of the Debentures referred to in the within-mentioned
Indenture.
FLEET NATIONAL BANK, as Trustee
By: ______________________________
Authorized Signatory
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(FORM OF REVERSE OF DEBENTURE)
This Debenture is one of a duly authorized series of Debentures of the
Company (herein sometimes referred to as the "Debentures"), specified in the
Indenture, all issued or to be issued in one or more series under and pursuant
to an Indenture dated as of November 14, 1996, duly executed and delivered
between the Company and Fleet National Bank, as Trustee (the "Trustee"), as
supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture dated as of November 14, 1996,
between the Company and the Trustee (the Indenture as so supplemented, the
"Indenture"), to which a description of the rights, limitations of rights,
obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Trustee, the Company and
the Holders of the Debentures, and to all of which provisions the Holder of this
Debenture by acceptance hereof, assents and agrees. By the terms of the
Indenture, the Debentures are issuable in series that may vary as to amount,
date of maturity, rate of interest and in other respects as provided in the
Indenture. This series of Debentures is limited in aggregate principal amount as
specified in said Supplemental Indenture.
Except as provided in the next paragraph with respect to the occurrence
of a Special Event, the Debentures may not be redeemed by the Company prior
November 19, 2001. The Company shall have the right to redeem this Debenture at
the option of the Company, without premium or penalty, in whole or in part at
any time and from time to time on or after November 19, 2001 (an "Optional
Redemption"), at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount plus
any accrued and unpaid interest, including any Compounded Interest, if any, to
the date of such redemption (the "Optional Redemption Price"). Any redemption
pursuant to this paragraph will be made upon not less than 30 nor more than 60
days' notice at the Optional Redemption Price.
If, at any time, a Tax Event or an Investment Company Event (each, as
defined below, a "Special Event") shall occur and be continuing, the Company
shall have the right, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days' notice, to
redeem the Debentures in whole (but not in part) for cash at the Optional
Redemption Price within 90 days following the occurrence of such Special Event.
"Tax Event" means that the Regular Trustees shall have received an
opinion of independent tax counsel experienced in such matters to the effect
that, as a result of (a) any amendment to, or change (including any announced
prospective change) in, the laws (or any regulations thereunder) of the United
States or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein, or
(b) any official administrative pronouncement or judicial decision interpreting
or applying such laws or regulations, which amendment, or change is effective or
such pronouncement or decision is announced on or after the date of original
issuance of the Preferred Securities, there is more than an insubstantial risk
that (i) the Trust is, or will be within 90 days after the date thereof, subject
to United States federal income tax with respect to interest accrued or received
on the Debentures, (ii) the Trust is, or will be within 90 days after the date
thereof, subject to more than a de minimis amount of taxes, duties or other
governmental charges, or (iii) interest payable to the Trust on the Debentures
is not, or within 90 days of the date thereof, will not be deductible, in whole
or in part, by the Company for United States federal income tax purposes.
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"Investment Company Event" means that the Regular Trustees shall have
received an opinion of independent counsel experienced in practice under the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), to the effect that,
as a result of the occurrence of a change in law or regulation or a change in
interpretation or application of law or regulation by any legislative body,
court, governmental agency or regulatory authority (a "Change in 1940 Act Law"),
there is more than an insubstantial risk that the Trust is or will be considered
an "investment company" which is required to be registered under the 1940 Act,
which Change in 1940 Act Law becomes effective on or after the date of original
issuance of the Preferred Securities.
If the Debentures are only partially redeemed by the Company pursuant
to an Optional Redemption, the Debentures will be redeemed pro rata or by lot or
in some other equitable manner determined by the Trustee. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, if a partial redemption of the Debentures would result in the
delisting of the Preferred Securities by any national securities exchange or
other organization on which the Preferred Securities are then listed, the
Company shall not be permitted to effect such partial redemption and will only
redeem the Debentures in whole.
In the event of redemption of this Debenture in part only, a new
Debenture or Debentures of this series (for the unredeemed portion hereof) will
be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof.
In case an Event of Default, as defined in the Indenture, shall have
occurred and be continuing, the principal of all of the Debentures may be
declared, and upon such declaration shall become, due and payable, in the
manner, with the effect and subject to the conditions and limitations provided
in the Indenture.
The Indenture contains provisions permitting the Company and the
Trustee, with the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in
aggregate principal amount of the Debentures of each series affected at the time
outstanding, as defined in the Indenture, to execute supplemental indentures for
the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating
any of the provisions of the Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of
modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of the Debentures; provided,
however, that no such supplemental indentures shall (i) change the Stated
Maturity of the principal or any installment of principal or any installment of
interest (other than as contemplated herein), or reduce the amount or principal
or interest thereon or any premium payable upon redemption or repayment thereof,
or change the Place of Payment or currency in which principal or any interest is
payable, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any
payment of the principal and any premium and interest without the consent of the
Holder of each Debenture so affected; (ii) reduce the aforesaid percentage of
Debentures, the Holders of which are required to consent to any such
supplemental indenture, without the consent of the Holders of each Debenture
then outstanding and affected thereby; (iii) change any obligation of the
Company to maintain an office or agency in the Place of Payment; or (iv) modify
any of the above provisions. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting
the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures of any
series at the time outstanding affected thereby, on behalf of all of the Holders
of the Debentures of such series, to waive any past default in the performance
of any of the covenants contained in the Indenture, or established
18
<PAGE>
pursuant to the Indenture with respect to such series, and its consequences,
except a default in the payment of the principal or interest on the Debentures
or a default in respect of a covenant or provision of the Indenture or the
Debentures of such series which cannot be modified or amended without the
consent of each Holder of Debentures of such series. Any such consent or waiver
by the registered Holder of this Debenture (unless revoked as provided in the
Indenture) shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future
Holders and owners of this Debenture and of any Debentures issued in exchange
herefor or in place hereof (whether by registration of transfer or otherwise),
irrespective of whether or not any notation of such consent or waiver is made
upon this Debenture.
No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Debenture
or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which
is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and interest on this
Debenture at the time and place and at the rate and in the money herein
prescribed.
The Company shall have the right at any time during the term of the
Debentures from time to time to extend the interest payment period of such
Debentures for up to 20 consecutive quarters not to extend beyond the Maturity
Date of the Debentures (an "Extended Interest Payment Period"), at the end of
which period the Company shall pay all interest then accrued and unpaid
(together with interest thereon at the rate specified for the Debentures to the
extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law). In
the event that the Company exercises the right to defer interest payments, then,
prior to the payment of all accrued interest on outstanding Debentures, (a) the
Company shall not declare or pay dividends on, or make a distribution with
respect to, or redeem, purchase or acquire, or make a liquidation payment with
respect to, any of its capital stock, (b) the Company shall not make any payment
of interest, principal or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any
debt securities issued by the Company that rank pari passu with or junior to the
Debentures and (c) the Company shall not make any guarantee payments with
respect to the foregoing (other than pursuant to the Securities Guarantees);
provided, however, that restriction (a) above does not apply to (i) any stock
dividends paid by the Company where the dividend stock is the same stock as that
on which the dividend is being paid and (ii) purchases or acquisitions of shares
of Company Common Stock in connection with the satisfaction by the Company of
its obligation under any employee benefit plans. Before the termination of any
such Extended Interest Payment Period, the Company may further extend such
Extended Interest Payment Period, provided that such Extended Interest Payment
Period together with all such previous and further extensions thereof shall not
exceed 20 consecutive quarters and shall not extend beyond the Maturity Date of
the Debentures. At the termination of any such Extended Interest Payment Period
and upon the payment of all accrued and unpaid interest and any additional
amounts then due, the Company may commence a new Extended Interest Payment
Period.
At any time the Company will have the right to dissolve the Trust and
cause the Debentures to be distributed to the holders of the Trust Securities in
liquidation of the Trust. If the Company elects to dissolve the Trust and
thereby causes the Debentures to be distributed to the holders of the Trust
Securities, the Company shall have the right to (a) shorten the Maturity Date to
any date that is not earlier than November 19, 2001 and (b) to extend the
Maturity Date to a date no later than the earlier of (i) November 30, 2045, or
(ii) the Interest Deduction Date, provided the conditions in clauses (i) through
(vi) below are met on the date
19
<PAGE>
the Company exercises such right and on the Maturity Date in effect prior to
such proposed extension (the "Preceding Maturity Date"). In addition, the
Company shall have the right, which must be exercised at least 90 days prior to
the Maturity Date then in effect, to extend the Maturity Date for one or more
periods, but in no event to a date later than the earlier of (i) November 30,
2045, or (ii) the Interest Deduction Date, provided that the Company must
satisfy the following conditions on the date it exercises such right and on the
Preceding Maturity Date: (i) the Company is not in bankruptcy or otherwise
insolvent, (ii) the Company is not in default on any Debentures issued to the
Trust or any trustee of the Trust in connection with the issuance of Trust
Securities by the Trust, (iii) the Company has made timely payments on the
Debentures for the immediately preceding six quarters without deferrals, (iv)
the Trust is not in arrears on payment of distributions on the Trust Securities,
(v) the Debentures or the Preferred Securities are rated investment grade by a
nationally recognized statistical rating organization, and (vi) the final
maturity of the Debentures is no later than November 30, 2045. In the event the
conditions specified in clauses (i) through (vi) above are not satisfied on the
date of exercise of the right to extend the Maturity Date and on the Preceding
Maturity Date, then the Maturity Date of the Debentures shall be the Preceding
Maturity Date. In no event shall an extended Maturity Date be later than the
Interest Deduction Date even if the Maturity Date has previously been extended
to a date beyond the Interest Deduction Date.
As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein
set forth, this Debenture is transferable by the registered Holder hereof on the
Register of the Company, upon surrender of this Debenture for registration of
transfer at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee accompanied by a written
instrument or instruments of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company or the
Trustee duly executed by the registered Holder hereof or his attorney duly
authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Debentures of authorized
denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount and series will be
issued to the designated transferee or transferees. No service charge will be
made for any such transfer, but the Company may require payment of a sum
sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in relation
thereto.
Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of this
Debenture, the Company, the Trustee, any paying agent and any Registrar may deem
and treat the registered holder hereof as the absolute owner hereof (whether or
not this Debenture shall be overdue and notwithstanding any notice of ownership
or writing hereon made by anyone other than the Registrar) for the purpose of
receiving payment of or on account of the principal hereof and interest due
hereon and for all other purposes, and neither the Company nor the Trustee nor
any paying agent nor any Registrar shall be affected by any notice to the
contrary.
No recourse shall be had for the payment of the principal of or the
interest on this Debenture or for any claim based hereon, or otherwise in
respect hereof, or based on or in respect of the Indenture, against any
incorporator, stockholder, officer or director, past, present of future, as
such, of the Company or of any predecessor or successor corporation, whether by
virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any
assessment or penalty or otherwise, all such liability being, by the acceptance
hereof and as part of the consideration for the issuance hereof, expressly
waived and released.
20
<PAGE>
[The Debentures of this series are issuable only in registered form
without coupons in denominations of $25 and any integral multiple thereof,
provided that this Global Debenture is exchangeable for Debentures in definitive
form only under certain limited circumstances set forth in the Indenture.] As
provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations herein and therein
set forth, Debentures of this series so issued are exchangeable for a like
aggregate principal amount of Debentures of this series of a different
authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same. All
terms used in this Debenture that are defined in the Indenture shall have the
meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.
The Company and the Holder agree (i) that for United States federal,
state and local tax purposes it is intended that the Debenture constitute
indebtedness and (ii) to file all United States federal, state and local tax
returns and reports on such basis (unless the Company or the Holder, as the case
may be, shall have received an opinion of independent nationally recognized tax
counsel to the effect that as a result of a change in law after the date of the
issuance of the Debenture the Company or the Holder, as the case may be, is
prohibited from filing on such basis).
ARTICLE VIII
ORIGINAL ISSUE OF DEBENTURES
SECTION 8.1. Original Issue of Debentures.
Debentures in the aggregate principal amount of $283,600,000 may, upon
execution of this First Supplemental Indenture, be executed by the Issuer and
delivered to the Trustee for authentication, and the Trustee shall thereupon
authenticate and deliver such Debentures to or upon the written order of the
Issuer, signed by its Chairman, its President, or any Vice President and its
Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer or its Secretary or an Assistant Secretary,
without any further action by the Issuer.
SECTION 8.2. Reports by the Trustee.
Up until and including the Maturity Date, the Trustee shall, in respect
of each applicable date, make such reports within such time periods as are
required to be made by the Trustee under the Trust Indenture Act and the
Indenture.
21
<PAGE>
ARTICLE IX
COVENANTS
SECTION 9.1. Covenants as to Trust.
In the event Debentures are issued and sold to the Property Trustee in
connection with the issuance of Trust Securities by the Trust, for so long as
the Trust Securities remain outstanding, the Issuer will (i) maintain 100%
direct or indirect ownership of the Common Securities of the Trust; provided,
however, that any permitted successor of the Issuer under the Indenture may
succeed to the Issuer's ownership of the Common Securities, (ii) not voluntary
dissolve, windup or terminate the Trust, except in connection with the
distribution of Debentures upon a Dissolution Event or otherwise, and in
connection with certain mergers, consolidations or amalgamations permitted by
the Declaration, (iii) timely perform its duties as sponsor of the Trust, (iv)
use its reasonable efforts to cause the Trust (a) to remain a business trust,
except in connection with the distribution of Debentures as provided in the
Declaration, the redemption of the Trust Securities or in connection with
certain mergers, consolidations or amalgamations as permitted by the
Declaration, and (b) otherwise continue not to be treated as an association
taxable as a corporation or partnership for United States federal income tax
purposes, and (v) use its reasonable efforts to cause each holder of Trust
Securities to be treated as owning an individual beneficial interest in the
Debentures. This covenant is intended solely for the benefit of the Holders of
the Debentures issued pursuant to this First Supplemental Indenture and shall
not be applicable to the Securities of any other series issued pursuant to the
Indenture.
ARTICLE X
DEFAULT
SECTION 10.1. Additional Event of Default.
There is hereby established as an additional Event of Default (as
contemplated by Section 5.1(7) of the Indenture) the following:
In the event the Debentures are issued and sold to
the Property Trustee in connection with the issuance of Trust
Securities by the Trust, the Trust shall have voluntarily or
involuntarily dissolved, wound-up its business or otherwise
terminated its existence except in connection with (i) the
distribution of the Debentures to holders of Trust Securities
in liquidation or redemption of their interests in the Trust,
(ii) the redemption of all or part of the outstanding Trust
Securities of the Trust or (iii) certain mergers,
consolidations or amalgamations of the Trust, each as
permitted by the Declaration of the Trust.
The foregoing Event of Default is intended solely for the benefit of
the Holders of the Debentures issued pursuant to this First Supplemental
Indenture and shall not be applicable to any other series of Securities
heretofore or hereafter issued pursuant to the Indenture.
22
<PAGE>
SECTION 10.2. Limitations on Waivers and Consents.
(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Section 5.7
of the Indenture, if the Debentures are held by the Trust or by the Property
Trustee, a waiver of a past default or any modification to a waiver of a past
default shall not be effective until the holders of a majority in liquidation
amount of Trust Securities shall have consented to such waiver or modification;
provided, however, that if the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding
Debenture is required in connection with such waiver or modification, such
waiver or modification shall not be effective until each holder of the Trust
Securities shall have consented to such waiver or modification.
(b) Except for any supplemental indenture provided under Section 8.1 of
the Indenture and notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Section
3.8 of the Indenture, if the Debentures are held by the Trust or by the Property
Trustee, a supplemental indenture shall not be effective until the holders of a
majority in liquidation amount of Trust Securities shall have consented to such
supplemental indenture; provided, however, that if the consent of the Holder of
each Outstanding Debenture is required in connection with a supplemental
indenture, such supplemental indenture shall not be effective until each holder
of the Trust Securities shall have consented to such supplemental indenture.
SECTION 10.3. Acknowledgment of Rights.
The Issuer acknowledges that, with respect to any Debentures held
either by the Trust or by the Property Trustee, if the Property Trustee fails to
enforce its rights under the Indenture, this First Supplemental Indenture or the
Debentures as the Holder of the Debentures held as the assets of the Trust, any
record holder of Preferred Securities may institute legal proceedings directly
against the Issuer to enforce the Property Trustee's rights under the Indenture,
this First Supplemental Indenture or the Debentures without first instituting
any legal proceedings against such Property Trustee or any other person or
entity. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Event of Default under the
Declaration has occurred and is continuing and such event is attributable to the
failure of the Issuer to pay interest or principal on the Debentures on the date
such interest or principal is otherwise payable (or in the case of redemption,
on the applicable redemption date), the Issuer acknowledges that a record holder
of Preferred Securities may institute a proceeding directly against the Issuer
for enforcement of payment to the record holder of the Preferred Securities of
the principal of or interest on the Debentures on or after the respective due
date specified in the Debentures, and the amount of payment will be based on the
holder's pro rata share of the amount due and owing on all the Preferred
Securities.
23
<PAGE>
ARTICLE XI
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 11.1. Ratification of Indenture.
The Indenture, as supplemented by this First Supplemental Indenture, is
in all respects ratified and confirmed, and this First Supplemental Indenture
shall be deemed part of the Indenture in the manner and to the extent herein and
therein provided.
SECTION 11.2. Trustee Not Responsible for Recitals.
The recitals contained herein and in the Debentures, except for the
Trustee's certificate of authentication, shall be taken as the statements of the
Issuer and not of the Trustee, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for the
correctness of the same. The Trustee makes no representation as to the validity
or sufficiency of this First Supplemental Indenture or of the Debentures.
SECTION 11.3. Governing Law.
This First Supplemental Indenture and each Debenture shall be deemed to
be a contract made under the laws of the State of New York, and for all purposes
shall be construed in accordance with the laws of said State, except as may
otherwise be required by mandatory provisions of law.
SECTION 11.4. Separability.
In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this First
Supplemental Indenture or in the Debentures shall for any reason be held to be
invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or
unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of this First
Supplemental Indenture or of the Debentures, but this First Supplemental
Indenture and the Debentures shall be construed as if such invalid or illegal or
unenforceable provision had never been contained herein or therein.
SECTION 11.5. Counterparts.
This First Supplemental Indenture may be executed in any number of
counterparts each of which shall be an original; but such counterparts shall
together constitute but one and the same instrument.
SECTION 11.6. Effect of Headings.
The Article and Section headings herein and the Table of Contents
hereto are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.
G:\LEGAL\RRD\PUBLOFF\21STSUP.IND
24
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this First
Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed as of the day and year first above
written.
CONSECO, INC.
By:/s/ ROLLIN M. DICK
------------------
Name: Rollin M. Dick
Title: Executive Vice President
FLEET NATIONAL BANK, as Trustee
By:/s/ MICHAEL HOPKINS
----------------------
Name:Michael Hopkins
Title:Vice President
G:\LEGAL\RRD\PUBLOFF\21STSUP.IND
25
CONSECO, INC.
9.16% SUBORDINATED DEFERRABLE INTEREST DEBENTURE
No. 1 DUE NOVEMBER 30, 2026 $283,600,000
Conseco, Inc., an Indiana corporation (the "Company", which term
includes any successor corporation under the Indenture hereinafter referred to),
for value received, hereby promises to pay to FLEET NATIONAL BANK, as Property
Trustee under that certain Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust, dated as
of November 14, 1996, among the Trustees of Conseco Financing Trust I named
therein, the Company and the holders from time to time of undivided beneficial
interests in the assets of Conseco Financing Trust I, or registered assigns, the
principal sum of Two Hundred Eighty-three Million Six Hundred Thousand Dollars
($283,600,000) on November 30, 2026 (or on such date that is no earlier than
November 19, 2001 or such date that is no later than the earlier of: (i)
November 30, 2045, or (ii) the Interest Deduction Date, if the Company elects to
shorten or extend the Maturity Date as further described herein), and to pay
interest on said principal sum from November 19, 1996, or from the most recent
interest payment date (each such date, an "Interest Payment Date") to which
interest has been paid or duly provided for, quarterly (subject to deferral as
set forth herein) in arrears on March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31
of each year commencing December 31, 1996, at the rate of 9.16% per annum until
the principal hereof shall have become due and payable, and on any overdue
principal and (without duplication and to the extent that payment of such
interest is enforceable under applicable law) on any overdue installment of
interest at the same rate per annum compounded quarterly. The amount of interest
payable on any Interest Payment Date shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day
year of twelve 30-day months, and for any period shorter than a full quarter on
the basis of the actual number of days elapsed in such 90-day quarter. In the
event that any date on which interest is payable on this Debenture is not a
Business Day, then payment of interest payable on such date will be made on the
next succeeding day that is a Business Day (and without any interest or other
payment in respect of any such delay), except that, if such Business Day is in
the next succeeding calendar year, such payment shall be made on the immediately
preceding Business Day, in each case with the same force and effect as if made
on such date. The interest installment so payable, and punctually paid or duly
provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in the Indenture,
be paid to the person in whose name this Debenture is registered at the close of
business on the regular record date for such interest installment, which shall
be the close of business on the Business Day next preceding such Interest
Payment Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any interest that is payable on the
Maturity Date shall be payable to the Person to whom principal payable at the
Maturity Date shall be payable. Any such interest installment not punctually
paid or duly provided for shall forthwith cease to be payable to the
<PAGE>
registered Holders on such regular record date and may be paid to the Person in
whose name this Debenture (or one or more Predecessor Security) is registered at
the close of business on a special record date to be fixed in accordance with
the provisions of Section 3.7(b) of the Indenture. The principal of and the
interest on this Debenture shall be payable at the office or agency of the
Trustee maintained for that purpose in any coin or currency of the United States
of America that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and
private debts; provided, however, that payment of interest may be made at the
option of the Company by check mailed to the registered Holder at such address
as shall appear in the Register. Notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as the
Holder of this Debenture is the Property Trustee, the payment of the principal
of and interest on this Debenture will be made by wire transfer in immediately
available funds at such place and to such account as may be designated by the
Property Trustee. Payment of principal of the Debentures will only be made upon
surrender of the Debentures to the Trustee or Paying Agent.
The indebtedness evidenced by this Debenture is, to the extent provided
in the Indenture, subordinate and junior in right of payment to the prior
payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness, and this Debenture is issued subject
to the provisions of the Indenture with respect thereto. Each Holder of this
Debenture, by accepting the same, (a) agrees to and shall be bound by such
provisions, (b) authorizes and directs the Trustee on his or her behalf to take
such action as may be necessary or appropriate to acknowledge or effectuate the
subordination so provided and (c) appoints the Trustee his or her
attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes. Each Holder hereof, by his or
her acceptance hereof, hereby waives all notice of the acceptance of the
subordination provisions contained herein and in the Indenture by each holder of
Senior Indebtedness, whether now outstanding or hereafter incurred, and waives
reliance by each such holder upon said provisions.
This Debenture shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture
hereinafter referred to, be valid or become obligatory for any purpose until the
Certificate of Authentication hereon shall have been signed by or on behalf of
the Trustee.
The provisions of this Debenture are continued on the reverse side
hereof and such continued provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect
as though fully set forth at this place.
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly
executed under its corporate seal.
Dated: November 19, 1996.
CONSECO, INC.
By:/s/ STEPHEN C. HILBERT
------------------------------
Stephen C. Hilbert, Chairman of
the Board, President and Chief
Executive Officer
SEAL
Attest:
By:/s/ LAWRENCE W. INLOW
----------------------------
Lawrence W. Inlow, Secretary
CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
This is one of the Debentures referred to in the within-mentioned
Indenture.
FLEET NATIONAL BANK, as Trustee
By:/s/ MICHAEL HOPKINS
--------------------
Authorized Signatory
<PAGE>
This Debenture is one of a duly authorized series of Debentures of the
Company (herein sometimes referred to as the "Debentures"), specified in the
Indenture, all issued or to be issued in one or more series under and pursuant
to an Indenture dated as of November 14, 1996, duly executed and delivered
between the Company and Fleet National Bank, as Trustee (the "Trustee"), as
supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture dated as of November 14, 1996,
between the Company and the Trustee (the Indenture as so supplemented, the
"Indenture"), to which a description of the rights, limitations of rights,
obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Trustee, the Company and
the Holders of the Debentures, and to all of which provisions the Holder of this
Debenture by acceptance hereof, assents and agrees. By the terms of the
Indenture, the Debentures are issuable in series that may vary as to amount,
date of maturity, rate of interest and in other respects as provided in the
Indenture. This series of Debentures is limited in aggregate principal amount as
specified in said Supplemental Indenture.
Except as provided in the next paragraph with respect to the occurrence
of a Special Event, the Debentures may not be redeemed by the Company prior
November 19, 2001. The Company shall have the right to redeem this Debenture at
the option of the Company, without premium or penalty, in whole or in part at
any time and from time to time on or after November 19, 2001 (an "Optional
Redemption"), at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount plus
any accrued and unpaid interest, including any Compounded Interest, if any, to
the date of such redemption (the "Optional Redemption Price"). Any redemption
pursuant to this paragraph will be made upon not less than 30 nor more than 60
days' notice at the Optional Redemption Price.
If, at any time, a Tax Event or an Investment Company Event (each, as
defined below, a "Special Event") shall occur and be continuing, the Company
shall have the right, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days' notice, to
redeem the Debentures in whole (but not in part) for cash at the Optional
Redemption Price within 90 days following the occurrence of such Special Event.
"Tax Event" means that the Regular Trustees shall have received an
opinion of independent tax counsel experienced in such matters to the effect
that, as a result of (a) any amendment to, or change (including any announced
prospective change) in, the laws (or any regulations thereunder) of the United
States or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein, or
(b) any official administrative pronouncement or judicial decision interpreting
or applying such laws or regulations, which amendment, or change is effective or
such pronouncement or decision is announced on or after the date of original
issuance of the Preferred Securities, there is more than an insubstantial risk
that (i) the Trust is, or will be within 90 days after the date thereof, subject
to United States federal income tax with respect to interest accrued or received
on the Debentures, (ii) the Trust is, or will be within 90 days after the date
thereof, subject to more
<PAGE>
than a de minimis amount of taxes, duties or other governmental charges, or
(iii) interest payable to the Trust on the Debentures is not, or within 90 days
of the date thereof, will not be deductible, in whole or in part, by the Company
for United States federal income tax purposes.
"Investment Company Event" means that the Regular Trustees shall have
received an opinion of independent counsel experienced in practice under the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), to the effect that,
as a result of the occurrence of a change in law or regulation or a change in
interpretation or application of law or regulation by any legislative body,
court, governmental agency or regulatory authority (a "Change in 1940 Act Law"),
there is more than an insubstantial risk that the Trust is or will be considered
an "investment company" which is required to be registered under the 1940 Act,
which Change in 1940 Act Law becomes effective on or after the date of original
issuance of the Preferred Securities.
If the Debentures are only partially redeemed by the Company pursuant
to an Optional Redemption, the Debentures will be redeemed pro rata or by lot or
in some other equitable manner determined by the Trustee. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, if a partial redemption of the Debentures would result in the
delisting of the Preferred Securities by any national securities exchange or
other organization on which the Preferred Securities are then listed, the
Company shall not be permitted to effect such partial redemption and will only
redeem the Debentures in whole.
In the event of redemption of this Debenture in part only, a new
Debenture or Debentures of this series (for the unredeemed portion hereof) will
be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof.
In case an Event of Default, as defined in the Indenture, shall have
occurred and be continuing, the principal of all of the Debentures may be
declared, and upon such declaration shall become, due and payable, in the
manner, with the effect and subject to the conditions and limitations provided
in the Indenture.
The Indenture contains provisions permitting the Company and the
Trustee, with the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in
aggregate principal amount of the Debentures of each series affected at the time
outstanding, as defined in the Indenture, to execute supplemental indentures for
the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating
any of the provisions of the Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of
modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of the Debentures; provided,
however, that no such supplemental indentures shall (i) change the Stated
Maturity of the principal or any installment of principal or any installment of
interest (other than as contemplated herein), or reduce the amount or principal
or interest thereon or any premium payable upon redemption or repayment thereof,
or change the Place of Payment or currency in
<PAGE>
which principal or any interest is payable, or impair the right to institute
suit for the enforcement of any payment of the principal and any premium and
interest without the consent of the Holder of each Debenture so affected; (ii)
reduce the aforesaid percentage of Debentures, the Holders of which are required
to consent to any such supplemental indenture, without the consent of the
Holders of each Debenture then outstanding and affected thereby; (iii) change
any obligation of the Company to maintain an office or agency in the Place of
Payment; or (iv) modify any of the above provisions. The Indenture also contains
provisions permitting the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of
the Debentures of any series at the time outstanding affected thereby, on behalf
of all of the Holders of the Debentures of such series, to waive any past
default in the performance of any of the covenants contained in the Indenture,
or established pursuant to the Indenture with respect to such series, and its
consequences, except a default in the payment of the principal or interest on
the Debentures or a default in respect of a covenant or provision of the
Indenture or the Debentures of such series which cannot be modified or amended
without the consent of each Holder of Debentures of such series. Any such
consent or waiver by the registered Holder of this Debenture (unless revoked as
provided in the Indenture) shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and
upon all future Holders and owners of this Debenture and of any Debentures
issued in exchange herefor or in place hereof (whether by registration of
transfer or otherwise), irrespective of whether or not any notation of such
consent or waiver is made upon this Debenture.
