<PAGE> 1
AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON JANUARY 29, 1997
REGISTRATION NOS. 333-19969
333-19969-01
333-19969-02
333-19969-03
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
---------------------
PRE-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT
NO. 1 TO
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
---------------------
BANPONCE CORPORATION
(Exact name of co-registrant as specified in its charter)
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
PUERTO RICO 66-0416582
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or (IRS employer identification number)
organization)
209 MUNOZ RIVERA AVENUE 00918
HATO REY, PUERTO RICO (Zip Code)
(787) 765-9800
(Address of principal executive offices and
Telephone Number)
</TABLE>
BANPONCE FINANCIAL CORP.
(Exact name of co-registrant as specified in its charter)
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
DELAWARE 66-0476353
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or (IRS employer identification number)
organization)
521 FELLOWSHIP ROAD
MT. LAUREL, NEW JERSEY
(609) 273-1119 08054
(Address of principal executive office and (Zip Code)
Telephone Number)
</TABLE>
BANPONCE TRUST I
BANPONCE TRUST II
(Exact name of co-registrants as specified in their Trust Agreements)
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
DELAWARE TO BE APPLIED FOR
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or (IRS employer identification number)
organization)
C/O BANPONCE FINANCIAL CORP.
521 FELLOWSHIP ROAD 08054
MT. LAUREL, NEW JERSEY (Zip Code)
(609) 273-1119
(Address of principal executive office and
Telephone Number)
</TABLE>
JORGE A. JUNQUERA
209 MUNOZ RIVERA AVENUE
HATO REY, PUERTO RICO 00918
(787) 765-9800
(Name, address, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
COPIES TO:
<TABLE>
<C> <C>
LEE MEYERSON, ESQ. DONALD J. TOUMEY, ESQ.
SIMPSON THACHER & BARTLETT SULLIVAN & CROMWELL
425 LEXINGTON AVENUE 125 BROAD STREET
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10017 NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10004
</TABLE>
---------------------
APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC: from time
to time after the Registration Statement becomes effective.
If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered
pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following
box. [ ]
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on
a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
1933, other than security offered only in connection with dividend or interest
reinvestment plans, check the following box. [X]
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box
and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier
effective registration statement for the same offering. [ ] ________________
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c)
under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same
offering. [ ] ________________
If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434,
please check the following box. [ ]
(continued on next page)
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- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE> 2
THE REGISTRANTS HEREBY AMEND THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR
DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANTS
SHALL FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS REGISTRATION
STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(A) OF
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME
EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(A),
MAY DETERMINE.
---------------------
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PROPOSED PROPOSED
AMOUNT MAXIMUM MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF
TITLE OF EACH CLASS OF TO BE OFFERING PRICE AGGREGATE REGISTRATION
SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED REGISTERED PER UNIT(1) OFFERING PRICE(1) FEE
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest
Debentures of BanPonce Financial
Corp.(2).............................. 150,000 $1,000 $150,000,000 N/A
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Capital Securities of BanPonce Trust I
and BanPonce Trust II................. 150,000 $1,000 $150,000,000 $45,455
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BanPonce Financial Corp. Guarantees with
respect to Capital Securities(3)(4)... N/A N/A N/A N/A
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BanPonce Corporation Debenture
Guarantees with respect to Junior
Subordinated Deferrable Interest
Debentures(3)(4)...................... N/A N/A N/A N/A
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BanPonce Corporation Additional
Guarantees with respect to the
BanPonce Financial Corp.
Guarantees(3)(4)...................... N/A N/A N/A N/A
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total................................... 150,000(5) 100% $150,000,000(5) $45,455(6)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
(1) Estimated solely for the purpose of computing the registration fee.
(2) The Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures will be purchased by
BanPonce Trust I and BanPonce Trust II with the proceeds of the sale of the
Capital Securities.
(3) No separate consideration will be received for the BanPonce Financial Corp.
Guarantees or the BanPonce Corporation Debenture Guarantees and Additional
Guarantees.
(4) This Registration Statement is deemed to cover the Junior Subordinated
Deferrable Interest Debentures of BanPonce Financial Corp., the rights of
holders of Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures of BanPonce
Financial Corp. under the Indenture, the rights of holders of Capital
Securities of BanPonce Trust I and BanPonce Trust II under each Trust
Agreement, and the rights of holders of the Capital Securities under the
Guarantees, the Additional Guarantees, the Debenture Guarantees and the
Expense Agreements which, taken together fully, irrevocably and
unconditionally guarantee (i) the obligations of BanPonce Trust I and
BanPonce Trust II under the Capital Securities and (ii) the obligations of
BanPonce Financial Corp. under the Guarantees with respect to Capital
Securities and under the Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest
Debentures.
(5) Such amount represents the principal amount of Junior Subordinated
Deferrable Interest Debentures issued at their principal amount and the
issue price rather than the principal amount of Junior Subordinated
Deferrable Interest Debentures issued at an original issue discount. Such
amount represents the initial public offering price of the BanPonce Trust I
and BanPonce Trust II Capital Securities.
(6) A portion of the registration fee ($31.00) has previously been paid.
<PAGE> 3
INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS SUBJECT TO COMPLETION OR AMENDMENT. A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATING TO THESE SECURITIES HAS BEEN FILED WITH THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD NOR
MAY OFFERS TO BUY BE ACCEPTED PRIOR TO THE TIME THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
BECOMES EFFECTIVE. NEITHER THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT NOR THE PROSPECTUS TO
WHICH IT RELATES SHALL CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR THE SOLICITATION OF
AN OFFER TO BUY NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY SALE OF THESE SECURITIES IN ANY
STATE IN WHICH SUCH OFFER, SOLICITATION OR SALE WOULD BE UNLAWFUL PRIOR TO
REGISTRATION OR QUALIFICATION UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY SUCH STATE.
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED JANUARY 29, 1997
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT TO PROSPECTUS DATED JANUARY , 1997
$
BANPONCE TRUST I
% Capital Securities, Series A
(Liquidation Amount $1,000 per Capital Security)
fully and unconditionally guaranteed, as described herein, by
BANPONCE FINANCIAL CORP.
AND
BANPONCE CORPORATION
------------------
The % Capital Securities, Series A (the "Series A Capital Securities"),
offered hereby represent preferred beneficial ownership interests in BanPonce
Trust I, a statutory business trust created under the laws of the State of
Delaware (the "Series A Issuer"). BanPonce Financial Corp., a Delaware
corporation (the "Corporation"), will be the owner of all of the beneficial
ownership interests represented by common securities of the Series A
(Continued on next page)
SEE "RISK FACTORS" BEGINNING ON PAGE S-5 HEREOF FOR CERTAIN INFORMATION RELEVANT
TO AN INVESTMENT IN THE SERIES A CAPITAL SECURITIES.
THESE SECURITIES ARE NOT DEPOSITS OR OTHER OBLIGATIONS OF A BANK AND ARE NOT
INSURED BY THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENTAL
AGENCY.
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE
ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT OR THE PROSPECTUS TO WHICH IT
RELATES. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Initial Public Underwriting Proceeds to the
Offering Price(1) Commission(2) Series A Issuer(2)(3)
----------------- ------------- ---------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Per Capital Security................................. $ (1) $
Total................................................ $ (1) $
</TABLE>
(1) Plus accrued Distributions, if any, from .
(2) In view of the fact that the proceeds of the sale of the Series A Capital
Securities will be invested in the Series A Subordinated Debentures, the
Corporation has agreed to pay to the Underwriters as compensation
("Underwriters' Compensation") for their arranging the investment therein of
such proceeds $ per Series A Capital Security (or $ in the
aggregate). See "Underwriting."
(3) Before deduction of expenses payable by the Corporation estimated at
$ .
The Series A Capital Securities are offered by the several Underwriters when, as
and if issued by the Series A Issuer, delivered to and accepted by the
Underwriters and subject to their right to reject any order in whole or in part.
It is expected that the Series A Capital Securities will be ready for delivery
in book-entry form only through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company
on or about , 1997, against payment in immediately available funds.
CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON MERRILL LYNCH & CO.
The date of this Prospectus Supplement is January , 1997.
<PAGE> 4
IN CONNECTION WITH THIS OFFERING, THE UNDERWRITERS MAY OVER-ALLOT OR EFFECT
TRANSACTIONS WHICH STABILIZE OR MAINTAIN THE MARKET PRICE OF THE SERIES A
CAPITAL SECURITIES AT A LEVEL ABOVE THAT WHICH MIGHT OTHERWISE PREVAIL IN THE
OPEN MARKET. SUCH TRANSACTIONS MAY BE EFFECTED IN THE OVER-THE-COUNTER MARKET OR
OTHERWISE. SUCH STABILIZING, IF COMMENCED, MAY BE DISCONTINUED AT ANY TIME.
------------------
NO EMPLOYEE BENEFIT OR OTHER PLAN SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF THE EMPLOYEE
RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED ("ERISA"), OR SECTION 4975 OF
THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE "CODE") (EACH, A "PLAN"), NO
ENTITY WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS INCLUDE "PLAN ASSETS" BY REASON OF ANY PLAN'S
INVESTMENT IN THE ENTITY (A "PLAN ASSET ENTITY"), AND NO PERSON INVESTING "PLAN
ASSETS" OF ANY PLAN, MAY ACQUIRE OR HOLD THE CAPITAL SECURITIES OR ANY INTEREST
THEREIN, UNLESS SUCH PURCHASER OR HOLDER IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE EXEMPTIVE RELIEF
AVAILABLE UNDER U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR PROHIBITED TRANSACTION CLASS EXEMPTION
("PTCE") 96-23, 95-60, 91-38, 90-1 OR 84-14. ANY PURCHASER OR HOLDER OF THE
CAPITAL SECURITIES OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED BY
ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING THEREOF THAT IT EITHER (A) IS NOT A PLAN OR A PLAN
ASSET ENTITY AND IS NOT PURCHASING SUCH SECURITIES ON BEHALF OF OR WITH "PLAN
ASSETS" OF ANY PLAN OR (B) IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE EXEMPTIVE RELIEF AVAILABLE UNDER
PTCE 96-23, 95-60, 91-38, 90-1 OR 84-14. SEE "ERISA CONSIDERATIONS".
------------------
(cover page continued)
Issuer ("Series A Common Securities" and, collectively with the Series A Capital
Securities, the "Series A Securities"). The Corporation is an indirect, wholly
owned subsidiary of BanPonce Corporation, a Puerto Rico Corporation (the
"Guarantor"). The Series A Issuer exists for the sole purpose of issuing the
Series A Securities and investing the proceeds thereof in $ aggregate
principal amount of % Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures,
Series A (the "Series A Subordinated Debentures"), to be issued by the
Corporation. The Series A Subordinated Debentures will mature on ,
[2027] (such date, as it may be shortened as hereinafter described, the "Stated
Maturity"), which date may be shortened to a date not earlier than ,
[2017] if certain conditions are met. See "Certain Terms of Series A
Subordinated Debentures -- Conditional Right to Shorten Maturity or Redeem upon
a Tax Event or Capital Treatment Event." The Corporation has committed to the
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the "Federal Reserve") not to
exercise its right to shorten the Stated Maturity of the Series A Subordinated
Debentures without having received the prior approval of the Federal Reserve to
do so, if then required under applicable Federal Reserve capital guidelines or
policies. The Series A Capital Securities will have a preference under certain
circumstances with respect to cash distributions and amounts payable on
liquidation, redemption or otherwise over the Series A Common Securities. See
"Description of Capital Securities -- Subordination of Common Securities" in the
accompanying Prospectus.
The Guarantor will guarantee, on a junior subordinated basis, the payment
of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Series A Subordinated
Debentures, when and as the same are due and payable (the "Series A Debenture
Guarantee"). The Corporation will guarantee the payment of Distributions and
payments on liquidation or redemption of the Series A Capital Securities, but
only in each case to the extent of funds held by the Series A Issuer, as
described herein (the "Series A Guarantee"). The obligations of the Corporation
under the Series A Guarantee are in turn guaranteed, on a subordinated basis, by
the Guarantor (the "Series A Additional Guarantee"). See "Description of
Guarantees and Additional Guarantees" in the accompanying Prospectus. If the
Corporation does not make interest payments on the Series A Subordinated
Debentures held by the Series A Issuer and the Guarantor does not make payments
on the Series A Debenture Guarantees, the Series A Issuer will have insufficient
funds to pay Distributions on the Series A Capital Securities. The Series A
Guarantee and the Series A Additional Guarantee do not cover payment of
Distributions when the Series A Issuer has insufficient funds to pay such
Distributions. In such event, a holder of Series A Capital Securities may
institute a legal proceeding directly against the Corporation or the
S-2
<PAGE> 5
Guarantor pursuant to the terms of the Indenture and the Series A Debenture
Guarantee to enforce payment of amounts equal to such Distributions to such
holder. See "Description of Junior Subordinated Debentures -- Enforcement of
Certain Rights by Holders of Capital Securities" in the accompanying Prospectus.
The obligations of the Corporation and the Guarantor under the Series A
Guarantee and the Series A Additional Guarantee, respectively, are subordinate
and junior in right of payment to all Senior Debt of the Corporation and the
Guarantor, respectively.
Holders of the Series A Capital Securities will be entitled to receive
preferential cumulative cash distributions accruing from , 1997 and
payable semi-annually in arrears on and of each year,
commencing [ ], 1997, at the annual rate of % of the Liquidation
Amount (as defined herein) of $1,000 per Series A Capital Security
("Distributions"). Subject to certain exceptions, as described herein, the
Corporation has the right to defer payment of interest on the Series A
Subordinated Debentures at any time or from time to time for a period not
exceeding 10 consecutive semi-annual periods with respect to each deferral
period (each, an "Extension Period"), provided that no Extension Period may
extend beyond the Stated Maturity of the Series A Subordinated Debentures. Upon
the termination of any such Extension Period and the payment of all interest
then accrued and unpaid (together with interest thereon at the rate of %
per annum, compounded semi-annually, to the extent permitted by applicable law),
the Corporation may elect to begin a new Extension Period subject to the
requirements set forth herein. If interest payments on the Series A Subordinated
Debentures are so deferred, Distributions on the Series A Capital Securities
will also be deferred and the Corporation and the Guarantor will not be
permitted, subject to certain exceptions described herein, to declare or pay any
cash distributions with respect to the Corporation's and the Guarantor's capital
stock or debt securities that rank pari passu with or junior to the Series A
Subordinated Debentures or the Series A Debenture Guarantee, respectively.
During an Extension Period, interest on the Series A Subordinated Debentures
will continue to accrue (and the amount of Distributions to which holders of the
Series A Capital Securities are entitled will accumulate) at the rate of %
per annum, compounded semi-annually from the relevant payment date for such
interest, and holders of Series A Capital Securities will be required to accrue
interest income for United States federal income tax purposes prior to the
receipt of cash related to such interest income. See "Certain Terms of Series A
Subordinated Debentures -- Option to Defer Interest Payments" and "Certain
Federal Income Tax Consequences -- Interest Income and Original Issue Discount."
The Series A Subordinated Debentures are unsecured and subordinated to all
Senior Debt of the Corporation (as defined in the accompanying Prospectus), and
the Series A Debenture Guarantee is unsecured and subordinated to all Senior
Debt of the Guarantor. Substantially all of the Corporation's and the
Guarantor's existing indebtedness constitutes Senior Debt. Because the
Corporation and the Guarantor are holding companies, the right of the
Corporation and the Guarantor to participate in any distribution of assets of
any subsidiary, including their subsidiary banks, upon any such subsidiary's
liquidation or reorganization or otherwise is subject to the prior claims of
creditors of that subsidiary except to the extent that the Corporation or the
Guarantor may itself be recognized as a creditor of that subsidiary.
Accordingly, the Series A Subordinated Debentures and the Series A Debenture
Guarantee (and therefore the Series A Capital Securities) will be effectively
subordinated to all existing and future liabilities of the Corporation's and the
Guarantor's subsidiaries, and holders thereof should look only to the assets of
the Corporation and the Guarantor for payments on the Series A Subordinated
Debentures or the Series A Debenture Guarantees. See "Description of Junior
Subordinated Debentures -- Subordination" in the accompanying Prospectus.
The Corporation has, through the Series A Guarantee, the Trust Agreement,
the Series A Subordinated Debentures, the Indenture and the Expense Agreement
(each as defined herein), taken together, fully, irrevocably and unconditionally
guaranteed all of the Series A Issuer's obligations under the Series A Capital
Securities. The Guarantor has, through the Series A Additional Guarantee (as
defined herein), the Trust Agreement, the Series A Debenture Guarantee, the
Indenture and the Expense Agreement, taken together, fully, irrevocably and
unconditionally guaranteed all of the Corporation's obligations under (i) its
guarantees of the Series A Issuer's obligations under the Series A Capital
Securities and (ii) the Series A Subordinated Debentures. See "Relationship
Among the Capital Securities, the Corresponding Junior Subordinated
S-3
<PAGE> 6
Debentures, the Expense Agreement, the Guarantees and the Additional
Guarantees -- Full and Unconditional Guarantee" in the accompanying Prospectus.
The Series A Capital Securities are subject to mandatory redemption, in
whole or in part, upon repayment of the Series A Subordinated Debentures at
their Stated Maturity or their earlier redemption. The Series A Subordinated
Debentures are redeemable prior to their Stated Maturity at the option of the
Corporation (i) on or after , [2007], in whole at any time or in
part from time to time, or (ii) at any time in certain circumstances as
described under "Certain Terms of Series A Subordinated Debentures --
Conditional Right to Shorten Maturity or Redeem Upon a Tax Event or Capital
Treatment Event", in whole (but not in part), at any time within 90 days
following the occurrence of a Tax Event or a Capital Treatment Event (each as
defined herein). The Corporation has committed to the Federal Reserve that the
Corporation will not exercise its right to redeem the Series A Subordinated
Debentures prior to the Stated Maturity without having received the prior
approval of the Federal Reserve to do so, if then required under applicable
Federal Reserve capital guidelines or policies. For a description of the
redemption prices for the Series A Capital Securities pursuant to clause (i) or
(ii) above, see "Certain Terms of Series A Capital Securities -- Redemption" and
"Certain Terms of Series A Subordinated Debentures -- Redemption."
The Corporation will have the right at any time to terminate the Series A
Issuer and cause the Series A Subordinated Debentures to be distributed to the
holders of the Series A Capital Securities in exchange therefor upon liquidation
of the Series A Issuer. The Corporation has committed to the Federal Reserve
that, so long as the Corporation (or any affiliate) is a holder of Common
Securities, the Corporation will not so terminate the Series A Issuer without
having received the prior approval of the Federal Reserve to do so, if then
required under applicable Federal Reserve capital guidelines or policies. See
"Certain Terms of Series A Capital Securities -- Liquidation of Series A Issuer
and Distribution of Series A Subordinated Debentures to Holders."
In the event of the termination of the Series A Issuer, after satisfaction
of liabilities to creditors of the Series A Issuer as required by applicable
law, the holders of the Series A Capital Securities will be entitled to receive
a Liquidation Amount of $1,000 per Series A Capital Security plus accumulated
and unpaid Distributions thereon to the date of payment, which may be in the
form of a distribution of such amount in Series A Subordinated Debentures in
exchange therefor, subject to certain exceptions. See "Description of Capital
Securities -- Liquidation Distribution Upon Termination" in the accompanying
Prospectus.
If the Series A Subordinated Debentures are distributed to the holders of
Series A Capital Securities upon the liquidation of the Series A Issuer, the
Corporation will use its best efforts to include the Series A Subordinated
Debentures on such stock exchanges or other automated quotation systems, if any,
on which the Series A Capital Securities are then listed or traded.
The Series A Capital Securities will be represented by global certificates
registered in the name of The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") or its nominee.
Beneficial interests in the Series A Capital Securities will be shown on, and
transfers thereof will be effected only through, records maintained by
participants in DTC. Except as described in the accompanying Prospectus, Series
A Capital Securities in certificated form will not be issued in exchange for the
global certificates. See "Book-Entry Issuance" in the accompanying Prospectus.
S-4
<PAGE> 7
The information in this Prospectus Supplement supplements and should be
read in conjunction with the information contained in the accompanying
Prospectus. As used herein, (i) the "Indenture" means the Junior Subordinated
Indenture, as amended and supplemented from time to time, among the Corporation,
the Guarantor and The First National Bank of Chicago, as trustee (the "Debenture
Trustee"), and (ii) the "Trust Agreement" means the Amended and Restated Trust
Agreement relating to the Series A Issuer among the Corporation, as Depositor,
the Guarantor, The First National Bank of Chicago, as Property Trustee (the
"Property Trustee"), First Chicago Delaware Inc., as Delaware Trustee (the
"Delaware Trustee"), the Administrative Trustees named therein (collectively,
with the Property Trustee and Delaware Trustee, the "Issuer Trustees") and all
holders of Series A Capital Securities. Each of the other capitalized terms used
in this Prospectus Supplement and not otherwise defined in this Prospectus
Supplement has the meaning set forth in the accompanying Prospectus.
RISK FACTORS
Prospective purchasers of the Series A Capital Securities should carefully
review the information contained elsewhere, or incorporated by reference, in
this Prospectus Supplement and in the accompanying Prospectus and should
particularly consider the following matters. In addition, because holders of
Series A Capital Securities may receive Series A Subordinated Debentures in
exchange therefor upon liquidation of the Series A Issuer, prospective
purchasers of Series A Capital Securities are also making an investment decision
with regard to the Series A Subordinated Debentures and should carefully review
all the information regarding the Series A Subordinated Debentures contained
herein.
RANKING OF SUBORDINATED OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE SERIES A GUARANTEE
AND THE SERIES A SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES
The obligations of the Corporation under the Series A Guarantee issued by
the Corporation for the benefit of the holders of Series A Capital Securities,
of the Guarantor under the Series A Additional Guarantee issued by the Guarantor
for the benefit of the holders of Series A Capital Securities, of the
Corporation under the Series A Subordinated Debentures and of the Guarantor
under the Series A Debenture Guarantee are unsecured and rank subordinate and
junior in right of payment to all Senior Debt of the Corporation and the
Guarantor, respectively. Substantially all of the Corporation's and the
Guarantor's existing indebtedness constitutes Senior Debt. Because each of the
Corporation and the Guarantor is a holding company, the right of each of the
Corporation and the Guarantor to participate in any distribution of assets of
any subsidiary, including its subsidiary banks (and including, in the case of
the Guarantor, the Corporation), upon any such subsidiary's liquidation or
reorganization or otherwise, is subject to the prior claims of creditors of that
subsidiary, except to the extent that the Corporation or the Guarantor, as the
case may be, may itself be recognized as a creditor of that subsidiary.
Accordingly, the obligations of the Corporation under the Series A Subordinated
Debentures and the Series A Guarantee will be effectively subordinated to all
existing and future liabilities of the Corporation's subsidiaries and the
obligations of the Guarantor under the Series A Debenture Guarantee and the
Series A Additional Guarantee will be effectively subordinated to all existing
and future liabilities of the Guarantor's subsidiaries, and holders of Series A
Subordinated Debentures and Series A Debenture Guarantees should look only to
the assets of the Corporation and the Guarantor for payments on the Series A
Subordinated Debentures and Series A Debenture Guarantees, respectively. See
"The Corporation" and "The Guarantor." None of the Indenture, the Series A
Debenture Guarantee, the Series A Guarantee, the Series A Additional Guarantee,
the Trust Agreement or the Expense Agreement places any limitation on the amount
of secured or unsecured debt, including Senior Debt, that may be incurred by any
of the Corporation, the Guarantor or their subsidiaries. See "Description of
Guarantees and Additional Guarantees -- Status of the Guarantees" and
"Description of Junior Subordinated Debentures -- Subordination" in the
accompanying Prospectus.
The ability of the Series A Issuer to pay amounts due on the Series A
Capital Securities is solely dependent upon the Corporation (or the Guarantor)
making payments on the Series A Subordinated Debentures (or Series A Debenture
Guarantee) as and when required.
S-5
<PAGE> 8
OPTION TO DEFER INTEREST PAYMENTS; TAX CONSEQUENCES; MARKET PRICE CONSEQUENCES
So long as no event of default under the Indenture has occurred and is
continuing, the Corporation has the right under the Indenture to defer payment
of interest on the Series A Subordinated Debentures at any time or from time to
time for a period not exceeding 10 consecutive semi-annual periods with respect
to each Extension Period, provided that no Extension Period may extend beyond
the Stated Maturity of the Series A Subordinated Debentures. As a consequence of
any such deferral, Distributions on the Series A Capital Securities by the
Series A Issuer would also be deferred (and the amount of Distributions to which
holders of the Series A Capital Securities are entitled would accumulate
additional Distributions thereon at the rate of % per annum, compounded
semi-annually from the relevant payment date for such Distributions) during any
such Extension Period. During any such Extension Period, the Corporation and the
Guarantor may not (i) declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or
redeem, purchase, acquire, or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of
the Corporation's or the Guarantor's capital stock or (ii) make any payment of
principal of or interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem
any debt securities of the Corporation or the Guarantor that rank pari passu in
all respects with or junior in interest to the Series A Subordinated Debentures
or the Series A Debenture Guarantees, respectively, subject to certain
exceptions described herein. See "Certain Terms of Series A Subordinated
Debentures -- Option to Defer Interest Payments." Prior to the termination of
any such Extension Period, the Corporation may further defer the payment of
interest, provided that no Extension Period may exceed 10 consecutive
semi-annual periods or extend beyond the Stated Maturity of the Series A
Subordinated Debentures. Upon the termination of any Extension Period and the
payment of all interest then accrued and unpaid (together with interest thereon
at the annual rate of %, compounded semi-annually from the interest payment
date for such interest, to the extent permitted by applicable law), the
Corporation may elect to begin a new Extension Period subject to the above
requirements and restrictions. There is no limitation on the number of times
that the Corporation may elect to begin an Extension Period. See "Certain Terms
of Series A Capital Securities -- Distributions" and "Certain Terms of Series A
Subordinated Debentures -- Option to Defer Interest Payments."
Should an Extension Period occur, a holder of Series A Capital Securities
will be required to accrue income (in the form of original issue discount) in
respect of its pro rata share of the Series A Subordinated Debentures held by
the Series A Issuer for United States federal income tax purposes. As a result,
a holder of Series A Capital Securities will be required to include such income
in gross income for United States federal income tax purposes in advance of the
receipt of cash attributable to such income, and will not receive the cash
related to such income from the Series A Issuer if the holder disposes of the
Series A Capital Securities prior to the record date for the payment of
Distributions. See "Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences -- Interest Income
and Original Issue Discount" and "-- Sale or Redemption of Series A Capital
Securities."
The Corporation has no current intention of exercising its right to defer
payments of interest on the Series A Subordinated Debentures. However, should
the Corporation elect to exercise such right in the future, the market price of
the Series A Capital Securities is likely to be affected. A holder that disposes
of its Series A Capital Securities during an Extension Period, therefore, might
not receive the same return on its investment as a holder that continues to hold
its Series A Capital Securities until the end of such Extension Period.
TAX EVENT OR CAPITAL TREATMENT EVENT
Upon the occurrence of a Tax Event or a Capital Treatment Event (whether
occurring before or after , [2007]), the Corporation has the right, if
certain conditions are met, (i) to terminate the Series A Issuer and cause the
Series A Subordinated Debentures to be distributed to the holders of the Series
A Capital Securities in exchange therefor upon liquidation of the Series A
Issuer, (ii) to shorten the maturity of the Series A Subordinated Debentures to
a date not earlier than , [2017], or (iii) if a Tax Event or Capital
Treatment Event, as the case may be, continues notwithstanding the taking of
such actions, to redeem the Series A Subordinated Debentures in whole (but not
in part) within 90 days following the occurrence of such Tax Event or Capital
Treatment Event and thereby cause a mandatory redemption of the Series A Capital
Securities. The Corporation has committed to the Federal Reserve that it will
not exercise such right unless it has received prior approval of the Federal
Reserve to do so, if such approval is then
S-6
<PAGE> 9
required under applicable capital guidelines or policies of the Federal Reserve.
See "Certain Terms of Series A Subordinated Debentures -- Conditional Right to
Shorten Maturity or Redeem upon a Tax Event or Capital Treatment Event."
A "Tax Event" means the receipt by the Series A Issuer of an opinion of
counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result of any
amendment to, or change (including any announced proposed change) in, the laws
(or any regulations thereunder) of the United States or any political
subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein, or as a result of 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 issuance of
the Series A Capital Securities under the Trust Agreement, there is more than an
insubstantial risk that (i) the Series A Issuer is, or will be within 90 days of
the date of such opinion, subject to United States Federal income tax with
respect to income received or accrued on the Series A Subordinated Debentures,
(ii) interest payable by the Corporation on the Series A Subordinated Debentures
is not, or within 90 days of such opinion, will not be, deductible by the
Corporation, in whole or in part, for United States Federal income tax purposes,
or (iii) the Series A Issuer is, or will be within 90 days of the date of the
opinion, subject to more than a de minimis amount of other taxes, duties or
other governmental charges. With respect to Series A Subordinated Debentures
which are no longer held by the Series A Issuer, "Tax Event" means the receipt
by the Corporation of an opinion of counsel experienced in such matters to the
effect that, as a result of any amendment to, or change (including any announced
proposed change) in, the laws (or any regulations thereunder) of the United
States or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein, or
as a result of any official administrative pronouncement or judicial decision
interpreting or applying such laws or regulations, which amendment or change is
effective or which proposed change, pronouncement or decision is announced on or
after the date of issuance of the Series A Subordinated Debentures under the
Indenture, there is more than an insubstantial risk that interest payable by the
Corporation on the Series A Subordinated Debentures is not, or within 90 days of
the date of such opinion will not be, deductible by the Corporation, in whole or
in part, for United States federal income tax purposes (each of the
circumstances referred to in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of the preceding
sentence and the circumstances referred to in this sentence being referred to
herein as an "Adverse Tax Consequence").
A "Capital Treatment Event" means the reasonable determination by the
Corporation that, as a result of 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 thereof or therein, or as a
result of any official or administrative pronouncement or action or judicial
decision interpreting or applying such laws, rules or regulations, which
amendment or change is effective or which pronouncement, action or decision is
announced on or after the date of issuance of the Series A Capital Securities
under the Trust Agreement, there is more than an insubstantial risk that the
Corporation or the Guarantor will not be entitled to treat an amount equal to
the aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Series A Capital Securities as "Tier 1
Capital" (or the then equivalent thereto) for purposes of the capital adequacy
guidelines of the Federal Reserve, as then in effect and applicable to the
Corporation or the Guarantor.
See "Risk Factors -- Possible Tax Law Changes Affecting the Series A
Capital Securities" for a discussion of certain legislative proposals that, if
adopted, could give rise to a Tax Event, which may permit the Corporation to
cause a redemption of the Series A Capital Securities prior to ,
[2007].
EXCHANGE OF SERIES A CAPITAL SECURITIES FOR SERIES A SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES
The Corporation will have the right at any time to terminate the Series A
Issuer and, after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the Series A
Issuer as required by applicable law, cause the Series A Subordinated Debentures
to be distributed to the holders of the Series A Capital Securities in exchange
therefor upon liquidation of the Series A Issuer. The exercise of such right is
subject to the Corporation having received prior approval of the Federal Reserve
if such approval is then required under applicable capital guidelines or
policies of the Federal Reserve. See "Certain Terms of Series A Capital
Securities -- Liquidation of Series A Issuer and Distribution of Series A
Subordinated Debentures to Holders."
S-7
<PAGE> 10
Under current United States Federal income tax law and interpretations, a
distribution of the Series A Subordinated Debentures upon liquidation of the
Series A Issuer should not be a taxable event to holders of the Series A Capital
Securities. However, if a Tax Event were to occur which would cause the Series A
Issuer to be subject to United States Federal income tax with respect to income
received or accrued on the Series A Subordinated Debentures, a distribution of
the Series A Subordinated Debentures by the Series A Issuer could be a taxable
event to the Series A Issuer and the holders of the Series A Capital Securities.
See "Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences -- Distribution of the Series A
Subordinated Debentures to Holders of Series A Capital Securities."
MARKET PRICES
There can be no assurance as to the market prices for Series A Capital
Securities or Series A Subordinated Debentures that may be distributed in
exchange for Series A Capital Securities upon liquidation of the Series A
Issuer. Accordingly, the Series A Capital Securities that an investor may
purchase, whether pursuant to the offer made hereby or in the secondary market,
or the Series A Subordinated Debentures that a holder of Series A Capital
Securities may receive on liquidation of the Series A Issuer, may trade at a
discount to the price that the investor paid to purchase the Series A Capital
Securities offered hereby. As a result of the existence of the Corporation's
right to defer interest payments, the market price of the Series A Capital
Securities (which represent preferred beneficial ownership interests in the
Series A Issuer) may be more volatile than the market prices of other securities
on which original issue discount accrues that are not subject to such deferrals.
See "Certain Terms of the Series A Subordinated Debentures" and "Description of
Junior Subordinated Debentures -- Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures"
in the accompanying Prospectus.
RIGHTS UNDER THE SERIES A GUARANTEE AND THE SERIES A ADDITIONAL GUARANTEE;
DIRECT ACTION
The Series A Guarantee is issued by the Corporation and guarantees to the
holders of the Series A Capital Securities the following payments, to the extent
not paid by the Series A Issuer: (i) any accumulated and unpaid Distributions
required to be paid on the Series A Capital Securities, to the extent that the
Series A Issuer has funds on hand available therefor at such time, (ii) the
redemption price with respect to any Series A Capital Securities called for
redemption, to the extent that the Series A Issuer has funds on hand available
therefor at such time, and (iii) upon a voluntary or involuntary dissolution,
winding-up or liquidation of the Series A Issuer (unless the Series A
Subordinated Debentures are distributed to holders of the Series A Capital
Securities), the lesser of (a) the aggregate of the Liquidation Amount and all
accumulated and unpaid Distributions to the date of payment, to the extent that
the Series A Issuer has funds on hand available therefor at such time, and (b)
the amount of assets of the Series A Issuer remaining available for distribution
to holders of the Series A Capital Securities. The obligations of the
Corporation under the Series A Guarantee will in turn be guaranteed by the
Series A Additional Guarantee issued by the Guarantor to the holders of the
Series A Capital Securities. Each of the Series A Guarantee and the Series A
Additional Guarantee will be qualified as an indenture under the Trust Indenture
Act of 1939, as amended (the "Trust Indenture Act"). The First National Bank of
Chicago will act as the indenture trustee under the Series A Guarantee and
Series A Additional Guarantee (the "Guarantee Trustee") for the purposes of
compliance with the Trust Indenture Act. The First National Bank of Chicago will
also act as Debenture Trustee for the Series A Subordinated Debentures and as
Property Trustee under the Trust Agreement and First Chicago Delaware Inc. will
act as Delaware Trustee under the Trust Agreement.
The holders of not less than a majority in aggregate liquidation amount of
the Series A Capital Securities have the right to direct the time, method and
place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Guarantee
Trustee in respect of the Series A Guarantee or the Series A Additional
Guarantee or to direct the exercise of any trust power conferred upon the
Guarantee Trustee under the Series A Guarantee or the Series A Additional
Guarantee. Any holder of the Series A Capital Securities may institute a legal
proceeding directly against the Corporation or the Guarantor to enforce its
rights under the Series A Guarantee or the Series A Additional Guarantee,
respectively, without first instituting a legal proceeding against the Series A
Issuer, the Guarantee Trustee or any other person or entity. If the Corporation
(or the Guarantor, via the
S-8
<PAGE> 11
Series A Debenture Guarantee) were to default on its obligation to pay amounts
payable under the Series A Subordinated Debentures, the Series A Issuer would
lack funds for the payment of Distributions or amounts payable on redemption of
the Series A Capital Securities or otherwise, and, in such event, holders of the
Series A Capital Securities would not be able to rely upon the Series A
Guarantee or the Series A Additional Guarantee for payment of such amounts.
Instead, in the event an event of default under the Indenture shall have
occurred and be continuing and such event is attributable to the failure of the
Corporation (or the Guarantor, via the Series A Debenture Guarantees) to pay
interest on or principal of the Series A Subordinated Debentures on the date on
which such payment is due and payable, then a holder of Series A Capital
Securities may pursuant to the Indenture institute a legal proceeding directly
against the Corporation or the Guarantor for enforcement of payment to such
holder of the principal of or interest on such Series A Subordinated Debentures
having a principal amount equal to the aggregate Liquidation Amount of the
Series A Capital Securities of such holder (a "Direct Action"). In connection
with such Direct Action, the Corporation and the Guarantor will have a right of
set-off under the Indenture to the extent of any payment made by the Corporation
or the Guarantor to such holder of Series A Capital Securities in the Direct
Action. Except as described herein, holders of Series A Capital Securities will
not be able to exercise directly any other remedy available to the holders of
the Series A Subordinated Debentures or assert directly any other rights in
respect of the Series A Subordinated Debentures. See "Description of Junior
Subordinated Debentures -- Enforcement of Certain Rights by Holders of Capital
Securities" and "-- Debenture Events of Default" and "Description of Guarantees
and Additional Guarantees" in the accompanying Prospectus. The Trust Agreement
provides that each holder of Series A Capital Securities by acceptance thereof
agrees to the provisions of the Series A Guarantee, the Series A Additional
Guarantee and the Indenture.
LIMITED VOTING RIGHTS
Holders of Series A Capital Securities generally will have limited voting
rights relating only to the modification of the Series A Capital Securities and
the exercise of the Series A Issuer's rights as holder of Series A Subordinated
Debentures, Series A Debentures Guarantees, the Series A Guarantee and the
Series A Additional Guarantee. Holders of Series A Capital Securities will not
be entitled to vote to appoint, remove or replace the Property Trustee, the
Delaware Trustee or any Administrative Trustee, and such voting rights are
vested exclusively in the holder of the Series A Common Securities except, with
respect to the Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee, upon the occurrence of
certain events described in the accompanying Prospectus. The Property Trustee,
the Administrative Trustees, the Corporation and the Guarantor may amend the
Trust Agreement without the consent of holders of Series A Capital Securities to
ensure that the Series A Issuer will be classified for United States federal
income tax purposes as a grantor trust or as other than as an association
taxable as a corporation unless such action materially and adversely affects the
interests of such holders. See "Description of Capital Securities -- Voting
Rights; Amendment of Each Trust Agreement" and "-- Removal of Issuer Trustees"
in the accompanying Prospectus.
TRADING CHARACTERISTICS OF SERIES A CAPITAL SECURITIES
The Series A Issuer does not intend to have the Series A Capital Securities
listed on a national securities exchange or traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market's
National Market or any other automated quotation system. The absence of such a
listing or trading of the Series A Capital Securities could adversely affect the
liquidity and the price of the Series A Capital Securities.
POSSIBLE TAX LAW CHANGES AFFECTING THE SERIES A CAPITAL SECURITIES
On March 19, 1996, the Revenue Reconciliation Bill of 1996 (the "Revenue
Reconciliation Bill"), the revenue portion of President Clinton's budget
proposal, was introduced in the 104th Congress. If it had been enacted, the
Revenue Reconciliation Bill would have generally denied interest deductions for
interest on an instrument issued by a corporation with a maximum weighted
average maturity of more than 40 years. The Revenue Reconciliation Bill would
also have generally denied interest deductions for interest on an instrument
issued by a corporation with a maximum term of more than 20 years and that is
not shown as indebtedness on the separate balance sheet of the issuer or, where
the instrument is issued to a related party (other than a
S-9
<PAGE> 12
corporation), where the holder or some other related party issues a related
instrument that is not shown as indebtedness on the issuer's consolidated
balance sheet. For purposes of determining the weighted average maturity or the
term of an instrument, any right to extend would be treated as exercised. The
above-described provisions of the Revenue Reconciliation Bill were proposed to
be effective generally for instruments issued on or after December 7, 1995. If
similar provisions were to apply to the Series A Subordinated Debentures, the
Corporation would be unable to deduct interest on the Series A Subordinated
Debentures. However, on March 29, 1996, the Chairmen of the Senate Finance and
House Ways and Means Committees issued a joint statement to the effect that it
was their intention that the effective date of the President's legislative
proposals, if adopted, would be no earlier than the date of appropriate
Congressional action. Under current law, the Corporation and the Guarantor will
be able to deduct interest on the Series A Subordinated Debentures. Although the
104th Congress adjourned without enacting the above-described provisions of the
Revenue Reconciliation Bill, there can be no assurance that current or future
legislative proposals or final legislation will not affect the ability of the
Corporation and the Guarantor to deduct interest on the Series A Subordinated
Debentures. Such a change could give rise to a Tax Event, which may permit the
Corporation to cause a redemption of the Series A Capital Securities before
, 2007. See "Certain Terms of Series A Subordinated
Debentures -- Redemption" in this Prospectus Supplement and "Description of
Capital Securities -- Redemption or Exchange -- Tax Event or Capital Treatment
Event Redemption" in the accompanying Prospectus. See also "Certain Federal
Income Tax Consequences -- Possible Tax Law Changes."
BANPONCE TRUST I
BanPonce Trust I is a statutory business trust created under Delaware law
pursuant to (i) the Trust Agreement executed by the Corporation, as Depositor,
the Guarantor, The First National Bank of Chicago, as Property Trustee, First
Chicago Delaware Inc., as Delaware Trustee, and the Administrative Trustees
named therein, and (ii) the filing of a certificate of trust with the Delaware
Secretary of State on January 16, 1997. The Series A Issuer's business and
affairs are conducted by the Issuer Trustees: The First National Bank of
Chicago, as Property Trustee, First Chicago Delaware Inc., as Delaware Trustee,
and four individual Administrative Trustees who are employees or officers of or
affiliated with the Corporation. The Series A Issuer exists for the exclusive
purposes of (i) issuing and selling the Series A Securities, (ii) using the
proceeds from the sale of Series A Securities to acquire Series A Subordinated
Debentures issued by the Corporation and (iii) engaging in only those other
activities necessary or incidental thereto. Accordingly, the Series A
Subordinated Debentures and the Series A Debenture Guarantee will be the sole
assets of the Series A Issuer, and payments under the Series A Subordinated
Debentures and the Series A Debenture Guarantee will be the sole revenue of the
Series A Issuer. All of the Series A Common Securities will be owned by the
Corporation. The Series A Common Securities will rank pari passu, and payments
will be made thereon pro rata, with the Series A Capital Securities, except that
upon the occurrence and continuance of an event of default under the Trust
Agreement resulting from an event of default under the Indenture, the rights of
the Corporation, as holder of the Series A Common Securities, to payment in
respect of Distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption or otherwise
will be subordinated to the rights of the holders of the Series A Capital
Securities. See "Description of Capital Securities -- Subordination of Common
Securities" in the accompanying Prospectus. The Corporation will acquire Series
A Common Securities in an aggregate liquidation amount equal to at least 3% of
the total capital of the Series A Issuer. The Series A Issuer has a term of 55
years, but may terminate earlier as provided in the Trust Agreement. The
principal executive office of the Series A Issuer is c/o BanPonce Financial
Corp., 521 Fellowship Road, Mt. Laurel, New Jersey 08054, and its telephone
number is (609) 273-1119. See "The Issuers" in the accompanying Prospectus.
It is anticipated that the Series A Issuer will not be subject to the
reporting requirements under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
(the "Exchange Act").
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
On December 31, 1996, the Guarantor announced that it had signed a merger
agreement with Roig Commercial Bank ("Roig"), a Puerto Rico bank with 25
branches in Puerto Rico and approximately
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<PAGE> 13
$900 million in assets and $680 million in deposits. Subject to approval by
Roig's shareholders and federal and Puerto Rican regulatory authorities, the
Guarantor will pay $120 million for all of the stock of Roig, half in cash and
half in the Guarantor's common stock, and Roig's branches will become branches
of Banco Popular.
CONSOLIDATED RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES OF THE GUARANTOR
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
--------------------------------
1996 1995 1994 1993 1992
---- ---- ---- ---- ----
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges:
Excluding Interest on Deposits............................ 2.0 2.0 2.6 3.0 2.9
Including Interest on Deposits............................ 1.4 1.4 1.5 1.5 1.3
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock
Dividends:
Excluding Interest on Deposits............................ 2.0 2.0 2.5 3.0 2.9
Including Interest on Deposits............................ 1.4 1.4 1.5 1.5 1.3
</TABLE>
For purposes of computing these consolidated ratios, earnings represent
income before income taxes, cumulative effect of a change in accounting
principles and equity in undistributed income of unconsolidated subsidiaries and
affiliates, plus fixed charges excluding capitalized interest. Fixed charges
represent all interest expense (ratios are presented both excluding and
including interest on deposits), the portion of net rental expense which is
deemed representative of the interest factor, the amortization of debt issuance
expense and capitalized interest.
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<PAGE> 14
SUMMARY FINANCIAL DATA
The following summary financial data at and for each of the years ended
December 31, 1995, 1994 and 1993 have been derived from the Guarantor's audited
financial statements. Such summaries are qualified in their entirety by the
detailed information and financial statements included in the documents
incorporated by reference herein and the accompanying Prospectus. See
"Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference" in the Prospectus. In
addition, the following summary financial data for the year ended December 31,
1996 have been derived from the Guarantor's unaudited financial statements.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
------------------------------------------------------
1996 1995 1994 1993
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
(UNAUDITED)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
SUMMARY INCOME STATEMENT (in thousands except per share
amounts)
Interest income............................................. $ 1,272,853 $ 1,105,807 $ 887,141 $ 772,136
Interest expense............................................ 591,540 521,624 351,633 280,008
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Net interest income......................................... 681,313 584,183 535,508 492,128
Provision for credit losses................................. 88,839 64,558 53,788 72,892
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Net interest income after provision for credit losses....... 592,474 519,625 481,720 419,236
Noninterest income.......................................... 205,472 173,338 141,303 125,180
Noninterest expense......................................... 541,919 486,833 448,231 413,046
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Income before income taxes.................................. 256,027 206,130 174,792 131,370
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Applicable income taxes..................................... 70,877 59,769 50,043 28,151
Cumulative effect of accounting changes..................... 6,185
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Net income.................................................. $ 185,150 $ 146,361 $ 124,749 $ 109,404
=========== =========== =========== ===========
Net income per common share(1).............................. $ 2.68 $ 2.10 $ 1.84 $ 1.68
=========== =========== =========== ===========
Cash dividends per common share(1).......................... $ 0.69 $ 0.58 $ 0.50 $ 0.45
SELECTED PERIOD-END BALANCES (in thousands)
Total assets................................................ $16,711,570 $15,675,451 $12,778,358 $11,513,368
Total loans and loans held-for-sale......................... 9,779,029 8,677,484 7,781,329 6,346,922
Investment and trading securities........................... 4,905,150 5,191,992 3,796,807 4,048,380
Earning assets.............................................. 15,429,454 14,668,195 11,843,806 10,657,994
Deposits.................................................... 10,763,275 9,876,662 9,012,435 8,522,658
Term borrowings(2).......................................... 2,522,003 1,390,135 1,113,365 1,010,028
Shareholders' equity........................................ 1,262,532 1,141,697 1,002,423 834,195
SELECTED FINANCIAL RATIOS
Return on average common equity............................. 16.15% 14.22% 13.80% 13.80%
Return on average assets.................................... 1.14% 1.04% 1.02% 1.02%
Net interest margin(3)...................................... 4.80% 4.74% 5.06% 5.50%
Allowance for credit losses to period-end loans and loans
held-for-sale............................................. 1.90% 1.94% 1.98% 2.10%
Nonperforming assets as a percentage of period-end loans and
loans held-for-sale....................................... 1.56% 1.79% 1.38% 1.75%
Net charge-offs to average loans and loans held-for-sale.... 0.78% 0.61% 0.52% 0.91%
Average equity to average assets............................ 7.33% 7.58% 7.57% 7.42%
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges (excluding interest on
deposits)................................................. 2.0 2.0 2.6 3.0
Ratios of earnings to fixed charges (including interest on
deposits)................................................. 1.4 1.4 1.5 1.5
</TABLE>
- ---------------
(1) Adjusted to reflect the stock split effected in the form of a dividend on
July 1, 1996.
(2) Excludes Federal Funds that must be repaid in one day.
(3) On a taxable equivalent basis.
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<PAGE> 15
USE OF PROCEEDS
All of the proceeds from the sale of Series A Capital Securities will be
invested by the Series A Issuer in Series A Subordinated Debentures. The
Corporation intends that the proceeds from the sale of such Series A
Subordinated Debentures will be lent to its direct or indirect subsidiaries,
including Equity One, or used for general corporate purposes.
The Corporation and the Guarantor are required by the Federal Reserve to
maintain certain levels of capital for bank regulatory purposes. On October 21,
1996, the Federal Reserve announced that cumulative preferred securities having
the characteristics of the Series A Capital Securities which qualify as a
minority interest could be included as Tier 1 Capital for bank holding
companies. Such Tier 1 Capital treatment, together with the Corporation's
ability to deduct, for income tax purposes, interest payable on the Series A
Subordinated Debentures, will provide the Corporation and the Guarantor with a
more cost-effective means of obtaining capital for regulatory purposes than
other Tier 1 Capital alternatives currently available to it.
CAPITALIZATION
The following table sets forth the unaudited historical capitalization of
the Guarantor as of December 31, 1996, and as adjusted to give effect to the
issuance of the Series A Capital Securities offered hereby.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
DECEMBER 31, 1996
----------------------------
AS
ACTUAL ADJUSTED(1)
-------------- -----------
(IN THOUSANDS)
<S> <C> <C>
LONG-TERM DEBT
Parent Company:
Medium Term Notes, due from 1998 to 2001.................. $ 233,539 $ 233,539
Subordinated Notes, due in 2005........................... 125,000 125,000
Subsidiaries:(2)
Term Notes, due from 1998 to 2000......................... 69,482 69,482
Medium Term Notes, due from 1998 to 2005(3)............... 439,695 439,695
Promissory Notes, due from 1998 to 2005................... 243,700 243,700
Other Notes payable, due from 1998 to 2004................ 297 297
---------- ----------
Total long-term debt............................... $1,111,713 $1,111,713
---------- ----------
GUARANTEED PREFERRED BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN THE
CORPORATION'S JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEFERRABLE INTEREST
DEBENTURES(4)............................................. $ $
---------- ----------
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
8.35% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, 1994 Series A ($25
liquidation preference, 4,000,000 shares outstanding)..... $ 100,000 $ 100,000
Common Stock (par value $6, Authorized 90,000,000 shares,
issued and outstanding 66,088,506 shares)................. 396,531 396,531
Surplus..................................................... 496,582 496,582
Retained earnings........................................... 267,719 267,719
Net unrealized (loss) on securities available for sale...... 1,700 1,700
---------- ----------
Total common stockholders' equity.................. $1,162,532 $1,162,532
---------- ----------
Total stockholders' equity......................... $1,262,532 $1,262,532
---------- ----------
Total capitalization............................... $2,374,245 $
========== ==========
</TABLE>
- ---------------
(1) Reflects the issuance of $ of Series A Capital Securities offered
hereby.
(2) These obligations are direct obligations of subsidiaries of the Guarantor,
and as such, constitute claims against such subsidiaries ranking prior to
the Guarantor's equity therein.
(3) These obligations are guaranteed by the Guarantor.
(4) As described herein, the sole assets of the Series A Issuer will be
approximately $ principal amount of Series A Subordinated Debentures
issued by the Corporation to the Series A Issuer. The Series A Subordinated
Debentures will bear interest at % per annum and will initially be
scheduled to mature on , [2027] (which date may be shortened to a
date not earlier than , 2017 in certain circumstances as
described under "Certain Terms of Series A Subordinated
Debentures -- Conditional Right to Shorten Maturity or Redeem upon a Tax
Event or Capital Treatment Event" upon the occurrence of a Tax Event or
Capital Treatment Event if certain conditions are met). The Corporation owns
all of the Series A Common Securities. As described herein, the obligations
of the Corporation under the Series A Subordinated Debentures are guaranteed
by the Guarantor. See "Certain Terms of Series A Debenture Guarantees."
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<PAGE> 16
ACCOUNTING TREATMENT
For financial reporting purposes, the Series A Issuer will be treated as a
subsidiary of the Corporation and, accordingly, the accounts of the Series A
Issuer will be included in the consolidated financial statements of the
Corporation, for which summarized financial information is provided in a note to
the consolidated financial statements of the Guarantor. The Series A Capital
Securities will be presented as a separate line item in the consolidated balance
sheets of the Corporation and the Guarantor, entitled "Guaranteed Preferred
Beneficial Interests in BanPonce Financial's Junior Subordinated Deferrable
Interest Debentures" and appropriate disclosures about the Series A Capital
Securities, the Series A Guarantee, the Series A Additional Guarantee and the
Series A Subordinated Debentures will be included in the notes to the
Guarantor's consolidated financial statements. For financial reporting purposes,
the Corporation and the Guarantor will record Distributions payable on the
Series A Capital Securities as an expense in the consolidated statements of
income.
The Guarantor has agreed that future financial reports of the Guarantor
will: (i) present the Capital Securities issued by other Issuer Trusts on the
Guarantor's balance sheet as a separate line item entitled "Guaranteed Preferred
Beneficial Interests in BanPonce Financial's Junior Subordinated Deferrable
Interest Debentures"; (ii) include in a footnote to the financial statements
disclosure that the sole assets of the trusts are the Junior Subordinated
Debentures (specifying as to each trust the principal amount, interest rate and
maturity date of the Junior Subordinated Debentures held); and (iii) if Staff
Accounting Bulletin 53 treatment is sought, include, in an audited footnote to
the financial statements, disclosure that (a) the trusts are wholly owned, (b)
the sole assets of the trusts are the Junior Subordinated Debentures (specifying
as to each trust the principal amount, interest rate and maturity date of the
Junior Subordinated Debentures held), and (c) the obligations of the Corporation
and the Guarantor under the Junior Subordinated Debentures, the relevant
Indenture, Trust Agreement, Guarantee, Additional Guarantee, Debenture Guarantee
and Expense Agreement, in the aggregate, constitute a full and unconditional
guarantee by the Corporation and the Guarantor of such trust's obligations under
the Capital Securities issued by such trust.
CERTAIN TERMS OF SERIES A CAPITAL SECURITIES
GENERAL
The following summary of certain terms and provisions of the Series A
Capital Securities supplements the description of the terms and provisions of
the Capital Securities set forth in the accompanying Prospectus under the
heading "Description of Capital Securities," to which description reference is
hereby made. This summary of certain terms and provisions of the Series A
Capital Securities, which describes the material provisions thereof, does not
purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by
reference to, the Trust Agreement to which reference is hereby made. The form of
the Trust Agreement has been filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement
of which this Prospectus Supplement and accompanying Prospectus form a part.
Holders of the Series A Capital Securities have no preemptive or similar
rights.
DISTRIBUTIONS
The Series A Capital Securities represent preferred beneficial interests in
the Series A Issuer, and Distributions on the Series A Capital Securities will
be payable at the annual rate of % of the stated liquidation amount (the
"Liquidation Amount") of $1,000, payable semi-annually in arrears on
and of each year (each a "Distribution Date"), to
the holders of the Series A Capital Securities on the relevant record dates. The
record dates for the Series A Capital Securities will be, for so long as the
Series A Capital Securities remain in book-entry form, one Business Day (as
defined below) prior to the relevant Distribution Date and, in the event the
Series A Capital Securities are not in book-entry form, the fifteenth day next
preceding the relevant Distribution Date. Distributions will accumulate from
, 1997. The first Distribution payment date for the Series A
Capital Securities will be , 1997. The amount of Distributions
payable for any period will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve
30-day months. In the event that any date on which Distributions are payable on
the
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<PAGE> 17
Series A Capital Securities is not a Business Day, then payment of the
Distributions payable on such date will be made on the next succeeding day that
is a Business Day (and without any additional Distributions 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 the date such payment was originally payable. The Paying Agent for the
Capital Securities shall be The First National Bank of Chicago. See "Description
of Capital Securities -- Distributions" in the accompanying Prospectus.
So long as no event of default under the Indenture has occurred and is
continuing, the Corporation has the right under the Indenture to defer payment
of interest on the Series A Subordinated Debentures at any time or from time to
time for a period not exceeding 10 consecutive semi-annual periods with respect
to each Extension Period, provided that no Extension Period may extend beyond
the Stated Maturity of the Series A Subordinated Debentures. As a consequence of
any such deferral of interest payments by the Corporation, Distributions on the
Series A Capital Securities would also be deferred by the Series A Issuer during
any such Extension Period. Distributions to which holders of the Series A
Capital Securities are entitled would accumulate additional Distributions
thereon at the rate per annum of % thereof, compounded semi-annually from
the relevant payment date for such Distributions to but excluding the date of
payment. The term "Distributions" as used herein shall include any such
additional Distributions. During any such Extension Period, the Corporation and
the Guarantor may not (i) declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or
redeem, purchase, acquire, or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of
the Corporation's or the Guarantor's capital stock or (ii) make any payment of
principal of or interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem
any debt securities of the Corporation or the Guarantor that rank pari passu in
all respects with or junior in interest to the Series A Subordinated Debentures
or the Series A Debenture Guarantee, respectively, subject to certain exceptions
described herein. See "Certain Terms of Series A Subordinated
Debentures -- Option to Defer Interest Payments. Prior to the termination of any
such Extension Period, the Corporation may further defer the payment of interest
on the Series A Subordinated Debentures, provided that no Extension Period may
exceed 10 consecutive semi-annual periods or extend beyond the Stated Maturity
of the Series A Subordinated Debentures. Upon the termination of any such
Extension Period and the payment of all interest then accrued and unpaid
(together with interest thereon at the rate of % per annum, compounded
semi-annually, to the extent permitted by applicable law), the Corporation may
elect to begin a new Extension Period. There is no limitation on the number of
times that the Corporation may elect to begin an Extension Period. See "Certain
Terms of Series A Subordinated Debentures -- Option to Defer Interest Payments"
and "Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences -- Interest Income and Original
Issue Discount."
The Corporation has no current intention of exercising its right to defer
payments of interest by extending the interest payment period on the Series A
Subordinated Debentures.
REDEMPTION
While the Series A Securities are outstanding, upon the repayment or
redemption, in whole or in part, of the Series A Subordinated Debentures,
whether at Stated Maturity or upon earlier redemption as provided in the
Indenture, the proceeds from such repayment or redemption shall be applied by
the Property Trustee to redeem a Like Amount (as defined in the accompanying
Prospectus) of the Series A Securities, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60
days notice prior to the date fixed for repayment or redemption, at a redemption
price, with respect to the Series A Capital Securities (the "Redemption Price"),
equal to the aggregate Liquidation Amount of such Series A Capital Securities
plus accumulated and unpaid Distributions thereon to the date of redemption (the
"Redemption Date") and the related amount of the premium, if any, paid by the
Corporation upon the concurrent redemption of such Series A Subordinated
Debentures. If less than all of the Series A Subordinated Debentures are to be
repaid or redeemed on a Redemption Date, then the proceeds from such repayment
or redemption, including any premium paid by the Corporation, shall be allocated
to the redemption pro rata of the Series A Securities.
The Corporation has the right to redeem the Series A Subordinated
Debentures (i) on or after , 2007, in whole at any time or in
part from time to time or (ii) at any time, in certain
S-15
<PAGE> 18
circumstances as described under "Certain Terms of Series A Subordinated
Debentures -- Conditional Right to Shorten Maturity or Redeem upon a Tax Event
or Capital Treatment Event", in whole (but not in part), within 90 days
following the occurrence of a Tax Event or Capital Treatment Event. A redemption
of the Series A Subordinated Debentures would cause a mandatory redemption of
the Series A Securities.
The Redemption Price, in the case of a redemption under (i) above, shall
equal the following prices expressed in percentages of the Liquidation Amount
together with accrued Distributions to but excluding the Redemption Date. If
redeemed during the 12-month period beginning :
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
REDEMPTION
YEAR PRICE
---- ----------
<S> <C>
2007........................................................
2008........................................................
2009........................................................
2010........................................................
2011........................................................
2012........................................................
2013........................................................
2014........................................................
2015........................................................
2016........................................................
</TABLE>
and at 100% on or after , 2017.
The Redemption Price, in the case of a redemption following a Tax Event or
Capital Treatment Event as described under (ii) above, shall be equal to the
aggregate Liquidation Amount of such Series A Securities plus accumulated and
unpaid Distributions thereon to the Redemption Date.
LIQUIDATION OF SERIES A ISSUER AND DISTRIBUTION OF SERIES A SUBORDINATED
DEBENTURES TO HOLDERS
The Corporation will have the right at any time to liquidate the Series A
Issuer and cause the Series A Subordinated Debentures to be distributed to the
holders of the Series A Securities in exchange therefor upon liquidation of the
Series A Issuer. The Corporation has committed to the Federal Reserve that, so
long as the Corporation (or any affiliate) is a holder of Series A Common
Securities, the Corporation will not exercise such right without having received
the prior approval of the Federal Reserve to do so, if then required under
applicable Federal Reserve capital guidelines or policies.
Under current United States Federal income tax law, a distribution of
Series A Subordinated Debentures in exchange for Series A Capital Securities
should not be a taxable event to holders of the Series A Capital Securities.
Should there be a change in law, a change in legal interpretation, a Tax Event
or other circumstances, however, the distribution of the Series A Subordinated
Debentures could be a taxable event to holders of the Series A Capital
Securities. See "Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences -- Distribution of
Series A Subordinated Debentures to Holders of Series A Capital Securities." If
the Corporation elects neither to redeem the Series A Subordinated Debentures
prior to their Stated Maturity nor to liquidate the Series A Issuer and
distribute the Series A Subordinated Debentures to holders of the Series A
Capital Securities in exchange therefor, the Series A Capital Securities will
remain outstanding until the Stated Maturity of the Series A Subordinated
Debentures.
If the Corporation elects to liquidate the Series A Issuer and thereby
causes the Series A Subordinated Debentures to be distributed to holders of the
Series A Capital Securities in exchange therefor upon liquidation of the Series
A Issuer, the Corporation shall continue to have the right to shorten the Stated
Maturity of the Series A Subordinated Debentures, subject to certain conditions
as described under "Certain Terms of Series A Subordinated
Debentures -- General."
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<PAGE> 19
LIQUIDATION VALUE
The amount payable on the Series A Capital Securities in the event of any
liquidation of the Series A Issuer is $1,000 per Series A Capital Security plus
accumulated and unpaid Distributions, which may be in the form of a distribution
of a Like Amount in Series A Subordinated Debentures, subject to certain
exceptions. See "Description of Capital Securities -- Liquidation Distribution
Upon Termination" in the accompanying Prospectus.
REGISTRATION OF SERIES A CAPITAL SECURITIES
The Series A Capital Securities will be represented by global certificates
registered in the name of DTC or its nominee. Beneficial interests in the Series
A Capital Securities will be shown on, and transfers thereof will be effected
only through, records maintained by Participants in DTC (as defined in the
accompanying Prospectus). Except as described below and in the accompanying
Prospectus, Series A Capital Securities in certificated form will not be issued
in exchange for the global certificates. See "Book-Entry Issuance" in the
accompanying Prospectus.
A global security shall be exchangeable for Series A Capital Securities
registered in the names of persons other than DTC or its nominee only if (i) DTC
notifies the Series A Issuer that it is unwilling or unable to continue as a
depository for such global security and no successor depository shall have been
appointed, or if at any time DTC ceases to be a clearing agency registered under
the Exchange Act, at a time when DTC is required to be so registered to act as
such depository, (ii) the Series A Issuer in its sole discretion determines that
such global security shall be so exchangeable, or (iii) there shall have
occurred and be continuing an event of default under the Indenture with respect
to the Series A Subordinated Debentures. Any global security that is
exchangeable pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be exchangeable for
definitive certificates registered in such names as DTC shall direct. It is
expected that such instructions will be based upon directions received by DTC
from its Participants with respect to ownership of beneficial interests in such
global security. In the event that Series A Capital Securities are issued in
definitive form, such Series A Capital Securities will be in denominations of
$1,000 and integral multiples thereof and may be transferred or exchanged at the
offices described below.
Payments on Series A Capital Securities represented by a global security
will be made to DTC, as the depositary for the Series A Capital Securities. In
the event Series A Capital Securities are issued in certificated form, the
Liquidation Amount and Distributions will be payable, the transfer of the Series
A Capital Securities will be registrable, and Series A Capital Securities will
be exchangeable for Series A Capital Securities of other denominations of a like
aggregate Liquidation Amount, at the corporate office of the Property Trustee in
Chicago, Illinois, or at the offices of any paying agent or transfer agent
appointed by the Administrative Trustees, provided that payment of any
Distribution may be made at the option of the Administrative Trustees by check
mailed to the address of the persons entitled thereto or by wire transfer. In
addition, if the Series A Capital Securities are issued in certificated form,
the record dates for payment of Distributions will be the 15th day of the month
in which the relevant Distribution payment is scheduled to be made. For a
description of DTC and the terms of the depositary arrangements relating to
payments, transfers, voting rights, redemptions and other notices and other
matters, see "Book-Entry Issuance" in the accompanying Prospectus.
CERTAIN TERMS OF SERIES A SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES
GENERAL
The following summary of certain terms and provisions of the Series A
Subordinated Debentures supplements the description of the terms and provisions
of the Junior Subordinated Debentures set forth in the accompanying Prospectus
under the heading "Description of Junior Subordinated Debentures", to which
description reference is hereby made. The summary of certain terms and
provisions of the Series A Subordinated Debentures set forth below, which
describes the material provisions thereof, does not purport to be complete and
is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, the Indenture
to which reference
S-17
<PAGE> 20
is hereby made. The form of Indenture has been filed as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement of which this Prospectus Supplement and accompanying
Prospectus form a part.
Concurrently with the issuance of the Series A Capital Securities, the
Series A Issuer will invest the proceeds thereof, together with the
consideration paid by the Corporation for the Series A Common Securities, in the
Series A Subordinated Debentures issued by the Corporation. The Series A
Subordinated Debentures will be issued in an aggregate principal amount equal to
the aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Series A Capital Securities plus the
aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Series A Common Securities purchased by the
Corporation. The Series A Subordinated Debentures will bear interest at the
annual rate of % of the principal amount thereof, payable semi-annually in
arrears on and of each year (each, an "Interest Payment
Date"), commencing [ ], 1997, to the person in whose name each Series A
Subordinated Debenture is registered, subject to certain exceptions, at the
close of business on the Business Day next preceding such Interest Payment Date.
The Guarantor, via the Series A Debenture Guarantee, will guarantee, on a junior
subordinated basis, the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and
interest on the Series A Subordinated Debentures, when and as the same are due
and payable. See "Certain Terms of Series A Debenture Guarantees." It is
anticipated that, until the liquidation, if any, of the Series A Issuer, the
Series A Subordinated Debentures will be held in the name of the Property
Trustee in trust for the benefit of the holders of the Series A Securities. The
amount of interest payable for any period will be computed on the basis of a
360-day year of twelve 30-day months. In the event that any date on which
interest is payable on the Series A Subordinated Debentures is not a Business
Day, then payment of the 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 the date such payment was originally payable. Accrued interest that is not
paid on the applicable Interest Payment Date will bear additional interest on
the amount thereof (to the extent permitted by law) at the rate per annum of
% thereof, compounded semi-annually from the relevant Interest Payment
Date. The term "interest" as used herein shall include semi-annual interest
payments, interest on semi-annual interest payments not paid on the applicable
Interest Payment Date and Additional Sums (as defined below), as applicable.
The Series A Subordinated Debentures will be issued as a series of junior
subordinated deferrable interest debentures under the Indenture. The Series A
Subordinated Debentures will mature on , [2027]. Such date may be
shortened by the Corporation in certain circumstances upon the occurrence of a
Tax Event or a Capital Treatment Event as described under "-- Conditional Right
to Shorten Maturity or Redeem upon a Tax Event or Capital Treatment Event" to
any date not earlier than , [2017], subject to the Corporation's
commitment to the Federal Reserve not to do so without its prior approval if
such approval is then required under applicable Federal Reserve capital
guidelines or policies. In the event the Corporation elects to shorten the
Stated Maturity of the Series A Subordinated Debentures, it shall give notice to
the Debenture Trustee, and the Debenture Trustee shall give notice of such
shortening to the holders of the Series A Subordinated Debentures no more than
30 and no less than 60 days prior to the effectiveness thereof.
The Series A Subordinated Debentures will be unsecured and will rank junior
and be subordinate in right of payment to all Senior Debt of the Corporation,
and the obligations of the Guarantor under the Series A Debenture Guarantee will
be unsecured and rank subordinate and junior in right of payment to all Senior
Debt of the Guarantor. See "Description of Junior Subordinated
Debentures -- Subordination" and "Description of Debenture
Guarantees -- Subordination" in the accompanying Prospectus. Substantially all
of the Corporation's and the Guarantor's existing indebtedness constitutes
Senior Debt. Because the Corporation and the Guarantor are holding companies,
the right of the Corporation and the Guarantor to participate in any
distribution of assets of any subsidiary, including their subsidiary banks, upon
such subsidiary's liquidation or reorganization or otherwise (and thus the
ability of holders of the Series A Capital Securities to benefit indirectly from
such distribution), is subject to the prior claims of creditors of that
subsidiary, except to the extent that the Corporation or the Guarantor may
itself be recognized as a creditor of that subsidiary. Accordingly, the Series A
Subordinated Debentures will be effectively subordinated to all existing and
future liabilities of the Corporation's subsidiaries and the Series A Debenture
Guarantees will be effectively subordinated to all existing and future
liabilities of the Guarantor's subsidiaries, and holders of Series A
S-18
<PAGE> 21
Subordinated Debentures and Series A Debenture Guarantees should look only to
the assets of the Corporation and the Guarantor for payments on the Series A
Subordinated Debentures and Series A Debenture Guarantees, respectively. The
Indenture does not limit the incurrence or issuance of other secured or
unsecured debt of any of the Corporation, the Guarantor or their subsidiaries,
including Senior Debt, whether under the Indenture or any existing or other
indenture that the Corporation or Guarantor may enter into in the future or
otherwise. See "Description of Junior Subordinated Debentures -- Subordination"
and "Description of Debenture Guarantees -- Subordination in the accompanying
Prospectus.
OPTION TO DEFER INTEREST PAYMENTS
So long as no event of default under the Indenture has occurred and is
continuing, the Corporation has the right under the Indenture at any time or
from time to time during the term of the Series A Subordinated Debentures to
defer payment of interest on the Series A Subordinated Debentures for a period
not exceeding 10 consecutive semi-annual periods with respect to each Extension
Period, provided that no Extension Period may extend beyond the Stated Maturity
of the Series A Subordinated Debentures. At the end of such Extension Period,
the Corporation must pay all interest then accrued and unpaid on the
Subordinated Debentures (together with interest on such unpaid interest at the
annual rate of %, compounded semi-annually from the relevant Interest
Payment Date, to the extent permitted by applicable law). During an Extension
Period, interest will continue to accrue and holders of Series A Subordinated
Debentures (or holders of Series A Capital Securities while such series is
outstanding) will be required to accrue interest income for United States
federal income tax purposes. See "Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences --
Interest Income and Original Issue Discount."
During any such Extension Period, the Corporation and the Guarantor may not
(i) declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase,
acquire, or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Corporation's
or the Guarantor's capital stock or (ii) make any payment of principal of or
interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt
securities of the Corporation or the Guarantor (including other Junior
Subordinated Debentures) that rank pari passu in all respects with or junior in
interest to the Series A Subordinated Debentures or the Series A Debenture
Guarantees, respectively (other than (a) repurchases, redemptions or other
acquisitions of shares of capital stock of the Corporation or the Guarantor in
connection with any employment contract, benefit plan or other similar
arrangement with or for the benefit of one or more employees, officers,
directors or consultants, in connection with a dividend reinvestment or
stockholder stock purchase plan or in connection with the issuance of capital
stock of the Corporation or the Guarantor (or securities convertible into or
exercisable for such capital stock) as consideration in an acquisition
transaction entered into prior to the applicable Extension Period, (b) as a
result of any exchange or conversion of any class or series of the Corporation's
or the Guarantor's capital stock (or any capital stock of a subsidiary of the
Corporation or the Guarantor) for any class or series of the Corporation's or
the Guarantor's capital stock, respectively, or of any class or series of the
Corporation's or the Guarantor's indebtedness for any class or series of the
Corporation's or the Guarantor's capital stock, respectively, (c) the purchase
of fractional interests in shares of the Corporation's or the Guarantor's
capital stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital
stock or the security being converted or exchanged, (d) any declaration of a
dividend in connection with any stockholder's rights plan, or the issuance of
rights, stock or other property under any stockholder's rights plan, or the
redemption or repurchase of rights pursuant thereto, or (e) any dividend in the
form of stock, warrants, options or other rights where the dividend stock or the
stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants, options or other rights is the
same stock as that on which the dividend is being paid or ranks pari passu with
or junior to such stock). Prior to the termination of any such Extension Period,
the Corporation may further defer the payment of interest on the Series A
Subordinated Debentures, provided that no Extension Period may exceed 10
consecutive semi-annual periods or extend beyond the Stated Maturity of the
Series A Subordinated Debentures. Upon the termination of any such Extension
Period and the payment of all interest then accrued and unpaid (together with
interest thereon at the rate of % per annum compounded semi-annually, to
the extent permitted by applicable law), the Corporation may elect to begin a
new Extension Period subject to the above requirements and restrictions. No
interest shall be due and payable during an Extension Period, except at the end
thereof. The Corporation must give the Property Trustee, the Administrative
Trustees and the Debenture Trustee notice of its election to
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<PAGE> 22
begin such Extension Period at least one Business Day prior to the earlier of
(i) the date interest on the Series A Subordinated Debentures would have been
payable except for the election to begin such Extension Period or (ii) the date
the Administrative Trustees are required to give notice to any applicable stock
exchange or automated quotation system on which the Series A Capital Securities
are then listed or quoted or to holders of Series A Subordinated Debentures of
the applicable record date or (iii) the date such interest is payable, but in
any event not less than one Business Day prior to such record date. The
Debenture Trustee shall give notice of the Corporation's election to begin a new
Extension Period to the holders of the Series A Subordinated Debentures. There
is no limitation on the number of times that the Corporation may elect to begin
an Extension Period. See "Description of Junior Subordinated
Debentures -- Option to Defer Interest Payments" in the accompanying Prospectus.
ADDITIONAL SUMS
If the Series A Issuer is required to pay any additional taxes, duties or
other governmental charges as a result of a Tax Event, the Corporation will pay
as additional amounts on the Series A Subordinated Debentures such amounts
("Additional Sums") as shall be required so that the Distributions payable by
the Series A Issuer shall not be reduced as a result of any such additional
taxes, duties or other governmental charges. The Corporation's obligation to pay
such amounts will be guaranteed by the Series A Debenture Guarantee on the same
terms as the Corporation's other obligations under the Series A Subordinated
Debentures are guaranteed. See "Certain Terms of Series A Debenture Guarantees."
REDEMPTION
Subject to the Corporation's having received prior approval of the Federal
Reserve if then required under applicable capital guidelines or policies, the
Series A Subordinated Debentures are redeemable prior to Stated Maturity at the
option of the Corporation (i) on or after , 2007, in whole at any
time or in part from time to time or (ii) at any time, in certain circumstances
as described under "-- Conditional Right to Shorten Maturity or Redeem upon a
Tax Event or Capital Treatment Event", in whole (but not in part) within 90 days
following the occurrence of a Tax Event or Capital Treatment Event. The proceeds
of any such redemption will be used by the Series A Issuer to redeem the Series
A Securities.
The Redemption Price, in the case of a redemption under (i) above, shall
equal the following prices, expressed in percentages of the principal amount,
together with accrued interest to but excluding the Redemption Date. If redeemed
during the 12-month period beginning :
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
REDEMPTION
YEAR PRICE
- ---- ----------
<S> <C>
2007........................................................ %
2008........................................................
2009........................................................
2010........................................................
2011........................................................
2012........................................................
2013........................................................
2014........................................................
2015........................................................
2016........................................................
</TABLE>
and at 100% on or after , 2017.
The Redemption Price, in the case of a redemption following a Tax Event or
Capital Treatment Event as described under (ii) above, shall be equal to 100% of
the principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the Redemption
Date.
DISTRIBUTION OF SERIES A SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES
As described under "Certain Terms of Series A Capital
Securities -- Liquidation of Series A Issuer and Distribution of Series A
Subordinated Debentures to Holders", under certain circumstances involving the
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<PAGE> 23
termination of the Series A Issuer, Series A Subordinated Debentures may be
distributed to the holders of the Series A Capital Securities in exchange
therefor upon liquidation of the Series A Issuer after satisfaction of
liabilities to creditors of the Series A Issuer as provided by applicable law.
If distributed to holders of Series A Capital Securities, the Series A
Subordinated Debentures will initially be issued in the form of one or more
global securities and DTC, or any successor depositary for the Series A Capital
Securities, will act as depositary for the Series A Subordinated Debentures. It
is anticipated that the depositary arrangements for the Series A Subordinated
Debentures would be substantially identical to those in effect for the Series A
Capital Securities. If Series A Subordinated Debentures are distributed to the
holders of Series A Capital Securities in exchange therefor upon liquidation of
the Series A Issuer, the Corporation will use its best efforts to include the
Series A Subordinated Debentures for trading on such stock exchanges or
automated quotation system, if any, on which the Series A Capital Securities are
then listed or quoted. There can be no assurance as to the market price of any
Series A Subordinated Debentures that may be distributed to the holders of
Series A Capital Securities.
CONDITIONAL RIGHT TO SHORTEN MATURITY OR REDEEM UPON A TAX EVENT OR CAPITAL
TREATMENT EVENT
If a Tax Event or a Capital Treatment Event occurs and either (i) in the
opinion of counsel to the Corporation experienced in such matters, there would
in all cases, after effecting the termination of the Series A Issuer and the
distribution of the Series A Subordinated Debentures to the holders of the
Series A Capital Securities in exchange therefor upon liquidation of the Series
A Issuer, be more than an insubstantial risk that an Adverse Tax Consequence (as
defined in "Risk Factors -- Tax Event or Capital Treatment Event") would
continue to exist, (ii) in the reasonable determination of the Corporation,
there would in all cases, after effecting the termination of the Series A Issuer
and the distribution of the Series A Subordinated Debentures to the holders of
the Series A Capital Securities in exchange therefor upon liquidation of the
Series A Issuer, be more than an insubstantial risk that the Corporation or the
Guarantor will not be entitled to treat an amount equal to the aggregate
Liquidation Amount of the Series A Capital Securities as "Tier 1 Capital" (or
the equivalent thereof) or (iii) the Series A Subordinated Debentures are not
held by the Series A Issuer, then the Corporation shall have the right (a) to
shorten the Stated Maturity of the Series A Subordinated Debentures to the
minimum extent required, but in any event to a date not earlier than
, 2017 (the action referred to in this clause (a) being referred to
herein as a "Maturity Advancement"), such that, in the opinion of counsel to the
Corporation experienced in such matters, after advancing the Stated Maturity,
interest paid on the Series A Subordinated Debentures will be deductible for
federal income tax purposes, or (b) if either (x) in the opinion of counsel to
the Corporation experienced in such matters, there would in all cases, after
effecting a Maturity Advancement, be more than an insubstantial risk that an
Adverse Tax Consequence would continue to exist or (y) in the reasonable
determination of the Corporation, there would in all cases, after effecting a
Maturity Advancement, be more than an insubstantial risk that the Corporation or
the Guarantor will not be entitled to treat an amount equal to the aggregate
Liquidation Amount of the Series A Capital Securities as "Tier 1 Capital" (or
the then equivalent thereof) for purposes of the capital adequacy guidelines of
the Federal Reserve, as then in effect and applicable to the Corporation or the
Guarantor, to redeem the Series A Subordinated Debentures, in whole but not in
part, at any time within 90 days following the occurrence of the Tax Event or
Capital Treatment Event at a Redemption Price equal to 100% of the principal
amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the Redemption Date.
See "Certain Terms of Series A Capital Securities -- Liquidation of Series A
Issuer and Distribution of Series A Subordinated Debentures to Holders" and
"-- Redemption" and "Certain Terms of Series A Subordinated
Debentures -- General" and "-- Redemption".
Holders of Series A Capital Securities should consult their own tax
advisors regarding the tax consequences to them of a Maturity Advancement.
See "Certain Federal Tax Law Consequences -- Possible Tax Law Changes" for
a discussion of certain legislative proposals that, if adopted, could give rise
to a Tax Event, which may permit the Corporation to shorten the Stated Maturity
of the Series A Subordinated Debentures or cause a redemption of the Series A
Capital Securities prior to , 2007.
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<PAGE> 24
REGISTRATION OF SERIES A SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES
The Series A Subordinated Debentures will be registered in the name of the
Property Trustee on behalf of the Series A Issuer. In the event that the Series
A Subordinated Debentures are distributed to holders of Series A Capital
Securities, it is anticipated that the depositary and other arrangements for the
Series A Subordinated Debentures will be substantially identical to those in
effect for the Series A Capital Securities. See "Certain Terms of Series A
Capital Securities -- Registration of Series A Capital Securities."
CERTAIN TERMS OF SERIES A GUARANTEE AND SERIES A ADDITIONAL GUARANTEE
The Series A Guarantee guarantees to the holders of the Series A Capital
Securities the following payments, to the extent not paid by the Series A
Issuer: (i) any accumulated and unpaid Distributions required to be paid on the
Series A Capital Securities, to the extent that the Series A Issuer has funds on
hand available therefor at such time, (ii) the Redemption Price with respect to
any Series A Capital Securities called for redemption, to the extent that the
Series A Issuer has funds on hand available therefor at such time, and (iii)
upon a voluntary or involuntary dissolution, winding-up or liquidation of the
Series A Issuer (unless the Series A Subordinated Debentures are distributed to
holders of the Series A Capital Securities), the lesser of (a) the aggregate of
the Liquidation Amount and all accumulated and unpaid Distributions to the date
of payment, to the extent that the Series A Issuer has funds on hand available
therefor at such time, and (b) the amount of assets of the Series A Issuer
remaining available for distribution to holders of the Series A Capital
Securities after payment of creditors of the Series A Issuer as required by
applicable law. The obligations of the Corporation under the Series A Guarantee
are in turn guaranteed, on a junior subordinated basis, by the Series A
Additional Guarantee issued by the Guarantor. Each of the Series A Guarantee and
the Series A Additional Guarantee will be qualified as an indenture under the
Trust Indenture Act. The First National Bank of Chicago will act as the
Guarantee Trustee for the purposes of compliance with the Trust Indenture Act
and will hold the Series A Guarantee and the Series A Additional Guarantee for
the benefit of the holders of the Series A Capital Securities. The First
National Bank of Chicago will also act as Debenture Trustee for the Series A
Subordinated Debentures and as Property Trustee, and First Chicago Delaware Inc.
will act as Delaware Trustee.
The holders of not less than a majority in aggregate Liquidation Amount of
the Series A Capital Securities have the right to direct the time, method and
place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Guarantee
Trustee in respect to the Series A Guarantee or the Series A Additional
Guarantee, or to direct the exercise of any trust power conferred upon the
Guarantee Trustee under the Series A Guarantee or the Series A Additional
Guarantee. Any holder of the Series A Capital Securities may institute a legal
proceeding directly against the Corporation or the Guarantor to enforce its
rights under the Series A Guarantee or the Series A Additional Guarantee,
respectively, without first instituting a legal proceeding against the Series A
Issuer, the Guarantee Trustee or any other person or entity. If the Corporation
(or the Guarantor, via the Series A Debenture Guarantee) were to default on its
obligation to pay amounts payable under the Series A Subordinated Debentures,
the Series A Issuer would lack funds for the payment of Distributions or amounts
payable on redemption of the Series A Capital Securities or otherwise, and, in
such event, holders of the Series A Capital Securities would not be able to rely
upon the Series A Guarantee or the Series A Additional Guarantee for payment of
such amounts. Instead, if any event of default under the Indenture shall have
occurred and be continuing and such event is attributable to the failure of the
Corporation (or the Guarantor, via the Series A Debenture Guarantee) to pay
interest or premium, if any, on or principal of the Series A Subordinated
Debentures on the applicable payment date, then a holder of Series A Capital
Securities may institute a Direct Action against the Corporation or the
Guarantor pursuant to the terms of the Indenture for enforcement of payment to
such holder of the principal of or interest or premium, if any, on such Series A
Subordinated Debentures having a principal amount equal to the aggregate
Liquidation Amount of the Series A Capital Securities of such holder. In
connection with such Direct Action, the Corporation and the Guarantor will have
a right to set-off under the Indenture to the extent of any payment made by the
Corporation or the Guarantor to such holder of Series A Securities in the Direct
Action. Except as described herein, holders of Series A Capital Securities will
not be able to exercise directly any other remedy available to the holders of
the Series A Subordinated Debentures or assert directly any other
S-22
<PAGE> 25
rights in respect of the Series A Subordinated Debentures. See "Description of
Guarantees and Additional Guarantees" in the accompanying Prospectus. The Trust
Agreement provides that each holder of Series A Capital Securities by acceptance
thereof agrees to the provisions of the Series A Guarantee, the Series A
Additional Guarantee, the Expense Agreement and the Indenture.
CERTAIN TERMS OF SERIES A DEBENTURE GUARANTEES
GENERAL
The Series A Debenture Guarantee issued by the Guarantor will guarantee, on
a junior subordinated basis, the payment of the principal of, premium, if any,
and interest on the Series A Subordinated Debentures, when and as the same are
due and payable by the Corporation. The Series A Debenture Guarantee is absolute
and unconditional, irrespective of any circumstance that might otherwise
constitute a legal or equitable discharge of a surety or guarantor. To evidence
the Series A Debenture Guarantee, a guarantee, executed by the Guarantor, will
be endorsed on each Series A Subordinated Debenture. Holders of the Series A
Subordinated Debentures may proceed directly against the Guarantor in the event
of default under the Series A Subordinated Debentures without first proceeding
against the Corporation. The Series A Debenture Guarantee will be unsecured and
will rank subordinate and junior in right of payment to all Senior Debt of the
Guarantor. See "Description of Debenture Guarantees" in the accompanying
Prospectus.
TAXATION BY THE COMMONWEALTH OF PUERTO RICO
All payments pursuant to the Series A Debenture Guarantees will be made
without withholding or deduction for, or on account of, any present or future
taxes, duties, assessments or governmental charges of whatever nature imposed or
levied by or on behalf of Puerto Rico or by or with any district, municipality
or other political subdivision thereof or authority therein having power to tax
unless such taxes, duties, assessments or governmental charges are required by
law to be withheld or deducted.
In the event that the Guarantor is required by law to deduct or withhold
any amounts in respect of taxes, duties, assessments or governmental charges,
the Guarantor will pay such additional amounts in respect of principal, premium
and interest as will result (after deduction of the said taxes, duties,
assessments or governmental charges) in the payment to the holders of the Series
A Subordinated Debentures of the amounts which would otherwise have been payable
in respect to the Series A Subordinated Debentures in the absence of such
deduction or withholding ("Additional Guarantee Payments"), except that no such
Additional Guarantee Payments shall be payable:
(i) To any holder of a Series A Subordinated Debenture or any interest
therein or rights in respect thereof where such deduction or withholding is
required by reason of such holder having some connection with Puerto Rico
or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein other
than the mere holding of and payment in respect of such Series A
Subordinated Debentures;
(ii) in respect of any deduction or withholding that would not have
been required but for the presentation by the holder of a Series A
Subordinated Debenture for payment on a date more than 30 days after the
Stated Maturity or the date on which payment thereof is duly provided for,
whichever occurs later; or
(iii) in respect of any deduction or withholding that would not have
been required but for the failure to comply with any certification,
identification or other reporting requirements concerning the nationality,
residence, identity or connection with Puerto Rico, or any political
subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein, of the holder of a
Series A Subordinated Debenture or any interest therein or rights in
respect thereof, if compliance is required by Puerto Rico, or any political
subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein, as a precondition to
exemption from such deduction or withholding.
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<PAGE> 26
ERISA CONSIDERATIONS
Each fiduciary of a pension, profit-sharing or other employee benefit plan
subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended
("ERISA") (a "Plan"), should consider the fiduciary standards of ERISA in the
context of the Plan's particular circumstances before authorizing an investment
in the Series A Capital Securities. Accordingly, among other factors, the
fiduciary should consider whether the investment would satisfy the prudence and
diversification requirements of ERISA and would be consistent with the documents
and instruments governing the Plan.
Section 406 of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
as amended (the "Code") prohibit Plans, as well as individual retirement
accounts and Keogh plans subject to Section 4975 of the Code (also "Plans"),
from engaging in certain transactions involving "plan assets" with persons who
are "parties in interest" under ERISA or "disqualified persons" under the Code
("Parties in Interest") with respect to such Plan. A violation of these
"prohibited transaction" rules may result in an excise tax or other liabilities
under ERISA and/or Section 4975 of the Code for such persons, unless exemptive
relief is available under an applicable statutory or administrative exemption.
Employee benefit plans that are governmental plans (as defined in Section 3(32)
of ERISA), certain church plans (as defined in Section 3(33) of ERISA) and
foreign plans (as described in Section 4(b)(4) of ERISA) are not subject to the
requirements of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code.
Under a regulation (the "Plan Assets Regulation") issued by the U.S.
Department of Labor (the "DOL"), the assets of the Series A Issuer would be
deemed to be "plan assets" of a Plan for purposes of ERISA and Section 4975 of
the Code if "plan assets" of the Plan were used to acquire an equity interest in
the Series A Issuer and no exception were applicable under the Plan Assets
Regulation. An "equity interest" is defined under the Plan Assets Regulation as
any interest in an entity other than an instrument which is treated as
indebtedness under applicable local law and which has no substantial equity
features and specifically includes a beneficial interest in a trust.
Pursuant to an exception contained in the Plan Assets Regulation, the
assets of the Series A Issuer would not be deemed to be "plan assets" of
investing Plans if, immediately after the most recent acquisition of any equity
interest in the Series A Issuer, less than 25% of the value of each class of
equity interests in the Series A Issuer were held by Plans, other employee
benefit plans not subject to ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code (such as
governmental, church and foreign plans), and entities holding assets deemed to
be "plan assets" of any Plan (collectively, "Benefit Plan Investors"), or if the
Series A Capital Securities were "publicly-offered securities" for purposes of
the Plan Assets Regulation. No assurance can be given that the value of the
Series A Capital Securities held by Benefit Plan Investors will be less than 25%
of the total value of such Series A Capital Securities at the completion of the
initial offering or thereafter, and no monitoring or other measures will be
taken with respect to the satisfaction of the conditions to this exception. In
addition, the Series A Capital Securities will be deemed "publicly offered
securities" for the purposes of the Plan Asset Regulations only if owned by 100
or more investors independent of the Series A Issuer and each other. No
assurance can be given that the Series A Capital Securities would be considered
to be "publicly-offered securities" under the Plan Assets Regulation. All of the
Series A Common Securities will be purchased and initially held by the
Corporation.
Certain transactions involving the Series A Issuer could be deemed to
constitute direct or indirect prohibited transactions under ERISA and Section
4975 of the Code with respect to a Plan if the Series A Capital Securities were
acquired with "plan assets" of such Plan and the assets of the Series A Issuer
were deemed to be "plan assets" of Plans investing in the Series A Issuer. For
example, if the Corporation is a Party in Interest with respect to an investing
Plan (either directly or by reason of its relationship with its affiliates),
extensions of credit between the Corporation and the Series A Issuer (as
represented by the Series A Subordinated Debentures and the Guarantee) would
likely be prohibited by Section 406(a)(1)(B) of ERISA and Section 4975(c)(1)(B)
of the Code, unless exemptive relief were available under an applicable
administrative exemption (see below). In addition, if the Corporation were
considered to be a fiduciary with respect to the Series A Issuer as a result of
certain powers it holds (such as the powers to remove and replace the Property
Trustee and the Administrative Trustees), certain operations of the Series A
Issuer, including the
S-24
<PAGE> 27
optional redemption or acceleration of the Series A Subordinated Debentures,
could be considered to be prohibited transactions under Section 406(b) of ERISA
and Section 4975(c)(1)(E) of the Code. In order to avoid such prohibited
transactions, each investing plan, by purchasing the Series A Capital
Securities, will be deemed to have directed the Series A Issuer to invest in the
Series A Subordinated Debentures and to have appointed the Property Trustee.
The DOL has issued five prohibited transaction class exemptions ("PTCEs")
that may provide exemptive relief if required for direct or indirect prohibited
transactions that may arise from the purchase or holding of the Series A Capital
Securities if assets of the Series A Issuer were deemed to be "plan assets" of
Plans investing in the Series A Issuer as described above. Those class
exemptions are PTCE 96-23 (for certain transactions determined by in-house asset
managers), PTCE 95-60 (for certain transactions involving insurance company
general accounts), PTCE 91-38 (for certain transactions involving bank
collective investment funds), PTCE 90-1 (for certain transactions involving
insurance company separate accounts), and PTCE 84-14 (for certain transactions
determined by independent qualified professional asset managers).
Because the Series A Capital Securities may be deemed to be equity
interests in the Series A Issuer for purposes of applying ERISA and Section 4975
of the Code, the Series A Capital Securities may not be purchased and should not
be held by any Plan, any entity whose underlying assets include "plan assets" by
reason of any Plan's investment in the entity (a "Plan Asset Entity") or any
person investing "plan assets" of any Plan, unless such purchaser or holder is
eligible for the exemptive relief available under PTCE 96-23, 95-60, 91-38, 90-1
or 84-14. Any purchaser or holder of the Series A Capital Securities or any
interest therein will be deemed to have represented by its purchase and holding
thereof that it either (a) is not a Plan or a Plan Asset Entity and is not
purchasing the Series A Capital Securities on behalf of or with "plan assets" of
any Plan or (b) is eligible for the exemptive relief available under PTCE 96-23,
95-60, 91-38, 90-1 or 84-14.
Due to the complexity of these rules and the penalties that may be imposed
upon persons involved in non-exempt prohibited transactions, it is particularly
important that fiduciaries or other persons considering purchasing the Series A
Capital Securities on behalf of or with "plan assets" of any Plan consult with
their counsel regarding the potential consequences if the assets of the Series A
Issuer were deemed to be "plan assets" and the availability of exemptive relief
under PTCE 96-23, 95-60, 91-38, 90-1 or 84-14.
S-25
<PAGE> 28
CERTAIN FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
The following is a summary of the principal United States federal income
tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of Series A Capital
Securities. This summary only addresses the tax consequences to a person that
acquires Series A Capital Securities on their original issue at their original
offering price and that is (i) an individual citizen or resident of the United
States, (ii) a corporation or partnership organized in or under the laws of the
United States or any state thereof or the District of Columbia or (iii) an
estate or trust the income of which is subject to United States federal income
tax regardless of source (a "United States Person"). This summary does not
address all tax consequences that may be applicable to a United States Person
that is a beneficial owner of Series A Capital Securities, nor does it address
the tax consequences to (i) persons that are not United States Persons, (ii)
persons that may be subject to special treatment under United States federal
income tax law, such as banks, insurance companies, thrift institutions,
regulated investment companies, real estate investment trusts, tax-exempt
organizations and dealers in securities or currencies, (iii) persons that will
hold Series A Capital Securities as part of a position in a "straddle" or as
part of a "hedging," "conversion" or other integrated investment transaction for
federal income tax purposes, (iv) persons whose functional currency is not the
United States dollar or (v) persons that do not hold Series A Capital Securities
as capital assets.
The statements of law or legal conclusion set forth in this summary
constitute the opinion of Sullivan & Cromwell, counsel to the Corporation and
the Series A Issuer. This summary is based upon the Code, Treasury Regulations,
Internal Revenue Service rulings and pronouncements and judicial decisions now
in effect, all of which are subject to change at any time. Such changes may be
applied retroactively in a manner that could cause the tax consequences to vary
substantially from the consequences described below, possibly adversely
affecting a beneficial owner of Series A Capital Securities. In particular,
legislation has been proposed that could adversely affect the Corporation's
ability to deduct interest on the Series A Subordinated Debentures, which may in
turn permit the Corporation to cause a redemption of the Series A Capital
Securities. See "-- Possible Tax Law Changes." The authorities on which this
summary is based are subject to various interpretations, and it is therefore
possible that the federal income tax treatment of the purchase, ownership and
disposition of Series A Capital Securities may differ from the treatment
described below.
PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS ARE ADVISED TO CONSULT WITH THEIR OWN TAX ADVISORS IN
LIGHT OF THEIR OWN PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES AS TO THE FEDERAL TAX CONSEQUENCES
OF THE PURCHASE, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF SERIES A CAPITAL SECURITIES, AS
WELL AS THE EFFECT OF ANY STATE, LOCAL OR FOREIGN TAX LAWS.
CLASSIFICATION OF THE SERIES A ISSUER
Under current law and assuming compliance with the terms of the Trust
Agreement, certain other documents and certain factual matters, the Series A
Issuer will not be taxable as a corporation for United States federal income tax
purposes. As a result, each beneficial owner of Series A Capital Securities (a
"Securityholder") will be required to include in its gross income its pro rata
share of the interest income, including original issue discount, paid or accrued
with respect to the Series A Subordinated Debentures whether or not cash is
actually distributed to the Securityholders. See "-- Interest Income and
Original Issue Discount." No amount included in income with respect to the
Series A Capital Securities will be eligible for the dividends-received
deduction.
INTEREST INCOME AND ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT
Under recently issued Treasury regulations applicable to debt instruments
issued on or after August 13, 1996 (the "Regulations"), a contingency that
stated interest will not be timely paid that is "remote" because of the terms of
the relevant debt instrument will be ignored in determining whether such debt
instrument is issued with original issue discount ("OID"). As a result of terms
and conditions of the Series A Subordinated
S-26
<PAGE> 29
Debentures that prohibit certain payments with respect to the Corporation's and
the Guarantor's capital stock and indebtedness if the Corporation elects to
extend interest payment periods, the Corporation believes that the likelihood of
its exercising its option to defer payments is remote. Based on the foregoing,
the Corporation believes that the Series A Subordinated Debentures will not be
considered to be issued with OID at the time of their original issuance and,
accordingly, a Securityholder should include in gross income such holder's
allocable share of interest on the Series A Subordinated Debentures, in
accordance with such Securityholder's method of accounting. The following
discussion assumes that unless and until the Corporation exercises its option to
defer interest on the Series A Subordinated Debentures, the Series A
Subordinated Debentures will not be considered as issued with OID.
Under the Regulations, if the Corporation exercises its option to defer any
payment of interest, the Series A Subordinated Debentures would at that time be
treated as issued with OID, and all stated interest on the Series A Subordinated
Debentures would thereafter be treated as OID as long as the Series A
Subordinated Debentures remained outstanding. In such event, all of a
Securityholder's taxable interest income with respect to the Series A
Subordinated Debentures would be accounted for as OID on an economic-accrual
basis regardless of such holder's method of tax accounting, and actual
distributions of stated interest would not be reported as taxable income.
Consequently, a Securityholder would be required to include in gross income OID
even though the Corporation would not make any actual cash payments during an
Extension Period.
The Regulations have not been addressed in any rulings or other
interpretations by the Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS"), and it is possible
that the IRS could take a position contrary to the interpretation herein.
Because income on the Series A Capital Securities will constitute interest
or OID, corporate Securityholders will not be entitled to a dividends-received
deduction with respect to any income recognized with respect to the Series A
Capital Securities.
DISTRIBUTION OF SERIES A SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES TO HOLDERS OF SERIES A CAPITAL
SECURITIES
Under current law, a distribution by the Series A Issuer of the Series A
Subordinated Debentures as described under the caption "Certain Terms of Series
A Capital Securities -- Liquidation of Series A Issuer and Distribution of
Series A Subordinated Debentures to Holders" will be non-taxable and will result
in the Securityholder receiving directly its pro rata share of the Series A
Subordinated Debentures previously held indirectly through the Series A Issuer,
with a holding period and aggregate-tax basis equal to the holding period and
aggregate-tax basis such Securityholder had in its Series A Capital Securities
before such distribution. If, however, the liquidation of the Series A Issuer
were to occur because the Series A Issuer is subject to United States Federal
income tax with respect to income accrued or received on the Series A
Subordinated Debentures, the distribution of Series A Subordinated Debentures to
Securityholders by the Series A Issuer would be a taxable event to the Series A
Issuer and each Securityholder, and each Securityholder would recognize gain or
loss as if the Securityholder had exchanged its Series A Capital Securities for
the Series A Subordinated Debentures it received upon the liquidation of the
Series A Issuer. A Securityholder will include interest in income in respect of
Series A Subordinated Debentures received from the Series A Issuer in the manner
described above under "-- Interest Income and Original Issue Discount."
SALE OR REDEMPTION OF SERIES A CAPITAL SECURITIES
A Securityholder that sells (including a redemption for cash) Series A
Capital Securities will recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between
its adjusted tax basis in the Series A Capital Securities and the amount
realized on the sale of such Series A Capital Securities. Assuming that the
Corporation does not exercise its option to defer payment of interest on the
Series A Subordinated Debentures, a Securityholder's adjusted tax basis in the
Series A Capital Securities generally will be its initial purchase price. If the
Series A Subordinated Debentures are deemed to be issued with OID, as a result
of the Corporation's deferral of interest payments, a Securityholder's adjusted
tax basis in the Series A Capital Securities generally will be its
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<PAGE> 30
initial purchase price, increased by OID previously includible in such
Securityholder's gross income to the date of disposition and decreased by
Distributions or other payments received on the Series A Capital Securities
since and including the date of the first Extension Period. Such gain or loss
generally will be a capital gain or loss (except to the extent any amount
realized is treated as a payment of accrued interest with respect to such
Securityholder's pro rata share of the Series A Subordinated Debentures required
to be included in income) and generally will be a long-term capital gain or loss
if the Series A Capital Securities have been held for more than one year.
Should the Corporation exercise its option to defer any payment of interest
on the Series A Subordinated Debentures, the Series A Capital Securities may
trade at a price that does not accurately reflect the value of accrued but
unpaid interest with respect to the underlying Series A Subordinated Debentures.
In the event of such a deferral, a Securityholder who disposes of its Series A
Capital Securities between record dates for payments of distributions thereon
will be required to include in income as ordinary income accrued but unpaid
interest on the Series A Subordinated Debentures to the date of disposition and
to add such amount to its adjusted-tax basis in its Series A Capital Securities.
To the extent the selling price is less than the Securityholder's adjusted-tax
basis, such holder will recognize a capital loss. Subject to certain limited
exceptions, capital losses cannot be applied to offset ordinary income for
United States federal income tax purposes.
BACKUP WITHHOLDING TAX AND INFORMATION REPORTING
The amount of interest income paid and OID accrued on the Series A Capital
Securities held of record by United States Persons (other than corporations and
other exempt Securityholders) will be reported to the IRS. "Backup" withholding
at a rate of 31% will apply to payments of interest to nonexempt United States
Persons unless the Securityholder furnishes its taxpayer identification number
in the manner prescribed in applicable Treasury Regulations, certifies that such
number is correct, certifies as to no loss of exemption from backup withholding
and meets certain other conditions.
Payment of the proceeds from the disposition of Series A Capital Securities
to or through the United States office of a broker is subject to information
reporting and backup withholding unless the holder or beneficial owner
establishes an exemption from information reporting and backup withholding.
Any amounts withheld from a Securityholder under the backup withholding
rules will be allowed as a refund or a credit against such Securityholder's
United States federal income tax liability, provided the required information is
furnished to the IRS.
It is anticipated that income on the Series A Capital Securities will be
reported to holders on Form 1099 and mailed to holders of the Series A Capital
Securities by January 31 following each calendar year.
POSSIBLE TAX LAW CHANGES
On March 19, 1996, the Revenue Reconciliation Bill, the revenue portion of
President Clinton's budget proposal, was introduced in the 104th Congress. If it
had been enacted, the Revenue Reconciliation Bill would have generally denied
interest deductions for interest on an instrument issued by a corporation with a
maximum weighted average maturity of more than 40 years. The Revenue
Reconciliation Bill would also have generally denied interest deductions for
interest on an instrument issued by a corporation with a maximum term of more
than 20 years and that is not shown as indebtedness on the separate balance
sheet of the issuer or, where the instrument is issued to a related party (other
than a corporation), where the holder or some other related party issues a
related instrument that is not shown as indebtedness on the issuer's
consolidated balance sheet. For purposes of determining the weighted average
maturity or the term of an instrument, any right to extend would be treated as
exercised. The above-described provisions of the Revenue Reconciliation Bill
were proposed to be effective generally for instruments issued on or after
December 7, 1995. If a similar provision were to apply to the Series A
Subordinated Debentures, the Corporation would unable to deduct interest on the
Series A Subordinated Debentures. However, on March 29, 1996, the Chairmen of
the Senate
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<PAGE> 31
Finance and House Ways and Means Committees issued a joint statement to the
effect that it was their intention that the effective date of the President's
legislative proposals, if adopted, will be no earlier than the date of
appropriate Congressional action. Under current law, the Corporation will be
able to deduct interest on the Series A Subordinated Debentures. Although the
104th Congress adjourned without enacting the above-described provisions of the
Revenue Reconciliation Bill, there can be no assurance that current or future
legislative proposals or final legislation will not affect the ability of the
Corporation to deduct interest on the Series A Subordinated Debentures. Such a
change could give rise to a Tax Event, which may permit the Corporation to cause
a redemption of the Series A Capital Securities, as described more fully under
"Description of Capital Securities -- Redemption or Exchange."
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<PAGE> 32
UNDERWRITING
Subject to the terms and conditions of the Underwriting Agreement, the
Corporation and the Series A Issuer have agreed that the Series A Issuer will
sell to each of the Underwriters named below, and each of such Underwriters has
severally agreed to purchase from the Series A Issuer, the respective number of
Series A Capital Securities set forth opposite its name below:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF
SERIES A
CAPITAL
UNDERWRITER SECURITIES
----------- ----------
<S> <C>
Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation......................
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated..........
-------
Total.............................................
=======
</TABLE>
The Underwriting Agreement provides that the obligations of the
Underwriters are subject to certain conditions precedent and that the
Underwriters are committed to take and pay for all the Series A Capital
Securities offered hereby, if any are taken.
The Underwriters propose to offer the Series A Capital Securities to the
public initially at the public offering price set forth on the cover page of
this Prospectus Supplement and to certain dealers at such price less a
concession of $ per Series A Capital Security. The Underwriters may
allow, and such dealers may reallow, a discount of $ per Series A
Capital Security on sales to certain other dealers. After the Series A Capital
Securities are released for sale to the public, the offering price and other
selling terms may from time to time be varied by the Underwriters.
In view of the fact that the proceeds from the sale of the Series A Capital
Securities will be used to purchase the Series A Subordinated Debentures issued
by the Corporation, the Underwriting Agreement provides that the Corporation
will pay as Underwriters' compensation for the Underwriters' arranging the
investment therein of such proceeds an amount of $ per Series A Capital
Security for the accounts of the several Underwriters.
Because the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD") is
expected to view the Series A Capital Securities offered hereby as interests in
a direct participation program, the offering is being made in compliance with
Rule 2810 of the NASD's Conduct Rules. Offers and sales of Series A Capital
Securities will be made only to (i) "qualified institutional buyers", as defined
in Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act") or (ii)
institutional "accredited investors", as defined in Rule 501(a)(1)-(3) of
Regulation D under the Act. The underwriters may not confirm sales to any
accounts over which they exercise discretionary authority without prior written
approval of the transaction by the customer.
The Corporation and the Series A Issuer have agreed that, during the period
beginning from the date of the Underwriting Agreement and continuing to and
including the later of (i) the termination of trading restrictions on the Series
A Capital Securities, as determined by the Underwriters, and (ii) the closing
date, they will not offer, sell, contract to sell or otherwise dispose of any
Series A Capital Securities, any other beneficial interests in the assets of any
Issuer, or any preferred securities or any other securities of any Issuer or the
Corporation which are substantially similar to the Series A Capital Securities,
including any guarantee of such securities, or any securities convertible into
or exchangeable for or representing the right to receive preferred securities or
any such substantially similar securities of either any Issuer or the
Corporation, without the prior written consent of the Underwriters, except for
the Series A Capital Securities offered in connection with this offering.
The Series A Capital Securities are a new issue of securities with no
established trading market. The Underwriters have advised the Corporation that
they intend to make a market in the Series A Capital Securities, but are not
obligated to do so and may discontinue market making at any time without notice.
No assurance can be given as to the liquidity of the trading market for the
Series A Capital Securities.
S-30
<PAGE> 33
The Corporation and the Series A Issuer have agreed to indemnify the
Underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or contribute to payments that the
Underwriters may be required to make in respect thereof.
Certain of the Underwriters or their affiliates have provided from time to
time, and expect to provide in the future, investment or commercial banking
services to the Corporation and its affiliates, for which such Underwriters or
their affiliates have received or will receive customary fees and commissions.
VALIDITY OF SECURITIES
Certain matters of Delaware law relating to the validity of the Series A
Capital Securities, the enforceability of the Trust Agreement and the formation
of the Series A Issuer will be passed upon by Richards, Layton & Finger, One
Rodney Square, Wilmington, Delaware 19801, special Delaware counsel to the
Corporation and the Series A Issuer. The validity of the Series A Guarantee, the
Series A Additional Guarantee, the Series A Subordinated Debentures and the
Series A Debenture Guarantee will be passed upon for the Corporation by Sullivan
& Cromwell, 125 Broad Street, New York, New York 10004, and for the Underwriters
by Simpson Thacher & Bartlett (a partnership which includes professional
corporations), 425 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10017. The validity of
the Series A Additional Guarantee and the Series A Debenture Guarantee will be
passed upon as to matters of Puerto Rico law for the Corporation by Brunilda
Santos de Alvarez, Esq., counsel to the Guarantor. Sullivan & Cromwell and
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett will rely as to certain matters of Delaware law upon
the opinion of Richards, Layton & Finger and as to all matters of Puerto Rico
law upon the opinion of Brunilda Santos de Alvarez, Esq. Certain matters
relating to United States federal income tax considerations will be passed upon
for the Corporation by Sullivan & Cromwell.
S-31
<PAGE> 34
INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS SUBJECT TO COMPLETION OR AMENDMENT. A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATING TO THESE SECURITIES HAS BEEN FILED WITH THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD NOR
MAY OFFERS TO BUY BE ACCEPTED PRIOR TO THE TIME THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
BECOMES EFFECTIVE. THIS PROSPECTUS SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR
THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY SALE OF THESE
SECURITIES IN ANY STATE IN WHICH SUCH OFFER, SOLICITATION OR SALE WOULD BE
UNLAWFUL PRIOR TO REGISTRATION OR QUALIFICATION UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS
OF ANY SUCH STATE.
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED JANUARY 29, 1997
$150,000,000
BANPONCE FINANCIAL CORP.
JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEFERRABLE INTEREST DEBENTURES FULLY AND
UNCONDITIONALLY GUARANTEED, AS DESCRIBED HEREIN, BY
BANPONCE CORPORATION
BANPONCE TRUST I
BANPONCE TRUST II
CAPITAL SECURITIES FULLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY
GUARANTEED, AS DESCRIBED HEREIN, BY
BANPONCE FINANCIAL CORP.
AND
BANPONCE CORPORATION
BanPonce Financial Corp., a Delaware corporation (the "Corporation"), may
from time to time offer in one or more series or issuances its junior
subordinated deferrable interest debentures (the "Junior Subordinated
Debentures"). The Corporation is an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of
BanPonce Corporation, a Puerto Rico corporation (the "Guarantor"), and the
Junior Subordinated Debentures will be unconditionally guaranteed, on a junior
subordinated basis, as to the payment of principal, premium, if any, and
interest by the Guarantor (such guarantees, the "Debenture Guarantees"). The
Junior Subordinated Debentures and the Debenture Guarantees will be unsecured
and subordinate and junior in right of payment to all Senior Debt (as defined in
"Description of Junior Subordinated Debentures -- Subordination") of the
Corporation and the Guarantor, respectively. If provided in an accompanying
Prospectus Supplement, the Corporation will have the right to defer payments of
interest on any series of Junior Subordinated Debentures by extending the
interest payment period thereon at any time or from time to time for up to such
number of consecutive interest payment periods (which shall not extend beyond
the Stated Maturity (as defined herein) of the Junior Subordinated Debentures)
with respect to each deferral period as may be specified in such Prospectus
Supplement (each, an "Extension Period"). In such circumstances, however, the
Corporation and the Guarantor would not be permitted, subject to certain
exceptions set forth herein, to declare or pay any dividends, distributions or
other payments with respect to, or repay, repurchase, redeem or otherwise
acquire, the Corporation's or the Guarantor's capital stock or debt securities
that rank pari passu in all respects with or junior to such series of Junior
Subordinated Debentures or the Debenture Guarantees, respectively. See
"Description of Junior Subordinated Debentures -- Option to Defer Interest
Payments" and "-- Restrictions on Certain Payments."
BanPonce Trust I and BanPonce Trust II, each a statutory business trust
created under the laws of the State of Delaware (each, an "Issuer," and
collectively, the "Issuers"), may severally offer, from time to time, preferred
securities (the "Capital Securities") representing preferred beneficial
ownership interests in such Issuer. The Corporation will be the owner of the
common securities representing common ownership interests in such Issuer (the
"Common Securities" and, together with the Capital Securities, the "Trust
Securities"). Holders of the Capital Securities will be entitled to receive
preferential cumulative cash distributions ("Distributions") accumulating from
the date of original issuance and payable periodically as provided in an
accompanying Prospectus Supplement.
Concurrently with the issuance by an Issuer of its Capital Securities, such
Issuer will invest the proceeds thereof and of contributions received in respect
of the Common Securities in a corresponding series of the Corporation's Junior
Subordinated Debentures (the "Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures"),
guaranteed by the Guarantor's Debenture Guarantee, with terms corresponding to
the terms of that Issuer's Capital Securities (the "Related Capital
Securities"). The Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures and the related
Debenture Guarantee will be the sole assets of each Issuer, and payments under
the Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures and the related Debenture
Guarantee will be the only revenue of each Issuer. If provided in an
accompanying Prospectus Supplement, the Corporation may, upon receipt of prior
approval of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the "Federal
Reserve") (if such approval is then required), redeem the Corresponding Junior
Subordinated Debentures (and cause the redemption of the related Capital
Securities) or may terminate each Issuer and cause the Corresponding Junior
Subordinated Debentures and the related Debenture Guarantee to be distributed to
the holders of the Related Capital Securities in liquidation of their interests
in such Issuer. See "Description of Capital Securities -- Liquidation
Distribution Upon Termination." (continued on next page)
------------------
THESE SECURITIES ARE NOT DEPOSITS OR OTHER OBLIGATIONS OF A BANK AND ARE NOT
INSURED BY THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENTAL
AGENCY. THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED
UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE
CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS IS JANUARY , 1997.
<PAGE> 35
If provided in an accompanying Prospectus Supplement, the Corporation will
have the right to defer payments of interest on any series of Corresponding
Junior Subordinated Debentures. If interest payments are so deferred,
Distributions on the Related Capital Securities will also be deferred and the
Corporation and the Guarantor will not be permitted, subject to certain
exceptions set forth herein, to declare or pay any cash distributions with
respect to the Corporation's or the Guarantor's capital stock or debt securities
that rank pari passu in all respects with or junior to the Corresponding Junior
Subordinated Debentures or Debenture Guarantees thereon, respectively. During an
Extension Period, Distributions will continue to accumulate (and the Related
Capital Securities will accumulate additional Distributions thereon at the rate
per annum set forth in the related Prospectus Supplement). See "Description of
Capital Securities -- Distributions."
Taken together, the Corporation's and the Guarantor's obligations under
each series of Junior Subordinated Debentures, the Indenture, the related Trust
Agreement, the related Expense Agreement, the related Debenture Guarantee, the
related Additional Guarantee and the related Guarantee (each, as defined
herein), in the aggregate, provide a full, irrevocable and unconditional
guarantee of payments of distributions and other amounts due on the Related
Capital Securities. See "Relationship Among the Capital Securities, the
Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures, the Expense Agreements, the
Guarantees and the Additional Guarantees -- Full and Unconditional Guarantee."
The payment of Distributions with respect to the Capital Securities of each
Issuer and payments on liquidation or redemption with respect to such Capital
Securities, in each case out of funds held by such Issuer, are each irrevocably
guaranteed by the Corporation and the Guarantor, to the extent described herein
(each, a "Guarantee"). See "Description of Guarantees and Additional
Guarantees." The obligations of each of the Corporation and the Guarantor under
each of the Guarantee, the Debenture Guarantee and the Additional Guarantee will
be subordinate and junior in right of payment to all Senior Debt of the
Corporation and the Guarantor, respectively.
The Junior Subordinated Debentures and Capital Securities may be offered in
amounts, at prices and on terms to be determined at the time of offering;
provided, however, the aggregate initial public offering price of all Junior
Subordinated Debentures (other than Corresponding Junior Subordinated
Debentures) and Capital Securities (including the Corresponding Junior
Subordinated Debentures) issued pursuant to the Registration Statement of which
this Prospectus forms a part shall not exceed $150,000,000. Certain specific
terms of the Junior Subordinated Debentures or Capital Securities in respect of
which this Prospectus is being delivered will be described in an accompanying
Prospectus Supplement, including without limitation and where applicable and to
the extent not set forth herein, (a) in the case of Junior Subordinated
Debentures, the specific designation, aggregate principal amount, denominations,
Stated Maturity (including any provisions for the shortening or extension
thereof), interest payment dates, interest rate (which may be fixed or variable)
or method of calculating interest, if any, applicable Extension Period or
interest deferral terms, if any, place or places where principal, premium, if
any, and interest, if any, will be payable, any terms of redemption, any sinking
fund provisions, terms for any conversion or exchange into other securities,
initial offering or purchase price, methods of distribution and any other
special terms, and (b) in the case of Capital Securities, the identity of the
Issuer, specific title, aggregate amount, stated liquidation amount, number of
securities, Distribution rate or method of calculating such rate, Distribution
payment dates, applicable Distribution deferral terms, if any, place or places
where Distributions will be payable, any terms of redemption, exchange, initial
offering or purchase price, methods of distribution and any other special terms.
The Prospectus Supplement also will contain information, as applicable,
about certain United States Federal income tax consequences relating to the
Junior Subordinated Debentures or Capital Securities.
The Junior Subordinated Debentures and Capital Securities may be sold to or
through underwriters, through dealers, remarketing firms or agents or directly
to purchasers. (See "Plan of Distribution.") The names of any underwriters,
dealers, remarketing firms or agents involved in the sale of Junior Subordinated
Debentures or Capital Securities in respect of which this Prospectus is being
delivered and any applicable fee, commission or discount arrangements with them
will be set forth in a Prospectus Supplement. The Prospectus Supplement will
state whether the Junior Subordinated Debentures or Capital Securities will be
listed on any national securities exchange or traded on any automated quotation
system. If the Junior Subordinated Debentures or Capital Securities are not
listed on any national securities exchange or traded on any automated quotation
system, there can be no assurance that there will be a secondary market for the
Junior Subordinated Debentures or Capital Securities.
This Prospectus may not be used to consummate sales of Junior Subordinated
Debentures or Capital Securities unless accompanied by a Prospectus Supplement.
2
<PAGE> 36
AVAILABLE INFORMATION
The Guarantor is subject to the informational requirements of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and in
accordance therewith, files reports, proxy statements and other information with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"). Such reports, proxy
statements and other information can be inspected and copied at the public
reference facilities of the Commission at Room 1024, 450 Fifth Street, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20549 and at the regional offices of the Commission located at
7 World Trade Center, 13th Floor, Suite 1300, New York, New York 10048 and Suite
1400, Citicorp Center, 14th Floor, 500 West Madison Street, Chicago, Illinois
60661. Copies of such material can also be obtained at prescribed rates by
writing to the Public Reference Section of the Commission at 450 Fifth Street,
N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549. Such material may also be accessed electronically
by means of the Commission's home page on the Internet at http://www.sec.gov.
The Guarantor, the Corporation and the Issuers have filed with the
Commission a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (together with all amendments
and exhibits thereto, the "Registration Statement") under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), with respect to the securities offered
hereby. This Prospectus does not contain all the information set forth in the
Registration Statement, certain portions of which have been omitted as permitted
by the rules and regulations of the Commission. For further information with
respect to the Guarantor, the Corporation and the securities offered hereby,
reference is made to the Registration Statement and the exhibits and the
financial statements, notes and schedules filed as a part thereof or
incorporated by reference therein, which may be inspected at the public
reference facilities of the Commission at the addresses set forth above or
through the Commission's home page on the Internet. Statements made in this
Prospectus concerning the contents of any documents referred to herein are not
necessarily complete, and in each instance are qualified in all respects by
reference to the copy of such document filed as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement.
No separate financial statements of any Issuer have been included herein.
The Guarantor, the Corporation and the Issuers do not consider that such
financial statements would be material to holders of the Capital Securities
because each Issuer is a newly formed special purpose entity, has no operating
history or independent operations and is not engaged in and does not propose to
engage in any activity other than holding as trust assets the Corresponding
Junior Subordinated Debentures of the Corporation and the related Debenture
Guarantees of the Guarantor and issuing the Trust Securities. Furthermore, taken
together, the Corporation's and the Guarantor's obligations under each series of
Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures, the Indenture, the related Trust
Agreement, the related Expense Agreement, the related Debenture Guarantee, the
related Additional Guarantee and the related Guarantee provide, in the
aggregate, a full, irrevocable and unconditional guarantee of payments of
Distributions and other amounts due on the Related Capital Securities of an
Issuer. See "The Issuers," "Description of Capital Securities," "Description of
Junior Subordinated Debentures -- Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures"
and "Description of Guarantees and Additional Guarantees." In addition, the
Corporation does not expect that any of the Issuers will be filing reports under
the Exchange Act with the Commission.
As an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of the Guarantor, the Corporation
does not file reports under the Exchange Act with the Commission, and does not
expect to do so in the future. Certain financial disclosure by the Corporation
is contained in the footnotes to the financial statements of the Guarantor,
which are filed with the Commission.
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
The following documents filed by the Guarantor with the Commission are
incorporated into this Prospectus by reference:
1. the Guarantor's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 1995;
2. the Guarantor's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters
ended March 31, 1996, June 30, 1996 and September 30, 1996; and
3
<PAGE> 37
3. the Guarantor's Current Reports on Form 8-K dated January 11, April
9, May 6, July 9, August 30, October 9, 1996 and January 9, 1997.
Each document or report filed by the Guarantor pursuant to Section 13(a),
13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date hereof and prior to the
termination of any offering of securities made by this Prospectus shall be
deemed to be incorporated by reference into this Prospectus and to be a part of
this Prospectus from the date of filing of such document. Any statement
contained herein, or in a document all or a portion of which is incorporated or
deemed to be incorporated by reference herein, shall be deemed to be modified or
superseded for purposes of the Registration Statement and this Prospectus to the
extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed
document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein
modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or
superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to
constitute a part of the Registration Statement or this Prospectus.
The Guarantor will provide without charge to any person to whom this
Prospectus is delivered, on the written or oral request of such person, a copy
of any or all of the foregoing documents incorporated by reference herein (other
than exhibits not specifically incorporated by reference into the texts of such
documents). Requests for such documents should be directed to Amilcar Jordan,
Senior Vice President, BanPonce Corporation, P.O. Box 362708, San Juan, Puerto
Rico 00936-2708, telephone number (787) 765-9800.
4
<PAGE> 38
THE CORPORATION
The Corporation was organized in 1991 under the laws of the State of
Delaware and is an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of the Guarantor. The
Corporation is a wholly owned subsidiary of Popular International Bank, Inc.
("PIB"), which is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Guarantor, organized in 1992
under the laws of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and operating as an
"international banking entity" under the International Banking Center Regulatory
Act of Puerto Rico (the "IBC Act"). The principal executive office of the
Corporation is 521 Fellowship Road, Mt. Laurel, New Jersey 08054, and its
telephone number is (609) 273-1119.
The Corporation owns all of the common stock of Pioneer Bancorp, Inc., a
corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware and headquartered
in Chicago, Illinois, and a registered bank holding company under the Bank
Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (the "BHC Act"), which through its
wholly owned subsidiary River Associates Bancorp, Inc., a Delaware corporation,
owns Banco Popular, Illinois (formerly Pioneer Bank & Trust Company), a bank
organized under the laws of the State of Illinois with five branches in that
state. The deposits of Banco Popular, Illinois are insured by the Federal
Deposit Insurance Corporation (the "FDIC"). As of December 31, 1996, the assets
of Banco Popular, Illinois were $467.4 million and its deposits were $375.3
million.
The Corporation owns all of the common stock of COMBANCORP, a corporation
organized under the laws of California and headquartered in Los Angeles, and a
registered bank holding company under the BHC Act. COMBANCORP owns Banco
Popular, N.A. (California) ("Banco Popular (California)"), a national bank with
four branches in California. The deposits of Banco Popular (California) are also
insured by the FDIC. As of December 31, 1996 it had assets of $139.5 million and
deposits of $100.9 million.
The Corporation is also the direct owner of all the common stock of Banco
Popular, FSB, a federal savings bank which acquired from the Resolution Trust
Corporation certain assets and all of the deposits of four New Jersey branches
of the former Carteret Federal Savings Bank, a federal savings bank under
Resolution Trust Corporation (the "RTC") conservatorship. The deposits of Banco
Popular, FSB are insured by the FDIC. As a result of the ownership of Banco
Popular, Illinois and Banco Popular (California), the Corporation and PIB are
registered bank holding companies under the BHC Act.
Banco Popular, FSB owns Equity One, Inc., a Delaware corporation (formerly
Spring Financial Services, Inc.) ("Equity One"). Equity One is a diversified
consumer finance company engaged in the business of granting personal and
mortgage loans and providing dealer financing through 102 offices in 28 states
with total assets of $1.1 billion as of December 31, 1996. Equity One had
initially been acquired by the Corporation on September 30, 1991, prior to which
time the Corporation had no significant business operations.
Summarized consolidated financial statements of the Corporation are
included in the notes to the Guarantor's consolidated financial statements.
THE GUARANTOR
The Guarantor is a bank holding company registered under the BHC Act and
incorporated in 1984 under the laws of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico ("Puerto
Rico"). The Guarantor is the largest financial institution in Puerto Rico, with
consolidated assets of $16.7 billion, total deposits of $10.8 billion and
stockholders' equity of $1.3 billion as of December 31, 1996. Based on total
assets at September 30, 1996, the Guarantor was the 42nd largest bank holding
company in the United States. The Guarantor's principal executive offices are
located at 209 Munoz Rivera Avenue, Hato Rey, Puerto Rico 00918 and its
telephone number is (787) 765-9800.
The Guarantor's principal subsidiary, Banco Popular de Puerto Rico ("Banco
Popular" or the "Bank"), was incorporated over 100 years ago in 1893 and is
Puerto Rico's largest bank with total assets of $14.0 billion, deposits of $10.1
billion and stockholders' equity of $1.0 billion at December 31, 1996. The Bank
accounted for 84% of the total consolidated assets of the Guarantor at December
31, 1996. A consumer-oriented bank, Banco Popular has the largest retail
franchise in Puerto Rico, operating 178 branches and 327 automated teller
5
<PAGE> 39
machines on the island. The Bank also has the largest trust operation in Puerto
Rico and is a leader in the mortgage banking business. In addition, it operates
the largest Hispanic bank branch network in the mainland United States with 29
branches in New York and an agency in Chicago. As of December 31, 1996, these
branches had a total of approximately $1.5 billion in deposits. The Bank also
operates seven branches in the U.S. Virgin Islands and one branch in the British
Virgin Islands. Banco Popular has three subsidiaries: Popular Leasing & Rental
Inc., Puerto Rico's largest vehicle leasing and daily rental company, Popular
Consumer Services, Inc., a small-loan and secondary mortgage company with 38
offices in Puerto Rico operating under the name of Best Finance, and Popular
Mortgage, Inc., a mortgage loan company with four offices in Puerto Rico
operating under the name of Puerto Rico Home Mortgage.
The Guarantor has two other principal subsidiaries: BP Capital Markets and
PIB, which in turn owns all of the outstanding stock of the Corporation. BP
Capital Markets is a direct subsidiary of the Guarantor and engages in the
business of a securities broker-dealer in Puerto Rico, with institutional
brokerage, financial advisory, and investment and security brokerage operations.
CONSOLIDATED RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES OF THE GUARANTOR
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
--------------------------------
1996 1995 1994 1993 1992
---- ---- ---- ---- ----
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges:
Excluding Interest on Deposits............................ 2.0 2.0 2.6 3.0 2.9
Including Interest on Deposits............................ 1.4 1.4 1.5 1.5 1.3
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock
Dividends:
Excluding Interest on Deposits............................ 2.0 2.0 2.5 3.0 2.9
Including Interest on Deposits............................ 1.4 1.4 1.5 1.5 1.3
</TABLE>
For purposes of computing these consolidated ratios, earnings represent
income before income taxes, cumulative effect of a change in accounting
principles and equity in undistributed income of unconsolidated subsidiaries and
affiliates, plus fixed charges excluding capitalized interest. Fixed charges
represent all interest expense (ratios are presented both excluding and
including interest on deposits), the portion of net rental expense which is
deemed representative of the interest factor, the amortization of debt issuance
expense and capitalized interest.
SUPERVISION AND REGULATION
GENERAL
Each of the Corporation, the Guarantor and PIB are bank holding companies
subject to supervision and regulation by the Federal Reserve under the BHC Act.
As a bank holding company, the Corporation's, the Guarantor's and PIB's
activities and those of their banking and nonbanking subsidiaries are limited to
the business of banking and activities closely related or incidental to banking,
and neither the Corporation, the Guarantor or PIB may directly or indirectly
acquire the ownership or control of more than 5% of any class of voting shares
or substantially all of the assets of any company in the United States,
including a bank, without the prior approval of the Federal Reserve. In
addition, bank holding companies are generally prohibited under the BHC Act from
engaging in nonbanking activities, subject to certain exceptions.
Banco Popular is considered a foreign bank for purposes of the
International Banking Act of 1978, as amended (the "IBA"). Under the IBA, Banco
Popular is not permitted to operate a branch or agency that is located outside
of its "home state" except to the extent that a national bank with the same home
state is permitted to do so as described under "-- Interstate Banking
Legislation" below. Puerto Rico is not considered a state for purposes of these
geographic limitations. Banco Popular has designated the state of New York as
its home state. In addition, some states have laws prohibiting or restricting
foreign banks from
6
<PAGE> 40
acquiring banks located in such states and treat Puerto Rico's banks and bank
holding companies as foreign banks for such purposes.
Banco Popular, Banco Popular, Illinois, Banco Popular (California) and
Banco Popular, FSB are subject to supervision and examination by applicable
federal and state banking agencies including, in the case of Banco Popular, the
Federal Reserve and the Office of the Commissioner of Financial Institutions of
Puerto Rico, in the case of Banco Popular, Illinois, the FDIC and the Illinois
Commissioner of Banks and Trust Companies, in the case of Banco Popular
(California), the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (the "OCC") and in
the case of Banco Popular, FSB, the Office of Thrift Supervision (the "OTS") and
the FDIC. Banco Popular, Banco Popular, Illinois, Banco Popular (California) and
Banco Popular, FSB are subject to requirements and restrictions under federal
and state law, including requirements to maintain reserves against deposits,
restrictions on the types and amounts of loans that may be granted and the
interest that may be charged thereon, and limitations on the types of other
investments that may be made and the types of services that may be offered.
Various consumer laws and regulations also affect the operations of Banco
Popular, Banco Popular, Illinois, Banco Popular (California) and Banco Popular,
FSB. In addition to the impact of regulation, commercial banks are affected
significantly by the actions of the Federal Reserve as it attempts to control
the money supply and credit availability in order to influence the economy.
HOLDING COMPANY STRUCTURE
Banco Popular, Banco Popular, Illinois, Banco Popular (California) and
Banco Popular, FSB are subject to restrictions under federal law that limit the
transfer of funds between them and the Corporation, the Guarantor and PIB and
the Guarantor's other nonbanking subsidiaries, whether in the form of loans,
other extensions of credit, investments or asset purchases. Such transfers by
Banco Popular, Banco Popular, Illinois, Banco Popular (California) or Banco
Popular, FSB, respectively, to the Corporation, the Guarantor or PIB, as the
case may be, or to any one nonbanking subsidiary, are limited in amount to 10%
of the transferring institution's capital stock and surplus and, with respect to
the Guarantor and all of its nonbanking subsidiaries, to an aggregate of 20% of
the transferring institution's capital stock and surplus. Furthermore, such
loans and extensions of credit are required to be secured in specified amounts.
Under Federal Reserve policy, a bank holding company, such as the
Corporation, the Guarantor or PIB, is expected to act as a source of financial
strength to each of its subsidiary banks and to commit resources to support each
such subsidiary bank. This support may be required at times when, absent such
policy, the bank holding company might not otherwise provide such support. In
addition, any capital loans by a bank holding company to any of its subsidiary
banks are subordinate in right of payment to deposits and to certain other
indebtedness of such subsidiary bank. In the event of a bank holding company's
bankruptcy, any commitment by the bank holding company to a federal bank
regulatory agency to maintain the capital of a subsidiary depository institution
will be assumed by the bankruptcy trustee and entitled to a priority of payment.
Banco Popular, Banco Popular, Illinois, Banco Popular (California) and Banco
Popular, FSB are currently the only subsidiary depository institutions of the
Corporation, the Guarantor and PIB.
Because the Corporation, the Guarantor and PIB are holding companies, their
right to participate in the assets of any subsidiary upon the latter's
liquidation or reorganization will be subject to the prior claims of the
subsidiary's creditors (including depositors in the case of depository
institution subsidiaries) except to the extent that the Corporation, the
Guarantor and PIB, as the case may be, may itself be a creditor with recognized
claims against the subsidiary.
Under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (the "FDIA"), a depository
institution (which term includes both banks and savings associations), the
deposits of which are insured by the FDIC, can be held liable for any loss
incurred by, or reasonably expected to be incurred by, the FDIC in connection
with (i) the default of a commonly controlled FDIC-insured depository
institution or (ii) any assistance provided by the FDIC to any commonly
controlled FDIC-insured depository institution "in danger of default." "Default"
is defined generally as the appointment of a conservator or a receiver and "in
danger of default" is defined generally as the existence of certain conditions
indicating that a default is likely to occur in the absence of regulatory
assistance. Banco Popular, Banco Popular, Illinois, Banco Popular (California)
and Banco Popular, FSB are
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<PAGE> 41
currently the only controlled FDIC-insured depository institutions of the
Guarantor. In some circumstances (depending upon the amount of the loss or
anticipated loss suffered by the FDIC), cross-guarantee liability may result in
the ultimate failure or insolvency of one or more insured depository
institutions in a holding company structure. Any obligation or liability owned
by a subsidiary depository institution to its parent company is subordinated to
the subsidiary bank's cross-guarantee liability with respect to commonly
controlled insured depository institutions.
CAPITAL ADEQUACY
Under the Federal Reserve's risk-based capital guidelines for bank holding
companies and member banks, the minimum guidelines for the ratio of qualifying
total capital ("Total capital") to risk-weighted assets (including certain
off-balance sheet items, such as standby letters of credit) is 8%. At least half
of the Total capital is to be comprised of common equity, retained earnings,
minority interests in unconsolidated subsidiaries, noncumulative perpetual
preferred stock and a limited amount of cumulative perpetual preferred stock,
less goodwill and certain other intangible assets discussed below ("Tier 1
Capital"). The remainder may consist of a limited amount of subordinated debt,
other preferred stock, certain other instruments and a limited amount of loan
and lease loss reserves ("Tier 2 Capital").
The Federal Reserve has adopted regulations that require most intangibles,
including core deposit intangibles, to be deducted from Tier 1 Capital. The
regulations, however, permit the inclusion of a limited amount of intangibles
related to purchased mortgage servicing rights and purchased credit card
relationships and include a "grandfather" provision permitting the continued
inclusion of certain existing intangibles.
In addition, the Federal Reserve has established minimum leverage ratio
guidelines for bank holding companies and member banks. These guidelines provide
for a minimum ratio of Tier 1 Capital to total assets, less goodwill and certain
other intangible assets discussed below (the "leverage ratio") of 3% for bank
holding companies and member banks that meet certain specified criteria,
including that they have the highest regulatory rating. All other bank holding
companies and member banks will be required to maintain a leverage ratio of 3%
plus an additional cushion of at least 100 to 200 basis points. The guidelines
also provide that banking organizations experiencing internal growth or making
acquisitions will be expected to maintain strong capital positions substantially
above the minimum supervisory levels, without significant reliance on intangible
assets. Furthermore, the guidelines indicate that the Federal Reserve will
continue to consider a "tangible Tier 1 leverage ratio" and other indicia of
capital strength in evaluating proposals for expansion or new activities. The
tangible Tier 1 leverage ratio is the ratio of a banking organization's Tier 1
Capital, less all intangibles, to total assets, less all intangibles.
Under the Federal Reserve's requirements, the Guarantor's and Banco
Popular's capital ratios at December 31, 1996 are set forth below:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
GUARANTOR BANCO POPULAR
--------- -------------
<S> <C> <C>
Tier 1 Capital.............................................. 11.59% 11.20%
Total Capital............................................... 14.15% 12.45%
Leverage ratio.............................................. 6.70% 6.61%
</TABLE>
Banco Popular, Illinois, Banco Popular (California) and Banco Popular, FSB
are subject to similar capital requirements adopted by the FDIC, the OCC and the
OTS, respectively.
Failure to meet capital guidelines could subject a bank to a variety of
enforcement remedies, including the termination of deposit insurance by the
FDIC, and to certain restrictions on its business. See "FDICIA" below.
Bank regulators have in the past indicated their desire to raise capital
requirements applicable to banking organizations beyond current levels. However,
management is unable to predict whether and when high capital requirements would
be imposed and, if so, at what levels or on what schedule.
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<PAGE> 42
FDICIA
Under the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act of 1991
("FDICIA"), federal banking regulators must take prompt corrective action in
respect of depository institutions that do not meet minimum capital
requirements. FDICIA and regulations thereunder establish five capital tiers:
"well capitalized," "adequately capitalized," "undercapitalized," "significantly
undercapitalized," and "critically undercapitalized." A depository institution
is deemed well capitalized if it maintains a leverage ratio of at least 5%, a
risk-based Tier 1 capital ratio of at least 6% and a risk-based Total capital
ratio of at least 10% and is not subject to any written agreement or directive
to meet a specific capital level. A depository institution is deemed adequately
capitalized if it is not well capitalized but maintains a leverage ratio of at
least 4% (or at least 3% if given the highest regulatory rating and not
experiencing or anticipating significant growth), a risk-based Tier 1 capital
ratio of at least 4% and a risk-based Total capital ratio of at least 8%. A
depository institution is deemed undercapitalized if it fails to meet the
standards for adequately capitalized institutions (unless it is deemed
significantly or critically undercapitalized). An institution is deemed
significantly undercapitalized if it has a leverage ratio of less than 3%, a
risk-based Tier 1 capital ratio of less than 3% or a risk-based Total capital
ratio of less than 6%. An institution is deemed critically undercapitalized if
it has tangible equity equal to 2% or less of total assets. A depository
institution may be deemed to be in a capitalization category that is lower than
is indicated by its actual capital position if it receives a less than
satisfactory examination rating in any one of four categories.
At December 31, 1996, Banco Popular, Banco Popular, Illinois, Banco Popular
(California), and Banco Popular, FSB were well capitalized. An institution's
capital category, as determined by applying the prompt corrective action
provisions of law, may not constitute an accurate representation of the overall
financial condition or prospects of the Guarantor or its banking subsidiaries,
and should be considered in conjunction with other available information
regarding the Guarantor's financial condition and results of operations.
FDICIA generally prohibits a depository institution from making any capital
distribution (including payment of a dividend) or paying any management fee to
its holding company if the depository institution would thereafter be
undercapitalized. Undercapitalized depository institutions are subject to
restrictions on borrowing from the Federal Reserve System. In addition,
undercapitalized depository institutions are subject to growth limitations and
are required to submit capital restoration plans. A depository institution's
holding company must guarantee the capital plan, up to an amount equal to the
lesser of 5% of the depository institution's assets at the time it becomes
undercapitalized or the amount of the capital deficiency when the institution
fails to comply with the plan. The federal banking agencies may not accept a
capital plan without determining, among other things, that the plan is based on
realistic assumptions and is likely to succeed in restoring the depository
institution's capital. If a depository institution fails to submit an acceptable
plan, it is treated as if it is significantly undercapitalized. Significantly
undercapitalized depository institutions may be subject to a number of
requirements and restrictions, including orders to sell sufficient voting stock
to become adequately capitalized, requirements to reduce total assets and
cessation of receipt of deposits from correspondent banks. Critically
undercapitalized depository institutions are subject to appointment of a
receiver or conservator.
The capital-based prompt corrective action provisions of FDICIA and their
implementing regulations apply to FDIC-insured depository institutions such as
the banking and savings association subsidiaries of the Corporation, the
Guarantor and PIB, but they are not directly applicable to holding companies,
such as the Corporation, the Guarantor or PIB, which control such institutions.
However, federal banking agencies have indicated that, in regulating holding
companies, they may take appropriate action at the holding company level based
on their assessment of the effectiveness of supervisory actions imposed upon
subsidiary insured depository institutions pursuant to such provisions and
regulations.
INTERSTATE BANKING LEGISLATION
The Riegle-Neal Interstate Banking and Branching Efficiency Act of 1994
permits bank holding companies, with Federal Reserve approval, to acquire banks
located in states other than the holding company's home state without regard to
whether the transaction is prohibited under state law. In addition, commencing
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<PAGE> 43
June 1, 1997, national and state banks with different home states will be
permitted to merge across state lines, with approval of the appropriate federal
banking agency, unless the home state of a participating bank passes legislation
prior to May 31, 1997 expressly prohibiting interstate mergers. States may "opt
in" to permit interstate branching by merger prior to June 1, 1997, and to
permit de novo interstate branching. Once a bank has established branches in a
state through an interstate merger transaction, the bank may establish and
acquire additional branches at any location in the state where any bank involved
in the interstate merger transaction could have established or acquired branches
under applicable federal or state law. A bank that has established a branch in a
state through de novo branching may establish and acquire additional branches in
such state in the same manner and to the same extent as a bank having a branch
in such state as a result of an interstate merger. If a state opts out of
interstate branching within the specified time period, no bank in any other
state may establish a branch in the state which has opted out, whether through
an acquisition or de novo. A foreign bank, like Banco Popular, may branch
interstate by merger or de novo to the same extent as domestic banks in the
foreign bank's home state, which, in the case of Banco Popular, is New York.
Various other legislation, including proposals to overhaul the bank
regulatory system, expand bank and bank holding company powers and limit the
investments that a depository institution may make with insured funds, is from
time to time introduced in Congress. The Corporation and the Guarantor cannot
determine the ultimate effect that such potential legislation, if enacted, or
implementing regulations, would have upon their financial condition or results
of operations.
DIVIDEND RESTRICTIONS
The principal source of cash flow for the Guarantor is dividends from Banco
Popular. Various statutory provisions limit the amount of dividends Banco
Popular can pay to the Guarantor without regulatory approval. As a member bank
subject to the regulation of the Federal Reserve, Banco Popular must obtain the
approval of the Federal Reserve for any dividend if the total of all dividends
declared by the bank in any calendar year would exceed the total of its net
profits, as defined by the Federal Reserve, for that year, combined with its
retained net profits for the preceding two years. In addition, a member bank may
not pay a dividend in an amount greater than its undivided profits then on hand
after deducting its losses and bad debts. For this purpose, bad debts are
generally defined to include the principal amount of loans that are in arrears
with respect to interest by six months or more unless such loans are fully
secured and in the process of collection. Moreover, for purposes of this
limitation, a member bank is not permitted to add the balance in its allowance
for loan losses account to its undivided profits then on hand. A member bank
may, however, net the sum of its bad debts as so defined against the balance in
its allowance for loan losses account and deduct from undivided profits only bad
debts as so defined in excess of that amount. At December 31, 1996, Banco
Popular could have declared a dividend of approximately $197.1 million without
the approval of the Federal Reserve. Illinois law contains similar limitations
on the amount of dividends that Banco Popular, Illinois can pay and the National
Bank Act contains similar limitations, on the amount of dividends that Banco
Popular (California) can pay. In addition, OTS regulations limit the amount of
capital distributions (whether by dividend or otherwise) that any savings
association may make without prior OTS approval, based upon the savings
association's regulatory capital levels. These limitations are applicable to
Banco Popular, FSB. Also, in connection with the acquisition by Banco Popular,
FSB from the RTC of four New Jersey branches of the former Carteret Federal
Savings Bank, the RTC provided Banco Popular, FSB and the Corporation interim
financial assistance. See "The Corporation" above. Pursuant to the terms of such
financing, evidenced by a promissory note (which matures on January 20, 2000 but
is prepayable any time before then), Banco Popular, FSB may not, among other
things, declare or pay any dividends on its outstanding capital stock (unless
such dividends are used exclusively for payment of principal of or interest on
such promissory note) or make any distributions of its assets in full of such
promissory note.
The payment of dividends by Banco Popular, Banco Popular, Illinois, Banco
Popular (California) or Banco Popular, FSB may also be affected by other
regulatory requirements and policies, such as the maintenance of adequate
capital. If, in the opinion of the applicable regulatory authority, a depository
institution under its jurisdiction is engaged in, or is about to engage in, an
unsafe or unsound practice (that, depending on the financial condition of the
depository institution, could include the payment of dividends), such authority
may require, after notice and hearing, that such depository institution cease
and desist from
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<PAGE> 44
such practice. The Federal Reserve has issued a policy statement that provides
that insured banks and bank holding companies should generally pay dividends
only out of current operating earnings. In addition, all insured depository
institutions are subject to the capital-based limitations required by FDICIA.
See "FDICIA."
See "Supervision and Regulation -- Puerto Rico Regulation" for a
description of certain restrictions on Banco Popular's ability to pay dividends
under Puerto Rico law.
FDIC INSURANCE ASSESSMENTS
Banco Popular, Banco Popular, Illinois, Banco Popular (California) and
Banco Popular, FSB are subject to FDIC deposit insurance assessments.
Pursuant to FDICIA, the FDIC has adopted a risk-based assessment system,
under which the assessment rate for an insured depository institution varies
according to the level of risk incurred in its activities. An institution's risk
category is based partly upon whether the institution is well capitalized,
adequately capitalized or less than adequately capitalized. Each insured
depository institution is also assigned to one of the following "supervisory
subgroups": "A", "B" or "C". Group "A" institutions are financially sound
institutions with only a few minor weaknesses; group "B" institutions are
institutions that demonstrate weaknesses that, if not corrected, could result in
significant deterioration; and group "C" institutions are institutions for which
there is a substantial probability that the FDIC will suffer a loss in
connection with the institution unless effective action is taken to correct the
areas of weakness.
The FDIC reduced the insurance premiums it charges on bank deposits insured
by the Bank Insurance Fund ("BIF") to the statutory minimum of $2,000.00 for
"well capitalized" banks, effective January 1, 1996. On September 30, 1996, the
Deposit Insurance Funds Act of 1996 ("DIFA") was enacted and signed into law.
DIFA repealed the statutory minimum premium, and currently premiums related to
deposits assessed by both the BIF and the Savings Association Insurance Fund
("SAIF") are to be assessed at a rate of between 0 cents and 27 cents per
$100.00 of deposits. DIFA also provides for a special one-time assessment
imposed on deposits insured by the SAIF to recapitalize the SAIF to bring the
SAIF up to statutory required levels. The Guarantor accrued for the one-time
assessment in the third quarter of 1996.
DIFA also separates, effective January 1, 1997, the Financing Corporation
("FICO") assessment to service the interest on its bond obligations from the BIF
and SAIF assessments. The amount assessed on individual institutions by the FICO
will be in addition to the amount, if any, paid for deposit insurance according
to the FDIC's risk-related assessment rate schedules. FICO assessment rates for
the first semiannual period of 1997 were set at 1.30 basis points annually for
BIF-assessable deposits and 6.48 basis points annually for SAIF-assessable
deposits. (These rates may be adjusted quarterly to reflect changes in
assessment bases for the BIF and the SAIF. By law, the FICO rate on
BIF-assessable deposits must be one-fifth the rate on SAIF-assessable deposits
until the insurance funds are merged or until January 1, 2000, whichever occurs
first.) As of December 31, 1996, the Guarantor had a BIF deposit assessment base
of approximately $10.1 billion and a SAIF deposit assessment base of
approximately $207 million.
BROKERED DEPOSITS
FDIC regulations adopted under FDICIA govern the receipt of brokered
deposits. Under these regulations, a bank cannot accept, roll over or renew
brokered deposits (which term is defined also to include any deposit with an
interest rate more than 75 basis points above prevailing rates unless (i) it is
well capitalized, or (ii) it is adequately capitalized and receives a waiver
from the FDIC. A bank that is adequately capitalized may not pay an interest
rate on any deposits in excess of 75 basis points over certain prevailing market
rates specified by regulation. There are no such restrictions on a bank that is
well capitalized. The Guarantor does not believe the brokered deposits
regulation has had or will have a material effect on the funding or liquidity of
Banco Popular, Banco Popular, Illinois, Banco Popular (California) or Banco
Popular, FSB.
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<PAGE> 45
PUERTO RICO REGULATION
General
As a commercial bank organized under the laws of the Commonwealth, Banco
Popular is subject to supervision, examination and regulation by the Office of
the Commissioner of Financial Institutions of the Commonwealth (the "Office of
the Commissioner"), pursuant to the Puerto Rico Banking Act of 1933, as amended
(the "Banking Law").
Section 27 of the Banking Law requires that at least ten percent (10%) of
the yearly net income of the Bank be credited annually to a reserve fund. This
apportionment shall be done every year until the reserve fund shall be equal to
ten percent (10%) of the total deposits or the total paid-in capital, whichever
is greater. At the end of its most recent fiscal year, Banco Popular had an
adequate reserve fund established.
Section 27 of the Banking Law also provides that when the expenditures of a
bank are greater than the receipts, the excess of the former over the latter
shall be charged against the undistributed profits of the bank, and the balance,
if any, shall be charged against the reserve fund, as a reduction thereof. If
there is no reserve fund sufficient to cover such balance in whole or in part,
the outstanding amount shall be charged against the capital account and no
dividend shall be declared until said capital has been restored to its original
amount and the reserve fund to 20% of the original capital.
Section 16 of the Banking Law requires every bank to maintain a legal
reserve which shall not be less than 20% of its demand liabilities, except
government deposits (federal, state and municipal) which are secured by actual
collateral. However, if a bank becomes a member of the Federal Reserve System,
the 20% legal reserve shall not be effective and the reserve requirements
demanded by the Federal Reserve System shall be applicable. However, pursuant to
an order of the Federal Reserve Board dated November 24, 1982, the Bank has been
exempted from such reserve requirements with respect to deposits payable in
Puerto Rico. As to those deposits, the Section 16 reserve requirements are
applicable.
Section 17 of the Banking Law permits the Bank to make loans to any one
person, firm, partnership or corporation, up to an aggregate amount of fifteen
percent (15%) of the paid-in capital and reserve fund of the Bank. As of
December 31, 1996, the legal lending limit for the Bank under this provision was
approximately $90 million. If such loans are secured by collateral worth at
least twenty-five percent (25%) more than the amount of the loan, the aggregate
maximum amount may reach one third of the paid-in capital of the Bank, plus its
reserve fund. There are no restrictions under Section 17 on the amount of loans
that are wholly secured by bonds, securities and other evidences of indebtedness
of the Government of the United States or the Commonwealth, or by current debt
bonds, not in default, of municipalities or instrumentalities of the
Commonwealth.
Section 14 of the Banking Law authorizes the Bank to conduct certain
financials and related activities directly or through subsidiaries, including
finance leasing of personal property, making and servicing mortgage loans and
operating a small-loan company. The Bank engages in these activities through its
wholly owned subsidiaries, Popular Leasing & Rental, Inc., Popular Mortgage,
Inc., and Popular Consumer Services, Inc., respectively, all of which are
organized and operate in Puerto Rico.
The Finance Board, which is a part of the Office of the Commissioner, but
also includes as its members the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of
Commerce, the Secretary of Consumer Affairs, the President of the Planning
Board, and the President of the Government Development Bank for Puerto Rico, has
the authority to regulate the maximum interest rates and finance charges that
may be charged on loans to individuals and unincorporated businesses in the
Commonwealth. The current regulations of the Finance Board provide that the
applicable interest rate on loans to individuals and unincorporated businesses
(including real estate development loans but excluding certain other personal
and commercial loans secured by mortgages on real estate properties) is to be
determined by free competition. The Finance Board also has authority to regulate
the maximum finance charges on retail installment sales contracts, which are
currently set at 21%, and for credit card purchases, which are currently set at
26%. There is no maximum rate set for installment sales contracts involving
motor vehicles, commercial, agricultural and industrial equipment, commercial
electric appliances and insurance premiums.
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<PAGE> 46
IBC Act
Under the IBC Act, without the prior approval of the Office of the
Commissioner, PIB may not amend its articles of incorporation or issue
additional shares of capital stock or other securities convertible into
additional shares of capital stock unless such shares are issued directly to the
shareholders of PIB previously identified in the application to organize the
international banking entity, in which case notification to the Office of the
Commissioner must be given within ten business days following the date of the
issue. Pursuant to the IBC Act, without the prior approval of the Office of the
Commissioner, PIB may not initiate the sale, encumbrance, assignment, merger or
other transfer of shares if by such transaction a person or persons acting in
concert could acquire direct or indirect control of 10% or more of any class of
the Company's stock. Such authorization must be requested at least 30 days prior
to the transaction.
The IBC Act empowers the Office of the Commissioner to revoke or suspend,
after a hearing, the license of an international banking entity if, among other
things, it fails to comply with the IBC Act, regulations issued by the Office of
the Commissioner or the terms of its license, or if the Office of the
Commissioner finds that the business of the international banking entity is
conducted in a manner not consistent with the public interest.
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<PAGE> 47
THE ISSUERS
Each Issuer is a statutory business trust formed under Delaware law
pursuant to (i) a trust agreement executed by the Corporation, as Depositor of
the Issuer, the Guarantor and the Delaware Trustee (as defined herein) of such
Issuer and (ii) the filing of a certificate of trust with the Delaware Secretary
of State. Each trust agreement will be amended and restated in its entirety
(each, as so amended and restated, a "Trust Agreement") substantially in the
form filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus
forms a part. Each Trust Agreement will be qualified as an indenture under the
Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the "Trust Indenture Act"). Each Issuer
exists for the exclusive purposes of (i) issuing and selling its Trust
Securities, (ii) using the proceeds from the sale of such Trust Securities to
acquire a series of Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures (with related
Debenture Guarantees) issued by the Corporation (and the Guarantor), and (iii)
engaging in only those other activities necessary or incidental thereto (such as
registering the transfer of the Trust Securities). Accordingly, the
Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures, the related Debenture Guarantee
and the right to reimbursement of expenses under the related Expense Agreement
will be the sole assets of each Issuer, and payments under the Corresponding
Junior Subordinated Debentures or the related Debenture Guarantee and the
related Expense Agreement will be the sole revenue of each Issuer.
All of the Common Securities of each Issuer will be owned by the
Corporation. The Common Securities of an Issuer will rank pari passu, and
payments will be made thereon pro rata, with the Capital Securities of such
Issuer, except that upon the occurrence and continuance of an event of default
under a Trust Agreement resulting from an event of default under the Indenture,
the rights of the Corporation, as holder of the Common Securities, to payment in
respect of Distributions and payments upon liquidation or redemption will be
subordinated to the rights of the holders of the Capital Securities of such
Issuer. See "Description of Capital Securities -- Subordination of Common
Securities". The Corporation will acquire Common Securities in an aggregate
Liquidation Amount equal to not less than 3% of the total capital of each
Issuer.
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, each
Issuer has a term of approximately 55 years, but may terminate earlier as
provided in the applicable Trust Agreement. Each Issuer's business and affairs
are conducted by its trustees, each appointed by the Corporation as holder of
the Common Securities. The trustees for each Issuer will be The First National
Bank of Chicago, as Property Trustee (the "Property Trustee"), First Chicago
Delaware Inc. as Delaware Trustee (the "Delaware Trustee"), and two individual
trustees (the "Administrative Trustees") who are employees or officers of or
affiliated with the Corporation (collectively, the "Issuer Trustees"). The First
National Bank of Chicago, as Property Trustee, will act as sole indenture
trustee under each Trust Agreement for purposes of compliance with the Trust
Indenture Act. The First National Bank of Chicago will also act as trustee under
the Guarantees, the Additional Guarantees and the Indenture (each as defined
herein). See "Description of Guarantees and Additional Guarantees" and
"Description of Junior Subordinated Debentures." The holder of the Common
Securities of an Issuer, or the holders of a majority in Liquidation Amount of
the Related Capital Securities if an event of default under the Trust Agreement
for such Issuer has occurred and is continuing, will be entitled to appoint,
remove or replace the Property Trustee and/or the Delaware Trustee for such
Issuer. In no event will the holders of the Capital Securities have the right to
vote to appoint, remove or replace the Administrative Trustees; such voting
rights are vested exclusively in the holder of the Common Securities. The duties
and obligations of each Issuer Trustee are governed by the applicable Trust
Agreement. The Corporation will pay all fees and expenses related to each Issuer
and the offering of the Capital Securities and will pay, directly or indirectly,
all ongoing costs, expenses and liabilities of each Issuer.
The principal executive office of each Issuer is c/o BanPonce Financial
Corp., 521 Fellowship Road, Mt. Laurel, New Jersey 08054 and its telephone
number is (609) 273-1119.
USE OF PROCEEDS
Except as otherwise set forth in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the
Corporation intends to use the proceeds from the sale of its Junior Subordinated
Debentures (including Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures issued to the
Issuers in connection with the investment by the Issuers of all of the proceeds
from
14
<PAGE> 48
the sale of Capital Securities) for general corporate purposes, including
working capital, acquisitions, capital expenditures, investments in or loans to
subsidiaries, refinancing of debt, including outstanding commercial paper and
other short-term indebtedness, the satisfaction of other obligations or for such
other purposes as may be specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement.
DESCRIPTION OF JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES
The Junior Subordinated Debentures are to be issued in one or more series
under a Junior Subordinated Indenture, as supplemented from time to time (as so
supplemented, the "Indenture"), among the Corporation, the Guarantor and The
First National Bank of Chicago, as trustee (the "Debenture Trustee"). This
summary of certain terms and provisions of the Junior Subordinated Debentures,
Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures and the Indenture, which summarizes
the material provisions thereof, does not purport to be complete and is subject
to, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, the Indenture, the form of
which is filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement of which this
Prospectus forms a part, and to the Trust Indenture Act, to each of which
reference is hereby made. The Indenture is qualified under the Trust Indenture
Act. Whenever particular defined terms of the Indenture (as supplemented or
amended from time to time) are referred to herein or in a Prospectus Supplement,
such defined terms are incorporated herein or therein by reference.
GENERAL
Each series of Junior Subordinated Debentures will rank pari passu with all
other series of Junior Subordinated Debentures and will be unsecured and
subordinate and junior in right of payment to the extent and in the manner set
forth in the Indenture to all Senior Debt (as defined below) of the Corporation.
See " -- Subordination." Pursuant to the Debenture Guarantees, the Guarantor
will guarantee, on a junior subordinated basis, the punctual payment of the
principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Junior Subordinated
Debentures, as the same are due and payable by the Corporation. See "Description
of Debenture Guarantees -- General". The obligations of the Guarantor under the
Debenture Guarantees are unsecured and rank subordinate and junior in right of
payment to all Senior Debt of the Guarantor. Each of the Corporation and the
Guarantor is a non-operating holding company and almost all of the operating
assets of the Corporation and the Guarantor and their consolidated subsidiaries
are owned by such subsidiaries. The Corporation and the Guarantor rely primarily
on dividends from such subsidiaries to meet their obligations. See "Supervision
and Regulation -- Dividend Restrictions". Because the Corporation and the
Guarantor are holding companies, the right of the Corporation or the Guarantor
to participate in any distribution of assets of any subsidiary upon such
subsidiary's liquidation or reorganization or otherwise, is subject to the prior
claims of creditors of the subsidiary, except to the extent the Corporation or
the Guarantor may itself be recognized as a creditor of that subsidiary.
Accordingly, the Junior Subordinated Debentures will be effectively subordinated
to all existing and future liabilities of the Corporation's subsidiaries and the
Debenture Guarantees will be effectively subordinated to all existing and future
liabilities of the Guarantor's subsidiaries, and holders of Junior Subordinated
Debentures (with related Debenture Guarantees), should look only to the assets
of the Corporation and the Guarantor for payments on the Junior Subordinated
Debentures and Debenture Guarantees, respectively. Except as otherwise provided
in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the Indenture does not limit the
incurrence or issuance of other secured or unsecured debt of the Corporation or
the Guarantor, including Senior Debt, whether under the Indenture, any other
existing indenture or any other indenture that the Corporation or the Guarantor
may enter into in the future or otherwise. See " -- Subordination" and the
Prospectus Supplement relating to any offering of Capital Securities or Junior
Subordinated Debentures.
The Junior Subordinated Debentures will be issuable in one or more series
pursuant to an indenture supplemental to the Indenture or a resolution of the
Corporation's Board of Directors or a committee thereof.
The applicable Prospectus Supplement or Prospectus Supplements will
describe the following terms of the Junior Subordinated Debentures: (1) the
title of the Junior Subordinated Debentures; (2) any limit upon the aggregate
principal amount of the Junior Subordinated Debentures; (3) the date or dates on
which the
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principal of the Junior Subordinated Debentures is payable (the "Stated
Maturity") or the method of determination thereof; (4) the rate or rates, if
any, at which the Junior Subordinated Debentures shall bear interest, the dates
on which any such interest shall be payable (the "Interest Payment Dates"), the
right, if any, of the Corporation to defer or extend an Interest Payment Date,
and the record dates for any interest payable on any Interest Payment Date or
the method by which any of the foregoing shall be determined; (5) the place or
places where, subject to the terms of the Indenture as described below under
"-- Payment and Paying Agents," the principal of and premium, if any, and
interest on the Junior Subordinated Debentures will be payable and where,
subject to the terms of the Indenture as described below under
"-- Denominations, Registration and Transfer," the Junior Subordinated
Debentures may be presented for registration of transfer or exchange and the
place or places where notices and demands to or upon the Corporation in respect
of the Junior Subordinated Debentures and the Indentures may be made ("Place of
Payment"); (6) any period or periods within which or date or dates on which, the
price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which Junior
Subordinated Debentures may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of
the Corporation or a holder thereof; (7) the obligation or the right, if any, of
the Corporation or a holder thereof to redeem, purchase or repay the Junior
Subordinated Debentures and 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 the Junior Subordinated
Debentures shall be redeemed, repaid or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant
to such obligation; (8) the denominations in which any Junior Subordinated
Debentures shall be issuable if other than denominations of $1,000 and any
integral multiple thereof; (9) if other than in U.S. Dollars, the currency or
currencies (including currency unit or units) in which the principal of (and
premium, if any) and interest and additional interest accruing thereon
("Additional Interest"), if any, on the Junior Subordinated Debentures shall be
payable, or in which the Junior Subordinated Debentures shall be denominated;
(10) any additions, modifications or deletions in the events of default under
the Indenture or covenants of the Corporation specified in the Indenture with
respect to the Junior Subordinated Debentures; (11) if other than the principal
amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of Junior Subordinated
Debentures that shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the
maturity thereof; (12) any additions or changes to the Indenture with respect to
a series of Junior Subordinated Debentures as shall be necessary to permit or
facilitate the issuance of such series in bearer form, registrable or not
registrable as to principal, and with or without interest coupons; (13) any
index or indices used to determine the amount of payments of principal of and
premium, if any, on the Junior Subordinated Debentures and the manner in which
such amounts will be determined; (14) the terms and conditions relating to the
issuance of a temporary Global Security representing all of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures of such series and the exchange of such temporary Global
Security for definitive Junior Subordinated Debentures of such series; (15)
subject to the terms described herein under "-- Global Junior Subordinated
Debentures," whether the Junior Subordinated Debentures of the series shall be
issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities and, in
such case, the Depositary for such Global Securities, which Depositary shall be
a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act; (16) the appointment of any
paying agent or agents; (17) the terms and conditions of any obligation or right
of the Corporation or a holder to convert or exchange the Junior Subordinated
Debentures into Capital Securities; (18) the form of Trust Agreement, Guarantee
Agreement and Expense Agreement, if applicable; (19) the relative degree, if
any, to which such Junior Subordinated Debentures of the series shall be senior
to or be subordinated to other series of such Junior Subordinated Debentures or
other indebtedness of the Corporation in right of payment, whether such other
series of Junior Subordinated Debentures or other indebtedness are outstanding
or not; and (20) any other terms of the Junior Subordinated Debentures not
inconsistent with the provisions of the Indenture.
Junior Subordinated Debentures may be sold at a substantial discount below
their stated principal amount, bearing no interest or interest at a rate which
at the time of issuance is below market rates. Certain United States Federal
income tax consequences and special considerations applicable to any such Junior
Subordinated Debentures will be described in the applicable Prospectus
Supplement.
If the purchase price of any of the Junior Subordinated Debentures is
payable in one or more foreign currencies or currency units or if any Junior
Subordinated Debentures are denominated in one or more foreign currencies or
currency units or if the principal of, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on
any Junior Subordinated Debentures is payable in one or more foreign currencies
or currency units, the restrictions,
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elections, certain United States Federal income tax consequences, specific terms
and other information with respect to such series of Junior Subordinated
Debentures and such foreign currency or currency units will be set forth in the
applicable Prospectus Supplement.
If any index is used to determine the amount of payments of principal of,
premium, if any, or interest on any series of Junior Subordinated Debentures,
special United States Federal income tax, accounting and other considerations
applicable thereto will be described in the applicable Prospectus Supplement.
DENOMINATIONS, REGISTRATION AND TRANSFER
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the
Junior Subordinated Debentures will be issuable only in registered form without
coupons in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof. Junior
Subordinated Debentures of any series will be exchangeable for other Junior
Subordinated Debentures of the same issue and series, of any authorized
denominations, of a like aggregate principal amount, of the same original issue
date and Stated Maturity and bearing the same interest rate.
Junior Subordinated Debentures may be presented for exchange as provided
above, and may be presented for registration of transfer (with the form of
transfer endorsed thereon, or a satisfactory written instrument of transfer,
duly executed), at the office of the appropriate securities registrar or at the
office of any transfer agent designated by the Corporation for such purpose with
respect to any series of Junior Subordinated Debentures and referred to in the
applicable Prospectus Supplement, without service charge and upon payment of any
taxes and other governmental charges as described in the Indenture. The
Corporation will appoint the Trustee as securities registrar under the
Indenture. If the applicable Prospectus Supplement refers to any transfer agents
(in addition to the securities registrar) initially designated by the
Corporation with respect to any series of Junior Subordinated Debentures, the
Corporation may at any time rescind the designation of any such transfer agent
or approve a change in the location through which any such transfer agent acts,
provided that the Corporation maintains a transfer agent in each Place of
Payment for such series. The Corporation may at any time designate additional
transfer agents with respect to any series of Junior Subordinated Debentures.
In the event of any redemption, neither the Corporation nor the Debenture
Trustee shall be required to (i) issue, register the transfer of or exchange
Junior Subordinated Debentures of any series during the period beginning at the
opening of business 15 days before the day of selection for redemption of Junior
Subordinated Debentures of that series and ending at the close of business on
the day of mailing of the relevant notice of redemption or (ii) transfer or
exchange any Junior Subordinated Debentures so selected for redemption, except,
in the case of any Junior Subordinated Debentures being redeemed in part, any
portion thereof not to be redeemed.
GLOBAL JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES
The Junior Subordinated Debentures of a series may be issued in whole or in
part in the form of one or more Global Junior Subordinated Debentures that will
be deposited with, or on behalf of, a depositary (the "Depositary") identified
in the Prospectus Supplement relating to such series. Global Junior Subordinated
Debentures may be issued only in fully registered form and in either temporary
or permanent form. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for the
individual Junior Subordinated Debentures represented thereby, a Global Junior
Subordinated Debenture may not be transferred except as a whole by the
Depositary for such Global Junior Subordinated Debenture to a nominee of such
Depositary or by a nominee of such Depositary to such Depositary or another
nominee of such Depositary or by the Depositary or any nominee to a successor
Depositary or any nominee of such successor.
The specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to a series
of Junior Subordinated Debentures will be described in the Prospectus Supplement
relating to such series. The Corporation anticipates that the following
provisions will generally apply to depositary arrangements.
Upon the issuance of a Global Junior Subordinated Debenture, and the
deposit of such Global Junior Subordinated Debenture with or on behalf of the
Depositary, the Depositary for such Global Junior Subordinated Debenture or its
nominee will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the
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respective principal amounts of the individual Junior Subordinated Debentures
represented by such Global Junior Subordinated Debenture to the accounts of
persons that have accounts with such Depositary ("Participants"). Such accounts
shall be designated by the dealers, underwriters or agents with respect to such
Junior Subordinated Debentures or by the Corporation if such Junior Subordinated
Debentures are offered and sold directly by the Corporation. Ownership of
beneficial interests in a Global Junior Subordinated Debenture will be limited
to Participants or persons that may hold interests through Participants.
Ownership of beneficial interests in such Global Junior Subordinated Debenture
will be shown on, and the transfer of that ownership will be effected only
through, records maintained by the applicable Depositary or its nominee (with
respect to interests of Participants) and the records of Participants (with
respect to interests of persons who hold through Participants). The laws of some
states require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of
such securities in definitive form. Such limits and such laws may impair the
ability to transfer beneficial interests in a Global Junior Subordinated
Debenture.
So long as the Depositary for a Global Junior Subordinated Debenture, or
its nominee, is the registered owner of such Global Junior Subordinated
Debenture, such Depositary or such nominee, as the case may be, will be
considered the sole owner or holder of the Junior Subordinated Debentures
represented by such Global Junior Subordinated Debenture for all purposes under
the Indenture governing such Junior Subordinated Debentures. Except as provided
below, owners of beneficial interests in a Global Junior Subordinated Debenture
will not be entitled to have any of the individual Junior Subordinated
Debentures of the series represented by such Global Junior Subordinated
Debenture registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive
physical delivery of any such Junior Subordinated Debentures of such series in
definitive form and will not be considered the owners or holders thereof under
the Indenture.
Payments of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on individual
Junior Subordinated Debentures represented by a Global Junior Subordinated
Debenture registered in the name of a Depositary or its nominee will be made to
the Depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner of
the Global Junior Subordinated Debenture representing such Junior Subordinated
Debentures. None of the Corporation, the Guarantor, the Debenture Trustee, any
Paying Agent (as defined herein), or the securities registrar for such Junior
Subordinated Debentures will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect
of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership
interests of the Global Junior Subordinated Debenture representing such Junior
Subordinated Debentures or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records
relating to such beneficial ownership interests.
The Corporation expects that the Depositary for a series of Junior
Subordinated Debentures or its nominee, upon receipt of any payment of
principal, premium, if any, or interest in respect of a permanent Global Junior
Subordinated Debenture representing any of such Junior Subordinated Debentures,
immediately will credit Participants' accounts with payments in amounts
proportionate to their respective beneficial interest in the principal amount of
such Global Junior Subordinated Debenture for such Junior Subordinated
Debentures as shown on the records of such Depositary or its nominee. The
Corporation also expects that payments by Participants to owners of beneficial
interests in such Global Junior Subordinated Debenture held through such
Participants will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices,
as is now the case with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer
form or registered in "street name". Such payments will be the responsibility of
such Participants.
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, if a
Depositary for a series of Junior Subordinated Debentures is at any time
unwilling, unable or ineligible to continue as depositary and the Corporation is
unable to locate a qualified successor, the Corporation will issue individual
Junior Subordinated Debentures of such series in exchange for the Global Junior
Subordinated Debenture representing such series of Junior Subordinated
Debentures. In addition, the Corporation may at any time and in its sole
discretion, subject to any limitations described in the Prospectus Supplement
relating to such Junior Subordinated Debentures, determine not to have any
Junior Subordinated Debentures of such series represented by one or more Global
Junior Subordinated Debentures and, in such event, will issue certificated
Junior Subordinated Debentures of such series in exchange for the Global Junior
Subordinated Debenture or Securities representing such series of Junior
Subordinated Debentures. Further, if the Corporation so specifies with respect
to the Junior Subordinated Debentures of a series, an owner of a beneficial
interest in a Global Junior
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Subordinated Debenture representing Junior Subordinated Debentures of such
series may, on terms acceptable to the Corporation, the Debenture Trustee and
the Depositary for such Global Junior Subordinated Debenture, receive
certificated Junior Subordinated Debentures of such series in exchange for such
beneficial interests, subject to any limitations described in the Prospectus
Supplement relating to such Junior Subordinated Debentures. In any such
instance, an owner of a beneficial interest in a Global Junior Subordinated
Debenture will be entitled to physical delivery of certificated Junior
Subordinated Debentures of the series represented by such Global Junior
Subordinated Debenture equal in principal amount to such beneficial interest and
to have such Junior Subordinated Debentures registered in its name. Individual
Junior Subordinated Debentures of such series so issued will be issued in
denominations, unless otherwise specified by the Corporation, of $1,000 and
integral multiples thereof.
PAYMENT AND PAYING AGENTS
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, payment
of principal of (and premium, if any) and any interest on Junior Subordinated
Debentures will be made at the office of the Debenture Trustee in The City of
New York or at the office of such paying agent or paying agents as the
Corporation may designate from time to time, except that at the option of the
Corporation payment of any interest may be made (i) except in the case of Global
Junior Subordinated Debentures, by check mailed to the address of the Person
entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the securities register or (ii)
by transfer to an account maintained by the person entitled thereto as specified
in the securities register, provided that proper transfer instructions have been
received by the Regular Record Date. Unless otherwise indicated in the
applicable Prospectus Supplement, payment of any interest on Junior Subordinated
Debentures will be made to the person in whose name such Junior Subordinated
Debenture is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for
such interest, except in the case of Defaulted Interest. The Corporation and the
Guarantor may at any time designate additional Paying Agents or rescind the
designation of any paying agent; however the Corporation will at all times be
required to maintain a paying agent in each Place of Payment for each series of
Junior Subordinated Debentures.
Any moneys deposited with the Debenture Trustee or any paying agent, or
then held by the Corporation in trust, for the payment of the principal of (and
premium, if any) or interest on any Junior Subordinated Debenture and remaining
unclaimed for two years after such principal (and premium, if any) or interest
has become due and payable shall, at the request of the Corporation, be repaid
to the Corporation and the holder of such Junior Subordinated Debenture shall
thereafter look, as a general unsecured creditor, only to the Corporation for
payment thereof.
OPTION TO DEFER INTEREST PAYMENTS
If provided in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the Corporation will
have the right at any time and from time to time during the term of any series
of Junior Subordinated Debentures to defer payment of interest for up to such
number of Extension Periods as may be specified in the applicable Prospectus
Supplement, subject to the terms, conditions and covenants, if any, specified in
such Prospectus Supplement, provided that such Extension Periods may not extend
beyond the Stated Maturity of such series of Junior Subordinated Debentures.
Certain United States Federal income tax consequences and special considerations
applicable to any such Junior Subordinated Debentures will be described in the
applicable Prospectus Supplement.
REDEMPTION
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, Junior
Subordinated Debentures will not be subject to any sinking fund.
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the
Corporation may, at its option, and subject to receipt of prior approval by the
Federal Reserve if such approval is then required under applicable capital
guidelines or policies, redeem the Junior Subordinated Debentures of any series
in whole at any time or in part from time to time. If the Junior Subordinated
Debentures of any series are so redeemable
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only on or after a specified date or upon the satisfaction of additional
conditions, the applicable Prospectus Supplement will specify such date or
describe such conditions. Junior Subordinated Debentures in denominations larger
than $1,000 may be redeemed in part but only in integral multiples of $1,000.
Except as otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the
redemption price for any Junior Subordinated Debenture so redeemed shall equal
any accrued and unpaid interest (including Additional Interest) thereon to the
redemption date, plus 100% of the principal amount thereof. The Corporation has
committed to the Federal Reserve that the Corporation will not exercise its
right to redeem the Junior Subordinated Debentures prior to the Stated Maturity
without having received the prior approval of the Federal Reserve to do so, if
such approval is then required under the applicable Federal Reserve capital
guidelines or policies.
Except as otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, if a
Tax Event (as defined below) in respect of a series of Junior Subordinated
Debentures or a Capital Treatment Event (as defined below) shall occur and be
continuing, the Corporation may, at its option, and subject to receipt of prior
approval by the Federal Reserve if such approval is then required under
applicable capital guidelines or policies, redeem such series of Junior
Subordinated Debentures in whole (but not in part) at any time within 90 days
following the occurrence of such Tax Event or Capital Treatment Event, at a
redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of such Junior
Subordinated Debentures then outstanding plus accrued and unpaid interest to the
date fixed for redemption, except as otherwise specified in the applicable
Prospectus Supplement. The Corporation has committed to the Federal Reserve that
the Corporation will not exercise its right to redeem the Junior Subordinated
Debentures prior to the Stated Maturity without having received the prior
approval of the Federal Reserve to do so, if such approval is then required
under the applicable Federal Reserve capital guidelines or policies.
"Tax Event" means the receipt by an Issuer of a series of Capital
Securities of an opinion of counsel experienced in such matters to the effect
that, as a result of any amendment to, or change (including any announced
proposed change) in, the laws (or any regulations thereunder) of the United
States or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein, or
as a result of any official administrative pronouncement or judicial decision
interpreting or applying such laws or regulations, which amendment or change is
effective or which pronouncement or decision is announced on or after the date
of issuance of such Capital Securities under the Trust Agreement, there is more
than an insubstantial risk that (i) such Issuer is, or will be within 90 days of
the date of such opinion, subject to United States Federal income tax with
respect to income received or accrued on the corresponding series of
Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures, (ii) interest payable by the
Corporation on such series of Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures is
not, or within 90 days of the date of such opinion, will not be, deductible by
the Corporation, in whole or in part, for United States Federal income tax
purposes, or (iii) such Issuer is, or will be within 90 days of the date of such
opinion, subject to more than a de minimis amount of other taxes, duties or
other governmental charges.
A "Capital Treatment Event" means the reasonable determination by the
Corporation that, as a result of the occurrence of any amendment to, or change
(including any announced prospective change) in, the laws (or any rules or
regulations thereunder) of the United States or any political subdivision
thereof or therein, or as a result of any official or administrative
pronouncement or action or judicial decision interpreting or applying such laws,
rules or regulations, which amendment or change is effective or which
pronouncement, action or decision is announced on or after the date of issuance
of the Capital Securities, there is more than an insubstantial risk that the
Corporation or the Guarantor will not be entitled to treat an amount equal to
the aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Capital Securities as "Tier 1 Capital"
(or the then equivalent thereof) for purposes of the capital adequacy guidelines
of the Federal Reserve, as then in effect and applicable to the Corporation or
the Guarantor.
Notice of any redemption will be mailed at least 45 days but not more than
75 days before the redemption date to each Holder of Junior Subordinated
Debentures to be redeemed at its registered address. Unless the Corporation
defaults in payment of the redemption price, on and after the redemption date
interest shall cease to accrue on such Junior Subordinated Debentures or
portions thereof called for redemption.
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RESTRICTIONS ON CERTAIN PAYMENTS
Each of the Corporation and the Guarantor will also covenant, as to each
series of Junior Subordinated Debentures, that it will not, and will not permit
any of its subsidiaries to, (i) declare or pay any dividends or distributions
on, or redeem, purchase, acquire, or make a liquidation payment with respect to,
any of the Corporation's or the Guarantor's capital stock or (ii) make any
payment of principal of or interest or premium, if any, on or repay or
repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the Corporation or the Guarantor
(including other Junior Subordinated Debentures) that rank pari passu in all
respects with or junior in interest to the Junior Subordinated Debentures or the
Debenture Guarantees thereon, respectively (other than (a) repurchases,
redemptions or other acquisitions of shares of capital stock of the Corporation
or the Guarantor in connection with any employment contract, benefit plan or
other similar arrangement with or for the benefit of one or more employees,
officers, directors or consultants, in connection with a dividend reinvestment
or stockholder stock purchase plan or in connection with the issuance of capital
stock of the Corporation or the Guarantor (or securities convertible into or
exercisable for such capital stock) as consideration in an acquisition
transaction entered into prior to the applicable Extension Period, (b) as a
result of any exchange or conversion of any class or series of the Corporation's
or the Guarantor's capital stock (or any capital stock of a subsidiary of the
Corporation or the Guarantor) for any class or series of the Corporation's or
the Guarantor's capital stock, respectively, or of any class or series of the
Corporation's or the Guarantor's indebtedness for any class or series of the
Corporation's or the Guarantor's capital stock, respectively, (c) the purchase
of fractional interests in shares of the Corporation's or the Guarantor's
capital stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital
stock or the security being converted or exchanged, (d) any declaration of a
dividend in connection with any stockholder's rights plan, or the issuance of
rights, stock or other property under any stockholder's rights plan, or the
redemption or repurchase of rights pursuant thereto, or (e) any dividend in the
form of stock, warrants, options or other rights where the dividend stock or the
stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants, options or other rights is the
same stock as that on which the dividend is being paid or ranks pari passu with
or junior to such stock), if at such time (i) there shall have occurred any
event of which the Corporation or the Guarantor has actual knowledge that (a)
with the giving of notice or the lapse of time, or both, would constitute an
"Event of Default" under the Indenture with respect to the Junior Subordinated
Debentures of such series and (b) in respect of which the Corporation and the
Guarantor shall not have taken reasonable steps to cure, (ii) if such Junior
Subordinated Debentures are held by an Issuer of a series of Related Capital
Securities, the Corporation or the Guarantor shall be in default with respect to
its payment of any obligations under the Guarantee or Additional Guarantee,
respectively, relating to such Related Capital Securities or (iii) the
Corporation shall have given notice of its selection of an Extension Period as
provided in the Indenture with respect to the Junior Subordinated Debentures of
such series and shall not have rescinded such notice, or such Extension Period,
or any extension thereof, shall be continuing.
MODIFICATION OF INDENTURE
From time to time the Corporation, the Guarantor and the Debenture Trustee
may, without the consent of the holders of any series of Junior Subordinated
Debentures, amend, waive or supplement the Indenture for specified purposes,
including, among other things, curing ambiguities, defects or inconsistencies
(provided that any such action does not materially adversely affect the interest
of the holders of any series of Junior Subordinated Debentures or, in the case
of Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures, the holders of the Related
Capital Securities so long as they remain outstanding) and qualifying, or
maintaining the qualification of, the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act.
The Indenture contains provisions permitting the Corporation, the Guarantor and
the Debenture Trustee, with the consent of the holders of not less than a
majority in principal amount of each outstanding series of Junior Subordinated
Debentures affected, to modify the Indenture in a manner affecting adversely the
rights of the holders of such series of the Junior Subordinated Debentures in
any material respect; provided, that no such modification may, without the
consent of the holder of each outstanding Junior Subordinated Debenture so
affected, (i) change the Stated Maturity of any series of Junior Subordinated
Debentures (except as otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus
Supplement), or reduce the principal amount thereof, or reduce the rate or
extend the time of payment of interest thereon or (ii) reduce the percentage of
principal amount of Junior Subordinated
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Debentures of any series, the holders of which are required to consent to any
such modification of the Indenture, provided that, in the case of Corresponding
Junior Subordinated Debentures, so long as any of the Related Capital Securities
remain outstanding, (a) no such modification may be made that adversely affects
the holders of such Capital Securities in any material respect, and no
termination of the Indenture may occur, and no waiver of any event of default or
compliance with any covenant under the Indenture may be effective, without the
prior consent of the holders of at least a majority of the aggregate Liquidation
Amount of all outstanding Related Capital Securities affected unless and until
the principal of the Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures and all
accrued and unpaid interest thereon have been paid in full and certain other
conditions have been satisfied and (b) where a consent under the Indenture would
require the consent of each holder of Corresponding Junior Subordinated
Debentures, no such consent will be given by the Property Trustee without the
prior consent of each holder of Related Capital Securities.
In addition, the Corporation, the Guarantor and the Debenture Trustee may
execute, without the consent of any holder of Junior Subordinated Debentures,
any supplemental Indenture for the purpose of creating any new series of Junior
Subordinated Debentures.
DEBENTURE EVENTS OF DEFAULT
The Indenture provides that any one or more of the following described
events with respect to a series of Junior Subordinated Debentures that has
occurred and is continuing constitutes a "Debenture Event of Default" with
respect to such series of Junior Subordinated Debentures:
(i) failure for 30 days to pay any interest on such series of Junior
Subordinated Debentures, including any Additional Interest in respect
thereof, when due (subject to the deferral of any interest payment in the
case of an Extension Period); or
(ii) failure to pay any principal or premium, if any, on such series
of Junior Subordinated Debentures when due whether at maturity or upon
redemption; or
(iii) failure to observe or perform any other covenants contained in
the indenture for 90 days after written notice to the Corporation and the
Guarantor from the Debenture Trustee or the holders of at least 25% in
aggregate outstanding principal amount of such affected series of
outstanding Junior Subordinated Debentures; or
(iv) certain events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the
Corporation or the Guarantor.
The holders of a majority in aggregate outstanding principal amount of
Junior Subordinated Debentures of each series affected have the right to direct
the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available
to the Debenture Trustee. The Debenture Trustee or the holders of not less than
25% in aggregate outstanding principal amount of Junior Subordinated Debentures
of each series affected may declare the principal due and payable immediately
upon a Debenture Event of Default. In case a Debenture Event of Default shall
occur and be continuing as to a series of Corresponding Junior Subordinated
Debentures, the Property Trustee will have the right to declare the principal of
and the interest on such Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures, and any
other amounts payable under the Indenture, to be forthwith due and payable and
to enforce its other rights as a creditor with respect to such Corresponding
Junior Subordinated Debentures. In the case of Corresponding Junior Subordinated
Debentures, should the Debenture Trustee or the Property Trustee fail to make
such declaration, the holders of at least 25% in aggregate Liquidation Amount of
the Related Capital Securities shall have such right. The Property Trustee may
annul such declaration and waive such default, provided all defaults have been
cured and all payment obligations have been made current. Should the Property
Trustee fail to annul such declaration and waive such default, the holders of a
majority in aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Related Capital Securities shall
have such right.
The holders of a majority in aggregate outstanding principal amount of each
series of Junior Subordinated Debentures affected thereby may, on behalf of the
holders of all the Junior Subordinated Debentures of such series, waive any
default, except a default in the payment of principal or interest (including any
Additional Interest) (unless such default has been cured and a sum sufficient to
pay all matured installments of interest
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(including any Additional Interest) and principal due otherwise than by
acceleration has been deposited with the Debenture Trustee) or a default in
respect of a covenant or provision which under the Indenture cannot be modified
or amended without the consent of the holder of each outstanding Junior
Subordinated Debenture of such series. In the case of Corresponding Junior
Subordinated Debentures, the holders of a majority in aggregate Liquidation
Amount of the Related Capital Securities shall have such right. Each of the
Corporation and the Guarantor is required to file annually with the Debenture
Trustee a certificate as to whether or not it is in compliance with all the
conditions and covenants applicable to it under the Indenture.
ENFORCEMENT OF CERTAIN RIGHTS BY HOLDERS OF CAPITAL SECURITIES
If a Debenture Event of Default with respect to a series of Corresponding
Junior Subordinated Debentures has occurred and is continuing and such event is
attributable to the failure of the Corporation (or the Guarantor, via the
Debenture Guarantees) to pay interest or principal on such Corresponding Junior
Subordinated Debentures on the date such interest or principal is due and
payable, a holder of Related Capital Securities may institute a legal proceeding
directly against the Corporation or the Guarantor for enforcement of payment to
such holder of the principal of or interest (including any Additional Interest)
on such Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures having a principal amount
equal to the aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Related Capital Securities of
such holder (a "Direct Action"). The Corporation and the Guarantor may not amend
the Indenture to remove the foregoing right to bring a Direct Action without the
prior written consent of the holders of all of the Capital Securities
outstanding. If the right to bring a Direct Action is removed, the applicable
Issuer may become subject to the reporting obligations under the Exchange Act.
The Corporation and the Guarantor shall have the right under the Indenture to
set-off any payment made to such holder of Capital Securities by the Corporation
or the Guarantor in connection with a Direct Action.
The holders of the Capital Securities will not be able to exercise directly
any remedies other than those set forth in the preceding paragraph available to
the holders of the Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures unless there
shall have been an event of default under the Trust Agreement. See "Description
of Capital Securities -- Events of Default; Notice."
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE OF ASSETS AND OTHER TRANSACTIONS
The Indenture provides that each of the Corporation and the Guarantor shall
not consolidate with or merge into any other Person (as defined below) or
convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety
to any Person, and no Person shall consolidate with or merge into the
Corporation or the Guarantor, as the case may be, or convey, transfer or lease
its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to the Corporation or the
Guarantor, as the case may be, unless (i) in case the Corporation or the
Guarantor, as the case may be, consolidates with or merges into another Person
or conveys or transfers its properties and assets substantially as an entirety
to any Person, the successor Person is organized under the laws of the United
States or any state or the District of Columbia or Puerto Rico, and such
successor Person expressly assumes the Corporation's or the Guarantor's
obligations, as the case may be, on the Junior Subordinated Debentures or the
Debenture Guarantees, as the case may be, issued under the Indenture; (ii)
immediately after giving effect thereto, no Debenture Event of Default, and no
event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become a Debenture
Event of Default, shall have occurred and be continuing, and (iii) certain other
conditions as prescribed by the Indenture are met.
The general provisions of the Indenture do not afford holders of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures protection in the event of a highly leveraged or other
transaction involving the Corporation or the Guarantor that may adversely affect
holders of the Junior Subordinated Debentures.
"Person" means a legal person, including any individual, corporation,
estate, partnership, joint venture, trust, unincorporated association, or
government or any agency or political subdivision thereof, or any other entity
of whatever nature.
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SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE
The Indenture provides that when, among other things, all Junior
Subordinated Debentures not previously delivered to the Debenture Trustee for
cancellation (i) have become due and payable or (ii) will become due and payable
at their Stated Maturity within one year, and the Corporation deposits or causes
to be deposited with the Debenture Trustee funds, in trust, for the purpose and
in an amount in the currency or currencies in which the Junior Subordinated
Debentures are payable sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness
on the Junior Subordinated Debentures not previously delivered to the Debenture
Trustee for cancellation, for the principal (and premium, if any) and interest
(including any Additional Interest) to the date of the deposit or to the Stated
Maturity, as the case may be, then the Indenture will cease to be of further
effect (except as to the Corporation's obligations to pay all other sums due
pursuant to the Indenture and to provide the officers' certificates and opinions
of counsel described therein), and the Corporation will be deemed to have
satisfied and discharged the Indenture.
CONVERSION OR EXCHANGE
If and to the extent indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the
Junior Subordinated Debentures of any series may be convertible or exchangeable
into Junior Subordinated Debentures of another series or into Capital Securities
of another series. The specific terms on which Junior Subordinated Debentures of
any series may be so converted or exchanged will be set forth in the applicable
Prospectus Supplement. Such terms may include provisions for conversion or
exchange, either mandatory, at the option of the holder, or at the option of the
Corporation, in which case the number of shares of Capital Securities or other
securities to be received by the holders of Junior Subordinated Debentures would
be calculated as of a time and in the manner stated in the applicable Prospectus
Supplement.
