<PAGE> 1
AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON ,
1997
REGISTRATION NO. 333-
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
------------------------
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
------------------------
REPUBLIC NEW YORK CORPORATION
(EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
MARYLAND 13-2764867
(STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION) IDENTIFICATION NO.)
</TABLE>
REPUBLIC NEW YORK CAPITAL III
REPUBLIC NEW YORK CAPITAL IV
(EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
DELAWARE APPLIED FOR
(STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION (IRS EMPLOYER
OF INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION) IDENTIFICATION NO.)
</TABLE>
------------------------
452 FIFTH AVENUE
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10018
(212) 525-6100
(ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING
AREA CODE, OF REGISTRANTS' PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)
------------------------
WILLIAM F. ROSENBLUM, JR. ESQ.
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, DEPUTY GENERAL COUNSEL AND SECRETARY
REPUBLIC NEW YORK CORPORATION
452 FIFTH AVENUE
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10018
(212) 525-6100
(NAME, ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER, OF AGENT FOR SERVICE
OF PROCESS)
------------------------
APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC: From time
to time after the effective date of this Registration Statement as determined by
market conditions.
------------------------
If the only securities being requested on this Form are being offered
pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following
box. [ ]
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on
a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest
reinvestment plans, please check the following box. [X]
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box
and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier
effective registration statement for the same offering. [ ]
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c)
under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement
for the same offering. [ ]
If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434,
please check the following box. [X]
------------------------
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
==================================================================================================================================
PROPOSED MAXIMUM
PROPOSED MAXIMUM AGGREGATE AMOUNT OF
TITLE OF EACH CLASS OF AMOUNT TO BE OFFERING PRICE OFFERING PRICE REGISTRATION
SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED (1) REGISTERED(4) PER SHARE(2)(3) PER UNIT(2)(3) FEE(4)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Debt Securities................................... 100%
Junior Subordinated Debt Securities...............
Debt Warrants..................................... --
Currency Warrants................................. --
Stock-Index Warrants.............................. --
Other Warrants.................................... --
Preferred Stock(5)................................ --
Depositary Shares representing Preferred
Stock(6)........................................ --
Preferred Stock Warrants.......................... --
Common Stock, par value $5.00 per share(7)........ $1,000,000,000 -- $1,000,000,000 $295,000
Common Stock Warrants............................. --
Preferred Securities of Republic New York Capital
III and Republic New York Capital IV............ --
Guarantee of Republic New York Corporation of
Common Securities and Preferred Securities of
Republic New York Capital III and Republic New
York Capital IV................................. --
==================================================================================================================================
</TABLE>
--------------------- (Footnotes on next page)
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 THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME
EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(a),
MAY DETERMINE.
================================================================================
<PAGE> 2
(footnotes continued from previous page)
(1) This Registration Statement also covers contracts which may be issued by
Republic New York Corporation (the "Corporation") under which the
counterparty may be required to purchase Debt Securities, Preferred Stock or
Depositary Shares. Such contracts would be issued with the Debt Securities,
Preferred Stock, Depositary Shares and and/or Warrants covered hereby. In
addition, securities registered hereunder may be sold separately, together
or as units with other securities registered hereunder.
(2) In no event will the aggregate offering price of the Debt Securities, Junior
Subordinated Debt Securities, Debt Warrants, Currency Warrants, Stock-Index
Warrants, Other Warrants, Preferred Stock, Depositary Shares, Preferred
Stock Warrants, Common Stock and Common Stock Warrants of the Corporation
and Preferred Securities of Republic New York Capital III and Republic New
York Capital IV issued under this Registration Statement and in the case of
Warrants of the Corporation for which separate consideration is payable upon
issuance of underlying securities, exceed $1,125,000,000 (including those
previously registered under the Securities Act, as amended (the "Securities
Act")) or the equivalent thereof denominated in foreign currencies or units
of one or more foreign currencies or composite currencies (such as the Euro
of the European monetary union). If any securities are issued at an original
issue discount, then additional securities may be issued so long as the
aggregate initial offering price of all other securities registered
hereunder or previously registered under the Securities Act does not exceed
$1,125,000,000.
(3) Estimated solely for purposes of calculating the registration fee. The
proposed maximum offering price per unit will be determined from time to
time by the Registrants in connection with the issuance by the Registrants
of securities registered hereunder or previously registered under the
Securities Act. No separate consideration will be received for Common Stock,
Preferred Stock or Debt Securities that are issued upon conversion or
exchange of Debt Securities, Preferred Stock or Depositary Shares nor will
any separate consideration be received for the Guarantees registered
hereunder.
(4) $125,000,000 aggregate offering price of securities are being included in
this Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 429. Registration fees
totalling $39,062.50 have been paid with respect to such securities.
(5) Such indeterminate number of shares of Preferred Stock as may from time to
time be issued at indeterminate prices or issuable upon conversion of Debt
Securities.
(6) To be represented by Depositary Receipts representing an interest in all or
a specified portion of a share of Preferred Stock.
(7) The aggregate amount of Common Stock of the Corporation registered hereunder
is limited to that which is permissible under Rule 415(a)(4) under the
Securities Act. There is also registered hereunder such indeterminate number
of shares of Common Stock as may from time to time be issued upon conversion
or exchange of Debt Securities or Preferred Stock registered hereunder.
Pursuant to Rule 429 under the Securities Act, the Prospectus included in
this Registration Statement is a combined prospectus which also relates to the
Corporation's Registration Statement on Form S-3, File No. 33-48651, declared
effective June 29, 1992 and amended by Post-Effective Amendment No. 1, declared
effective June 30, 1992, with respect to $50,000,000 of Debt Securities, which
remain unsold as of the date of this Registration Statement and the
Corporation's Registration Statement on Form S-3, File No. 33-49507, declared
effective May 7, 1993 and amended by Post-Effective Amendment No. 1, declared
effective June 3, 1994, with respect to $75,000,000 of Debt Securities, Debt
Warrants, Currency Warrants, Stock-Index Warrants, Other Warrants, Preferred
Stock, Depositary Shares representing Preferred Stock, Preferred Stock Warrants,
and Common Stock, which remain unsold as of the date of this Registration
Statement. This Registration Statement, which is a new Registration Statement on
Form S-3, also constitutes Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to Registration
Statement No. 33-48651 and Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to Registration
Statement No. 33-49507. Such post-effective amendments shall hereafter become
effective in accordance with Section 8(c) of the Securities Act concurrently
with the effectiveness of this Registration Statement.
<PAGE> 3
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED DECEMBER 16, 1997.
PROSPECTUS [REPUBLIC LOGO]
Republic New York Corporation
Debt Securities, Junior Subordinated Debt Securities and Debt Warrants
Currency Warrants, Stock-Index Warrants and Other Warrants
Preferred Stock, Depositary Shares and Preferred Stock Warrants
Common Stock and Common Stock Warrants
Republic New York Capital III
Republic New York Capital IV
Preferred Securities Guaranteed, to the extent set forth herein, by Republic New
York Corporation
Republic New York Corporation (the "Corporation") may offer from time to
time, together or separately, (i) one or more series of its unsecured debt
securities which may be either senior debentures, notes, bonds and/or other
evidences of indebtedness ("Senior Securities") or subordinated debentures,
notes, bonds and/or other evidences of indebtedness ("Subordinated Securities"
and, together with the Senior Securities, the "Debt Securities"), both of which
may be convertible into common stock, par value $5 per share, of the Corporation
("Common Stock") or preferred stock, without par value, of the Corporation
("Preferred Stock"), (ii) unsecured junior subordinated debt securities ("Junior
Subordinated Debt Securities"), (iii) warrants to purchase Senior Securities or
Subordinated Securities ("Debt Warrants"), (iv) options, warrants or other
rights entitling the holder to receive the cash value of the right to purchase
("Currency Call Warrants") or the right to sell ("Currency Put Warrants" and
collectively with the Currency Call Warrants being referred to herein as the
"Currency Warrants") a foreign currency or composite currency, (v) options,
warrants or other rights entitling the holder to receive an amount in cash
determined by reference to increases ("Stock-Index Call Warrants") and decreases
("Stock-Index Put Warrants" and collectively with Stock-Index Call Warrants
being referred to herein as the "Stock-Index Warrants") in the level of a
specified stock-index which may be based on one or more U.S. or foreign stocks
or a combination thereof, (vi) options, warrants or other rights relating to
other items or indexes ("Other Warrants"), (vii) shares of Preferred Stock which
may be convertible into shares of Common Stock or exchangeable for Debt
Securities, (viii) shares of Preferred Stock represented by depositary shares
("Depositary Shares"), (ix) warrants to purchase shares of Preferred Stock
("Preferred Stock Warrants"), (x) shares of Common Stock and (xi) warrants to
purchase shares of Common Stock ("Common Stock Warrants"), in amounts, at prices
and on terms to be determined at the time of the offering. The Debt Warrants,
Currency Warrants, Stock-Index Warrants, Other Warrants, Preferred Stock
Warrants and Common Stock Warrants are collectively referred to herein as the
"Warrants"; and the Debt Securities, Junior Subordinated Debt Securities,
Warrants, shares of Preferred Stock, Depositary Shares and shares of Common
Stock are collectively referred to herein as the "Corporation Securities."
Republic New York Capital III and Republic New York Capital IV (each, a
"Trust" and collectively, the "Trusts"), each a statutory business trust formed
under Delaware law, may offer, from time to time, preferred securities ("Trust
Preferred Securities"). The Corporation will be the owner of the trust interests
represented by common securities ("Common Securities" and, together with the
Trust Preferred Securities, the "Trust Securities") to be issued by each Trust.
The payment of distributions and payments on account of the liquidation of a
Trust or the redemption of the Trust Securities issued by each such Trust will
be guaranteed on a subordinated basis by the Corporation to the extent described
herein and in any applicable prospectus supplements (the "Guarantees"). Unless
indicated otherwise in a prospectus supplement, each Trust exists for the sole
purposes of issuing the Trust Securities, investing the proceeds thereof in
Junior Subordinated Debt Securities of the Corporation and making Distributions
(as defined herein). The Corporation Securities and the Trust Preferred
Securities are referred to herein collectively as the "Offered Securities".
The Offered Securities offered pursuant to this Prospectus may be offered
separately or together in one or more series up to an aggregate initial public
offering price of $1,125,000,000 (the Trust Securities will be limited to
$1,000,000,000) or the equivalent thereof denominated in foreign currencies or
units of two or more foreign currencies such as the Euro of the European
Monetary Union at individual prices and on terms to be set forth in one or more
supplements to this Prospectus (each, a "Prospectus Supplement").
The Senior Securities will rank equally with all other unsubordinated and
unsecured indebtedness of the Corporation. The Subordinated Securities will be
subordinated to all existing and future Senior Indebtedness (as defined herein)
of the Corporation. See "Description of Debt Securities". The Junior
Subordinated Debt Securities will be subordinate to all existing and future
Senior Debt (as defined herein) of the Corporation. See "Description of Junior
Subordinated Debt Securities."
The specific terms of the Offered Securities in respect of which this
Prospectus is being delivered will be set forth in the applicable Prospectus
Supplement and, among other things, will include, where applicable, (i) in the
case of Debt Securities or Junior Subordinated Debt Securities, the specific
designation, aggregate principal amount, ranking as senior or subordinated debt,
authorized denominations, initial public offering price, maturity (which may be
fixed or extendible), premium (if any), interest rate (which may be fixed or
floating), any method of calculating the payment of interest, if any, the
currency in which principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, are payable,
any exchangeability, conversion, redemption or sinking fund terms, the right of
the Corporation, if any, to defer payment of interest on the Junior Subordinated
Debt Securities and the maximum length of such deferral period, put options, if
any, and any other specific terms; (ii) in the case of Preferred Stock or Trust
Preferred Securities, the designation, number of shares, liquidation preference
per share, initial public offering price, dividend or distribution rate (or
method of calculation thereof), dates on which dividends or distributions shall
be payable and dates from which dividends or distributions shall accrue, any
redemption or sinking fund provisions, any voting rights, any conversion or
exchange provisions, whether interests in the Preferred Stock will be
represented by Depositary Shares, and any other rights, preferences, privileges,
limitations or restrictions relating to the Preferred Stock or Trust Preferred
Securities of a specific series and the terms upon which the proceeds of the
sale of the Trust Preferred Securities will be used to purchase a specific
series of Junior Subordinated Debt Securities of the Corporation; (iii) in the
case of shares of Common Stock, the number of shares, the initial public
offering price and the terms of the Offering and sale thereof; (iv) in the case
of Warrants, where applicable, the duration, aggregate amount, offering price,
exercise
<PAGE> 4
price and detachability; (v) in the case of Debt Warrants, Preferred Stock
Warrants and Common Stock Warrants, the applicable type and amount of Securities
covered thereby; (vi) in the case of Stock-Index Warrants or Other Warrants, the
applicable securities index or other items or indices with respect to which such
warrants shall apply and the method of determining the cash value payable in
connection with the exercise of such warrants; (vii) in the case of Currency
Warrants, the currency to which U.S. dollars will be compared, the method of
determining the cash value payable in connection with the exercise of such
Currency Warrants, the manner in which such Currency Warrants may be exercised
and any restrictions on exercise of such Currency Warrants; and (viii) in the
case of Depositary Shares, the fraction of a share of Preferred Stock which each
such Depositary Share will represent.
The Prospectus Supplement will also contain information, where applicable,
about certain U.S. federal income tax, accounting and other considerations
relating to, and any listing on a securities exchange of, the Offered Securities
covered by the Prospectus Supplement.
The Offered Securities are not savings accounts, deposits or other
obligations of any bank or nonbank subsidiary of the Corporation and are not
insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Bank Insurance Fund 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 Corporation Securities and the Trust Preferred Securities may be sold
directly by the Corporation or a Trust, respectively. The Offered Securities may
also be sold through agents designated from time to time, or through
underwriters or dealers. If any agents of the Corporation or a Trust, or any
underwriters are involved in the sale of the Offered Securities, the names of
such agents or underwriters and any applicable fees, commissions or discounts
and the net proceeds to the Corporation or a Trust from such sale will be set
forth in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. The Corporation may also issue
contracts under which the counterparty may be required to purchase Debt
Securities, Preferred Stock or Depositary Shares. Such contracts would be issued
with the Debt Securities, Preferred Stock, Depositary Shares and/or Warrants in
amounts, at prices and on terms to be set forth in the applicable Prospectus
Supplement. See "Plan of Distribution."
THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS IS , 1997.
<PAGE> 5
AVAILABLE INFORMATION
The Corporation 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, Room 1024, Judiciary Plaza, 450 Fifth
Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, and at the Commission's New York Regional
Office, 7 World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048, and Chicago Regional
Office, Suite 1400, Citicorp Center, 500 West Madison Street, Chicago, Illinois
60661, and copies of such materials can be obtained from the Public Reference
Section of the Commission at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, at
prescribed rates. Such information may also be accessed electronically by means
of the Commission's home page on the Internet (http://www.sec.gov.). Reports,
proxy statements and other information concerning the Corporation can also be
inspected at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New
York, New York 10005.
No separate financial statements of the Trusts have been included or
incorporated by reference herein. Neither the Trusts nor the Corporation
considers such financial statements material to holders of Trust Preferred
Securities because (i) all of the voting securities of each Trust will be owned,
directly or indirectly, by the Corporation, a reporting company under the
Exchange Act, (ii) neither Trust has independent operations but rather each
exists for the sole purpose of issuing Common Securities and Preferred
Securities representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of such
Trust and investing the proceeds thereof in Junior Subordinated Debt Securities,
and (iii) the obligations of the Trusts under the Trust Preferred Securities are
fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a subordinated basis by the Corporation
to the extent set forth herein and in any applicable Prospectus Supplement. See
"Description of the Trusts" and "Description of Guarantees."
This Prospectus constitutes part of a registration statement on Form S-3
(together with all amendments and exhibits, the "Registration Statement") filed
by the Corporation and the Trusts with the Commission under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended. This Prospectus does not contain all of the information
included in the Registration Statement, certain parts of which are omitted in
accordance with applicable regulations. For further information pertaining to
the Corporation, the Trusts and the Offered Securities, reference is made to the
Registration Statement and the exhibits thereto.
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
The following documents heretofore filed by the Corporation with the
Commission are hereby incorporated herein by reference:
1. Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1996,
filed with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 of the Exchange Act; and
2. Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31,
1997, June 30, 1997 and September 30, 1997; and
3. Current Reports on Form 8-K dated January 27, 1997, July 18, 1997,
July 21, 1997 and September 24, 1997.
All reports filed pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the
Exchange Act after the original date of filing of this Registration Statement
and prior to the termination of the offering of the Offered Securities shall be
deemed to be incorporated by reference into this Prospectus. Any statement
contained herein or in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by
reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of
this Prospectus to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any
subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by
reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement so
modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded,
to constitute a part of this Prospectus.
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<PAGE> 6
THE CORPORATION WILL PROVIDE WITHOUT CHARGE TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS
PROSPECTUS IS DELIVERED, ON THE REQUEST OF ANY SUCH PERSON, A COPY OF ANY OR ALL
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED HEREIN BY REFERENCE (OTHER THAN EXHIBITS TO SUCH
DOCUMENTS). WRITTEN REQUESTS SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO:
Republic New York Corporation
452 Fifth Avenue
New York, New York 10018
Telephone requests may be directed to (212) 525-6100.
No person is authorized to give any information or to make any
representations, other than those contained or incorporated by reference in this
Prospectus or the Prospectus Supplement, in connection with the offering
contemplated hereby, and, if given or made, such information or representations
must not be relied upon as having been authorized by the Corporation, the Trusts
or any underwriter, dealer or agent. This Prospectus and the Prospectus
Supplement do not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to
buy any securities other than the registered securities to which they relate and
do not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any
securities in any jurisdiction to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such
offer or solicitation in such jurisdiction. Neither the delivery of this
Prospectus or the Prospectus Supplement, nor any sale made hereunder or
thereunder, shall, under any circumstances, create any implication that there
has been no change in the affairs of the Corporation since the date hereof or
thereof or that the information contained or incorporated by reference herein or
therein is correct as of any time subsequent to such date.
3
<PAGE> 7
REPUBLIC NEW YORK CORPORATION
The Corporation is a bank holding company incorporated in Maryland. At
September 30, 1997, the Corporation had consolidated total assets of $57.8
billion and stockholders' equity of $3.6 billion. Its principal asset is the
capital stock of Republic National Bank of New York (the "Bank"). Management
expects that the Bank will remain the Corporation's principal asset and source
of revenue and net income in the foreseeable future. As of September 30, 1997,
the Bank accounted for approximately 90% of the consolidated assets of the
Corporation, and for the nine months ended September 30, 1997, the Bank
accounted for approximately 90% of the consolidated revenues and 95% of
consolidated net income of the Corporation. Based on total assets at December
31, 1996, the date rankings were last available, the Corporation was the
eighteenth largest bank holding company in the United States.
The Corporation is a legal entity separate and distinct from the Bank and
its other subsidiaries. Accordingly, the right of the Corporation, its
stockholders and its creditors to participate in any distribution of the assets
or earnings of the Bank and any other subsidiary is necessarily subject to the
prior claims of the respective creditors of the Bank or such other subsidiary,
except to the extent that claims of the Corporation in its capacity as a
creditor of the Bank or such other subsidiary may be recognized.
The Corporation's principal executive offices are located at 452 Fifth
Avenue, New York, New York 10018, and its telephone number is (212) 525-6100.
REPUBLIC NATIONAL BANK OF NEW YORK
The Bank is a commercial bank which provides a variety of banking and
financial services on a worldwide basis to corporations, financial institutions,
governments and individuals. At September 30, 1997, the Bank had total assets of
$51.4 billion, total deposits of $34.1 billion and total stockholder's equity of
$3.3 billion. Based on total deposits at June 30, 1997, the date rankings were
last available, the Bank was the sixteenth largest commercial bank in the United
States.
The Bank is headquartered in New York City with over 86 domestic branch
banking offices in New York City, Westchester, Nassau and Suffolk Counties, as
well as 8 branches in South Florida. The Bank maintains wholly-owned foreign
banking subsidiaries in The Bahamas, Brazil, Canada, Cyprus, Mexico, Russia,
Uruguay, Singapore and the Cayman Islands, foreign branch offices in the
Caribbean, Europe, Asia and Latin America and representative offices in Europe,
Asia and Latin America. The Bank's facilities are supplemented by a network of
correspondent banks throughout the world. The Bank also has an Edge Act banking
subsidiary in Miami, Florida which engages in off-shore banking activities with
non-resident customers, and an Edge Act subsidiary in Wilmington, Delaware. The
Bank owns approximately 49% of Safra Republic Holdings S.A., a European-based
bank holding company with six banking subsidiaries located in France, Gibraltar,
Guernsey, Luxembourg, Monaco and Switzerland.
REPUBLIC BUSINESS CREDIT CORPORATION
Republic Business Credit Corporation ("RBCC"), formerly known as Republic
Factors Corp., is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Corporation. RBCC operates
factoring, asset based lending and accounts receivable management businesses. As
a factor, RBCC purchases, without recourse, accounts receivable from
approximately 500 clients. The terms of these receivables average less than 60
days and are due from more than 55,000 customers, primarily retailers, located
throughout the United States. RBCC also purchases receivables due from customers
throughout the world which RBCC refactors through foreign factoring companies
which are members of either the International Factors Group or Factors Chain
International. Certain clients receive payments for their receivables prior to
their collection by RBCC. From time to time, RBCC makes advances in excess of
the receivables purchased. These advances may be secured or, in the case of
seasonal overadvances, unsecured. Letters of credit accommodations are also
provided. In its Asset Based lending activities, RBCC makes working capital
loans secured by accounts receivable and inventory. RBCC's receivable management
service provides
4
<PAGE> 8
clients with back office support allowing them to monitor their accounts
receivable and collections on a daily basis.
Depending on the individual businesses, RBCC earns commissions, interest
and service fees. In addition to RBCC's headquarters at 452 Fifth Avenue New
York, New York, it has additional offices located in Los Angeles, California and
Charlotte, North Carolina.
OTHER FINANCIAL SERVICE SUBSIDIARIES
Republic New York Securities Corporation ("RNYSC"), a wholly-owned
subsidiary of the Corporation, commenced operations on November 2, 1992 as a
full-service securities brokerage primarily serving institutional investors and
high net worth individuals. RNYSC is a registered broker-dealer with the
Commission and is a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers,
Inc. and the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. RNYSC is also registered with the
Commodity Futures Trading Commission and the National Futures Association as a
futures commission merchant and a commodity trading advisor. As such, RNYSC acts
primarily as a commodities broker to the Bank, executing futures contracts and
options on futures contracts for the Bank's account. RNYSC trades in futures and
options on futures in non-financial commodities, including contracts on energy
products, agricultural products and non-precious metals. RNYSC provides
execution services in connection with the Bank's activities as a dealer in
precious metals, financial instruments and foreign exchange. In addition, RNYSC
acts as a futures commission merchant and commodity trading advisor for the
general public. RNYSC is a clearing member of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange,
Chicago Board of Trade and New York Mercantile Exchange, including its Comex
Division. RNYSC is a non-clearing member of the New York Futures Exchange, the
Coffee, Sugar and Cocoa Exchange and the Philadelphia Board of Trade. RNYSC has
branches in Chicago and Philadelphia.
SUPERVISION AND REGULATION
General. As a bank holding company registered under the Bank Holding Act
of 1956, as amended (the "Act"), the Corporation is subject to substantial
regulation and supervision by the Federal Reserve Board (the "FRB"). The
Corporation's subsidiary banks are subject to regulation and supervision by
federal bank regulatory agencies, including the Office of the Comptroller of the
Currency (the "OCC") and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC").
Federal banking and other laws impose a number of requirements and restrictions
on the operations and activities of depository institutions. In addition, the
Corporation and certain of its banking subsidiaries and branches located outside
the United States are subject to the requirements of and supervision by the
regulatory authorities in the countries in which they operate.
FIRREA
Pursuant to certain provisions of the Financial Institutions Reform,
Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989 ("FIRREA"), an insured depository
institution which is commonly controlled with another insured depository
institution is generally liable for any loss incurred, or reasonably anticipated
to be incurred, by the FDIC in connection with the default of such commonly
controlled institution, or any assistance provided by the FDIC to such commonly
controlled institution, which is in danger of default. The term "default" is
defined to mean the appointment of a conservator or receiver for such
institution, 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. Thus, the Bank could incur liability to the FDIC
pursuant to this statutory provision in the event of the default of any of the
other insured depository institutions owned or controlled by the Corporation.
Such liability is subordinated in right of payment to deposit liabilities,
secured obligations, any other general or senior liability, and any obligation
subordinated to depositors or other general creditors, other than obligations
owed to any affiliate of the depository institution (with certain exceptions)
and any obligations to shareholders in such capacity.
5
<PAGE> 9
In its resolution of the problems of an insured depository institution in
default or in danger of default, the FDIC is generally required to satisfy its
obligations to insured depositors at the least possible cost to the deposit
insurance fund. In addition, the FDIC may not take any action that would have
the effect of increasing the losses to the deposit insurance fund by protecting
depositors for more than the insured portion of deposits (generally $100,000) or
creditors other than depositors. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
Improvement Act of 1991 ("FDICIA") authorized the FDIC to settle all uninsured
and unsecured claims in the insolvency of an insured bank by making a final
settlement payment after the declaration of insolvency. Such a payment would
constitute full payment and disposition of the FDIC's obligations to claimants.
The rate of such final settlement payment is to be a percentage rate determined
by the FDIC reflecting an average of the FDIC's receivership recovery
experience.
FDICIA
In general, FDICIA subjects banks to significantly increased regulation and
supervision. Among other things, FDICIA requires federal bank regulatory
authorities to take "prompt corrective action" in respect of banks that do not
meet minimum capital requirements. FDICIA establishes five capital tiers: well
capitalized, adequately capitalized, undercapitalized, significantly
undercapitalized, and critically undercapitalized. Under the Comptroller's
regulations, a bank is defined to be well capitalized if it maintains a
risk-adjusted Tier 1 capital ratio of at least 6%, a risk-adjusted total capital
ratio of at least 10% and a Tier 1 leverage capital ratio of at least 5%, and is
not otherwise in a "troubled condition" as specified by its appropriate federal
regulatory agency. A bank is defined to be adequately capitalized if it
maintains a risk-adjusted Tier 1 ratio of at least 4%, a risk-adjusted total
capital ratio of at least 8%, and a Tier 1 leverage ratio of at least 4% (3% for
certain highly rated institutions), and does not otherwise meet the well
capitalized definition. The three undercapitalized categories are based upon the
amount by which the bank falls below the ratios applicable to adequately
capitalized institutions. 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 an unsatisfactory examination rating. The capital
categories are determined solely for the purposes of applying FDICIA's prompt
corrective action ("PCA") provisions, as discussed below, and such capital
categories may not constitute an accurate representation of the overall
financial condition or prospects of the Bank.
Under FDICIA's PCA system, a bank in the undercapitalized category must
submit a capital restoration plan guaranteed by its parent company. The
liability of the parent company under any such guarantee is limited to the
lesser of 5% of the bank's assets at the time it became undercapitalized or the
amount needed to bring the bank into compliance with all capital standards
applicable to the bank as of the time the bank fails to comply with the plan. A
bank in the undercapitalized category is also subject to limitations in numerous
areas including, but not limited to, asset growth, acquisitions, branching, new
business lines, acceptance of brokered deposits and borrowings from the Federal
Reserve System. Progressively more burdensome restrictions are applied to banks
in the undercapitalized category that fail to submit or implement a capital plan
and to banks that are in the significantly undercapitalized or critically
undercapitalized categories. In addition, a bank's primary federal banking
agency is authorized to downgrade the bank's capital category to the next lower
category upon a determination that the bank is in an unsafe or unsound condition
or is engaged in an unsafe or unsound practice. An unsafe or unsound practice
can include receipt by the institution of a rating on its most recent
examination of 3 or worse (on a scale from 1 (best) to 5 (worst)), with respect
to its asset quality, management, earnings or liquidity.
Undercapitalized banks are subject to limitations on the payment of
dividends and on offering interest rates on deposits higher than the prevailing
rate in its market; in addition, "pass through" deposit insurance coverage may
not be available for certain employee benefit accounts. Significantly
undercapitalized banks 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
institutions
6
<PAGE> 10
(which are defined to include institutions which still have a positive net
worth) are generally subject to the mandatory appointment of a receiver or
conservator.
FDICIA and the regulations issued thereunder also have (i) limited the use
of brokered deposits to well capitalized banks and adequately capitalized banks
that have received waivers from the FDIC, (ii) established restrictions on the
permissible investments and activities of FDIC insured state chartered banks and
their subsidiaries, (iii) implemented uniform real estate lending rules, (iv)
prescribed standards to limit the risks posed by credit exposure between banks,
(v) revised risk-based capital rules to include components for measuring the
risk posed by interest rate changes, (vi) amended various consumer banking laws,
(vii) increased restrictions on loans to a bank's insiders, (viii) established
standards in a number of areas to assure bank safety and soundness, and (ix)
implemented additional requirements for institutions that have $500 million or
more in total assets with respect to annual independent audits, audit
committees, and management reports related to financial statements, internal
controls and compliance with designated laws and regulations.
FDICIA also directs that each federal banking agency prescribe, and each
such agency has prescribed, new safety and soundness standards for depository
institutions and depository institution holding companies relating to internal
controls, information systems, internal audit systems, loan documentation,
credit underwriting, interest rate exposure, asset growth, compensation, a
maximum rate of classified assets to capital, minimum earnings sufficient to
absorb losses, a minimum ratio of market value to book value for publicly traded
shares and other standards which the agencies deem appropriate. In general, the
standards are expected to increase the regulatory burden and expense of
conducting the banking business.
DEPOSIT INSURANCE
The Bank's deposits are insured by and are subject to FDIC insurance
assessments. The FDIC's deposit insurance assessments have moved under FDICIA
from a flat-rate system to a risk-based system. The risk-based system places a
bank in one of nine risk categories, principally on the basis of its capital
level and an evaluation of the bank's risk to the insurance fund, and bases
premiums on the probability of loss to the FDIC with respect to each individual
bank. On November 26, 1996, the FDIC Board of Directors voted to retain the
existing Bank Insurance Fund ("BIF") premium schedule for the first semiannual
period of 1997. The annual premium schedule ranges from 0 basis points to 27
basis points. The imposition of the BIF premium schedule will not have a
material effect on the Bank's earnings. It is, however, possible that the BIF
deposit insurance premiums will be revised by the FDIC in the future.
In October 1996 the Deposit Insurance Funds Act of 1996 (the "Funds Act")
was enacted. The Funds Act authorizes the Financing Corporation ("FICO") to levy
assessments on BIF-assessable deposits and deposits assessable by the Savings
Association Insurance Fund ("SAIF") commencing January 1, 1997. The FICO
assessment rate currently is approximately 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. By law, the FICO rate on
BIF-assessable deposits must be one-fifth the rate on SAIF-assessable deposits
until the earlier of the merger of the insurance funds or January 1, 2000. The
Bank's deposits include both BIF-assessable deposits and SAIF-assessable
deposits. The SAIF-assessable deposits are a result of the Corporation's
acquisitions of the deposits of savings associations. Because the Corporation
has both BIF-assessable and SAIF-assessable deposits, it is subject to both
assessment rates. The amounts payable to FICO by the Corporation are in addition
to other FDIC deposit insurance premiums and thus represent an increased cost to
the Corporation.
DIVIDENDS
The Corporation's ability to pay dividends is dependent upon its receipt of
dividends from its subsidiaries and on its earnings from investments. The Bank
may use only capital surplus that represents earnings, not paid-in capital, when
calculating permissible dividends. The approval of the
7
<PAGE> 11
OCC is required if the total of all dividends declared or proposed to be
declared by the Bank in any calendar year exceeds the Bank's net profits, as
defined, for that year, combined with its retained net profits for the preceding
two calendar years. The OCC also has authority to prohibit a national bank from
engaging in what, in its opinion, constitutes an unsafe or unsound practice in
conducting its business. The payment of dividends could, depending upon the
financial condition of the Bank, be deemed to constitute such an unsafe or
unsound practice.
PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDER
At September 30, 1997, there were 54,753,009 shares of Common Stock of the
Corporation outstanding. As of such date, Edmond J. Safra, through his ownership
of all of the outstanding shares of Saban S.A., which owns directly and
indirectly shares of the Corporation's Common Stock, and one other entity,
beneficially owned 15,258,812 shares of Common Stock, representing approximately
27.9% of the Corporation's outstanding Common Stock. Mr. Safra, through Saban
S.A. and a subsidiary thereof, has approval of the Federal Reserve, through
January 28, 1998, to acquire up to 1,730,400 additional shares of Common Stock
of the Corporation in the open market and through privately negotiated
transactions, which, if all such shares of Common Stock were acquired, would
result in ownership of approximately 31.0% of the Corporation's outstanding
Common Stock. The Corporation knows of no other stockholder who owned, as of
September 30, 1997, beneficially or of record, more than 10% of its outstanding
voting securities.
CONSOLIDATED RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, NINE MONTHS
---------------------------------------- ENDED
1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 SEPTEMBER 30, 1997
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Excluding interest on deposits..... 1.66x 1.94x 1.96x 1.79x 1.98x 1.88x
Including interest on deposits..... 1.26 1.39 1.37 1.24 1.31 1.30
</TABLE>
For the purpose of computing the consolidated ratios of earnings to fixed
charges, earnings represent consolidated income before income taxes plus fixed
charges. Fixed charges excluding interest on deposits consist of interest on
long-term debt and short-term borrowings and one-third of rental expense (which
is deemed representative of the interest factor). Fixed charges including
interest on deposits consist of the foregoing items plus interest on deposits.
CONSOLIDATED RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO COMBINED FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED STOCK
DIVIDENDS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, NINE MONTHS
---------------------------------------- ENDED
1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 SEPTEMBER 30, 1997
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Excluding interest on deposits..... 1.55x 1.78x 1.79x 1.63x 1.84x 1.80x
Including interest on deposits..... 1.23 1.34 1.32 1.21 1.28 1.28
</TABLE>
For the purpose of computing the consolidated ratios of earnings to
combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends, earnings represent
consolidated income before income taxes plus fixed charges. Fixed charges and
preferred stock dividends excluding interest on deposits consist of interest on
long-term debt and short-term borrowings and one-third of rental expense (which
is deemed representative of the interest factor) and the pre-tax equivalent of
preferred stock dividends. Fixed charges and preferred stock dividends including
interest on deposits consist of the foregoing items plus interest on deposits.
8
<PAGE> 12
DESCRIPTION OF THE TRUSTS
Republic New York Capital III and Republic New York Capital IV are each a
statutory business trust formed under Delaware law pursuant to (i) original
declarations of trust executed by the Corporation, as Depositor, Bankers Trust
(Delaware), as Delaware Trustee, and the administrative trustees named therein
and (ii) the filing of certificates of trust with the Delaware Secretary of
State on November 19, 1997. The declaration of trust of each Trust will be
amended and restated in its entirety (as so amended and restated, the
"Declaration") substantially in the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement of which this Prospectus forms a part. The Trusts exist for the
exclusive purpose of (i) issuing and selling the Trust Securities, (ii) using
the proceeds from sale of the Trust Securities to acquire Junior Subordinated
Debt Securities, (iii) making Distributions, and (iv) engaging in only those
other activities necessary, advisable or incidental thereto. Holders of the
Trust Securities will have no preemptive or similar rights. The Trusts may not
borrow money or issue debt or mortgage or pledge any of their assets.
Accordingly, the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities will be the sole assets of
the Trusts, and payments under the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities and the
payment provisions under the Junior Subordinated Indenture (as defined herein)
will be the sole revenues of the Trusts. All of the Common Securities will be
owned directly or indirectly by the Corporation. The Common Securities will rank
pari passu, and payments will be made thereon pro rata, with the Trust Preferred
Securities, except that upon the occurrence and continuance of an Event of
Default (as defined herein) under the corresponding Declaration resulting from a
Debenture Event of Default (as defined herein) the rights of the Corporation as
holder of the Common Securities to payment in respect of Distributions and
payments on account of the liquidation of the Trust or the redemption or other
acquisition of the Common Securities will be subordinated to the rights of the
holders of the Trust Preferred Securities. See "Description of Trust Preferred
Securities -- Subordination of Common Securities." If and when offered and sold,
the Corporation will acquire the Common Securities in an aggregate Liquidation
Amount equal to 3% of the total capital of the Trust. Each Trust has a term of
54 years, but may be terminated earlier as provided in the relevant Declaration.
Each Trust's business and affairs are conducted by its trustees, each initially
appointed by the Corporation, as Depositor. Unless otherwise set forth in the
applicable Prospectus Supplement, the Trustees for each Trust are Bankers Trust
Company, as Property Trustee, Bankers Trust (Delaware), as Delaware Trustee, and
two individual trustees, as Administrative Trustees, who are employees or
officers of or affiliated with the Corporation (collectively, the "Issuer
Trustees"). Bankers Trust Company will also act as trustee under the Guarantee
Agreements and the Junior Subordinated Indenture. The holder of the Common
Securities of the Trust, or the holders of a majority in Liquidation Amount of
the Trust Preferred Securities if an Event of Default under the relevant
Declaration resulting from a Debenture Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing, will be entitled to appoint, remove or replace the Property Trustee
and/or the Delaware Trustee. In no event will the holders of the Trust Preferred
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 Bankers Trust Company
are governed by the relevant Declaration and Guarantee Agreement, the Junior
Subordinated Indenture and the Trust Indenture Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Trust Indenture Act"). Pursuant to the expense provisions of the Junior
Subordinated Indenture, the Corporation will pay, directly or indirectly, all
ongoing costs, expenses and liabilities of the Trusts. See "Description of Trust
Preferred Securities -- Expenses and Taxes." The office of the Delaware Trustee
in the State of Delaware is 1011 Centre Road, Suite 200, Wilmington, Delaware
19805-1266. The principal executive office of each Trust is care of: Republic
New York Corporation, 452 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10018, Telephone:
(212) 525-6100, Attention: Office of the Corporate Secretary.
APPLICATION OF PROCEEDS
Except as may otherwise be provided in the Prospectus Supplement, the net
proceeds from the sale of the Corporation Securities will be used for general
corporate purposes. Pending ultimate application, the net proceeds may be used
to make short-term investments or reduce short-term borrowings. Unless
9
<PAGE> 13
otherwise specified in the Prospectus Supplement, each Trust will use all of the
proceeds from the sale of Trust Preferred Securities to purchase Junior
Subordinated Debt Securities of the Corporation. Additional information on the
application of proceeds from the sale of Offered Securities offered hereby may
be set forth in the Prospectus Supplement relating to such Offered Securities.
Management anticipates that the Corporation may, from time to time, engage
in additional financings, which may include the issuance of debt and/or equity
securities otherwise than pursuant to this Prospectus.
10
<PAGE> 14
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
The following description of the Debt Securities sets forth certain general
terms and provisions of the Indentures under which the Debt Securities are to be
issued. The following summaries of certain provisions of the Indentures and the
Debt Securities do not purport to be complete and are subject to, and are
qualified in their entirety by reference to, all the provisions of the
Indentures and the form of Debt Securities, respectively, including the
definition therein of certain terms. The Indentures are filed as exhibits to the
Registration Statement of which this Prospectus is a part. The Indentures are
also available for inspection at the Corporate Trust Office of Citibank, N.A.
("Citibank") at 120 Wall Street, 13th Floor, New York, New York 10043. The
particular terms of each issue of Debt Securities, as well as any modifications
or additions to such general terms that may apply in the case of such Debt
Securities, will be described in the Prospectus Supplement relating to such Debt
Securities. Accordingly, for a description of the terms of a particular issue of
Debt Securities, reference must be made to both the Prospectus Supplement
relating thereto and to the following description.
THE INDENTURES
Senior Securities have been and, if issued in the future, will be issued
under an Indenture dated as of May 15, 1986, as supplemented by a First
Supplemental Indenture dated as of May 15, 1991 and a Second Supplemental
Indenture dated as of April 15, 1993, between the Corporation and Citibank, as
successor Trustee (said Indenture as so supplemented, the "Senior Indenture").
The Senior Indenture is filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement of
which this Prospectus is a part. Subordinated Securities have been and, if
issued in the future, may be issued under either an Indenture dated as of May
15, 1986, as supplemented by a First Supplemental Indenture dated as of May 15,
1991 and a Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of April 15, 1993, between the
Corporation and Citibank, as successor Trustee (said Indenture as so
supplemented, the "1986 Subordinated Indenture") or a separate Indenture dated
as of October 15, 1992 and a First Supplemental Indenture dated as of April 15,
1993 between the Corporation and Citibank, as Trustee (the "1992 Subordinated
Indenture"). The 1986 Subordinated Indenture and the 1992 Subordinated Indenture
are filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus is
a part. The Senior Indenture, the 1986 Subordinated Indenture and the 1992
Subordinated Indenture are sometimes referred to herein collectively as the
"Indentures" and individually as an "Indenture".
The existence of both the 1986 Subordinated Indenture and the 1992
Subordinated Indenture reflects changes in the treatment of subordinated debt
securities for purposes of regulatory capital. In 1992, the Federal Reserve
Board issued interpretations of its capital regulations indicating, among other
things, that subordinated debt of bank holding companies issued on or after
September 4, 1992 is includable in capital for calculation of regulatory capital
ratios only if the subordination of the debt meets certain specified criteria
and if the debt may be accelerated only for bankruptcy, insolvency and similar
matters and is not subject to certain covenants, including a covenant
prohibiting the sale of any major subsidiary. Following this interpretation, the
Corporation entered into the 1992 Subordinated Indenture since it appeared that
the terms of the 1986 Subordinated Indenture might not satisfy these
requirements. Accordingly, to obtain the most favorable treatment for regulatory
capital purposes the 1992 Subordinated Indenture contains subordination and
acceleration provisions intended to be consistent with the 1992 Federal Reserve
Board interpretations and does not contain any covenant restricting the ability
of the Corporation to dispose of or cause the issuance of stock of the Bank or
addressing any other matter prohibited by the Federal Reserve Board's
interpretations. See "Disposition or Issuance of Capital Stock of the Bank" and
"Events of Default, Notice and Waiver."
There is no requirement that future issues of debt securities of the
Corporation be issued under any of the Indentures, and the Corporation is free
to employ other indentures or documentation, containing provisions different
from those included in the Indentures or applicable to one or more issues of
Debt Securities, in connection with future issues of such other debt securities.
11
<PAGE> 15
GENERAL TERMS OF DEBT SECURITIES
Each Indenture provides that the Debt Securities issued thereunder may be
issued without limit as to aggregate principal amount, in one or more series, in
each case as established from time to time in or pursuant to authority granted
by a resolution of the Board of Directors of the Corporation or as established
in one or more indentures supplemental to such Indenture. Each Indenture also
provides that there may be more than one Trustee under such Indenture, each with
respect to one or more series of Debt Securities. Any Trustee under any
Indenture may resign or be removed with respect to one or more series of Debt
Securities issued under such Indenture, and a successor Trustee may be appointed
to act with respect to such series.
In the event that two or more persons are acting as Trustee with respect to
different series of Debt Securities issued under the same Indenture, each such
Trustee shall be a Trustee of a trust under such Indenture separate and apart
from the trust administered by any other such Trustee and, except as otherwise
indicated herein, any action described herein to be taken by the Trustee may be
taken by each such Trustee with respect to, and only with respect to, the one or
more series of Debt Securities for which it is Trustee under such Indenture.
Reference is made to the Prospectus Supplement relating to the Debt
Securities to be offered for the following terms thereof: (1) the title of the
Debt Securities; (2) any limit on the aggregate principal amount of the Debt
Securities; (3) the purchase price of the Debt Securities (expressed as a
percentage of the principal amount); (4) the date or dates on which the
principal (and premium, if any) of the Debt Securities will be payable; (5) the
rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable), or the method by which such rate
or rates shall be determined, at which the Debt Securities will bear interest,
if any; (6) the date or dates from which any such interest will accrue, the date
or dates on which any such interest will be payable and the Regular Record Dates
for such Interest Payment Dates; (7) the place or places where the principal of
(and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on the Debt Securities will be
payable; (8) the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which
and the terms and conditions upon which the Debt Securities may be redeemed, as
a whole or in part, at the option of the Corporation, if the Corporation is to
have such an option; (9) the obligation, if any, of the Corporation to redeem or
purchase the Debt Securities pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provision
or at the option of a holder thereof, and the period or periods within which,
the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which the Debt
Securities will be redeemed or purchased, as a whole or in part, pursuant to
such obligation; (10) the currency or currencies in which the Debt Securities
are denominated, which may be in U.S. dollars, a foreign currency or units of
two or more foreign currencies or a composite currency or currencies; (11)
whether the amount of payments of principal of (and premium, if any) or
interest, if any, on the Debt Securities may be determined with reference to an
index, formula or other method (which index, formula or method may, but need not
be, based on a currency, currencies, currency unit or units or composite
currency or currencies) and the manner in which such amounts shall be
determined; (12) any additions or deletions in the terms of the Debt Securities
with respect to the Events of Default set forth in the respective Indentures;
(13) the terms, if any, upon which the Debt Securities may be convertible into
Common Stock or Preferred Stock of the Corporation and the terms and conditions
upon which such conversion will be effected, including the initial conversion
price or rate, the conversion period and any other provision in addition to or
in lieu of those described herein; (14) whether the Debt Securities will be
issued in certificated or book-entry form; and (15) any other terms of the Debt
Securities not inconsistent with the provisions of the respective Indentures.
Principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, will be payable, and the Debt
Securities will be transferable, in the manner described in the applicable
Prospectus Supplement relating to such Debt Securities.
Debt Securities may be issued under the Indentures as Original Issue
Discount Securities to be offered and sold at a substantial discount from the
principal amount thereof. Special federal income tax, accounting and other
considerations applicable thereto will be described in the applicable Prospectus
Supplement.
12
<PAGE> 16
Unless otherwise provided with respect to a series of Debt Securities, the
Debt Securities will be issued only in registered form without coupons in
denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof.
CERTIFICATED SECURITIES
Except as may be set forth in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, Debt
Securities will not be issued in definitive form. If, however, Debt Securities
are to be issued in definitive form, no service charge will be made for any
transfer or exchange of Debt Securities issued as Certificated Securities, but
the Corporation may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or
other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.
MERGER
The Indentures provide that the Corporation may not consolidate with or
merge into another Person or participate in a transaction in which all of the
issued and outstanding shares of its Capital Stock are acquired by another
Person by a vote of the Corporation's stockholders or sell, convey, exchange,
transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any
Person unless (a) such Person shall be a corporation organized under the laws of
any domestic or foreign jurisdiction and shall expressly assume the due and
punctual payment of the principal of and interest (and premium, if any) on the
Debt Securities and the performance of all of the covenants and conditions of
the Indentures and (b) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no
Event of Default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time, or both,
would become an Event of Default, shall have happened and be continuing.