No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Debenture
or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which
is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and interest on this
Debenture at the time and place and at the rate and in the money herein
prescribed.
The Company shall have the right at any time during the term of the
Debentures from time to time to extend the interest payment period of such
Debentures for up to 20 consecutive quarters not to extend beyond the Maturity
Date of the Debentures (an "Extended Interest Payment Period"), at the end of
which period the Company shall pay all interest then accrued and unpaid
(together with interest thereon at the rate specified for the Debentures to the
extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law). In
the event that the Company exercises the right to defer interest payments, then,
prior to the payment of all accrued interest on outstanding Debentures, (a) the
Company shall not declare or pay dividends on, or make a distribution with
respect to, or redeem, purchase or acquire, or make a liquidation payment with
respect to, any of its capital stock, (b) the Company shall not make any payment
of interest, principal or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any
debt securities issued by the Company that rank pari passu with or junior to the
Debentures and (c) the Company shall not make any guarantee payments with
respect to the foregoing (other than pursuant to the Trust Guarantees);
provided, however, that restriction (a) above
<PAGE>
does not apply to (i) any stock dividends paid by the Company where the dividend
stock is the same stock as that on which the dividend is being paid and (ii)
purchases or acquisitions of shares of Company Common Stock in connection with
the satisfaction by the Company of its obligations under any employee benefit
plans. Before the termination of any such Extended Interest Payment Period, the
Company may further extend such Extended Interest Payment Period, provided that
such Extended Interest Payment Period together with all such previous and
further extensions thereof shall not exceed 20 consecutive quarters and shall
not extend beyond the Maturity Date of the Debentures. At the termination of any
such Extended Interest Payment Period and upon the payment of all accrued and
unpaid interest and any additional amounts then due, the Company may commence a
new Extended Interest Payment Period.
At any time the Company will have the right to dissolve the Trust and
cause the Debentures to be distributed to the holders of the Trust Securities in
liquidation of the Trust. If the Company elects to dissolve the Trust and
thereby causes the Debentures to be distributed to the holders of the Trust
Securities, the Company shall have the right to (a) shorten the Maturity Date to
any date that is not earlier than November 19, 2001 and (b) to extend the
Maturity Date to a date no later than the earlier of (i) November 30, 2045, or
(ii) the Interest Deduction Date, provided the conditions in clauses (i) through
(vi) below are met on the date the Company exercises such right and on the
Maturity Date in effect prior to such proposed extension (the "Preceding
Maturity Date"). In addition, the Company shall have the right, which must be
exercised at least 90 days prior to the Maturity Date then in effect, to extend
the Maturity Date for one or more periods, but in no event to a date later than
the earlier of (i) November 30, 2045, or (ii) the Interest Deduction Date,
provided that the Company must satisfy the following conditions on the date it
exercises such right and on the Preceding Maturity Date: (i) the Company is not
in bankruptcy or otherwise insolvent, (ii) the Company is not in default on any
Debentures issued to the Trust or any trustee of the Trust in connection with
the issuance of Trust Securities by the Trust, (iii) the Company has made timely
payments on the Debentures for the immediately preceding six quarters without
deferrals, (iv) the Trust is not in arrears on payment of distributions on the
Trust Securities, (v) the Debentures or the Preferred Securities are rated
investment grade by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization, and
(vi) the final maturity of the Debentures is no later than November 30, 2045. In
the event the conditions specified in clauses (i) through (vi) above are not
satisfied on the date of exercise of the right to extend the Maturity Date and
on the Preceding Maturity Date, then the Maturity Date of the Debentures shall
be the Preceding Maturity Date. In no event shall an extended Maturity Date be
later than the Interest Deduction Date even if the Maturity Date has previously
been extended to a date beyond the Interest Deduction Date.
As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein
set forth, this Debenture is transferable by
<PAGE>
the registered Holder hereof on the Register of the Company, upon surrender of
this Debenture for registration of transfer at the Corporate Trust Office of the
Trustee accompanied by a written instrument or instruments of transfer in form
satisfactory to the Company or the Trustee duly executed by the registered
Holder hereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or
more new Debentures of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate
principal amount and series will be issued to the designated transferee or
transferees. No service charge will be made for any such transfer, but the
Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other
governmental charge payable in relation thereto.
Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of this
Debenture, the Company, the Trustee, any paying agent and any Registrar may deem
and treat the registered holder hereof as the absolute owner hereof (whether or
not this Debenture shall be overdue and notwithstanding any notice of ownership
or writing hereon made by anyone other than the Registrar) for the purpose of
receiving payment of or on account of the principal hereof and interest due
hereon and for all other purposes, and neither the Company nor the Trustee nor
any paying agent nor any Registrar shall be affected by any notice to the
contrary.
No recourse shall be had for the payment of the principal of or the
interest on this Debenture or for any claim based hereon, or otherwise in
respect hereof, or based on or in respect of the Indenture, against any
incorporator, stockholder, officer or director, past, present of future, as
such, of the Company or of any predecessor or successor corporation, whether by
virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any
assessment or penalty or otherwise, all such liability being, by the acceptance
hereof and as part of the consideration for the issuance hereof, expressly
waived and released.
As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations herein
and therein set forth, Debentures of this series so issued are exchangeable for
a like aggregate principal amount of Debentures of this series of a different
authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same. All
terms used in this Debenture that are defined in the Indenture shall have the
meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.
The Company and the Holder agree (i) that for United States federal,
state and local tax purposes it is intended that the Debenture constitute
indebtedness and (ii) to file all United States federal, state and local tax
returns and reports on such basis (unless the Company or the Holder, as the case
may be, shall have received an opinion of independent nationally recognized tax
counsel to the effect that as a result of a change in law after the date of the
issuance of the Debenture the Company or the Holder, as the case may be, is
prohibited from filing on such basis).
G:\LEGAL\RRD\PUBLOFF\FRMDEBEN.TUR
AMENDED AND RESTATED
DECLARATION OF TRUST
CONSECO FINANCING TRUST I
Dated as of November 14, 1996
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
<S> <C> <C>
ARTICLE I INTERPRETATION AND DEFINITIONS....................................................1
SECTION 1.1 Interpretation and Definitions....................................................1
ARTICLE II TRUST INDENTURE ACT...............................................................7
SECTION 2.1 Trust Indenture Act; Application..................................................7
SECTION 2.2 Lists of Holders of Securities....................................................8
SECTION 2.3 Reports by the Property Trustee...................................................8
SECTION 2.4 Periodic Reports to the Property Trustee..........................................9
SECTION 2.5 Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent..................................9
SECTION 2.6 Events of Default; Waiver.........................................................9
SECTION 2.7 Event of Default; Notice.........................................................11
ARTICLE III ORGANIZATION.....................................................................11
SECTION 3.1 Name and Organization............................................................11
SECTION 3.2 Office...........................................................................11
SECTION 3.3 Purpose..........................................................................11
SECTION 3.4 Authority........................................................................12
SECTION 3.5 Title to Property of the Trust...................................................12
SECTION 3.6 Powers and Duties of the Regular Trustees........................................12
SECTION 3.7 Prohibition of Actions by the Trust and the Trustees.............................15
SECTION 3.8 Powers and Duties of the Property Trustee........................................16
SECTION 3.9 Certain Duties and Responsibilities of the Property Trustee......................18
SECTION 3.10 Certain Rights of Property Trustee...............................................19
SECTION 3.11 Delaware Trustee.................................................................21
SECTION 3.12 Execution of Documents...........................................................22
SECTION 3.13 Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities...........................22
SECTION 3.14 Duration of Trust................................................................22
SECTION 3.15 Mergers..........................................................................22
SECTION 3.16 Property Trustee May File Proofs of Claim........................................24
ARTICLE IV SPONSOR..........................................................................25
SECTION 4.1 Sponsor's Purchase of Common Securities..........................................25
SECTION 4.2 Responsibilities of the Sponsor..................................................25
SECTION 4.3 Right to Dissolve Trust..........................................................25
SECTION 4.4 Direct Right of Action...........................................................26
i
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C>
ARTICLE V TRUSTEES.........................................................................26
SECTION 5.1 Number of Trustees...............................................................26
SECTION 5.2 Delaware Trustee.................................................................26
SECTION 5.3 Property Trustee; Eligibility....................................................26
SECTION 5.4 Regular Trustees.................................................................27
SECTION 5.5 Certain Qualifications of Regular Trustees and Delaware
Trustee Generally....................................................28
SECTION 5.6 Initial Trustees.................................................................28
SECTION 5.7 Appointment, Removal and Resignation of Trustees.................................28
SECTION 5.8 Vacancies among Trustees.........................................................29
SECTION 5.9 Effect of Vacancies..............................................................30
SECTION 5.10 Meetings.........................................................................30
SECTION 5.11 Delegation of Power..............................................................30
SECTION 5.12 Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business......................31
ARTICLE VI DISTRIBUTIONS....................................................................31
SECTION 6.1 Distributions....................................................................31
ARTICLE VII ISSUANCE OF SECURITIES................................................................31
SECTION 7.1 General Provisions Regarding Securities..........................................31
ARTICLE VIII TERMINATION OF TRUST.............................................................32
SECTION 8.1 Termination of Trust.............................................................32
ARTICLE IX TRANSFER OF INTERESTS............................................................33
SECTION 9.1 Transfer of Securities...........................................................33
SECTION 9.2 Transfer and Exchange of Certificates............................................34
SECTION 9.3 Deemed Security Holders..........................................................34
SECTION 9.4 Book Entry Interests.............................................................34
SECTION 9.5 Notices to Clearing Agency.......................................................35
SECTION 9.6 Appointment of Successor Clearing Agency.........................................35
SECTION 9.7 Definitive Preferred Security Certificates.......................................35
SECTION 9.8 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Certificates................................36
ARTICLE X LIMITATION OF LIABILITY OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES,
TRUSTEES OR OTHERS..........................................37
SECTION 10.1 Liability........................................................................37
SECTION 10.2 Exculpation......................................................................37
SECTION 10.3 Fiduciary Duty...................................................................38
SECTION 10.4 Indemnification and Compensation.................................................38
SECTION 10.5 Outside Businesses...............................................................41
ARTICLE XI ACCOUNTING.......................................................................42
SECTION 11.1 Fiscal Year......................................................................42
SECTION 11.2 Certain Accounting Matters.......................................................42
SECTION 11.3 Banking..........................................................................42
SECTION 11.4 Withholding......................................................................43
ii
<PAGE>
ARTICLE XII AMENDMENTS AND MEETINGS..........................................................43
SECTION 12.1 Amendments.......................................................................43
SECTION 12.2 Meetings of the Holders of Securities; Action by Written Consent.................45
ARTICLE XIII REPRESENTATIONS OF PROPERTY TRUSTEE
AND DELAWARE TRUSTEE.............................................................46
SECTION 13.1 Representations and Warranties of the Property Trustee...........................46
SECTION 13.2 Representations and Warranties of the Delaware Trustee...........................47
ARTICLE XIV MISCELLANEOUS....................................................................48
SECTION 14.1 Notices..........................................................................48
SECTION 14.2 Governing Law....................................................................49
SECTION 14.3 Intention of the Parties.........................................................49
SECTION 14.4 Headings.........................................................................49
SECTION 14.5 Successors and Assigns...........................................................50
SECTION 14.6 Partial Enforceability...........................................................50
SECTION 14.7 Counterparts.....................................................................50
ANNEX I..........................................................................................................52
EXHIBIT A-1....................................................................................................A1-1
EXHIBIT A-2....................................................................................................A2-1
</TABLE>
iii
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CROSS - REFERENCE TABLE *
Section of Trust Section of
Indenture Act of 1939, Declaration
as amended -----------
- ---------------------
<S> <C>
310 (a). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.3 (a)
310 (c). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inapplicable
311 (c). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inapplicable
312 (a). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.2 (a)
312 (b). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.2 (b)
313. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.3
314 (a). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.4
314 (b). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inapplicable
314 (c). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.5
314 (d). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inapplicable
314 (f). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inapplicable
315 (a). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.9 (b)
315 (c). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.9 (a)
315 (d). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.9 (a)
316 (a). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Annex I
316 (c). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.6 (e)
<FN>
* This Cross - Reference Table does not constitute part of the
Declaration and shall not affect the interpretation of any of
its terms or provisions.
</FN>
</TABLE>
iv
<PAGE>
AMENDED AND RESTATED DECLARATION OF TRUST
AMENDED AND RESTATED DECLARATION OF TRUST, including Annex I and all
exhibits attached hereto ("Declaration"), dated and effective as of November 14,
1996, by the Trustees (as defined herein), the Sponsor (as defined herein) and
by the holders, from time to time, of undivided beneficial interests in the
assets of the Trust to be issued pursuant to this Declaration;
WHEREAS, four of the Trustees and the Sponsor established Conseco
Financing Trust I (the "Trust"), a trust under the Delaware Business Trust Act
pursuant to a Declaration of Trust dated as of October 28, 1996 (the "Original
Declaration") and a Certificate of Trust filed with the Secretary of State of
the State of Delaware on October 28, 1996 (the "Certificate of Trust"), for the
sole purpose of issuing and selling certain securities representing undivided
beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust and investing the proceeds
thereof in certain Debentures (as defined herein) of the Debenture Issuer (as
defined herein);
WHEREAS, as of the date hereof, no beneficial interests in the Trust
have been issued;
WHEREAS, all of the Trustees and the Sponsor, by this Declaration,
amend and restate each and every term and provision of the Original Declaration;
and
NOW, THEREFORE, it being the intention of the parties hereto to
continue the Trust as a business trust under the Business Trust Act and that
this Declaration constitutes the governing instrument of such business trust,
the Trustees declare that all assets contributed to the Trust will be held in
trust for the benefit of the holders, from time to time, of the securities
representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust issued
hereunder, subject to the provisions of this Declaration.
ARTICLE I
INTERPRETATION AND DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.1 Interpretation and Definitions.
Unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) capitalized terms used in this Declaration but not defined in
the preamble above have the respective meanings assigned to
them in this Section 1.1;
(b) a term defined anywhere in this Declaration has the same
meaning throughout;
(c) all references to "the Declaration" or "this Declaration" are
to this Declaration as modified, supplemented or amended from
time to time;
(d) all references in this Declaration to Articles and Sections
are to Articles and Sections of this Declaration unless
otherwise specified;
1
<PAGE>
(e) a term defined in the Trust Indenture Act has the same meaning
when used in this Declaration unless otherwise defined in this
Declaration or unless the context otherwise requires; and
(f) a reference to the singular includes the plural and vice versa.
"Affiliate" has the same meaning as given to that term in Rule 405 of
the Securities Act or any successor rule thereunder.
"Authorized Officer" of a Person means any Person that is authorized to
bind such Person.
"Book Entry Interest" means a beneficial interest in a Global
Certificate, ownership and transfers of which shall be maintained and made
through book entries by a Clearing Agency as described in Section 9.4.
"Business Day" means any day other than a day on which banking
institutions in New York, New York or in the city of the principal Corporate
Trust Office of either the Property Trustee or the Debenture Trustee are
authorized or required by law to close.
"Business Trust Act" means Chapter 38 of Title 12 of the Delaware Code,
12 Del. Code Section 3801 et seq., as it may be amended from time to time, or
any successor legislation.
"Certificate" means a Common Security Certificate or a Preferre
Security Certificate.
"Clearing Agency" means an organization registered as a "Clearing
Agency" pursuant to Section 17A of the Exchange Act that is acting as depository
for the Preferred Securities and in whose name or in the name of a nominee of
that organization shall be registered a Global Certificate and which shall
undertake to effect book entry transfers and pledges of the Preferred
Securities.
"Clearing Agency Participant" means a broker, dealer, bank, other
financial institution or other Person for whom from time to time the Clearing
Agency effects book entry transfers and pledges of securities deposited with the
Clearing Agency.
"Closing Date" means the date on which the Preferred Securities are
sold pursuant to the terms of the Underwriting Agreement.
"Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to
time, or any successor legislation. A reference to a specific section of the
Code refers not only to such specific section but also to any corresponding
provision of any federal tax statute enacted after the date of this Declaration,
as such specific section or corresponding provision is in effect on the date of
application of the provisions of this Declaration containing such reference.
"Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
2
<PAGE>
"Common Securities Guarantee" means the guarantee agreement of the
Sponsor in respect of the Common Securities.
"Common Security" has the meaning specified in Section 7.1.
"Common Security Certificate" means a definitive certificate in fully
registered form representing a Common Security.
"Company Indemnified Person" means (a) any Regular Trustee; (b) any
Affiliate of any Regular Trustee; (c) any officers, directors, shareholders,
members, partners, employees, representatives or agents of any Regular Trustee
or any Affiliate thereof; or (d) any officer, employee or agent of the Trust or
its Affiliates.
"Corporate Trust Office" means the office of the Property Trustee at
which the corporate trust business of the Property Trustee shall, at any
particular time, be principally administered, which office at the date of
execution of this Declaration is located at 777 Main Street, Hartford, CT 06115,
Attention: Corporate Trust Administration.
"Covered Person" means (a) any officer, director, shareholder, partner,
member, representative, employee or agent of (i) the Trust or (ii) the Trust's
Affiliates; and (b) any Holder of Securities.
"Debenture Issuer" means Conseco, Inc. in its capacity as issuer of the
Debentures under the Indenture.
"Debenture Trustee" means Fleet National Bank, as trustee under the
Indenture until a successor is appointed thereunder, and thereafter means such
successor trustee.
"Debentures" means the series of subordinated deferrable interest
debentures to be issued by the Debenture Issuer under the Indenture to be held
by the Property Trustee.
"Definitive Preferred Security Certificates" has the meaning set fort
in Section 9.4.
"Delaware Trustee" has the meaning set forth in Section 5.2.
"Direction" by a Person means a written direction signed:
(a) if the Person is a natural person, by that Person; or
(b) in any other case, in the name of such Person by one
or more Authorized Officers of that Person.
"Distribution" means a distribution payable to Holders of Securities in
accordance with Section 6.1.
"DTC" means The Depository Trust Company, the initial Clearing Agency.
3
<PAGE>
"Event of Default" in respect of the Securities means an Event of
Default (as defined in the Indenture) has occurred and is continuing in respect
of the Debentures.
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
from time to time, or any successor legislation.
"Fiduciary Indemnified Person" has the meaning set forth in Section
10.4(b).
"Fiscal Year" has the meaning set forth in Section 11.1.
"Global Certificate" has the meaning set forth in Section 9.4.
"Holder" means a Person in whose name a Certificate representing a
Security is registered, such Person being a beneficial owner within the meaning
of the Business Trust Act, PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that in determining whether the
Holders of the requisite liquidation amount of Preferred Securities have voted
on any matter provided for in this Declaration, then for the purpose of such
determination only (and not for any other purpose hereunder), if the Preferred
Securities remain in the form of one or more Global Certificates, the term
"Holders" shall mean the holder of the Global Certificate acting at the
direction of the Preferred Security Beneficial Owners.
"Indemnified Person" means a Company Indemnified Person or a Fiduciary
Indemnified Person.
"Indenture" means the Indenture dated as of November 14, 1996, among
the Debenture Issuer and the Debenture Trustee, and any indenture supplemental
thereto pursuant to which the Debentures are to be issued.
"Investment Company" means an investment company as defined in the
Investment Company Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
"Investment Company Act" means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended from time to time, or any successor legislation.
"Investment Company Event" has the meaning set forth in Annex I.
"Legal Action" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6(g).
"List of Holders" has the meaning specified in Section 2.2(a).
"Majority in Liquidation Amount" means, except as provided in the terms
of the Preferred Securities or by the Trust Indenture Act, Holder(s) of
outstanding Securities, voting together as a single class, or, as the context
may require, Holders of outstanding Preferred Securities or Holders of
outstanding Common Securities, voting separately as a class, who are
4
<PAGE>
the record owners of more than 50% of the aggregate liquidation amount
(including the stated amount that would be paid on redemption, liquidation or
otherwise, plus accrued and unpaid Distributions to the date upon which the
voting percentages are determined) of all outstanding Securities of the relevant
class.
"Officers' Certificate" means, with respect to any Person (other than
Regular Trustees who are natural persons), a certificate signed by two
Authorized Officers of such Person. Any Officers' Certificate delivered with
respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this
Declaration shall include:
(a) a statement that each officer signing the Officers'
Certificate has read the covenant or condition and the
definitions relating thereto;
(b) a brief statement of the nature and scope of the examination
or investigation undertaken by each officer in rendering the
Officers' Certificate;
(c) a statement that each such officer has made such examination
or investigation as, in such officer's opinion, is necessary
to enable such officer to express an informed opinion as to
whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied
with; and
(d) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such
officer, such condition or covenant has been complied with ;
provided, that the term "Officers' Certificate" when used with reference to
Regular Trustees who are natural persons shall mean a certificate signed by two
of the Regular Trustees which otherwise satisfies the foregoing requirements.
"Paying Agent" has the meaning specified in Section 3.8(h).
"Payment Amount" has the meaning specified in Section 6.1.
"Person" means a legal person, including any individual, corporation,
estate, partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock company, limited
liability company, trust, unincorporated association, or government or any
agency or political subdivision thereof, or any other entity of whatever nature.
"Preferred Securities Guarantee" means the guarantee agreement of the
Sponsor in respect of the Preferred Securities.
"Preferred Security" has the meaning specified in Section 7.1.
"Preferred Security Beneficial Owner" means, with respect to a Book
Entry Interest, a Person who is the beneficial owner of such Book Entry
Interest, as reflected on the books of the Clearing Agency, or on the books of a
Person maintaining an account with such Clearing Agency (directly as a Clearing
Agency Participant or as an indirect participant, in each case in accordance
with the rules of such Clearing Agency).
5
<PAGE>
"Preferred Security Certificate" means a certificate representing a
Preferred Security.
"Pricing Agreement" means the pricing agreement between the Trust, the
Debenture Issuer and the underwriters designated by the Regular Trustees with
respect to the offer and sale of the Preferred Securities.
"Property Trustee" means the Trustee meeting the eligibility
requirements set forth in Section 5.3
"Property Trustee Account" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.8(c).
"Quorum" means a majority of the Regular Trustees or, if there are only
two Regular Trustees, both of them.
"Regular Trustee" means any Trustee other than the Property Trustee and
the Delaware Trustee.
"Related Party" means, with respect to the Sponsor, any direct or
indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the Sponsor or any Person that owns,
directly or indirectly, 100% of the outstanding voting securities of the
Sponsor.
"Responsible Officer" means, with respect to the Property Trustee, any
officer within the Corporate Trust Office of the Property Trustee, including any
vice-president, any assistant vice-president, the secretary, any assistant
secretary, the treasurer, any assistant treasurer or other officer of the
Corporate Trust Office of the Property Trustee customarily performing functions
similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and also
means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to
whom such matter is referred because of that officer's knowledge of and
familiarity with the particular subject.
"Rule 3a-5" means Rule 3a-5 under the Investment Company Act or any
successor rule thereunder.
"Securities" means the Common Securities and the Preferred Securities.
"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time
to time, or any successor legislation.
"Securities Guarantees" means the Common Securities Guarantee and the
Preferred Securities Guarantee.
"Special Event" has the meaning set forth in Annex I.
"Sponsor" means Conseco, Inc., an Indiana corporation, or any successor
entity in a merger, consolidation or amalgamation, in its capacity as sponsor of
the Trust.
"Successor Delaware Trustee" has the meaning specified in Section
5.7(b).
6
<PAGE>
"Successor Entity" has the meaning specified in Section 3.15(b)(i).
"Successor Property Trustee" has the meaning specified in Section
5.7(b).
"Successor Securities" has the meaning specified in Section 3.15(b)
(i)(B).
"Super Majority" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.6(a) (ii).
"Tax Event" has the meaning set forth in Annex I.
"10% in Liquidation Amount" means, except as provided in the terms of
the Preferred Securities or by the Trust Indenture Act, Holder(s) of outstanding
Securities, voting together as a single class, or, as the context may require,
Holders of outstanding Preferred Securities or Holders of outstanding Common
Securities, voting separately as a class, who are the record owners of 10% or
more of the aggregate liquidation amount (including the stated amount that would
be paid on redemption, liquidation or otherwise, plus accrued and unpaid
Distributions to the date upon which the voting percentages are determined) of
all outstanding Securities of the relevant class.
"Treasury Regulations" means the income tax regulations, including
temporary and proposed regulations, promulgated under the Code by the United
States Treasury, as such regulations may be amended from time to time (including
corresponding provisions of succeeding regulations).
"Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended
from time to time, or any successor legislation.
"Trustee" or "Trustees" means each Person who has signed this
Declaration as a trustee, so long as such Person shall continue in office in
accordance with the terms hereof, and all other Persons who may from time to
time be duly appointed, qualified and serving as Trustees in accordance with the
provisions hereof, and references herein to a Trustee or the Trustees shall
refer to such Person or Persons solely in their capacity as trustees hereunder.
"Underwriting Agreement" means the Underwriting Agreement for the
offering and sale of Preferred Securities between the Trust, the Debenture
Issuer and the underwriters designated by the Regular Trustees.
ARTICLE II
TRUST INDENTURE ACT
SECTION 2.1 Trust Indenture Act; Application.
(a) This Declaration is subject to the provisions of the Trust
Indenture Act that are required to be part of this Declaration and shall, to the
extent applicable, be governed by such provisions.
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(b) The Property Trustee shall be the only Trustee which is a
Trustee for the purposes of the Trust Indenture Act.
(c) If and to the extent that any provision of this Declaration limits,
qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by Sections 310 to 317,
inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act, such imposed duties shall control.
(d) The application of the Trust Indenture Act to this Declaration
shall not affect the nature of the Securities as equity securities representing
undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust.
SECTION 2.2 Lists of Holders of Securities.
(a) Each of the Sponsor and the Regular Trustees on behalf of the Trust
shall provide the Property Trustee with a list, in such form as the Property
Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Holders of the
Securities ("List of Holders"), (i) within one Business Day after January 1 and
June 30 of each year and current as of such date, and (ii) at any other time,
within 30 days of receipt by the Trust of a written request from the Property
Trustee for a List of Holders as of a date no more than 14 days before such List
of Holders is given to the Property Trustee; PROVIDED THAT neither the Sponsor
nor the Regular Trustees on behalf of the Trust shall be obligated to provide
such List of Holders at any time the List of Holders does not differ from the
most recent List of Holders given to the Property Trustee by the Sponsor and the
Regular Trustees on behalf of the Trust. The Property Trustee shall preserve, in
as current a form as is reasonably practicable, all information contained in
Lists of Holders given to it or which it receives in the capacity as Paying
Agent (if acting in such capacity) provided that the Property Trustee may
destroy any List of Holders previously given to it on receipt of a new List of
Holders.
(b) The Property Trustee shall comply with its obligations under, and
shall be entitled to the benefits of, Sections 311(a), 311(b) and 312(b) of the
Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 2.3 Reports by the Property Trustee.
Within 60 days after May 15 of each year (commencing with the year of
the first anniversary of the issuance of the Preferred Securities), the Property
Trustee shall provide to the Holders of the Preferred Securities such reports as
are required by Section 313 of the Trust
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Indenture Act, if any, in the form and in the manner provided by Section 313 of
the Trust Indenture Act. The Property Trustee shall also comply with the
requirements of Section 313(d) of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 2.4 Periodic Reports to the Property Trustee.
Each of the Sponsor and the Regular Trustees on behalf of the Trust
shall provide to the Property Trustee such documents, reports and information as
required by Section 314 (if any) of the Trust Indenture Act and the compliance
certificate required by Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act in the form, in
the manner and at the times required by Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 2.5 Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent.
Each of the Sponsor and the Regular Trustees on behalf of the Trust
shall provide to the Property Trustee such evidence of compliance with any
conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Declaration that relate to
any of the matters set forth in Section 314(c) of the Trust Indenture Act. Any
certificate or opinion required to be given by an officer pursuant to Section
314(c)(1) may be given in the form of an Officers' Certificate.
SECTION 2.6 Events of Default; Waiver.
(a) The Holders of a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred
Securities may, by vote, on behalf of the Holders of all of the Preferred
Securities, waive any past Event of Default in respect of the Preferred
Securities and its consequences, provided that, if the underlying Event of
Default under the Indenture:
(i) is not waivable under the Indenture, the Event of Default
under the Declaration shall also not be waivable; or
(ii) requires the consent or vote of greater than a majority in
principal amount of the holders of the Debentures (a "Super
Majority") to be waived under the Indenture, the Event of
Default under the Declaration may only be waived by the vote
of the Holders of at least the proportion in liquidation
amount of the Preferred Securities that the relevant Super
Majority represents of the aggregate principal amount of the
Debentures outstanding.
The foregoing provisions of this Section 2.6(a) shall be in lieu of
Section 316(a)(1)(B) of the Trust Indenture Act and such Section 316(a)(1)(B) of
the Trust Indenture Act is hereby expressly excluded from this Declaration and
the Securities, as permitted by the Trust Indenture Act. Upon such waiver, any
such default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default with respect to the
Preferred Securities arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for
every purpose of this Declaration and the Preferred Securities, but no such
waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or Event of Default with
respect to the Preferred Securities or impair any right consequent thereon.