SUBORDINATION
The Junior Subordinated Debentures will be subordinate in right of payment,
to the extent set forth in the Indenture, to all Senior Debt (as defined below)
of the Corporation. Substantially all of the existing indebtedness of the
Corporation and the Guarantor constitutes Senior Debt. If the Corporation
defaults in the payment of any principal, premium, if any, or interest, if any,
or any other amount payable on any Senior Debt when the same becomes due and
payable, whether at maturity or at a date fixed for redemption or by declaration
of acceleration or otherwise, then, unless and until such default has been cured
or waived or has ceased to exist or all Senior Debt of the Corporation has been
paid, no direct or indirect payment (in cash, property, securities, by set-off
or otherwise) may be made or agreed to be made on the Junior Subordinated
Debentures, or in respect of any redemption, repayment, retirement, purchase or
other acquisition of any of the Junior Subordinated Debentures.
As used herein, "Senior Indebtedness" means any obligation of the
Corporation or the Guarantor, as the case may be, to its creditors, whether now
outstanding or subsequently incurred, other than any obligation as to which, in
the instrument creating or evidencing the obligation or pursuant to which the
obligation is outstanding, it is provided that such obligation is not Senior
Indebtedness. As used herein, "Senior Subordinated Indebtedness" means any
obligation of the Corporation or the Guarantor, as the case may be, to its
creditors, whether now outstanding or subsequently incurred, where the
instrument creating or evidencing the obligation or pursuant to which the
obligation is outstanding, provides that it is subordinate and junior in right
of payment to Senior Indebtedness. Senior Subordinated Indebtedness of the
Guarantor includes the Guarantor's outstanding subordinated debt securities and
Senior Subordinated Indebtedness also includes any subordinated debt securities
issued in the future by the Corporation or the Guarantor, as the case may be,
with substantially similar subordination terms, but does not include the Junior
Subordinated Debentures of any series or any junior subordinated debt securities
issued in the future with subordination terms substantially similar to those of
the Junior Subordinated Debentures. Senior Indebtedness does not include Senior
Subordinated Indebtedness or the Junior Subordinated Debentures.
As used herein, "Senior Debt" of the Corporation or the Guarantor, as the
case may be, shall include (i) Senior Indebtedness of the Corporation or the
Guarantor, respectively (but excluding trade accounts
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payable and accrued liabilities arising in the ordinary course of business), and
(ii) the Allocable Amounts of Senior Subordinated Indebtedness of the
Corporation or Guarantor, respectively.
As used herein, "Allocable Amounts," when used with respect to any Senior
Subordinated Indebtedness of the Corporation or the Guarantor, as the case may
be, means the amounts necessary to pay all principal of (and premium, if any)
and interest, if any, on such Senior Subordinated Indebtedness of the
Corporation or the Guarantor, as the case may be, in full less, if applicable,
any portion of such amounts which would have been paid to, and retained by, the
holders of such Senior Subordinated Indebtedness (whether as a result of the
receipt of payments by the holders of such Senior Subordinated Indebtedness from
the Corporation or the Guarantor, as the case may be, or any other obligor
thereon or from any holders of, or trustee in respect of, other indebtedness
that is subordinate and junior in right of payment to such Senior Subordinated
Indebtedness pursuant to any provision of such indebtedness for the payment over
of amounts received on account of such indebtedness to the holders of such
Senior Subordinated Indebtedness) but for the fact that such Senior Subordinated
Indebtedness is subordinate or junior in right of payment to trade accounts
payable or accrued liabilities arising in the ordinary course of business.
In the event of (i) any insolvency, bankruptcy, receivership, liquidation,
reorganization, readjustment, composition or other similar proceeding relating
to the Corporation, its creditors or its property, (ii) any proceeding for the
liquidation, dissolution or other winding up of the Corporation, voluntary or
involuntary, whether or not involving insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings,
(iii) any assignment by the Corporation for the benefit of creditors or (iv) any
other marshalling of the assets of the Corporation, all Senior Debt (including
any interest thereon accruing after the commencement of any such proceedings) of
the Corporation shall first be paid in full before any payment or distribution,
whether in cash, securities or other property, shall be made on account of the
Junior Subordinated Debentures. In such event, any payment or distribution on
account of the Junior Subordinated Debentures, whether in cash, securities or
other property, that would otherwise (but for the subordination provisions) be
payable or deliverable in respect of the Junior Subordinated Debentures will be
paid or delivered directly to the holders of Senior Debt of the Corporation in
accordance with the priorities then existing among such holders until all Senior
Debt of the Corporation (including any interest thereon accruing after the
commencement of any such proceedings) has been paid in full.
In the event of any such proceeding, after payment in full of all sums
owing with respect to Senior Debt of the Corporation, the holders of Junior
Subordinated Debentures, together with the holders of any obligations of the
Corporation ranking on a parity with the Junior Subordinated Debentures, will be
entitled to be paid from the remaining assets of the Corporation the amounts at
the time due and owing on the Junior Subordinated Debentures and such other
obligations before any payment or other distribution, whether in cash, property
or otherwise, will be made on account of any capital stock or obligations of the
Corporation ranking junior to the Junior Subordinated Debentures. If any payment
or distribution by the Corporation on account of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures of any character or any security, whether in cash, securities or
other property is received by any holder of any Junior Subordinated Debentures
in contravention of any of the terms hereof and before all the Senior Debt of
the Corporation has been paid in full, such payment or distribution or security
will be received in trust for the benefit of, and must be paid over or delivered
and transferred to, the holders of the Senior Debt of the Corporation at the
time outstanding in accordance with the priorities then existing among such
holders for application to the payment of all Senior Debt of the Corporation
remaining unpaid to the extent necessary to pay all such Senior Debt of the
Corporation in full. By reason of such subordination, in the event of the
insolvency of the Corporation, holders of Senior Debt of the Corporation may
receive more, ratably, and holders of the Junior Subordinated Debentures may
receive less, ratably, than the other creditors of the Corporation. Such
subordination will not prevent the occurrence of any Debenture Event of Default.
The Junior Subordinated Indenture places no limitation on the amount of
additional Senior Debt that may be incurred by the Corporation. The Corporation
expects from time to time to incur additional indebtedness constituting Senior
Debt.
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TRUST EXPENSES
Pursuant to the Expense Agreement for each series of Corresponding Junior
Subordinated Debentures, the Corporation will irrevocably and unconditionally
agree with each Issuer that holds Junior Subordinated Debentures that the
Corporation will pay to such Issuer, and reimburse such Issuer for, the full
amounts of any costs, expenses or liabilities of the Issuer, other than
obligations of the Issuer to pay to the holders of any Capital Securities or
other similar interests in the Issuer the amounts due such holders pursuant to
the terms of the Capital Securities or such other similar interests, as the case
may be. Such payment obligation will include any such costs, expenses or
liabilities of the Issuer that are required by applicable law to be satisfied in
connection with a termination of such Issuer. The Guarantor will be a party to
each such Expense Agreement and will guarantee the Corporation's obligations
thereunder.
GOVERNING LAW
The Indenture and the Junior Subordinated Debentures will be governed by
and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
INFORMATION CONCERNING THE DEBENTURE TRUSTEE
The Debenture Trustee shall have and be subject to all the duties and
responsibilities specified with respect to an indenture trustee under the Trust
Indenture Act. Subject to such provisions, the Debenture Trustee is under no
obligation to exercise any of the powers vested in it by the Indenture at the
request of any holder of Junior Subordinated Debentures, unless offered
reasonable indemnity by such holder against the costs, expenses and liabilities
which might be incurred thereby. The Debenture Trustee is not required to expend
or risk its own funds or otherwise incur personal financial liability in the
performance of its duties if the Debenture Trustee reasonably believes that
repayment or adequate indemnity is not reasonably assured to it.
CORRESPONDING JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES
The Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures may be issued in one or
more series of Junior Subordinated Debentures under the Indenture with terms
corresponding to the terms of a series of Related Capital Securities. In that
event, concurrently with the issuance of each Issuer's Capital Securities, such
Issuer will invest the proceeds thereof and the consideration paid by the
Corporation for the Common Securities of such Issuer in such series of
Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures (with related Debenture
Guarantees), issued by the Corporation (and the Guarantor), to such Issuer. Each
series of Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures will be in the principal
amount equal to the aggregate stated Liquidation Amount of the Related Capital
Securities and the Common Securities of such Issuer and will rank pari passu
with all other series of Junior Subordinated Debentures. Holders of the Related
Capital Securities will have the rights in connection with modifications to the
Indenture or upon occurrence of Debenture Events of Default, as described under
"-- Modification of Indenture" and "-- Debenture Events of Default," unless
provided otherwise in the Prospectus Supplement for such Related Capital
Securities.
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, if a
Tax Event in respect of an Issuer shall occur and be continuing, the Corporation
may, at its option, and subject to prior approval of the Federal Reserve if then
so required under applicable capital guidelines or policies, redeem the
Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures at any time within 90 days of the
occurrence of such Tax Event, in whole but not in part, subject to the
provisions of the Indenture and whether or not such Corresponding Junior
Subordinated Debentures are then otherwise redeemable at the option of the
Corporation. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement,
the redemption price for any Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures shall
be equal to 100% of the principal amount of such Corresponding Junior
Subordinated Debentures then outstanding plus accrued and unpaid interest to the
date fixed for redemption. For so long as the applicable Issuer is the holder of
all the outstanding Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures, the proceeds
of any such redemption will be used by the Issuer to redeem the corresponding
Trust Securities in accordance with their terms. The Corporation may not redeem
a series of Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures in part unless all
accrued and unpaid interest has been paid in full on all outstanding
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Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures of such series for all interest
periods terminating on or prior to the Redemption Date. The Corporation has
committed to the Federal Reserve that the Corporation will not exercise its
right to redeem the Junior Subordinated Debentures prior to the Stated Maturity
without having received the prior approval of the Federal Reserve to do so, if
such approval is then required under the applicable Federal Reserve capital
guidelines or policies.
The Corporation will covenant in the Indenture, as to each series of
Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures, that if and so long as (i) the
Issuer of the related series of Trust Securities is the holder of all such
Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures, (ii) a Tax Event in respect of
such Issuer has occurred and is continuing and (iii) the Corporation has
elected, and has not revoked such election, to pay Additional Sums (as defined
under "Description of Capital Securities -- Redemption or Exchange") in respect
of such Trust Securities, the Corporation will pay to such Issuer such
Additional Sums. The Corporation will also covenant, as to each series of
Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures, (i) to maintain directly or
indirectly 100% ownership of the Common Securities of the Issuer to which such
Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures have been issued, provided that
certain successors which are permitted pursuant to the Indenture may succeed to
the Corporation's ownership of the Common Securities, (ii) not to voluntarily
terminate, wind-up or liquidate any Issuer, except (a) in connection with a
distribution of Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures to the holders of
the Capital Securities in exchange therefor upon liquidation of such Issuer or
(b) in connection with certain mergers, consolidations or amalgamations
permitted by the related Trust Agreement, and (iii) to use its reasonable
efforts, consistent with the terms and provisions of the related Trust
Agreement, to cause such Issuer to be classified as a grantor trust and not as
an association taxable as a corporation for United States Federal income tax
purposes. The Corporation has committed to the Federal Reserve that the
Corporation will not exercise its right to redeem the Junior Subordinated
Debentures prior to the Stated Maturity without having received the prior
approval of the Federal Reserve to do so, if such approval is then required
under the applicable Federal Reserve capital guidelines or policies.
DESCRIPTION OF DEBENTURE GUARANTEES
This summary of certain terms and provisions of Debenture Guarantees and
the Indenture, which summarizes the material provisions thereof, does not
purport to be complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by
reference to, the Indenture, the form of which is filed as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement of which this Prospectus forms a part, and to the Trust
Indenture Act, to each of which reference is hereby made. The Indenture is
qualified under the Trust Indenture Act. Whenever particular defined terms of
the Indenture (as supplemented or amended from time to time) are referred to
herein or in a Prospectus Supplement, such defined terms are incorporated herein
or therein by reference.
GENERAL
Pursuant to the Debenture Guarantees, the Guarantor will guarantee, on a
junior subordinated basis, the punctual payment of the principal of, premium, if
any, and interest on the Junior Subordinated Debentures, when and as the same
are due and payable by the Corporation. The guarantee is absolute and
unconditional, irrespective of any circumstance that might otherwise constitute
a legal or equitable discharge of a surety or guarantor. To evidence the
guarantee, a Debenture Guarantee, executed by the Guarantor, will be endorsed on
each Junior Subordinated Debenture. Holders of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures may proceed directly against the Guarantor in the event of default
under the Junior Subordinated Debentures without first proceeding against the
Corporation. Each Debenture Guarantee will rank pari passu with all other
Debenture Guarantees and will be unsecured and subordinated and junior to the
Senior Debt of the Guarantor. See "-- Subordination".
SUBORDINATION
The Debenture Guarantees will be subordinate in right of payment, to the
extent set forth in the Indenture, to all Senior Debt of the Guarantor. If the
Guarantor defaults in the payment of any principal, premium, if any, or
interest, if any, or any other amount payable on any Senior Debt when the same
becomes
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due and payable, whether at maturity or at a date fixed for redemption or by
declaration of acceleration or otherwise, then, unless and until such default
has been cured or waived or has ceased to exist or all Senior Debt of the
Guarantor has been paid, no direct or indirect payment (in cash, property,
securities, by set-off or otherwise) may be made or agreed to be made on the
Debenture Guarantees.
In the event of (i) any insolvency, bankruptcy, receivership, liquidation,
reorganization, readjustment, composition or other similar proceeding relating
to the Guarantor, its creditors or its property, (ii) any proceeding for the
liquidation, dissolution or other winding up of the Guarantor, voluntary or
involuntary, whether or not involving insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings,
(iii) any assignment by the Guarantor for the benefit of creditors or (iv) any
other marshalling of the assets of the Guarantor, all Senior Debt (including any
interest thereon accruing after the commencement of any such proceedings) of the
Guarantor, as the case may be, shall first be paid in full before any payment or
distribution, whether in cash, securities or other property, shall be made on
account of the Debenture Guarantees. In such event, any payment or distribution
on account of the Debenture Guarantees, whether in cash, securities or other
property, that would otherwise (but for the subordination provisions) be payable
or deliverable in respect of the Debenture Guarantees will be paid or delivered
directly to the holders of Senior Debt of the Guarantor in accordance with the
priorities then existing among such holders until all Senior Debt of the
Guarantor (including any interest thereon accruing after the commencement of any
such proceedings) has been paid in full.
In the event of any such proceeding, after payment in full of all sums
owing with respect to Senior Debt of the Guarantor, the holders of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures, together with the holders of any obligations of the
Guarantor ranking on a parity with the Debenture Guarantees, will be entitled to
be paid from the remaining assets of the Guarantor the amounts at the time due
and owing on the Debenture Guarantees and such other obligations before any
payment or other distribution, whether in cash, property or otherwise, will be
made on account of any capital stock or obligations of the Guarantor ranking
junior to the Debenture Guarantees. If any payment or distribution by the
Guarantor on account of the Debenture Guarantees of any character or any
security, whether in cash, securities or other property is received by any
holder of any Junior Subordinated Debenture in contravention of any of the terms
hereof and before all the Senior Debt of the Guarantor has been paid in full,
such payment or distribution or security will be received in trust for the
benefit of, and must be paid over or delivered and transferred to, the holders
of the Senior Debt of the Guarantor at the time outstanding in accordance with
the priorities then existing among such holders for application to the payment
of all Senior Debt of the Guarantor remaining unpaid to the extent necessary to
pay all such Senior Debt of the Guarantor in full. By reason of such
subordination, in the event of the insolvency of the Guarantor, holders of
Senior Debt of the Guarantor may receive more, ratably, and holders of the
Debenture Guarantees may receive less, ratably, than the other creditors of the
Guarantor. Such subordination will not prevent the occurrence of any Event of
Default under the Indenture.
The Junior Subordinated Indenture places no limitation on the amount of
additional Senior Debt that may be incurred by the Guarantor. The Guarantor
expects from time to time to incur additional indebtedness constituting Senior
Debt.
TAXATION BY THE COMMONWEALTH OF PUERTO RICO
All payments pursuant to the Debenture Guarantees will be made without
withholding or deduction for, or on account of, any present or future taxes,
duties, assessments or governmental charges of whatever nature imposed or levied
by or on behalf of Puerto Rico or by or with any district, municipality or other
political subdivision thereof or authority therein having power to tax unless
such taxes, duties, assessments or governmental charges are required by law to
be withheld or deducted.
In the event that the Guarantor is required by law to deduct or withhold
any amounts in respect of taxes, duties, assessments or governmental charges,
the Guarantor will pay such additional amounts in respect of, principal, premium
and interest as will result (after deduction of the said taxes, duties,
assessments or governmental charges) in the payment to the holders of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures of the amounts which would otherwise have been payable
in respect to the Junior Subordinated Debentures in the absence of
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such deduction or withholding ("Additional Guarantee Payments"), except that no
such Additional Guarantee Payments shall be payable:
(i) to any Holder of a Junior Subordinated Debenture or any interest
therein or rights in respect thereof where such deduction or withholding is
required by reason of such Holder having some connection with Puerto Rico
or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein other
than the mere holding of and payment in respect of a Junior Subordinated
Debenture;
(ii) in respect of any deduction or withholding that would not have
been required but for the presentation by the holder of a Junior
Subordinated Debenture for payment on a date more than 30 days after the
Stated Maturity or the date on which payment thereof is duly provided for,
whichever occurs later; or
(iii) in respect of any deduction or withholding that would not have
been required but for the failure to comply with any certification,
identification or other reporting requirements concerning the nationality,
residence, identity or connection with Puerto Rico, or any political
subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein, of the holder of a
Junior Subordinated Debenture or any interest therein or rights in respect
thereof, if compliance is required by Puerto Rico, or any political
subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein, as a precondition to
exemption from such deduction or withholding.
GOVERNING LAW
The Debenture Guarantees will be governed by and construed in accordance
with the laws of the State of New York.
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL SECURITIES
Pursuant to the terms of the Trust Agreement for each Issuer, the Issuer
Trustees on behalf of such Issuer will issue the Capital Securities and the
Common Securities. The Capital Securities of a particular Issuer will represent
preferred beneficial ownership interests in the Issuer and the holders thereof
will be entitled to a preference in certain circumstances with respect to
Distributions and amounts payable on redemption or liquidation over the Common
Securities of such Issuer, as well as other benefits as described in the
corresponding Trust Agreement. This summary of certain provisions of the Capital
Securities and each Trust Agreement, which summarizes the material terms
thereof, does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and is qualified in
its entirety by reference to, all the provisions of each Trust Agreement,
including the definitions therein of certain terms, and the Trust Indenture Act,
to which reference is hereby made. Wherever particular defined terms of a Trust
Agreement (as amended or supplemented from time to time) are referred to herein
or in a Prospectus Supplement, such defined terms are incorporated herein or
therein by reference. The form of the Trust Agreement has been filed as an
exhibit to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus forms a part.
Each of the Issuers is a legally separate entity and the assets of one are not
available to satisfy the obligations of the other.
GENERAL
The Capital Securities of an Issuer will rank pari passu, and payments will
be made thereon pro rata, with the Common Securities of that Issuer except as
described under "-- Subordination of Common Securities". Legal title to the
Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures and the related Debenture Guarantee
will be held by the Property Trustee in trust for the benefit of the holders of
the related Capital Securities and Common Securities. Each Guarantee Agreement
executed by the Corporation and the Guarantor for the benefit of the holders of
an Issuer's Capital Securities will be, in the case of the Corporation, a
guarantee on a subordinated basis with respect to the related Capital Securities
(the "Guarantee" for such Capital Securities), and, in the case of the
Guarantor, a guarantee on the Corporation's obligations under the Guarantee (the
"Additional Guarantee" for such Capital Securities). The Guarantee and the
Additional Guarantee will not guarantee payment of Distributions or amounts
payable on redemption or liquidation of
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such Capital Securities when the related Issuer does not have funds on hand
available to make such payments. See "Description of Guarantees and Additional
Guarantees."
DISTRIBUTIONS
Distributions on the Capital Securities will be cumulative, will accumulate
from the date of original issuance and will be payable on such dates as
specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. In the event that any date on
which Distributions are payable on the Capital Securities is not a Business Day
(as defined below), 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 to any such delay) except that, if such Business Day
is in the next succeeding calendar year, payment of such Distribution shall be
made on the immediately preceding Business Day, in either case with the same
force and effect as if made on such date (each date on which Distributions are
payable in accordance with the foregoing, a "Distribution Date"). A "Business
Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday or a Sunday, or a day on which
banking institutions in The City of New York are authorized or required by law
or executive order to remain closed or a day on which the corporate trust office
of the Property Trustee or the Debenture Trustee is closed for business.
Each Issuer's Capital Securities represent preferred beneficial ownership
interests in the applicable Issuer, and the Distributions on each Capital
Security will be payable at a rate specified in the applicable Prospectus
Supplement for such Capital Securities. The amount of Distributions payable for
any period will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day
months unless otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement.
Distributions to which holders of Capital Securities are entitled will
accumulate additional Distributions at the rate per annum if and as specified in
the applicable Prospectus Supplement. The term "Distributions" as used herein
includes any such additional Distributions unless otherwise stated.
If provided in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the Corporation has
the right under the Indenture, pursuant to which it will issue the Corresponding
Junior Subordinated Debentures, to defer the payment of interest at any time or
from time to time on any series of the Corresponding Junior Subordinated
Debentures for up to such number of consecutive interest payment periods which
will be specified in such Prospectus Supplement relating to such series (each,
an "Extension Period"), provided that no Extension Period may extend beyond the
Stated Maturity of the Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures. As a
consequence of any such deferral, Distributions on the Related Capital
Securities would be deferred (but would continue to accumulate additional
Distributions thereon at the rate per annum set forth in the Prospectus
Supplement for such Capital Securities) by the Issuer of such Related Capital
Securities during any such Extension Period. During any such Extension Period,
the Corporation and the Guarantor may not (i) declare or pay any dividends or
distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire or make a liquidation payment
with respect to, any of the Corporation's or the Guarantor's capital stock or
(ii) make any payment of principal of or interest or premium, if any, on or
repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the Corporation or the
Guarantor that rank pari passu in all respects with or junior in interest to the
Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures or the related Debenture
Guarantees, respectively (other than (a) repurchases, redemptions or other
acquisitions of shares of capital stock of the Corporation or the Guarantor in
connection with any employment contract, benefit plan or other similar
arrangement with or for the benefit of one or more employees, officers,
directors or consultants, in connection with a dividend reinvestment or
stockholder stock purchase plan or in connection with the issuance of capital
stock of the Corporation or the Guarantor (or securities convertible into or
exercisable for such capital stock) as consideration in an acquisition
transaction entered into prior to the applicable Extension Period, (b) as a
result of any exchange or conversion of any class or series of the Corporation's
or the Guarantor's capital stock (or any capital stock of a subsidiary of the
Corporation or the Guarantor) for any class or series of the Corporation's or
the Guarantor's capital stock, respectively, or of any class or series of the
Corporation's or the Guarantor's indebtedness for any class or series of the
Corporation's or the Guarantor's capital stock, respectively, (c) the purchase
of fractional interests in shares of the Corporation's or the Guarantor's
capital stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital
stock or the security being converted or exchanged, (d) any declaration of a
dividend in connection with any stockholder's rights plan, or the issuance of
rights, stock or other property under any stockholder's rights plan, or the
redemption or repurchase of rights pursuant thereto, or (e) any dividend in
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the form of stock, warrants, options or other rights where the dividend stock or
the stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants, options or other rights is
the same stock as that on which the dividend is being paid or ranks pari passu
with or junior to such stock).
The revenue of each Issuer available for distribution to holders of its
Related Capital Securities will be limited to payments under the Corresponding
Junior Subordinated Debentures and the related Debenture Guarantees in which the
Issuer will invest the proceeds from the issuance and sale of its Trust
Securities. See "Description of Junior Subordinated Debentures -- Corresponding
Junior Subordinated Debentures." If the Corporation does not make interest
payments on such Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures and the Guarantor
does not make payment under the related Debenture Guarantee, the Property
Trustee will not have funds available to pay Distributions on the Related
Capital Securities. The payment of Distributions (if and to the extent the
Issuer has funds legally available for the payment of such Distributions and
cash sufficient to make such payments) is guaranteed by the Corporation and the
Guarantor on a limited basis as set forth herein under "Description of
Guarantees and Additional Guarantees."
Distributions on the Capital Securities will be payable to the holders
thereof as they appear on the register of such Issuer on the relevant record
dates, which, as long as the Capital Securities remain in book-entry form, will
be one Business Day prior to the relevant Distribution Date. Subject to any
applicable laws and regulations and the provisions of the applicable Trust
Agreement, each such payment will be made as described under "Book-Entry
Issuance." In the event any Capital Securities are not in book-entry form, the
relevant record date for such Capital Securities shall be the date at least 15
days prior to the relevant Distribution Date, as specified in the applicable
Prospectus Supplement.
REDEMPTION OR EXCHANGE
Mandatory Redemption. Upon the repayment or redemption, in whole or in
part, of any Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures, whether at maturity
or upon earlier redemption as provided in the Indenture, the proceeds from such
repayment or redemption shall be applied by the Property Trustee to redeem a
Like Amount (as defined below) of the Trust Securities, upon not less than 30
nor more than 60 days notice, at a redemption price (the "Redemption Price")
equal to the aggregate Liquidation Amount of such Trust Securities plus
accumulated but unpaid Distributions thereon to the date of redemption (the
"Redemption Date") and the related amount of the premium, if any, paid by the
Corporation upon the concurrent redemption of such Corresponding Junior
Subordinated Debentures. See "Description of Junior Subordinated
Debentures -- Redemption." If less than all of any series of Corresponding
Junior Subordinated Debentures are to be repaid or redeemed on a Redemption
Date, then the proceeds from such repayment or redemption shall be allocated to
the redemption pro rata of the Related Capital Securities and the Common
Securities. The amount of premium, if any, paid by the Corporation upon the
redemption of all or any part of any series of any Corresponding Junior
Subordinated Debentures to be repaid or redeemed on a Redemption Date shall be
allocated to the redemption pro rata of the Related Capital Securities and the
Common Securities.
The Corporation will have the right to redeem any series of Corresponding
Junior Subordinated Debentures (i) on or after such date as may be specified in
the applicable Prospectus Supplement, in whole at any time or in part from time
to time, (ii) at any time, in whole (but not in part), upon the occurrence of a
Tax Event or Capital Treatment Event or (iii) as may be otherwise specified in
the applicable Prospectus Supplement, in each case subject to receipt of prior
approval by the Federal Reserve if then so required under applicable Federal
Reserve capital guidelines or policies. The Corporation has committed to the
Federal Reserve that the Corporation will not exercise its right to redeem the
Junior Subordinated Debentures prior to the Stated Maturity without having
received the prior approval of the Federal Reserve to do so, if such approval is
then required under the applicable Federal Reserve capital guidelines or
policies.
Distribution of Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures. Subject to
the Corporation having received prior approval of the Federal Reserve to do so
if such approval is then required under applicable capital guidelines or
policies of the Federal Reserve, the Corporation has the right at any time to
terminate any Issuer and, after satisfaction of the liabilities of creditors of
such Issuer as provided by applicable law, cause such Corresponding Junior
Subordinated Debentures and related Debenture Guarantee in respect of the
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Related Capital Securities and Common Securities issued by such Issuer to be
distributed to the holders of such Related Capital Securities and Common
Securities in liquidation of the Issuer. The Corporation has committed to the
Federal Reserve that the Corporation will not exercise its right to redeem the
Junior Subordinated Debentures prior to the Stated Maturity without having
received the prior approval of the Federal Reserve to do so, if such approval is
then required under the applicable Federal Reserve capital guidelines or
policies.
After the liquidation date fixed for any distribution of Corresponding
Junior Subordinated Debentures for any series of Capital Securities (i) such
series of Capital Securities will no longer be deemed to be outstanding, (ii)
the depositary or its nominee, as the record holder of such series of Capital
Securities, will receive a registered global certificate or certificates
representing the Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures to be delivered
upon such distribution and (iii) any certificates representing such series of
Capital Securities not held by DTC or its nominee will be deemed to represent
the Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures having a principal amount equal
to the stated Liquidation Amount of such series of Capital Securities, and
bearing accrued and unpaid interest in an amount equal to the accrued and unpaid
Distributions on such series of Capital Securities until such certificates are
presented to the Issuer Trustee or its agent for transfer or reissuance.
There can be no assurance as to the market prices for the Capital
Securities or the Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures that may be
distributed in exchange for Capital Securities if a dissolution and liquidation
of an Issuer were to occur. Accordingly, the Capital Securities that an investor
may purchase, or the Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures that the
investor may receive on dissolution and liquidation of an Issuer, may trade at a
discount to the price that the investor paid to purchase the Capital Securities
offered hereby.
Tax Event or Capital Treatment Event Redemption. If a Tax Event or Capital
Treatment Event in respect of a series of Capital Securities and Common
Securities shall occur and be continuing, the Corporation has the right to
redeem the Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures in whole (but not in
part) and thereby cause a mandatory redemption of such Related Capital
Securities and Common Securities in whole (but not in part) at the Redemption
Price within 90 days following the occurrence of such Tax Event or Capital
Treatment Event. In the event a Tax Event or Capital Treatment Event in respect
of a series of Capital Securities and Common Securities has occurred and is
continuing and the Corporation does not elect to redeem the Corresponding Junior
Subordinated Debentures and thereby cause a mandatory redemption of such Capital
Securities or to liquidate the related Issuer and cause the Corresponding Junior
Subordinated Debentures and related Debenture Guarantee to be distributed to
holders of such Capital Securities and Common Securities in exchange therefor
upon liquidation of the Issuer as described above, such Capital Securities will
remain outstanding and Additional Sums (as defined below) may be payable on the
Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures.
"Additional Sums" means the additional amounts as may be necessary in order
that the amount of Distributions then due and payable by an Issuer on the
outstanding Capital Securities and Common Securities of the Issuer shall not be
reduced as a result of any additional taxes, duties and other governmental
charges to which such Issuer has become subject as a result of a Tax Event.
"Capital Treatment Event" means the reasonable determination by the
Corporation that, as a result of the occurrence of any amendment to, or change
(including any announced prospective change) in, the laws (or any rules or
regulations thereunder) of the United States or any political subdivision
thereof or therein, or as a result of any official or administrative
pronouncement or action or judicial decision interpreting or applying such laws,
rules or regulations, which amendment or change is effective or such
pronouncement, action or decision is announced on or after the date of issuance
of the Capital Securities of an Issuer, there is more than an insubstantial risk
that the Corporation or the Guarantor will not be entitled to treat an amount
equal to the aggregate Liquidation Amount of such Capital Securities as "Tier 1
Capital" (or the then equivalent thereto) for purposes of the capital adequacy
guidelines of the Federal Reserve, as then in effect and applicable to the
Corporation or the Guarantor.
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"Like Amount" means (i) with respect to a redemption of any series of Trust
Securities, Trust Securities of such series having a Liquidation Amount (as
defined below) equal to the principal amount of Corresponding Junior
Subordinated Debentures to be contemporaneously redeemed in accordance with the
Indenture, the proceeds of which will be used to pay the Redemption Price of
such Trust Securities, and (ii) with respect to a distribution of Corresponding
Junior Subordinated Debentures to holders of any series of Trust Securities in
connection with a dissolution or liquidation of the related Issuer,
Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures having a principal amount equal to
the Liquidation Amount of the Trust Securities in respect of which such
distribution is made.
"Liquidation Amount" means the stated amount per Trust Security of $1,000
(or such other stated amount as is set forth in the applicable Prospectus
Supplement).
"Tax Event" with respect to an Issuer means the receipt by the Issuer of a
series of Capital Securities of an opinion of counsel experienced in such
matters to the effect that, as a result of any amendment to, or change
(including any announced proposed change) in, the laws (or any regulations
thereunder) of the United States or any political subdivision or taxing
authority thereof or therein, or as a result of any official administrative
pronouncement or judicial decision interpreting or applying such laws or
regulations, which amendment or change is effective or which pronouncement or
decision is announced on or after the date of issuance of such Capital
Securities under the Trust Agreement, there is more than an insubstantial risk
that (i) such Issuer is, or will be within 90 days of the date of such opinion,
subject to United States Federal income tax with respect to income received or
accrued on the corresponding series of Corresponding Junior Subordinated
Debentures, (ii) interest payable by the Corporation on such series of
Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures is not, or within 90 days of the
date of such opinion, will not be, deductible by the Corporation, in whole or in
part, for United States Federal income tax purposes, or (iii) such Issuer is, or
will be within 90 days of the date of such opinion, subject to more than a de
minimis amount of other taxes, duties or other governmental charges.
Possible Tax Law Changes. On March 19, 1996, the Revenue Reconciliation
Bill, the revenue portion of President Clinton's budget proposal, was introduced
in the 104th Congress. If it had been enacted, the Revenue Reconciliation Bill
would have generally denied interest deductions for interest on an instrument
issued by a corporation with a maximum weighted average maturity of more than 40
years. The Revenue Reconciliation Bill would also have generally denied interest
deductions for interest on an instrument issued by a corporation with a maximum
term of more than 20 years and that is not shown as indebtedness on the separate
balance sheet of the issuer or, where the instrument is issued to a related
party (other than a corporation), where the holder or some other related party
issues a related instrument that is not shown as indebtedness on the issuer's
consolidated balance sheet. For purposes of determining the weighted average
maturity or the term of an instrument, any right to extend would be treated as
exercised. The above-described provisions of the Revenue Reconciliation Bill
were proposed to be effective generally for instruments issued on or after
December 7, 1995. If similar provisions were to apply to the Capital Securities
of any series, the Corporation would be unable to deduct interest on the Capital
Securities of such series. However, on March 29, 1996, the Chairmen of the
Senate Finance and House Ways and Means Committees issued a joint statement to
the effect that it was their intention that the effective date of the
President's legislative proposals, if adopted, will be no earlier than the date
of appropriate Congressional action. Under current law, the Corporation and the
Guarantor will be able to deduct interest on the Capital Securities. Although
the 104th Congress adjourned without enacting the above-described provisions of
the Revenue Reconciliation Bill, there can be no assurance that current or
future legislative proposals or final legislation will not affect the ability of
the Corporation to deduct interest on the Capital Securities. Such a change
could give rise to a Tax Event, which may permit the Corporation to cause a
redemption of the Capital Securities, as described more fully herein.
REDEMPTION PROCEDURES
Capital Securities redeemed on each Redemption Date shall be redeemed at
the Redemption Price with the applicable proceeds from the contemporaneous
redemption of the Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures. Redemptions of
the Capital Securities shall be made and the Redemption Price shall be payable
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on each Redemption Date only to the extent that the related Issuer has funds on
hand available for the payment of such Redemption Price. See also
"-- Subordination of Common Securities."
If the Property Trustee gives a notice of redemption in respect of Capital
Securities, then, by 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the Redemption Date, to
the extent funds are available, the Property Trustee will deposit irrevocably
with DTC funds sufficient to pay the applicable Redemption Price and will give
DTC irrevocable instructions and authority to pay the Redemption Price to the
holders of such Capital Securities. See "Book-Entry Issuance." If such Capital
Securities are no longer in book-entry form, the Property Trustee, to the extent
funds are available, will irrevocably deposit with the paying agent for such
Capital Securities funds sufficient to pay the applicable Redemption Price and
will give such paying agent irrevocable instructions and authority to pay the
Redemption Price to the holders thereof upon surrender of their certificates
evidencing such Capital Securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Distributions
payable on or prior to the Redemption Date for any Capital Securities called for
redemption shall be payable to the holders of such Capital Securities on the
relevant record dates for the related Distribution Dates. If notice of
redemption shall have been given and funds deposited as required, then upon the
date of such deposit, all rights of the holders of such Capital Securities so
called for redemption will cease, except the right of the holders of such
Capital Securities to receive the Redemption Price and any Distribution payable
in respect of the Capital Securities on or prior to the Redemption Date, but
without interest on such Redemption Price, and such Capital Securities will
cease to be outstanding. In the event that any date fixed for redemption of
Capital Securities is not a Business Day, then payment of the Redemption Price
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, 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. In the event that payment of the
Redemption Price in respect of Capital Securities called for redemption is
improperly withheld or refused and not paid either by the Issuer or by the
Corporation pursuant to the Guarantee or the Guarantor pursuant to the
Additional Guarantee as described under "Description of Guarantees and
Additional Guarantees," Distributions on such Capital Securities will continue
to accrue at the then applicable rate from the Redemption Date originally
established by the Issuer for such Capital Securities to the date such
Redemption Price is actually paid, in which case the actual payment date will be
the date fixed for redemption for purposes of calculating the Redemption Price.
Subject to applicable law (including, without limitation, United States
federal securities law), the Corporation, the Guarantor or their subsidiaries
may at any time and from time to time purchase outstanding Capital Securities by
tender, in the open market or by private agreement.
Payment of the Redemption Price on the Capital Securities and any
distribution of Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures (with related
Debenture Guarantees) to holders of Capital Securities shall be made to the
applicable recordholders thereof as they appear on the register for such Capital
Securities on the relevant record date, which shall be one Business Day prior to
the relevant Redemption Date or liquidation date, as applicable; provided,
however, that in the event that any Capital Securities are not in book-entry
form, the relevant record date for such Capital Securities shall be a date at
least 15 days prior to the Redemption Date or liquidation date, as applicable,
as specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement.
If less than all of the Capital Securities and Common Securities issued by
an Issuer are to be redeemed on a Redemption Date, then the aggregate
Liquidation Amount of such Capital Securities and Common Securities to be
redeemed shall be allocated pro rata to the Capital Securities and the Common
Securities based upon the relative Liquidation Amounts of such classes. The
particular Capital Securities to be redeemed shall be selected on a pro rata
basis not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Property Trustee
from the outstanding Capital Securities not previously called for redemption, by
such method as the Property Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate and which
may provide for the selection for redemption of portions (equal to $1,000 or an
integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof, unless a different amount is
specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement) of the Liquidation Amount of
Capital Securities of a denomination larger than $1,000 (or such other
denomination as is specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement). The
Property Trustee shall promptly notify the securities registrar in writing of
the Capital Securities selected for redemption and, in the case of any Capital
Securities selected for partial
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redemption, the Liquidation Amount thereof to be redeemed. For all purposes of
each Trust Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires, all provisions
relating to the redemption of Capital Securities shall relate, in the case of
any Capital Securities redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion
of the aggregate Liquidation Amount of Capital Securities which has been or is
to be redeemed.
Notice of any redemption will be mailed at least 30 days but not more than
60 days before the Redemption Date to each holder of Trust Securities to be
redeemed at its registered address. Unless the Corporation defaults in payment
of the Redemption Price on the Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures, on
and after the Redemption Date interest will cease to accrue on such Junior
Subordinated Debentures or portions thereof (and Distributions will cease to
accrue on the Related Capital Securities or portions thereof) called for
redemption.
SUBORDINATION OF COMMON SECURITIES
Payment of Distributions on, and the Redemption Price of, each Issuer's
Capital Securities and Common Securities, as applicable, shall be made pro rata
based on the Liquidation Amount of such Capital Securities and Common
Securities; provided, however, that if on any Distribution Date, Redemption Date
or Liquidation Date a Debenture Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing, no payment of any Distribution on, or Redemption Price of, or
Liquidation Distribution in respect of, any of the Issuer's Common Securities,
and no other payment on account of the redemption, liquidation or other
acquisition of such Common Securities, shall be made unless payment in full in
cash of all accumulated and unpaid Distributions on all of the Issuer's
outstanding Capital Securities for all Distribution periods terminating on or
prior thereto, or in the case of payment of the Redemption Price the full amount
of such Redemption Price on all of the Issuer's outstanding Capital Securities
then called for redemption, or in the case of payment of the Liquidation
Distribution the full amount of such Liquidation Distribution on all outstanding
Capital Securities, shall have been made or provided for, and all funds
available to the Property Trustee shall first be applied to the payment in full
in cash of all Distributions on, or Redemption Price of, the Issuer's Capital
Securities then due and payable.
In the case of any Event of Default (as defined below) under the applicable
Trust Agreement resulting from a Debenture Event of Default, the Corporation as
holder of such Issuer's Common Securities will be deemed to have waived any
right to act with respect to any such Event of Default under the applicable
Trust Agreement until the effect of all such Events of Default with respect to
such Capital Securities have been cured, waived or otherwise eliminated. Until
any such Events of Default under the applicable Trust Agreement with respect to
the Capital Securities have been so cured, waived or otherwise eliminated, the
Property Trustee shall act solely on behalf of the holders of such Capital
Securities and not on behalf of the Corporation as holder of the Issuer's Common
Securities, and only the holders of such Capital Securities will have the right
to direct the Property Trustee to act on their behalf.
LIQUIDATION DISTRIBUTION UPON TERMINATION
Pursuant to each Trust Agreement, each Issuer shall automatically terminate
upon expiration of its term and shall terminate on the first to occur of: (i)
certain events of bankruptcy, dissolution or liquidation of the Corporation;
(ii) the distribution of a Like Amount of the Corresponding Junior Subordinated
Debentures (with related Debenture Guarantees) to the holders of its Trust
Securities, if the Corporation, as Depositor, has given written direction to the
Property Trustee to terminate such Issuer (subject to the Corporation having
received prior approval of the Federal Reserve if then so required under
applicable capital guidelines or policies); (iii) redemption of all of the
Issuer's Capital Securities as described under "Description of Capital
Securities -- Redemption or Exchange -- Mandatory Redemption"; and (iv) the
entry of an order for the dissolution of the Issuer by a court of competent
jurisdiction.
If an early termination occurs as described in clause (i), (ii) or (iv)
above, the Issuer shall be liquidated by the Issuer Trustees as expeditiously as
the Issuer Trustees determine to be possible by distributing, after satisfaction
of liabilities to creditors of such Issuer as provided by applicable law, to the
holders of such Trust Securities in exchange therefor a Like Amount of the
Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures (with related Debenture
Guarantees), unless such distribution is determined by the Property Trustee not
to be
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practical, in which event such holders will be entitled to receive out of the
assets of the Issuer available for distribution to holders, after satisfaction
of liabilities to creditors of such Issuer as provided by applicable law, an
amount equal to, in the case of holders of Capital Securities, the aggregate of
the Liquidation Amount plus accrued and unpaid Distributions thereon to the date
of payment (such amount being the "Liquidation Distribution"). If such
Liquidation Distribution can be paid only in part because such Issuer has
insufficient assets available to pay in full the aggregate Liquidation
Distribution, then the amounts payable directly by such Issuer on its Capital
Securities shall be paid on a pro rata basis. The holder(s) of such Issuer's
Common Securities will be entitled to receive distributions upon any such
liquidation pro rata with the holders of its Capital Securities, except that if
a Debenture Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Capital
Securities shall have a priority over the Common Securities.
EVENTS OF DEFAULT; NOTICE
Any one of the following events constitutes an "Event of Default" under
each Trust Agreement with respect to the Capital Securities issued thereunder
(whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary
or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment,
decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any
administrative or governmental body):
(i) the occurrence of a Debenture Event of Default under the Indenture
(see "Description of Junior Subordinated Debentures -- Debenture Events of
Default"); or
(ii) default by the Property Trustee in the payment of any
Distribution when it becomes due and payable, and continuation of such
default for a period of 30 days; or
(iii) default by the Property Trustee in the payment of any Redemption
Price of any Trust Security when it becomes due and payable; or
(iv) default in the performance, or breach, in any material respect,
of any covenant or warranty of the Issuer Trustees in such Trust Agreement
(other than a covenant or warranty a default in the performance of which or
the breach of which is dealt with in clause (ii) or (iii) above), and
continuation of such default or breach for a period of 60 days after there
has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the defaulting Issuer
Trustee or Trustees by the holders of at least 25% in aggregate Liquidation
Amount of the outstanding Capital Securities of the applicable Issuer, a
written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be
remedied and stating that such notice is a "Notice of Default" under such
Trust Agreement; or
(v) the occurrence of certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency with
respect to the Property Trustee and the failure by the Corporation to
appoint a successor Property Trustee within 90 days thereof.
Within five Business Days after the occurrence of any Event of Default
actually known to the Property Trustee, the Property Trustee shall transmit
notice of such Event of Default to the holders of such Issuer's Capital
Securities, the Administrative Trustees, the Corporation, as Depositor, and the
Guarantor unless such Event of Default shall have been cured or waived. The
Corporation, as Depositor, and the Administrative Trustees are required to file
annually with the Property Trustee a certificate as to whether or not they are
in compliance with all the conditions and covenants applicable to them under
each Trust Agreement.
If a Debenture Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Capital
Securities shall have a preference over the Common Securities as described
above. See "-- Liquidation Distribution Upon Termination." The existence of an
Event of Default does not entitle the holders of Capital Securities to
accelerate the maturity thereof.
REMOVAL OF ISSUER TRUSTEES
Unless a Debenture Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing,
any Issuer Trustee may be removed at any time by the holder of the Common
Securities. If a Debenture Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the
Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee may be removed at such time by the
holders of a majority in Liquidation Amount of the outstanding Capital
Securities. In no event will the holders of the
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Capital Securities have the right to vote to appoint, remove or replace the
Administrative Trustees, which voting rights are vested exclusively in the
Corporation as the holder of the Common Securities. No resignation or removal of
an Issuer Trustee and no appointment of a successor trustee shall be effective
until the acceptance of appointment by the successor trustee in accordance with
the provisions of the applicable Trust Agreement.
CO-TRUSTEES AND SEPARATE PROPERTY TRUSTEE
Unless an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, at any
time or from time to time, for the purpose of meeting the legal requirements of
the Trust Indenture Act or of any jurisdiction in which any part of the Trust
Property may at the time be located, the Corporation, as the holder of the
Common Securities, and the Administrative Trustees shall have power to appoint
one or more persons either to act as a co-trustee, jointly with the Property
Trustee, of all or any part of such Trust Property, or to act as separate
trustee of any such property, in either case with such powers as may be provided
in the instrument of appointment, and to vest in such person or persons in such
capacity any property, title, right or power deemed necessary or desirable,
subject to the provisions of the applicable Trust Agreement. In case a Debenture
Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Property Trustee alone
shall have power to make such appointment.
MERGER OR CONSOLIDATION OF ISSUER TRUSTEES
Any Person into which the Property Trustee, the Delaware Trustee or any
Administrative Trustee that is not a natural person may be merged or converted
or with which it may be consolidated, or any Person resulting from any merger,
conversion or consolidation to which such Trustee shall be a party, or any
Person succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust business of
such Trustee, shall be the successor of such Trustee under each Trust Agreement,
provided such Person shall be otherwise qualified and eligible.
MERGERS, CONSOLIDATIONS, AMALGAMATIONS OR REPLACEMENTS OF THE ISSUERS
An Issuer may not merge with or into, consolidate, amalgamate, or be
replaced by, or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets
substantially as an entirety to any corporation or other Person, except as
described below. An Issuer may, at the request of the Corporation, with the
consent of the Administrative Trustees and without the consent of the holders of
the Capital Securities, merge with or into, consolidate, amalgamate, or be
replaced by or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially
as an entirety to a trust organized as such under the laws of any State;
provided, that (i) such successor entity either (a) expressly assumes all of the
obligations of such Issuer with respect to the Capital Securities or (b)
substitutes for the Capital Securities other securities having substantially the
same terms as the Capital Securities (the "Successor Securities") so long as the
Successor Securities rank the same as the Capital Securities in priority with
respect to distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption and
otherwise, (ii) the Corporation expressly appoints a trustee of such successor
entity possessing the same powers and duties as the Property Trustee as the
holder of the Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures, (iii) the Successor
Securities are listed, or any Successor Securities will be listed upon
notification of issuance, on any national securities exchange or other
organization on which the Capital Securities are then listed, if any, (iv) such
merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease
does not cause the Capital Securities to be downgraded by any nationally
recognized statistical rating organization which assigns ratings to the Capital
Securities, (v) such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement,
conveyance, transfer or lease does not adversely affect the rights, preferences
and privileges of the holders of the Capital Securities (including any Successor
Securities) in any material respect, (vi) such successor entity has a purpose
identical to that of the Issuer, (vii) prior to such merger, consolidation,
amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease, the Corporation has
received an opinion from independent counsel to the Issuer experienced in such
matters to the effect that (a) such merger, consolidation, amalgamation,
replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease does not adversely affect the rights,
preferences and privileges of the holders of the Capital Securities (including
any Successor Securities) in any material respect, and (b) following such
merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease,
neither the Issuer nor such
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successor entity will be required to register as an investment company under the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Investment Company Act"), and
(viii) the Corporation or any permitted successor or assignee owns all of the
Common Securities of such successor entity and guarantees the obligations of
such successor entity under the Successor Securities at least to the extent
provided by the Guarantee (the "Successor Guarantees") and the Guarantor or any
permitted successor or assignee guarantees the obligations of the Corporation or
such successor entity under the Successor Guarantees at least to the extent
provided by the Additional Guarantee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Issuer
shall not, except with the consent of holders of 100% in Liquidation Amount of
the Capital Securities, 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 other entity or permit any other entity to consolidate,
amalgamate, merge with or into, or replace it if such consolidation,
amalgamation, merger, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease would cause the
Issuer or the successor entity to be classified as an association taxable as a
corporation or as other than a grantor trust for United States Federal income
tax purposes.
VOTING RIGHTS; AMENDMENT OF EACH TRUST AGREEMENT
Except as provided below and under "Description of Guarantees and
Additional Guarantees -- Amendments and Assignment" and as otherwise required by
law and the applicable Trust Agreement, the holders of the Capital Securities
will have no voting rights.
Each Trust Agreement may be amended from time to time by the Corporation,
the Guarantor, the Property Trustee and the Administrative Trustees, without the
consent of the holders of the Capital Securities (i) to cure any ambiguity,
correct or supplement any provisions in such Trust Agreement that may be
inconsistent with any other provision, or to make any other provisions with
respect to matters or questions arising under such Trust Agreement, which shall
not be inconsistent with the other provisions of such Trust Agreement, or (ii)
to modify, eliminate or add to any provisions of such Trust Agreement to such
extent as shall be necessary to ensure that the Issuer will be classified for
United States Federal income tax purposes as a grantor trust or as other than an
association taxable as a corporation at all times that any Trust Securities are
outstanding or to ensure that the Issuer will not be required to register as an
"investment company" under the Investment Company Act; provided, however, that
in the case of either clause (i) or clause (ii), such action shall not adversely
affect in any material respect the interests of any holder of Capital
Securities, and any amendments of such Trust Agreement shall become effective
when notice thereof is given to the holders of Trust Securities. Each Trust
Agreement may be amended by the Issuer Trustees, the Corporation and the
Guarantor with (i) the consent of holders representing not less than a majority
(based upon Liquidation Amounts) of the outstanding Trust Securities, and (ii)
receipt by the Issuer Trustees of an opinion of counsel to the effect that such
amendment or the exercise of any power granted to the Issuer Trustees in
accordance with such amendment will not cause the Issuer to be taxable as a
corporation or affect the Issuer's status as a grantor trust for United States
Federal income tax purposes or the Issuer's exemption from status as an
"investment company" under the Investment Company Act, provided that without the
consent of each holder of Trust Securities, such Trust Agreement may not be
amended to (i) change the amount or timing of any Distribution on the Trust
Securities or otherwise adversely affect the amount of any Distribution required
to be made in respect of the Trust Securities as of a specified date or (ii)
restrict the right of a holder of Trust Securities to institute suit for the
enforcement of any such payment on or after such date.
So long as any Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures are held by the
Property Trustee, the Issuer Trustees shall not (i) direct the time, method and
place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Debenture
Trustee, or executing any trust or power conferred on the Property Trustee with
respect to such Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures, (ii) waive any
past default that is waivable under the Indenture, (iii) exercise any right to
rescind or annul a declaration that the principal of all the Junior Subordinated
Debentures shall be due and payable or (iv) consent to any amendment,
modification or termination of the Indenture or such Corresponding Junior
Subordinated Debentures, where such consent shall be required, without, in each
case, obtaining the prior approval of the holders of a majority in aggregate
Liquidation Amount of all outstanding Capital Securities; provided, however,
that where a consent under the Indenture would require the consent of each
holder of Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures
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affected thereby, no such consent shall be given by the Property Trustee without
the prior consent of each holder of the corresponding Capital Securities. The
Issuer Trustees shall not revoke any action previously authorized or approved by
a vote of the holders of the Capital Securities except by subsequent vote of the
holders of the Capital Securities. The Property Trustee shall notify each holder
of Capital Securities of any notice of default with respect to the Corresponding
Junior Subordinated Debentures. In addition to obtaining the foregoing approvals
of the holders of the Capital Securities, prior to taking any of the foregoing
actions, the Issuer Trustees shall obtain an opinion of counsel experienced in
such matters to the effect that the Issuer will not be classified as an
association taxable as a corporation for United States Federal income tax
purposes on account of such action and such action would not cause the Issuer to
be classified as other than a grantor trust for United States Federal income tax
purposes.
Any required approval of holders of Capital Securities may be given at a
meeting of holders of Capital Securities convened for such purpose or pursuant
to written consent. The Property Trustee will cause a notice of any meeting at
which holders of Capital Securities are entitled to vote, or of any matter upon
which action by written consent of such holders is to be taken, to be given to
each holder of record of Capital Securities in the manner set forth in each
Trust Agreement.
No vote or consent of the holders of Capital Securities will be required
for an Issuer to redeem and cancel its Capital Securities in accordance with the
applicable Trust Agreement.
Notwithstanding that holders of Capital Securities are entitled to vote or
consent under any of the circumstances described above, any of the Capital
Securities that are owned by the Corporation, the Guarantor, the Issuer Trustees
or any affiliate of the Corporation, the Guarantor or any Issuer Trustees,
shall, for purposes of such vote or consent, be treated as if they were not
outstanding.
GLOBAL CAPITAL SECURITIES
The Capital Securities of a series may be issued in whole or in part in the
form of one or more Global Capital Securities that will be deposited with, or on
behalf of, the Depositary identified in the Prospectus Supplement relating to
such series. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement
for such series, the Depositary will be DTC. Global Capital Securities may be
issued only in fully registered form and in either temporary or permanent form.
Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for the individual Capital
Securities represented thereby, a Global Capital Security may not be transferred
except as a whole by the Depositary for such Global Capital Security to a
nominee of such Depositary or by a nominee of such Depositary to such Depositary
or another nominee of such Depositary or by the Depositary or any nominee to a
successor Depositary or any nominee of such successor.
The specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to a series
of Capital Securities will be described in the Prospectus Supplement relating to
such series. The Corporation anticipates that the following provisions will
generally apply to depositary arrangements.
Upon the issuance of a Global Capital Security, and the deposit of such
Global Capital Security with or on behalf of the Depositary, the Depositary for
such Global Capital Security or its nominee will credit, on its book-entry
registration and transfer system, the respective aggregate Liquidation Amounts
of the individual Capital Securities represented by such Global Capital
Securities to the accounts of Participants. Such accounts shall be designated by
the dealers, underwriters or agents with respect to such Capital Securities or
by the Corporation if such Capital Securities are offered and sold directly by
the Corporation. Ownership of beneficial interests in a Global Capital Security
will be limited to Participants or persons that may hold interests through
Participants. Ownership of beneficial interests in such Global Capital Security
will be shown on, and the transfer of that ownership will be effected only
through, records maintained by the applicable Depositary or its nominee (with
respect to interests of Participants) and the records of Participants (with
respect to interests of persons who hold through Participants). The laws of some
states require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of
such securities in definitive form. Such limits and such laws may impair the
ability to transfer beneficial interests in a Global Capital Security.
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So long as the Depositary for a Global Capital Security, or its nominee, is
the registered owner of such Global Capital Security, such Depositary or such
nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the
Capital Securities represented by such Global Capital Security for all purposes
under the Indenture governing such Capital Securities. Except as provided below,
owners of beneficial interests in a Global Capital Security will not be entitled
to have any of the individual Capital Securities of the series represented by
such Global Capital Security registered in their names, will not receive or be
entitled to receive physical delivery of any such Capital Securities of such
series in definitive form and will not be considered the owners or holders
thereof under the Indenture.
Payments of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on individual
Capital Securities represented by a Global Capital Security registered in the
name of a Depositary or its nominee will be made to the Depositary or its
nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner of the Global Capital
Security representing such Capital Securities. None of the Corporation, the
Guarantor, the Property Trustee, any Paying Agent, or the securities registrar
for such Capital Securities will have any responsibility or liability for any
aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial
ownership interests of the Global Capital Security representing such Capital
Securities or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to
such beneficial ownership interests.
The Corporation expects that the Depositary for a series of Capital
Securities or its nominee, upon receipt of any payment of Liquidation Amount,
premium or Distributions, including any payment of Redemption Price, in respect
of a permanent Global Capital Security representing any of such Capital
Securities immediately will credit Participants' accounts with payments in
amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interest in the aggregate
Liquidation Amount of such Global Capital Security for such Capital Securities
as shown on the records of such Depositary or its nominee. The Corporation also
expects that payments by Participants to owners of beneficial interests in such
Global Capital Security held through such Participants will be governed by
standing instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with
securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in
"street name." Such payments will be the responsibility of such Participants.
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, if a
Depositary for a series of Capital Securities is at any time unwilling, unable
or ineligible to continue as depositary and a successor depositary is not
appointed by the Issuer within 90 days, or if there shall have occurred and be
continuing an event of default under the Indenture with respect to the Junior
Subordinated Debentures of such series, the Issuer will issue individual Capital
Securities of such series in exchange for the Global Capital Security
representing such series of Capital Securities. In addition, the Issuer may at
any time and in its sole discretion, subject to any limitations described in the
Prospectus Supplement relating to such Capital Securities, determine not to have
any Capital Securities of such series represented by one or more Global Capital
Securities and, in such event, will issue individual Capital Securities of such
series in exchange for the Global Capital Security or Securities representing
such series of Capital Securities. Further, if the Issuer so specifies with
respect to the Capital Securities of a series, an owner of a beneficial interest
in a Global Capital Security representing Capital Securities of such series may,
on terms acceptable to the Issuer, the Property Trustee and the Depositary for
such Global Capital Security, receive individual Capital Securities of such
series in exchange for such beneficial interests, subject to any limitations
described in the Prospectus Supplement relating to such Capital Securities. In
any such instance, an owner of a beneficial interest in a Global Capital
Security will be entitled to physical delivery of individual Capital Securities
of the series represented by such Global Capital Security equal in principal
amount to such beneficial interest and to have such Capital Securities
registered in its name. Individual Capital Securities of such series so issued
will be issued in denominations, unless otherwise specified by the Issuer, and
integral multiples thereof that are the same as the denominations and multiples
in which the Capital Securities are issued.
PAYMENT AND PAYING AGENCY
Payments in respect of the Capital Securities shall be made to the
Depositary, which shall credit the relevant accounts at the Depositary on the
applicable Distribution Dates or, if any Issuer's Capital Securities are not
held by the Depositary, such payments shall be made by check mailed to the
address of the holder
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entitled thereto as such address shall appear on the Register. Unless otherwise
specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the paying agent (the "Paying
Agent") shall initially be the Property Trustee and any co-paying agent chosen
by the Property Trustee and acceptable to the Administrative Trustees and the
Corporation. The Paying Agent shall be permitted to resign as Paying Agent upon
30 days' written notice to the Property Trustee and the Corporation. In the
event that the Property Trustee shall no longer be the Paying Agent, the
Administrative Trustees shall appoint a successor (which shall be a bank or
trust company acceptable to the Administrative Trustees and the Corporation) to
act as Paying Agent.
REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER AGENT
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the
Property Trustee will act as registrar and transfer agent for the Capital
Securities.
Registration of transfers of Capital Securities will be effected without
charge by or on behalf of each Issuer, but upon payment of any tax or other
governmental charges that may be imposed in connection with any transfer or
exchange. The Issuers will not be required to register or cause to be registered
the transfer of their Capital Securities after such Capital Securities have been
called for redemption.
INFORMATION CONCERNING THE PROPERTY TRUSTEE
The Property Trustee, other than during the occurrence and continuance of
an Event of Default, undertakes to perform only such duties as are specifically
set forth in each Trust Agreement and, after such Event of Default, must
exercise the same degree of care and skill as a prudent person would exercise or
use in the conduct of his or her own affairs. Subject to this provision, the
Property Trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of the powers vested in
it by the applicable Trust Agreement at the request of any holder of Capital
Securities unless it is offered reasonable indemnity against the costs, expenses
and liabilities that might be incurred thereby. If no Event of Default has
occurred and is continuing and the Property Trustee is required to decide
between alternative causes of action, construe ambiguous provisions in the
applicable Trust Agreement or is unsure of the application of any provision of
the applicable Trust Agreement, and the matter is not one on which holders of
Capital Securities are entitled under such Trust Agreement to vote, then the
Property Trustee shall take such action as is directed by the Corporation and if
not so directed, shall take such action as it deems advisable and in the best
interests of the holders of the Trust Securities and will have no liability
except for its own bad faith, negligence or willful misconduct.
MISCELLANEOUS
The Administrative Trustees are authorized and directed to conduct the
affairs of and to operate the Issuers in such a way that no Issuer will be
deemed to be an "investment company" required to be registered under the
Investment Company Act or classified as an association taxable as a corporation
or as other than a grantor trust for United States Federal income tax purposes
and so that the Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures will be treated as
indebtedness of the Corporation and the Guarantor for United States Federal
income tax purposes. In this connection, the Corporation and the Administrative
Trustees are authorized to take any action, not inconsistent with applicable
law, the certificate of trust of each Issuer or each Trust Agreement, that the
Corporation and the Administrative Trustees determine in their discretion to be
necessary or desirable for such purposes, as long as such action does not
materially adversely affect the interests of the holders of the related Capital
Securities.
Holders of the Capital Securities have no preemptive or similar rights.
No Issuer may borrow money or issue debt or mortgage or pledge any of its
assets.
BOOK-ENTRY ISSUANCE
DTC will act as securities depositary for all of the Capital Securities and
the Junior Subordinated Debentures, unless otherwise referred to in the
Prospectus Supplement relating to an offering of Capital Securities or Junior
Subordinated Debentures. The Capital Securities and the Junior Subordinated
Deben-
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tures will be issued only as fully-registered securities registered in the name
of Cede & Co. (DTC's nominee). One or more fully-registered global certificates
will be issued for the Capital Securities of each Issuer and the Junior
Subordinated Debentures, representing in the aggregate the total number of such
Issuer's Capital Securities or aggregate principal balance of Junior
Subordinated Debentures, respectively, and will be deposited with DTC.
DTC is a limited purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking
Law, a "banking organization" within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a
member of the Federal Reserve System, a "clearing corporation" within the
meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code, and a "clearing agency"
registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act. DTC
holds securities that its Participants deposit with DTC. DTC also facilitates
the settlement among Participants of securities transactions, such as transfers
and pledges, in deposited securities through electronic computerized book-entry
changes in Participants' accounts, thereby eliminating the need for physical
movement of securities certificates. "Direct Participants" include securities
brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain
other organizations. DTC is owned by a number of its Direct Participants and by
the New York Stock Exchange, Inc., the American Stock Exchange, Inc. and the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Access to the DTC system is
also available to others such as securities brokers and dealers, banks and trust
companies that clear through or maintain custodial relationships with Direct
Participants, either directly or indirectly ("Indirect Participants"). The rules
applicable to DTC and its Participants are on file with the Commission.
Purchases of Capital Securities or Junior Subordinated Debentures within
the DTC system must be made by or through Direct Participants, which will
receive a credit for the Capital Securities or Junior Subordinated Debentures on
DTC's records. The ownership interest of each actual purchaser of each Capital
Security and each Junior Subordinated Debenture ("Beneficial Owner") is in turn
to be recorded on the Direct and Indirect Participants' records. Beneficial
Owners will not receive written confirmation from DTC of their purchases, but
Beneficial Owners are expected to receive written confirmations providing
details of the transactions, as well as periodic statements of their holdings,
from the Direct or Indirect Participants through which the Beneficial Owners
purchased Capital Securities or Junior Subordinated Debentures. Transfers of
ownership interests in the Capital Securities or Junior Subordinated Debentures
are to be accomplished by entries made on the books of Participants acting on
behalf of Beneficial Owners. Beneficial Owners will not receive certificates
representing their ownership interests in Capital Securities or Junior
Subordinated Debentures, except in the event that use of the book-entry system
for the Capital Securities of such Issuer or Junior Subordinated Debentures is
discontinued.
DTC has no knowledge of the actual Beneficial Owners of the Capital
Securities or Junior Subordinated Debentures; DTC's records reflect only the
identity of the Direct Participants to whose accounts such Capital Securities or
Junior Subordinated Debentures are credited, which may or may not be the
Beneficial Owners. The Participants will remain responsible for keeping account
of their holdings on behalf of their customers.
Conveyance of notices and other communications by DTC to Direct
Participants, by Direct Participants to Indirect Participants, and by Direct
Participants and Indirect Participants to Beneficial Owners and the voting
rights of Direct Participants, Indirect Participants and Beneficial Owners will
be governed by arrangements among them, subject to any statutory or regulatory
requirements as may be in effect from time to time.
Redemption notices will be sent to Cede & Co. as the registered holder of
the Capital Securities or Junior Subordinated Debentures. If less than all of an
Issuer's Capital Securities or the Junior Subordinated Debentures are being
redeemed, DTC's current practice is to determine by lot the amount of the
interest of each Direct Participant to be redeemed.
Although voting with respect to the Capital Securities or the Junior
Subordinated Debentures is limited to the holders of record of the Capital
Securities or Junior Subordinated Debentures, in those instances in which a vote
is required, neither DTC nor Cede & Co. will itself consent or vote with respect
to Capital Securities or Junior Subordinated Debentures. Under its usual
procedures, DTC would mail an omnibus proxy (the "Omnibus Proxy") to the
relevant Trustee as soon as possible after the record date. The Omnibus Proxy
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assigns Cede & Co.'s consenting or voting rights to those Direct Participants to
whose accounts such Capital Securities or Junior Subordinated Debentures are
credited on the record date (identified in a listing attached to the Omnibus
Proxy).
Distribution payments on the Capital Securities or the Junior Subordinated
Debentures will be made by the relevant Trustee to DTC. DTC's practice is to
credit Direct Participants' accounts on the relevant payment date in accordance
with their respective holdings shown on DTC's records unless DTC has reason to
believe that it will not receive payments on such payment date. Payments by
Participants to Beneficial Owners will be governed by standing instructions and
customary practices and will be the responsibility of such Participant and not
of DTC, the relevant Trustee, the Issuer thereof, the Corporation or the
Guarantor, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in
effect from time to time. Payment of Distributions to DTC is the responsibility
of the relevant Trustee, disbursement of such payments to Direct Participants is
the responsibility of DTC, and disbursements of such payments to the Beneficial
Owners is the responsibility of Direct and Indirect Participants.
DTC may discontinue providing its services as securities depositary with
respect to any of the Capital Securities or the Junior Subordinated Debentures
at any time by giving reasonable notice to the relevant Trustee and the
Corporation. In the event that a successor securities depositary is not
obtained, definitive Capital Security or Junior Subordinated Debenture
certificates representing such Capital Securities or Junior Subordinated
Debentures are required to be printed and delivered. The Corporation, at its
option, may decide to discontinue use of the system of book-entry transfers
through DTC (or a successor depositary). After a Debenture Event of Default, the
holders of a majority in liquidation preference of Capital Securities or
aggregate principal amount of Junior Subordinated Debentures may determine to
discontinue the system of book-entry transfers through DTC. In any such event,
definitive certificates for such Capital Securities or Junior Subordinated
Debentures will be printed and delivered.
The information in this section concerning DTC and DTC's book-entry system
has been obtained from sources that the Issuers, the Corporation and the
Guarantor believe to be accurate, but the Issuers, the Corporation and the
Guarantor assume no responsibility for the accuracy thereof. None of the
Issuers, the Corporation and the Guarantor has any responsibility for the
performance by DTC or its Participants of their respective obligations as
described herein or under the rules and procedures governing their respective
operations.
DESCRIPTION OF GUARANTEES AND ADDITIONAL GUARANTEES
A Guarantee and an Additional Guarantee will be executed and delivered by
the Corporation and the Guarantor, respectively, concurrently with the issuance
by each Issuer of its Capital Securities for the benefit of the holders from
time to time of such Capital Securities. The First National Bank of Chicago will
act as indenture trustee ("Guarantee Trustee") under each Guarantee and
Additional Guarantee for the purposes of compliance with the Trust Indenture Act
and each Guarantee and Additional Guarantee will be qualified as an indenture
under the Trust Indenture Act. This summary of certain provisions of the
Guarantees and the Additional Guarantees, which summarizes the material terms
thereof, does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its
entirety by reference to, all of the provisions of each Guarantee and Additional
Guarantee, including the definitions therein of certain terms, and the Trust
Indenture Act, to each of which reference is hereby made. The forms of the
Guarantee and the Additional Guarantee have been filed as exhibits to the
Registration Statement of which this Prospectus forms a part. Reference in this
summary to Capital Securities means that Issuer's Capital Securities to which a
Guarantee or an Additional Guarantee relates. The Guarantee Trustee will hold
each Guarantee and Additional Guarantee for the benefit of the holders of the
related Issuer's Capital Securities.
GENERAL
The Corporation will irrevocably agree to pay in full on a subordinated
basis, to the extent set forth herein, the Guarantee Payments (as defined below)
to the holders of the Capital Securities, as and when due, regardless of any
defense, right of set-off or counterclaim that such Issuer may have or assert
other than the
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defense of payment. The following payments with respect to the Capital
Securities, to the extent not paid by or on behalf of the related Issuer (the
"Guarantee Payments"), will be subject to the Guarantee: (i) any accumulated and
unpaid Distributions required to be paid on such Capital Securities, to the
extent that such Issuer has funds on hand available therefor at such time, (ii)
the Redemption Price with respect to any Capital Securities called for
redemption, to the extent that such Issuer has funds on hand available therefor
at such time, or (iii) upon a voluntary or involuntary dissolution, winding up
or liquidation of such Issuer (unless the Corresponding Junior Subordinated
Debentures are distributed to holders of such Capital Securities in exchange
therefor), the lesser of (a) the Liquidation Distribution and (b) the amount of
assets of such Issuer remaining available for distribution to holders of Capital
Securities after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of such Issuer as
required by applicable law.
The Guarantor will irrevocably agree to pay in full on a junior
subordinated basis, to the extent set forth herein, the Corporation's obligation
under the Guarantee to make the Guarantee Payments to the holders of the Capital
Securities, as and when due, regardless of any defense, right of set-off or
counterclaim that such Issuer may have or assert other than the defense of
payment.
The Corporation's and the Guarantor's obligation to make a Guarantee
Payment may be satisfied by direct payment of the required amounts by the
Corporation or the Guarantor to the holders of the applicable Capital Securities
or by causing the Issuer to pay such amounts to such holders.
Each Guarantee will be an irrevocable guarantee on a junior subordinated
basis of the related Issuer's obligations under the Capital Securities, but will
apply only to the extent that such related Issuer has funds sufficient to make
such payments, and is not a guarantee of collection. Each Additional Guarantee
will be an irrevocable guarantee on a junior subordinated basis of the
Corporation's obligations under the related Guarantee.
If the Corporation does not make interest payments on the Corresponding
Junior Subordinated Debentures held by the Issuer and the Guarantor does not
make payments pursuant to the Debenture Guarantees, the Issuer will not be able
to pay Distributions on the Related Capital Securities and will not have funds
legally available therefor. Each Guarantee and Additional Guarantee will rank
subordinate and junior in right of payment to all Senior Debt of the Corporation
and the Guarantor, respectively. See "-- Status of the Guarantees". Because each
of the Corporation and the Guarantor is a holding company, the right of the
Corporation or the Guarantor to participate in any distribution of assets of any
subsidiary upon such subsidiary's liquidation or reorganization or otherwise, is
subject to the prior claims of creditors of that subsidiary, except to the
extent the Corporation or the Guarantor may itself be recognized as a creditor
of that subsidiary. Accordingly, each of the Corporation's and the Guarantor's
obligations under the Guarantees and the Additional Guarantees, respectively,
will be effectively subordinated to all existing and future liabilities of their
respective subsidiaries, and claimants should look only to the assets of the
Corporation and the Guarantor for payments thereunder. See "The Corporation" and
"The Guarantor." Except as otherwise provided in the applicable Prospectus
Supplement, the Guarantees and the Additional Guarantees do not limit the
incurrence or issuance of other secured or unsecured debt of the Corporation or
the Guarantor, including Senior Debt, whether under the Indenture, any other
existing indenture or any other indenture that the Corporation or the Guarantor
may enter into in the future or otherwise. See the applicable Prospectus
Supplement relating to any offering of Capital Securities.
The Corporation has, through the applicable Guarantee, the applicable Trust
Agreement, the applicable series of Corresponding Junior Subordinated
Debentures, the Indenture and the applicable Expense Agreement, taken together,
fully, irrevocably and unconditionally guaranteed all of the Issuer's
obligations under the Capital Securities. The Guarantor has, through the
applicable Additional Guarantee, the applicable Trust Agreement, the applicable
Debenture Guarantee, the Indenture and the applicable Expense Agreement, taken
together, fully, irrevocably and unconditionally guaranteed all of the
Corporation's obligations under (i) its guarantees of the Issuer's obligations
under the Capital Securities and (ii) the Corresponding Junior Subordinated
Debentures. No single document standing alone or operating in conjunction with
fewer than all of the other documents constitutes such guarantees. It is only
the combined operation of these documents that has the effect of providing a
full, irrevocable and unconditional guarantee of the Issuer's obligations under
the
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Capital Securities. See "Relationship Among the Capital Securities, the
Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures, the Expense Agreement, the
Guarantees and the Additional Guarantees."
STATUS OF THE GUARANTEES
Each Guarantee and Additional Guarantee will constitute an unsecured
obligation of the Corporation and the Guarantor, respectively, and will rank
subordinate and junior in right of payment to all Senior Debt of the Corporation
and the Guarantor in the same manner as Junior Subordinated Debentures and
Debenture Guarantees, respectively.
Each Guarantee and Additional Guarantee will rank pari passu with all other
Guarantees and Additional Guarantees issued by the Corporation and the
Guarantor, respectively. Each Guarantee and Additional Guarantee will constitute
a guarantee of payment and not of collection (i.e., the guaranteed party may
institute a legal proceeding directly against the Corporation or the Guarantor
to enforce its rights under the Guarantee and the Additional Guarantee,
respectively, without first instituting a legal proceeding against any other
person or entity). Each Guarantee and Additional Guarantee will be held for the
benefit of the holders of the related Capital Securities. Each Guarantee and
Additional Guarantee will not be discharged except by payment of the Guarantee
Payments in full to the extent not paid by the Issuer or upon distribution to
the holders of the Capital Securities of the Corresponding Junior Subordinated
Debentures. None of the Guarantees and the Additional Guarantees places a
limitation on the amount of additional Senior Debt that may be incurred by the
Corporation or the Guarantor. The Corporation or the Guarantor expect from time
to time to incur additional indebtedness constituting Senior Debt.
AMENDMENTS AND ASSIGNMENT
Except with respect to any changes which do not materially adversely affect
the rights of holders of the related Capital Securities (in which case no vote
will be required), no Guarantee or Additional Guarantee may be amended without
the prior approval of the holders of not less than a majority of the aggregate
Liquidation Amount of such outstanding Capital Securities. The manner of
obtaining any such approval will be as set forth under "Description of Capital
Securities -- Voting Rights; Amendment of Each Trust Agreement." All guarantees
and agreements contained in each Guarantee and Additional Guarantee shall bind
the successors, assigns, receivers, trustees and representatives of the
Corporation and the Guarantor, respectively, and shall inure to the benefit of
the holders of the related Capital Securities then outstanding.
EVENTS OF DEFAULT
An event of default under a Guarantee or an Additional Guarantee will occur
upon the failure of the Corporation or the Guarantor, as the case may be, to
perform any of its payment obligations thereunder or to perform any non-payment
obligations if such non-payment default remains unremedied for 30 days. The
holders of not less than a majority in aggregate Liquidation Amount of the
related Capital Securities have the right to direct the time, method and place
of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Guarantee Trustee
in respect of such Guarantee or Additional Guarantee or to direct the exercise
of any trust or power conferred upon the Guarantee Trustee under such Guarantee
or Additional Guarantee.
Any holder of the Capital Securities may institute a legal proceeding
directly against the Corporation or the Guarantor to enforce its rights under
such Guarantee or Additional Guarantee, respectively, without first instituting
a legal proceeding against the Issuer, the Guarantee Trustee or any other person
or entity.
The Corporation and the Guarantor, as guarantors, are required to file
annually with the Guarantee Trustee a certificate as to whether or not the
Corporation and the Guarantor are in compliance with all the conditions and
covenants applicable to them under the Guarantee and the Additional Guarantee,
respectively.
INFORMATION CONCERNING THE GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
The Guarantee Trustee, other than during the occurrence and continuance of
a default by the Corporation or the Guarantor in performance of any Guarantee or
Additional Guarantee, undertakes to
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<PAGE> 79
perform only such duties as are specifically set forth in each Guarantee and
Additional Guarantee and, after default with respect to any Guarantee or
Additional Guarantee, must exercise the same degree of care and skill as a
prudent person would exercise or use in the conduct of his or her own affairs.
Subject to this provision, the Guarantee Trustee is under no obligation to
exercise any of the powers vested in it by any Guarantee or Additional Guarantee
at the request of any holder of any Capital Securities unless it is offered
reasonable indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities that might be
incurred thereby.
TERMINATION OF THE GUARANTEES AND ADDITIONAL GUARANTEES
Each Guarantee and Additional Guarantee will terminate and be of no further
force and effect upon full payment of the Redemption Price of the related
Capital Securities, upon full payment of the amounts payable upon liquidation of
the related Issuer or upon distribution of Corresponding Junior Subordinated
Debentures to the holders of the Related Capital Securities in exchange
therefor. Each Guarantee and Additional Guarantee will continue to be effective
or will be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any holder of the
related Capital Securities must restore payment of any sums paid under such
Capital Securities or such Guarantee or Additional Guarantee.
GOVERNING LAW
Each Guarantee and Additional Guarantee will be governed by and construed
in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
THE EXPENSE AGREEMENT
Pursuant to the Expense Agreement entered into by the Corporation and the
Guarantor under each Trust Agreement (the "Expense Agreement"), each of the
Corporation and the Guarantor will irrevocably and unconditionally guarantee to
each Person or entity to whom the Issuer becomes indebted or liable, the full
payment of any costs, expenses or liabilities of the Issuer, other than
obligations of the Issuer to pay to the holders of any Capital Securities or
other similar interests in the Issuer of the amounts due such holders pursuant
to the terms of the Capital Securities or such other similar interests, as the
case may be. The Expense Agreement will be enforceable by third parties.
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<PAGE> 80
RELATIONSHIP AMONG THE CAPITAL SECURITIES, THE CORRESPONDING
JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES, THE EXPENSE AGREEMENT,
THE GUARANTEES AND THE ADDITIONAL GUARANTEES
FULL AND UNCONDITIONAL GUARANTEE
Payments of Distributions and other amounts due on the Capital Securities
(to the extent the Issuer has funds available for the payment of such
Distributions) are irrevocably guaranteed by the Corporation and the Guarantor
as and to the extent set forth under "Description of Guarantees and Additional
Guarantees." Taken together, the Corporation's and the Guarantor's obligations
under each series of Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures and Debenture
Guarantee, the Indenture, the related Trust Agreement, the related Expense
Agreement, and the related Guarantee and Additional Guarantee provide, in the
aggregate, a full, irrevocable and unconditional guarantee of payments of
Distributions and other amounts due on the Related Capital Securities. No single
document standing alone or operating in conjunction with fewer than all of the
other documents constitutes such guarantee. It is only the combined operation of
these documents that has the effect of providing a full, irrevocable and
unconditional guarantee of the Issuer's obligations under the Related Capital
Securities. If and to the extent that the Corporation and the Guarantor do not
make payments on any series of Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures or
the related Debenture Guarantee, respectively, such Issuer will not pay
Distributions or other amounts due on its Related Capital Securities. The
Guarantees and Additional Guarantees do not cover payment of Distributions when
the related Issuer does not have sufficient funds to pay such Distributions. In
such event, the remedy of a holder of a series of Capital Securities is to
institute a legal proceeding directly against the Corporation or the Guarantor
pursuant to the terms of the Indenture for enforcement of payment of amounts of
such Distributions to such holder. The obligations of the Corporation and the
Guarantor under each Guarantee and Additional Guarantee are subordinate and
junior in right of payment to all Senior Debt of the Corporation and the
Guarantor, respectively.
SUFFICIENCY OF PAYMENTS
As long as payments of interest and other payments are made when due on
each series of Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures, such payments will
be sufficient to cover Distributions and other payments due on the Related
Capital Securities, primarily because (i) the aggregate principal amount of each
series of Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures will be equal to the sum
of the aggregate stated Liquidation Amount of the Related Capital Securities and
related Common Securities; (ii) the interest rate and interest and other payment
dates on each series of Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures will match
the Distribution rate and Distribution and other payment dates for the Related
Capital Securities; (iii) the Corporation or the Guarantor shall pay for all and
any costs, expenses and liabilities of such Issuer except the Issuer's
obligations to holders of its Capital Securities under such Capital Securities;
and (iv) each Trust Agreement provides that the Issuer will not engage in any
activity that is not consistent with the limited purposes of such Issuer.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Indenture, each of the
Corporation and the Guarantor has the right to set-off any payment it is
otherwise required to make thereunder with and to the extent the Corporation or
the Guarantor has theretofore made, or is concurrently on the date of such
payment making, a payment under the related Guarantee.
ENFORCEMENT RIGHTS OF HOLDERS OF CAPITAL SECURITIES
A holder of any Capital Security may institute a legal proceeding directly
against the Corporation or the Guarantor to enforce its rights under the related
Guarantee or Additional Guarantee without first instituting a legal proceeding
against the Guarantee Trustee, the related Issuer or any other person or entity.
A default or event of default under any Senior Debt of the Corporation or
the Guarantor would not constitute a default or Event of Default under the
Indenture. However, in the event of payment defaults under, or acceleration of,
Senior Debt of the Corporation or the Guarantor, the subordination provisions of
the
47
<PAGE> 81
Indenture provide that no payments may be made in respect of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures until such Senior Debt has been paid in full or any
payment default thereunder has been cured or waived. Failure to make required
payments on any series of Junior Subordinated Debentures would constitute an
Event of Default under the Indenture.
LIMITED PURPOSE OF ISSUERS
Each Issuer's Capital Securities evidence a beneficial interest in such
Issuer, and each Issuer exists for the sole purpose of issuing its Capital
Securities and Common Securities and investing the proceeds thereof in Junior
Subordinated Debentures. A principal difference between the rights of a holder
of a Capital Security and a holder of a Junior Subordinated Debenture is that a
holder of a Junior Subordinated Debenture is entitled to receive from the
Corporation the principal amount of and interest accrued on Junior Subordinated
Debentures held, while a holder of Capital Securities is entitled to receive
Distributions from such Issuer (or from the Corporation or the Guarantor under
the applicable Guarantee or Additional Guarantee) if and to the extent such
Issuer has funds available for the payment of such Distributions.
RIGHTS UPON TERMINATION
Upon any voluntary or involuntary termination, winding-up or liquidation of
any Issuer involving the liquidation of the Corresponding Junior Subordinated
Debentures, the holders of the Related Capital Securities will be entitled to
receive, out of the assets held by such Issuer, the Liquidation Distribution in
cash. See "Description of Capital Securities -- Liquidation Distribution Upon
Termination." Upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation or bankruptcy of the
Corporation or the Guarantor, the Property Trustee, as holder of the
Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures (with related Debenture
Guarantees), would be a subordinated creditor of the Corporation or the
Guarantor, respectively, subordinated in right of payment to all Senior Debt as
set forth in the Indenture, but entitled to receive payment in full of principal
and interest, before any stockholders of the Corporation or the Guarantor, as
the case may be, receive payments or distributions. Since each of the
Corporation and the Guarantor is the guarantor under the Guarantee and
Additional Guarantee, respectively, and has agreed to pay for all costs,
expenses and liabilities of each Issuer (other than the Issuer's obligations to
the holders of its Capital Securities), the positions of a holder of such
Capital Securities and a holder of such Corresponding Junior Subordinated
Debentures (with related Debenture Guarantees) relative to other creditors and
to stockholders of the Corporation or the Guarantor, respectively, in the event
of liquidation or bankruptcy of the Corporation or the Guarantor are expected to
be substantially the same.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
The Junior Subordinated Debentures or the Capital Securities may be sold in
a public offering to or through underwriters or dealers designated from time to
time. The Corporation and each Issuer may sell its Junior Subordinated
Debentures or Capital Securities as soon as practicable after effectiveness of
the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus forms a part. The names of
any underwriters or dealers involved in the sale of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures or Capital Securities in respect of which this Prospectus is
delivered, the amount or number of Junior Subordinated Debentures and Capital
Securities to be purchased by any such underwriters and any applicable
commissions or discounts will be set forth in the applicable Prospectus
Supplement.
Underwriters may offer and sell Junior Subordinated Debentures or Capital
Securities at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, or from time to
time at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to such
prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices. In connection with the sale of
Capital Securities, underwriters may be deemed to have received compensation
from the Corporation and/or the applicable Issuer in the form of underwriting
discounts or commissions and may also receive commissions. Underwriters may sell
Junior Subordinated Debentures or Capital Securities to or through dealers, and
such dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or
commissions from the underwriters.
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Any underwriting compensation paid by the Corporation and/or the applicable
Issuer to underwriters in connection with the offering of Junior Subordinated
Debentures or Capital Securities, and any discounts, concessions or commissions
allowed by such underwriters to participating dealers, will be described in an
accompanying Prospectus Supplement. Underwriters and dealers participating in
the distribution of Junior Subordinated Debentures or Capital Securities may be
deemed to be underwriters, and any discounts and commissions received by them
and any profit realized by them on resale of such Junior Subordinated Debentures
or Capital Securities may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and
commissions, under the Securities Act. Underwriters and dealers may be entitled,
under agreement with the Corporation and the applicable Issuer, to
indemnification against and contribution toward certain civil liabilities,
including liabilities under the Securities Act, and to reimbursement by the
Corporation for certain expenses.
In connection with the offering of the Capital Securities of any Issuer,
such Issuer may grant to the underwriters an option to purchase additional
Capital Securities to cover over-allotments, if any, at the initial public
offering price (with an additional underwriting commission), as may be set forth
in the accompanying Prospectus Supplement. If such Issuer grants any
over-allotment option, the terms of such over-allotment option will be set forth
in the Prospectus Supplement for such Capital Securities.
Underwriters and dealers may engage in transactions with, or perform
services for, the Corporation and/or the Guarantor and/or the applicable Issuer
and/or any of their affiliates in the ordinary course of business.
The Junior Subordinated Debentures and the Capital Securities will be new
issues of securities and will have no established trading market. Any
underwriters to whom Junior Subordinated Debentures or Capital Securities are
sold for public offering and sale may make a market in such Junior Subordinated
Debentures and Capital Securities, but such underwriters will not be obligated
to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. Such
Junior Subordinated Debentures or Capital Securities may or may not be listed on
a national securities exchange or the NASDAQ Stock Market. No assurance can be
given as to the liquidity of or the existence of trading markets for any Junior
Subordinated Debentures or Capital Securities.
VALIDITY OF SECURITIES
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, certain
matters of Delaware law relating to the validity of the Capital Securities, the
enforceability of the Trust Agreements and the formation of the Issuers will be
passed upon by Richards, Layton & Finger, One Rodney Square, Wilmington,
Delaware 19801, special Delaware counsel to the Corporation and the Issuers.
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the validity
of the Guarantees, the Additional Guarantees, the Junior Subordinated Debentures
and the Debenture Guarantees will be passed upon for the Corporation by Sullivan
& Cromwell, 125 Broad Street, New York, New York 10004, and for the Underwriters
by Simpson Thacher & Bartlett (a partnership which includes professional
corporations), 425 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10017. The validity of
the Additional Guarantees and the Debenture Guarantees will be passed upon as to
matters of Puerto Rico law for the Corporation by Brunilda Santos de Alvarez,
Esq., counsel to the Guarantor. Sullivan & Cromwell and Simpson Thacher &
Bartlett will rely as to certain matters of Delaware law upon the opinion of
Richards, Layton & Finger and as to all matters of Puerto Rico law upon the
opinion of Brunilda Santos de Alvarez, Esq.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements of the Guarantor and subsidiaries
incorporated in this Prospectus by reference from the Guarantor's Annual Report
on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995 have been audited by Price
Waterhouse, independent accountants, as set forth in their report thereon
included therein and incorporated herein by reference. Such financial statements
are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such report given upon the
authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
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NO DEALER, SALESPERSON OR OTHER PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY
INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY REPRESENTATION NOT CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS
SUPPLEMENT OR THE PROSPECTUS AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH INFORMATION OR
REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE
CORPORATION, THE GUARANTOR, THE ISSUERS OR ANY UNDERWRITER. THIS PROSPECTUS
SUPPLEMENT AND THE PROSPECTUS DO NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR A
SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY ANY OF THE SECURITIES OFFERED HEREBY IN ANY
JURISDICTION TO ANY PERSON TO WHOM IT IS UNLAWFUL TO MAKE SUCH OFFER IN SUCH
JURISDICTION. NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT OR THE
PROSPECTUS NOR ANY SALE MADE HEREUNDER SHALL, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, CREATE
ANY IMPLICATION THAT THE INFORMATION HEREIN IS CORRECT AS OF ANY TIME SUBSEQUENT
TO THE DATE HEREOF OR THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN THE AFFAIRS OF THE
CORPORATION, THE GUARANTOR OR THE ISSUERS SINCE SUCH DATE.
------------------
TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PAGE
----
<S> <C>
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
Risk Factors............................. S-5
BanPonce Trust I......................... S-10
Recent Developments...................... S-11
Consolidated Ratios of Earnings to Fixed
Changes of the Guarantor............... S-11
Summary Financial Data................... S-12
Use of Proceeds.......................... S-13
Capitalization........................... S-13
Accounting Treatment..................... S-14
Certain Terms of Series A Capital
Securities............................. S-14
Certain Terms of Series A Subordinated
Debentures............................. S-17
Certain Terms of Series A Guarantee and
Series A Additional Guarantee.......... S-22
Certain Terms of Series A Debenture
Guarantees............................. S-23
ERISA Considerations..................... S-24
Certain Federal Income Tax
Consequences........................... S-26
Underwriting............................. S-30
Validity of Securities................... S-31
PROSPECTUS
Available Information.................... 3
Incorporation of Certain Documents by
Reference.............................. 3
The Corporation.......................... 5
The Guarantor............................ 5
Consolidated Ratios of Earnings to Fixed
Changes of the Guarantor............... 6
Supervision and Regulation............... 6
The Issuers.............................. 14
Use of Proceeds.......................... 14
Description of Junior Subordinated
Debentures............................. 15
Description of Debenture Guarantees...... 27
Description of Capital Securities........ 29
Book-Entry Issuance...................... 41
Description of Guarantees and Additional
Guarantees............................. 43
Relationship Among the Capital
Securities, the Corresponding Junior
Subordinated Debentures, the Expense
Agreement, the Guarantees and the
Additional Guarantees.................. 47
Plan of Distribution..................... 48
Validity of Securities................... 49
Experts.................................. 49
</TABLE>
$
BANPONCE TRUST I
%
Capital Securities,
Series A
(Liquidation Amount $1,000 per Capital Security)
fully and unconditionally guaranteed,
as described herein, by
BANPONCE
FINANCIAL CORP.
AND
BANPONCE CORPORATION
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON
MERRILL LYNCH & CO.
<PAGE> 84
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
ITEM 14. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION.
The estimated expenses in connection with the issuance and distribution of
the securities being registered are:
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Registration Fee............................................ $ 45,455
Fees and Expenses of Accountants............................ 10,000
Fees and Expenses of Counsel................................ 150,000
Blue Sky Fees and Expenses.................................. 5,500
Printing and Engraving Expenses............................. 65,000
Rating Agency Fees.......................................... 112,500
Trustee's Fees and Expenses................................. 12,000
Miscellaneous............................................... 4,545
--------
Total............................................. $405,000
========
</TABLE>
ITEM 15. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.
(a) The Guarantor is a Puerto Rico corporation.
Article ELEVENTH of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the
Guarantor provides the following:
(1) The Corporation shall indemnify any person who was or is a
party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or
completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal,
administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right
of the Corporation) by reason of the fact that he is or was a director,
officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving at
the written request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee
or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or
other enterprise, 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 Corporation, 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 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 Corporation and, with respect to any criminal action or
proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was
unlawful.
(2) The Corporation shall indemnify any 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 Corporation to
procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that he is or was
a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was
serving at the written request of the Corporation as a director,
officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint
venture, trust or other enterprise, 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 Corporation, except that no
indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter
as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable for
negligence or misconduct in the performance of his duty to the
Corporation unless and only to the extent that the court in which such
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<PAGE> 85
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 shall deem proper.
(3) To the extent that a director, officer, employee or agent of
the Corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in
defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in paragraph 1 or
2 of this Article ELEVENTH, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter
therein, he shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys'
fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection therewith.
(4) Any indemnification under paragraph 1 or 2 of this Article
ELEVENTH (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the Corporation
only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that
indemnification of the director, officer, employee or agent is proper in
the circumstances because he has met the applicable standard of conduct
set forth therein. Such determination shall be made (a) by the Board of
Directors by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors who
were not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, or (b) if such a
quorum is not obtainable, or, even if obtainable, a quorum of
disinterested directors so directs, by independent legal counsel in a
written opinion, or (c) by the stockholders.
(5) Expenses incurred in defending a civil or criminal action, suit
or proceeding may be paid by the Corporation in advance of the final
disposition of such action, suit or proceeding as authorized by the
Board of Directors in the specific case upon receipt of an undertaking
by or on behalf of the director, officer, employee or agent to repay
such amount unless it shall ultimately be determined that he is entitled
to be indemnified by the Corporation as authorized in this Article
ELEVENTH.
(6) The indemnification provided by this Article ELEVENTH shall not
be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking
indemnification may be entitled under any statute, by-law, agreement,
vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to
action in his official capacity and as to action in another capacity
while holding such office, and shall continue as to a person who has
ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to
the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.
(7) By action of its Board of Directors, notwithstanding any
interest of the directors in the action, the Corporation may purchase
and maintain insurance, in such amounts as the Board of Directors deems
appropriate, on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer,
employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the
written request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or
agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other
enterprise, 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 Corporation would have the power or would be required to
indemnify him against such liability under the provisions of this
Article ELEVENTH or of the General Corporation Law of the Commonwealth
of Puerto Rico or of any other state of the United States or foreign
country as may be applicable.
(b) The Corporation is a Delaware corporation.
(1) Section 102 of the Delaware General Corporation Law allows a
corporation to eliminate the personal liability of a director to the
corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of
fiduciary duty as a director, except in cases where the director
breached his duty of loyalty, failed to act in good faith, engaged in
intentional misconduct or knowing violation of law, authorized the
unlawful payment of a dividend or approved an unlawful stock repurchase
or obtained an improper personal benefit. Section 145 of the Delaware
General Corporation Law, as amended, provides that a corporation may
indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be a
party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, or
proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative,
other than an action by or in right of the corporation, by reason of the
fact that he is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the
corporation or is or was serving at its request in such capacity in
another corporation or business association against expenses
II-2
<PAGE> 86
(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 corporation and, with respect to any criminal action or
proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.