DISPOSITION OR ISSUANCE OF CAPITAL STOCK OF THE BANK
Senior Indenture and 1986 Subordinated Indenture. The Senior Indenture and
the 1986 Subordinated Indenture prohibit the issuance, sale or other disposition
of Capital Stock, or securities convertible into, or options, warrants or rights
to acquire, Capital Stock of the Bank or of any Subsidiary which owns shares of
Capital Stock, or securities convertible into, or options, warrants or rights to
acquire, Capital Stock of the Bank, with the following exceptions: (a)
dispositions of directors' qualifying shares; (b) sales or other dispositions
for fair market value, if, after giving effect to such disposition and to
conversion of any shares or securities convertible into Capital Stock, the
Corporation would own directly or indirectly not less than 80% of each class of
the Capital Stock of the Bank; (c) sales or other dispositions made in
compliance with an order of a court or regulatory authority of competent
jurisdiction; (d) sales by the Bank of its Capital Stock, or securities
convertible into, or options, warrants or rights to acquire, its Capital Stock,
to its stockholders so long as prior to such sale the Corporation owned
securities of the same class and the sale does not reduce the percentage of
securities of such class owned by the Corporation; and (e) any issuance of
Capital Stock, or securities convertible into, or options, warrants or rights to
acquire, Capital Stock, of the Bank or any Subsidiary of the Corporation or
another Subsidiary.
1992 Subordinated Indenture. Unlike the Senior Indenture and the 1986
Subordinated Indenture, the 1992 Subordinated Indenture does not prohibit or
limit the issuance, sale or other disposition of Capital Stock of the Bank, or
securities convertible into, or options, warrants or rights to acquire, Capital
Stock of the Bank or of any Subsidiary which owns shares of Capital Stock, or
securities convertible into, or options, warrants or other rights to acquire,
Capital Stock of the Bank. Under the Federal Reserve Board's interpretations
referred to above, a limitation on the disposition or issuance of Capital Stock
of the Bank would prevent the Subordinated Securities issued under the 1992
Subordinated Indenture from being included in capital for calculation of
regulatory capital ratios. See "The Indentures" above.
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<PAGE> 17
EVENTS OF DEFAULT, NOTICE AND WAIVER
Senior Indenture and 1986 Subordinated Indenture. The Senior Indenture and
the 1986 Subordinated Indenture provide that the following events are Events of
Default thereunder with respect to any series of Debt Securities issued
thereunder: (a) default for 30 days in the payment of any installment of
interest on any Debt Security of such series; (b) default in the payment of the
principal of (or premium, if any, on) any Debt Security of such series at its
Maturity; (c) default in making a sinking fund payment or analogous obligation,
if any, or payment of the purchase price of any Debt Security of such series,
when and as the same shall be due and payable by the terms of the Debt
Securities of such series; (d) default in the performance of any other covenant
of the Corporation in such Indentures (other than a covenant included in such
Indentures solely for the benefit of a series of Debt Securities other than such
series), continued for 90 days after written notice as provided in such
Indenture; (e) certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, or
court appointment of a receiver, liquidator or trustee of the Corporation or its
property or the Bank; and (f) any other Event of Default provided with respect
to a particular series of Debt Securities. No Event of Default with respect to a
particular series of Debt Securities (except the events described in clause (e)
above) necessarily constitutes an Event of Default with respect to any other
series of Debt Securities issued under the same or another Indenture.
The Trustee may withhold notice to the Holders of any series of Debt
Securities of any default with respect to such series (except a default in the
payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on any
Debt Security of such series or in the payment of any sinking fund installment
or analogous payment obligation or any payment of the purchase price of any Debt
Security of such series) if the board of directors or Responsible Officers of
the Trustee consider such withholding to be in the interest of such Holders.
If an Event of Default described in clause (a), (b), (c) or (f) above with
respect to Debt Securities of any series at the time Outstanding occurs and is
continuing, then in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of not less than
25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of that series may
declare the principal amount (or, if the Debt Securities of that series are
Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may
be specified in the terms of that series) of all of the Debt Securities of that
series to be due and payable immediately. If an Event of Default described in
clause (d) or (e) above occurs and is continuing, then in every such case the
Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of all the Debt
Securities then Outstanding under the Senior Indenture or the 1986 Subordinated
Indenture, as the case may be ("Senior/Old Subordinated Indenture Securities"),
may declare the principal amount (or, if any such Senior/Old Subordinated
Indenture Securities are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the
principal amount as may be specified in the terms of that series) of all of the
Senior/Old Subordinated Indenture Debt Securities to be due and payable
immediately. However, at any time after such a declaration of acceleration with
respect to Debt Securities of such series (or of all Outstanding Senior/Old
Subordinated Indenture Securities, as the case may be) has been made, but before
a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the
Trustee prior to the Stated Maturity thereof, the Holders of a majority in
principal amount of Outstanding Debt Securities of such series (or of all
Outstanding Senior/Old Subordinated Indenture Securities, as the case may be)
may, subject to certain conditions, rescind and annul such acceleration if all
Events of Default, other than the non-payment of accelerated principal (or
specified portion thereof), with respect to Debt Securities of such series (or
of all Outstanding Senior/Old Subordinated Indenture Securities, as the case may
be) have been cured or waived as provided in the Senior Indenture and the 1986
Subordinated Indenture. The Senior Indenture and the 1986 Subordinated Indenture
also provide that the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of
the Debt Securities of a series (or of all Outstanding Senior/Old Subordinated
Indenture Securities, as the case may be) may, subject to certain limitations,
waive any past default and its consequences. Reference is made to the Prospectus
Supplement relating to any series of Debt Securities which are Original Issue
Discount Securities for the particular provisions relating to acceleration of a
portion of the principal amount of such Original Issue Discount Securities
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upon the occurrence of an Event of Default and the continuation thereof. Within
120 days after the close of each fiscal year, the Corporation must file with the
Trustee a statement, signed by specified officers, stating whether or not such
officers have knowledge of any default, and, if so, specifying each such default
and the nature and status thereof.
Subject to provisions in the Senior Indenture and the 1986 Subordinated
Indenture relating to its duties in case of default, the Trustee thereunder is
under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under such
Indentures at the request, order or direction of any Holders of any series of
Outstanding Senior/Old Subordinated Indenture Securities, unless such Holders
shall have offered to the Trustee thereunder reasonable security or indemnity.
Subject to such provisions for indemnification and certain limitations contained
in the Senior Indenture and the 1986 Subordinated Indenture, the Holders of not
less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of a
series (or of all the Outstanding Senior/Old Subordinated Indenture Securities,
as the case may be) shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of
conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee thereunder, or
of exercising any trust or power conferred upon such Trustee.
1992 Subordinated Indenture. The 1992 Subordinated Indenture provides that
the following events are the only Events of Default thereunder with respect to
any series of Subordinated Securities issued thereunder: (a) default for 30 days
in the payment of any installment of interest on any Subordinated Security of
such series; (b) default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any,
on) any Subordinated Security of such series at its Maturity; (c) default in
making a sinking fund payment or analogous obligation, if any, or payment of the
purchase price of any Subordinated Security of such series, when and as the same
shall be due and payable by the terms of the Subordinated Securities of such
series; (d) certain events relating to the bankruptcy, insolvency or
reorganization of the Corporation or the appointment of a receiver for the Bank;
and (e) any other Event of Default provided with respect to a particular series
of Subordinated Securities. No Event of Default with respect to a particular
series of Subordinated Securities other than the event described in clause (d)
above necessarily constitutes an Event of Default with respect to any other
series of Subordinated Securities issued under the same or another Indenture.
Unless provided with respect to a particular series of Subordinated
Securities issued under the 1992 Subordinated Indenture, there will be no right
of acceleration of the payment of principal of the Subordinated Securities
issued under the 1992 Subordinated Indenture upon a default in the payment of
principal or interest on such Subordinated Securities or in the performance of
any covenant or agreement contained in such Subordinated Securities or in the
1992 Subordinated Indenture. Under the 1992 Subordinated Indenture, payment of
principal of the Subordinated Securities may only be accelerated upon the
occurrence of certain events relating to the bankruptcy, insolvency or
reorganization of the Corporation or the appointment of a receiver for the Bank.
Inclusion of any rights of acceleration other than those set forth above would
prevent the Subordinated Securities issued under the 1992 Subordinated Indenture
from being included as regulatory capital. See "The Indentures" above. As a
result, the Events of Default under the 1992 Subordinated Indenture are narrower
than those under the Senior Indenture and the 1986 Subordinated Indenture.
As with the Senior Indenture and the 1986 Subordinated Indenture, the
Trustee may withhold notice to the Holders of any series of Subordinated
Securities of any default with respect to such series (except a default in the
payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on any
Subordinated Security of such series or in the payment of any sinking fund
installment or analogous payment obligation or any payment of the purchase price
of any security of such series) if the board of directors or Responsible
Officers of the Trustee consider such withholding to be in the interest of such
Holders.
If an Event of Default described in clause (e) above with respect to
Subordinated Securities of any series at the time Outstanding occurs and is
continuing, then in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of not less than
25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Subordinated Securities of that
series may declare the principal amount (or, if the Subordinated Securities of
that series are Original
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Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be
specified in the terms of that series) of all of the Subordinated Securities of
that series to be due and payable immediately. If an Event of Default described
in clause (d) above occurs and is continuing, then in each such case the Trustee
or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of all the Subordinated
Securities then Outstanding under the 1992 Subordinated Indenture ("New
Subordinated Indenture Securities") may declare the principal amount (or, if any
such New Subordinated Indenture Securities are Original Issue Discount
Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the
terms of that series) of all of the New Subordinated Indenture Securities to be
due and payable immediately. However, at any time after such a declaration of
acceleration with respect to Subordinated Securities of such series (or of all
Outstanding New Subordinated Indenture Securities, as the case may be) has been
made, but before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been
obtained by the Trustee prior to the Stated Maturity thereof, the Holders of a
majority in principal amount of Outstanding Subordinated Securities of such
series (or of all Outstanding New Subordinated Indenture Securities, as the case
may be) may, subject to certain conditions, rescind and annul such acceleration
if all Events of Default with respect to Subordinated Securities of such series
(or of all Outstanding New Subordinated Indenture Securities, as the case may
be) have been cured or waived as provided in such Indenture. The 1992
Subordinated Indenture also provides that the Holders of not less than a
majority in principal amount of the Outstanding New Subordinated Indenture
Securities of a series (or of all Outstanding New Subordinated Indenture
Securities, as the case may be) may, subject to certain limitations, waive any
past Events of Default and their consequences. Reference is made to the
Prospectus Supplement relating to any series of Subordinated Securities which
are Original Issue Discount Securities for the particular provisions relating to
acceleration of a portion of the principal amount of such Original Issue
Discount Securities upon the occurrence of an Event of Default and the
continuation thereof. Within 120 days after the close of each fiscal year, the
Corporation must file with the Trustee a statement, signed by a specified
officer, stating whether or not such officer has knowledge of any default, and,
if so, specifying each such default and the nature and status thereof.
Subject to provisions in the 1992 Subordinated Indenture relating to its
duties in case of default, the Trustee thereunder is under no obligation to
exercise any of its rights or powers under such Indenture at the request, order
or direction of any Holders of any series of Outstanding New Subordinated
Indenture Securities, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee
thereunder reasonable security or indemnity. Subject to such provisions for
indemnification and certain limitations contained in the 1992 Subordinated
Indenture, the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the
Outstanding Subordinated Securities of a series (or of all the Outstanding
Indenture Securities, as the case may be) shall have the right to direct the
time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to
the Trustee thereunder, or of exercising any trust or power conferred upon such
Trustee.
MODIFICATION OF THE INDENTURES
Senior Indenture and 1986 Subordinated Indenture. Except as to
modifications not adverse to the Holders of any series of Debt Securities issued
thereunder, modifications and amendments of the Senior Indenture and the 1986
Subordinated Indenture may be made only with the consent of the Holders of not
less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of all Outstanding Senior/Old
Subordinated Indenture Securities which are affected by the modification or
amendment; provided that no such modification or amendment may, without the
consent of the Holder of each such Debt Security affected thereby, (a) change
the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any installment of interest (or
premium, if any) on, any Debt Security; (b) reduce the principal amount of, or
the rate of interest on, or any premium payable on redemption of, such Debt
Security, or reduce the amount of principal of an Original Issue Discount
Security that would be due and payable upon declaration of acceleration of the
Maturity thereof or would be provable in bankruptcy; (c) change the Place of
Payment, or the coin or currency, for payment of principal of, premium, if any,
or interest on any such Debt Security; (d) impair the right to institute suit
for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to any such Debt Security;
(e) reduce the above-stated percentage of Outstanding Debt Securities of any
series
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necessary to modify or amend such Indentures; (f) subordinate the indebtedness
evidenced by the Senior Securities to any indebtedness of the Corporation, or
subordinate the indebtedness evidenced by the Subordinated Securities issued
thereunder to any indebtedness of the Corporation other than Senior Indebtedness
(as defined therein); or (g) modify the foregoing requirements other than to
increase such percentage or add to the amendments which may not be made without
the consent of the Holder of each Debt Security affected thereby. However, the
Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of all of the Outstanding
Senior/Old Subordinated Indenture Securities may waive compliance by the
Corporation with the restrictions described under the subheading "Disposition or
Issuance of Capital Stock of the Bank".
1992 Subordinated Indenture. Except as to modifications not adverse to the
Holders of any series of Subordinated Securities issued thereunder,
modifications and amendments of the 1992 Subordinated Indenture may be made only
with the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate
principal amount of all Outstanding New Subordinated Indenture Securities which
are affected by the modification or amendment; provided that no such
modification or amendment may, without the consent of the Holder of each such
Subordinated Security affected thereby, (a) change the Stated Maturity of the
principal of, or any installment of interest (or premium, if any) on, any
Subordinated Security; (b) reduce the principal amount of, or the rate of
interest on, or any premium payable on redemption of, such Subordinated
Security, or reduce the amount of principal of an Original Issue Discount
Security that would be due and payable upon declaration of acceleration of the
Maturity thereof or would be provable in bankruptcy; (c) change the Place of
Payment, or the coin or currency, for payment of principal of, premium, if any,
or interest on any such Subordinated Security; (d) impair the right to institute
suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to any such
Subordinated Security; (e) reduce the above-stated percentage of Outstanding
Securities of any series necessary to modify or amend such Indenture; (f)
subordinate the indebtedness evidenced by the Subordinated Securities issued
thereunder to any indebtedness of the Corporation other than Senior Indebtedness
(as defined therein); or (g) modify the foregoing requirements other than to
increase such percentage or add to the amendments which may not be made without
the consent of the Holder of each Subordinated Security affected thereby.
SENIOR SECURITIES
Senior Securities are to be issued under the Senior Indenture. Each series
of Senior Securities will constitute Senior Indebtedness and will rank equally
with each other series of Senior Securities and other Senior Indebtedness. All
subordinated debt (including, but not limited to, all Subordinated Securities
issued under the 1986 Subordinated Indenture and the 1992 Subordinated
Indenture) will be subordinated to the Senior Securities and other Senior
Indebtedness (as defined in the relevant Indenture).
SUBORDINATION OF SUBORDINATED SECURITIES
1986 Subordinated Indenture. The payment of the principal of and interest
on the Subordinated Securities issued under the 1986 Subordinated Indenture will
be subordinated in right of payment, as set forth in the 1986 Subordinated
Indenture, to the prior payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness (as defined
therein) of the Corporation, whether outstanding on the date of the 1986
Subordinated Indenture or thereafter incurred. Senior Indebtedness is defined in
the 1986 Subordinated Indenture as (a) the principal of and premium, if any, and
unpaid interest on indebtedness for money borrowed, (b) purchase money and
similar obligations, (c) obligations under capital leases, (d) guarantees,
assumptions or purchase commitments relating to, or other transactions as a
result of which the Corporation is responsible for the payment of, such
indebtedness of others, (e) renewals, extensions and refunding of any such
indebtedness and (f) interest or obligations in respect of any such indebtedness
accruing after the commencement of any insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings;
unless, in each case, the instrument by which the Corporation incurred, assumed
or guaranteed such indebtedness expressly provides that such indebtedness is
subordinate or junior in right of payment to
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any other indebtedness of the Corporation. At September 30, 1997, the aggregate
Senior Indebtedness of the Corporation, as defined in the 1986 Subordinated
Indenture, was approximately $720 million.
1992 Subordinated Indenture. The payment of the principal of and interest
on the Subordinated Securities issued under the 1992 Subordinated Indenture will
be subordinated as set forth in the 1992 Subordinated Indenture to the Senior
Indebtedness of the Corporation, whether outstanding on the date of the 1992
Subordinated Indenture or thereafter incurred. Senior Indebtedness is defined in
the 1992 Subordinated Indenture to include both obligations defined as Senior
Indebtedness in the 1986 Subordinated Indenture and Other Obligations which are
defined as including obligations associated with derivative products, such as
interest rate and currency exchange contracts, foreign exchange contracts,
commodity contracts and similar arrangements. Thus, Senior Indebtedness is
defined in the 1992 Subordinated Indenture in a broader manner than in the 1986
Subordinated Indenture. At September 30, 1997, the aggregate Senior Indebtedness
of the Corporation, as defined in the 1992 Subordinated Indenture, was
approximately $733 million.
Ranking. No class of Subordinated Securities is subordinated to any other
class of subordinated debt securities; Subordinated Securities issued under the
1992 Subordinated Indenture are, however, expressly subordinated to a broader
group of Senior Indebtedness than is the case with respect to the Holders of
Subordinated Securities issued under the 1986 Subordinated Indenture. See "1992
Subordinated Indenture" above. Thus, in a bankruptcy or insolvency of the
Corporation, the holders of such Subordinated Securities may receive less,
ratably, than holders of Subordinated Securities issued under the 1986
Subordinated Indenture. See "1992 Subordinated Indenture" above and
"Subordination Provisions" below.
Subordination Provisions. In the event (a) of any distribution of assets
of the Corporation upon any dissolution, winding up, liquidation or
reorganization of the Corporation, whether in bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization or receivership proceedings or upon an assignment for the benefit
of creditors or any other marshalling of the assets and liabilities of the
Corporation or otherwise, except a distribution in connection with a merger or
consolidation or a conveyance or transfer of all or substantially all of the
properties of the Corporation which complies with the requirements of Article
Eight of the 1986 Subordinated Indenture or the 1992 Subordinated Indenture, as
the case may be, or (b) that a default shall have occurred and be continuing
with respect to the payment of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on
any Senior Indebtedness, as defined in the relevant Indenture (excluding, in the
case of the 1992 Subordinated Indenture, the Other Obligations), or (c) that the
principal of the Subordinated Securities of any series issued under such
Indenture (or in the case of Original Issue Discount Securities, the portion of
the principal amount thereof referred to in Section 502 of the 1986 Subordinated
Indenture or the 1992 Subordinated Indenture, as the case may be) shall have
been declared due and payable pursuant to Section 502 of the 1986 Subordinated
Indenture or the 1992 Subordinated Indenture, as the case may be, and such
declaration shall not have been rescinded and annulled as provided in said
Section 502, then:
(1) in a circumstance described in the foregoing clause (a) or (b),
the holders of all Senior Indebtedness, as defined in the relevant
Indenture (excluding, in the case of the 1992 Subordinated Indenture, the
Other Obligations), and in the circumstance described in the foregoing
clause (c), the holders of all Senior Indebtedness, as defined in the
relevant Indenture (excluding, in the case of the 1992 Subordinated
Indenture, the Other Obligations), outstanding at the time the principal of
such Subordinated Securities issued under such Indenture (or in the case of
Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount)
shall have been so declared due and payable, shall first be entitled to
receive payment of the full amount due thereon in respect of principal,
premium (if any) and interest, or provision shall be made for such payment
in money or money's worth, before the Holders of any of the Subordinated
Securities issued under any Indenture are entitled to receive any payment
on account of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on the
indebtedness evidenced by the Subordinated Securities;
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(2) if upon any payment or distribution contemplated in clause (1)
after giving effect to the subordination provisions contemplated therein
there shall remain any amounts of cash, property or securities of the
Corporation available for payment or distribution in respect of
Subordinated Securities, then the amount of such cash, property or
securities shall be shared ratably among the Holders of all Subordinated
Securities issued under the 1986 Subordinated Indenture and the 1992
Subordinated Indenture and any subordinated indebtedness ranking on a
parity therewith; provided, however, that in the case of a circumstance
described in the foregoing clause (a), if at such time any creditors in
respect of Other Obligations (as defined in the 1992 Subordinated
Indenture) have not then received payment in full of all amounts due or to
become due on or in respect of such Other Obligations, then the ratable
portion of cash, property or securities distributable to the Holders of
Subordinated Securities issued under the 1992 Subordinated Indenture shall
first be applied to pay or provide for the payment in full of all of the
Other Obligations before any payment or distribution may be made in respect
of Subordinated Securities issued under the 1992 Subordinated Indenture;
(3) any payment by, or distribution of assets of, the Corporation of
any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities (other than
certain subordinated securities of the Corporation issued in a
reorganization or readjustment), to which the Holders of any of the
Securities or the Trustee would be entitled except for the provisions of
Article Fourteen of the 1986 Subordinated Indenture or the 1992
Subordinated Indenture, as the case may be, shall be paid or delivered by
the Person making such payment or distribution directly to the holders of
Senior Indebtedness (other than Other Obligations) or to the holders of
Other Obligations, as the case may be (as provided in clauses (1) and (2)
above), or on their behalf, ratably according to the aggregate amounts
remaining unpaid on account of such Senior Indebtedness (other than Other
Obligations) or Other Obligations, as the case may be, held or represented
by each, to the extent necessary to make payment in full of all Senior
Indebtedness (other than Other Obligations) or Other Obligations, as the
case may be (as provided in clauses (1) and (2) above), remaining unpaid
after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution (or provision
therefor) to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness, before any payment or
distribution is made to or in respect of the holders of the Subordinated
Securities, as contemplated in clause (1) above, or the holders of
Subordinated Securities issued under the 1992 Subordinated Indenture as
contemplated by clause (2) above;
(4) in the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment by,
or distribution of assets of, the Corporation of any kind or character
described in the foregoing clause (a) is received by the Trustee under the
1986 Subordinated Indenture or the 1992 Subordinated Indenture, as the case
may be, or the Holders of any of the Subordinated Securities issued under
either of such Indentures, before all Senior Indebtedness, as defined in
the relevant Indenture, is paid in full, such payment or distribution shall
be paid over to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness or on their behalf,
ratably as aforesaid, for application to the payment of all such Senior
Indebtedness remaining unpaid until all such Senior Indebtedness, as
defined in the relevant Indenture, shall have been paid in full, after
giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution (or provision
therefor) to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness.
By reason of such subordination in favor of the Holders of Senior
Indebtedness in the event of insolvency, creditors of the Corporation who are
not Holders of Senior Indebtedness or of the Subordinated Securities may recover
less, ratably, than Holders of Senior Indebtedness and may recover more,
ratably, than the Holders of the Subordinated Securities. By reason of the
obligation of the Holders of Subordinated Securities issued under the 1992
Subordinated Indenture to pay over any cash, property and securities to
creditors in respect of Other Obligations, in the event of insolvency, holders
of Existing Subordinated Indebtedness may recover less, ratably, than creditors
in respect of Other Obligations and may recover more, ratably, than the Holders
of Subordinated Securities issued under the 1992 Subordinated Indenture.
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OUTSTANDING AMOUNT OF SUBORDINATED SECURITIES
Subordinated Securities issued under the relevant Indenture are not
subordinated to the Corporation's issues of Putable Capital Notes, 9.70%
Subordinated Notes due 2009, 9 1/2% Subordinated Notes due 2014, 9 1/2%
Subordinated Notes due 2000, 9 3/4% Subordinated Notes due 2000, 8 7/8%
Subordinated Notes due 2001, 9 1/8% Subordinated Notes due 2021, 9.30%
Subordinated Notes due 2021, 8.25% Subordinated Notes due 2001, 7 7/8%
Subordinated Notes due 2001, 7 3/4% Subordinated Notes due 2002, 7 1/4%
Subordinated Notes due 2002, Floating Rate Subordinated Notes due 2002, Floating
Rate Subordinated Notes due October 28, 2002, 5 7/8% Subordinated Notes due
2008, 7 3/4% Subordinated Notes due 2009, 7% Subordinated Notes due 2011 and
7.20% Subordinated Debentures due 2097, outstanding in the aggregate principal
amount of $2.650 billion as of the date hereof. See "Subordination of
Subordinated Securities -- Ranking" above.
CONVERTIBLE DEBT SECURITIES
The following provisions will apply to Debt Securities that will be
convertible into Common Stock or Preferred Stock (the "Convertible Debt
Securities") unless otherwise provided in the Prospectus Supplement for such
Debt Securities.
Conversion. The holder of any Convertible Debt Securities will have the
right, exercisable at any time during the time period specified in the
applicable Prospectus Supplement, unless previously redeemed by the Corporation,
to convert such Convertible Debt Securities into shares of Common Stock or
Preferred Stock at the conversion rate for each $1,000 principal amount of
Convertible Debt Securities set forth in the Prospectus Supplement. The holder
of a Convertible Debt Security may convert a portion thereof which is $1,000 or
any integral multiple of $1,000. In the case of Convertible Debt Securities
called for redemption, conversion rights will expire at the close of business on
the date fixed for the redemption specified in the Prospectus Supplement, except
that, in the case of redemption at the option of such holder, if applicable,
such right will terminate upon receipt of written notice of the exercise of such
option.
In certain events, the conversion price or rate will be subject to
adjustment as contemplated in the applicable Indenture. For Debt Securities
convertible into Common Stock, such events include the issuance of shares of
Common Stock of the Corporation as a dividend; subdivisions and combinations of
Common Stock; the issuance to all holders of Common Stock of rights or warrants
entitling such holders (for a period not exceeding 45 days) to subscribe for or
purchase shares of Common Stock at a price per share less than the current
market price per share of Common Stock; and the distribution to all holders of
Common Stock of shares of capital stock of the Corporation (other than Common
Stock), evidences of indebtedness of the Corporation or of assets (excluding
cash dividends paid from retained earnings and dividends payable in Common Stock
for which adjustment is made as referred to above) or subscription rights or
warrants (other than those referred to above). In any of such cases, no
adjustment of the conversion price or rate will be required unless an adjustment
would require a cumulative increase or decrease of at least 1% in such price or
rate. Fractional shares of Common Stock will not be issued upon conversion, but,
in lieu thereof, the Corporation will pay a cash adjustment. Convertible Debt
Securities convertible into Common Stock surrendered for conversion between the
record date for an interest payment, if any, and the interest payment date
(except such Convertible Debt Securities called for redemption on a redemption
date during such period) must be accompanied by payment of an amount equal to
the interest thereon which the registered holder is entitled to receive.
The adjustment provisions for Debt Securities convertible into shares of
Preferred Stock will be determined at the time of an issuance of such Debt
Securities and will be set forth in the applicable Prospectus Supplement related
thereto.
Except as set forth in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, any
Convertible Debt Securities called for redemption, unless surrendered for
conversion on or before the close of business on the redemption date, are
subject to being purchased from the holder of such Convertible Debt Securities
by one or
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more investment bankers or other purchasers who may agree with the Corporation
to purchase such Convertible Debt Securities and convert them into Common Stock
or Preferred Stock, as the case may be.
RISK FACTORS RELATING TO DEBT SECURITIES DENOMINATED IN FOREIGN CURRENCIES
Debt securities denominated or payable in foreign currencies may entail
significant risks. These risks include, without limitation, the possibility of
significant fluctuations in the foreign currency markets, the imposition of
foreign exchange controls, and potential illiquidity in the secondary market.
See "Currency Risks."
CONCERNING CITIBANK
The Corporation and the Bank maintain deposit accounts and conduct banking
transactions with Citibank and Citicorp, the parent of Citibank, in the ordinary
course of their businesses.
DESCRIPTION OF JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES
The following description of the terms of Junior Subordinated Debt
Securities summarizes certain general terms of the Junior Subordinated Debt
Securities to which any Prospectus Supplement may relate. The particular terms
of each issue of Junior Subordinated Debt Securities, as well as any
modifications or additions to such general terms that may apply in the case of
such Junior Subordinated Debt Securities, will be described in the Prospectus
Supplement relating thereto. Accordingly, for a description of the terms of a
particular issue of Junior Subordinated Debt Securities, reference must be made
both to the Prospectus Supplement relating thereto and the following
description.
The Junior Subordinated Debt Securities are to be issued under a Junior
Subordinated Indenture dated as of December 15, 1997, as supplemented from time
to time (as so supplemented, the "Junior Subordinated Indenture"), between the
Corporation and Bankers Trust Company, as trustee (the "Debenture Trustee"). The
Junior Subordinated Indenture is qualified under the Trust Indenture Act. This
summary of certain terms and provisions of the Junior Subordinated Indenture
does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to
the Junior Subordinated Indenture and the Trust Indenture Act. Whenever
particular provisions or defined terms in the Junior Subordinated Indenture are
referred to herein, such provisions or defined terms are incorporated by
reference herein. The form of Junior Subordinated Indenture is filed as an
exhibit to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus is a part. The
Junior Subordinated Indenture is available for inspection at the office of
Bankers Trust Company, Four Albany Street, New York, New York 10006.
GENERAL TERMS OF JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES
The Junior Subordinated Debt Securities will be unsecured, junior
subordinated obligations of the Corporation. The Junior Subordinated Indenture
does not limit the amount of additional indebtedness the Corporation or any of
its subsidiaries may incur. Since the Corporation is a holding company, the
Corporation's rights and the rights of its creditors, including the holders of
the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities, to participate in the assets of any
subsidiary upon the latter's liquidation or recapitalization will be subject to
the prior claims of the subsidiary's creditors, except to the extent that the
Corporation may itself be a creditor with recognized claims against the
subsidiary. The Junior Subordinated Debt Securities will rank pari passu with
all other junior subordinated debt securities issued under the Junior
Subordinated Indenture ("Other Debt") and will be unsecured and subordinate and
junior in right of payment to the extent and in the manner set forth in the
Junior Subordinated Indenture to all Senior Debt of the Corporation. See
"-- Subordination."
The Junior Subordinated Indenture does not limit the aggregate principal
amount of indebtedness which may be issued thereunder and provides that Junior
Subordinated Debt Securities may be issued thereunder from time to time in one
or more series.
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It is anticipated that each Junior Subordinated Debt Security will be in
the name of the Property Trustee of the related Trust and held in trust for the
benefit of the holders of the Trust Securities thereby. Upon the liquidation of
a Trust upon the occurrence of certain events of default and otherwise as
described herein and in an applicable Prospectus Supplement, Junior Subordinated
Debt Securities subsequently may be distributed pro rata to the holders of the
Trust Securities. Only one series of Junior Subordinated Debt Securities will be
issued to a Trust in connection with the issuance of Trust Securities by such
Trust.
Reference is made to the Prospectus Supplement relating to the Trust
Preferred Securities to be offered for the following terms of the related Junior
Subordinated Debt Securities: (1) the title of the Junior Subordinated Debt
Securities; (2) the aggregate principal amount of the Junior Subordinated Debt
Securities; (3) the initial public offering price; (4) the date or dates on
which the principal (and premium, if any) of the Junior Subordinated Debt
Securities will be payable; (5) the rate or rates (which may be fixed or
variable), or the method by which such rate or rates shall be determined, at
which the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities will bear interest, if any; (6)
the date or dates from which any such interest will accrue, the date or dates on
which any such interest will be payable and the Regular Record Dates for such
Interest Payment Dates; (7) the right, if any, to extend interest payment
periods and the duration of such extension; (8) the place or places where the
principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on the Junior
Subordinated Debt Securities will be payable; (9) the period or periods within
which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which the
Junior Subordinated Debt Securities may be redeemed, as a whole or in part, at
the option of the Corporation, if the Corporation is to have such an option;
(10) the obligation, if any, of the Corporation to redeem or purchase the Junior
Subordinated Debt Securities pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provision
or at the option of a holder thereof, and the period or periods within which,
the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which the Junior
Subordinated Debt Securities will be redeemed or purchased, as a whole or in
part, pursuant to such obligation; (11) the portion of the principal amount of
Junior Subordinated Debt Securities that shall be payable upon acceleration of
the maturity of such Junior Subordinated Debt Securities, if other than the
principal amount thereof; (12) the currency or currencies in which the Junior
Subordinated Debt Securities are denominated, which may be in U.S. dollars, a
foreign currency or units of two or more foreign currencies or a composite
currency or currencies; (13) whether the amount of payments or principal of (and
premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities
may be determined with reference to an index, formula or other method (which
index, formula or method may, but need not be, based on a currency, currencies,
currency unit or units or composite currency or currencies) and the manner in
which such amounts shall be determined; (14) any additions or deletions in the
terms of the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities with respect to the Events of
Default set forth in the Junior Subordinated Indenture; (15) the terms, if any,
upon which the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities may be convertible and the
terms and conditions upon which such conversion will be effected, including the
initial conversion price or rate, the conversion period and any other provision
in addition to or in lieu of those described herein; (16) whether the Junior
Subordinated Debt Securities will be issued in certificated or book-entry form;
(17) any applicable federal income tax consequences; and (18) any other terms of
the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities not inconsistent with the provisions of
the Junior Subordinated Indenture and applicable laws.
FORM OF JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the
Junior Subordinated Debt Securities will be represented by one or more global
certificates registered in the name of Cede & Co. as the nominee of DTC if, and
only if, distributed to the holders of the Trust Securities. Until such time,
the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities will be registered in the name of the
Property Trustee. Should the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities be distributed
to holders of the Trust Securities, beneficial interests in the Junior
Subordinated Debt Securities will be shown on, and transfers thereof will be
effected only through, records maintained by Participants in DTC. If the Junior
Subordinated Debt Securities are distributed to the holders of the Trust
Securities upon the termination of a Trust, the
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form, denomination, book-entry and transfer procedures with respect to the Trust
Preferred Securities as described under "Description of Trust Preferred
Securities -- Form of Trust Preferred Securities" and "Book-Entry Procedures"
shall apply to the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities mutatis mutandis.
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 Procedures."
OPTION TO EXTEND INTEREST PAYMENT DATE
If set forth in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, so long as no
Debenture Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Corporation will
have the right to defer the payment of interest on the Junior Subordinated Debt
Securities at any time or from time to time for a period not exceeding 10
consecutive interest periods (each an "Extension Period"). No Extension Period
may end on a date other than an Interest Payment Date or extend beyond the
Stated Maturity of the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities. At the end of an
Extension Period, the Corporation must pay all interest then accrued and unpaid
on the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities (together with interest thereon to
the extent permitted by applicable law). During an Extension Period, interest
will continue to accrue.
During any Extension Period, the Corporation 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 capital stock
(which includes common and preferred stock), (ii) make any payment of principal,
interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt
securities of the Corporation (including any Other Debt) that rank pari passu in
all respects with or junior in interest to the Junior Subordinated Debt
Securities or (iii) make any guarantee payments with respect to any guarantee by
the Corporation of the debt securities of any subsidiary of the Corporation
(including any other guarantees) if such guarantee ranks pari passu in all
respects with or junior in interest to the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities
(other than (a) dividends or distributions in common stock of the Corporation,
(b) any declaration of a dividend in connection with the implementation of a
stockholders' rights plan, or the issuance of stock under any such plan in the
future, or the redemption or repurchase of any such rights pursuant thereto, (c)
payments under the Guarantees, (d) purchases or acquisitions of shares of the
Corporation's Common Stock in connection with the satisfaction by the
Corporation of its obligations under any employee benefit plan or any other
contractual obligation of the Corporation (other than a contractual obligation
ranking pari passu in all respects with or junior to the Junior Subordinated
Debt Securities), (e) as a result of a reclassification of the Corporation's
capital stock or the exchange or conversion of one class or series of the
Corporation's capital stock for another class or series of the Corporation's
capital stock or (f) 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). Prior to the
termination of any Extension Period, the Corporation may further extend such
Extension Period; provided, however, that such extension does not cause such
Extension Period to exceed 10 consecutive semi-annual periods or to extend
beyond the Stated Maturity. Upon the termination of any Extension Period and the
payment of all interest then accrued and unpaid on the Junior Subordinated Debt
Securities (together with interest thereon, to the extent permitted by
applicable law), the Corporation may elect to begin a new Extension Period,
subject to the above requirements. 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 of any Extension Period (or an extension thereof) at least five
Business Days prior to the earlier of (i) the date the Distributions on the
Trust Securities would have been payable except for the election to begin or
extend such Extension Period or (ii) the date the Administrative Trustees are
required to give notice to any automated quotation system or to holders of Trust
Preferred Securities of the record date or the date such Distributions are
payable, but in any event not less than five Business Days prior to such record
date. The Debenture Trustee shall give notice of the Corporation's election to
begin or extend a new Extension Period to the holders of the Trust Preferred
Securities. There is no limitation on the number of times that the Corporation
may elect to begin an Extension Period.
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TAX EVENT PREPAYMENT
If a Tax Event shall occur and be continuing, the Corporation may, at its
option and subject to receipt of prior approval of the Federal Reserve if then
required under applicable capital guidelines or policies of the Federal Reserve,
terminate either Trust or both and distribute the Junior Subordinated Debt
Securities of such Trust(s) to the holders of the Trust Securities at any time
within 90 days of the occurrence of such Tax Event and, if such Tax Event
continues notwithstanding the taking of such actions, to prepay the Junior
Subordinated Debt Securities in whole (but not in part) at a prepayment price
(the "Tax Event Prepayment Price") equal to 100% of the principal amount of such
Junior Subordinated Debt Securities plus accrued interest thereon to the date of
prepayment. See "Description of Trust Preferred Securities -- Liquidation of the
Trust and Distribution of Junior Subordinated Debt Securities."
"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 Issue Date, there
is more than an insubstantial risk that (i) the Trust is, or will be within 90
days of the date of such opinion, subject to United States Federal income tax
with respect to income received or accrued on the Junior Subordinated Debt
Securities, (ii) interest payable by the Corporation on the Junior Subordinated
Debt Securities 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) the Trust is, or will be within 90 days of
the date of such opinion, subject to more than a de minimis amount of other
taxes, duties or other governmental charges.
Notice of any Tax Event prepayment will be mailed at least 30 days but not
more than 60 days before the redemption date to each holder of Junior
Subordinated Debt Securities at its registered address. Unless the Corporation
defaults in payment of the Tax Event Prepayment Price, on and after the
prepayment date interest will cease to accrue on the Junior Subordinated Debt
Securities.
RESTRICTIONS ON CERTAIN PAYMENTS
The Corporation will also covenant that it will 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
(which includes common and preferred stock) or (ii) make any payment of
principal, interest or premium, if any, on or repay or repurchase or redeem any
debt securities of the Corporation (including Other Debt) that rank pari passu
in all respects with or junior in interest to the Junior Subordinated Debt
Securities or make any guarantee payments with respect to any guarantee by the
Corporation of the debt securities of any subsidiary of the Corporation
(including under other guarantees) if such guarantee ranks pari passu in all
respects with or junior in interest to the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities
(other than (a) dividends or distributions in common stock of the Corporation,
(b) any declaration of a dividend in connection with the implementation of a
stockholders' rights plan, or the issuance of stock under any such plan in the
future, or the redemption or repurchase of any such rights pursuant thereto, (c)
payments under the Guarantees, (d) purchases or acquisitions of shares of the
Corporation's common stock in connection with the satisfaction by the
Corporation of its obligations under any employee benefit plan or any other
contractual obligation of the Corporation (other than a contractual obligation
ranking pari passu in all respects with or junior to the Junior Subordinated
Debt Securities), (e) as a result of a reclassification of the Corporation's
capital stock or the exchange or conversion of one class or series of the
Corporation's capital stock for another class or series of the Corporation's
capital stock or (f) 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) if at such time
(i) there shall have occurred a Debenture Event of Default, (ii) the Corporation
shall be in default with respect to its payment of any obligations
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under the Guarantee or (iii) the Corporation shall have given notice of its
election of an Extension Period as provided in the Junior Subordinated Indenture
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 and the Debenture Trustee may, without
the consent of the holders of Junior Subordinated Debt Securities, amend, waive
or supplement the Junior Subordinated 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 Junior Subordinated Debt Securities or the holders of the
Trust Preferred Securities so long as they remain outstanding) and qualifying,
or maintaining the qualification of, the Junior Subordinated Indenture under the
Trust Indenture Act. The Junior Subordinated Indenture contains provisions
permitting the Corporation and the Debenture Trustee, with the consent of the
holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of Junior Subordinated
Debt Securities, to modify the Junior Subordinated Indenture in a manner
affecting the rights of the holders of Junior Subordinated Debt Securities;
provided, however, that no such modification may, without the consent of the
holder of each outstanding Junior Subordinated Debt Security so affected, (i)
change the Stated Maturity, or reduce the principal amount of the Junior
Subordinated Debt Securities, or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment
of interest thereon or (ii) reduce the percentage of principal amount of Junior
Subordinated Debt Securities, the holders of which are required to consent to
any such modification of the Junior Subordinated Indenture.
In addition, the Corporation and the Debenture Trustee may execute, without
the consent of any holder of Junior Subordinated Debt Securities, any
supplemental Junior Subordinated Indenture for the purpose of creating any Other
Debt.
EVENTS OF DEFAULT, WAIVER
The Junior Subordinated Indenture provides that any one or more of the
following described events with respect to the Junior Subordinated Debt
Securities that has occurred and is continuing constitutes a "Debenture Event of
Default":
(i) failure for 30 days to pay any interest on the Junior Subordinated
Debt Securities when due (subject to the deferral of any due date in the
case of an Extension Period); or
(ii) failure to pay any principal or premium, if any, on the Junior
Subordinated Debt Securities when due, whether at maturity, upon
redemption, by declaration of acceleration or otherwise; or
(iii) failure to observe or perform in any material respect certain
other covenants contained in the Junior Subordinated Indenture for 90 days
after written notice to the Corporation from the Debenture Trustee or the
holders of at least 25% in aggregate outstanding principal amount of the
Junior Subordinated Debt Securities; or
(iv) certain events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the
Corporation; or
(v) the voluntary or involuntary dissolution, winding-up or
termination of the related Trust, except in connection with the
distribution of the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities to the holder of
Trust Securities in liquidation of such Trust, the redemption of all of the
Trust Securities of such Trust, or certain mergers, consolidations or
amalgamations, each as permitted by the relevant Declaration.
In case a Debenture Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, the
Property Trustee will have the right to declare the principal of and the
interest on the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities, and any other amounts
payable under the Junior Subordinated Indenture, to be forthwith due and payable
and to enforce its other rights as a creditor with respect to the Junior
Subordinated Debt Securities.
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The holders of a majority in aggregate outstanding principal amount of the
Junior Subordinated Debt Securities 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 the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities may
declare the principal due and payable immediately upon a Debenture Event of
Default and, should the Debenture Trustee or such holders of Junior Subordinated
Debt Securities fail to make such declaration, the holders of at least 25% in
aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Trust Preferred Securities shall have such
right. The holders of a majority in aggregate outstanding principal amount of
the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities may annul such declaration and waive the
default if the default (other than the non-payment of the principal of the
Junior Subordinated Debt Securities which has become due solely by such
acceleration) 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. Should the holders of Junior
Subordinated Debt Securities fail to annul such declaration and waive such
default, the holders of a majority in aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Trust
Preferred Securities shall have such right.
The holders of a majority in aggregate outstanding principal amount of the
Junior Subordinated Debt Securities affected thereby may, on behalf of the
holders of all the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities, waive any past default,
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 which
under the Junior Subordinated Indenture cannot be modified or amended without
the consent of the holder of each outstanding Junior Subordinated Debt Security.
Should the holders of such Junior Subordinated Debt Securities fail to annul
such declaration and waive such default, the holders of a majority in aggregate
Liquidation Amount of the Trust Preferred Securities shall have such right
unless a higher percentage would have been required by holders of Junior
Subordinated Debt Securities, in which case such higher percentage applies. The
Corporation is required to file annually with the Debenture Trustee a
certificate as to whether or not the Corporation is in compliance with all the
conditions and covenants applicable to it under the Junior Subordinated
Indenture.
ENFORCEABILITY OF RIGHTS BY HOLDERS OF TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES
If a Debenture Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and such
event is attributable to the failure of the Corporation to pay interest or
principal on the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities on the date such interest
or principal is otherwise payable, a holder of Trust Preferred Securities may
institute a Direct Action. The Corporation may not amend the Junior Subordinated
Indenture to remove the foregoing right to bring a Direct Action without the
prior written consent of the holders of all of the Trust Preferred Securities.
Notwithstanding any payments made to a holder of Trust Preferred Securities by
the Corporation in connection with a Direct Action, the Corporation shall remain
obligated to pay the principal of or interest on the Junior Subordinated Debt
Securities, and the Corporation shall be subrogated to the rights of the holder
of such Trust Preferred Securities with respect to payments on the Trust
Preferred Securities to the extent of any payments made by the Corporation to
such holder in any Direct Action.
The holders of the Trust Preferred 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 Junior Subordinated Debt Securities unless there
shall have been an Event of Default under the relevant Declaration. See
"Description of Trust Preferred Securities -- Events of Default; Notice."
MERGER, CONSOLIDATION, SALE OR OTHER DISPOSITION
The Junior Subordinated Indenture provides that the Corporation shall not
consolidate with or merge with or 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 with or into the
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Corporation or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially
as an entirety to the Corporation, unless (i) in case the Corporation
consolidates with or merges with or 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, and such successor Person expressly assumes the
Corporation's obligations on the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities issued
under the Junior Subordinated 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; (iii) such transaction is permitted under the
related Declaration and the related Guarantee and does not give rise to any
breach or violation of the related Declaration or the related Guarantee; and
(iv) certain other conditions as prescribed in the Junior Subordinated Indenture
are met.
The general provisions of the Junior Subordinated Indenture do not afford
holders of the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities protection in the event of a
highly leveraged or other transaction involving the Corporation that may
adversely affect holders of the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities.
SUBORDINATION
In the Junior Subordinated Indenture, the Corporation has covenanted and
agreed that any Junior Subordinated Debt Securities issued thereunder shall be
subordinate and junior in right of payment to all Senior Debt to the extent
provided in the Junior Subordinated Indenture. Upon any payment or distribution
of assets to creditors upon any liquidation, dissolution, winding-up,
reorganization, assignment for the benefit of creditors, marshaling of assets or
any bankruptcy, insolvency, debt restructuring or similar proceedings in
connection with any insolvency or bankruptcy proceeding of the Corporation, the
holders of Senior Debt will first be entitled to receive payment in full of
principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on such Senior Debt
before the holders of Junior Subordinated Debt Securities will be entitled to
receive or retain any payment or distribution in respect thereof; provided,
however, that holders of Senior Debt shall not be entitled to receive payment of
any such amounts to the extent that such holders would be required by the
subordination provisions of such Senior Debt to pay such amounts over to the
obligees on trade accounts payable or other liabilities arising in the ordinary
course of business.
In the event of the acceleration of the maturity of the Junior Subordinated
Debt Securities, the holders of all Senior Debt outstanding at the time of such
acceleration will first be entitled to receive payment in full of all amounts
due thereon (including any amounts due upon acceleration) before the holders of
the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities will be entitled to receive or retain
any payment in respect of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if
any, on the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities; provided, however, that holders
of Senior Debt shall not be entitled to receive payment of any such amounts to
the extent that such holders would be required by the subordination provisions
of such Senior Debt to pay such amounts over to the obligees on trade accounts
payable or other liabilities arising in the ordinary course of business.
In the event that the Corporation shall default in the payment of any
principal, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on any 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, unless and
until such default shall have been cured or waived or shall have ceased to exist
or all Senior Debt shall have been paid, no direct or indirect payment (in cash,
property, securities, by set-off or otherwise) shall be made or agreed to be
made for principal, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the Junior
Subordinated Debt Securities, or in respect of any redemption, repayment,
retirement, purchase or other acquisition of any of the Junior Subordinated Debt
Securities.