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(b) The Holders of a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Common
Securities may, by vote, on behalf of the Holders of all of the Common
Securities, waive any past Event of Default in respect of the Common Securities
and its consequences, provided that, if the underlying Event of Default under
the Indenture:
(i) is not waivable under the Indenture, except where the Holders
of the Common Securities are deemed to have waived such Event
of Default under the Declaration as provided below in this
Section 2.6(b), the Event of Default under the Declaration
shall also not be waivable; or
(ii) requires the consent or vote of a Super Majority to be waived
under the Indenture, except where the Holders of the Common
Securities are deemed to have waived such Event of Default
under the Declaration as provided below in this Section
2.6(b), the Event of Default under the Declaration may only be
waived by the vote of the Holders of at least the proportion
in liquidation amount of the Common Securities that the
relevant Super Majority represents of the aggregate principal
amount of the Debentures outstanding;
provided further, each Holder of Common Securities will be deemed to have waived
any such Event of Default and all Events of Default with respect to the Common
Securities and the consequences thereof until all Events of Default with respect
to the Preferred Securities have been cured, waived or otherwise eliminated, and
until such Events of Default with respect to the Preferred Securities have been
so cured, waived or otherwise eliminated, the Property Trustee will be deemed to
be acting solely on behalf of the Holders of the Preferred Securities and only
the Holders of the Preferred Securities will have the right to direct the
Property Trustee in accordance with the terms of the Securities. The foregoing
provisions of this Section 2.6(b) shall be in lieu of Sections 316(a)(1)(A) and
316(a)(1)(B) of the Trust Indenture Act and such Sections 316(a)(1)(A) and
316(a)(1)(B) of the Trust Indenture Act are hereby expressly excluded from this
Declaration and the Securities, as permitted by the Trust Indenture Act. Subject
to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.6(b), upon such waiver, any such
default shall cease to exist and any Event of Default with respect to the Common
Securities arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured for every
purpose of this Declaration, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent
or other default or Event of Default with respect to the Common Securities or
impair any right consequent thereon.
(c) A waiver of an Event of Default under the Indenture by the Property
Trustee at the direction of the Holders of the Preferred Securities constitutes
a waiver of the corresponding Event of Default with respect to the Preferred
Securities under this Declaration. The foregoing provisions of this Section
2.6(c) shall be in lieu of Section 316(a)(1)(B) of the Trust Indenture Act and
such Section 316(a)(1)(B) of the Trust Indenture Act is hereby expressly
excluded from this Declaration and the Securities, as permitted by the Trust
Indenture Act.
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SECTION 2.7 Event of Default; Notice.
(a) The Property Trustee shall, within 90 days after the occurrence of
an Event of Default, transmit by mail, first class postage prepaid, to the
Holders of the Securities, notices of all defaults with respect to the
Securities actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Property Trustee,
unless such defaults have been cured before the giving of such notice (the term
"defaults" for the purposes of this Section 2.7(a) being hereby defined to be an
Event of Default as defined in the Indenture, not including any periods of grace
provided for therein and irrespective of the giving of any notice provided
therein); provided that, except for a default in the payment of principal of (or
premium, if any) or interest on any of the Debentures or in the payment of any
sinking fund installment established for the Debentures, the Property Trustee
shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as a Responsible
Officer of the Property Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of
such notice is in the interests of the Holders of the Securities.
(b) The Property Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of
any default except:
(i) a default under Sections 5.1(1) and 5.1(2) of the Indenture;
or
(ii) any default as to which the Property Trustee shall have
received written notice or of which a Responsible Officer of
the Property Trustee charged with the administration of this
Declaration shall have actual knowledge.
ARTICLE III
ORGANIZATION
SECTION 3.1 Name and Organization.
The Trust hereby created is named "Conseco Financing Trust I" as such
name may be modified from time to time by the Regular Trustees following written
notice to the Holders of Securities. The Trust's activities may be conducted
under the name of the Trust or any other name deemed advisable by the Regular
Trustees.
SECTION 3.2 Office.
The address of the principal office of the Trust is 11825 North
Pennsylvania Street, Carmel, Indiana 46032. On ten Business Days written notice
to the Holders of Securities, the Regular Trustees may designate another
principal office.
SECTION 3.3 Purpose.
The exclusive purposes and functions of the Trust are (a) to issue and
sell Securities and use the gross proceeds from such sale to acquire the
Debentures, and (b) except as otherwise limited herein, to engage in only those
other activities necessary, appropriate, convenient or incidental thereto. The
Trust shall not borrow money, issue debt or reinvest proceeds derived
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from investments, pledge any of its assets or otherwise undertake (or permit to
be undertaken) any activity that would cause the Trust not to be classified for
United States federal income tax purposes as a grantor trust.
The Trust will be classified as a grantor trust for United States
federal income tax purposes under Subpart E of Subchapter J of the Code,
pursuant to which the owners of the Preferred Securities and the Common
Securities will be the owners of the Trust for United States federal income tax
purposes, and such owners will include directly in their gross income the
income, gain, deduction or loss of the Trust as if the Trust did not exist. By
the acceptance of this Trust, none of the Trustees, the Sponsor, the Holders of
the Preferred Securities or Common Securities or the Preferred Securities
Beneficial Owners will take any position for United States federal income tax
purposes which is contrary to the classification of the Trust as a grantor
trust.
SECTION 3.4 Authority.
Subject to the limitations provided in this Declaration and to the
specific duties of the Property Trustee, the Regular Trustees shall have
exclusive and complete authority to carry out the purposes of the Trust. An
action taken by the Regular Trustees in accordance with their powers shall
constitute the act of and serve to bind the Trust and an action taken by the
Property Trustee on behalf of the Trust in accordance with its powers shall
constitute the act of and serve to bind the Trust. In dealing with the Trustees
acting on behalf of the Trust, no person shall be required to inquire into the
authority of the Trustees to bind the Trust. Persons dealing with the Trust are
entitled to rely conclusively on the power and authority of the Trustees as set
forth in this Declaration.
SECTION 3.5 Title to Property of the Trust.
Except as provided in Section 3.8 with respect to the Debentures and
the Property Trustee Account or as otherwise provided in this Declaration, legal
title to all assets of the Trust shall be vested in the Trust. The Holders shall
not have legal title to any part of the assets of the Trust, but shall have an
undivided beneficial interest in the assets of the Trust.
SECTION 3.6 Powers and Duties of the Regular Trustees.
The Regular Trustees shall have the exclusive power, duty and authority
to cause the Trust to engage in the following activities:
(a) to issue and sell the Preferred Securities and the Common
Securities in accordance with this Declaration; provided,
however, that the Trust may issue no more than one series of
Preferred Securities and no more than one series of Common
Securities, and, provided further, that there shall be no
interests in the Trust other than the Securities, and the
issuance of Securities shall be limited to a one-time,
simultaneous issuance of both Preferred Securities and Common
Securities on the Closing Date;
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(b) in connection with the issue and sale of the Preferred
Securities, at the direction of the Sponsor, to:
(i) execute and file with the Commission a registration
statement on Form S-3 prepared by the Sponsor,
including any amendments thereto, pertaining to the
Preferred Securities (and any other securities of the
Sponsor which the Sponsor may desire to include in
such registration statement);
(ii) execute and file any documents prepared by the
Sponsor, or take any acts as determined by the
Sponsor to be necessary, in order to qualify or
register all or part of the Preferred Securities in
any State in which the Sponsor has determined to
qualify or register such Preferred Securities for
sale;
(iii) execute and file an application, prepared by the
Sponsor, to the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. or any
other national stock exchange or the Nasdaq Stock
Market's National Market System for listing upon
notice of issuance of any Preferred Securities;
(iv) execute and file with the Commission a registration
statement on Form 8-A, including any amendments
thereto, prepared by the Sponsor, relating to the
registration of the Preferred Securities under
Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act; and
(v) execute and enter into the Underwriting Agreement and
Pricing Agreement providing for the sale of the
Preferred Securities;
(c) to acquire the Debentures with the proceeds of the sale of the
Preferred Securities and the Common Securities; provided,
however, that the Regular Trustees shall cause legal title to
the Debentures to be held of record in the name of the
Property Trustee for the benefit of the Holders of the
Preferred Securities and the Holders of the Common Securities;
(d) to give the Sponsor and the Property Trustee prompt written
notice of the occurrence of a Special Event; provided that the
Regular Trustees shall consult with the Sponsor and the
Property Trustee before taking or refraining from taking any
action in relation to a Special Event;
(e) to establish a record date with respect to all actions to be
taken hereunder that require a record date be established,
including and with respect to, for the purposes of Section
316(c) of the Trust Indenture Act, Distributions, voting
rights, redemptions and exchanges, and to issue relevant
notices to the Holders of Preferred Securities and Holders of
Common Securities as to such actions and applicable record
dates;
(f) to take all actions and perform such duties as may be required
of the Regular Trustees pursuant to the terms of this
Declaration and the Securities;
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(g) to bring or defend, pay, collect, compromise, arbitrate,
resort to legal action or otherwise adjust claims or demands
of or against the Trust ("Legal Action"), unless pursuant to
Section 3.8(e), the Property Trustee has the exclusive power
to bring such Legal Action;
(h) to employ or otherwise engage employees and agents (who may be
designated as officers with titles) and managers, contractors,
advisors and consultants and pay reasonable compensation for
such services;
(i) to cause the Trust to comply with the Trust's obligations
under the Trust Indenture Act;
(j) to give the certificate required by Section 314(a)(4) of the
Trust Indenture Act to the Property Trustee, which certificate
may be executed by any Regular Trustee;
(k) to incur expenses that are necessary, incidental or desirable
to carry out any of the purposes of the Trust;
(l) to act as, or appoint another Person to act as, registrar and
transfer agent for the Securities;
(m) to give prompt written notice to the Holders of the Securities
of any notice received from the Debenture Issuer of its
election (i) to defer payments of interest on the Debentures
by extending the interest payment period under the Debentures
as authorized by the Indenture, or (ii) to extend the maturity
date of the Debentures if so authorized by the Indenture,
provided that any such extension of the maturity date will not
adversely affect the federal income tax status of the Trust;
(n) to take all action that may be necessary or appropriate for
the preservation and the continuation of the Trust's valid
existence, rights, franchises and privileges as a statutory
business trust under the laws of the State of Delaware and of
each other jurisdiction in which such existence is necessary
to protect the limited liability of the Holders of the
Preferred Securities or to enable the Trust to effect the
purposes for which the Trust was created;
(o) to take any action, not inconsistent with this Declaration or
with applicable law, that the Regular Trustees determine in
their discretion to be necessary or desirable in carrying out
the purposes and functions of the Trust as set out in Section
3.3 or the activities of the Trust as set out in this Section
3.6, including, but not limited to:
(i) causing the Trust not to be deemed to be an Investment
Company required to be registered under the Investment
Company Act;
(ii) causing the Trust to be classified for United States
federal income tax purposes as a grantor trust; and
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(iii) cooperating with the Debenture Issuer to ensure that
the Debentures will be treated as indebtedness of the
Debenture Issuer for United States federal income tax
purposes,
provided that such action does not adversely affect the
interests of Holders;
(p) to take all action necessary to cause all applicable tax
returns and tax information reports that are required to be
filed with respect to the Trust to be duly prepared and filed
by the Regular Trustees, on behalf of the Trust;
(q) to execute all documents or instruments, perform all duties
and powers, and do all things for and on behalf of the Trust
in all matters necessary, incidental or desirable to the
foregoing;
(r) to give written notice to the Property Trustee of the rating
assigned to the Preferred Securities, from time to time, by a
"nationally recognized statistical rating organization", as
that term is defined for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under the
Securities Act promptly after such assignment and after any
change thereof.
The Regular Trustees must exercise the powers set forth in this Section
3.6 in a manner that is consistent with the purposes and functions of the Trust
set out in Section 3.3, and the Regular Trustees shall not take any action that
is inconsistent with the purposes and functions of the Trust set forth in
Section 3.3.
Subject to this Section 3.6, the Regular Trustees shall have none of
the powers or the authority of the Property Trustee set forth in Section 3.8.
Any expenses incurred by the Regular Trustees pursuant to this Section
3.6 shall be reimbursed by the Debenture Issuer.
SECTION 3.7 Prohibition of Actions by the Trust and the Trustees.
(a) The Trust shall not, and the Regular Trustees and the Property
Trustee shall cause the Trust not to, engage in any activity other than as
required or authorized by this Declaration. In particular, the Trust shall not
and the Regular Trustees and the Property Trustee shall cause the Trust not to:
(i) invest any proceeds received by the Trust from holding the
Debentures, but shall distribute all such proceeds to Holders
of Securities pursuant to the terms of this Declaration and of
the Securities;
(ii) acquire any assets other than as expressly provided herein;
(iii) possess Trust property for other than a Trust purpose;
(iv) make any loans or incur any indebtedness other than loans
represented by the Debentures;
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(v) possess any power or otherwise act in such a way as to vary
the Trust assets or the terms of the Securities in any way
whatsoever (except to the extent expressly authorized in this
Declaration or by the terms of the Securities);
(vi) issue any securities or other evidences of beneficial
ownership of, or beneficial interest in, the Trust other than
the Securities; or
(vii) other than as provided in this Declaration or by the terms of
the Securities, (A) direct the time, method and place of
exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Debenture
Trustee with respect to the Debentures, (B) waive any past
default that is waivable under the Indenture, (C) exercise any
right to rescind or annul any declaration that the principal
of all the Debentures shall be due and payable, or (D) consent
to any amendment, modification or termination of the Indenture
or the Debentures where such consent shall be required unless
the Trust shall have received an opinion of counsel to the
effect that such modification will not cause more than an
insubstantial risk that for United States federal income tax
purposes the Trust will not be classified as a grantor trust.
SECTION 3.8 Powers and Duties of the Property Trustee.
(a) The legal title to the Debentures shall be owned by and held of
record in the name of the Property Trustee in trust for the benefit of the Trust
and the Holders of the Securities. The right, title and interest of the Property
Trustee to the Debentures shall vest automatically in each Person who may
hereafter be appointed as Property Trustee in accordance with Section 5.7. Such
vesting and cessation of title shall be effective whether or not conveyancing
documents with regard to the Debentures have been executed and delivered.
(b) The Property Trustee shall not transfer its right, title and
interest in the Debentures to the Regular Trustees or to the Delaware Trustee
(if the Property Trustee does not also act as Delaware Trustee).
(c) The Property Trustee shall:
(i) establish and maintain a segregated non-interest bearing trust
account (the "Property Trustee Account") in the name of and
under the exclusive control of the Property Trustee on behalf
of the Holders of the Securities and, upon the receipt of
payments of funds made in respect of the Debentures held by
the Property Trustee, deposit such funds into the Property
Trustee Account and make payments to the Holders of the
Preferred Securities and Holders of the Common Securities from
the Property Trustee Account in accordance with Section 6.1.
Funds in the Property Trustee Account shall be held uninvested
until disbursed in accordance with this Declaration. The
Property Trustee Account shall be an account that is
maintained with a banking institution the rating on whose
long-term unsecured indebtedness is at least equal to the
rating assigned to the Preferred Securities by a "nationally
recognized statistical rating organization", as that term is
defined for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under the Securities
Act;
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(ii) engage in such ministerial activities as shall be necessary or
appropriate to effect the redemption of the Preferred
Securities and the Common Securities to the extent the
Debentures are redeemed or mature; and
(iii) upon written notice of distribution issued by the Regular
Trustees in accordance with the terms of the Securities,
engage in such ministerial activities as shall be necessary or
appropriate to effect the distribution of the Debentures to
Holders of Securities upon the occurrence of certain special
events (as may be defined in the terms of the Securities)
arising from a change in law or a change in legal
interpretation or other specified circumstances pursuant to
the terms of the Securities.
(d) The Property Trustee shall take all actions and perform such duties
as may be specifically required of the Property Trustee pursuant to the terms of
this Declaration and the Securities.
(e) To the extent consistent with and not in contravention of the terms
and provisions of this Declaration and the Indenture, with respect to any
compromise, arbitration, or adjustment of claims or demands, the Property
Trustee shall take any Legal Action which arises out of or in connection with an
Event of Default of which a Responsible Officer of the Property Trustee has
actual knowledge or the Property Trustee's duties and obligations under this
Declaration or the Trust Indenture Act.
(f) The Property Trustee shall continue to serve as a Trustee
until either:
(i) the Trust has been completely liquidated and the proceeds of
the liquidation distributed to the Holders of Securities
pursuant to the terms of the Securities; or
(ii) a Successor Property Trustee has been appointed and has
accepted that appointment in accordance with Section 5.7.
(g) The Property Trustee shall have the legal power to exercise all of
the rights, powers and privileges of a holder of Debentures under the Indenture
and, if an Event of Default actually known to a Responsible Officer of the
Property Trustee occurs and is continuing, the Property Trustee shall, for the
benefit of Holders of the Securities, enforce its rights as holder of the
Debentures subject to the rights of the Holders pursuant to the terms of such
Securities.
(h) The Property Trustee may authorize one or more Persons (each, a
"Paying Agent") to pay Distributions, redemption payments or liquidation
payments on behalf of the Trust with respect to all Securities and any such
Paying Agent shall comply with Section 317(b) of the Trust Indenture Act. Any
Paying Agent may be removed by the Property Trustee at any time and a successor
Paying Agent or additional Paying Agents may be appointed at any time by the
Property Trustee. In the event the Preferred Securities do not remain in the
form of one or more Global Certificates, the Property Trustee will act as Paying
Agent and may designate an additional or substitute Paying Agent at any time.
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(i) Subject to this Section 3.8, the Property Trustee shall have none
of the duties, liabilities, powers or the authority of the Regular Trustees set
forth in Section 3.6.
The Property Trustee must exercise the powers set forth in this Section
3.8 in a manner that is consistent with the purposes and functions of the Trust
set out in Section 3.3, and the Property Trustee shall not take any action that
is inconsistent with the purposes and functions of the Trust set out in Section
3.3.
SECTION 3.9 Certain Duties and Responsibilities of the Property Trustee.
(a) The Property Trustee, before the occurrence of any Event of Default
and after the curing of all Events of Default that may have occurred, shall
undertake to perform only such duties as are specifically set forth in this
Declaration and no implied covenants shall be read into this Declaration against
the Property Trustee. In case an Event of Default has occurred (that has not
been cured or waived pursuant to Section 2.6) of which a Responsible Officer of
the Property Trustee has actual knowledge, the Property Trustee shall exercise
such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Declaration, and use the same
degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent person would exercise
or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his or her own affairs.
(b) No provision of this Declaration shall be construed to relieve the
Property Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent
failure to act or its own willful misconduct, except that:
(i) prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default and after the
curing or waiving of all such Events of Default that may have
occurred:
(A) the duties and obligations of the Property Trustee
shall be determined solely by the express provisions
of this Declaration and the Securities and the
Property Trustee shall not be liable except for the
performance of such duties and obligations as are
specifically set forth in this Declaration, and no
implied covenants or obligations shall be read into
this Declaration against the Property Trustee; and
(B) in the absence of bad faith on the part of the
Property Trustee, the Property Trustee may
conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements
and the correctness of the opinions expressed
therein, upon any certificates or opinions furnished
to the Property Trustee and conforming to the
requirements of this Declaration; but in the case of
any such certificates or opinions that by any
provision hereof are specifically required to be
furnished to the Property Trustee, the Property
Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to
determine whether or not they conform to the
requirements of this Declaration;
(ii) the Property Trustee shall not be liable for any error of
judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer of the
Property Trustee, unless it shall be proved that the Property
Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts;
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(iii) the Property Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any
action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in
accordance with the direction of the Holders of not less than
a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Securities relating to
the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for
any remedy available to the Property Trustee, or exercising
any trust or power conferred upon the Property Trustee under
this Declaration;
(iv) no provision of this Declaration shall require the Property
Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur
personal financial liability in the performance of any of its
duties or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if
it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that the
repayment of such funds or liability is not reasonably assured
to it under the terms of this Declaration or indemnity
reasonably satisfactory to the Property Trustee against such
risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it;
(v) the Property Trustee's sole duty with respect to the custody,
safe keeping and physical preservation of the Debentures and
the Property Trustee Account shall be to deal with such
property in a similar manner as the Property Trustee deals
with similar property for its own account, subject to the
protections and limitations on liability afforded to the
Property Trustee under this Declaration and the Trust
Indenture Act;
(vi) the Property Trustee shall have no duty or liability for or
with respect to the value, genuineness, existence or
sufficiency of the Debentures or the payment of any taxes or
assessments levied thereon or in connection therewith;
(vii) the Property Trustee shall not be liable for any interest on
any money received by it except as it may otherwise agree in
writing with the Sponsor. Money held by the Property Trustee
need not be segregated from other funds held by it except in
relation to the Property Trustee Account maintained by the
Property Trustee pursuant to Section 3.8(c)(i) and except to
the extent otherwise required by law; and
(viii) the Property Trustee shall not be responsible for monitoring
the compliance by the Regular Trustees or the Sponsor with
their respective duties under this Declaration, nor shall the
Property Trustee be liable for any default or misconduct of
the Regular Trustees or the Sponsor.
SECTION 3.10 Certain Rights of Property Trustee.
(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 3.9:
(i) the Property Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be fully
protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any
resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion,
report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond,
debenture, note,
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other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document
believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or
presented by the proper party or parties;
(ii) any direction or act of the Sponsor or the Regular Trustees
contemplated by this Declaration shall be sufficiently
evidenced by a Direction or an Officers' Certificate;
(iii) whenever in the administration of this Declaration, the
Property Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be
proved or established before taking, suffering or omitting any
action hereunder, the Property Trustee (unless other evidence
is herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad
faith on its part, request and conclusively rely upon an
Officers' Certificate which, upon receipt of such request,
shall be promptly delivered by the Sponsor or the Regular
Trustees;
(iv) the Property Trustee shall have no duty to see to any
recording, filing or registration of any instrument (including
any financing or continuation statement or any filing under
tax or securities laws) or any rerecording, refiling or
registration thereof;
(v) the Property Trustee may consult with counsel or other experts
and the advice or opinion of such counsel and experts with
respect to legal matters or advice within the scope of such
experts' area of expertise shall be full and complete
authorization and protection in respect of any action taken,
suffered or omitted by it thereunder in good faith and
in accordance with such advice or opinion, such counsel may be
counsel to the Sponsor or any of its Affiliates, and may
include any of its employees. The Property Trustee shall have
the right at any time to seek instructions concerning the
administration of this Declaration from any court of competent
jurisdiction;
(vi) the Property Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise
any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Declaration
at the request or direction of any Holder, unless such Holder
shall have provided to the Property Trustee security and
indemnity, reasonably satisfactory to the Property Trustee,
against the costs, expenses (including attorneys' fees and
expenses and the expenses of the Property Trustee's agents,
nominees or custodians) and liabilities that might be incurred
by it in complying with such request or direction, including
such reasonable advances as may be requested by the Property
Trustee; provided that, nothing contained in this Section 3.10
(a)(vi) shall be taken to relieve the Property Trustee, upon
the occurrence of an Event of Default, of its obligation to
exercise the rights and powers vested in it by this
Declaration;
(vii) the Property Trustee shall not be bound to make any
investigation into the facts or matters stated in any
resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion,
report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond,
debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper
or document, but the Property Trustee, in its discretion, may
make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or
matters as it may see fit;
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(viii) the Property Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers
hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or
by or through agents, custodians, nominees or attorneys and
the Property Trustee shall not be responsible for any
misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent or attorney
appointed with due care by it hereunder;
(ix) any action taken by the Property Trustee or its agents
hereunder shall bind the Trust and the Holders of the
Securities, and the signature of the Property Trustee or its
agents alone shall be sufficient and effective to perform any
such action and no third party shall be required to inquire as
to the authority of the Property Trustee to so act or as to
its compliance with any of the terms and provisions of this
Declaration, both of which shall be conclusively evidenced by
the Property Trustee's or its agent's taking such action;
(x) whenever in the administration of this Declaration the
Property Trustee shall deem it desirable to receive
instructions with respect to enforcing any remedy or right or
taking any other action hereunder, the Property Trustee (i)
may request instructions from the Holders of the Securities
which instructions may only be given by the Holders of the
same proportion in liquidation amount of the Securities as
would be entitled to direct the Property Trustee under the
terms of the Securities in respect of such remedy, right or
action, (ii) may refrain from enforcing such remedy or right
or taking such other action until such instructions are
received, and (iii) shall be protected in conclusively relying
on or acting in or accordance with such instructions; and
(xi) except as otherwise expressly provided by this Declaration,
the Property Trustee shall not be under any obligation to take
any action that is discretionary under the provisions of this
Declaration.
(b) No provision of this Declaration shall be deemed to impose any duty
or obligation on the Property Trustee to perform any act or acts or exercise any
right, power, duty or obligation conferred or imposed on it, in any jurisdiction
in which it shall be illegal, or in which the Property Trustee shall be
unqualified or incompetent in accordance with applicable law, to perform any
such act or acts, or to exercise any such right, power, duty or obligation. No
permissive power or authority available to the Property Trustee shall be
construed to be a duty.
SECTION 3.11 Delaware Trustee.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Declaration other than
Section 5.2, the Delaware Trustee shall not be entitled to exercise any powers,
nor shall the Delaware Trustee have any of the duties and responsibilities of
the Regular Trustees or the Property Trustee described in this Declaration.
Except as set forth in Section 5.2, the Delaware Trustee shall be a Trustee for
the sole and limited purpose of fulfilling the requirements of Section 3807 of
the Business Trust Act.
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SECTION 3.12 Execution of Documents.
Unless otherwise determined by the Regular Trustees, and except as
otherwise required by the Business Trust Act, any one Regular Trustee is
authorized to execute on behalf of the Trust any documents that the Regular
Trustees have the power and authority to execute pursuant to Section 3.6;
provided, that, the registration statement referred to in Section 3.6(b)(i),
including any amendments thereto, shall be signed by a majority of the Regular
Trustees.
SECTION 3.13 Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities.
The recitals contained in this Declaration and the Securities shall be
taken as the statements of the Sponsor, and the Trustees do not assume any
responsibility for their correctness. The Trustees make no representations as to
the value or condition of the property of the Trust or any part thereof. The
Trustees make no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this
Declaration or the Securities.
SECTION 3.14 Duration of Trust.
The Trust, unless terminated pursuant to the provisions of Article VIII
hereof, shall have existence for fifty-five (55) years from the Closing Date.
SECTION 3.15 Mergers.
(a) The Trust may not consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or
be replaced by, or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets
substantially as an entirety to any corporation or other body, except as
described in Section 3.15(b) and (c).
(b) The Trust may, with the consent of the Regular Trustees or, if
there are more than two, a majority of the Regular Trustees and without the
consent of the Holders of the Securities, the Delaware Trustee or the Property
Trustee, consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or be replaced by a trust
organized as such under the laws of any State; provided that:
(i) such successor entity (the "Successor Entity") either:
(A) expressly assumes all of the obligations of the Trust
under the Securities; or
(B) substitutes for the Preferred Securities and Common
Securities other securities having substantially the
same terms as the Preferred Securities and Common
Securities, respectively (the "Successor Securities")
so long as the Successor Securities rank the same as
the Preferred Securities and the Common Securities,
respectively, rank with respect to Distributions and
payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise;
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(ii) the Debenture Issuer expressly accepts a trustee of the
Successor Entity that possesses the same powers and duties as
the Property Trustee as the holder of the Debentures;
(iii) the Preferred Securities or any Successor Securities (with
respect to the Preferred Securities) are listed, or any
Successor Securities (with respect to the Preferred
Securities) will be listed upon notification of issuance, on
any national securities exchange or with any other
organization on which the Preferred Securities are then listed
or quoted;
(iv) such merger, consolidation, amalgamation or replacement does
not cause the Preferred Securities (including any Successor
Securities of the Preferred Securities) to be downgraded by
any nationally recognized statistical rating organization then
rating the Preferred Securities at the request of the Sponsor;
(v) such merger, consolidation, amalgamation or replacement does
not adversely affect the rights, preferences and privileges of
the Holders of the Securities (including any Successor
Securities) in any material respect (other than with respect
to any dilution of such Holders' interests in the Preferred
Securities as a result of such merger, consolidation,
amalgamation or replacement);
(vi) such Successor Entity has a purpose identical to that of the
Trust;
(vii) prior to such merger, consolidation, amalgamation or
replacement, the Sponsor has received an opinion of qualified
independent counsel to the Trust experienced in such matters
to the effect that:
(A) such merger, consolidation, amalgamation or
replacement does not adversely affect the rights,
preferences and privileges of the Holders of the
Securities (including any Successor Securities) in
any material respect (other than with respect to any
dilution of such Holders' interests in the Preferred
Securities as a result of such merger, consolidation,
amalgamation or replacement);
(B) following such merger, consolidation, amalgamation or
replacement, neither the Trust nor the Successor
Entity will be required to register as an Investment
Company; and
(C) following such merger, consolidation, amalgamation or
replacement, the Trust (or the Successor Entity) will
continue to be classified as a grantor trust for
United States federal income tax purposes;
(viii) the Sponsor guarantees the obligations of such Successor
Entity under the Successor Securities at least to the extent
provided by the Preferred Securities Guarantee and the Common
Securities Guarantee, respectively; and
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(ix) the Regular Trustees shall have furnished the Delaware Trustee
and the Property Trustee at least 5 Business Days prior
written notice of the consummation of such merger,
consolidation, amalgamation or replacement; provided that
failure to provide such notice shall not affect the validity
of any such transaction.