(2) Section 6.4 of the By-laws of the Corporation provides the
following:
Section 6.4. Indemnification of Directors, Officers and
Employees. The Corporation shall indemnify to the full extent permitted
by law any person made or threatened to be made a party to any action,
suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative, by reason of the fact that such person or such person's
testator or intestate is or was a director, officer or employee of the
Corporation or serves or served at the request of the Corporation any
other enterprise as a director, officer or employee. Expenses, including
attorneys' fees, incurred by any such person in defending any such
action, suit or proceeding shall be paid or reimbursed by the
Corporation promptly upon receipt by it of an undertaking of such person
to repay such expenses if it shall ultimately be determined that such
person is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation. The rights
provided to any person by this by-law shall be enforceable against the
Corporation by such person who shall be presumed to have relied upon it
in serving or continuing to serve as a director, officer or employee as
provided above. No amendment of this by-law shall impair the rights of
any person arising at any time with respect to events occurring prior to
such amendment. For purposes of this by-law, the term "Corporation"
shall include any predecessor of the Corporation and any constituent
corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed by the
Corporation in a consolidation or merger; the term "other enterprise"
shall include any corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or
employee benefit plan; service "at the request of the Corporation" shall
include service as a director, officer or employee of the Corporation
which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer
or employee with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants
or beneficiaries; any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to
an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to be indemnifiable expenses;
and action by a person with respect to an employee benefit plan which
such person reasonably believes to be in the interest of the
participants and beneficiaries of such plan shall be deemed to be action
not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation.
(c) The Corporation and the Guarantor maintain directors' and officers'
liability insurance policies.
(d) Reference is made to the indemnity provisions in the Underwriting
Agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 1 to this Registration Statement.
(e) Under each Trust Agreement, the Corporation and the Guarantor will
agree to indemnify each of the Trustees of the Issuer with respect thereto
or any predecessor Trustee for the Issuer, and to hold such Trustees
harmless against any loss, damage, claim, 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 Agreements,
including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim or
liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its
powers or duties under the Trust Agreements.
ITEM 16. EXHIBITS
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
(1)(a) -- Form of Underwriting Agreement.
(4)(a) -- Form of Junior Subordinated Indenture among the Corporation,
the Guarantor and The First National Bank of Chicago, as
Debenture Trustee.
(4)(b) -- Certificate of Trust of BanPonce Trust I.
(4)(c) -- Trust Agreement of BanPonce Trust I.
(4)(d) -- Certificate of Trust of BanPonce Trust II.
(4)(e) -- Trust Agreement of BanPonce Trust II.
</TABLE>
II-3
<PAGE> 87
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
(4)(f) -- Form of Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of BanPonce
Trust I and BanPonce Trust II.
(4)(g) -- Form of Capital Security Certificate for BanPonce Trust I
and BanPonce Trust II (included as Exhibit D of Exhibit
4(f)).
(4)(h) -- Form of Guarantee Agreement for BanPonce Trust I and
BanPonce Trust II.
(5)(a) -- Opinion of Brunilda Santos de Alvarez, Esq.
(5)(b) -- Opinion of Sullivan & Cromwell.
(5)(c) -- Opinion of Richards, Layton & Finger as to legality of the
Capital Securities to be issued by BanPonce Trust I.
(5)(d) -- Opinion of Richards, Layton & Finger as to legality of the
Capital Securities to be issued by BanPonce Trust II.
(8) -- Opinion of Sullivan & Cromwell as to certain federal income
tax matters.
(12) -- Computation of Consolidated Ratios of Earnings to Fixed
Charges and Earnings to Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock
Dividends.
(23)(a) -- Consent of Price Waterhouse.
(23)(b) -- Consent of Brunilda Santos de Alvarez, Esq. (included in
Exhibit (5)(a))
(23)(c) -- Consent of Sullivan & Cromwell. (included in Exhibit (5)(b))
(23)(d) -- Consent of Richards, Layton & Finger. (included in Exhibits
(5)(c) and (d))
(24) -- Powers of attorney. (previously filed)
(25)(a) -- Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of The First National Bank
of Chicago to act as trustee under the Junior Subordinated
Indenture, the Amended and Restated Trust Agreements of
BanPonce Trust I and BanPonce Trust II, and the Guarantees
and Additional Guarantees for the benefit of the holders of
Capital Securities of BanPonce Trust I.
(27) -- The Guarantor's Financial Data Schedule (Incorporated by
reference to Exhibit (27) to the Guarantor's 1996 Third
Quarter Report on Form 10-Q)
</TABLE>
ITEM 17. UNDERTAKINGS
The undersigned Co-registrants hereby undertake:
(a)(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being
made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:
(i) To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the
Securities Act of 1933;
(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after
the effective date of this Registration Statement (or the most recent
post-effective amendment thereto) which, individually or in the
aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth
in this Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any
increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total
dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was
registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated
maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed
with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the
changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the
maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the "Calculation of
Registration Fee" table in the effective registration statement; and
(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan
of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement
or any material change to such information in the Registration
Statement;
provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if
the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by
those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with
II-4
<PAGE> 88
or furnished to the Commission by the Co-registrants pursuant to Section 13
or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by
reference in the Registration Statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed
to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered
therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed
to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment
any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
termination of the offering.
(b) To provide to the underwriter at the closing specified in the
underwriting agreement certificates in such denominations and registered in such
names as required by the underwriter to permit prompt delivery to each
purchaser.
(c) That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities
Act of 1933, each filing of the Guarantor's annual report pursuant to Section
13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by
reference in this Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new
registration statement relating to the securities offered therein and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.
(d) That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities
Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part
of this Registration Statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a
form of prospectus filed by any Co-registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4)
or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this
Registration Statement as of the time it was declared effective.
(e) That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities
Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus
shall be deemed to be a new Registration Statement relating to the securities
offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be
deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the
Co-registrants pursuant to the provisions referred to in Item 15 of this
Registration Statement, or otherwise, the Co-registrants have been advised that
in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is
against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.
In the event that a claim for indemnification by the Co-registrants against such
liabilities (other than the payment by the Co-registrants of expenses incurred
or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Co-registrants in
the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the Co-registrants will, unless in the opinion of their counsel the
matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of
appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by them is
against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final
adjudication of such issue.
II-5
<PAGE> 89
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the undersigned
Co-registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets
all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto
duly authorized, in the City of San Juan, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, on the
29th day of January, 1997.
BANPONCE CORPORATION
(Co-registrant)
By: /s/ DAVID H. CHAFEY, JR.
------------------------------------
Name: David H. Chafey, Jr.
Title: Senior Executive Vice
President and Director
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SIGNATURE TITLE DATE
--------- ----- ----
<C> <S> <C>
* Chairman, President and Chief January 29, 1997
- ----------------------------------------------------- Executive Officer (Chief
Richard L. Carrion Executive Officer)
* Director January 29, 1997
- -----------------------------------------------------
Alfonso F. Ballester
Director
- -----------------------------------------------------
Juan J. Bermudez
Director
- -----------------------------------------------------
Francisco J. Carreras
* Senior Executive Vice January 29, 1997
- ----------------------------------------------------- President and Director
David H. Chafey, Jr.
* Director January 29, 1997
- -----------------------------------------------------
Luis E. Dubon, Jr.
* Director January 29, 1997
- -----------------------------------------------------
Antonio Luis Ferre
* Director January 29, 1997
- -----------------------------------------------------
Hector R. Gonzalez
* Senior Executive Vice January 29, 1997
- ----------------------------------------------------- President and Director
Jorge A. Junquera (Chief Financial Officer)
* Director January 29, 1997
- -----------------------------------------------------
Jose E. Rossi
</TABLE>
II-6
<PAGE> 90
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SIGNATURE TITLE DATE
--------- ----- ----
<C> <S> <C>
Director
- -----------------------------------------------------
Manuel Morales, Jr.
* Director January 29, 1997
- -----------------------------------------------------
Alberto M. Paracchini
* Director January 29, 1997
- -----------------------------------------------------
Francisco Perez, Jr.
* Director January 29, 1997
- -----------------------------------------------------
Francisco M. Rexach, Jr.
* Director January 29, 1997
- -----------------------------------------------------
Felix J. Serralles Nevares
* Director January 29, 1997
- -----------------------------------------------------
Emilio Jose Venegas
* Director January 29, 1997
- -----------------------------------------------------
Julio E. Vizcarrondo, Jr.
* Senior Vice President January 29, 1997
- ----------------------------------------------------- (Principal Accounting
Amilcar Jordan Officer)
* /s/ ROBERTO R. HERENCIA
- -----------------------------------------------------
Roberto R. Herencia
as attorney-in-fact for each of the persons indicated
</TABLE>
II-7
<PAGE> 91
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Co-registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets
all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto
duly authorized, in the City of San Juan, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, on the
29th day of January, 1997.
BANPONCE FINANCIAL CORP.
(Co-registrant)
By: /s/ DAVID H. CHAFEY, JR.
------------------------------------
Name: David H. Chafey, Jr.
Title: Senior Executive Vice
President and Director
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SIGNATURE TITLE DATE
--------- ----- ----
<C> <S> <C>
* President and Director January 29, 1997
- ----------------------------------------------------- (Principal Financial
Jorge A. Junquera Officer)
* Director January 29, 1997
- -----------------------------------------------------
Alfonso F. Ballester
* Chairman (Principal Executive January 29, 1997
- ----------------------------------------------------- Officer)
Richard L. Carrion
* Director January 29, 1997
- -----------------------------------------------------
Manuel L. del Valle
* Senior Executive Vice January 29, 1997
- ----------------------------------------------------- President and Director
David H. Chafey, Jr.
* Senior Vice President and January 29, 1997
- ----------------------------------------------------- Director
Roberto R. Herencia
* Senior Vice President and January 29, 1997
- ----------------------------------------------------- Treasurer (Principal
Amilcar Jordan Accounting Officer)
*/s/ ROBERT R. HERENCIA
- -----------------------------------------------------
Robert R. Herencia
as attorney-in-fact for each of the persons indicated
</TABLE>
II-8
<PAGE> 92
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the undersigned
Co-registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets
all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto
duly authorized, in the City of San Juan, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, on the
29th day of January, 1997.
BANPONCE TRUST I
(Co-registrant)
By: BANPONCE FINANCIAL CORP.,
as Depositor
By: /s/ DAVID H. CHAFEY, JR.
--------------------------------------
Name: David H. Chafey, Jr.
Title: Senior Executive Vice President
and Director
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the undersigned
Co-registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets
all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto
duly authorized, in the City of San Juan, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, on the
29th day of January, 1997.
BANPONCE TRUST II
(Co-registrant)
By: BANPONCE FINANCIAL CORP.,
as Depositor
By: /s/ DAVID H. CHAFEY, JR.
------------------------------------
Name: David H. Chafey, Jr.
Title: Senior Executive Vice
President and Director
II-9
<PAGE> 93
EXHIBIT INDEX
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SEQUENTIALLY
EXHIBIT NUMBERED
NUMBER DESCRIPTION OF EXHIBITS PAGE
- ------- ----------------------- ------------
<C> <C> <S> <C>
(1)(a) -- Form of Underwriting Agreement.
(4)(a) -- Form of Junior Subordinated Indenture among the Corporation,
the Guarantor and The First National Bank of Chicago, as
Debenture Trustee.
(4)(b) -- Certificate of Trust of BanPonce Trust I.
(4)(c) -- Trust Agreement of BanPonce Trust I.
(4)(d) -- Certificate of Trust of BanPonce Trust II.
(4)(e) -- Trust Agreement of BanPonce Trust II.
(4)(f) -- Form of Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of BanPonce
Trust I and BanPonce Trust II.
(4)(g) -- Form of Capital Security Certificate for BanPonce Trust I
and BanPonce Trust II (included as Exhibit D of Exhibit
4(f)).
(4)(h) -- Form of Guarantee Agreement for BanPonce Trust I and
BanPonce Trust II.
(5)(a) -- Opinion of Brunilda Santos de Alvarez, Esq.
(5)(b) -- Opinion of Sullivan & Cromwell.
(5)(c) -- Opinion of Richards, Layton & Finger as to legality of the
Capital Securities to be issued by BanPonce Trust I.
(5)(d) -- Opinion of Richards, Layton & Finger as to legality of the
Capital Securities to be issued by BanPonce Trust II.
(8)(a) -- Opinion of Sullivan & Cromwell as to certain federal income
tax matters.
(12)(a) -- Computation of Consolidated Ratios of Earnings to Fixed
Charges and Earnings to Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock
Dividends.
(23)(a) -- Consent of Price Waterhouse.
(23)(b) -- Consent of Brunilda Santos de Alvarez, Esq. (included in
Exhibit (5)(a))
(23)(c) -- Consent of Sullivan & Cromwell. (included in Exhibit (5)(b))
(23)(d) -- Consent of Richards, Layton & Finger. (included in Exhibits
(5)(c) and (d))
(24)(a) -- Powers of attorney. (previously filed)
(25)(a) -- Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of The First National Bank
of Chicago to act as trustee under the Junior Subordinated
Indenture, the Amended and Restated Trust Agreements of
BanPonce Trust I and BanPonce Trust II, and the Guarantees
and Additional Guarantees for the benefit of the holders of
Capital Securities of BanPonce Trust I.
(27)(a) -- The Guarantor's Financial Data Schedule (Incorporated by
reference to Exhibit (27) to the Guarantor's 1996 Third
Quarter Report on Form 10-Q)
</TABLE>
<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT 1(A)
$___,000,000
BANPONCE TRUST I
___% Capital Securities
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
January __, 1997
Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation
As Representatives of the Several Underwriters,
c/o Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation,
Eleven Madison Avenue,
New York, N.Y. 10010-3629
Ladies and Gentlemen:
1. Introductory. BanPonce Trust I (the "Issuer"), a statutory business trust
created under the Business Trust Act (the "Delaware Act") of the State of
Delaware (Chapter 38, Title 12, of the Delaware Code, 12 Del. C. Section 3801
et seq.), proposes, subject to the terms and conditions stated herein, to issue
and sell to the several Underwriters ("Underwriters") ______ of its ___%
Capital Securities, Liquidation Amount $1,000 per Capital Security (the
"Capital Securities").
The Capital Securities will be guaranteed by BanPonce
Financial Corp. (the "Corporation") and BanPonce Corporation (the "Guarantor"),
to the extent set forth in the Prospectus (as defined below), with respect to
distributions and amounts payable upon liquidation or redemption (the
"Guarantees"), pursuant to (i) the Guarantee Agreement (the "Guarantee
Agreement"), to be dated as of the Closing Date (as defined below), executed
and delivered by the Corporation and The First National Bank of Chicago, a New
York corporation, as trustee (the "Guarantee Trustee"), and (ii) the Guarantee
Agreement (the "Additional Guarantee Agreement"), to be dated as of the Closing
Date, executed and delivered by the Guarantor and the Guarantee Trustee, each
for the benefit of the holders from time to time of the Capital Securities.
The proceeds from the sale of the Capital Securities to the Underwriters will
be aggregated with the entire proceeds from the sale by the Issuer to the
Corporation of the common securities of the Issuer (the "Common Securities")
and will be used by the Issuer to purchase the ___% Junior Subordinated
Deferrable Interest Debentures (the "Debentures"), issued by the Corporation
and guaranteed (the "Debenture Guarantee") by the Guarantor pursuant to a
Guarantee Agreement (the "Debenture Guarantee Agreement"), to be dated as of
the Closing Date, between the Guarantor and The First National Bank of Chicago,
as trustee. The Capital Securities and the Common Securities will be issued
pursuant to the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of the Issuer, to be
dated as of the Closing Date (the "Declaration"), among the Corporation, as
Depositor, the Guarantor and the trustees named therein (the "Trustees") and
the holders from time to time of the Capital Securities and the Common
Securities, which represent undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the
Issuer. The Debentures will be issued pursuant to a Junior Subordinated
Indenture, to be dated as of the Closing Date (the "Indenture"), among the
Guarantor, the Corporation and The First National Bank of Chicago, as trustee
(the "Debenture Trustee"). The Capital Securities, the Guarantees, the
Debentures and the Debenture Guarantee are collectively referred to herein as
the "Securities." This Agreement, the Indenture, the Declaration, the
Guarantee Agreement, the Additional Guarantee Agreement, the Debenture
Guarantee Agreement and the Expense Agreement (as defined herein) are referred
to collectively as the "Operative Documents".
The Issuer, the Corporation and the Guarantor, jointly and
severally, hereby agree with the Underwriters as follows:
<PAGE> 2
2
2. Representations and Warranties. Each of the Issuer, the
Corporation and the Guarantor, jointly and severally, represents and warrants
to, and agrees with, the Underwriters that:
(a) The Guarantor, the Corporation and the Issuer have filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") a
registration statement, and may have filed an amendment or amendments
thereto, on Form S-3, for the registration of the Securities under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), and such registration
statement has become effective under the Act. Such Registration
Statement (including all documents incorporated therein by reference)
is hereinafter referred to as the "Registration Statement." Any
post-effective amendment to such registration statement has been filed
with the Commission prior to the execution and delivery of this
Agreement and the most recent such amendment has been declared
effective by the Commission. For purposes of this Agreement,
"Effective Time" of the Registration Statement means (i) the date and
time as of which such registration statement was declared effective by
the Commission or (ii) the later of (A) the date on which the most
recent post-effective amendment or amendments thereto, if any, became
or become effective and (B) the date of filing of the Guarantor's most
recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, if such filing occurs after the
date set forth in clause (i) above. "Effective Date" means the date
of the Effective Time. "Base Prospectus" means the prospectus
(including all documents incorporated therein by reference) relating
to the Registration Statement, in the form in which such prospectus
has most recently been filed, or transmitted for filing, with the
Commission on or prior to the date hereof (but without regard to any
prospectus supplement relating specifically to securities other than
the Securities); and "Prospectus" means the Base Prospectus together
with the prospectus supplement (including all documents incorporated
therein by reference) specifically relating to the Securities, as such
prospectus supplement is first filed with the Commission on or after
the date hereof pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act; provided
however, that if a previously unfiled form of prospectus with an issue
date later that the issue date of the Base Prospectus is to be filed
with the Commission together with the prospectus supplement relating
to the Securities, then "Prospectus" means such new form of prospectus
(including all documents incorporated therein by reference) together
with such prospectus supplement (including all documents incorporated
therein by reference) as first filed with the Commission on or after
the date hereof pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act. Any reference
herein to the terms "amend," "amendment" or "supplement" with respect
to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus shall be deemed to
refer to and include the filing under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), on or after the date hereof of
any document deemed to be incorporated therein by reference.
(b) On the Effective Date, the Registration Statement
conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Act, the
Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended ("Trust Indenture Act"), and
the rules and regulations of the Commission ("Rules and Regulations")
and did not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein not misleading, (ii) on the date of this
Agreement, the Registration Statement conforms, and at the time of
filing of the Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b), the Prospectus and
any amendments and supplements to the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus will conform, in all material respects to the requirements
of the Act, the Trust Indenture Act and the Rules and Regulations, and
none of such documents includes any untrue statement of a material
fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and (iii)
at any time when a Prospectus relating to the Securities is required
to be delivered under the Act, the Registration Statement, the
Prospectus and any amendments or supplements to the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus will not
<PAGE> 3
3
include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading. The preceding sentence does not
apply to statements in or omissions from the Registration Statement or
Prospectus based upon written information furnished to the Guarantor
by any Underwriter specifically for use therein.
(c) The Guarantor has been duly incorporated and is an
existing corporation in good standing under the laws of Puerto Rico,
with power and authority (corporate and other) to own its properties
and conduct its business as described in the Prospectus; and the
Guarantor is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation in
good standing in all other jurisdictions in which its ownership or
lease of property or the conduct of its business requires such
qualification.
(d) The Corporation has been duly incorporated and is an
existing corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of
Delaware, with power and authority (corporate and other) to own its
properties and conduct its business as described in the Prospectus;
and the Corporation is duly qualified to do business as a foreign
corporation in good standing in all other jurisdictions in which its
ownership or lease of property or the conduct of its business requires
such qualification.
(e) Each subsidiary of the Guarantor has been duly
incorporated and is an existing corporation in good standing under the
laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, with power and
authority (corporate and other) to own its properties and conduct its
business as described in the Prospectus; and each subsidiary of the
Guarantor is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation in
good standing in all other jurisdictions in which its ownership or
lease of property or the conduct of its business requires such
qualification; all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of each
subsidiary of the Guarantor has been duly authorized and validly
issued and is fully paid and nonassessable and is owned by the
Guarantor, directly or through subsidiaries, free from liens,
encumbrances and defects.
(f) The Issuer has been duly formed 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 Prospectus.
(g) All of the outstanding beneficial interests of the Issuer
have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and
nonassessable undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the
Issuer; the holders of such beneficial interests of the Issuer have no
preemptive or other rights to acquire Capital Securities or Common
Securities; and there are no restrictions on transfers of the
Securities.
(h) The Declaration has been duly authorized; and when the
Capital Securities are delivered and paid for pursuant to this
Agreement on the Closing Date, the Declaration will have been duly
executed and delivered and will constitute a valid and legally binding
instrument enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to
bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization,
moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or
affecting creditors' rights and to general equity principles.
(i) Each of the Guarantee Agreement and the Additional
Guarantee Agreement has been duly authorized; and when the Capital
Securities are delivered and paid for pursuant to this Agreement on
the Closing Date, each of the Guarantee Agreement and the Additional
Guarantee Agreement will have been duly executed and delivered and
will constitute a valid and legally binding instrument enforceable in
accordance with its terms,
<PAGE> 4
4
subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer,
reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability
relating to or affecting creditors' rights and to general equity
principles.
(j) The Capital Securities have been duly authorized; when
the Capital Securities are delivered and paid for pursuant to this
Agreement on the Closing Date, such Capital Securities will (i) have
been validly issued and fully paid, (ii) represent nonassessable
undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Issuer, (iii) be
entitled to the benefits of the Declaration and (iv) conform to the
description thereof contained in the Prospectus; the issuance of the
Capital Securities is not subject to preemptive or other similar
rights; and the holders of the Capital Securities will be entitled to
the same limitation of personal liability extended to stockholders of
private corporations for profit incorporated under the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
(k) The Common Securities have been duly authorized; when the
Common Securities are delivered and paid for on the Closing Date, such
Common Securities will (i) have been validly issued and fully paid,
(ii) represent nonassessable undivided beneficial interests in the
assets of the Issuer, (iii) be entitled to the benefits of the
Declaration and (iv) conform to the description thereof contained in
the Prospectus; the issuance of the Common Securities is not subject
to preemptive or other similar rights; the holders of the Common
Securities will be entitled to the same limitation of personal
liability extended to stockholders of private corporations for profit
incorporated under the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware; and at the Closing Date, all of the issued and outstanding
Common Securities of the Issuer will be directly owned by the
Corporation free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge,
lien, encumbrance, claim or equity.
(l) The Indenture has been duly authorized; and when the
Debentures are delivered and paid for on the Closing Date, the
Indenture will have been duly executed and delivered, such Debenture
will have been duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered and
will conform to the description thereof contained in the Prospectus
and the Indenture and such Debentures will constitute valid and
legally binding obligations of the Corporation, enforceable in
accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency,
fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of
general applicability relating to or affecting creditors' rights and
to general equity principles.
(m) The Debenture Guarantee has been duly authorized; and
when the Debentures are delivered and paid for on the Closing Date,
the Debenture Guarantee will have been duly executed and delivered and
the Debenture Guarantee will constitute valid and legally binding
obligation of the Guarantor, enforceable in accordance with its terms,
subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer,
reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability
relating to or affecting creditors' rights and to general equity
principles.
(n) The Expense Agreement to be entered into by the Guarantor
and the Property Trustee (the "Expense Agreement") has been duly
authorized; and when the Capital Securities are delivered and paid
for pursuant to this Agreement on the Closing Date, the Expense
Agreement will have been duly executed and delivered and will
constitute a valid and legally binding instrument enforceable in
accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency,
fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of
general applicability relating to or affecting creditors' rights and
to general equity principles.
(o) No consent, approval, authorization, or order of, or
filing with, any governmental agency or body or any court is required
for the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Operative
Documents
<PAGE> 5
5
in connection with the issuance and sale of the Securities and the
Common Securities by the Guarantor, the Corporation and the Issuer.
(p) The execution, delivery and performance of the Operative
Documents, and the issuance and sale of the Securities and the Common
Securities and compliance with the terms and provisions thereof will
not result in a breach or violation of any of the terms and provisions
of, or constitute a default under, any statute, any rule, regulation
or order of any governmental agency or body or any court, domestic or
foreign, having jurisdiction over the Guarantor, the Corporation, the
Issuer or any subsidiary of the Guarantor or any of their properties,
or any agreement or instrument to which the Guarantor, the Corporation
or the Issuer or any such subsidiary is a party or by which the
Guarantor, the Corporation, the Issuer or any such subsidiary is bound
or to which any of the properties of the Guarantor, the Corporation,
the Issuer or any such subsidiary is subject, or the charter or
by-laws of the Guarantor, the Corporation or any such subsidiary or
the Declaration, and each of the Guarantor, the Corporation and the
Issuer has full power and authority to authorize, issue and sell the
Securities and the Common Securities as contemplated by the Operative
Documents.
(q) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by each of the Guarantor, the Corporation and the Issuer.
(r) Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, the Guarantor and
its subsidiaries have good and marketable title to all real properties
and all other properties and assets owned by them, in each case free
from liens, encumbrances and defects that would materially affect the
value thereof or materially interfere with the use made or to be made
thereof by them; and except as disclosed in the Prospectus, the
Guarantor and its subsidiaries hold any leased real or personal
property under valid and enforceable leases with no exceptions that
would materially interfere with the use made or to be made thereof by
them.
(s) The Guarantor and its subsidiaries possess adequate
certificates, authorities or permits issued by appropriate
governmental agencies or bodies necessary to conduct the business now
operated by them and have not received any notice of proceedings
relating to the revocation or modification of any such certificate,
authority or permit that, if determined adversely to the Guarantor or
any of its subsidiaries, would individually or in the aggregate have a
material adverse effect on the Guarantor and its subsidiaries taken as
a whole.
(t) No labor dispute with the employees of the Guarantor or
any subsidiary exists or, to the knowledge of the Guarantor, is
imminent that might have a material adverse effect on the Guarantor
and its subsidiaries taken as a whole.
(u) The Guarantor and its subsidiaries own, possess or can
acquire on reasonable terms, adequate trademarks, trade names and
other rights to inventions, know-how, patents, copyrights,
confidential information and other intellectual property
(collectively, "intellectual property rights") necessary to conduct
the business now operated by them, or presently employed by them, and
have not received any notice of infringement of or conflict with
asserted rights of others with respect to any intellectual property
rights that, if determined adversely to the Guarantor or any of its
subsidiaries, would individually or in the aggregate have a material
adverse effect on the Guarantor and its subsidiaries taken as a whole.
(v) Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, there are no
pending actions, suits or proceedings against or affecting the
Guarantor or any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective
properties that, if determined adversely to the Guarantor or any of
its subsidiaries, would individually or in the aggregate have a
material adverse effect on the
<PAGE> 6
6
condition (financial or other), business, properties or results of
operations of the Guarantor and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, or
would materially and adversely affect the ability of the Guarantor,
the Corporation or the Issuer to perform its obligations under the
Operative Documents, or which are otherwise material in the context of
the sale of the Securities; and no such actions, suits or proceedings
are threatened or, to the Guarantor's knowledge, contemplated.
(w) The financial statements included or incorporated by
reference in the Prospectus present fairly the financial position of
the Guarantor and its consolidated subsidiaries as of the dates shown
and their results of operations and cash flows for the periods shown,
and such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with
the generally accepted accounting principles in the United States
applied on a consistent basis.
(x) Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, since the date of
the latest audited financial statements included or incorporated by
reference in the Prospectus there has been no material adverse change,
nor any development or event involving a prospective material adverse
change, in the condition (financial or other), business, properties or
results of operations of the Guarantor and its subsidiaries taken as a
whole, and except as disclosed in or contemplated by the Prospectus.
(y) Neither the Issuer, the Corporation nor the Guarantor is
and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Securities
and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the
Prospectus, neither of them will be, an "investment company" or a
company "controlled" by an investment company as defined in the United
States Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "Investment Company Act").
(z) The Guarantor is duly registered as a bank holding
company under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended; the
deposit accounts of each of the Guarantor's domestic bank subsidiaries
are insured by the Bank Insurance Fund of the Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation ("FDIC") to the fullest extent permitted by law
and the rules and regulations of the FDIC, and no proceedings for the
termination of such insurance are pending or, to the best of the
Guarantor's knowledge, threatened; and neither the Guarantor nor any
of its subsidiaries is party to or otherwise the subject of any
consent decree, memorandum of understanding, written commitment or
other written supervisory agreement with the Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System (the "Federal Reserve"), the Superintendent of
Banks of the State of _____, the FDIC or any other federal or state
authority or agency charged with the supervision or insurance of
depositary institutions or their holding companies.
3. Purchase, Sale and Delivery of Securities. On the basis
of the representations, warranties and agreements herein contained, but subject
to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Issuer agrees to sell to the
Underwriters, and the Underwriters agree, severally and not jointly, to
purchase from the Issuer, at a purchase price of U.S.$1,000 per Capital
Security plus accumulated distributions, if any, from __, ____ to the Closing
Date, the respective liquidation amounts of Securities set forth opposite the
names of the Underwriters in Schedule A hereto.
The Corporation will deliver against payment of the purchase price
the Capital Securities in the form of one or more permanent global securities
in definitive form (the "Global Securities") deposited with the Property
Trustee as custodian for The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") and registered in
the name of Cede & Co., as nominee for DTC. Interests in any permanent Global
Securities will be held only in book-entry form through DTC, except in the
limited circumstances described in the Prospectus. Payment for the Capital
Securities shall be made by the Underwriters in Federal (same day) funds by
official check or checks or wire transfer to an account previously designated
<PAGE> 7
7
to Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation ("CSFBC") by the Corporation at a
bank acceptable to CSFBC drawn to the order of the Issuer at the office of
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, 425 Lexington Avenue, New York New York 10017, at
10:00 A.M. (New York time), on _______ __, 1997 or at such other time not
later than seven full business days thereafter as CSFBC and the Corporation
determine, such time being herein referred to as the "Closing Date," against
delivery to the Property Trustee as custodian for DTC of the Global Securities
representing all of the Capital Securities. The Global Securities will be made
available for checking at the above office at least 24 hours prior to the
Closing Date.
As compensation for the Underwriters' commitment and in view
of the fact that the proceeds of the sale of the Capital Securities and the
Common Securities will be used to purchase the Debentures, the Corporation will
pay, on the Closing Date, to each Underwriter a commission of $__.00 per
Capital Security purchased by such underwriter on the Closing Date by wire
transfer of immediately available funds to bank accounts designated by CSFBC.
4. Offering by Underwriters. It is understood that the
several Underwriters propose to offer the Securities for sale to the public as
set forth in the Prospectus.
5. Certain Agreements of the Guarantor, the Corporation and
the Issuer. Each of the Guarantor, the Corporation and the Issuer, jointly and
severally, agree with the Underwriters that:
(a) The Guarantor will file the Prospectus (or if permitted by
Rule 424(c) under the Act, the prospectus supplement relating to the
Securities which forms a part thereof) with the Commission pursuant to
and in accordance with Rule 424(b)(2) (or, if applicable and if
consented to by you, subparagraph (5)) within the time periods
prescribed. The Guarantor will advise you promptly of any such filing
pursuant to Rule 424(b).
(b) The Guarantor will advise you promptly of any proposal to
amend or supplement the Registration Statement or the Prospectus
(other than a supplement relating solely to an offering of securities
other than the Securities) and will not effect such amendment or
supplementation without your consent; and the Guarantor will also
advise you promptly of the (other than a supplement relating solely to
an offering of securities other than the Securities) filing and
effectiveness of any amendment or supplementation of the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus and of the institution by the Commission
of any stop order proceedings in respect of the Registration Statement
and will use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such stop
order and to obtain as soon as possible its lifting, if issued.
(c) If at any time when a prospectus relating to the
Securities is required to be delivered under the Act, any event occurs
as a result of which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented
would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state
any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading,
or if it is necessary at any time to amend the Prospectus to comply
with the Act, the Guarantor promptly will prepare and file with the
Commission an amendment or supplement which will correct such
statement or omission or an amendment which will effect such
compliance. Neither your consent to, nor your delivery of, any such
amendment or supplement shall constitute a waiver of any of the
conditions set forth in Section 6.
(d) As soon as practicable, but not later than the
Availability Date (as defined below), the Guarantor will make
generally available to its security holders an earnings statement
covering a period of at least 12 months beginning after the Effective
Date which will satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act.
For the purpose of the
<PAGE> 8
8
preceding sentence, "Availability Date" means the 45th day after the
end of the fourth fiscal quarter following the fiscal quarter that
includes the Closing Date, except that, if such fourth fiscal quarter
is the last quarter of the Guarantor's fiscal year, "Availability
Date" means the 90th day after the end of such fourth fiscal quarter.
(e) The Guarantor will furnish to each of the Underwriters
copies of the Registration Statement (of which will be signed and will
include all exhibits), each related preliminary prospectus, the
Prospectus and all amendments and supplements to such documents, in
each case in such quantities as CSFBC requests.
(f) The Guarantor will arrange for the qualification of the
Securities for sale and the determination of their eligibility for
investment under the laws of such jurisdictions as CSFBC designates
and will continue such qualifications in effect so long as required
for the distribution.
(g) During the period of five years hereafter, the Guarantor
will furnish to CSFBC, as soon as practicable after the end of each
fiscal year, a copy of its annual report to stockholders for such
year; and the Guarantor will furnish to CSFBC (i) as soon as
available, a copy of each report and any definitive proxy statement of
the Guarantor filed with the Commission under the Exchange Act or
mailed to stockholders, and (ii) from time to time, such other
information concerning the Guarantor or the Corporation as CSFBC may
reasonably request.
(h) The Corporation will pay all expenses incident to the
performance of its obligations under this Agreement and will reimburse
the Underwriters for any expenses (including fees and disbursements of
counsel) incurred by them in connection with qualification of the
Securities for sale and determination of their eligibility for
investment under the laws of such jurisdictions as CSFBC designates
and the printing of memoranda relating thereto, for any fees charged
by investment rating agencies for the rating of the Securities, for
the filing fee incident to, and the fees and disbursements of counsel
to the Underwriters in connection with, the review by the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. of the Securities, for any
travel expenses of the Corporation's officers and employees and any
other expenses of the Corporation in connection with attending or
hosting meetings with prospective purchasers of the Securities and for
expenses incurred in distributing preliminary prospectuses and the
Prospectus (including any amendments and supplements thereto) to the
Underwriters.
(i) Neither the Guarantor nor the Corporation will offer,
sell, contract to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of, directly or
indirectly, or file with the Commission a registration statement under
the Act relating to debt securities issued or guaranteed by the
Corporation or the Guarantor and having a maturity of more than one
year from the date of issue, or publicly disclose the intention to
make any such offer, sale, pledge, disposal or filing, without the
prior written consent of CSFBC for a period beginning at the date of
this Agreement and ending at the later of the Closing Date or the
lifting of trading restrictions by the Underwriters.
6. Conditions of the Obligation of the Underwriters. The
obligation of the Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Capital Securities
will be subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties on the
part of the Guarantor, the Corporation and the Issuer herein, to the accuracy
of the statements of officers of the Guarantor, the Corporation and the Issuer
made pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the Guarantor,
the Corporation and the Issuer of their respective obligations hereunder and to
the following additional conditions precedent:
<PAGE> 9
9
(a) CSFBC shall have received a letter, dated the date of
delivery thereof, of Price Waterhouse confirming that they are
independent public accountants within the meaning of the Act and the
applicable published Rules and Regulations thereunder and stating to
the effect that:
(i) In their opinion the financial statements
examined by them and included in the Registration Statements
comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable
accounting requirements of the Act and the related published
Rules and Regulations;
(ii) they have performed the procedures specified
by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants for a
review of interim financial information as described in
Statement of Auditing Standards No. 71, Interim Financial
Information, on the unaudited financial statements included in
the Registration Statements;
(iii) on the basis of the review referred to in
clause (ii) above, a reading of the latest available interim
financial statements of the Guarantor, inquiries of officials
of the Guarantor who have responsibility for financial and
accounting matters and other specified procedures, nothing
came to their attention that caused them to believe that:
(A) the unaudited financial statements
included in the Registration Statements do not comply
as to form in all material respects with the
applicable accounting requirements of the Securities
Act, the Exchange Act and the related published Rules
and Regulations or any material modifications should
be made to such unaudited financial statements for
them to be in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles;
(B) at the date of the latest available
balance sheet read by such accountants, or at a
subsequent specified date not more than three days
prior to the date of this Agreement, there was any
decrease in the capital stock or any increase in
long-term debt of the Guarantor and its consolidated
subsidiaries or, at the date of the latest available
balance sheet read by such accountants, there was any
decrease in consolidated total assets, as compared
with amounts shown on the latest balance sheet
included in the Prospectus; or
(C) for the period from the date of the
latest income statement included in the Prospectus to
the closing date of the latest available income
statement read by such accountants and to a
subsequent specified date not more than three days
prior to the date of this Agreement there were any
decreases, as compared with the corresponding periods
of the previous year, in consolidated revenues, net
interest income, consolidated net income or in the
ratio of earnings to fixed charges and preferred
stock dividends combined;
except in all cases set forth in clauses (B) and (C) above for
changes, increases or decreases which the Prospectus disclose
have occurred or may occur or which are described in such
letter; and
(iv) they have compared specified dollar amounts
(or percentages derived from such dollar amounts) and other
financial information contained in the Registration Statements
(in each case to the extent that such dollar amounts,
percentages and other financial information are derived from
the general accounting records of the Guarantor and its
subsidiaries subject to the
<PAGE> 10
10
internal controls of the Guarantor's accounting system or are
derived directly from such records by analysis or computation)
with the results obtained from inquiries, a reading of such
general accounting records and other procedures specified in
such letter and have found such dollar amounts, percentages
and other financial information to be in agreement with such
results, except as otherwise specified in such letter.
For purposes of this subsection all financial statements and schedules
included in material incorporated by reference into the Prospectus shall be
deemed included in the Registration Statement for purposes of this subsection.
(b) Prior to the Closing Date, no stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been issued and no
proceedings for that purpose shall have been instituted or, to the knowledge of
the Guarantor, the Corporation or CSFBC, shall be contemplated by the
Commission.
(c) Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this
Agreement, there shall not have occurred (i) any change, or any development or
event involving a prospective change, in the condition (financial or other),
business, properties or results of operations of the Guarantor or its
subsidiaries which, in the judgment of a majority in interest of the
Underwriters, is material and adverse and makes it impractical or inadvisable
to proceed with completion of the public offering or the sale of and payment
for the Securities; (ii) any downgrading in the rating of any debt securities
of the Guarantor by any "nationally recognized statistical rating organization"
(as defined for purposes of Rule 436(g) under the Act), or any public
announcement that any such organization has under surveillance or review its
rating of any debt securities of the Guarantor (other than an announcement with
positive implications of a possible upgrading, and no implication of a possible
downgrading, of such rating); (iii) any suspension or limitation of trading in
securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange, or any setting of minimum
prices for trading on such exchange, or any suspension of trading of any
securities of the Guarantor on any exchange or in the over-the-counter market;
(iv) any banking moratorium declared by U.S. Federal, Puerto Rico or New York
authorities; or (v) any outbreak or escalation of major hostilities in which
the United States is involved, any declaration of war by Congress or any other
substantial national or international calamity or emergency if, in the judgment
of a majority in interest of the Underwriters, the effect of any such outbreak,
escalation, declaration, calamity or emergency makes it impractical or
inadvisable to proceed with completion of the public offering or the sale of
and payment for the Securities.
(d) CSFBC shall have received an opinion, dated the Closing
Date, of Sullivan & Cromwell, counsel for the Guarantor, in form and
substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel to the Underwriters, to
the effect that:
(i) The Guarantor has been duly incorporated and
is an existing corporation in good standing under the laws of
Puerto Rico, with corporate power and authority to own its
properties and conduct its business as described in the
Prospectus; and the Corporation is duly qualified to do
business as a foreign corporation in good standing in all
other jurisdictions in which its ownership or lease of
property or the conduct of its business requires such
qualification;
(ii) The Corporation has been duly incorporated and
is an existing corporation in good standing under the laws of
the State of Delaware, with corporate power and authority to
own its properties and conduct its business as described in
the Prospectus; and the Corporation is duly qualified to do
business as a foreign corporation in good standing in all other
<PAGE> 11
11
jurisdictions in which its ownership or lease of property or
the conduct of its business requires such qualification;
(iii) The Indenture has been duly authorized,
executed and delivered; the Debentures have been duly
authorized, executed, authenticated, issued and delivered and
conform to the description thereof contained in the
Prospectus; and the Indenture and the Debentures constitute
valid and legally binding obligations of the Corporation
enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to
bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization,
moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating
to or affecting creditors' rights and to general equity
principles;
(iv) The Debenture Guarantee has been duly
authorized, executed and delivered and constitutes valid and
legally binding obligation of the Guarantor enforceable in
accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy,
insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium
and similar laws of general applicability relating to or
affecting creditors' rights and to general equity principles;
(v) Each of the Declaration, the Guarantee
Agreement, the Expense Agreement and the Additional Guarantee
Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered,
and each of the Guarantee Agreement, the Expense Agreement
and the Additional Guarantee Agreement constitutes a valid and
legally binding obligation of the Corporation and the
Guarantor, respectively, enforceable in accordance with its
terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer,
reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general
applicability relating to or affecting creditors' rights and
to general equity principles.
(vi) Neither the Guarantor, the Corporation nor the
Issuer is, and after giving effect to the offering and sale of
the Securities and the application of the proceeds thereof as
described in the Prospectus will be, an "investment company"
or a company "controlled" by an investment company as defined
in the Investment Company Act.
(vii) No consent, approval, authorization or order
of, or filing with, any governmental agency or body or any
court is required for the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by the Operative Documents in connection with the
issuance or sale of the Securities by the Guarantor, the
Corporation and the Issuer, except such as may be required
under state securities laws;
(viii) The execution, delivery and performance of
Operative Documents and the issuance and sale of the
Securities and compliance with the terms and provisions
thereof will not result in a breach or violation of any of the
terms and provisions of, or constitute a default under, any
statute, any rule, regulation or order of any governmental
agency or body or any court having jurisdiction over the
Guarantor or any subsidiary of the Guarantor or any of their
properties, or any agreement or instrument known to such
counsel to which the Guarantor or any such subsidiary is a
party or by which the Guarantor or any such subsidiary is
bound or to which any of the properties of the Guarantor or
any such subsidiary is subject, or the charter or by-laws of
the Guarantor or any such subsidiary, and the Guarantor, the
Corporation and the Issuer has full power and authority to
authorize, issue and sell the Securities as contemplated by
this Agreement;
(ix) The Registration Statement has become
effective under the Act, the Prospectus was filed with the
Commission pursuant to the subparagraph of Rule 424(b)
specified in such opinion on the
<PAGE> 12
12
date specified therein, and, to the best of the knowledge of
such counsel, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of
the Registration Statement or of any part thereof has been
issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been
instituted or are pending or contemplated under the Act;
(x) The Registration Statement, as of its
effective date, and the Prospectus, and any amendment or
supplement thereto as of its date, complied as to form in all
material respects with the requirements of the Act, the Trust
Indenture Act and the Rules and Regulations; the Exchange Act
filings incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated
by reference in the Prospectus complied as to form when filed
in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange
Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission
thereunder.
(xi) Such counsel have no reason to believe that
the Registration Statement, as of its effective date, or the
Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, as of its
date or as of the Closing Date, contained any untrue statement
of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading; the descriptions in the
Registration Statement and Prospectus, and any amendment or
supplement thereto, of statutes, legal and governmental
proceedings and contracts and other documents are accurate and
fairly present the information required to be shown; and such
counsel do not know of any legal or governmental proceedings
required to be described in the Prospectus which are not
described as required or of any contracts or documents of a
character required to be described in the Registration
Statement or Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the
Registration Statement which are not described and filed as
required; it being understood in all events that such counsel
need express no opinion as to the financial statements or
other financial data contained in the Registration Statement
or the Prospectus;
(xii) This Agreement has been duly authorized,
executed and delivered by the Guarantor, the Corporation and
the Issuer;
(xiii) To such counsel's knowledge, there are no
pending actions, suits or proceedings against or affecting the
Guarantor, any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective
properties that, if determined adversely to the Guarantor or
any of its subsidiaries, would individually or in the
aggregate have a material adverse effect on the condition
(financial or other), business, properties or results of
operations of the Guarantor and its subsidiaries taken as a
whole, or would materially and adversely affect the ability of
the Guarantor, the Corporation or the Issuer to perform their
respective obligations under the Operative Documents, or which
are otherwise material in the context of the sale of the
Securities; and no such actions, suits or proceedings are
threatened or, to such counsel's knowledge, contemplated; and
(xiv) The Guarantor is duly registered as a bank
holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as
amended; the deposit accounts of each of the Guarantor's
domestic bank subsidiaries are insured by the Bank Insurance
Fund of the FDIC to the fullest extent permitted by law and
the rules and regulations of the FDIC, and no proceedings for
the termination of such insurance are pending or, to such
counsel's knowledge, threatened; and neither the Guarantor nor
any of its subsidiaries is party to or otherwise the subject
of any consent decree, memorandum of understanding, or written
agreement as defined in the Financial
<PAGE> 13
13
Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act of 1989 (12
U.S.C. 1818(e)(1)(A)(i)).
(e) CSFBC shall have received an opinion, dated the Closing
Date, of [ ], counsel to the Delaware Trustee, in form and
substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel to the Underwriters, to the effect
that:
(i) First Chicago Delaware Inc., a Delaware corporation,
has been duly incorporated and is validly existing in good standing as
a corporation under the laws of the State of Delaware and has the
corporate power to act as Trustee of a Delaware business trust under
the laws of the State of Delaware, 12 Del. Section 3801 et seq.
(f) CSFBC shall have received an opinion, dated the Closing
Date, of [ ], counsel to The First National Bank of Chicago, in
form and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel to the Underwriters, to
the effect that:
(i) The First National Bank of Chicago is a banking
corporation duly incorporated and validly existing under the laws of
the State of New York.
(ii) The execution, delivery and performance by The First
National Bank of Chicago, as Property Trustee of the Issuer, of the
Declaration, the execution, delivery and performance by The First
National Bank of Chicago, as Guarantee Trustee, of the Guarantee
Agreement and the Additional Guarantee Agreement and the execution,
delivery and performance by The First National Bank of Chicago, as the
Debenture Trustee, of the Indenture and the Debenture Guarantee
Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action
on the part of the Property Trustee, the Guarantee Trustee and the
Debenture Trustee, respectively. The Declaration, the Guarantee
Agreement, the Additional Guarantee Agreement, the Indenture and the
Debenture Guarantee Agreement have been duly executed and delivered by
the Property Trustee, the Guarantee Trustee and the Debenture Trustee,
respectively, and constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations
of the Property Trustee, the Guarantee Trustee and the Debenture
Trustee, respectively, enforceable against the Property Trustee, the
Guarantee Trustee and the Debenture Trustee, respectively, in
accordance with their terms, except as enforcement thereof may be
limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
moratorium, liquidation, receivership or similar laws relating to the
enforcement of creditors' rights generally, and by general principles
of equity.
(iii) The execution, delivery and performance of the
Declaration, the Guarantee Agreement, the Additional Guarantee
Agreement, the Indenture and the Debenture Guarantee Agreement by the
Property Trustee, the Guarantee Trustee and the Debenture Trustee,
respectively, do not conflict with or constitute a breach of the
applicable organizational documents or by-laws of the Property
Trustee, the Guarantee Trustee or the Debenture Trustee, respectively,
or the terms of any indenture or other agreement or instrument known
to such counsel and to which the Property Trustee, the Guarantee
Trustee or the Debenture Trustee, respectively, is a party or is bound
or any judgment, order or decree known to such counsel to be
applicable to the Property Trustee, the Guarantee Trustee or the
Debenture Trustee, respectively, of any court, regulatory body,
administrative agency, governmental body or arbitrator having
jurisdiction over the Property Trustee, the Guarantee Trustee or the
Debenture Trustee, respectively.
(iv) No consent, approval or authorization of, or
registration with or notice to, any federal or New York State banking
authority is required for the execution, delivery or performance by
the Property Trustee, the Guarantee Trustee or the Debenture Trustee
of the Declaration, the Guarantee Agreement, the Additional Guarantee
<PAGE> 14
14
Agreement, the Indenture or the Debenture Guarantee Agreement,
respectively.
(g) CSFBC shall have received an opinion, dated the Closing
Date, of Sullivan & Cromwell, special United States tax counsel to the
Guarantor and the Issuer, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to
counsel for the Underwriters, to the effect that:
(i) Subject to the qualifications set forth therein, the
statements made in the Prospectus under the caption "Certain United
States Federal Income Tax Consequences" fairly present in all material
respects the principal United States federal income tax consequences
of an investment in the Capital Securities.
(h) CSFBC shall have received an opinion, dated the Closing
Date, of _____________, special counsel to the Guarantor and special counsel to
the Issuer, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the
Underwriters, to the effect set forth below.
(i) The Issuer 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 Issuer as a
business trust have been made.
(ii) Under the Delaware Act and the Declaration, the
Issuer has the trust power and authority to own its property and
conduct its business, all as described in the Prospectus.
(iii) The Declaration constitutes a valid and binding
obligation of the Guarantor, the Corporation and the Trustees, and is
enforceable against the Guarantor, the Corporation and the Trustees in
accordance with its terms, subject, as to enforcement, to the effect
upon the Declaration of (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium,
receivership, reorganization, liquidation, fraudulent transfer and
other similar laws relating to 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 Issuer
has the trust power and authority (i) to execute and deliver, and to
perform its obligations under, this Agreement and (ii) to issue and
perform its obligations under the Capital Securities and the Common
Securities.
(v) Under the Delaware Act and the Declaration, the
execution and delivery by the Issuer of this Agreement, and the
performance by the Issuer of its obligations hereunder, have been duly
authorized by all necessary trust action on the part of the Issuer.
(vi) The Capital Securities have been duly authorized by
the Declaration and are duly and validly issued and, subject to the
qualifications set forth herein, fully paid and nonassessable
undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Issuer and are
entitled to the benefits of the Declaration. The holders of the
Capital Securities, as beneficial owners of the Issuer, 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. Such counsel may
note that the holders of Capital Securities may be obligated, pursuant
to the Declaration, (i) to provide indemnity and/or security in
connection with and pay taxes or governmental charges arising from
transfers or exchanges of certificates for Capital Securities and the
issuance of replacement certificates for Capital
<PAGE> 15
15
Securities, and (ii) to provide security or indemnity in connection
with requests of or directions to the Property Trustee to exercise its
rights and powers under the Declaration.
(vii) Under the Delaware Act and the Declaration, the
issuance of the Capital Securities is not subject to preemptive rights.
(viii) The issuance and sale by the Issuer of the Capital
Securities, the execution, delivery and performance by the Issuer of
this Agreement, the consummation by the Issuer of the transactions
contemplated hereby and compliance by the Issuer with its obligations
hereunder, and the performance by the Corporation, as sponsor, of its
obligations under the Declaration (A) do not violate (i) any of the
provisions of the certificate of trust of the Issuer or the
Declaration or (ii) any applicable Delaware law or administrative
regulation (except that such counsel need express no opinion with
respect to the securities laws of the State of Delaware) and (B) do
not require any consent, approval, license, authorization or
validation of, or filing or registration with, any Delaware
legislative, administrative or regulatory body under the laws or
administrative regulations of the State of Delaware (except that such
counsel need express no opinion with respect to the securities laws of
the state of Delaware).
(ix) Assuming that the Issuer derives no income from or in
connection with sources within the State of Delaware and has no
assets, activities (other than maintaining the Delaware Trustee and
the filing of documents with the Secretary of State of the State of
Delaware) or employees in the State of Delaware, the holders of the
Capital Securities (other than those holders of Capital Securities who
reside or are domiciled in the State of Delaware) will have no
liability for income taxes imposed by the State of Delaware solely as
a result of their participation in the Issuer, and the Issuer will not
be liable for any income tax imposed by the State of Delaware.
(i) CSFBC shall have received from Simpson Thacher &
Bartlett, counsel for the Underwriters, such opinion or opinions, dated such
Closing Date, with respect to the incorporation of the Guarantor and the
Corporation, the validity of the Securities delivered on such Closing Date, the
Registration Statements, the Prospectus and other related matters as the
Underwriters may require, and the Guarantor and the Corporation shall have
furnished to such counsel such documents as they request for the purpose of
enabling them to pass upon such matters.
(j) Each Underwriter shall have received a certificate, dated
the Closing Date, of the President or any Vice President and a principal
financial or accounting officer of the Guarantor in which such officers, to the
best of their knowledge after reasonable investigation, shall state that the
representations and warranties of the Guarantor, the Corporation and the Issuer
in this Agreement are true and correct, that each of the Guarantor, the
Corporation and the Issuer has complied with all agreements and satisfied all
conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to
the Closing Date, and that, subsequent to the date of the most recent financial
statements included in or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus there has
been no material adverse change, nor any development or event involving a
prospective material adverse change, in the condition (financial or other),
business, properties or results of operations of the Guarantor and its
subsidiaries taken as a whole except as set forth in or contemplated by the
Prospectus or as described in such certificate.
(k) CSFBC shall have received a letter, dated the Closing
Date, of Price Waterhouse which meets the requirements of subsection (a) of
this Section, except that the specified date referred to in such subsection
will be a date not more than three days prior to the Closing Date for the
purposes of this subsection.
<PAGE> 16
16
The Guarantor will furnish the Underwriter with such conformed copies of such
opinions, certificates, letters and documents as the Underwriters reasonably
request.
7. Indemnification and Contribution. (a) Each of the
Guarantor, the Corporation and the Issuer will, jointly and severally,
indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter against any losses, claims,
damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which such Underwriter may become
subject, under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as
such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof)
arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement
of any material fact contained in any Registration Statement, the Prospectus,
or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any related preliminary prospectus
or preliminary prospectus supplement, or arise out of or are based upon the
omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and
will reimburse each Underwriter for any legal or other expenses reasonably
incurred by such Underwriter in connection with investigating or defending any
such loss, claim, damage, liability or action as such expenses are incurred;
provided, however, that neither the Guarantor, the Corporation nor the Issuer
will be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage
or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement in or omission or alleged omission from any of such documents
in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the
Guarantor by any Underwriter specifically for use therein, it being understood
and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists
of the information described as such in subsection (b) below.
(b) Each Underwriter will severally and not jointly indemnify
and hold harmless each of the Guarantor, the Corporation and the Issuer against
any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which any of them may become
subject, under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in
any Registration Statement, the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement
thereto, or any related preliminary prospectus or preliminary prospectus
supplement, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or the alleged
omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in each case to the
extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission was made in reliance upon and in
conformity with written information furnished to the Guarantor by such
Underwriter specifically for use therein, and will reimburse any legal or other
expenses reasonably incurred by any of them in connection with investigating or
defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action as such expenses
are incurred, it being understood and agreed that the only such information
furnished by any Underwriter consists of the following information in the
Prospectus furnished on behalf of each Underwriter: the last paragraph at the
bottom of the cover page concerning the terms of the offering by the
Underwriters, the legend concerning over-allotments, stabilizing and passive
market making on the inside front cover page, the concession and reallowance
figures appearing in the paragraph under the caption "Underwriting."
(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this
Section of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party
will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying
party under subsection (a) or (b) above, notify the indemnifying party of the
commencement thereof, but the omission to so notify the indemnifying party will
not relieve it from any liability which it may have to any indemnified party
otherwise than under subsection (a) or (b) above. In case any such action is
brought against any indemnified party and it notifies the indemnifying party of
the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party will be entitled to
participate therein and, to the extent that it may wish, jointly
<PAGE> 17
17
with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense
thereof, with counsel satisfactory to such indemnified party (who shall not,
except with the consent of the indemnified party, be counsel to the
indemnifying party), and after notice from the indemnifying party to such
indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense thereof, the
indemnifying party will not be liable to such indemnified party under this
Section for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such
indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable
costs of investigation. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written
consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending or
threatened action in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have
been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified
party unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of such
indemnified party from all liability on any claims that are the subject matter
of such action.
(d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section is
unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under
subsection (a) or (b) above, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to
the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of the losses,
claims, damages or liabilities referred to in subsection (a) or (b) above (i)
in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received
by the Guarantor, the Corporation and the Issuer on the one hand and the
Underwriters on the other from the offering of the Securities or (ii) if the
allocation provided by clause (i) above 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 Guarantor,
the Corporation and the Issuer on the one hand and the Underwriters on the
other in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such
losses, claims, damages or liabilities as well as any other relevant equitable
considerations. The relative benefits received by the Guarantor, the
Corporation and the Issuer on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other
shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the
offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Guarantor bear to the
total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters from
the Guarantor under this Agreement. The relative fault shall be determined by
reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a
material fact relates to information supplied by the Guarantor, the
Corporation, the Issuer or the Underwriters and the parties' relative intent,
knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such
untrue statement or omission. The amount paid by an indemnified party as a
result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to in the first
sentence of this subsection (d) shall be deemed to include any legal or other
expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with any
action or claim which is the subject of this subsection (d). Notwithstanding
the provisions of this subsection (d), no Underwriter shall be required to
contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which
the Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to
the public exceeds the amount of any damages which such Underwriter has
otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be
entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation. The Underwriters' obligations in this subsection (d) to
contribute are several in proportion to their respective underwriting
obligations and not joint.
(e) The obligations of the Guarantor, the Corporation and the
Issuer under this Section shall be in addition to any liability which they may
otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each
person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of the Act; and
the obligations of the Underwriters under this Section shall be in addition to
any liability which the respective Underwriter may otherwise have and shall
extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each director of the
<PAGE> 18
18
Guarantor and the Corporation, to each officer of the Guarantor or the
Corporation who has signed a Registration Statement and to each person, if any,
who controls the Guarantor, the Corporation or the Issuer within the meaning of
the Act.
8. Default of Underwriters. If any Underwriter or
Underwriters default in their obligations to purchase Securities hereunder and
the aggregate liquidation amount of the Securities that such defaulting
Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase does not exceed 10%
of the total liquidation amount of the Securities, you may make arrangements
satisfactory to the Guarantor for the purchase of such Securities by other
persons, including any of the Underwriters, but if no such arrangements are
made by the Closing Date, the non-defaulting Underwriters shall be obligated
severally, in proportion to their respective commitments hereunder, to purchase
the Securities that such defaulting Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase.
If any Underwriter or Underwriters so default and the aggregate principal
amount of the Securities with respect to which such default or defaults occur
exceeds 10% of the total principal amount of the Securities and arrangements
satisfactory to you and the Guarantor for the purchase of such Securities by
other persons are not made within 36 hours after such default, this Agreement
will terminate without liability on the part of any nondefaulting Underwriter,
the Guarantor, the Corporation or the Issuer, except as provided in Section 9.
As used in this Agreement, the term "Underwriter" includes any person
substituted for an Underwriter under this Section. Nothing herein will relieve
a defaulting Underwriter from liability for its default.
9. Survival of Certain Representations and Obligations. The
respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other
statements of the Guarantor, the Corporation or the Issuer or their respective
officers and of the several Underwriters set forth in or made pursuant to this
Agreement will remain in full force and effect, regardless of any
investigation, or statement as to the results thereof, made by or on behalf of
any Underwriter, the Guarantor, the Corporation, the Issuer or any of their
respective representatives, officers or directors or any controlling person,
and will survive delivery of and payment for the Securities. If this Agreement
is terminated pursuant to Section 8 or for any reason the purchase of the
Securities by the Underwriters is not consummated, the Guarantor shall remain
responsible for the expenses to be paid or reimbursed by it pursuant to Section
5 and the respective obligations of the Guarantor, the Corporation, the Issuer
and the Underwriters pursuant to Section 7 shall remain in effect. If the
purchase of the Securities by the Underwriters is not consummated for any
reason other than solely because of the termination of this Agreement pursuant
to Section 8 or the occurrence of any event specified in clause (iii), (iv) or
(v) of Section 6(c), the Guarantor will reimburse the Underwriters for all out-
of-pocket expenses (including fees and disbursements of counsel) incurred by
them in connection with the offering of the Securities.
10. Notices. All communications hereunder will be in writing
and, if sent to the Underwriters, will be mailed, delivered or telegraphed and
confirmed to them at their addresses furnished to the Guarantor in writing for
the purpose of communications hereunder or, if sent to the Guarantor, will be
mailed, delivered or telegraphed and confirmed to it at _______ .
11. Representation of Underwriters. Any action under this
Agreement taken by you jointly or by CSFBC will be binding upon all the
Underwriters.
12. Successors. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of
and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and the
controlling persons referred to in Section 7, and no other person will have any
right or obligation hereunder.
<PAGE> 19
19
13. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any
number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but
all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same Agreement.
14. APPLICABLE LAW. THIS AGREEMENT 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.
The Guarantor hereby submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction
of the Federal and state courts in the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New
York in any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or
the transactions contemplated hereby.
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of
our agreement, kindly sign and return to the Guarantor one of the counterparts
hereof, whereupon it will become a binding agreement among the Guarantor, the
Corporation, the Issuer and the several Underwriters in accordance with its
terms.
Very truly yours,
BANPONCE CORPORATION
By:
-------------------------------------
[Insert title]
BANPONCE FINANCIAL CORP.
By:
-------------------------------------
[Insert title]
BANPONCE TRUST I
By:
-------------------------------------
[Insert title]
The foregoing Underwriting Agreement
is hereby confirmed and accepted
as of the date first above
written.
CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON
CORPORATION
By
--------------------------------
[Insert title]
<PAGE> 20
SCHEDULE A
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
UNDERWRITER [PRINCIPAL
----------- AMOUNT OF]
[NUMBER OF]
FIRM SECURITIES
---------------
<S> <C>
Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation ..................... [$]
---------------
Total ..................................... [$]
===============
</TABLE>
<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT 4(A)
================================================================================
BANPONCE FINANCIAL CORP.,
as Issuer
and
BANPONCE CORPORATION,
as Guarantor
to
THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO,
as Trustee
---------------------------
JUNIOR SUBORDINATED INDENTURE
Dated as of ,
------- ------
---------------------------
================================================================================
<PAGE> 2
BANPONCE FINANCIAL CORP.
Reconciliation and tie between the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (including
cross-references to provisions of Sections 310 to and including 317 which,
pursuant to Section 318(c) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended by the
Trust Reform Act of 1990, are a part of and govern the Indenture whether or not
physically contained therein) and the Junior Subordinated Indenture, dated as of
_______ __, ____.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
TRUST INDENTURE INDENTURE
ACT SECTION SECTION
- ----------------- ---------
<S> <C> <C>
Section 310 (a) (1), (2) and (5)...............................................................6.9
(a) (3)............................................................................Not Applicable
(a) (4)............................................................................Not Applicable
(b)................................................................................6.8
...................................................................................6.10
(c)................................................................................Not Applicable
Section 311 (a)................................................................................6.13
(b)................................................................................6.13
(b) (2)............................................................................7.3(a)(2)
Section 312 (a)................................................................................7.1
...................................................................................7.2(a)
(b)................................................................................7.2(b)
(c)................................................................................7.2(c)
Section 313 (a)................................................................................7.3(a)
(b)................................................................................7.3(b)
(c)................................................................................7.3(a), 7.3(b)
(d)................................................................................7.3(c)
Section 314 (a) (1), (2) and (3)...............................................................7.4
(a) (4)............................................................................10.4
(b)................................................................................Not Applicable
(c) (1)............................................................................1.2
(c) (2)............................................................................1.2
(c) (3)............................................................................Not Applicable
(d)................................................................................Not Applicable
(e)................................................................................1.2
(f)................................................................................Not Applicable
Section 315 (a)................................................................................6.1(a)
(b)................................................................................6.2
...................................................................................7.3(a)
(c)................................................................................6.1(b)
(d)................................................................................6.1(c)
(d) (1)............................................................................6.1(a) (1)
(d) (2)............................................................................6.1(c) (2)
</TABLE>
<PAGE> 3
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
(d) (3)............................................................................6.1(c) (3)
(e)................................................................................5.14
Section 316 (a)................................................................................1.1
(a) (1) (A)........................................................................5.12
(a) (1) (B)........................................................................5.13
(a) (2)............................................................................Not Applicable
(b)................................................................................5.8
(c)................................................................................1.4(f)
Section 317 (a) (1)............................................................................5.3
(a) (2)............................................................................5.4
(b)................................................................................10.3
Section 318 (a)................................................................................1.7
</TABLE>
Note: This reconciliation and tie shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be
a part of the Junior Subordinated Indenture.
<PAGE> 4
TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Page
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION
<S> <C>
SECTION 1.1. Definitions.............................................................................................. 1
SECTION 1.2. Compliance Certificate and Opinions...................................................................... 10
SECTION 1.3. Forms of Documents Delivered to Trustee.................................................................. 11
SECTION 1.4. Acts of Holders.......................................................................................... 11
SECTION 1.5. Notices, Etc. to Trustee, Corporation and the Guarantor.................................................. 13
SECTION 1.6. Notice to Holders; Waiver................................................................................ 13
SECTION 1.7. Conflict with Trust Indenture Act........................................................................ 14
SECTION 1.8. Effect of Headings and Table of Contents................................................................. 14
SECTION 1.9. Successors and Assigns................................................................................... 14
SECTION 1.10. Separability Clause..................................................................................... 14
SECTION 1.11. Benefits of Indenture................................................................................... 14
SECTION 1.12. Governing Law........................................................................................... 14
SECTION 1.13. Non-Business Days....................................................................................... 14
SECTION 1.14. Appointment of Agent for Service.
<CAPTION>
ARTICLE II
SECURITY FORMS
SECTION 2.1. Forms Generally.......................................................................................... 15
SECTION 2.2. Form of Face of Security................................................................................. 16
SECTION 2.3. Form of Reverse of Security.............................................................................. 19
SECTION 2.4. Additional Provisions Required in Global Security........................................................ 23
SECTION 2.5. Form of Trustee's Certificate of Authentication.......................................................... 23
</TABLE>
BANPONCE CORPORATION
By:
Authorized officer
-i-
<PAGE> 5
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Page
ARTICLE III
THE SECURITIES
<S> <C>
SECTION 3.1. Title and Terms.......................................................................................... 25
SECTION 3.2. Denominations............................................................................................ 28
SECTION 3.3. Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating........................................................... 28
SECTION 3.4. Temporary Securities..................................................................................... 29
SECTION 3.5. Global Securities........................................................................................ 30
SECTION 3.6. Registration, Transfer and Exchange Generally............................................................ 31
SECTION 3.7. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities......................................................... 32
SECTION 3.8. Payment of Interest and Additional Interest; Interest Rights Preserved................................... 33
SECTION 3.9. Persons Deemed Owners.................................................................................... 34
SECTION 3.10. Cancellation............................................................................................ 34
SECTION 3.11. Computation of Interest................................................................................. 34
SECTION 3.12. Deferrals of Interest Payment Dates..................................................................... 35
SECTION 3.13. Right of Set-Off........................................................................................ 36
SECTION 3.14. Agreed Tax Treatment.................................................................................... 36
SECTION 3.15. Shortening or Extension of Stated Maturity.............................................................. 36
SECTION 3.16. CUSIP Numbers........................................................................................... 37
SECTION 3.17. Guarantee of Debt Securities.
SECTION 3.18. Execution of Guarantees
</TABLE>
ARTICLE IV
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C>
SECTION 4.1. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.................................................................. 39
SECTION 4.2. Application of Trust Money............................................................................... 40
</TABLE>
-ii-
<PAGE> 6
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Page
ARTICLE V
REMEDIES
<S> <C>
SECTION 5.1. Events of Default........................................................................................ 40
SECTION 5.2. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment....................................................... 41
SECTION 5.3. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee.......................................... 42
SECTION 5.4. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim......................................................................... 43
SECTION 5.5. Trustee May Enforce Claim Without Possession of Securities............................................... 44
SECTION 5.6. Application of Money Collected........................................................................... 44
SECTION 5.7. Limitation on Suits...................................................................................... 45
SECTION 5.8. Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest; Direct Action by
Holders of Capital Securities................................................................ 45
SECTION 5.9. Restoration of Rights and Remedies....................................................................... 46
SECTION 5.10. Rights and Remedies Cumulative.......................................................................... 46
SECTION 5.11. Delay or Omission Not Waiver............................................................................ 46
SECTION 5.12. Control by Holders...................................................................................... 46
SECTION 5.13. Waiver of Past Defaults................................................................................. 47
SECTION 5.14. Undertaking for Costs................................................................................... 47
SECTION 5.15. Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws................................................................. 47
<CAPTION>
ARTICLE VI
THE TRUSTEE
<S> <C>
SECTION 6.1. Certain Duties and Responsibilities...................................................................... 48
SECTION 6.2. Notice of Defaults....................................................................................... 49
SECTION 6.3. Certain Rights of Trustee................................................................................ 49
SECTION 6.4. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities................................................... 50
SECTION 6.5. May Hold Securities...................................................................................... 50
SECTION 6.7. Compensation and Reimbursement........................................................................... 50
SECTION 6.8. Disqualification; Conflicting Interests.................................................................. 51
SECTION 6.9. Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility.................................................................. 51
SECTION 6.10. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor....................................................... 52
SECTION 6.11. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.................................................................. 53
SECTION 6.12. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business............................................. 54
SECTION 6.13. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Corporation or Guarantor...................................... 54
SECTION 6.14. Appointment of Authenticating Agent..................................................................... 54
</TABLE>
-iii-
<PAGE> 7
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Page
ARTICLE VII
HOLDER'S LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND CORPORATION
<S> <C>
SECTION 7.1. Corporation to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders............................................ 56
SECTION 7.2. Preservation of Information, Communications to Holders................................................... 56
SECTION 7.3. Reports by Trustee....................................................................................... 57
SECTION 7.4. Reports by Corporation................................................................................... 57
<CAPTION>
ARTICLE VIII
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE
<S> <C>
SECTION 8.1. Corporation and Guarantor May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms................................... 57
SECTION 8.2. Successor Corporation Substituted........................................................................ 58
<CAPTION>
ARTICLE IX
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES
<S> <C>
SECTION 9.1. Supplemental Indentures without Consent of Holders....................................................... 59
SECTION 9.2. Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders.......................................................... 60
SECTION 9.3. Execution of Supplemental Indentures..................................................................... 61
SECTION 9.4. Effect of Supplemental Indentures........................................................................ 61
SECTION 9.5. Conformity with Trust Indenture Act...................................................................... 62
SECTION 9.6. Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures....................................................... 62
<CAPTION>
ARTICLE X
COVENANTS
<S> <C>
SECTION 10.1. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest.............................................................. 62
SECTION 10.2. Maintenance of Office or Agency......................................................................... 62
SECTION 10.3. Money for Security Payments to be Held in Trust......................................................... 63
SECTION 10.4. Statement as to Compliance.............................................................................. 64
SECTION 10.5. Waiver of Certain Covenants............................................................................. 64
SECTION 10.6. Additional Sums......................................................................................... 64
SECTION 10.7. Additional Covenants.................................................................................... 65
SECTION 10.8. Original Issue Discount. ............................................................................. 66
</TABLE>
-iv-
<PAGE> 8
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Page
ARTICLE XI
REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES
<S> <C>
SECTION 11.1. Applicability of This Article........................................................................... 66
SECTION 11.2. Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee................................................................... 66
SECTION 11.3. Selection of Securities to be Redeemed.................................................................. 67
SECTION 11.4. Notice of Redemption.................................................................................... 67
SECTION 11.5. Deposit of Redemption Price............................................................................. 68
SECTION 11.6. Payment of Securities Called for Redemption............................................................. 68
SECTION 11.7. Right of Redemption of Securities Initially Issued to an Issuer Trust................................... 69
<CAPTION>
ARTICLE XII
SINKING FUNDS
<S> <C>
SECTION 12.1. Applicability of Article................................................................................ 69
SECTION 12.2. Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities................................................... 69
SECTION 12.3. Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund............................................................... 70
<CAPTION>
ARTICLE XIII
SUBORDINATION OF SECURITIES
<S> <C>
SECTION 13.1. Securities Subordinate to Senior Indebtedness........................................................... 71
SECTION 13.2. No Payment When Senior Indebtedness in Default; Payment Over of Proceeds Upon
Dissolution, Etc............................................................................. 71
SECTION 13.3. Payment Permitted If No Default......................................................................... 73
SECTION 13.4. Subrogation to Rights of Holders of Senior Indebtedness................................................. 74
SECTION 13.5. Provisions Solely to Define Relative Rights............................................................. 74
SECTION 13.6. Trustee to Effectuate Subordination..................................................................... 75
SECTION 13.7. No Waiver of Subordination Provisions................................................................... 75
SECTION 13.8. Notice to Trustee....................................................................................... 75
SECTION 13.9. Reliance on Judicial Order or Certificate of Liquidating Agent.......................................... 76
SECTION 13.10. Trustee Not Fiduciary for Holders of Senior Indebtedness............................................... 76
SECTION 13.11. Rights of Trustee as Holder of Senior Indebtedness; Preservation of Trustee's Rights................... 77
SECTION 13.12. Article Applicable to Paying Agents.................................................................... 77
</TABLE>
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<PAGE> 9
JUNIOR SUBORDINATED INDENTURE, dated as of ________ __, ____, among
BANPONCE FINANCIAL CORP., a Delaware corporation (the "Corporation"), having its
principal office at 521 Fellowship Road, Mt. Laurel, New Jersey 08054, BANPONCE
CORPORATION, a Puerto Rico corporation (the "Guarantor") having its principal
office at 209 Munoz Rivera Avenue, Hato Rey, Puerto Rico 00918, and THE FIRST
NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO, a national banking association, as Trustee (the
"Trustee").
RECITALS OF THE CORPORATION AND THE GUARANTOR
WHEREAS, the Corporation has duly authorized the execution and delivery
of this Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of its unsecured
junior subordinated debt securities in series (hereinafter called the
"Securities") of substantially the tenor hereinafter provided, including
Securities issued to evidence loans made to the Corporation of the proceeds from
the issuance from time to time by one or more business trusts (each an "Issuer
Trust") of undivided preferred beneficial interests in the assets of such Issuer
Trusts (the "Capital Securities") and undivided common beneficial interests in
the assets of such Issuer Trusts (the "Common Securities" and, collectively with
the Capital Securities, the "Trust Securities"), and to provide the terms and
conditions upon which the Securities are to be authenticated, issued and
delivered; and
WHEREAS, the Guarantor has duly authorized the execution and delivery
of this Indenture to provide for the issuance of Guarantees with respect to the
Securities; and
WHEREAS, all things necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement
of the Corporation and the Guarantor, in accordance with its terms, have been
done.
NOW THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:
For and in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the
Securities by the Holders thereof, it is mutually covenanted and agreed, for the
equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders of the Securities or of any
series thereof, as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION
SECTION 1.1. Definitions.
For all purposes of this Indenture, except as otherwise expressly
provided or unless the context otherwise requires:
(1) The terms defined in this Article have the meanings
assigned to them in this Article, and include the plural as well as the
singular;
(2) All other terms used herein that are defined in the Trust
Indenture Act, either directly or by reference therein, have the
meanings assigned to them therein;
<PAGE> 10
(3) The words "include", "includes" and "including" shall be
deemed to be followed by the phrase "without limitation";
(4) All accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the
meanings assigned to them in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles;
(5) Whenever the context may require, any gender shall be
deemed to include the others;
(6) Unless the context otherwise requires, any reference to an
"Article" or a "Section" refers to an Article or a Section, as the case
may be, of this Indenture; and
(7) The words "hereby", "herein", "hereof" and "hereunder" and
other words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and
not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision.
"Act" when used with respect to any Holder has the meaning specified in
Section 1.4.
"Additional Guarantee Payments" has the meaning specified in Section
3.17.
"Additional Interest" means the interest, if any, that shall accrue on
any interest on the Securities of any series the payment of which has not been
made on the applicable Interest Payment Date and which shall accrue at the rate
per annum specified or determined as specified in such Security.
"Additional Sums" has the meaning specified in Section 10.6.
"Additional Taxes" means any additional taxes, duties and other
governmental charges to which an Issuer Trust has become subject from time to
time as a result of a Tax Event.
"Administrative Trustees" means, in respect of any Issuer Trust, each
Person identified as an "Administrative Trustee" in the related Trust Agreement,
solely in such Person's capacity as Administrative Trustee of such Issuer Trust
under such Trust Agreement and not in such Person's individual capacity, or any
successor administrative trustee appointed as therein provided.
"Affiliate" of any specified Person means any other Person directly or
indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common
control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition,
"control" when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to
direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly,
whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise;
and the terms "controlling" and "controlled" have meanings correlative to the
foregoing.
"Agent Member" means any member of, or participant in, the Depositary.
"Allocable Amounts," when used with respect to any Senior Subordinated
Indebtedness of the Corporation or the Guarantor, as the case may be, means the
amount necessary to pay all principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if
any, on such Senior Subordinated Indebtedness of the
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<PAGE> 11
Corporation or the Guarantor, as the case may be, in full less, if applicable,
any portion of such amounts which would have been paid to, and retained by, the
holders of such Senior Subordinated Indebtedness (whether as a result of the
receipt of payments by the holders of such Senior Subordinated Indebtedness
from the Corporation or the Guarantor, as the case may be, or any other obligor
thereon or from any holders of, or trustee in respect of, other indebtedness
that is subordinate and junior in right of payment to such Senior Subordinated
Indebtedness pursuant to any provision of such indebtedness for the payment
over of amounts received on account of such indebtedness to the holders of such
Senior Subordinated Indebtedness) but for the fact that such Senior Subordinated
Indebtedness is subordinate or junior in right of payment to trade accounts
payable or accrued liabilities arising in the ordinary course of business.
"Applicable Procedures" means, with respect to any transfer or
transaction involving a Global Security or beneficial interest therein, the
rules and procedures of the Depositary for such Security, in each case to the
extent applicable to such transaction and as in effect from time to time.
"Authenticating Agent" means any Person authorized by the Trustee
pursuant to Section 6.14 to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate
Securities of one or more series.
"Authorized Agent" has the meaning specified in Section 1.14.
"Banco Popular" means Banco Popular de Puerto Rico and its successors
and assigns.
"Bankruptcy Code" means Title 11 of the United States Code or any
successor statute thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.
"Board of Directors" means, with respect to the Corporation and the
Guarantor, the board of directors of the Corporation or the Guarantor, or the
Executive Committee of the board of directors of the Corporation or the
Guarantor (or any other committee of the board of directors of the Corporation
or the Guarantor performing similar functions) or a committee designated by the
board of directors of the Corporation or the Guarantor (or such committee),
comprised of two or more members of the board of directors or officers, or both,
of the Corporation or the Guarantor, in each case as the context requires.
"Board Resolution" means a copy of a resolution certified by the
Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Corporation or the Guarantor, as the
case may be, to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors, or officers of
the Corporation or the Guarantor, as the case may be, to which authority to act
on behalf of the Board of Directors has been delegated, and to be in full force
and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the Trustee.
"Business Day" means any day other than (i) a Saturday or Sunday, (ii)
a day on which banking institutions in The City of New York are authorized or
required by law or executive order to remain closed, or (iii) a day on which the
Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, or, with respect to the Securities of a
series initially issued to an Issuer Trust for so long as such Securities are
held by such Issuer Trust, the "Corporate Trust Office" (as defined in the
related Trust Agreement) of the Property Trustee under the related Trust
Agreement, is closed for business.
"Capital Securities" has the meaning specified in the first recital of
this Indenture.
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<PAGE> 12
"Capital Treatment Event" means, in respect of any Issuer Trust, the
reasonable determination by the Corporation (as evidenced by an Officers'
Certificate delivered to the Trustee) that, as a result of the occurrence of any
amendment to, or change (including any announced prospective change) in, the
laws (or any rules or regulations thereunder) of the United States or any
political subdivision thereof or therein, or as a result of any official or
administrative pronouncement or action or judicial decision interpreting or
applying such laws, rules or regulations, which amendment or change is effective
or such pronouncement, action or decision is announced on or after the date of
the issuance of the Capital Securities of such Issuer Trust, there is more than
an insubstantial risk that the Corporation or the Guarantor will not be entitled
to treat an amount equal to the aggregate Liquidation Amount (as such term is
defined in the related Trust Agreement) of such Capital Securities as "Tier 1
Capital" (or the then equivalent thereof) for purposes of the capital adequacy
guidelines of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, as then in
effect and applicable to the Corporation or the Guarantor.
"Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from time
to time constituted, created under the Exchange Act, or if at any time after the
execution of this instrument such Commission is not existing and performing the
duties now assigned to it under the Trust Indenture Act, then the body
performing such duties on such date.
"Common Securities" has the meaning specified in the first recital of
this Indenture.
"Common Stock" means the common stock of the Corporation or the
Guarantor, as the case may be.
"Corporate Trust Office" means the principal office of the Trustee at
which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be administered.
"corporation" includes a corporation, association, company, limited
liability company, joint-stock company or business trust.
"Corporation" means the Person named as the "Corporation" 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
"Corporation" shall mean such successor corporation.
"Corporation Request" and "Corporation Order" mean, respectively, the
written request or order signed in the name of the Corporation by its Chairman
of the Board of Directors, its Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, its
President or a Vice President, and by its Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, its
Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, and delivered to the Trustee.
"Debt" means, with respect to any Person, whether recourse is to all or
a portion of the assets of such Person and whether or not contingent and without
duplication, (i) every obligation of such Person for money borrowed; (ii) every
obligation of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar
instruments, including obligations incurred in connection with the acquisition
of property, assets or businesses; (iii) every reimbursement obligation of such
Person with respect to letters of credit, bankers' acceptances or similar
facilities issued for the account of such Person; (iv) every obligation of such
Person issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property or services
(but excluding trade accounts payable or accrued liabilities arising in the
ordinary course of
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<PAGE> 13
business); (v) every capital lease obligation of such Person; (vi) all
indebtedness of the Corporation, whether incurred on or prior to the date of
this Indenture or thereafter incurred, for claims in respect of derivative
products, including interest rate, foreign exchange rate and commodity forward
contracts, options and swaps and similar arrangements; and (vii) every
obligation of the type referred to in clauses (i) through (vi) of another
Person and all dividends of another Person the payment of which, in either
case, such Person has guaranteed or is responsible or liable for, directly or
indirectly, as obligor or otherwise.
"Defaulted Interest" has the meaning specified in Section 3.8.
"Delaware Trustee" means, with respect to any Issuer Trust, the Person
identified as the "Delaware Trustee" in the related Trust Agreement, solely in
its capacity as Delaware Trustee of such Issuer Trust under such Trust Agreement
and not in its individual capacity, or its successor in interest in such
capacity, or any successor Delaware trustee appointed as therein provided.
"Depositary" means, with respect to the Securities of any series
issuable or issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global
Securities, the Person designated as Depositary by the Corporation pursuant to
Section 3.1 with respect to such series (or any successor thereto).
"Discount Security" means any security that provides for an amount less
than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon a declaration of
acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.2.
"Distributions," with respect to the Trust Securities issued by an
Issuer Trust, means amounts payable in respect of such Trust Securities as
provided in the related Trust Agreement and referred to therein as
"Distributions."
"Dollar" or "$" means the currency of the United States of America
that, as at the time of payment, is legal tender for the payment of public and
private debts.
"Event of Default", unless otherwise specified with respect to a series
of Securities as contemplated by Section 3.1, has the meaning specified in
Article V.
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or any statute
successor thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.
"Expiration Date" has the meaning specified in Section 1.4.
"Extension Period" has the meaning specified in Section 3.12.
"Global Security" means a Security in the form prescribed in Section
2.4 evidencing all or part of a series of Securities, issued to the Depositary
or its nominee for such series, and registered in the name of such Depositary or
its nominee.
"Guarantees" means the guarantees of the Guarantor to be endorsed on
the Securities authenticated and delivered hereunder.
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<PAGE> 14
"Guarantee Agreement" means, with respect to any Issuer Trust, the
Guarantee Agreement executed by the Corporation and the Guarantor for the
benefit of the Holders of the Capital Securities issued by such Issuer Trust as
modified, amended or supplemented from time to time.
"Guarantor" means the Person named as the "Guarantor" in the first
paragraph of this instrument until a successor corporation shall have become
such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter
"Guarantor" shall mean such successor corporation.
"Guarantor Request" and "Guarantor Order" mean, respectively, the
written request or order signed in the name of the Guarantor by its Chairman of
the Board of Directors, its Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, its
President or a Vice President, and by its Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, its
Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, and delivered to the Trustee.
"Holder" means a Person in whose name a Security is registered in the
Securities Register.
"Indenture" means this instrument as originally executed or as it may
from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures
supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof
and shall include the terms of each particular series of Securities established
as contemplated by Section 3.1.
"Interest Payment Date" means, as to each series of Securities, the
Stated Maturity of an installment of interest on such Securities.
"Investment Company Act" means the Investment Company Act of 1940 or
any successor statute thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.
"Issuer Trust" has the meaning specified in the first recital of this
Indenture.
"Maturity" when used with respect to any Security means the date on
which the principal of such Security or any 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.
"Notice of Default" means a written notice of the kind specified in
Section 5.1(3).
"Officers' Certificate" means a certificate signed by the Chairman of
the Board, a Vice Chairman of the Board, the President or a Vice President, and
by the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant
Secretary, of the Corporation or the Guarantor, as the context requires, and
delivered to the Trustee.
"Opinion of Counsel" means a written opinion of counsel, who may be
counsel for or an employee of the Corporation or the Guarantor, or any Affiliate
of the Corporation or the Guarantor.
"Original Issue Date" means the date of issuance specified as such in
each Security.
"Outstanding" means, when used in reference to any Securities, as of
the date of determination, all Securities theretofore authenticated and
delivered under this Indenture, except:
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<PAGE> 15
(i) Securities theretofore canceled by the Trustee or
delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;
(ii) Securities for whose payment money in the necessary
amount has been theretofore deposited with the Trustee or any Paying
Agent in trust for the Holders of such Securities; and
(iii) Securities in substitution for or in lieu of which other
Securities have been authenticated and delivered or that have been paid
pursuant to Section 3.7, unless proof satisfactory to the Trustee is
presented that any such Securities are held by Holders in whose hands
such Securities are valid, binding and legal obligations of the
Corporation;
provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite
principal amount of Outstanding Securities have given any request, demand,
authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, Securities owned
by the Corporation or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of
the Corporation or such other obligor shall be disregarded and deemed not to be
Outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected
in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice,
consent or waiver, only Securities that the Trustee knows to be so owned shall
be so disregarded. Securities so owned that 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 Corporation or any other obligor upon the
Securities or any Affiliate of the Corporation or such other obligor. Upon the
written request of the Trustee, the Corporation shall furnish to the Trustee
promptly an Officers' Certificate listing and identifying all Securities, if
any, known by the Corporation to be owned or held by or for the account of the
Corporation, or any other obligor on the Securities or any Affiliate of the
Corporation or such obligor, and subject to the provisions of Section 6.1, the
Trustee shall be entitled to accept such Officers' Certificate as conclusive
evidence of the facts therein set forth and of the fact that all Securities not
listed therein are Outstanding for the purpose of any such determination.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Securities of any series
initially issued to an Issuer Trust that are owned by such Issuer Trust shall
be deemed to be Outstanding notwithstanding the ownership by the Corporation or
an Affiliate of any beneficial interest in such Issuer Trust.
"Paying Agent" means the Trustee or any Person authorized by the
Corporation to pay the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on, or
other amounts in respect of, any Securities on behalf of the Corporation.
"Person" means a legal person, including any individual, corporation,
estate, partnership, joint venture, trust, unincorporated association, or
government or any agency or political subdivision thereof, or any other entity
of whatever nature.
"Place of Payment" means, with respect to the Securities of any series,
the place or places where the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on
the Securities of such series are payable pursuant to Section 3.1.
"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. For the purposes of this definition, any security
authenticated and delivered under Section 3.7 in lieu of a mutilated,
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<PAGE> 16
destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as
the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security.
"Proceeding" has the meaning specified in Section 13.2.
"Property Trustee" means, with respect to any Issuer Trust, the Person
identified as the "Property Trustee" in the related Trust Agreement, solely in
its capacity as Property Trustee of such Issuer Trust under such Trust Agreement
and not in its individual capacity, or its successor in interest in such
capacity, or any successor Property Trustee appointed as therein provided.
"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 or the terms of such Security.
"Redemption Price", when used with respect to any Security to be
redeemed, means the price at which it is to be redeemed pursuant to this
Indenture.
"Regular Record Date" for the interest payable on any Interest Payment
Date with respect to the Securities of a series means, unless otherwise provided
pursuant to Section 3.1 with respect to Securities of such series, the date that
is fifteen days next preceding such Interest Payment Date (whether or not a
Business Day).
"Responsible Officer", when used with respect to the Trustee, means the
chairman or any vice-chairman of the board of directors, the chairman or any
vice-chairman of the executive committee of the board of directors, the chairman
of the trust committee, the president, any vice president, the secretary, any
assistant secretary, the treasurer, any assistant treasurer, the cashier, any
assistant cashier, any trust officer or assistant trust officer, the controller
or any assistant controller or any other officer of the Trustee customarily
performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated
officers and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter,
any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of his knowledge of
and familiarity with the particular subject.
"Rights Plan" means a plan of the Corporation or the Guarantor, as the
case may be, providing for the issuance by the Corporation or the Guarantor, as
the case may be, to all holders of its Common Stock of rights entitling the
holders thereof to subscribe for or purchase shares of any class or series of
capital stock of the Corporation or Guarantor, as the case may be, which rights
(i) are deemed to be transferred with such shares of such Common Stock, and (ii)
are also issued in respect of future issuances of such Common Stock, in each
case until the occurrence of a specified event or events.
"Securities" or "Security" means any debt securities or debt security,
as the case may be, authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.
"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933 or any successor
statute thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.
"Securities Register" and "Securities Registrar" have the respective
meanings specified in Section 3.6.
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<PAGE> 17
"Senior Debt" of the Corporation or the Guarantor, as the case may be,
means (i) Senior Indebtedness of the Corporation or the Guarantor, respectively
(but excluding trade accounts payable and accrued liabilities arising in the
ordinary course of business), and (ii) the Allocable Amounts of Senior
Subordinated Indebtedness of the Corporation or Guarantor, respectively.
"Senior Indebtedness" means any obligation of the Corporation or the
Guarantor, as the case may be, to its creditors, whether now outstanding or
subsequently incurred, other than any obligation as to which, in the instrument
creating or evidencing the obligation or pursuant to which the obligation is
outstanding, it is provided that such obligation is not Senior Indebtedness.
Senior Indebtedness does not include Senior Subordinated Indebtedness or the
Securities.
"Senior Subordinated Indebtedness" means any obligation of the
Corporation or the Guarantor, as the case may be, to its creditors, whether now
outstanding or subsequently incurred, where the instrument creating or
evidencing the obligation or pursuant to which the obligation is outstanding,
provides that it is subordinate and junior in right of payment to Senior
Indebtedness.
"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 premium, if any) or interest (including any
Additional Interest) thereon, means the date specified pursuant to the terms of
such Security as the fixed date on which the principal of such Security or such
installment of principal (or premium, if any) or interest (including any
Additional Interest) is due and payable, as such date may, in the case of the
stated maturity of the principal on any security, be shortened or extended as
provided pursuant to the terms of such Security and this Indenture and, in the
case of any installment of interest, subject to the deferral of any such date in
the case of any Extension Period.
"Subsidiary" means a corporation more than 50% of the outstanding
voting stock of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation or
the Guarantor, as the context requires, or by one or more other Subsidiaries, or
by the Corporation or the Guarantor, as the context requires, and one or more
other Subsidiaries. For purposes of this definition, "voting stock" means stock
that ordinarily has voting power for the election of directors, whether at all
times or only so long as no senior class of stock has such voting power by
reason of any contingency.
"Successor Security" of any particular Security means every Security
issued after, and 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 3.7 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.
"Tax Event" means the receipt by an Issuer Trust of an Opinion of
Counsel (as defined in the relevant Trust Agreement) experienced in such matters
to the effect that, as a result of any amendment to, or change (including any
announced proposed change) in, the laws (or any regulations thereunder) of the
United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or
therein, or as a result of any official administrative pronouncement or judicial
decision interpreting or applying such laws or regulations, which amendment or
change is effective or which pronouncement or decision is announced on or after
the date of issuance of the Capital Securities of such Issuer Trust,
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<PAGE> 18
there is more than an insubstantial risk that (i) such Issuer Trust is, or will
be within 90 days of the delivery of such Opinion of Counsel, subject to United
States Federal income tax with respect to income received or accrued on the
corresponding series of Securities issued by the Corporation to such Issuer
Trust, (ii) interest payable by the Corporation on such corresponding series of
Securities is not, or within 90 days of the delivery of such Opinion of Counsel
will not be, deductible by the Corporation, in whole or in part, for United
States Federal income tax purposes, or (iii) such Issuer Trust is, or will be
within 90 days of the delivery of such Opinion of Counsel, subject to more than
a de minimis amount of other taxes, duties or other governmental charges.
"Taxes" has the meaning specified in Section 3.17.
"Trust Agreement" means, with respect to any Issuer Trust, the trust
agreement or other governing instrument of such Issuer Trust.
"Trustee" means the Person named as the "Trustee" in the first
paragraph of this Indenture, solely in its capacity as such and not in its
individual capacity, until a successor Trustee shall have become such pursuant
to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter "Trustee" shall
mean or include each Person who is then a Trustee hereunder and, if at any time
there is more than one such Person, "Trustee" as used with respect to the
Securities of any series shall mean the Trustee with respect to Securities of
that series.
"Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C.
section 77aaa-77bbb), as amended and as in effect on the date as of this
Indenture, except as provided in Section 9.5.
"Trust Securities" has the meaning specified in the first recital of
this Indenture.
"Vice President," when used with respect to the Corporation or the
Guarantor, means any duly appointed vice president, whether or not designated by
a number or a word or words added before or after the title "vice president," of
the Corporation or the Guarantor, respectively.
SECTION 1.2. Compliance Certificate and Opinions.
Upon any application or request by the Corporation or the Guarantor to
the Trustee to take any action under any provision of this Indenture, the
Corporation or the Guarantor, as the case may be, shall furnish to the Trustee
an Officers' Certificate stating that all conditions precedent (including
covenants compliance with which constitutes a condition precedent), if any,
provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been
complied with and an Opinion of Counsel stating that in the opinion of such
counsel all such conditions precedent (including covenants compliance with which
constitutes a condition 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 the
certificates provided pursuant to Section 10.4) shall include:
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<PAGE> 19
(1) a statement by each individual signing such certificate or opinion
that such individual has read such covenant or condition and the definitions
herein relating thereto;
(2) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or
investigation upon which the statements or opinions of such individual contained
in such certificate or opinion are based;
(3) a statement that, in the opinion of such individual, he or she has
made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him or her to
express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has
been complied with; and
(4) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of such individual, such
condition or covenant has been complied with.
SECTION 1.3. Forms 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 Corporation or the
Guarantor 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 matters upon which his or her
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
Corporation or the Guarantor, as the case may be, stating that the information
with respect to such factual matters is in the possession of the Corporation or
the Guarantor, as the case may be, unless such counsel knows, or in the exercise
of reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or
representations with respect to such matters are erroneous.
Where any Person is required to make, give or execute two or more
applications, requests, consents, certificates, statements, opinions, or other
instruments under this Indenture, they may, but need not, be consolidated and
form one instrument.
SECTION 1.4. Acts of Holders.
(a) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent,
waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given to or taken by
Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of
substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by an agent duly
appointed in writing; and, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such
action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments is or are
delivered to the Trustee, and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the
Corporation and the Guarantor. 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
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<PAGE> 20
Indenture and (subject to Section 6.1) conclusive in favor of the Trustee, the
Corporation and the Guarantor, 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 the certificate of any notary public or other officer authorized
by law to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual signing
such instrument or writing acknowledged to him or her the execution thereof.