"Debt" means (i) the principal of and premium, if any, and unpaid interest
on indebtedness for money borrowed, (ii) purchase money and similar obligations,
(iii) obligations under capital leases, (iv) guarantees, assumptions or purchase
commitments relating to, or other transactions as a result of which the
Corporation is responsible for the payment of such indebtedness of others, (v)
renewals,
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extensions and refunding of any such indebtedness, (vi) interest or obligations
in respect of any such indebtedness accruing after the commencement of any
insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings and (vii) obligations associated with
derivative products such as interest rate and currency exchange contracts,
foreign exchange contracts, commodity contracts and similar arrangements.
"Senior Debt" means the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if
any (including interest accruing on or after the filing of any petition in
bankruptcy or for reorganization relating to the Corporation whether or not such
claim for post-petition interest is allowed in such proceeding), on Debt of the
Corporation, whether incurred on or prior to the date of the Junior Subordinated
Indenture or thereafter incurred, unless, in the instrument creating or
evidencing the same or pursuant to which the same is outstanding, it is provided
that such obligations are not superior in right of payment to the Junior
Subordinated Debt Securities or the Other Debt; provided, however, that Senior
Debt shall not be deemed to include (i) any Debt of the Corporation which when
incurred and without respect to any election under Section 1111(b) of the United
States Bankruptcy Code of 1978, as amended, was without recourse to the
Corporation, (ii) any Debt of the Corporation to any of its subsidiaries, (iii)
Debt to any employee of the Corporation, (iv) Debt which by its terms is
subordinated to trade accounts payable or accrued liabilities arising in the
ordinary course of business to the extent that payments made to the holders of
such Debt by the holders of the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities as a result
of the subordination provisions of the Junior Subordinated Indenture would be
greater than such payments otherwise would have been as a result of any
obligation of such holders of such Debt to pay amounts over to the obligees on
such trade accounts payable or accrued liabilities arising in the ordinary
course of business as a result of subordination provisions to which such Debt is
subject; and (v) any other debt securities issued pursuant to the Junior
Subordinated Indenture.
The Junior Subordinated Indenture places no limitation on the amount of
Senior Debt that may be incurred by the Corporation. The Corporation expects
from time to time to incur additional indebtedness constituting Senior Debt.
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 Junior Subordinated
Indenture at the request of any holder of Junior Subordinated Debt Securities,
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.
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the
Debenture Trustee will be Bankers Trust Company. The Corporation and the Bank
maintain deposit accounts and conduct banking transactions with Bankers Trust
Company in the ordinary course of their business.
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT WARRANTS
The following description of the terms of the Debt Warrants sets forth
certain general terms and provisions of the Debt Warrants to which any
Prospectus Supplement may relate. The particular terms of the Debt Warrants
offered by any Prospectus Supplement and the extent, if any, to which such
general provisions do not apply to the Debt Warrants so offered will be
described in the Prospectus Supplement relating to such Debt Warrants.
The Debt Warrants are to be issued under one or more Debt Warrant
Agreements to be entered into between the Corporation and a bank or trust
company, as Debt Warrant Agent, all as set forth in the Prospectus Supplement
relating to the particular issue of Debt Warrants. Debt Warrants may be issued
independently or together with other securities offered by any Prospectus
Supplement and may
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be attached to or separate from such other securities. Copies of the form of
Debt Warrant Agreement, including the form of Debt Warrant Certificate
representing the Debt Warrant, are filed as exhibits to the Registration
Statement of which this Prospectus is a part. The following summaries of certain
provisions of the form of Debt Warrant Agreement and Debt Warrant Certificate do
not purport to be complete and are subject to, and are qualified in their
entirety by reference to, all the provisions of the Debt Warrant Agreement and
the Debt Warrant Certificates, respectively, including the definitions therein
of certain terms.
GENERAL
If Debt Warrants are offered, the applicable Prospectus Supplement will
describe the terms of the Debt Warrants to be offered, including, where
applicable, the following: (1) the offering price; (2) the currency in which
Debt Warrants may be purchased; (3) the designation, aggregate principal amount,
currency and terms of the Debt Securities purchasable upon exercise of such Debt
Warrants; (4) the designation and terms of the Debt Securities with which such
Debt Warrants are issued and the number of Debt Warrants issued with each such
Debt Security; (5) the date on and after which such Debt Warrants and the
related Debt Securities will be separately transferable; (6) the principal
amount of Debt Securities purchasable upon exercise of such Debt Warrants and
the price at and currency in which such principal amount of Debt Securities may
be purchased upon such exercise; (7) the date on which the right to exercise
Debt Warrants shall commence and the date on which such right shall expire (the
"Expiration Date"); (8) whether the Debt Warrants represented by the Debt
Warrant Certificates will be issued in registered or bearer form; (9)
information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any; and (10) any other
terms of the Debt Warrants (which shall not be inconsistent with the provisions
of the Debt Warrant Agreements).
Debt Warrant Certificates may be exchanged for new Debt Warrant
Certificates of different denominations, may (if in registered form) be
presented for registration of transfer, and may be exercised at the corporate
trust office of the Debt Warrant Agent or any other office indicated in the
applicable Prospectus Supplement. Prior to the exercise of their Debt Warrants,
holders of Debt Warrants will not have any of the rights of Holders of the Debt
Securities purchasable upon such exercise, including the right to receive
payments of principal of, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the Debt
Securities purchasable upon such exercise or to enforce covenants in the
Indenture.
Prospective purchasers of Debt Warrants should be aware that special U.S.
federal income tax, accounting and other considerations may be applicable to
instruments such as Debt Warrants. The Prospectus Supplement relating to any
issue of Debt Warrants will describe such considerations.
EXERCISE OF DEBT WARRANTS
Each Debt Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to purchase such
principal amount of Debt Securities at such exercise price as shall in each case
be set forth in, or calculable from, the Prospectus Supplement relating to such
Debt Warrants. Debt Warrants may be exercised at any time prior to 5:00 p.m. New
York time on the Expiration Date set forth in the Prospectus Supplement relating
thereto. After the close of business on the Expiration Date (or such later date
to which such Expiration Date may be extended by the Corporation), unexercised
Debt Warrants will become void.
Debt Warrants may be exercised by delivery to the Debt Warrant Agent of
payment as provided in the applicable Prospectus Supplement of the amount
required to purchase the Debt Securities purchasable upon such exercise together
with certain information set forth on the reverse side of the Debt Warrant
Certificate. Debt Warrants will be deemed to have been exercised upon receipt of
the exercise price, subject to the receipt, within three business days, of the
Debt Warrant Certificate evidencing such Debt Warrants. Upon receipt of such
payment and the Debt Warrant Certificate properly completed and duly executed at
the corporate trust office of the Debt Warrant Agent or any other office
indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the Corporation will, as soon
as practicable, issue and deliver pursuant to the Indenture the Debt Securities
purchasable upon such
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exercise. If fewer than all of the Debt Warrants represented by such Debt
Warrant Certificate are exercised, a new Debt Warrant Certificate will be issued
for the remaining amount of Debt Warrants.
MODIFICATIONS
The Debt Warrant Agreement and the terms of the Debt Warrants may be
amended by the Corporation and the Debt Warrant Agent, without the consent of
the holder thereof, for the purpose of curing any ambiguity, or of curing,
correcting or supplementing any defective provision contained therein, or in any
other manner which the Corporation and the Debt Warrant Agent may deem necessary
or desirable and which will not adversely affect the interests of the holders.
ENFORCEABILITY OF RIGHTS BY HOLDERS
The Debt Warrant Agent will act solely as an agent of the Corporation in
connection with the issuance and exercise of Debt Warrants. The Debt Warrant
Agent shall have no duty or responsibility in case of any default by the
Corporation in the performance of its obligations under the Debt Warrant
Agreement or Debt Warrant Certificate. Each holder may, without the consent of
the Debt Warrant Agent, enforce by appropriate legal action, on his own behalf,
his right to exercise his Debt Warrants.
DESCRIPTION OF CURRENCY WARRANTS
The following description of the terms of the Currency Warrants sets forth
certain general terms and provisions of the Currency Warrants to which any
Prospectus Supplement may relate. The particular terms of the Currency Warrants
offered by any Prospectus Supplement and the extent, if any, to which such
general provisions do not apply to the Currency Warrants so offered will be
described in the Prospectus Supplement relating to such Currency Warrants.
The Currency Warrants are to be issued under one or more Currency Warrant
Agreements to be entered into between the Corporation and a bank or trust
company, as Currency Warrant Agent, all as set forth in the Prospectus
Supplement relating to the particular issue of Currency Warrants. Currency
Warrants may be issued independently or together with other Securities offered
by any Prospectus Supplement and may be attached to or separate from such other
Securities. Copies of the form of Currency Warrant Agreement, including the form
of Currency Warrant Certificates representing the Currency Warrants, are filed
as exhibits to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus is a part.
The following summaries of certain provisions of the form of Currency Warrant
Agreement and Currency Warrant Certificate do not purport to be complete and are
subject to, and are qualified in their entirety by reference to, all the
provisions of the Currency Warrant Agreement and the Currency Warrant
Certificates, respectively, including the definitions therein of certain terms.
GENERAL
The Corporation may issue Currency Warrants either in the form of Currency
Put Warrants entitling the holders thereof to receive from the Corporation the
Currency Warrant Cash Settlement Value (as defined below) in U.S. dollars of the
right to sell a specified amount of a specified foreign currency or composite
currency (the "Designated Currency") for a specified amount of U.S. dollars, or
Currency Call Warrants entitling the holder thereof to receive from the
Corporation the Currency Warrant Cash Settlement Value in U.S. dollars of the
right to purchase a specified amount of Designated Currency for a specified
amount of U.S. dollars. Unless otherwise indicated in the Prospectus Supplement,
a Currency Warrant will be settled only in cash, in U.S. dollars and,
accordingly, will not require or entitle an Owner thereof to sell, deliver,
purchase or take delivery of any currency or currency unit, including any
foreign or composite currency.
Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the
Currency Warrant Cash Settlement Value of an exercised Currency Warrant will be
an amount stated in U.S. dollars which, in the case of a Currency Put Warrant,
is the greater of (i) zero and (ii) the amount computed by
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subtracting from a nominal amount of U.S. dollars specified in the Prospectus
Supplement (the "U.S. Dollar Constant") an amount equal to the U.S. Dollar
Constant times a fraction, the numerator of which is the strike price set forth
in the applicable Prospectus Supplement and the denominator of which is the spot
exchange rate on the exercise date and, in the case of a Currency Call Warrant,
will be the greater of (i) zero and (ii) the amount computed by subtracting the
U.S. Dollar Constant from an amount equal to the U.S. Dollar Constant times a
fraction, the numerator of which is the strike price set forth in the applicable
Prospectus Supplement and the denominator of which is the spot exchange rate on
the exercise date. If the Currency Warrants are to be offered either in the form
of Currency Put Warrants or Currency Call Warrants, an Owner will receive a cash
payment upon exercise only if the Currency Warrants have a Currency Warrant Cash
Settlement Value in excess of zero at that time.
If Currency Warrants are offered, the applicable Prospectus Supplement will
describe the terms of the Currency Warrants offered thereby, including, where
applicable, the following: (1) whether such Currency Warrants will be Currency
Put Warrants, Currency Call Warrants, or both; (2) the aggregate amount of such
Currency Warrants; (3) the offering price; (4) the Designated Currency, which
may be a foreign currency or a composite currency (including ECUs), and
information regarding such currency or composite currency; (5) the date on which
the right to exercise such Currency Warrants shall commence and the date such
right shall expire (the "Currency Warrant Expiration Date"); (6) the procedures
and conditions relating to exercise; (7) the circumstances, if any, which will
cause the Currency Warrants to be deemed to be automatically exercised; (8) the
minimum number of Currency Warrants to be exercised at any one time other than
upon automatic exercise and any other restrictions on exercise; (9) the method
of determining the Currency Warrant Cash Settlement Value, including the strike
price or range of strike prices and the U.S. Dollar Constant; (10) the national
securities exchange on which the Currency Warrants will be listed; (11) whether
the Currency Warrants will be issued in certificated or book-entry form; (12)
the place or places at which payment of the Currency Warrant Cash Settlement
Value is to be made by the Corporation; (13) information with respect to
book-entry procedures, if any; (14) the plan of distribution of such Currency
Warrants; (15) the identity of the Currency Warrant Agent; and (16) any other
terms of such Currency Warrants (which shall not be inconsistent with the
provisions of the Currency Warrant Agreement).
Prospective purchasers of Currency Warrants should be aware that special
U.S. federal income tax, accounting and other considerations may be applicable
to instruments such as Currency Warrants. The Prospectus Supplement relating to
any issue of Currency Warrants will describe such considerations.
EXERCISE OF CURRENCY WARRANTS
Except as may otherwise be provided in the Prospectus Supplement relating
thereto, each Currency Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to the Currency
Warrant Cash Settlement Value of such Currency Warrant on the applicable
Exercise Date, in each case as such terms will be defined in the applicable
Prospectus Supplement. If not exercised prior to 5 p.m., New York City time, on
the fifth New York Business Day preceding the Currency Warrant Expiration Date,
"in-the-money" Currency Warrants (i.e., those for which the Currency Warrant
Cash Settlement Value exceeds zero) will be deemed automatically exercised as of
the Currency Warrant Expiration Date. Currency Warrants will also be deemed
automatically exercised if they are delisted even if such Warrants are
"out-of-the-money" at such time in which case no payment will be required to be
made to or by the beneficial Owner thereof. Procedures for exercise of the
Currency Warrants will be set out in the applicable Prospectus Supplement.
LISTING
Unless otherwise provided in the Prospectus Supplement, each issue of
Currency Warrants will be listed on a national securities exchange, subject only
to official notice of issuance, as a condition of sale of any such Currency
Warrants. In this regard, it should be noted that if the Corporation issues
Currency Warrants in a foreign currency that does not currently underlie a
standardized option traded on a national securities exchange, before such
Currency Warrants could be traded on a national
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securities exchange, such exchange would have to receive approval of the
Commission. There can be no assurance that such approval will be granted. In the
event that the Currency Warrants are delisted from, or permanently suspended
from trading on such exchange, and, at or prior to such delisting or suspension,
the Currency Warrants shall not have been listed on another national securities
exchange, Currency Warrants not previously exercised will be deemed
automatically exercised on the date such delisting or permanent suspension
becomes effective. The Corporation will notify holders of Currency Warrants as
soon as practicable of such delisting or permanent trading suspension. The
applicable Currency Warrant Agreement will contain a covenant of the Corporation
not to seek delisting of the Currency Warrants, or suspension of their trading,
on such exchange unless the Currency Warrants have been, at the time, approved
for listing on another national securities exchange.
MODIFICATIONS
The Currency Warrant Agreement and the terms of the Currency Warrants may
be amended by the Corporation and the Currency Warrant Agent, without the
consent of the holders or the registered holder thereof, for the purpose of
curing any ambiguity, or of curing, correcting or supplementing any defective or
inconsistent provision contained therein, or in any other manner which the
Corporation may deem necessary or desirable and which will not materially and
adversely affect the interests of the holders.
The Corporation and the Currency Warrant Agent also may modify or amend the
Currency Warrant Agreement and the terms of the Currency Warrants, with the
consent of the holders of not less than a majority in number of the then
outstanding unexercised Currency Warrants affected, provided that no such
modification or amendment that increases the Strike Price in the case of a
Currency Call Warrant, decreases the Strike Price in the case of a Currency Put
Warrant, shortens the period of time during which the Currency Warrants may be
exercised or otherwise materially and adversely affects the exercise rights of
the holders of the Currency Warrants or reduces the number of outstanding
Currency Warrants the consent of whose holders is required for modification or
amendment of the Currency Warrant Agreement or the terms of the Currency
Warrants may be made without the consent of the holders affected thereby.
MERGER, CONSOLIDATION, SALE OR OTHER DISPOSITIONS
If at any time there shall be a merger, consolidation, sale, transfer,
conveyance or other disposition of substantially all of the assets of the
Corporation, then the successor or assuming corporation shall succeed to and be
substituted for the Corporation in, and the Corporation will be relieved of any
further obligation under, the Currency Warrant Agreement or the Currency
Warrants.
ENFORCEABILITY OF RIGHTS BY HOLDERS
The Currency Warrant Agent will act solely as an agent of the Corporation
in connection with the issuance and exercise of Currency Warrants. The Currency
Warrant Agent shall have no duty or responsibility in case of any default by the
Corporation in the performance of its obligations under the Currency Warrant
Agreement or Currency Warrant Certificate. Each holders may, without the consent
of the Currency Warrant Agent, enforce by appropriate legal action, on his own
behalf, his right to exercise, and to receive payment for, his Currency
Warrants.
RISK FACTORS RELATING TO CURRENCY WARRANTS
The Currency Warrants involve a high degree of risk, including foreign
exchange risks, see "Currency Risks", and the risk of expiring worthless.
Purchasers should be prepared to sustain a loss of some or all of the purchase
price of their Currency Warrants. Prospective purchasers of Currency Warrants
should be experienced with respect to foreign exchange transactions, options and
option transactions and should reach an investment decision only after careful
consideration with their advisors of the suitability of Currency Warrants in
light of their particular financial circumstances, the
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information set forth herein and the risk factors and information regarding the
Currency Warrants and the Designated Currency set forth herein and in the
Prospectus Supplement relating to such Currency Warrants.
DESCRIPTION OF STOCK-INDEX WARRANTS
The following description of the terms of the Stock-Index Warrants sets
forth certain general terms and provisions of the Stock-Index Warrants to which
any Prospectus Supplement may relate. The particular terms of the Stock-Index
Warrants offered by any Prospectus Supplement and the extent, if any, to which
such general provisions do not apply to the Stock-Index Warrants so offered will
be described in the Prospectus Supplement relating to such Stock-Index Warrants.
The Stock-Index Warrants are to be issued under one or more Stock-Index
Warrant Agreements to be entered into between the Corporation and a bank or
trust company, as Stock-Index Warrant Agent, all as will be set forth in the
Prospectus Supplement relating to the particular issue of Stock-Index Warrants.
Stock-Index Warrants may be issued independently or together with other
Securities offered by any Prospectus Supplement and may be attached to or
separate from such other Securities. Copies of the form of Stock-Index Warrant
Agreement, including the form of Stock-Index Warrant Certificates representing
the Stock-Index Warrants, are filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement of
which this Prospectus is a part. The following summaries of certain provisions
of the form of Stock-Index Warrant Agreement and Stock-Index Warrant Certificate
do not purport to be complete and are subject to, and are qualified in their
entirety by reference to, all the provisions of the Stock-Index Warrant
Agreement and the Stock-Index Warrant Certificates, respectively, including the
definitions therein of certain terms.
GENERAL
The Corporation may issue Stock-Index Warrants either in the form of
Stock-Index Put Warrants, entitling the owners thereof to receive from the
Corporation the Stock-Index Cash Settlement Value (as described in the
applicable Prospectus Supplement) in U.S. dollars, which amount will be
determined by reference to the amount, if any, by which the Stock-Index Exercise
Price exceeds the closing value of the Index on the Valuation Date (the "Index
Value") at the time of exercise, or in the form of Stock-Index Call Warrants,
entitling the holders thereof to receive from the Corporation the Stock-Index
Cash Settlement Value in U.S. dollars, which amount will be determined by
reference to the amount, if any, by which the Index Value at the time of
exercise exceeds the Stock-Index Exercise Price.
The Prospectus Supplement for an issue of Stock-Index Warrants will set
forth the formula pursuant to which the Stock-Index Cash Settlement Value will
be determined. In addition, if so specified in the applicable Prospectus
Supplement, following the occurrence of a Market Disruption Event (as defined
therein), the Stock-Index Cash Settlement Value may be determined on a different
basis than under normal exercise of a Stock-Index Warrant.
Unless otherwise indicated in the Prospectus Supplement, a Stock-Index
Warrant will be settled only in cash and will not require or entitle a holder
thereof to sell, deliver, purchase or take delivery of any shares of any
underlying stock or any other securities. The holders will not be entitled to
any of the rights of the holders of any underlying stock.
If Stock-Index Warrants are offered, the Prospectus Supplement will
describe the terms of Stock-Index Warrants offered thereby, including the
following: (1) whether such Stock-Index Warrants are Stock-Index Put Warrants,
Stock-Index Call Warrants or both; (2) the aggregate amount of such Stock-Index
Warrants; (3) the offering price; (4) the Stock Index for such Stock-Index
Warrants, which may be based on one or more U.S. or foreign stocks or a
combination thereof and may be a preexisting U.S. or foreign stock index
compiled and published by a third party or an index based on one or more
underlying stock or stocks selected by the Corporation solely in connection with
the issuance of such Stock-Index Warrants, and certain information regarding
such Stock Index and the underlying stock or
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stocks; (5) the date on which the right to exercise such Stock-Index Warrants
commences and the date on which such right expires (the "Stock-Index Warrant
Expiration Date"); (6) the procedures and conditions relating to exercise; (7)
the circumstances which will cause the Stock-Index Warrants to be deemed to be
automatically exercised, if any; (8) the minimum number, if any, of Stock-Index
Warrants to be exercised at any one time other than upon automatic exercise and
any other restrictions on exercise; (9) the maximum number, if any, of such
Stock-Index Warrants that may, subject to the Corporation's election, be
exercised by all Owners (or by any person or entity) on any day; (10) the method
of providing for a substitute index or otherwise determining the amount payable
in connection with the exercise of such Stock-Index Warrants if the Stock Index
changes or ceases to be made available by its publisher, which determination
will be made by an independent expert; (11) the national securities exchange on
which the Stock-Index Warrants will be listed, if any; (12) whether the
Stock-Index Warrants will be issued in certificated or book-entry form; (13) the
place or places at which payment of the Stock-Index Warrant Cash Settlement
Value is to be made by the Corporation; (14) information with respect to
book-entry procedures, if any; (15) the plan of distribution of such Stock-Index
Warrants; (16) the identity of the Stock-Index Warrant Agent; (17) any
provisions permitting an Owner of a Stock-Index Warrant to condition a
Stock-Index Exercise Notice on the absence of certain specified changes in the
Index Value after the Stock-Index Warrant Exercise Date; and (18) any other
terms of such Stock-Index Warrants (which shall not be inconsistent with the
provisions of the Stock-Index Warrant Agreement).
Prospective purchasers of Stock-Index Warrants should be aware that special
U.S. federal income tax, accounting and other considerations may be applicable
to instruments such as Stock-Index Warrants. The Prospectus Supplement relating
to any issue of Stock-Index Warrants will describe such considerations.
EXERCISE OF STOCK-INDEX WARRANTS
Except as may otherwise be provided in the Prospectus Supplement relating
thereto, each Stock-Index Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to the
Stock-Index Cash Settlement Value of such Stock-Index Warrant on the applicable
Valuation Date, in each case as such terms will further be defined in the
Prospectus Supplement relating thereto. Unless otherwise provided in the
Prospectus Supplement, if not exercised prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time,
on the Stock-Index Warrant Expiration Date, Stock-Index Warrants will be deemed
automatically exercised as of the Stock-Index Warrant Expiration Date even if
they are then "out-of-the-money" at such time, in which case no payment will be
required to be made to or by the holder thereof. Procedures for exercise of the
Stock-Index Warrants will be set out in the applicable Prospectus Supplement.
LISTING
Unless otherwise provided in the Prospectus Supplement, each issue of
Stock-Index Warrants will be listed on a national securities exchange, as
specified in the Prospectus Supplement, subject only to official notice of
issuance, as a condition to the sale of any such Stock-Index Warrants. In the
event that the Stock-Index Warrants are delisted from, or permanently suspended
from trading on, such exchange, and, at or prior to such delisting or
suspension, the Stock-Index Warrants shall not have been listed on another
national securities exchange, Stock-Index Warrants not previously exercised will
be deemed automatically exercised on the date such delisting or permanent
trading suspension becomes effective. The Stock-Index Cash Settlement Value to
be paid in such event will be as set forth in the applicable Prospectus
Supplement. The Corporation will notify holders of Stock-Index Warrants as soon
as practicable of such delisting or permanent trading suspension. The applicable
Stock-Index Warrant Agreement will contain a covenant of the Corporation not to
seek delisting of the Stock-Index Warrants from, or permanent suspension of
their trading on, such exchange, unless such Stock-Index Warrants have been, at
the time, approved for listing on another national securities exchange.
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MODIFICATIONS
The Stock-Index Warrant Agreement and the terms of the Stock-Index Warrants
may be amended by the Corporation and the Stock-Index Warrant Agent, without the
consent of the holders or the registered holder, for the purpose of curing any
ambiguity, or of curing, correcting or supplementing any defective or
inconsistent provision contained therein, or in any other manner which the
Corporation may deem necessary or desirable and which will not materially and
adversely affect the interests of the holders.
The Corporation and the Stock-Index Warrant Agent also may modify or amend
the Stock-Index Warrant Agreement and the terms of the Stock-Index Warrant, with
the consent of the beneficial holders of not less than a majority in number of
the then outstanding unexercised Stock-Index Warrants affected, provided that no
such modification or amendment that increases the Exercise Price in the case of
a Stock-Index Call Warrant, decreases the Exercise Price in the case of a
Stock-Index Put Warrant, shortens the period of time during which the
Stock-Index Warrants may be exercised or otherwise materially and adversely
affects the exercise rights of the holders of the Stock-Index Warrants or
reduces the number of outstanding Stock-Index Warrants the consent of whose
holders is required for modification or amendment of the Stock-Index Warrant
Agreement or the terms of the Stock-Index Warrants may be made without the
consent of the holders affected thereby.
MERGER, CONSOLIDATION, SALE OR OTHER DISPOSITIONS
If at any time there shall be a merger, consolidation, sale, transfer,
conveyance or other disposition of substantially all of the assets of the
Corporation, then the successor or assuming corporation shall succeed to and be
substituted for the Corporation in, and the Corporation will be relieved of any
further obligation under, the Stock-Index Warrant Agreement or the Stock-Index
Warrants.
ENFORCEABILITY OF RIGHTS BY HOLDERS
The Stock-Index Warrant Agent will act solely as an agent of the
Corporation in connection with the issuance and exercise of Stock-Index
Warrants. The Stock-Index Warrant Agent shall have no duty or responsibility in
case of any default by the Corporation in the performance of its obligations
under the Stock-Index Warrant Agreement or Stock-Index Warrant Certificate. Each
holder may, without the consent of the Stock-Index Warrant Agent, enforce by
appropriate legal action, on his own behalf, his right to exercise, and to
receive payment for, his Stock-Index Warrants.
RISK FACTORS RELATING TO THE STOCK-INDEX WARRANTS
The Stock-Index Warrants may entail risks primarily related to fluctuations
in the applicable Stock Index and possible illiquidity in the secondary market.
These risks will vary depending on the particular terms of the Stock-Index
Warrants and will be more fully described in the applicable Prospectus
Supplement.
DESCRIPTION OF OTHER WARRANTS
The Other Warrants may be issued, if permitted under applicable law, to buy
or sell debt securities of or guaranteed by the United States, to buy or sell a
commodity or a unit of a commodity index or to buy or sell some other item or
unit of an index other than indexes covered by Stock-Index Warrants
(collectively, "Exercise Items"). Holders of Other Warrants will be entitled to
receive from the Corporation the cash settlement value in U.S. dollars of the
right to buy or sell the Exercise Items (the "Other Warrant Cash Settlement
Value"). A holder of Other Warrants will receive a cash payment upon exercise
only if the Other Warrants have an Other Warrant Cash Settlement Value in excess
of zero at that time.
The Other Warrants are to be issued under one or more Other Warrant
Agreements to be entered into between the Corporation and a bank or trust
company, as Other Warrant Agent, all as set forth in
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the Prospectus Supplement relating to the particular issue of Other Warrants.
Other Warrants may be issued independently or together with other Securities
offered by any Prospectus Supplement and may be attached to or separate from
such other Securities. Copies of the form of Other Warrant Agreement, including
the forms of Warrant Certificates representing the Other Warrants, are filed as
exhibits to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus is a part. The
following summaries of certain provisions of the form of Other Warrant Agreement
and Other Warrant Certificate do not purport to be complete and are subject to,
and are qualified in their entirety by reference to, all the provisions of the
Other Warrant Agreement and the Other Warrant Certificates, respectively,
including the definitions therein of certain terms.
GENERAL
Unless otherwise indicated in the Prospectus Supplement, an Other Warrant
will be settled only in cash, in U.S. dollars, and accordingly, will not require
or entitle an owner thereof to sell, deliver, purchase or take delivery of any
Exercise Items.
If Other Warrants are offered, the applicable Prospectus Supplement will
describe the terms of such Other Warrants, including, where applicable, the
following: (1) the title and aggregate number of such Other Warrants; (2) the
offering price; (3) the material risk factors relating to such Other Warrants;
(4) the Exercise Items that such Other Warrants represent the right to buy or
sell; (5) the procedures and conditions relating to exercise; (6) the date on
which the right to exercise the Other Warrants shall commence and the date such
right shall expire (the "Other Warrant Expiration Date"); (7) the method of
determining the Other Warrant Cash Settlement Value; (8) whether such Other
Warrants will be issued in certificated or book-entry form; (9) whether such
Other Warrants will be listed on a national securities exchange; (10)
information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any; (11) the identity of
the Other Warrant Agent; and (12) any other terms of such Other Warrants (which
shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of the Other Warrant Agreement).
Prospective purchasers of Other Warrants should be aware that special U.S.
federal income tax, accounting and other considerations may be applicable to
instruments such as Other Warrants. The Prospectus Supplement relating to any
issue of Other Warrants will describe such considerations.
EXERCISE OF OTHER WARRANTS
Except as may otherwise be provided in the Prospectus Supplement relating
thereto, each Other Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to the Other Warrant
Cash Settlement Value of such Other Warrant on the applicable Valuation Date, in
each case as such terms will further be defined in the Prospectus Supplement
relating thereto. Unless otherwise provided in the Prospectus Supplement, if not
exercised prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Other Warrant
Expiration Date, Other Warrants will be deemed automatically exercised as of the
Other Warrant Expiration Date even if they are then "out-of-the-money" at such
time, in which case no payment will be required to be made to or by the holder
thereof.
LISTING
Unless otherwise provided in the relevant Prospectus Supplement, each issue
of Other Warrants will be listed on a national securities exchange, subject only
to official notice of issuance, as a condition of sale of any such Other
Warrants. In this regard, it should be noted that if the Corporation issues
Other Warrants on an Exercise Item that does not currently underlie a
standardized option traded on a national securities exchange, before such Other
Warrants could be traded on a national securities exchange, such exchange would
have to receive approval of the Commission. There can be no assurance that such
approval will be granted. In the event that the Other Warrants are delisted
from, or permanently suspended from trading on, such exchange, and, at or prior
to such delisting or suspension, the Other Warrants shall not have been listed
on another national securities exchange, Other Warrants not previously exercised
will be deemed automatically exercised on the date such
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delisting or permanent suspension becomes effective. The Corporation will notify
holders of Other Warrants as soon as practicable of such delisting or permanent
trading suspension. The applicable Other Warrant Agreement will contain a
covenant of the Corporation not to seek delisting of the Other Warrants, if
listed, or suspension of their trading, on such exchange unless the Other
Warrants have been, at the time, approved for listing on another national
securities exchange.
MODIFICATIONS
The Other Warrant Agreement and the terms of the Other Warrants may be
amended by the Corporation and the Other Warrant Agent, without the consent of
the holders or the registered holder, for the purpose of curing any ambiguity,
or of curing, correcting or supplementing any defective or inconsistent
provision contained therein, or in any other manner which the Corporation may
deem necessary or desirable and which will not materially and adversely affect
the interests of the holders.
The Corporation and the Other Warrant Agent also may modify or amend the
Other Warrant Agreement and the terms of the Other Warrants, with the consent of
the beneficial holders of not less than a majority in number of the then
outstanding unexercised Other Warrants affected, provided that no such
modification or amendment that shortens the period of time during which the
Other Warrants may be exercised or otherwise materially and adversely affects
the exercise rights of the holders of the Other Warrants or reduces the number
of outstanding Other Warrants the consent of whose holders is required for
modification or amendment of the Other Warrant Agreement or the terms of the
Other Warrants may be made without the consent of the holders affected thereby.
MERGER, CONSOLIDATION, SALE OR OTHER DISPOSITIONS
If at any time there shall be a merger, consolidation, sale, transfer,
conveyance or other disposition of substantially all of the assets of the
Corporation, then the successor or assuming corporation shall succeed to and be
substituted for the Corporation in, and the Corporation will be relieved of any
further obligation under, the Other Warrant Agreement or the Other Warrants.
ENFORCEABILITY OF RIGHTS BY HOLDERS
The Other Warrant Agent will act solely as an agent of the Corporation in
connection with the issuance and exercise of Other Warrants. The Other Warrant
Agent shall have no duty or responsibility in case of any default by the
Corporation in the performance of its obligations under the Other Warrant
Agreement or Other Warrant Certificate. Each holder may, without the consent of
the Other Warrant Agent, enforce by appropriate legal action, on his own behalf,
his right to exercise, and to receive payment for, their Other Warrants.
RISK FACTORS
The Other Warrants may entail significant risks, including, without
limitation, the possibility of significant fluctuation in the market for the
applicable Exercise Item, the potential illiquidity in the secondary market and
the risk that they will expire worthless. These risks will vary depending on the
particular terms of the Other Warrants and will be more fully described in the
applicable Prospectus Supplement.
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DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED STOCK
The following description of the terms of the shares of Preferred Stock
that may be offered by the Corporation sets forth certain general terms and
provisions of the Preferred Stock to which any Prospectus Supplement may relate.
Certain other terms of any series of Preferred Stock and the terms of any
related option, put or right of the Corporation to require the holder of any
other Offered Security to also acquire shares of Preferred Stock, will be
specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. If so specified in the
applicable Prospectus Supplement, the terms of any series of Preferred Stock may
differ from the terms set forth below. The description of the terms of the
Preferred Stock set forth below and in any Prospectus Supplement does not
purport to be complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by
reference to the Articles Supplementary relating to the applicable series of
Preferred Stock, which Articles will be filed as an exhibit to or incorporated
by reference in the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus forms a
part.
GENERAL
Pursuant to the Corporation's Articles of Incorporation and the Maryland
General Corporation Law, the Board of Directors of the Corporation has the
authority without further stockholder action, to issue from time to time up to a
maximum of 19,999,000 shares of preferred stock without par value, in one or
more series and for such consideration as may be fixed from time to time by the
Board of Directors of the Corporation and to fix before the issuance of any
shares of preferred stock of a particular series, the designation of such
series, the number of shares to comprise such series, the dividend rate or rates
payable with respect to the shares of such series, the redemption price or
prices, if any, and the terms and conditions of any redemption, the voting
rights, any sinking fund provisions for the redemption or purchase of the shares
of such series, the terms and conditions upon which the shares are convertible
or exchangeable, if they are convertible or exchangeable, and any other relative
rights, preferences and limitations pertaining to such series. As of the date of
this Prospectus, the Corporation has 12,497,250 shares available for issuance as
Preferred Stock.
Under interpretations adopted by the Federal Reserve Board, if the holders
of Preferred Stock of any series become entitled to vote for the election of
directors because dividends on such series are in arrears as described under
"Voting Rights" below, such series may then be deemed a "class of voting
securities" and a holder of 25% or more of such series (or a holder of 5% or
more if it otherwise exercises a "controlling influence" over the Corporation)
may then be subject to regulation as a bank holding company. In addition, at
such time as such series is deemed a class of voting securities, any other bank
holding company may be required to obtain the prior approval of the Federal
Reserve Board to acquire 5% or more of such series, and any person other than a
bank holding company may be required to obtain the prior approval of the Federal
Reserve Board to acquire 10% or more of such series.
The Preferred Stock offered hereby shall have the dividend, liquidation,
redemption, voting and conversion or exchange rights set forth below unless
otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. If Preferred Stock
is offered, the applicable Prospectus Supplement will describe the terms of such
Preferred Stock, including, where applicable, the following: (1) the
designation, stated value and liquidation preference of such Preferred Stock and
the number of shares offered; (2) the offering price; (3) the dividend rate or
rates (or method of calculation), the dividend periods, the date on which
dividends shall be payable and whether such dividends shall be cumulative or
noncumulative and, if cumulative, the dates from which dividends shall commence
to cumulate; (4) any redemption or sinking fund provisions; (5) any conversion
or exchange provisions; (6) voting rights, if any; (7) the material risk factors
relating to such Preferred Stock; (8) whether such Preferred Stock will be
issued in certificated or book-entry form; (9) whether such Preferred Stock will
be listed on a national securities exchange; (10) information with respect to
book-entry procedures, if any; and (11) any additional dividend, liquidation,
redemption, sinking fund and other rights, preferences, privileges, limitations
and restrictions of such Preferred Stock.
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The Preferred Stock will, when issued against payment therefor, be fully
paid and nonassessable. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus
Supplement, the shares of each series of Preferred Stock will upon issuance rank
on a parity in all respects with the outstanding shares of preferred stock of
the Corporation. Holders of Preferred Stock will have no preemptive rights to
subscribe for any additional securities which may be issued by the Corporation.
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, American
Stock Transfer & Trust Company (or its successors) will be the transfer agent
and registrar for the Preferred Stock.
Because the Corporation is a holding company, its rights and the rights of
holders of its securities, including the holders of Preferred Stock, to
participate in the distribution of assets of any subsidiary of the Corporation
upon the latter's liquidation or recapitalization will be subject to the prior
claims of such subsidiary's creditors and preferred stockholders, except to the
extent the Corporation may itself be a creditor with recognized claims against
such subsidiary or a holder of preferred stock of such subsidiary.
The shares of Preferred Stock will not be savings or deposit accounts or
other obligations of a bank and will not be insured by the FDIC.
DIVIDENDS
The holders of the Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive, when and as
declared by the Board of Directors of the Corporation, out of funds legally
available therefor, dividends at such rates and on such dates as will be
specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. Such rates may be fixed or
variable or both. If variable, the formula used for determining the dividend
rate for each dividend period will be specified in the applicable Prospectus
Supplement. Dividends will be payable to the holders of record as they appear on
the stock books of the Corporation on such record dates as will be fixed by the
Board of Directors of the Corporation. Dividends may be paid in the form of
cash, Preferred Stock (of the same or a different series) or Common Stock of the
Corporation, in each case as specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement.
Dividends on any series of Preferred Stock may be cumulative or
noncumulative, as specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. If the
Board of Directors of the Corporation fails to declare a dividend payable on a
dividend payment date on any Preferred Stock for which dividends are
noncumulative ("Noncumulative Preferred Stock"), then the holders of such
Preferred Stock will have no right to receive a dividend in respect of the
dividend period relating to such dividend payment date, and the Corporation will
have no obligation to pay the dividend accumulated for such period, whether or
not dividends on such Preferred Stock are declared or paid on any future
dividend payment dates.
The Corporation shall not declare or pay or set apart for payment any
dividends on any series of its preferred stock ranking, as to dividends, on a
parity with or junior to the outstanding Preferred Stock of any series unless
(i) if such series of Preferred Stock has a cumulative dividend ("Cumulative
Preferred Stock"), full cumulative dividends have been or contemporaneously are
declared and paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set
apart for such payment on such Preferred Stock for all dividend periods
terminating on or prior to the date of payment of any such dividends on such
other series of preferred stock of the Corporation, or (ii) if such series of
Preferred Stock is Noncumulative Preferred Stock, full dividends for the then
current dividend period on such Preferred Stock have been or contemporaneously
are declared and paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof
set apart for such payment. When dividends are not paid in full upon Preferred
Stock of any series and any other shares of preferred stock of the Corporation
ranking on a parity as to dividends with such Preferred Stock, all dividends
declared upon such Preferred Stock and any other preferred stock of the
Corporation ranking on a parity as to dividends with such Preferred Stock shall
be declared pro rata so that the amount of dividends declared per share on such
Preferred Stock and such other shares shall in all cases bear to each other the
same ratio that the accrued dividends per share on such Preferred Stock (which
shall not, if such Preferred Stock is Noncumulative Preferred
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Stock, include any accumulation in respect of unpaid dividends for prior
dividend periods) and such other preferred stock bear to each other.
Except as set forth in the preceding sentence, unless full dividends on the
outstanding Cumulative Preferred Stock of any series have been declared and paid
or set apart for payment for all past dividend periods and full dividends for
the then current dividend period on the outstanding Noncumulative Preferred
Stock of any series have been declared and paid or declared and a sum sufficient
for the payment thereof set apart for such payment, no dividends (other than in
Common Stock of the Corporation or other shares of the Corporation ranking
junior to such Preferred Stock as to dividends and upon liquidation) shall be
declared or paid or set aside for payment, nor shall any other distribution be
made, on the Common Stock of the Corporation or on any other shares of the
Corporation ranking junior to or on a parity with such Preferred Stock as to
dividends or upon liquidation.
Unless full dividends on the Cumulative Preferred Stock of any series have
been declared and paid or set apart for payment for all past dividend periods
and full dividends for the then current dividend period on the Noncumulative
Preferred Stock of any series have been declared and paid or declared and a sum
sufficient for the payment thereof set apart for such payment, no Common Stock
or any other shares of the Corporation ranking junior to or on a parity with
such Preferred Stock as to dividends or upon liquidation shall be redeemed,
purchased or otherwise acquired for any consideration (or any moneys be paid or
made available for a sinking fund for the redemption of any such shares) by the
Corporation or any subsidiary of the Corporation except by conversion into or
exchange for shares of the Corporation ranking junior to such Preferred Stock as
to dividends and upon liquidation.
REDEMPTION
Preferred Stock may be redeemable, in whole or in part, at the option of
the Corporation, out of funds legally available therefor, and may be subject to
mandatory redemption pursuant to a sinking fund or otherwise, in each case upon
terms, at the times and at the redemption prices specified in the applicable
Prospectus Supplement and subject to the rights of holders of other securities
of the Corporation. Preferred Stock redeemed by the Corporation will be restored
to the status of authorized but unissued shares of preferred stock.
The Prospectus Supplement relating to a series of Preferred Stock that is
subject to mandatory redemption will specify the number of shares of such
Preferred Stock that shall be redeemed by the Corporation in each year
commencing after a date to be specified, at a redemption price per share to be
specified, together with an amount equal to all accumulated and unpaid dividends
thereon (which shall not, if such Preferred Stock is Noncumulative Preferred
Stock, include any accumulation in respect of unpaid dividends for prior
dividend periods) to the date of redemption. The redemption price may be payable
in cash or other property, as specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement.
If the redemption price for Preferred Stock of any series is payable only from
the net proceeds of the issuance of capital stock of the Corporation, the terms
of such Preferred Stock may provide that, if no such capital stock shall have
been issued or to the extent the net proceeds from any issuance are insufficient
to pay in full the aggregate redemption price then due, such Preferred Stock
shall automatically and mandatorily be converted into shares of the applicable
capital stock of the Corporation pursuant to conversion provisions specified in
the applicable Prospectus Supplement.
If fewer than all the outstanding shares of Preferred Stock of any series
are to be redeemed, the number of shares to be redeemed will be determined by
the Board of Directors of the Corporation and such shares may be redeemed pro
rata from the holders of record of such shares in proportion to the number of
such shares held by such holders (with adjustments to avoid redemption of
fractional shares) or by lot in a manner determined by the Board of Directors of
the Corporation.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any dividends, including any
accumulation, on Cumulative Preferred Stock of any series are in arrears, no
Preferred Stock of such series shall be redeemed unless
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all outstanding Preferred Stock of such series is simultaneously redeemed, and
the Corporation shall not purchase or otherwise acquire any Preferred Stock of
such series; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not prevent the
purchase or acquisition of Preferred Stock of such series pursuant to a purchase
or exchange offer provided such offer is made on the same terms to all holders
of the Preferred Stock of such series.
Notice of redemption shall be given by mailing the same to each record
holder of the Preferred Stock to be redeemed, not less than 30 nor more than 60
days prior to the date fixed for redemption thereof, at the address of such
holder as the same shall appear on the stock books of the Corporation. Each
notice shall state: (i) the redemption date; (ii) the number of shares and
series of the Preferred Stock to be redeemed; (iii) the redemption price; (iv)
the place or places where certificates for such Preferred Stock are to be
surrendered for payment of the redemption price; (v) that dividends on the
shares to be redeemed will cease to accumulate on such redemption date; and (vi)
the date upon which the holder's conversion or exchange rights, if any, as to
such shares, shall terminate. If fewer than all the shares of Preferred Stock of
any series are to be redeemed, the notice mailed to each such holder thereof
shall also specify the number of shares of Preferred Stock to be redeemed from
each such holder.
If notice of redemption of any shares of Preferred Stock has been given and
if the funds necessary for such redemption have been set aside by the
Corporation, separate and apart from its other funds, in trust for the pro rata
benefit of holders of any shares of Preferred Stock so called for redemption,
from and after the redemption date for such shares, dividends on such shares
shall cease to accumulate and such shares shall no longer be deemed to be
outstanding, and all rights of the holders thereof as stockholders of the
Corporation (except the right to receive the redemption price) shall cease. Upon
surrender, in accordance with such notice, of the certificates representing any
such shares (properly endorsed or assigned for transfer, if the Board of
Directors of the Corporation shall so require and the notice shall so state),
the redemption price set forth above shall be paid out of the funds provided by
the Corporation. If fewer than all the shares represented by any such
certificate are redeemed, a new certificate shall be issued representing the
unredeemed shares without cost to the holder thereof.
CONVERSION OR EXCHANGE RIGHTS
The Prospectus Supplement relating to a series of Preferred Stock that is
convertible or exchangeable will state the terms on which shares of such series
are convertible or exchangeable into Common Stock, another series of Preferred
Stock or Debt Securities. To the extent regulatory approval may be required for
shares of Preferred Stock to be convertible or exchangeable for Debt Securities,
the Corporation will seek to obtain such approval.
RIGHTS UPON LIQUIDATION
In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or
winding up of the Corporation, the holders of Preferred Stock shall be entitled
to receive out of the assets of the Corporation available for distribution to
stockholders, before any distribution of assets is made to holders of Common
Stock or any other class or series of shares ranking junior to such Preferred
Stock upon liquidation, liquidating distributions in the amount of the
liquidation preference of such Preferred Stock plus accumulated and unpaid
dividends (which shall not, in the case of Noncumulative Preferred Stock,
include any accumulation in respect of unpaid dividends for prior dividend
periods). If, upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or
winding up of the Corporation, the amounts payable with respect to Preferred
Stock of any series and any other shares of the Corporation ranking as to any
such distribution on a parity with such Preferred Stock are not paid in full,
the holders of such Preferred Stock and of such other shares will share ratably
in any such distribution of assets of the Corporation in proportion to the full
respective preferential amounts to which they are entitled. After payment of the
full amount of the liquidating distribution to which they are entitled, the
holders of Preferred Stock of any series will not be entitled to any further
participation in any distribution of assets by the Corporation.
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VOTING RIGHTS
Except as indicated below or in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, or
except as expressly required by applicable law, the holders of Preferred Stock
will not be entitled to vote.
Whenever dividends on any shares of Cumulative Preferred Stock shall be in
arrears for six consecutive quarterly periods, the holders of such shares of
Cumulative Preferred Stock (voting separately as a class with all other series
of cumulative preferred stock upon which like voting rights have been conferred
and are exercisable) will be entitled to vote for the election of two additional
directors of the Corporation at the next annual meeting of stockholders and at
each subsequent meeting until all dividends accumulated on such shares of
Cumulative Preferred Stock shall have been fully paid or set aside for payment.