(c) Notwithstanding Section 3.15(b), the Trust shall not, except with
the consent of Holders of 100% in liquidation amount of the Securities,
consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or be replaced by any other entity
or permit any other entity to consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or
replace it if such consolidation, amalgamation, merger or replacement would
cause the Trust or Successor Entity to be classified as other than a grantor
trust for United States federal income tax purposes.
SECTION 3.16 Property Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.
In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation,
bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other
similar judicial proceeding relative to the Trust or any other obligor upon the
Securities or the property of the Trust or of such other obligor or their
creditors, the Property Trustee (irrespective of whether any Distributions on
the Securities shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by
declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Property Trustee shall
have made any demand on the Trust for the payment of any past due Distributions)
shall be entitled and empowered, to the fullest extent permitted by law, by
intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:
(a) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of any
Distributions owing and unpaid in respect of the Securities
(or, if the Securities are original issue discount Securities,
such portion of the liquidation amount as may be specified in
the terms of such Securities) and to file such other papers or
documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have
the claims of the Property Trustee (including any claim for
the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and
advances of the Property Trustee, its agents and counsel) and
of the Holders allowed in such judicial proceeding; and
(b) to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or
deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same;
and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or
other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by
each Holder to make such payments to the Property Trustee and, in the event the
Property Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the
Holders, to pay to the Property Trustee any amount due it for the reasonable
compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Property Trustee, its
agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Property Trustee.
Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Property
Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder
any plan of reorganization, arrangement adjustment or compensation affecting the
Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof or to
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authorize the Property Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in
any such proceeding.
ARTICLE IV
SPONSOR
SECTION 4.1 Sponsor's Purchase of Common Securities.
On the Closing Date the Sponsor will purchase all of the Common
Securities issued by the Trust, in an amount at least equal to 3% of the capital
of the Trust, at the same time as the Preferred Securities are sold.
SECTION 4.2 Responsibilities of the Sponsor.
In connection with the issue and sale of the Preferred Securities, the
Sponsor shall have the exclusive right and responsibility to engage in the
following activities:
(a) to prepare for filing by the Trust with the Commission a
registration statement on Form S-3 pertaining to the Preferred
Securities, including any amendments thereto (which
registration statement may also include other securities of
the Sponsor);
(b) to determine the States in which to take appropriate action to
qualify or register for sale all or part of the Preferred
Securities and to do any and all such acts, other than actions
which must be taken by the Trust, and advise the Trust of
actions it must take, and prepare for execution and filing any
documents to be executed and filed by the Trust, as the
Sponsor deems necessary or advisable in order to comply with
the applicable laws of any such States;
(c) to prepare for filing by the Trust an application to the New
York Stock Exchange, Inc. or any other national stock exchange
or the Nasdaq Stock Market's National Market System for
listing upon notice of issuance of any Preferred Securities;
(d) to prepare for filing by the Trust with the Commission a
registration statement on Form 8-A relating to the
registration of the Preferred Securities under Section 12(b)
of the Exchange Act, including any amendments thereto; and
(e) to negotiate the terms of the Underwriting Agreement and
Pricing Agreement providing for the sale of the Preferred
Securities.
SECTION 4.3 Right to Dissolve Trust.
The Sponsor shall have the right at any time after the Closing Date to
elect to dissolve the Trust in accordance with the terms of the Securities and
to direct the Property Trustee to take such action as shall be necessary to
distribute the Debentures to the Holders of the Securities in exchange for all
of the Securities.
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SECTION 4.4 Direct Right of Action.
Notwithstanding any provision of this Declaration to the contrary, to
the extent permitted by applicable law, any Holder of Securities may enforce
directly against the Sponsor the obligation of the Sponsor under the Indenture
to duly and punctually pay the principal and interest when due under the
Debentures and the Sponsor irrevocably waives any right or remedy to require
that any such Holder take any action against the Trust or any other Person
before proceeding against the Sponsor.
ARTICLE V
TRUSTEES
SECTION 5.1 Number of Trustees.
The number of Trustees initially shall be five (5), and:
(a) at any time before the issuance of any Securities, the Sponsor
may, by written instrument, increase or decrease the number of
Trustees; and
(b) after the issuance of any Securities, the number of Trustees
may be increased or decreased by vote of the Holders of a
Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Common Securities voting
as a class at a meeting of the Holders of the Common
Securities or by written consent in lieu of such meeting.
provided that, if the Property Trustee does not also act as Delaware Trustee,
the number of Trustees shall be at least three (3).
SECTION 5.2 Delaware Trustee.
If required by the Business Trust Act, one Trustee (the "Delaware
Trustee") shall be:
(a) a natural person who is a resident of the State of Delaware; or
(b) if not a natural person, an entity which has its principal
place of business in the State of Delaware, and otherwise
meets the requirements of applicable law,
provided that, if the Property Trustee has its principal place of business in
the State of Delaware and otherwise meets the requirements of applicable law,
then the Property Trustee shall also be the Delaware Trustee and Section 3.11
shall have no application.
SECTION 5.3 Property Trustee; Eligibility.
(a) There shall at all times be one Trustee which shall act as
Property Trustee which shall:
(i) not be an Affiliate of the Sponsor; and
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(ii) be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws
of the United States of America or any State or Territory
thereof or of the District of Columbia, or a corporation or
other Person permitted by the Commission to act as an
institutional trustee under the Trust Indenture Act,
authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers,
having a combined capital and surplus of at least 50 million
U.S. dollars ($50,000,000), and subject to supervision or
examination by Federal, State, Territorial or District of
Columbia authority. If such corporation publishes reports of
condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the
requirements of the supervising or examining authority
referred to above, then for the purposes of this Section 5.3
(a)(ii), the combined capital and surplus of such corporation
shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set
forth in its most recent report of condition so published.
(b) If at any time the Property Trustee shall cease to be eligible to
so act under Section 5.3(a), the Property Trustee shall immediately resign in
the manner and with the effect set forth in Section 5.7(c).
(c) If the Property Trustee has or shall acquire any "conflicting
interest" within the meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, the
Property Trustee and the Holder of the Common Securities (as if it were the
Obliger referred to in Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act) shall in all
respects comply with the provisions of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture
Act.
(d) The Preferred Securities Guarantee shall be deemed to be
specifically described in this Declaration for purposes of clause (i) of the
first provision contained in Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 5.4 Regular Trustees.
(a) Except as expressly set forth in this Declaration and except if a
meeting of the Regular Trustees is called with respect to any matter over which
the Regular Trustees have power to act, any power of the Regular Trustees may be
exercised by, or with the consent of, any one such Regular Trustee.
(b) Unless otherwise determined by the Regular Trustees, and except as
otherwise required by the Business Trust Act or applicable law, any one Regular
Trustee is authorized to execute on behalf of the Trust any documents which the
Regular Trustees have the power and authority to cause the Trust to execute
pursuant to Section 3.6, provided, that, the registration statement referred to
in Section 3.6, including any amendments thereto, shall be signed by a majority
of the Regular Trustees; and
(c) a Regular Trustee may, by power of attorney consistent with
applicable law, delegate to any other natural person over the age of 21 his or
her power for the purposes of signing any documents which the Regular Trustees
have power and authority to cause the Trust to execute pursuant to Section 3.6.
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SECTION 5.5 Certain Qualifications of Regular Trustees and Delaware Trustee
Generally.
Each Regular Trustee and the Delaware Trustee (unless the Property
Trustee also acts as Delaware Trustee) shall be either a natural person who is
at least 21 years of age or a legal entity that shall act through one or more
Authorized Officers.
SECTION 5.6 Initial Trustees.
The initial Regular Trustees shall be: Rollin M. Dick,
Stephen C. Hilbert and Lawrence W. Inlow.
The initial Property Trustee shall be: Fleet National Bank.
The initial Delaware Trustee shall be: First Union Bank of Delaware.
In the event that a national banking association, with the name "First
Union Trust Company, National Association" or any other name, succeeds, as
contemplated, to all or substantially all the corporate trust business of First
Union Bank of Delaware, such successor entity shall automatically be deemed to
be the Delaware Trustee, effective as of the consummation of such succession,
with the same effect as if it had executed this Declaration on the Closing Date,
upon delivery to the Sponsor and the Regular Trustees of an instrument, in form
and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Sponsor and the Regular Trustees
accepting the responsibilities hereunder as Delaware Trustee and agreeing to be
bound by all of the provisions hereof applicable to the Delaware Trustee.
SECTION 5.7 Appointment, Removal and Resignation of Trustees.
(a) Subject to Section 5.7(b), Trustees may be appointed or
removed without cause at any time:
(i) until the issuance of any Securities, by written instrument
executed by the Sponsor; and
(ii) after the issuance of any Securities, by vote of the Holders
of a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Common Securities
voting as a class at a meeting of the Holders of the Common
Securities.
(b) The Trustee that acts as Property Trustee shall not be removed in
accordance with Section 5.7(a) until a successor Trustee possessing the
qualifications to act as Property Trustee under Section 5.3 (a "Successor
Property Trustee") has been appointed and has accepted such appointment by
written instrument executed by such Successor Property Trustee and delivered to
the Regular Trustees and the Sponsor. The Trustee that acts as Delaware Trustee
shall not be removed in accordance with Section 5.7(a) until a successor Trustee
possessing the qualifications to act as Delaware Trustee under Sections 5.2 and
5.5 (a "Successor Delaware Trustee") has been appointed and has accepted such
appointment by written instrument executed by such Successor Delaware Trustee
and delivered to the Regular Trustees and the Sponsor.
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(c) A Trustee appointed to office shall hold office until his or its
successor shall have been appointed, until his death or its dissolution or until
his or its removal or resignation. Any Trustee may resign from office (without
need for prior or subsequent accounting) by an instrument in writing signed by
the Trustee and delivered to the Sponsor and the Trust, which resignation shall
take effect upon such delivery or upon such later date as is specified therein;
provided, however, that:
(i) No such resignation of the Trustee that acts as the Property
Trustee shall be effective:
(A) until a Successor Property Trustee has been appointed
and has accepted such appointment by instrument
executed by such Successor Property Trustee and
delivered to the Trust, the Sponsor and the resigning
Property Trustee; or
(B) until the assets of the Trust have been completely
liquidated and the proceeds thereof distributed to
the holders of the Securities; and
(ii) no such resignation of the Trustee that acts as the Delaware
Trustee shall be effective until a Successor Delaware Trustee
has been appointed and has accepted such appointment by
instrument executed by such Successor Delaware Trustee and
delivered to the Trust, the Sponsor and the resigning Delaware
Trustee.
(d) The Holders of the Common Securities shall use their best efforts
to promptly appoint a Successor Delaware Trustee or Successor Property Trustee,
as the case may be, if the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee delivers an
instrument of resignation in accordance with this Section 5.7.
(e) If no Successor Property Trustee or Successor Delaware Trustee, as
the case may be, shall have been appointed and accepted appointment as provided
in this Section 5.7 within 60 days after delivery to the Sponsor and the Trust
of an instrument of resignation, the resigning Property Trustee or Delaware
Trustee, as applicable, may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for
appointment of a Successor Property Trustee or Successor Delaware Trustee, as
applicable. Such court may thereupon, after prescribing such notice, if any, as
it may deem proper, appoint a Successor Property Trustee or Successor Delaware
Trustee, as the case may be.
(f) No Property Trustee or Delaware Trustee shall be liable for the
acts or omissions to act of any Successor Property Trustee or Successor Delaware
Trustee, as the case may be.
(g) Any successor to a Regular Trustee shall be an officer,
director, employer or affiliate of the Sponsor.
SECTION 5.8 Vacancies among Trustees.
If a Trustee ceases to hold office for any reason and the number of
Trustees is not reduced pursuant to Section 5.1, or if the number of Trustees is
increased pursuant to Section
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5.1, a vacancy shall occur. A resolution certifying the existence of such
vacancy by the Regular Trustees or, if there are more than two, a majority of
the Regular Trustees shall be conclusive evidence of the existence of such
vacancy. The vacancy shall be filled with a Trustee appointed in accordance with
Section 5.7.
SECTION 5.9 Effect of Vacancies.
The death, resignation, retirement, removal, bankruptcy, dissolution,
liquidation, incompetence or incapacity to perform the duties of a Trustee shall
not operate to annul the Trust. Whenever a vacancy in the number of Regular
Trustees shall occur, until such vacancy is filled by the appointment of a
Regular Trustee in accordance with Section 5.7, the Regular Trustees in office,
regardless of their number, shall have all the powers granted to the Regular
Trustees and shall discharge all the duties imposed upon the Regular Trustees by
this Declaration.
SECTION 5.10 Meetings.
If there is more than one Regular Trustee, meetings of the Regular
Trustees shall be held from time to time upon the call of any Regular Trustee.
Regular meetings of the Regular Trustees may be held at a time and place fixed
by resolution of the Regular Trustees. Notice of any in-person meetings of the
Regular Trustees shall be hand delivered or otherwise delivered in writing
(including by facsimile, with a hard copy by overnight courier) not less than 48
hours before such meeting. Notice of any telephonic meetings of the Regular
Trustees shall be hand delivered or otherwise delivered in writing (including by
facsimile, with a hard copy by overnight courier) not less than 24 hours before
a meeting. Notices shall contain a brief statement of the time, place and
anticipated purposes of the meeting. The presence (whether in person or by
telephone) of a Regular Trustee at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice
of such meeting except where a Regular Trustee attends a meeting for the express
purpose of objecting to the transaction of any activity on the ground that the
meeting has not been lawfully called or convened. Unless provided otherwise in
this Declaration, any action of the Regular Trustees may be taken at a meeting
by vote of a majority of the Regular Trustees present (whether in person or by
telephone) and eligible to vote with respect to such matter, provided that a
Quorum is present, or without a meeting by the unanimous written consent of the
Regular Trustees. In the event there is only one Regular Trustee, any and all
action of such Regular Trustee shall be evidenced by a written consent of such
Regular Trustee.
SECTION 5.11 Delegation of Power.
(a) Any Regular Trustee may, by power of attorney consistent with
applicable law, delegate to any natural person over the age of 21 his, her or
its power for the purpose of executing any documents contemplated in Section
3.6, including any registration statement or amendment thereto filed with the
Commission, or making any other governmental filing.
(b) The Regular Trustees shall have power to delegate from time to time
to such of their number or to officers of the Trust the doing of such things and
the execution of such instruments either in the name of the Trust or the names
of the Regular Trustees or otherwise
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as the Regular Trustees may deem expedient, to the extent such delegation is not
prohibited by applicable law or contrary to the provisions of the Trust, as set
forth herein.
SECTION 5.12 Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business.
Any corporation into which the Property Trustee or the Delaware
Trustee, as the case may be, may be merged or converted or with which either may
be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or
consolidation to which the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee, as the case
may be, shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially
all the corporate trust business of the Property Trustee or the Delaware
Trustee, as the case may be, shall be the successor of the Property Trustee or
the Delaware Trustee, as the case may be, hereunder, provided such corporation
shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article without the
execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the
parties hereto.
ARTICLE VI
DISTRIBUTIONS
SECTION 6.1 Distributions.
Holders shall receive Distributions (as defined herein) in accordance
with the applicable terms of the relevant Holder's Securities. Distributions
shall be made on the Preferred Securities and the Common Securities in
accordance with the preferences set forth in their respective terms. If and to
the extent that the Debenture Issuer makes a payment of interest (including
Compounded Interest (as defined in the Indenture) and Additional Interest (as
defined in the Indenture)), premium and/or principal on the Debentures held by
the Property Trustee (the amount of any such payment being a "Payment Amount"),
the Property Trustee shall and is directed, to the extent funds are available
for that purpose, to make a distribution (a "Distribution") of the Payment
Amount to Holders.
ARTICLE VII
ISSUANCE OF SECURITIES
SECTION 7.1 General Provisions Regarding Securities.
(a) The Regular Trustees shall on behalf of the Trust issue one class
of preferred securities (the "Preferred Securities") representing undivided
beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust having such terms as are set
forth in Annex I, as such Annex I may be amended from time to time in accordance
with the provisions of this Declaration and one class of common securities (the
"Common Securities") representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets
of the Trust having such terms as are set forth in Annex I, as such Annex I may
be amended from time to time in accordance with the provisions of this
Declaration. The Trust shall issue no securities or other interests in the
assets of the Trust other than the Preferred Securities and the Common
Securities.
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(b) The Certificates shall be signed on behalf of the Trust by a
Regular Trustee. Such signature shall be the manual or facsimile signature of
any present or any future Regular Trustee. In case any Regular Trustee of the
Trust who shall have signed any of the Certificates shall cease to be such
Regular Trustee before the Certificates so signed shall be delivered by the
Trust, such Certificates nevertheless may be delivered as though the person who
signed such Certificates had not ceased to be such Regular Trustee; and any
Certificate may be signed on behalf of the Trust by such persons who, at the
actual date of execution of such Certificate, shall be the Regular Trustees of
the Trust, although at the date of the execution and delivery of the Declaration
any such person was not such a Regular Trustee. Certificates shall be printed,
lithographed or engraved or may be produced in any other manner as is reasonably
acceptable to the Regular Trustees, as evidenced by their execution thereof, and
may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification or designation
and such legends or endorsements as the Regular Trustees may deem appropriate,
or as may be required to comply with any law or with any rule or regulation of
any stock exchange on which Securities may be listed, or to conform to usage.
(c) The consideration received by the Trust for the issuance of the
Securities shall constitute a contribution to the capital of the Trust and shall
not constitute a loan to the Trust.
(d) Upon issuance of the Securities as provided in this Declaration,
the Securities so issued shall be deemed to be validly issued, fully paid and
non-assessable.
(e) Every Person, by virtue of having become a Holder or a Preferred
Security Beneficial Owner in accordance with the terms of this Declaration,
shall be deemed to have expressly assented and agreed to the terms of, and shall
be bound by, this Declaration and the terms of the Securities, the Securities
Guarantees, the Indenture and the Debentures.
ARTICLE VIII
TERMINATION OF TRUST
SECTION 8.1 Termination of Trust.
(a) The Trust shall dissolve upon the earlier of:
(i) the bankruptcy of the Holder of the Common Securities or the
Sponsor;
(ii) the filing of a certificate of dissolution or its equivalent
with respect to the Holder of the Common Securities or the
Sponsor; the revocation of the Holder of the Common
Securities' or the Sponsor's charter and the expiration of 90
days after the date of revocation without a reinstatement
thereof;
(iii) upon the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of the
Holder of the Common Securities, the Sponsor or the Trust;
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(iv) when all of the Securities shall have been called for
redemption and the amounts necessary for redemption thereof
shall have been paid to the Holders in accordance with the
terms of the Securities;
(v) the occurrence and continuation of a Special Event pursuant to
which the Trust shall have been dissolved in accordance with
the terms of the Securities and all of the Debentures shall
have been distributed to the Holders of Securities in exchange
for all of the Securities;
(vi) before the issuance of any Securities, when all of the Regular
Trustees and the Sponsor shall have consented to dissolution
of the Trust;
(vii) the distribution of the Debentures from the Trust to the
Holders of Securities in exchange for all of the Securities
and in liquidation of the Trust; or
(viii) the expiration of the term of the Trust as set forth in
Section 3.14.
(b) As soon as is practicable after the occurrence of an event referred
to in Section 8.1(a) and upon completion of the winding up of the Trust, the
Trustees shall file a certificate of cancellation with the Secretary of State of
the State of Delaware and thereupon the Trust shall terminate.
(c) The provisions of Section 3.9 and Article X shall survive the
termination of the Trust.
ARTICLE IX
TRANSFER OF INTERESTS
SECTION 9.1 Transfer of Securities.
(a) Securities may only be transferred, in whole or in part, in
accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in this Declaration and in
the terms of the Securities. Any transfer or purported transfer of any Security
not made in accordance with this Declaration shall be null and void.
(b) Subject to this Article IX, Preferred Securities shall be
freely transferable.
(c) Subject to this Article IX, the Sponsor and any Related Party may
only transfer Common Securities to the Sponsor or a Related Party of the
Sponsor; provided that, any such transfer is subject to the condition precedent
that the transferor obtain the written opinion of qualified independent counsel
experienced in such matters that such transfer would not cause more than an
insubstantial risk that:
(i) the Trust would not be classified for United States federal
income tax purposes as a grantor trust; and
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(ii) the Trust would be an Investment Company or the transferee
would become an Investment Company.
SECTION 9.2 Transfer and Exchange of Certificates.
The Regular Trustees shall provide for the registration of Certificates
and of transfers or exchanges of Certificates, which will be effected without
charge but only upon payment (with such indemnity as the Regular Trustees may
require) in respect of any tax or other government charges that may be imposed
in relation to it. Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any
Certificate, the Regular Trustees shall cause one or more new Certificates to be
issued in the name of the designated transferee or transferees. Upon surrender
for exchange of any Certificate, the Regular Trustees shall cause one or more
new Certificates in the same aggregate liquidation amount as the Certificate
surrendered for exchange to be issued in the name of the Holder of the
Certificate so surrendered. Every Certificate surrendered for registration of
transfer or for exchange shall be accompanied by a written instrument of
transfer in form satisfactory to the Regular Trustees duly executed by the
Holder or such Holder's attorney duly authorized in writing. Each Certificate
surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange shall be canceled by
the Regular Trustees. A transferee of a Certificate shall be entitled to the
rights and subject to the obligations of a Holder hereunder upon the receipt by
such transferee of a Certificate. By acceptance of a Certificate, each
transferee shall be deemed to have agreed to be bound by this Declaration.
SECTION 9.3 Deemed Security Holders.
The Trustees may treat the Person in whose name any Certificate shall
be registered on the books and records of the Trust as the sole holder of such
Certificate and of the Securities represented by such Certificate for purposes
of receiving Distributions and for all other purposes whatsoever and,
accordingly, shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or
interest in such Certificate or in the Securities represented by such
Certificate on the part of any Person, whether or not the Trust shall have
actual or other notice thereof.
SECTION 9.4 Book Entry Interests.
Unless otherwise specified in the terms of the Preferred Securities,
the Preferred Securities Certificates, on original issuance, will be issued in
the form of one or more fully registered, global Preferred Security Certificates
(each a "Global Certificate"), to be delivered to DTC, the initial Clearing
Agency, by, or on behalf of, the Trust. Such Global Certificates shall initially
be registered on the books and records of the Trust in the name of Cede & Co.,
the nominee of DTC, and no Preferred Security Beneficial Owner will receive a
definitive Preferred Security Certificate representing such Preferred Security
Beneficial Owner's interests in such Global Certificates, except as provided in
Section 9.7. Unless and until definitive, fully registered Preferred Security
Certificates (the "Definitive Preferred Security Certificates") have been issued
to the Preferred Security Beneficial Owners pursuant to Section 9.7:
(a) the provisions of this Section 9.4 shall be in full force and
effect;
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(b) the Trust and the Trustees shall be entitled to deal with the
Clearing Agency for all purposes of this Declaration (including the
payment of Distributions on the Global Certificates and receiving
approvals, votes or consents hereunder) as the Holder of the Preferred
Securities and the sole holder of the Global Certificates and shall
have no obligation to the Preferred Security Beneficial Owners;
(c) to the extent that the provisions of this Section 9.4 conflict with
any other provisions of this Declaration, the provisions of this
Section 9.4 shall control; and
(d) the rights of the Preferred Security Beneficial Owners shall be
exercised only through the Clearing Agency and shall be limited to
those established by law and agreements between such Preferred Security
Beneficial Owners and the Clearing Agency and/or the Clearing Agency
Participants. DTC will make book entry transfers among the Clearing
Agency Participants and receive and transmit payments of Distributions
on the Global Certificates to such Clearing Agency Participants.
SECTION 9.5 Notices to Clearing Agency.
Whenever a notice or other communication to the Preferred Security
Holders is required under this Declaration, unless and until Definitive
Preferred Security Certificates shall have been issued to the Preferred Security
Beneficial Owners pursuant to Section 9.7, the Regular Trustees or the Property
Trustee, if the Property Trustee is specifically required to give such notice,
shall give all such notices and communications specified herein to be given to
the Preferred Security Holders to the Clearing Agency, and shall have no notice
obligations to the Preferred Security Beneficial Owners.
SECTION 9.6 Appointment of Successor Clearing Agency.
If any Clearing Agency elects to discontinue its services as securities
depository with respect to the Preferred Securities or if the Regular Trustees
elect to have another Clearing Agency serve as securities depository with
respect to the Preferred Securities, the Regular Trustees may, in their sole
discretion, appoint a successor Clearing Agency with respect to such Preferred
Securities.
SECTION 9.7 Definitive Preferred Security Certificates.
If:
(a) a Clearing Agency elects to discontinue its services as securities
depository with respect to the Preferred Securities and a successor
Clearing Agency is not appointed within 90 days after such
discontinuance pursuant to Section 9.6; or
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(b) the Regular Trustees elect after consultation with the Sponsor to
terminate the book entry system through the Clearing Agency with
respect to the Preferred Securities, then:
(i) Definitive Preferred Security Certificates shall be
prepared by the Regular Trustees on behalf of the Trust with
respect to such Preferred Securities; and
(ii) upon surrender of the Global Certificates by the Clearing
Agency, accompanied by registration instructions, the Regular
Trustees shall cause Definitive Preferred Security
Certificates to be delivered to the Preferred Security
Beneficial Owners in accordance with the instructions of the
Clearing Agency. Neither the Trustees nor the Trust shall be
liable for any delay in delivery of such instructions and each
of them may conclusively rely on, and shall be protected in
relying on, said instructions of the Clearing Agency. The
Definitive Preferred Security Certificates shall be printed,
lithographed or engraved or may be produced in any other
manner as is reasonably acceptable to the Regular Trustees, as
evidenced by their execution thereof, and may have such
letters, numbers or other marks of identification or
designation and such legends or endorsements as the Regular
Trustees may deem appropriate, or as may be required to comply
with any law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant
thereto or with any rule or regulation of any stock exchange
on which Preferred Securities may be listed, or to conform to
usage.
SECTION 9.8 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Certificates.
If:
(a) any mutilated Certificates should be surrendered to the Regular
Trustees, or if the Regular Trustees shall receive evidence to their
satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Certificate; and
(b) there shall be delivered to the Regular Trustees such security or
indemnity as may be required by them to keep each of them, the Sponsor
and the Trust harmless,
then, in the absence of notice that such Certificate shall have been acquired by
a bona fide purchaser, any Regular Trustee on behalf of the Trust shall execute
and deliver, in exchange for or in lieu of any such mutilated, destroyed, lost
or stolen Certificate, a new Certificate of like denomination. In connection
with the issuance of any new Certificate under this Section 9.8, the Regular
Trustees may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other
governmental charge that may be imposed in connection therewith. Any duplicate
Certificate issued pursuant to this Section shall constitute conclusive evidence
of an ownership interest in the relevant Securities, as if originally issued,
whether or not the lost, stolen or destroyed Certificate shall be found at any
time.
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ARTICLE X
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY OF
HOLDERS OF SECURITIES, TRUSTEES OR OTHERS
SECTION 10.1 Liability.
(a) Except as expressly set forth in this Declaration, the Securities
Guarantees and the terms of the Securities, the Sponsor shall not be:
(i) personally liable for the return of any portion of the capital
contributions (or any return thereon) of the Holders of the Securities
which shall be made solely from assets of the Trust; and
(ii) be required to pay to the Trust or to any Holder of Securities
any deficit upon dissolution of the Trust or otherwise.
(b) The Holder of the Common Securities shall be liable for all of the
debts and obligations of the Trust (other than with respect to the Securities)
to the extent not satisfied out of the Trust's assets.
(c) Pursuant to Section 3803(a) of the Business Trust Act, the Holders
of the Preferred Securities shall be entitled to the same limitation of personal
liability extended to stockholders of private corporations for profit organized
under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
SECTION 10.2 Exculpation.
(a) No Indemnified Person shall be liable, responsible or accountable
in damages or otherwise to the Trust or any Covered Person for any loss, damage
or claim incurred by reason of any act or omission performed or omitted by such
Indemnified Person in good faith on behalf of the Trust and in a manner such
Indemnified Person reasonably believed to be within the scope of the authority
conferred on such Indemnified Person by this Declaration or by law, except that
an Indemnified Person shall be liable for any such loss, damage or claim
incurred by reason of such Indemnified Person's gross negligence or willful
misconduct with respect to such acts or omissions.