Where such execution is by a Person acting in other than his or her individual
capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof
of his or her authority.
(c) The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such
instrument or writing, or the authority of the Person executing the same, may
also be proved in any other manner that the Trustee deems sufficient and in
accordance with such reasonable rules as the Trustee may determine.
(d) The ownership of Securities shall be proved by the Securities
Register.
(e) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent,
waiver or other action by the Holder of any Security shall bind every future
Holder of the same Security and the Holder of every Security issued upon the
transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof in respect of
anything done or suffered to be done by the Trustee, the Corporation or the
Guarantor in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such action is made
upon such Security.
(f) The Corporation may set any day as a record date for the purpose of
determining the Holders of Outstanding Securities of any series entitled to
give, make or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice,
consent, waiver or other action provided or permitted by this Indenture to be
given, made or taken by Holders of Securities of such series, provided that the
Corporation 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 succeeding paragraph.
If any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Holders of Outstanding
Securities of the relevant series on such record date, and no other Holders,
shall be entitled to take the relevant action, whether or not such Holders
remain Holders after such record date, provided that no such action shall be
effective hereunder unless taken on or prior to the applicable Expiration Date
(as defined below) by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding
Securities of such series on such record date. Nothing in this paragraph shall
be construed to prevent the Corporation 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 Corporation, at its own expense, shall cause
notice of such record date, the proposed action by Holders and the applicable
Expiration Date to be given to the Trustee in writing and to each Holder of
Securities of the relevant series in the manner set forth in Section 1.6.
The Trustee may set any day as a record date for the purpose of
determining the Holders of Outstanding Securities 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 request to institute
proceedings referred to in Section 5.7(2), or (iv) any direction referred to in
Section 5.12, in each case with respect to Securities of such series. If any
record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the
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<PAGE> 21
Holders of Outstanding Securities of such series on such record date, and no
other Holders, shall be entitled to join in such notice, declaration, request
or direction, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record
date, provided that no such action shall be effective hereunder unless taken on
or prior to the applicable Expiration Date by Holders of the requisite
principal amount of Outstanding Securities of such series on such 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
Corporation's expense, shall cause notice of such record date, the proposed
action by Holders and the applicable Expiration Date to be given to the
Corporation in writing and to each Holder of Securities of the relevant series
in the manner set forth in Section 1.6.
With respect to any record date set pursuant to this Section, the party
that sets such record date may designate any day as the "Expiration Date" and
from time to time may change the Expiration Date to any earlier or later day,
provided that no such change shall be effective unless notice of the proposed
new Expiration Date is given to the other party hereto in writing, and to each
Holder of Securities of the relevant series in the manner set forth in Section
1.6, on or prior to the existing Expiration Date. If an Expiration Date is not
designated with respect to any record date set pursuant to this Section, the
party hereto that set such record date shall be deemed to have initially
designated the 180th day after such record date as the Expiration Date with
respect thereto, subject to its right to change the Expiration Date as provided
in this paragraph. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Expiration Date shall be
later than the 180th day after the applicable record date.
(g) Without limiting the foregoing, a Holder entitled hereunder to take
any action hereunder with regard to any particular Security may do so with
regard to all or any part of the principal amount of such Security or by one or
more duly appointed agents each of which may do so pursuant to such appointment
with regard to all or any part of such principal amount.
SECTION 1.5. Notices, Etc. to Trustee, Corporation and the Guarantor.
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, any holder of Capital Securities, the
Corporation or the Guarantor shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder if
made, given, furnished or filed in writing to or with the Trustee at its
Corporate Trust office, or
(2) the Corporation or the Guarantor by the Trustee, any Holder or any
holder of Capital Securities shall be sufficient for every purpose (except as
otherwise provided in Section 5.1) hereunder if in writing and mailed, first
class, postage prepaid, to the Corporation or the Guarantor, as the case may be,
addressed to it at the address of its principal office specified in the first
paragraph of this instrument or at any other address previously furnished in
writing to the Trustee by the Corporation or Guarantor.
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<PAGE> 22
SECTION 1.6. Notice to Holders; Waiver.
Where this Indenture provides for notice to Holders of any event, such
notice shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein expressly provided)
if in writing and mailed, first class postage prepaid, to each Holder affected
by such event, at the address of such Holder as it appears in the Securities
Register, not later than the latest date, and not earlier than the earliest
date, prescribed for the giving of such notice. If, by reason of the suspension
of or irregularities in regular mail service or for any other reason, it shall
be impossible or impracticable to mail notice of any event to Holders when said
notice is required to be given pursuant to any provision of this Indenture or
of the relevant Securities, then any manner of giving such notice as shall be
satisfactory to the Trustee shall be deemed to be a sufficient giving of such
notice. In any case where notice to Holders is given by mail, neither the
failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed, to any
particular Holder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to
other Holders. Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such
notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice,
either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of
such notice. Waivers of notice by Holders shall be filed with the Trustee, but
such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action
taken in reliance upon such waiver.
SECTION 1.7. Conflict with Trust Indenture Act.
If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with
the duties imposed by any of Sections 310 to 317, inclusive, of the Trust
Indenture Act through operation of Section 318(c) thereof, such imposed duties
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.
SECTION 1.8. Effect of Headings and Table of Contents.
The Article and Section headings herein and the Table of Contents are
for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.
SECTION 1.9. Successors and Assigns.
All covenants and agreements in this Indenture by the Corporation or
the Guarantor shall bind their respective successors and assigns, whether so
expressed or not.
SECTION 1.10. Separability Clause.
If any provision in this Indenture or in the Securities shall be
invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of
the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
SECTION 1.11. Benefits of Indenture.
Nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities, express or implied,
shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto and their successors and
assigns, the holders of Senior Debt, the Holders of the Securities and, to the
extent expressly provided in Sections 5.1, 5.2, 5.8, 5.9, 5.11, 5.13, 9.1
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<PAGE> 23
and 9.2, the holders of Capital Securities, any benefit or any legal or
equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture.
SECTION 1.12. Governing Law.
THIS INDENTURE AND THE SECURITIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
SECTION 1.13. Non-Business Days.
If any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated Maturity of any
Security shall not be a Business Day, then (notwithstanding any other provision
of this Indenture or the Securities) payment of interest or principal (and
premium, if any) or other amounts in respect of such Security need not be made
on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day (and no
interest shall accrue in respect of the amounts whose payment is so delayed for
the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated
Maturity, as the case may be, until such next succeeding Business Day) except
that, if such Business Day falls 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 the Interest Payment Date or
Redemption Date or at the Stated Maturity).
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<PAGE> 24
SECTION 1.14. Appointment of Agent for Service.
The Guarantor hereby appoints the Senior Vice President of Banco
Popular at the office of Banco Popular located in the City of New York as the
Guarantor's authorized agent (the "Authorized Agent") upon whom service of
process may be served in any action arising out of or based on the Securities,
the Securities Guarantees or this Indenture (including any action based on or
arising out of the United States federal securities laws) that may be instituted
in New York State or United States Federal Courts sitting in the City of New
York, by the Trustee or the Holder of any Security, and the Guarantor hereby
expressly accepts the jurisdiction of any such court in respect of any such
action. Such appointment shall be irrevocable unless and until the appointment
of a successor authorized agent for service of process, and such successor's
acceptance of such appointment, shall have occurred, and the Guarantor and such
Authorized Agent will take any and all actions, including the filing of any and
all documents and instruments, that may be necessary to continue such
appointment or appointments in full force and effect as aforesaid. Service of
process upon an Authorized Agent will be deemed, in every respect, effective
service of process upon the Guarantor. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any action
against the Guarantor arising out of or based on any Security, the Securities
Guarantees or this Indenture may also be instituted by the Holder of such
Security in any court in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the Guarantor
hereby expressly accepts the jurisdiction of any such court in respect of any
such action.
ARTICLE II
SECURITY FORMS
SECTION 2.1. Forms Generally.
The Securities of each series and the Trustee's certificate of
authentication shall be in substantially the forms set forth in this Article, or
in such other form or forms 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 applicable tax laws or the rules of any
securities exchange or as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the
officers executing such securities, as evidenced by their execution of the
Securities. If the form of Securities of any series is established by action
taken pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such
action shall be certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the
Corporation and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the
Corporation Order contemplated by Section 3.3 with respect to the authentication
and delivery of such Securities.
The Guarantees to be endorsed on the Securities of each series shall be
in substantially the form set forth in this Article, or in such other form as
shall be established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution of the Guarantor or in
one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in each case with 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 and endorsements placed thereon as may be
required to comply with the rules of any securities exchange or as may,
consistently herewith, be determined by the officers executing such Guarantees,
as evidenced by their execution of such Guarantees. If the form of the
Guarantees to be endorsed on
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<PAGE> 25
the Securities is established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution of
the Guarantor, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be
certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Guarantor and
delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Guarantor Order
contemplated by Section 3.3 for the authentication and delivery of such
Guarantees.
The definitive Securities shall be printed, lithographed or engraved or
produced by any combination of these methods, if required by any securities
exchange on which the Securities may be listed, on a steel engraved border or
steel engraved borders or may be produced in any other manner permitted by the
rules of any securities exchange on which the Securities may be listed, all as
determined by the officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their
execution of such Securities.
SECTION 2.2. Form of Face of Security.
BANPONCE FINANCIAL CORP.
[TITLE OF SECURITY]
No. $
BANPONCE FINANCIAL CORP., a corporation organized and existing under
the laws of Delaware (hereinafter called the "Corporation", which term includes
any successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value
received, hereby promises to pay to _______________, or registered assigns, the
principal sum of __________ Dollars on __________ __, [if the Security is a
Global Security, then insert, if applicable--, or such other principal amount
represented hereby as may be set forth in the records of the Securities
Registrar hereinafter referred to in accordance with the Indenture,] [; provided
that the Corporation may (i) shorten the Stated Maturity of the principal of
this Security to a date not earlier than __________, in the circumstances
described on the reverse hereof. The Corporation further promises to pay
interest on said principal sum from , or from the most recent Interest Payment
Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, [monthly] [quarterly]
[semi-annually] [if applicable, insert--(subject to deferral as set forth
herein)] in arrears on [insert applicable Interest Payment Dates] of each year,
commencing , , at the rate of % per annum, [if applicable insert--together with
Additional Sums, if any, as provided in Section 10.6 of the Indenture] until the
principal hereof is paid or duly provided for or made available for payment [if
applicable, insert-- ; provided that any overdue principal, premium or
Additional Sums and any overdue installment of interest shall bear Additional
Interest at the rate of % per annum (to the extent that the payment of such
interest shall be legally enforceable), compounded [monthly] [quarterly]
[semi-annually], from the dates such amounts are due until they are paid or made
available for payment, and such interest shall be payable on demand]. The amount
of interest payable for any period less than a full interest period shall be
computed on the basis of a 360- day year of twelve 30-day months and the actual
days elapsed in a partial month in such period. The amount of interest payable
for any full interest period shall be computed by dividing the applicable rate
per annum by [twelve/four/two]. The interest so payable, and punctually paid or
duly provided for,
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<PAGE> 26
on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in the Indenture, be paid to
the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities)
is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such
interest installment [if applicable insert--, which shall be the [____________
or ____________] (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, next
preceding such Interest Payment Date]. Any such interest not so punctually paid
or duly provided for shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such
Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this
Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of
business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to
be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Securities
of this series not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or be
paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the
requirements of any securities exchange on which the Securities of this series
may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as
more fully provided in said Indenture.
[If applicable, insert--So long as no Event of Default has occurred and
is continuing, the Corporation shall have the right, at any time during the term
of this Security, from time to time to defer the payment of interest on this
Security for up to consecutive [monthly] [quarterly] [semi-annual] interest
payment periods with respect to each deferral period (each an "Extension
Period") [If applicable, insert--, during which Extension Periods the
Corporation shall have the right to make partial payments of interest on any
Interest Payment Date, and] at the end of which the Corporation shall pay all
interest then accrued and unpaid including any Additional Interest, as provided
below; provided, however, that no Extension Period shall extend beyond the
Stated Maturity of the principal of this Security [If Stated Maturity can be
shortened or extended, insert--, as then in effect,] and no such Extension
Period may end on a date other than an Interest Payment Date; and provided,
further, however, that during any such Extension Period, the Corporation shall
not (i) declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase,
acquire or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Corporation's
capital stock, or (ii) make any payment of principal of or interest or premium,
if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the Corporation
that rank pari passu in all respects with or junior in interest to this Security
(other than (a) repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of shares of
capital stock of the Corporation in connection with any employment contract,
benefit plan or other similar arrangement with or for the benefit of any one or
more employees, officers, directors or consultants, in connection with a
dividend reinvestment or stockholder stock purchase plan or in connection with
the issuance of capital stock of the Corporation (or securities convertible into
or exercisable for such capital stock) as consideration in an acquisition
transaction entered into prior to the applicable Extension Period, (b) as a
result of an exchange or conversion of any class or series of the Corporation's
capital stock (or any capital stock of a Subsidiary of the Corporation) for any
class or series of the Corporation's capital stock or of any class or series of
the Corporation's indebtedness for any class or series of the Corporation's
capital stock, (c) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the
Corporation's capital stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of
such capital stock or the security being converted or exchanged, (d) any
declaration of a dividend in connection with any Rights Plan, or the issuance of
rights, stock or other property under any Rights Plan, or the redemption or
repurchase of rights pursuant thereto, or (e) any dividend in the form of stock,
warrants, options or other rights where the dividend stock or the stock issuable
upon exercise of such warrants, options or other rights is the same stock as
that on which the dividend is being paid or ranks pari passu with or junior to
such stock). Prior to the termination of any such Extension Period, the
Corporation may further defer the payment of interest, provided that no
Extension Period shall exceed consecutive [monthly] [quarterly] [semi-annual]
interest payment periods, extend beyond the Stated Maturity of the principal of
this Security or end on a date other than an Interest Payment Date. Upon the
termination of any such Extension Period and upon the payment of all accrued
and unpaid interest and any Additional Interest then due on any Interest
Payment Date, the Corporation may elect to begin a new Extension Period,
subject to the above conditions. No interest shall be due and payable during
an Extension
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<PAGE> 27
Period, except at the end thereof, but each installment of interest that would
otherwise have been due and payable during such Extension shall bear
Additional Interest (to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be
legally enforceable) at the rate of ____% per annum, compounded [monthly]
[quarterly] [semi-annually] and calculated as set forth in the first paragraph
of this Security, from the dates on which amounts would otherwise have been due
and payable until paid or made available for payment. The Corporation shall
give the Holder of this Security and the Trustee notice of its election to
begin any Extension Period at least one Business Day prior to the next
succeeding Interest Payment Date on which interest on this Security would be
payable but for such deferral [if applicable, insert--or so long as such
Securities are held by [insert name of applicable Issuer Trust], at least one
Business Day prior to the earlier of (i) the next succeeding date on which
Distributions on the Capital Securities of such Issuer Trust would be payable
but for such deferral, and (ii) the date on which the Property Trustee of such
Issuer Trust is required to give notice to any securities exchange or other
applicable self-regulatory organization or to holders of such Capital
Securities of the record date or the date such Distributions are payable].
Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on this
Security will be made at the office or agency of the Corporation maintained for
that purpose in the [insert Place of Payment], in such coin or currency of the
United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment
of public and private debts [if applicable, insert--; provided, however, that at
the option of the Corporation payment of interest may be made (i) by check
mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall
appear in the Securities Register, or (ii) by wire transfer in immediately
available funds at such place and to such account as may be designated by the
Person entitled thereto as specified in the Securities Register].
The indebtedness evidenced by this Security is, to the extent provided
in the Indenture, subordinate and junior in right of payment to the prior
payment in full of all Senior Debt, and this Security is issued subject
to the provisions of the Indenture with respect thereto. Each Holder of this
Security, 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 actions as may be necessary or appropriate to 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,
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.
Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Security set
forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes
have the same effect as if set forth at this place.
Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by
the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof by manual signature, this Security
shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or
obligatory for any purpose.
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<PAGE> 28
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this instrument to be
duly executed under its corporate seal.
BANPONCE FINANCIAL CORP.
By:
Name:
Title:
Attest:
- ----------------------------------
[Secretary or Assistant Secretary]
SECTION 2.3. Form of Reverse of Security.
This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the
Corporation (herein called the "Securities"), issued and to be issued in one or
more series under the Junior Subordinated Indenture, dated as of , (herein
called the "Indenture"), among the Corporation, BANPONCE CORPORATION, as
Guarantor, and [THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO], as Trustee (herein called
the "Trustee", which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture),
to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby
made for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and
immunities thereunder of the Corporation, the Trustee, the holders of Senior
Debt and the Holders of the Securities, and of the terms upon which the
Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. This Security is one
of the series designated on the face hereof [if applicable, insert--, limited in
aggregate principal amount to $ ].
All terms used in this Security that are defined in the Indenture [if
applicable, insert--or in the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement, dated as of
___________, 199__ (as modified, amended or supplemented from time to time, the
"Trust Agreement"), relating to [insert name of Issuer Trust] (the "Issuer
Trust") among the Corporation, as Depositor, the Trustees named therein and the
Holders from time to time of the Trust Securities issued pursuant thereto, shall
have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture [if applicable, insert--or
the Trust Agreement, as the case may be].
[If applicable, insert--The Corporation may at any time, at its option,
on or after _________, ____, and subject to the terms and conditions of Article
XI of the Indenture, redeem this Security in whole at any time or in part from
time to time, at the following Redemption Prices (expressed as percentages of
the principal amount hereof): If redeemed during the 12-month period beginning
_____________,
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<PAGE> 29
Redemption
Year Price
---- -----
and thereafter at a Redemption Price equal to 100% of the principal amount
hereof, together, in the case of any such redemption, with accrued interest [if
applicable, insert--, including any Additional Interest,] to but excluding the
date fixed for redemption.]
[If applicable, insert--In addition, upon the occurrence and during the
continuation of a Tax Event or a Capital Treatment Event in respect of the
Issuer Trust, the Corporation may, at its option, at any time within 90 days of
the occurrence and during the continuation of such Tax Event Capital Treatment
Event, as the case may be, redeem this Security, in whole but not in part,
subject to the terms and conditions of Article XI of the Indenture, at a
redemption price equal to [insert formula]].
[If the Security is subject to redemption of any kind, insert--In the
event of redemption of this Security in part only, a new Security or Securities
of this series for the unredeemed portion hereof will be issued in the name of
the Holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof.]
[If applicable, insert--If at any time a Tax Event or a Capital
Treatment Event occurs and (i) in the opinion of counsel to the Corporation
experienced in such matters, there would in all cases, after effecting the
termination of any Trust which holds this Security and the distribution of this
Security to the holders of the Trust Securities of such Trust in exchange
therefor, be more than an insubstantial risk that an Adverse Tax Consequence (as
defined below) would continue to exist, (ii) in the reasonable determination of
the Corporation, there would in all cases, after effecting the termination of
any Trust which holds this Security and the distribution of this Security to the
holders of the Trust Securities of such Trust in exchange therefor, be more than
an insubstantial risk that the Corporation would not be entitled to treat an
amount equal to the Liquidation Amount of such Trust Securities as "Tier 1
Capital" (or the then equivalent thereof) for purposes of the capital adequacy
guidelines of the Federal Reserve, as then in effect and applicable to the
Corporation, or (iii) this Security is not held by a Trust, then the Corporation
shall have the right (a) to shorten the Stated Maturity of this Security to the
minimum extent required, but in any event to a date not earlier than
____________ (the action referred to in this clause (a) being referred to herein
as a "Maturity Advancement"), such that, in the opinion of counsel to the
Corporation experienced in such matters, after advancing the Stated Maturity,
interest paid hereon will be deductible for United States federal income tax
purposes, or (b) if either (x) in the opinion of counsel to the Corporation
experienced in such matters, there would in all cases, after effecting a
Maturity Advancement, be more than an insubstantial risk that an Adverse Tax
Consequence would continue to exist or (y) in the reasonable determination of
the Corporation, there would in all cases, after effecting a Maturity
Advancement, be more than an insubstantial risk that the Corporation would not
be entitled to treat an amount equal to the Liquidation Amount of the Trust
Securities of a Trust holding this Security, if any, as "Tier 1 Capital" (or the
then equivalent thereof) for purposes of the capital adequacy guidelines of the
Federal Reserve, as then in effect and applicable to the Corporation, to redeem
this Security, in whole but not in part, at any time within 90 days following
the occurrence of the Tax Event or Capital Treatment
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Event, at a Redemption Price equal to [insert formula]. "Adverse Tax
Consequence" means any of the following circumstances: (i) a Trust which holds
this Security is, or will be, within 90 days of the Opinion of Counsel giving
rise to a Tax Event, subject to United States federal income tax with respect to
income received or accrued to this Security, (ii) interest payable by the
Corporation on this Security is not, or within 90 days of the date of such
Opinion of Counsel will not be, deductible by the Corporation, in whole or in
part, for United States federal income tax purposes or (iii) a Trust which holds
this Security is, or will be within 90 days of the date of such Opinion of
Counsel, subject to more than a de minimis amount of other taxes, duties or
other governmental charges.]
The Indenture contains provisions for satisfaction and discharge of the
entire indebtedness of this Security upon compliance by the Corporation with
certain conditions set forth in the Indenture.
The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the
Corporation the Guarantor and the Trustee at any time to enter into a
supplemental indenture or indentures for the purpose of modifying in any manner
the rights and obligations of the Corporation, the Guarantor and of the Holders
of the Securities, with the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority
in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of each series to be affected
by such supplemental indenture. The Indenture also contains provisions
permitting Holders of specified percentages in principal amount of the
Securities of each series at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of
all Securities of such series, to waive compliance by the Corporation and the
Guarantor with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults
under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the
Holder of this Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and
upon all future Holders of this Security and of any Security issued upon the
registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof,
whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security.
[If the Security is not a Discount Security, insert--As provided in and
subject to the provisions of the Indenture, if an Event of Default with respect
to the Securities of this series at the time Outstanding occurs and is
continuing, then and in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of not less
than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of this
series may declare the principal amount of all the Securities of this series to
be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Corporation (and
to the Trustee if given by Holders) [if applicable, insert--, provided that, if
upon an Event of Default, the Trustee or such Holders fail to declare the
principal of all the Outstanding Securities of this series to be immediately due
and payable, the holders of at least 25% in aggregate Liquidation Amount of the
Capital Securities then Outstanding shall have the right to make such
declaration by a notice in writing to the Corporation and the Trustee]; and upon
any such declaration the principal amount of and the accrued interest (including
any Additional Interest) on all the Securities of this series shall become
immediately due and payable, provided that the payment of principal and interest
(including any Additional Interest) on such Securities shall remain subordinated
to the extent provided in Article XIII of the Indenture.]
[If the Security is a Discount Security, insert--As provided in and
subject to the provisions of the Indenture, if an Event of Default with respect
to the Securities of this series at the time Outstanding occurs and is
continuing, then and in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of not less
than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of this
series may declare an amount of principal of the Securities of this series to be
due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Corporation (and to
the Trustee if given by Holders) [if applicable, insert--, provided that, if
upon an Event of Default, the Trustee or such Holders fail to declare such
principal
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<PAGE> 31
amount of the Outstanding Securities of this series to be immediately due and
payable, the holders of at least 25% in aggregate Liquidation Amount of the
Capital Securities then Outstanding shall have the right to make such
declaration by a notice in writing to the Corporation and the Trustee]. The
principal amount payable upon such acceleration shall be equal to--insert
formula for determining the amount]. Upon any such declaration, such amount of
the principal of and the accrued interest (including any Additional Interest) on
all the Securities of this series shall become immediately due and payable,
provided that the payment of such principal and interest (including any
Additional Interest) on all the Securities of this series shall remain
subordinated to the extent provided in Article XIII of the Indenture. Upon
payment (i) of the amount of principal so declared due and payable and (ii) of
interest on any overdue principal, premium and interest (in each case to the
extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable), all of
the Corporation's obligations in respect of the payment of the principal of and
premium and interest, if any, on this Security shall terminate.]
No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Security
or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Corporation,
which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of (and premium, if
any) and interest [insert if applicable--including any Additional Interest)] on
this Security at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein
prescribed.
As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein
set forth, the transfer of this Security is registrable in the Securities
Register, upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the
office or agency of the Corporation maintained under Section 10.2 of the
Indenture for such purpose, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written
instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Corporation and the
Securities Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or such Holder's
attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities of
this series, of like tenor, of authorized denominations and for the same
aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or
transferees.
The Securities of this series are issuable only in registered form
without coupons in denominations of $ and any integral multiple of $____________
in excess thereof. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain
limitations therein set forth, Securities of this series are exchangeable for a
like aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series and of like tenor
of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering
the same.
No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer
or exchange, but the Corporation may require payment of a sum sufficient to
cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.
Prior to due presentment of this Security for registration of transfer,
the Corporation, the Trustee and any agent of the Corporation or the Trustee may
treat the Person in whose name this Security is registered as the owner hereof
for all purposes, whether or not this Security be overdue, and neither the
Corporation, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the
contrary.
The Corporation and, by its acceptance of this Security or a beneficial
interest therein, the Holder of, and any Person that acquires a beneficial
interest in, this Security agree that for United States Federal, state and local
tax purposes it is intended that this Security constitute indebtedness.
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<PAGE> 32
THIS SECURITY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
SECTION 2.4. Additional Provisions Required in Global Security.
Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1, any Global
Security issued hereunder shall, in addition to the provisions contained in
Sections 2.2 and 2.3, bear a legend in substantially the following form:
THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE
HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITARY
OR A NOMINEE OF A DEPOSITARY. THIS SECURITY IS EXCHANGEABLE FOR
SECURITIES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A PERSON OTHER THAN THE DEPOSITARY
OR ITS NOMINEE ONLY IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE
INDENTURE AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE
DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE
DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY,
EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE.
SECTION 2.5. Form of Trustee's Certificate of Authentication.
The Trustee's certificates of authentication shall be in substantially
the following form:
This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred
to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
Dated:
[THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO,]
as Trustee
By:
--------------------------------
Authorized officer
SECTION 2.6. Form of Guarantee.
BANPONCE CORPORATION (the "Guarantor") hereby unconditionally
guarantees to the Holder of this Security duly authenticated and delivered by
the Trustee, the due and punctual payment of the principal, and premium, if any,
of (including any amount in respect of original issue discount), and interest,
if any (together with any Additional Sums payable pursuant to the terms of this
Security), on this Security and the due and punctual payment of the sinking fund
payments, if any, and analogous obligations, if any, provided for pursuant to
the terms of this Security, when and as the same shall become due and payable,
whether at Stated Maturity or on redemption, repayment or upon declaration of
acceleration or otherwise according to the terms of this Security and of the
Indenture. In case of default by the Corporation in the payment of any such
principal (including any amount in respect of original issue discount), and any
premium or interest (together with any Additional Sums payable pursuant to the
terms of this Security), sinking fund payment, or analogous obligation, the
Guarantor agrees duly and punctually to pay the same when and as the same shall
become due and payable. The Guarantor hereby agrees that its obligations
hereunder shall be as principal and not
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<PAGE> 33
merely as surety, and shall be absolute and unconditional irrespective of any
extension of the time for payment of this Security, any modification of this
Security, any invalidity, irregularity or unenforceability of this Security or
the Indenture, any failure to enforce the same or any waiver, modification,
consent or indulgence granted to the Corporation with respect thereto by the
Holder of this Security or the Trustee, or any other circumstances which may
otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge of a surety or guarantor.
The Guarantor hereby waives diligence, presentment, demand or payment, filing of
claims with a court in the event of merger or bankruptcy of the Corporation, any
right to require a demand or proceeding first against the Corporation, protest
or notice with respect to this Security or the indebtedness evidenced thereby
and all demands whatsoever, and covenants that this guarantee will not be
discharged as to this Security except by payment in full of the principal of
(including any amount payable in respect of original issue discount), and any
premium or interest (together with any Additional Sums payable pursuant to the
terms of this Security), thereon.
The indebtedness evidenced by this Guarantee is, to the extent provided
in the Indenture, subordinate and junior in right of payment to the prior
payment in full of all Senior Debt, and this Guarantee is issued subject to the
provisions of the Indenture with respect thereto. Each Holder of this
Guarantee, 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 actions as may be necessary or appropriate to 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,
waives all notice of the acceptance of the subordination provisions contained
herein and in the Indenture by each holder of Senior Debt, whether now
outstanding or hereafter incurred, and waives reliance by each such holder upon
said provisions.
Payments pursuant to this Guarantee shall be made without set-off,
counterclaim, fees, liabilities or similar deductions, and free and clear of,
and without deduction or withholding for, taxes, levies, imposts, duties,
charges or fees of whatsoever nature now or hereafter imposed, levied,
collected, deducted, withheld or assessed by or on behalf of the Commonwealth of
Puerto Rico or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein,
as provided for in Section 3.17 of the Indenture.
The Guarantor irrevocably waives any and all rights to which it may be
entitled, by operation of law or otherwise, by making any payment hereunder (i)
to be subrogated to the rights of a Holder against the Corporation with respect
to such payment or otherwise to be reimbursed, indemnified or exonerated by the
Corporation in respect thereof or (ii) to receive any payment, in the nature of
contribution or for any other reason, from any other obligor with respect to
such payment.
This guarantee shall not be valid or become obligatory for any purpose
with respect to this Security until the certificate of authentication on this
Security shall have been signed by the Trustee.
THIS GUARANTEE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH
THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Banponce Corporation has caused this Guarantee to
be signed by facsimile by its duly authorized officers and has caused a
facsimile of its corporate seal to be affixed hereunto or imprinted hereon.
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<PAGE> 34
BANPONCE CORPORATION
By:
-----------------------
Authorized officer
ARTICLE III
THE SECURITIES
SECTION 3.1. Title and Terms.
The aggregate principal amount of Securities that may be authenticated
and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited.
The Securities may be issued in one or more series. There shall be
established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution and, subject to Section 3.3,
set forth or determined in the manner provided in an Officers' Certificate, or
established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance
of Securities of a series:
(a) the title of the securities of such series, which shall
distinguish the Securities of the series from all other Securities;
(b) the limit, if any, upon the aggregate principal amount of
the Securities of such series that may be authenticated and delivered
under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered
upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of,
other Securities of the series pursuant to Section 3.4, 3.6, 3.7, 9.6
or 11.6 and except for any Securities that, pursuant to Section 3.3,
are deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder);
provided, however, that the authorized aggregate principal amount of
such series may be increased above such amount by a Board Resolution to
such effect;
(c) the Person to whom any interest on a Security of the
series shall be payable, if other than the Person in whose name that
security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the
close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest;
(d) the Stated Maturity or Maturities on which the principal
of the Securities of such series is payable or the method of
determination thereof, and any dates on which or circumstances under
which, the Corporation shall have the right to extend or shorten such
Stated Maturity or Maturities;
(e) the rate or rates, if any, at which the Securities of such
series shall bear interest, if any, the rate or rates and extent to
which Additional Interest, if any, shall be payable in respect of any
Securities of such series, the date or dates from which any such
interest or Additional Interest shall accrue, the Interest Payment
Dates on which such interest shall be payable, the right, pursuant to
Section 3.12 or as otherwise set forth therein, of the Corporation to
defer or extend an Interest Payment Date, and the Regular Record Date
for the
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<PAGE> 35
interest payable on any Interest Payment Date or the method by which
any of the foregoing shall be determined;
(f) the place or places where the principal of (and premium,
if any) and interest (including any Additional Interest) on the
Securities of such series shall be payable, the place or places where
the Securities of such series may be presented for registration of
transfer or exchange, any restrictions that may be applicable to any
such transfer or exchange in addition to or in lieu of those set forth
herein, and the place or places where notices and demands to or upon
the Corporation in respect of the Securities of such series may be
made;
(g) the period or periods within or the date or dates on
which, if any, the price or prices at which and the terms and
conditions upon which the Securities of such series may be redeemed, in
whole or in part, at the option of the Corporation, and if other than
by a Board Resolution, the manner in which any election by the
Corporation to redeem such Securities shall be evidenced;
(h) the obligation or the right, if any, of the Corporation to
redeem, repay or purchase the Securities of such series pursuant to any
sinking fund, amortization or analogous provisions, or at the option of
a Holder thereof, and 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 shall be redeemed, repaid or purchased, in
whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;
(i) the denominations in which any Securities of such series
shall be issuable, if other than denominations of $1,000 and any
integral multiple thereof;
(j) if other than Dollars, the currency or currencies
(including any currency unit or units) in which the principal of (and
premium, if any) and interest and Additional 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 manner of determining the
equivalent thereof in Dollars for purposes of the definition of
Outstanding;
(k) the additions, modifications or deletions, if any, in the
Events of Default or covenants of the Corporation set forth herein with
respect to the Securities of such series;
(l) if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of
the principal amount of Securities of such series that shall be payable
upon declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof;
(m) 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);
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<PAGE> 36
(n) the additions or changes, if any, to this Indenture with
respect to the Securities of such series as shall be necessary to
permit or facilitate the issuance of the Securities of such series in
bearer form, registrable or not registrable as to principal, and with
or without interest coupons;
(o) any index or indices used to determine the amount of
payments of principal of and premium, if any, on the Securities of such
series or the manner in which such amounts will be determined;
(p) if applicable, that any Securities of the series shall be
issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global
Securities and, in such case, the respective Depositaries for such
Global Securities, the form of any legend or legends that shall be
borne by any such Global Security in addition to or in lieu of that set
forth in Section 2.4 and any circumstances in addition to or in lieu of
those set forth in Section 3.6 in which any such Global Security may be
exchanged in whole or in part for Securities registered, and any
transfer of such Global Security in whole or in part may be registered,
in the name or names of Persons other than the Depositary for such
Global Security or a nominee thereof;
(q) the appointment of any Paying Agent or agents for the
Securities of such series;
(r) the terms of any right to convert or exchange Securities
of such series into any other securities or property of the
Corporation, and the additions or changes, if any, to this Indenture
with respect to the Securities of such series to permit or facilitate
such conversion or exchange;
(s) if such Securities are to be issued to an Issuer Trust,
the form or forms of the Trust Agreement, Guarantee Agreement and
Expense Agreement relating thereto;
(t) if other than as set forth herein, the relative degree, if
any, to which the Securities of the series shall be senior to or be
subordinated to other series of Securities in right of payment, whether
such other series of Securities are Outstanding or not;
(u) any addition to or change in the Events of Default which
applies to any Securities of the series and any change in the right of
the Trustee or the requisite Holders of such Securities to declare the
principal amount thereof due and payable pursuant to Section 5.2;
(v) any addition to or change in the covenants set forth in
Article X which applies to Securities of the series; and
(w) any other terms of the Securities of such series (which
terms shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture,
except as permitted by Section 9.1(6)).
All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical
except as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided herein or in
or pursuant to such Board Resolution and set forth, or determined in the manner
provided, in such Officers' Certificate or in any indenture supplemental hereto.
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<PAGE> 37
If any of the terms of the series are established by action taken
pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action
shall be certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Corporation
and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Officers'
Certificate setting forth the terms of the series.
The Securities shall be subordinated in right of payment to Senior
Debt as provided in Article XIII.
SECTION 3.2. Denominations.
The Securities of each series shall be in registered form without
coupons and shall be issuable in denominations of $25 and any integral multiple
thereof, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1.
SECTION 3.3. Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating.
The Securities shall be executed on behalf of the Corporation by its
Chairman of the Board, its Vice Chairman of the Board, its President or one of
its Vice Presidents, under its corporate seal reproduced or impressed thereon
and attested by its Secretary or one of its Assistant Secretaries. The signature
of any of these officers on the Securities may be manual or facsimile.
Securities bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of individuals
who were at any time the proper officers of the Corporation shall bind the
Corporation, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased to
hold such offices prior to the authentication and delivery of such Securities or
did not hold such offices at the date of such Securities. At any time and from
time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Corporation
may deliver Securities of any series executed by the Corporation, having
endorsed thereon Guarantees duly executed by the Guarantor, to the Trustee for
authentication, together with a Corporation Order for the authentication and
delivery of such Securities, and the Trustee in accordance with the Corporation
Order shall authenticate and deliver such Securities. If the form or terms of
the Securities of the 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 6.1) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of
Counsel stating,
(1) if the form of such Securities has been established by or
pursuant to Board Resolution as permitted by Section 2.1, that such
form has been established in conformity with the provisions of this
Indenture;
(2) if the terms of such Securities have been established by
or pursuant to Board Resolution as permitted by Section 3.1, that such
terms have been established in conformity with the provisions of this
Indenture; and
(3) that such Securities, when authenticated and delivered by
the Trustee and issued by the Corporation in the manner and subject to
any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute
valid and legally binding obligations of the Corporation, subject to
bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium
and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting
creditors' rights and to general equity principles.
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<PAGE> 38
If such form or terms have been so established, the Trustee shall not be
required to authenticate such Securities if the issue of such Securities
pursuant to this Indenture will affect the Trustee's own rights, duties or
immunities under the Securities and this Indenture or otherwise in a manner that
is not reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.
Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3.1 and of the preceding
paragraph, if all Securities of a series are not to be originally issued at one
time, it shall not be necessary to deliver the Officers' Certificate otherwise
required pursuant to Section 3.1 or the Corporation Order and Opinion of Counsel
otherwise required pursuant to such preceding paragraph at or prior to the
authentication of each Security of such series if such documents are delivered
at or prior to the authentication upon original issuance of the first Security
of such series to be issued.
Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.
No Security shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be
valid or obligatory for any purpose, unless there appears on such Security a
certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for herein
executed by the Trustee by the manual signature of one of its authorized
officers, and such certificate upon any Security shall be conclusive evidence,
and the only evidence, that such Security has been duly authenticated and
delivered hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Security shall have
been authenticated and delivered hereunder but never issued and sold by the
Corporation, and the Corporation shall deliver such Security to the Trustee for
cancellation as provided in Section 3.10, for all purposes of this Indenture
such Security shall be deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered
hereunder and shall never be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.
SECTION 3.4. Temporary Securities.
Pending the preparation of definitive Securities of any series, the
Corporation may execute, and upon Corporation Order the Trustee shall
authenticate and deliver, temporary Securities, having endorsed thereon
Guarantees duly executed by the Guarantor, that are printed, lithographed,
typewritten, mimeographed or otherwise produced, in any denomination,
substantially of the tenor of the definitive Securities of such series in lieu
of which they are issued and with such appropriate insertions, omissions,
substitutions and other variations as the officers executing such Securities may
determine, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities.
If temporary Securities of any series are issued, the Corporation will
cause definitive Securities of such series, having endorsed thereon Guarantees
duly executed by the Guarantor, to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After
the preparation of definitive Securities, the temporary Securities shall be
exchangeable for definitive Securities, having endorsed thereon Guarantees duly
executed by the Guarantor, upon surrender of the temporary Securities at the
office or agency of the Corporation designated for that purpose without charge
to the Holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary
Securities, the Corporation shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and
deliver in exchange therefor one or more definitive Securities of the same
series, having endorsed thereon Guarantees duly executed by the Guarantor, of
any authorized denominations having the same Original Issue Date and Stated
Maturity and having the same terms as such temporary Securities. 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.
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SECTION 3.5. Global Securities.
(a) Each Global Security issued under this Indenture shall be
registered in the name of the Depositary designated by the Corporation for such
Global Security or a nominee thereof and delivered to such Depositary or a
nominee thereof or custodian therefor, and each such Global Security shall
constitute a single Security for all purposes of this Indenture.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, no Global
Security may be exchanged in whole or in part for Securities registered, and no
transfer of a Global Security in whole or in part may be registered, in the name
of any Person other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee
thereof unless (i) such Depositary advises the Trustee in writing that such
Depositary is no longer willing or able to properly discharge its
responsibilities as Depositary with respect to such Global Security, and the
Corporation is unable to locate a qualified successor, (ii) the Corporation
executes and delivers to the Trustee a Corporation Order stating that the
Corporation elects to terminate the book-entry system through the Depositary, or
(iii) there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default.
(c) If any Global Security is to be exchanged for other Securities or
cancelled in whole, it shall be surrendered by or on behalf of the Depositary or
its nominee to the Securities Registrar for exchange or cancellation as provided
in this Article III. If any Global Security is to be exchanged for other
Securities or cancelled in part, or if another Security is to be exchanged in
whole or in part for a beneficial interest in any Global Security, then either
(i) such Global Security shall be so surrendered for exchange or cancellation as
provided in this Article III or (ii) the principal amount thereof shall be
reduced, subject to Section 3.6(b)(v), or increased by an amount equal to the
portion thereof to be so exchanged or cancelled, or equal to the principal
amount of such other Security to be so exchanged for a beneficial interest
therein, as the case may be, by means of an appropriate adjustment made on the
records of the Securities Registrar, whereupon the Trustee, in accordance with
the Applicable Procedures, shall instruct the Depositary or its authorized
representative to make a corresponding adjustment to its records. Upon any such
surrender or adjustment of a Global Security by the Depositary, accompanied by
registration instructions, the Trustee shall, subject to Section 3.5(b) and as
otherwise provided in this Article III, authenticate and deliver any Securities
issuable in exchange for such Global Security (or any portion thereof) in
accordance with the instructions of the Depositary. The Trustee shall not be
liable for any delay in delivery of such instructions and may conclusively rely
on, and shall be fully protected in relying on, such instructions.
(d) Every Security authenticated and delivered upon registration of
transfer of, or in exchange for or in lieu of, a Global Security or any portion
thereof, whether pursuant to this Article III, Section 9.6 or 11.6 or otherwise,
shall be authenticated and delivered in the form of, and shall be, a Global
Security, unless such Security is registered in the name of a Person other than
the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof.
(e) Securities distributed to holders of Book-Entry Capital Securities
(as defined in the applicable Trust Agreement) upon the dissolution of an Issuer
Trust shall be distributed in the form of one or more Global Securities
registered in the name of a Depositary or its nominee, and deposited with the
Securities Registrar, as custodian for such Depositary, or with such Depositary,
for credit by the Depositary to the respective accounts of the beneficial owners
of the Securities represented thereby (or such other accounts as they may
direct). Securities distributed to holders of Capital
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Securities other than Book-Entry Capital Securities upon the dissolution of an
Issuer Trust shall not be issued in the form of a Global Security or any other
form intended to facilitate book-entry trading in beneficial interests in such
Securities.
(f) The Depositary or its nominee, as the registered owner of a Global
Security, shall be the Holder of such Global Security for all purposes under
this Indenture and the Securities, and owners of beneficial interests in a
Global Security shall hold such interests pursuant to the Applicable Procedures.
Accordingly, any such owner's beneficial interest in a Global Security shall be
shown only on, and the transfer of such interest shall be effected only through,
records maintained by the Depositary or its nominee or its Agent Members.
Neither the Trustee nor the Securities Registrar shall have any liability in
respect of any transfers effected by the Depositary.
(g) The rights of owners of beneficial interests in a Global Security
shall be exercised only through the Depositary and shall be limited to those
established by law and agreements between such owners and the Depositary and/or
its Agent Members.
SECTION 3.6. Registration, Transfer and Exchange Generally.
The Corporation shall cause to be kept at the Corporate Trust Office of
the Trustee a register in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it
may prescribe, the Corporation shall provide for the registration of Securities
and of transfers of Securities. Such register is herein sometimes referred to as
the "Securities Register." The Trustee is hereby appointed "Securities
Registrar" for the purpose of registering Securities and transfers of Securities
as herein provided.
Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Security at the
offices or agencies of the Corporation designated for that purpose the
Corporation shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in
the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Securities
of the same series, having endorsed thereon Guarantees duly executed by the
Guarantor, of any authorized denominations of like tenor and aggregate principal
amount.
At the option of the Holder, Securities may be exchanged for other
Securities of the same series, having endorsed thereon Guarantees duly executed
by the Guarantor, of any authorized denominations, of like tenor and aggregate
principal amount, upon surrender of the Securities to be exchanged at such
office or agency. Whenever any securities are so surrendered for exchange, the
Corporation shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the
Securities (having Guarantees duly endorsed thereon) that the Holder making the
exchange is entitled to receive.
All Securities and the Guarantees endorsed thereon issued upon any
transfer or exchange of Securities shall be the valid obligations of the
Corporation and the Guarantor, respectively, evidencing the same debt and
guarantee thereon, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as
the Securities and Guarantees surrendered upon such transfer or exchange.
Every Security presented or surrendered for transfer or exchange shall
(if so required by the Corporation or the Trustee) be duly endorsed, or be
accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the
Corporation and the Securities Registrar, duly executed by the Holder thereof or
such Holder's attorney duly authorized in writing.
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No service charge shall be made to a Holder for any transfer or
exchange of Securities, but the Corporation may require payment of a sum
sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in
connection with any transfer or exchange of Securities.
Neither the Corporation nor the Trustee shall be required, pursuant to
the provisions of this Section, (i) to issue, register the transfer of or
exchange any Security of any series during a period beginning at the opening of
business 15 days before the day of selection for redemption of Securities of
that series pursuant to Article XI and ending at the close of business on the
day of mailing of the notice of redemption, or (ii) to register the transfer of
or exchange any Security so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except,
in the case of any such Security to be redeemed in part, any portion thereof not
to be redeemed.
SECTION 3.7. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities.
If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee together with
such security or indemnity as may be required by the Corporation or the Trustee
to save each of them harmless, the Corporation shall execute and the Trustee
shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a new Security of the same
series (having Guarantees duly endorsed thereon), of like tenor and aggregate
principal amount, and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.
If there shall be delivered to the Corporation and to the Trustee (i)
evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any
Security, and (ii) such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save
each of them, the Guarantor and any agent of any of them harmless, then, in the
absence of notice to the Corporation or the Trustee that such Security has been
acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Corporation shall execute and upon its
request the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in lieu of any such
destroyed, lost or stolen Security, a new Security of the same series (having
Guarantees duly endorsed thereon), of like tenor and aggregate principal amount
as such destroyed, lost or stolen Security, and bearing a number not
contemporaneously outstanding.
If any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security has become or
is about to become due and payable, the Corporation in its discretion may,
instead of issuing a new Security, pay such Security.
Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section, the
Corporation may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or
other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other
expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith.
Every new Security and the related Guarantees issued pursuant to this
Section in lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall constitute an
original additional contractual obligation of the Corporation and the Guarantor,
respectively, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be at
any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of
this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of
the same series duly issued hereunder.
The provisions of this Section are exclusive and shall preclude (to the
extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or
payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities.
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SECTION 3.8. Payment of Interest and Additional Interest; Interest
Rights Preserved.
Interest and Additional Interest on any Security of any series that 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 in respect of Securities of such series, except
that, unless otherwise provided in the Securities of such series, interest and
any Additional Interest payable on the Stated Maturity of the principal of a
Security shall be paid to the Person to whom principal is paid. The initial
payment of interest on any Security of any series that is issued between a
Regular Record Date and the related Interest Payment Date shall be payable as
provided in such Security or in the Board Resolution pursuant to Section 3.1
with respect to the related series of Securities.
Any interest on any Security that is due and payable, but is not timely
paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date for Securities of such
series (herein called "Defaulted Interest"), shall forthwith cease to be payable
to the registered Holder on the relevant Regular Record Date by virtue of having
been such Holder, and such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Corporation, at
its election in each case, as provided in Clause (1) or (2) below:
(1) The Corporation may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest
to the Persons in whose names the Securities of such series in respect of which
interest is in default (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
Corporation shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted
Interest proposed to be paid on each Security and the date of the proposed
payment, and at the same time the Corporation shall deposit with the Trustee an
amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of
such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee
for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when
deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such
Defaulted Interest as in this Clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a
Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be
not more than 15 days and not less than 10 days prior to the date of the
proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of
the notice of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the
Corporation of such Special Record Date and, in the name and at the expense of
the Corporation, 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 a Security of such series at the address of such
Holder as it appears in the Securities Register not less than 10 days prior to
such Special Record Date. The Trustee may, in its discretion, in the name and at
the expense of the Corporation, cause a similar notice to be published at least
once in a newspaper, customarily published in the English language on each
Business Day and of general circulation in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of
New York, but such publication shall not be a condition precedent to the
establishment of such Special Record Date. Notice of the proposed payment of
such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor having been mailed
as aforesaid, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose
names the Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities)
are registered on such Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable
pursuant to the following Clause (2).
(2) The Corporation may make payment of any Defaulted Interest in any
other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities
exchange on which the Securities of the series in respect of which interest is
in default may be listed and, upon such notice as may be required by
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such exchange (or by the Trustee if the Securities are not listed), if, after
notice given by the Corporation to the Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant
to this Clause, such payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.
Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section, each Security
delivered under this Indenture upon 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, that were carried by such other Security.
SECTION 3.9. Persons Deemed Owners.
The Corporation, the Guarantor, the Trustee and any agent of the
Corporation, the Guarantor or the Trustee shall treat the Person in whose name
any Security is registered as the owner of such Security for the purpose of
receiving payment of principal of and (subject to Section 3.8) any interest on
such Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such
Security be overdue, and neither the Corporation, the Guarantor, the Trustee nor
any agent of the Corporation, the Guarantor or the Trustee shall be affected by
notice to the contrary.
No holder of any beneficial interest in any Global Security held on its
behalf by a Depositary shall have any rights under this Indenture with respect
to such Global Security, and such Depositary may be treated by the Corporation,
the Trustee and any agent of the Corporation or the Trustee as the owner of such
Global Security for all purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
nothing herein shall prevent the Corporation, the Trustee or any agent of the
Corporation or the Trustee from giving effect to any written certification,
proxy or other authorization furnished by a Depositary or impair, as between a
Depositary and such holders of beneficial interests, the operation of customary
practices governing the exercise of the rights of the Depositary (or its
nominee) as Holder of any Security.
SECTION 3.10. Cancellation.
All Securities surrendered for payment, redemption, transfer or
exchange shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, be
delivered to the Trustee, and any such Securities and Securities surrendered
directly to the Trustee for any such purpose shall be promptly canceled by it.
The Corporation may at any time deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any
Securities previously authenticated and delivered hereunder that the Corporation
may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and all Securities so delivered
shall be promptly canceled by the Trustee. No Securities shall be authenticated
in lieu of or in exchange for any Securities canceled as provided in this
Section, except as expressly permitted by this Indenture. All canceled
Securities shall be destroyed by the Trustee and the Trustee shall deliver to
the Corporation a certificate of such destruction.
SECTION 3.11. Computation of Interest.
Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1 for
Securities of any series, interest on the Securities of each series for any
partial period shall be computed on the basis of a 360- day year of twelve
30-day months and the actual number of days elapsed in any partial month in such
period, and interest on the Securities of each series for a full period shall be
computed by dividing the rate per annum by the number of interest periods that
together constitute a full twelve months.
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SECTION 3.12. Deferrals of Interest Payment Dates.
If specified as contemplated by Section 2.1 or Section 3.1 with respect
to the Securities of a particular series, so long as no Event of Default has
occurred and is continuing, the Corporation shall have the right, at any time
during the term of such series, from time to time to defer the payment of
interest on such Securities for such period or periods as may be specified as
contemplated by Section 3.1 (each, an "Extension Period"), during which
Extension Periods the Corporation shall, if so specified as contemplated by
Section 3.1, have the right to make partial payments of interest on any Interest
Payment Date. No Extension Period shall end on a date other than an Interest
Payment Date. At the end of any such Extension Period the Corporation shall pay
all interest then accrued and unpaid on the Securities (together with Additional
Interest thereon, if any, at the rate specified for the Securities of such
series to the extent permitted by applicable law); provided, however, that no
Extension Period shall extend beyond the Stated Maturity of the principal of the
Securities of such series; and provided further, however that during any such
Extension Period, the Corporation shall not (i) declare or pay any dividends or
distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire or make a liquidation payment
with respect to, any of the Corporation's capital stock, or (ii) make any
payment of principal of or interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase
or redeem any debt securities of the Corporation that rank pari passu in all
respects with or junior in interest to the Securities of such series (other than
(a) repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of shares of capital stock of
the Corporation in connection with any employment contract, benefit plan or
other similar arrangement with or for the benefit of any one or more employees,
officers, directors or consultants, in connection with a dividend reinvestment
or stockholder stock purchase plan or in connection with the issuance of capital
stock of the Corporation (or securities convertible into or exercisable for such
capital stock) as consideration in an acquisition transaction entered into prior
to the applicable Extension Period, (b) as a result of an exchange or conversion
of any class or series of the Corporation's capital stock (or any capital stock
of a Subsidiary of the Corporation) for any class or series of the Corporation's
capital stock or of any class or series of the Corporation's indebtedness for
any class or series of the Corporation's capital stock, (c) the purchase of
fractional interests in shares of the Corporation's capital stock pursuant to
the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock or the security
being converted or exchanged, (d) any declaration of a dividend in connection
with any Rights Plan, or the issuance of rights, stock or other property under
any Rights Plan, or the redemption or repurchase of rights pursuant thereto, or
(e) any dividend in the form of stock, warrants, options or other rights where
the dividend stock or the stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants, options
or other rights is the same stock as that on which the dividend is being paid or
ranks pari passu with or junior to such stock). Prior to the termination of any
such Extension Period, the Corporation may further defer the payment of
interest, provided that no Extension Period shall exceed the period or periods
specified in such Securities, extend beyond the Stated Maturity of the principal
of such Securities or end on a date other than an Interest Payment Date. Upon
the termination of any such Extension Period and upon the payment of all accrued
and unpaid interest and any Additional Interest then due on any Interest Payment
Date, the Corporation may elect to begin a new Extension Period, subject to the
above conditions. No interest or Additional Interest shall be due and payable
during an Extension Period, except at the end thereof, but each installment of
interest that would otherwise have been due and payable during such Extension
Period shall bear Additional Interest as and to the extent as may be specified
as contemplated by Section 3.1. The Corporation shall give the Holders of the
Securities of such series and the Trustee notice of its election to begin any
such Extension Period at least one Business Day prior to the next succeeding
Interest Payment Date on which interest on Securities of such series would be
payable but for such deferral or, with respect to any Securities of a series
issued to an Issuer Trust, so long as any such Securities are held
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by such Issuer Trust, at least one Business Day prior to the earlier of (i) the
next succeeding date on which Distributions on the Capital Securities of such
Issuer Trust would be payable but for such deferral, and (ii) the date on which
the Property Trustee of such Issuer Trust is required to give notice to any
securities exchange or other applicable self-regulatory organization or to
holders of such Capital Securities of the record date or the date such
Distributions are payable.
The Trustee shall promptly give notice of the Corporation's election to
begin any such Extension Period to the Holders of the Outstanding Securities of
such series.
SECTION 3.13. Right of Set-Off.
With respect to the Securities of a series initially issued to an
Issuer Trust, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Corporation
shall have the right to set off any payment it is otherwise required to make in
respect of any such Security to the extent the Corporation has theretofore made,
or is concurrently on the date of such payment making, a payment under the
Guarantee Agreement relating to such Security or to a holder of Capital
Securities pursuant to an action undertaken under Section 5.8 of this Indenture.
SECTION 3.14. Agreed Tax Treatment.
Each Security issued hereunder shall provide that the Corporation and,
by its acceptance of a Security or a beneficial interest therein, the Holder of,
and any Person that acquires a beneficial interest in, such Security agree that
for United States Federal, state and local tax purposes it is intended that such
Security constitutes indebtedness.
SECTION 3.15. Shortening or Extension of Stated Maturity.
If specified as contemplated by Section 2.1 or Section 3.1 with respect
to the Securities of a particular series, the Corporation shall have the right
to (i) shorten the Stated Maturity of the principal of the Securities of such
series at any time to any date not earlier than the first date on which the
Company has the right to redeem the Securities of such series, and (ii) extend
the Stated Maturity of the principal of the Securities of such series at any
time at its election for one or more periods, but in no event to a date later
than the 49th anniversary of the first Interest Payment Date following the
Original Issue Date of the Securities of such series; provided that, if the
Company elects to exercise its right to extend the Stated Maturity of the
principal of the Securities of such series pursuant to clause (ii), above, at
the time such election is made and at the time of extension (A) the Company is
not in bankruptcy, otherwise insolvent or in liquidation, (B) the Company is not
in default in the payment of any interest or principal on such Securities, (C)
if the Issuer Trust has not been liquidated, such Issuer Trust is not in arrears
on payments of Distributions on the Capital Securities issued by such Issuer
Trust and no deferred Distributions are accumulated, (D) such Securities are
rated not less than BBB- by S&P or Baa3 by Moody's or the equivalent by any
other nationally recognized statistical rating organization and (E) after such
extension, the Securities shall not have a remaining term to maturity of more
than 30 years. In the event the Company elects to shorten or extend the Stated
Maturity of the Securities of such series, it shall give notice to the Trustee,
and the Trustee shall give notice of such shortening or extension to the
Holders, no less than 30 and no more than 60 days prior to the effectiveness
thereof.
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SECTION 3.16. CUSIP Numbers.
The Corporation in issuing the Securities may use "CUSIP" numbers (if
then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use "CUSIP" numbers in
notices of redemption and other similar or related materials as a convenience to
Holders; provided that any such notice or other materials 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 redemption or other materials
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 3.17. Guarantee of Debt Securities.
The Guarantor hereby unconditionally guarantees to each Holder of a
Security of each series authenticated and delivered by the Trustee, the due and
punctual payment of the principal of (including any amount in respect of
original issue discount), and any premium and interest (together with any
Additional Sums payable pursuant to the terms of such Security), on such
Security and the due and punctual payment of the sinking fund payments, if any,
and analogous obligations, if any, provided for pursuant to the terms of such
Security, when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at Stated
Maturity or upon redemption or upon declaration of acceleration or otherwise
according to the terms of such Security and of this Indenture. In case of
default by the Corporation in the payment of any such principal (including any
amount in respect of original issue discount), any premium and interest
(together with any Additional Sums payable pursuant to the terms of such
Security), sinking fund payment, or analogous obligation, the Guarantor agrees
duly and punctually to pay the same. The Guarantor hereby agrees that its
obligations hereunder shall rank pari passu with all other unsecured and
subordinated obligations of the Guarantor, shall be as principal and not merely
as surety, and shall be absolute and unconditional irrespective of any extension
of the time for payment of such Security, any invalidity, irregularity or
unenforceability of any such Security or this Indenture, any failure to enforce
the same or any waiver, modification, consent or indulgence granted to the
Corporation with respect thereto by the Holder of such Security or the Trustee,
or any other circumstances which may otherwise constitute a legal or equitable
discharge of a surety or guarantor. The payment, filing of claims with a court
in the event of merger or bankruptcy of the Corporation, any right to require a
demand or proceeding first against the Corporation, protect or notice with
respect to any such Security or the indebtedness evidenced thereby and all
demands whatsoever, and covenants that this guarantee will not be discharged as
to any such Security except by payment in full of the principal of (including
any amount payable in respect of original issue discount), and any premium and
interest (together with any Additional Sums payable pursuant to the terms of
such Security), thereon.
All payments pursuant to the Guarantee shall be made without set-off,
counterclaim, fees, liabilities or similar deductions, and free and clear of,
and without deduction or withholding for, taxes, levies, imposts, duties,
charges or fees of whatsoever nature now or hereafter imposed, levied,
collected, deducted, withheld or assessed by or on behalf of the Commonwealth of
Puerto Rico or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein
("Taxes"). If the Guarantor or any agent thereof is required by law or
regulation to make any deduction or withholding for or on account of Taxes, the
Guarantor shall pay such additional amounts ("Additional Guarantee Payments") as
shall be necessary in order that the net amounts received pursuant to the
Guarantee by the Holders of the Securities of any series or the holders or
beneficial owners of any interest therein or rights in respect thereof after
such deduction or withholding shall equal the amount that would have been
receivable
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thereunder in the absence of such deduction or withholding, except that no such
Additional Guarantee Payments shall be payable:
(a) to any Holder of a Security or any interest therein or
rights in respect thereof where such deduction or withholding is
required by reason of such Holder having some connection with the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or any political subdivision or taxing
authority thereof or thereon other than the mere holding of a payment
in respect of such security;
(b) in respect of any deduction or withholding that would not
have been required but for the presentation by the Holder of a Security
for payment on a date more than 30 days after the Stated Maturity or
the date on which payment thereof is duly provided for, whichever
occurs later; or
(c) in respect of any deduction or withholding that would not
have been required but for the failure to comply with any
certification, identification or other reporting requirements
concerning the nationality, residence, identity or connection with the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or any political subdivision or taxing
authority thereof or therein, of the Holder of a Security or any
interest therein or rights in respect thereof, if compliance is
required by the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or any political
subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein, as a precondition
to exemption from such deduction or withholding.
The Guarantor irrevocably waives any and all rights to which it may be
entitled, by operation of law or otherwise, upon making payment hereunder (i) to
be subrogated to the rights of a Holder against the Corporation with respect to
such payment or otherwise to be reimbursed, indemnified or exonerated by the
Corporation in respect thereof or (ii) to receive any payment, in the nature of
contribution or for any other reason, from any other obligor with respect to
such payment.
The guarantee set forth in this Section shall not be valid or become
obligatory for any purpose with respect to a Security of any series until the
certificate of authentication on such Security shall have been signed by the
Trustee.
SECTION 3.18. Execution of Guarantees
To evidence its guarantee specified in Section 3.17 to the Holders of
Securities of any series, the Guarantor hereby agrees to execute the Guarantees
in substantially the form above recited to be endorsed on each Security of such
series authenticated and delivered by the Trustee. Such Guarantees shall be
executed on behalf of the Guarantor by its Chairman or its Vice Chairman or its
President or any Vice President prior to the authentication of the Security on
which it is endorsed, and the delivery of such Security by the Trustee, after
the authentication thereof hereunder, shall constitute due delivery of such
Guarantees on behalf of the Guarantor. Typographical and other minor errors or
defects in any such reproduction of any signature shall not affect the validity
or enforceability of any Guarantee that has been duly authenticated and
delivered by the Trustee.
Such signatures may be the manual or facsimile signatures of such
officers and may be imprinted or otherwise reproduced on the Guarantees. In case
any officer of the Guarantor who shall have signed any of the Guarantees shall
cease to be an officer before the Security on which such Guarantees are endorsed
shall have been authenticated and delivered by the Trustee or disposed of by
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the Corporation, such Security nevertheless may be authenticated and delivered
or disposed of as though the person who signed such Guarantees had not ceased to
be such officer, and any Guarantees may be signed on behalf of the Guarantor by
such persons as, at the actual date of the execution of such Guarantees, shall
be the proper officers of the Guarantor, although at the date of such Security
or of the execution of this Indenture any such person was not such an officer.
ARTICLE IV
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE
SECTION 4.1. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.
This Indenture shall, upon Corporation Request, cease to be of further
effect (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or
exchange of Securities herein expressly provided for and as otherwise provided
in this Section 4.1) and the Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the
Corporation, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and
discharge of this Indenture, when
(1) either
(A) all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered
(other than (i) Securities that have been destroyed, lost or stolen and
that have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 3.7 and (ii)
Securities for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in
trust or segregated and held in trust by the Corporation and thereafter
repaid to the Corporation or discharged from such trust, as provided in
Section 10.3) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or
(B) all such Securities not theretofore delivered to the
Trustee for cancellation
(i) have become due and payable, or
(ii) will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity
within one year of the date of deposit, or
(iii) are to be called for redemption within one year under
arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the
giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the
name, and at the expense, of the Corporation,
and the Corporation, in the case of subclause (B)(i), (ii) or (iii)
above, has deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as
trust funds in trust for such purpose an amount in the currency or
currencies in which the Securities of such series are payable
sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such
Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation,
for principal (and premium, if any) and interest (including any
Additional Interest) to the date of such deposit (in the case of
Securities that have become due and payable) or to the Stated Maturity
or Redemption Date, as the case may be;
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(2) the Corporation or the Guarantor has paid or caused to be paid all
other sums payable hereunder by the Corporation; and
(3) the Corporation has delivered to the Trustee an Officers'
Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel each stating that all conditions precedent
herein provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture
have been complied with.
Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the
obligations of the Corporation and the Guarantor to the Trustee under Section
6.7, the obligations of the Trustee 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 10.3 shall survive.
SECTION 4.2. Application of Trust Money.
Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 10.3, all
money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 4.1 shall be held in trust
and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities
and Guarantees and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through
any Paying Agent (including the Corporation acting as its own Paying Agent) as
the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal
(and premium, if any) and interest (including any Additional Interest) for the
payment of which such money or obligations have been deposited with or received
by the Trustee.
ARTICLE V
REMEDIES
SECTION 5.1. Events of Default.
"Event of Default", wherever used herein with respect to the Securities
of any series, means any one of the following events (whatever the reason for
such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be
effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any
court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental
body) except as may be specified pursuant to Section 3.1:
(1) default in the payment of any interest upon any Security of that
series, including any Additional Interest in respect thereof, when it becomes
due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days
(subject to the deferral of any due date in the case of an Extension Period); or
(2) default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on)
any Security of that series at its Maturity; or
(3) failure on the part of the Corporation or the Guarantor duly to
observe or perform any other of the covenants or agreements on the part of the
Corporation or the Guarantor, respectively, in the Securities of that series or
the Guarantees endorsed thereon or in this Indenture for a period of 90 days
after the date on which written notice of such failure, requiring the
Corporation or the
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Guarantor, as the case may be, to remedy the same, shall have been given to the
Corporation and the Guarantor by the Trustee by registered or certified mail or
to the Corporation, the Guarantor and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25%
in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series; or
(4) the entry of a decree or order by a court having jurisdiction in
the premises adjudging the Corporation or the Guarantor a bankrupt or insolvent,
or approving as properly filed a petition seeking reorganization of the
Corporation or the Guarantor under the Bankruptcy Code or any other similar
applicable Federal or State law, which decree or order shall have continued
undischarged and unstayed for a period of 60 days; or the entry of a decree or
order of a court having jurisdiction in the premises for the appointment of a
receiver or liquidator or trustee or assignee in bankruptcy or insolvency of the
Corporation or the Guarantor or of its property, or for the winding up or
liquidation of its affairs, which decree or order shall have continued
undischarged and unstayed for a period of 60 days; or
(5) the commencement by the Corporation or the Guarantor of voluntary
proceedings to be adjudicated a bankrupt, or consent by the Corporation or the
Guarantor to the filing of a bankruptcy proceeding against it, or the filing by
the Corporation or the Guarantor of a petition or answer or consent seeking
reorganization under the Bankruptcy Code or any other similar Federal or State
law, or consent by the Corporation or the Guarantor to the filing of any such
petition, or the consent by the Corporation or the Guarantor to the appointment
of a receiver or liquidator or trustee or assignee in bankruptcy or insolvency
of it or of its property, or the making by the Corporation or the Guarantor of
an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the admission by the Corporation
or the Guarantor in writing of its inability to pay its debts generally as they
become due; or
(6) any other Event of Default provided with respect to Securities of
that series.
SECTION 5.2. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.
If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in
Section 5.1(4) or 5.1(5)) with respect to Securities of any series at the time
Outstanding occurs and is continuing, then and in every such case the Trustee or
the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the
Outstanding Securities of that series may declare the principal amount (or, if
the Securities of that series are Discount Securities, such portion of the
principal amount as may be specified in the terms of that series) of all the
Securities of that series to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in
writing to the Corporation and the Guarantor (and to the Trustee if given by
Holders), provided that, in the case of the Securities of a series issued to an
Issuer Trust, if, upon an Event of Default, the Trustee or the Holders of not
less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series
fail to declare the principal of all the Outstanding Securities of such series
to be immediately due and payable, the holders of at least 25% in aggregate
Liquidation Amount (as defined in the related Trust Agreement) of the related
series of Capital Securities issued by such Issuer Trust then outstanding shall
have the right to make such declaration by a notice in writing to the
Corporation, the Guarantor and the Trustee; and upon any such declaration such
principal amount (or specified portion thereof) of and the accrued interest
(including any Additional Interest) on all the Securities of such series shall
become immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default specified in Section
5.1(4) or 5.1(5) with respect to Securities of any series at the time
Outstanding occurs, the principal amount of all the Securities of such series
(or, if the Securities of such series are Discount Securities, such portion of
the principal amount of such Securities as may be specified by the terms of
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that series) shall automatically, and without any declaration or other action on
the part of the Trustee or any Holder, become immediately due and payable.
Payment of principal and interest (including any Additional Interest) on such
Securities shall remain subordinated to the extent provided in Article XIII
notwithstanding that such amount shall become immediately due and payable as
herein provided.
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 Corporation, the
Guarantor and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its
consequences if:
(1) the Corporation or the Guarantor has paid or deposited with the
Trustee a sum sufficient to pay:
(A) all overdue installments of interest on all Securities of such
series,
(B) any accrued Additional Interest on all Securities of such series,
(C) the principal of (and premium, if any, on) any Securities of such
series that have become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration
and interest and Additional Interest thereon at the rate borne by the
Securities, and
(D) all sums paid or advanced by the Trustee hereunder and the
reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee,
its agents and counsel; and
(2) all Events of Default with respect to Securities of that series,
other than the non-payment of the principal of Securities of that series that
has become due solely by such acceleration, have been cured or waived as
provided in Section 5.13.
In the case of Securities of a series initially issued to an Issuer
Trust, if the Holders of such Securities fail to annul such declaration and
waive such default, the holders of a majority in aggregate Liquidation Amount
(as defined in the related Trust Agreement) of the related series of Capital
Securities issued by such Issuer Trust then outstanding shall also have the
right to rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences by written
notice to the Corporation, the Guarantor and the Trustee, subject to the
satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Clauses (1) and (2) above of this
Section 5.2.
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.
Each of the Corporation and the Guarantor covenants that if:
(1) default is made in the payment of any installment of interest
(including any Additional Interest) on any Security of any series when such
interest becomes due and payable and such default continues for a period of 30
days, or
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(2) default is made in the payment of the principal of (and premium, if
any, on) any Security at the Maturity thereof,
the Corporation and the Guarantor will, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to the
Trustee, for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities, the whole amount
then due and payable on such Securities for principal, including any sinking
fund payment or analogous obligations (and premium, if any) and interest
(including any Additional Interest), and, in addition thereto, all amounts owing
the Trustee under Section 6.7.
If the Corporation and the Guarantor fail to pay such amounts forthwith
upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express
trust, may institute a judicial proceeding for the collection of the sums so due
and unpaid, and may prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree, and
may enforce the same against the Corporation and the Guarantor or any other
obligor upon such Securities and collect the moneys adjudged or decreed to be
payable in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Corporation and
the Guarantor or any other obligor upon the Securities, wherever situated.
If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series occurs
and is continuing, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and
enforce its rights and the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series by
such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual
to protect and enforce any such rights, whether for the specific enforcement of
any covenant or agreement in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any
power granted herein, or to enforce any other proper remedy.
SECTION 5.4. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.
In case of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy,
reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial
proceeding relative to the Corporation or the Guarantor (or any other obligor
upon the Securities), or the property of the Corporation or of such other
obligor or their creditors,
(a) the Trustee (irrespective of whether the principal of the
Securities of any series shall then be due and payable as therein
expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether
the Trustee shall have made any demand on the Corporation or the
Guarantor for the payment of overdue principal (and premium, if any) or
interest (including any Additional Interest)) shall be entitled and
empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise,
(i) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of
principal (and premium, if any) and interest (including any
Additional Interest) owing and unpaid in respect to the
Securities and to file such other papers or documents as may
be necessary or advisable and to take any and all actions as
are authorized under the Trust Indenture Act in order to have
the claims of the Holders and any predecessor to the Trustee
under Section 6.7 allowed in any such judicial proceedings;
and
(ii) 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 in
accordance with Section 5.6; and
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(b) 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 for distribution in accordance with Section 5.6, 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 to it and
any predecessor Trustee under Section 6.7.
Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to
authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of
reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities
or the rights of any Holder thereof, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in
respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding; provided, however,
that the Trustee may, on behalf of the Holders, vote for the election of a
trustee in bankruptcy or similar official and be a member of a creditors' or
other similar committee.
SECTION 5.5. Trustee May Enforce Claim Without Possession of
Securities.
All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or the Securities
or the Guarantees may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the
possession of any of the Securities or the Guarantees or the production thereof
in any proceeding relating thereto, and any such proceeding instituted by the
Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any
recovery of judgment shall, subject to Article XIII and after provision for the
payment of all the amounts owing the Trustee and any predecessor Trustee under
Section 6.7, its agents and counsel, be for the ratable benefit of the Holders
of the Securities in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.
SECTION 5.6. Application of Money Collected.
Any money or property collected or to be applied by the Trustee with
respect to a series of Securities or the Guarantees thereon pursuant to this
Article shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by
the Trustee and, in case of the distribution of such money or property on
account of principal (or premium, if any) or interest (including any Additional
Interest), upon presentation of the Securities and the notation thereon of the
payment if only partially paid and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:
FIRST: To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee and any
predecessor Trustee under Section 6.7;
SECOND: Subject to Article XIII, to the payment of the amounts then due
and unpaid upon Securities of such series for principal (and premium, if any)
and interest (including any Additional Interest) in respect of which or for the
benefit of which such money has been collected, ratably, without preference or
priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on such series of
Securities for principal (and premium, if any) and interest (including any
Additional Interest), respectively; and
THIRD: The balance, if any, to the Person or Persons entitled thereto.
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SECTION 5.7. Limitation on Suits.
Subject to Section 5.8, no Holder of any Securities of any series shall
have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect
to this Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver, assignee, trustee,
liquidator, sequestrator (or other similar official) or for any other remedy
hereunder, unless:
(1) such Holder has previously given written notice to the Trustee of a
continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of that series;
(2) the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of
the Outstanding Securities of that series shall have made written request to the
Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in its own
name as Trustee hereunder;
(3) such Holder or Holders have offered to the Trustee reasonable
indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in
compliance with such request;
(4) the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request
and offer of indemnity has failed to institute any such proceeding; and
(5) no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given
to the Trustee during such 60-day period by the Holders of a majority in
aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series;
it being understood and intended that no one or more of such Holders shall have
any right in any manner whatever by virtue of, or by availing itself of, any
provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any
other Holders of Securities, 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 5.8. Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal,
Premium and Interest; Direct Action by Holders of Capital Securities.
Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of
any Security of any series shall have the right, which is absolute and
unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and
(subject to Sections 3.8 and 3.12) interest (including any Additional Interest)
on such Security on the respective Stated Maturities expressed in such Security
(or, in the case of redemption, on the Redemption Date) and to institute suit
for the enforcement of any such payment, and such right shall not be impaired
without the consent of such Holder. In the case of Securities of a series issued
to an Issuer Trust, any registered holder of the series of Capital Securities
issued by such Issuer Trust shall have the right, upon the occurrence of an
Event of Default described in Section 5.1(1) or 5.1(2), to institute a suit
directly against the Corporation or the Guarantor for enforcement of payment to
such holder of principal of (premium, if any) and (subject to Sections 3.8 and
3.12) interest (including any Additional Interest) on the Securities having a
principal amount equal to the aggregate Liquidation Amount (as defined in the
related Trust Agreement) of such Capital Securities held by such holder.
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SECTION 5.9. Restoration of Rights and Remedies.
If the Trustee, any Holder or any holder of Capital Securities issued
by any Issuer Trust 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, such Holder or such
holder of Capital Securities, then and in every such case the Corporation, the
Guarantor, the Trustee, such Holders and such holder of Capital Securities
shall, subject to any determination in such proceeding, be restored severally
and respectively to their former positions hereunder, and thereafter all rights
and remedies of the Trustee, such Holder and such holder of Capital Securities
shall continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted.
SECTION 5.10. Rights and Remedies Cumulative.
Except as otherwise provided in the last paragraph of Section 3.7, 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 5.11. Delay or Omission Not Waiver.
No delay or omission of the Trustee, any Holder of any Security with
respect to the Securities of the related Series or any holder of any Capital
Security to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default with
respect to the Securities of the related series shall impair any such right or
remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence
therein.
Every right and remedy given by this Article or by law to the Trustee
or to the Holders and the right and remedy given to the holders of Capital
Securities by Section 5.8 may be exercised from time to time, and as often as
may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee, the Holders or the holders of Capital
Securities, as the case may be.
SECTION 5.12. Control by Holders.
The Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount
of the Outstanding Securities of any series shall have the right to direct the
time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to
the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee, with
respect to the Securities of such series, provided that:
(1) such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or
with this Indenture,
(2) the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee
that is not inconsistent with such direction, and
(3) subject to the provisions of Section 6.1, the Trustee shall have
the right to decline to follow such direction if a Responsible Officer or
Officers of the Trustee shall, in good faith, determine that the proceeding so
directed would be unjustly prejudicial to the Holders not joining in any such
direction or would involve the Trustee in personal liability.
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SECTION 5.13. Waiver of Past Defaults.
The Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount
of the Outstanding Securities of any series affected thereby and, in the case of
any Securities of a series initially issued to an Issuer Trust, the holders of a
majority in aggregate Liquidation Amount (as defined in the related Trust
Agreement) of the Capital Securities issued by such Issuer Trust may waive any
past default hereunder and its consequences with respect to such series except a
default:
(1) in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest
(including any Additional Interest) on any Security of such series (unless such
default has been cured and the Corporation or Guarantor has paid to or deposited
with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest
(including any Additional Interest) and all principal of (and premium, if any,
on) all Securities of that series due otherwise than by acceleration), or
(2) in respect of a covenant or provision hereof that under Article IX
cannot be modified or amended without the consent of each Holder of any
Outstanding Security of such series affected.
Any such waiver shall be deemed to be on behalf of the Holders of all
the Securities of such series or, in the case of a waiver by holders of Capital
Securities issued by such Issuer Trust, by all holders of Capital Securities
issued by such Issuer Trust.
Upon any such waiver, such default shall cease to exist, and any Event
of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every
purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or
other default or impair any right consequent thereon.
SECTION 5.14. Undertaking for Costs.
All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Security by
his acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its
discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under
this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or
omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an
undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in its
discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys' fees,
against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and
good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; but the
provisions of this Section shall not apply to any suit instituted by the
Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Holder, or group of Holders, holding in
the aggregate more than 10% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding
Securities of any series, or to any suit instituted by any Holder for the
enforcement of the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest
(including any Additional Interest) on any Security on or after the respective
Stated Maturities expressed in such Security.
SECTION 5.15. Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws.
Each of the Corporation and the Guarantor 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 each of the
Corporation and the Guarantor (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
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execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit
the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.
ARTICLE VI
THE TRUSTEE
SECTION 6.1. Certain Duties and Responsibilities.
(a) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default,
(1) the Trustee undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties
as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants or
obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and
(2) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may
conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the
opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the
Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; but in the case of
any such certificates or opinions that by any provisions hereof are specifically
required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall be under a duty to
examine the same to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of
this Indenture.
(b) In case an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the
Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this
Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a
prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of
his or her own affairs.
(c) No provision of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve the
Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure
to act, or its own willful misconduct except that
(1) this Subsection shall not be construed to limit the effect of
Subsection (a) of this Section;
(2) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in
good faith by a Responsible Officer, unless it shall be proved that the Trustee
was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and
(3) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or
omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the direction of
Holders pursuant to Section 5.12 relating to the time, method and place of
conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising
any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this Indenture with respect
to the Securities of a series.
(d) No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend
or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the
performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its
rights or powers, if there shall be reasonable grounds for believing that
repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is
not reasonably assured to it.
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(e) Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of
this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or
affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this
Section.
SECTION 6.2. Notice of Defaults.
Within 90 days after actual knowledge by a Responsible Officer of the
Trustee of the occurrence of any default hereunder with respect to the
Securities of any series, the Trustee shall transmit by mail to all Holders of
Securities of such series, as their names and addresses appear in the Securities
Register, notice of such default, unless such default shall have been cured or
waived; provided, however, that, except in the case of a default in the payment
of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest (including any Additional
Interest) on any Security of such series, the Trustee shall be protected in
withholding such notice if and so long as the board of directors, the executive
committee or a trust committee of directors and/or Responsible Officers of the
Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the
interests of the Holders of Securities of such series; and provided, further,
that, in the case of any default of the character specified in Section 5.1(3),
no such notice to Holders of Securities of such series shall be given until at
least 30 days after the occurrence thereof. For the purpose of this Section, the
term "default" means any event that is, or after notice or lapse of time or both
would become, an Event of Default with respect to Securities of such series.
SECTION 6.3. Certain Rights of Trustee.
Subject to the provisions of Section 6.1:
(a) the Trustee may rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining
from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion,
report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, Security or
other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or
presented by the proper party or parties;
(b) any request or direction of the Corporation or the Guarantor
mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Corporation Request or
Corporation or Guarantor Order and any resolution of the Board of Directors may
be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution;
(c) whenever in the administration of this Indenture the Trustee shall
deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking,
suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Trustee (unless other evidence
be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part,
rely upon an Officers' Certificate;
(d) the Trustee may consult with counsel and the advice of such counsel
or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and
protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder
in good faith and in reliance thereon;
(e) the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the
rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of
any of the Holders pursuant to this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have
offered to the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the costs,
expenses and liabilities that might be incurred by it in compliance with such
request or direction;
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(f) the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the
facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument,
opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, indenture,
Security or other paper or document, but the Trustee in its discretion may make
such inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and,
if the Trustee shall determine to make such inquiry or investigation, it shall
be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Corporation,
personally or by agent or attorney; and
(g) the Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or
perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents or
attorneys and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or
negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed with due care by it
hereunder.
SECTION 6.4. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities.
The recitals contained herein and in the Securities, except the
Trustee's certificates of authentication, shall be taken as the statements of
the Corporation and the Guarantor, and neither the Trustee nor any
Authenticating Agent assumes any responsibility for their correctness. The
Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this
Indenture or of the Securities. Neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent
shall be accountable for the use or application by the Corporation of the
Securities or the proceeds thereof.
SECTION 6.5. May Hold Securities.
The Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any Paying Agent, any Securities
Registrar or any other agent of the Corporation or the Guarantor, in its
individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities
and, subject to Sections 6.8 and 6.13, may otherwise deal with the Corporation
or the Guarantor with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee,
Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent, Securities Registrar or such other agent.
SECTION 6.6. Money Held in Trust.
Money held by the Trustee in trust hereunder need not be segregated
from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustee shall be
under no liability for interest on any money received by it hereunder except as
otherwise agreed with the Corporation or the Guarantor.
SECTION 6.7. Compensation and Reimbursement.
Each of the Corporation and the Guarantor agrees
(1) to pay to the Trustee from time to time reasonable compensation for
all services rendered by it hereunder in such amounts as the Corporation and the
Trustee shall agree from time to time (which compensation shall not be limited
by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express
trust);
(2) to reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable
expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in
accordance with any provision of this Indenture (including the reasonable
compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel),
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except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be attributable to its
negligence or bad faith; and
(3) to indemnify the Trustee for, and to hold it harmless against, any
loss, liability or expense (including the reasonable compensation and the
expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel) incurred without
negligence or bad faith, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or
administration of this trust or the performance of its duties hereunder,
including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim or
liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or
duties hereunder. This indemnification shall survive the termination of this
Indenture.
When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of
Default specified in Section 5.1(4) or 5.1(5) occurs, the expenses and the
compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of
administration under the Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1978 or any successor statute.
SECTION 6.8. Disqualification; Conflicting Interests.
(a) The Trustee for the Securities of any series issued hereunder shall
be subject to the provisions of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
Nothing herein shall prevent the Trustee from filing with the Commission the
application referred to in the second to last paragraph of said Section 310(b).
(b) The Trust Agreement and the Guarantee Agreement with respect to
each Issuer Trust shall be deemed to be specifically described in this Indenture
for the purposes of clause (i) of the first proviso contained in Section 310(b)
of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 6.9. Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility.
There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder which shall be:
(a) a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the
United States of America or of any State or Territory or the District of
Columbia, authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers and
subject to supervision or examination by Federal, State, Territorial or District
of Columbia authority, or
(b) a corporation or other Person organized and doing business under
the laws of a foreign government that is permitted to act as Trustee pursuant to
a rule, regulation or order of the Commission, authorized under such laws to
exercise corporate trust powers, and subject to supervision or examination by
authority of such foreign government or a political subdivision thereof
substantially equivalent to supervision or examination applicable to United
States institutional trustees, in either case having a combined capital and
surplus of at least $50,000,000, subject to supervision or examination by
Federal or State authority. If such corporation publishes reports of condition
at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of the aforesaid
supervising or examining authority, then, for the purposes of this Section 6.9,
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 provisions of this Section 6.9, it shall resign immediately
in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in
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this Article VI. Neither the Corporation, the Guarantor nor any Person directly
or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with the
Corporation or the Guarantor shall serve as Trustee for the Securities of any
series issued hereunder.
SECTION 6.10. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.
(a) No resignation or removal of the Trustee and no appointment of a
successor Trustee pursuant to this Article VI shall become effective until the
acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee under Section 6.11.
(b) The Trustee may resign at any time with respect to the Securities
of one or more series by giving written notice thereof to the Corporation and
the Guarantor. If an instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee shall not
have been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such
notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition any court of competent
jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the
Securities of such series.
(c) The Trustee may be removed at any time with respect to the
Securities of any series by Act of the Holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series, delivered to the
Trustee and to the Corporation and the Guarantor.
(d) If at any time:
(1) the Trustee shall fail to comply with Section 6.8 after written
request therefor by the Corporation, the Guarantor 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 6.9 and shall
fail to resign after written request therefor by the Corporation, the Guarantor
or by any such Holder, or
(3) the Trustee shall become incapable of acting or shall be adjudged a
bankrupt or insolvent or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be
appointed or any public officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee or
of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or
liquidation,
then, in any such case, (i) the Corporation, acting pursuant to the authority of
a Board Resolution, may remove the Trustee with respect to the Securities of all
series issued hereunder, or (ii) subject to Section 5.14, any Holder who has
been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months may, on behalf of
such Holder and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent
jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee with respect to the Securities of
all series issued hereunder and the appointment of a successor Trustee or
Trustees.
(e) If the Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of
acting, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of Trustee for any cause with
respect to the Securities of one or more series, the Corporation, by a Board
Resolution, shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee with respect to the
Securities of that or those series. 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 aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding
Securities of such series delivered to the Corporation, the Guarantor and the
retiring
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Trustee, the successor Trustee so appointed shall, forthwith upon its acceptance
of such appointment, become the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities
of such series and supersede the successor Trustee appointed by the Corporation.
If no successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall have
been so appointed by the Corporation or the Holders and accepted appointment in
the manner hereinafter provided, any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a
Security of such series for at least six months may, subject to Section 5.14, on
behalf of such Holder and all others similarly situated, petition any court of
competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect
to the Securities of such series.
(f) The Corporation shall give notice of each resignation and each
removal of the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series and each
appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series
by mailing written notice of such event by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to
the Holders of Securities of such series as their names and addresses appear in
the Securities Register. 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 6.11. 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 so appointed shall
execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Corporation, the Guarantor and to the
retiring Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the
resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective and such
successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become
vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee;
but, on the request of the Corporation, the Guarantor or the successor Trustee,
such retiring Trustee shall, upon payment of its charges, execute and deliver an
instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights, powers and
trusts of the retiring Trustee and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to
such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee
hereunder.
(b) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with
respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Corporation,
the Guarantor, the retiring Trustee and each successor Trustee with respect to
the Securities of one or more series shall execute and deliver an indenture
supplemental hereto wherein each successor Trustee shall accept such appointment
and which (1) shall contain such provisions as shall be necessary or desirable
to transfer and confirm to, and to vest in, each successor Trustee all the
rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the
Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor
Trustee relates, (2) if the retiring Trustee is not retiring with respect to all
Securities, shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or
desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the
retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series as to
which the retiring Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the
retiring Trustee, and (3) shall add to or change any of the provisions of this
Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration
of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, it being understood that
nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees
co-trustees of the same trust and that each such Trustee shall be trustee of a
trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder
administered by any other such Trustee; and upon the execution and delivery of
such supplemental indenture the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee
shall become effective to the extent provided therein and each such successor
Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with
all the rights, powers, trusts, and duties of the retiring
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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
Corporation, the Guarantor 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 Corporation and the
Guarantor shall execute any and all instruments for more fully and certainly
vesting in and confirming to such successor Trustee all rights, powers and
trusts referred to in paragraph (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 this Article.
SECTION 6.12. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to
Business.
Any corporation into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or
with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger,
conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any
corporation succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate trust
business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder,
provided such corporation shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this
Article, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the
part of any of the parties hereto. In case any Securities shall have been
authenticated, but not delivered, by the Trustee then in office, any successor
by merger, conversion or consolidation to such authenticating Trustee may adopt
such authentication and deliver the Securities so authenticated, and in case any
Securities shall not have been authenticated, any successor to the Trustee may
authenticate such Securities either in the name of any predecessor Trustee or in
the name of such successor Trustee, and in all cases the certificate of
authentication shall have the full force which it is provided anywhere in the
Securities or in this Indenture that the certificate of the Trustee shall have.
SECTION 6.13. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Corporation or
Guarantor.
If and when the Trustee shall be or become a creditor of the
Corporation or the Guarantor (or any other obligor upon the Securities), the
Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act regarding
the collection of claims against the Corporation or the Guarantor (or any such
other obligor).
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 and upon exchange, registration of transfer or partial redemption thereof
or pursuant to Section 3.6, and Securities so authenticated shall be entitled to
the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all
purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee hereunder. Wherever reference is
made in this Indenture to the authentication and delivery of Securities by the
Trustee or the Trustee's certificate of authentication, such reference shall be
deemed to include authentication and delivery on behalf of the Trustee by an
Authenticating Agent. Each Authenticating Agent shall be acceptable to the
Corporation and shall at all times be a corporation
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organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America, or
of any State or Territory thereof or the District of Columbia, authorized under
such laws to act as Authenticating Agent, having a combined capital and surplus
of not less than $50,000,000 and subject to supervision or examination by
Federal or State authority. If such Authenticating Agent publishes reports of
condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of said
supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section the
combined capital and surplus of such Authenticating Agent shall be deemed to be
its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of
condition so published. If at any time an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be
eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, such Authenticating
Agent shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in
this Section.
Any corporation into which an Authenticating Agent may be merged or
converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting
from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which such Authenticating Agent
shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all of
the corporate trust business of an Authenticating Agent shall be the successor
Authenticating Agent hereunder, provided such corporation shall be otherwise
eligible under this Section, without the execution or filing of any paper or any
further act on the part of the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent.
An Authenticating Agent may resign at any time by giving written notice
thereof to the Trustee and to the Corporation and the Guarantor. The Trustee may
at any time terminate the agency of an Authenticating Agent by giving written
notice thereof to such Authenticating Agent and to the Corporation and the
Guarantor. Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a
termination, or in case at any time such Authenticating Agent shall cease to be
eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, the Trustee may
appoint a successor Authenticating Agent, which shall be acceptable to the
Corporation and shall give notice of such appointment in the manner provided in
Section 1.6 to all Holders of Securities of the series with respect to which
such Authenticating Agent will serve. Any successor Authenticating Agent upon
acceptance of its appointment hereunder shall become vested with all the rights,
powers and duties of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if
originally named as an Authenticating Agent. No successor Authenticating Agent
shall be appointed unless eligible under the provision of this Section.
The Trustee agrees to pay to each Authenticating Agent from time to
time reasonable compensation for its services under this Section, and the
Trustee shall be entitled to be reimbursed for such payments, subject to the
provisions of Section 6.7.
If an appointment with respect to one or more series is made pursuant
to this Section, the Securities of such series may have endorsed thereon, in
addition to the Trustee's certificate of authentication, an alternative
certificate of authentication in the following form:
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This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred
to in the within mentioned Indenture.
Dated:
THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO,
As Trustee
By:
---------------------------------
As Authenticating Agent
By:
--------------------------------
Authorized Officer
ARTICLE VII
HOLDER'S LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND CORPORATION
SECTION 7.1. Corporation to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of
Holders.
The Corporation will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee:
(a) semi-annually, on or before June 30 and December 31 of
each year, a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require,
of the names and addresses of the Holders as of a date not more than 15
days prior to the delivery thereof, and
(b) at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing,
within 30 days after the receipt by the Corporation of any such
request, a list of similar form and content as of a date not more than
15 days prior to the time such list is furnished,
in each case to the extent such information is in the possession or control of
the corporation and has not otherwise been received by the Trustee in its
capacity as Securities Registrar.
SECTION 7.2. Preservation of Information, Communications to Holders.
(a) The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably
practicable, the names and addresses of Holders contained in the most recent
list furnished to the Trustee as provided in Section 7.1 and the names and
addresses of Holders received by the Trustee in its capacity as Securities
Registrar. The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in
Section 7.1 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.
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(b) The rights of Holders to communicate with other Holders with
respect to their rights under this Indenture or under the Securities, and the
corresponding rights and privileges of the Trustee, shall be as provided in the
Trust Indenture Act.
(c) Every Holder of Securities, by receiving and holding the same,
agrees with the Corporation, the Guarantor and the Trustee that none of the
Corporation, the Guarantor nor the Trustee nor any agent of any of them shall be
held accountable by reason of the disclosure of information as to the names and
addresses of the Holders made pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 7.3. Reports by Trustee.
(a) The Trustee shall transmit to Holders such reports concerning the
Trustee and its actions under this Indenture as may be required pursuant to the
Trust Indenture Act, at the times and in the manner provided pursuant thereto.
(b) Reports so required to be transmitted at stated intervals of not
more than 12 months shall be transmitted no later than January 31 in each
calendar year.
(c) A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission
to Holders, be filed by the Trustee with each securities exchange upon which any
Securities are listed and also with the Commission. The Corporation will notify
the Trustee when any Securities are listed on any securities exchange.
SECTION 7.4. Reports by Corporation.
The Corporation and the Guarantor shall file with the Trustee and with
the Commission, and transmit to Holders, such information, documents and other
reports, and such summaries thereof, as may be required pursuant to the Trust
Indenture Act at the times and in the manner provided in the Trust Indenture
Act; provided that any such information, documents or reports required to be
filed with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the
Exchange Act shall be filed with the Trustee within 15 days after the same is
required to be filed with the Commission. Notwithstanding that the Guarantor may
not be required to remain subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or
15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Guarantor shall continue to file with the
Commission and provide the Trustee with the annual reports and the information,
documents and other reports which are specified in Sections 13 and 15(d) of the
Exchange Act. The Corporation and the Guarantor also shall comply with the other
provisions of Trust Indenture Act Section 314(a).
ARTICLE VIII
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE
SECTION 8.1. Corporation and Guarantor May Consolidate, Etc., Only on
Certain Terms.
Neither the Guarantor nor the Corporation shall consolidate with or
merge into any other Person or convey, transfer or lease its properties and
assets substantially as an entirety to any Person, and no Person shall
consolidate with or merge into the Guarantor or the Corporation or convey,
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transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to the
Guarantor or the Corporation, unless:
(1) if the Guarantor or the Corporation shall consolidate with or merge
into another Person or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets
substantially as an entirety to any Person, the corporation formed by such
consolidation or into which the Guarantor or the Corporation is merged or the
Person that acquires by conveyance or transfer, or that leases, the properties
and assets of the Guarantor or the Corporation substantially as an entirety
shall be a corporation, partnership or trust organized and existing under the
laws of the United States of America or any State or Territory thereof or the
District of Columbia and shall expressly assume, by an indenture supplemental
hereto, executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form satisfactory to the
Trustee, (i) in the case of the Guarantor, expressly guarantee, or (ii) in the
case of the Corporation, expressly assume the due and punctual payment of the
principal of (and premium, if any) and interest (including any Additional
Interest) on all the Securities of every series and the performance of every
covenant of this Indenture on the part of the Guarantor or the Corporation, as
the case may be, to be performed or observed;
(2) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Event of
Default, and no event that, after notice or lapse of time, or both, would
constitute an Event of Default, shall have happened and be continuing; and
(3) the Guarantor or the Corporation, as the case may be, has delivered
to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating
that such consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease and any such
supplemental indenture comply with this Article and that all conditions
precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been complied
with; and the Trustee, subject to Section 6.1, may rely upon such Officers'
Certificate and Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that such transaction
complies with this Section 8.1.