In such case, the entire Board of Directors of the Corporation will be increased
by two directors.
So long as any shares of Preferred Stock remain outstanding, the
Corporation shall not, without the affirmative vote of the holders of at least
two-thirds of the votes of the shares of Preferred Stock outstanding at the
time, given in person or by proxy, at a meeting (voting separately as one
class): (i) authorize, create or issue, or increase the authorized or issued
amount of, any class or series of stock ranking prior to the Preferred Stock
with respect to payment of dividends or distribution of assets upon liquidation,
dissolution or winding up, (ii) authorize, create or issue, or increase the
authorized or issued amount of, any class or series of stock (including any
class or series of Preferred Stock) which ranks on a parity with the Preferred
Stock as to dividends and upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up ("Parity
Stock") unless the Articles Supplementary or other provisions of the charter
creating or authorizing such class or series provide that if in any case the
stated dividends or amounts payable upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up
are not paid in full on the Preferred Stock and all outstanding shares of Parity
Stock, the shares of all Parity Stock shall share ratably in the payment of
dividends, including accumulations (if any) in accordance with the sums which
would be payable on all Parity Stock if all dividends in respect of all shares
of Parity Stock were paid in full, and on any distribution of assets upon
liquidation, dissolution or winding up ratably in accordance with the sums which
would be payable in respect of all shares of Parity Stock if all sums payable
were discharged in full, or (iii) amend, alter or repeal the provisions of the
Articles of Incorporation, including the Articles Supplementary relating to the
Preferred Stock, whether by merger, consolidation, or otherwise, so as to
materially and adversely affect any right, preference, privilege or voting power
of such shares of Preferred Stock or the holders thereof; provided, however,
that any increase in the amount of the authorized preferred stock or any
outstanding series of preferred stock or any other capital stock of the
Corporation, or the creation and issuance of other series of preferred stock
including the Preferred Stock offered hereby or of any other capital stock of
the Corporation, in each case ranking on a parity with or junior to the
Preferred Stock with respect to the payment of dividends and the distribution of
assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up shall not be deemed to
materially and adversely affect such rights, preferences, privileges or voting
powers.
So long as any shares of Preferred Stock remain outstanding, the
Corporation will not, without the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a
majority of the votes of all shares of Parity Stock outstanding and entitled to
vote at the time, (a) directly or indirectly sell, transfer or otherwise dispose
of, or permit the Bank or any other subsidiary of the Corporation to issue,
sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of, any shares of voting stock of the Bank,
or securities convertible into or options, warrants or rights to acquire voting
stock of the Bank, unless after giving effect to any such transaction the Bank
remains a Controlled Subsidiary (as hereinafter defined) of the Corporation or
of a Qualified Successor Company (as hereinafter defined); (b) merge or
consolidate with, or convey substantially all of its assets to, any person or
corporation unless the entity surviving such merger or consolidation or the
transferee of such assets is the Corporation or a Qualified Successor Company;
or (c) permit the Bank to merge, consolidate with, or convey substantially all
of its assets to, any person or corporation unless the entity surviving such
merger or consolidation or the transferee of such assets is a Controlled
Subsidiary of the Corporation or of a Qualified Successor Company, except as
required to comply with applicable law. The term "Qualified Successor Company"
means a corporation (or other similar
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organization or entity whether organized under or pursuant to the laws of the
United States or any State thereof or of another jurisdiction) which (i) is or
is required to be a registered bank holding company under the United States Bank
Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended, or any successor legislation, (ii)
issues to the holders of Preferred Stock, in exchange for the Preferred Stock,
shares of preferred stock having at least the same relative rights and
preferences as the shares of Preferred Stock (the "Exchanged Stock"), (iii)
immediately after such transaction has no outstanding or authorized class of
stock or equity securities ranking prior to the Exchanged Stock with respect to
the payment of dividends or the distribution of assets upon liquidation,
dissolution or winding up and (iv) holds, as a Controlled Subsidiary or
Subsidiaries, either the Bank or one or more other banking corporations which,
collectively, immediately after such transaction hold substantially all of the
assets and liabilities which the Bank held immediately prior to such transaction
(which may be in addition to the other assets and liabilities acquired in such
transaction). "Controlled Subsidiary" means any corporation at least 80% of the
outstanding shares of voting stock of which shall at the time be owned directly
or indirectly by the Corporation or a Qualified Successor Company. In connection
with the exercise of the voting rights described in this paragraph, the holders
of all series of Parity Stock which are granted such voting rights will vote as
a class.
The foregoing voting provisions will not apply if, at or prior to the time
when the act with respect to which such vote would otherwise be required shall
be effected, all outstanding shares of Preferred Stock shall have been redeemed
or sufficient funds shall have been deposited in trust to effect such
redemption.
OUTSTANDING PREFERRED STOCK
As of the date of this Prospectus, there were outstanding 625 shares of
Series A and 625 shares of Series B Dutch Auction Rate Transferable Securities
Preferred Stock ("DARTS"), 6,000,000 Depositary Shares each representing a
one-fourth interest in a share of Adjustable Rate Cumulative Preferred Stock,
Series D (the "Depositary Shares"), 3,000,000 shares of $1.8125 Cumulative
Preferred Stock (the "$1.8125 Preferred Stock") and 3,000,000 shares of $2.8575
Cumulative Preferred Stock (the $2.8575 Preferred Stock"). The DARTS, the
Depositary Shares, the $1.8125 Preferred Stock and the $2.8575 Cumulative
Preferred Stock are collectively referred to as the "Outstanding Preferred
Stock".
The statements made under this caption include summaries of certain
provisions contained in the Corporation's Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws
and of various Articles Supplementary pursuant to which the Outstanding
Preferred Stock has been issued. These statements do not purport to be complete
and are qualified in their entirety by reference to such Articles of
Incorporation and By-Laws and such Articles Supplementary.
General. The Outstanding Preferred Stock has preference over the Common
Stock with respect to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets in
the event of liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation. Holders
of the Outstanding Preferred Stock do not have any preemptive rights.
Dividends. Dividends on the Outstanding Preferred Stock are cumulative.
Dividends on the DARTS and Depositary Shares are at floating rates periodically
determined on the basis of various formulae or auction procedures. Dividends on
the $1.8125 Preferred Stock are payable quarterly at an annual rate of $1.8125
per share. Dividends on the $2.8575 Preferred Stock are payable quarterly at an
annual rate of $2.8575 per share.
Voting Rights. Whenever dividends on the Outstanding Preferred Stock are
not paid in full (for six consecutive quarterly periods, in the case of the
$2.8575 Preferred Stock, $1.8125 Preferred Stock, the Depositary Shares and the
DARTS), the holders of any such Outstanding Preferred Stock shall be entitled to
vote for the election of two directors until all past due dividends have been
paid or provided for. The holders of the Depositary Shares and the $1.8125
Preferred Stock are entitled to one-half vote per share and the holders of the
$2.8575 Preferred Stock are entitled to one vote on all matters on which they
are entitled to vote (representing one vote per $50 of liquidation preference).
The holders of the
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DARTS are entitled to 2,000 votes per share on all matters on which they are
entitled to vote (representing one vote per $50 of liquidation preference).
Holders of the Outstanding Preferred Stock also have voting rights (a) in the
case of the Corporation's authorization, creation or issuance, or any increase
in authorized or issued amounts, of any class or series of stock ranking either
prior to such Outstanding Preferred Stock or, in certain cases, on a parity
therewith or (b) in connection with the amendment, authorization or repeal of
provisions of the Corporation's Articles of Incorporation (including Articles
Supplementary relating to such Outstanding Preferred Stock) that would
materially and adversely affect any right, preference, privilege or voting power
of such shares of Outstanding Preferred Stock or the holders thereof. The
affirmative vote of holders of the Outstanding Preferred Stock may also be
required in connection with (i) the sale, transfer or disposition of certain
assets of the Corporation, (ii) the merger or consolidation or sale of
substantially all of the assets of the Corporation or (iii) the merger,
consolidation or sale of substantially all of the assets of the Bank, unless in
the case of either (ii) or (iii) the Corporation or the Bank, as the case may
be, is the surviving entity or the surviving entity is a bank or bank holding
company meeting certain requirements.
Liquidation Rights. In the event of liquidation, dissolution or winding up
of the Corporation, the holders of the outstanding $1.8125 Preferred Stock and
the holders of the outstanding Depositary Shares are entitled to receive a
distribution of $25.00 per share, the holders of the outstanding $2.8575
Preferred Stock are entitled to receive a distribution of $50 per share and the
holders of the outstanding DARTS are entitled to receive a distribution of
$100,000 per share, plus, in each case, accumulated dividends, if any.
Redemption. The Corporation has the option to redeem the Outstanding
Preferred Stock, in each case, as a whole or in part, on specified dates and at
specified redemption prices.
DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES
The Corporation may issue receipts ("Depositary Receipts") for Depositary
Shares, each of which will represent a fraction of a share of Preferred Stock.
Shares of Preferred Stock of each class or series represented by Depositary
Shares will be deposited under a separate Deposit Agreement (the "Deposit
Agreement") among the Corporation, American Stock Transfer & Trust Company (or
its successor, the "Preferred Stock Depositary") and the holders from time to
time of the Depositary Receipts. Subject to the terms of the Deposit Agreement,
each holder of a Depositary Receipt will be entitled, in proportion to the
fraction of a share of Preferred Stock represented by such Depositary Share, to
all the rights and preferences of the Preferred Stock represented thereby
(including dividend, voting, conversion, redemption and liquidation rights).
The Depositary Shares will be evidenced by Depositary Receipts issued
pursuant to the applicable Deposit Agreement at the time such receipts are
issued. Immediately following the issuance and delivery of the Preferred Stock
by the Corporation to the Preferred Stock Depositary, the Corporation will cause
the Preferred Stock Depositary to issue, on behalf of the Corporation, the
Depositary Receipts to the Underwriters. Copies of the applicable form of
Deposit Agreement and Depositary Receipt may be obtained from the Corporation
upon request, and the following summary of the form thereof filed as an exhibit
to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus is a part is qualified in
its entirety by reference thereto.
GENERAL
The Depositary Shares shall have the dividend, liquidation, redemption,
voting and conversion or exchange rights set forth below unless otherwise
specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. Reference is made to the
Prospectus Supplement relating to the particular series of Depositary Shares
offered thereby for specific terms, including (1) the designation stated value
and liquidation preference of such Depositary Shares and the number of shares
offered; (2) the offering price; (3) the dividend rate or rates (or method of
calculation), the dividend periods, the date on which dividends shall be payable
and whether such dividends shall be cumulative or noncumulative and, if
cumulative, the
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dates form which dividends shall commence to cumulate; (4) any redemption or
sinking fund provisions; (5) any conversion or exchange provisions; (6) the
material risk factors relating to such Depositary Shares; (7) whether such
Depositary Shares will be issued in certificated or book-entry form; (8) whether
such Depositary Shares will be listed on a national securities exchange; (9)
information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any; and (10) any other
terms of such Depositary Shares.
As of the date of this Prospectus, the Corporation has outstanding
6,000,000 Depositary Shares each representing a one-fourth interest in a share
of the Corporation's Adjustable Rate Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series D.
DIVIDENDS AND OTHER DISTRIBUTIONS
The Preferred Stock Depositary will distribute all dividends or other cash
distributions received in respect of the Preferred Stock to the record holders
of Depositary Receipts in proportion to the number of such Depositary Receipts
owned by such holders, subject to certain obligations of holders to file proofs,
certificates and other information and to pay certain charges and expenses to
the Preferred Stock Depositary.
In the event of a distribution other than in cash, the Preferred Stock
Depositary will distribute property received by it to the record holders of
Depositary Receipts entitled thereto, subject to certain obligations of holders
to file proofs, certificates and other information and to pay certain charges
and expenses to the Preferred Stock Depositary, unless the Preferred Stock
Depositary determines that it is not feasible to make such distribution, in
which case the Preferred Stock Depositary may, with the approval of the
Corporation, sell such property and distribute the net proceeds from such sale
to such holders.
WITHDRAWAL OF STOCK
Upon surrender of the Depositary Receipts at the corporate trust office of
the Preferred Stock Depositary (unless the related Depositary Shares have
previously been called for redemption), the holder of the Depositary Shares
evidenced thereby will be entitled to delivery, at such office to or upon his
order, of the number of whole shares of the Preferred Stock and any money or
other property represented by such Depositary Shares. Holders of Depositary
Receipts will be entitled to receive whole shares of the Preferred Stock on the
basis of the proportion of Preferred Stock represented by each Depositary Share
as specified in the relevant Prospectus Supplement, but holders of such whole
shares of Preferred Stock will not thereafter be entitled to receive Depositary
Shares therefor. If the Depositary Receipts delivered by the holder evidence a
number of Depositary Shares in excess of the number of Depositary Shares
representing the number of whole shares of Preferred Stock to be withdrawn, the
Preferred Stock Depositary will deliver to such holder at the same time a new
Depositary Receipt evidencing such excess number of Depositary Shares.
REDEMPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES
Whenever the Corporation redeems shares of Preferred Stock held by the
Preferred Stock Depositary, the Preferred Stock Depositary will redeem as of the
same redemption date the number of Depositary Shares representing shares of the
Preferred Stock so redeemed, provided the Corporation shall have paid in full to
the Preferred Stock Depositary the redemption price of the Preferred Stock to be
redeemed plus an amount equal to any accumulated and unpaid dividends thereon to
the date fixed for redemption. The redemption price per Depositary Share will be
equal to the redemption price and any other amounts per share payable with
respect to the Preferred Stock. If less than all the Depositary Shares are to be
redeemed, the Depositary Shares to be redeemed will be selected by the Preferred
Stock Depositary by lot or pro rata or other equitable method, in each case as
may be determined by the Corporation.
After the date fixed for redemption, the Depositary Shares so called for
redemption will no longer be deemed to be outstanding and all rights of the
holders of the Depositary Shares so called for
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redemption will cease, except the right to receive any moneys payable upon such
redemption and any money or other property to which the holders of such
Depositary Shares were entitled upon such redemption upon surrender to the
Preferred Stock Depositary of the Depositary Receipts evidencing such Depositary
Shares.
VOTING THE PREFERRED STOCK
Upon receipt of notice of any meeting at which the holders of the Preferred
Stock are entitled to vote, the Preferred Stock Depositary will mail the
information contained in such notice of meeting to the record holders of the
Depositary Receipts relating to Preferred Stock. Each record holder of such
Depositary Shares on the record date (which will be the same date as the record
date for the Preferred Stock) will be entitled to instruct the Preferred Stock
Depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights pertaining to the amount of
Preferred Stock represented by such holder's Depositary Receipts. The Preferred
Stock Depositary will endeavor, insofar as practicable, to vote the amount of
Preferred Stock represented by such Depositary Shares in accordance with such
instructions, and the Corporation will agree to take all reasonable action which
may be deemed necessary by the Preferred Stock Depositary in order to enable the
Preferred Stock Depositary to do so. The Preferred Stock Depositary will abstain
from voting shares of Preferred Stock to the extent it does not receive specific
instructions from the holders of Depositary Receipts representing shares of
Preferred Stock. The Preferred Stock Depositary's liability with respect to
voting underlying shares of Preferred Stock is limited.
EXCHANGE OF PREFERRED STOCK
Whenever the Corporation exchanges all of the shares of Preferred Stock
held by the Preferred Stock Depositary for Debt Securities or Common Stock, the
Preferred Stock Depositary will exchange as of the same exchange date all
Depositary Shares representing all of the shares of the Preferred Stock so
exchanged for Debt Securities or Common Stock, provided the Corporation shall
have issued and deposited with the Preferred Stock Depositary, Debt Securities
or Common Stock for all of the shares of the Preferred Stock to be exchanged.
The exchange rate per Depositary Share shall be equal to the exchange rate per
share of Preferred Stock multiplied by the fraction of a share of Preferred
Stock represented by one Depositary Share, plus all money and other property, if
any, represented by such Depositary Shares, including all amounts paid by the
Corporation in respect of dividends which on the exchange date have accumulated
on the shares of Preferred Stock to be so exchanged and have not theretofore
been paid.
CONVERSION OF PREFERRED STOCK
The Depositary Shares, as such, are not convertible or exchangeable into
Common Stock or any other securities or property of the Corporation.
Nevertheless, if so specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement relating
to an offering of Depository Shares, the Depositary Receipts may be surrendered
by holders thereof to the Preferred Stock Depositary with written instructions
to the Preferred Stock Depositary to instruct the Corporation to cause
conversion or exchange of the Preferred Stock represented by the Depositary
Shares evidenced by such receipts into whole shares of Common Stock, other
shares of Preferred Stock or Debt Securities of the Corporation, and the
Corporation has agreed that upon receipt of such instructions and any amounts
payable in respect thereof, it will cause the conversion or exchange thereof
utilizing the same procedures as those provided for delivery of Preferred Stock
to effect such conversions or exchange. If the Depositary Shares represented by
a Depositary Receipt are to be converted in part only, a new Depositary Receipt
or Receipts will be issued for any Depositary Shares not to be converted or
exchanged. See "Description of Preferred Stock Conversion or Exchange Rights."
AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION OF THE DEPOSIT AGREEMENT
The form of Depositary Receipt evidencing the Depositary Shares and any
provision of the Deposit Agreement may at any time be amended by agreement
between the Corporation and the Preferred
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Stock Depositary. However, any amendment that materially and adversely alters
the rights of the holders of Depositary Receipts will not be effective unless
such amendment has been approved by the holders of at least a majority (or, in
the case of amendments relating to or affecting rights to receive dividends or
distributions or voting, redemption or conversion rights, two-thirds) of the
Depositary Shares then outstanding.
The Deposit Agreement may be terminated by the Corporation upon not less
than 60 days' notice whereupon the Preferred Stock Depositary shall deliver or
make available to each holder of Depositary Receipts, upon surrender of the
Depositary Receipts held by such holder, such number of whole or fractional
shares of Preferred Stock represented by such receipts. The Deposit Agreement
will automatically terminate if (i) all outstanding Depositary Shares have been
redeemed, (ii) there has been a final distribution in respect of the Preferred
Stock in connection with any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the
Corporation and such distribution has been distributed to the holders of
Depositary Receipts or (iii) each share of Preferred Stock shall have been
converted or exchanged.
CHARGES OF PREFERRED STOCK DEPOSITARY
The Corporation will pay all transfer and other taxes and governmental
charges arising solely from the existence of the Deposit Agreement. The
Corporation will pay the fees and expenses of the Preferred Stock Depositary in
connection with the performance of its duties under the Deposit Agreement.
Holders of Depositary Receipts will pay transfer and other taxes and
governmental charges and such other charges as are expressly provided in the
Deposit Agreement to be for their accounts.
RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL OF DEPOSITARY
The Preferred Stock Depositary may resign at any time by delivering to the
Corporation notice of its election to do so, and the Corporation may at any time
remove the Preferred Stock Depositary, any such resignation or removal to take
effect upon the appointment of a successor Preferred Stock Depositary, which
successor Preferred Stock Depositary must be appointed within 60 days after
delivery of the notice of resignation or removal and must be a bank or trust
company having its principal office in the United States and having a combined
capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000.
MISCELLANEOUS
The Preferred Stock Depositary will forward to holders of Depositary Shares
any reports and communications from the Corporation which are received by the
Preferred Stock Depositary with respect to the underlying Preferred Stock.
Neither the Preferred Stock Depositary nor the Corporation will be liable
if it is prevented from or delayed in, by law or any circumstances beyond its
control, performing its obligations under the Deposit Agreement. The obligations
of the Corporation and the Preferred Stock Depositary under the Deposit
Agreement will be limited to performing their duties thereunder without
negligence or willful misconduct, and the Corporation and the Depositary will
not be obligated to prosecute or defend any legal proceeding in respect of any
Depositary Shares or any shares of Preferred Stock unless satisfactory indemnity
is furnished. The Corporation and the Preferred Stock Depositary may rely on
advice of counsel or accountants, or information provided by persons presenting
shares of Preferred Stock for deposit, holders of Depositary Shares or other
persons believed to be authorized or competent and on documents believed to be
genuine.
In the event the Preferred Stock Depositary shall receive conflicting
claims, requests or instructions from any holders of Depositary Receipts, on the
one hand, and the Corporation, on the other hand, the Preferred Stock Depositary
shall be entitled to act on such claims, requests or instructions received from
the Corporation.
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DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED STOCK WARRANTS
The Corporation may issue Preferred Stock Warrants for the purchase of
Preferred Stock. Preferred Stock Warrants may be issued independently or
together with other Securities offered by any Prospectus Supplement and may be
attached to or separate from such other Securities. Each series of Preferred
Stock Warrants will be issued under one or more warrant agreements (each a
"Preferred Stock Warrant Agreement") to be entered into between the Corporation
and a bank or trust company, as Preferred Stock Warrant Agent, all as set forth
in the Prospectus Supplement relating to the particular issue of offered
Preferred Stock Warrants. The Preferred Stock Warrant Agent will act solely as
an agent of the Corporation in connection with the Preferred Stock Warrant
Certificates and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or
trust for or with any holders of Preferred Stock Warrant Certificates or
beneficial owners of Preferred Stock Warrants. Copies of the form of Preferred
Stock Warrant Agreement, including the form of Preferred Stock Warrant
Certificates representing the Preferred Stock Warrants, are filed as exhibits to
the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus is a part. The following
summaries of certain provisions of the form of Preferred Stock Warrant Agreement
and Preferred Stock Warrant Certificate do not purport to be complete and are
subject to and are qualified in their entirety by reference to, all the
provisions of the Preferred Stock Warrant Agreement and the Preferred Stock
Warrant Certificates.
GENERAL
If Preferred Stock Warrants are offered, the applicable Prospectus
Supplement will describe the terms of such Preferred Stock Warrants, including
the following, where applicable: (1) the offering price; (2) the designation,
aggregate number and terms of the series of Preferred Stock purchasable upon
exercise of such Preferred Stock Warrants and minimum number of Preferred Stock
Warrants that are exercisable; (3) the designation and terms of the series of
Preferred Stock with which such Preferred Stock Warrants are being offered and
the number of such Preferred Stock Warrants being offered with each such
Preferred Stock; (4) the date on and after which such Preferred Stock Warrants
and the related series of Preferred Stock will be transferable separately; (5)
the number and stated values of the series of Preferred Stock purchasable upon
exercise of each such Preferred Stock Warrant and the price at which such number
of shares of Preferred Stock of such series may be purchased upon such exercise;
(6) the date on which the right to exercise such Preferred Stock Warrants shall
commence and the date on which such right shall expire (the "Preferred Stock
Warrant Expiration Date"); (7) whether the Preferred Stock Warrants represented
by the Preferred Stock Warrant Certificates will be issued in registered or
bearer form; (8) information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any; and
(9) any other terms of such Preferred Stock Warrants for the purchase of shares
of Preferred Stock which shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of the
Preferred Stock Warrant Agreements.
Preferred Stock Warrant Certificates may be exchanged for new Preferred
Stock Warrant Certificates of different denominations, may (if in registered
form) be presented for registration of transfer, and may be exercised at the
corporate trust office of the Preferred Stock Warrant Agent or any other office
indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. Prior to the exercise of any
Preferred Stock Warrant, a Holder thereof shall have no rights of a holder of
shares of the Preferred Stock purchasable upon such exercise, including the
right to receive payment of dividends, if any, on the underlying Preferred Stock
or the right to vote such underlying Preferred Stock.
Prospective purchasers of Preferred Stock Warrants should be aware that
special U.S. federal income tax, accounting and other considerations may be
applicable to instruments such as Preferred Stock Warrants. The Prospectus
Supplement relating to any issue of Preferred Stock Warrants will describe such
considerations.
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EXERCISE OF PREFERRED STOCK WARRANTS
Each Preferred Stock Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to purchase
such number of shares of Preferred Stock at such exercise price as shall be set
forth in, or calculable from, the Prospectus Supplement relating to the offered
Preferred Stock Warrants. After the close of business on the Expiration Date (or
such later date to which such Expiration Date may be extended by the
Corporation), unexercised Preferred Stock Warrants will become void.
Preferred Stock Warrants may be exercised by delivery to the Preferred
Stock Warrant Agent of payment as provided in the applicable Prospectus
Supplement of the amount required to purchase the shares of Preferred Stock
purchasable upon such exercise together with certain information set forth on
the reverse side of the Preferred Stock Warrant Certificate. Preferred Stock
Warrants will be deemed to have been exercised upon receipt of the exercise
price, subject to the receipt, within five business days, of the Preferred Stock
Warrant Certificate evidencing such Preferred Stock Warrants. Upon receipt of
such payment and the Preferred Stock Warrant Certificate properly completed and
duly executed at the corporate trust office of the Preferred Stock Warrant Agent
or any other office indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the
Corporation will, as soon as practicable, issue and deliver the shares of
Preferred Stock purchasable upon such exercise. If fewer than all of the
Preferred Stock Warrants represented by such Preferred Stock Warrant Certificate
are exercised, a new Preferred Stock Warrant Certificate will be issued for the
remaining number of Preferred Stock Warrants.
MODIFICATIONS
The Preferred Stock Warrant Agreement and the terms of the Preferred Stock
Warrants may be amended by the Corporation and the Preferred Stock Warrant
Agent, without the consent of the holders, for the purpose of curing any
ambiguity, or of curing, correcting or supplementing any defective or
inconsistent provision contained therein, or in any other manner which the
Corporation may deem necessary or desirable and which will not materially and
adversely affect the interests of the holders.
The Corporation and the Preferred Stock Warrant Agent also may modify or
amend the Preferred Stock Warrant Agreement and the terms of the Preferred Stock
Warrants, with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in number
of the then outstanding unexercised Preferred Stock Warrants affected, provided
that no such modification or amendment that shortens the period of time during
which the Preferred Stock Warrants may be exercised or otherwise materially and
adversely affects the exercise rights of the holders of the Preferred Stock
Warrants or reduces the number of outstanding Preferred Stock Warrants the
consent of whose holders is required for modification or amendment of the
Preferred Stock Warrant Agreement or the terms of the Preferred Stock Warrants
may be made without the consent of the holders affected thereby.
MERGER, CONSOLIDATION, SALE OR OTHER DISPOSITIONS
If at any time there shall be a merger, consolidation, sale, transfer,
conveyance or other disposition of substantially all of the assets of the
Corporation, then the successor or assuming corporation shall succeed to and be
substituted for the Corporation in, and the Corporation will be relieved of any
further obligation under, the Preferred Stock Warrant Agreement or the Preferred
Stock Warrants.
ENFORCEABILITY OF RIGHTS BY HOLDERS
The Preferred Stock Warrant Agent will act solely as an agent of the
Corporation in connection with the issuance and exercise of Preferred Stock
Warrants. The Preferred Stock Warrant Agent shall have no duty or responsibility
in case of any default by the Corporation in the performance of its obligations
under the Preferred Stock Warrant Agreement or Preferred Stock Warrant
Certificate. Each holder may, without the consent of the Preferred Stock Warrant
Agent, enforce by appropriate legal action, on his own behalf, his right to
exercise his Preferred Stock Warrants.
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DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK
GENERAL
The Corporation's Articles of Incorporation authorize the issuance of
150,000,000 shares of Common Stock. At September 30, 1997, there were
outstanding 54,753,009 shares of Common Stock.
The Common Stock shall have the dividend, voting, liquidation and
preemptive rights as set forth below unless otherwise specified in the
applicable Prospectus Supplement. If Common Stock is offered, the related
Prospectus Supplement will describe the terms of such Common Stock, including
the following, where applicable: (1) the number of shares to be offered; (2) the
initial public offering price; (3) whether such Common Stock will be issued in
certificated or book-entry form; (4) book-entry procedures, if any; and (5) any
additional terms of the Common Stock.
The rights of holders of Common Stock will be subject to, and may be
adversely affected by, the rights of holders of any Preferred Stock that has
been issued and may be issued in the future. The Board of Directors may cause
shares of Preferred Stock to be issued to obtain additional financing, in
connection with acquisitions, to officers, directors and employees of the
Corporation and its subsidiaries pursuant to benefit plans or otherwise and for
other proper corporate purposes.
The Common Stock will, when issued against payment therefor, be fully paid
and nonassessable. Holders of Common Stock will have no preemptive rights to
subscribe for any additional securities which may be issued by the Corporation.
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, American
Stock Transfer & Trust Company (or its successors) will be the transfer agent
and registrar for the Common Stock.
Because the Corporation is a holding company, its rights and the rights of
holders of its securities, including the holders of Common Stock, to participate
in the distribution of assets of any subsidiary of the Corporation upon the
latter's liquidation or recapitalization will be subject to the prior claims of
such subsidiary's creditors and preferred stockholders, except to the extent the
Corporation may itself be a creditor with recognized claims against such
subsidiary or a holder of preferred stock of such subsidiary.
The common stock of the Corporation does not represent or constitute a
deposit account and is not insured by the FDIC.
The statements made under this caption include summaries of certain
provisions contained in the Corporation's Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws
and of various Articles Supplementary pursuant to which the Outstanding
Preferred Stock has been issued. These statements do not purport to be complete
and are qualified in their entirety by reference to such Articles of
Incorporation and By-Laws and such Articles Supplementary.
COMMON STOCK
Dividends. The Corporation may pay dividends on the Common Stock out of
funds legally available therefor when, as and if declared by the Board of
Directors. Currently, the principal sources of funds available for the payment
of dividends are dividends received from the Bank and earnings from investments.
The payment of dividends by the Bank is subject to limitations imposed by the
laws and applicable regulations of the United States and the Office of the
Comptroller of the Currency. These limitations are based on the level of
retained earnings of the Bank.
Voting Rights. Except as described under "Description of Preferred
Stock -- Outstanding Preferred Stock -- Voting Rights", the holders of the
Common Stock currently possess exclusive voting rights in the Corporation. The
Board of Directors of the Corporation may, however, specify voting power with
respect to any Preferred Stock which may be issued in the future. Each holder of
Common Stock is entitled to one vote per share. There is no cumulative voting in
the election of directors.
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Actions requiring approval of stockholders generally require approval by a
majority vote of outstanding shares.
Liquidation Rights. In the event of liquidation, dissolution, or winding
up of the Corporation, the holders of its Common Stock would be entitled to
receive, after payment of all of its debts, liabilities and of all sums to which
holders of any Preferred Stock may be entitled, all of the remaining assets of
the Corporation.
Preemptive Rights. Holders of the Common Stock are not entitled to
preemptive rights with respect to any shares that may be issued.
DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK WARRANTS
The Corporation may issue Common Stock Warrants for the purchase of Common
Stock. Common Stock Warrants may be issued independently or together with other
Securities offered by any Prospectus Supplement and may be attached to or
separate from such Securities. Each series of Common Stock Warrants will be
issued under one or more warrant agreements (each a "Common Stock Warrant
Agreement") to be entered into between the Corporation and a bank or trust
company, as Common Stock Warrant Agent, all as set forth in the Prospectus
Supplement relating to the particular issue of Common Stock Warrants. The Common
Stock Warrant Agent will act solely as an agent of the Corporation in connection
with the Common Stock Warrant Certificates and will not assume any obligation or
relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders of Common Stock Warrant
Certificates or beneficial owners of Common Stock Warrants. Copies of the form
of Common Stock Warrant Agreement, including the form of Common Stock Warrant
Certificates representing the Common Stock Warrants, are filed as exhibits to
the Registration Statement to which this Prospectus pertains. The following
summaries of certain provisions of the form of Common Stock Warrant Agreement
and Common Stock Warrant Certificate do not purport to be complete and are
subject to and are qualified in their entirety by reference to, all the
provisions of the Common Stock Warrant Agreement and the Common Stock Warrant
Certificates.
GENERAL
If Common Stock Warrants are offered, the related Prospectus Supplement
will describe the terms of such Common Stock Warrants, including the following,
where applicable: (1) the offering price; (2) the aggregate number of shares of
Common Stock purchasable upon exercise of such Common Stock Warrants and minimum
number of Common Stock Warrants that are exercisable; (3) the number of shares
of Common Stock with which such Common Stock Warrants are being offered and the
number of such Common Stock Warrants being offered with each such share of
Common Stock; (4) the date on and after which such Common Stock Warrants and the
related shares of Common Stock will be transferable separately; (5) the number
of shares of Common Stock purchasable upon exercise of each such Common Stock
Warrant and the price at which such number of shares of Common Stock may be
purchased upon such exercise; (6) the date on which the right to exercise such
Common Stock Warrants shall commence and the date on which such right shall
expire (the "Common Stock Warrant Expiration Date"); (7) whether the Common
Stock Warrants represented by the Common Stock Warrant Certificates will be
issued in registered or bearer form; (8) information with respect to book-entry
procedures, if any; and (9) any other terms of such Common Stock Warrants for
the purchase of shares of Common Stock which shall not be inconsistent with the
provisions of the Common Stock Warrant Agreements.
Common Stock Warrant Certificates may be exchanged for new Common Stock
Warrant Certificates of different denominations, may (if in registered form) be
presented for registration of transfer, and may be exercised at the corporate
trust office of the Common Stock Warrant Agent or any other office indicated in
the applicable Prospectus Supplement. Prior to the exercise of any Common Stock
Warrants to purchase Common Stock, Holders of such Common Stock Warrants will
not have any rights of holders of shares of the Common Stock purchasable upon
such exercise, including the right to
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receive payments of dividends, if any, on the Common Stock purchasable upon such
exercise or to exercise any applicable right to vote.
Prospective purchasers of Common Stock Warrants should be aware that
special U.S. federal income tax, accounting and other considerations may be
applicable to instruments such as Common Stock Warrants. The Prospectus
Supplement relating to any issue of Common Stock Warrants will describe such
considerations.
EXERCISE OF COMMON STOCK WARRANTS
Each Common Stock Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to purchase such
number of shares of Common Stock at such exercise price as shall be set forth
in, or calculable from, the Prospectus Supplement relating to the Common Stock
Warrants. After the close of business on the Expiration Date (or such later date
to which such Expiration Date may be extended by the Corporation), unexercised
Common Stock Warrants will become void.
Common Stock Warrants may be exercised by delivery to the Common Stock
Warrant Agent of payment as provided in the applicable Prospectus Supplement of
the amount required to purchase the shares of Common Stock purchasable upon such
exercise together with certain information set forth on the reverse side of the
Common Stock Warrant Certificate. Common Stock Warrants will be deemed to have
been exercised upon receipt of the exercise price, subject to the receipt,
within 5 business days, of the Common Stock Warrant Certificate evidencing such
Common Stock Warrants. Upon receipt of such payment and the Common Stock Warrant
Certificate properly completed and duly executed at the corporate trust office
of the Common Stock Warrant Agent or any other office indicated in the
applicable Prospectus Supplement, the Corporation will, as soon as practicable,
issue and deliver the shares of Common Stock purchasable upon such exercise. If
fewer than all of the Common Stock Warrants represented by such Common Stock
Warrant Certificate are exercised, a new Common Stock Warrant Certificate will
be issued for the remaining amount of Common Stock Warrants.
MODIFICATIONS
The Common Stock Warrant Agreement and the terms of the Common Stock
Warrants may be amended by the Corporation and the Common Stock Warrant Agent,
without the consent of the holders, for the purpose of curing any ambiguity, or
of curing, correcting or supplementing any defective or inconsistent provision
contained therein, or in any other manner which the Corporation may deem
necessary or desirable and which will not materially and adversely affect the
interests of the holders.
The Corporation and the Common Stock Warrant Agent also may modify or amend
the Common Stock Warrant Agreement and the terms of the Common Stock Warrants,
with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in number of the
then outstanding unexercised Common Stock Warrants affected, provided that no
such modification or amendment that shortens the period of time during which the
Common Stock Warrants may be exercised or otherwise materially and adversely
affects the exercise rights of the holders of the Common Stock Warrants or
reduces the number of outstanding Common Stock Warrants the consent of whose
holders is required for modification or amendment of the Common Stock Warrant
Agreement or the terms of the Common Stock Warrants may be made without the
consent of the holders affected thereby.
COMMON STOCK WARRANT ADJUSTMENTS
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the
exercise price of, and the number of shares of Common Stock covered by a Common
Stock Warrant are subject to adjustment in certain events, including: (i) the
issuance of Common Stock as a dividend or distribution on the Common Stock; (ii)
subdivisions and combinations of the Common Stock; (iii) the issuance to all
holders of Common Stock of certain rights or warrants entitling them to
subscribe for or purchase Common Stock within 45 days after the date fixed for
the determination of the stockholders entitled to
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receive such rights or warrants, at less than the current market price (as
defined in the Common Stock Warrant Agreement for such series of Common Stock
Warrants); and (iv) the distribution to all holders of Common Stock of evidences
of indebtedness or assets of the Corporation (excluding certain cash dividends
and distributions described below) or rights or warrants (excluding those
referred to above). In the event that the Corporation shall distribute any
rights or warrants to acquire capital stock pursuant to clause (iv) above (the
"Capital Stock Rights"), pursuant to which separate certificates representing
such Capital Stock Rights will be distributed subsequent to the initial
distribution of such Capital Stock Rights (whether or not such distribution
shall have occurred prior to the date of the issuance of a series of Common
Stock Warrants), such subsequent distribution shall be deemed to be the
distribution of such Capital Stock Rights; provided, however, that the
Corporation may, in lieu of making any adjustment in the exercise price of, and
the number of shares of Common Stock covered by, a Common Stock Warrant upon a
distribution of separate certificates representing such Capital Stock Rights,
make proper provision so that each holder of such a Common Stock Warrant who
exercises such Common Stock Warrant (or any portion thereof) (a) before the
record date for such distribution of separate certificates shall be entitled to
receive upon such exercise shares of Common Stock issued with Capital Stock
Rights and (b) after such record date and prior to the expiration, redemption or
termination of such Capital Stock Rights shall be entitled to receive upon such
exercise, in addition to the shares of Common Stock issuable upon such exercise,
the same number of such Capital Stock Rights as would a holder of the number of
shares of Common Stock that such Common Stock Warrant so exercised would have
entitled the holder thereof to acquire in accordance with the terms and
provisions applicable to the Capital Stock Rights if such Common Stock Warrant
was exercised immediately prior to the record date for such distribution. Common
Stock owned by or held for the account of the Corporation or any majority owned
subsidiary shall not be deemed outstanding for the purpose of any adjustment.
No adjustment in the exercise price of, and the number of shares of Common
Stock covered by, a Common Stock Warrant will be made for regular quarterly or
other periodic or recurring cash dividends or distributions or for cash
dividends or distributions to the extent paid from retained earnings. In any
such cases, no adjustment will be required unless such adjustment would require
a change of at least 1% in the exercise price then in effect, provided, however,
that any such adjustment not so made will be carried forward and taken into
account in any subsequent adjustment; and provided further that any such
adjustment not so made shall be made no later than three years after the
occurrence of the event requiring such adjustment to be made or carried forward.
Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, the issuance of Common Stock under any
employee benefit plan of the Corporation providing for the purchase of shares of
Common Stock by the Corporation's stockholders or employees at a price less than
the market price for such shares and the grant or exercise of any rights
thereunder, shall not require an adjustment to the exercise price of, and the
number of shares of Common Stock covered by, a Common Stock Warrant. Except as
stated above, the exercise price of, and the number of shares of Common Stock
covered by, a Common Stock Warrant will not be adjusted for the issuance of
Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for Common
Stock, or securities carrying the right to purchase any of the foregoing.
In the case of (i) a reclassification or change of the Common Stock, (ii) a
consolidation or merger involving the Corporation, or (iii) a sale or conveyance
to another corporation of the property and assets of the Corporation as an
entirety or substantially as an entirety, in each case as a result of which
holders of the Corporation's Common Stock shall be entitled to receive stock,
securities, other property or assets (including cash) with respect to or in
exchange for such Common Stock, the holders of the Common Stock Warrants then
outstanding will be entitled thereafter to convert such Common Stock Warrants
into the kind and amount of shares of stock and other securities or property
which they would have received upon such reclassification, change,
consolidation, merger, sale or conveyance had such Common Stock Warrants been
exercised immediately prior to such reclassification, change, consolidation,
merger, sale or conveyance.
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MERGER, CONSOLIDATION, SALE OR OTHER DISPOSITIONS
If at any time there shall be a merger, consolidation, sale, transfer,
conveyance or other disposition of substantially all of the assets of the
Corporation, then the successor or assuming corporation shall succeed to and be
substituted for the Corporation in, and the Corporation will be relieved of any
further obligation under, the Common Stock Warrant Agreement or the Common Stock
Warrants.
ENFORCEABILITY OF RIGHTS BY HOLDERS
The Common Stock Warrant Agent will act solely as an agent of the
Corporation in connection with the issuance and exercise of Common Stock
Warrants. The Common Stock Warrant Agent shall have no duty or responsibility in
case of any default by the Corporation in the performance of its obligations
under the Common Stock Warrant Agreement or Common Stock Warrant Certificate.
Each holder may, without the consent of the Common Stock Warrant Agent, enforce
by appropriate legal action, on his own behalf, his right to exercise his Common
Stock Warrants.
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DESCRIPTION OF TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES
The following description of the terms of the Trust Preferred Securities
sets forth certain general terms of the Trust Preferred Securities to which any
Prospectus Supplement may relate. The particular terms of the Trust Preferred
Securities offered by any Prospectus Supplement and the extent, if any, to which
such general provisions do not apply to the Trust Preferred Securities so
offered will be described in the Prospectus Supplement relating to such Trust
Preferred Securities. The Trust Preferred Securities are to be issued under a
Declaration, which will be qualified as an indenture under the Trust Indenture
Act.
This summary of certain provisions of the Trust Preferred Securities and
the Declarations does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to, all of the provisions of the
Declaration, including the definitions therein of certain terms. The form of the
Declaration, including the form Trust Preferred Securities and form Trust Common
Securities, is filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement of which this
Prospectus is a part.
GENERAL
Each Trust may issue, from time to time, only one series of Trust Preferred
Securities. All Trust Preferred Securities offered hereby will be guaranteed by
the Corporation as and to the extent set forth below under "Description of the
Guarantees." The Trust Preferred Securities will have such terms as set forth in
the applicable Declaration or made part of such Declaration by the Trust
Indenture Act. The Trust Preferred Securities will have the terms set forth
below unless otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. If
Trust Preferred Securities are offered, the applicable Prospectus Supplement
will describe the specific terms of the Trust Preferred Securities of the Trust,
including (1) the specific designation of such Trust Preferred Securities; (2)
the number of Trust Preferred Securities offered and the initial public offering
price; (3) the annual distribution rate (or the method of calculation thereof)
and the date or dates on which such distributions shall be payable; (4) whether
distributions shall be cumulative or non-cumulative, and if cumulative the date
or dates from which distributions shall cumulate; (5) federal income tax
considerations applicable to the Trust Preferred Securities;(6) any redemption
or sinking fund provisions; (7) any conversion or exchange provisions; (8)
material risk factors relating to the Trust Preferred Securities; (9) whether
such Trust Preferred Securities will be issued in book-entry form; (10) whether
such Trust Preferred Securities will be listed on a national securities
exchange; (11) information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any; and
(12) any other terms of such Trust Preferred Securities not inconsistent with
the applicable Declaration or with applicable law.
In connection with the issuance of Trust Preferred Securities, each Trust
will issue one series of Common Securities. The terms of the Common Securities
issued by a Trust will be substantially identical to the terms of the Trust
Preferred Securities. The Common Securities will rank pari passu and payments
thereon will be made on a pro rata basis with the Trust Preferred Securities,
except that the rights of the holders of such Common Securities to payment of
distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption and maturity will be
subordinated to the rights of the holders of such Trust Preferred Securities if
a Debenture Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing. Except in
certain circumstances, the holders of the Common Securities will have the sole
right to vote and to appoint, remove or replace any of the Issuer Trustees of a
Trust. All the Common Securities of a Trust will be owned directly or indirectly
by the Corporation.
DISTRIBUTIONS
The revenue of the Trust available for distribution to holders of the Trust
Preferred Securities will be limited to payments under the Junior Subordinated
Debt Securities in which the Trust will invest the proceeds from the issuance
and sale of the Trust Securities. See "Description of Junior Subordinated Debt
Securities -- General." If the Corporation does not make interest payments on
the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities, the Property Trustee will not have
funds available to pay Distributions
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on the Trust Preferred Securities. The payment of Distributions (if and to the
extent the Trust has funds legally available for the payment of such
Distributions and cash sufficient to make such payments) is guaranteed by the
Corporation on a limited basis as set forth herein under "Description of
Guarantee."
If set forth in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, so long as no
Debenture Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Corporation will
have the right under the Junior Subordinated Indenture to defer the payment of
interest on the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities at any time or from time to
time for a period not exceeding 10 consecutive Distribution periods (each, an
"Extension Period"); provided that no Extension Period may extend beyond the
Stated Maturity of the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities. As a consequence of
any such election, Distributions on the Trust Preferred Securities by the
relevant Trust will be deferred during any such Extension Period. At the end of
an Extension Period, the Corporation must pay interest then accrued and unpaid
on the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities (together with interest thereon to
the extent permitted by law).
During any such Extension Period, the Corporation 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 capital stock
(which includes common and preferred stock), (ii) make any payment of principal,
interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt
securities of the Corporation (including Other Debt) that rank pari passu in all
respects with or junior in interest to the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities
or (iii) make any guarantee payments with respect to any guarantee by the
Corporation of the debt securities of any subsidiary of the Corporation
(including Other Guarantees) if such guarantee ranks pari passu in all respects
with or junior in interest to the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities (other
than (a) dividends or distributions in common stock of the Corporation, (b) any
declaration of a dividend in connection with the implementation of a
stockholders' rights plan, or the issuance of stock under any such plan in the
future, or the redemption or repurchase of any such rights pursuant thereto, (c)
payments under the Guarantee, (d) purchases or acquisitions of shares of the
Corporation's common stock in connection with the satisfaction by the
Corporation of its obligations under any employee benefit plan or any other
contractual obligation of the Corporation (other than a contractual obligation
ranking pari passu in all respects with or junior to the Junior Subordinated
Debt Securities), (e) as a result of a reclassification of the Corporation's
capital stock or the exchange or conversion of one class or series of the
Corporation's capital stock for another class or series of the Corporation's
capital stock or (f) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the
Corporation's stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such
capital stock or the security being converted or exchanged. Prior to the
termination of any such Extension Period, the Corporation may further extend
such Extension Period; provided that such extension does not cause such
Extension Period to exceed 10 consecutive distribution periods, to end on a date
other than an Interest Payment Date or to extend beyond the Stated Maturity of
the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities. Upon the termination of any such
Extension Period and the payment of all amounts then due, and subject to the
foregoing limitations, the Corporation may elect to begin a new Extension
Period. The Corporation must give the Property Trustee, the Administrative
Trustees and the Debenture Trustee notice of its election of any such Extension
Period at least five Business Days prior to the earlier of (i) the date the
Distributions on the Trust Preferred Securities 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 automated quotation
system or to holders of the Trust Preferred Securities of the record date or the
date such Distributions are payable but in any event not less than five Business
Days prior to such record date. There is no limitation on the number of times
that the Corporation may elect to begin an Extension Period.
REPAYMENT OR REDEMPTION
The Corporation's right to redeem the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities
and a Trust's corresponding right to redeem any Trust Preferred Securities at
the Corporation's direction, if any, in whole or in part will be set forth in
the applicable Prospectus Supplement.