(b) An Indemnified Person shall be fully protected in relying in good
faith upon the records of the Trust and upon such information, opinions, reports
or statements presented to the Trust by any Person as to matters the Indemnified
Person reasonably believes are within such other Person's professional or expert
competence and who has been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the
Trust, including information, opinions, reports or statements as to the value
and amount of the assets, liabilities, profits, losses or any other facts
pertinent to the existence and amount of assets from which Distributions to
Holders of Securities might properly be paid.
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SECTION 10.3 Fiduciary Duty.
(a) To the extent that, at law or in equity, an Indemnified Person has
duties (including fiduciary duties) and liabilities relating thereto to the
Trust or to any other Covered Person, an Indemnified Person acting under this
Declaration shall not be liable to the Trust or to any other Covered Person for
its good faith reliance on the provisions of this Declaration. The provisions of
this Declaration, to the extent that they restrict the duties and liabilities of
an Indemnified Person otherwise existing at law or in equity (other than the
duties imposed on the Property Trustee under the Trust Indenture Act), are
agreed by the parties hereto to replace such other duties and liabilities of
such Indemnified Person.
(b) Unless otherwise expressly provided herein:
(i) whenever a conflict of interest exists or arises between any
Covered Persons; or
(ii) whenever this Declaration or any other agreement contemplated
herein or therein provides that an Indemnified Person shall act in a
manner that is, or provides terms that are, fair and reasonable to the
Trust or any Holder of Securities,
the Indemnified Person shall resolve such conflict of interest, take such action
or provide such terms, considering in each case the relative interest of each
party (including its own interest) to such conflict, agreement, transaction or
situation and the benefits and burdens relating to such interests, any customary
or accepted industry practices and any applicable generally accepted accounting
practices or principles. In the absence of bad faith by the Indemnified Person,
the resolution, action or term so made, taken or provided by the Indemnified
Person shall not constitute a breach of this Declaration or any other agreement
contemplated herein or of any duty or obligation of the Indemnified Person at
law or in equity or otherwise.
(c) Whenever in this Declaration an Indemnified Person is permitted
or required to make a decision:
(i) in its "discretion" or under a grant of similar authority, the
Indemnified Person shall be entitled to consider such interests and
factors as it desires, including its own interests, and shall have no
duty or obligation to give any consideration to any interest of or
factors affecting the Trust or any other Person; or
(ii) in its "good faith" or under another express standard, the
Indemnified Person shall act under such express standard and shall not
be subject to any other or different standard imposed by this
Declaration or by applicable law.
SECTION 10.4 Indemnification and Compensation.
(a) (i) The Sponsor shall indemnify, to the full extent permitted by
law, any Company Indemnified Person who was or is a party or is threatened to be
made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding,
whether civil, criminal, administrative or
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investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the Trust) by reason
of the fact that he is or was a Company Indemnified Person against expenses
(including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement
actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with such action, suit or
proceeding if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to
be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Trust, and, with respect to
any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his
conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by
judgment, order, settlement, conviction or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its
equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the Company
Indemnified Person did not act in good faith and in a manner which he reasonably
believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Trust, and, with
respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe
that his conduct was unlawful.
(ii) The Sponsor shall indemnify, to the full extent permitted by law,
any Company Indemnified Person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made
a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the
right of the Trust to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that
he is or was a Company Indemnified Person against expenses (including attorneys'
fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with the defense or
settlement of such action or suit if he acted in good faith and in a manner he
reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Trust
and except that no such indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim,
issue or matter as to which such Company Indemnified Person shall have been
adjudged to be liable to the Trust unless and only to the extent that the Court
of Chancery of Delaware or the court in which such action or suit was brought
shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but
in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and
reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which such Court of Chancery
or such other court shall deem proper.
(iii) Any indemnification under paragraphs (i) and (ii) of this Section
10.4(a) (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the Sponsor only as
authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the
Company Indemnified Person is proper in the circumstances because he has met the
applicable standard of conduct set forth in paragraphs (i) and (ii). Such
determination shall be made (1) by the Regular Trustees by a majority vote of a
quorum consisting of such Regular Trustees who were not parties to such action,
suit or proceeding, (2) if such a quorum is not obtainable, or, even if
obtainable, if a quorum of disinterested Regular Trustees so directs, by
independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (3) by the Common Security
Holder of the Trust.
(iv) Expenses (including attorneys' fees) incurred by a Company
Indemnified Person in defending a civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative action, suit or proceeding referred to in paragraphs (i) and (ii)
of this Section 10.4(a) shall be paid by the Sponsor in advance of the final
disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by
or on behalf of such Company Indemnified Person to repay such amount if it shall
ultimately be determined that he is not entitled to be indemnified by the
Sponsor as authorized in this Section
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10.4(a). Notwithstanding the foregoing, no advance shall be made by the Sponsor
if a determination is reasonably and promptly made (i) by the Regular Trustees
by a majority vote of a quorum of disinterested Regular Trustees, (ii) if such a
quorum is not obtainable, or, even if obtainable, if a quorum of disinterested
Regular Trustees so directs, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion
or (iii) the Common Security Holder of the Trust, that, based upon the facts
known to the Regular Trustees, counsel or the Common Security Holder at the time
such determination is made, such Company Indemnified Person acted in bad faith
or in a manner that such person did not believe to be in or not opposed to the
best interests of the Trust, or, with respect to any criminal proceeding, that
such Company Indemnified Person believed or had reasonable cause to believe his
conduct was unlawful. In no event shall any advance be made in instances where
the Regular Trustees, independent legal counsel or Common Security Holder
reasonably determine that such person deliberately breached his duty to the
Trust or its Common or Preferred Security Holders.
(v) The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or
granted pursuant to, the other paragraphs of this Section 10.4(a) shall not be
deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification and
advancement of expenses may be entitled under any agreement, vote of
stockholders or disinterested directors of the Debenture Issuer or Preferred
Security Holders of the Trust or otherwise, both as to action in his official
capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office. All
rights to indemnification under this Section 10.4(a) shall be deemed to be
provided by a contract between the Debenture Issuer and each Company Indemnified
Person who serves in such capacity at any time while this Section 10.4(a) is in
effect. Any repeal or modification of this Section 10.4(a) shall not affect any
rights or obligations then existing.
(vi) The Debenture Issuer or the Trust may purchase and maintain
insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a Company Indemnified Person
against any liability asserted against him and incurred by him in any such
capacity, or arising out of his status as such, whether or not the Debenture
Issuer would have the power to indemnify him against such liability under the
provisions of this Section 10.4(a).
(vii) For purposes of this Section 10.4(a), references to "the Trust"
shall include, in addition to the resulting or surviving entity, any constituent
entity (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation
or merger, so that any person who is or was a director, trustee, officer or
employee of such constituent entity, or is or was serving at the request of such
constituent entity as a director, trustee, member, partner, officer, employee or
agent of another entity, shall stand in the same position under the provisions
of this Section 10.4(a) with respect to the resulting or surviving entity as he
would have with respect to such constituent entity if its separate existence had
continued.
(viii) The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or
granted pursuant to, this Section 10.4(a) shall, unless otherwise provided when
authorized or ratified, continue as to a person who has ceased to be a Company
Indemnified Person and shall inure to
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the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person. The
obligation to indemnify as set forth in this Section 10.4(a) shall survive the
satisfaction and discharge of this Declaration.
(b) The Debenture Issuer agrees to indemnify the (i) Property Trustee,
(ii) the Delaware Trustee, (iii) any Affiliate of the Property Trustee and the
Delaware Trustee, and (iv) any officers, directors, shareholders, members,
partners, employees, representatives, custodians, nominees or agents of the
Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee (each of the Persons in (i) through
(iv) being referred to as a "Fiduciary Indemnified Person") for, and to hold
each Fiduciary Indemnified Person harmless against, any loss, liability or
expense incurred without negligence (or in the case of the Delaware Trustee,
gross negligence) or bad faith on its part, arising out of or in connection with
the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts hereunder, including the
costs and expenses (including reasonable legal fees and expenses) of defending
itself against or investigating any claim or liability in connection with the
exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder. The obligation
to indemnify as set forth in this Section 10.4(b) shall survive the satisfaction
and discharge of this Declaration.
(c) The Debenture Issuer shall pay to the Property Trustee from time to
time such reasonable compensation for its services as the Company and the
Property Trustee shall agree in writing from time to time. The Property
Trustee's compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a
trustee of an express trust. The Debenture Issuer Shall reimburse the Property
Trustee upon request for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by it in
connection with the performance of its duties under this Declaration except any
such expense as may be attributed to its negligence or bad faith. Such expenses
shall include the reasonable compensation and expenses of the Property Trustee's
agents and counsel. The Debenture Issuer need not reimburse any expense incurred
by the Property Trustee through negligence or bad faith.
SECTION 10.5 Outside Businesses.
Any Covered Person, the Sponsor, the Delaware Trustee and the Property
Trustee may engage in or possess an interest in other business ventures of any
nature or description, independently or with others, similar or dissimilar to
the business of the Trust, and the Trust and the Holders of Securities shall
have no rights by virtue of this Declaration in and to such independent ventures
or the income or profits derived therefrom, and the pursuit of any such venture,
even if competitive with the business of the Trust, shall not be deemed wrongful
or improper. No Covered Person, the Sponsor, the Delaware Trustee or the
Property Trustee shall be obligated to present any particular investment or
other opportunity to the Trust even if such opportunity is of a character that,
if presented to the Trust, could be taken by the Trust, and any Covered Person,
the Sponsor, the Delaware Trustee and the Property Trustee shall have the right
to take for its own account (individually or as a partner or fiduciary) or to
recommend to others
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any such particular investment or other opportunity. Any Covered Person, the
Delaware Trustee and the Property Trustee may engage or be interested in any
financial or other transaction with the Sponsor or any Affiliate of the Sponsor,
or may act as depository for, trustee or agent for, or act on any committee or
body of holders of, securities or other obligations of the Sponsor or its
Affiliates.
ARTICLE XI
ACCOUNTING
SECTION 11.1 Fiscal Year.
The fiscal year ("Fiscal Year") of the Trust shall be the calendar
year, or such other year as is required by the Code.
SECTION 11.2 Certain Accounting Matters.
(a) At all times during the existence of the Trust, the Regular
Trustees shall keep, or cause to be kept, full books of account, records and
supporting documents, which shall reflect in reasonable detail, each transaction
of the Trust. The books of account shall be maintained on the accrual method of
accounting, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. The
Trust shall use the accrual method of accounting for United States federal
income tax purposes. The books of account and the records of the Trust shall be
examined by and reported upon as of the end of each Fiscal Year of the Trust by
a firm of independent certified public accountants selected by the Regular
Trustees.
(b) The Regular Trustees shall cause to be duly prepared and delivered
to each of the Holders of Securities, any annual United States federal income
tax information statement, required by the Code, containing such information
with regard to the Securities held by each Holder as is required by the Code and
the Treasury Regulations. Notwithstanding any right under the Code to deliver
any such statement at a later date, the Regular Trustees shall endeavor to
deliver all such statements within 30 days after the end of each Fiscal Year of
the Trust.
(c) The Regular Trustees shall cause to be duly prepared and filed with
the appropriate taxing authority, an annual United States federal income tax
return, on a Form 1041 or such other form required by United States federal
income tax law, and any other annual income tax returns required to be filed by
the Regular Trustees on behalf of the Trust with any state or local taxing
authority.
SECTION 11.3 Banking.
The Trust shall maintain one or more bank accounts in the name and for
the sole benefit of the Trust; provided, however, that all payments of funds in
respect of the Debentures held by the Property Trustee shall be made directly to
the Property Trustee Account and no other
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funds of the Trust shall be deposited in the Property Trustee Account. The sole
signatories for such accounts shall be designated by the Regular Trustees;
provided, however, that the Property Trustee shall designate the signatories for
the Property Trustee Account.
SECTION 11.4 Withholding.
The Trust and the Regular Trustees shall comply with all withholding
requirements under United States federal, state and local law. The Trust shall
request, and the Holders shall provide to the Trust, such forms or certificates
as are necessary to establish an exemption from withholding with respect to each
Holder, and any representations and forms as shall reasonably be requested by
the Trust to assist it in determining the extent of, and in fulfilling, its
withholding obligations. The Regular Trustees shall file required forms with
applicable jurisdictions and, unless an exemption from withholding is properly
established by a Holder, shall remit amounts withheld with respect to the Holder
to applicable jurisdictions. To the extent that the Trust is required to
withhold and pay over any amounts to any authority with respect to distributions
or allocations to any Holder, the amount withheld shall be deemed to be a
distribution in the amount of the withholding to the Holder. In the event of any
claim over withholding, Holders shall be limited to an action against the
applicable jurisdiction. If the amount required to be withheld was not withheld
from actual Distributions made, the Trust may reduce subsequent Distributions by
the amount of such withholding. To the extent the Property Trustee performs the
functions provided for in this section, the Regular Trustees shall direct the
Property Trustee in carrying out such functions.
ARTICLE XII
AMENDMENTS AND MEETINGS
SECTION 12.1 Amendments.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in this Declaration or by any
applicable terms of the Securities, this Declaration may only be
amended by:
(i) a written instrument approved and executed by the Regular Trustees
(or, if there are more than two Regular Trustees, a majority of the
Regular Trustees);
(ii) the Property Trustee if the amendment affects the rights, powers,
duties, obligations or immunities of the Property Trustee; and
(iii) the Delaware Trustee if the amendment affects the rights, powers,
duties, obligations or immunities of the Delaware Trustee;
(b) no amendment shall be made, and any such purported amendment
shall be void and ineffective:
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(i) unless, in the case of any proposed amendment, the Property Trustee
shall have first received an Officers' Certificate from each of the
Trust and the Sponsor that such amendment is permitted by, and conforms
to, the terms of this Declaration (including the terms of the
Securities);
(ii) unless, in the case of any proposed amendment which affects the
rights, powers, duties, obligations or immunities of the Property
Trustee, the Property Trustee shall have first received:
(A) an Officers' Certificate from each of the Trust and the
Sponsor that such amendment is permitted by, and conforms to,
the terms of this Declaration (including the terms of the
Securities); and
(B) an opinion of counsel (who may be counsel to the Sponsor
or the Trust) that such amendment is permitted by, and
conforms to, the terms of this Declaration (including the
terms of the Securities); and
(iii) to the extent the result of such amendment would be to:
(A) cause the Trust to fail to continue to be classified for
purposes of United States federal income taxation as a grantor
trust;
(B) reduce or otherwise adversely affect the powers of the
Property Trustee in contravention of the Trust Indenture Act;
or
(C) cause the Trust to be deemed to be an Investment Company
required to be registered under the Investment Company Act;
(c) at such time after the Trust has issued any Securities that remain
outstanding, any amendment that would adversely affect the rights, privileges or
preferences of any Holder of Securities may be effected only with such
additional requirements as may be set forth in the terms of such Securities;
(d) Section 9.1(c) and this Section 12.1 shall not be amended without
the consent of all of the Holders of the Securities;
(e) Article IV shall not be amended without the consent of the
Holders of a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Common Securities;
(f) the rights of the Holders of the Common Securities under Article V
to increase or decrease the number of, and appoint and remove Trustees shall not
be amended without the consent of the Holders of a Majority in Liquidation
Amount of the Common Securities; and
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(g) notwithstanding Section 12.1(c), this Declaration may be amended
without the consent of the Holders of the Securities to:
(i) cure any ambiguity;
(ii) correct or supplement any provision in this Declaration that may
be defective or inconsistent with any other provision of this
Declaration;
(iii) add to the covenants, restrictions or obligations of the Sponsor;
(iv) to conform to any change in Rule 3a-5 or written change in
interpretation or application of Rule 3a-5 by any legislative body,
court, government agency or regulatory authority which amendment does
not have a material adverse effect on the rights, preferences or
privileges of the Holders; and
(v) to modify, eliminate and add to any provision of this Declaration,
provided such modification, elimination or addition would not adversely
affect the rights, privileges or preferences of any Holder of the
Securities.
SECTION 12.2 Meetings of the Holders of Securities; Action by Written Consent.
(a) Meetings of the Holders of any class of Securities may be called at
any time by the Regular Trustees (or as provided in the terms of the Securities)
to consider and act on any matter on which Holders of such class of Securities
are entitled to act under the terms of this Declaration, the terms of the
Securities or the rules of any stock exchange on which the Preferred Securities
are listed or admitted for trading. The Regular Trustees shall call a meeting of
the Holders of such class if directed to do so by the Holders of at least 10% in
Liquidation Amount of such class of Securities. Such direction shall be given by
delivering to the Regular Trustees one or more calls in a writing stating that
the signing Holders of Securities wish to call a meeting and indicating the
general or specific purpose for which the meeting is to be called. Any Holders
of Securities calling a meeting shall specify in writing the Certificates held
by the Holders of Securities exercising the right to call a meeting and only
those Securities specified shall be counted for purposes of determining whether
the required percentage set forth in the second sentence of this paragraph has
been met.
(b) Except to the extent otherwise provided in the terms of the
Securities, the following provisions shall apply to meetings of Holders of
Securities:
(i) notice of any such meeting shall be given to all the Holders of
Securities having a right to vote thereat at least 7 days and not more
than 60 days before the date of such meeting. Whenever a vote, consent
or approval of the Holders of Securities is permitted or required under
this Declaration or the rules of any stock exchange on which the
Preferred Securities are listed or admitted for trading, such vote,
consent or approval may be given at a meeting of the Holders of
Securities. Any action that may be taken at
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a meeting of the Holders of Securities may be taken without a meeting
if a consent in writing setting forth the action so taken is signed by
the Holders of Securities owning not less than the minimum amount of
Securities in liquidation amount that would be necessary to authorize
or take such action at a meeting at which all Holders of Securities
having a right to vote thereon were present and voting. Prompt notice
of the taking of action without a meeting shall be given to the Holders
of Securities entitled to vote who have not consented in writing. The
Regular Trustees may specify that any written ballot submitted to the
Security Holders for the purpose of taking any action without a meeting
shall be returned to the Trust within the time specified by the Regular
Trustees;
(ii) each Holder of a Security may authorize any Person to act for it
by proxy on all matters in which a Holder of Securities is entitled to
participate, including waiving notice of any meeting, or voting or
participating at a meeting. No proxy shall be valid after the
expiration of 11 months from the date thereof unless otherwise provided
in the proxy. Every proxy shall be revocable at the pleasure of the
Holder of Securities executing such proxy. Except as otherwise provided
herein, all matters relating to the giving, voting or validity of
proxies shall be governed by the General Corporation Law of the State
of Delaware relating to proxies, and judicial interpretations
thereunder, as if the Trust were a Delaware corporation and the Holders
of the Securities were stockholders of a Delaware corporation;
(iii) each meeting of the Holders of the Securities shall be conducted
by the Regular Trustees or by such other Person that the Regular
Trustees may designate; and
(iv) unless the Business Trust Act, this Declaration, the terms of the
Securities, the Trust Indenture Act or the listing rules of any stock
exchange on which the Preferred Securities are then listed for trading,
otherwise provides, the Regular Trustees, in their sole discretion,
shall establish all other provisions relating to meetings of Holders of
Securities, including notice of the time, place or purpose of any
meeting at which any matter is to be voted on by any Holders of
Securities, waiver of any such notice, action by consent without a
meeting, the establishment of a record date, quorum requirements,
voting in person or by proxy or any other matter with respect to the
exercise of any such right to vote.
ARTICLE XIII
REPRESENTATIONS OF PROPERTY TRUSTEE
AND DELAWARE TRUSTEE
SECTION 13.1 Representations and Warranties of the Property Trustee.
The Trustee that acts as initial Property Trustee represents and
warrants to the Trust and to the Sponsor at the date of this Declaration, and
each Successor Property Trustee represents and warrants to the Trust and the
Sponsor at the time of the Successor Property Trustee's acceptance of its
appointment as Property Trustee that:
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(a) the Property Trustee is a corporation or national banking
association, duly organized, validly existing and in good standing
under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or
organization, with trust power and authority to execute and deliver,
and to carry out and perform its obligations under the terms of, this
Declaration;
(b) the Property Trustee satisfies the requirements set forth in
Section 5.3(a);
(c) the execution, delivery and performance by the Property Trustee of
this Declaration has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate
action on the part of the Property Trustee. This Declaration has been
duly executed and delivered by the Property Trustee, and it constitutes
a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Property Trustee,
enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, subject to
applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, moratorium, insolvency and other
similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally and to general
principles of equity and the discretion of the court (regardless of
whether the enforcement of such remedies is considered in a proceeding
in equity or at law);
(d) the execution, delivery and performance of this Declaration by the
Property Trustee does not conflict with or constitute a breach of the
articles of association or incorporation, as the case may be, or the
by-laws (or other similar organizational documents) of the Property
Trustee;
(e) no consent, approval or authorization of, or registration with or
notice to, any Federal banking authority is required for the execution,
delivery or performance by the Property Trustee of this Declaration;
and
(f) the Property Trustee, pursuant to this Declaration, shall hold
legal title in the Debentures which are registered in the name of the
Property Trustee for the benefit of the Trust.
SECTION 13.2 Representations and Warranties of the Delaware Trustee.
The Trustee that acts as initial Delaware Trustee represents and
warrants to the Trust and to the Sponsor at the date of this Declaration, and
each Successor Delaware Trustee represents and warrants to the Trust and the
Sponsor at the time of the Successor Delaware Trustee's acceptance of its
appointment as Delaware Trustee that:
(a) the Delaware Trustee satisfies the requirements set forth in
Section 5.2 and has the power and authority to execute and deliver, and
to carry out and perform its obligations under the terms of, this
Declaration and, if it is not a natural person, is duly organized,
validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its
jurisdiction of incorporation or organization;
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(b) the Delaware Trustee has been authorized to perform its obligations
under the Certificate of Trust and this Declaration. This Declaration
under Delaware law constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of
the Delaware Trustee, enforceable against it in accordance with its
terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, moratorium,
insolvency and other similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally
and to general principles of equity and the discretion of the court
(regardless of whether the enforcement of such remedies is considered
in a proceeding in equity or at law); and
(c) no consent, approval or authorization of, or registration with or
notice to, any State or Federal banking authority is required for the
execution, delivery or performance by the Delaware Trustee of this
Declaration.
ARTICLE XIV
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 14.1 Notices.
All notices provided for in this Declaration shall be in writing, duly
signed by the party giving such notice, and shall be delivered, telecopied or
mailed by registered or certified mail, as follows:
(a) if given to the Trust, in care of the Regular Trustees at the
Trust's mailing address set forth below (or such other address as the
Trust may give notice of to the Property Trustee, the Delaware Trustee
and the Holders of the Securities):
11825 North Pennsylvania Street
Carmel, Indiana 46032
Attention: Lawrence W. Inlow, Esq.
(b) if given to the Delaware Trustee, at the mailing address set forth
below (or such other address as Delaware Trustee may give notice of to
the Regular Trustees, the Property Trustee and the Holders of the
Securities):
First Union Bank of Delaware
One Rodney Square
1st Floor
920 King Street
Wilmington, Delaware 19801
Attention: Corporate Trust Administration
(c) if given to the Property Trustee, at its Corporate Trust Office (or
such other address as the Property Trustee may give notice of to the
Regular Trustees, the Delaware Trustee and the Holders of the
Securities):
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Fleet National Bank
Corporate Trust Administration
777 Main Street
Hartford, Connecticut 06115
Attention: Michael Hopkins
(d) if given to the Holder of the Common Securities, at the mailing
address of the Sponsor set forth below (or such other address as the
Holder of the Common Securities may give notice of to the Property
Trustee, the Delaware Trustee and the Trust):
Conseco, Inc.
11825 North Pennsylvania Street
Carmel, Indiana 46032
Attention: Lawrence W. Inlow, Esq.
(e) if given to any other Holder, at the address set forth on the
books and records of the Trust.
All such notices shall be deemed to have been given when received in person,
telecopied with receipt confirmed or mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid
except that if a notice or other document is refused delivery or cannot be
delivered because of a changed address of which no notice was given, such notice
or other document shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date of such
refusal or inability to deliver.
SECTION 14.2 Governing Law.
This Declaration and the rights of the parties hereunder shall be
governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware
and all rights and remedies shall be governed by such laws without regard to
principles of conflict of laws.
SECTION 14.3 Intention of the Parties.
It is the intention of the parties hereto that the Trust be classified
for United States federal income tax purposes as a grantor trust. The provisions
of this Declaration shall be interpreted to further this intention of the
parties.
SECTION 14.4 Headings.
Headings contained in this Declaration are inserted for convenience of
reference only and do not affect the interpretation of this Declaration or any
provision hereof.
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SECTION 14.5 Successors and Assigns.
Whenever in this Declaration any of the parties hereto is named or
referred to, the successors and assigns of such party shall be deemed to be
included, and all covenants and agreements in this Declaration by the Sponsor
and the Trustees shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective
successors and assigns, whether so expressed.
SECTION 14.6 Partial Enforceability.
If any provision of this Declaration, or the application of such
provision to any Person or circumstance, shall be held invalid, the remainder of
this Declaration, or the application of such provision to persons or
circumstances other than those to which it is held invalid, shall not be
affected thereby.
SECTION 14.7 Counterparts.
This Declaration may contain more than one counterpart of the signature
page and this Declaration may be executed by the affixing of the signature of
each of the Trustees to one of such counterpart signature pages. All of such
counterpart signature pages shall be read as though one, and they shall have the
same force and effect as though all of the signers had signed a single signature
page.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused these presents to be
executed as of the day and year first above written.
CONSECO INC, as Sponsor and Debenture Issuer
By:/s/ ROLLIN M. DICK
-------------------------------------
Name: Rollin M. Dick
Title: Executive Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer
FLEET NATIONAL BANK, as Property Trustee
By: /s/ MICHAEL HOPKINS
Name:Michael Hopkins
Title:Vice President
FIRST UNION BANK OF DELAWARE, as
Delaware Trustee
By: /s/ STEPHEN J. KABA
----------------------------
Name:Stephen J. Kaba
Title:Managing Director
/s/ ROLLIN M. DICK
--------------------------------
Rollin M. Dick, as Regular Trustee
/s/ STEPHEN C. HILBERT
-------------------------------------
Stephen C. Hilbert, as Regular Trustee
/s/ LAWRENCE W. INLOW
-------------------------------------
Lawrence W. Inlow, as Regular Trustee
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ANNEX I
TERMS OF
9.16% TRUST ORIGINATED PREFERRED SECURITIES
9.16% TRUST ORIGINATED COMMON SECURITIES
Pursuant to Section 7.1 of the Amended and Restated
Declaration of Trust, dated as of November 14, 1996 (as amended from time to
time, the "Declaration"), the designation, rights, privileges, restrictions,
preferences and other terms and provisions of the Preferred Securities are set
forth below (each capitalized term used but not defined herein having the
meaning set forth in the Declaration or, if not defined in the Declaration, as
defined in the Prospectus referred to below):
1. Designation and Number.
(a) PREFERRED SECURITIES. 11,000,000 Preferred Securities of the Trust
with an aggregate liquidation amount with respect to the assets of the Trust of
Two Hundred Seventy- Five Million Dollars ($275,000,000) and a liquidation
amount with respect to the assets of the Trust of $25 per Preferred Security,
are hereby designated for the purposes of identification only as "9.16% Trust
Originated Preferred Securities(sm) ('TOPrS'(sm))" (the "Preferred Securities").
The Preferred Security Certificates evidencing the Preferred Securities shall be
substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1 to the Declaration, with such changes
and additions thereto or deletions therefrom as may be required by ordinary
usage, custom or practice or to conform to the rules of any stock exchange on
which the Preferred Securities are listed.
(b) COMMON SECURITIES. 344,000 Common Securities of the Trust with an
aggregate liquidation amount with respect to the assets of the Trust of Eight
Million Six Hundred Thousand Dollars ($8,600,000) and a liquidation amount with
respect to the assets of the Trust of $25 per Common Security, are hereby
designated for the purposes of identification only as "9.16% Trust Originated
Common Securities" (the "Common Securities"). The Common Security Certificates
evidencing the Common Securities shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit
A-2 to the Declaration, with such changes and additions thereto or deletions
therefrom as may be required by ordinary usage, custom or practice.
2. Distributions.
(a) Distributions payable on each Security will be fixed at a rate per
annum of 9.16% (the "Coupon Rate") of the stated liquidation amount of $25 per
Security, such rate being the rate of interest payable on the Debentures to be
held by the Property Trustee. Distributions in arrears for more than one quarter
will bear interest thereon from and including the last day of such quarter at
the Coupon Rate compounded quarterly (to the extent permitted by applicable
law). The term "Distributions" as used herein includes such cash distributions
and any such interest payable unless otherwise stated. A Distribution is payable
only to the extent that payments are made in respect of the Debentures held by
the Property Trustee and to the extent
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the Property Trustee has funds available therefor. The amount of Distributions
payable for any period will be computed for any full quarterly Distribution
period on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months, and for any
period shorter than a full quarterly Distribution period for which Distributions
are computed, Distributions will be computed on the basis of the actual number
of days elapsed per 90-day quarter.