SECTION 8.2. Successor Corporation Substituted.
Upon any consolidation or merger by the Guarantor or the Corporation,
as the case may be, with or into any other Person, or any conveyance, transfer
or lease by the Guarantor or the Corporation of its properties and assets
substantially as an entirety to any Person in accordance with Section 8.1, the
successor corporation formed by such consolidation or into which the Guarantor
or the Corporation, as the case may be, is merged or to which such conveyance,
transfer or lease is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may
exercise every right and power of, the Guarantor or the Corporation, as the case
may be, under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person
had been named as the Guarantor or the Corporation, as the case may be, herein;
and in the event of any such conveyance, transfer or lease the Guarantor or the
Corporation, as the case may be, shall be discharged from all obligations and
covenants under this Indenture and the Securities and the Guarantees, as the
case may be.
Such successor Person may cause to be executed, and may issue either in
its own name or in the name of the Corporation, any or all of the Securities
issuable hereunder that theretofore shall not have been signed by the
Corporation, and having endorsed thereon Guarantees duly executed by the
Guarantor, and delivered to the Trustee; and, upon the order of such successor
Person instead of the Corporation and subject to all the terms, conditions and
limitations in this Indenture prescribed, the Trustee shall authenticate and
shall deliver any Securities having endorsed thereon Guarantees duly executed by
the Guarantor, that previously shall have been signed and delivered by the
officers of the
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Corporation to the Trustee for authentication pursuant to such provisions and
any Securities that such successor Person thereafter shall cause to be executed
and delivered to the Trustee on its behalf for the purpose pursuant to such
provisions. All the Securities so issued shall in all respects have the same
legal rank and benefit under this Indenture as the Securities theretofore or
thereafter issued in accordance with the terms of this Indenture.
In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance or lease,
such changes in phraseology and form may be made in the Securities thereafter to
be issued as may be appropriate.
ARTICLE IX
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES
SECTION 9.1. Supplemental Indentures without Consent of Holders.
Without the consent of any Holders, the Corporation and the Guarantor,
when authorized by Board Resolutions, and the Trustee, at any time and from time
to time, may enter into one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in form
satisfactory to the Trustee, for any of the following purposes:
(1) to evidence the succession of another Person to the
Corporation or the Guarantor, and the assumption by any such successor
of the covenants of the Corporation or Guarantor herein and in the
Securities and Guarantees contained; or
(2) to convey, transfer, assign, mortgage or pledge any
property to or with the Trustee or to surrender any right or power
herein conferred upon the Corporation or Guarantor; or
(3) to establish the form or terms of Securities of any series
as permitted by Sections 2.1 or 3.1; or
(4) to add to the covenants of the Corporation or the
Guarantor 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 the series
specified) or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the
Corporation or the Guarantor; or
(5) to add any additional Events of Default for the benefit of
the Holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such additional
Events of Default are to be for the benefit of less than all series of
Securities, stating that such additional Events of Default are
expressly being included solely for the benefit of the series
specified); or
(6) to change or eliminate any of the provisions of this
Indenture, provided that any such change or elimination shall (a)
become effective only when there is no Security Outstanding of any
series created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture
that is entitled to the benefit of such provision or (b) not apply to
any Outstanding Securities; or
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(7) to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any
provision herein that may be defective or inconsistent with any other
provision herein, or to make any other provisions with respect to
matters or questions arising under this Indenture, provided that such
action pursuant to this clause (7) shall not adversely affect the
interest of the Holders of Securities of any series in any material
respect or, in the case of the Securities of a series issued to an
Issuer Trust and for so long as any of the corresponding series of
Capital Securities issued by such Issuer Trust shall remain
outstanding, the holders of such Capital Securities; 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(b); or
(9) to comply with the requirements of the Commission in order
to effect or maintain qualification of this Indenture under the Trust
Indenture Act.
SECTION 9.2. Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders.
With the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in
aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of each series affected
by such supplemental indenture, by Act of said Holders delivered to the
Corporation, the Guarantor and the Trustee, the Corporation, when authorized by
a Board Resolution, the Guarantor, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and
the Trustee may enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for
the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating
any of the provisions of this Indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights
of the Holders of Securities of such series under this Indenture; provided,
however, that no such supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the
Holder of each Outstanding Security of each series affected thereby,
(1) change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any installment
of interest (including any Additional 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 reduce the amount of principal of a Discount
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 coin or currency in which, any Security or interest thereon is payable,
or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on
or after the Stated Maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption, on or after
the Redemption Date), or
(2) reduce the percentage in aggregate principal amount of the
Outstanding Securities of any series, the consent of whose Holders is required
for any such supplemental indenture, or the consent of whose Holders is required
for any waiver (of compliance with certain provisions of this Indenture or
certain defaults hereunder and their consequences) provided for in this
Indenture, or
(3) modify any of the provisions of this Section, Section 5.13 or
Section 10.5, except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain
other provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the
consent of the Holder of each Security affected thereby;
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provided, further, that, in the case of the Securities of a series issued to an
Issuer Trust, so long as any of the corresponding series of Capital Securities
issued by such Issuer Trust remains outstanding, (i) no such amendment shall be
made that adversely affects the holders of such Capital Securities in any
material respect, and no termination of this Indenture shall occur, and no
waiver of any Event of Default or compliance with any covenant under this
Indenture shall be effective, without the prior consent of the holders of at
least a majority of the aggregate Liquidation Amount (as defined in the related
Trust Agreement) of such Capital Securities then outstanding unless and until
the principal of (and premium, if any, on) the Securities of such series and all
accrued and (subject to Section 3.8) unpaid interest (including any Additional
Interest) thereon have been paid in full, and (ii) no amendment shall be made to
Section 5.8 of this Indenture that would impair the rights of the holders of
Capital Securities issued by any Issuer Trust provided therein without the prior
consent of the holders of each such Capital Security then outstanding unless and
until the principal of (and premium, if any, on) the Securities of such series
and all accrued and (subject to Section 3.12) unpaid interest (including any
Additional Interest) thereon have been paid in full.
A supplemental indenture that changes or eliminates any covenant or
other provision of this Indenture that has expressly been included solely for
the benefit of one or more particular series of Securities or any corresponding
series of Capital Securities of an Issuer Trust that holds the Securities of any
series, or that modifies the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series
or holders of such Capital Securities of such corresponding 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 or holders
of Capital Securities of any other such corresponding series.
It shall not be necessary for any Act of Holders under this Section to
approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall
be sufficient if such Act shall approve the substance thereof.
SECTION 9.3. Execution of Supplemental Indentures.
In executing or accepting the additional trusts created by any
supplemental indenture permitted by this Article or the modifications thereby of
the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive,
and (subject to Section 6.1) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an
Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of
such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture, and
that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such action have
been complied with. The Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into
any such supplemental indenture that affects the Trustee's own rights, duties or
immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.
SECTION 9.4. Effect of Supplemental Indentures.
Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture under this Article,
this Indenture shall be modified in accordance therewith, and such supplemental
indenture shall form a part of this Indenture for all purposes; and every Holder
of Securities theretofore or thereafter authenticated and delivered hereunder
shall be bound thereby.
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SECTION 9.5. Conformity with Trust Indenture Act.
Every supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article shall
conform to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect.
SECTION 9.6. Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures.
Securities authenticated and delivered after the execution of any
supplemental indenture pursuant to this Article may, and shall if required by
the Corporation, bear a notation in form approved by the Corporation as to any
matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Corporation shall so
determine, new Securities of any series so modified as to conform, in the
opinion of the Corporation, to any such supplemental indenture may be prepared
and executed by the Corporation and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee
in exchange for Outstanding Securities of such series.
ARTICLE X
COVENANTS
SECTION 10.1. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest.
The Corporation covenants and agrees for the benefit of each series of
Securities that it will duly and punctually pay the principal of (and premium,
if any) and interest (including any Additional Interest) on the Securities of
that series in accordance with the terms of such Securities and this Indenture.
SECTION 10.2. Maintenance of Office or Agency.
The Corporation 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 Corporation in respect of the Securities of that series
and this Indenture may be served. The Corporation initially appoints the
Trustee, acting through its Corporate Trust Office, as its agent for said
purposes. The Corporation will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any
change in the location of any such office or agency. If at any time the
Corporation shall fail to maintain such 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 Corporation hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive
all such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.
The Corporation may also from time to time designate one or more other
offices or agencies where the Securities may be presented or surrendered for any
or all of 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 Corporation of its obligation to maintain an office or agency in
each Place of Payment for Securities of any series for such purposes. The
Corporation will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such
designation and any change in the location of any such office or agency.
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SECTION 10.3. Money for Security Payments to be Held in Trust.
If the Corporation 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 (and premium, if any, on) or interest on any of the Securities of
such series, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled
thereto a sum sufficient to pay the principal (and 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 of its
failure so to act.
Whenever the Corporation shall have one or more Paying Agents, it will,
prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on each due date of the principal of
(or premium, if any) or interest (including any Additional Interest) on any
Securities, deposit with a Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay the principal
(and premium, if any) or interest (including any Additional Interest) so
becoming due, such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons
entitled to such principal (and premium, if any) or interest (including any
Additional Interest), and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the
Corporation will promptly notify the Trustee of its failure so to act.
The Corporation will cause each Paying Agent 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 (and premium, if any) or interest (including any Additional
Interest) on the Securities of a 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 Corporation
(or any other obligor upon such Securities) in the making of any
payment of principal (and premium, if any) or interest (including any
Additional Interest) in respect of any Security of any Series;
(3) at any time during the continuance of any default with
respect to a series of Securities, upon the written request of the
Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so held in trust by such
Paying Agent with respect to such series; and
(4) comply with the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act
applicable to it as a Paying Agent.
The Corporation may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the
satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or for any other purpose, pay, or
by Corporation Order direct any Paying Agent to pay, to the Trustee all sums
held in trust by the Corporation or such Paying Agent, such sums to be held by
the Trustee upon the same trusts as those upon which such sums were held by the
Corporation 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 Corporation in trust for the payment of the principal of (and premium, if
any) or interest (including any Additional Interest) on any Security and
remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal (and premium, if any) or
interest has become due and payable shall (unless otherwise required by
mandatory provision
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of applicable escheat or abandoned or unclaimed property law) be paid on
Corporation Request to the Corporation, or (if then held by the Corporation)
shall (unless otherwise required by mandatory provision of applicable escheat or
abandoned or unclaimed property law) be discharged from such trust; and the
Holder of such Security shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look
only to the Corporation for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or
such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the
Corporation 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 Corporation cause to be published once, in
a newspaper published in the English language, customarily published on each
Business Day and of general circulation in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of
New York, notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date
specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such
publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid
to the Corporation.
SECTION 10.4. Statement as to Compliance.
Each of the Corporation and the Guarantor shall deliver to the Trustee,
within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Corporation or the
Guarantor, respectively, ending after the date hereof, an Officers' Certificate
covering the preceding calendar year, stating whether or not to the best
knowledge of the signers thereof the Corporation or the Guarantor, respectively,
is in default in the performance, observance or fulfillment of or compliance
with any of the terms, provisions, covenants and conditions of this Indenture,
and if the Corporation or the Guarantor, respectively, shall be in default,
specifying all such defaults and the nature and status thereof of which they may
have knowledge. For the purpose of this Section 10.4, compliance shall be
determined without regard to any grace period or requirement of notice provided
pursuant to the terms of this Indenture.
SECTION 10.5. Waiver of Certain Covenants.
Subject to the rights of holders of Capital Securities specified in
Section 9.2, if any, the Corporation or the Guarantor, as the case may be, may
omit in any particular instance to comply with any covenant or condition
provided pursuant to Section 3.1, 9.1(3) or 9.1(4) with respect to the
Securities of any series, if before or after the time for such compliance the
Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding
Securities of such series shall, by Act of such Holders, either waive such
compliance in such instance or generally waive compliance with such covenant or
condition, but no such waiver shall extend to or affect such covenant or
condition except to the extent so expressly waived, and, until such waiver shall
become effective, the obligations of the Corporation or the Guarantor, as the
case may be, in respect of any such covenant or condition shall remain in full
force and effect.
SECTION 10.6. Additional Sums.
In the case of the Securities of a series initially issued to an Issuer
Trust, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and except
as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.1 or Section 3.1, if (i) an
Issuer Trust is the Holder of all of the Outstanding Securities of such series,
and (ii) a Tax Event has occurred and is continuing in respect of such Issuer
Trust, the Corporation shall pay to such Issuer Trust (and its permitted
successors or assigns under the related Trust Agreement) for so long as such
Issuer Trust (or its permitted successor or assignee) is the registered holder
of the Outstanding Securities of such series, such additional sums as may be
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necessary in order that the amount of Distributions (including any Additional
Amounts (as defined in such Trust Agreement)) then due and payable by such
Issuer Trust on the related Capital Securities and Common Securities that at any
time remain outstanding in accordance with the terms thereof shall not be
reduced as a result of any Additional Taxes arising from such Tax Event (the
"Additional Sums"). Whenever in this Indenture the Securities or the Guarantees
there is a reference in any context to the payment of principal of or interest
on the Securities, such mention shall be deemed to include mention of the
payments of the Additional Sums provided for in this paragraph to the extent
that, in such context, Additional Sums are, were or would be payable in respect
thereof pursuant to the provisions of this paragraph and express mention of the
payment of Additional Sums (if applicable) in any provisions hereof shall not be
construed as excluding Additional Sums in those provisions hereof where such
express mention is not made; provided, however, that the deferral of the payment
of interest pursuant to Section 3.12 or the Securities shall not defer the
payment of any Additional Sums that may be due and payable.
SECTION 10.7. Additional Covenants.
Each of the Corporation and the Guarantor covenants and agrees with
each Holder of Securities of each series that it shall not (x) declare or pay
any dividends or distributions on, or redeem purchase, acquire or make a
liquidation payment with respect to, any shares of the Corporation's or the
Guarantor's capital stock, or (y) make any payment of principal of or interest
or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the
Corporation or the Guarantor (including other Securities) that rank pari passu
in all respects with or junior in interest to the Securities of such series or
the Guarantees, respectively (other than (a) repurchases, redemptions or other
acquisitions of shares of capital stock of the Corporation or the Guarantor in
connection with any employment contract, benefit plan or other similar
arrangement with or for the benefit of any one or more employees, officers,
directors or consultants, in connection with a dividend reinvestment or
stockholder stock purchase plan or in connection with the issuance of capital
stock of the Corporation or the Guarantor (or securities convertible into or
exercisable for such capital stock) as consideration in an acquisition
transaction entered into prior to the applicable Extension Period, (b) as a
result of an exchange or conversion of any class or series of the Corporation's
or the Guarantor's capital stock (or any capital stock of a Subsidiary of the
Corporation or the Guarantor) for any class or series of the Corporation's or
the Guarantor's capital stock, respectively, or of any class or series of the
Corporation's or the Guarantor's indebtedness for any class or series of the
Corporation's or the Guarantor's capital stock, respectively, (c) the purchase
of fractional interests in shares of the Corporation's or the Guarantor's
capital stock, respectively, pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions
of such capital stock or the security being converted or exchanged, (d) any
declaration of a dividend in connection with any Rights Plan, or the issuance of
rights, stock or other property under any Rights Plan, or the redemption or
repurchase of rights pursuant thereto, or (e) any dividend in the form of stock,
warrants, options or other rights where the dividend stock or the stock issuable
upon exercise of such warrants, options or other rights is the same stock as
that on which the dividend is being paid or ranks pari passu with or junior to
such stock) if at such time (i) there shall have occurred any event (A) of which
the Corporation or the Guarantor has actual knowledge that with the giving of
notice or the lapse of time, or both, would constitute an Event of Default with
respect to the Securities of such series, and (B) which the Corporation and the
Guarantor shall not have taken reasonable steps to cure, (ii) if the Securities
of such series are held by an Issuer Trust, the Corporation or the Guarantor
shall be in default with respect to its payment of any obligations under the
Guarantee Agreement relating to the Capital Securities issued by such Issuer
Trust, or (iii) the Corporation shall have given notice of its election to begin
an Extension Period with respect to the
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Securities of such series as provided herein and shall not have rescinded such
notice, or such Extension Period, or any extension thereof, shall be continuing.
The Corporation also covenants with each Holder of Securities of a
series issued to an Issuer Trust (i) to hold, directly or indirectly, 100% of
the Common Securities of such Issuer Trust, provided that any permitted
successor of the Corporation hereunder may succeed to the Corporation's
ownership of such Common Securities, (ii) as holder of such Common Securities,
not to voluntarily terminate, wind-up or liquidate such Issuer Trust, other than
(a) in connection with a distribution of the Securities of such series to the
holders of the related Capital Securities in liquidation of such Issuer Trust,
or (b) in connection with certain mergers, consolidations or amalgamations
permitted by the related Trust Agreement, and (iii) to use its reasonable
efforts, consistent with the terms and provisions of such Trust Agreement, to
cause such Issuer Trust to continue not to be taxable as a corporation for
United States federal income tax purposes.
SECTION 10.8. Original Issue Discount.
For each year during which any Securities that were issued with
original issue discount are Outstanding, the Corporation shall furnish to each
Paying Agent in a timely fashion such information as may be reasonably requested
by each Paying Agent in order that each Paying Agent may prepare the information
which it is required to report for such year on Internal Revenue Service Forms
1096 and 1099 pursuant to Section 6049 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended. Such information shall include the amount of original issue discount
includible in income for each $1,000 of principal amount at Stated Maturity of
outstanding Securities during such year.
ARTICLE XI
REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES
SECTION 11.1 Applicability of This Article.
Redemption of Securities of any series (whether by operation of a
sinking fund or otherwise) as permitted or required by any form of Security
issued pursuant to this Indenture shall be made in accordance with such form of
Security and this Article; provided, however, that if any provision of any such
form of Security shall conflict with any provision of this Article, the
provision of such form of Security shall govern. Except as otherwise set forth
in the form of Security for such series, each Security of a series shall be
subject to partial redemption only in the amount of $1,000 or any integral
multiples thereof.
SECTION 11.2. Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee.
The election of the Corporation to redeem any Securities shall be
evidenced by or pursuant to a Board Resolution. In case of any redemption at the
election of the Corporation, the Corporation shall, at least 45 days prior to
the Redemption Date (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the
Trustee), notify the Trustee and, in the case of Securities of a series held by
an Issuer Trust, the Property Trustee under the related Trust Agreement, of such
date and of the principal amount of Securities of the applicable series to be
redeemed and provide the additional information required to be included in the
notice or notices contemplated by Section 11.4; provided that in the case of any
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series of Securities initially issued to an Issuer Trust, for so long as such
Securities are held by such Issuer Trust, such notice shall be given not less
than 45 nor more than 75 days prior to such Redemption Date (unless a shorter
notice shall be satisfactory to the Property Trustee under the related Trust
Agreement). In the case of any redemption of Securities prior to the expiration
of any restriction on such redemption provided in the terms of such Securities,
the Corporation shall furnish the Trustee with an Officers' Certificate and an
Opinion of Counsel evidencing compliance with such restriction.
SECTION 11.3. Selection of Securities to be Redeemed.
If less than all the Securities of any series are to be redeemed, the
particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 60 days
prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee, from the Outstanding Securities of
such series not previously called for redemption, by such method as the Trustee
shall deem fair and appropriate and which may provide for the selection for
redemption of 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 promptly notify the Corporation in writing of the
Securities selected for partial redemption and the principal amount thereof to
be redeemed. For all purposes of this Indenture, unless the context otherwise
requires, all provisions relating to the redemption of Securities shall relate,
in the case of any Security redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the
portion of the principal amount of such Security that has been or is to be
redeemed.
SECTION 11.4. Notice of Redemption.
Notice of redemption shall be given by first-class mail, postage
prepaid, mailed not later than the thirtieth day, and not earlier than the
sixtieth day, prior to the Redemption Date, to each Holder of Securities to be
redeemed, at the address of such Holder as it appears in the Securities
Register, provided that in the case of any series of Securities initially issued
to an Issuer Trust, for so long as such Securities are held by such Issuer
Trust, such notice shall be given not less than 45 nor more than 75 days prior
to such Redemption Date (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the
Property Trustee under the related Trust Agreement).
With respect to Securities of each series to be redeemed, each notice
of redemption shall state:
(a) the Redemption Date;
(b) the Redemption Price or, if the Redemption Price cannot be
calculated prior to the time the notice is required to be sent, the estimate of
the Redemption Price together with a statement that it is an estimate and that
the actual Redemption Price will be calculated on the third Business Day prior
to the Redemption Date (and if an estimate is provided, a further notice shall
be sent of the actual Redemption Price on the date that such Redemption Price is
calculated);
(c) if less than all Outstanding Securities of such particular series
are to be redeemed, the identification (and, in the case of partial redemption,
the respective principal amounts) of the particular Securities to be redeemed;
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(d) that on the Redemption Date, the Redemption Price will become due
and payable upon each such Security or portion thereof, and that interest
(including any Additional Interest) thereon, if any, shall cease to accrue on
and after said date;
(e) the place or places where such Securities are to be surrendered for
payment of the Redemption Price;
(f) that the redemption is for a sinking fund, if such is the case;
(g) such other provisions as may be required in respect of the terms of
a particular series of Securities.
Notice of redemption of Securities to be redeemed at the election of
the Corporation shall be given by the Corporation or, at the Corporation's
request, by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Corporation and
shall be irrevocable. The notice if mailed in the manner provided above shall be
conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the Holder
receives such notice. In any case, a failure to give such notice by mail or any
defect in the notice to the Holder of any Security designated for redemption as
a whole or in part shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the
redemption of any other Security.
SECTION 11.5. Deposit of Redemption Price.
Prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Redemption Date
specified in the notice of redemption given as provided in Section 11.4, the
Corporation will deposit with the Trustee or with one or more Paying Agents (or
if the Corporation is acting as its own Paying Agent, the Corporation will
segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 10.3) an amount of money
sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of, and any accrued interest (including
any Additional Interest) on, all the Securities (or portions thereof) that are
to be redeemed on that date.
SECTION 11.6. Payment of Securities Called for Redemption.
If any notice of redemption has been given as provided in Section 11.4,
the Securities or portion of Securities with respect to which such notice has
been given shall become due and payable on the date and at the place or places
stated in such notice at the applicable Redemption Price, together with accrued
interest (including any Additional Interest) to the Redemption Date. On
presentation and surrender of such Securities at a Place of Payment in said
notice specified, the said Securities or the specified portions thereof shall be
paid and redeemed by the Corporation at the applicable Redemption Price,
together with accrued interest (including any Additional Interest) to the
Redemption Date; provided, however, that, unless otherwise specified as
contemplated by Section 3.1, installments of interest (including any Additional
Interest) whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption Date will 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 3.8.
Upon presentation of any Security redeemed in part only, the
Corporation shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the
Holder thereof, at the expense of the Corporation, a new Security or Securities
of the same series, of authorized denominations, in aggregate principal
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amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the Security so presented and having
the same Original Issue Date, Stated Maturity and terms.
If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon
surrender thereof for redemption, the principal of and premium, if any, on such
Security shall, until paid, bear interest from the Redemption Date at the rate
prescribed therefor in the Security.
SECTION 11.7. Right of Redemption of Securities Initially Issued to an
Issuer Trust.
In the case of the Securities of a series initially issued to an Issuer
Trust, except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1, the
Corporation, at its option, may redeem such Securities (i) on or after the date
specified in such Security, in whole at any time or in part from time to time,
or (ii) upon the occurrence and during the continuation of a Tax Event or a
Capital Treatment Event, at any time within 90 days following the occurrence and
during the continuation of such Tax Event or Capital Treatment Event, in whole
(but not in part), in each case at a Redemption Price of 100% unless specified
in such Security, together with accrued interest (including any Additional
Interest) to the Redemption Date.
If less than all the Securities of any such series are to be redeemed,
the aggregate principal amount of such Securities remaining Outstanding after
giving effect to such redemption shall be sufficient to satisfy any provisions
of the Trust Agreement related to the Issuer Trust to which such Securities were
issued, including any requirement in such Trust Agreement as to the minimum
Liquidation Amount (as defined in such Trust Agreement) of Capital Securities
that may be held by a holder of Capital Securities thereunder.
ARTICLE XII
SINKING FUNDS
SECTION 12.1. Applicability of Article.
The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to any sinking fund
for the retirement of Securities of any series except as otherwise specified as
contemplated by Section 3.1 for such Securities.
The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the
terms of any Securities of any series is herein referred to as a "mandatory
sinking fund payment", and any sinking fund payment in excess of such minimum
amount that is permitted to be made by the terms of such Securities of any
series is herein referred to as an "optional sinking fund payment". If provided
for by the terms of any Securities of any series, the cash amount of any sinking
fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 12.2. Each
sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities of any
series as provided for by the terms of such Securities.
SECTION 12.2. Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities.
In lieu of making all or any part of a mandatory sinking fund payment
with respect to any Securities of a series in cash, the Corporation may at its
option, at any time no more than 16 months
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and no less than 45 days prior to the date on which such sinking fund payment is
due, deliver to the Trustee Securities of such series (together with the
unmatured coupons, if any, appertaining thereto) theretofore purchased or
otherwise acquired by the Corporation, except Securities of such series that
have been redeemed through the application of mandatory or optional sinking fund
payments pursuant to the terms of the Securities of such series, accompanied by
a Corporation Order instructing the Trustee to credit such obligations and
stating that the Securities of such series were originally issued by the
Corporation by way of bona fide sale or other negotiation for value; provided
that the Securities to be so credited have not been previously so credited. The
Securities to be so credited shall be received and credited for such purpose by
the Trustee at the redemption price for such Securities, as specified in the
Securities so to be redeemed, for redemption through operation of the sinking
fund and the amount of such sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly.
SECTION 12.3. Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund.
Not less than 45 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for any
series of Securities, the Corporation will deliver to the Trustee an Officers'
Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing sinking fund payment for
such Securities pursuant to the terms of such Securities, the portion thereof,
if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash in the currency in which the
Securities of such series are payable (except as provided pursuant to Section
3.1) and the portion thereof, if any, that is to be satisfied by delivering and
crediting Securities pursuant to Section 12.2 and will also deliver to the
Trustee any Securities to be so delivered. Such Officers' Certificate shall be
irrevocable and upon its delivery the Corporation shall be obligated to make the
cash payment or payments therein referred to, if any, on or before the
succeeding sinking fund payment date. In the case of the failure of the
Corporation to deliver such Officers' Certificate (or, as required by this
Indenture, the Securities and coupons, if any, specified in such Officers'
Certificate) by the due date therefor, the sinking fund payment due on the
succeeding sinking fund payment date for such series shall be paid entirely in
cash and shall be sufficient to redeem the principal amount of the Securities of
such series subject to a mandatory sinking fund payment without the right to
deliver or credit securities as provided in Section 12.2 and without the right
to make the optional sinking fund payment with respect to such series at such
time.
Any sinking fund payment or payments (mandatory or optional) made in
cash plus any unused balance of any preceding sinking fund payments made with
respect to the Securities of any particular series shall be applied by the
Trustee (or by the Corporation if the Corporation is acting as its own Paying
Agent) on the sinking fund payment date on which such payment is made (or, if
such payment is made before a sinking fund payment date, on the sinking fund
payment date immediately following the date of such payment) to the redemption
of Securities of such series at the Redemption Price specified in such
Securities with respect to the sinking fund. Any and all sinking fund moneys
with respect to the Securities of any particular series held by the Trustee (or
if the Corporation is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregated and held in
trust as provided in Section 10.3) on the last sinking fund payment date with
respect to Securities of such series and not held for the payment or redemption
of particular Securities of such series shall be applied by the Trustee (or by
the Corporation if the Corporation is acting as its own Paying Agent), together
with other moneys, if necessary, to be deposited (or segregated) sufficient for
the purpose, to the payment of the principal of the Securities of such series at
Maturity. The Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such
sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 11.3 and cause
notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense
of the Corporation in the manner provided in Section 11.4. Such notice having
been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall
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be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Section 11.6. On or before
each sinking fund payment date, the Corporation shall pay to the Trustee (or, if
the Corporation is acting as its own Paying Agent, the Corporation shall
segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 10.3) in cash a sum in the
currency in which Securities of such series are payable (except as provided
pursuant to Section 3.1) equal to the principal (and premium, if any) and any
interest (including any Additional Interest) accrued to the Redemption Date for
Securities or portions thereof to be redeemed on such sinking fund payment date
pursuant to this Section 12.3.
Neither the Trustee nor the Corporation shall redeem any Securities of
a series with sinking fund moneys or mail any notice of redemption of Securities
of such series by operation of the sinking fund for such series during the
continuance of a default in payment of interest, if any, on any Securities of
such series or of any Event of Default (other than an Event of Default occurring
as a consequence of this paragraph) with respect to the Securities of such
series, except that if the notice of redemption shall have been provided in
accordance with the provisions hereof, the Trustee (or the Corporation, if the
Corporation is then acting as its own Paying Agent) shall redeem such Securities
if cash sufficient for that purpose shall be deposited with the Trustee (or
segregated by the Corporation) for that purpose in accordance with the terms of
this Article XII. Except as aforesaid, any moneys in the sinking fund for such
series at the time when any such default or Event of Default shall occur and any
moneys thereafter paid into such sinking fund shall, during the continuance of
such default or Event of Default, be held as security for the payment of the
Securities and coupons, if any, of such series; provided, however, that in case
such default or Event of Default shall have been cured or waived herein, such
moneys shall thereafter be applied on the next sinking fund payment date for the
Securities of such series on which such moneys may be applied pursuant to the
provisions of this Section 12.3.
ARTICLE XIII
SUBORDINATION OF SECURITIES
SECTION 13.1. Securities Subordinate to Senior Debt.
Each of the Corporation and the Guarantor covenants and agrees, and
each Holder of a Security, by its acceptance thereof, likewise covenants and
agrees, that, to the extent and in the manner hereinafter set forth in this
Article, the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest
(including any Additional Interest) on each and all of the Securities of each
and every series and payments under the Guarantees are hereby expressly made
subordinate and subject in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all
Senior Indebtedness of the Corporation and the Guarantor, respectively.
SECTION 13.2. No Payment When Senior Debt in Default; Payment
Over of Proceeds Upon Dissolution, Etc.
If the Corporation or the Guarantor shall default in the payment of any
principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any of its respective Senior
Debt when the same becomes due and payable, whether at maturity or at a
date fixed for prepayment or by declaration of acceleration or otherwise, then,
upon written notice of such default to the Corporation or the Guarantor, as the
case may be, by the holders of Senior Debt or any trustee therefor,
unless and until such default shall have
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been cured or waived or shall have ceased to exist, no direct or indirect
payment (in cash, property, securities, by set-off or otherwise) shall be made
or agreed to be made on account of the principal of (or premium, if any) or
interest (including any Additional Interest) on any of the Securities or the
Guarantees, respectively, or in respect of any redemption, repayment,
retirement, purchase or other acquisition of any of the Securities or the
Guarantees, respectively.
In the event of (a) any insolvency, bankruptcy, receivership,
liquidation, reorganization, readjustment, composition or other similar
proceedings relating to either of the Corporation or the Guarantor, its
creditors or its property, (b) any proceeding for the liquidation, dissolution
or other winding up of the Corporation or the Guarantor, voluntary or
involuntary, whether or not involving insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings, (c)
any assignment by the Corporation or the Guarantor for the benefit of creditors
or (d) any other marshalling of the assets of the Corporation or the Guarantor
(each such event, if any, herein sometimes referred to as a "Proceeding"), all
Senior Debt of the Corporation or the Guarantor, as the case may be
(including any interest thereon accruing after the commencement of any such
proceedings), shall first be paid in full before any payment or distribution,
whether in cash, securities or other property, shall be made to any Holder of
any of the Securities or the Guarantees, respectively, on account thereof. Any
payment or distribution, whether in cash, securities or other property (other
than securities of the Corporation or the Guarantor or any other corporation
provided for by a plan of reorganization or readjustment the payment of which is
subordinate, at least to the extent provided in these subordination provisions
with respect to the indebtedness evidenced by the Securities and the Guarantees,
as the case may be, to the payment of all Senior Debt of the Corporation
or the Guarantor, respectively, 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 these subordination provisions) be
payable or deliverable in respect of the Securities of any series or the
Guarantees thereon, as the case may be, shall be paid or delivered directly to
the holders of Senior Debt of the Corporation or the Guarantor, respectively,
in accordance with the priorities then existing among such holders until all
such Senior Debt (including any interest thereon accruing after the
commencement of any Proceeding) shall have been paid in full.
In the event of any Proceeding, after payment in full of all sums owing
with respect to the Corporation's or the Guarantor's Senior Debt, as the
case may be, the Holders of the Securities or the Guarantees, together with the
holders of any obligations of the Corporation or the Guarantor, as the case may
be, ranking on a parity with the Securities or the Guarantees, respectively
(which for this purpose only shall include the Allocable Amounts of Senior
Subordinated Indebtedness), shall be entitled to be paid from the remaining
assets of the Corporation or the Guarantor, as the case may be, the amounts at
the time due and owing on account of unpaid principal of (and premium, if any)
and interest on the Securities or the Guarantees, as the case may be, and such
other obligations before any payment or other distribution, whether in cash,
property or otherwise, shall be made on account of any capital stock or any
obligations of the Corporation or the Guarantor, respectively, ranking junior
to the Securities or the Guarantees, as the case may be, and such other
obligations. If, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment or distribution of
any character or any security, whether in cash, securities or other property
(other than securities of the Corporation or the Guarantor or any other
corporation provided for by a plan of reorganization or readjustment the
payment of which is subordinate, at least to the extent provided in these
subordination provisions with respect to the indebtedness evidenced by the
Securities and the Guarantees, as the case may be, to the payment of all
Senior Debt of the Corporation or the Guarantor, respectively, at the
time outstanding and to any securities issued in respect thereof under any such
plan of reorganization or readjustment), shall be
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received by the Trustee or any Holder in contravention of any of the terms
hereof and before all Senior Debt of the Corporation or the Guarantor,
as the case may be, shall have been paid in full, such payment or distribution
or security shall be received in trust for the benefit of, and shall be paid
over or delivered and transferred to, the holders of the Senior Debt of
the Corporation or the Guarantor, as the case may be, at the time outstanding in
accordance with the priorities then existing among such holders for application
to the payment of all Senior Debt of the Corporation or the Guarantor,
as the case may be, remaining unpaid, to the extent necessary to pay all such
Senior Debt of the Corporation or the Guarantor, as the case may be, remaining
unpaid, to the extent necessary to pay all such Senior Debt of the Corporation
or the Guarantor, as the case may be, in full. In the event of the failure of
the Trustee or any Holder to endorse or assign any such payment, distribution
or security, each holder of Senior Debt of the Corporation or the Guarantor,
as the case may be, is hereby irrevocably authorized to endorse or assign the
same.
The Trustee and the Holders shall take such action (including, without
limitation, the delivery of this Indenture to an agent for the holders of Senior
Debt of the Corporation or the Guarantor, as the case may be, or consent
to the filing of a financing statement with respect hereto) as may, in the
opinion of counsel designated by the holders of a majority in principal amount
of the Senior Debt of the Corporation or the Guarantor, as the case may
be, at the time outstanding, be necessary or appropriate to assure the
effectiveness of the subordination effected by these provisions.
The provisions of this Section 13.2 shall not impair any rights,
interests, remedies or powers of any secured creditor of the Corporation or the
Guarantor in respect of any security interest the creation of which is not
prohibited by the provisions of this Indenture.
The securing of any obligations of the Corporation or the Guarantor,
as the case may be, otherwise ranking on a parity with the Securities or
Guarantees, respectively, or ranking junior to the Securities or Guarantees,
respectively, shall not be deemed to prevent such obligations from constituting,
respectively, obligations ranking on a parity with the Securities or Guarantees,
as the case may be, or ranking junior to the Securities or the Guarantees, as
the case may be.
SECTION 13.3. Payment Permitted If No Default.
Nothing contained in this Article or elsewhere in this Indenture or in
any of the Securities or Guarantees shall prevent (a) the Corporation or the
Guarantor, at any time, except during the pendency of the conditions described
in the first paragraph of Section 13.2 or of any Proceeding referred to in
Section 13.2, from making payments at any time of principal of (and premium, if
any) or interest (including any Additional Interest) on the Securities or the
Guarantees, respectively, or (b) the application by the Trustee of any moneys
deposited with it hereunder to the payment of or on account of the principal of
(and premium, if any) or interest (including any Additional Interest) on the
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Securities or the Guarantees, as the case may be, or the retention of such
payment by the Holders, if, at the time of such application by the Trustee, it
did not have knowledge that such payment would have been prohibited by the
provisions of this Article.
SECTION 13.4. Subrogation to Rights of Holders of Senior Debt.
Subject to the payment in full of all amounts due or to become due on
all Senior Debt of the Corporation or the Guarantor, as the case may be, or the
provision for such payment in cash or cash equivalents or otherwise in a manner
satisfactory to the holders of Senior Debt of the Corporation or the Guarantor,
as the case may be, the Holders of the Securities and the Guarantees,
respectively,
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shall be subrogated to the extent of the payments or distributions made to the
holders of such Senior Debt pursuant to the provisions of this Article (equally
and ratably with the holders of all indebtedness of the Corporation or the
Guarantor, as the case may be, that by its express terms is subordinated to
Senior Debt of the Corporation or the Guarantor, as the case may be, to
substantially the same extent as the Securities and the Guarantees,
respectively, are subordinated to the Senior Debt of the Corporation or the
Guarantor, as the case may be, and is entitled to like rights of subrogation by
reason of any payments or distributions made to holders of such Senior Debt) to
the rights of the holders of such Senior Debt to receive payments and
distributions of cash, property and securities applicable to the Senior Debt of
the Corporation or the Guarantor, as the case may be, until the principal of
(and premium, if any) and interest (including any Additional Interest) on the
Securities or the Guarantees, respectively, shall be paid in full. For purposes
of such subrogation, no payments or distributions to the holders of the Senior
Debt of the Corporation or the Guarantor, as the case may be, of any cash,
property or securities to which the Holders of the Securities or the
Guarantees, as the case may be, or the Trustee would be entitled except for the
provisions of this Article, and no payments over pursuant to the provisions of
this Article to the holders of Senior Debt of the Corporation or the Guarantor,
as the case may be, by Holders of the Securities or the Guarantees, as the case
may be, or the Trustee, shall, as among the Corporation or the Guarantor, as
the case may be, its creditors other than holders of its Senior Debt, and the
Holders of the Securities or the Guarantees, as the case may be, be deemed to
be a payment or distribution by the Corporation or the Guarantor, as the case
may be, to or on account of its Senior Debt.
SECTION 13.5. Provisions Solely to Define Relative Rights.
The provisions of this Article are and are intended solely for the
purpose of defining the relative rights of the Holders of the Securities or the
Guarantees, as the case may be, on the one hand and the holders of Senior Debt
of the Corporation and the Guarantor, respectively, on the other hand. Nothing
contained in this Article or elsewhere in this Indenture or in the Securities
or Guarantees, as the case may be, is intended to or shall (a) impair, as
between the Corporation or the Guarantor, as the case may be, and the Holders
of the Securities and the Guarantees, respectively, the obligations of the
Corporation or the Guarantor, as the case may be, which are absolute and
unconditional, to pay to the Holders of the Securities or the Guarantees, as
the case may be, the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest (including
any Additional Interest) on the Securities or the Guarantees, as the case may
be, as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with their
terms; or (b) affect the relative rights against the Corporation or the
Guarantor, as the case may be, of the Holders of the Securities and the
Guarantees, as the case may be, and creditors of the Corporation and the
Guarantor, respectively, other than their rights in relation to the holders of
Senior Debt of the Corporation or the Guarantor, as the case may be; or
(c) prevent the Trustee or the Holder of any Security (or to the extent
expressly provided herein, the holder of any Capital Security) or Guarantee, as
the case may be, from exercising all remedies otherwise permitted by applicable
law upon default under this Indenture, including filing and voting claims in any
Proceeding, subject to the rights, if any, under this Article of the holders of
Senior Debt of the Corporation or the Guarantor, as the case may be, to receive
cash, property and securities otherwise payable or deliverable to the Trustee
or such Holder.
SECTION 13.6. Trustee to Effectuate Subordination.
Each Holder of a Security or a Guarantee, as the case may be, by his or
her acceptance thereof authorizes and directs the Trustee on his or her behalf
to take such action as may be necessary
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or appropriate to acknowledge or effectuate the subordination provided in this
Article and appoints the Trustee his or her attorney-in-fact for any and all
such purposes.
SECTION 13.7. No Waiver of Subordination Provisions.
No right of any present or future holder of any of the Corporation's or
the Guarantor's Senior Debt, as the case may be, to enforce subordination as
herein provided shall at any time in any way be prejudiced or impaired by any
act or failure to act on the part of the Corporation or the Guarantor, as the
case may be, or by any act or failure to act, in good faith, by any such
holder, or by any noncompliance by the Corporation or the Guarantor, as the
case may be, with the terms, provisions and covenants of this Indenture,
regardless of any knowledge thereof that any such holder may have or be
otherwise charged with.
Without in any way limiting the generality of the immediately preceding
paragraph, the holders of the Corporation's or the Guarantor's Senior Debt, as
the case may be, may, at any time and from to time, without the consent of or
notice to the Trustee or the Holders of the Securities of any series or the
Guarantees, without incurring responsibility to such Holders of the Securities
and Guarantees and without impairing or releasing the subordination provided in
this Article or the obligations hereunder of such Holders of the Securities and
the Guarantees to the holders of the Corporation's and the Guarantor's Senior
Debt, respectively, do any one or more of the following: (i) change the manner,
place or terms of payment or extend the time of payment of, or renew or alter,
Senior Debt of the Corporation or the Guarantor, as the case may be, or
otherwise amend or supplement in any manner such Senior Debt or any instrument
evidencing the same or any agreement under which such Senior Debt is
outstanding; (ii) sell, exchange, release or otherwise deal with any property
pledged, mortgaged or otherwise securing Senior Debt of the Corporation or the
Guarantor, as the case may be; (iii) release any Person liable in any manner
for the collection of Senior Debt of the Corporation or the Guarantor, as the
case may be; and (iv) exercise or refrain from exercising any rights against
the Corporation, the Guarantor and any other Person.
SECTION 13.8. Notice to Trustee.
The Corporation or the Guarantor, as the case may be, shall give prompt
written notice to the Trustee of any fact known to the Corporation or the
Guarantor, as the case may be, that would prohibit the making of any payment to
or by the Trustee in respect of the Securities and the Guarantees, respectively.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article or any other provision of this
Indenture, the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of the existence of
any facts that would prohibit the making of any payment to or by the Trustee in
respect of the Securities or the Guarantees, unless and until the Trustee shall
have received written notice thereof from the Corporation or the Guarantor, as
the case may be, or a holder of the Corporation's or the Guarantor's Senior
Debt, as the case may be, or from any trustee, agent or representative
therefor; provided, however, that if the Trustee shall not have received the
notice provided for in this Section at least two Business Days prior to the
date upon which by the terms hereof any monies may become payable for any
purpose (including, the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any, on)
or interest (including any Additional Interest) on any Security or any
Guarantee), then, anything herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding,
the Trustee shall have full power and authority to receive such monies and to
apply the same to the purpose for which they were received and shall not be
affected by any notice to the contrary that may be received by it within two
Business Days prior to such date.
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Subject to the provisions of Section 6.1, the Trustee shall be entitled
to rely on the delivery to it of a written notice by a Person representing
himself or herself to be a holder of Senior Debt of the Corporation or the
Guarantor, as the case may be (or a trustee or attorney-in-fact therefor), to
establish that such notice has been given by a holder of Senior Debt of the
Corporation or the Guarantor, as the case may be (or a trustee or
attorney-in-fact therefor). In the event that the Trustee determines in good
faith that further evidence is required with respect to the right of any Person
as a holder of Senior Debt of the Corporation or the Guarantor, as the case may
be, to participate in any payment or distribution pursuant to this Article, the
Trustee may request such Person to furnish evidence to the reasonable
satisfaction of the Trustee as to the amount of Senior Debt of the Corporation
or the Guarantor, as the case may be, held by such Person, the extent to which
such Person is entitled to participate in such payment or distribution and any
other facts pertinent to the rights of such Person under this Article, and if
such evidence is not furnished, the Trustee may defer any payment to such
Person pending judicial determination as to the right of such Person to receive
such payment.
SECTION 13.9. Reliance on Judicial Order or Certificate of Liquidating
Agent.
Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Corporation or the
Guarantor referred to in this Article, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of
Section 6.1, and the Holders of the Securities and the Guarantees, respectively,
shall be entitled to rely upon any order or decree entered by any court of
competent jurisdiction in which such Proceeding is pending, or a certificate of
the trustee in bankruptcy, receiver, liquidating trustee, custodian, assignee
for the benefit of creditors, agent or other Person making such payment or
distribution, delivered to the Trustee or to the Holders of Securities or the
Guarantees, as the case may be, for the purpose of ascertaining the Persons
entitled to participate in such payment or distribution, the holders of the
Senior Debt and other indebtedness of the Corporation or the Guarantor,
as the case may be, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts
paid or distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this
Article.
SECTION 13.10. Trustee Not Fiduciary for Holders of Senior Debt.
The Trustee, in its capacity as trustee under this Indenture, shall not
be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the holders of the Corporation's or the
Guarantor's Senior Debt and shall not be liable to any such holders if
it shall in good faith mistakenly pay over or distribute to Holders of
Securities or Guarantees, as the case may be, or to the Corporation or the
Guarantor, as the case may be, or to any other Person cash, property or
securities to which any holders of Corporation's or the Guarantor's Senior
Debt, as the case may be, shall be entitled by virtue of this Article or
otherwise.
SECTION 13.11. Rights of Trustee as Holder of Senior Debt;
Preservation of Trustee's Rights.
The Trustee in its individual capacity shall be entitled to all the
rights set forth in this Article with respect to any Senior Debt of the
Corporation or the Guarantor, as the case may be, that may at any time be held
by it, to the same extent as any other holder of Senior Debt of the Corporation
and the Guarantor, respectively, and nothing in this Indenture shall deprive
the Trustee of any of its rights as such holder.
SECTION 13.12. Article Applicable to Paying Agents.
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If at any time any Paying Agent other than the Trustee shall have been
appointed by the Corporation and be then acting hereunder, the term "Trustee" as
used in this Article shall in such case (unless the context otherwise requires)
be construed as extending to and including such Paying Agent within its meaning
as fully for all intents and purposes as if such Paying Agent were named in this
Article in addition to or in place of the Trustee.
* * * *
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This instrument may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of
which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts
shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.
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.
BANPONCE FINANCIAL CORP.
By:
----------------------------
Name:
Title:
BANPONCE CORPORATION
By:
----------------------------
Name:
Title:
Attest:
----------------------------
[THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO],
as Trustee
By:
----------------------------
Name:
Title:
Attest:
-----------------------------
<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT 4(B)
CERTIFICATE OF TRUST
OF
BANPONCE TRUST I
THIS Certificate of Trust of BanPonce Trust I (the "Trust"), dated
January 15, 1997, is being duly executed and filed by the undersigned, as
trustee, to form a business trust under the Delaware Business Trust Act (12
Del. C Section 3801, et seq.).
1. Name. The name of the business trust being formed hereby is
BanPonce Trust I.
2. Delaware Trustee. The name and business address of the trustee
of the Trust with a principal place of business in the State of Delaware is
First Chicago Delaware Inc., 300 King Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, being the trustees of the Trust,
have executed this Certificate of Trust as of the date first-above written.
FIRST CHICAGO DELAWARE INC.,
as Trustee
By: /s/ Steven M. Wagner
---------------------------------
Name: Steven M. Wagner
Title: Vice President
/s/ Javier F. Ubarri
-------------------------------------
Javier F. Ubarri, as Trustee
/s/ Alberto J. Paracchini
-------------------------------------
Alberto Paracchini, as Trustee
<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT 4(c)
TRUST AGREEMENT, dated as of January 15, 1997, by and between BanPonce
Financial Corp., a Delaware corporation, as "Depositor", BanPonce Corporation,
a Puerto Rico corporation, as "Guarantor", and Javier F. Ubarri, Alberto
Paracchini and First Chicago Delaware Inc., as "Trustees".
The Depositor, the Guarantor and the Trustees hereby agree as follows:
Section 1. The Trust. The trust created hereby shall be known as
BanPonce Trust I (the "Trust"), in which name the Trustees, or the Depositor to
the extent provided herein, may conduct the business of the Trust, make and
execute contracts, and sue and be sued.
Section 2. The Trust Estate. The Depositor hereby assigns,
transfers, conveys and sets over to the Trust the sum of $10. The Trustees
hereby acknowledge receipt of such amount in trust from the Depositor, which
amount shall constitute the initial trust estate. The Trustees hereby declare
that they will hold the trust estate in trust for the Depositor. It is the
intention of the parties hereto that the Trust created hereby constitute a
business trust under Chapter 38 of Title 12 of the Delaware Code, 12 Del. C.
Section 3801 et seq. (the "Business Trust Act"), and that this document
constitutes the governing instrument of the Trust. The Trustees are hereby
authorized and directed to execute and file a certificate of trust with the
Delaware Secretary of State in accordance with the provisions of the Business
Trust Act.
Section 3. Amended and Restated Trust Agreement. The Depositor,
the Guarantor, the Trustees and certain other parties will enter into an
amended and restated Trust Agreement, satisfactory to each such party and
substantially in the form to be included as an exhibit to the 1933 Act
Registration Statement (as defined below), to provide for the contemplated
operation of the Trust created hereby and the issuance of the Preferred
Securities (as defined below) and common securities of the Trust to be referred
to therein. Prior to the execution and delivery of such amended and restated
Trust Agreement, the Trustees shall not have any duty or obligation hereunder
or with respect to the trust estate, except as otherwise required by applicable
law or as may be necessary to obtain prior to such execution and delivery and
licenses, consents or approvals required by applicable law or otherwise.
Section 4. Certain Authorizations. The Depositor, the Guarantor
and the Trustees hereby authorize and direct the Depositor, as the sponsor of
the Trust, (i) to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") and execute, in each case on behalf of the Trust (a) the
Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the "1933 Act Registration Statement"),
including any pre-effective or post-effective amendments to such 1933 Act
Registration Statement (including the prospectus and the exhibits contained
therein), relating to the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, of the preferred securities of the Trust (the "Preferred Securities")
and certain other securities of the Depositor and (b) a Registration Statement
on Form 8-A (the "1934 Act Registration Statement") (including all
pre-effective and post-effective amendments thereto) relating to the
registration of the Preferred Securities of the Trust under Section 12 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; (ii) to file with one or more
national securities exchanges (each, an "Exchange") or the National Association
of Securities Dealers ("NASD") and execute on behalf of the Trust a listing
application or applications and all other applications, statements,
certificates, agreements and other instruments
<PAGE> 2
as shall be necessary or desirable to cause the Preferred Securities to be
listed on any such Exchange or the NASD's Nasdaq National Market ("NASDAQ");
(iii) to file and execute on behalf of the Trust such applications, reports,
surety bonds, irrevocable consents, appointments of attorney for service of
process and other papers and documents as the Depositor on behalf of the Trust,
may deem necessary or desirable to register the Preferred Securities under the
securities or "Blue Sky" laws; and (iv) to execute on behalf of the Trust such
Underwriting Agreements with one or more underwriters relating to the
offering of the Preferred Securities as the Depositor, on behalf of the Trust,
may deem necessary or desirable. In the event that any filing referred to in
clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) above is required by the rules and regulations of
the Commission, any Exchange, the NASD or state securities or "Blue Sky" laws,
to be executed on behalf of the Trust by a Trustee, the Depositor, the
Guarantor and any Trustee are hereby authorized to join in any such filing and
to execute on behalf of the Trust any and all of the foregoing; it being
understood that First Chicago Delaware Inc., in its capacity as a Trustee of the
Trust, shall not be required to join in any such filing or execute on behalf of
the Trust any such document unless required by any such law, rule or
regulation.
Section 5. Counterparts. This Trust Agreement may be executed in
one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of
which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
Section 6. Trustees. The number of Trustees initially shall be
three (3) and thereafter the number of Trustees shall be such number as shall
be fixed from time to time by a written instrument signed by the Depositor,
which may increase or decrease the number of Trustees; provided, however, that
to the extent required by the Business Trust Act, one Trustee shall either be a
natural person who is a resident of the State of Delaware or, if not a natural
person, an entity which has its principal place of business in the State of
Delaware and otherwise meets the requirements of applicable Delaware law.
Subject to the foregoing, the Depositor is entitled to appoint or remove
without cause any Trustee at any time. Any Trustee may resign upon thirty
days' prior notice to the Depositor, provided, however, such notice shall not
be required if it is waived by the Depositor.
Section 7. Limitation Applicable to First Chicago Delaware Inc.
First Chicago Delaware Inc., in its capacity as a Trustee, shall not have any
of the powers or duties of the Trustees set forth therein, except as expressly
required by the Business Trust Act, and shall be a Trustee of the Trust for the
sole purpose of satisfying the requirements of Section 3807 of the Business
Trust Act.
Section 8. Governing Law. This Trust Agreement shall be governed
by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware
(without regard to conflicts of law principles).
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<PAGE> 3
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Trust Agreement
to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.
BANPONCE FINANCIAL CORP.
as Depositor
By: /s/ David Chafey
-----------------------------
Name: David H. Chafey, Jr.
Title: Senior Executive Vice
President and Director
BANPONCE CORPORATION
as Guarantor
By: /s/ David Chafey
-----------------------------
Name: David H. Chafey, Jr.
Title: Senior Executive
Vice President
/s/ Javier F. Ubarri
---------------------------------
Javier F. Ubarri, as Trustee
/s/ Alberto J. Paracchini
---------------------------------
Alberto Paracchini, as Trustee
FIRST CHICAGO DELAWARE INC.
as Trustee
By: /s/ Steven M. Wagner
-----------------------------
Name: Steven M. Wagner
Title: Vice President
-3-
<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT 4(D)
CERTIFICATE OF TRUST
OF
BANPONCE TRUST II
THIS Certificate of Trust of BanPonce Trust II (the "Trust"), dated
January 15, 1997, is being duly executed and filed by the undersigned, as
trustee, to form a business trust under the Delaware Business Trust Act (12
Del. C. Section 3801, et seq.).
1. Name. The name of the business trust being formed hereby is
BanPonce Trust II.
2. Delaware Trustee. The name and business address of the trustee
of the Trust with a principal place of business in the State of Delaware is
First Chicago Delaware Inc., 300 King Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, being the trustees of the Trust,
have executed this Certificate of Trust as of the date first-above written.
FIRST CHICAGO DELAWARE INC.,
as Trustee
By:/s/ Steven M. Wagner
--------------------------------
Name: Steven M. Wagner
Title: Vice President
/s/ Javier F. Ubarri
-----------------------------------
Javier F. Ubarri, as Trustee
/s/ Alberto J. Paracchini
-----------------------------------
Alberto Paracchini, as Trustee
<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT 4(E)
TRUST AGREEMENT, dated as of January 15, 1997, by and between BanPonce
Financial Corp., a Delaware corporation, as "Depositor", BanPonce Corporation,
a Puerto Rico corporation, as "Guarantor", and Javier F. Ubarri, Alberto
Paracchini and First Chicago Delaware Inc., as "Trustees".
The Depositor, the Guarantor and the Trustees hereby agree as follows:
Section 1. The Trust. The trust created hereby shall be known as
BanPonce Trust II (the "Trust"), in which name the Trustees, or the Depositor
to the extent provided herein, may conduct the business of the Trust, make and
execute contracts, and sue and be sued.
Section 2. The Trust Estate. The Depositor hereby assigns,
transfers, conveys and sets over to the Trust the sum of $10. The Trustees
hereby acknowledge receipt of such amount in trust from the Depositor, which
amount shall constitute the initial trust estate. The Trustees hereby declare
that they will hold the trust estate in trust for the Depositor. It is the
intention of the parties hereto that the Trust created hereby constitute a
business trust under Chapter 38 of Title 12 of the Delaware Code, 12 Del. C.
Section 3801 et seq. (the "Business Trust Act"), and that this document
constituteS the governing instrument of the Trust. The Trustees are hereby
authorized and directed to execute and file a certificate of trust with the
Delaware Secretary of State in accordance with the provisions of the Business
Trust Act.
Section 3. Amended and Restated Trust Agreement. The Depositor, the
Guarantor, the Trustees and certain other parties will enter into an amended
and restated Trust Agreement, satisfactory to each such party and substantially
in the form to be included as an exhibit to the 1933 Act Registration Statement
(as defined below), to provide for the contemplated operation of the Trust
created hereby and the issuance of the Preferred Securities (as defined below)
and common securities of the Trust to be referred to therein. Prior to the
execution and delivery of such amended and restated Trust Agreement, the
Trustees shall not have any duty or obligation hereunder or with respect to the
trust estate, except as otherwise required by applicable law or as may be
necessary to obtain prior to such execution and delivery and licenses, consents
or approvals required by applicable law or otherwise.
Section 4. Certain Authorizations. The Depositor, the Guarantor and
the Trustees hereby authorize and direct the Depositor, as the sponsor of the
Trust, (i) to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") and execute, in each case on behalf of the Trust (a) the
Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the "1933 Act Registration Statement"),
including any pre-effective or post-effective amendments to such 1933 Act
Registration Statement (including the prospectus and the exhibits contained
therein), relating to the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, of the preferred securities of the Trust (the "Preferred Securities")
and certain other securities of the Depositor and (b) a Registration Statement
on Form 8-A (the "1934 Act Registration Statement") (including all
pre-effective and post-effective amendments thereto) relating to the
registration of the Preferred Securities of the Trust under Section 12 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; (ii) to file with one or more
national securities exchanges (each, an "Exchange") or the National Association
of Securities Dealers ("NASD") and execute on behalf of the Trust a listing
application or applications and all other applications, statements,
certificates, agreements and other instruments
<PAGE> 2
as shall be necessary or desirable to cause the Preferred Securities to be
listed on any such Exchange or the NASD's Nasdaq National Market ("NASDAQ");
(iii) to file and execute on behalf of the Trust such applications,
reports, surety bonds, irrevocable consents, appointments of attorney for
service of process and other papers and documents as the Depositor on behalf of
the Trust, may deem necessary or desirable to register the Preferred Securities
under the securities or "Blue Sky" laws; and (iv) to execute on behalf of the
Trust such Underwriting Agreements with one or more underwriters relating to
the offering of the Preferred Securities as the Depositor, on behalf of the
Trust, may deem necessary or desirable. In the event that any filing referred
to in clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) above is required by the rules and regulations
of the Commission, any Exchange, the NASD or state securities or "Blue Sky"
laws, to be executed on behalf of the Trust by a Trustee, the Depositor, the
Guarantor and any Trustee are hereby authorized to join in any such filing and
to execute on behalf of the Trust any and all of the foregoing; it being
understood that First Chicago Delaware Inc., in its capacity as a Trustee of
the Trust, shall not be required to join in any such filing or execute on
behalf of the Trust any such document unless required by any such law, rule or
regulation.
Section 5. Counterparts. This Trust Agreement may be executed in one
or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of
which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
Section 6. Trustees. The number of Trustees initially shall be three
(3) and thereafter the number of Trustees shall be such number as shall be
fixed from time to time by a written instrument signed by the Depositor, which
may increase or decrease the number of Trustees; provided, however, that to the
extent required by the Business Trust Act, one Trustee shall either be a
natural person who is a resident of the State of Delaware or, if not a natural
person, an entity which has its principal place of business in the State of
Delaware and otherwise meets the requirements of applicable Delaware law.
Subject to the foregoing, the Depositor is entitled to appoint or remove
without cause any Trustee at any time. Any Trustee may resign upon thirty
days' prior notice to the Depositor; provided, however, such notice shall not
be required if it is waived by the Depositor.
Section 7. Limitation Applicable to First Chicago Delaware Inc. First
Chicago Delaware Inc., in its capacity as a Trustee, shall not have any of the
powers or duties of the Trustees set forth herein, except as expressly required
by the Business Trust Act, and shall be a Trustee of the Trust for the sole
purpose of satisfying the requirements of Section 3807 of the Business Trust
Act.
Section 8. Governing Law. This Trust Agreement shall be governed by,
and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware (without
regard to conflicts of law principles).
-2-
<PAGE> 3
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Trust Agreement
to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.
BANPONCE FINANCIAL CORP.
as Depositor
By:/s/ David Chafey
----------------------------
Name: David H. Chafey, Jr.
Title: Senior Executive
Vice President and Director
BANPONCE CORPORATION
as Guarantor
By:/s/ David Chafey
----------------------------
Name: David H. Chafey, Jr.
Title: Senior Executive
Vice President
/s/ Javier F. Ubarri
-------------------------------
Javier F. Ubarri, as Trustee
/s/ Alberto J. Paracchini
-------------------------------
Alberto Paracchini, as Trustee
FIRST CHICAGO DELAWARE INC.
as Trustee
By: /s/ Steven M. Wagner
----------------------------
Name: Steven M. Wagner
Title: Vice President
-3-
<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT 4(F)
===============================================================================
AMENDED AND RESTATED TRUST AGREEMENT
AMONG
BANPONCE FINANCIAL CORP.,
as Depositor
BANPONCE CORPORATION,
as Guarantor
THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO,
as Property Trustee
FIRST CHICAGO DELAWARE INC.,
as Delaware Trustee
and
THE ADMINISTRATIVE TRUSTEES NAMED HEREIN
---------------------
Dated as of __________ __, ____
---------------------
BANPONCE TRUST __
===============================================================================
<PAGE> 2
BANPONCE TRUST __
Certain Sections of this Trust Agreement relating to
Sections 310 through 318 of the
Trust Indenture Act of 1939:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Trust Indenture Trust Agreement
Act Section Section
<S> <C>
Section 310 (a)(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.7
(a)(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.7
(a)(3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.9
(a)(4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.7(a)(ii)
(b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.8
Section 311 (a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.13
(b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.13
Section 312 (a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.8
(b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.8
(c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.8
Section 313 (a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.15(a)
(a)(4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.15(b)
(b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.15(b)
(c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10.8
(d) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.15(c)
Section 314 (a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.16
(b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Not Applicable
(c)(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.17
(c)(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.17
(c)(3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Not Applicable
(d) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Not Applicable
(e) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.1, 8.17
Section 315 (a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.1(a), 8.3(a)
(b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.2, 10.8
(c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.1(a)
(d) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.1, 8.3
(e) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Not Applicable
Section 316 (a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Not Applicable
(a)(1)(A) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Not Applicable
(a)(1)(B) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Not Applicable
(a)(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Not Applicable
(b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.15
(c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.7
Section 317 (a)(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Not Applicable
(a)(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Not Applicable
(b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.10
Section 318 (a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10.10
</TABLE>
Note: This reconciliation and tie sheet shall not, for any purpose, be deemed
to be a part of the Trust Agreement.
-i-
<PAGE> 3
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE I.
DEFINED TERMS
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
SECTION 1.1. Definitions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
ARTICLE II.
CONTINUATION OF THE ISSUER TRUST
SECTION 2.1. Name. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
SECTION 2.2. Office of the Delaware Trustee; Principal Place of Business. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
SECTION 2.3. Initial Contribution of Trust Property; Organizational Expenses. . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
SECTION 2.4. Issuance of the Capital Securities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
SECTION 2.5. Issuance of the Common Securities; Subscription and Purchase of Debentures. . . . . . . 10
SECTION 2.6. Continuation of Trust. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
SECTION 2.7. Authorization to Enter into Certain Transactions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
SECTION 2.8. Assets of Trust. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
SECTION 2.9. Title to Trust Property. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
ARTICLE III.
PAYMENT ACCOUNT
SECTION 3.1. Payment Account. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
ARTICLE IV.
DISTRIBUTIONS; REDEMPTION
SECTION 4.1. Distributions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
SECTION 4.2. Redemption. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
SECTION 4.3. Subordination of Common Securities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
SECTION 4.4. Payment Procedures. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
SECTION 4.5. Tax Returns and Reports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
SECTION 4.6. Payment of Taxes, Duties, Etc. of the Issuer Trust. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
SECTION 4.7. Payments under Indenture or Pursuant to Direct Actions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
</TABLE>
-ii-
<PAGE> 4
ARTICLE V.
TRUST SECURITIES CERTIFICATES
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
SECTION 5.1. Initial Ownership. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
SECTION 5.2. The Trust Securities Certificates. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
SECTION 5.3. Execution and Delivery of Trust Securities Certificates. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
SECTION 5.4. Book-Entry Capital Securities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
SECTION 5.5. Registration of Transfer and Exchange of Capital Securities Certificates. . . . . . . . 22
SECTION 5.6. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Trust Securities Certificates. . . . . . . . . . . 23
SECTION 5.7. Persons Deemed Holders. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
SECTION 5.8. Access to List of Holders' Names and Addresses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
SECTION 5.9. Maintenance of Office or Agency. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
SECTION 5.10. Appointment of Paying Agent. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
SECTION 5.11. Ownership of Common Securities by Depositor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
SECTION 5.12. Notices to Clearing Agency. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
SECTION 5.13. Rights of Holders; Waivers of Past Defaults. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
ARTICLE VI.
ACTS OF HOLDERS; MEETINGS; VOTING
SECTION 6.1. Limitations on Voting Rights. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
SECTION 6.2. Notice of Meetings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
SECTION 6.3. Meetings of Holders of the Capital Securities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
SECTION 6.4. Voting Rights. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
SECTION 6.5. Proxies, etc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
SECTION 6.6. Holder Action by Written Consent. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
SECTION 6.7. Record Date for Voting and Other Purposes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
SECTION 6.8. Acts of Holders. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
SECTION 6.9. Inspection of Records. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
ARTICLE VII.
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
SECTION 7.1. Representations and Warranties of the Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee. . . . . 31
SECTION 7.2. Representations and Warranties of Depositor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
</TABLE>
-iii-
<PAGE> 5
ARTICLE VIII.
THE ISSUER TRUSTEES
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
SECTION 8.1. Certain Duties and Responsibilities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
SECTION 8.2. Certain Notices. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
SECTION 8.3. Certain Rights of Property Trustee. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
SECTION 8.4. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
SECTION 8.5. May Hold Securities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
SECTION 8.6. Compensation; Indemnity; Fees. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
SECTION 8.7. Corporate Property Trustee Required; Eligibility of Issuer Trustees . . . . . . . . . . 38
SECTION 8.8. Conflicting Interests. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
SECTION 8.9. Co-Trustees and Separate Trustee. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
SECTION 8.10. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
SECTION 8.11. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
SECTION 8.12. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or
Succession to Business. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
SECTION 8.13. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Depositor or Issuer Trust. . . . . . . . . . . 42
SECTION 8.14. Property Trustee May File Proofs of Claim. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
SECTION 8.15. Reports by Property Trustee. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
SECTION 8.16. Reports to the Property Trustee. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
SECTION 8.17. Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
SECTION 8.18. Number of Issuer Trustees. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
SECTION 8.19. Delegation of Power. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
SECTION 8.20. Appointment of Administrative Trustees. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
ARTICLE IX.
TERMINATION, LIQUIDATION AND MERGER
SECTION 9.1. Termination Upon Expiration Date. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
SECTION 9.2. Early Termination. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
SECTION 9.3. Termination. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
SECTION 9.4. Liquidation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
SECTION 9.5. Mergers, Consolidations, Amalgamations or Replacements of Issuer Trust. . . . . . . . . 47
</TABLE>
-iv-
<PAGE> 6
ARTICLE X.
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
SECTION 10.1. Limitation of Rights of Holders. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
SECTION 10.2. Amendment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
SECTION 10.3. Separability. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
SECTION 10.4. Governing Law. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
SECTION 10.5. Payments Due on Non-Business Day. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
SECTION 10.6. Successors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
SECTION 10.7. Headings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
SECTION 10.8. Reports, Notices and Demands. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
SECTION 10.9. Agreement Not to Petition. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
SECTION 10.10. Trust Indenture Act; Conflict with Trust Indenture Act. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
SECTION 10.11. Acceptance of Terms of Trust Agreement, Guarantee Agreement and Indenture. . . . . . . . 52
Exhibit A Certificate of Trust
Exhibit B Form of Letter of Representations
Exhibit C Form of Common Securities Certificate
Exhibit D Form of Expense Agreement
Exhibit E Form of Capital Securities Certificate
</TABLE>
-v-
<PAGE> 7
AMENDED AND RESTATED TRUST AGREEMENT, dated as of _______ __, ____,
among (i) BanPonce Financial Corp., a Delaware corporation (including any
successors or assigns, the "Depositor"), (ii) BanPonce Corporation, a Puerto
Rico corporation (including any successors or assigns, the "Guarantor"), (iii)
The First National Bank of Chicago, a national banking association, as property
trustee (in such capacity, the "Property Trustee" and, in its separate
corporate capacity and not in its capacity as Property Trustee, the "Bank"),
(iv) First Chicago Delaware Inc., a Delaware corporation, as Delaware trustee
(in such capacity, the "Delaware Trustee"), (v) Jorge A. Junquera an
individual, Roberto R. Herencia, an individual, Javier F. Ubarri, an
individual, and Alberto Paracchini, an individual, each of whose address is c/o
BanPonce Financial Corp., 521 Fellowship Road, Mt. Laurel, New Jersey 08054
(each an "Administrative Trustee" and collectively the "Administrative
Trustees") (the Property Trustee, the Delaware Trustee and the Administrative
Trustees being referred to collectively as the "Issuer Trustees"), and (vi) the
several Holders, as hereinafter defined.
WITNESSETH
WHEREAS, the Depositor, the Guarantor, the Property Trustee, the
Delaware Trustee and certain of the Administrative Trustees have heretofore
duly declared and established a business trust pursuant to the Delaware
Business Trust Act by entering into the Trust Agreement, dated as of January
__, ____ (the "Original Trust Agreement"), and by the execution and filing by
the Delaware Trustee with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware of
the Certificate of Trust, filed on _________ __, ____, attached as Exhibit A;
and
WHEREAS, the Depositor, the Guarantor and the Issuer Trustees desire
to amend and restate the Original Trust Agreement in its entirety as set forth
herein to provide for, among other things, (i) the issuance of the Common
Securities by the Issuer Trust to the Depositor, (ii) the issuance and sale of
the Capital Securities by the Issuer Trust pursuant to the Underwriting
Agreement, (iii) the acquisition by the Issuer Trust from the Depositor of all
of the right, title and interest in the Debentures, and (iv) the appointment of
certain Property Trustee and the Administrative Trustees;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the agreements and obligations set
forth herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, each party, for the benefit of the
other parties and for the benefit of the Holders, hereby amends and restates
the Original Trust Agreement in its entirety and agrees as follows:
ARTICLE I.
DEFINED TERMS
SECTION 1.1. Definitions.
For all purposes of this Trust Agreement, except as otherwise
expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) The terms defined in this Article have the meanings assigned to
them in this Article, and include the plural as well as the singular;
<PAGE> 8
(b) All other terms used herein that are defined in the Trust
Indenture Act, either directly or by reference therein, have the meanings
assigned to them therein;
(c) The words "include", "includes" and "including" shall be deemed to
be followed by the phrase "without limitation";
(d) All accounting terms used but not defined herein have the meanings
assigned to them in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting
principles;
(e) Unless the context otherwise requires, any reference to an
"Article", a "Section" or an "Exhibit" refers to an Article, a Section or an
Exhibit, as the case may be, of or to this Trust Agreement; and
(f) The words "hereby", "herein", "hereof" and "hereunder" and other
words of similar import refer to this Trust Agreement as a whole and not to any
particular Article, Section or other subdivision.
"Act" has the meaning specified in Section 6.8.
"Additional Amount" means, with respect to Trust Securities of a given
Liquidation Amount and/or a given period, the amount of Additional Interest (as
defined in the Indenture) paid by the Depositor on a Like Amount of Debentures
for such period.
"Additional Sums" has the meaning specified in Section 10.6 of the
Indenture.
"Administrative Trustee" means each of the Persons appointed in
accordance with Section 8.20 solely in such Person's capacity as Administrative
Trustee of the Issuer Trust heretofore formed and continued hereunder and not
in such Person's individual capacity, or any successor Administrative Trustee
appointed as herein provided.
"Affiliate" of any specified Person means any other Person directly or
indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common
control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition,
"control" when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to
direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly,
whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise;
and the terms "controlling" and "controlled" have meanings correlative to the
foregoing.
"Applicable Procedures" means, with respect to any transfer or
transaction involving a Book-Entry Capital Security, the rules and procedures
of the Clearing Agency for such Book-Entry Capital Security, in each case to
the extent applicable to such transaction and as in effect from time to time.
"Bank" has the meaning specified in the preamble to this Trust
Agreement.
"Bankruptcy Event" means, with respect to any Person:
(a) the entry of a decree or order by a court having jurisdiction in
the premises judging such Person a bankrupt or insolvent, or approving as
properly filed a petition seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjudication or
composition of or in respect of such Person under any applicable Federal
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or State bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law, or
appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator (or other
similar official) of such Person or of any substantial part of its property or
ordering the winding up or liquidation of its affairs, and the continuance of
any such decree or order unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive
days; or
(b) the institution by such Person of proceedings to be adjudicated a
bankrupt or insolvent, or the consent by it to the institution of bankruptcy or
insolvency proceedings against it, or the filing by it of a petition or answer
or consent seeking reorganization or relief under any applicable Federal or
State bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law, or the
consent by it to the filing of any such petition or to the appointment of a
receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator (or similar official) of
such Person or of any substantial part of its property, or the making by it of
an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the admission by it in writing
of its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due and its
willingness to be adjudicated a bankrupt, or the taking of corporate action by
such Person in furtherance of any such action.
"Bankruptcy Laws" has the meaning specified in Section 10.9.
"Board of Directors" means the board of directors of the Depositor or
the Executive Committee of the board of directors of the Depositor (or any
other committee of the board of directors of the Depositor performing similar
functions) or a committee designated by the board of directors of the Depositor
(or any such committee), comprised of two or more members of the board of
directors of the Depositor or officers of the Depositor, or both.
"Board Resolution" means a copy of a resolution certified by the
Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Depositor to have been duly adopted
by the Depositor's Board of Directors, or officers of the Depositor to which
authority to act on behalf of the Board of Directors has been delegated and to
be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to
the Issuer Trustees.
"Book-Entry Capital Securities Certificate" means a Capital Securities
Certificate evidencing ownership of Book-Entry Capital Securities.
"Book-Entry Capital Security" means a Capital Security, the ownership
and transfers of which shall be made through book entries by a Clearing Agency
as described in Section 5.4.
"Business Day" means a day other than (a) a Saturday or Sunday, (b) a
day on which banking institutions in The City of New York are authorized or
required by law or executive order to remain closed, or (c) a day on which the
Property Trustee's Corporate Trust Office or the Corporate Trust Office of the
Debenture Trustee is closed for business.
"Capital Securities Certificate" means a certificate evidencing
ownership of Capital Securities, substantially in the form attached as Exhibit
E.
"Capital Security" means a preferred undivided beneficial interest in
the Issuer Trust, having a Liquidation Amount of $1,000 and having the rights
provided therefor in this Trust Agreement, including the right to receive
Distributions and a Liquidation Distribution to the extent provided herein.
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"Clearing Agency" means an organization registered as a "clearing
agency" pursuant to Section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended. DTC will be the initial Clearing Agency.
"Clearing Agency Participant" means a broker, dealer, bank, other
financial institution or other Person for whom from time to time a Clearing
Agency effects book-entry transfers and pledges of securities deposited with
the Clearing Agency.
"Closing Date" means the First Time of Delivery, which date is also
the date of execution and delivery of this Trust Agreement.
"Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
"Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from
time to time constituted, created under the Exchange Act or, if at any time
after the execution of this instrument such Commission is not existing and
performing the duties now assigned to it under the Trust Indenture Act, then
the body performing such duties at such time.
"Common Securities Certificate" means a certificate evidencing
ownership of Common Securities, substantially in the form attached as Exhibit
C.
"Common Security" means a common undivided beneficial interest in the
Issuer Trust, having a Liquidation Amount of $1,000 and having the rights
provided therefor in this Trust Agreement, including the right to receive
Distributions and a Liquidation Distribution to the extent provided herein.
"Corporate Trust Office" means (i) when used with respect to the
Property Trustee, the principal office of the Property Trustee located in
Chicago, Illinois, and (ii) when used with respect to the Debenture Trustee,
the principal office of the Debenture Trustee located in Chicago, Illinois.
"Debenture Event of Default" means any "Event of Default" specified in
Section 5.1 of the Indenture.
"Debenture Redemption Date" means, with respect to any Debentures to
be redeemed under the Indenture, the date fixed for redemption of such
Debentures under the Indenture.
"Debenture Tax Event" means a "Tax Event" as defined in the Indenture.
"Debenture Trustee" means the Person identified as the "Trustee" in
the Indenture, solely in its capacity as Trustee pursuant to the Indenture and
not in its individual capacity, or its successor in interest in such capacity,
or any successor Trustee appointed as provided in the Indenture.
"Debentures" means the Depositor's ___% Junior Subordinated Deferrable
Interest Debentures, Series __, issued pursuant to the Indenture.
"Definitive Capital Securities Certificates" means either or both (as
the context requires) of (i) Capital Securities Certificates issued as
Book-Entry Capital Securities Certificates as provided in
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Section 5.2 or 5.4, and (ii) Capital Securities Certificates issued in
certificated, fully registered form as provided in Section 5.2, 5.4 or 5.5.
"Delaware 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.
"Delaware Trustee" means the Person identified as the "Delaware
Trustee" in the preamble to this Trust Agreement, solely in its capacity as
Delaware Trustee of the trust heretofore formed and continued hereunder and not
in its individual capacity, or its successor in interest in such capacity, or
any successor Delaware Trustee appointed as herein provided.
"Depositor" has the meaning specified in the preamble to this Trust
Agreement.
"Distribution Date" has the meaning specified in Section 4.1(a).
"Distributions" means amounts payable in respect of the Trust
Securities as provided in Section 4.1.
"DTC" means The Depository Trust Company.
"Early Termination Event" has the meaning specified in Section 9.2.
"Event of Default" means any one of the following events (whatever the
reason for such event and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be
effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of
any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or
governmental body):
(a) the occurrence of a Debenture Event of Default; or
(b) default by the Issuer Trust in the payment of any Distribution
when it becomes due and payable, and continuation of such default for
a period of 30 days; or
(c) default by the Issuer Trust in the payment of any Redemption Price
of any Trust Security when it becomes due and payable; or
(d) default in the performance, or breach, in any material respect, of
any covenant or warranty of the Issuer Trustees in this Trust
Agreement (other than those specified in clause (b) or (c) above) and
continuation of such default or breach for a period of 60 days after
there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Issuer
Trustees and to the Depositor by the Holders of at least 25% in
aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Outstanding Capital Securities a
written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to
be remedied and stating that such notice is a "Notice of Default"
hereunder; or
(e) the occurrence of a Bankruptcy Event with respect to the Property
Trustee if a successor Property Trustee has not been appointed within
90 days thereof.
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"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and any
successor statute thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.
"Expense Agreement" means the Agreement as to Expenses and
Liabilities, dated as of the Closing Date, between the Depositor, in its
capacity as holder of the Common Securities, and the Issuer Trust,
substantially in the form attached as Exhibit D, as amended from time to time.
"Expiration Date" has the meaning specified in Section 9.1.
"First Time of Delivery" has the meaning specified in the Underwriting
Agreement.
"Guarantee Agreement" means the Guarantee Agreement executed and
delivered by the Depositor and The First National Bank of Chicago, as guarantee
trustee, contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of this Trust
Agreement, for the benefit of the holders of the Capital Securities, as amended
from time to time.
"Guarantor" has the meaning specified in the preamble to this Trust
Agreement.
"Holder" means a Person in whose name a Trust Security or Trust
Securities are registered in the Securities Register; any such Person shall be
deemed to be a beneficial owner within the meaning of the Delaware Business
Trust Act.
"Indenture" means the Junior Subordinated Indenture, dated as of
_______ __, ____, among the Depositor, the Guarantor and the Debenture Trustee,
as trustee, as amended or supplemented from time to time.
"Issuer Trust" means the Delaware business trust known as "BanPonce
Trust __" which was formed on ________ __, ____ under the Delaware Business
Trust Act pursuant to the Original Trust Agreement and the filing of the
Certificate of Trust, and continued pursuant to this Trust Agreement.
"Issuer Trustees" has the meaning specified in the preamble to this
Trust Agreement.
"Investment Company Act" means the Investment Company Act of 1940, or
any successor statute thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.
"Letter of Representations" means the agreement among the Issuer
Trust, the Property Trustee and DTC, as the initial Clearing Agency, dated as
of the Closing Date, substantially in the form attached as Exhibit B, as the
same may be amended and supplemented from time to time.
"Lien" means any lien, pledge, charge, encumbrance, mortgage, deed of
trust, adverse ownership interest, hypothecation, assignment, security interest
or preference, priority or other security agreement or preferential arrangement
of any kind or nature whatsoever.
"Like Amount" means (a) with respect to a redemption of any Trust
Securities, Trust Securities having a Liquidation Amount equal to the principal
amount of Debentures to be contemporaneously redeemed in accordance with the
Indenture, the proceeds of which will be used to pay the Redemption Price of
such Trust Securities, (b) with respect to a distribution of Debentures to
Holders of Trust
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Securities in connection with a dissolution or liquidation of the Issuer Trust,
Debentures having a principal amount equal to the Liquidation Amount of the
Trust Securities of the Holder to whom such Debentures are distributed, and (c)
with respect to any distribution of Additional Amounts to Holders of Trust
Securities, Debentures having a principal amount equal to the Liquidation
Amount of the Trust Securities in respect of which such distribution is made.
"Liquidation Amount" means the stated amount of $1,000 per Trust
Security.
"Liquidation Date" means the date of the dissolution, winding-up or
termination of the Issuer Trust pursuant to Section 9.4.
"Liquidation Distribution" has the meaning specified in Section
9.4(d).
"Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Capital Securities" or
"Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Common Securities" means, except as
provided by the Trust Indenture Act, Capital Securities or Common Securities,
as the case may be, representing more than 50% of the aggregate Liquidation
Amount of all then Outstanding Capital Securities or Common Securities, as the
case may be.
"Officers' Certificate" means a certificate signed by the Chairman of
the Board, the President, a Senior Executive Vice President, an Executive Vice
President, a Senior Vice President or a Vice President, and by the Treasurer,
an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, of the
Depositor, and delivered to the Issuer Trustees. Any Officers' Certificate
delivered with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for
in this Trust Agreement shall include:
(a) a statement by each officer signing the Officers' Certificate that
such officer 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 such officer in rendering the Officers'
Certificate;
(c) a statement that 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 such officer, such
condition or covenant has been complied with.
"Opinion of Counsel" means a written opinion of counsel, who may be
counsel for or an employee of the Depositor or any Affiliate of the Depositor.
"Original Trust Agreement" has the meaning specified in the recitals
to this Trust Agreement.
"Outstanding", when used with respect to Trust Securities, means, as
of the date of determination, all Trust Securities theretofore executed and
delivered under this Trust Agreement, except:
(a) Trust Securities theretofore cancelled by the Property Trustee or
delivered to the Property Trustee for cancellation;
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(b) Trust Securities for whose payment or redemption money in the
necessary amount has been theretofore deposited with the Property
Trustee or any Paying Agent; provided that, if such Trust Securities
are to be redeemed, notice of such redemption has been duly given
pursuant to this Trust Agreement; and
(c) Trust Securities that have been paid or in exchange for or in lieu
of which other Trust Securities have been executed and delivered
pursuant to Sections 5.4, 5.5, 5.6 and 5.11;
provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite
Liquidation Amount of the Outstanding Capital Securities have given any
request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder,
Capital Securities owned by the Depositor, any Issuer Trustee or any Affiliate
of the Depositor or of any Issuer Trustee shall be disregarded and deemed not
to be Outstanding, except that (a) in determining whether any Issuer Trustee
shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization,
direction, notice, consent or waiver, only Capital Securities that such Issuer
Trustee knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded, and (b) the foregoing
shall not apply at any time when all of the outstanding Capital Securities are
owned by the Depositor, one or more of the Issuer Trustees and/or any such
Affiliate. Capital Securities so owned that have been pledged in good faith may
be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of
the Administrative Trustees the pledgee's right so to act with respect to such
Capital Securities and that the pledgee is not the Depositor or any Affiliate
of the Depositor.
"Owner" means each Person who is the beneficial owner of Book-Entry
Capital Securities as reflected in the records of the Clearing Agency or, if a
Clearing Agency Participant is not the Owner, then as reflected in the records
of a Person maintaining an account with such Clearing Agency (directly or
indirectly, in accordance with the rules of such Clearing Agency).
"Paying Agent" means any paying agent or co-paying agent appointed
pursuant to Section 5.10 and shall initially be the Bank.
"Payment Account" means a segregated non-interest-bearing corporate
trust account maintained by the Property Trustee for the benefit of the Holders
in which all amounts paid in respect of the Debentures will be held and from
which the Property Trustee, through the Paying Agent, shall make payments to
the Holders in accordance with Sections 4.1 and 4.2.
"Person" means a legal person, including any individual, corporation,
estate, partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock company, company,
limited liability company, trust, unincorporated association, or government or
any agency or political subdivision thereof, or any other entity of whatever
nature.
"Property Trustee" means the Person identified as the "Property
Trustee" in the preamble to this Trust Agreement, solely in its capacity as
Property Trustee of the trust heretofore formed and continued hereunder and not
in its individual capacity, or its successor in interest in such capacity, or
any successor Property Trustee appointed as herein provided.
"Redemption Date" means, with respect to any Trust Security to be
redeemed, the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this Trust
Agreement; provided that each Debenture Redemption Date
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and the stated maturity of the Debentures shall be a Redemption Date for a Like
Amount of Trust Securities.
"Redemption Price" means, with respect to any Trust Security, the
Liquidation Amount of such Trust Security, plus accumulated and unpaid
Distributions to the Redemption Date, plus the related amount of the premium,
if any, paid by the Depositor upon the concurrent redemption of a Like Amount
of Debentures.
"Relevant Trustee" has the meaning specified in Section 8.10.
"Second Time of Delivery" has the meaning specified in the Underwriting
Agreement.
"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, and any successor
statute thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.
"Securities Register" and "Securities Registrar" have the respective
meanings specified in Section 5.5.
"Successor Capital Securities" of any particular Capital Securities
Certificate means every Capital Securities Certificate issued after, and
evidencing all or a portion of the same beneficial interest in the Issuer Trust
as that evidenced by, such particular Capital Securities Certificate; and, for
the purposes of this definition, any Capital Securities Certificate executed
and delivered under Section 5.6 in exchange for or in lieu of a mutilated,
destroyed, lost or stolen Capital Securities Certificate shall be deemed to
evidence the same beneficial interest in the Issuer Trust as the mutilated,
destroyed, lost or stolen Capital Securities Certificate.
"Time of Delivery" has the meaning specified in the Underwriting
Agreement.
"Trust Agreement" means this Amended and Restated Trust Agreement, as
the same may be modified, amended or supplemented in accordance with the
applicable provisions hereof, including (i) all exhibits, and (ii) for all
purposes of this Trust Agreement and any such modification, amendment or
supplement, the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are deemed to be a
part of and govern this Trust Agreement and any such modification, amendment or
supplement, respectively.
"Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as in
force at the date as of which this instrument was executed; provided, however,
that in the event the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is amended after such date,
"Trust Indenture Act" means, to the extent required by any such amendment, the
Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as so amended.
"Trust Property" means (a) the Debentures, (b) any cash on deposit in,
or owing to, the Payment Account, and (c) all proceeds and rights in respect of
the foregoing and any other property and assets for the time being held or
deemed to be held by the Property Trustee pursuant to the trusts of this Trust
Agreement.
"Trust Security" means any one of the Common Securities or the Capital
Securities.
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"Trust Securities Certificate" means any one of the Common Securities
Certificates or the Capital Securities Certificates.
"Underwriting Agreement" means the Pricing Agreement, dated as of
_______ __, ____, among the Issuer Trust, the Depositor and the Underwriters
named therein, as the same may be amended from time to time.
"Vice President," when used with respect to the Depositor, means any
duly appointed vice president, whether or not designated by a number or a word
or words added before or after the title "vice president."
ARTICLE II.
CONTINUATION OF THE ISSUER TRUST
SECTION 2.1. Name.
The trust continued hereby shall be known as "BanPonce Trust __", as
such name may be modified from time to time by the Administrative Trustees
following written notice to the Holders of Trust Securities and the other
Issuer Trustees, in which name the Issuer Trustees may conduct the business of
the Issuer Trust, make and execute contracts and other instruments on behalf of
the Issuer Trust and sue and be sued.
SECTION 2.2. Office of the Delaware Trustee; Principal Place of
Business.
The address of the Delaware Trustee in the State of Delaware is 300
King Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801, Attention: [________________], or such
other address in the State of Delaware as the Delaware Trustee may designate by
written notice to the Holders, the Depositor, the Property Trustee and the
Administrative Trustees. The principal executive office of the Issuer Trust is
c/o BanPonce Financial Corp., 521 Fellowship Road, Mt. Laurel, New Jersey
08054, Attention: Secretary.
SECTION 2.3. Initial Contribution of Trust Property;
Organizational Expenses.
The Property Trustee acknowledges receipt in trust from the Depositor
in connection with the Original Trust Agreement of the sum of $10, which
constituted the initial Trust Property. The Depositor shall pay organizational
expenses of the Issuer Trust as they arise or shall, upon request of any Issuer
Trustee, promptly reimburse such Issuer Trustee for any such expenses paid by
such Issuer Trustee. The Depositor shall make no claim upon the Trust Property
for the payment of such expenses.
SECTION 2.4. Issuance of the Capital Securities.
On _______ __, ____, the Depositor, both on its own behalf and on
behalf of the Issuer Trust pursuant to the Original Trust Agreement, executed
and delivered the Underwriting Agreement. Contemporaneously with the execution
and delivery of this Trust Agreement, an Administrative Trustee, on behalf of
the Issuer Trust, shall manually execute in accordance with Sections 5.2, 5.3
and 8.9(a) and the Property Trustee shall deliver to the Underwriters, Capital
Securities Certificates, registered in the
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names requested by the Underwriters, evidencing an aggregate of [___________]
Capital Securities having an aggregate Liquidation Amount of [$______________],
against receipt of the aggregate purchase price of such Capital Securities of
[$______________], by the Property Trustee.
SECTION 2.5. Issuance of the Common Securities; Subscription
and Purchase of Debentures.
Contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of this Trust
Agreement, an Administrative Trustee, on behalf of the Issuer Trust, shall
execute in accordance with Sections 5.2, 5.3 and 8.9(a) and the Property
Trustee shall deliver to the Depositor, Common Securities Certificates,
registered in the name of the Depositor, evidencing an aggregate of [____]
Common Securities having an aggregate Liquidation Amount of [$_________],
against receipt of the aggregate purchase price of such Common Securities of
[$_________], to the Property Trustee. Contemporaneously therewith, an
Administrative Trustee, on behalf of the Issuer Trust, shall subscribe for and
purchase from the Depositor the Debentures, registered in the name of the
Property Trustee on behalf of the Issuer Trust and having an aggregate
principal amount equal to [$__________], and, in satisfaction of the purchase
price for such Debentures, the Property Trustee, on behalf of the Issuer Trust,
shall deliver to the Depositor the sum of [$__________] (being the sum of the
amounts delivered to the Property Trustee pursuant to (i) the second sentence
of Section 2.4, and (ii) the first sentence of this Section 2.5).
SECTION 2.6. Continuation of Trust.
The exclusive purposes and functions of the Issuer Trust are (a) to
issue and sell Trust Securities and use the proceeds from such sale to acquire
the Debentures, and (b) to engage in those activities necessary or incidental
thereto. The Depositor hereby reaffirms the appointment of the Property Trustee
and the Delaware Trustee and appoints and reaffirms the appointment of, as the
case may be, the Administrative Trustees as trustees of the Issuer Trust, to
have all the rights, powers and duties to the extent set forth herein, and the
respective Issuer Trustees hereby accept such appointment. The Property Trustee
hereby declares that it will hold the Trust Property in trust upon and subject
to the conditions set forth herein for the benefit of the Issuer Trust and the
Holders. The Administrative Trustees shall have all rights, powers and duties
set forth herein and in accordance with applicable law with respect to
accomplishing the purposes of the Issuer Trust. 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 Property Trustee or the Administrative
Trustees set forth herein. The Delaware Trustee shall be one of the trustees of
the Issuer Trust for the sole and limited purpose of fulfilling the
requirements of Section 3807 of the Delaware Business Trust Act and for taking
such actions as are required to be taken by a Delaware trustee under the
Delaware Business Trust Act.
SECTION 2.7. Authorization to Enter into Certain Transactions.
(a) The Issuer Trustees shall conduct the affairs of the Issuer Trust
in accordance with the terms of this Trust Agreement. Subject to the
limitations set forth in paragraph (b) of this Section, and in accordance with
the following provisions (i) and (ii), the Issuer Trustees shall have the
authority to enter into all transactions and agreements determined by the
Issuer Trustees to be appropriate in exercising the authority, express or
implied, otherwise granted to the Issuer Trustees, as the case may be, under
this Trust Agreement, and to perform all acts in furtherance thereof,
including, without limitation, the following:
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(i) As among the Issuer Trustees, each Administrative Trustee shall
have the power and authority to act on behalf of the Issuer Trust with respect
to the following matters:
(A) the issuance and sale of the Trust Securities;
(B) causing the Issuer Trust to enter into, and to execute,
deliver and perform, the Expense Agreement and the Letter of
Representations and such other agreements as may be necessary or
desirable in connection with the purposes and function of the Issuer
Trust;
(C) assisting in the registration of the Capital Securities
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and under applicable
state securities or blue sky laws and the qualification of this Trust
Agreement as a trust indenture under the Trust Indenture Act;
(D) assisting in the listing of the Capital Securities upon
such securities exchange or exchanges as shall be determined by the
Depositor, with the registration of the Capital Securities under the
Exchange Act and with the preparation and filing of all periodic and
other reports and other documents pursuant to the foregoing;
(E) assisting in the sending of notices (other than notices of
default) and other information regarding the Trust Securities and the
Debentures to the Holders in accordance with this Trust Agreement;
(F) the consent to the appointment of a Paying Agent,
authenticating agent and Securities Registrar in accordance with this
Trust Agreement (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld);
(G) the execution of the Trust Securities on behalf of the
Issuer Trust in accordance with this Trust Agreement;
(H) the execution and delivery of closing certificates, if
any, pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement and application for a
taxpayer identification number for the Issuer Trust;
(I) unless otherwise determined by the Property Trustee or
Holders of at least a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Capital
Securities or as otherwise required by the Delaware Business Trust Act
or the Trust Indenture Act, executing on behalf of the Issuer Trust
(either acting alone or together with any or all of the Administrative
Trustees) any documents that the Administrative Trustees have the
power to execute pursuant to this Trust Agreement; and
(J) the taking of any action incidental to the foregoing as
the Issuer Trustees may from time to timedetermine to be necessary or
advisable to give effect to the terms of this Trust Agreement.