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Upon the repayment in full at the Stated Maturity, or redemption in whole
or in part, of the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities (other than following the
distribution of the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities to the holders of the
Trust Securities), the proceeds from such repayment or redemption shall be
applied by the Property Trustee to redeem a Like Amount of Trust Securities,
upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days' notice of a date of redemption (the
"Redemption Date"), at the applicable Redemption Price, which shall be equal to
(i) in the case of the repayment of the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities at
the Stated Maturity, the Maturity Redemption Price (equal to the principal of,
and accrued but unpaid interest on, the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities) or
(ii) in the case of the optional redemption of the Junior Subordinated Debt
Securities, the optional redemption price (as set forth in a supplement to the
Junior Subordinated Indenture or in a resolution of the Board of Directors of
the Corporation or a committee thereof) in respect of the Junior Subordinated
Debt Securities). If less than all of the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities
are to be redeemed on a Redemption Date, then the proceeds from such redemption
shall be allocated to the redemption pro rata of the Trust Preferred Securities
and the Common Securities. The amount of premium, if any, paid by the
Corporation upon the redemption of the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities to be
redeemed on a Redemption Date shall be allocated to the redemption pro rata of
the Trust Preferred Securities and the Common Securities.
If Trust Securities are to be redeemed they will be redeemed at the
applicable Redemption Price with the proceeds from the contemporaneous repayment
or redemption of the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities. The applicable
Redemption Price shall be payable on each Redemption Date only to the extent
that the Trust has funds legally available for the payment of such Redemption
Price.
Unless the Corporation defaults in payment of the applicable Redemption
Price on, or in the repayment of, the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities, on
and after the Redemption Date, Distributions will cease to accumulate on the
Trust Securities called for redemption and the rights of holders of such Trust
Preferred Securities shall cease. In the event that any date fixed for
redemption of Trust Preferred Securities is not a Business Day, then payment of
the applicable 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 the event that payment of the applicable Redemption
Price is improperly withheld or refused and not paid either by the Trust or by
the Corporation pursuant to the Guarantee as described under "Description of
Guarantee," Distributions on Trust Preferred Securities will continue to
accumulate at the then applicable rate, from the Redemption Date originally
established by the Trust to the date such applicable Redemption Price is
actually paid, in which case the actual payment date will be the date fixed for
redemption for purposes of calculating the applicable Redemption Price.
Subject to applicable law (including, without limitation, United States
Federal securities law), the Corporation or its subsidiaries may at any time and
from time to time purchase outstanding Trust Preferred Securities by tender, in
the open market or by private agreement.
LIQUIDATION OF THE TRUST AND DISTRIBUTION OF JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES
The Corporation will have the right at any time (including upon the
occurrence of a Tax Event) to terminate the Trust and cause a Like Amount of the
Junior Subordinated Debt Securities to be distributed to the holders of the
Trust Securities in liquidation of the Trust; provided, however, that following
such distribution of the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities, the Corporation
agrees to use its best efforts to maintain any ratings of such Junior
Subordinated Debt Securities by any nationally recognized rating agency for so
long as any such Junior Subordinated Debt Securities are outstanding. Such right
is subject to prior approval of the Federal Reserve if then required under
applicable capital guidelines or policies of the Federal Reserve. If the Junior
Subordinated Debt Securities are distributed to the holders of the Trust
Securities as the result of the occurrence of a Tax Event and such Tax Event
continues notwithstanding such distribution, the Corporation has the right to
prepay the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities in whole, but not in part, at the
Tax Event Prepayment Price.
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The Trust shall automatically terminate upon 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 Junior Subordinated Debt
Securities to the holders of the Trust Securities if the Corporation, as
Depositor, has given written direction to the Property Trustee to terminate the
Trust (which direction is optional and, except as described above, wholly within
the discretion of the Corporation, as Depositor); (iii) redemption of all of the
Trust Securities as described under "-- Redemption" above; (iv) expiration of
the term of the Trust; and (v) the entry of an order for the dissolution of the
Trust by a court of competent jurisdiction.
If an early termination occurs as described in clause (i), (ii), (iv) or
(v) above, the 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 Trust as provided by applicable
law, to the holders of the Trust Securities a Like Amount of the Junior
Subordinated Debt Securities, unless such distribution is determined by the
Property Trustee not to be practical, in which event such holders will be
entitled to receive out of the assets of the Trust available for distribution to
holders an amount equal to, in the case of holders of Trust Preferred
Securities, the aggregate of the Liquidation Amount plus accumulated 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 the Trust has insufficient assets available to pay in full the aggregate
Liquidation Distribution, then the amounts payable directly by the Trust on the
Trust Preferred Securities shall be paid on a pro rata basis. The holder(s) of
the Trust Common Securities will be entitled to receive distributions upon any
such liquidation pro rata with the holders of the Trust Preferred Securities,
except that if a Debenture Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the
Trust Preferred Securities shall have a priority over the Common Securities. See
"-- Subordination of Trust Common Securities."
"Like Amount" means (i) with respect to a redemption of Trust Preferred
Securities, Trust Securities having a Liquidation Amount equal to that portion
of the principal amount of Junior Subordinated Debt Securities to be
contemporaneously redeemed in accordance with the Junior Subordinated Indenture,
allocated to the Common Securities and to the Trust Preferred Securities based
upon the relative Liquidation Amounts of such classes and the proceeds of which
will be used to pay the Redemption Price of such Trust Securities and (ii) with
respect to a distribution of Junior Subordinated Debt Securities to holders of
Trust Preferred Securities in connection with a dissolution or liquidation of
the Trust, Junior Subordinated Debt Securities having a principal amount equal
to the Liquidation Amount of the Trust Securities of the holders to whom Junior
Subordinated Debt Securities are distributed.
If the Corporation elects not to redeem the Junior Subordinated Debt
Securities prior to maturity and the Trust is not liquidated and the Junior
Subordinated Debt Securities are not distributed to holders of the Trust
Securities, the Trust Preferred Securities will remain outstanding until the
repayment of the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities at the Stated Maturity.
After the liquidation date is fixed for any distribution of Junior
Subordinated Debt Securities to holders of the Trust Securities (i) the Trust
Preferred Securities will no longer be deemed to be outstanding, (ii) DTC or its
nominee, as the record holder of the Trust Preferred Securities, will receive a
registered global certificate or certificates representing the Junior
Subordinated Debt Securities to be delivered upon such distribution with respect
to Trust Preferred Securities held by DTC or its nominee and (iii) any
certificates representing Trust Preferred Securities not held by DTC or its
nominee will be deemed to represent Junior Subordinated Debt Securities having a
principal amount equal to the Liquidation Amount of such Trust Preferred
Securities and bearing accrued and unpaid interest in an amount equal to the
accumulated and unpaid Distributions on such Trust Preferred Securities until
such certificates are presented to the Debenture Trustee or their agent for
cancellation, whereupon the Corporation will issue to such holder, and the
Debenture Trustee will authenticate, a certificate representing such Junior
Subordinated Debt Securities.
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SUBORDINATION OF COMMON SECURITIES
Payment of Distributions on, and the Redemption Price of, the Trust
Preferred Securities and Common Securities shall be made pro rata to the holders
of Trust Preferred Securities and Common Securities based on the Liquidation
Amount thereof; provided, however, that if on any Distribution Date or
Redemption Date any Event of Default resulting from a Debenture Event of Default
shall have occurred and be continuing, no payment of any Distribution on, or
applicable Redemption Price of, any of the Common Securities, and no other
payment on account of the redemption, liquidation or other acquisition of the
Common Securities, shall be made unless payment in full in cash of all
accumulated and unpaid Distributions on all of the outstanding Trust Preferred
Securities for all Distribution periods terminating on or prior thereto or, in
the case of payment of the applicable Redemption Price the full amount of such
Redemption Price on all of the outstanding Trust Preferred 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 the Redemption Price of, the Trust Preferred Securities then due and payable.
In the case of any Event of Default under the Declaration resulting from a
Debenture Event of Default, the Corporation as holder of the Common Securities
will be deemed to have waived any right to act with respect to any such Event of
Default until the effect of all such Events of Default have been cured, waived
or otherwise eliminated. Until all such Events of Default have been so cured,
waived or otherwise eliminated, the Property Trustee shall act solely on behalf
of the holders of such Trust Preferred Securities and not on behalf of the
Corporation as holder of the Common Securities, and only the holders of the
Trust Preferred Securities will have the right to direct the Property Trustee to
act on their behalf.
EVENTS OF DEFAULT, NOTICE, WAIVER
Any one of the following events will constitutes an "Event of Default"
under the relevant Declaration (an "Event of Default") (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 (see "Description
of Junior Subordinated Debt Securities -- Debenture Events of Default"); or
(ii) default by the 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
(iii) default by the Trust 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 the Declaration
(other than a covenant or warranty, a default in the performance of which
or the breach of which is addressed 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 Issuer Trustees by the holders of at least 25% in aggregate
Liquidation Amount of the outstanding Trust Preferred 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" under the
Declaration; 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 60 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
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the Trust Preferred Securities, the Administrative Trustees and the Corporation,
as Depositor, 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 the
Declaration.
If a Debenture Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trust
Preferred Securities shall have a preference over the Common Securities upon
termination of the Trust as described above. See "-- Liquidation of the Trust
and Distribution of Junior Subordinated Debt Securities" and "-- Subordination
of Common Securities."
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 Trust Preferred
Securities. In no event will the holders of the Trust Preferred 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
Declaration.
CO-TRUSTEES AND SEPARATE PROPERTY 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's property
may at the time be located, the Corporation, as the holder of the Common
Securities, and the Administrative Trustees shall have the 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's 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 Declaration. In case a Debenture Event of
Default has occurred and is continuing, the Property Trustee alone shall have
the power to make such appointment.
MERGER, CONSOLIDATION, AMALGAMATION OR REPLACEMENT OF THE TRUSTS
The Trusts may not merge with or into, consolidate, amalgamate or be
replaced by, or convey, transfer or lease their properties and assets
substantially as an entirety to any corporation or other Person, except as
described below or as otherwise set forth in the Declaration. Each Trust may, at
the request of the Corporation, as Depositor, with the consent of the
Administrative Trustees but without the consent of the holders of the Trust
Preferred Securities, the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee, 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, however, that (i) such successor
entity either (a) expressly assumes all of the obligations of the Trust with
respect to the Trust Preferred Securities or (b) substitutes for the Trust
Preferred Securities other securities having substantially the same terms as the
Trust Preferred Securities (the "Successor Securities") so long as the Successor
Securities rank the same as the Trust Preferred Securities rank 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 Junior Subordinated Debt Securities, (iii) the Successor
Securities are listed or traded, or any Successor Securities will be listed or
traded upon notification of issuance, on any national securities exchange or
other organization on which the Trust Preferred Securities are then listed or
traded, if any, (iv) such merger,
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consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease does not
cause the Trust Preferred Securities (including any Successor Securities) to be
downgraded by any nationally recognized statistical rating organization, (v)
such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or
lease does not adversely affect the rights, preferences and privileges of the
holders of the Trust Preferred Securities (including any Successor Securities)
in any material respect, (vi) such successor entity has a purpose identical to
that of the Trust, (vii) prior to such merger, consolidation, amalgamation,
replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease, the Corporation has received an
opinion from independent counsel to the Trust 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 Trust Preferred Securities (including any
Successor Securities) in any material respect and (b) following such merger,
consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease, neither
the Trust nor such 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 assign 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. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Trust shall not, except with the consent of the holders of 100%
in Liquidation Amount of the Trust 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 Trust or the successor entity to be classified as other than a
grantor trust for United States Federal income tax purposes.
VOTING RIGHTS; AMENDMENT OF THE DECLARATION
Except as provided below and under "Description of Guarantee -- Amendments
and Assignment", in the applicable Prospectus Supplement and as otherwise
required by law and the Declaration, the holders of the Trust Preferred
Securities will have no voting rights.
So long as any Junior Subordinated Debt Securities are held by the Trust,
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
the Trust Securities, (ii) waive any past default that is waivable under Section
5.13 of the Junior Subordinated Indenture, (iii) exercise any right to rescind
or annul a declaration that the principal of all the Junior Subordinated Debt
Securities shall be due and payable or (iv) consent to any amendment,
modification or termination of the Junior Subordinated Indenture or the Junior
Subordinated Debt Securities, 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 Trust Preferred Securities;
provided, however, that where a consent under the Junior Subordinated Indenture
would require the consent of each holder of Junior Subordinated Debt Securities
affected thereby, no such consent shall be given by the Property Trustee without
the prior consent of each holder of the Trust Preferred Securities. The Issuer
Trustees shall not revoke any action previously authorized or approved by a vote
of the holders of the Trust Preferred Securities except by subsequent vote of
such holders. In addition to obtaining the foregoing approvals of such holders
of the Trust Preferred 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 Trust will not be classified as an association or
a publicly traded partnership taxable as a corporation for United States Federal
income tax purposes on account of such action.
Any required approval of holders of Trust Preferred Securities may be given
at a meeting of such holders convened for such purpose or pursuant to written
consent. The Property Trustee will cause a notice of any meeting at which
holders of Trust Preferred Securities are entitled to vote, or of any
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matter upon which action by written consent of such holders is to be taken, to
be given to each holder of record of Trust Preferred Securities in the manner
set forth in the Declaration.
The Declaration may be amended from time to time by the Corporation, the
Property Trustee and the Administrative Trustees, without the consent of the
holders of the Trust Securities, (i) to cure any ambiguity, correct or
supplement any provision in the Declaration that may be inconsistent with any
other provision, or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or
questions arising under the Declaration, which shall not be inconsistent with
the other provisions of the Declaration, or (ii) to modify, eliminate or add to
any provisions of the Declaration to such extent as shall be necessary to ensure
that the Trust will be classified for United States Federal income tax purposes
as a grantor trust at all times that any Trust Securities are outstanding or to
ensure that the Trust will not be required to register as an "investment
company" under the Investment Company Act; provided, however, that in the case
of clause (i), such action shall not adversely affect in any material respect
the interests of any holder of Trust Securities, and any amendments of the
Declaration shall become effective when notice thereof is given to the holders
of the Trust Securities. The Declaration may be amended by the Issuer Trustees
and the Corporation 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 affect the Trust's status as a
grantor trust for United States Federal income tax purposes or the Trust's
exemption from status as an "investment company" under the Investment Company
Act. In addition, without the consent of each holder of Trust Securities, the
Declaration 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.
No vote or consent of the holders of Trust Preferred Securities will be
required for the Trust to redeem and cancel the Trust Preferred Securities in
accordance with the Declaration.
Notwithstanding that holders of the Trust Preferred Securities are entitled
to vote or consent under any of the circumstances described above, any of the
Trust Preferred Securities that are owned by the Corporation, the Issuer
Trustees or any affiliate of the Corporation or any Issuer Trustees, shall, for
purposes of such vote or consent, be treated as if they were not outstanding.
EXPENSES AND TAXES
In the Junior Subordinated Indenture, the Corporation, as borrower, has
agreed to pay all debts and other obligations (other than with respect to the
Trust Preferred Securities) and all costs and expenses of the Trusts (including
costs and expenses relating to the organization of the Trusts, the fees and
expenses of the Issuer Trustees and the costs and expenses relating to the
operation of the Trusts) and any offering of Trust Preferred Securities, and to
pay any and all taxes and all costs and expenses with respect to the foregoing
(other than United States withholding taxes) to which the Trusts might become
subject. The foregoing obligations of the Corporation under the Junior
Subordinated Indenture are for the benefit of, and shall be enforceable by, any
person to whom any such debts, obligations, costs, expenses and taxes are owed
(a "Creditor") whether or not such Creditor has received notice thereof. Any
such Creditor may enforce such obligations of the Corporation directly against
the Corporation, and the Corporation will irrevocably waived any right or remedy
to require that any such Creditor take any action against the Trust or any other
person before proceeding against the Corporation. The Corporation will also
agree in the Junior Subordinated Indenture to execute such additional
agreement(s) as may be necessary or desirable to give full effect to the
foregoing.
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FORM OF TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, Trust
Preferred Securities will not be issued in definitive form. The Trust Preferred
Securities initially will be represented by one or more Trust Preferred
Securities in registered, global form (collectively, the "Global Trust Preferred
Securities"). The Global Trust Preferred Securities will be deposited upon
issuance with or on behalf of DTC, in New York, New York, and registered in the
name of DTC or its nominee, in each case for credit to an account of a direct or
indirect participant in DTC. See "Book-Entry Procedures."
REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER AGENT
The Property Trustee will act as registrar and transfer agent for the Trust
Preferred Securities.
Registration of transfers of the Trust Preferred Securities will be
effected without charge by or on behalf of the Trust, but upon payment of any
tax or other governmental charges that may be imposed in connection with any
transfer or exchange. The Trust will not be required to register or cause to be
registered the transfer of the Trust Preferred Securities after they 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 the Declaration and, during the existence of an 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 Declaration at the request of any holder of Trust
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
Declaration or is unsure of the application of any provision of the Declaration,
and the matter is not one on which holders of the Trust Preferred Securities or
the Trust Common Securities are entitled under the Declaration 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.
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the
Property Trustee will be Bankers Trust Company. The Corporation and the Bank
maintain deposit accounts and conduct banking transactions with Bankers Trust
Company in the ordinary course of their businesses.
ADMINISTRATIVE TRUSTEES
The Administrative Trustees are authorized and directed to conduct the
affairs of and to operate the Trusts in such a way that the Trusts will not be
deemed to be an "investment company" required to be registered under the
Investment Company Act or classified as an association or a publicly traded
partnership taxable as a corporation for United States Federal income tax
purposes and so that the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities will be treated as
indebtedness of the Corporation 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 the Trust or the Declaration, 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 Trust Securities.
DESCRIPTION OF GUARANTEE
A Guarantee will be executed and delivered by the Corporation concurrently
with the issuance by a Trust of the Trust Securities for the benefit of the
holders from time to time of the Trust Securities.
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Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, Bankers
Trust Company will act as trustee (the "Guarantee Trustee") under the Guarantee.
The Guarantee will be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act. This summary of
certain provisions of the Guarantee does not purport to be complete and is
subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, all of the provisions
of the Guarantee, including the definitions therein of certain terms, and the
Trust Indenture Act. The Guarantee Trustee will hold the Guarantee for the
benefit of the holders of the Trust Securities. The form of Guarantee is filed
as an exhibit to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus is a part.
GENERAL
The Corporation will irrevocably agree to pay in full on a subordinated
basis, to the extent set forth herein, the Guarantee Payments to the holders of
the Trust Securities, as and when due, regardless of any defense, right of
set-off or counterclaim that the Trust may have or assert other than the defense
of payment. The following payments with respect to the Trust Securities, to the
extent not paid by or on behalf of the Trust (the "Guarantee Payments"), will be
subject to the Guarantee: (i) any accrued and unpaid Distributions required to
be paid on the Trust Securities, to the extent that the Trust has funds on hand
available therefor at such time, (ii) the applicable Redemption Price with
respect to Trust Securities called for redemption, to the extent that the Trust
has funds on hand available therefor at such time, or (iii) upon a voluntary or
involuntary dissolution, winding up or liquidation of the Trust (other than in
connection with the distribution of Junior Subordinated Trust Debt Securities to
the holders of the Trust Securities or the redemption of all of the Trust
Securities) the lesser of (a) the Liquidation Distribution, to the extent the
Trust has funds available therefor and (b) the amount of assets of the Trust
remaining available for distribution to holders of the Trust Securities upon
liquidation of the Trust after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the
Trust as required by applicable law. The Corporation's obligation to make a
Guarantee Payment may be satisfied by direct payment of the required amounts by
the Corporation to the holders of the Trust Securities or by causing the Trust
to pay such amounts to such holders.
The Guarantee will be an irrevocable guarantee on a subordinated basis of
the Trust's obligations under the Trust Securities, although it will apply only
to the extent that the Trust has funds sufficient to make such payments, and is
not a guarantee of collection. If the Corporation does not make interest
payments on the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities held by the Trust, the Trust
will not be able to pay Distributions on the Trust Preferred Securities and will
not have funds legally available therefor.
The Corporation has, through the Guarantee, the Declaration, the Junior
Subordinated Debt Securities and the Junior Subordinated Indenture, taken
together, fully, irrevocably and unconditionally guaranteed all of the Trust's
obligations under the Trust Preferred 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 Trust's obligations under the Trust Preferred Securities. See
"Relationship Among Trust Preferred Securities, Junior Subordinated Debt
Securities and Guarantee."
STATUS OF THE GUARANTEE
The Guarantee will constitute an unsecured obligation of the Corporation
and will rank subordinate and junior in right of payment to all Senior Debt in
the same manner as the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities. Because the
Corporation is a holding company, the right of the Corporation 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
such subsidiary, except to the extent the Corporation may itself be recognized
as a creditor of that subsidiary. Accordingly, the Corporation's obligations
under the Guarantee will be effectively subordinated to all existing and future
liabilities of the Corporation's subsidiaries, and claimants should look only to
the assets of the Corporation for payments thereunder. The Guarantee does not
place a limitation on the
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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.
The Guarantee will rank pari passu with any similar Guarantee Agreements
issued by the Corporation on behalf of the holders of trust Securities issued by
any other Republic New York Capital trust (the "other Guarantees"). The
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 to enforce its rights under the Guarantee without first instituting
a legal proceeding against any other person or entity). The Guarantee will not
be discharged except by payment of the Guarantee Payments in full to the extent
not paid by the Trust or upon distribution of the Junior Subordinated Debt
Securities to the holders of the Trust Securities.
AMENDMENTS AND ASSIGNMENT
Except with respect to any changes which do not materially adversely affect
the rights of holders of the Trust Preferred Securities (in which case no vote
will be required), the Guarantee may not be amended without the prior approval
of the holders of not less than a majority of the aggregate Liquidation Amount
of the outstanding Trust Preferred Securities. The manner of obtaining any such
approval will be as set forth under "Description of Trust Preferred
Securities -- Voting Rights; Amendment of the Declaration." All guarantees and
agreements contained in the Guarantee shall bind the successors, assigns,
receivers, trustees and representatives of the Corporation and shall inure to
the benefit of the holders of the Trust Preferred Securities then outstanding.
EVENTS OF DEFAULT
An event of default under the Guarantee will occur upon the failure of the
Corporation to perform any of its payment or other obligations thereunder;
provided, however, that except with respect to a default in payment of any
Guarantee Payment, the Corporation shall have received notice of default and
shall not have cured such default within 60 days after receipt of such notice.
The holders of not less than a majority in aggregate Liquidation Amount of the
Trust Preferred 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 Guarantee or to direct the exercise of any trust or power
conferred upon the Guarantee Trustee under the Guarantee.
Any holder of the Trust Preferred Securities may institute a legal
proceeding directly against the Corporation to enforce its rights under the
Guarantee without first instituting a legal proceeding against the Trust, the
Guarantee Trustee or any other person or entity.
The Corporation, as guarantor, is required to file annually with the
Guarantee Trustee a certificate as to whether or not the Corporation is in
compliance with all the conditions and covenants applicable to it under the
Guarantee.
MERGER, CONSOLIDATION, SALE OR OTHER DISPOSITIONS
The Guarantee provides that the Corporation shall not consolidate with or
merge with or 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 with or into the Corporation or convey, transfer or
lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to the Corporation,
unless (i) in case the Corporation consolidates with or merges with or 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 and such successor
Person expressly assumes the Corporation's obligations on the Guarantee; (ii)
immediately after giving effect thereto, no event of default under the
Guarantee, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would
become an event of default under the Guarantee, shall have happened and be
continuing; (iii) such transaction is permitted under the Declaration and the
Junior Subordinated Indenture and
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does not give rise to any breach or violation of the Declaration or the Junior
Subordinated Indenture; and (iv) certain other conditions as prescribed in the
Guarantee are met.
TERMINATION OF THE GUARANTEE
The Guarantee will terminate and be of no further force and effect upon
full payment of the applicable Redemption Price of the Trust Securities, upon
full payment of the amounts payable upon liquidation of the Trust or upon
distribution of Trust Debt Securities to the holders of the Trust Securities.
The Guarantee will continue to be effective or will be reinstated, as the case
may be, if at any time any holder of the Trust Securities must restore payment
of any sums paid under the Trust Securities or the Guarantee.
INFORMATION CONCERNING THE GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
The Guarantee Trustee, other than during the occurrence and continuance of
a default by the Corporation in performance of the Guarantee, will undertake to
perform only such duties as are specifically set forth in the Guarantee and,
after default with respect to the 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 the Guarantee at the
request of any holder of the Trust Preferred Securities unless it is offered
reasonable indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities that might be
incurred thereby.
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, Bankers
Trust Company will serve as Guarantee Trustee. The Corporation and the Bank
maintain deposit accounts and conduct banking transactions with Bankers Trust
Company in the ordinary course of their businesses.
RELATIONSHIP AMONG TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES,
JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES AND GUARANTEE
FULL AND UNCONDITIONAL GUARANTEE
Payments of Distributions and other amounts due on the Trust Preferred
Securities (to the extent the Trust has funds available for the payment thereof)
are irrevocably guaranteed by the Corporation as and to the extent set forth
under "Description of Guarantee." Taken together, the Corporation's obligations
under the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities, the Junior Subordinated
Indenture, the Declaration and the Guarantee provide, in the aggregate, a full,
irrevocable and unconditional guarantee of payments of Distributions and other
amounts due on the Trust Preferred 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 Trust's obligations under the Trust Preferred Securities. If and to the
extent that the Corporation does not make payments on the Junior Subordinated
Debt Securities, the Trust will not pay Distributions or other amounts due on
the Trust Preferred Securities. The Guarantee does not cover payment of
Distributions when the Trust does not have funds legally available to pay such
Distributions. In such event, the remedy of a holder of Trust Preferred
Securities is to institute a Direct Action. The obligations of the Corporation
under the Guarantee are subordinate and junior in right of payment to all Senior
Debt.
SUFFICIENCY OF PAYMENTS
As long as payments of interest and other amounts are made when due on the
Junior Subordinated Debt Securities, such payments will be sufficient to cover
Distributions and other payments due on the Trust Preferred Securities,
primarily because (i) the aggregate principal amount or Prepayment Price of the
Junior Subordinated Debt Securities will be equal to the sum of the aggregate
Liquidation Amount or Redemption Price, as applicable, of the Trust Securities;
(ii) the interest rate and interest and other
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payment dates on the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities will match the
Distribution rate and Distribution and other payment dates for the Trust
Securities; (iii) the Corporation shall pay for all costs, expenses and
liabilities of the Trust except the Trust's obligations to holders of Trust
Securities under such Trust Securities; and (iv) the Declaration provides that
the Trust will not engage in any activity that is not consistent with the
limited purposes thereof.
ENFORCEMENT RIGHTS OF HOLDERS OF TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES
A holder of any Trust Preferred Security may institute a legal proceeding
directly against the Corporation to enforce its rights under the Guarantee
without first instituting a legal proceeding against the Guarantee Trustee, the
Trust or any other person or entity.
A default or event of default under any Senior Debt would not constitute a
default or Event of Default under the Declaration. However, in the event of
payment defaults under, or acceleration of, Senior Debt, the subordination
provisions of the Junior Subordinated Indenture provide that no payments may be
made in respect of the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities 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 Junior Subordinated Debt Securities
would constitute an Event of Default under the Declaration.
A principal difference between the rights of a holder of a Trust Preferred
Security and a holder of a Junior Subordinated Debt Security is that a holder of
a Junior Subordinated Debt Security is entitled to receive from the Corporation
the principal amount of and interest accrued on Junior Subordinated Debt
Securities held, while a holder of Trust Preferred Securities is entitled to
receive Distributions from the Trust (or from the Corporation under the
Guarantee) if and to the extent the Trust has funds legally available for the
payment of such Distributions.
LIMITED PURPOSE OF THE TRUST
The Trust Preferred Securities will evidence a beneficial interest in the
Trust, and the Trust will exist for the sole purposes of issuing the Trust
Securities, investing the proceeds of the Trust Securities in Junior
Subordinated Debt Securities, making Distributions and engaging in other
activities necessary or incidental thereto.
RIGHTS UPON TERMINATION
Upon any voluntary or involuntary termination, winding-up or liquidation of
the Trust involving the liquidation of the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities,
after satisfaction of the liabilities of creditors of the Trust as required by
applicable law, the holders of the Trust Preferred Securities will be entitled
to receive, out of assets held by the Trust, the Liquidation Distribution in
cash. See "Description of Trust Preferred Securities -- Liquidation of the Trust
and Distribution of Junior Subordinated Debt Securities." Upon any voluntary or
involuntary liquidation or bankruptcy of the Corporation, the Property Trustee,
as holder of the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities, would be a subordinated
creditor of the Corporation, subordinated in right of payment to all Senior Debt
as set forth in the Junior Subordinated Indenture, but entitled to receive
payment in full of principal and interest, before any stockholders of the
Corporation receive payments or distributions. Since the Corporation is the
guarantor under the Guarantee and has agreed to pay for all costs, expenses and
liabilities of the Trust (other than the Trust's obligations to the holders of
its Trust Securities), the positions of a holder of Trust Preferred Securities
and a holder of Junior Subordinated Debt Securities relative to other creditors
and to stockholders of the Corporation in the event of liquidation or bankruptcy
of the Corporation are expected to be substantially the same.
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BOOK-ENTRY PROCEDURES
The Offered Securities may be issued in the form of one or more global
certificates (each a "Global Security") registered in the name of a depositary
or a nominee of a depositary and held through one or more international and
domestic clearing systems, principally, the book-entry system operated by The
Depository Trust Company ("DTC") in the United States, and Morgan Guaranty Trust
Company of New York, Brussels Office, as operator of the Euroclear System
("Euroclear") and Cedel Bank, societe anonyme ("Cedel") in Europe. No person who
acquires an interest in such Global Securities will be entitled to receive a
certificate representing such person's interest in such Global Securities except
as set forth herein or in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. Unless and until
definitive Offered Securities are issued, all references to actions by holders
of Offered Securities issued in global form shall refer to actions taken by DTC,
Euroclear or Cedel, as the case may be, upon instructions from their respective
participants, and all references herein to payments and notices to such holders
shall refer to payments and notices to DTC or its nominee, Euroclear or Cedel,
as the case may be, as the registered holder of such Offered Securities.
Electronic securities and payment transfer, processing, depositary and custodial
links have been established among these systems and others, either directly or
indirectly, which enable Global Securities to be issued, held and transferred
among the clearing system through these links.
Although DTC, Euroclear and Cedel have agreed to the procedures described
below in order to facilitate transfers of Global Securities among participants
of DTC, Euroclear and Cedel, they are under no obligation to perform or continue
to perform such procedures and such procedures may be modified or discontinued
at any time. Neither the Corporation, nor any Trustee, nor any Warrant Agent,
nor any registrar and transfer agent with respect to Offered Securities hereby
will have any responsibility for the performance by DTC, Euroclear or Cedel or
their respective participants or indirect participants or the respective
obligations under the rules and procedures governing their operations.
Unless otherwise specified herein or in the applicable Prospectus
Supplement, Offered Securities in the form of a Global Security will be
registered in the name of DTC or a nominee thereof.
DTC. DTC has informed the Corporation that it is a limited purpose trust
company organized under the New York Banking Law and a "banking organization"
within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, that it is 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
Section 17A of the Exchange Act, and that it was created to hold securities for
its participating organizations ("Participants") and to facilitate the clearance
and settlement of securities transactions among Participants through electronic
book-entry, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates.
Participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies and
clearing corporations, and may include certain other organizations. Indirect
access to the DTC system also is available to others such as banks, brokers,
dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial
relationship with a Participant, either directly or indirectly ("Indirect
Participants").
Holders that are not Participants or Indirect Participants but that desire
to purchase, sell or otherwise transfer ownership of, or other interests in,
Global Securities may do so only through Participants and Indirect Participants.
Under a book-entry format, holders may experience some delay in their receipt of
payments, as such payments will be forwarded by the agent designated by the
Corporation to Cede, as nominee for DTC. DTC will forward such payments to its
Participants, which thereafter will forward them to Indirect Participants or
holders. Holders will not be recognized by the applicable Trustee or Depositary
or by the Corporation as registered holders of the Global Securities entitled to
the benefits of the applicable Indenture or Deposit Agreement or Warrant
Agreement or the terms of the Offered Securities. Holders that are not
Participants will be permitted to exercise their rights as such only indirectly
through and subject to the procedures of Participants and, if applicable,
Indirect Participants.
Under the rules, regulations and procedures creating and affecting DTC and
its operations as currently in effect (the "Rules"), DTC will be required to
make book-entry transfers of Global
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Securities among Participants and to receive and transmit payments to
Participants. Participants and Indirect Participants with which holders have
accounts with respect to the Global Securities similarly are required by the
Rules to make book-entry transfers and receive and transmit such payments on
behalf of their respective holders.
Because DTC can act only on behalf of Participants, which in turn act only
on behalf of holders or Indirect Participants, and on behalf of certain banks,
trust companies and other persons approved by it, the ability of a holder to
pledge Global Securities to persons or entities that do not participate in the
DTC system, or to otherwise act with respect to such Global Securities, may be
limited due to the absence of physical certificates for such Global Securities.
DTC has advised the Corporation that DTC will take any action permitted to
be taken by a registered holder of any Global Securities under the applicable
Indenture or Deposit Agreement or Warrant Agreement or the terms of the Offered
Securities only at the direction of one or more Participants to whose accounts
with DTC such Global Securities are credited.
A Global Security will be exchangeable for the relevant definitive Offered
Securities registered in the names of persons other than DTC or its nominee only
if (i) DTC notifies the Corporation that it is unwilling or unable to continue
as depositary for such Global Security 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 in order to act as such depository, (ii) the Corporation
executes and delivers to the applicable Trustee or Depositary or Warrant Agent
an order complying with the requirements of the applicable Indenture or Deposit
Agreement or Warrant Agreement that such Global Security shall be so
exchangeable or (iii) in the case of Debt Securities or Junior Subordinated,
there has occurred and is continuing a default in the payment of principal of,
premium, if any, or interest, if any, on, such Debt Securities or such Junior
Subordinated Debt Securities or an Event of Default or an event that, with the
giving of notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute an Event of Default
with respect to such Debt Securities or such Junior Subordinated Debt
Securities. Any Global Security that is exchangeable pursuant to the preceding
sentence will be exchangeable for definitive Securities registered in such names
as DTC directs.
Upon the occurrence of any event described in the immediately preceding
paragraph, DTC is generally required to notify all Participants of the
availability of definitive Offered Securities. Upon surrender by DTC of the
Global Security representing the Offered Securities and delivery of instructions
for re-registration, the applicable Trustee or Depositary or Warrant Agent or
the applicable registrar, as the case may be, will reissue the Global Securities
as definitive Offered Securities, and thereafter such Trustee, Depositary,
Warrant Agent or registrar will recognize the holders of such definitive Offered
Securities as registered holders of Offered Securities entitled to the benefits
of the applicable Indenture or Deposit Agreement or Warrant Agreement or the
terms of the Offered Securities, as the case may be.
Except as described above, a Global Security may not be transferred except
as a whole by DTC to a nominee of DTC or by a nominee of DTC to DTC or another
nominee of DTC or to a successor depositary appointed by the Corporation. Except
as described above, DTC may not sell, assign, transfer or otherwise convey any
beneficial interest in a Global Security evidencing all or part of the
Securities unless such beneficial interest is in an amount equal to an
authorized denomination for the Securities.
Cedel. Cedel is incorporated under the laws of Luxembourg as a
professional depositary. Cedel holds securities for its participants and
facilitates the clearance and settlement of securities transactions between its
participants through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of its
participants, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of
certificates. Cedel provides to its participants, among other things, services
for safekeeping, administration, clearance and settlement of internationally
traded securities and securities lending and borrowing. Cedel interfaces with
domestic markets in several countries. As a professional depositary, Cedel is
subject to regulation by the Luxembourg Monetary Institute. Cedel participants
are financial institutions around the world, including securities brokers and
dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other
organizations.
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Indirect access to Cedel is also available to others that clear through or
maintain a custodial relationship with a Cedel participant either directly or
indirectly.
Payments with respect to Offered Securities held beneficially through Cedel
will be credited to cash accounts of Cedel participants in accordance with its
rules and procedures, to the extent received by Cedel.
Euroclear. Euroclear was created in 1968 to hold securities for its
participants and to clear and settle transactions between its participants
through simultaneous electronic book-entry delivery against payment, thereby
eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates and any risk from
lack of simultaneous transfers of securities and cash. Euroclear provides
various other services, including securities lending and borrowing, and
interfaces with domestic markets in several countries. Euroclear is operated by
the Brussels, Belgium office of Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York (the
"Euroclear Operator"), under contract with Euroclear Clearance Systems, S.C., a
Belgian cooperative corporation (the "Cooperative"). All operations are
conducted by the Euroclear Operator, and all Euroclear securities clearance
accounts and Euroclear cash accounts are accounts with the Euroclear Operator,
not the Cooperative. The Cooperative establishes policy for Euroclear on behalf
of Euroclear participants. Euroclear participants include banks (including
central banks), securities brokers and dealers and other professional financial
intermediaries and may include Dealers. Indirect access to Euroclear is also
available to others that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with
a Euroclear participant, either directly or indirectly.
Securities clearance accounts and cash accounts with the Euroclear Operator
are governed by the Terms and Conditions Governing Use of Euroclear and the
related Operating Procedures of the Euroclear System, and applicable Belgian law
(collectively, the "Terms and Conditions"). The Terms and Conditions govern
transfers of securities and cash within Euroclear, withdrawals of securities and
cash from Euroclear, and receipts of payments with respect to securities in
Euroclear. All securities in Euroclear are held on a fungible basis without
attribution of specific certificates to specific securities clearance accounts.
The Euroclear Operator nets under the Terms and Conditions only on behalf of
Euroclear participants, and has no record of or relationship with persons
holding through Euroclear participants.
Payments with respect to Securities held beneficially through Euroclear
will be credited to the cash accounts of Euroclear participants in accordance
with the Terms and Conditions, to the extent received by Euroclear.
Other Clearing Systems. Any other clearing system which shall be available
for a particular issuance of Offered Securities, including the clearance and
settlement procedures for such clearing system, will be described in the
applicable Prospectus Supplement.
CURRENCY RISKS
GENERAL
Debt Securities, Debt Warrants, Currency Warrants, Stock-Index Warrants and
Other Warrants of a series may be denominated in or linked to such foreign
currencies or units of two or more currencies as may be designated by the
Corporation at the time of offering ("Foreign Currency Securities").
ADDITIONAL FACTORS MAY BE SET FORTH IN CONNECTION WITH A SPECIFIC FOREIGN
CURRENCY SECURITY IN THE APPLICABLE PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT.
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, a
Foreign Currency Security will not be sold in, or to residents of, the country
that issues the Specified Currency (as defined below) in which such Foreign
Currency Security is denominated. The information set forth below and in any
applicable Prospectus Supplement is by necessity incomplete and prospective
purchasers of Foreign Currency Securities should consult their own financial and
legal advisors with respect to any matters
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that may affect the purchase or holding of a Foreign Currency Security or the
receipt of payments of principal of, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on a
Foreign Currency Security in a Specified Currency.
EXCHANGE RATES AND EXCHANGE CONTROLS
An investment in Foreign Currency Securities may entail significant risks
that are not associated with a similar investment in a security denominated in
U.S. dollars. Such risks may include, without limitation, the possibility of
significant changes in the rate of exchange between the U.S. dollar and the
currency or currency unit designated by the Corporation at the time of offering
(the "Specified Currency") and the possibility of the imposition or modification
of foreign exchange controls by either the United States or foreign governments.
Such risks generally depend on economic and political events and the supply of
and demand for the relevant currencies, over which the Corporation has no
control. In recent years, rates of exchange between the U.S. dollar and many
foreign currencies or currency units have been highly volatile and such
volatility may be expected in the future. The exchange rate between the U.S.
dollar and a foreign currency or currency unit is at any moment a result of the
supply of and demand for such currencies, and changes in the rate result over
time from the interaction of many factors, among which are rates of inflation,
interest rate levels, balance of payments and the extent of governmental
surpluses or deficits in the countries of such currencies. These factors are in
turn sensitive to the monetary, fiscal and trade policies pursued by such
governments and those of other countries important to international trade and
finance. Fluctuations in any particular exchange rate that have occurred in the
past are not necessarily indicative, however, of the fluctuations in the rate
that may occur during the term of any Foreign Currency Security. Depreciation of
the Specified Currency applicable to a Foreign Currency Security against the
U.S. dollar would generally result in a decrease in the U.S. dollar-equivalent
yield of such Foreign Currency Security, in the U.S. dollar-equivalent value of
the principal repayable at maturity of such Foreign Currency Security and,
generally, in the U.S. dollar-equivalent market value of such Foreign Currency
Security.
Foreign exchange rates can either be fixed by sovereign governments or
float. Exchange rates of most economically developed noncommunist nations are
permitted to fluctuate in value relative to the U.S. dollar. Sovereign
governments, however, rarely voluntarily allow their currencies to float freely
in response to economic forces. In fact, such governments use a variety of
techniques, such as intervention by a country's central bank or imposition of
regulatory controls or taxes, to affect the exchange rate of their currencies.
Governments may also issue a new currency to replace an existing currency or
alter the exchange rate or relative exchange characteristics by devaluation or
revaluation of a currency. Thus, a special risk in purchasing Securities that
are denominated in or linked to a foreign currency or currency unit is that
their U.S. dollar-equivalent yields could be affected by governmental actions
that could change or interfere with a theretofore freely determined currency
valuation, by fluctuations in response to other market forces and by the
movement of currencies across borders. Unless otherwise specified in the
applicable Prospectus Supplement, there will be no adjustment or change in the
terms of the Foreign Currency Securities if exchange rates should become fixed
or in the event of any devaluation or revaluation or imposition of exchange or
other regulatory controls or taxes, or in the event of other developments,
affecting the U.S. dollar or any applicable currency or currency unit.
Governments have imposed from time to time exchange controls and may in the
future impose or revise exchange controls at or prior to a Foreign Currency
Security's maturity. Even if there are no exchange controls in effect with
respect to a Specified Currency, it is possible that the Specified Currency for
any particular Foreign Currency Security would not be available at such Foreign
Currency Security's maturity due to other circumstances beyond the control of
the Corporation.
EUROPEAN MONETARY UNION
Under Article 109G of the Treaty establishing the European Communities, as
amended by the Treaty on European Union (the "Treaty"), the currency composition
of the ECU may not be changed. The Treaty contemplates that European monetary
union will occur in three stages, the second of which
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<PAGE> 75
began on January 1, 1994 with the entry into force of the Treaty. The Treaty
provides that, at the start of the third stage of European monetary union, the
value of the ECU as against the currencies of the member states participating in
the third stage will be irrevocably fixed and the ECU will become a currency in
its own right. In contemplation of that third stage, the European Council
meeting in Madrid on December 16, 1995 decided that the name of that currency
will be the Euro and that, in accordance with the Treaty, substitution of the
Euro for the ECU will be at the rate of one Euro for one ECU. From the start of
the third stage of European monetary union, all payments in respect of
Securities payable in ECU and other currencies that will be replaced by the Euro
will be payable in the Euro at the rate then established pursuant to the Treaty.
JUDGMENTS
If an action based on Foreign Currency Securities were commenced in a court
of the United States, it is likely that such court would grant judgment relating
to such Foreign Currency Securities only in U.S. dollars. It is not clear,
however, whether, in granting such judgment, the rate of conversion into U.S.
dollars would be determined with reference to the date of default, the date on
which judgment is rendered or some other date. Holders of Foreign Currency
Securities would bear the risk of exchange rate fluctuations between the time
the amount of the judgment is calculated and the time the applicable Trustee or
Warrant Agent converts U.S. dollars to the Specified Currency for payment of the
judgment.
ERISA MATTERS
The Corporation and its affiliates, including the Trusts, may each be
considered a "party in interest" (within the meaning of the Employee Retirement
Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA")) or a "disqualified person
(within the meaning of Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the "Code")) with respect to many employee benefit plans ("Plans") that
are subject to ERISA. The purchase of Offered Securities by a Plan that is
subject to the fiduciary responsibility provisions of ERISA or the prohibited
transaction provisions of Section 4975 of the Code (including individual
retirement arrangements and other plans described in Section 4975(e)(1) of the
Code) and with respect to which the Corporation or any affiliate of the
Corporation is a service provider (or otherwise is a party in interest or a
disqualified person) may constitute or result in a prohibited transaction under
ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, unless such Offered Securities are acquired
pursuant to and in accordance with an applicable exemption. Any pension or other
employee benefit plan considering the acquisition of Offered Securities should
consult with its counsel.
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<PAGE> 76
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
The Corporation or the Trusts may sell the Offered Securities: (i) through
underwriters; (ii) to dealers; (iii) through agents; or (iv) directly to a
limited number of institutional purchasers or to a single purchaser. The
Prospectus Supplement with respect to the Offered Securities will set forth the
name or names of the underwriters, if any, any underwriting discounts and other
items constituting underwriters' compensation, any initial public offering price
and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers.
If underwriters are used in a sale of any Offered Securities, such Offered
Securities will be acquired by the underwriters for their own account and may be
resold from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated
transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined
at the time of sale. The Offered Securities may be offered to the public through
a single underwriter or through a group of underwriters. Unless otherwise set
forth in the Prospectus Supplement, the obligations of the underwriters to
purchase the Offered Securities will be subject to certain conditions precedent,
and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all the Offered Securities if
any are purchased. Any initial public offering price and any discounts or
concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to
time.
If a dealer is utilized in the sale of any Offered Securities in respect of
which this Prospectus is delivered, the Corporation will sell such Offered
Securities to the dealer, as principal. The dealer may then resell such Offered
Securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by such dealer at
the time of resale. The name of the dealer and the terms of the transaction will
be set forth in the Prospectus Supplement relating thereto.
The Offered Securities may be sold by the Corporation through agents
designated by the Corporation or the Trusts from time to time. Any such agent
involved in the offer or sale of the Offered Securities offered in respect of
which this Prospectus is delivered will be named, and any fees or commissions
payable by the Corporation or the Trusts to such agent will be set forth, in the
Prospectus Supplement. Unless otherwise indicated in the Prospectus Supplement,
any such agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its
appointment.
The Offered Securities may be sold directly by the Corporation or the
Trusts to institutional investors or others, who may be deemed to be
underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 with respect to
any resale thereof. The terms of any such sales will be described in the
Prospectus Supplement relating thereto.
The Corporation may also issue contracts under which the counterparty may
be required to purchase Debt Securities, Preferred Stock or Depositary Shares.
Such contracts would be issued with Debt Securities, Preferred Stock or
Depositary Shares and/or Warrants in amounts, at prices and on terms to be set
forth in a Prospectus Supplement.
If so indicated in the Prospectus Supplement, the Corporation or the Trusts
will authorize underwriters, dealers and agents to solicit offers by certain
specified institutions to purchase the Offered Securities from the Corporation
or the Trusts at the public offering price set forth in the Prospectus
Supplement pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and
delivery on a specified date in the future. Such contracts will be subject only
to those conditions set forth in the Prospectus Supplement, and the Prospectus
Supplement will set forth the commission payable for solicitation of such
contracts.
Underwriters, dealers and agents may be entitled, under agreements entered
into with the Corporation or the Trusts to indemnification by the Corporation
against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities
Act, or to contribution with respect to payments which such underwriters,
dealers or agents may be required to make in respect thereof. Any such
underwriters, dealers and agents may be customers of, engage in transactions
with, or perform services for, the Corporation or the Trusts in the ordinary
course of business.