(b) Distributions on the Securities will be cumulative, will accrue
from November 19, 1996, and will be payable quarterly in arrears, on March 31,
June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each year, commencing on December 31,
1996, except as otherwise described below. The Debenture Issuer has the right
under the Indenture to defer payments of interest on the Debentures by extending
the interest payment period at any time and from time to time for a period not
exceeding 20 consecutive quarters (each an "Extension Period"), during which
Extension Period no interest shall be due and payable on the Debentures,
provided that no Extension Period shall last beyond the date of maturity of the
Debentures. As a consequence of such deferral, Distributions will also be
deferred. Despite such deferral, quarterly Distributions will continue to accrue
with interest thereon (to the extent permitted by applicable law) at the Coupon
Rate compounded quarterly during any such Extension Period. Prior to the
termination of any such Extension Period, the Debenture Issuer may further
extend such Extension Period, provided that such Extension Period together with
all such previous and further extensions thereof may not exceed 20 consecutive
quarters and may not extend beyond the date of maturity of the Debentures.
Payments of deferred Distributions will be payable to Holders of record of the
Securities as they appear on the books and records of the Trust on the record
date for Distributions due at the end of such Extension Period. Upon the
termination of any Extension Period and the payment of all amounts then due, the
Debenture Issuer may commence a new Extension Period, subject to the above
requirements.
(c) Distributions on the Securities will be payable to the Holders
thereof as they appear on the books and records of the Trust on the relevant
record dates. While the Preferred Securities remain in global form, the relevant
record dates shall be one Business Day prior to the relevant payment dates which
payment dates correspond to the interest payment dates on the Debentures.
Subject to any applicable laws and regulations and the provisions of the
Declaration, each such payment in respect of the Preferred Securities will be
made as described under the heading "Description of the Preferred Securities --
Book-Entry Issuance -- The Depository Trust Company" in the Prospectus
Supplement dated November 14, 1996, to the Prospectus dated November 12, 1996
(together, the "Prospectus") included in the Registration Statement on Form S-3
of the Sponsor and the Trust. The relevant record dates for the Common
Securities shall be the same record date as for the Preferred Securities. If the
Preferred Securities shall not continue to remain in global form, the relevant
record dates for the Preferred Securities shall conform to the rules of any
securities exchange on which the Preferred Securities are listed and, if none,
shall be selected by the Regular Trustees, which dates shall be at least one
Business Day but less than 60 Business Days before the relevant payment dates,
which payment dates correspond to the interest payment dates on the Debentures.
Distributions payable on any Securities that are not punctually paid on any
Distribution payment date, as a result of the Debenture Issuer having failed to
make a payment under the Debentures, will cease to be payable to the Person in
whose
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name such Securities are registered on the relevant record date, and such
defaulted Distribution will instead be payable to the Person in whose name such
Securities are registered on the special record date or other specified date
determined in accordance with the Indenture. If any date on which Distributions
are payable on the Securities is not a Business Day, then payment of the
Distribution payable on such date will be made on the next succeeding day that
is a Business Day (and without any interest or other payment in respect of any
such delay) except that, if such Business Day is in the next succeeding calendar
year, such payment shall be made on the immediately preceding Business Day, in
each case with the same force and effect as if made on such date.
(d) In the event that there is any money or other property held by or
for the Trust that is not accounted for hereunder, such property shall be
distributed Pro Rata (as defined herein) among the Holders of the Securities.
3. Liquidation Distribution Upon Dissolution.
(a) In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation,
dissolution, winding-up or termination of the Trust, the Holders of the
Securities on the date of the liquidation, dissolution, winding-up or
termination, as the case may be, will be entitled to receive solely out of the
assets of the Trust available for distribution to Holders of Securities, after
satisfaction of liabilities of creditors, an amount equal to the aggregate of
the stated liquidation amount of $25 per Security plus accrued and unpaid
Distributions thereon to the date of payment (such amount being the "Liquidation
Distribution"), unless, in connection with such liquidation, dissolution,
winding-up or termination, Debentures in an aggregate principal amount equal to
the aggregate stated liquidation amount of such Securities, with an interest
rate equal to the Coupon Rate of, and bearing accrued and unpaid interest in an
amount equal to the accrued and unpaid Distributions on, such Securities, shall
be distributed on a Pro Rata basis to the Holders of the Securities in exchange
for such Securities in accordance with Section 4(e) hereof.
(b) If, upon any such dissolution, the Liquidation Distribution can be
paid only in part because the Trust has insufficient assets available to pay in
full the aggregate Liquidation Distribution, then the amounts payable directly
by the Trust on the Securities shall be paid on a Pro Rata basis.
4. Redemption and Distribution.
(a) Upon the repayment of the Debentures in whole or in part, whether
at maturity or upon redemption (such redemption being either at the option of
the Debenture Issuer on or after November 19, 2001 or at the option of the
Debenture Issuer in connection with the occurrence of a Special Event as
described below), the proceeds from such repayment or redemption shall be
simultaneously applied to redeem Securities having an aggregate liquidation
amount equal to
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the aggregate principal amount of the Debentures so repaid or redeemed at a
redemption price of $25 per Security plus an amount equal to accrued and unpaid
Distributions thereon at the date of the redemption, payable in cash (the
"Redemption Price"). Holders will be given not less than 30 nor more than 60
days notice of such redemption.
(b) If fewer than all the outstanding Securities are to be so redeemed,
the Common Securities and the Preferred Securities will be redeemed Pro Rata and
the Preferred Securities to be redeemed will be as described in Section 4(f)(ii)
below.
(c) If, at any time, a Tax Event or an Investment Company Event (each
as defined below, and each a "Special Event") shall occur and be continuing the
Debenture Issuer shall have the right, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60
days notice, to redeem the Debentures in whole (but not in part) for cash within
90 days following the occurrence of such Special Event, and, following such
redemption, Securities with an aggregate liquidation amount equal to the
aggregate principal amount of the Debentures so redeemed shall be redeemed by
the Trust at the Redemption Price on a Pro Rata basis in accordance with Section
8 hereof. The Common Securities will be redeemed Pro Rata with the Preferred
Securities, except that if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing,
the Preferred Securities will have priority over the Common Securities with
respect to payment of the Redemption Price.
"Tax Event" means that the Regular Trustees shall have received an
opinion of an independent tax counsel experienced in such matters to the effect
that, as a result of (i) any amendment to, or change (including any announced
prospective change) in, the laws (or any regulations thereunder) of the United
States or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein, or
(ii) any official administrative pronouncement or judicial decision interpreting
or applying such laws or regulations, which amendment or change is effective or
such pronouncement or decision is announced on or after the date of original
issuance of the Preferred Securities, there is more than an insubstantial risk
that (A) the Trust is, or will be within 90 days after the date thereof, subject
to United States federal income tax with respect to interest accrued or received
on the Debentures, (B) the Trust is, or will be within 90 days after the date
thereof, subject to more than a de minimis amount of taxes, duties or other
governmental charges, or (C) interest payable by the Debenture Issuer to the
Trust on the Debentures is not, or within 90 days of the date thereof, will not
be deductible, in whole or in part, by the Debenture Issuer for United States
federal income tax purposes.
"Investment Company Event" means that the Regular Trustees shall have
received an opinion of an independent counsel experienced in practice under the
Investment Company Act to the effect that, as a result of the occurrence of a
change in law or regulation or a change in interpretation or application of law
or regulation by any legislative body, court, governmental agency or regulatory
authority (a "Change in 1940 Act Law"), there is a more than an insubstantial
risk that the Trust is or will be considered an "investment company" which is
required to be registered under the Investment Company Act, which Change in 1940
Act Law becomes effective on or after the date of original issuance of the
Preferred Securities.
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(d) The Trust may not redeem fewer than all the outstanding Securities
unless all accrued and unpaid Distributions have been paid on all Securities for
all quarterly Distribution periods terminating on or before the date of
redemption.
(e) In the event that the Sponsor makes the election referred to in
Section 8.1(a)(v) of the Declaration, the Regular Trustees shall dissolve the
Trust and, after satisfaction of creditors, cause Debentures, held by the
Property Trustee, having an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate
stated liquidation amount of, with an interest rate identical to the Coupon Rate
of, and accrued and unpaid interest equal to accrued and unpaid Distributions on
and having the same record date for payment, as the Securities, to be
distributed to the Holders of the Securities in liquidation of such Holders'
interests in the Trust on a Pro Rata basis in accordance with Section 8 hereof.
On and from the date fixed by the Regular Trustees for any distribution of
Debentures and dissolution of the Trust: (i) the Securities will no longer be
deemed to be outstanding, and (ii) the Clearing Agency or its nominee (or any
successor Clearing Agency or its nominee) will receive one or more global
certificate or certificates representing the Debentures to be delivered upon
such distribution, and having an aggregate principal amount equal to the
aggregated stated liquidation amount of, with an interest rate identical to the
Coupon Rate of, and accrued and unpaid interest equal to accrued and unpaid
Distributions on such Securities. Any certificates representing Securities,
except for certificates representing Preferred Securities held by the Clearing
Agency or its nominee (or any successor Clearing Agency or its nominee), will be
deemed to represent beneficial interests in the Debentures having an aggregate
principal amount equal to the aggregated stated liquidation amount of, with an
interest rate identical to the Coupon Rate of, and accrued and unpaid interest
equal to accrued and unpaid Distributions on such Securities until such
certificates are presented to the Debenture Issuer or its agent for transfer or
reissue. If the Debentures are distributed to Holders of the Securities,
pursuant to the terms of the Indenture, the Debenture Issuer will use its best
efforts to have the Debentures listed on the New York Stock Exchange or on such
other exchange as the Preferred Securities were listed immediately prior to the
distribution of the Debentures.
(f) Redemption or Distribution Procedures.
(i) Notice of any redemption of, or notice of distribution of
Debentures in exchange for the Securities (a "Redemption/Distribution Notice")
will be given by the Trust by mail to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed
or exchanged not fewer than 30 nor more than 60 days before the date fixed for
redemption or exchange thereof which, in the case of a redemption, will be the
date fixed for redemption of the Debentures. For purposes of the calculation of
the date of redemption or exchange and the dates on which notices are given
pursuant to this Section 4(f)(i), a Redemption/ Distribution Notice shall be
deemed to be given on the day such notice is first mailed by first-class mail,
postage prepaid, to Holders of Securities. Each Redemption/Distribution Notice
shall be addressed to the Holders of Securities at the address of each such
Holder appearing in the books and records of the Trust. No defect in the
Redemption/Distribution Notice or in the mailing of either thereof with respect
to any Holder shall affect the validity of the redemption or exchange
proceedings with respect to any other Holder.
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(ii) In the event that fewer than all the outstanding Securities are to
be redeemed, the Securities to be redeemed shall be redeemed Pro Rata from each
Holder of Preferred Securities, it being understood that, in respect of
Preferred Securities registered in the name of and held of record by the
Clearing Agency or its nominee (or any successor Clearing Agency or its
nominee), the distribution of the proceeds of such redemption will be made to
each Clearing Agency Participant (or Person on whose behalf such nominee holds
such securities) in accordance with the procedures applied by such agency or
nominee.
(iii) If Securities are to be redeemed and the Trust gives a
Redemption/Distribution Notice (which notice will be irrevocable), then (A)
while the Preferred Securities are in global form, with respect to the Preferred
Securities, by 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the redemption date, provided
that the Debenture Issuer has paid the Property Trustee a sufficient amount of
cash in connection with the related redemption or maturity of the Debentures,
the Property Trustee will deposit irrevocably with the Clearing Agency or its
nominee (or successor Clearing Agency or its nominee) funds sufficient to pay
the applicable Redemption Price with respect to the Preferred Securities and
will give the Clearing Agency irrevocable instructions and authority to pay the
Redemption Price to the Holders of the Preferred Securities, and (B) with
respect to Preferred Securities issued in definitive form and Common Securities,
provided that the Debenture Issuer has paid the Property Trustee a sufficient
amount of cash in connection with the related redemption or maturity of the
Debentures, the Property Trustee will pay the relevant Redemption Price to the
Holders of such Securities by check mailed to the address of the relevant Holder
appearing on the books and records of the Trust on the redemption date. If a
Redemption/Distribution Notice shall have been given and funds deposited as
required, then immediately prior to the close of business on the date of such
deposit, Distributions will cease to accrue on the Securities so called for
redemption and all rights of Holders of such Securities so called for redemption
will cease, except the right of the Holders of such Securities to receive the
Redemption Price, but without interest on such Redemption Price. Neither the
Regular Trustees nor the Trust shall be required to register or cause to be
registered the transfer of any Securities that have been so called for
redemption. If any date fixed for redemption of Securities is not a Business
Day, then payment of the Redemption Price payable on such date will be made on
the next succeeding day that is a Business Day (and without any interest or
other payment in respect of any such delay) except that, if such Business Day
falls in the next calendar year, such payment will be made on the immediately
preceding Business Day, in each case with the same force and effect as if made
on such date fixed for redemption. If the Debenture Issuer fails to repay the
Debentures on the date of redemption or on maturity or if payment of the
Redemption Price in respect of any Securities is improperly withheld or refused
and not paid either by the Property Trustee or by the Sponsor as guarantor
pursuant to the relevant Securities Guarantee, Distributions on such Securities
will continue to accrue at the then applicable rate from the original redemption
date to the actual date of payment, in which case the actual payment date will
be considered the date fixed for redemption for purposes of calculating the
Redemption Price.
57
<PAGE>
(iv) Redemption/Distribution Notices shall be sent by the Regular
Trustees on behalf of the Trust to (A) in respect of the Preferred Securities,
the Clearing Agency or its nominee (or any successor Clearing Agency or its
nominee) if the Global Certificates have been issued or, if Definitive Preferred
Security Certificates have been issued, to the Holder thereof, and (B) in
respect of the Common Securities to the Holder thereof.
(v) Subject to the foregoing and applicable law (including, without
limitation, United States federal securities laws), the Sponsor or any of its
subsidiaries may at any time and from time to time purchase outstanding
Preferred Securities by tender, in the open market or by private agreement.
5. Voting Rights - Preferred Securities.
(a) Except as provided under Sections 5(b) and 7 and as otherwise
required by law and the Declaration, the Holders of the Preferred Securities
will have no voting rights.
(b) Subject to the requirements set forth in this paragraph, the
Holders of a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities, voting
separately as a class, may direct the time, method and place of conducting any
proceeding for any remedy available to the Property Trustee, or direct the
exercise of any trust or power conferred upon the Property Trustee under the
Declaration, including the right to direct the Property Trustee, as Holder of
the Debentures, to (i) exercise the remedies available under the Indenture with
respect to the Debentures, (ii) waive any past default and its consequences that
is waivable under the Indenture, or (iii) exercise any right to rescind or annul
a declaration that the principal of all the Debentures shall be due and payable,
or consent to any amendment, modification or termination of the Indenture or the
Debentures, where such consent would be required; provided that where a consent
or action under the Indenture would require the consent or act of the Holders of
greater than a majority in principal amount of Debentures affected thereby (a
"Super Majority"), the Property Trustee may only give such consent or take such
action at the written direction of the Holders of at least the proportion in
liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities which the relevant Super Majority
represents of the aggregate principal amount of the Debentures outstanding. The
Property Trustee shall not revoke any action previously authorized or approved
by a vote of the Holders of the Preferred Securities. Other than with respect to
directing the time, method and place of conducting a proceeding for any remedy
available to the Property Trustee or the Debenture Trustee as set forth above,
the Property Trustee shall not take any action in accordance with the directions
of the Holders of the Preferred Securities under this paragraph unless the
Property Trustee has obtained an opinion of tax counsel to the effect that for
the purposes of United States federal income tax the Trust will not be
classified as other than a grantor trust on account of such action. If the
Property Trustee fails to enforce its rights with respect to the Debentures held
by the Trust, any Holder of Preferred Securities may, to the extent permitted by
applicable law, institute legal proceedings directly against the Debenture
Issuer to enforce the Property Trustee's rights under the Debentures without
first instituting any legal proceedings against the Property Trustee or any
other person or entity. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Event of Default
under the Declaration has occurred and is continuing and
58
<PAGE>
such event is attributable to the failure of the Debenture Issuer to pay
interest or principal on the Debentures issued to the Trust on the date such
interest or principal is otherwise payable, then a Holder of Preferred
Securities may institute a proceeding directly against the Debenture Issuer for
enforcement of payment to the Holder of the Preferred Securities of the
principal of or interest on the Debentures on or after the respective due dates
specified in the Debentures, and the amount of the payment will be based on the
Holder's pro rata share of the amount due and owing on all of the Preferred
Securities.
Any approval or direction of Holders of Preferred Securities may be
given at a separate meeting of Holders of Preferred Securities convened for such
purpose, at a meeting of all of the Holders of Securities in the Trust or
pursuant to written consent. The Regular Trustees will cause a notice of any
meeting at which Holders of Preferred Securities are entitled to vote, or of any
matter upon which action by written consent of such Holders is to be taken, to
be mailed to each Holder of Preferred Securities. Each such notice will include
a statement setting forth (i) the date of such meeting or the date by which such
action is to be taken, (ii) a description of any resolution proposed for
adoption at such meeting on which such Holders are entitled to vote or of such
matter upon which written consent is sought and (iii) instructions for the
delivery of proxies or consents.
No vote or consent of the Holders of the Preferred Securities will be
required for the Trust to redeem and cancel Preferred Securities or to
distribute the Debentures in accordance with the Declaration and the terms of
the Securities.
Notwithstanding that Holders of Preferred Securities are entitled to
vote or consent under any of the circumstances described above, any of the
Preferred Securities that are owned by the Sponsor or any Affiliate of the
Sponsor shall not be entitled to vote or consent and shall, for purposes of such
vote or consent, be treated as if they were not outstanding.
6. Voting Rights - Common Securities.
(a) Except as provided under Sections 6(b) and (c) and as otherwise
required by law and the Declaration, the Holders of the Common Securities will
have no voting rights.
(b) The Holders of the Common Securities are entitled, in accordance
with Article V of the Declaration, to vote to appoint, remove or replace any
Trustee or to increase or decrease the number of Trustees.
(c) Subject to Section 2.6 of the Declaration and only after the Event
of Default with respect to the Preferred Securities has been cured, waived or
otherwise eliminated and subject to the requirements set forth in this
paragraph, the Holders of a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Common
Securities, voting separately as a class, may direct the time, method and place
of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Property Trustee,
or direct the exercise of any trust or power conferred upon the Property Trustee
under the Declaration,
59
<PAGE>
including the right to direct the Property Trustee, as Holder of the Debentures,
to (i) exercise the remedies available under the Indenture with respect to the
Debentures, (ii) waive any past default and its consequences that is waivable
under the Indenture, or (iii) exercise any right to rescind or annul a
declaration that the principal of all the Debentures shall be due and payable,
or consent to any amendment, modification or termination of the Indenture or the
Debentures, where such consent would be required; provided that, where a consent
or action under the Indenture would require the consent or act of a Super
Majority of the Holders of the Debentures affected thereby, the Property Trustee
may only give such consent or take such action at the written direction of the
Holders of at least the proportion in liquidation amount of the Common
Securities which the relevant Super Majority represents of the aggregate
principal amount of the Debentures outstanding. The Property Trustee shall not
revoke any action previously authorized or approved by a vote of the Holders of
the Common Securities. Other than with respect to directing the time, method and
place of conducting a proceeding for any remedy available to the Property
Trustee or the Debenture Trustee as set forth above, the Property Trustee shall
not take any action in accordance with the directions of the Holders of the
Common Securities under this paragraph unless the Property Trustee has obtained
an opinion of tax counsel to the effect that for the purposes of United States
federal income tax the Trust will not be classified as other than a grantor
trust on account of such action. If the Property Trustee fails to enforce its
rights with respect to the Debentures held by the Trust, any Holder of Common
Securities may, to the extent permitted by applicable law, institute legal
proceedings directly against the Debenture Issuer to enforce the Property
Trustee's rights under the Debentures without first instituting any legal
proceedings against the Property Trustee or any other person or entity.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Event of Default under the Declaration has
occurred and is continuing and such event is attributable to the failure of the
Debenture Issuer to pay interest or principal on the Debentures issued to the
Trust on the date such interest or principal is otherwise payable, then a Holder
of Common Securities may institute a proceeding directly against the Debenture
Issuer for enforcement of payment to the Holder of the Common Securities of the
principal of or interest on the Debentures on or after the respective due dates
specified in the Debentures, and the amount of the payment will be based on the
Holder's pro rata share of the amount due and owing on all of the Common
Securities.
Any approval or direction of Holders of Common Securities may be given
at a separate meeting of Holders of Common Securities convened for such purpose,
at a meeting of all of the Holders of Securities in the Trust or pursuant to
written consent. The Regular Trustees will cause a notice of any meeting at
which Holders of Common Securities are entitled to vote, or of any matter upon
which action by written consent of such Holders is to be taken, to be mailed to
each Holder of Common Securities. Each such notice will include a statement
setting forth (i) the date of such meeting or the date by which such action is
to be taken, (ii) a description of any resolution proposed for adoption at such
meeting on which such Holders are entitled to vote or of such matter upon which
written consent is sought and (iii) instructions for the delivery of proxies or
consents.
60
<PAGE>
No vote or consent of the Holders of the Common Securities will be
required for the Trust to redeem and cancel Common Securities or to distribute
the Debentures in accordance with the Declaration and the terms of the
Securities.
7. Amendments to Declaration and Indenture.
(a) In addition to any requirements under Section 12.1 of the
Declaration, if any proposed amendment to the Declaration provides for, or the
Regular Trustees otherwise propose to effect, (i) any action that would
adversely affect the powers, preferences or special rights of the Securities,
whether by way of amendment to the Declaration or otherwise, or (ii) the
dissolution, winding-up or termination of the Trust, other than as described in
Section 8.1 of the Declaration, then the Holders of outstanding Securities
voting together as a single class, will be entitled to vote on such amendment or
proposal (but not on any other amendment or proposal) and such amendment or
proposal shall not be effective except with the approval of the Holders of at
least a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Securities affected thereby,
voting together as a single class; provided, however, if any amendment or
proposal referred to in clause (i) above would adversely affect only the
Preferred Securities or only the Common Securities, then only the affected class
will be entitled to vote on such amendment or proposal and such amendment or
proposal shall not be effective except with the approval of a Majority in
Liquidation Amount of such class of Securities.
(b) In the event the consent of the Property Trustee as the holder of
the Debentures is required under the Indenture with respect to any amendment,
modification or termination of the Indenture or the Debentures, the Property
Trustee shall request the written direction of the Holders of the Securities
with respect to such amendment, modification or termination and shall vote with
respect to such amendment, modification or termination as directed by a Majority
in Liquidation Amount of the Securities voting together as a single class;
provided, however, that where a consent under the Indenture would require the
consent of a Super Majority of the Holders of the Debentures, the Property
Trustee may only give such consent at the direction of the Holders of at least
the proportion in liquidation amount of the Securities which the relevant Super
Majority represents of the aggregate principal amount of the Debentures
outstanding; provided, further, that the Property Trustee shall not take any
action in accordance with the directions of the Holders of the Securities under
this Section 7(b) unless the Property Trustee has obtained an opinion of tax
counsel to the effect that for the purposes of United States federal income tax
the Trust will not be classified as other than a grantor trust on account of
such action.
8. Pro Rata.
A reference in these terms of the Securities to any payment,
distribution or treatment as being "Pro Rata" shall mean pro rata to each Holder
of Securities according to the aggregate liquidation amount of the Securities
held by the relevant Holder in relation to the aggregate liquidation amount of
all Securities outstanding unless, in relation to a payment, an Event of Default
under the Declaration has occurred and is continuing, in which case any funds
available
61
<PAGE>
to make such payment shall be paid first to each Holder of the Preferred
Securities pro rata according to the aggregate liquidation amount of Preferred
Securities held by the relevant Holder relative to the aggregate liquidation
amount of all Preferred Securities outstanding, and only after satisfaction of
all amounts owed to the Holders of the Preferred Securities, to each Holder of
Common Securities pro rata according to the aggregate liquidation amount of
Common Securities held by the relevant Holder relative to the aggregate
liquidation amount of all Common Securities outstanding. When the Property
Trustee is making payments on the Securities, it is entitled to assume that no
Event of Default has occurred and is continuing unless the Event of Default is
actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Property Trustee.
9. Ranking.
The Preferred Securities rank pari passu and payment thereon shall be
made Pro Rata with the Common Securities except that, where an Event of Default
occurs and is continuing under the Indenture in respect of the Debentures held
by the Property Trustee, the rights of Holders of the Common Securities to
payment in respect of Distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption
and otherwise are subordinated to the rights to payment of the Holders of the
Preferred Securities.
10. Listing.
The Regular Trustees shall use their best efforts to cause the
Preferred Securities to be listed for quotation on the New York Stock Exchange,
Inc.
11. Acceptance of Securities Guarantee and Indenture.
Each Holder of Preferred Securities and Common Securities, by the
acceptance thereof, agrees to the provisions of the Preferred Securities
Guarantee and the Common Securities Guarantee, respectively, including the
subordination provisions therein and to the provisions of the Indenture and the
Debentures.
12. No Preemptive Rights.
The Holders of the Securities shall have no preemptive rights to
subscribe for any additional securities.
13. Miscellaneous.
These terms constitute a part of the Declaration.
The Sponsor will provide a copy of the Declaration, the Preferred
Securities Guarantee or the Common Securities Guarantee (as may be appropriate)
and the Indenture to a Holder without charge on written request to the Sponsor
at its principal place of business.
62
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT A-1
FORM OF PREFERRED SECURITY CERTIFICATE
[IF THE PREFERRED SECURITY IS TO BE A GLOBAL CERTIFICATE
INSERT - This Preferred Security is a Global Certificate within the meaning of
the Declaration hereinafter referred to and is registered in the name of The
Depository Trust Company (the "Depository") or a nominee of the Depository. This
Preferred Security is exchangeable for Preferred Securities registered in the
name of a person other than the Depository or its nominee only in the limited
circumstances described in the Declaration and no transfer of this Preferred
Security (other than a transfer of this Preferred Security as a whole by the
Depository to a nominee of the Depository or by a nominee of the Depository to
the Depository or another nominee of the Depository) may be registered except in
limited circumstances.
Unless this Preferred Security Certificate is presented by an
authorized representative of the Depository to the Trust or its agent for
registration of transfer, exchange or payment, and any Preferred Security
Certificate issued is registered in the name of Cede & Co. or such other name as
requested by an authorized representative of the Depository (and any payment
hereon is made to Cede & Co. or to such other entity as is requested by an
authorized representative of the Depository), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE
HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL since the
registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein.]
Certificate Number Number of Preferred Securities
CUSIP NO.
Certificate Evidencing Preferred Securities
of
CONSECO FINANCING TRUST I
____% Trust Originated Preferred SecuritiesSM ("TOPrS"SM)
(liquidation amount $25 per Preferred Security)
CONSECO FINANCING TRUST I, a statutory business trust formed under the
laws of the State of Delaware (the "Trust"), hereby certifies that
_______________________________ (the "Holder") is the registered owner of
preferred securities of the Trust representing undivided beneficial interests in
the assets of the Trust designated the ___% Trust Originated Preferred
SecuritiesSM (liquidation amount $25 per Preferred Security) (the "Preferred
Securities"). The Preferred Securities are transferable on the books and records
of the Trust, in person or by a duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of this
certificate duly endorsed and in proper form for transfer. The designation,
rights, privileges, restrictions, preferences and other terms and
A1-1
<PAGE>
provisions of the Preferred Securities represented hereby are issued and shall
in all respects be subject to the provisions of the Amended and Restated
Declaration of Trust of the Trust dated as of November 14, 1996, as the same may
be amended from time to time (the "Declaration"), including the designation of
the terms of the Preferred Securities as set forth in Annex I to the
Declaration. Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the
meaning given them in the Declaration. The Holder is entitled to the benefits of
the Preferred Securities Guarantee to the extent provided therein. The Sponsor
will provide a copy of the Declaration, the Preferred Securities Guarantee and
the Indenture to a Holder without charge upon written request to the Sponsor at
its principal place of business.
Upon receipt of this certificate, the Holder is bound by the
Declaration and is entitled to the benefits thereunder.
By acceptance, the Holder agrees to treat, for United States federal
income tax purposes, the Debentures as indebtedness and the Preferred Securities
as evidence of indirect beneficial ownership in the Debentures.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Trust has executed this certificate this _____ day of
___________________, 199___.
CONSECO FINANCING TRUST I
By: _________________________________________
Name: ______________________________________
Title: Regular Trustee
A1-2
<PAGE>
[FORM OF REVERSE OF SECURITY]
Distributions payable on each Preferred Security will be fixed
at a rate per annum of ____% (the "Coupon Rate") of the stated liquidation
amount of $25 per Preferred Security, such rate being the rate of interest
payable on the Debentures to be held by the Property Trustee. Distributions in
arrears for more than one quarter will bear interest thereon compounded
quarterly at the Coupon Rate (to the extent permitted by applicable law). The
term "Distributions" as used herein includes such cash distributions and any
such interest payable unless otherwise stated. A Distribution is payable only to
the extent that payments are made in respect of the Debentures held by the
Property Trustee and to the extent the Property Trustee has funds available
therefor. The amount of Distributions payable for any period will be computed
for any full quarterly Distribution period on the basis of a 360-day year of
twelve 30- day months, and for any period shorter than a full quarterly
Distribution period for which Distributions are computed, Distributions will be
computed on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed per 90-day quarter.