(ii) As among the Issuer Trustees, the Property Trustee shall
have the power, duty and authority to act on behalf of the Issuer Trust with
respect to the following matters:
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(A) the establishment of the Payment Account;
(B) the receipt of the Debentures;
(C) the collection of interest, principal and any other
payments made in respect of the Debentures and the holding of such
amounts in the Payment Account;
(D) the distribution through the Paying Agent of amounts
distributable to the Holders in respect of the Trust Securities;
(E) the exercise of all of the rights, powers and privileges
of a holder of the Debentures;
(F) the sending of notices of default and other information
regarding the Trust Securities and the Debentures to the Holders in
accordance with this Trust Agreement;
(G) the distribution of the Trust Property in accordance with
the terms of this Trust Agreement;
(H) to the extent provided in this Trust Agreement, the
winding up of the affairs of and liquidation of the Issuer Trust and
the preparation, execution and filing of the certificate of
cancellation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware;
(I) performing the duties of the Property Trustee set forth in
this Trust Agreement;
(J) after an Event of Default (other than under paragraph (b),
(c), (d) or (e) of the definition of such term if such Event of
Default is by or with respect to the Property Trustee) the taking of
any action incidental to the foregoing as the Property Trustee may
from time to time determine is necessary or advisable to give effect
to the terms of this Trust Agreement and protect and conserve the
Trust Property for the benefit of the Holders (without consideration
of the effect of any such action on any particular Holder); and
(K) any of the duties, liabilities, powers or the authority of
the Administrative Trustees set forth in Section 2.7(a)(i)(E) and (I)
herein; and in the event of a conflict between the action of the
Administrative Trustees and the action of the Property Trustee, the
action of the Property Trustee shall prevail.
(b) So long as this Trust Agreement remains in effect, the Issuer
Trust (or the Issuer Trustees acting on behalf of the Issuer Trust) shall not
undertake any business, activities or transaction except as expressly provided
herein or contemplated hereby. In particular, the Issuer Trustees shall not (i)
acquire any investments or engage in any activities not authorized by this
Trust Agreement, (ii) sell, assign, transfer, exchange, mortgage, pledge,
set-off or otherwise dispose of any of the Trust Property or interests therein,
including to Holders, except as expressly provided herein, (iii) take any
action that would reasonably be expected to cause the Issuer Trust to become
taxable as a corporation or classified as other than a grantor trust for United
States Federal income tax purposes, (iv) incur any indebtedness
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for borrowed money or issue any other debt, or (v) take or consent to any
action that would result in the placement of a Lien on any of the Trust
Property. The Administrative Trustees shall defend all claims and demands of
all Persons at any time claiming any Lien on any of the Trust Property adverse
to the interest of the Issuer Trust or the Holders in their capacity as
Holders.
(c) In connection with the issue and sale of the Capital Securities,
the Depositor shall have the right and responsibility to assist the Issuer
Trust with respect to, or effect on behalf of the Issuer Trust, the following
(and any actions taken by the Depositor in furtherance of the following prior
to the date of this Trust Agreement are hereby ratified and confirmed in all
respects):
(i) the preparation and filing by the Issuer Trust with the
Commission and the execution on behalf of the Issuer Trust of a
registration statement on the appropriate form in relation to the
Capital Securities, including any amendments thereto and the taking of
any action necessary or desirable to sell the Capital Securities in a
transaction or a series of transactions pursuant thereto;
(ii) the determination of the States in which to take
appropriate action to qualify or register for sale all or part of the
Capital Securities and the taking of any and all such acts, other than
actions that must be taken by or on behalf of the Issuer Trust, and
advice to the Issuer Trust of actions that must be taken by or on
behalf of the Issuer Trust, and the preparation for execution and
filing of any documents to be executed and filed by the Issuer Trust
or on behalf of the Issuer Trust, as the Depositor deems necessary or
advisable in order to comply with the applicable laws of any such
States in connection with the sale of the Capital Securities;
(iii) the preparation for filing by the Issuer Trust and
execution on behalf of the Issuer Trust of an application to the New
York Stock Exchange or any other national stock exchange or the Nasdaq
National Market for listing upon notice of issuance of any Capital
Securities;
(iv) the preparation for filing by the Issuer Trust with the
Commission and the execution on behalf of the Issuer Trust of a
registration statement on Form 8-A relating to the registration of the
Capital Securities under Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange Act,
including any amendments thereto;
(v) the negotiation of the terms of, and the execution and
delivery of, the Underwriting Agreement providing for the sale of the
Capital Securities; and
(vi) the taking of any other actions necessary or desirable to
carry out any of the foregoing activities.
(d) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Issuer
Trustees are authorized and directed to conduct the affairs of the Issuer Trust
and to operate the Issuer Trust so that the Issuer Trust will not be deemed to
be an "investment company" required to be registered under the Investment
Company Act, and will not be taxable as a corporation or classified as other
than a grantor trust for United States Federal income tax purposes and so that
the Debentures will be treated as indebtedness of the Depositor for United
States Federal income tax purposes. In this connection, each Administrative
Trustee, the Property Trustee and the Holders of at least a Majority in
Liquidation Amount of the Common Securities are authorized to take any action,
not inconsistent with applicable law, the Certificate of Trust or this Trust
Agreement, that such Administrative Trustee, the Property Trustee or Holders of
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Common Securities determine in their discretion to be necessary or desirable
for such purposes, as long as such action does not adversely affect in any
material respect the interests of the Holders of the Outstanding Capital
Securities. In no event shall the Issuer Trustees be liable to the Issuer Trust
or the Holders for any failure to comply with this section that results from a
change in law or regulation or in the interpretation thereof.
SECTION 2.8. Assets of Trust.
The assets of the Issuer Trust shall consist of the Trust Property.
SECTION 2.9. Title to Trust Property.
Legal title to all Trust Property shall be vested at all times in the
Property Trustee (in its capacity as such) and shall be held and administered
by the Property Trustee in trust for the benefit of the Issuer Trust and the
Holders in accordance with this Trust Agreement.
ARTICLE III.
PAYMENT ACCOUNT
SECTION 3.1. Payment Account.
(a) On or prior to the Closing Date, the Property Trustee shall
establish the Payment Account. The Property Trustee and its agents shall have
exclusive control and sole right of withdrawal with respect to the Payment
Account for the purpose of making deposits in and withdrawals from the Payment
Account in accordance with this Trust Agreement. All monies and other property
deposited or held from time to time in the Payment Account shall be held by the
Property Trustee in the Payment Account for the exclusive benefit of the
Holders and for distribution as herein provided, including (and subject to) any
priority of payments provided for herein.
(b) The Property Trustee shall deposit in the Payment Account,
promptly upon receipt, all payments of principal of or interest on, and any
other payments or proceeds with respect to, the Debentures. Amounts held in the
Payment Account shall not be invested by the Property Trustee pending
distribution thereof.
ARTICLE IV.
DISTRIBUTIONS; REDEMPTION
SECTION 4.1. Distributions.
(a) The Trust Securities represent undivided beneficial interests in
the Trust Property, and Distributions (including of Additional Amounts) will be
made on the Trust Securities at the rate and on the dates that payments of
interest (including of Additional Interest, as defined in the Indenture) are
made on the Debentures. Accordingly:
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(i) Distributions on the Trust Securities shall be
cumulative, and will accumulate whether or not there are funds of the
Issuer Trust available for the payment of Distributions. Distributions
shall accumulate from _______ __, ____, and, except in the event (and
to the extent) that the Depositor exercises its right to defer the
payment of interest on the Debentures pursuant to the Indenture, shall
be payable semi-annually in arrears on __________ and __________ of
each year, commencing on _______ __, ____. If any date on which a
Distribution is otherwise payable on the Trust Securities is not a
Business Day, then the payment of such Distribution shall 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, the
payment of such Distribution shall be made on the immediately
preceding Business Day, in each case with the same force and effect as
if made on the date on which such payment was originally payable (each
date on which distributions are payable in accordance with this
Section 4.1(a), a "Distribution Date").
(ii) The Trust Securities shall be entitled to
Distributions payable at a rate of [____]% per annum of the
Liquidation Amount of the Trust Securities. The amount of
Distributions payable for any period less than a full Distribution
period shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve
30-day months and the actual number of days elapsed in a partial month
in a period. Distributions payable for each full Distribution period
will be computed by dividing the rate per annum by two. The amount of
Distributions payable for any period shall include any Additional
Amounts in respect of such period.
(iii) Distributions on the Trust Securities shall be
made by the Property Trustee from the Payment Account and shall be
payable on each Distribution Date only to the extent that the Issuer
Trust has funds then on hand and available in the Payment Account for
the payment of such Distributions.
(b) Distributions on the Trust Securities with respect to a
Distribution Date shall be payable to the Holders thereof as they appear on the
Securities Register for the Trust Securities at the close of business on the
relevant record date, which shall be at the close of business on the fifteenth
day (whether or not a Business Day) next preceding the relevant Distribution
Date.
SECTION 4.2. Redemption.
(a) On each Debenture Redemption Date and on the stated maturity of
the Debentures, the Issuer Trust will be required to redeem a Like Amount of
Trust Securities at the Redemption Price.
(b) Notice of redemption shall be given by the Property Trustee by
first-class mail, postage prepaid, mailed not less than 30 nor more than 60
days prior to the Redemption Date to each Holder of Trust Securities to be
redeemed, at such Holder's address appearing in the Security Register. All
notices of redemption shall state:
(i) the Redemption Date;
(ii) the Redemption Price or if the Redemption Price cannot be
calculated prior to the time the notice is required to be sent, an
estimate of the Redemption Price together with a statement that it is
an estimate and that the actual Redemption Price will be calculated on
the third
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Business Day prior to the Redemption Date (and if an estimate is
provided, a further notice shall be sent of the actual Redemption
Price on the date that such Redemption Price is calculated);
(iii) the CUSIP number or CUSIP numbers of the Capital
Securities affected (if applicable);
(iv) if less than all the Outstanding Trust Securities are to
be redeemed, the identification and the aggregate Liquidation Amount
of the particular Trust Securities to be redeemed;
(v) that on the Redemption Date the Redemption Price will
become due and payable upon each such Trust Security to be redeemed
and that Distributions thereon will cease to accumulate on and after
said date, except as provided in Section 4.2(d) below; and
(vi) the place or places where the Trust Securities are to be
surrendered for the payment of the Redemption Price.
The Issuer Trust in issuing the Trust Securities may use "CUSIP"
numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Property Trustee shall
indicate the "CUSIP" numbers of the Trust Securities in notices of redemption
and related materials 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 Trust Securities or as contained in any notice
of redemption and related materials.
(c) The Trust Securities redeemed on each Redemption Date shall be
redeemed at the Redemption Price with the proceeds from the contemporaneous
redemption of Debentures. Redemptions of the Trust Securities shall be made and
the Redemption Price shall be payable on each Redemption Date only to the
extent that the Issuer Trust has funds then on hand and available in the
Payment Account for the payment of such Redemption Price.
(d) If the Property Trustee gives a notice of redemption in respect of
any Capital Securities, then, by 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the
Redemption Date, subject to Section 4.2(c), the Property Trustee will, with
respect to Book-Entry Capital Securities, irrevocably deposit with the Clearing
Agency for such Book-Entry Capital Securities, to the extent available
therefor, funds sufficient to pay the applicable Redemption Price and will give
such Clearing Agency irrevocable instructions and authority to pay the
Redemption Price to the Holders of the Capital Securities. With respect to
Capital Securities that are not Book-Entry Capital Securities, the Property
Trustee, subject to Section 4.2(c), will irrevocably deposit with the Paying
Agent, to the extent available therefor, funds sufficient to pay the applicable
Redemption Price and will give the Paying Agent irrevocable instructions and
authority to pay the Redemption Price to the Holders of the Capital Securities
upon surrender of their Capital Securities Certificates. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, Distributions payable on or prior to the Redemption Date for any
Trust Securities called for redemption shall be payable to the Holders of such
Trust Securities as they appear on the Securities Register for the Trust
Securities on the relevant record dates for the related Distribution Dates. If
notice of redemption shall have been given and funds deposited as required,
then upon the date of such deposit, all rights of Holders holding Trust
Securities so called for redemption will cease, except the right of such
Holders to receive the Redemption Price and any Distribution payable in respect
of the Trust Securities on or prior to the Redemption Date, but without
interest, and such Securities will cease to be outstanding. In the event that
any date on which any Redemption Price is payable is not a Business Day, then
payment of the Redemption Price payable on such date will be made
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on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day (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. In the event that payment of the Redemption Price in respect of
any Trust Securities called for redemption is improperly withheld or refused
and not paid either by the Issuer Trust or by the Depositor pursuant to the
Guarantee Agreement, Distributions on such Trust Securities will continue to
accumulate, as set forth in Section 4.1, from the Redemption Date originally
established by the Issuer Trust for such Trust Securities to the date such
Redemption Price is actually paid, in which case the actual payment date will
be the date fixed for redemption for purposes of calculating the Redemption
Price.
(e) Subject to Section 4.3(a), if less than all the Outstanding Trust
Securities are to be redeemed on a Redemption Date, then the aggregate
Liquidation Amount of Trust Securities to be redeemed shall be allocated pro
rata to the Common Securities and the Capital Securities based upon the
relative Liquidation Amounts of such classes. The particular Capital Securities
to be redeemed shall be selected on a pro rata basis based upon their
respective Liquidation Amounts not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption
Date by the Property Trustee from the Outstanding Capital Securities not
previously called for redemption, provided that so long as the Capital
Securities are in book-entry-only form, such selection shall be made in
accordance with the customary procedures for the Clearing Agency for the
Capital Securities. The Property Trustee shall promptly notify the Securities
Registrar in writing of the Capital Securities selected for redemption and, in
the case of any Capital Securities selected for partial redemption, the
Liquidation Amount thereof to be redeemed. For all purposes of this Trust
Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires, all provisions relating to
the redemption of Capital Securities shall relate, in the case of any Capital
Securities redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the
aggregate Liquidation Amount of Capital Securities that has been or is to be
redeemed.
SECTION 4.3. Subordination of Common Securities.
(a) Payment of Distributions (including any Additional Amounts) on,
the Redemption Price of, and the Liquidation Distribution in respect of the
Trust Securities, as applicable, shall be made, subject to Section 4.2(e), pro
rata among the Common Securities and the Capital Securities based on the
Liquidation Amount of the Trust Securities; provided, however, that if on any
Distribution Date, Redemption Date or Liquidation Date any Event of Default
resulting from a Debenture Event of Default specified in Section 5.1(1) or
5.1(2) of the Indenture shall have occurred and be continuing, no payment of
any Distribution (including any Additional Amounts) on, Redemption Price of, or
Liquidation Distribution in respect of any Common Security, and no other
payment on account of the redemption, liquidation or other acquisition of
Common Securities, shall be made unless payment in full in cash of all
accumulated and unpaid Distributions (including any Additional Amounts) on all
Outstanding Capital Securities for all Distribution periods terminating on or
prior thereto, or in the case of payment of the Redemption Price the full
amount of such Redemption Price on all Outstanding Capital Securities then
called for redemption, or in the case of payment of the Liquidation
Distribution the full amount of such Liquidation Distribution on all
Outstanding Capital Securities, shall have been made or provided for, and all
funds immediately available to the Property Trustee shall first be applied to
the payment in full in cash of all Distributions (including any Additional
Amounts) on, or the Redemption Price of, the Capital Securities then due and
payable.
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(b) In the case of the occurrence of any Event of Default resulting
from any Debenture Event of Default, the Holders of the Common Securities shall
have no right to act with respect to any such Event of Default under this Trust
Agreement until the effect of all such Events of Default with respect to the
Capital Securities have been cured, waived or otherwise eliminated. Until all
such Events of Default under this Trust Agreement with respect to the Capital
Securities have been so cured, waived or otherwise eliminated, the Property
Trustee shall act solely on behalf of the Holders of the Capital Securities and
not on behalf of the Holders of the Common Securities, and only the Holders of
the Capital Securities will have the right to direct the Property Trustee to
act on their behalf.
SECTION 4.4. Payment Procedures.
Payments of Distributions (including any Additional Amounts) in
respect of the Capital Securities shall be made by check mailed to the address
of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear on the Securities
Register or, if the Capital Securities are held by a Clearing Agency, such
Distributions shall be made to the Clearing Agency in immediately available
funds. Payments in respect of the Common Securities shall be made in such
manner as shall be mutually agreed between the Property Trustee and the Holders
of the Common Securities.
SECTION 4.5. Tax Returns and Reports.
The Administrative Trustees shall prepare (or cause to be prepared),
at the Depositor's expense, and file all United States Federal, state and local
tax and information returns and reports required to be filed by or in respect
of the Issuer Trust. In this regard, the Administrative Trustees shall (a)
prepare and file (or cause to be prepared and filed) all Internal Revenue
Service forms required to be filed in respect of the Issuer Trust in each
taxable year of the Issuer Trust, and (b) prepare and furnish (or cause to be
prepared and furnished) to each Holder all Internal Revenue Service forms
required to be provided by the Issuer Trust. The Administrative Trustees shall
provide the Depositor and the Property Trustee with a copy of all such returns
and reports promptly after such filing or furnishing. The Issuer Trustees
shall comply with United States Federal withholding and backup withholding tax
laws and information reporting requirements with respect to any payments to
Holders under the Trust Securities.
SECTION 4.6. Payment of Taxes, Duties, Etc. of the Issuer
Trust.
Upon receipt under the Debentures of Additional Sums, the Property
Trustee shall promptly pay any taxes, duties or governmental charges of
whatsoever nature (other than withholding taxes) imposed on the Issuer Trust by
the United States or any other taxing authority, which were included in such
Additional Sums.
SECTION 4.7. Payments under Indenture or Pursuant to Direct
Actions.
Any amount payable hereunder to any Holder of Capital Securities (or
any Owner with respect thereto) shall be reduced by the amount of any
corresponding payment such Holder (or Owner) has directly received pursuant to
Section 5.8 of the Indenture or Section 5.13 of this Trust Agreement.
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ARTICLE V.
TRUST SECURITIES CERTIFICATES
SECTION 5.1. Initial Ownership.
Upon the formation of the Issuer Trust and the contribution by the
Depositor pursuant to Section 2.3 and until the issuance of the Trust
Securities, and at any time during which no Trust Securities are outstanding,
the Depositor shall be the sole beneficial owner of the Issuer Trust.
SECTION 5.2. The Trust Securities Certificates.
(a) The Capital Securities Certificates shall be issued in minimum
denominations of $1,000 Liquidation Amount and integral multiples of $1,000 in
excess thereof, and the Common Securities Certificates shall be issued in
denominations of $1,000 Liquidation Amount and integral multiples thereof. The
Trust Securities Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the Issuer Trust
by manual signature of at least one Administrative Trustee. Trust Securities
Certificates bearing the manual signatures of individuals who were, at the time
when such signatures shall have been affixed, authorized to sign on behalf of
the Issuer Trust, shall be validly issued and entitled to the benefits of this
Trust Agreement, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them shall
have ceased to be so authorized prior to the delivery of such Trust Securities
Certificates or did not hold such offices at the date of delivery of such Trust
Securities Certificates. A transferee of a Trust Securities Certificate shall
become a Holder, and shall be entitled to the rights and subject to the
obligations of a Holder hereunder, upon due registration of such Trust
Securities Certificate in such transferee's name pursuant to Section 5.5.
(b) Upon their original issuance, Capital Securities Certificates
shall be issued in the form of one or more Book-Entry Capital Securities
Certificates registered in the name of DTC, as Clearing Agency, or its nominee
and deposited with DTC or a custodian for DTC for credit by DTC to the
respective accounts of the Owners thereof (or such other accounts as they may
direct).
(c) A single Common Securities Certificate representing the Common
Securities shall be issued to the Depositor in the form of a definitive Common
Securities Certificate.
SECTION 5.3. Execution and Delivery of Trust Securities
Certificates.
At each Time of Delivery, the Administrative Trustees shall cause
Trust Securities Certificates, in an aggregate Liquidation Amount as provided
in Sections 2.4 and 2.5, to be executed on behalf of the Issuer Trust and
delivered to or upon the written order of the Depositor, executed by one
authorized officer thereof, without further corporate action by the Depositor,
in authorized denominations.
SECTION 5.4. Book-Entry Capital Securities.
(a) Each Book-Entry Capital Securities Certificate issued under this
Agreement shall be registered in the name of the Clearing Agency or a nominee
thereof and delivered to such Clearing Agency or a nominee thereof or custodian
therefor, and each such Book-Entry Capital Securities Certificate shall
constitute a single Capital Securities Certificate for all purposes of this
Agreement.
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(b) Notwithstanding any other provision in this Trust Agreement, no
Book-Entry Capital Securities Certificate may be exchanged in whole or in part
for Capital Securities Certificates registered, and no transfer of a Book-Entry
Capital Securities Certificate in whole or in part may be registered, in the
name of any Person other than the Clearing Agency for such Book-Entry Capital
Securities Certificates or a nominee thereof unless (i) the Clearing Agency
advises the Issuer Trust in writing that the Clearing Agency is no longer
willing or able to properly discharge its responsibilities with respect to the
Book-Entry Capital Securities Certificates, and is unable to locate a qualified
successor shall not have been appointed, or the Clearing Agency ceases to be a
clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act at a time when it is required
to be so registered to act as such clearing agent, (ii) the Issuer Trust at its
option determines that a Book Entry Capital Securities Certificate shall be so
exchangeable, or (iii) a Debenture Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing. Upon the occurrence of any event specified in clause (i), (ii) or
(iii) above, the Property Trustee shall notify the Clearing Agency and instruct
the Clearing Agency to notify all Owners of Book-Entry Capital Securities, the
Delaware Trustee and the Administrative Trustees of the occurrence of such
event and of the availability of the Definitive Capital Securities Certificates
to Owners of such class or classes, as applicable, requesting the same.
(c) If any Book-Entry Capital Securities Certificate is to be
exchanged for other Capital Securities Certificates or cancelled in part, or if
any other Capital Securities Certificate is to be exchanged in whole or in part
for Book-Entry Capital Securities represented by a Book-Entry Capital
Securities Certificate, then either (i) such Book-Entry Capital Securities
Certificate shall be so surrendered for exchange or cancellation as provided in
this Article V or (ii) the aggregate Liquidation Amount represented by such
Book-Entry Capital Securities Certificate shall be reduced, subject to Section
5.2, or increased by an amount equal to the Liquidation Amount represented by
that portion of the Book-Entry Capital Securities Certificate to be so
exchanged or cancelled, or equal to the Liquidation Amount represented by such
other Capital Securities Certificates to be so exchanged for Book-Entry Capital
Securities represented thereby, as the case may be, by means of an appropriate
adjustment made on the records of the Securities Registrar, whereupon the
Property Trustee, in accordance with the Applicable Procedures, shall instruct
the Clearing Agency or its authorized representative to make a corresponding
adjustment to its records. Upon surrender to the Administrative Trustees or the
Securities Registrar of the Book-Entry Capital Securities Certificate or
Certificates by the Clearing Agency, accompanied by registration instructions,
the Administrative Trustees, or any one of them, shall execute the Definitive
Capital Securities Certificates in accordance with the instructions of the
Clearing Agency. None of the Securities Registrar, the Issuer Trustees or the
Administrative Trustees shall be liable for any delay in delivery of such
instructions and may conclusively rely on, and shall be protected in relying
on, such instructions. Upon the issuance of Definitive Capital Securities
Certificates, the Issuer Trustees shall recognize the Holders of the Definitive
Capital Securities Certificates as Holders. The Definitive Capital Securities
Certificates shall be printed, lithographed or engraved or may be produced in
any other manner as is reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Trustees, as
evidenced by the execution thereof by the Administrative Trustees or any one of
them.
(d) Every Capital Securities Certificate executed and delivered upon
registration of transfer of, or in exchange for or in lieu of, a Book-Entry
Capital Securities Certificate or any portion thereof, whether pursuant to this
Article V or Article IV or otherwise, shall be executed and delivered in the
form of, and shall be, a Book-Entry Capital Securities Certificate, unless such
Capital Securities Certificate is registered in the name of a Person other than
the Clearing Agency for such Book-Entry Capital Securities Certificate or a
nominee thereof.
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(e) The Clearing Agency or its nominee, as registered owner of a
Book-Entry Capital Securities Certificate, shall be the Holder of such
Book-Entry Capital Securities Certificate for all purposes under this Agreement
and the Book-Entry Capital Securities Certificate, and Owners with respect to a
Book-Entry Capital Securities Certificate shall hold such interests pursuant to
the Applicable Procedures. The Securities Registrar and the Issuer Trustees
shall be entitled to deal with the Clearing Agency for all purposes of this
Trust Agreement relating to the Book-Entry Capital Securities Certificates
(including the payment of the Liquidation Amount of and Distributions on the
Book-Entry Capital Securities represented thereby and the giving of
instructions or directions by Owners of Book-Entry Capital Securities
represented thereby) as the sole Holder of the Book-Entry Capital Securities
represented thereby and shall have no obligations to the Owners thereof. None
of the Issuer Trustees nor the Securities Registrar shall have any liability in
respect of any transfers effected by the Clearing Agency.
The rights of the Owners of the Book-Entry Capital Securities shall be
exercised only through the Clearing Agency and shall be limited to those
established by law, the Applicable Procedures and agreements between such
Owners and the Clearing Agency and/or the Clearing Agency Participants.
Pursuant to the Letter of Representations, unless and until Definitive Capital
Securities Certificates are issued pursuant to Section 5.4(b), the initial
Clearing Agency will make book-entry transfers among the Clearing Agency
Participants and receive and transmit payments on the Capital Securities to
such Clearing Agency Participants, and none of the Depositor or the Issuer
Trustees shall have any responsibility or obligation with respect thereto.
SECTION 5.5. Registration of Transfer and Exchange of Capital
Securities Certificates.
(a) The Property Trustee shall keep or cause to be kept, at the office
or agency maintained pursuant to Section 5.9, a register or registers for the
purpose of registering Trust Securities Certificates and transfers and
exchanges of Trust Securities Certificates (the "Securities Register") in which
the registrar and transfer agent with respect to the Trust Securities (the
"Securities Registrar"), subject to such reasonable regulations as it may
prescribe, shall provide for the registration of Capital Securities
Certificates and Common Securities Certificates (subject to Section 5.11 in the
case of the Common Securities Certificates) and registration of transfers and
exchanges of Capital Securities Certificates as herein provided. The Person
acting as the Property Trustee shall at all times also be the Securities
Registrar.
Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Capital Securities
Certificate at the office or agency maintained pursuant to Section 5.9, the
Administrative Trustees or any one of them shall execute and deliver to the
Property Trustee, and the Property Trustee shall deliver, in the name of the
designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Capital Securities
Certificates in authorized denominations of a like aggregate Liquidation Amount
dated the date of execution by such Administrative Trustee or Trustees.
The Securities Registrar shall not be required, (i) to issue, register
the transfer of or exchange any Capital Security during a period beginning at
the opening of business 15 days before the day of selection for redemption of
such Capital Securities pursuant to Article IV and ending at the close of
business on the day of mailing of the notice of redemption, or (ii) to register
the transfer of or exchange any Capital Security so selected for redemption in
whole or in part, except, in the case of any such Capital Security to be
redeemed in part, any portion thereof not to be redeemed.
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Every Capital Securities Certificate presented or surrendered for
registration of transfer or exchange shall be accompanied by a written
instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to an Administrative Trustee and
the Securities Registrar duly executed by the Holder or its attorney duly
authorized in writing. Each Capital Securities Certificate surrendered for
registration of transfer or exchange shall be cancelled and subsequently
disposed of by the Property Trustee in accordance with its customary practice.
No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or
exchange of Capital Securities Certificates, but the Securities Registrar may
require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or governmental charge
that may be imposed in connection with any transfer or exchange of Capital
Securities Certificates.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, transfers
and exchanges of Capital Securities Certificates and beneficial interests in a
Book-Entry Capital Securities Certificate of the kinds specified in this
Section 5.5(b) shall be made only in accordance with this Section 5.5(b).
(i) Non-Book-Entry Capital Securities Certificate to
Book-Entry Capital Securities Certificate. If the Holder of a Capital
Securities Certificate (other than a Book-Entry Capital Securities
Certificate) wishes at any time to transfer all or any portion of such
Capital Securities Certificate to a Person who wishes to take delivery
thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in a Book-Entry Capital
Securities Certificate, such transfer may be effected only in
accordance with the provisions of this Clause (b)(i) and subject to
the Applicable Procedures. Upon receipt by the Securities Registrar of
(A) such Capital Securities Certificate as provided in Section 5.5(a)
and instructions satisfactory to the Securities Registrar directing
that a beneficial interest in the Book-Entry Capital Securities
Certificate of a specified number of Capital Securities not greater
than the number of Capital Securities represented by such Capital
Securities Certificate be credited to a specified Clearing Agency
Participant's account, then the Securities Registrar shall cancel such
Capital Securities Certificate (and issue a new Capital Securities
Certificate in respect of any untransferred portion thereof) as
provided in Section 5.5(a) and increase the aggregate Liquidation
Amount of the Book-Entry Capital Securities Certificate by the
Liquidation Amount represented by such Capital Securities so
transferred as provided in Section 5.4(c).
(ii) Non-Book-Entry Capital Securities Certificate to
Non-Book-Entry Capital Securities Certificate. A Capital Securities
Certificate that is not a Book-Entry Capital Securities Certificate
may be transferred, in whole or in part, to a Person who takes
delivery in the form of another Capital Securities Certificate that is
not a Book-Entry Capital Securities Certificate as provided in Section
5.5(a).
(iii) Exchanges between Book-Entry Capital Securities
Certificate and Non-Book-Entry Capital Securities Certificate. A
beneficial interest in a Book-Entry Capital Securities Certificate may
be exchanged for a Capital Securities Certificate that is not a
Book-Entry Capital Securities Certificate as provided in Section 5.4.
SECTION 5.6. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Trust
Securities Certificates.
If (a) any mutilated Trust Securities Certificate shall be surrendered
to the Securities Registrar, or if the Securities Registrar shall receive
evidence to its satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of
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any Trust Securities Certificate, and (b) there shall be delivered to the
Securities Registrar and the Administrative Trustees such security or indemnity
as may be required by them to save each of them harmless, then in the absence
of notice that such Trust Securities Certificate shall have been acquired by a
bona fide purchaser, the Administrative Trustees, or any one of them, on behalf
of the Issuer Trust shall execute and make available for delivery, in exchange
for or in lieu of any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Trust
Securities Certificate, a new Trust Securities Certificate of like class, tenor
and denomination. In connection with the issuance of any new Trust Securities
Certificate under this Section 5.6, the Administrative Trustees or the
Securities Registrar 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 Trust Securities Certificate issued pursuant to this Section
shall constitute conclusive evidence of an undivided beneficial interest in the
assets of the Issuer Trust corresponding to that evidenced by the lost, stolen
or destroyed Trust Securities Certificate, as if originally issued, whether or
not the lost, stolen or destroyed Trust Securities Certificate shall be found
at any time.
SECTION 5.7. Persons Deemed Holders.
The Issuer Trustees and the Securities Registrar shall each treat the
Person in whose name any Trust Securities Certificate shall be registered in
the Securities Register as the owner of such Trust Securities Certificate for
the purpose of receiving Distributions and for all other purposes whatsoever,
and none of the Issuer Trustees and the Securities Registrar shall be bound by
any notice to the contrary.
SECTION 5.8. Access to List of Holders' Names and Addresses.
Each Holder and each Owner shall be deemed to have agreed not to hold
the Depositor, the Property Trustee, the Delaware Trustee or the Administrative
Trustees accountable by reason of the disclosure of its name and address,
regardless of the source from which such information was derived.
SECTION 5.9. Maintenance of Office or Agency.
The Property Trustee shall designate, with the consent of the
Administrative Trustees, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, an
office or offices or agency or agencies where Capital Securities Certificates
may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices
and demands to or upon the Issuer Trustees in respect of the Trust Securities
Certificates may be served. The Administrative Trustees initially designate The
First National Bank of Chicago, One First National Plaza, Suite 0126, Chicago,
Illinois 60670, Attention: Corporate Trust Administration, as its office and
agency for such purposes. The Property Trustee shall give prompt written notice
to the Depositor, the Administrative Trustees and to the Holders of any change
in the location of the Securities Register or any such office or agency.
SECTION 5.10. Appointment of Paying Agent.
The Paying Agent shall make Distributions to Holders from the Payment
Account and shall report the amounts of such Distributions to the Property
Trustee and the Administrative Trustees. Any Paying Agent shall have the
revocable power to withdraw funds from the Payment Account solely for the
purpose of making the Distributions referred to above. The Administrative
Trustees may revoke such power and remove the Paying Agent in their sole
discretion. The Paying Agent shall initially be the Bank. Any Person acting as
Paying Agent shall be permitted to resign as Paying Agent upon 30 days' written
notice
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to the Administrative Trustees and the Property Trustee. If the Bank shall no
longer be the Paying Agent or a successor Paying Agent shall resign or its
authority to act be revoked, the Administrative Trustees shall appoint a
successor (which shall be a bank or trust company) to act as Paying Agent. Such
successor Paying Agent or any additional Paying Agent appointed by the
Administrative Trustees shall execute and deliver to the Issuer Trustees an
instrument in which such successor Paying Agent or additional Paying Agent
shall agree with the Issuer Trustees that as Paying Agent, such successor
Paying Agent or additional Paying Agent will hold all sums, if any, held by it
for payment to the Holders in trust for the benefit of the Holders entitled
thereto until such sums shall be paid to such Holders. The Paying Agent shall
return all unclaimed funds to the Property Trustee and upon removal of a Paying
Agent such Paying Agent shall also return all funds in its possession to the
Property Trustee. The provisions of Sections 8.1, 8.3 and 8.6 herein shall
apply to the Bank also in its role as Paying Agent, for so long as the Bank
shall act as Paying Agent and, to the extent applicable, to any other paying
agent appointed hereunder. Any reference in this Agreement to the Paying Agent
shall include any co-paying agent unless the context requires otherwise.
SECTION 5.11. Ownership of Common Securities by Depositor.
At each Time of Delivery, the Depositor shall acquire, and thereafter
shall retain, beneficial and record ownership of the Common Securities. The
Depositor may not transfer the Common Securities except (i) in connection with
a consolidation or merger of the Depositor into another corporation, or any
conveyance, transfer or lease by the Depositor of its properties and assets
substantially as an entirety to any Person, pursuant to Section 8.1 of the
Indenture, or (ii) to the Depositor or an Affiliate thereof in compliance with
applicable law (including the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and
applicable state securities and blue sky laws). To the fullest extent permitted
by law, any attempted transfer of the Common Securities other than as set forth
in the next proceeding sentence shall be void. The Administrative Trustees
shall cause each Common Securities Certificate issued to the Depositor to
contain a legend stating substantially "THIS CERTIFICATE IS NOT TRANSFERABLE
EXCEPT TO THE DEPOSITOR OR AN AFFILIATE OF THE DEPOSITOR IN COMPLIANCE WITH
APPLICABLE LAW AND SECTION 5.11 OF THE TRUST AGREEMENT."
SECTION 5.12. Notices to Clearing Agency.
To the extent that a notice or other communication to the Holders is
required under this Trust Agreement, for so long as Capital Securities are
represented by a Book-Entry Capital Securities Certificate, the Issuer Trustees
shall give all such notices and communications specified herein to be given to
the Clearing Agency, and shall have no obligations to the Owners.
SECTION 5.13. Rights of Holders; Waivers of Past Defaults.
(a) The legal title to the Trust Property is vested exclusively in the
Property Trustee (in its capacity as such) in accordance with Section 2.9, and
the Holders shall not have any right or title therein other than the undivided
beneficial interest in the assets of the Issuer Trust conferred by their Trust
Securities and they shall have no right to call for any partition or division
of property, profits or rights of the Issuer Trust except as described below.
The Trust Securities shall be personal property giving only the rights
specifically set forth therein and in this Trust Agreement. The Trust
Securities shall have no preemptive or similar rights and when issued and
delivered to Holders against payment of the purchase price therefor will be
fully paid and nonassessable by the Issuer Trust. Subject to the provisions of
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Section 4.8, the Holders of the Trust Securities, in their capacities as such,
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.
(b) For so long as any Capital Securities remain Outstanding, if, upon
a Debenture Event of Default, the Debenture Trustee fails or the holders of not
less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Debentures fail to declare
the principal of all of the Debentures to be immediately due and payable, the
Holders of at least 25% in Liquidation Amount of the Capital Securities then
Outstanding shall have the right to make such declaration by a notice in
writing to the Property Trustee, the Depositor and the Debenture Trustee.
At any time after a declaration of acceleration with respect to the
Debentures has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the
money due has been obtained by the Debenture Trustee as in the Indenture
provided, if the Property Trustee fails to annul any such declaration and waive
such default, the Holders of at least a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the
Capital Securities, by written notice to the Property Trustee, the Depositor
and the Debenture Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its
consequences if:
(i) the Depositor has paid or deposited with the Debenture
Trustee a sum sufficient to pay
(A) all overdue installments of interest on all of
the Debentures,
(B) any accrued Additional Interest on all of the
Debentures,
(C) the principal of (and premium, if any, on) any
Debentures that have become due otherwise than by such
declaration of acceleration and interest and Additional
Interest thereon at the rate borne by the Debentures, and
(D) all sums paid or advanced by the Debenture
Trustee under the Indenture and the reasonable compensation,
expenses, disbursements and advances of the Debenture Trustee
and the Property Trustee, their agents and counsel; and
(ii) all Events of Default with respect to the Debentures,
other than the non-payment of the principal of the Debentures that has
become due solely by such acceleration, have been cured or waived as
provided in Section 5.13 of the Indenture.
The Holders of at least a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the
Capital Securities may, on behalf of the Holders of all the Capital Securities,
waive any past default under the Indenture, except a default in the payment of
principal or interest (unless such default has been cured and a sum sufficient
to pay all matured installments of interest and principal due otherwise than by
acceleration has been deposited with the Debenture Trustee) or a default in
respect of a covenant or provision that under the Indenture cannot be modified
or amended without the consent of the holder of each outstanding Debenture. No
such rescission shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right
consequent thereon.
Upon receipt by the Property Trustee of written notice declaring such
an acceleration, or rescission and annulment thereof, by Holders of any part of
the Capital Securities a record date shall be established for determining
Holders of Outstanding Capital Securities entitled to join in such notice,
which
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record date shall be at the close of business on the day the Property Trustee
receives such notice. The Holders on such record date, or their duly designated
proxies, and only such Persons, shall be entitled to join in such notice,
whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided,
that, unless such declaration of acceleration, or rescission and annulment, as
the case may be, shall have become effective by virtue of the requisite
percentage having joined in such notice prior to the day that is 90 days after
such record date, such notice of declaration of acceleration, or rescission and
annulment, as the case may be, shall automatically and without further action
by any Holder be canceled and of no further effect. Nothing in this paragraph
shall prevent a Holder, or a proxy of a Holder, from giving, after expiration
of such 90-day period, a new written notice of declaration of acceleration, or
rescission and annulment thereof, as the case may be, that is identical to a
written notice that has been canceled pursuant to the proviso to the preceding
sentence, in which event a new record date shall be established pursuant to the
provisions of this Section 5.13(b).
(c) For so long as any Capital Securities remain Outstanding, to the
fullest extent permitted by law and subject to the terms of this Trust
Agreement and the Indenture, upon a Debenture Event of Default specified in
Section 5.1(1) or 5.1(2) of the Indenture, any Holder of Capital Securities
shall have the right to institute a proceeding directly against the Depositor,
pursuant to Section 5.8 of the Indenture, for enforcement of payment to such
Holder of any amounts payable in respect of Debentures having an aggregate
principal amount equal to the aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Capital
Securities of such Holder (a "Direct Action"). Except as set forth in Section
5.13(b) and this Section 5.13(c), the Holders of Capital Securities shall have
no right to exercise directly any right or remedy available to the holders of,
or in respect of, the Debentures.
(d) Except as otherwise provided in clauses (a), (b) and (c) of this
Section 5.13, the Holders of at least a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the
Capital Securities may, on behalf of the Holders of all the Capital Securities,
waive any past default or Event of Default and its consequences. Upon such
waiver, any such default or Event of Default shall cease to exist, and any
default or Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been
cured, for every purpose of this Trust Agreement, but no such waiver shall
extend to any subsequent or other default or Event of Default or impair any
right consequent thereon.
ARTICLE VI.
ACTS OF HOLDERS; MEETINGS; VOTING
SECTION 6.1. Limitations on Voting Rights.
(a) Except as expressly provided in this Trust Agreement and in the
Indenture and as otherwise required by law, no Holder of Capital Securities
shall have any right to vote or in any manner otherwise control the
administration, operation and management of the Issuer Trust or the obligations
of the parties hereto, nor shall anything herein set forth, or contained in the
terms of the Trust Securities Certificates, be construed so as to constitute
the Holders from time to time as partners or members of an association.
(b) So long as any Debentures are held by the Property Trustee on
behalf of the Issuer Trust, the Property Trustee shall not (i) direct the time,
method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the
Debenture Trustee, or execute any trust or power conferred on the Property
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Trustee with respect to the Debentures, (ii) waive any past default that may be
waived under Section 5.13 of the Indenture, (iii) exercise any right to rescind
or annul a declaration that the principal of all the Debentures shall be due
and payable, or (iv) consent to any amendment, modification or termination of
the Indenture or the Debentures, where such consent shall be required, without,
in each case, obtaining the prior approval of the Holders of at least a
Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Capital Securities, provided, however,
that where a consent under the Indenture would require the consent of each
Holder of Debentures affected thereby, no such consent shall be given by the
Property Trustee without the prior written consent of each Holder of Capital
Securities. The Property Trustee shall not revoke any action previously
authorized or approved by a vote of the Holders of the Capital Securities,
except by a subsequent vote of the Holders of the Capital Securities. The
Property Trustee shall notify all Holders of the Capital Securities of any
notice of default received with respect to the Debentures. In addition to
obtaining the foregoing approvals of the Holders of the Capital Securities,
prior to taking any of the foregoing actions, the Property Trustee shall, at
the expense of the Depositor, obtain an Opinion of Counsel experienced in such
matters to the effect that such action shall not cause the Issuer Trust to be
taxable as a corporation or classified as other than a grantor trust for United
States Federal income tax purposes.
(c) If any proposed amendment to the Trust Agreement provides for, or
the Issuer Trustees otherwise propose to effect, (i) any action that would
adversely affect in any material respect the powers, preferences or special
rights of the Capital Securities, whether by way of amendment to this Trust
Agreement or otherwise, or (ii) the dissolution, winding-up or termination of
the Issuer Trust, other than pursuant to the terms of this Trust Agreement,
then the Holders of Outstanding Capital Securities as a 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 the Holders of at least a Majority in
Liquidation Amount of the Capital Securities. Notwithstanding any other
provision of this Trust Agreement, no amendment to this Trust Agreement may be
made if, as a result of such amendment, it would cause the Issuer Trust to be
taxable as a corporation or classified as other than a grantor trust for United
States Federal income tax purposes.
SECTION 6.2. Notice of Meetings.
Notice of all meetings of the Holders of the Capital Securities,
stating the time, place and purpose of the meeting, shall be given by the
Property Trustee pursuant to Section 10.8 to each Holder of Capital Securities,
at such Holder's registered address, at least 15 days and not more than 90 days
before the meeting. At any such meeting, any business properly before the
meeting may be so considered whether or not stated in the notice of the
meeting. Any adjourned meeting may be held as adjourned without further notice.
SECTION 6.3. Meetings of Holders of the Capital Securities.
No annual meeting of Holders is required to be held. The
Administrative Trustees, however, shall call a meeting of the Holders of the
Capital Securities to vote on any matter upon the written request of the
Holders of at least 25% in aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Outstanding
Capital Securities and the Administrative Trustees or the Property Trustee may,
at any time in their discretion, call a meeting of the Holders of the Capital
Securities to vote on any matters as to which such Holders are entitled to
vote.
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The Holders of at least a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the
Capital Securities, present in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at
any meeting of the Holders of the Capital Securities.
If a quorum is present at a meeting, an affirmative vote by the
Holders present, in person or by proxy, holding Capital Securities representing
at least a Majority in aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Capital Securities
held by the Holders present, either in person or by proxy, at such meeting
shall constitute the action of the Holders of the Capital Securities, unless
this Trust Agreement requires a greater number of affirmative votes.
SECTION 6.4. Voting Rights.
Holders shall be entitled to one vote for each $1,000 of Liquidation
Amount represented by their Outstanding Trust Securities in respect of any
matter as to which such Holders are entitled to vote.
SECTION 6.5. Proxies, etc.
At any meeting of Holders, any Holder entitled to vote thereat may
vote by proxy, provided that no proxy shall be voted at any meeting unless it
shall have been placed on file with the Administrative Trustees, or with such
other officer or agent of the Issuer Trust as the Administrative Trustees may
direct, for verification prior to the time at which such vote shall be taken.
Pursuant to a resolution of the Property Trustee, proxies may be solicited in
the name of the Property Trustee or one or more officers of the Property
Trustee. Only Holders of record shall be entitled to vote. When Trust
Securities are held jointly by several persons, any one of them may vote at any
meeting in person or by proxy in respect of such Trust Securities, but if more
than one of them shall be present at such meeting in person or by proxy, and
such joint owners or their proxies so present disagree as to any vote to be
cast, such vote shall not be received in respect of such Trust Securities. A
proxy purporting to be executed by or on behalf of a Holder shall be deemed
valid unless challenged at or prior to its exercise, and the burden of proving
invalidity shall rest on the challenger. No proxy shall be valid more than
three years after its date of execution.
SECTION 6.6. Holder Action by Written Consent.
Any action that may be taken by Holders at a meeting may be taken
without a meeting if Holders holding at least a Majority in Liquidation Amount
of all Capital Securities entitled to vote in respect of such action (or such
larger proportion thereof as shall be required by any other provision of this
Trust Agreement) shall consent to the action in writing.
SECTION 6.7. Record Date for Voting and Other Purposes.
For the purposes of determining the Holders who are entitled to notice
of and to vote at any meeting or by written consent, or to participate in any
distribution on the Trust Securities in respect of which a record date is not
otherwise provided for in this Trust Agreement, or for the purpose of any other
action, the Administrative Trustees or Property Trustee may from time to time
fix a date, not more than 90 days prior to the date of any meeting of Holders
or the payment of a distribution or other action, as the case may be, as a
record date for the determination of the identity of the Holders of record for
such purposes.
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SECTION 6.8. Acts of Holders.
Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver
or other action provided or permitted by this Trust Agreement to be given, made
or taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments
of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by an agent
duly appointed in writing; and, except as otherwise expressly provided herein,
such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are
delivered to an Administrative Trustee. 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 Trust Agreement and (subject to
Section 8.1) conclusive in favor of the Issuer Trustees, if made in the manner
provided in this Section.
The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such
instrument or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness of such
execution or by a certificate of a notary public or other officer authorized by
law to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual signing
such instrument or writing acknowledged to him the execution thereof. Where
such execution is by a signer acting in a capacity other than his individual
capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof
of his authority. The fact and date of the execution of any such instrument or
writing, or the authority of the Person executing the same, may also be proved
in any other manner that any Issuer Trustee receiving the same deems
sufficient.
The ownership of Trust Securities shall be proved by the Securities
Register.
Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver
or other Act of the Holder of any Trust Security shall bind every future Holder
of the same Trust Security and the Holder of every Trust 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 Issuer
Trustees or the Issuer Trust in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of
such action is made upon such Trust Security.
Without limiting the foregoing, a Holder entitled hereunder to take
any action hereunder with regard to any particular Trust Security may do so
with regard to all or any part of the Liquidation Amount of such Trust Security
or by one or more duly appointed agents each of which may do so pursuant to
such appointment with regard to all or any part of such Liquidation Amount.
If any dispute shall arise among the Holders or the Issuer Trustees
with respect to the authenticity, validity or binding nature of any request,
demand, authorization, direction, consent, waiver or other Act of such Holder
or Issuer Trustee under this Article VI, then the determination of such matter
by the Property Trustee shall be conclusive with respect to such matter.
A Holder may institute a legal proceeding directly against the
Depositor under the Guarantee Agreement to enforce its rights under the
Guarantee Agreement without first instituting a legal proceeding against the
Guarantee Trustee (as defined in the Guarantee Agreement), the Issuer Trust,
any Issuer Trustee or any Person or entity.
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SECTION 6.9. Inspection of Records.
Upon reasonable notice to the Administrative Trustees and the Property
Trustee, the records of the Issuer Trust shall be open to inspection by Holders
during normal business hours for any purpose reasonably related to such
Holder's interest as a Holder.
ARTICLE VII.
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
SECTION 7.1. Representations and Warranties of the Property
Trustee and the Delaware Trustee.
The Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee, each severally on
behalf of and as to itself, hereby represents and warrants for the benefit of
the Depositor and the Holders that:
(a) the Property Trustee is a national banking association, duly
organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the United
States;
(b) the Property Trustee has full corporate power, authority and legal
right to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Trust
Agreement and has taken all necessary action to authorize the execution,
delivery and performance by it of this Trust Agreement;
(c) the Delaware Trustee is a Delaware corporation;
(d) the Delaware Trustee has full corporate power, authority and legal
right to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Trust
Agreement and has taken all necessary action to authorize the execution,
delivery and performance by it of this Trust Agreement;
(e) this Trust Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee and constitutes the
valid and legally binding agreement of each of the Property Trustee and the
Delaware Trustee enforceable against each of them in accordance with its terms,
subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization,
moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting
creditors' rights and to general equity principles;
(f) the execution, delivery and performance of this Trust Agreement
has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other action on the part
of the Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee and does not require any
approval of stockholders of the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee and
such execution, delivery and performance will not (i) violate the Charter or
By-laws of the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee, (ii) violate any
provision of, or constitute, with or without notice or lapse of time, a default
under, or result in the creation or imposition of, any Lien on any properties
included in the Trust Property pursuant to the provisions of, any indenture,
mortgage, credit agreement, license or other agreement or instrument to which
the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee is a party or by which it is
bound, or (iii) violate any law, governmental rule or regulation of the United
States or the State of Delaware, as the case may be, governing the banking,
trust or general powers of the Property
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Trustee or the Delaware Trustee (as appropriate in context) or any order,
judgment or decree applicable to the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee;
(g) neither the authorization, execution or delivery by the Property
Trustee or the Delaware Trustee of this Trust Agreement nor the consummation of
any of the transactions by the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee (as
appropriate in context) contemplated herein requires the consent or approval
of, the giving of notice to, the registration with or the taking of any other
action with respect to any governmental authority or agency under any existing
law of the United States or the State of Delaware governing the banking, trust
or general powers of the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee, as the case
may be; and
(h) there are no proceedings pending or, to the best of each of the
Property Trustee's and the Delaware Trustee's knowledge, threatened against or
affecting the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee in any court or before
any governmental authority, agency or arbitration board or tribunal that,
individually or in the aggregate, would materially and adversely affect the
Issuer Trust or would question the right, power and authority of the Property
Trustee or the Delaware Trustee, as the case may be, to enter into or perform
its obligations as one of the Issuer Trustees under this Trust Agreement.
SECTION 7.2. Representations and Warranties of Depositor.
The Depositor hereby represents and warrants for the benefit of the
Holders that:
(a) the Trust Securities Certificates issued at each Time of Delivery
on behalf of the Issuer Trust have been duly authorized and will have been duly
and validly executed, issued and delivered by the Issuer Trustees pursuant to
the terms and provisions of, and in accordance with the requirements of, this
Trust Agreement and the Holders will be, as of each such date, entitled to the
benefits of this Trust Agreement; and
(b) there are no taxes, fees or other governmental charges payable by
the Issuer Trust (or the Issuer Trustees on behalf of the Issuer Trust) under
the laws of the State of Delaware or any political subdivision thereof in
connection with the execution, delivery and performance by the Property Trustee
or the Delaware Trustee, as the case may be, of this Trust Agreement.
ARTICLE VIII.
THE ISSUER TRUSTEES
SECTION 8.1. Certain Duties and Responsibilities.
(a) The duties and responsibilities of the Issuer Trustees shall be as
provided by this Trust Agreement and, in the case of the Property Trustee, by
the Trust Indenture Act. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no provision of this
Trust Agreement shall require any of the Issuer Trustees to expend or risk its
own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any
of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if
it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or
adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to
it. Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Trust
Agreement relating to the
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conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Issuer
Trustees shall be subject to the provisions of this Section 8.1. Nothing in
this Trust Agreement shall be construed to release an Administrative Trustee
from liability for his or her own negligent action, his or her own negligent
failure to act, or his or her own willful misconduct. To the extent that, at
law or in equity, an Issuer Trustee has duties and liabilities relating to the
Issuer Trust or to the Holders, such Issuer Trustee shall not be liable to the
Issuer Trust or to any Holder for such Issuer Trustee's good faith reliance on
the provisions of this Trust Agreement. The provisions of this Trust Agreement,
to the extent that they restrict the duties and liabilities of the Issuer
Trustees otherwise existing at law or in equity, are agreed by the Depositor
and the Holders to replace such other duties and liabilities of the Issuer
Trustees.
(b) All payments made by the Property Trustee or a Paying Agent in
respect of the Trust Securities shall be made only from the revenue and
proceeds from the Trust Property and only to the extent that there shall be
sufficient revenue or proceeds from the Trust Property to enable the Property
Trustee or a Paying Agent to make payments in accordance with the terms hereof.
Each Holder, by its acceptance of a Trust Security, agrees that it will look
solely to the revenue and proceeds from the Trust Property to the extent
legally available for distribution to it as herein provided and that the Issuer
Trustees are not personally liable to it for any amount distributable in
respect of any Trust Security or for any other liability in respect of any
Trust Security. This Section 8.1(b) does not limit the liability of the Issuer
Trustees expressly set forth elsewhere in this Trust Agreement or, in the case
of the Property Trustee, in the Trust Indenture Act.
(c) 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 Trust Agreement (including pursuant to Section 10.10), and no implied
covenants shall be read into this Trust Agreement against the Property Trustee.
If an Event of Default has occurred (that has not been cured or waived pursuant
to Section 5.13, the Property Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and
powers vested in it by this Trust Agreement, 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 Trust Agreement shall be construed to relieve
the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee from liability for its own
negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful
misconduct, except that:
(i) prior to the occurrence of any Event of Default and after
the curing or waiving of all such Events of Default that may have
occurred:
(A) the duties and obligations of the Property
Trustee shall be determined solely by the express provisions
of this Trust Agreement (including pursuant to Section 10.10),
and the Property Trustee shall not be liable except for the
performance of such duties and obligations as are specifically
set forth in this Trust Agreement (including pursuant to
Section 10.10); 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 Trust Agreement; but
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in the case of any such certificates or opinions that by any
provision hereof or of the Trust Indenture Act 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 Trust Agreement.
(ii) the Property Trustee shall not be liable for any error of
judgment made in good faith by an authorized officer of the Property
Trustee, unless it shall be proved that the Property Trustee was
negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts;
(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 at least a Majority in
Liquidation Amount of the Capital Securities relating to the time,
method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available
to the Property Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred
upon the Property Trustee under this Trust Agreement;
(iv) the Property Trustee's sole duty with respect to the
custody, safe keeping and physical preservation of the Debentures and
the Payment 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 Trust Agreement and the
Trust Indenture Act;
(v) the Property Trustee shall not be liable for any interest
on any money received by it except as it may otherwise agree with the
Depositor; and money held by the Property Trustee need not be
segregated from other funds held by it except in relation to the
Payment Account maintained by the Property Trustee pursuant to Section
3.1 and except to the extent otherwise required by law;
(vi) the Property Trustee shall not be responsible for
monitoring the compliance by the Administrative Trustees or the
Depositor with their respective duties under this Trust Agreement, nor
shall the Property Trustee be liable for the default or misconduct of
any other Issuer Trustee or the Depositor; and
(vii) No provision of this Trust Agreement 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 the Property
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 Trust Agreement or adequate indemnity against such risk
or liability is not reasonably assured to it.
(e) The Administrative Trustees shall not be responsible for
monitoring the compliance by the other Issuer Trustees or the Depositor with
their respective duties under this Trust Agreement, nor shall either
Administrative Trustee be liable for the default or misconduct of any other
Administrative Trustee, the other Issuer Trustees or the Depositor.
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SECTION 8.2. Certain Notices.
Within five Business Days after the occurrence of any Event of Default
actually known to the Property Trustee, the Property Trustee shall transmit, in
the manner and to the extent provided in Section 10.8, notice of such Event of
Default to the Holders, the Administrative Trustees and the Depositor, unless
such Event of Default shall have been cured or waived.
Within five Business Days after the receipt of notice of the
Depositor's exercise of its right to defer the payment of interest on the
Debentures pursuant to the Indenture, the Administrative Trustees shall
transmit, in the manner and to the extent provided in Section 10.8, notice of
such exercise to the Holders, unless such exercise shall have been revoked.
The Property Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any
Event of Default unless the Property Trustee shall have received written notice
or a Responsible Officer of the Property Trustee charged with the
administration of this Trust Agreement shall have obtained actual knowledge of
such Event of Default.
SECTION 8.3. Certain Rights of Property Trustee.
Subject to the provisions of Section 8.1:
(a) the Property Trustee may rely and shall be protected in acting or
refraining from acting in good faith upon any resolution, Opinion of Counsel,
certificate, written representation of a Holder or transferee, certificate of
auditors or any other certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report,
notice, request, consent, order, appraisal, bond, debenture, note, other
evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document believed by it to be
genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties;
(b) if (i) in performing its duties under this Trust Agreement the
Property Trustee is required to decide between alternative courses of action,
(ii) in construing any of the provisions of this Trust Agreement the Property
Trustee finds the same ambiguous or inconsistent with any other provisions
contained herein, or (iii) the Property Trustee is unsure of the application of
any provision of this Trust Agreement, then, except as to any matter as to
which the Holders of the Capital Securities are entitled to vote under the
terms of this Trust Agreement, the Property Trustee shall deliver a notice to
the Depositor requesting the Depositor's opinion as to the course of action to
be taken and the Property Trustee shall take such action, or refrain from
taking such action, as the Property Trustee shall be instructed in writing to
take, or to refrain from taking, by the Depositor; provided, however, that if
the Property Trustee does not receive such instructions of the Depositor within
ten Business Days after it has delivered such notice, or such reasonably
shorter period of time set forth in such notice (which to the extent
practicable shall not be less than two Business Days), it may, but shall be
under no duty to, take or refrain from taking such action not inconsistent with
this Trust Agreement as it shall deem advisable and in the best interests of
the Holders, in which event the Property Trustee shall have no liability except
for its own bad faith, negligence or willful misconduct;
(c) any direction or act of the Depositor contemplated by this Trust
Agreement shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Officers' Certificate;
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(d) any direction or act of an Administrative Trustee contemplated by
this Trust Agreement shall be sufficiently evidenced by a certificate executed
by such Administrative Trustee and setting forth such direction or act;
(e) 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 re-registration thereof;
(f) the Property Trustee may consult with counsel (which counsel may
be counsel to the Depositor or any of its Affiliates, and may include any of
its employees) and the advice of such counsel shall be full and complete
authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or
omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon and in accordance
with such advice; the Property Trustee shall have the right at any time to seek
instructions concerning the administration of this Trust Agreement from any
court of competent jurisdiction;
(g) the Property Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any
of the rights or powers vested in it by this Trust Agreement at the request or
direction of any of the Holders pursuant to this Trust Agreement, unless such
Holders shall have offered to the Property Trustee reasonable security or
indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities that might be incurred by
it in compliance with such request or direction; provided that, nothing
contained in this Section 8.3(g) 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 Trust Agreement;
(h) 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, consent, order, approval, bond,
debenture, note or other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document,
unless requested in writing to do so by one or more Holders, but the Property
Trustee may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or
matters as it may see fit;
(i) the Property Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers
hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through its
agents or attorneys, provided that the Property Trustee shall be responsible
for its own negligence or misconduct with respect to selection of any agent or
attorney appointed by it hereunder;
(j) whenever in the administration of this Trust Agreement 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 (which
instructions may only be given by the Holders of the same proportion in
Liquidation Amount of the Trust Securities as would be entitled to direct the
Property Trustee under the terms of the Trust 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 acting in accordance with such instructions; and
(k) except as otherwise expressly provided by this Trust Agreement,
the Property Trustee shall not be under any obligation to take any action that
is discretionary under the provisions of this Trust Agreement.
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No provision of this Trust Agreement shall be deemed to impose any
duty or obligation on any Issuer 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 such Person 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 any Issuer Trustee shall be
construed to be a duty.
SECTION 8.4. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of
Securities.
The recitals contained herein and in the Trust Securities Certificates
shall be taken as the statements of the Issuer Trust and the Depositor, and the
Issuer Trustees do not assume any responsibility for their correctness. The
Issuer Trustees shall not be accountable for the use or application by the
Depositor of the proceeds of the Debentures.
The Property Trustee may conclusively assume that any funds held by it
hereunder are legally available unless an officer of the Property Trustee
assigned to its Corporate Trust Administration department shall have received
written notice from the Depositor, any Holder or any other Issuer Trustee that
such funds are not legally available.
SECTION 8.5. May Hold Securities.
Any Issuer Trustee or any other agent of any Issuer Trustee or the
Issuer Trust, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or
pledgee of Trust Securities and, subject to Sections 8.8 and 8.13, and except
as provided in the definition of the term "Outstanding" in Article I, may
otherwise deal with the Issuer Trust with the same rights it would have if it
were not an Issuer Trustee or such other agent.
SECTION 8.6. Compensation; Indemnity; Fees.
The Depositor agrees:
(a) to pay to the Issuer Trustees from time to time such reasonable
compensation for all services rendered by them hereunder as may be agreed by
the Depositor and the Issuer Trustees from time to time (which compensation
shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a
trustee of an express trust);
(b) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse the
Issuer Trustees upon request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and
advances incurred or made by the Issuer Trustees in accordance with any
provision of this Trust Agreement (including the reasonable compensation and
the expenses and disbursements of their agents and counsel), except any such
expense, disbursement or advance as may be attributable to their negligence,
bad faith or wilful misconduct; and
(c) to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, to indemnify
and hold harmless (i) each Issuer Trustee, (ii) any Affiliate of any Issuer
Trustee, (iii) any officer, director, shareholder, employee, representative or
agent of any Issuer Trustee, and (iv) any employee or agent of the Issuer Trust
(referred to herein as an "Indemnified Person") from and against any loss,
damage, liability, tax, penalty, expense or claim of any kind or nature
whatsoever incurred by such Indemnified Person by reason of the creation,
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operation or termination of the Issuer Trust or any act or omission performed
or omitted by such Indemnified Person on behalf of the Issuer Trust, except
that no Indemnified Person shall be entitled to be indemnified in respect of
any loss, damage or claim incurred by such Indemnified Person by reason of
negligence, bad faith or wilful misconduct with respect to such acts or
omissions.
The provisions of this Section 8.6 shall survive the termination of
this Trust Agreement and the removal or resignation of any Issuer Trustee.
No Issuer Trustee may claim any Lien on any Trust Property as a result
of any amount due pursuant to this Section 8.6.
SECTION 8.7. Corporate Property Trustee Required; Eligibility of
Issuer Trustees.
(a) There shall at all times be a Property Trustee hereunder with
respect to the Trust Securities. The Property Trustee shall be a Person that is
a national or state chartered bank and eligible pursuant to the Trust Indenture
Act to act as such and that has a combined capital and surplus of at least
$50,000,000. If any such Person publishes reports of condition at least
annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of its supervising or
examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section and to the extent
permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, the combined capital and surplus of such
Person shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in
its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time the Property
Trustee with respect to the Trust Securities shall cease to be eligible in
accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately in
the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article. At the
time of appointment, the Property Trustee must have securities rated in one of
the three highest rating categories by a nationally recognized statistical
rating organization.
(b) There shall at all times be one or more Administrative Trustees
hereunder with respect to the Trust Securities. Each Administrative 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 persons authorized to bind that
entity.
(c) There shall at all times be a Delaware Trustee with respect to the
Trust Securities. The Delaware Trustee shall either be (i) a natural person who
is at least 21 years of age and a resident of the State of Delaware, or (ii) a
legal entity with its principal place of business in the State of Delaware and
that otherwise meets the requirements of applicable Delaware law and that shall
act through one or more persons authorized to bind such entity.
SECTION 8.8. Conflicting Interests.
(a) If the Property Trustee has or shall acquire a conflicting
interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act, the Property Trustee
shall either eliminate such interest or resign, to the extent and in the manner
provided by, and subject to the provisions of, the Trust Indenture Act and this
Trust Agreement.
(b) The Guarantee Agreement and the Indenture shall be deemed to be
specifically described in this Trust Agreement for the purposes of clause (i)
of the first proviso contained in Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
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SECTION 8.9. Co-Trustees and Separate Trustee.
Unless an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, at
any time or times, for the purpose of meeting the legal requirements of the
Trust Indenture Act or of any jurisdiction in which any part of the Trust
Property may at the time be located, the Depositor and the Administrative
Trustees, by agreed action of the majority of such Trustees, shall have power
to appoint, and upon the written request of the Administrative Trustees, the
Depositor shall for such purpose join with the Administrative Trustees in the
execution, delivery, and performance of all instruments and agreements
necessary or proper to appoint, one or more Persons approved by the Property
Trustee either to act as co- trustee, jointly with the Property Trustee, of all
or any part of such Trust Property, or to the extent required by law to act as
separate trustee of any such property, in either case with such powers as may
be provided in the instrument of appointment, and to vest in such Person or
Persons in the capacity aforesaid, any property, title, right or power deemed
necessary or desirable, subject to the other provisions of this Section. Any
co-trustee or separate trustee appointed pursuant to this Section shall either
be (i) a natural person who is at least 21 years of age and a resident of the
United States, or (ii) a legal entity with its principal place of business in
the United States that shall act through one or more persons authorized to bind
such entity. In case an Event of Default under the Indenture shall have
occurred and be continuing, the Property Trustee alone shall have the power to
make such appointment.
Should any written instrument from the Depositor be required by any
co-trustee or separate trustee so appointed for more fully confirming to such
co-trustee or separate trustee such property, title, right, or power, any and
all such instruments shall, on request, be executed, acknowledged and delivered
by the Depositor.
Every co-trustee or separate trustee shall, to the extent permitted by
law, but to such extent only, be appointed subject to the following terms,
namely:
(a) The Trust Securities shall be executed by one or more
Administrative Trustees, and the Trust Securities shall be delivered by the
Property Trustee, and all rights, powers, duties, and obligations hereunder in
respect of the custody of securities, cash and other personal property held by,
or required to be deposited or pledged with, the Property Trustee specified
hereunder shall be exercised solely by the Property Trustee and not by such
co-trustee or separate trustee.
(b) The rights, powers, duties, and obligations hereby conferred or
imposed upon the Property Trustee in respect of any property covered by such
appointment shall be conferred or imposed upon and exercised or performed by
the Property Trustee or by the Property Trustee and such co-trustee or separate
trustee jointly, as shall be provided in the instrument appointing such
co-trustee or separate trustee, except to the extent that under any law of any
jurisdiction in which any particular act is to be performed, the Property
Trustee shall be incompetent or unqualified to perform such act, in which event
such rights, powers, duties and obligations shall be exercised and performed by
such co-trustee or separate trustee.
(c) The Property Trustee at any time, by an instrument in writing
executed by it, with the written concurrence of the Depositor, may accept the
resignation of or remove any co-trustee or separate trustee appointed under
this Section, and, in case a Debenture Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing, the Property Trustee shall have power to accept the resignation of,
or remove, any such co-trustee or separate trustee without the concurrence of
the Depositor. Upon the written request of the Property Trustee, the Depositor
shall join with the Property Trustee in the execution, delivery and performance
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of all instruments and agreements necessary or proper to effectuate such
resignation or removal. A successor to any co-trustee or separate trustee so
resigning or removed may be appointed in the manner provided in this Section.
(d) No co-trustee or separate trustee hereunder shall be personally
liable by reason of any act or omission of the Property Trustee or any other
trustee hereunder.
(e) The Property Trustee shall not be liable by reason of any act of a
co-trustee or separate trustee.
(f) Any Act of Holders delivered to the Property Trustee shall be
deemed to have been delivered to each such co-trustee and separate trustee.
SECTION 8.10. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.
No resignation or removal of any Issuer Trustee (the "Relevant
Trustee") and no appointment of a successor Issuer Trustee pursuant to this
Article shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the
successor Issuer Trustee in accordance with the applicable requirements of
Section 8.11.
Subject to the immediately preceding paragraph, the Relevant Trustee
may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Holders. If the
instrument of acceptance by the successor Trustee required by Section 8.11
shall not have been delivered to the Relevant Trustee within 30 days after the
giving of such notice of resignation, the Relevant Trustee may petition, at the
expense of the Trust, any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment
of a successor Relevant Trustee.
Unless a Debenture Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing, any Issuer Trustee may be removed at any time by Act of the Holders
of Common Securities. If a Debenture Event of Default shall have occurred and
be continuing, the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee, or both of them,
may be removed at such time by Act of the Holders of a majority in Liquidation
Amount of the Capital Securities, delivered to the Relevant Trustee (in its
individual capacity and on behalf of the Trust). An Administrative Trustee may
be removed by the Holders of Common Securities at any time. In no event will
the Holders of the Capital Securities have a right to vote to appoint, remove
or replace the Administrative Trustees.
If any Issuer Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of
acting as Issuer Trustee, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of any
Issuer Trustee for any reason, at a time when no Debenture Event of Default
shall have occurred and be continuing, the Holders of Common Securities, by Act
of the Holders of Common Securities, shall promptly appoint a successor Issuer
Trustee or Issuer Trustees, and the retiring Issuer Trustee shall comply with
the applicable requirements of Section 8.11. If the Property Trustee or the
Delaware Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of continuing to
act as the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee, as the case may be, at a
time when a Debenture Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing,
the Holders of Capital Securities, by Act of the Holders of a majority in
Liquidation Amount of the Capital Securities then Outstanding, shall promptly
appoint a successor Relevant Trustee or Trustees, and such successor Trustee
shall comply with the applicable requirements of Section 8.11. If an
Administrative Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting
as Administrative Trustee, at a time when a Debenture Event of Default
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shall have occurred and be continuing, the Holders of Common Securities by Act
of the Holders of Common Securities shall promptly appoint a successor
Administrative Trustee or Administrative Trustees and such successor
Administrative Trustee or Trustees shall comply with the applicable
requirements of Section 8.11. If no successor Relevant Trustee shall have been
so appointed by the Holders of Common Securities or the Holders of Capital
Securities and accepted appointment in the manner required by Section 8.11, any
Holder who has been a Holder of Trust Securities 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 Relevant Trustee.
The Property Trustee shall give notice of each resignation and each
removal of an Issuer Trustee and each appointment of a successor Issuer Trustee
to all Holders in the manner provided in Section 10.8 and shall give notice to
the Depositor. Each notice shall include the name of the successor Relevant
Trustee and the address of its Corporate Trust Office if it is the Property
Trustee.
Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision of this Trust
Agreement, in the event any Administrative Trustee or a Delaware Trustee who is
a natural person dies or becomes, in the opinion of the Depositor, incompetent
or incapacitated, the vacancy created by such death, incompetence or incapacity
may be filled by (a) the unanimous act of the remaining Administrative Trustees
if there are at least two of them or (b) otherwise by the Depositor (with the
successor in each case being a Person who satisfies the eligibility requirement
for Administrative Trustees or Delaware Trustee, as the case may be, set forth
in Section 8.7).
SECTION 8.11. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.
In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Issuer Trustee
such successor Issuer Trustee so appointed shall execute, acknowledge and
deliver to the Issuer Trust and to the retiring Issuer Trustee an instrument
accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the
retiring Issuer Trustee shall become effective and such successor Issuer
Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with
all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Issuer Trustee; but,
on the request of the Depositor or the successor Issuer Trustee, such retiring
Issuer Trustee shall, upon payment of its charges, execute and deliver an
instrument transferring to such successor Issuer Trustee all the rights, powers
and trusts of the retiring Issuer Trustee and if the Property Trustee is the
resigning Issuer Trustee shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to the
successor Issuer Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Property
Trustee hereunder.
In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Relevant Trustee,
the retiring Relevant Trustee and each successor Relevant Trustee with respect
to the Trust Securities shall execute and deliver an amendment hereto wherein
each successor Relevant Trustee shall accept such appointment and which (a)
shall contain such provisions as shall be necessary or desirable to transfer
and confirm to, and to vest in, each successor Relevant Trustee all the rights,
powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Relevant Trustee with respect to the
Trust Securities and the Issuer Trust, and (b) shall add to or change any of
the provisions of this Trust Agreement as shall be necessary to provide for or
facilitate the administration of the Issuer Trust by more than one Relevant
Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such amendment shall
constitute such Relevant Trustees co-trustees and upon the execution and
delivery of such amendment the resignation or removal of the retiring Relevant
Trustee shall become effective to the extent provided therein and each such
successor Relevant Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall
become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring
Relevant
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Trustee; but, on request of the Issuer Trust or any successor Relevant Trustee
such retiring Relevant Trustee shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such
successor Relevant Trustee all Trust Property, all proceeds thereof and money
held by such retiring Relevant Trustee hereunder with respect to the Trust
Securities and the Issuer Trust.
Upon request of any such successor Relevant Trustee, the Issuer Trust
shall execute any and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in
and confirming to such successor Relevant Trustee all such rights, powers and
trusts referred to in the first or second preceding paragraph, as the case may
be.
No successor Relevant Trustee shall accept its appointment unless at
the time of such acceptance such successor Relevant Trustee shall be qualified
and eligible under this Article.
SECTION 8.12. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to
Business.
Any Person into which the Property Trustee, the Delaware Trustee or
any Administrative Trustee that is not a natural Person may be merged or
converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any Person resulting from
any merger, conversion or consolidation to which such Relevant Trustee shall be
a party, or any Person, succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate
trust business of such Relevant Trustee, shall be the successor of such
Relevant Trustee hereunder, provided that such Person 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.
SECTION 8.13. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Depositor
or Issuer Trust.
If and when the Property Trustee shall be or become a creditor of the
Depositor or the Issuer Trust (or any other obligor upon the Capital
Securities), the Property Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of the
Trust Indenture Act regarding the collection of claims against the Depositor or
the Issuer Trust (or any such other obligor).
SECTION 8.14. Property Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.
In case of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy,
reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other similar judicial
proceeding relative to the Issuer Trust or any other obligor upon the Trust
Securities or the property of the Issuer Trust or of such other obligor or
their creditors, the Property Trustee (irrespective of whether any
Distributions on the Trust Securities shall then be due and payable and
irrespective of whether the Property Trustee shall have made any demand on the
Issuer 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 Trust 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
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(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 Trust Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof or to authorize the
Property Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such
proceeding.
SECTION 8.15. Reports by Property Trustee.
(a) Not later than January 31 of each year, the Property Trustee shall
transmit to all Holders in accordance with Section 10.8, and to the Depositor,
a brief report dated as of the immediately preceding December 31 with respect
to:
(i) its eligibility under Section 8.7 or, in lieu thereof, if
to the best of its knowledge it has continued to be eligible under
said Section, a written statement to such effect;
(ii) a statement that the Property Trustee has complied with
all of its obligations under this Trust Agreement during the
twelve-month period (or, in the case of the initial report, the period
since the Closing Date) ending with such December 31 or, if the
Property Trustee has not complied in any material respect with such
obligations, a description of such noncompliance; and
(iii) any change in the property and funds in its possession
as Property Trustee since the date of its last report and any action
taken by the Property Trustee in the performance of its duties
hereunder which it has not previously reported and which in its
opinion materially affects the Trust Securities.
(b) In addition the Property Trustee shall transmit to Holders such
reports concerning the Property Trustee and its actions under this Trust
Agreement as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act at the times
and in the manner provided pursuant thereto.
(c) A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission
to Holders, be filed by the Property Trustee with each national stock exchange,
the Nasdaq National Market or such other interdealer quotation system or
self-regulatory organization upon which the Trust Securities are listed or
traded, with the Commission and with the Depositor.
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SECTION 8.16. Reports to the Property Trustee.
Each of the Depositor and the Administrative Trustees shall provide to
the Property Trustee such documents, reports and information as required by
Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act (if any) and the compliance certificate
required by Section 314(a) of the Trust Indenture Act in the form, in the
manner and at the times required by Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act. The
Depositor and the Administrative Trustees shall annually file with the Property
Trustee a certificate specifying whether such Person is in compliance with all
of the terms and covenants applicable to such Person hereunder.
SECTION 8.17. Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent.
Each of the Depositor and the Administrative Trustees shall provide to
the Property Trustee such evidence of compliance with any conditions precedent,
if any, provided for in this Trust Agreement 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) of the
Trust Indenture Act shall be given in the form of an Officers' Certificate.
SECTION 8.18. Number of Issuer Trustees.
(a) The number of Issuer Trustees shall be six, provided that the
Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee may be the same Person.
(b) If an Issuer Trustee ceases to hold office for any reason, a
vacancy shall occur. The vacancy shall be filled with an Issuer Trustee
appointed in accordance with Section 8.10.
(c) The death, resignation, retirement, removal, bankruptcy,
incompetence or incapacity to perform the duties of an Issuer Trustee shall not
operate to annul, dissolve or terminate the Issuer Trust.
SECTION 8.19. Delegation of Power.
(a) Any Administrative 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 purpose of executing any documents contemplated in
Section 2.7(a), including any registration statement or amendment thereto filed
with the Commission, or making any other governmental filing; and
(b) The Administrative Trustees shall have power to delegate from time
to time to such of their number or to the Depositor the doing of such things
and the execution of such instruments either in the name of the Issuer Trust or
the names of the Administrative Trustees or otherwise as the Administrative
Trustees may deem expedient, to the extent such delegation is not prohibited by
applicable law or contrary to the provisions of this Trust Agreement.
SECTION 8.20. Appointment of Administrative Trustees.
(a) The Administrative Trustees shall initially be Jorge A. Junquera,
an individual, Roberto R. Herencia, an individual, Javier F. Ubarri, an
individual, and Alberto Paracchini, an individual, and their successors shall
be appointed by the Holders of a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Common
Securities and resign or be may be removed by the Holders of a Majority in
Liquidation Amount of the
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Common Securities at any time. Upon any resignation or removal, the Depositor
shall appoint a successor Administrative Trustee. Each Administrative Trustee
shall sign an agreement agreeing to comply with the terms of this Trust
Agreement. If at any time there is no Administrative Trustee, the Property
Trustee or any Holder who has been a Holder of Trust Securities for at least
six months may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment
of one or more Administrative Trustees.
(b) Whenever a vacancy in the number of Administrative Trustees shall
occur, until such vacancy is filled by the appointment of an Administrative
Trustee in accordance with this Section 8.20, the Administrative Trustees in
office, regardless of their number (and not withstanding any other provision of
this Agreement), shall have all the powers granted to the Administrative
Trustees and shall discharge all the duties imposed upon the Administrative
Trustees by this Trust Agreement.
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision of this Trust
Agreement, if any Administrative Trustee who is a natural person dies or
becomes, in the opinion of the Depositor, incompetent or incapacitated, the
vacancy created by such death, incompetence or incapacity may be filled by the
unanimous acts of the remaining Administrative Trustees, if there were at least
two of them prior to such vacancy, and by the Depositor, if there were not two
such Administrative Trustees immediately prior to such vacancy (with the
successor being a Person who satisfies the eligibility requirement for
Administrative Trustees set forth in Section 8.7).
ARTICLE IX.
TERMINATION, LIQUIDATION AND MERGER
SECTION 9.1. Termination Upon Expiration Date.
Unless earlier terminated, the Issuer Trust shall automatically
terminate on ___________ __, ____ (the "Expiration Date"), following the
distribution of the Trust Property in accordance with Section 9.4.
SECTION 9.2. Early Termination.
The first to occur of any of the following events is an "Early
Termination Event":
(a) the occurrence of a Bankruptcy Event in respect of, or the
dissolution or liquidation of, the Depositor;
(b) the written direction to the Property Trustee from all of the
Holders of the Common Securities at any time to terminate the Issuer Trust and
to distribute the Debentures to Holders in exchange for the Capital Securities
(which direction is optional and wholly within the discretion of the Holders of
the Common Securities);
(c) the redemption of all of the Capital Securities in connection with
the redemption of all the Debentures; and
(d) the entry of an order for dissolution of the Issuer Trust by a
court of competent jurisdiction.
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SECTION 9.3. Termination.
The respective obligations and responsibilities of the Issuer Trustees
and the Issuer Trust created and continued hereby shall terminate upon the
latest to occur of the following: (a) the distribution by the Property Trustee
to Holders of all amounts required to be distributed hereunder upon the
liquidation of the Issuer Trust pursuant to Section 9.4, or upon the redemption
of all of the Trust Securities pursuant to Section 4.2; (b) the payment of any
expenses owed by the Issuer Trust; and (c) the discharge of all administrative
duties of the Administrative Trustees, including the performance of any tax
reporting obligations with respect to the Issuer Trust or the Holders.
SECTION 9.4. Liquidation.
(a) If an Early Termination Event specified in clause (a), (b) or (d)
of Section 9.2 occurs or upon the Expiration Date, the Issuer Trust shall be
liquidated by the Issuer Trustees as expeditiously as the Issuer Trustees
determine to be possible by distributing, after satisfaction of liabilities to
creditors of the Issuer Trust as provided by applicable law, to each Holder a
Like Amount of Debentures, subject to Section 9.4(d). Notice of liquidation
shall be given by the Property Trustee by first-class mail, postage prepaid
mailed not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Liquidation Date to
each Holder of Trust Securities at such Holder's address appearing in the
Securities Register. All such notices of liquidation shall:
(i) state the Liquidation Date;
(ii) state that from and after the Liquidation Date, the Trust
Securities will no longer be deemed to be Outstanding and any Trust
Securities Certificates not surrendered for exchange will be deemed to
represent a Like Amount of Debentures; and
(iii) provide such information with respect to the procedures
by which Holders may exchange Trust Securities Certificates for
Debentures, or if Section 9.4(d) applies receive a Liquidation
Distribution, as Administrative Trustees or the Property Trustee shall
deem appropriate.
(b) Except where Section 9.2(c) or 9.4(d) applies, in order to effect
the liquidation of the Issuer Trust and distribution of the Debentures to
Holders, the Property Trustee, either itself acting as exchange agent or
through the appointment of a separate exchange agent, shall establish a record
date for such distribution (which shall be not more than 30 days prior to the
Liquidation Date) and, establish such procedures as it shall deem appropriate
to effect the distribution of Debentures in exchange for the Outstanding Trust
Securities Certificates.
(c) Except where Section 9.2(c) or 9.4(d) applies, after the
Liquidation Date, (i) the Trust Securities will no longer be deemed to be
Outstanding, (ii) certificates representing a Like Amount of Debentures will be
issued to Holders of Trust Securities Certificates, upon surrender of such
Certificates to the exchange agent for exchange, (iii) the Depositor shall use
its best efforts to have the Debentures listed on the national stock exchange,
the Nasdaq National Market or on such other exchange, interdealer quotation
system or self-regulatory organization as the Capital Securities are then
listed, (iv) any Trust Securities Certificates not so surrendered for exchange
will be deemed to represent a Like Amount of Debentures bearing accrued and
unpaid interest in an amount equal to the accumulated and unpaid
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Distributions on such Trust Securities Certificates until such certificates are
so surrendered (and until such certificates are so surrendered, no payments of
interest or principal will be made to Holders of Trust Securities Certificates
with respect to such Debentures) and (v) all rights of Holders holding Trust
Securities will cease, except the right of such Holders to receive Debentures
upon surrender of Trust Securities Certificates.
(d) If, notwithstanding the other provisions of this Section 9.4,
whether because of an order for dissolution entered by a court of competent
jurisdiction or otherwise, distribution of the Debentures in the manner
provided herein is determined by the Property Trustee not to be practical, or
if an Early Termination Event specified in Section 9.2(c) occurs, the Trust
Property shall be liquidated, and the Issuer Trust shall be dissolved, wound-up
or terminated, by the Property Trustee in such manner as the Property Trustee
determines. In such event, on the date of the dissolution, winding-up or other
termination of the Issuer Trust, Holders will be entitled to receive out of the
assets of the Issuer Trust available for distribution to Holders, after
satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the Issuer Trust as provided by
applicable law, an amount equal to the Liquidation Amount per Trust Security
plus accumulated and unpaid Distributions thereon to the date of payment (such
amount being the "Liquidation Distribution"). If, upon any such dissolution,
winding up or termination, the Liquidation Distribution can be paid only in
part because the Issuer Trust has insufficient assets available to pay in full
the aggregate Liquidation Distribution, then, subject to the next succeeding
sentence, the amounts payable by the Issuer Trust on the Trust Securities shall
be paid on a pro rata basis (based upon Liquidation Amounts). The Holders of
the Common Securities will be entitled to receive Liquidation Distributions
upon any such dissolution, winding-up or termination pro rata (determined as
aforesaid) with Holders of Capital Securities, except that, if a Debenture
Event of Default specified in Section 5.1(1) or 5.1(2) of the Indenture has
occurred and is continuing, the Capital Securities shall have a priority over
the Common Securities as provided in Section 4.3.
SECTION 9.5. Mergers, Consolidations, Amalgamations or
Replacements of Issuer Trust.
The Issuer Trust may not merge with or into, consolidate, amalgamate,
or be replaced by, or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets
substantially as an entirety to any corporation or other body, except pursuant
to this Section 9.5. At the request of the Holders of the Common Securities,
with the consent of the Administrative Trustees, the Issuer Trust may merge
with or into, consolidate, amalgamate, or be replaced by or convey, transfer or
lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to a trust
organized as such under the laws of any State; provided, that (i) such
successor entity either (a) expressly assumes all of the obligations of the
Issuer Trust with respect to the Capital Securities, or (b) substitutes for the
Capital Securities other securities having substantially the same terms as the
Capital Securities (the "Successor Securities") so long as the Successor
Securities have the same priority as the Capital Securities with respect to
distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise, (ii) a
trustee of such successor entity possessing the same powers and duties as the
Property Trustee is appointed to hold the Debentures, (iii) such merger,
consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease does
not cause the Capital Securities (including any Successor Securities) to be
downgraded by any nationally recognized statistical rating organization which
assigns ratings to the Capital Securities, (iv) the Successor Securities are
listed, or any Successor Securities will be listed upon notice of issuance, on
the national securities exchange, the Nasdaq National Market or on such other
exchange, interdealer quotation system or self regulatory organization as the
Capital Securities are then listed, if any, (v) such merger, consolidation,
amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease does not adversely
affect the rights, preferences and privileges of the holders of the Capital
Securities
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(including any Successor Securities) in any material respect, (vi) such
successor entity has a purpose substantially identical to that of the Issuer
Trust, (vii) prior to such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement,
conveyance, transfer or lease, the Depositor has received an Opinion of Counsel
to the effect that (a) such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement,
conveyance, transfer or lease does not adversely affect the rights, preferences
and privileges of the Holders of the Capital Securities (including any
Successor Securities) in any material respect, and (b) following such merger,
consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease,
neither the Issuer Trust nor such successor entity will be required to register
as an "investment company" under the Investment Company Act, and (viii) the
Depositor or its permitted transferee owns all of the Common Securities of such
successor entity and guarantees the obligations of such successor entity under
the Successor Securities at least to the extent provided by the Guarantee
Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Issuer Trust shall not, except
with the consent of Holders of all of the Capital Securities, 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 other entity or
permit any other entity to consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or
replace it if such consolidation, amalgamation, merger, replacement,
conveyance, transfer or lease would cause the Issuer Trust or the successor
entity to be taxable as a corporation or classified as other than a grantor
trust for United States Federal income tax purposes.
ARTICLE X.
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
SECTION 10.1. Limitation of Rights of Holders.
Except as set forth in Section 9.2, the death or incapacity of any
person having an interest, beneficial or otherwise, in Trust Securities shall
not operate to terminate this Trust Agreement, nor entitle the legal
representatives or heirs of such person or any Holder for such person, to claim
an accounting, take any action or bring any proceeding in any court for a
partition or winding up of the arrangements contemplated hereby, nor otherwise
affect the rights, obligations and liabilities of the parties hereto or any of
them.
SECTION 10.2. Amendment.
(a) This Trust Agreement may be amended from time to time by the
Property Trustee, the Administrative Trustees and the Holders of all of the
Common Securities, without the consent of any Holder of the Capital Securities,
(i) to cure any ambiguity, correct or supplement any provision herein that may
be inconsistent with any other provision herein, or to make any other
provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Trust
Agreement, which shall not be inconsistent with the other provisions of this
Trust Agreement, or (ii) to modify, eliminate or add to any provisions of this
Trust Agreement to such extent as shall be necessary to ensure that the Issuer
Trust will not be taxable as a corporation or classified as other than a
grantor trust for United States Federal income tax purposes at all times that
any Trust Securities are outstanding or to ensure that the Issuer Trust will
not be required to register as an "investment company" under the Investment
Company Act, provided, however, that in the case of either clause (i) or clause
(ii) such action shall not adversely affect in any material respect the
interests of any Holder, and any such amendment of this Trust Agreement shall
become effective when notice thereof is given to the Holders.
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(b) Except as provided in Section 10.2(c), any provision of this Trust
Agreement may be amended by the Issuer Trustees and the Holders of all of the
Common Securities and with (i) the consent of Holders of at least a Majority in
Liquidation Amount of the Trust Securities, and (ii) receipt by the Issuer
Trustees of an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that such amendment or the
exercise of any power granted to the Issuer Trustees in accordance with such
amendment will not cause the Issuer Trust to be taxable as a corporation or as
other than a grantor trust for United States Federal income tax purposes or
affect the Issuer Trust's exemption from status as an "investment company"
under the Investment Company Act.
(c) In addition to and notwithstanding any other provision in this
Trust Agreement, without the consent of each affected Holder (such consent
being obtained in accordance with Section 6.3 or 6.6), this Trust Agreement may
not be amended to (i) change the amount or timing of any Distribution on the
Trust Securities or otherwise adversely affect the amount of any Distribution
required to be made in respect of the Trust Securities as of a specified date,
or (ii) restrict the right of a Holder to institute suit for the enforcement of
any such payment on or after such date; and notwithstanding any other provision
herein, without the unanimous consent of the Holders (such consent being
obtained in accordance with Section 6.3 or 6.6), this Section 10.2(e) may not
be amended.
(d) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Trust Agreement, no
Issuer Trustee shall enter into or consent to any amendment to this Trust
Agreement that would cause the Issuer Trust to fail or cease to qualify for the
exemption from status as an "investment company" under the Investment Company
Act or to be taxable as a corporation or to be classified as other than a
grantor trust for United States Federal income tax purposes.
(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Trust Agreement to the contrary,
without the consent of the Depositor and the Administrative Trustees, this
Trust Agreement may not be amended in a manner that imposes any additional
obligation on the Depositor or the Administrative Trustees.
(f) In the event that any amendment to this Trust Agreement is made,
the Administrative Trustees or the Property Trustee shall promptly provide to
the Depositor a copy of such amendment.
(g) Neither the Property Trustee nor the Delaware Trustee shall be
required to enter into any amendment to this Trust Agreement that affects its
own rights, duties or immunities under this Trust Agreement. The Property
Trustee shall be entitled to receive an Opinion of Counsel and an Officers'
Certificate stating that any amendment to this Trust Agreement is in compliance
with this Trust Agreement.
SECTION 10.3. Separability.
In case any provision in this Trust Agreement or in the Trust
Securities Certificates 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.
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SECTION 10.4. Governing Law.
THIS TRUST AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF EACH OF THE
HOLDERS, THE ISSUER TRUST, THE DEPOSITOR, THE GUARANTOR AND THE ISSUER TRUSTEES
WITH RESPECT TO THIS TRUST AGREEMENT AND THE TRUST SECURITIES SHALL BE
CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE
WITHOUT REFERENCE TO ITS CONFLICTS OF LAWS PROVISIONS.
SECTION 10.5. Payments Due on Non-Business Day.
If the date fixed for any payment on any Trust Security shall be a day
that is not a Business Day, then such payment need not be made on such date but
may be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day (except as
otherwise provided in Sections 4.1(a) and 4.2(d)), with the same force and
effect as though made on the date fixed for such payment, and no Distributions
shall accumulate on such unpaid amount for the period after such date.
SECTION 10.6. Successors.
This Trust Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the
benefit of any successor to the Depositor, the Issuer Trust and any Issuer
Trustee, including any successor by operation of law. Except in connection with
a consolidation, merger or sale involving the Depositor that is permitted under
Article Eight of the Indenture and pursuant to which the assignee agrees in
writing to perform the Depositor's obligations hereunder, the Depositor shall
not assign its obligations hereunder.
SECTION 10.7. Headings.
The Article and Section headings are for convenience only and shall
not affect the construction of this Trust Agreement.
SECTION 10.8. Reports, Notices and Demands.
Any report, notice, demand or other communication that by any
provision of this Trust Agreement is required or permitted to be given or
served to or upon any Holder, the Depositor or the Guarantor may be given or
served in writing by deposit thereof, first-class postage prepaid, in the
United States mail, hand delivery or facsimile transmission, in each case,
addressed, (a) in the case of a Holder of Capital Securities, to such Holder as
such Holder's name and address may appear on the Securities Register; and (b)
in the case of the Holder of the Common Securities, the Depositor or the
Guarantor, to BanPonce Financial Corp., 521 Fellowship Road, Mt. Laurel, New
Jersey, 08054, Attention: [Secretary], facsimile no.: [_________], or to such
other address as may be specified in a written notice by the Holder of the
Common Securities or the Depositor, as the case may be to the Property Trustee.
Such notice, demand or other communication to or upon a Holder shall be deemed
to have been sufficiently given or made, for all purposes, upon hand delivery,
mailing or transmission. Such notice, demand or other communication to or upon
the Depositor shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given or made only upon
actual receipt of the writing by the Depositor.
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Any notice, demand or other communication that by any provision of
this Trust Agreement is required or permitted to be given or served to or upon
the Property Trustee, the Delaware Trustee, the Administrative Trustees or the
Issuer Trust shall be given in writing addressed to such Person as follows: (a)
with respect to the Property Trustee to The First National Bank of Chicago, One
First National Plaza, Suite 0126, Chicago, Illinois 60670, Attention:
[Corporate Trust Administration]; (b) with respect to the Delaware Trustee, to
First Chicago Delaware Inc., 300 King Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801,
Attention: [Michael J. Majchrzak]; (c) with respect to the Administrative
Trustees, to them at the address above for notices to the Depositor, marked
"Attention: Administrative Trustees of BanPonce Trust __"; and (d) with respect
to the Issuer Trust, to its principal office specified in Section 2.1, with a
copy to the Property Trustee. Such notice, demand or other communication to or
upon the Issuer Trust, the Property Trustee or the Administrative Trustees
shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given or made only upon actual
receipt of the writing by the Issuer Trust, the Property Trustee or such
Administrative Trustee.
SECTION 10.9. Agreement Not to Petition.
Each of the Issuer Trustees and the Depositor agree for the benefit of
the Holders that, until at least one year and one day after the Issuer Trust
has been terminated in accordance with Article IX, they shall not file, or join
in the filing of, a petition against the Issuer Trust under any bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization or other similar law (including the United States
Bankruptcy Code) (collectively, "Bankruptcy Laws") or otherwise join in the
commencement of any proceeding against the Issuer Trust under any Bankruptcy
Law. If the Depositor takes action in violation of this Section 10.9, the
Property Trustee agrees, for the benefit of Holders, that at the expense of the
Depositor, it shall file an answer with the bankruptcy court or otherwise
properly contest the filing of such petition by the Depositor against the
Issuer Trust or the commencement of such action and raise the defense that the
Depositor has agreed in writing not to take such action and should be stopped
and precluded therefrom and such other defenses, if any, as counsel for the
Issuer Trustees or the Issuer Trust may assert.
SECTION 10.10. Trust Indenture Act; Conflict with Trust Indenture
Act.
(a) This Trust Agreement is subject to the provisions of the Trust
Indenture Act that are required to be part of this Trust Agreement and shall,
to the extent applicable, be governed by such provisions.
(b) The Property Trustee shall be the only Issuer Trustee that is a
trustee for the purposes of the Trust Indenture Act.
(c) If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with the
duties imposed by Sections 310 to 317, inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act
through operation of Section 318(c) thereof, such imposed duties shall control.