The place and time of delivery of the Offered Securities will be set forth
in the Prospectus Supplement.
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<PAGE> 77
LEGAL OPINIONS
The legality of the Corporation Securities offered hereby will be passed
upon for the Corporation by William F. Rosenblum, Jr., Esq., Senior Vice
President, Deputy General Counsel and Secretary of the Corporation. Mr.
Rosenblum owns or has the right to acquire a number of shares of Common Stock of
the Corporation equal to less than 1% of the outstanding Common Stock of the
Corporation. Certain matters relating to the validity under Delaware law of the
Trust Securities offered hereby will be passed upon for the Corporation and the
Trusts by Potter Anderson & Corroon, Delaware Counsel to the Corporation and the
Trusts. If underwriters are utilized the legality of the Offered Securities
offered hereby will be passed upon on behalf of such underwriters by such
counsel, which will be named in the Prospectus Supplement, as such underwriters
may select. Mr. Rosenblum and underwriters' counsel may rely on the opinion of
Potter Anderson & Corroon as to matters of Delaware law and on the opinion of
Piper & Marbury L.L.P. as to matters of Maryland law.
EXPERTS
The consolidated statements of condition of the Corporation as of December
31, 1996 and 1995 and the related consolidated statements of income, changes in
stockholders' equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year
period ended December 31, 1996 and the consolidated statements of condition of
the Bank as of December 31, 1996 and 1995 included in the Corporation's Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1996 have been incorporated
herein by reference in reliance upon the report of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP,
independent certified public accountants, incorporated herein by reference and
upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
------------------------
NO DEALER, SALESPERSON OR OTHER PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED IN CONNECTION
WITH THE OFFERING MADE HEREBY TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY
REPRESENTATION NOT CONTAINED OR INCORPORATED IN THIS PROSPECTUS OR ANY
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATION
MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE CORPORATION OR ANY
UNDERWRITER. NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF THIS PROSPECTUS OR ANY PROSPECTUS
SUPPLEMENT NOR ANY SALE MADE HEREUNDER OR THEREUNDER SHALL UNDER ANY
CIRCUMSTANCES CREATE ANY IMPLICATION THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN THE
AFFAIRS OF THE CORPORATION SINCE THE DATES HEREOF OR THEREOF. THIS PROSPECTUS
AND ANY PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT DO NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR A
SOLICITATION OF ANY OFFER TO BUY ANY OF THE SECURITIES OFFERED HEREBY TO ANY
PERSON OR BY ANYONE IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH IT IS UNLAWFUL TO MAKE SUCH
OFFER OR SOLICITATION. NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF THIS PROSPECTUS OR ANY PROSPECTUS
SUPPLEMENT NOR ANY SALE MADE HEREUNDER OR THEREUNDER SHALL, UNDER ANY
CIRCUMSTANCES, CREATE ANY IMPLICATION THAT THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS
CORRECT AS OF ANY DATE SUBSEQUENT TO THE DATE HEREOF OR THEREOF.
------------------------
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<PAGE> 78
TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PAGE
----
<S> <C>
Available Information................................................................... 2
Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference......................................... 2
Republic New York Corporation........................................................... 4
Description of the Trusts............................................................... 9
Application of Proceeds................................................................. 9
Description of Debt Securities.......................................................... 11
Description of Junior Subordinated Debt Securities...................................... 21
Description of Debt Warrants............................................................ 28
Description of Currency Warrants........................................................ 30
Description of Stock-Index Warrants..................................................... 33
Description of Other Warrants........................................................... 35
Description of Preferred Stock.......................................................... 38
Description of Depositary Shares........................................................ 44
Description of Preferred Stock Warrants................................................. 48
Description of Common Stock............................................................. 50
Description of Common Stock Warrants.................................................... 51
Description of Trust Preferred Securities............................................... 55
Description of Guarantee................................................................ 63
Relationship Among Trust Preferred Securities, Junior Subordinated Debt Securities and
Guarantee............................................................................. 66
Book-Entry Procedures................................................................... 68
Currency Risks.......................................................................... 70
ERISA Matters........................................................................... 72
Plan of Distribution.................................................................... 73
Legal Opinions.......................................................................... 74
Experts................................................................................. 74
</TABLE>
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<PAGE> 79
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
ITEM 14. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION.
The estimated expenses, other than underwriting discounts and commissions,
in connection with the offerings of the Securities are as follows:
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Securities Act Registration Fee................................ $263,968
"Blue Sky" Fees and Expenses................................... 12,500
Printing and Engraving Expenses................................ 110,000
Legal Fees and Expenses........................................ 100,000
Fees of Rating Agencies........................................ 200,000
Accounting Fees and Expenses................................... 50,000
Fees of Indenture Trustees (including counsel fees)............ 50,000
Stock Exchange Listing Fees.................................... 60,000
Miscellaneous.................................................. 15,000
--------
$861,468
========
</TABLE>
ITEM 15. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS OF THE CORPORATION.
Pursuant to Article Ninth of the Registrant's Articles of Incorporation and
the provisions of Section 2-418 of the General Corporation Law of Maryland, as
amended, the Registrant may indemnify a director or officer for service in such
capacity unless it is proved that: (a) the act or omission of such person was
material to the cause of action adjudicated in the proceeding and either was
committed in bad faith or was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty;
(b) such person actually received an improper personal benefit in money,
property, or services; or (c) in the case of any criminal proceeding, such
person had reasonable cause to believe that the act or omission was unlawful.
Indemnification may be against judgments, penalties, fines, settlements, and
reasonable expenses actually incurred by the director or officer in connection
with the proceeding; however, if the proceeding was one by or in the right of
the Registrant, indemnification may not be made if such person has been adjudged
liable to the Registrant. The termination of any proceeding by judgment, order
or settlement does not create a presumption that the director or officer did not
meet the requisite standard of conduct for indemnification, but the termination
of any proceeding by conviction or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its
equivalent, or an entry of an order of probation prior to judgment, does create
a rebuttable presumption that such person may not be indemnified. In addition,
the Registrant may pay or reimburse, prior to final disposition, the expenses,
including attorneys' fees, incurred by a director or officer in defending a
proceeding provided that such person has given (a) a written affirmation that,
in good faith, he believes that he has met the standard of conduct necessary for
indemnification by the Registrant and (b) a written undertaking to the
Registrant to repay such advances if it is ultimately determined that he is not
entitled to indemnification. This undertaking, however, need not be secured and
may be accepted without reference to such person's financial ability to make the
repayment. Article Ninth of the Registrant's Articles of Incorporation also
provides that the Registrant may indemnify any person who is or was an employee
or agent of the Registrant or is or was serving at the request of the Registrant
as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership,
joint venture, trust or other enterprise to the extent and under the
circumstances provided for indemnification of directors and officers of the
Registrant. Any indemnification shall be made by the Registrant only as
authorized in the specific case upon a determination by the Registrant's Board
of Directors, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion or by the
stockholders of the Registrant that indemnification of the director, officer,
employee or agent is proper in the circumstances because such person has met the
applicable standard of conduct. Such indemnification is not exclusive of any
other rights and remedies to which a director, officer, employee or agent of the
Registrant may be entitled by law or other agreement or otherwise.
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Indemnification of Trustees of the Trusts
Each Declaration will provide the Corporation, as Depositor, to the fullest
extent permitted by applicable law, to indemnify and hold harmless (i) each
Trustee, (ii) any Affiliate of any Trustee, (iii) any officer, director,
shareholder, employee, representative or agent of any Trustee, and (iv) any
employee or agent of the Trust or its Affiliates, (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, operation or termination of the
Trust or any act or omission performed or omitted by such Indemnified Person in
good faith on behalf of the Trust and in the manner such Indemnified Person
reasonably believed to be within the scope of authority conferred on such
Indemnified Person by this Declaration of 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 or willful
misconduct with respect to such acts or omissions; and to the fullest extent
permitted by applicable law, to advance expenses (including legal fees) incurred
by an Indemnified Person in defending any claim, demand, action, suit or
proceeding, from time to time, prior to the final disposition of such claim,
demand action, suit or proceeding upon receipt by the Depositor of (i) a written
affirmation by or on behalf of the Indemnified Person of its or his good faith
belief that it or he has met the standard of conduct set forth in this Section
8.6 and (ii) an undertaking by or on behalf of the Indemnified Person to repay
such amount if it shall be determined that the Indemnified Person is not
entitled to be indemnified as authorized in the preceding subsection.
Reference is made to Section 7 of the Form of Underwriting Agreement for
the Corporation Securities and Section 6 of the Form of Underwriting Agreement
for the Trust Preferred Securities for additional provisions for the
indemnification of directors, controlling persons, Trustees and certain officers
of the Registrants by the underwriters. The Forms of Underwriting Agreement are
an exhibit to the Registration Statement.
The Corporation carries a policy of insurance providing for indemnification
of directors, officers and employees of the Corporation and its subsidiaries as
permitted by Article Ninth of Registrant's Articles of Incorporation and Section
2-418 of the General Corporation Law of Maryland, as amended.
ITEM 16. EXHIBITS.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBITS
- --------
<C> <S>
1.1* Form of Underwriting Agreement.
1.2* Form of Underwriting Agreement for Trust Preferred Securities.
3.1 Articles of Incorporation of the Corporation as amended through April 21, 1993 and
as supplemented.(1)
3.3 By-Laws of the Corporation as amended through October 16, 1996.(2)
4.1 Standard Multiple-Series Indenture Provisions.(3)
4.2 Senior Indenture, dated as of May 15, 1986.(4)
4.3 First Supplemental Indenture to Senior Indenture, dated as of May 15, 1991.(5)
4.4 Second Supplemental Indenture to Senior Indenture, dated as of April 15, 1993.(6)
4.5 Subordinated Indenture, dated as of May 15, 1986.(7)
4.6 First Supplemental Indenture to Subordinated Indenture, dated as of May 15, 1991.(5)
4.7 Second Supplemental Indenture to Subordinated Indenture, dated as of April 15,
1993.(6)
4.8 Subordinated Indenture, dated as of October 15, 1992.(8)
4.9 First Supplemental Indenture to 1992 Subordinated Indenture, dated as of April 15,
1993.(6)
4.10* Junior Subordinated Indenture, dated as of December 15, 1997.
4.11 Form of Debt Warrant Agreement for Warrants attached to Debt Securities.
4.12 Form of Debt Warrant Agreement for Warrants not attached to Debt Securities.
4.13 Form of Currency Warrant Agreement.(9)
4.14 Form of Stock-Index Warrant Agreement.(9)
4.15 Form of Other Warrant Agreement.(9)
</TABLE>
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<PAGE> 81
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBITS
- --------
<C> <S>
4.16 Form of Common Stock Warrant Agreement.(9)
4.17 Form of Preferred Stock Warrant Agreement.(9)
4.18 Form of Deposit Agreement.(9)
4.19 Form of Senior Security.(10)
4.20 Form of Subordinated Security.(10)
4.21 Form of Junior Subordinated Debt Security.(11)
4.22 Form of Articles Supplementary for Preferred Stock.(12)
4.23 Form of Trust Preferred Security.(13)
4.24 Certificate of Trust of Republic New York Capital III.
4.25 Certificate of Trust of Republic New York Capital IV.
4.26 Declaration of Trust of Republic New York Capital III.
4.27 Declaration of Trust of Republic New York Capital IV.
4.28 Form of Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust
4.29 Form of Trust Guarantee
5.1* Opinion and consent of William F. Rosenblum, Jr., Senior Vice President and Deputy
General Counsel of the Corporation, regarding the Corporation Securities.
5.2* Opinion and consent of Potter Anderson & Carroon regarding the Trust Securities.
8 * Opinion of Tax Counsel.
12.1 Calculation of Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges -- Consolidated.
12.2 Calculation of Ratios of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock
Dividends -- Consolidated.
23.1 Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP.
23.2* Consent of William F. Rosenblum, Jr. (included in Exhibit 5.1) .
23.3* Consent of Potter Anderson & Carroon (included in Exhibit 5.2).
24.1 Form of Power of Attorney of Republic New York Corporation.
24.2 Form of Power of Attorney of Republic New York Capital III.
24.3 Form of Power of Attorney of Republic New York Capital IV.
25.1 Statement on Form T-1 of eligibility of Citibank, N.A., as trustee under the Senior
Indenture, the Subordinated Indenture, and the 1992 Subordinated Indenture.(6)(9)
25.2* Statement on Form T-1 of eligibility of Bankers Trust Company, as trustee under the
Junior Subordinated Indenture.
25.3* Statement on Form T-1 of eligibility of Bankers Trust Company, as trustee under the
Amended and Restated Declaration of Republic New York Capital III.
25.4* Statement on Form T-1 of eligibility of Bankers Trust Company, as trustee under the
Amended and Restated Declaration of Republic New York Capital IV.
25.5* Statement on Form T-1 of eligibility of Bankers Trust Company, as trustee under the
Trust Guarantee relating to the Trust Preferred Securities of Republic New York
Capital III.
25.6* Statement on Form T-1 of eligibility of Bankers Trust Company, as trustee under the
Trust Guarantee relating to the Trust Preferred Securities of Republic New York
Capital IV.
27 * Financial Data Schedule.
</TABLE>
- ---------------
* To be filed by amendment
(1) Incorporated herein by reference to such exhibits filed with the
Corporation's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
1993 and Current Reports on Form 8-K dated May 23, 1994, June 26, 1995 and
September 24, 1997.
(2) Incorporated herein by reference to such exhibit filed with the
Corporation's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
1996.
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<PAGE> 82
(3) Incorporated herein by reference to such exhibits filed with the
Corporation's Registration Statement (No. 33-5804) filed with the
Commission on May 23, 1986.
(4) Incorporated herein by reference to such exhibits filed with the
Corporation's Current Reports on Form 8-K dated February 4, 1987.
(5) Incorporated herein by reference to such exhibits filed with the
Corporation's Registration Statement (No. 33-40703) filed with the
Commission on May 20, 1991.
(6) Incorporated herein by reference to such exhibits filed with the
Corporation's Registration Statement (No. 33-49507), Amendment No. 1, filed
with the Commission on April 23, 1993.
(7) Incorporated herein by reference to such exhibits filed with the
Corporation's Current Reports on Form 8-K dated February 8, 1989.
(8) Incorporated herein by reference to such exhibits filed with the
Corporation's Registration Statement (No. 33-40703), Post-Effective
Amendment No. 2, filed with the Commission on October 21, 1992.
(9) Incorporated herein by reference to such exhibits filed with the
Corporation's Registration Statement (No. 33-49507) filed with the
Commission on April 14, 1993.
(10) Incorporated herein by reference to such exhibits filed with the
Corporation's Current Reports on Form 8-K dated August 6, 1992.
(11) Included in Exhibit 4.10.
(12) To be filed by amendment or incorporated by reference in connection with
the offering of a series of Preferred Stock.
(13) Included in Exhibit 4.28.
ITEM 17. UNDERTAKINGS.
The undersigned Registrants hereby undertake:
(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 the registration statement (or the most recent
post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the
aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth
in this registration statement; and
(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan
of distribution not previously disclosed in this registration statement
or any material change to such information in this registration
statement;
provided, however, that subparagraphs (i) and (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 by the
Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in this
registration statement.
(2) That for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed
to be a new registration statement relating to the Securities offered
herein, 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.
The undersigned Registrants hereby further undertakes that, for the
purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each
filing of the Registrants' annual report pursuant to
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<PAGE> 83
section 13(a) or section 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 herein, and the
offering of such Securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.
The undersigned Registrants hereby further undertakes to file an
application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustees to
act under subsection (a) of section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act in accordance
with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission under section
305(b)(2) of the Act.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the
Registrants pursuant to the provisions described under Item 15 of this
registration statement, or otherwise (other than insurance), the Registrants
have been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission
such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in such Act and is,
therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against
such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrants of expenses incurred
or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the 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 Registrants will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the
matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of
appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is
against public policy as expressed in such Act and will be governed by the final
adjudication of such issue.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all the
requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this amendment to the
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in The City of New York, and State of New York, on the 16th day
of December, 1997.
REPUBLIC NEW YORK CORPORATION
By: WALTER H. WEINER
------------------------------------
Walter H. Weiner
(Chairman of the Board)
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this amendment
to the 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>
WALTER H. WEINER Director and Chairman of the December 16, 1997
- ------------------------------------------ Board (Principal Executive
Walter H. Weiner Officer)
KENNETH F. COOPER Executive Vice President and December 16, 1997
- ------------------------------------------ Chief Financial Officer
Kenneth F. Cooper (Principal Financial and
Accounting Officer)
Director
- ------------------------------------------
Kurt Andersen
ROBERT A. COHEN Director December 16, 1997
- ------------------------------------------
Robert A. Cohen
CYRIL S. DWEK Director December 16, 1997
- ------------------------------------------
Cyril S. Dwek
ERNEST GINSBERG Director December 16, 1997
- ------------------------------------------
Ernest Ginsberg
NATHAN HASSON Director December 16, 1997
- ------------------------------------------
Nathan Hasson
PETER KIMMELMAN Director December 16, 1997
- ------------------------------------------
Peter Kimmelman
RICHARD A. KRAEMER Director December 16, 1997
- ------------------------------------------
Richard A. Kraemer
LEONARD LIEBERMAN Director December 16, 1997
- ------------------------------------------
Leonard Lieberman
</TABLE>
II-6
<PAGE> 85
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SIGNATURE TITLE DATE
- ------------------------------------------ ----------------------------- ---------------------
<C> <S> <C>
WILLIAM C. MACMILLEN, JR. Director December 16, 1997
- ------------------------------------------
William C. Macmillen, Jr.
PETER J. MANSBACH Director December 16, 1997
- ------------------------------------------
Peter J. Mansbach
MARTIN F. MERTZ Director December 16, 1997
- ------------------------------------------
Martin F. Mertz
JAMES L. MORICE Director December 16, 1997
- ------------------------------------------
James L. Morice
E. DANIEL MORRIS Director December 16, 1997
- ------------------------------------------
E. Daniel Morris
JANET L. NORWOOD Director December 16, 1997
- ------------------------------------------
Janet L. Norwood
JOHN A. PANCETTI Director December 16, 1997
- ------------------------------------------
John A. Pancetti
Director
- ------------------------------------------
Vito S. Portera
THOMAS F. ROBARDS Director December 16, 1997
- ------------------------------------------
Thomas F. Robards
WILLIAM P. ROGERS Director December 16, 1997
- ------------------------------------------
William P. Rogers
ELIAS SAAL Director December 16, 1997
- ------------------------------------------
Elias Saal
DOV C. SCHLEIN Director December 16, 1997
- ------------------------------------------
Dov C. Schlein
GEORGE T. WENDLER Director December 16, 1997
- ------------------------------------------
George T. Wendler
PETER WHITE Director December 16, 1997
- ------------------------------------------
Peter White
</TABLE>
II-7
<PAGE> 86
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, each of
Republic New York Capital III and Republic New York Capital IV certifies that it
has reasonable grounds to believe 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 New York,
and the State of New York on the 16th day of December, 1997.
REPUBLIC NEW YORK CAPITAL III
a Delaware business trust
By: THOMAS F. ROBARDS
------------------------------------
Thomas F. Robards
Administrative Trustee
REPUBLIC NEW YORK CAPITAL IV
a Delaware business trust
By: THOMAS F. ROBARDS
------------------------------------
Thomas F. Robards
Administrative Trustee
II-8
<PAGE> 87
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT
NO. EXHIBIT DESCRIPTION
- ------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<C> <S>
4.11 Form of Debt Warrant Agreement for Warrants attached to Debt Securities.
4.12 Form of Debt Warrant Agreement for Warrants not attached to Debt Securities.
4.24 Certificate of Trust of Republic New York Capital III.
4.25 Certificate of Trust of Republic New York Capital IV.
4.26 Declaration of Trust of Republic New York Capital III.
4.27 Declaration of Trust of Republic New York Capital IV.
4.28 Form of Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust
4.29 Form of Trust Guarantee
12.1 Calculation of Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges -- Consolidated.
12.2 Calculation of Ratios of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock
Dividends -- Consolidated.
23.1 Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP.
24.1 Form of Power of Attorney of Republic New York Corporation.
24.2 Form of Power of Attorney of Republic New York Capital III.
24.3 Form of Power of Attorney of Republic New York Capital IV.
</TABLE>
<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT 4.11
REPUBLIC NEW YORK CORPORATION
FORM OF WARRANT AGREEMENT
(FOR WARRANTS SOLD ATTACHED TO DEBT SECURITIES)*
THIS WARRANT AGREEMENT is dated as of between Republic
New York Corporation, a Maryland corporation (hereinafter called the "Company,"
which term includes any successor corporation under the Indenture hereinafter
referred to) and , as Warrant Agent (herein called the
"Warrant Agent").
WHEREAS, the Company has entered into an Indenture dated as of May 15, 1986
(the "Senior Indenture"), with Citibank, N.A., as successor trustee, as
supplemented by a First Supplemental Indenture dated as of May 15, 1991 and a
Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of April 15, 1993, an Indenture dated as
of May 15, 1986 with Citibank, N.A., as successor trustee, (the "Subordinated
Indenture") as supplemented by a First Supplemental Indenture dated as of May
15, 1991 and a Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of April 15, 1993, and an
Indenture dated as of October 15, 1992 with Citibank, N.A., as supplemented by a
First Supplemental Indenture dated as of April 15, 1993 (the "1992 Subordinated
Indenture") being sometimes referred to herein collectively as the "Indentures"
and individually as an "Indenture", providing for the issuance from time to time
of its unsecured debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness (the "Debt
Securities"), to be issued in one or more series, with one trustee to be
designated by the Company for each series (the "Trustee"), as provided in the
Indenture; and
WHEREAS, the Company proposes to sell (title of Debt Securities being
offered) (the "Offered Securities") with warrant certificates evidencing one or
more warrants (the "Warrants" or individually a "Warrant") representing the
right to purchase (title of Debt Securities purchasable through exercise of
Warrants) (the "Warrant Securities"), such warrant certificates and other
warrant certificates issued pursuant to this Agreement being herein called the
"Warrant Certificates"; and
WHEREAS, the Company desires the Warrant Agent to act on behalf of the
Company in connection with the issuance, exchange, exercise and replacement of
the Warrant Certificates, and in this Agreement wishes to set forth, among other
things, the form and provisions of the Warrant Certificates and the terms and
conditions on which they may be issued, exchanged, exercised, and replaced;
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the mutual
agreements herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
ISSUANCE OF WARRANTS AND EXECUTION AND
DELIVERY OF WARRANT CERTIFICATES
SECTION 1.01. Issuance of Warrants. Warrants shall be initially issued in
connection with the issuance of the Offered Securities (but shall be separately
transferable on and after , , (the "Detachable Date")) (and
shall not be separately transferable) and each Warrant Certificate shall
evidence one or more Warrants. Each Warrant evidenced thereby shall represent
the right, subject to the provisions contained herein and therein, to purchase a
Warrant Security in the principal amount of (US $/Specified Currency). Warrant
Certificates shall be initially issued in units with the Offered
- ---------------
* Complete or modify the provisions of this Form as appropriate to reflect the
terms of the Warrants and Warrant Securities. Monetary amounts may be in U.S.
dollars, in a foreign denominated currency or in one or more units of foreign
currencies such as European Currency Units (ECUs).
<PAGE> 2
Securities and each Warrant Certificate included in such a unit shall evidence
Warrants for each principal amount of Offered Securities included in such unit.
SECTION 1.02. Execution and Delivery of Warrant Certificates. Each
Warrant Certificate, whenever issued, shall be in (bearer) (registered) form
substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A hereto, shall be dated
and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification
or designation and such legends or endorsements printed, lithographed or
engraved thereon as the officers of the Company executing the same may approve
(execution thereof to be conclusive evidence of such approval) and as are not
inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement, or as may be required to
comply with any law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with
any rule or regulation of any stock exchange on which the Warrants may be
listed, or to conform to usage. The Warrant Certificates shall be signed on
behalf of the Company by its Chairman of the Board, its President, one of its
Vice Presidents, its Treasurer or one of its Assistant Treasurers under its
corporate seal and attested by its Corporate Secretary, Deputy Corporate
Secretary or one of its Assistant Secretaries. Such signatures may be manual or
facsimile signatures of such authorized officers and may be imprinted or
otherwise reproduced on the Warrant Certificates. The seal of the Company may be
in the form of a facsimile thereof and may be impressed, affixed, imprinted or
otherwise reproduced on the Warrant Certificates.
No Warrant Certificate shall be valid for any purpose, and no Warrant
evidenced thereby shall be exercisable, until such Warrant Certificate has been
countersigned by the manual signature of the Warrant Agent. Such signature by
the Warrant Agent upon any Warrant Certificate executed by the Company shall be
conclusive evidence that the Warrant Certificate so countersigned has been duly
issued hereunder.
In case any officer of the Company who shall have signed any of the Warrant
Certificates either manually or by facsimile signature shall cease to be such
officer before the Warrant Certificates so signed shall have been countersigned
and delivered by the Warrant Agent, such Warrant Certificates may be
countersigned and delivered notwithstanding that the person who signed such
Warrant Certificates ceased to be such officer of the Company, and any Warrant
Certificate may be signed on behalf of the Company by such persons as, at the
actual date of the execution of such Warrant Certificates, shall be the proper
officers of the Company, although at the date of the execution of this Agreement
any such person was not such officer.
(If bearer Warrants -- The term "holder" or "holder of a Warrant
Certificate" as used herein shall mean (if Offered Securities with Warrants
which are not immediately detachable --, prior to the Detachable Date, the
registered owner of the Offered Security to which such Warrant Certificate was
initially attached, and after such Detachable Date) the bearer of such Warrant
Certificate.)
(If registered Warrants -- The term "holder" or "holder of a Warrant
Certificate" as used herein shall mean any person in whose name at the time any
Warrant Certificate shall be registered upon the books to be maintained by the
Warrant Agent for that purpose. (If Offered Securities with Warrants which are
not immediately detachable -- or upon the register of the Offered Securities
prior to the Detachable Date. The Company will, or will cause the registrar of
the Offered Securities to, make available at all times in the Warrant Agent such
information as to holders of the Offered Securities with Warrants as may be
necessary to keep the Warrant Agent's records up to date.))
SECTION 1.03. Issuance of Warrant Certificates. Warrant Certificates
evidencing the right to purchase an aggregate principal amount not exceeding (US
$/Specified Currency) aggregate principal amount of Warrant Securities (except
as provided in Sections 2.03(c), 3.02 and 4.01) may be executed by the Company
and delivered to the Warrant Agent upon the execution of this Warrant Agreement
or from time to time thereafter. The Warrant Agent shall, upon receipt of
Warrant Certificates duly executed on behalf of the Company, countersign Warrant
Certificates evidencing Warrants representing the right to purchase up to (US
$/Specified Currency) aggregate principal amount of Warrant Securities and shall
deliver such Warrant Certificates to or upon the order of the Company.
Subsequent to such original issuance of the Warrant Certificates, the Warrant
Agent shall countersign a Warrant
2
<PAGE> 3
Certificate only if the Warrant Certificate is issued in exchange or
substitution for one or more previously countersigned Warrant Certificates (if
registered Warrants - or in connection with their transfer), as hereinafter
provided or as provided in Section 2.03(c).
ARTICLE II
WARRANT PRICE, DURATION AND EXERCISE OF WARRANTS
SECTION 2.01. Warrant Price. On , , the exercise price of
each Warrant is (US $/Specified Currency). During the period from ,
, through and including , , the exercise price of each
Warrant will be (US $/Specified Currency) plus (accrued amortization of the
original issue discount) (accrued interest) from , . On
, , the exercise price of each Warrant will be (US $/Specified
Currency). During the period from , , through and including
, , the exercise price of each Warrant will be (US $/Specified
Currency) plus (accrued amortization of the original issue discount) (accrued
interest) from , . (In each case, the original issue discount
will be amortized at a % annual rate, computed on an annual basis using a
360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months). Such purchase price of Warrant
Securities is referred to in this Agreement as the "Warrant Price." (The
original issue discount for each principal amount of Warrant Securities is
.)
SECTION 2.02. Duration of Warrants. Each Warrant may be exercised in
whole at any time, as specified herein, on or after (the date thereof)
( , ,) and at or before 5 p.m. New York time on , ,
(the "Expiration Date"). Each Warrant not exercised at or before 5 p.m. New York
time on the Expiration Date shall become void, and all rights of the holder of
the Warrant Certificate evidencing such Warrant under this Agreement shall
cease.
SECTION 2.03. Exercise of Warrants. (a) During the period specified in
Section 2.02, any whole number of Warrants may be exercised by providing certain
information set forth on the reverse side of the Warrant Certificate and by
paying in full, (in US$/Specified Currency) (in cash or by certified check or
official bank check or by bank wire transfer, in each case) (by bank wire
transfer), in immediately available funds, the Warrant Price for each Warrant
exercised, to the Warrant Agent at its corporate trust office (or at
), provided that such exercise is subject to receipt within five
business days of such (payment) (wire transfer) by the Warrant Agent of the
Warrant Certificate with the form of election to purchase Warrant Securities set
forth on the reverse side of the Warrant Certificate properly completed and duly
executed. The date on which payment in full of the Warrant Price is received by
the Warrant Agent shall, subject to receipt of the Warrant Certificate as
aforesaid, be deemed to be the date on which the Warrant is exercised. The
Warrant Agent shall deposit all funds received by it in payment of the Warrant
Price in an account of the Company maintained with it and shall advise the
Company by telephone at the end of each day on which a (payment) (wire transfer)
for the exercise of Warrants is received of the amount so deposited to its
account. The Warrant Agent shall promptly confirm such telephone advice to the
Company in writing.
(b) The Warrant Agent shall, from time to time, as promptly as practicable,
advise the Company and the Trustee under the applicable Indenture of (i) the
number of Warrants exercised, (ii) the instructions of each holder of the
Warrant Certificates evidencing such Warrants with respect to delivery of the
Warrant Securities to which such holder is entitled upon such exercise, (iii)
delivery of Warrant Certificates evidencing the balance, if any, of the Warrants
remaining after such exercise, and (iv) such other information as the Company or
the Trustee shall reasonably require.
(c) As soon as practicable after the exercise of any Warrant, the Company
shall issue, pursuant to the Indenture, in authorized denominations to or upon
the order of the holder of the Warrant Certificate evidencing such Warrant, the
Warrant Securities to which such holder is entitled in fully registered form,
registered in such name or names as may be directed by such holder.* If fewer
than all
- ---------------
* Subject to change in accordance with changes in tax laws and regulations.
3
<PAGE> 4
of the Warrants evidenced by such Warrant Certificates are exercised, the
Company shall execute, and an authorized officer of the Warrant Agent shall
manually countersign and deliver, a new Warrant Certificate evidencing the
number of such Warrants remaining unexercised.
(d) The Company shall not be required to pay any stamp or other tax or
other governmental charge required to be paid in connection with any transfer
involved in the issue of the Warrant Securities; and in the event that any such
transfer is involved, the Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any
Warrant Security until such tax or other charge shall have been paid or it has
been established to the Company's satisfaction that no such tax or other charge
is due.
ARTICLE III
OTHER PROVISIONS RELATING TO RIGHTS
OF HOLDERS OF WARRANT CERTIFICATES
SECTION 3.01. No Rights as Warrant Securityholder Conferred by Warrants or
Warrant Certificates. No Warrant Certificate or Warrant evidenced thereby shall
entitle the holder thereof to any of the rights of a holder of Warrant
Securities, including, without limitation, the right to receive the payment of
principal of, premium, if any, or interest on Warrant Securities or to enforce
any of the covenants in the applicable Indenture.
SECTION 3.02. Lost, Stolen, Mutilated or Destroyed Warrant
Certificates. Upon receipt by the Warrant Agent of evidence reasonably
satisfactory to it of the ownership of and the loss, theft, destruction or
mutilation of any Warrant Certificate and of indemnity reasonably satisfactory
to it and, in the case of mutilation, upon surrender thereof to the Warrant
Agent for cancellation, then, in the absence of notice to the Company or the
Warrant Agent that such Warrant Certificate has been acquired by a bona fide
purchaser, the Company shall execute, and an authorized officer of the Warrant
Agent shall manually countersign and deliver, in exchange for or in lieu of the
lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated Warrant Certificate, a new Warrant
Certificate of the same tenor and evidencing a like number of Warrants. Upon the
issuance of any new Warrant Certificate under this Section, the Company may
require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental
charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including
the fees and expenses of the Warrant Agent) in connection therewith. Every
substitute Warrant Certificate executed and delivered pursuant to this Section
in lieu of any lost, stolen or destroyed Warrant Certificate shall represent an
additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the lost,
stolen or destroyed Warrant Certificate shall be at any time enforceable by
anyone, and shall be entitled to the benefits of this Agreement equally and
proportionately with any and all other Warrant Certificates duly executed and
delivered 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 of mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed Warrant Certificates.
SECTION 3.03. Holder of Warrant Certificate May Enforce
Rights. Notwithstanding any of the provisions of this Agreement, any holder of
a Warrant Certificate, without the consent of the Warrant Agent, the Trustee,
the holder of any Warrant Securities or the holder of any other Warrant
Certificate, may, in his own behalf and for his own benefit, enforce, and may
institute and maintain any suit, action or proceeding against the Company
suitable to enforce, or otherwise in respect of, his right to exercise the
Warrants evidenced by his Warrant Certificate in the manner provided in his
Warrant Certificate and in this Agreement.
4
<PAGE> 5
ARTICLE IV
EXCHANGE AND TRANSFER OF WARRANT CERTIFICATES
SECTION 4.01. Exchange and Transfer of Warrant Certificates. (If Offered
Securities with Warrants which are immediately detachable -- Upon) (If Offered
Securities with warrants which are not immediately detachable -- Prior to the
Detachable Date, a Warrant Certificate may be exchanged or transferred only
together with the Offered Securities to which the Warrant Certificate was
initially attached, and only for the purpose of effecting, or in conjunction
with, an exchange or transfer of such Offered Securities. Prior to the
Detachable Date, each transfer of the Offered Securities (on the register of the
Offered Securities) shall operate also to transfer the related Warrant
Certificates. After the Detachable Date upon) surrender at the corporate trust
office of the Warrant Agent (or ), Warrant Certificates
evidencing Warrants may be exchanged for Warrant Certificates in other
denominations evidencing such Warrants (If registered Warrants: or the transfer
thereof may be registered in whole or in part); provided that such other Warrant
Certificates evidence the same aggregate number of Warrants as the Warrant
Certificates so surrendered. (If registered Warrants -- The Warrant Agent shall
keep, at its corporate trust office (and at ), books in
which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, it shall
register Warrant Certificates and exchanges and transfers of outstanding Warrant
Certificates, upon surrender of the Warrant Certificates to the Warrant Agent at
its corporate trust office (or ) for exchange (or registration of
transfer), properly endorsed or accompanied by appropriate instruments of
registration of transfer and written instructions for transfer, all in form
satisfactory to the Company and the Warrant Agent.) No service charge shall be
made for any exchange (or registration of transfer) of Warrant Certificates, but
the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any stamp or other
tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any such
exchange (or registration of transfer). Whenever any Warrant Certificates are so
surrendered for exchange (or registration of transfer) an authorized officer of
the Warrant Agent shall manually countersign and deliver to the person or
persons entitled thereto a Warrant Certificate or Warrant Certificates duly
authorized and executed by the Company, as so requested. The Warrant Agent shall
not be required to effect any exchange (or registration of transfer) which will
result in the issuance of a Warrant Certificate evidencing a fraction of a
Warrant or a number of full Warrants and a fraction of a Warrant. All Warrant
Certificates issued upon any exchange (or registration of transfer) of Warrant
Certificates shall be the valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same
obligations, and entitled to the same benefits under this Agreement, as the
Warrant Certificates surrendered for such exchange (or registration of
transfer).
SECTION 4.02. Treatment of Holders of Warrant Certificates. (If Offered
Securities with bearer Warrants which are not immediately detachable -- Subject
to Section 4.01, each) (If Offered Securities with bearer Warrants which are
immediately detachable -- Each) Warrant Certificate shall be transferable by
delivery and shall be deemed negotiable and the bearer of each Warrant
Certificate may be treated by the Company, the Warrant Agent and all other
persons dealing with such bearer as the absolute owner thereof for any purpose
and as the person entitled to exercise the rights represented by the Warrants
evidenced thereby, any notice to the contrary notwithstanding.) (If registered
Warrants which are not immediately detachable -- Every holder of a Warrant
Certificate, by accepting the same, consents and agrees with the Company, the
Warrant Agent and with every subsequent holder of such Warrant Certificate that
until the transfer of the Warrant Certificate is registered on the books of the
Warrant Agent (or the register of the Offered Securities prior to the Detachable
Date), the Company and the Warrant Agent (or the registrar of the Offered
Securities prior to the Detachable Date) may treat the registered holder as the
absolute owner thereof for any purpose and as the person entitled to exercise
the rights represented by the Warrants evidenced thereby, any notice to the
contrary notwithstanding.)
SECTION 4.03. Cancellation of Warrant Certificates. Any Warrant
Certificate surrendered for exchange (registration of transfer) or exercise of
the Warrants evidenced thereby shall, if surrendered to the Company, be
delivered to the Warrant Agent and all Warrant Certificates surrendered or so
5
<PAGE> 6
delivered to the Warrant Agent shall be promptly cancelled by the Warrant Agent
and shall not be reissued and, except as expressly permitted by this Agreement,
no Warrant Certificate shall be issued hereunder in exchange or in lieu thereof.
The Warrant Agent shall deliver to the Company from time to time or otherwise
dispose of cancelled Warrant Certificates in a manner satisfactory to the
Company.
ARTICLE V
CONCERNING THE WARRANT AGENT
SECTION 5.01. Warrant Agent. The Company hereby appoints
as Warrant Agent of the Company in respect of the
Warrants and the Warrant Certificates upon the terms and subject to the
conditions herein set forth; and hereby accepts such
appointment. The Warrant Agent shall have the powers and authority granted to
and conferred upon it in the Warrant Certificates and hereby and such further
powers and authority to act on behalf of the Company as the Company may
hereafter grant to or confer upon it. All of the terms and provisions with
respect to such powers and authority contained in the Warrant Certificates are
subject to and governed by the terms and provisions hereof.
SECTION 5.02 Conditions of Warrant Agent's Obligations. The Warrant Agent
accepts its obligations herein set forth upon the terms and conditions hereof,
including the following, to all of which the Company agrees and to all of which
the rights hereunder of the holders from time to time of the Warrant
Certificates shall be subject:
(a) Compensation and Indemnification. The Company agrees promptly to
pay the Warrant Agent the compensation to be agreed upon with the Company
for all services rendered by the Warrant Agent and to reimburse the Warrant
Agent for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including counsel fees)
incurred by the Warrant Agent in connection with the services rendered
hereunder by the Warrant Agent. The Company also agrees to indemnify the
Warrant Agent for, and to hold it harmless against any loss, liability or
expense incurred without negligence or bad faith on the part of the Warrant
Agent, arising out of or in connection with its acting as Warrant Agent
hereunder, as well as the costs and expenses of defending against any claim
of such liability.
(b) Agent for the Company. In acting under this Warrant Agreement and
in connection with the Warrant Certificates, the Warrant Agent is acting
solely as agent of the Company and does not assume any obligation or
relationship of agency or trust for or with any of the holders of Warrant
Certificates or beneficial owners of Warrants.
(c) Counsel. The Warrant Agent may consult with counsel satisfactory
to it, 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 accordance with the advice of
such counsel.
(d) Documents. The Warrant Agent shall be protected and shall incur
no liability for or in respect of any action taken or thing suffered by it
in reliance upon any Warrant Certificate, notice, direction, consent,
certificate, affidavit, statement or other paper or document reasonably
believed by it to be genuine and to have been presented or signed by the
proper parties.
(e) Certain Transactions. The Warrant Agent, and its officers,
directors and employees, may become the owner of, or acquire any interest
in, Warrants, with the same rights that it or they would have if it were
not the Warrant Agent hereunder, and, to the extent permitted by applicable
law, it or they may engage or be interested in any financial or other
transaction with the Company and may act on, or as depositary, trustee or
agent for, any committee or body of holders of Warrant Securities or other
obligations of the Company as freely as if it were not the Warrant Agent
hereunder. Nothing in this Warrant Agreement shall be deemed to prevent the
Warrant Agent from acting as trustee for any series of Debt Securities
under the Indenture.
6
<PAGE> 7
(f) No Liability for Interest. The Warrant Agent shall have no
liability for interest on any monies at any time received by it pursuant to
any of the provisions of this Agreement or of the Warrant Certificates.
(g) No Liability for Invalidity. The Warrant Agent shall have no
liability with respect to any invalidity of this Agreement or any of the
Warrant Certificates.
(h) No Responsibility for Representations. The Warrant Agent shall
not be responsible for any of the recitals or representations herein or in
the Warrant Certificates (except as to the Warrant Agent's countersignature
thereon), all of which are made solely by the Company.
(i) No Implied Obligations. The Warrant Agent shall be obligated to
perform only such duties as are herein and in the Warrant Certificates
specifically set forth and no implied duties or obligations shall be read
into this Agreement or the Warrant Certificates against the Warrant Agent.
The Warrant Agent shall not be under any obligation to take any action
hereunder which may tend to involve it in any expense or liability, the
payment of which within a reasonable time is not, in its reasonable
opinion, assured to it. The Warrant Agent shall not be accountable or under
any duty or responsibility for the use by the Company of any of the Warrant
Certificates authenticated by the Warrant Agent and delivered by it to the
Company pursuant to this Agreement or for the application by the Company of
the proceeds of the Warrant Certificates. The Warrant Agent shall have no
duty or responsibility in case of any default by the Company in the
performance of its covenants or agreements contained herein or in the
Warrant Certificates or in the case of the receipt of any written demand
from a holder of a Warrant Certificate with respect to such default,
including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any duty or
responsibility to initiate or attempt to initiate any proceedings at law or
otherwise or, except as provided in Section 6.02, to make any demand upon
the Company.
SECTION 5.03. Resignation and Appointment of Successor. (a) The Company
agrees, for the benefit of the holders of the Warrant Certificates, that there
shall at all times be a Warrant Agent hereunder until all the Warrant
Certificates are no longer exercisable.
(b) The Warrant Agent may at any time resign as such agent by giving
written notice to the Company of such intention on its part, specifying the date
on which its desired resignation shall become effective; provided that such date
shall not be less than three months after the date on which such notice is given
unless the Company otherwise agrees. The Warrant Agent hereunder may be removed
at any time by the filing with it of an instrument in writing signed by or on
behalf of the Company and specifying such removal and the date when it shall
become effective. Such resignation or removal shall take effect upon the
appointment by the Company, as hereinafter provided, of a successor Warrant
Agent (which shall be a bank or trust company authorized under the laws of the
jurisdiction of its organization to exercise corporate trust powers) and the
acceptance of such appointment by such successor Warrant Agent. The obligation
of the Company under Section 5.02(a) shall continue to the extent set forth
therein notwithstanding the resignation or removal of the Warrant Agent.
(c) In case at any time the Warrant Agent shall resign, or shall be
removed, or shall become incapable of acting, or shall be adjudged a bankrupt or
insolvent, or shall file a petition seeking relief under the Federal Bankruptcy
Code, as now constituted or hereafter amended, or under any other applicable
Federal or State bankruptcy law or similar law or make an assignment for the
benefit of its creditors or consent to the appointment of a receiver or
custodian of all or any substantial part of its property, or shall admit in
wiring its inability to pay or meet its debts as they mature, or if a receiver
or custodian of it or of all or any substantial part of its property shall be
appointed, or if an order of any court shall be entered for relief against it
under the provisions of the Federal Bankruptcy Code, as now constituted or
hereafter amended, or under any other applicable Federal or State bankruptcy or
similar law, or if any public officer shall have taken charge or control of the
Warrant Agent or of its property or affairs, for the purpose of rehabilitation,
conservation or liquidation, a successor Warrant Agent, qualified as aforesaid,
shall be appointed by the Company by an instrument in writing, filed with the
7
<PAGE> 8
successor Warrant Agent. Upon the appointment as aforesaid of a successor
Warrant Agent and acceptance by the successor Warrant Agent of such appointment,
the Warrant Agent shall cease to be Warrant Agent hereunder.
(d) Any successor Warrant Agent appointed hereunder shall execute,
acknowledge and deliver to its predecessor and to the Company an instrument
accepting such appointment hereunder, and thereupon such successor Warrant
Agent, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all
the authority, rights, powers, trusts, immunities, duties and obligations of
such predecessor with like effect as if originally named as Warrant Agent
hereunder, and such predecessor, upon payment of its charges and disbursements
then unpaid, shall thereupon become obligated to transfer, deliver and pay over,
and such successor Warrant Agent shall be entitled to receive, all monies,
securities and other property on deposit with or held by such predecessor, as
Warrant Agent hereunder.
(e) Any corporation into which the Warrant Agent hereunder may be merged or
converted or any corporation with which the Warrant Agent may be consolidated,
or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to
which the Warrant Agent shall be a party, or any corporation to which the
Warrant Agent shall sell or otherwise transfer all or substantially all the
assets and business of the Warrant Agent, provided that it shall be qualified as
aforesaid, shall be the successor Warrant Agent under this Agreement without the
execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the
parties hereto.
ARTICLE VI
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 6.01. Amendment. This Agreement may be amended by the parties
hereto, without the consent of the holder of any Warrant Certificate, for the
purpose of curing any ambiguity, or of curing, correcting or supplementing any
defective provision contained herein, or making any other provisions with
respect to matters or questions arising under this Agreement as the Company and
the Warrant Agent may deem necessary or desirable; provided that such action
shall not adversely affect the interests of the holders of the Warrant
Certificates.
SECTION 6.02. Notices and Demands to the Company and Warrant Agent. If
the Warrant Agent shall receive any notice or demand addressed to the Company by
the holder of a Warrant Certificate pursuant to the provisions of the Warrant
Certificates, the Warrant Agent shall promptly forward such notice or demand to
the Company.
SECTION 6.03. Addresses. Any communication from the Company to the
Warrant Agent with respect to this Agreement shall be addressed to
, Attention: , and any
communication from the Warrant Agent to the Company with respect to this
Agreement shall be addressed to Republic New York Corporation, 452 Fifth Avenue,
New York, New York 10018, Attention: (or such
other address as shall be specified in writing by the Warrant Agent or by the
Company).
SECTION 6.04. Applicable Law. The validity, interpretation and
performance of this Agreement and each Warrant Certificate issued hereunder and
of the respective terms and provisions thereof shall be governed by, and
construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.
SECTION 6.05. Delivery of Prospectus. The Company will furnish to the
Warrant Agent sufficient copies of a prospectus relating to the Warrant
Securities deliverable upon exercise of Warrants (the "Prospectus"), and the
Warrant Agent agrees that upon the exercise of any Warrant, the Warrant Agent
will deliver to the holder of the Warrant Certificate evidencing such Warrant,
prior to or concurrently with, the delivery of the Warrant Securities issued
upon such exercise, a Prospectus.