Except as otherwise described below, distributions on the
Preferred Securities will be cumulative, will accrue from the date of original
issuance and will be payable quarterly in arrears, on March 31, June 30,
September 30 and December 31 of each year, commencing on December 31, 1996,
which payment dates shall correspond to the interest payment dates on the
Debentures. The Debenture Issuer has the right under the Indenture to defer
payments of interest by extending the interest payment period from time to time
on the Debentures for a period not exceeding 20 consecutive quarters (each an
"Extension Period") and, as a consequence of such deferral, Distributions will
also be deferred. Despite such deferral, quarterly Distributions will continue
to accrue with interest thereon (to the extent permitted by applicable law) at
the Coupon Rate compounded quarterly during any such Extension Period. Prior to
the termination of any such Extension Period, the Debenture Issuer may further
extend such Extension Period; provided that such Extension Period together with
all such previous and further extensions thereof may not exceed 20 consecutive
quarters. Payments of accrued Distributions will be payable to Holders as they
appear on the books and records of the Trust on the first record date after the
end of the Extension Period. Upon the termination of any Extension Period and
the payment of all amounts then due, the Debenture Issuer may commence a new
Extension Period, subject to the above requirements.
The Preferred Securities shall be redeemable as provided in
the Declaration.
A1-3
<PAGE>
ASSIGNMENT
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned assigns and transfers this Preferred
Security Certificate to:
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
(Insert assignee's social security or tax identification number)
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
(Insert address and zip code of assignee)
and irrevocably appoints
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________ agent to transfer this Preferred
Security Certificate on the books of the Trust. The agent may substitute another
to act for him or her.
Date: __________________
Signature: _____________________________
(Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Preferred Security
Certificate)
A1-4
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT A-2
FORM OF COMMON SECURITY CERTIFICATE
Certificate Number Number of Common Securities
Certificate Evidencing Common Securities
of
CONSECO FINANCING TRUST I
____% Trust Originated Common Securities
(liquidation amount $25 per Common Security)
CONSECO FINANCING TRUST I, a statutory business trust formed
under the laws of the State of Delaware (the "Trust"), hereby certifies that
___________________ (the "Holder") is the registered owner of common securities
of the Trust representing common undivided beneficial interests in the assets of
the Trust designated the ____% Trust Originated Common Securities (liquidation
amount $25 per Common Security) (the "Common Securities"). The Common Securities
are transferable on the books and records of the Trust, in person or by a duly
authorized attorney, upon surrender of this certificate duly endorsed and in
proper form for transfer. The designation, rights, privileges, restrictions,
preferences and other terms and provisions of the Common Securities represented
hereby are issued and shall in all respects be subject to the provisions of the
Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of the Trust dated as of November 14,
1996, as the same may be amended from time to time (the "Declaration"),
including the designation of the terms of the Common Securities as set forth in
Annex I to the Declaration. Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall
have the meaning given them in the Declaration. The Holder is entitled to the
benefits of the Common Securities Guarantee to the extent provided therein. The
Sponsor will provide a copy of the Declaration, the Common Securities Guarantee
and the Indenture to a Holder without charge upon written request to the Sponsor
at its principal place of business.
Upon receipt of this certificate, the Holder is bound by the
Declaration and is entitled to the benefits thereunder.
By acceptance, the Holder agrees to treat, for United States
federal income tax purposes, the Debentures as indebtedness and the Common
Securities as evidence of indirect beneficial ownership in the Debentures.
A2-1
G:\LEGAL\RRD\PUBLOFF\2AMDDECT.UST
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Trust has executed this certificate this _____
day of ________________, 199___.
CONSECO FINANCING TRUST I
By:_______________________________
Name:_____________________________
Title: Regular Trustee
A2-2
G:\LEGAL\RRD\PUBLOFF\2AMDDECT.UST
<PAGE>
[FORM OF REVERSE OF SECURITY]
Distributions payable on each Common Security will be fixed at
a rate per annum of _____% (the "Coupon Rate") of the stated liquidation amount
of $25 per Common Security, such rate being the rate of interest payable on the
Debentures to be held by the Property Trustee. Distributions in arrears for more
than one quarter will bear interest thereon compounded quarterly at the Coupon
Rate (to the extent permitted by applicable law). The term "Distributions" as
used herein includes such cash distributions and any such interest payable
unless otherwise stated. A Distribution is payable only to the extent that
payments are made in respect of the Debentures held by the Property Trustee and
to the extent the Property Trustee has funds available therefor. The amount of
Distributions payable for any period will be computed for any full quarterly
Distribution period on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30- day months, and
for any period shorter than a full quarterly Distribution period for which
Distributions are computed, Distributions will be computed on the basis of the
actual number of days elapsed per 90-day quarter.
Except as otherwise described below, distributions on the
Common Securities will be cumulative, will accrue from the date of original
issuance and will be payable quarterly in arrears, on March 31, June 30,
September 30 and December 31 of each year, commencing on December 31, 1996, to
Holders of record on a date to be selected by the Regular Trustees, which dates
shall be at least one Business Day but less than 60 Business Days before the
relevant payment dates, which payment dates shall correspond to the interest
payment dates on the Debentures. The Debentures Issuer has the right under the
Indenture to defer payments of interest by extending the interest payment period
from time to time on the Debentures for a period not exceeding 20 consecutive
quarters (each an "Extension Period") and, as a consequence of such deferral,
Distributions will also be deferred. Despite such deferral, quarterly
Distributions will continue to accrue with interest thereon (to the extent
permitted by applicable law) at the Coupon Rate compounded quarterly during any
such Extension Period. Prior to the termination of any such Extension Period,
the Debenture Issuer may further extend such Extension Period; provided that
such Extension Period together with all such previous and further extensions
thereof may not exceed 20 consecutive quarters. Payments of accrued
Distributions will be payable to Holders as they appear on the books and records
of the Trust on the first record date after the end of the Extension Period.
Upon the termination of any Extension Period and the Payment of all amounts then
due, the Debenture Issuer may commence a new Extension Period, subject to the
above requirements.
The Common Securities shall be redeemable as provided in the
Declaration.
A2-3
G:\LEGAL\RRD\PUBLOFF\2AMDDECT.UST
<PAGE>
ASSIGNMENT
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned assigns and transfers this Common Security
Certificate to:
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
(Insert assignee's social security or tax identification number)
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
(Insert address and zip code of assignee)
and irrevocably appoints
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________agent to transfer
this Common Security Certificate on the books of the Trust. The agent may
substitute another to act for him or her.
Date: ________________________
Signature: ______________________
(Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Common Security
Certificate)
A2-4
G:\LEGAL\RRD\PUBLOFF\2AMDDECT.UST
This Preferred Security is a Global Certificate within the meaning of
the Declaration hereinafter referred to and is registered in the name of The
Depository Trust Company (the "Depository") or a nominee of the Depository. This
Preferred Security is exchangeable for Preferred Securities registered in the
name of a person other than the Depository or its nominee only in the limited
circumstances described in the Declaration and no transfer of this Preferred
Security (other than a transfer of this Preferred Security as a whole by the
Depository to a nominee of the Depository or by a nominee of the Depository to
the Depository or another nominee of the Depository) may be registered except in
limited circumstances.
Unless this Preferred Security Certificate is presented by an
authorized representative of the Depository to the Trust or its agent for
registration of transfer, exchange or payment, and any Preferred Security
Certificate issued is registered in the name of Cede & Co. or such other name as
requested by an authorized representative of the Depository (and any payment
hereon is made to Cede & Co. or to such other entity as is requested by an
authorized representative of the Depository), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE
HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL since the
registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein.
Certificate Number Number of Preferred Securities
1 11,000,000
CUSIP NO. 20846F 20 1
Certificate Evidencing Preferred Securities
of
CONSECO FINANCING TRUST I
9.16% Trust Originated Preferred SecuritiesSM ("TOPrS"SM)
(liquidation amount $25 per Preferred Security)
CONSECO FINANCING TRUST I, a statutory business trust formed under the
laws of the State of Delaware (the "Trust"), hereby certifies that Cede & Co.
(the "Holder") is the registered owner of Eleven Million (11,000,000) preferred
securities of the Trust representing undivided beneficial interests in the
assets of the Trust designated the 9.16% Trust Originated Preferred SecuritiesSM
(liquidation amount $25 per Preferred Security) (the "Preferred Securities").
The Preferred Securities are transferable on the books and records of the Trust,
in person or by a duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of this certificate
duly endorsed and in proper form for transfer. The designation, rights,
privileges, restrictions, preferences and other terms and provisions of the
Preferred Securities represented hereby are issued and shall in all respects be
subject to the provisions of the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of
the Trust dated as of November 14, 1996, as the same may be amended from time to
time (the "Declaration"), including the designation of the terms of the
Preferred Securities as set forth in Annex I to the Declaration. Capitalized
terms used herein but not defined shall have the meaning given them in the
Declaration. The Holder is entitled to the benefits of the Preferred Securities
Guarantee to the extent provided therein. The Sponsor will provide a copy of the
<PAGE>
Declaration, the Preferred Securities Guarantee and the Indenture to a Holder
without charge upon written request to the Sponsor at its principal place of
business.
Upon receipt of this certificate, the Holder is bound by the
Declaration and is entitled to the benefits thereunder.
By acceptance, the Holder agrees to treat, for United States federal
income tax purposes, the Debentures as indebtedness and the Preferred Securities
as evidence of indirect beneficial ownership in the Debentures.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Trust has executed this certificate this 19th
day of November, 1996.
CONSECO FINANCING TRUST I
By:/s/ STEPHEN C. HILBERT
-------------------------
Name: Stephen C. Hilbert
Title: Regular Trustee
By:/s/ LAWRENCE W. INLOW
-------------------------
Name: Lawrence W. Inlow
Title: Regular Trustee
<PAGE>
Distributions payable on each Preferred Security will be fixed
at a rate per annum of 9.16% (the "Coupon Rate") of the stated liquidation
amount of $25 per Preferred Security, such rate being the rate of interest
payable on the Debentures to be held by the Property Trustee. Distributions in
arrears for more than one quarter will bear interest thereon compounded
quarterly at the Coupon Rate (to the extent permitted by applicable law). The
term "Distributions" as used herein includes such cash distributions and any
such interest payable unless otherwise stated. A Distribution is payable only to
the extent that payments are made in respect of the Debentures held by the
Property Trustee and to the extent the Property Trustee has funds available
therefor. The amount of Distributions payable for any period will be computed
for any full quarterly Distribution period on the basis of a 360-day year of
twelve 30- day months, and for any period shorter than a full quarterly
Distribution period for which Distributions are computed, Distributions will be
computed on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed per 90-day quarter.
Except as otherwise described below, distributions on the
Preferred Securities will be cumulative, will accrue from the date of original
issuance and will be payable quarterly in arrears, on March 31, June 30,
September 30 and December 31 of each year, commencing on December 31, 1996,
which payment dates shall correspond to the interest payment dates on the
Debentures. The Debenture Issuer has the right under the Indenture to defer
payments of interest by extending the interest payment period from time to time
on the Debentures for a period not exceeding 20 consecutive quarters (each an
"Extension Period") and, as a consequence of such deferral, Distributions will
also be deferred. Despite such deferral, quarterly Distributions will continue
to accrue with interest thereon (to the extent permitted by applicable law) at
the Coupon Rate compounded quarterly during any such Extension Period. Prior to
the termination of any such Extension Period, the Debenture Issuer may further
extend such Extension Period; provided that such Extension Period together with
all such previous and further extensions thereof may not exceed 20 consecutive
quarters. Payments of accrued Distributions will be payable to Holders as they
appear on the books and records of the Trust on the first record date after the
end of the Extension Period. Upon the termination of any Extension Period and
the payment of all amounts then due, the Debenture Issuer may commence a new
Extension Period, subject to the above requirements.
The Preferred Securities shall be redeemable as provided in
the Declaration.
<PAGE>
ASSIGNMENT
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned assigns and transfers this Preferred
Security Certificate to:
==============================================================================
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Insert assignee's social security or tax identification number)
==============================================================================
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Insert address and zip code of assignee)
and irrevocably appoints
==============================================================================
___________________________________________ agent to transfer this Preferred
Security Certificate on the books of the Trust. The agent may substitute another
to act for him or her.
Date: __________________
Signature: _____________________________
(Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Preferred Security
Certificate)
G:\LEGAL\RRD\PUBLOFF\FRMPREF.TOP
PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
CONSECO FINANCING TRUST I
Dated as of November 19, 1996
<PAGE>
CROSS REFERENCE TABLE*
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Section of Trust Section of
Indenture Act of Guarantee
1939, as amended Agreement
- ---------------- ---------
<S> <C>
310(a) ......................................................................................................4.1(a)
310(b) ......................................................................................................4.1(c)
310(c) ................................................................................................Inapplicable
311(a) ......................................................................................................2.2(b)
311(b) ......................................................................................................2.2(b)
311(c) ................................................................................................Inapplicable
312(a) ......................................................................................................2.2(a)
312(b) ......................................................................................................2.2(b)
312(c) ......................................................................................................2.9
313(a) ......................................................................................................2.3
313(b) ......................................................................................................2.3
313(c) ......................................................................................................2.3
313(d) ......................................................................................................2.3
314(a) ......................................................................................................2.4
314(b) ................................................................................................Inapplicable
314(c) ......................................................................................................2.5
314(d) ................................................................................................Inapplicable
314(e) .........................................................................................................2.5
314(f) ................................................................................................Inapplicable
315(a) ..............................................................................................3.1(d); 3.2(a)
315(b) ......................................................................................................2.7(a)
315(c) ......................................................................................................3.1(c)
315(d) ......................................................................................................3.1(d)
316(a) .................................................................................................2.6; 5.4(a)
317(a) ...................................................................................................2.10; 5.4
318(a) ......................................................................................................2.1(b)
- ----------------------
* This Cross-Reference Table does not constitute part of the Guarantee Agreement
and shall not have any bearing upon the interpretation of any of its terms or
provisions.
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE I INTERPRETATION AND DEFINITIONS
<S> <C> <C>
SECTION 1.1 Interpretation and Definitions................................................1
ARTICLE II TRUST INDENTURE ACT
SECTION 2.1 Trust Indenture Act; Application..............................................4
SECTION 2.2 Lists of Holders of Securities................................................4
SECTION 2.3 Reports by Preferred Guarantee Trustee........................................4
SECTION 2.4 Periodic Reports to Preferred Guarantee Trustee...............................5
SECTION 2.5 Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent..............................5
SECTION 2.6 Guarantee Event of Default; Waiver............................................5
SECTION 2.7 Guarantee Event of Default; Notice............................................5
SECTION 2.8 Conflicting Interests.........................................................5
ARTICLE III POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF PREFERRED GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 3.1 Powers and Duties of Preferred Guarantee Trustee..............................5
SECTION 3.2 Certain Rights of Preferred Guarantee Trustee.................................7
SECTION 3.3 Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Guarantee.........................8
ARTICLE IV PREFERRED GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 4.1 Preferred Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility......................................8
SECTION 4.2 Appointment, Removal and Resignation of Preferred Guarantee Trustee...........9
ARTICLE V GUARANTEE
SECTION 5.1 Guarantee....................................................................10
SECTION 5.2 Waiver of Notice and Demand..................................................10
SECTION 5.3 Obligations Not Affected.....................................................10
SECTION 5.4 Rights of Holders............................................................11
SECTION 5.5 Guarantee of Payment.........................................................11
SECTION 5.6 Subrogation..................................................................11
SECTION 5.7 Independent Obligations......................................................12
ARTICLE VI LIMITATION OF TRANSACTIONS; SUBORDINATION
SECTION 6.1 Limitation of Transactions...................................................12
SECTION 6.2 Ranking......................................................................12
ARTICLE VII TERMINATION
SECTION 7.1 Termination..................................................................12
ARTICLE VIII INDEMNIFICATION
SECTION 8.1 Exculpation..................................................................13
SECTION 8.2 Indemnification..............................................................13
i
<PAGE>
ARTICLE IX MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 9.1 Successors and Assigns.......................................................13
SECTION 9.2 Amendments...................................................................13
SECTION 9.3 Notices......................................................................14
SECTION 9.4 Benefit......................................................................14
SECTION 9.5 Governing Law................................................................14
ii
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
This GUARANTEE AGREEMENT (the "Preferred Securities Guarantee"), dated
as of November 19, 1996, is executed and delivered by Conseco, Inc., an Indiana
corporation (the "Guarantor"), and Fleet National Bank, as trustee (the
"Preferred Guarantee Trustee"), for the benefit of the Holders (as defined
herein) from time to time of the Preferred Securities (as defined herein) of
Conseco Financing Trust I, a Delaware statutory business trust (the "Issuer").
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Declaration (as defined herein), the Issuer is
issuing on the date hereof 11,000,000 preferred securities, having an aggregate
liquidation amount of $275,000,000, designated the 9.16% Trust Originated
Preferred Securities (the "Preferred Securities");
WHEREAS, as incentive for the Holders to purchase the Preferred
Securities, the Guarantor desires irrevocably and unconditionally to agree, to
the extent set forth in this Preferred Securities Guarantee, to pay to the
Holders of the Preferred Securities the Guarantee Payments (as defined herein)
and to make certain other payments on the terms and conditions set forth herein;
and
WHEREAS, the Guarantor is also executing and delivering a guarantee
agreement (as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, the "Common
Securities Guarantee") in substantially identical terms to this Preferred
Securities Guarantee for the benefit of the holders of the Common Securities (as
defined herein), except that if an Event of Default (as defined in the
Declaration), has occurred and is continuing, the rights of holders of the
Common Securities to receive payments under the Common Securities Guarantee are
subordinated to the rights of Holders of Preferred Securities to receive
Guarantee Payments under this Preferred Securities Guarantee.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the purchase by each Holder of
Preferred Securities, which purchase the Guarantor hereby agrees shall benefit
the Guarantor, the Guarantor executes and delivers this Preferred Securities
Guarantee for the benefit of the Holders.
ARTICLE I
INTERPRETATION AND DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.1 Interpretation and Definitions.
In this Preferred Securities Guarantee, unless the context otherwise
requires:
(a) capitalized terms used in this Preferred Securities Guarantee but
not defined in the preamble above have the respective meanings assigned to them
in this Section 1.1;
(b) a term defined anywhere in this Preferred Securities Guarantee
has the same meaning throughout;
(c) all references to "the Preferred Securities Guarantee" or "this
Preferred Securities Guarantee" are to this Preferred Securities Guarantee as
modified, supplemented or amended from time to time;
(d) all references in this Preferred Securities Guarantee to
Articles and Sections are to Articles and Sections of this Preferred Securities
Guarantee, unless otherwise specified;
(e) a term defined in the Trust Indenture Act has the same meaning when
used in this Preferred Securities Guarantee, unless otherwise defined in this
Preferred Securities Guarantee or unless the context otherwise requires; and
<PAGE>
(f) a reference to the singular includes the plural and vice versa.
"Affiliate" has the same meaning as given to that term in Rule 405 of
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any successor rule thereunder.
"Business Day" means any day other than a day on which banking
institutions in New York, New York or in the city of the Corporate Trust Office
are authorized or required by law to close.
"Common Securities" means the securities representing common undivided
beneficial interests in the assets of the Issuer.
"Corporate Trust Office" means the office of the Preferred Guarantee
Trustee at which the corporate trust business of the Preferred Guarantee Trustee
shall, at any particular time, be principally administered, which office at the
date of execution of this Preferred Securities Guarantee is located at 777 Main
Street, Hartford, Connecticut 06115, Attention: Corporate Trust Administration.
"Covered Person" means any Holder or beneficial owner of Preferred
Securities.
"Debentures" means the series of subordinated deferrable interest
debentures to be issued by the Guarantor designated the 9.16% Subordinated
Deferrable Interest Debentures due 2026 held by the Property Trustee (as defined
in the Declaration) of the Issuer.
"Declaration" means the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust,
dated as of November 14, 1996, as amended, modified or supplemented from time to
time, among the trustees of the Issuer named therein, the Guarantor, as sponsor,
and the Holders from time to time of undivided beneficial interests in the
assets of the Issuer.
"Guarantee Event of Default" means a default by the Guarantor on any of
its payment or other obligations under this Preferred Securities Guarantee.
"Guarantee Payments" means the following payments or distributions,
without duplication, with respect to the Preferred Securities, to the extent not
paid or made by the Issuer: (i) any accrued and unpaid Distributions (as defined
in the Declaration) that are required to be paid on such Preferred Securities to
the extent the Issuer shall have funds available therefor, (ii) the redemption
price, including all accrued and unpaid Distributions to the date of redemption
(the "Redemption Price") to the extent the Issuer has funds available therefor,
with respect to any Preferred Securities called for redemption by the Issuer,
and (iii) upon a voluntary or involuntary dissolution, winding-up or termination
of the Issuer (other than in connection with the distribution of Debentures to
the Holders in exchange for Preferred Securities as provided in the Declaration
or the redemption of all the Preferred Securities upon maturity or redemption of
the Debentures as provided in the Declaration), the lesser of (a) the aggregate
of the liquidation amount and all accrued and unpaid Distributions on the
Preferred Securities to the date of payment, to the extent the Issuer shall have
funds available therefor, and (b) the amount of assets of the Issuer remaining
available for distribution to Holders in liquidation of the Issuer (in either
case, the "Liquidation Distribution"). If an Event of Default (as defined in the
Declaration) has occurred and is continuing, the rights of holders of the Common
Securities to receive payments under the Common Securities Guarantee are
subordinated to the rights of Holders of Preferred Securities to receive
Guarantee Payments under this Preferred Securities Guarantee.
"Holder" shall mean any holder, as registered on the books and records
of the Issuer of any Preferred Securities; provided, however, that, in
determining whether the holders of the requisite percentage of Preferred
Securities have given any request, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, "Holder"
shall not include the Guarantor or any Affiliate of the Guarantor; and provided
further, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite liquidation
amount of Preferred Securities have
2
<PAGE>
voted on any matter provided for in this Preferred Securities Guarantee, then
for the purpose of such determination only (and not for any other purpose
hereunder), if the Preferred Securities remain in the form of one or more Global
Certificates (as defined in the Declaration), the term "Holders" shall mean the
holder of the Global Certificate acting at the direction of the Preferred
Security Beneficial Owners (as defined in the Declaration).
"Indemnified Person" means the Preferred Guarantee Trustee, any
Affiliate of the Preferred Guarantee Trustee, or any officers, directors,
shareholders, members, partners, employees, representatives, nominees,
custodians or agents of the Preferred Guarantee Trustee.
"Indenture" means the Indenture dated as of November 14, 1996 among the
Guarantor (the "Debenture Issuer") and Fleet National Bank, as trustee, and any
indenture supplemental thereto pursuant to which the Debentures are to be issued
to the Property Trustee (as defined in the Declaration) of the Issuer.
"Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities" means,
except as provided in the terms of the Preferred Securities or by the Trust
Indenture Act, Holder(s) of outstanding Preferred Securities, voting separately
as a class, who are the record holders of more than 50% of the aggregate
liquidation amount (including the stated amount that would be paid on
redemption, liquidation or otherwise, plus accrued and unpaid Distributions to
the date upon which the voting percentages are determined) of all outstanding
Preferred Securities. In determining whether the Holders of the requisite amount
of Preferred Securities have voted, Preferred Securities which are owned by the
Guarantor or any Affiliate of the Guarantor or any other obligor on the
Preferred Securities shall be disregarded (to the extent known to be so owned by
the Preferred Guarantee Trustee) for the purpose of any such determination.
"Officers' Certificate" means, with respect to any Person, a
certificate signed by two Authorized Officers (as defined in the Declaration) of
such Person. Any Officers' Certificate delivered with respect to compliance with
a condition or covenant provided for in this Preferred Securities Guarantee
shall include:
(a) a statement that each officer signing the Officers' Certificate has
read the covenant or condition and the definitions relating thereto;
(b) a brief statement of the nature and scope of the examination
or investigation undertaken by each officer in rendering the Officers'
Certificate;
(c) a statement that each such officer has made such examination or
investigation as, in such officer's opinion, is necessary to enable such officer
to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition
has been complied with; and
(d)a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such officer, suc
condition or covenant has been complied with.
"Person" means a legal person, including any individual, corporation,
estate, partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock company, limited
liability company, trust, unincorporated association, or government or any
agency or political subdivision thereof, or any other entity of whatever nature.
"Preferred Guarantee Trustee" means Fleet National Bank, until a
Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such
appointment pursuant to the terms of this Preferred Securities Guarantee and
thereafter means each such Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee.
3
<PAGE>
"Responsible Officer" means, with respect to the Preferred Guarantee
Trustee, any officer within the Corporate Trust Office of the Preferred
Guarantee Trustee, including any vice-president, any assistant vice-president,
the secretary, any assistant secretary, the treasurer, any assistant treasurer
or other officer of the Corporate Trust Office of the Preferred Guarantee
Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of
the above designated officers and also means, with respect to a particular
corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred
because of that officer's knowledge of and familiarity with the particular
subject.
"Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee" means a successor Preferred
Guarantee Trustee possessing the qualifications to act as Preferred Guarantee
Trustee under Section 4.1.
"Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended
from time to time, or any successor legislation.
ARTICLE II
TRUST INDENTURE ACT
SECTION 2.1 Trust Indenture Act; Application.
(a) This Preferred Securities Guarantee is subject to the provisions of
the Trust Indenture Act that are required to be part of this Preferred
Securities Guarantee and shall, to the extent applicable, be governed by such
provisions.
(b) If and to the extent that any provision of this Preferred
Securities Guarantee limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by
Sections 310 to 317, inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act, such imposed duties
shall control.
SECTION 2.2 Lists of Holders of Securities.
(a) The Guarantor shall provide the Preferred Guarantee Trustee with a
list, in such form as the Preferred Guarantee Trustee may reasonably require, of
the names and addresses of the Holders of the Preferred Securities ("List of
Holders"), (i) within one Business Day after January 1 and June 30 of each year
and current as of such date, and (ii) at any other time, within 30 days of
receipt by the Guarantor of a written request from the Preferred Guarantee
Trustee for a List of Holders as of a date no more than 14 days before such List
of Holders is given to the Preferred Guarantee Trustee; provided, that the
Guarantor shall not be obligated to provide such List of Holders at any time the
List of Holders does not differ from the most recent List of Holders given to
the Preferred Guarantee Trustee by the Guarantor. The Preferred Guarantee
Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, all
information contained in Lists of Holders given to it, provided that it may
destroy any List of Holders previously given to it on receipt of a new List of
Holders.
(b) The Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall comply with its obligations
under Section 311(a), 311(b) and Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
4
<PAGE>
SECTION 2.3 Reports by Preferred Guarantee Trustee.
Within 60 days after May 15 of each year (commencing with the year of
the first anniversary of the issuance of the Preferred Securities), the
Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall provide to the Holders of the Preferred
Securities such reports as are required by Section 313 of the Trust Indenture
Act, if any, in the form and in the manner provided by Section 313 of the Trust
Indenture Act. The Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall also comply with the
requirements of Section 313(d) of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 2.4 Periodic Reports to Preferred Guarantee Trustee.
The Guarantor shall provide to the Preferred Guarantee Trustee such
documents, reports and information as required by Section 314 (if any) of the
Trust Indenture Act and the compliance certificate required by Section 314 of
the Trust Indenture Act in the form, in the manner and at the times required by
Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 2.5 Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent.
The Guarantor shall provide to the Preferred Guarantee Trustee such
evidence of compliance with any conditions precedent provided for in this
Preferred Securities Guarantee that relate to any of the matters set forth in
Section 314(c) of the Trust Indenture Act. Any certificate or opinion required
to be given by an officer pursuant to Section 314(c)(1) may be given in the form
of an Officers' Certificate.
SECTION 2.6 Guarantee Event of Default; Waiver.
The Holders of a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred
Securities may, by vote, on behalf of the Holders of all of the Preferred
Securities, waive any past Guarantee Event of Default and its consequences. Upon
such waiver, any such Guarantee Event of Default shall cease to exist, and any
Guarantee Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured,
for every purpose of this Preferred Securities Guarantee, but no such waiver
shall extend to any subsequent or other default or Guarantee Event of Default or
impair any right consequent thereon.
SECTION 2.7 Guarantee Event of Default; Notice.
(a) The Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall, within 90 days after the
occurrence of a Guarantee Event of Default, transmit by mail, first class
postage prepaid, to the Holders of the Preferred Securities, notices of all
Guarantee Events of Default actually known to a Responsible Officer of the
Preferred Guarantee Trustee, unless such defaults have been cured before the
giving of such notice; provided, that the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall be
protected in withholding such notice if and so long as a Responsible Officer of
the Preferred Guarantee Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of
such notice is in the interests of the Holders of the Preferred Securities.
(b) The Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall not be deemed to have
knowledge of any Guarantee Event of Default unless the Preferred Guarantee
Trustee shall have received written notice thereof, or a Responsible Officer of
the Preferred Guarantee Trustee charged with the administration of the
Declaration shall have obtained actual knowledge thereof.