If any provision of this Trust Agreement 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 Trust Agreement as so modified or
excluded, as the case may be.
(d) The application of the Trust Indenture Act to this Trust Agreement
shall not affect the nature of the Trust Securities as equity securities
representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Issuer Trust.
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SECTION 10.11. Acceptance of Terms of Trust Agreement, Guarantee
Agreement and Indenture.
THE RECEIPT AND ACCEPTANCE OF A TRUST SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN
BY OR ON BEHALF OF A HOLDER OR ANY BENEFICIAL OWNER, WITHOUT ANY SIGNATURE OR
FURTHER MANIFESTATION OF ASSENT, SHALL CONSTITUTE THE UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE
BY THE HOLDER AND ALL OTHERS HAVING A BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN SUCH TRUST
SECURITY OF ALL THE TERMS AND PROVISIONS OF THIS TRUST AGREEMENT, THE GUARANTEE
AGREEMENT AND THE INDENTURE, AND AGREEMENT TO THE SUBORDINATION PROVISIONS AND
OTHER TERMS OF THE GUARANTEE AGREEMENT AND THE INDENTURE, AND SHALL CONSTITUTE
THE AGREEMENT OF THE ISSUER TRUST, SUCH HOLDER AND SUCH OTHERS THAT THE TERMS
AND PROVISIONS OF THIS TRUST AGREEMENT SHALL BE BINDING, OPERATIVE AND
EFFECTIVE AS BETWEEN THE ISSUER TRUST AND SUCH HOLDER AND SUCH OTHERS.
[REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
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<PAGE> 59
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Amended and
Restated Trust Agreement.
BANPONCE FINANCIAL CORP.,
as Depositor
By:
--------------------------------
Name:
Title:
BANPONCE CORPORATION,
as Guarantor
By:
--------------------------------
Name:
Title:
THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO,
as Property Trustee
By:
--------------------------------
Name:
Title:
FIRST CHICAGO DELAWARE INC.,
as Delaware Trustee
By:
--------------------------------
Name:
Title:
-----------------------------------
Name:
as Administrative Trustee
-----------------------------------
Name:
as Administrative Trustee
-----------------------------------
Name:
as Administrative Trustee
-----------------------------------
Name:
as Administrative Trustee
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<PAGE> 60
Exhibit A
[CERTIFICATE OF TRUST]
OF
BANPONCE TRUST __
This Certificate of Trust of BanPonce Trust __ (the "Trust"),
dated _______ __, ____, is being duly executed and filed by the undersigned, as
trustees, to form a business trust under the Delaware Business Trust Act (12
Del. C. (S) 3801 et seq.)
1. Name. The name of the business trust being formed hereby
is BanPonce Trust __.
2. Delaware Trustee. The name and business address of the
trustee of the Trust with a principal place of business in the State of
Delaware is First Chicago Delaware Inc., 300 King Street, Wilmington, Delaware
19801.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, being the trustees of the
Trust, have executed this Certificate of Trust as of the date first above
written.
FIRST CHICAGO DELAWARE INC., as Trustee
By:
--------------------------------
Name:
Title:
-------------------------------
as Trustee
-------------------------------
as Regular Trustee
A-1
<PAGE> 61
Exhibit B
[FORM OF LETTER OF REPRESENTATIONS]
______ ___, ____
The Depository Trust Company,
55 Water Street, 49th Floor,
New York, New York 10041-0099.
Attention: General Counsel's Office
Re: BanPonce Trust __
____% Capital Securities, Series __
CUSIP
--------------------------------
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The purpose of this letter is to set forth certain matters
relating to the issuance and deposit with The Depository Trust Company ("DTC")
of the book-entry-only portion of the ____% Capital Securities, Series __ (the
"Capital Securities"), of BanPonce Trust __, a statutory business trust formed
under the laws of the State of Delaware (the "Issuer"), governed by the Amended
and Restated Trust Agreement, dated as of _______ __, ____, [among] BanPonce
Financial Corp. ("the Corporation"), as Sponsor, [BanPonce Corporation (the
"Guarantor"), as Guarantor,] The First National Bank of Chicago, as Property
Trustee, First Chicago Delaware Inc., as Delaware Trustee, and the
Administrative Trustees named therein. The payment of distributions on the
Capital Securities and payments due upon liquidation of the Issuer or
redemption of the Capital Securities, to the extent the Issuer has funds
available for the payment thereof, are guaranteed by the Corporation and the
Guarantor to the extent set forth in a Guarantee Agreement, dated as of
___________ __, ____, among the Corporation, the Guarantor and The First
National Bank of Chicago, as Guarantee Trustee with respect to the Capital
Securities. The Corporation and the Issuer propose to sell the Capital
Securities to the Underwriters (the "Underwriters") pursuant to a Pricing
Agreement, dated as of _______ __, ____, by and among the Underwriters, the
Issuer and the Corporation, and the Underwriters wish to take delivery of the
Capital Securities through DTC. The First National Bank of Chicago is acting as
transfer agent and registrar with respect to the Capital Securities (the
"Transfer Agent and Registrar").
To induce DTC to accept the Capital Securities as eligible for
deposit at DTC, and to act in accordance with DTC's rules with respect to the
Capital Securities, the Issuer and the Transfer Agent and Registrar make the
following representations to DTC:
B-1
<PAGE> 62
1. Prior to the closing of the sale of the Capital
Securities to the Underwriters on ______ __, ____, there shall be deposited
with, or held by the Transfer Agent and Registrar as custodian for, DTC one or
more global certificates (individually and collectively, the "Global
Certificate") registered in the name of DTC's nominee, Cede & Co., representing
an aggregate of _________ Capital Securities and bearing the following legend:
Unless this certificate is presented by an authorized representative
of The Depository Trust Company, a New York corporation ("DTC"), to
Issuer or its agent for registration of transfer, exchange, or
payment, and any certificate issued is registered in the name of Cede
& Co. or in such other name as is requested by an authorized
representative of DTC (and any payment 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 inasmuch as the registered owner
hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein.
2. The Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of the
Issuer provides for the voting by holders (with no provision for revocation of
consents or votes by subsequent holders) of the Capital Securities under
certain limited circumstances. The Issuer shall establish a record date for
such purposes and shall, to the extent possible, give DTC notice of such record
date not less than 15 calendar days in advance of such record date.
3. In the event of a stock split, conversion,
recapitalization, reorganization or any other similar transaction resulting in
the cancellation of all or any part of the Capital Securities outstanding, the
Issuer or the Transfer Agent and Registrar shall send DTC a notice of such
event as soon as possible but, at least 5 business days prior to the effective
date of such event.
4. In the event of any distribution on, or an offering
or issuance of rights with respect to, the Capital Securities outstanding, the
Issuer or the Transfer Agent and Registrar shall send DTC a notice specifying:
(a) the amount of and conditions, if any, applicable to the payment of any such
distribution or any such offering or issuance of rights; (b) any applicable
expiration or deadline date, or any date by which any action on the part of the
holders of Capital Securities is required; and (c) the date any required notice
is to be mailed by or on behalf of the Issuer to holders of Capital Securities
or published by or on behalf of the Issuer (whether by mail or publication, the
"Publication Date"). Such notice shall be sent to DTC by a secure means (e.g.,
legible telecopy, registered or certified mail, overnight delivery) in a timely
manner designed to assure that such notice is in DTC's possession no later than
the close of business on the business day before the Publication Date. The
Issuer or the Transfer Agent and Registrar will forward such notice either in a
separate secure transmission for each CUSIP number or in a secure transmission
of multiple CUSIP numbers (if applicable) that includes a manifest or list of
each CUSIP number submitted in that transmission. (The party sending such
notice shall have a method to verify subsequently the use of such means and the
timeliness of such notice.) The Publication Date shall be not less than 30
calendar days nor more than 60 calendar days prior to the payment of any such
distribution or any such offering or issuance of rights with respect to the
Capital Securities. After establishing the amount of payment to be made on the
Capital Securities, the Issuer or the Transfer Agent and Registrar will notify
DTC's [Dividend Department] of such payment 5 business days prior to payment
date. Notices to DTC's [Dividend Department] by telecopy shall be sent to
[(212) 709-1723]. Such notices by mail or by any other means shall be sent to:
B-2
<PAGE> 63
[Manager, Announcements
Dividend Department
The Depository Trust Company
7 Hanover Square, 23rd Floor
New York, New York 10004-2695]
The Issuer or the Transfer Agent and Registrar shall confirm
DTC's receipt of such telecopy by telephoning the [Dividend Department] at
[(212) 709-1270].
5. In the event of a redemption by the Issuer of the
Capital Securities, notice specifying the terms of the redemption and the
Publication Date of such notice shall be sent by the Issuer or the Transfer
Agent and Registrar to DTC not less than 30 calendar days prior to such event
by a secure means in the manner set forth in paragraph 4. Such redemption
notice shall be sent to DTC's Call [Notification Department] at [(516) 227-4164
or (516) 227-4190], and receipt of such notice shall be confirmed by
telephoning [(516) 227-4070]. Notice by mail or by any other means shall be
sent to:
[Call Notification Department
The Depository Trust Company
711 Stewart Avenue
Garden City, New York 11530-4719]
6. In the event of any invitation to tender the Capital
Securities, notice specifying the terms of the tender and the Publication Date
of such notice shall be sent by the Issuer or the Transfer Agent and Registrar
to DTC by a secure means and in a timely manner as described in paragraph 4.
Notices to DTC pursuant to this paragraph and notices of other corporate
actions (including mandatory tenders, exchanges and capital changes), shall be
sent, unless notification to another department is expressly provided for
herein, by telecopy to DTC's [Reorganization Department] at [(212) 709-1093 or
(212) 709-1094] and receipt of such notice shall be confirmed by telephoning
[(212) 709-6884], or by mail or any other means to:
[Manager, Reorganization Department
Reorganization Window
The Depository Trust Company
7 Hanover Square, 23rd Floor
New York, New York 10004-2695]
7. All notices and payment advices sent to DTC shall
contain the CUSIP number or numbers of the Capital Securities and the
accompanying designation of the Capital Securities, which, as of the date of
this letter, is "BanPonce Trust __, ____% Capital Securities, Series __".
B-3
<PAGE> 64
8. Distribution payments or other cash payments with
respect to the Capital Securities shall be governed by DTC's current Principal
and Income Payments Rider, a copy of which is attached hereto as Annex I. For
purposes of this letter, the term "Agent" used in Annex I shall be deemed to
refer to The First National Bank of Chicago or any successor Property Trustee
under the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement.
9. DTC may direct the Issuer and the Transfer Agent and
Registrar to use any other telecopy number or address of DTC as the number or
address to which notices or payments may be sent.
10. In the event of a conversion, redemption, or any
other similar transaction (e.g., tender made and accepted in response to the
Issuer's or the Transfer Agent and Registrar's invitation) necessitating a
reduction in the aggregate number of Capital Securities outstanding evidenced
by the Global Certificate, DTC, in its discretion: (a) may request the Issuer
or the Transfer Agent and Registrar to issue and countersign a new Global
Certificate; or (b) may make an appropriate notation on the Global Certificate
indicating the date and amount of such reduction.
11. DTC may discontinue its services as a securities
depositary with respect to the Capital Securities at any time by giving
reasonable prior written notice to the Issuer and the Transfer Agent and
Registrar (at which time DTC will confirm with the Issuer or the Transfer Agent
and Registrar the aggregate number of Capital Securities deposited with it) and
discharging its responsibilities with respect thereto under applicable law.
Under such circumstances, the Issuer may determine to make alternative
arrangements for book-entry settlement for the Capital Securities, make
available one or more separate global certificates evidencing Capital
Securities to any Participant having Capital Securities credited to its DTC
account, or issue definitive Capital Securities to the beneficial holders
thereof, and in any such case, DTC agrees to cooperate fully with the Issuer
and the Transfer Agent and Registrar and to return the Global Certificate, duly
endorsed for transfer as directed by the Issuer or the Transfer Agent and
Registrar, together with any other documents of transfer reasonably requested
by the Issuer or the Transfer Agent and Registrar.
12. In the event that the Issuer determines that
beneficial owners of Capital Securities shall be able to obtain definitive
Capital Securities, the Issuer or the Transfer Agent and Registrar shall notify
DTC of the availability of certificates. In such event, the Issuer or the
Transfer Agent and Registrar shall issue, transfer and exchange certificates in
appropriate amounts, as required by DTC and others, and DTC agrees to cooperate
fully with the Issuer and the Transfer Agent and Registrar and to return the
Global Certificate, duly endorsed for transfer as directed by the Issuer or the
Transfer Agent and Registrar, together with any other documents of transfer
reasonably requested by the Issuer or the Transfer Agent and Registrar.
13. This letter may be executed in any number of
counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original,
but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same
instrument.
B-4
<PAGE> 65
Nothing herein shall be deemed to require the Transfer Agent and
Registrar to advance funds on behalf of BanPonce Trust __.
Very truly yours,
BANPONCE TRUST __
(As Issuer)
By:
-------------------------------
-------------------------------
Administrator
THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO
(As Transfer Agent and Registrar)
By:
-------------------------------
Name:
Title:
RECEIVED AND ACCEPTED:
THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY
By:__________________________
Authorized Officer
B-5
<PAGE> 66
Exhibit C
[FORM OF COMMON SECURITIES CERTIFICATE]
THIS CERTIFICATE IS NOT TRANSFERABLE EXCEPT TO THE DEPOSITOR OR AN
AFFILIATE OF THE DEPOSITOR IN COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAW AND SECTION
5.11 OF THE TRUST AGREEMENT AND ONLY IN CONNECTION WITH A SIMULTANEOUS
DELEGATION AND ASSIGNMENT OF THE EXPENSE AGREEMENT
REFERRED TO THEREIN
Certificate Number Number of Common Securities
CI-
Certificate Evidencing Common Securities
of
BanPonce Trust __
____% Common Securities
(liquidation amount $1,000 per Common Security)
BanPonce Trust __, a statutory business trust formed under the laws of
the State of Delaware (the "Issuer Trust"), hereby certifies that [NAME OF
HOLDER] (the "Holder") is the registered owner of common securities
of the Issuer Trust representing common undivided beneficial interests in the
assets of the Issuer Trust and designated the [____]% Common Securities
(liquidation amount $1,000 per Common Security) (the "Common Securities").
Except in accordance with Section 5.11 of the Trust Agreement (as defined
below) the Common Securities are not transferable and any attempted transfer
hereof other than in accordance therewith shall be void. The designations,
rights, privileges, restrictions, preferences and other terms and provisions of
the Common Securities are set forth in, and this certificate and the Common
Securities represented hereby are issued and shall in all respects be subject
to the terms and provisions of, the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of the
Issuer Trust, dated as of _______ __, ____, as the same may be amended from
time to time (the "Trust Agreement"), among BanPonce Financial Corp., as
Depositor, BanPonce Corporation, as Guarantor, The First National Bank of
Chicago, as Property Trustee, First Chicago Delaware Inc., as Delaware Trustee,
and the Administrative Trustees named therein, including the designation of the
terms of the Common Securities as set forth therein. The Issuer Trust will
furnish a copy of the Trust Agreement to the Holder without charge upon written
request to the Issuer Trust at its principal place of business or registered
office.
Upon receipt of this certificate, the Holder is bound by the Trust
Agreement and is entitled to the benefits thereunder.
Terms used but not defined herein have the meanings set forth in the
Trust Agreement.
C-1
<PAGE> 67
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, one of the Administrative Trustees of the Issuer
Trust has executed this certificate this __th day of ________, ____.
BANPONCE TRUST __
By:
-------------------------------
Name:
Administrative Trustee
C-2
<PAGE> 68
Exhibit D
[FORM OF EXPENSE AGREEMENT]
AGREEMENT AS TO EXPENSES AND LIABILITIES
AGREEMENT AS TO EXPENSES AND LIABILITIES, dated as of ______ __, ____,
between BanPonce Financial Corp., a Delaware corporation (the "Corporation"),
BanPonce Corporation, a Puerto Rico corporation (the "Guarantor") and BanPonce
Trust __, a Delaware business trust (the "Issuer Trust").
WHEREAS, the Issuer Trust intends to issue its Common Securities (the
"Common Securities") to and acquire Debentures from the Corporation and to
issue and sell ____% Capital Securities, Series __ (the "Capital Securities")
with such powers, preferences and special rights and restrictions as are set
forth in the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of the Issuer Trust, dated as
of _______ __, ____ among the Corporation, as Depositor, the Guarantor,
BanPonce Corporation, as Guarantor, The First National Bank of Chicago, as
Property Trustee, First Chicago Delaware Inc., as Delaware Trustee, and the
Administrative Trustees named therein, as the same may be amended from time to
time (the "Trust Agreement");
WHEREAS, the Corporation will own all of the Common Securities of the
Trust;
WHEREAS, terms used but not defined herein have the meanings set forth
in the Trust Agreement;
NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valid consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged:
ARTICLE I
SECTION 1.1. Guarantee by the Corporation. Subject to the terms and
conditions hereof, the Corporation and the Guarantor hereby irrevocably and
unconditionally guarantees to each person or entity to whom the Issuer Trust is
now or hereafter becomes indebted or liable (the "Beneficiaries") the full
payment, when and as due, of any and all Obligations (as hereinafter defined)
to such Beneficiaries. As used herein, "Obligations" means any costs, expenses
or liabilities of the Issuer Trust, other than obligations of the Issuer Trust
to pay to holders of any Trust Securities the amounts due such holders pursuant
to the terms of the Trust Securities. This Agreement is intended to be for the
benefit of, and to be enforceable by, all such Beneficiaries, whether or not
such Beneficiaries have received notice hereof.
SECTION 1.2. Subordination of Guarantee. The guarantee and other
liabilities and obligations of the Corporation and the Guarantor under this
Agreement shall constitute unsecured obligations of the Corporation and the
Guarantor, respectively, and shall rank subordinate and junior in right of
payment to all Senior Indebtedness (as defined in the Indenture) of the
Corporation and the Guarantor, as the case may be, to the extent and in the
manner set forth in the Indenture with respect to the Debentures, and the
provisions of Article XIII of the Indenture will apply, mutatis mutandis, to
the obligations of the Corporation and the Guarantor hereunder. The obligations
of the Corporation and the Guarantor hereunder do not constitute Senior
Indebtedness (as defined in the Indenture) of the Corporation or the Guarantor.
D-1
<PAGE> 69
SECTION 1.3. Term of Agreement. This Agreement shall terminate and be
of no further force and effect upon the dissolution of the Issuer Trust,
provided, however, that this Agreement shall continue to be effective or shall
be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any holder of Capital
Securities or any Beneficiary must restore payment of any sums paid under the
Capital Securities, under any Obligation, under the Guarantee Agreement dated
the date hereof among the Depositor, the Guarantor and The First National Bank
of Chicago as guarantee trustee, or under this Agreement for any reason
whatsoever. This Agreement is continuing, irrevocable, unconditional and
absolute.
SECTION 1.4. Waiver of Notice. The Corporation and the Guarantor
hereby waive notice of acceptance of this Agreement and of any Obligation to
which it applies or may apply, and the Corporation and the Guarantor hereby
waives presentment, demand for payment, protest, notice of nonpayment, notice
of dishonor, notice of redemption and all other notices and demands.
SECTION 1.5. No Impairment. The obligations, covenants, agreements and
duties of the Corporation and the Guarantor under this Agreement shall in no
way be affected or impaired by reason of the happening from time to time of any
of the following:
(a) the extension of time for the payment by the Issuer Trust of
all or any portion of the Obligations or for the performance of any other
obligation under, arising out of, or in connection with, the Obligations;
(b) any failure, omission, delay or lack of diligence on the part
of the Beneficiaries to enforce, assert or exercise any right, privilege, power
or remedy conferred on the Beneficiaries with respect to the Obligations or any
action on the part of the Issuer Trust granting indulgence or extension of any
kind; or
(c) 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 Trust or any of
the assets of the Issuer Trust (other than the liquidation of the Issuer Trust
in accordance with the terms thereof).
There shall be no obligation of the Beneficiaries to give notice to, or obtain
the consent of, the Corporation or the Guarantor with respect to the happening
of any of the foregoing.
SECTION 1.6. Enforcement. A Beneficiary may enforce this Agreement
directly against the Corporation or the Guarantor and the each of the
Corporation and the Guarantor waives any right or remedy to require that any
action be brought against the Issuer Trust or any other person or entity before
proceeding against the Corporation.
SECTION 1.7. Subrogation. Each of the Corporation shall be subrogated
to all rights (if any) of the Issuer Trust in respect of any amounts paid to
the Beneficiaries by the Corporation or the Guarantor, respectively, under this
Agreement; provided, however, that each of the Corporation and the Guarantor
shall not (except to the extent required by mandatory provisions of law) be
entitled to enforce or exercise any rights which it may acquire by way of
subrogation or any indemnity, reimbursement or other agreement, in all cases as
a result of payment under this Agreement, if, at the time of any such payment,
any amounts are due and unpaid under this Agreement.
D-2
<PAGE> 70
ARTICLE II
SECTION 2.1. Assignment. This Agreement may not be assigned by either
party hereto without the consent of the other, and any purported assignment
without such consent shall be void;
SECTION 2.2. Binding Effect. All guarantees and agreements contained
in this Agreement shall bind the successors, assigns, receivers, trustees and
representatives of each of the Corporation and the Guarantor and shall inure to
the benefit of the Beneficiaries.
SECTION 2.3. Amendment. So long as there remains any Beneficiary or
any Capital Securities are outstanding, this Agreement shall not be modified or
amended in any manner adverse to such Beneficiary or to the holders of the
Capital Securities without the consent of such Beneficiary or the holders of
the Capital Securities, as the case may be.
SECTION 2.4. Notices. Any notice, request or other communication
required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be given in writing by
delivering the same against receipt therefor by facsimile transmission
(confirmed by mail), telex or by registered or certified mail, addressed as
follows (and if so given, shall be deemed given when mailed or upon receipt of
an answer-back, if sent by telex):
If given to the Issuer Trust:
With a copy to:
BanPonce Financial Corp.
521 Fellowship Road
Mt. Laurel, New Jersey 08054
Facsimile No.: [_____________]
Attention: [Secretary]
SECTION 2.4. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED AND
INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
D-3
<PAGE> 71
THIS AGREEMENT is executed as of the day and year first above written.
BANPONCE FINANCIAL CORP.
By:
----------------------------------
Name:
Title:
BANPONCE CORPORATION
By:
----------------------------------
Name:
Title:
BANPONCE TRUST __
By:
----------------------------------
Name:
Administrative Trustee
D-4
<PAGE> 72
Exhibit E
[FORM OF CAPITAL SECURITIES CERTIFICATE]
[IF THE CAPITAL SECURITIES CERTIFICATE IS TO BE EVIDENCED BY A
BOOK-ENTRY CAPITAL SECURITIES CERTIFICATE, INSERT--This Capital Securities
Certificate is a Book-Entry Capital Securities Certificate within the meaning
of the Trust Agreement hereinafter referred to and is registered in the name of
a Depositary or a nominee of a Depositary. This Capital Securities Certificate
is exchangeable for Capital Securities Certificates registered in the name of a
person other than the Depositary or its nominee only in the limited
circumstances described in the Trust Agreement and may not be transferred
except as a whole by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary or by a
nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or another nominee of the
Depositary, except in the limited circumstances described in the Trust
Agreement.
Unless this Capital Security Certificate is presented by an authorized
representative of The Depository Trust Company, a New York Corporation ("DTC"),
to BanPonce Trust __ or its agent for registration of transfer, exchange or
payment, and any Capital Security Certificate issued is registered in the name
of Cede & Co. or such other name as is requested by an authorized
representative of DTC (and any payment 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 A PERSON IS WRONGFUL
inasmuch as the registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein.]
E-1
<PAGE> 73
CERTIFICATE NUMBER NUMBER OF CAPITAL SECURITIES
CAI-
CUSIP NO. [_________]
CERTIFICATE EVIDENCING CAPITAL SECURITIES
OF
BANPONCE TRUST __
____% CAPITAL SECURITIES, SERIES __
(LIQUIDATION AMOUNT $1,000 PER CAPITAL SECURITY)
BanPonce Trust __, a statutory business trust formed under the laws of the
State of Delaware (the "Issuer Trust"), hereby certifies that _________________
(the "Holder") is the registered owner of_________ ( ) Capital Securities of
the Issuer Trust representing an undivided preferred beneficial interest in the
assets of the Issuer Trust and designated the BanPonce Trust __ ____% Capital
Securities, Series __ (liquidation amount $1,000 per Capital Security) (the
"Capital Securities"). The Capital Securities are transferable on the books and
records of the Issuer Trust, in person or by a duly authorized attorney, upon
surrender of this certificate duly endorsed and in proper form for transfer as
provided in Section 5.5 of the Trust Agreement (as defined below). The
designations, rights, privileges, restrictions, preferences and other terms and
provisions of the Capital Securities are set forth in, and this certificate and
the Capital Securities represented hereby are issued and shall in all respects
be subject to the terms and provisions of, the Amended and Restated Trust
Agreement of the Issuer Trust, dated as of ________ __, ____, as the same may
be amended from time to time (the "Trust Agreement"), among BanPonce Financial
Corp., as Depositor, BanPonce Corporation, as Guarantor, The First National
Bank of Chicago, as Property Trustee, First Chicago Delaware Inc., as Delaware
Trustee, and the Administrative Trustees named therein, including the
designation of the terms of the Capital Securities as set forth therein. The
Holder is entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee Agreement entered into by
BanPonce Financial Corp., a Delaware corporation, BanPonce Corporation, a
Puerto Rice corporation, and The First National Bank of Chicago, as guarantee
trustee, dated as of _______ __, ____ (the "Guarantee Agreement"), to the
extent provided therein. The Issuer Trust will furnish a copy of the Issuer
Trust Agreement and the Guarantee Agreement to the Holder without charge upon
written request to the Issuer Trust at its principal place of business or
registered office.
Upon receipt of this certificate, the Holder is bound by the Trust
Agreement and is entitled to the benefits thereunder.
E-2
<PAGE> 74
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, one of the Administrative Trustees of the Issuer Trust
has executed this certificate this __th day of _______, ____.
BANPONCE TRUST __
By:
-------------------------------
Name:
Administrative Trustee
E-3
<PAGE> 75
ASSIGNMENT
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned assigns and transfers this Capital
Security to:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Insert assignee's social security or tax identification number)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Insert address and zip code of assignee)
and irrevocably appoints
--------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
agent to transfer this Capital Security Certificate on the books of the Issuer
Trust. The agent may substitute another to act for him or her.
Date:
----------------
Signature:
-------------------------------------------------------------------
(Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this
Capital Security Certificate)
The signature(s) should be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor institution
(banks, stockbrokers, savings and loan associations and credit unions with
membership in an approved signature guarantee medallion program), pursuant to
S.E.C. Rule 17Ad-15.
E-4
<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT 4(H)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
BY AND AMONG
BANPONCE FINANCIAL CORP.,
as Guarantor
BANPONCE CORPORATION,
as Additional Guarantor
and
THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO,
as Guarantee Trustee
RELATING TO
BANPONCE TRUST __
---------------------------
Dated as of January __, 1997
---------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE> 2
CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE*
Section of
Trust Indenture Act Section of
of 1939, as amended Guarantee Agreement
- ------------------- +--------------------
310(a).....................................................4.1(a)
310(b).....................................................4.1(c), 2.8
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)
313........................................................2.3
314(a).....................................................2.4
314(b).....................................................Inapplicable
314(c).....................................................2.5
314(d).....................................................Inapplicable
314(e).....................................................1.1, 2.5, 3.2
314(f).....................................................2.1, 3.2
315(a).....................................................3.1(d)
315(b).....................................................2.7
315(c).....................................................3.1
315(d).....................................................3.1(d)
316(a).....................................................1.1, 2.6, 5.4
316(b).....................................................5.3
316(c).....................................................8.2
317(a).....................................................Inapplicable
317(b).....................................................Inapplicable
318(a).....................................................2.1
318(b).....................................................2.1
318(c).....................................................2.1
- ----------
* This Cross-Reference Table does not constitute part of the Guarantee
Agreement and shall not affect the interpretation of any of its terms or
provisions.
-i-
<PAGE> 3
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.1. Definitions.......................................... 1
ARTICLE II
TRUST INDENTURE ACT
SECTION 2.1. Trust Indenture Act; Application..................... 5
SECTION 2.2. List of Holders...................................... 5
SECTION 2.3. Reports by the Guarantee Trustee..................... 5
SECTION 2.4. Periodic Reports to the Guarantee Trustee............ 5
SECTION 2.5. Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent..... 6
SECTION 2.6. Events of Default; Waiver............................ 6
SECTION 2.7. Event of Default; Notice............................. 6
SECTION 2.8. Conflicting Interests................................ 6
ARTICLE III
POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF THE GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 3.1. Powers and Duties of the Guarantee Trustee........... 7
SECTION 3.2. Certain Rights of Guarantee Trustee.................. 8
SECTION 3.3. Compensation; Indemnity; Fees........................ 10
ARTICLE IV
GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 4.1. Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility....................... 10
SECTION 4.2. Appointment, Removal and Resignation of the
Guarantee Trustee.................................. 11
ARTICLE V
GUARANTEE
SECTION 5.1. Guarantee............................................ 11
SECTION 5.2. Waiver of Notice and Demand.......................... 12
SECTION 5.3. Obligations Not Affected............................. 12
-ii-
<PAGE> 4
SECTION 5.4. Rights of Holders.................................... 13
SECTION 5.5. Guarantee of Payment................................. 13
SECTION 5.6. Subrogation.......................................... 13
SECTION 5.7. Independent Obligations.............................. 13
ARTICLE VI
COVENANTS AND SUBORDINATION
SECTION 6.1. Subordination........................................ 14
SECTION 6.2. Pari Passu Guarantees................................ 14
ARTICLE VII
TERMINATION
SECTION 7.1. Termination.......................................... 14
ARTICLE VIII
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 8.1. Successors and Assigns............................... 15
SECTION 8.2. Amendments........................................... 15
SECTION 8.3. Notices.............................................. 15
SECTION 8.4. Benefit.............................................. 16
SECTION 8.5. Governing Law........................................ 16
SECTION 8.6. Counterparts......................................... 17
-iii-
<PAGE> 5
GUARANTEE AGREEMENT, dated as of January __, 1997, by and among
BANPONCE FINANCIAL CORP., a Delaware corporation (the "Guarantor"), having its
principal office at 521 Fellowship Road, Mt. Laurel, New Jersey 08054, BANPONCE
CORPORATION, a Puerto Rico corporation (the "Additional Guarantor", and together
with the Guarantor, the "Guarantors"), having its principal office at 209 Munoz
Rivera Avenue, Hato Rey, Puerto Rico 00918, and THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF
CHICAGO, a national banking association, as trustee (the "Guarantee Trustee"),
for the benefit of the Holders (as defined herein) from time to time of the
Capital Securities (as defined herein) of BANPONCE TRUST __, a Delaware
statutory business trust (the "Issuer Trust").
RECITALS OF THE CORPORATION
WHEREAS, pursuant to an Amended and Restated Trust Agreement, dated as
of _______ __, ____ (the "Trust Agreement"), among BanPonce Financial Corp., as
Depositor, BanPonce Corporation, as Guarantor, the Property Trustee, the
Delaware Trustee and the Administrative Trustees named therein, the Issuer Trust
is issuing $_____________ aggregate Liquidation Amount (as defined in the Trust
Agreement) of its ___% Capital Securities, Series __ (liquidation amount $____
per Capital Security) (the "Capital Securities"), representing preferred
undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Issuer Trust and having the
terms set forth in the Trust Agreement; and
WHEREAS, the Capital Securities will be issued by the Issuer Trust and
the proceeds thereof, together with the proceeds from the issuance of the Issuer
Trust's Common Securities (as defined herein), will be used to purchase the
Debentures (as defined in the Trust Agreement) of the Guarantor, which
Debentures will be deposited with The First National Bank of Chicago, as
Property Trustee under the Trust Agreement, as trust assets; and
WHEREAS, as an incentive for the Holders to purchase Capital
Securities, the Guarantors desire irrevocably and unconditionally to agree, to
the extent set forth herein, to pay to the Holders of the Capital Securities the
Guarantee Payments and Additional Guarantee Payments (as defined herein), as the
case may be, and to make certain other payments on the terms and conditions set
forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the purchase of Capital Securities
by each Holder, which purchase the Guarantors hereby acknowledge shall benefit
the Guarantors, the Guarantors execute and deliver this Guarantee Agreement for
the benefit of the Holders from time to time.
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.1. Definitions.
For all purposes of this Guarantee Agreement, except as
otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) The terms defined in this Article have the meanings assigned to
them in this Article, and include the plural as well as the singular;
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(b) All other terms used herein that are defined in the Trust Indenture
Act, either directly or by reference therein, have the meanings assigned to them
therein;
(c) The words "include", "includes" and "including" shall be deemed to
be followed by the phrase "without limitation";
(d) All accounting terms used but not defined herein have the meanings
assigned to them in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting
principles;
(e) Unless the context otherwise requires, any reference to an
"Article" or a "Section" refers to an Article or a Section, as the case may be,
of this Guarantee Agreement; and
(f) The words "hereby", "herein", "hereof" and "hereunder" and other
words of similar import refer to this Guarantee Agreement as a whole and not to
any particular Article, Section or other subdivision.
"Additional Guarantee Payments" means payments by the Additional
Guarantor with respect to the Guarantee Payments owed by the Guarantor.
"Additional Guarantor" has the meaning specified in the preamble of
this Guarantee Agreement.
"Affiliate" of any specified Person means any other Person directly or
indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common
control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition,
"control", when used with respect to any specified Person, means the power to
direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly,
whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise;
and the terms "controlling" and "controlled" have meanings correlative to the
foregoing.
"Board of Directors" means, as the context requires, the board of
directors of either of the Guarantors or the Executive Committee of the board of
directors of either of the Guarantors (or any other committee of the board of
directors of either of the Guarantors performing similar functions) or a
committee designated by the board of directors of either of the Guarantors (or
such committee), comprised of two or more members of the board of directors of
either of the Guarantors or officers of either of the Guarantors, or both.
"Capital Securities" has the meaning specified in the recitals to this
Guarantee Agreement.
"Common Securities" means the securities representing common undivided
beneficial interests in the assets of the Issuer Trust.
"Event of Default" means (i) a default by either of the Guarantors in
any of its payment obligations under this Guarantee Agreement or (ii) a default
by either of the Guarantors in any other obligation hereunder that remains
unremedied for 30 days.
"Guarantee Agreement" means this Guarantee Agreement, as modified,
amended or supplemented from time to time.
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"Guarantee Payments" means the following payments or distributions,
without duplication, with respect to the Capital Securities, to the extent not
paid or made by or on behalf of the Issuer Trust: (i) any accumulated and unpaid
Distributions (as defined in the Trust Agreement) required to be paid on the
Capital Securities, to the extent the Issuer Trust shall have funds on hand
available therefor at such time; (ii) the Redemption Price (as defined in the
Trust Agreement) with respect to any Capital Securities called for redemption by
the Issuer Trust, to the extent the Issuer Trust shall have funds on hand
available therefor at such time; and (iii) upon a voluntary or involuntary
termination, winding-up or liquidation of the Issuer Trust, unless Debentures
are distributed to the Holders, the lesser of (a) the Liquidation Distribution
(as defined in the Trust Agreement) with respect to the Capital Securities, to
the extent that the Issuer Trust shall have funds on hand available therefor at
such time, and (b) the amount of assets of the Issuer Trust remaining available
for distribution to Holders on liquidation of the Issuer.
"Guarantee Trustee" means The First National Bank of Chicago, solely in
its capacity as Guarantee Trustee and not in its individual capacity, until a
Successor Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment
pursuant to the terms of this Guarantee Agreement, and thereafter means each
such Successor Guarantee Trustee.
"Guarantor" has the meaning specified in the preamble of this Guarantee
Agreement.
"Guarantors" has the meaning specified in the preamble of this
Guarantee Agreement.
"Holder" means any Holder (as defined in the Trust Agreement) of any
Capital Securities; provided, however, that in determining whether the holders
of the requisite percentage of Capital Securities have given any request,
notice, consent or waiver hereunder, "Holder" shall not include the
Guarantor[s], the Guarantee Trustee, or any Affiliate of the Guarantor[s] or the
Guarantee Trustee.
"Indenture" means the Junior Subordinated Indenture, dated as of
________ __, ____, among the Guarantor, the Additional Guarantor and The First
National Bank of Chicago, as trustee, as the same may be modified, amended or
supplemented from time to time.
"Issuer Trust" has the meaning specified in the preamble of this
Guarantee Agreement.
"List of Holders" has the meaning specified in Section 2.2(a).
"Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Capital Securities" means,
except as provided by the Trust Indenture Act, Capital Securities representing
more than 50% of the aggregate Liquidation Amount (as defined in the Trust
Agreement) of all Capital Securities then Outstanding (as defined in the Trust
Agreement).
"Officers' Certificate" means, with respect to any Person, a
certificate signed by the Chairman or a Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors
of such Person or the President or a Vice President of such Person, and by the
Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of
such Person, and delivered to the Guarantee Trustee. Any Officers' Certificate
delivered with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for
in this Guarantee Agreement shall include:
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(a) a statement by each officer signing the Officers' Certificate that
such officer 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 such officer in rendering the Officers' Certificate;
(c) a statement that 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 such officer, such
condition or covenant has been complied with.
"Person" means a legal person, including any individual, corporation,
estate, partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, company,
limited liability company, trust, business trust, unincorporated association, or
government or any agency or political subdivision thereof, or any other entity
of whatever nature.
"Responsible Officer" means, with respect to the Guarantee Trustee, any
Senior Vice President, any Vice President, any Assistant Vice President, the
Secretary, any Assistant Secretary, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, any
Trust Officer or Assistant Trust Officer or any other officer of the Corporate
Trust Department of the Guarantee Trustee and also means, with respect to a
particular matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of
that officer's knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.
"Successor Guarantee Trustee" means a successor Guarantee Trustee
possessing the qualifications to act as Guarantee Trustee under Section 4.1.
"Trust Agreement" means the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of the
Issuer Trust referred to in the recitals to this Guarantee Agreement, as
modified, amended or supplemented from time to time.
"Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as in force
at the date as of which this Guarantee Agreement was executed; provided,
however, that in the event the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is amended after such
date, "Trust Indenture Act" means, to the extent required by any such amendment,
the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as so amended.
"Vice President," when used with respect to either of the Guarantors,
means any duly appointed vice president, whether or not designated by a number
or a word or words added before or after the title "vice president."
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ARTICLE II
TRUST INDENTURE ACT
SECTION 2.1. Trust Indenture Act; Application.
(a) This Guarantee Agreement is subject to the provisions of the Trust
Indenture Act that are required to be part of this Guarantee Agreement and
shall, to the extent applicable, be governed by such provisions.
(b) If and to the extent that any provision of this Guarantee Agreement
limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by Section 310 and 317,
inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act through operation of Section 318(c)
thereof, such imposed duties shall control. If any provision of this Guarantee
Agreement 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 Guarantee Agreement as so modified or to be excluded, as the case may be.
SECTION 2.2. List of Holders.
(a) The Guarantors shall furnish or cause to be furnished to the
Guarantee Trustee (a) semi-annually, on or before ____________ and ___________
of each year, a list, in such form as the Guarantee Trustee may reasonably
require, of the names and addresses of the Holders (a "List of Holders") as of a
date not more than 15 days prior to the delivery thereof, and (b) at such other
times as the Guarantee Trustee may request in writing, within 30 days after the
receipt by the Guarantors of any such request, a List of Holders as of a date
not more than 15 days prior to the time such list is furnished, in each case to
the extent such information is in the possession or control of the Guarantors
and has not otherwise been received by the Guarantee Trustee in its capacity as
such. The Guarantee Trustee may destroy any List of Holders previously given to
it on receipt of a new List of Holders.
(b) The Guarantee Trustee shall comply with the requirements of Section
311(a), Section 311(b) and Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 2.3. Reports by the Guarantee Trustee.
Not later than January 31 of each year, the Guarantee Trustee shall
provide to the Holders such reports as are required by Section 313 of the Trust
Indenture Act, if any, in the form and in the manner provided by Section 313 of
the Trust Indenture Act. The Guarantee Trustee shall also comply with the
requirements of Section 313(d) of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 2.4. Periodic Reports to the Guarantee Trustee.
The Guarantors shall provide to the Guarantee Trustee, the Securities
and Exchange Commission and the Holders such documents, reports and information,
if any, as required by Section 314 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.
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SECTION 2.5. Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent.
Each of the Guarantors shall provide to the Guarantee Trustee such
evidence of compliance with such conditions precedent, if any, provided for in
this Guarantee Agreement 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 of either of the Guarantors pursuant to Section 314(c)(1)
may be given in the form of an Officers' Certificate.
SECTION 2.6. Events of Default; Waiver.
The Holders of at least a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Capital
Securities may, by vote, on behalf of the Holders of all the Capital Securities,
waive any past default or Event of Default and its consequences. Upon such
waiver, any such default or Event of Default shall cease to exist, and any
default or Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been
cured, for every purpose of this Guarantee Agreement, but no such waiver shall
extend to any subsequent or other default or Event of Default or impair any
right consequent thereon.
SECTION 2.7. Event of Default; Notice.
(a) The Guarantee Trustee shall, within 90 days after the occurrence of
an Event of Default, transmit by mail, first class postage prepaid, to the
Holders, notice of any such Event of Default known to the Guarantee Trustee,
unless such Event of Default has been cured before the giving of such notice,
provided that, except in the case of a default in the payment of a Guarantee
Payment, the Guarantee Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if
and so long as the board of directors, the executive committee or a trust
committee of directors and/or Responsible Officers of the Guarantee Trustee in
good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of
the Holders.
(b) The Guarantee Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any
Event of Default unless the Guarantee Trustee shall have received written
notice, or a Responsible Officer charged with the administration of this
Guarantee Agreement shall have obtained actual knowledge, of such Event of
Default.
SECTION 2.8. Conflicting Interests.
The Trust Agreement and the Indenture shall be deemed to be
specifically described in this Guarantee Agreement for the purposes of clause
(i) of the first proviso contained in Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
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ARTICLE III
POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF THE GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 3.1. Powers and Duties of the Guarantee Trustee.
(a) This Guarantee Agreement shall be held by the Guarantee Trustee for
the benefit of the Holders, and the Guarantee Trustee shall not transfer this
Guarantee Agreement to any Person except to a Successor Guarantee Trustee on
acceptance by such Successor Guarantee Trustee of its appointment to act as
Guarantee Trustee hereunder. The right, title and interest of the Guarantee
Trustee, as such, hereunder shall automatically vest in any Successor Guarantee
Trustee, upon acceptance by such Successor Guarantee Trustee of its appointment
hereunder, and such vesting of title shall be effective whether or not
conveyancing documents have been executed and delivered pursuant to the
appointment of such Successor Guarantee Trustee.
(b) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the
Guarantee Trustee shall enforce this Guarantee Agreement for the benefit of the
Holders.
(c) The Guarantee Trustee, before the occurrence of any Event of
Default and after the curing of all Events of Default that may have occurred,
shall undertake to perform only such duties as are specifically set forth in
this Guarantee Agreement, and no implied covenants shall be read into this
Guarantee Agreement against the Guarantee Trustee. The Guarantee Trustee shall
exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Guarantee Agreement,
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 Guarantee Agreement shall be construed to
relieve the Guarantee Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its
own negligent failure to act or its own wilful misconduct, except that:
(i) Prior to the occurrence of any Event of Default and after
the curing or waiving of all such Events of Default that may have
occurred:
(A) the duties and obligations of the Guarantee
Trustee shall be determined solely by the express provisions
of this Guarantee Agreement (including pursuant to Section
2.1), and the Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable except for
the performance of such duties and obligations as are
specifically set forth in this Guarantee Agreement; and
(B) in the absence of bad faith on the part of the
Guarantee Trustee, the 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 Guarantee Trustee and conforming to
the requirements of this Guarantee Agreement; but in the case
of any such certificates or opinions that by any provision
hereof or of the Trust Indenture Act are specifically required
to be furnished to the Guarantee Trustee, the Guarantee
Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the
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same to determine whether or not they conform to the
requirements of this Guarantee Agreement.
(ii) The Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable for any error
of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer of the
Guarantee Trustee, unless it shall be proved that the Guarantee Trustee
was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts upon which such
judgment was made.
(iii) The Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable with respect
to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in
accordance with the direction of the Holders of not less than a
Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Capital Securities relating to
the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy
available to the Guarantee Trustee, or exercising any trust or power
conferred upon the Guarantee Trustee under this Guarantee Agreement.
(iv) No provision of this Guarantee Agreement shall require
the 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
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 Guarantee Agreement or adequate indemnity
against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.
SECTION 3.2. Certain Rights of Guarantee Trustee.
(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 3.1:
(i) The Guarantee Trustee may 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 reasonably 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 either of the Guarantors
contemplated by this Guarantee Agreement shall be sufficiently
evidenced by an Officers' Certificate unless otherwise prescribed
herein.
(iii) Whenever, in the administration of this Guarantee
Agreement, the Guarantee Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter
be proved or established before taking, suffering or omitting to take
any action hereunder, the Guarantee Trustee (unless other evidence is
herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its
part, request and rely upon an Officers' Certificate which, upon
receipt of such request from the Guarantee Trustee, shall be promptly
delivered by either of or both of the Guarantors.
(iv) The Guarantee Trustee may consult with legal counsel, and
the written advice or opinion of such legal counsel with respect to
legal matters shall be full and complete authorization and protection
in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it
hereunder in good faith and in accordance with such advice or opinion.
Such legal counsel
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may be legal counsel to either of the Guarantors or any of its
Affiliates and may be one of its employees. The Guarantee Trustee shall
have the right at any time to seek instructions concerning the
administration of this Guarantee Agreement from any court of competent
jurisdiction.
(v) The Guarantee Trustee shall be under no obligation to
exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Guarantee
Agreement at the request or direction of any Holder unless such Holder
shall have provided to the Guarantee Trustee such adequate security and
indemnity as would satisfy a reasonable person in the position of the
Guarantee Trustee against the costs, expenses (including attorneys'
fees and expenses) 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 Guarantee Trustee; provided that
nothing contained in this Section 3.2(a)(v) shall be taken to relieve
the Guarantee Trustee, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, of
its obligation to exercise the rights and powers vested in it by this
Guarantee Agreement.
(vi) The 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 Guarantee Trustee, in
its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into
such facts or matters as it may see fit.
(vii) The Guarantee Trustee may execute any of the trusts or
powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by
or through its agents or attorneys, and the Guarantee Trustee shall not
be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any such
agent or attorney appointed by it with due care hereunder.
(viii) Whenever in the administration of this Guarantee
Agreement the Guarantee Trustee shall deem it desirable to receive
instructions with respect to enforcing any remedy or right or taking
any other action hereunder, the Guarantee Trustee (A) may request
instructions from the Holders, (B) may refrain from enforcing such
remedy or right or taking such other action until such instructions are
received, and (C) shall be protected in acting in accordance with such
instructions.
(b) No provision of this Guarantee Agreement shall be deemed to impose
any duty or obligation on the 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 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 Guarantee Trustee
shall be construed to be a duty to act in accordance with such power and
authority.
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SECTION 3.3. Compensation; Indemnity; Fees.
Each of the Guarantors agrees:
(a) to pay to the Guarantee Trustee from time to time such
reasonable compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder as
may be agreed by the Guarantors and the Guarantee Trustee from time to
time (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law
in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust);
(b) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to
reimburse the Guarantee Trustee upon request for all reasonable
expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Guarantee
Trustee in accordance with any provision of this Guarantee Agreement
(including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and
disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any such expense,
disbursement or advance as may be attributable to its negligence or bad
faith; and
(c) to indemnify the Guarantee Trustee for, and to hold it
harmless against, any loss, liability or expense incurred without
negligence, wilful misconduct or bad faith on the part of the Guarantee
Trustee, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or
administration of this Guarantee Agreement, including the costs and
expenses of defending itself against any claim or liability in
connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or
duties hereunder.
The Guarantee Trustee will not claim or exact any lien or charge on any
Guarantee Payments as a result of any amount due to it under this Guarantee
Agreement.
ARTICLE IV
GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 4.1. Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility.
(a) There shall at all times be a Guarantee Trustee which shall:
(i) not be an Affiliate of either of the Guarantors; and
(ii) be a Person that is eligible pursuant to the Trust
Indenture Act to act as such and has a combined capital and surplus of
at least $50,000,000, and shall be a corporation meeting the
requirements of Section 310(a) of the Trust Indenture Act. If such
corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant
to law or to the requirements of its supervising or examining
authority, then, for the purposes of this Section 4.1 and to the extent
permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, 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.
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(b) If at any time the Guarantee Trustee shall cease to be eligible to
so act under Section 4.1(a), the Guarantee Trustee shall immediately resign in
the manner and with the effect set out in Section 4.2.
(c) If the Guarantee Trustee has or shall acquire any "conflicting
interest" within the meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, the
Guarantee Trustee and Guarantors shall in all respects comply with the
provisions of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 4.2. Appointment, Removal and Resignation of the Guarantee
Trustee.
(a) Subject to Section 4.2(b), the Guarantee Trustee may be appointed
or removed without cause at any time by either of the Guarantors.
(b) The Guarantee Trustee shall not be removed until a Successor
Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment by
written instrument executed by such Successor Guarantee Trustee and delivered to
the Guarantors.
(c) The Guarantee Trustee appointed hereunder shall hold office until a
Successor Guarantee Trustee shall have been appointed or until its removal or
resignation. The Guarantee Trustee may resign from office (without need for
prior or subsequent accounting) by an instrument in writing executed by the
Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the Guarantors, which resignation shall not
take effect until a Successor Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has
accepted such appointment by instrument in writing executed by such Successor
Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the Guarantors and the resigning Guarantee
Trustee.
(d) If no Successor Guarantee Trustee shall have been appointed and
accepted appointment as provided in this Section 4.2 within 60 days after
delivery to the Guarantors of an instrument of resignation, the resigning
Guarantee Trustee may petition, at the expense of the Guarantors, any court of
competent jurisdiction for appointment of a Successor Guarantee Trustee. Such
court may thereupon, after prescribing such notice, if any, as it may deem
proper, appoint a Successor Guarantee Trustee.
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 or on behalf of the Issuer Trust or the Additional Guarantor), as and
when due, regardless of any defense, right of set-off or counterclaim that the
Issuer Trust may have or assert, except the defense of payment. The Guarantor's
obligation to make a Guarantee Payment may be satisfied by direct payment of the
required amounts by either of the Guarantors to the Holders or by causing the
Issuer Trust to pay such amounts to the Holders.
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The Additional Guarantor irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to pay
in full to the Holders the Additional Guarantee Payments (without duplication of
amounts theretofore paid by or on behalf of the Issuer Trust or the Guarantor),
as and when due, regardless of any defense, right of set-off or counterclaim
that the Issuer Trust or the Guarantor may have or assert, except the defense of
payment. The Additional Guarantor's obligation to make an Additional Guarantee
Payment may be satisfied by direct payment of the required amounts by either of
the Guarantors to the Holders or by causing the Issuer Trust to pay such amounts
to the Holders.
SECTION 5.2. Waiver of Notice and Demand.
Each of the Guarantors hereby waives notice of acceptance of this
Guarantee Agreement and of any liability to which it applies or may apply,
presentment, demand for payment, any right to require a proceeding first against
the Guarantee trustee, the Issuer Trust or any other Person before proceeding
against either of the Guarantors, protest, notice of nonpayment, notice of
dishonor, notice of redemption and all other notices and demands.
SECTION 5.3. Obligations Not Affected.
The obligations, covenants, agreements and duties of each of the
Guarantors under this Guarantee Agreement shall in no way be affected or
impaired by reason of the happening from time to time of any of the following:
(a) the release or waiver, by operation of law or otherwise,
of the performance or observance by the Issuer Trust of any express or
implied agreement, covenant, term or condition relating to the Capital
Securities to be performed or observed by the Issuer Trust;
(b) the extension of time for the payment by the Issuer Trust
of all or any portion of the Distributions (other than an extension of
time for payment of Distributions that results from the extension of
any interest payment period on the Debentures as provided in the
Indenture), Redemption Price, Liquidation Distribution or any other
sums payable under the terms of the Capital Securities or the extension
of time for the performance of any other obligation under, arising out
of, or in connection with, the Capital Securities;
(c) any failure, omission, delay or lack of diligence on the
part of the Holders to enforce, assert or exercise any right,
privilege, power or remedy conferred on the Holders pursuant to the
terms of the Capital Securities, or any action on the part of the
Issuer Trust granting indulgence or extension of any kind;
(d) the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution,
receivership, insolvency, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of
creditors, reorganization, arrangement, composition or readjustment of
debt of, or other similar proceedings affecting, the Issuer Trust or
any of the assets of the Issuer Trust;
(e) any invalidity of, or defect or deficiency in, the Capital
Securities;
(f) the settlement or compromise of any obligation guaranteed
hereby or hereby incurred; or
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(g) any other circumstance whatsoever that might otherwise
constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor
(other than payment of the underlying obligation), it being the intent
of this Section 5.3 that the obligations of each of the Guarantors
hereunder shall be absolute and unconditional under any and all
circumstances.
There shall be no obligation of the Holders to give notice to, or obtain the
consent of, either of the Guarantors with respect to the happening of any of the
foregoing.
SECTION 5.4. Rights of Holders.
Each of the Guarantors expressly acknowledges that: (i) this Guarantee
Agreement will be deposited with the Guarantee Trustee to be held for the
benefit of the Holders; (ii) the Guarantee Trustee has the right to enforce this
Guarantee Agreement on behalf of the Holders; (iii) the Holders of a Majority in
Liquidation Amount of the Capital Securities have the right to direct the time,
method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the
Guarantee Trustee in respect of this Guarantee Agreement or exercising any trust
or power conferred upon the Guarantee Trustee under this Guarantee Agreement;
and (iv) any Holder may institute a legal proceeding directly against either of
the Guarantors to enforce its rights under this Guarantee Agreement without
first instituting a legal proceeding against the Guarantee Trustee, the Issuer
Trust or any other Person.
SECTION 5.5. Guarantee of Payment.
This Guarantee Agreement creates a guarantee of payment and not of
collection. This Guarantee Agreement will not be discharged except by payment of
the Guarantee Payments in full (without duplication of amounts theretofore paid
by the Issuer Trust) or upon the distribution of Debentures to Holders as
provided in the Trust Agreement.
SECTION 5.6. Subrogation.
Each of the Guarantors shall be subrogated to all rights (if any) of
the Holders against the Issuer Trust in respect of any amounts paid to the
Holders by either of the Guarantors, respectively, under this Guarantee
Agreement; provided, however, that the Guarantors shall not (except to the
extent required by mandatory provisions of law) be entitled to enforce or
exercise any rights which they may acquire by way of subrogation or any
indemnity, reimbursement or other agreement, in all cases as a result of payment
under this Guarantee Agreement, if, at the time of any such payment, any amounts
are due and unpaid under this Guarantee Agreement. If any amount shall be paid
to either of the Guarantors in violation of the preceding sentence, the
Guarantor or the Additional Guarantor, as the case may be, agrees to hold such
amount in trust for the Holders and to pay over such amount to the Holders.
SECTION 5.7. Independent Obligations.
Each of the Guarantors acknowledges that its obligations hereunder are
independent of the obligations of the Issuer Trust with respect to the Capital
Securities and that it shall be liable as principal and as debtor hereunder to
make Guarantee Payments or Additional Guarantee Payments, as the case may be,
pursuant to the terms of this Guarantee Agreement notwithstanding the occurrence
of any event referred to in subsections (a) through (g), inclusive, of Section
5.3 hereof.
-13-
<PAGE> 18
ARTICLE VI
COVENANTS AND SUBORDINATION
SECTION 6.1. Subordination.
The obligations of each of the Guarantors under this Guarantee
Agreement will constitute unsecured obligations of each of the Guarantors and
will rank subordinate and junior in right of payment to all Senior Indebtedness
(as defined in the Indenture) of each of the Guarantors, respectively, to the
extent and in the manner set forth in the Indenture with respect to the
Debentures, and the provisions of Article XIII of the Indenture will apply,
mutatis mutandis, to the obligations of each of the Guarantors hereunder. The
obligations of each of the Guarantors hereunder do not constitute Senior
Indebtedness (as defined in the Indenture) of each of the Guarantors,
respectively.
SECTION 6.2. Pari Passu Guarantees.
The obligations of each of the Guarantors under this Guarantee
Agreement shall rank pari passu with the obligations of each of the Guarantors,
respectively, under (i) any similar guarantee agreements issued by the Guarantor
or the Additional Guarantor, as the case may be, on behalf of the holders of
preferred or capital securities issued by any Issuer Trust (as defined in the
Indenture), (ii) the Indenture and the Securities (as defined therein) issued
thereunder; (iii) the Expense Agreement (as defined in the Trust Agreement) and
any similar expense agreements entered into by the Guarantor or the Additional
Guarantor, as the case may be, in connection with the offering of Capital
Securities (as defined in the Indenture) by any Issuer Trust (as defined in the
Indenture), and (iv) any other security, guarantee or other agreement or
obligation that is expressly stated to rank pari passu with the obligations of
the Guarantor or the Additional Guarantor, as the case may be, under this
Guarantee Agreement or with any obligation that ranks pari passu with the
obligations of the Guarantor or the Additional Guarantor, as the case may be,
under this Guarantee Agreement.
ARTICLE VII
TERMINATION
SECTION 7.1. Termination.
This Guarantee Agreement shall terminate and be of no further force and
effect upon (i) full payment of the Redemption Price (as defined in the Trust
Agreement) of all Capital Securities, (ii) the distribution of Debentures to the
Holders in exchange for all of the Capital Securities or (iii) full payment of
the amounts payable in accordance with Article IX of the Trust Agreement upon
liquidation of the Issuer Trust. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Guarantee
Agreement will continue to be effective or will be reinstated, as the case may
be, if at any time any Holder is required to repay any sums paid with respect to
Capital Securities or this Guarantee Agreement.
-14-
<PAGE> 19
ARTICLE VIII
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 8.1. Successors and Assigns.
All guarantees and agreements contained in this Guarantee Agreement
shall bind the successors, assigns, receivers, trustees and representatives of
each of the Guarantors, respectively, and shall inure to the benefit of the
Holders of the Capital Securities then outstanding. Except in connection with a
consolidation, merger or sale involving either of the Guarantors that is
permitted under Article VIII of the Indenture and pursuant to which the
successor or assignee agrees in writing to perform such Guarantor's obligations
hereunder, each of the Guarantors shall not assign its obligations hereunder,
and any purported assignment other than in accordance with this provision shall
be void.
SECTION 8.2. Amendments.
Except with respect to any changes that do not adversely affect the
rights of the Holders in any material respect (in which case no consent of the
Holders will be required), this Guarantee Agreement may only be amended with the
prior approval of the Holders of not less than a Majority in Liquidation Amount
of the Capital Securities. The provisions of Article VI of the Trust Agreement
concerning meetings of the Holders shall apply to the giving of such approval.
SECTION 8.3. Notices.
Any notice, request or other communication required or permitted to be
given hereunder shall be in writing, duly signed by the party giving such
notice, and delivered, telecopied or mailed by first class mail as follows:
(a) if given to the Guarantor, to the address or telecopy number set
forth below or such other address or telecopy number as the Guarantor may give
notice to the Guarantee Trustee and the Holders:
BanPonce Financial Corp.
521 Fellowship Road
Mt. Laurel, New Jersey 08054
Attention: ___________
Telecopy: ____________
(b) if given to the Additional Guarantor, to the address or telecopy
number set forth below or such other address or telecopy number as the
Additional Guarantor may give notice to the Guarantee Trustee and the Holders:
-15-
<PAGE> 20
BanPonce Corporation
209 Munoz Rivera Avenue
Hato Rey, Puerto Rico 00918
Attention: ___________
Telecopy: ____________
(c) if given to the Guarantee Trustee, at the address or telecopy
number set forth below or such other address or telecopy number as the Guarantee
Trustee may give notice to the Guarantor and Holders:
The First National Bank of Chicago
One First National Bank Plaza, Suite 0126
Chicago, Illinois 60670
Attention: Corporate Trust Administration
Telecopy: 312-407-1708
with a copy to:
BanPonce Trust __
c/o BanPonce Financial Corp.
521 Fellowship Road
Mt. Laurel, New Jersey 08054
Attention: ___________
Telecopy: ____________
(c) if given to any Holder, at the address set forth on the books and
records of the Issuer Trust.
All notices hereunder 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 8.4. Benefit.
This Guarantee Agreement is solely for the benefit of the Holders and
is not separately transferable from the Capital Securities.
SECTION 8.5. Governing Law.
THIS GUARANTEE AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
-16-
<PAGE> 21
SECTION 8.6. Counterparts.
This instrument may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of
which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts
shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.
-17-
<PAGE> 22
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Guarantee
Agreement as of the day and year first above written.
BANPONCE FINANCIAL CORP.
By:________________________________
Name:
Title:
BANPONCE CORPORATION
By:________________________________
Name:
Title:
THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO,
as Guarantee Trustee
By:________________________________
Name:
Title:
<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT 5(A)
BANPONCE CORPORATION
P.O. Box 362708
San Juan, Puerto Rico 00936-2708
Telephone (787) 765-9800
January 29, 1997
BanPonce Corporation,
209 Munoz Rivera Avenue,
Hato Rey, Puerto Rico 00918.
BanPonce Financial Corp.,
521 Fellowship Road,
Mt. Laurel, New Jersey 08054.
BanPonce Trust I,
c/o BanPonce Financial Corp.,
521 Fellowship Road,
Mt. Laurel, New Jersey 08054.
BanPonce Trust II,
c/o BanPonce Financial Corp.,
521 Fellowship Road,
Mt. Laurel, New Jersey 08054.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
In connection with the registration under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), of (i) up to $150,000,000 aggregate
liquidation amount of capital securities representing beneficial ownership
interests (the "Capital Securities") in BanPonce Trust I and BanPonce Trust II
(the "Trusts"), (ii) up to $150,000,000 aggregate principal amount of junior
subordinated deferrable interest debentures (the "Debentures") to be issued by
BanPonce
<PAGE> 2
BanPonce Corporation
BanPonce Financial Corp.
BanPonce Trust I
BanPonce Trust II -2-
Financial Corp. (the "Corporation"), (iii) unconditional and irrevocable
guarantees (the "Guarantees" and each a "Guarantee") of the obligations of the
Trusts under the Capital Securities, to be issued by the Corporation, (iv)
unconditional and irrevocable guarantees (the "Additional Guarantees" and each
an "Additional Guarantee") of the obligations of the Corporation under the
Guarantees, to be issued by BanPonce Corporation (the "Guarantor") and (v)
unconditional and irrevocable guarantees (the "Debenture Guarantees" and each a
"Debenture Guarantee") of the obligations of the Corporation under the
Debentures, to be issued by the Guarantor, in each case to be offered from time
to time at prices and on terms to be determined at the time of sale, I, as
Counsel to the Guarantor, have examined such corporate records, certificates
and other documents, and such questions of law, as I have considered necessary
or appropriate for the purposes of this opinion.
Upon the basis of such examination, I advise you that, in my
opinion:
(i) the Guarantor has been duly incorporated and is an
existing corporation in good standing under the laws of the Commonwealth of
Puerto Rico, and
<PAGE> 3
BanPonce Corporation
BanPonce Financial Corp.
BanPonce Trust I
BanPonce Trust II -3-
(ii) when the Registration Statement has become effective
under the Act, the indenture (the "Indenture") relating to the Debentures and
the Debenture Guarantees has been duly authorized, executed and delivered, the
terms of the Debentures and the Debenture Guarantees and of their issuance and
sale have been duly established in conformity with the Indenture so as not to
violate any applicable law or result in a default under or breach of any
agreement or instrument binding upon the Corporation or the Guarantor and so as
to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or
governmental body having jurisdiction over the Corporation or the Guarantor,
the Debentures have been duly executed and authenticated and the Debenture
Guarantees have been duly executed, each in accordance with the Indenture, the
Debentures have been issued and sold as contemplated in the Registration
Statement, the guarantee agreement (the "Guarantee Agreement") relating to the
Guarantee and Additional Guarantee has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered, the terms of the Guarantee and the Additional Guarantee and of their
issuance have been duly established in conformity with the Guarantee Agreement
so as not to violate any applicable law or result in a default
<PAGE> 4
BanPonce Corporation
BanPonce Financial Corp.
BanPonce Trust I
BanPonce Trust II -4-
under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Corporation or
the Guarantor and so as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed
by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Corporation or
the Guarantor, and the Guarantees and the Additional Guarantees have been duly
authorized, executed and delivered by the Corporation and the Guarantor,
respectively, (i) each of the Debentures and the Guarantees will constitute
valid and legally binding obligations of the Corporation, subject to
bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and
similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors'
rights and to general equity principles and (ii) each of the Debenture
Guarantees and the Additional Guarantees will constitute valid and legally
binding obligations of the Guarantor, enforceable against the Guarantor in
accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent
transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability
relating to or affecting creditors' rights and to general equity principles.
The foregoing opinion is limited to the Federal laws of the
United States, the laws of the State of New York
<PAGE> 5
BanPonce Corporation
BanPonce Financial Corp.
BanPonce Trust I
BanPonce Trust II -5-
and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the General Corporation Law of the
State of Delaware, and I am expressing no opinion as to the effect of the laws
of any other jurisdiction. With respect to all matters of the laws of the
State of New York and the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, I
have relied upon the opinion, dated of even date herewith, of Sullivan &
Cromwell, and my opinion is subject to the same assumptions, qualifications and
limitations with respect to such matters as are contained in such opinion of
Sullivan & Cromwell.
Also, I have relied as to certain matters on information
obtained from public officials, officers of the Corporation and the Guarantor
and other sources believed by me to be responsible.
I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit
to the Registration Statement and to the reference to me under the heading
"Validity of Securities" in the Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement. In
giving such consent, I do not thereby admit that I am in the category of
persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act.
Very truly yours,
/s/ BRUNILDA SANTOS DE ALVAREZ
<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT 5(B)
SULLIVAN & CROMWELL
125 Broad Street
New York, New York 10004
January 29, 1997
BanPonce Corporation,
209 Munoz Rivera Avenue,
Hato Rey, Puerto Rico 00918.
BanPonce Financial Corp.,
521 Fellowship Road,
Mt. Laurel, New Jersey 08054.
BanPonce Trust I,
c/o BanPonce Financial Corp.,
521 Fellowship Road,
Mt. Laurel, New Jersey 08054.
BanPonce Trust II,
c/o BanPonce Financial Corp.,
521 Fellowship Road,
Mt. Laurel, New Jersey 08054.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
In connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the "Act"), of (i) up to $150,000,000 aggregate liquidation amount of
capital securities representing beneficial ownership interests (the "Capital
Securities") in BanPonce Trust I and BanPonce Trust II (the "Trusts"), (ii) up
to $150,000,000 aggregate principal amount of junior subordinated deferrable
interest debentures (the "Debentures") to be issued by BanPonce Financial Corp.
(the "Corporation"), (iii) unconditional and
<PAGE> 2
BanPonce Corporation
BanPonce Financial Corp.
BanPonce Trust I
BanPonce Trust II -2-
irrevocable guarantees (the "Guarantees" and each a "Guarantee") of the
obligations of the Trusts under the Capital Securities, to be issued by the
Corporation, (iv) unconditional and irrevocable guarantees (the "Additional
Guarantees" and each an "Additional Guarantee") of the obligations of the
Corporation under the Guarantees, to be issued by BanPonce Corporation (the
"Guarantor") and (v) unconditional and irrevocable guarantees (the "Debenture
Guarantees" and each a "Debenture Guarantee") of the obligations of the
Corporation under the Debentures, to be issued by the Guarantor, in each case
to be offered from time to time at prices and on terms to be determined at the
time of sale, we, as your counsel, have examined such corporate records,
certificates and other documents, and such questions of law, as we have
considered necessary or appropriate for the purposes of this opinion.
Upon the basis of such examination, we advise you that, in our opinion,
when the Registration Statement has become effective under the Act, the
indenture (the "Indenture") relating to the Debentures and the Debenture
Guarantees has been duly authorized, executed and delivered, the terms of the
Debentures and the Debenture Guarantees and of their issuance and sale have
been duly established in conformity with the Indenture so as not to violate any
applicable law or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or
instrument binding upon the Corporation or the Guarantor and so as to comply
with any requirement or
<PAGE> 3
BanPonce Corporation
BanPonce Financial Corp.
BanPonce Trust I
BanPonce Trust II -3-
restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over
the Corporation or the Guarantor, the Debentures have been duly executed and
authenticated and the Debenture Guarantees have been duly executed, each in
accordance with the Indenture, the Debentures have been issued and sold as
contemplated in the Registration Statement, the guarantee agreement (the
"Guarantee Agreement") relating to the Guarantee and Additional Guarantee has
been duly authorized, executed and delivered, the terms of the Guarantee and
the Additional Guarantee and of their issuance have been duly established in
conformity with the Guarantee Agreement so as not to violate any applicable
law or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument
binding upon the Corporation or the Guarantor and so as to comply with any
requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having
jurisdiction over the Corporation or the Guarantor, and the Guarantees and
the Additional Guarantees have been duly authorized, executed and delivered
by the Corporation and the Guarantor, respectively, (i) each of the Debentures
and the Guarantees will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of
the Corporation, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer,
reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating
to or
<PAGE> 4
BanPonce Corporation
BanPonce Financial Corp.
BanPonce Trust I
BanPonce Trust II -4-
affecting creditors' rights and to general equity principles and (ii) each of
the Debenture Guarantees and the Additional Guarantees will constitute valid
and legally binding obligations of the Guarantor, enforceable against the
Guarantor in accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency,
fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general
applicability relating to or affecting creditors' rights and to general equity
principles.
The foregoing opinion is limited to the Federal laws of the United States,
the laws of the State of New York and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, and we are expressing no
opinion as to the effect of the laws of any other jurisdiction. With respect
to all matters of the laws of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, we have relied
upon the opinion, dated of even date herewith, of Brunilda Santos de Alvarez,
Esq., Counsel of the Guarantor, and our opinion is subject to the same
assumptions, qualifications and limitations with respect to such matters as are
contained in such opinion of Ms. Santos de Alvarez.
Also, we have relied as to certain matters on information obtained from
public officials, officers of the
<PAGE> 5
BanPonce Corporation
BanPonce Financial Corp.
BanPonce Trust I
BanPonce Trust II -5-
Corporation and the Guarantor and other sources believed by us to be
responsible.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement and to the references to us under the heading "Validity
of Securities" in the Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement. In giving such
consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose
consent is required under Section 7 of the Act.
Very truly yours,
/s/ SULLIVAN & CROMWELL
<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT 5(C)
Richards, Layton & Finger
One Rodney Square
P.O. Box 551
Wilmington, Delaware 19899
January 29, 1997
BanPonce Corporation BanPonce Financial Corp.
209 Munoz Rivera Avenue 521 Fellowship Road
Hato Rey, Puerto Rico 00918 Mt. Laurel, New Jersey 08054
BanPonce Trust I
c/o BanPonce Financial Corp.
521 Fellowship Road
Mt. Laurel, New Jersey 08054
Re: BanPonce Trust I
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as special Delaware counsel for BanPonce Corporation, a
Puerto Rico corporation (the "Company"), BanPonce Financial Corp., a Delaware
corporation ("BanPonce Financial"), and BanPonce Trust I, a Delaware business
trust (the "Trust"), in connection with the matters set forth herein. At your
request, this opinion is being furnished to you.
For purposes of giving the opinions hereinafter set forth, our
examination of documents has been limited to the examination of originals or
copies of the following:
(a) The Certificate of Trust of the Trust (the "Certificate"), dated
January 15, 1997 as filed with the office of the Secretary of State of the
State of Delaware (the "Secretary of State") on January 16, 1997;
<PAGE> 2
BanPonce Trust I
January 29, 1997
Page 2
(b) The Trust Agreement of the Trust, dated as of January 15, 1997
among the Company, BanPonce Financial and the trustees of the Trust named
therein;
(c) The Registration Statement (the "Registration Statement") on Form
S-3, including a preliminary prospectus with respect to the Trust (the
"Prospectus"), relating to the Capital Securities of the Trust representing
preferred undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust (each, a
"Capital Security" and collectively, the "Capital Securities"), filed by the
Company and the Trust with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or about
January 29, 1997;
(d) A form of Amended and Restated Trust Agreement for the Trust, to
be entered into between the Company, BanPonce Financial, the trustees of the
Trust named therein, and the holders, from time to time, of the undivided
beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust (including Exhibits C and E
thereto) (the "Trust Agreement"), attached as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement; and
(e) A Certificate of Good Standing for the Trust, dated January 29,
1997, obtained from the Secretary of State.
Initially capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined are
used as defined in the Trust Agreement.
For purposes of this opinion, we have not reviewed any documents other
than the documents listed in paragraphs (a) through (e) above. In particular,
we have not reviewed any document (other than the documents listed in paragraphs
(a) through (e) above) that is referred to in or incorporated by reference into
the documents reviewed by us. We have assumed that there exists no provision
in any document that we have not reviewed that is inconsistent with the opinions
stated herein. We have conducted no independent factual investigation of our
own but rather have relied solely upon the foregoing documents, the statements
and information set forth therein and the additional matters recited or assumed
herein, all of which we have assumed to be true, complete and accurate in all
material respects.
With respect to all documents examined by us, we have assumed (i) the
authenticity of all documents submitted to us as authentic originals, (ii) the
conformity with the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies or
forms, and (iii) the genuineness of all signatures.
For purposes of this opinion, we have assumed (i) that the Trust
Agreement and the Certificate are in full force and effect and have not been
amended, (ii) except to the extent provided in paragraph 1 below, the due
organization or due formation, as the case may be, and valid existence in good
standing of each party to the documents examined by us under the laws
<PAGE> 3
BanPonce Trust I
January 29, 1997
Page 3
of the jurisdiction governing its creation, organization or formation, (iii)
the legal capacity of natural persons who are parties to the documents examined
by us, (iv) that each of the parties to the documents examined by us has the
power and authority to execute and deliver, and to perform its obligations
under, such documents, (v) the due authorization, execution and delivery by all
parties thereto of all documents examined by us, (vi) the receipt by each
Person to whom a Capital Security is to be issued by the Trust (collectively,
the "Capital Security Holders") of a certificate for such Capital Security in
the form prescribed by the Trust Agreement and the payment for such Capital
Security, in accordance with the Trust Agreement and the Registration
Statement, and (vii) that the Capital Securities are issued and sold to the
Capital Security Holders in accordance with the Trust Agreement and the
Registration Statement. We have not participated in the preparation of the
Registration Statement and assume no responsibility for its contents.
This opinion is limited to the laws of the State of Delaware (excluding
the securities laws of the State of Delaware), and we have not considered and
express no opinion on the laws of any other jurisdiction, including federal laws
and rules and regulations relating thereto. Our opinions are rendered only with
respect to Delaware laws and rules, regulations and orders thereunder which are
currently in effect.
Based upon the foregoing, and upon our examination of such questions of
law and statutes of the State of Delaware as we have considered necessary or
appropriate, and subject to the assumptions, qualifications, limitations and
exceptions set forth herein, we are of the opinion that:
1. The Trust has been duly created and is validly existing in good
standing as a business trust under the Delaware Business Trust Act.
2. The Capital Securities of the Trust will represent valid and,
subject to the qualifications set forth in paragraph 3 below, fully paid and
nonassessable undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust.
3. The Capital Security Holders, 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. We note that the Capital Security
Holders may be obligated to make payments as set forth in the Trust Agreement.
We consent to the filing of this opinion with the Securities and
Exchange Commission as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. We hereby
consent to the use of our name under the heading "Validity of Securities" in the
Prospectus. In giving the foregoing consent, we do not thereby admit that we
come within the category of persons whose consent is
<PAGE> 4
BanPonce Trust I
January 29, 1997
Page 4
required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the
rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder.
Except as stated above, without our prior written consent, this opinion may
not be furnished or quoted to, or relied upon by, any other person for any
purpose.
Very truly yours,
/s/ RICHARDS, LAYTON & FINGER
CDK
<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT 5(D)
Richards, Layton & Finger
One Rodney Square
P.O. Box 551
Wilmington, Delaware 19899
January 29, 1997
BanPonce Corporation BanPonce Financial Corp.
209 Munoz Rivera Avenue 521 Fellowship Road
Hato Rey, Puerto Rico 00918 Mt. Laurel, New Jersey 08054
BanPonce Trust II
c/o BanPonce Financial Corp.
521 Fellowship Road
Mt. Laurel, New Jersey 08054
Re: BanPonce Trust II
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as special Delaware counsel for BanPonce Corporation, a
Puerto Rico corporation (the "Company"), BanPonce Financial Corp., a Delaware
corporation ("BanPonce Financial"), and BanPonce Trust II, a Delaware business
trust (the "Trust"), in connection with the matters set forth herein. At your
request, this opinion is being furnished to you.
For purposes of giving the opinions hereinafter set forth, our
examination of documents has been limited to the examination of originals or
copies of the following:
(a) The Certificate of Trust of the Trust (the "Certificate"), dated
January 15, 1997 as filed with the office of the Secretary of State of the
State of Delaware (the "Secretary of State") on January 16, 1997;
<PAGE> 2
BanPonce Trust II
January 29, 1997
Page 2
(b) The Trust Agreement of the Trust, dated as of January 15, 1997
among the Company, BanPonce Financial and the trustees of the Trust named
therein;
(c) The Registration Statement (the "Registration Statement") on
Form S-3, including a preliminary prospectus with respect to the Trust (the
"Prospectus"), relating to the Capital Securities of the Trust representing
preferred undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust (each, a
"Capital Security" and collectively, the "Capital Securities"), filed by the
Company and the Trust with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or about
January 29, 1997;
(d) A form of Amended and Restated Trust Agreement for the Trust,
to be entered into between the Company, BanPonce Financial, the trustees of the
Trust named therein, and the holders, from time to time, of the undivided
beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust (including Exhibits C and E
thereto) (the "Trust Agreement"), attached as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement; and
(e) A Certificate of Good Standing for the Trust, dated January
29, 1997, obtained from the Secretary of State.
Initially capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined are
used as defined in the Trust Agreement.
For purposes of this opinion, we have not reviewed any documents other
than the documents listed in paragraphs (a) through (e) above. In particular,
we have not reviewed any document (other than the documents listed in
paragraphs (a) through (e) above) that is referred to in or incorporated by
reference into the documents reviewed by us. We have assumed that there exists
no provision in any document that we have not reviewed that is inconsistent
with the opinions stated herein. We have conducted no independent factual
investigation of our own but rather have relied solely upon the foregoing
documents, the statements and information set forth therein and the additional
matters recited or assumed herein, all of which we have assumed to be true,
complete and accurate in all material respects.
With respect to all documents examined by us, we have assumed (i) the
authenticity of all documents submitted to us as authentic originals, (ii) the
conformity with the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies or
forms, and (iii) the genuineness of all signatures.
For purposes of this opinion, we have assumed (i) that the Trust
Agreement and the Certificate are in full force and effect and have not been
amended, (ii) except to the extent provided in paragraph 1 below, the due
organization or due formation, as the case may be, and valid existence in good
standing of each party to the documents examined by us under the laws
<PAGE> 3
BanPonce Trust II
January 29, 1997
Page 3
of the jurisdiction governing its creation, organization or formation, (iii) the
legal capacity of natural persons who are parties to the documents examined by
us, (iv) that each of the parties to the documents examined by us has the power
and authority to execute and deliver, and to perform its obligations under,
such documents, (v) the due authorization, execution and delivery by all parties
thereto of all documents examined by us, (vi) the receipt by each Person to
whom a Capital Security is to be issued by the Trust (collectively, the
"Capital Security Holders") of a certificate for such Capital Security in the
form prescribed by the Trust Agreement and the payment for such Capital
Security, in accordance with the Trust Agreement and the Registration
Statement, and (vii) that the Capital Securities are issued and sold to the
Capital Security Holders in accordance with the Trust Agreement and the
Registration Statement. We have not participated in the preparation of the
Registration Statement and assume no responsibility for its contents.
This opinion is limited to the laws of the State of Delaware (excluding
the securities laws of the State of Delaware), and we have not considered and
express no opinion on the laws of any other jurisdiction, including federal
laws and rules and regulations relating thereto. Our opinions are rendered
only with respect to Delaware laws and rules, regulations and orders thereunder
which are currently in effect.
Based upon the foregoing, and upon our examination of such questions of
law and statutes of the State of Delaware as we have considered necessary or
appropriate, and subject to the assumptions, qualifications, limitations and
exceptions set forth herein, we are of the opinion that:
1. The Trust has been duly created and is validly existing in good
standing as a business trust under the Delaware Business Trust Act.
2. The Capital Securities of the Trust will represent valid and,
subject to the qualifications set forth in paragraph 3 below, fully paid and
nonassessable undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust.
3. The Capital Security Holders, 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. We note that the Capital Security
Holders may be obligated to make payments as set forth in the Trust Agreement.
We consent to the filing of this opinion with the Securities and
Exchange Commission as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. We hereby
consent to the use of our name under the heading "Validity of Securities" in
the Prospectus. In giving the foregoing consent, we do not thereby admit that
we come within the category of persons whose consent is
<PAGE> 4
BanPonce Trust II
January 29, 1997
Page 4
required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the
rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder.
Except as stated above, without our prior written consent, this opinion may not
be furnished or quoted to, or relied upon by, any other person for any purpose.
Very truly yours,
/s/ RICHARDS, LAYTON & FINGER
CDK
<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT (8)(A)
Sullivan & Cromwell
125 Broad Street
New York, New York 10004
January 29, 1997
BanPonce Corporation,
209 Munoz Rivera Avenue,
Hato Rey, Puerto Rico 00918
BanPonce Financial Corp.,
521 Fellowship Road,
Mt. Laurel, New Jersey 08054
BanPonce Trust I,
c/o BanPonce Financial Corp.,
521 Fellowship Road,
Mt. Laurel, New Jersey 08054
Ladies and Gentlemen:
As special tax counsel to BanPonce Corporation, BanPonce Financial
Corp. and BanPonce Trust I (the "Registrants") in connection with the proposed
offering by the Trust of Series A Capital Securities with an aggregate
liquidation amount of $150,000,000 (the "Securities"), and assuming the
operative documents for the Securities described in the Prospectus and the
Prospectus Supplement to which this opinion is filed as an exhibit will be
performed in accordance with the terms described therein, we hereby confirm to
you our opinion as set forth under the heading "Certain Federal Income Tax
Consequences" in the Prospectus Supplement relating to the Registrants'
Registration Statement on Form S-3, subject to the limitations set forth
therein.
We hereby consent to the filing with the Securities and Exchange
Commission of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registrants' Registration
Statement on Form S-3 and the reference to us under the heading "Certain
Federal Income Tax Consequences" in the Prospectus
<PAGE> 2
Supplement. By giving the foregoing consent we do not admit that we come
within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Very truly yours,
/s/ SULLIVAN & CROMWELL
<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT 12(A)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
BANPONCE CORPORATION
COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS
(Dollars in thousands)
Year Ended December 31,
1996 1995 1994 1993 1992
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Income before income taxes 256,028 206,130 175,177 132,140 100,145
Fixed charges
Interest expense 591,540 521,624 351,633 280,008 300,135
Estimated interest component
of net rental payments 6,346 6,012 5,568 4,827 4,691
Total fixed charges including
interest on deposits 597,886 527,636 357,201 284,835 304,826
Less: Interest on deposits 350,221 329,783 247,726 219,447 253,375
Total fixed charges excluding
Interest on deposit 247,665 187,853 109,475 65,388 51,451
Income before income taxes and
fixed charges (including interest
on deposits) $853,914 $733,766 $532,378 $416,975 $404,971
Income before income taxes and
fixed charges (excluding interest
on deposits $503,693 $403,983 $284,652 $197,528 $151,596
Preferred stock dividends $ 8,350 $ 8,350 $ 4,630 $ 770 $ 770
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges
Including Interest on Deposits 1.4 1.4 1.5 1.5 1.3
Excluding Interest on Deposits 2.0 2.0 2.6 3.0 2.9
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges &
Preferred Stock Dividends
Including Interest on Deposits 1.4 1.4 1.5 1.5 1.3
Excluding Interest on Deposits 2.0 2.0 2.5 3.0 2.9
</TABLE>
<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT 23(A)
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
January 28, 1997
To the Board of Directors
BanPonce Corporation
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Prospectus
constituting part of this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of our report
dated February 16, 1996, which appears on page 35 of the 1995 Annual Report to
shareholders of BanPonce Corporation, which is incorporated by reference in
BanPonce Corporation's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 1995. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading "Experts"
in such Prospectus.
/s/ PRICE WATERHOUSE
- --------------------
PRICE WATERHOUSE
<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT 25(A)
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM T-1
STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY
UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939
OF A CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE
CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE ELIGIBLITY
OF A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO SECTION 305(b)(2)__
--------------------------
THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO
(Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)
A National Banking Association 36-0899825
(I.R.S. employer
identification number)
One First National Plaza, Chicago, Illinois 60670-0126
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
The First National Bank of Chicago
One First National Plaza, Suite 0286
Chicago, Illinois 60670-0286
Attn: Lynn A. Goldstein, Law Department (312) 732-6919
(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)
----------------------------
BanPonce Trust I
BanPonce Trust II
(Exact name of obligors as specified in their trust agreements)
Delaware To be Applied for
(State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. employer
incorporation or organization) identification number)
c/o BanPonce Financial Corp.
521 Fellowship Road
Mt. Laurel, New Jersey 08054
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Capital Securities of each of
BanPonce Trust I and BanPonce Trust II
(Title of Indenture Securities)
BanPonce Financial Corp.
(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)
Delaware 66-0476353
(State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. employer
incorporation or organization) identification number)
521 Fellowship Road
Mt. Laurel, New Jersey 08054
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures
Guarantees of Capital Securities of each of
BanPonce Trust I and BanPonce Trust II
BanPonce Corporation
(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)
Puerto Rico 66-0416582
(State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. employer
incorporation or organization) identification number)
209 Munoz River Avenue
Hato Rey, Puerto Rico 00918
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Guarantees of Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures
Additional Guarantees of Capital Securities of each of
BanPonce Trust I and BanPonce Trust II
<PAGE> 2
Item 1. General Information. Furnish the following
information as to the trustee:
(a) Name and address of each examining or
supervising authority to which it is subject.
Comptroller of Currency, Washington, D.C.,
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation,
Washington, D.C., The Board of Governors of
the Federal Reserve System, Washington, D.C.
(b) Whether it is authorized to exercise
corporate trust powers.
The trustee is authorized to exercise corporate
trust powers.
Item 2. Affiliations With the Obligor. If the obligor
is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each
such affiliation.
No such affiliation exists with the trustee.
Item 16. List of exhibits. List below all exhibits filed as a
part of this Statement of Eligibility.
1. A copy of the articles of association of the
trustee now in effect.*
2. A copy of the certificates of authority of the
trustee to commence business.*
3. A copy of the authorization of the trustee to
exercise corporate trust powers.*
4. A copy of the existing by-laws of the trustee.*
5. Not Applicable.
6. The consent of the trustee required by
Section 321(b) of the Act.
2
<PAGE> 3
7. A copy of the latest report of condition of the trustee
published pursuant to law or the requirements of its
supervising or examining authority.
8. Not Applicable.
9. Not Applicable.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
amended, the trustee, The First National Bank of Chicago, a national
banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United
States of America, has duly caused this Statement of Eligibility to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all
in the City of Chicago and State of Illinois, on the 27th day of
January, 1997.
The First National Bank of Chicago,
Trustee
By /s/ Steven M. Wagner
------------------------------------------
Steven M. Wagner
Vice President
* Exhibit 1, 2, 3 and 4 are herein incorporated by reference to Exhibits
bearing identical numbers in Item 12 of the Form T-1 of The First National
Bank of Chicago, filed as Exhibit 26 to the Registration Statement on Form S-3
of ITT Corporation, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
October 15, 1996 (Registration No. 333-07221).
3
<PAGE> 4
EXHIBIT 6
THE CONSENT OF THE TRUSTEE REQUIRED
BY SECTION 321(b) OF THE ACT
January 27, 1997
Securities and Exchange Commission
Washington, D.C. 20549
Gentlemen:
In connection with the qualification of the Junior Subordinated Indenture, among
BanPonce Financial Corp., BanPonce Corporation, and The First National Bank
of Chicago; the qualification of the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of
each of BanPonce Trust I and BanPonce Trust II; and the qualification of the
Guarantee and Additional Guarantee for the benefit of the holders of Capital
Securities of each of BanPonce Trust I and BanPonce Trust II, the
undersigned, in accordance with Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of
1939, as amended, hereby consents that the reports of examinations of the
undersigned, made by Federal or State authorities authorized to make such
examinations, may be furnished by such authorities to the Securities and
Exchange Commission upon its request therefor.
Very truly yours,
The First National Bank of Chicago
By: /s/ Steven M. Wagner
--------------------------------------
Steven M. Wagner
Vice President
<PAGE> 5
EXHIBIT 7
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Legal Title of Bank: The First National Bank of Chicago Call Date: 09/30/96 ST-BK: 17-1630 PPIEC 031
Address: One First National Plaza, Ste 0460 Page RC-1
City, State Zip: Chicago, IL 60670
FDIC Certificate No.: 0/3/6/1/8
</TABLE>
Consolidated Report of Condition for Insured Commercial
and State-Chartered Savings Banks for September 30, 1996
All schedules are to be reported in thousands of dollars. Unless otherwise
indicated, report the amount outstanding of the last business day of the
quarter.
Schedule RC-Balance Sheet
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
C400 <-
Dollar Amounts in ------------ ------
Thousands RCFD BIL MIL THOU
----------------- ---- ------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
ASSETS
1. Cash and balances due from depositor institutions (from Schedule
RC-A):
a. Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin(1) ........... 0081 4,041,784 1.a.
b. Interest-bearing balances (2) ................................... 0071 5,184,890 1.b.
2. Securities
a. Held-to-maturity securities (from Schedule RC-B, column A)....... 1754 0 2.a.
b. Available-for-sale securities (from Schedule RC-B, Column D)..... 1773 3,173,481 2.b.
3. Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to
resell in domestic offices of the bank and its Edge and Agreement
subsidiaries, and in IBFs:
a. Federal Funds sold............................................... 0276 3,505,874 3.a.
b. Securities purchased under agreements to resell.................. 0277 145,625 3.b.
4. Loans and lease financing receivables:
a. Loans and leases, net of unearned income (from Schedule
RC-C)................................................................ RCFD 2122 22,835,958 4.a.
b. LESS: Allowance for loan and lease losses....................... RCFD 3123 418,851 4.b.
c. LESS: Allocated transfer risk reserve........................... RCFD 3128 0 4.c.
d. Loans and leases, net of unearned income, allowance, and
reserve (item 4.a minus 4.b and 4.c)............................. 2125 22,417,107 4.d.
5. Assets held in trading accounts...................................... 3545 8,121,948 5.
6. Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases)............. 2145 707,971 6.
7. Other real estate owned (from Schedule RC-M)......................... 2150 9,184 7.
8. Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated
companies (from Schedule RC-M)....................................... 2130 53,803 8.
9. Customers' liability to this bank on acceptances outstanding......... 2155 626,690 9.
10. Intangible assets (from Schedule RC-M)............................... 2143 310,246 10.
11. Other assets (from Schedule RC-F).................................... 2160 1,658,123 11.
12. Total assets (sum of items 1 through 11)............................. 2170 49,956,726 12.
</TABLE>
- -----------------
(1) Includes cash items in process of collection and unposted debits.
(2) Includes time certificates of deposit not held for trading.
<PAGE> 6
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Legal Title of Bank: The First National Bank of Chicago Call Date: 09/30/96 ST-BK: 17-1630 FFIEC 031
Address: One First National Plaza, Ste 0460 Page RC-2
City, State Zip: Chicago, IL 60670
FDIC Certificate No.: 0/3/6/1/8
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Schedule RC-Continued
Dollar Amounts In
Thousands Bil Mil Thou
----------------- ------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
LIABILITIES
13. Deposits:
a. In domestic offices (sum of totals of columns A and C
from Schedule RC-E, part 1)............................... RCON 2200 22,369,341 13.a.
(1) Noninterest-bearing(1)................................ RCON 6631 9,726,987 13.a.(1)
(2) Interest-bearing...................................... RCON 6636 12,642,354 13.a.(2)
b. In foreign offices, Edge and Agreement subsidiaries, and
IBFs (from Schedule RC-E, part II)....................... RCFN 2200 10,026,286 13.b
(1) Noninterest bearing................................... RCFN 6631 336,746 13.b.(1)
(2) Interest-bearing...................................... RCFN 6636 9,689,540 13.b.(2)
14. Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements
to repurchase in domestic offices of the bank and of
its Edge and Agreement subsidiaries, and in IBFs:
a. Federal funds purchased.................................... RCFD 0278 884,553 14.a.
b. Securities sold under agreements to repurchase............. RCFD 0279 717,211 14.b.
15. a. Demand notes issued to the U.S. Treasury RCON 2840 14,120 15.a.
b. Trading Liabilities........................................ RCFD 3548 5,409,585 15b.
16. Other borrowed money:
a. With original maturity of one year or less................. RCFD 2332 3,414,577 16.a.
b. With original maturity of more than one year............... RCFD 2333 46,685 16b.
17. Mortgage indebtedness and obligations under capitalized
leases........................................................ RCFD 2910 285,671 17.
18. Bank's liability on acceptance executed and outstanding....... RCFD 2920 626,690 18.
19. Subordinated notes and debentures............................. RCFD 3200 1,250,000 19.
20. Other liabilities (from Schedule RC-G)........................ RCFD 2930 1,005,205 20.
21. Total liabilities (sum of items 13 through 20)................ RCFD 2948 46,049,924 21.
22. Limited-Life preferred stock and related surplus.............. RCFD 3282 0 22.
EQUITY CAPITAL
23. Perpernal preferred stock and related surplus................. RCFD 3838 0 23.
24. Common stock.................................................. RCFD 3230 200,858 24.
25. Surplus (exclude all surplus related to preferred stock)...... RCFD 3839 2,925,894 25.
26. a. Undivided profits and capital reserves..................... RCFD 3632 770,670 26.a.
b. Net unrealized holding game (losses) on available-for-sale
securities................................................. RCFD 8434 10,194 26.b.
27. Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments........... RCFD 3284 (814) 27.
28. Total equity capital (sum of items 23 through 27) RCFD 3210 3,906,882 28.
29. Total liabilities, limited-life preferred stock, and equity
capital (sum of items 21, 22, and 28)......................... RCFD 3300 49,956,726 29.
Memorandum
To be reported only with the March Report of Condition
1 Indicate in the box at the right the number of the statement below that
best describes the most comprehensive level of auditing work performed
for the bank by independent external Number
auditors as of any date during 1995.........................................RCFD 6724......[N/A ] M.1.
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C> <C>
1 = Independent audit of the bank conducted in accordance 4 = Directors' examination of the bank performed by other
with generally accepted auditing standards by a certified external auditors (may be required by state chartering
public accounting firm which submits a report on the bank authority)
2 = Independent audit of the bank's parent holding company 5 = Review of the bank's financial statements by external
conducted in accordance with generally accepted auditing auditors
standards by a certified public accounting firm which 6 = Compilation of the bank's financial statements by
submits a report on the consolidated holding company external auditors
(but not on the bank separately) 7 = Other audit procedures (excluding tax preparation work)
3 = Directors' examination of the bank conducted in 8 = No external audit work
accordance with general accepted auditing standards
by a certified public accounting firm (may be required by
state chartering authority)
- ----------------
(1) Includes total demand deposits and noninterest-bearing time and savings deposits.
</TABLE>