SECTION 6.06 Obtaining of Governmental Approvals. The Company will from
time to time take all action which may be necessary to obtain and keep effective
any and all permits, consents and
8
<PAGE> 9
approvals of governmental agencies and authorities and securities acts filings
under United States Federal and State laws (including, without limitation, a
registration statement in respect of the Warrants and Warrant Securities under
the Securities Act of 1933), which may be or become requisite in connection with
the issuance, sale, transfer, and delivery of the Warrant Certificates, the
exercise of the Warrants, the issuance, sale, transfer and delivery of the
Warrant Securities issued upon exercise of the Warrants or upon the expiration
of the period during which the Warrants are exercisable.
SECTION 6.07. Persons Having Rights under Warrant Agreement. Nothing in
this Agreement shall give to any person other than the Company, the Warrant
Agent and the holders of the Warrant Certificates any right, remedy or claim
under or by reason of this Agreement.
SECTION 6.08. Headings. The descriptive headings of the several Articles
and Sections of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not
control or affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions hereof.
SECTION 6.09. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number
of counterparts, each of which as so executed shall be deemed to be an original,
but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.
SECTION 6.10. Inspection of Agreement. A copy of this Agreement shall be
available at all reasonable times at the principal corporate trust office of the
Warrant Agent for inspection by the holder of any Warrant Certificate. The
Warrant Agent may require such holder to submit his Warrant Certificate for
inspection by it.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed and their respective corporate seals to be affixed hereunto, and
the same to be attested all as of the day and year first above written.
REPUBLIC NEW YORK CORPORATION
By
--------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Attest:
- --------------------------------------- (NAME OF WARRANT AGENT),
As Warrant Agent
By
-------------------------------------
Attest:
- ---------------------------------------
</TABLE>
9
<PAGE> 10
EXHIBIT A
(FORM OF WARRANT CERTIFICATE)
(FACE OF WARRANT CERTIFICATE)
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
(FORM OF LEGEND OF DEBT SECURITIES PRIOR TO , THIS WARRANT CERTIFICATE
WITH WARRANTS WHICH ARE NOT CANNOT BE TRANSFERRED OR EXCHANGED UNLESS ATTACHED
IMMEDIATELY DETACHABLE: TO A (TITLE OF OFFERED SECURITIES).)
</TABLE>
EXERCISABLE ONLY IF COUNTERSIGNED BY THE WARRANT
AGENT AS PROVIDED HEREIN
REPUBLIC NEW YORK CORPORATION
WARRANTS TO PURCHASE
(TITLE OF WARRANT SECURITIES)
VOID AFTER 5 P.M. NEW YORK TIME ON ,
(NO.) WARRANTS
This certifies that (the bearer is the) (or registered assigns is the
registered) owner of the above indicated number of Warrants, each Warrant
entitling such (bearer) (owner) to purchase, at any time (after 5 p.m., New York
time on , , and) on or before 5 p.m. New York time on
, , (US $/Specified Currency) principal amount of (Title of
Warrant Securities) (the "Warrant Securities") of Republic New York Corporation
(the "Company"), issued and to be issued under an Indenture (as hereinafter
defined), on the following basis: (on , , the exercise price of
each Warrant is (US $/Specified Currency); during the period from ,
, through and including , , the exercise price of each
Warrant will be (US $/Specified Currency) plus (accrued amortization of the
original issue discount) (accrued interest) from , ; on
, , the exercise price of each Warrant will be (US $/Specified
Currency); during the period from , , through and including
, , the exercise price of each Warrant will be (US $/Specified
Currency) plus (accrued amortization of the original issue discount) (accrued
interest) from , ; (in each case, the original issue discount
will be amortized at a % annual rate, computed on an annual basis, using a
360-day year consisted of twelve 30-day months) (the "Warrant Price"). (The
original issue discount for each principal amount of Warrant Securities is
.) The holder may exercise the Warrants evidenced hereby by
providing certain information set forth on the reverse hereof and by paying in
full, (in US $/Specified Currency) (in cash or by certified check or official
bank check or by bank wire transfer, in each case) (by bank wire transfer), in
immediately available funds, the Warrant Price for each Warrant exercised to the
Warrant Agent (as hereinafter defined) and by surrendering this Warrant
Certificate, with the purchase form on the reverse hereof duly executed, at the
corporate trust office of (name of Warrant Agent), or its successor as warrant
agent (the "Warrant Agent"), (or ) currently at the address
specified on the reverse hereof, and upon compliance with and subject to the
conditions set forth herein and in the Warrant Agreement (as hereinafter
defined).
Any whole number of Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate may be
exercised to purchase Warrant Securities in registered form in denominations of
(US $/Specified Currency) and any integral multiples thereof. Upon any exercise
of fewer than all of the Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate, there
shall be issued to the holder hereof a new Warrant Certificate evidencing the
number of Warrants remaining unexercised.
This Warrant Certificate is issued under and in accordance with the Warrant
Agreement dated as of , , (the "Warrant Agreement") between the
Company and the Warrant Agent and is subject to the terms and provisions
contained in the Warrant Agreement, to all of which terms and provisions the
holder of this Warrant Certificate consents by acceptance hereof. Copies of the
Warrant Agreement are on file at the above mentioned office of the Warrant Agent
(and at ).
A-1
<PAGE> 11
The Warrant Securities to be issued and delivered upon the exercise of the
Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate will be issued under and in
accordance with an Indenture dated as of May 15, 1986 (the "Senior Indenture"),
with Citibank, N.A., as successor trustee, as supplemented by a First
Supplemental Indenture dated as of May 15, 1991 and a Second Supplemental
Indenture dated as of April 15, 1993, or an Indenture dated as of May 15, 1986
with Citibank, N.A., as successor trustee, as supplemented by a First
Supplemental Indenture dated as of May 15, 1991 and a Second Supplemental
Indenture dated as of April 15, 1993 (the "Subordinated Indenture") or an
Indenture dated as of October 15, 1992 with Citibank, N.A. as supplemented by a
First Supplemental Indenture dated as of April 15, 1993 (the "1992 Subordinated
Indenture") being sometimes referred to herein collectively as the "Indentures"
and individually as an "Indenture", and will be subject to the terms and
provisions contained in the Indentures. Copies of the Indentures and the form of
the Warrant Securities are on file at the corporate trust office of each trustee
(and at ).
(If Offered Securities with bearer Warrants which are not immediately
detachable -- Prior to , , this Warrant Certificate may be
exchanged or transferred only together with the (Title of Offered Securities)
("Offered Securities") to which this Warrant Certificate was initially attached,
and only for the purpose of effecting, or in conjunction with, an exchange or
transfer of such Offered Securities. After such date, this (If Offered
Securities with bearer Warrants which are immediately detachable -- This)
Warrant Certificate, and all rights hereunder, may be transferred by delivery
and the Company and the Warrant Agent may treat the bearer hereof as the owner
for all purposes.)
(If Offered Securities with registered Warrants which are not immediately
detachable -- Prior to , , this Warrant Certificate may be
exchanged or transferred only together with the (Title of Offered Securities)
("Offered Securities") to which this Warrant Certificate was initially attached,
and only for the purpose of effecting, or in conjunction with, an exchange or
transfer of such Offered Securities. After such date, this (If Offered
Securities with registered Warrants which are immediately detachable -- Transfer
of this) Warrant Certificate may be registered when this Warrant Certificate is
surrendered at the corporate trust office of the Warrant Agent (or
) by the registered owner or his assigns, in person or by an
attorney duly authorized in writing, in the manner and subject to the
limitations provided in the Warrant Agreement.)
(If Offered Securities with Warrants which are not immediately detachable
- -- Except as provided in the immediately preceding paragraph, after) (If
Offered Securities with Warrants which are immediately detachable -- After)
countersignature by the Warrant Agent and prior to the expiration of this
Warrant Certificate may be exchanged at the corporate trust office of the
Warrant Agent for Warrant Certificates representing the same aggregate number of
Warrants.
This Warrant Certificate shall not entitle the holder hereof to any of the
rights of a holder of the Warrant Securities, including, without limitation, the
right to receive payments of principal of, premium, if any, or interest, if any,
on the Warrant Securities or to enforce any of the covenants of the Indenture.
A-2
<PAGE> 12
This Warrant Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for any purpose
until countersigned by the Warrant Agent.
Dated as of , .
REPUBLIC NEW YORK CORPORATION
By
------------------------------------
Attest:
- --------------------------------------
Countersigned:
- --------------------------------------
As Warrant Agent
By
-----------------------------------
Authorized Signature
(REVERSE OF WARRANT CERTIFICATE)
INSTRUCTIONS FOR EXERCISE OF WARRANT
To exercise the Warrants evidenced hereby, the holder must pay (in cash or
by certified check or official bank check or by bank wire transfer) (by bank
wire transfer), in immediately available funds, the Warrant Price in full for
Warrants exercised to (insert name of Warrant Agent) Corporate Trust Department,
(insert address of Warrant Agent), Attn. (or ), which
(payment) (wire transfer) must specify the name of the holder and the number of
Warrants exercised by such holder. In addition, the holder must complete the
information required below and present this Warrant Certificate in person or by
mail (registered mail is recommended) to the Warrant Agent at the addresses set
forth below. This Warrant Certificate, completed and duly executed, must be
received by the Warrant Agent within three business days of the (payment) (wire
transfer).
TO BE EXECUTED UPON EXERCISE OF WARRANT
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise Warrants,
evidenced by this Warrant Certificate, to purchase (US $/Specified Currency)
principal amount of the (Title of Warrant Securities) (the "Warrant Securities")
of Republic New York Corporation and represents that he has tendered payment for
such Warrant Securities (in cash or by certified check or official bank check or
by bank wire transfer, in each case) (by bank wire transfer), in immediately
available funds, to the order of Republic New York Corporation, c/o (insert name
and address of Warrant Agent), in the amount of (US $/Specified Currency) in
accordance with the terms hereof. The undersigned requests that said principal
amount of Warrant Securities be in fully registered form in the authorized
denominations, registered in such names and delivered all as specified in
accordance with the instructions set forth below.
A-3
<PAGE> 13
If the number of Warrants exercised is less than all of the Warrants
evidenced hereby, the undersigned requests that a new Warrant Certificate
representing the remaining Warrants evidenced hereby be issued and delivered to
the undersigned unless otherwise specified in the instructions below.
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Name
---------------------------------------------
(Please Print)
Dated: Address
============================================= =============================================
(Insert Social Security or Other Identifying ---------------------------------------------
Number of Holder)
Signature
--------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
The Warrants evidenced hereby may be exercised at the following addresses:
By hand at:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------
By mail at:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
(Instructions as to form and delivery of Warrant Securities and, if
applicable, Warrant Certificates evidencing unexercised Warrants -- complete as
appropriate.)
A-4
<PAGE> 14
(IF REGISTERED WARRANT)
ASSIGNMENT
(FORM OF ASSIGNMENT TO BE EXECUTED IF HOLDER DESIRES
TO TRANSFER WARRANTS EVIDENCED HEREBY)
FOR VALUE RECEIVED hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Please insert social security or
other identifying number
- -------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------
(Please print name and address --------------------------------------------
including zip code)
</TABLE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
the Warrants represented by the within Warrant Certificate and does hereby
irrevocably constitute and appoint Attorney, to
transfer said Warrant Certificate on the books of the Warrant Agent with full
power of substitution in the premises.
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Dated: --------------------------------------------
Signature
(Signature must conform in all respects to
name of holder as specified on the face of
this Warrant Certificate and must bear a
signature guarantee by a commercial bank,
trust company or member broker of the New
York, American, Midwest or Pacific Stock
Exchange.)
</TABLE>
Signature Guaranteed:
- ------------------------------------
A-5
<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT 4.12
REPUBLIC NEW YORK CORPORATION
FORM OF WARRANT AGREEMENT
(FOR WARRANTS SOLD ALONE)*
THIS WARRANT AGREEMENT is dated as of between Republic New York
Corporation, a Maryland corporation (hereinafter called the "Company," which
term includes any successor corporation under the Indenture hereinafter referred
to) and , as Warrant Agent (herein called the "Warrant
Agent").
WHEREAS, the Company has entered into an Indenture dated as of May 15, 1986
(the "Senior Indenture"), with Citibank, N.A., as successor trustee, as
supplemented by a First Supplemental Indenture dated as of May 15, 1991 and a
Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of April 15, 1993, an Indenture dated as
of May 15, 1986 with Citibank, N.A., as successor trustee, as supplemented by a
First Supplemental Indenture dated as of May 15, 1991 and a Second Supplemental
Indenture dated as of April 15, 1993 (the "Subordinated Indenture") and an
Indenture dated as of October 15, 1992 with Citibank, N.A., as supplemented by a
First Supplemental Indenture dated as of April 15, 1993 (the "1992 Subordinated
Indenture") being sometimes referred to herein collectively as the "Indentures"
and individually as an "Indenture", providing for the issuance from time to time
of its unsecured debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness (the "Debt
Securities"), to be issued in one or more series, with one trustee to be
designated by the Company for each series (the "Trustee"), as provided in the
Indenture; and
WHEREAS, the Company proposes to sell warrant certificates evidencing one
or more warrants (the "Warrants" or, individually a "Warrant") representing the
right to purchase (title of Debt Securities purchasable through exercise of
Warrants) (the "Warrant Securities"), such warrant certificates and other
warrant certificates issued pursuant to this Agreement being herein called the
"Warrant Certificates"; and
WHEREAS, the Company desires the Warrant Agent to act on behalf of the
Company in connection with the issuance, exchange, exercise and replacement of
the Warrant Certificates, and in this Agreement wishes to set forth, among other
things, the form and provisions of the Warrant Certificates and the terms and
conditions on which they may be issued, exchanged, exercised, and replaced;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the mutual
agreements herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
ISSUANCE OF WARRANTS AND EXECUTION AND
DELIVERY OF WARRANT CERTIFICATES
SECTION 1.01 Issuance of Warrants. Each Warrant Certificate shall
evidence one or more Warrants. Each Warrant evidenced thereby shall represent
the right, subject to the provisions contained herein and therein, to purchase a
Warrant Security in the principal amount of (US $/Specified Currency) to be
issued pursuant to the applicable Indenture with Citibank N.A., as Trustee for
such series of Debt Securities thereunder.
- ---------------
* Complete or modify the provisions of this Form as appropriate to reflect the
terms of the Warrants and Warrant Securities. Monetary amounts may be in U.S.
dollars, in a foreign denominated currency or in one or more units of foreign
currencies such as European Currency Units (ECUs).
<PAGE> 2
SECTION 1.02 Execution and Delivery of Warrant Certificates. Each Warrant
Certificate, whenever issued, shall be in (bearer) (registered) form
substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A hereto, shall be dated and
may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification or designation
and such legends or endorsements printed, lithographed or engraved thereon as
the officers of the Company executing the same may approve (execution thereof
to be conclusive evidence of such approval) and as are not inconsistent with
the provisions of this Agreement, or as may be required to comply with any law
or with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or
regulation of any stock exchange on which the Warrants may be listed, or to
conform to usage. The Warrant Certificates shall be signed on behalf of the
Company by its Chairman of the Board, its President, one of its Vice
Presidents, its Treasurer or one of its Assistant Treasurers under its
corporate seal and attested by its Corporate Secretary, Deputy Corporate
Secretary or one of its Assistant Secretaries. Such signatures may be manual
or facsimile signatures of such authorized officers and may be imprinted or
otherwise reproduced on the Warrant Certificates. The seal of the Company may
be in the form of a facsimile thereof and may be impressed, affixed, imprinted
or otherwise reproduced on the Warrant Certificates.
No Warrant Certificates shall be valid for any purpose, and no Warrant
evidenced thereby shall be exercisable, until such Warrant Certificate has been
countersigned by the manual signature of the Warrant Agent. Such signature by
the Warrant Agent upon any Warrant Certificates executed by the Company shall be
conclusive evidence that the Warrant Certificate so countersigned has been duly
issued hereunder.
In case any officer of the Company who shall have signed any of the Warrant
Certificates either manually or by facsimile signature shall cease to be such
officer before the Warrant Certificates so signed shall have been countersigned
and delivered by the Warrant Agent, such Warrant Certificates may be
countersigned and delivered notwithstanding that the person who signed such
Warrant Certificates ceased to be such officer of the Company; and any Warrant
Certificate may be signed on behalf of the Company by such persons as, at the
actual date of the execution of such Warrant Certificate, shall be the proper
officers of the Company, although at the date of the execution of this Agreement
any such person was not such officer.
(If bearer Warrants -- The term "holder" of "holder of a Warrant
Certificates" as used herein shall mean the bearer of such Warrant Certificate.)
(If registered Warrants -- The term "holder" or "holder of a Warrant
Certificate" as used herein shall mean any person in whose name at the time any
Warrant Certificate shall be registered upon the books to be maintained by the
Warrant Agent for that purpose.)
SECTION 1.03 Issuance of Warrant Certificates. Warrant Certificates
evidencing the right to purchase an aggregate principal amount not exceeding (US
$/Specified Currency) aggregate principal amount of Warrant Securities (except
as provided in Sections 2.03(c), 3.02 and 4.01) may be executed by the Company
and delivered to the Warrant Agent upon the execution of this Warrant Agreement
or from time to time thereafter. The Warrant Agent shall, upon receipt of
Warrant Certificates duly executed on behalf of the Company, countersign Warrant
certificates evidencing Warrants representing the right to purchase up to (US
$/Specified Currency) aggregate principal amount of Warrant Securities and shall
deliver such Warrant Certificates to or upon the order of the Company.
Subsequent to such original issuance of the Warrant Certificates, the Warrant
Agent shall countersign a Warrant Certificate only if the Warrant Certificate is
issued in exchange or substitution for one or more previously countersigned
Warrant Certificates (if registered Warrants -- or in connection with their
transfer), as hereinafter provided or as provided in Section 2.03(c).
2
<PAGE> 3
ARTICLE II
WARRANT PRICE, DURATION AND EXERCISE OF WARRANTS
SECTION 2.01. Warrant Price. On , , the exercise price
of each Warrant is (US $/Specified Currency). During the period from
, , through and including , , the exercise
price of each Warrant will be (US $/Specified Currency) plus (accrued
amortization of the original issue discount) (accrued interest) from
, . On , , the exercise price of each Warrant
will be (US $/Specified Currency). During the period from , ,
through and including , , the exercise price of each Warrant
will be (US $/Specified Currency) plus (accrued amortization of the original
discount) (accrued interest) from , . (In each case, the
original issue discount will be amortized at a % annual rate, computed on an
annual basis using a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months.) Such
purchase price of Warrant Securities is referred to in this Agreement as the
"Warrant Price." (The original issue discount for each principal amount
of Warrant Securities is .)
SECTION 2.02. Duration of Warrants. Each Warrant may be exercised in
whole at any time, a specified herein, on or after (the date thereof)
( , ,) and at or before 5 p.m. New York time on ,
, (the "Expiration Date"). Each Warrant not exercised at or before 5 p.m.
New York time on the Expiration Date shall become void, and all rights of the
holder of the Warrant Certificate evidencing such Warrant under this Agreement
shall cease.
SECTION 2.03 Exercise of Warrants. (a) During the period specified in
Section 2.02, any whole number of Warrants may be exercised by providing certain
information set forth on the reverse side of the Warrant Certificate and by
paying in full, (in lawful money of the United States of America) (in cash or by
certified check or official bank check or by bank wire transfer, in each case)
(by bank wire transfer), in immediately available funds, the Warrant Price for
each Warrant exercised, to the Warrant Agent at its corporate trust office (or
at ), provided that such exercise is subject to receipt within
[three] business days of such (payment) (wire transfer) by the Warrant Agent of
the Warrant Certificate with the form of election to purchase Warrant Securities
set forth on the reverse side of the Warrant Certificate properly completed and
duly executed. The date on which payment in full of the Warrant Price is
received by the Warrant Agent shall, subject to receipt of the Warrant
Certificate as aforesaid, by deemed to be the date on which the Warrant is
exercised. The Warrant Agent shall deposit all funds received by it in payment
of the Warrant Price in an account of the Company maintained with it and shall
advise the Company by telephone at the end of each day on which a (payment)
(wire transfer) for the exercise of Warrants is received of the amount so
deposited to its account. The Warrant Agent shall promptly confirm such
telephone advice to the Company in writing.
(b) The Warrant Agent shall, from time to time, as promptly as practicable,
advise the Company and the Trustee under the applicable Indenture of (i) the
number of Warrants exercised, (ii) the instructions of each holder of the
Warrant Certificates evidencing such Warrants with respect to delivery of the
Warrant Securities to which such holder is entitled upon such exercise, (iii)
delivery of Warrant Certificates evidencing the balance, if any, of the Warrants
remaining after such exercise, and (iv) such other information as the Company or
the Trustee shall reasonably require.
(c) As soon as practicable after the exercise of any Warrant, the Company
shall issue, pursuant to the Indenture, in authorized denominations to or upon
the order of the holder of the Warrant Certificate evidencing such Warrant, the
Warrant Securities to which such holder is entitled in fully registered form,
registered in such name or names as may be directed by such holder.* If fewer
than all of the Warrants evidenced by such Warrant Certificate are exercised,
the Company shall execute, and an authorized officer of the Warrant Agent shall
manually countersign and deliver, a new Warrant Certificate evidencing the
number of such Warrants remaining unexercised.
- ---------------
* Subject to change in accordance with changes in tax laws and regulations.
3
<PAGE> 4
(d) The Company shall not be required to pay any stamp or other tax or
other governmental charge required to be paid in connection with any transfer
involved in the issue of the Warrant Securities; and in the event that any such
transfer is involved, the Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any
Warrant Security until such tax or other charge shall have been paid or it has
been established to the Company's satisfaction that no such tax or other charge
is due.
ARTICLE III
OTHER PROVISIONS RELATING TO RIGHTS
OF HOLDERS OF WARRANT CERTIFICATES
SECTION 3.01. No Rights as Warrant Securityholder Conferred by Warrants or
Warrant Certificates. No Warrant Certificate or Warrant evidenced thereby shall
entitle the holder thereof to any of the rights of a holder of Warrant
Securities, including, without limitation, the right to receive the payment of
principal of, premium, if any, or interest on Warrant Securities or to enforce
any of the covenants in the applicable Indenture.
SECTION 3.02. Lost, Stolen, Mutilated or Destroyed Certificates. Upon
receipt by the Warrant Agent of evidence reasonably satisfactory to it of the
ownership of and the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of any Warrant
Certificate and of indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it and, in the case of
mutilation, upon surrender thereof to the Warrant Agent for cancellation, then,
in the absence of notice to the Company or the Warrant Agent that such Warrant
Certificate has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Company shall
execute, and an authorized officer of the Warrant Agent shall manually
countersign and deliver, in exchange for or in lieu of the lost, stolen,
destroyed or mutilated Warrant Certificate, a new Warrant Certificate of the
same tenor and evidencing a like number of Warrants. Upon the issuance of any
new Warrant Certificate under this Section, the Company may require the payment
of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be
imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and
expenses of the Warrant Agent) in connection therewith. Every substitute Warrant
Certificate executed and delivered pursuant to this Section in lieu of any lost,
stolen or destroyed Warrant Certificate shall represent an additional
contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the lost, stolen or
destroyed Warrant Certificate shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and
shall be entitled to the benefits of this Agreement equally and proportionately
with any and all other Warrant Certificates duly executed and delivered
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
of mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed Warrant Certificates.
SECTION 3.03. Holder of Warrant Certificate May Enforce Rights.
Notwithstanding any of the provisions of this Agreement, any holder of a
Warrant Certificate, without the consent of the Warrant Agent, the Trustee,
the holder of any Warrant Securities or the holder of any Warrant Certificate,
may, in his own behalf and for his own benefit, enforce, and may institute and
maintain any suit, action or proceeding against the Company suitable to enforce,
or otherwise in respect of, his right to exercise the Warrants evidenced by his
Warrant Certificate in the manner provided in his Warrant Certificate and in
this Agreement.
ARTICLE IV
EXCHANGE AND TRANSFER OF WARRANT CERTIFICATES
SECTION 4.01. Exchange and Transfer of Warrant Certificates. Upon
surrender at the corporate trust office of the Warrant Agent (or
), Warrant Certificates evidencing Warrants may be
exchanged for Warrant Certificates in other denominations evidencing such
Warrants (if registered Warrants; or the transfer thereof may be registered in
whole or in part); provided that such other Warrant Certificates evidence the
same aggregate number of Warrants as the Warrant Certificates so surrendered.
(If registered Warrants -- The Warrant Agent shall keep, at its corporate trust
office
4
<PAGE> 5
(and at ), books in which, subject to such reasonable
regulations as it may prescribe, it shall register Warrant Certificates and
exchanges and transfers of outstanding Warrant Certificates, upon surrender of
the Warrant Certificates to the Warrant Agent at its corporate trust office (or
) for exchange (or registration of transfer), properly
endorsed or accompanied by appropriate instruments of registration of transfer
and written instructions for transfer, all in form satisfactory to the Company
and the Warrant Agent.) No service charge shall be made for any exchange (or
registration of transfer) of Warrant Certificates, but the Company may require
payment of a sum sufficient to cover any stamp or other tax or other
governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any such exchange (or
registration of transfer). Whenever any Warrant Certificates are so surrendered
for exchange (or registration of transfer) an authorized officer of the Warrant
Agent shall manually countersign and deliver to the person or persons entitled
thereto a Warrant Certificate or Warrant Certificates duly authorized and
executed by the Company, as so requested. The Warrant Agent shall not be
required to effect any exchange (or registration of transfer) which will result
in the issuance of a Warrant Certificate evidencing a fraction of a Warrant or a
number of full Warrants and a fraction of a Warrant. All Warrant Certificates
issued upon any exchange (or registration of transfer) of Warrant Certificates
shall be the valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same obligations,
and entitled to the same benefits under this Agreement, as the Warrant
Certificates surrendered for such exchange (or registration of transfer).
SECTION 4.02. Treatment of Holders of Warrant Certificates. (Bearer
warrants -- Each Warrant Certificate shall be transferable by delivery and shall
be deemed negotiable and the bearer of each Warrant Certificate may be treated
by the Company, the Warrant Agent and all other persons dealing with such bearer
as the absolute owner thereof for any purpose and as the person entitled to
exercise the rights represented by the Warrants evidenced thereby, any notice to
the contrary notwithstanding.) (Registered Warrants -- The Company and the
Warrant Agent may treat the registered holder as the absolute owner thereof for
any purpose and as the person entitled to exercise the rights represented by the
Warrants evidenced thereby, any notice to the contrary notwithstanding.)
SECTION 4.03. Cancellation of Warrant Certificates. Any Warrant
Certificate surrendered for exchange, (registration of transfer) or exercise of
the Warrants evidenced thereby shall, if surrendered to the Company, be
delivered to the Warrant Agent and all Warrant Certificates surrendered or so
delivered to the Warrant Agent shall be promptly cancelled by the Warrant Agent
and shall not be reissued and, except as permitted by this Agreement, no Warrant
Certificate shall be issued hereunder in exchange or in lieu thereof. The
Warrant Agent shall deliver to the Company from time to time or otherwise
dispose of cancelled Warrant Certificates in a manner satisfactory to the
Company.
ARTICLE V
CONCERNING THE WARRANT AGENT
SECTION 5.01. Warrant Agent. The Company hereby appoints ,
as Warrant Agent of the Company in respect of the Warrants and the Warrant
Certificates upon the terms and subject to the conditions herein set forth; and
hereby accepts such appointment. The Warrant Agent shall have the
powers and authority granted to and conferred upon it in the Warrant
Certificates and hereby and such further powers and authority to act on behalf
of the Company as the Company may hereafter grant to or confer upon it. All of
the terms and provisions with respect to such powers and authority contained in
the Warrant Certificates are subject to and governed by the terms and provisions
hereof.
SECTION 5.02. Conditions of Warrant Agent's Obligations. The Warrant
Agent accepts its obligations herein set forth upon the terms and conditions
hereof, including the following, to all of which the
5
<PAGE> 6
Company agrees and to all of which the rights hereunder of the holders from time
to time of the Warrant Certificates shall be subject:
(a) Compensation and Indemnification. The Company agrees promptly to
pay the Warrant Agent the compensation to be agreed upon with the Company
for all services rendered by the Warrant Agent and to reimburse the Warrant
Agent for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including counsel fees)
incurred by the Warrant Agent in connection with the services rendered
hereunder by the Warrant Agent. The Company also agrees to indemnify the
Warrant Agent for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability or
expense incurred without negligence or bad faith on the part of the Warrant
Agent, arising out of or in connection with its acting as Warrant Agent
hereunder, as well as the costs and expenses of defending against any claim
of such liability.
(b) Agent for the Company. In acting under this Warrant Agreement and
in connection with the Warrant Certificates, the Warrant Agent is acting
solely as agent of the Company and does not assume any obligation or
relationship of agency or trust for or with any of the holders of Warrant
Certificates or beneficial owners of Warrants.
(c) Counsel. The Warrant Agent may consult with counsel satisfactory
to it, 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 accordance with the advice of
such counsel.
(d) Documents. The Warrant Agent shall be protected and shall incur
no liability for or in respect of any action taken or thing suffered by it
in reliance upon any Warrant Certificate, notice, direction, consent,
certificate, affidavit, statement or other paper or document reasonably
believed by it to be genuine and to have been presented or signed by the
proper parties.
(e) Certain Transactions. The Warrant Agent, and its officers,
directors and employees, may become the owner of, or acquire any interest
in, Warrants, with the same rights that it or they would have if it were
not the Warrant Agent hereunder, and, to the extent permitted by applicable
law, it or they may engage or be interested in any financial or other
transaction with the Company and may act on, or as depositary, trustee or
agent for, any committee or body of holders of Warrant Securities or other
obligations of the Company as freely as if it were not the Warrant Agent
hereunder. Nothing in this Warrant Agreement shall be deemed to prevent the
Warrant Agent from acting as trustee for any series of Debt Securities
under the Indenture.
(f) No Liability for Interest. The Warrant Agent shall have no
liability for interest on any monies at any time received by it pursuant to
any of the provisions of this Agreement or of the Warrant Certificates.
(g) No Liability for Invalidity. The Warrant Agent shall have no
liability with respect to any invalidity of this Agreement or any of the
Warrant Certificates.
(h) No Responsibility for Representations. The Warrant Agent shall
not be responsible for any of the recitals or representations herein or in
the Warrant Certificates (except as to the Warrant Agent's countersignature
thereon), all of which are made solely by the Company.
(i) No Implied Obligations. The Warrant Agent shall be obligated to
perform only such duties as are herein and in the Warrant Certificate
specifically set forth and no implied duties or obligations shall be read
into this Agreement or the Warrant Certificates against the Warrant Agent.
The Warrant Agent shall not be under any obligation to take any action
hereunder which may tend to involve it in any expense or liability, the
payment of which within a reasonable time is not, in its reasonable
opinion, assured to it. The Warrant Agent shall not be accountable or under
any duty or responsibility for the use by the Company of any of the Warrant
Certificates authenticated by the Warrant Agent and delivered by it to the
Company pursuant to this Agreement or for the application by the Company of
the proceeds of the Warrant Certificates. The Warrant Agent shall have no
duty or responsibility in case of any default by the Company in the
6
<PAGE> 7
performance of its covenants or agreements contained herein or in the
Warrant Certificate with respect to such default, including, without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, any duty or responsibility to
initiate or attempt to initiate any proceedings at law or otherwise or,
except as provided in Section 6.02, to make any demand upon the Company.
SECTION 5.03 Resignation and Appointment of Successor. (a) The Company
agrees, for the benefit of the holders of the Warrant Certificates, that there
shall at all times be a Warrant Agent hereunder until all the Warrant
Certificates are no longer exercisable.
(b) The Warrant Agent may at any time resign as such agent by giving
written notice to the Company of such intention on its part, specifying the date
on which its desired resignation shall become effective; provided that such date
shall not be less than three months after the date on which such notice is given
unless the Company otherwise agrees. The Warrant Agent hereunder may be removed
at any time by the filing with it on an instrument in writing signed by or on
behalf of the Company and specifying such removal and the date when it shall
become effective. Such resignation or removal shall take effect upon the
appointment by the Company, as hereinafter provided, of a successor Warrant
Agent (which shall be a bank or trust company authorized under the laws of the
jurisdiction of its organization to exercise corporate trust powers) and the
acceptance of such appointment by such successor Warrant Agent. The obligation
of the Company under Section 5.02(a) shall continue to the extent set forth
therein notwithstanding the resignation or removal of the Warrant Agent.
(c) In case at any time the Warrant Agent shall resign, or shall be
removed, or shall become incapable of acting, or shall be adjudged a bankrupt or
insolvent, or shall file a petition seeking relief under the Federal Bankruptcy
Code, as now constituted or hereafter amended, or under any other applicable
Federal or State Bankruptcy law or similar law or make an assignment for the
benefit of its creditors or consent to the appointment of a receiver or
custodian of all or any substantial part of its property, or shall admit in
writing its inability to pay or meet its debts as they mature, or if a receiver
or custodian of it or of all or any substantial part of its property shall be
appointed, or if an order of any court shall be entered for relief against it
under the provisions of the Federal Bankruptcy Code, as now constituted or
hereafter amended, or under any other applicable Federal or State bankruptcy or
similar law, or if any public officer shall have taken charge or control of the
Warrant Agent or of its property or affairs, for the purpose of rehabilitation,
conservation or liquidation, a successor Warrant Agent, qualified as aforesaid,
shall be appointed by the Company by an instrument in writing, filed with the
successor Warrant Agent. Upon the appointment as aforesaid of a successor
Warrant Agent and acceptance by the successor Warrant Agent of such appointment,
the Warrant Agent shall cease to be Warrant Agent hereunder.
(d) Any successor Warrant Agent appointed hereunder shall execute,
acknowledge and deliver to its predecessor and to the Company an instrument
accepting such appointment hereunder, and thereupon such successor Warrant
Agent, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all
the authority, rights, powers, trusts, immunities, duties and obligations of
such predecessor with like effect as if originally named as Warrant Agent
hereunder, and such predecessor, upon payment of its charges and disbursements
then unpaid, shall thereupon become obligated to transfer, deliver and pay over,
and such successor Warrant Agent shall be entitled to receive, all monies,
securities and other property on deposit with or held by such predecessor, as
Warrant Agent hereunder.
(e) Any corporation into which the Warrant Agent hereunder may be merged or
converted or any corporation with which the Warrant Agent may be consolidated,
or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to
which the Warrant Agent shall be a party, or any corporation to which the
Warrant Agent shall sell or otherwise transfer all or substantially all the
assets and business of the Warrant Agent, provided that it shall be qualified as
aforesaid, shall be the successor Warrant Agent under this Agreement without the
execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the
parties hereto.
7
<PAGE> 8
ARTICLE VI
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 6.01 Amendment. This Agreement may be amended by the parties
hereto, without the consent of the holder of any Warrant Certificate, for the
purpose of curing any ambiguity, or of curing, correcting or supplementing any
defective provision contained herein, or making any other provisions with
respect to matters or questions arising under this Agreement as the Company and
the Warrant Agent may deem necessary or desirable; provided that such action
shall not adversely affect the interests of the holders of the Warrant
Certificates.
SECTION 6.02 Notices and Demands to the Company and Warrant Agent. If the
Warrant Agent shall receive any notice or demand addressed to the Company by the
holder of a Warrant Certificate pursuant to the provisions of the Warrant
Certificates, the Warrant Agent shall promptly forward such notice or demand to
the Company.
SECTION 6.03 Addresses. Any communication from the Company to the Warrant
Agent with respect to this Agreement shall be addressed to ,
Attention: and any communication from the Warrant Agent to
the Company with respect to this Agreement shall be addressed to Republic New
York Corporation, 452 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10018, Attention:
(or such other address as shall be specified in writing by
the Warrant Agent or by the Company).
SECTION 6.04. Applicable Law. The validity, interpretation and
performance of this Agreement and each Warrant Certificate issued hereunder and
of the respective terms and provisions thereof shall be governed by, and
construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.
SECTION 6.05. Delivery of Prospectus. The Company will furnish to the
Warrant Agent sufficient copies of a prospectus relating to the Warrant
Securities deliverable upon exercise of Warrants (the "Prospectus"), and the
Warrant Agent agrees that upon the exercise of any Warrant, the Warrant Agent
will deliver to the holder of the Warrant Certificate evidencing such Warrant,
prior to or concurrently with, the delivery of the Warrant Securities issued
upon such exercise, a Prospectus.
SECTION 6.06. Obtaining of Governmental Approvals. The Company will from
time to time take all action which may be necessary to obtain and keep effective
any and all permits, consents and approvals of governmental agencies and
authorities and securities acts filings under United States Federal and State
laws (including, without limitation, a registration statement in respect of the
Warrants and Warrant Securities under the Securities Act of 1933), which may be
or become requisite in connection with the issuance, sale, transfer, and
delivery of the Warrant Certificates, the exercise of the Warrants, the
issuance, sale, transfer and delivery of the Warrant Securities issued upon
exercise of the Warrants or upon the expiration of the period during which the
Warrants are exercisable.
SECTION 6.07. Persons Having Rights under Warrant Agreement. Nothing in
this Agreement shall give to any person other than the Company, the Warrant
Agent and the holders of the Warrant Certificates any right, remedy or claim
under or by reason of this Agreement.
SECTION 6.08. Headings. The descriptive headings of the several Articles
and Sections of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not
control or affect the meaning of construction of any of the provisions hereof.
SECTION 6.09. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number
of counterparts, each of which as so executed shall be deemed to be an original,
but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.
SECTION 6.10. Inspection of Agreement. A copy of this Agreement shall be
available at all reasonable times at the principal corporate trust office of the
Warrant Agent for inspection by the holder of any Warrant Certificate. The
Warrant Agent may require such holder to submit his Warrant Certificate for
inspection by it.
8
<PAGE> 9
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed and their respective corporate seals to be affixed hereunto, and
the same to be attested all as of the day and year first above written.
REPUBLIC NEW YORK CORPORATION
By
--------------------------------------
Attest:
- ------------------------------------------------------
(NAME OF WARRANT AGENT),
As Warrant Agent
By
--------------------------------------
Attest:
- ------------------------------------------------------
9
<PAGE> 10
EXHIBIT A
(FORM OF WARRANT CERTIFICATE)
(FACE OF WARRANT CERTIFICATE)
EXERCISABLE ONLY IF COUNTERSIGNED BY THE WARRANT
AGENT AS PROVIDED HEREIN
REPUBLIC NEW YORK CORPORATION
WARRANTS TO PURCHASE
(TITLE OF WARRANT SECURITIES)
VOID AFTER 5 P.M. NEW YORK TIME ON , ______
(NO.) WARRANTS
This certifies that (the bearer is the) (or registered assigns is the
registered) owner of the above indicated number of Warrants, each Warrant
entitling such (bearer) (owner) to purchase, at any time (after 5 p.m., New York
time on , , and) on or before 5 p.m. New York time on
, , (US $/Specified Currency) principal amount of (Title of
Warrant Securities) (the "Warrant Securities") of Republic New York Corporation
(the "Company"), issued and to be issued under an Indenture (as hereinafter
defined), on the following basis: (on , , the exercise price of
each Warrant is (US $/Specified Currency); during the period from ,
, through and including , , the exercise price of each
Warrant will be (US $/Specified Currency) plus (accrued amortization of the
original issue discount) (accrued interest) from , ; on
, , the exercise price of each Warrant will be (US $/Specified
Currency); during the period from , , through and including
, , the exercise price of each Warrant will be (US $/Specified
Currency) plus (accrued amortization of the original issue discount) (accrued
interest) from , ; (in each case, the original issue discount
will be amortized at a % annual rate, computed on an annual basis, using a
360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) (the "Warrant Price"). (The
original issue discount for each principal amount of Warrant Securities is
.) The holder may exercise the Warrants evidenced hereby by
providing certain information set forth on the back hereof and by paying in
full, (in US$/Specified Currency) (in cash or by certified check or official
bank check or by bank wire transfer, in each case) (by bank wire transfer), in
immediately available funds, the Warrant Price for each Warrant exercised to the
Warrant Agent (as hereinafter defined) and by surrendering this Warrant
Certificate, with the purchase form on the reverse hereof duly executed, at the
corporate trust office of (name of Warrant Agent), or its successor as warrant
agent (the "Warrant Agent"), (or ) currently at the address
specified on the reverse hereof, and upon compliance with and subject to the
conditions set forth herein and in the Warrant Agreement (as hereinafter
defined).
Any whole number of Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate may be
exercised to purchase Warrant Securities in registered form in denominations of
(US $/Specified Currency) and any integral multiples thereof. Upon any exercise
of fewer than all of the Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate, there
shall be issued to the holder hereof of a new Warrant Certificate evidencing the
number of Warrants remaining unexercised.
This Warrant Certificate is issued under and in accordance with the Warrant
Agreement dated as of , , (the "Warrant Agreement") between the
Company and the Warrant Agent and is subject to the term and provisions
contained in the Warrant Agreement, to all of which terms and provisions the
holder of this Warrant Certificate consents by acceptance hereof. Copies of the
Warrant Agreement are on file at the abovementioned office of the Warrant Agent
(and at ).
The Warrant Securities to be issued and delivered upon the exercise of the
Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate will be issued under and in
accordance with an Indenture dated as of May 15, 1986 (the "Senior Indenture")
with Citibank, N.A., as successor trustee, as supplemented by a First
A-1
<PAGE> 11
Supplemental Indenture dated as of May 15, 1991 and a Second Supplemental
Indenture dated as of April 15, 1993, or an Indenture dated as of May 15, 1986
with Citibank, N.A., as successor trustee, as supplemented by a First
Supplemental Indenture dated as of May 15, 1991 and a Second Supplemental
Indenture dated as of April 15, 1993 (the "Subordinated Indenture") or an
Indenture dated as of October 15, 1992 with Citibank, N.A. as supplemented by a
First Supplemental Indenture dated as of April 15, 1993 (the "1992 Subordinated
Indenture") being sometimes referred to herein collectively as the "Indentures"
and individually as an "Indenture", and will be subject to the terms and
provisions contained in the Indenture. Copies of the Indentures and the form of
Warrant Securities are on file at the corporate trust office of each trustee
(and at ).
(Bearer Warrants -- This Warrant Certificate, and all rights hereunder, may
be transferred by delivery and the Company and the Warrant Agent may treat the
bearer hereof as the owner for all purposes.)
(Registered Warrants -- This Warrant Certificate may be transferred when
surrendered at the corporate trust office of the Warrant Agent (or
) by the registered owner or his appointed person or by an
attorney duly authorized in writing, in the manner and subject to the terms
provided in the Warrant Agreement.)
After countersignature by the Warrant Agent and prior to the expiration of
this Warrant Certificate, this Warrant Certificate may be exchanged at the
corporate trust office of the Warrant Agent for Warrant Certificates
representing the same aggregate number of Warrants.
This Warrant Certificate shall not entitle the holder hereof to any of the
rights of a holder of Warrant Securities, including, without limitation, the
right to receive payments of principal of, premium, if any, or interest, if any,
on the Warrant Securities or to enforce any of the covenants of the Indenture.
This Warrant Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for any purpose
until countersigned by the Warrant Agent.
Dated as of , .
REPUBLIC NEW YORK CORPORATION
By
------------------------------------
Attest:
- ---------------------------------------------------------
Countersigned:
- ---------------------------------------------------------
As Warrant Agent
By
--------------------------------------------------------
Authorized Signature
A-2
<PAGE> 12
(REVERSE OF WARRANT CERTIFICATE)
INSTRUCTIONS FOR EXERCISE OF WARRANT
To exercise the Warrants evidenced hereby, the holder must pay (in cash or
by certified check or official bank check or by bank wire transfer) (by bank
wire transfer), in immediately available funds, the Warrant Price in full for
Warrants exercised to (insert name of Warrant Agent) Corporate Trust Department,
(insert address of Warrant Agent), Attn. (or
), which (payment) (wire transfer) must specify the name of
the holder and the number of Warrants exercised by such holder. In addition, the
holder must complete the information required below and present this Warrant
Certificate in person or by mail (registered mail is recommended) to the Warrant
Agent at the addresses set forth below. This Warrant Certificate, completed and
duly executed, must be received by the Warrant Agent within three business days
of the (payment) (wire transfer).
TO BE EXECUTED UPON EXERCISE OF WARRANT
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise Warrants
evidenced by this Warrant Certificate, to purchase (US $/Specified Currency)
principal amount of the (Title of Warrant Securities) (the "Warrant Securities")
of Republic New York Corporation and represents that he has tendered payment for
such Warrant Securities (in cash or by certified check or official bank check or
by bank wire transfer, in each case), (by bank wire transfer), in immediately
available funds, to the order of Republic New York Corporation, c/o (insert name
and address of Warrant Agent), in the amount of (US $/Specified Currency) in
accordance with the terms hereof. The undersigned requests that said principal
amount of Warrant Securities be in fully registered form in the authorized
denominations, registered in such names and delivered, all as specified in
accordance with the instructions set forth below.
If the number of Warrants exercised is less than all of the Warrants
evidenced hereby, the undersigned requests that a new Warrant Certificate
representing the remaining Warrants evidenced hereby be issued and delivered to
the undersigned unless otherwise specified in the instructions below.
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Name
-----------------------------------------------
(Please Print)
Dated: Address
-----------------------------------------------
- ---------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------
- ---------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------
(Insert Social Security or Other
Identifying Number of Holder)
Signature
---------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
The Warrants evidenced hereby may be exercised at the following addresses:
By hand at:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------
A-3
<PAGE> 13
By mail at:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------
(Instructions as to form and delivery of Warrant Securities and, if
applicable, Warrant Certificates evidencing unexercised Warrants -- complete as
appropriate.)
A-4
<PAGE> 14
ASSIGNMENT
(FORM OF ASSIGNMENT TO BE EXECUTED IF HOLDER DESIRES
TO TRANSFER WARRANTS EVIDENCED HEREBY)
FOR VALUE RECEIVED hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Please print name and address including zip code)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please insert social security or other identifying number
the Warrants represented by the within Warrant Certificate and does hereby
irrevocably constitute and appoint Attorney, to transfer
said Warrant Certificate on the books of the Warrant Agent with full power of
substitution in the premises.
Dated:
--------------------------------------
Signature
(Signature must conform in all
respects to name of holder as
specified on the face of this Warrant
Certificate and must bear a signature
guarantee by a commercial bank, trust
company or member broker of the New
York, American, Midwest or Pacific
Stock Exchange.)
Signature Guaranteed:
- --------------------------------------
A-5
<PAGE> 1
Exhibit 4.24
CERTIFICATE OF TRUST OF
REPUBLIC NEW YORK CAPITAL III
THIS CERTIFICATE OF TRUST of Republic New York Capital III (the "Trust"), dated
as of November 18, 1997, is being duly executed and filed by Bankers Trust
(Delaware), a Delaware banking corporation, as trustee, Thomas F. Robards, an
individual, as trustee and Stephen Saali, an individual, 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 formed hereby is Republic New York
Capital III.
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 are as
follows: Bankers Trust (Delaware), 1011 Centre Road, Suite 200, Wilmington, DE
19805-1266.
3. Effective Date. This Certificate of Trust shall be effective upon
filing with the Secretary of State.
4. Duration. The Trust created hereby shall terminate on November 18,
2051.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, being the trustees of the Trust, have
executed this Certificate of Trust as of the date first written above.