SECTION 2.8 Conflicting Interests
The Declaration shall be deemed to be specifically described in this
Preferred Securities Guarantee for the purposes of clause (i) of the first
proviso contained in Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture.
5
<PAGE>
ARTICLE III
POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF
PREFERRED GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 3.1 Powers and Duties of Preferred Guarantee Trustee.
(a) This Preferred Securities Guarantee shall be held by the Preferred
Guarantee Trustee on behalf of the Issuer for the benefit of the Holders of the
Preferred Securities, and the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall not transfer
this Preferred Securities Guarantee to any Person except a Holder of Preferred
Securities exercising his or her rights pursuant to Section 5.4(b) or to a
Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee on acceptance by such Successor Preferred
Guarantee Trustee of its appointment to act as Successor Preferred Guarantee
Trustee. The right, title and interest of the Preferred Guarantee Trustee in and
to this Preferred Securities Guarantee shall automatically vest in any Successor
Preferred Guarantee Trustee, and such vesting and cessation of title shall be
effective whether or not conveyancing documents have been executed and delivered
pursuant to the appointment of such Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee.
(b) If a Guarantee Event of Default actually known to a Responsible
Officer of the Preferred Guarantee Trustee has occurred and is continuing, the
Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall enforce this Preferred Securities Guarantee
for the benefit of the Holders of the Preferred Securities.
(c) The Preferred Guarantee Trustee, before the occurrence of any
Guarantee Event of Default and after the curing of all Guarantee Events of
Default that may have occurred, shall undertake to perform only such duties as
are specifically set forth in this Preferred Securities Guarantee, and no
implied covenants shall be read into this Preferred Securities Guarantee against
the Preferred Guarantee Trustee. In case a Guarantee Event of Default has
occurred (that has not been cured or waived pursuant to Section 2.6) and is
actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Preferred Guarantee Trustee, the
Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested
in it by this Preferred Securities Guarantee, and use the same degree of care
and skill in its exercise thereof, as a prudent person would exercise or use
under the circumstances in the conduct of his or her own affairs.
(d) No provision of this Preferred Securities Guarantee shall be
construed to relieve the Preferred Guarantee Trustee from liability for its own
negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful
misconduct, except that:
(i) prior to the occurrence of any Guarantee Event of Default
and after the curing or waiving of all such Guarantee Events of Default that may
have occurred:
(A) the duties and obligations of the Preferred
Guarantee Trustee shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this
Preferred Securities Guarantee, and the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall not be
liable except for the performance of such duties and obligations as are
specifically set forth in this Preferred Securities Guarantee, and no implied
covenants or obligations shall be read into this Preferred Securities Guarantee
against the Preferred Guarantee Trustee; and
6
<PAGE>
(B) in the absence of bad faith on the part of
the Preferred Guarantee Trustee, the Preferred Guarantee Trustee may
conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the
opinions expressed therein, upon any certificates or opinions furnished to the
Preferred Guarantee Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Preferred
Securities Guarantee; but in the case of any such certificates or opinions that
by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the
Preferred Guarantee Trustee, the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall be under a
duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform to the
requirements of this Preferred Securities Guarantee;
(ii) the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable for
any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer of the
Preferred Guarantee Trustee, unless it shall be proved that the Preferred
Guarantee Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts upon which
such judgment was made;
(iii) the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable with
respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in
accordance with the direction of the Holders of not less than a Majority in
Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities relating to the time, method and
place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Preferred
Guarantee Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Preferred
Guarantee Trustee under this Preferred Securities Guarantee; and
(iv) no provision of this Preferred Securities Guarantee shall
require the Preferred Guarantee Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or
otherwise incur personal financial liability in the performance of any of its
duties or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if the Preferred
Guarantee Trustee shall have reasonable grounds for believing that the repayment
of such funds or liability is not reasonably assured to it under the terms of
this Preferred Securities Guarantee or indemnity, reasonably satisfactory to the
Preferred Guarantee Trustee, against such risk or liability is not reasonably
assured to it.
SECTION 3.2 Certain Rights of Preferred Guarantee Trustee.
(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 3.1:
(i) The Preferred Guarantee Trustee may conclusively rely, and
shall be fully protected in acting or refraining from acting upon, any
resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice,
request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of
indebtedness or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have
been signed, sent or presented by the proper party or parties.
(ii) Any direction or act of the Guarantor contemplated by
this Preferred Securities Guarantee shall be sufficiently evidenced by an
Officers' Certificate.
(iii) Whenever, in the administration of this Preferred
Securities Guarantee, the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall deem it desirable
that a matter be proved or established before taking, suffering or omitting any
action hereunder, the Preferred Guarantee Trustee (unless other evidence is
herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part,
request and conclusively rely upon an Officers' Certificate which, upon receipt
of such request, shall be promptly delivered by the Guarantor.
(iv) The Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall have no duty to see
to any recording, filing or registration of any instrument (or any rerecording,
refiling or registration thereof).
7
<PAGE>
(v) The Preferred Guarantee Trustee may consult with counsel,
and the written advice or opinion of such counsel with respect to legal matters
shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action
taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with
such advice or opinion. Such counsel may be counsel to the Guarantor or any of
its Affiliates and may include any of its employees. The Preferred Guarantee
Trustee shall have the right at any time to seek instructions concerning the
administration of this Preferred Securities Guarantee from any court of
competent jurisdiction.
(vi) The Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall be under no
obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this
Preferred Securities Guarantee at the request or direction of any Holder, unless
such Holder shall have provided to the Preferred Guarantee Trustee such security
and indemnity, reasonably satisfactory to the Preferred Guarantee Trustee,
against the costs, expenses (including attorneys' fees and expenses and the
expenses of the Preferred Guarantee Trustee's agents, nominees or custodians)
and liabilities that might be incurred by it in complying with such request or
direction, including such reasonable advances as may be requested by the
Preferred Guarantee Trustee; provided, that nothing contained in this Section
3.2(a)(vi) shall be taken to relieve the Preferred Guarantee Trustee, upon the
occurrence of a Guarantee Event of Default, of its obligation to exercise the
rights and powers vested in it by this Preferred Securities Guarantee.
(vii) The Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall not be bound to
make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution,
certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction,
consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other
paper or document, but the Preferred Guarantee Trustee, in its discretion, may
make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may
see fit.
(viii) The Preferred Guarantee Trustee may execute any of the
trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by
or through agents, nominees, custodians or attorneys, and the Preferred
Guarantee Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on
the part of any agent or attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder.
(ix) Any action taken by the Preferred Guarantee Trustee or
its agents hereunder shall bind the Holders of the Preferred Securities, and the
signature of the Preferred Guarantee Trustee or its agents alone shall be
sufficient and effective to perform any such action. No third party shall be
required to inquire as to the authority of the Preferred Guarantee Trustee to so
act or as to its compliance with any of the terms and provisions of this
Preferred Securities Guarantee, both of which shall be conclusively evidenced by
the Preferred Guarantee Trustee's or its agent's taking such action.
(x) Whenever in the administration of this Preferred
Securities Guarantee the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall deem it desirable to
receive instructions with respect to enforcing any remedy or right or taking any
other action hereunder, the Preferred Guarantee Trustee (i) may request
instructions from the Holders of a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the
Preferred Securities, (ii) may refrain from enforcing such remedy or right or
taking such other action until such instructions are received, and (iii) shall
be protected in conclusively relying on or acting in accordance with such
instructions.
(b) No provision of this Preferred Securities Guarantee shall be deemed
to impose any duty or obligation on the Preferred Guarantee Trustee to perform
any act or acts or exercise any right, power, duty or obligation conferred or
imposed on it in any jurisdiction in which it shall be illegal, or in which the
Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall be unqualified or incompetent in accordance
with applicable law, to perform any such act or acts or to exercise any such
right, power, duty or obligation. No permissive power or authority available to
the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall be construed to be a duty.
8
<PAGE>
SECTION 3.3 Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Guarantee.
The recitals contained in this Preferred Securities Guarantee shall be
taken as the statements of the Guarantor, and the Preferred Guarantee Trustee
does not assume any responsibility for their correctness. The Preferred
Guarantee Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or sufficiency of
this Preferred Securities Guarantee.
ARTICLE IV
PREFERRED GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 4.1 Preferred Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility.
(a) There shall at all times be a Preferred Guarantee Trustee
which shall:
(i) not be an Affiliate of the Guarantor; and
(ii) be a corporation organized and doing business under the
laws of the United States of America or any State or Territory thereof or of the
District of Columbia, or a corporation or Person permitted by the Securities and
Exchange Commission to act as an institutional trustee under the Trust Indenture
Act, authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers, having a
combined capital and surplus of at least 50 million U.S. dollars ($50,000,000),
and subject to supervision or examination by Federal, State, Territorial or
District of Columbia authority. If such corporation publishes reports of
condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of the
supervising or examining authority referred to above, then, for the purposes of
this Section 4.1(a)(ii), the combined capital and surplus of such corporation
shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most
recent report of condition so published.
(b) If at any time the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall cease to be
eligible to so act under Section 4.1(a), the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall
immediately resign in the manner and with the effect set out in Section 4.2(c).
(c) If the Preferred Guarantee Trustee has or shall acquire any
"conflicting interest" within the meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust
Indenture Act, the Preferred Guarantee Trustee and Guarantor shall in all
respects comply with the provisions of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture
Act.
(d) Any corporation into which the Preferred Guarantee 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 Preferred
Guarantee Trustee shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or
substantially all the corporate trust business of the Preferred Guarantee
Trustee, shall be the successor of the Preferred Guarantee 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.
9
<PAGE>
SECTION 4.2 Appointment, Removal and Resignation of Preferred Guarantee Trustee.
(a) Subject to Section 4.2(b), the Preferred Guarantee Trustee may
be appointed or removed without cause at any time by the Guarantor.
(b) The Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall not be removed in accordance
with Section 4.2(a) until a Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee has been
appointed and has accepted such appointment by written instrument executed by
such Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor.
(c) The Preferred Guarantee Trustee appointed to office shall hold
office until a Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall have been appointed
or until its removal or resignation. The Preferred Guarantee Trustee may resign
from office (without need for prior or subsequent accounting) by an instrument
in writing executed by the Preferred Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the
Guarantor, which resignation shall not take effect until a Successor Preferred
Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment by
instrument in writing executed by such Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee and
delivered to the Guarantor and the resigning Preferred Guarantee Trustee.
(d) If no Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall have been
appointed and accepted appointment as provided in this Section 4.2 within 60
days after delivery to the Guarantor of an instrument of resignation, the
resigning Preferred Guarantee Trustee may petition any court of competent
jurisdiction for appointment of a Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee. Such
court may thereupon, after prescribing such notice, if any, as it may deem
proper, appoint a Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee.
(e) No Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall be liable for the acts or
omissions to act of any Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee.
(f) Upon termination of this Preferred Securities Guarantee or removal
or resignation of the Preferred Guarantee Trustee pursuant to this Section 4.2,
the Guarantor shall pay to the Preferred Guarantee Trustee all amounts owing for
fees and reimbursement of expenses which have accrued to the date of such
termination, removal or resignation.
ARTICLE V
GUARANTEE
SECTION 5.1 Guarantee.
The Guarantor irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to pay in full to
the Holders the Guarantee Payments (without duplication of amounts theretofore
paid by the Issuer), as and when due, regardless of any defense, right of
set-off or counterclaim that the Issuer may have or assert. The Guarantor's
obligation to make a Guarantee Payment may be satisfied by direct payment of the
required amounts by the Guarantor to the Holders or by causing the Issuer to pay
such amounts to the Holders.
SECTION 5.2 Waiver of Notice and Demand.
The Guarantor hereby waives notice of acceptance of this Preferred
Securities Guarantee and of any liability to which it applies or may apply,
presentment, demand for payment, any right to require a proceeding first against
the Issuer or any other Person before proceeding against the Guarantor, protest,
notice of nonpayment, notice of dishonor, notice of redemption and all other
notices and demands. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the
Guarantor retains all of
10
<PAGE>
its rights under the Indenture to (i) extend the interest payment period on the
Debentures and the Guarantor shall not be obligated hereunder to make any
Guarantee Payments during any Extended Interest Payment Period (as defined in
the Indenture) with respect to the Distributions (as defined in the Declaration)
on the Preferred Securities, and (ii) change the maturity date of the Debentures
to the extent permitted by the Indenture.
SECTION 5.3 Obligations Not Affected.
The obligations, covenants, agreements and duties of the Guarantor
under this Preferred Securities Guarantee shall be absolute and unconditional
and shall remain in full force and effect until the entire liquidation amount of
all outstanding Preferred Securities shall have been paid and such obligation
shall in no way be affected or impaired by reason of the happening from time to
time of any event, including without limitation, the following, whether or not
with notice to, or the consent of, the Guarantor:
(a) The release or waiver, by operation of law or otherwise, of the
performance or observance by the Issuer of any express or implied agreement,
covenant, term or condition relating to the Preferred Securities to be performed
or observed by the Issuer;
(b) The extension of time for the payment by the Issuer of all or any
portion of the Distributions, Redemption Price, Liquidation Distribution or any
other sums payable under the terms of the Preferred Securities or the extension
of time for the performance of any other obligation under, arising out of, or in
connection with, the Preferred Securities (other than an extension of time for
payment of Distributions, Redemption Price, Liquidation Distribution or other
sum payable that results from the extension of any interest payment period on
the Debentures or any change to the maturity date of the Debentures permitted by
the Indenture);
(c) Any failure, omission, delay or lack of diligence on the part of
the Property Trustee or the Holders to enforce, assert or exercise any right,
privilege, power or remedy conferred on the Property Trustee or the Holders
pursuant to the terms of the Preferred Securities, or any action on the part of
the Issuer granting indulgence or extension of any kind;
(d) The voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, sale of any
collateral, receivership, insolvency, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of
creditors, reorganization, arrangement, composition or readjustment of debt of,
or other similar proceedings affecting, the Issuer or any of the assets of the
Issuer;
(e) Any invalidity of, or defect or deficiency in, the Preferred
Securities;
(f) The settlement or compromise of any obligation guaranteed hereby or
hereby incurred; or
(g) Any other circumstance whatsoever that might otherwise constitute a
legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor, it being the intent of
this Section 5.3 that the obligations of the Guarantor hereunder shall be
absolute and unconditional under any and all circumstances. There shall be no
obligation of the Preferred Guarantee Trustee or the Holders to give notice to,
or obtain consent of, the Guarantor or any other Person with respect to the
happening of any of the foregoing. No setoff, counterclaim, reduction or
diminution of any obligation, or any defense of any kind or nature that the
Guarantor has or may have against any Holder shall be available hereunder to the
Guarantor against such Holder to reduce the payments to it under this Preferred
Securities Guarantee.
11
<PAGE>
SECTION 5.4 Rights of Holders.
(a) The Holders of a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred
Securities have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting of
any proceeding for any remedy available to the Preferred Guarantee Trustee in
respect of this Preferred Securities Guarantee or exercising any trust or power
conferred upon the Preferred Guarantee Trustee under this Preferred Securities
Guarantee.
(b) If the Preferred Guarantee Trustee fails to enforce this Preferred
Securities Guarantee, then any Holder of Preferred Securities may institute a
legal proceeding directly against the Guarantor to enforce the Preferred
Guarantee Trustee's rights under this Preferred Securities Guarantee without
first instituting a legal proceeding against the Issuer, the Preferred Guarantee
Trustee or any other person or entity. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the
Guarantor has failed to make a Guarantee Payment, a Holder of Preferred
Securities may directly institute a proceeding against the Guarantor for
enforcement of the Preferred Securities Guarantee for such payment to the Holder
of the Preferred Securities of the principal of or interest on the Debentures on
or after the respective due dates specified in the Debentures, and the amount of
the payment will be based on the Holder's pro rata share of the amount due and
owing on all of the Preferred Securities. The Guarantor hereby waives any right
or remedy to require that any action on this Preferred Securities Guarantee be
brought first against the Issuer or any other person or entity before proceeding
directly against the Guarantor.
SECTION 5.5 Guarantee of Payment.
This Preferred Securities Guarantee creates a guarantee of payment and
not of collection.
SECTION 5.6 Subrogation.
The Guarantor shall be subrogated to all (if any) rights of the Holders
of Preferred Securities against the Issuer in respect of any amounts paid to
such Holders by the Guarantor under this Preferred Securities Guarantee;
provided, however, that the Guarantor shall not (except to the extent required
by mandatory provisions of law) be entitled to enforce or exercise any right
that it may acquire by way of subrogation or any indemnity, reimbursement or
other agreement, in all cases as a result of payment under this Preferred
Securities Guarantee, if, at the time of any such payment, any amounts are due
and unpaid under this Preferred Securities Guarantee. If any amount shall be
paid to the Guarantor in violation of the preceding sentence, the Guarantor
agrees to hold such amount in trust for the Holders and to pay over such amount
to the Preferred Guarantee Trustee for the benefit of the Holders.
SECTION 5.7 Independent Obligations.
The Guarantor acknowledges that its obligations hereunder are
independent of the obligations of the Issuer with respect to the Preferred
Securities, and that the Guarantor shall be liable as principal and as debtor
hereunder to make Guarantee Payments pursuant to the terms of this Preferred
Securities Guarantee notwithstanding the occurrence of any event referred to in
subsections (a) through (g), inclusive, of Section 5.3 hereof.
12
<PAGE>
ARTICLE VI
LIMITATION OF TRANSACTIONS; SUBORDINATION
SECTION 6.1 Limitation of Transactions.
So long as any Preferred Securities remain outstanding, if there shall
have occurred a Guarantee Event of Default or an event of default under the
Declaration, then (a) the Guarantor shall not declare or pay any dividend on,
make any distributions with respect to, or redeem, purchase, acquire or make a
liquidation payment with respect to, any of its capital stock, (b) the Guarantor
shall not make any payment of interest, principal or premium, if any, on or
repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities (including guarantees) issued by
the Guarantor which rank pari passu with or junior to the Debentures and (c) the
Guarantor shall not make any guarantee payments with respect to the foregoing
(other than pursuant to this Preferred Securities Guarantee); provided, however,
the Guarantor may declare and pay a stock dividend where the dividend stock is
the same stock as that on which the dividend is being paid or (ii) purchase or
acquire shares of its common stock in connection with the satisfaction by the
Guarantor of its obligations under any employee benefit plans.
SECTION 6.2 Ranking.
This Preferred Securities Guarantee will constitute an unsecured
obligation of the Guarantor and will rank (i) subordinate and junior in right of
payment to all other liabilities of the Guarantor, except those liabilities of
the Guarantor made pari passu or subordinate by their terms, (ii) pari passu
with the most senior preferred or preference stock now or hereafter issued by
the Guarantor and with any guarantee now or hereafter entered into by the
Guarantor in respect of any preferred or preference stock of any Affiliate of
the Guarantor, and (iii) senior to the Guarantor's common stock.
If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing under the
Declaration, the rights of the holders of the Common Securities to receive any
payments under the Common Securities Guarantee Agreement shall be subordinated
to the rights of the Holders of Preferred Securities to receive Guarantee
Payments hereunder.
ARTICLE VII
TERMINATION
SECTION 7.1 Termination.
This Preferred Securities Guarantee shall terminate upon (i) full
payment of the Redemption Price of all Preferred Securities, (ii) upon the
distribution of the Debentures to the Holders of all of the Preferred Securities
or (iii) upon full payment of the amounts payable in accordance with the
Declaration upon liquidation of the Issuer. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this
Preferred Securities Guarantee will continue to be effective or will be
reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any Holder of Preferred
Securities must restore payment of any sums paid under the Preferred Securities
or under this Preferred Securities Guarantee.
13
<PAGE>
ARTICLE VIII
INDEMNIFICATION
SECTION 8.1 Exculpation.
(a) No Indemnified Person shall be liable, responsible or accountable
in damages or otherwise to the Guarantor or any Covered Person for any loss,
damage or claim incurred by reason of any act or omission performed or omitted
by such Indemnified Person in good faith in accordance with this Preferred
Securities Guarantee and in a manner that such Indemnified Person reasonably
believed to be within the scope of the authority conferred on such Indemnified
Person by this Preferred Securities Guarantee or by law, except that an
Indemnified Person shall be liable for any such loss, damage or claim incurred
by reason of such Indemnified Person's negligence or willful misconduct with
respect to such acts or omissions.
(b) An Indemnified Person shall be fully protected in relying in good
faith upon the records of the Guarantor and upon such information, opinions,
reports or statements presented to the Guarantor by any Person as to matters the
Indemnified Person reasonably believes are within such other Person's
professional or expert competence and who has been selected with reasonable care
by or on behalf of the Guarantor, including information, opinions, reports or
statements as to the value and amount of the assets, liabilities, profits,
losses, or any other facts pertinent to the existence and amount of assets from
which Distributions to Holders of Preferred Securities might properly be paid.
SECTION 8.2 Indemnification.
The Guarantor agrees to indemnify each Indemnified Person for, and to
hold each Indemnified Person harmless against, any loss, liability or expense
incurred without negligence or bad faith on its part, arising out of or in
connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts
hereunder, including the costs and expenses (including reasonable legal fees and
expenses) of defending itself against, or investigating, any claim or liability
in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties
hereunder. The obligation to indemnify as set forth in this Section 8.2 shall
survive the termination of this Preferred Securities Guarantee.
ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 9.1 Successors and Assigns.
All guarantees and agreements contained in this Preferred Securities
Guarantee shall bind the successors, assigns, receivers, trustees and
representatives of the Guarantor and shall inure to the benefit of the Holders
of the Preferred Securities then outstanding.
SECTION 9.2 Amendments.
Except with respect to any changes that do not adversely affect the
rights of the Holders (in which case no consent of the Holders will be
required), this Preferred Securities Guarantee may only be amended with the
prior approval of the Holders of at least a Majority in Liquidation Amount of
the Preferred Securities. The provisions of Section 12.2 of the Declaration with
respect to meetings of, and action by written consent of, the Holders of the
Securities apply to the giving of such approval.
14
<PAGE>
SECTION 9.3 Notices.
All notices provided for in this Preferred Securities Guarantee shall
be in writing, duly signed by the party giving such notice, and shall be
delivered, telecopied or mailed by registered or certified mail, as follows:
(a) If given to the Preferred Guarantee Trustee, at the Preferred
Guarantee Trustee's mailing address set forth below (or such other address as
the Preferred Guarantee Trustee may give notice of to the Guarantor and the
Holders of the Preferred Securities):
Fleet National Bank
777 Main Street
Hartford, Connecticut 06115
Attention: Corporate Trust Administration
(b) If given to the Guarantor, at the Guarantor's mailing address set
forth below (or such other address as the Guarantor may give notice of to the
Preferred Guarantee Trustee and the Holders of the Preferred Securities):
Conseco, Inc.
11825 North Pennsylvania Street
Carmel, Indiana 46032
Attention: Lawrence W. Inlow, Esq.
(c) If given to any Holder of Preferred Securities, at the address
set forth on the books and records of the Issuer.
All such notices shall be deemed to have been given when received in
person, telecopied with receipt confirmed, or mailed by first class mail,
postage prepaid, except that if a notice or other document is refused delivery
or cannot be delivered because of a changed address of which no notice was
given, such notice or other document shall be deemed to have been delivered on
the date of such refusal or inability to deliver.
SECTION 9.4 Benefit.
This Preferred Securities Guarantee is solely for the benefit of the
Holders of the Preferred Securities and, subject to Section 3.1(a), is not
separately transferable from the Preferred Securities.
SECTION 9.5 Governing Law.
THIS PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED
AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
G:\LEGAL\RRD\PUBLOFF\2TOPRSGU.RNT
15
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Preferred Securities Guarantee is executed as
of the day and year first above written.
CONSECO, INC., as Guarantor
By:/s/ ROLLIN M. DICK
----------------------------------------
Name: Rollin M. Dick
Title:Executive Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer
FLEET NATIONAL BANK,
as Preferred Guarantee Trustee
By:/s/ MICHAEL HOPKINS
--------------------
Name: Michael Hopkins
Title:Vice President
G:\LEGAL\RRD\PUBLOFF\2TOPRSGU.RNT
16
CONSECO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Exhibit 12.1
Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
and Preferred Dividends
(Dollars in millions)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Nine months
ended Year ended
September 30, December 31,
1996 1995
---- ----
<S> <C> <C>
Pretax income from operations:
Net income.......................................................................... $174.5 $ 220.4
Add income tax expense.............................................................. 134.1 87.0
Add extraordinary charge on extinguishment of debt.................................. 18.6 2.1
Add minority interest............................................................... 25.8 109.0
------ --------
Pretax income from operations............................................ 353.0 418.5
------ --------
Add fixed charges:
Interest expense on annuities and financial products ............................. 474.4 585.4
Interest expense on long-term debt, including amortization.......................... 84.6 119.4
Interest expense on investment borrowings........................................... 15.1 22.2
Other............................................................................... .7 1.0
Portion of rental(1)................................................................ 5.8 6.9
------ ------
Fixed charges............................................................ 580.6 734.9
------ --------
Adjusted earnings........................................................ $933.6 $1,153.4
====== ========
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges....................................... 1.61X 1.57X
===== =====
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges, excluding interest on
annuities and financial products ...................................... 4.32X 3.80X
===== =====
Fixed charges....................................................................... $580.6 $ 734.9
Add dividends on preferred stock, including dividends on preferred stock
of subsidiaries (divided by the rate of income before minority interest
and extraordinary charge to pretax income)...................................... 48.5 36.0
------- --------
Adjusted fixed charges................................................... 629.1 770.9
------ -------
Adjusted earnings........................................................ $933.6 $1,153.4
====== ========
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges and preferred dividends............... 1.48X 1.50X
===== =====
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges and preferred dividends,
excluding interest on annuities and financial products................ 2.97X 3.06X
===== =====
(1) Interest portion of rental is assumed to be 33 percent.
J:\10Q-3-96.CNC\EX12.1
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CONSECO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Exhibit 12.2
Pro Forma Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
and Preferred Dividends
(Dollars in millions)
Year Ended December 31, 1995 Six Months Ended June 30, 1996
------------------------------------- ------------------------------------
Pro forma for Pro forma for
Pro forma the Offering Pro forma the Offering
Conseco Pro forma and other Conseco Pro forma and other
before the for the planned before the for the planned
Offering Offering transactions Offering Offering transactions
-------- -------- ------------ -------- -------- ------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Pretax income from operations:
Income before extraordinary charge.......... $ 283.1 $ 277.9 $ 325.2 $148.9 $146.3 $180.2
Add income tax expense...................... 192.3 198.4 233.2 100.3 103.3 125.7
Add minority interest....................... 21.3 37.7 38.5 12.3 20.5 19.3
-------- -------- -------- ------ ------ ------
Pretax income........................... 496.7 514.0 596.9 261.5 270.1 325.2
-------- -------- -------- ------ ------ ------
Add fixed charges:
Interest expense on annuities and financial
products................................. 758.5 758.5 758.8 378.3 378.3 378.3
Interest expense on long-term debt,
including amortization.................... 143.5 126.2 152.0 67.6 59.0 73.6
Interest expense on investment borrowings... 30.2 30.2 30.2 10.7 10.7 10.7
Other ..................................... 1.0 1.0 1.0 .5 .5 .5
Portion of rental(1)........................ 6.9 6.9 6.9 3.6 3.6 3.6
-------- -------- -------- ------ ------ ------
Fixed charges........................... 940.1 922.8 948.9 460.7 452.1 466.7
-------- -------- -------- ------ ------ ------
Adjusted earnings....................... $1,436.8 $1,436.8 $1,545.8 $722.2 $722.2 $791.9
======== ======== ======== ====== ====== ======
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges...... 1.53X 1.56X 1.63X 1.57X 1.60X 1.70X
===== ===== ===== ===== ===== =====
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges,
excluding interest on annuities and
financial products .................. 3.74X 4.13X 4.14X 4.17X 4.66X 4.68X
===== ===== ===== ===== ===== =====
Fixed charges............................... $ 940.1 $ 922.8 $ 948.9 $460.7 $452.1 $466.7
Add dividends on preferred stock (multiplied
by the rate of pretax income to income
before minority interest and extraordinary
charge)................................... 44.7 85.7 120.1 22.2 42.6 59.7
-------- -------- -------- ------ ------- ------
Adjusted fixed charges.................. $ 984.8 $1,008.5 $1,069.0 $482.9 $ 494.7 $526.4
======== ======== ======== ====== ======= ======
Adjusted earnings....................... $1,436.8 $1,436.8 $1,545.8 $722.2 $ 722.2 $791.9
======== ======== ======== ====== ======= ======
Ratio of earnings to fixed
charges and preferred dividends...... 1.46X 1.42X 1.45X 1.50X 1.46X 1.50X
===== ===== ===== ===== ===== =====
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges
and preferred dividends, excluding
interest on annuities and financial
products............................. 3.00X 2.71X 2.54X 3.29X 2.95X 2.79X
===== ===== ===== ===== ===== =====
<FN>
(1) Interest portion of rental is assumed to be 33 percent.
</FN>
</TABLE>
S:\ACCTING\SECRPT\TOPRS\PFEXH12.WPD