BANKERS TRUST (DELAWARE),
not in its individual capacity but
solely as trustee
By: /s/ M. Lisa Wilkins
------------------------------
Name: M. Lisa Wilkins
Title: Assistant Secretary
THOMAS F. ROBARDS, not in his
individual capacity but solely as
trustee
/s/ Thomas F. Robards
---------------------------------
STEPHEN J. SAALI, not in his
individual capacity but solely as
trustee
/s/ Stephen J. Saali
---------------------------------
<PAGE> 1
Exhibit 4.25
CERTIFICATE OF TRUST OF
REPUBLIC NEW YORK CAPITAL IV
THIS CERTIFICATE OF TRUST of Republic New York Capital IV (the "Trust"), dated
as of November 18, 1997, is being duly executed and filed by Bankers Trust
(Delaware), a Delaware banking corporation, as trustee, Thomas F. Robards, an
individual, as trustee and Stephen Saali, an individual, 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 formed hereby is Republic New York
Capital IV.
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 are as
follows: Bankers Trust (Delaware), 1011 Centre Road, Suite 200, Wilmington, DE
19805-1266.
3. Effective Date. This Certificate of Trust shall be effective upon
filing with the Secretary of State.
4. Duration. The Trust created hereby shall terminate on November 18,
2051.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, being the trustees of the Trust, have
executed this Certificate of Trust as of the date first written above.
BANKERS TRUST (DELAWARE),
not in its individual capacity but
solely as trustee
By: /s/ M. Lisa Wilkins
------------------------------
Name: M. Lisa Wilkins
Title: Assistant Secretary
THOMAS F. ROBARDS, not in his
individual capacity but solely as
trustee
/s/ Thomas F. Robards
---------------------------------
STEPHEN J. SAALI, not in his
individual capacity but solely as
trustee
/s/ Stephen J. Saali
---------------------------------
<PAGE> 1
Exhibit 4.26
REPUBLIC NEW YORK CAPITAL III
DECLARATION OF TRUST
This DECLARATION OF TRUST, dated as of November 18, 1997, among (i)
Republic New York Corporation, a Maryland corporation, as "Depositor", (ii)
Bankers Trust (Delaware), a Delaware banking corporation, not in its individual
capacity but solely as trustee of the Trust (the "Delaware Trustee), (iii)
Thomas F. Robards, an individual employed by the Depositor, not in his
individual capacity but solely as an administrative trustee of the trust, and
(iv) Stephen J. Saali, an individual employed by the Depositor, not in his
individual capacity but solely as an administrative trustee of the trust (each
of such trustees in (ii), (iii) and (iv) a "Trustee" and collectively,
"Trustees"). The Depositor and the Trustees hereby agree as follows:
1. The trust created hereby shall be known as Republic New York Capital
III (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.
2. The Depositor hereby assigns, transfers, conveys and sets over to the
Trustees 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. ss. 3801 et seq. (the "Business Trust Act"), and
that this document constitute the governing instrument of the Trust. The
Trustees hereby are 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.
3. The Depositor, the Trustees and other parties to become additional
trustees will enter into an amended and restated Declaration of Trust,
satisfactory to each such party and substantially in the form to be included as
an exhibit to the 1933 Act Registration Statement referred to below, to provide
for the contemplated operation of the Trust created hereby and the issuance of
the Preferred Securities and Common Securities referred to therein (the "Trust
Securities"). Prior to the execution and delivery of such amended and restated
Declaration of Trust, the Trustees shall not have any duty or obligation
hereunder or with respect to the trust estate, except as may be necessary to
obtain prior to such execution and delivery any licenses, consents or approvals
required by applicable law or otherwise.
4. The Depositor 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 and
certain other securities 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
1
<PAGE> 2
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 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; (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) and
(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 and any trustee appointed
pursuant to Section 6 hereof 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 Bankers Trust (Delaware) in its capacity as 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 the rules and regulations of the
Commission, the Exchange or state securities or "Blue Sky" laws.
5. This Declaration of Trust may be executed in one or more counterparts.
6. 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. The Trustee may resign upon thirty days' prior notice to the Depositor.
7. The recitals contained in this Declaration of Trust shall be taken as
statements of the Depositor, and the Trustees do not assume any responsibility
for their correctness. The Trustees make no representations as to the value or
condition of the property of the Trust or any part thereof. The Trustees make no
representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Declaration of Trust.
8. (a) The Delaware Trustee shall not be liable, responsible or
accountable for damages or otherwise to the Trust, the Depositor, the other
Trustees or any holder of the Trust Securities for any loss, damage or claim
incurred by reason of any act or omission performed or omitted by the Delaware
Trustee in good faith on behalf of the Trust and in a manner the Delaware
Trustee reasonably believed to be within the scope of authority conferred on the
Delaware Trustee by this Declaration of Trust by law, except that the Delaware
Trustee shall be liable for any such loss, damage or claim incurred by reason of
the Delaware Trustee's gross negligence or willful misconduct with respect to
such acts or omissions.
2
<PAGE> 3
(b) The Delaware Trustee shall be fully protected in relying in good
faith upon this Declaration of Trust, the records of the Trust and upon such
information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the Trust by any
person as to matters the Delaware Trustee reasonably believes are within such
other person's professional or expert competence and who has been selected with
reasonable care by or on behalf of the Trust, including information, opinions,
reports or statements as to the value and amount of the assets, liabilities,
profits, losses, or any other facts pertinent to the existence and amount of
assets from which distributions to holders of Trust Securities might properly be
paid.
9. The Depositor agrees, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable
law:
(a) to indemnify and hold harmless the Delaware Trustee, or any of
its officers, directors, shareholders, employees, representatives or agents,
from and against any loss, damage, liability, tax penalty, expense or claim of
any kind or nature whatsoever incurred by reason of the creation, operation or
termination of the Trust or any act or omission performed or omitted by the
Delaware Trustee in good faith on behalf of the Trust in a manner reasonably
believed to be within the scope of authority conferred on the Delaware Trustee
by this Declaration of Trust, except that the Delaware Trustee shall not be
entitled to be indemnified in respect of any loss, damage or claim incurred by
reason of its gross negligence or willful misconduct with respect to such acts
or omissions; and
(b) to advance expenses (including the fees and expenses of counsel)
incurred by the Delaware Trustee in defending any claim, demand, action, suit or
proceeding from time to time, prior to the final disposition of such claim,
demand, action, suit or proceeding.
10. The provisions of Section 9 shall survive the termination of this
Declaration of Trust or the earlier resignation or removal of the Delaware
Trustee.
11. The Trust created hereby shall terminate on November 18, 2051.
12. The Trust may terminate without issuing any Trust Securities at the
sole election of the Depositor.
13. This Declaration of Trust shall be governed by, and construed in
accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware (without regard to conflict
of laws principles). The provisions of Sections 3540 and 3561 of Title 12 of the
Delaware Code shall not apply to the Trust.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Declaration of
Trust to be duly executed as of the day and year first written above.
REPUBLIC NEW YORK CORPORATION,
as Depositor
By: /s/ William F. Rosenblum, Jr.
-------------------------------
Name: William F. Rosenblum, Jr.
Title: Senior Vice President
3
<PAGE> 4
BANKERS TRUST (DELAWARE),
not in its individual capacity but
solely as Trustee
By: /s/ M. Lisa Wilkins
------------------------------
Name: M. Lisa Wilkins
Title: Assistant Secretary
THOMAS F. ROBARDS,
not in his individual capacity but
solely as Administrative Trustee
/s/ Thomas F. Robards
---------------------------------
STEPHEN J. SAALI,
not in his individual capacity but
solely as Administrative Trustee
/s/ Stephen J. Saali
---------------------------------
4
<PAGE> 1
Exhibit 4.27
REPUBLIC NEW YORK CAPITAL IV
DECLARATION OF TRUST
This DECLARATION OF TRUST, dated as of November 18, 1997, among (i)
Republic New York Corporation, a Maryland corporation, as "Depositor", (ii)
Bankers Trust (Delaware), a Delaware banking corporation, not in its individual
capacity but solely as trustee of the Trust (the "Delaware Trustee), (iii)
Thomas F. Robards, an individual employed by the Depositor, not in his
individual capacity but solely as an administrative trustee of the trust, and
(iv) Stephen J. Saali, an individual employed by the Depositor, not in his
individual capacity but solely as an administrative trustee of the trust (each
of such trustees in (ii), (iii) and (iv) a "Trustee" and collectively,
"Trustees"). The Depositor and the Trustees hereby agree as follows:
1. The trust created hereby shall be known as Republic New York Capital IV
(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.
2. The Depositor hereby assigns, transfers, conveys and sets over to the
Trustees 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. ss. 3801 et seq. (the "Business Trust Act"), and
that this document constitute the governing instrument of the Trust. The
Trustees hereby are 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.
3. The Depositor, the Trustees and other parties to become additional
trustees will enter into an amended and restated Declaration of Trust,
satisfactory to each such party and substantially in the form to be included as
an exhibit to the 1933 Act Registration Statement referred to below, to provide
for the contemplated operation of the Trust created hereby and the issuance of
the Preferred Securities and Common Securities referred to therein (the "Trust
Securities"). Prior to the execution and delivery of such amended and restated
Declaration of Trust, the Trustees shall not have any duty or obligation
hereunder or with respect to the trust estate, except as may be necessary to
obtain prior to such execution and delivery any licenses, consents or approvals
required by applicable law or otherwise.
4. The Depositor 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 and
certain other securities 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
1
<PAGE> 2
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 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; (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) and
(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 and any trustee appointed
pursuant to Section 6 hereof 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 Bankers Trust (Delaware) in its capacity as 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 the rules and regulations of the
Commission, the Exchange or state securities or "Blue Sky" laws.
5. This Declaration of Trust may be executed in one or more counterparts.
6. 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. The Trustee may resign upon thirty days' prior notice to the Depositor.
7. The recitals contained in this Declaration of Trust shall be taken as
statements of the Depositor, and the Trustees do not assume any responsibility
for their correctness. The Trustees make no representations as to the value or
condition of the property of the Trust or any part thereof. The Trustees make no
representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Declaration of Trust.
8. (a) The Delaware Trustee shall not be liable, responsible or
accountable for damages or otherwise to the Trust, the Depositor, the other
Trustees or any holder of the Trust Securities for any loss, damage or claim
incurred by reason of any act or omission performed or omitted by the Delaware
Trustee in good faith on behalf of the Trust and in a manner the Delaware
Trustee reasonably believed to be within the scope of authority conferred on the
Delaware Trustee by this Declaration of Trust by law, except that the Delaware
Trustee shall be liable for any such loss, damage or claim incurred by reason of
the Delaware Trustee's gross negligence or willful misconduct with respect to
such acts or omissions.
2
<PAGE> 3
(b) The Delaware Trustee shall be fully protected in relying in good
faith upon this Declaration of Trust, the records of the Trust and upon such
information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the Trust by any
person as to matters the Delaware Trustee reasonably believes are within such
other person's professional or expert competence and who has been selected with
reasonable care by or on behalf of the Trust, including information, opinions,
reports or statements as to the value and amount of the assets, liabilities,
profits, losses, or any other facts pertinent to the existence and amount of
assets from which distributions to holders of Trust Securities might properly be
paid.
9. The Depositor agrees, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable
law:
(a) to indemnify and hold harmless the Delaware Trustee, or any of
its officers, directors, shareholders, employees, representatives or agents,
from and against any loss, damage, liability, tax penalty, expense or claim of
any kind or nature whatsoever incurred by reason of the creation, operation or
termination of the Trust or any act or omission performed or omitted by the
Delaware Trustee in good faith on behalf of the Trust in a manner reasonably
believed to be within the scope of authority conferred on the Delaware Trustee
by this Declaration of Trust, except that the Delaware Trustee shall not be
entitled to be indemnified in respect of any loss, damage or claim incurred by
reason of its gross negligence or willful misconduct with respect to such acts
or omissions; and
(b) to advance expenses (including the fees and expenses of counsel)
incurred by the Delaware Trustee in defending any claim, demand, action, suit or
proceeding from time to time, prior to the final disposition of such claim,
demand, action, suit or proceeding.
10. The provisions of Section 9 shall survive the termination of this
Declaration of Trust or the earlier resignation or removal of the Delaware
Trustee.
11. The Trust created hereby shall terminate on November 18, 2051.
12. The Trust may terminate without issuing any Trust Securities at the
sole election of the Depositor.
13. This Declaration of Trust shall be governed by, and construed in
accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware (without regard to conflict
of laws principles). The provisions of Sections 3540 and 3561 of Title 12 of the
Delaware Code shall not apply to the Trust.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Declaration of
Trust to be duly executed as of the day and year first written above.
REPUBLIC NEW YORK CORPORATION,
as Depositor
By: /s/ William F. Rosenblum, Jr.
-------------------------------
Name: William F. Rosenblum, Jr.
Title: Senior Vice President
3
<PAGE> 4
BANKERS TRUST (DELAWARE),
not in its individual capacity but
solely as Trustee
By: /s/ M. Lisa Wilkins
------------------------------
Name: M. Lisa Wilkins
Title: Senior Vice President
THOMAS F. ROBARDS,
not in his individual capacity but
solely as Administrative Trustee
/s/ Thomas F. Robards
---------------------------------
STEPHEN J. SAALI,
not in his individual capacity but
solely as Administrative Trustee
/s/ Stephen J. Saali
---------------------------------
4
<PAGE> 1
Exhibit 4.28
================================================================================
AMENDED AND RESTATED
DECLARATION OF TRUST
among
REPUBLIC NEW YORK CORPORATION, as Depositor,
BANKERS TRUST COMPANY,
as Property Trustee,
BANKERS TRUST (DELAWARE),
as Delaware Trustee,
and
THE ADMINISTRATIVE TRUSTEES NAMED HEREIN
Dated as of ____________, __________
REPUBLIC NEW YORK CAPITAL ____
================================================================================
<PAGE> 2
REPUBLIC NEW YORK CAPITAL ____
Certain Sections of this Declaration of Trust relating to
Sections 310 through 318 of the
Trust Indenture Act of 1939:
Trust Indenture Declaration of Trust
Act Section Section
- --------------- --------------------
(ss.) 310 (a)(1) ........................................ 8.7
(a)(2) ........................................ 8.7
(a)(3) ........................................ 8.9
(a)(4) ........................................ 2.7(a)(ii)
(b) ........................................ 8.8
(ss.) 311 (a) ........................................ 8.13
(b) ........................................ 8.13
(ss.) 312 (a) ........................................ 5.7
(b) ........................................ 5.7
(c) ........................................ 5.7
(ss.) 313 (a) ........................................ 8.14(a)
(a)(4) ........................................ 8.14(b)
(b) ........................................ 8.14(b)
(c) ........................................ 10.8
(d) ........................................ 8.14(c)
(ss.) 314 (a) ........................................ 8.15
(b) ........................................ Not Applicable
(c)(1) ........................................ 8.16
(c)(2) ........................................ 8.16
(c)(3) ........................................ Not Applicable
(e) ........................................ 1.1, 8.16
(ss.) 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
(ss.) 316 (a) ........................................ Not Applicable
(a)(l)(A) ........................................ Not Applicable
(a)(l)(B) ........................................ Not Applicable
(a)(2) ........................................ Not Applicable
(b) ........................................ 5.14
(c) ........................................ 6.7
(ss.) 317 (a)(1) ........................................ Not Applicable
(a)(2) ........................................ Not Applicable
(b) ........................................ 5.9
(ss.)318(a) ........................................ 10.10
Note This reconciliation and tie sheet shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to
be a part of the Declaration of Trust.
i
<PAGE> 3
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
----
ARTICLE I. DEFINED TERMS
SECTION 1.1. Definitions. ....................................... 1
ARTICLE II. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE TRUSTS
SECTION 2.1. Name................................................ 9
SECTION 2.2. Office of the Delaware Trustee;
Principal Place of Business 9
SECTION 2.3. Initial Contribution of Trust Property,
Organizational Expenses............................. 9
SECTION 2.4. Issuance of Preferred Securities.................... 9
SECTION 2.5. Issuance of the Common Securities;
Subscription and Purchase of Junior
Subordinated Debt Securities ....................... 9
SECTION 2.6. Purpose; Appointment of Trustees.................... 10
SECTION 2.7. Authorization to Enter into Certain Transactions.... 10
SECTION 2.8. Assets of Trust..................................... 14
SECTION 2.9. Title to Trust Property............................. 14
ARTICLE III. PAYMENT ACCOUNT
SECTION 3.1. Payment Account..................................... 14
ARTICLE IV. DISTRIBUTIONS; REDEMPTION.............................. 14
SECTION 4.1. Distributions....................................... 14
SECTION 4.2. Redemption.......................................... 15
SECTION 4.3. Subordination of Common Securities.................. 17
SECTION 4.4. Payment Procedures.................................. 18
SECTION 4.5. Tax Returns and Reports............................. 18
SECTION 4.6. Payment of Taxes, Duties, Etc. of the Trust......... 19
SECTION 4.7. Payments under Indenture............................ 19
ARTICLE V. TRUST SECURITIES CERTIFICATES........................... 19
SECTION 5.1. Initial Ownership................................... 19
SECTION 5.2. Trust Securities Certificates....................... 19
SECTION 5.3. Execution and Delivery of Trust Securities
Certificates ....................................... 19
SECTION 5.4. Restrictions on Transfer; Registration of
Transfer and Exchange of Preferred Securities
Certificates ....................................... 19
SECTION 5.5. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Trust
Securities Certificates............................. 20
SECTION 5.6. Persons Deemed Security Holders..................... 21
SECTION 5.7. Access to List of Securityholders' Names
and Addresses ...................................... 21
SECTION 5.8. Maintenance of Office or Agency; Transfer Agent..... 21
SECTION 5.9. Appointment of Paying Agent......................... 21
SECTION 5.10. Ownership of Common Securities by Depositor......... 22
SECTION 5.11. Book-Entry Preferred Securities Certificates;
Common Securities Certificates...................... 22
SECTION 5.12. Notices to Clearing Agency.......................... 23
SECTION 5.13. Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates........ 23
SECTION 5.14. Rights of Securityholders........................... 24
ARTICLE VI. ACTS OF SECURITYHOLDERS; MEETINGS; VOTING ............. 25
SECTION 6.1. Limitations on Preferred Securityholders'
Voting Rights ...................................... 25
SECTION 6.2. Notice of Meetings.................................. 26
SECTION 6.3. Meetings of Preferred Securityholders............... 26
SECTION 6.4. Voting Rights....................................... 27
ii
<PAGE> 4
Page
----
SECTION 6.5. Proxies, etc. ....................................... 27
SECTION 6.6. Securityholder Action by Written Consent............. 27
SECTION 6.7. Record Date for Voting and Other Purposes............ 27
SECTION 6.8. Acts of Preferred Securityholders.................... 28
SECTION 6.9. Inspection of Records................................ 28
ARTICLE VII. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES ........................ 29
SECTION 7.1. Representations and Warranties of the Property
Trustee and the Delaware Trustee..................... 29
SECTION 7.2. Representations and Warranties of Depositor.......... 30
ARTICLE VIII. THE TRUSTEES ........................................ 30
SECTION 8.1. Certain Duties and Responsibilities.................. 30
SECTION 8.2. Certain Notices...................................... 31
SECTION 8.3. Certain Rights of Property Trustee................... 32
SECTION 8.4. Not responsible for Recitals......................... 34
SECTION 8.5. May Hold Securities.................................. 34
SECTION 8.6. Compensation, Indemnity; Fees........................ 34
SECTION 8.7. Corporate Property Trustee Required; Eligibility
of Trustees ......................................... 35
SECTION 8.8. Conflicting Interests................................ 36
SECTION 8.9. Co-Trustees and Separate Property Trustee............ 36
SECTION 8.10. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.... 37
SECTION 8.11. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor............... 38
SECTION 8.12. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession
to Business ......................................... 39
SECTION 8.13. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Depositor
or Trust ............................................ 39
SECTION 8.14. Reports by Property Trustee.......................... 39
SECTION 8.15. Reports to the Property Trustee...................... 40
SECTION 8.16. Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent..... 40
SECTION 8.17 Number of Trustees................................... 40
SECTION 8.18. Delegation of Power.................................. 41
ARTICLE IX. TERMINATTON, LIQUIDATION AND MERGER .................... 41
SECTION 9.1. Termination Upon Expiration Date .................... 41
SECTION 9.2. Early Termination ................................... 42
SECTION 9.3. Termination ......................................... 42
SECTION 9.4. Liquidation ......................................... 42
SECTION 9.5. Mergers, Consolidations, Amalgamations or
Replacements of the Trust ........................... 43
ARTICLE X. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS ................................ 44
SECTION 10.1. Limitation of Rights of Security Holders ............ 45
SECTION 10.2. Liability of the Common Securityholder .............. 45
SECTION 10.3. Amendment ........................................... 45
SECTION 10.4. Separability ........................................ 46
SECTION 10.5. Governing Law ....................................... 46
SECTION 10.6. Payments Due on Non-Business Day .................... 46
SECTION 10.7. Successors .......................................... 46
SECTION 10.8. Headings ............................................ 46
SECTION 10.9. Reports, Notices and Demands ........................ 47
SECTION 10.10 Agreement Not to Petition ........................... 47
SECTION 10.11 Trust Indenture Act, Conflict with Trust
Indenture Act ....................................... 47
SECTION 10.12 Acceptance of Terms of Declaration of Trust,
Guarantee and Indenture.............................. 48
iii
<PAGE> 5
AGREEMENT
Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust, dated as of ____________,
________, among (i) Republic New York Corporation, a Maryland corporation
(including any successors or assigns, the "Depositor"), (ii) Bankers Trust
Company, a New York banking corporation, 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"), (iii) Bankers Trust (Delaware), a
Delaware banking corporation, as Delaware trustee (the "Delaware Trustee"), (iv)
Thomas F. Robards, an individual, and Stephen Saali, an individual, each of
whose address is c/o Republic New York Corporation (each an "Administrative
Trustee" and collectively the "Administrative Trustees") (the Property Trustee,
the Delaware Trustee and the Administrative Trustees are referred to
collectively herein as the "Trustees") and (v) the several Holders, as
hereinafter defined.
WITNESSETH
WHEREAS, the Depositor, the Delaware Trustee and the Administrative
Trustees have heretofore duly declared and established a business trust pursuant
to the Delaware Business Trust Act by the entering into a certain Declaration of
Trust, dated as of November 18, 1997 (the "Original Declaration of Trust"), and
by the execution and filing by the Delaware Trustee and the Administrative
Trustees with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware of the Certificate
of Trust, filed on November 19, 1997 (the "Certificate of Trust"); and attached
as Exhibit A; and
WHEREAS, the Depositor, the Delaware Trustee and the Administrative
Trustees desire to amend and restate the Original Declaration of Trust in its
entirety as set forth herein to provide for, among other things, (i) the
issuance of the Common Securities by the Trust to the Depositor, (ii) the
issuance and sale of the [title of Pfd Securities] Preferred Securities (the
"Preferred Securities") by the Trust pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement,
(iii) the acquisition by the Trust from the Depositor of all of the right, title
and interest in the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities and (iv) the appointment
of Bankers Trust Company, a New York banking corporation, 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");
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the agreements and obligations set
forth herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the sufficiency of
which is hereby acknowledged, each party, for the benefit of the other parties
and for the benefit of the Securityholders, hereby amends and restates the
Original Declaration of Trust in its entirety and agrees as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINED TERMS
SECTION 1.1. Definitions.
For all purposes of this Declaration of Trust, 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;
1
<PAGE> 6
(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) 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
Declaration of Trust;
(d) the words "herein", "hereof" and "hereunder" and other words of
similar import refer to this Declaration of Trust as a whole and not to any
particular Article, Section or other subdivision; and
"Act" has the meaning specified in Section 6.8.
"Additional Distribution" has the meaning specified in Section 4.1(c).
"Administrative Trustee" means each of Thomas F. Robards and Stephen
Saali, solely in such Person's capacity as Administrative Trustee of the Trust
continued hereunder and not in such Person's individual capacity, or such
Administrative Trustee's successor in interest in such capacity, or any
successor 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.
"Bank" has the meaning specified in the preamble to this Declaration of
Trust.
"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 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.
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"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 such committee of the 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 Trustees.
"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.
"Certificate of Trust" has the meaning specified in the preamble to this
Declaration of Trust.
"Clearing Agency" means an organization registered as a "clearing agency"
pursuant to Section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The
Depository Trust Company shall 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" has the meaning specified in the Underwriting Agreement.
"Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from time to
time constituted, created under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
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" means the [title of common securities] Common
Securities, each representing an undivided beneficial interest in the assets of
the Trust, having a Liquidation Amount of $__________ and having the rights
provided therefor in this Declaration of Trust, including the right to receive
Distributions and a Liquidation Distribution as provided herein.
"Common Securities Certificate" means a certificate evidencing ownership
of Common Securities, substantially in the form attached as Exhibit C.
"Corporate Trust Office" means the principal office of the Property
Trustee located in New York City which at the time of the execution of this
Declaration of Trust is located at Four Albany Street, New York, New York 10006;
Attention: Corporate Trust and Agency Group - Corporate Market Services.
"Declaration of Trust" means this Amended and Restated Declaration of
Trust, as the same may be modified, amended or supplemented in accordance with
the applicable provisions hereof, including all exhibits hereto, including, for
all purposes of this Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust, the provisions
of the Trust Indenture Act that are deemed to be a part of and govern this
Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust and any modification, amendment or
supplement of either, respectively.
"Debenture Event of Default" means an "Event of Default" as defined in the
Indenture.
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"Debenture Trustee" means Bankers Trust Company, a New York banking
corporation and any successor.
"Definitive Preferred Securities Certificate" means Preferred Securities
Certificates issued in certificated, fully registered form as provided in
Section 5.13.
"Delaware Business Trust Act" means Chapter 38 of Title 12 of the Delaware
Code, 12 Del. C. ss.ss. 3801, et seq., as it may be amended from time to time.
"Delaware Trustee" means the corporation identified as the "Delaware
Trustee" in the preamble to this Declaration of Trust solely in its capacity as
Delaware Trustee of the Trust continued hereunder and not in its individual
capacity, or its successor in interest in such capacity, or any successor
trustee appointed as herein provided.
"Depositor" has the meaning specified in the preamble to this Declaration
of Trust.
"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.
"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 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):
(a) the occurrence of a Debenture Event of Default; or
(b) default by the 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 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 Trustees in this Declaration of Trust
(other than a covenant or warranty, a default in the performance or breach
of which is addressed 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 defaulting Trustee or Trustees by
the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate Liquidation Amount of the
Outstanding Preferred 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 and the failure by the Depositor to appoint a successor
Property Trustee within 60 days thereof.
"Expiration Date" has the meaning specified in Section 9.1.
"Federal Reserve" means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
System.
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"Guarantee" means the Guarantee Agreement executed and delivered by the
Depositor and Bankers Trust Company, as trustee, contemporaneously with the
execution and delivery of this Declaration of Trust, for the benefit of the
holders of the Trust Securities, as amended from time to time.
"Global Preferred Securities" means a beneficial interest in the Preferred
Securities, ownership and transfers of which shall be made through book entries
by a Clearing Agency as described in Section 5.11.
"Global Preferred Securities Certificate" means a certificate evidencing
ownership of Global Preferred Securities, substantially in the form attached as
Exhibit B.
"Indenture" means the Indenture, dated as of December 15, 1997, between
the Depositor and the Debenture Trustee, as trustee, (as amended or supplemented
from time to time) relating to the issuance of the Junior Subordinated Debt
Securities.
"Junior Subordinated Debt Securities" means the aggregate principal amount
of the Depositor's [title of junior subordinated debt], issued pursuant to the
Indenture.
"Junior Subordinated Debt Securities Redemption Date" means, with respect
to any Junior Subordinated Debt Securities to be redeemed under the Indenture,
the date fixed for redemption under the Indenture.
"Letter of Representations" means the agreement among the Trust, the
Property Trustee and The Depository Trust Company ("DTC"), as the initial
Clearing Agency, dated as of the Closing Date.
"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 Trust Securities,
Trust Securities having a Liquidation Amount equal to that portion of the
principal amount of Junior Subordinated Debt Securities to be contemporaneously
redeemed in accordance with the Indenture allocated to the Common Securities and
the Preferred Securities based upon the relative Liquidation Amounts of such
classes and the proceeds of which will be used to pay the Redemption Price of
such Trust Securities, and (b) with respect to a distribution of Junior
Subordinated Debt Securities to Holders of Trust Securities in connection with a
dissolution or liquidation of the Trust, Junior Subordinated Debt Securities
having a principal amount equal to the Liquidation Amount of the Trust
Securities of the Holder to whom such Junior Subordinated Debt Securities are
distributed.
"Liquidation Amount" means the stated amount of $__________ per Trust
Security.
"Liquidation Date" means the date on which Junior Subordinated Debt
Securities are to be distributed to Holders of Trust Securities in connection
with a termination and liquidation of the Trust pursuant to Section 9.4(a).
"Liquidation Distribution" has the meaning specified in Section 9.4(d).
"1940 Act" means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
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"Officers' Certificate" means a certificate signed by the Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer, President or a Vice President, and by the Treasurer, an
Associate Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Controller, the Secretary or an
Assistant Secretary, of the Depositor, and delivered to the appropriate Trustee.
One of the officers signing an Officers' Certificate given pursuant to Section
8.16 shall be the principal executive, financial or accounting officer of the
Depositor. Any Officers' Certificate delivered with respect to compliance with a
condition or covenant provided for in this Declaration of Trust shall include:
(a) a statement that each officer signing the Officers' Certificate
has read the covenant or condition and the definitions relating thereto;
(b) a brief statement of the nature and scope of the examination or
investigation undertaken by each officer in rendering the Officers'
Certificate;
(c) a statement that each such officer has made such examination or
investigation as, in such officer's opinion, is necessary to enable such
officer to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant
or condition has been complied with; and
(d) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such officer,
such condition or covenant has been complied with.
"Opinion of Counsel" means a written opinion of counsel, who may be
counsel for the Trust, the Property Trustee or the Depositor, but not an
employee of any thereof, and who shall and which opinion shall be reasonably
acceptable to the Property Trustee.
"Original Declaration of Trust" has the meaning specified in the preamble
to this Declaration of Trust.
"Outstanding", with respect to Preferred Securities, means, as of the date
of determination, all Preferred Securities theretofore executed and delivered
under this Declaration of Trust, except:
(a) Preferred Securities theretofore canceled by the Property
Trustee or delivered to the Property Trustee for cancellation;
(b) Preferred Securities for whose payment or redemption money in
the necessary amount has been theretofore deposited with the Property
Trustee or any Paying Agent for the Holders of such Preferred Securities,
provided that if such Preferred Securities are to be redeemed, notice of
such redemption has been duly given pursuant to this Declaration of Trust;
and
(c) Preferred Securities which have been paid or in exchange for or
in lieu of which other Preferred Securities have been executed and
delivered pursuant to Sections 5.2, 5.4, 5.5, 5.11 and 5.13;
provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite
Liquidation Amount of the Outstanding Preferred Securities have given any
request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder,
Preferred Securities owned by the Depositor, any Trustee or any Affiliate of the
Depositor or any Trustee shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding,
except that (a) in determining whether any Trustee shall be protected in relying
upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or
waiver, only Preferred Securities that a Responsible Officer of
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such Trustee actually knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded and (b) the
foregoing shall not apply at any time when all of the outstanding Preferred
Securities are owned by the Depositor, one or more of the Trustees and/or any
such Affiliate. Preferred Securities so owned which 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 Preferred 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 a Global
Preferred Security 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 5.9 and shall initially be the Bank.
"Payment Account " means a segregated non-interest-bearing corporate trust
account maintained by the Property Trustee with the Bank in its trust department
for the benefit of the Securityholders in which all amounts paid in respect of
the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities will be held and from which the Property
Trustee shall make payments to the Securityholders in accordance with Sections
4.1 and 4.2.
"Person" means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture,
trust, limited liability company or corporation, unincorporated organization or
government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.
"Preferred Securities" means the Preferred Securities of the Trust each
representing an undivided beneficial interest in the assets of the Trust, having
a Liquidation Amount of $__________ per Preferred Security and having the rights
provided therefor in this Declaration of Trust, including the right to receive
Distributions and a Liquidation Distribution as provided herein.
"Preferred Securities Certificate" means a certificate evidencing
ownership of Preferred Securities, substantially in the form attached as Exhibit
B.
"Preferred Securityholder" means a Person in whose name a Preferred
Security or Preferred Securities is registered in the Securities Register; and
any such Person shall be deemed to be a beneficial owner within the meaning of
the Delaware Business Trust Act.
"Property Trustee" means the commercial bank or trust company identified
as the "Property Trustee" in the preamble to this Declaration of Trust solely in
its capacity as Property Trustee of the Trust 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 Declaration
of Trust; provided, however, that each Junior Subordinated Debt Securities
Redemption Date and the stated maturity of the Junior Subordinated Debt
Securities 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
Junior
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Subordinated Debt Securities, allocated on a pro rata basis (based on
Liquidation Amounts) among the Trust Securities.
"Relevant Trustee" has the meaning specified in Section 8.10.
"Responsible Officer" means, when used with respect to the Property
Trustee, any officer assigned to the Corporate Trust Office, including any
managing director, vice president, assistant vice president, assistant
treasurer, assistant secretary or any other officer to the Property Trustee
customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above
designated officers and having direct responsibility for the administration for
this Declaration of Trust, and also, with respect to a particular matter, any
other officer, to whom such matter is referred because of such officer's
knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.
"Securities Register" and "Securities Registrar" have the respective
meanings specified in Section 5.4.
"Securityholder" or "Holder" means a Person in whose name a Trust Security
or Trust Securities is 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; provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders
of the requisite amount of Preferred Securities have voted on any matter
provided for in this Declaration of Trust, then for the purpose of any such
determination, so long as Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates have not
been issued, the term Securityholders or Holders as used herein shall refer to
the Owners.
"Stated Maturity" has the meaning specified in Section 1.1 of the
Indenture.
"Tax Event" has the meaning specified in Section 1.1 of the Indenture.
"Transfer Agent" means the Bank as set forth in the preamble to this
Declaration of Trust.
"Trust" means Republic New York Capital _______
"Trust Indenture Act" has the meaning specified in Section 1.1 of the
Indenture.
"Trust Property" means (a) the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities, (b)
the rights of the Property Trustee under the Guarantee, (c) any cash on deposit
in, or owing to, the Payment Account and (d) all proceeds and rights in respect
of the foregoing.
"Trust Securities Certificate" means any one of the Common Securities
Certificates or the Preferred Securities Certificates.
"Trust Security" means any one of the Common Securities or the Preferred
Securities.
"Trustees" means, collectively, the Property Trustee, the Delaware Trustee
and the Administrative Trustees.
"Underwriting Agreement" means the agreement dated as of
____________________ among the Trust, the Depositor and __________________.
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ARTICLE II
CONTINUATION OF THE TRUST
SECTION 2.1. Name.
The Trust continued hereby shall be known as "Republic New York Capital
__________", 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 Trustees, in which name the Trustees may conduct the
business of the Trust, make and execute contracts and other instruments on
behalf of the 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 Bankers
Trust (Delaware), 1011 Centre Road, Suite 200, Wilmington, DE 19805-1266,
Attention: Ms. Lisa Wilkins, or such other address in the State of Delaware as
the Delaware Trustee may designate by written notice to the Securityholders and
the Depositor. The principal executive office of the Trust is in care of
Republic New York Corporation, 452 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10018; Attention:
Office of the Secretary.
SECTION 2.3. Initial Contribution of Trust Property, Organizational
Expenses.
The Property Trustee acknowledges receipt in trust from the Depositor in
connection with this Declaration of Trust of the sum of $10, which constitutes
the initial Trust Property. The Depositor, as borrower, shall pay all
organizational expenses of the Trust as they arise or shall, upon request of any
Trustee, promptly reimburse such Trustee for any such expenses paid by such
Trustee. The Depositor shall make no claim upon the Trust Property for the
payment of such expenses.
SECTION 2.4. Issuance of the Preferred Securities.
The Preferred Securities to be issued will be limited to
$___________________ aggregate Liquidation Amount outstanding at any one time.
On ___________________, the Depositor and the Administrative Trustees, on
behalf of the Trust, and pursuant to the Original Declaration of Trust, and
______________executed and delivered the Underwriting Agreement.
Contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of this Declaration of Trust,
an Administrative Trustee, on behalf of the Trust, shall execute or cause to be
executed in accordance with Section 5.2 and delivered to _____________________.
a Global Preferred Securities Certificate in book-entry form, registered in the
name of the nominee of the initial Clearing Agency, in an aggregate amount of
Preferred Securities having an aggregate Liquidation Amount of
$_____________________ against receipt of the aggregate purchase price of such
Preferred Securities equal to 100% of the Liquidation Amount multiplied by the
number of Preferred Securities being purchased which amount the Administrative
Trustee shall promptly deliver to the Property Trustee.
SECTION 2.5. Issuance of the Common Securities; Subscription and Purchase
of Junior Subordinated Debt Securities.
Contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of this Declaration of
Trust, an Administrative Trustee, on behalf of the Trust, shall execute or cause
to be executed in accordance with Section 5.2 and delivered to the Depositor
Common Securities Certificates, registered in the name of the Depositor, in an
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aggregate amount of ______________ Common Securities having an aggregate
Liquidation Amount of $___________ against payment by the Depositor of
$_____________ minus the amount previously contributed pursuant to Section 2.3
hereof which amount the Administrative Trustees shall promptly deliver to the
Property Trustee. Contemporaneously therewith, an Administrative Trustee, on
behalf of the Trust, shall subscribe to and purchase from the Depositor Junior
Subordinated Debt Securities, registered in the name of the Trust and having an
aggregate principal amount equal to $_______________, and, in satisfaction of
the purchase price for such Junior Subordinated Debt Securities, the Property
Trustee, on behalf of the Trust, shall deliver to the Depositor the sum of
$________________.
SECTION 2.6. Purpose; Appointment of Trustees.
The exclusive purposes and functions of the Trust are to (a) issue and
sell Trust Securities, (b) use the proceeds from the sale of Trust Securities to
acquire the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities, (c) receive payments to be made
with respect to the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities, (d) make distributions,
and (e) engage in only those other activities necessary, advisable or incidental
thereto such as registering the transfer of the Preferred Securities.
The Depositor hereby appoints the Trustees as trustees of the Trust, to
have all the rights, powers and duties to the extent set forth herein, and the
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 Trust and the Securityholders. 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 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 Trust for
the sole and limited purpose of fulfilling the requirements of Section 3807 of
the Delaware Business Trust Act.
SECTION 2.7. Authorization to Enter into Certain Transactions.
(a) The Trustees shall conduct the affairs of the Trust in accordance with
the terms of this Declaration of Trust. Subject to the limitations set forth in
paragraph (b) of this Section and in accordance with the following provisions
(i) and (ii), the Trustees shall have the authority to enter into all
transactions and agreements determined by the Trustees to be appropriate in
exercising the authority, express or implied, otherwise granted to the Trustees
under this Declaration of Trust, and to perform all acts in furtherance thereof,
including without limitation, the following:
(i) As among the Trustees, each Administrative Trustee shall have
the power and authority to act on behalf of the Trust with respect to the
following matters:
(A) the issuance and sale of the Trust Securities, provided,
however, that the Trust may issue no more than one series of
Preferred Securities and no more than one series of Common
Securities, and, provided further that there shall be no interests
in the Trust other than the Trust Securities, and issuance of the
Trust Securities shall be limited to a one-time, simultaneous
issuance of both Preferred Securities and Common Securities on the
Closing Date.;
(B) to cause the Trust to enter into, and to execute, deliver
and perform on behalf of the Trust, the Underwriting Agreement, the
Letter of Representations and such
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other agreements as may be necessary or desirable in connection with
the purposes and function of the Trust;
(C) assisting in the registration of the Preferred Securities
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and under state
securities or blue sky laws, and the qualification of this
Declaration of Trust as a trust indenture under the Trust Indenture
Act;
(D) assisting in the listing, if any, of the Preferred
Securities upon such securities exchange or exchanges as shall be
determined by the Depositor and the registration of the Preferred
Securities under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
(the "Exchange Act"), and the preparation and filing of all periodic
and other reports and other documents pursuant to the foregoing;
(E) the sending of notices (other than notices of default) and
other information regarding the Trust Securities and the Junior
Subordinated Debt Securities to the Securityholders in accordance
with this Declaration of Trust;
(F) the appointment of a Paying Agent, Transfer Agent and
Securities Registrar in accordance with this Declaration of Trust;
(G) registering transfer of the Trust Securities in accordance
with this Declaration of Trust;
(H) to acquire the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities and the
Guarantee with the proceeds of the sale of the Preferred Securities
and the Common Securities, provided, however, that the
Administrative Trustees shall cause legal title to the Junior
Subordinated Debt Securities to be held of record in the name of the
Property Trustee for the benefit of the Holders of the Trust
Securities;
(I) to the extent provided in this Declaration of Trust, the
winding up of the affairs of and liquidation of the Trust and the
preparation, execution and filing of the certificate of cancellation
with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware;
(J) unless otherwise determined by the Depositor, the Property
Trustee or the Administrative Trustees or as otherwise required by
the Delaware Business Trust Act or the Trust Indenture Act to
execute on behalf of the 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
Declaration of Trust; and
(K) the taking of any action incidental to the foregoing as
the Trustees may from time to time determine is necessary or
advisable to give effect to the terms of this Declaration of Trust
for the benefit of the Securityholders (without consideration of the
effect of any such action on any particular Securityholder).
(ii) As among the Trustees, the Property Trustee shall have the
power, duty and authority to act on behalf of the Trust with respect to
the following matters:
(A) the establishment of the Payment Account;
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(B) the receipt of the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities;
(C) the collection of interest, principal and any other
payments made in respect of the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities
in the Payment Account;
(D) the distribution of amounts owed to the Securityholders in
respect of the Trust Securities;
(E) the exercise of all of the rights, powers and privileges
of a holder of the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities;
(F) the sending of notices of default and other information
regarding the Trust Securities and the Junior Subordinated Debt
Securities to the Securityholders in accordance with this
Declaration of Trust;
(G) the distribution of the Trust Property in accordance with
the terms of this Declaration of Trust;
(H) to the extent provided in this Declaration of Trust, the
winding up of the affairs of and liquidation of the Trust and the
preparation, execution and filing of the certificate of cancellation
with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware;
(I) after an Event of Default 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 Declaration of Trust and protect and conserve the Trust
Property for the benefit of the Securityholders (without
consideration of the effect of any such action on any particular
Securityholder); and
(J) except as otherwise provided in this Section 2.7(a)(ii),
the Property Trustee shall have none of the duties, liabilities,
powers or the authority of the Administrative Trustees set forth in
Section 2.7(a)(i).
(b) So long as this Declaration of Trust remains in effect, the Trust (or
the Trustees acting on behalf of the Trust) shall not undertake any business,
activities or transaction except as expressly provided herein or contemplated
hereby. In particular, the Trustees shall not (i) acquire any investments or
engage in any activities not authorized by this Declaration of Trust, (ii) sell,
assign, transfer, exchange, mortgage, pledge, set-off or otherwise dispose of
any of the Trust Property or interests therein, including to Securityholders,
except as expressly provided herein, (iii) intentionally take any action that
would cause the Trust to fail or cease to qualify as a "grantor trust" for
United States federal income tax purposes, (iv) incur any indebtedness for
borrowed money or issue any other debt, (v) take or consent to any action that
would result in the placement of a Lien on any of the Trust Property, (vi)
invest any proceeds received by the Trust from holding the Junior Subordinated
Debt Securities, but shall distribute all such proceeds to Holders of Trust
Securities pursuant to the terms of this Declaration of Trust and of the Trust
Securities, (vii) acquire any assets other than the Trust Property, (viii)
possess any power or otherwise act in such a way as to vary the Trust Property,
(ix) possess any power or otherwise act in such a way as to vary the terms of
the Trust Securities in any way whatsoever (except to the extent expressly
authorized in this Declaration of Trust or by the terms of the Trust
Securities), (x) issue any securities or other evidences of beneficial ownership
of, or beneficial interest in, the Trust other than the Trust Securities, or
(xi) other than as provided in this Declaration of Trust or by the terms of the
Trust Securities, (A) direct the time, method
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and place of exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Debenture Trustee
with respect to the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities, (B) waive any past
default that is waivable under the Indenture, (C) exercise any right to rescind
or annul any declaration that the principal of all Junior Subordinated Debt
Securities shall be due and payable, or (D) consent to any amendment,
modification, or termination of the Indenture or the Junior Subordinated Debt
Securities where such consent shall be required unless the Trust shall have
received an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that such amendment, modification
or termination will not cause more than an insubstantial risk that the Trust
will be deemed an Investment Company required to be registered under the
Investment Company Act, the Trust will not be classified as a grantor trust for
United States federal income tax purposes or the Junior Subordinated Debt
Securities will not be classified as indebtedness for such purposes. 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 Trust or the Securityholders in their capacity as Securityholders.
(c) In connection with the issue and sale of the Preferred Securities, the
Depositor shall have the right and responsibility to assist the Trust with
respect to, or effect on behalf of the Trust, the following (and any actions
taken by the Depositor in furtherance of the following prior to the date of this
Declaration of Trust are hereby ratified and confirmed in all respects):
(i) the preparation and filing by the Trust with the Commission and
the execution on behalf of the Trust of a registration statement on the
appropriate form in relation to the Preferred Securities, including any
amendments thereto;
(ii) the determination of the States in which to take appropriate
action to qualify or register for sale all or part of the Preferred
Securities and the determination of any and all such acts, other than
actions which must be taken by or on behalf of the Trust, and the advice
to the Trustees of actions they must take on behalf of the Trust, and the
preparation for execution and filing of any documents to be executed and
filed by the Trust or on behalf of the Trust, as the Depositor deems
necessary or advisable in order to comply with the applicable laws of any
such States;
(iii) the preparation for filing by the Trust and execution on
behalf of the 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 Preferred Securities;
(iv) the preparation for filing by the Trust with the Commission and
the execution on behalf of the Trust of a registration statement on Form
8-A relating to the registration of the Preferred 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 Preferred
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 Administrative
Trustees are authorized and directed to conduct the affairs of the Trust and to
operate the Trust so that the Trust will not (i) be deemed to be an "investment
company" required to be registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended, or (ii) fail to be classified as a grantor trust for United States
federal income tax
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purposes and so that the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities will be treated as
indebtedness of the Depositor for United States federal income tax purposes. In
this connection, the Depositor and the Administrative Trustees are authorized to
take any action, not inconsistent with applicable law, the Certificate of Trust
or this Declaration of Trust, that each of the Depositor and the Administrative
Trustees determines 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 Trust Securities.
SECTION 2.8. Assets of Trust.
The assets of the Trust shall consist solely 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 for the benefit of the Trust and the Securityholders in
accordance with this Declaration of Trust. The Holders of the Trust Securities
shall not have legal title to any part of the assets of the Trust, but shall
have an undivided beneficial interest in the assets of the Trust.
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 any agent of the Property Trustee
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 Declaration of Trust. All moneys 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 Securityholders and for distribution as herein provided, including (and
subject to) any priority of payments provided for herein or by applicable law.
(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 Junior Subordinated Debt Securities.
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) Distributions on the Trust Securities shall be cumulative and will
accumulate whether or not there are funds of the Trust available for the payment
of Distributions. Distributions shall accrue from _____________________, and,
except in the event (and to the extent) that the Depositor exercises its right
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to defer the payment of interest on the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities
pursuant to the Indenture, shall be payable [annually, semi-annually, quarterly]
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, 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 such date (each date on which distributions are payable in accordance with
this Section 4.1(a), a "Distribution Date"). Accrued Distributions that are not
paid on the applicable Distribution Date will bear interest on the amount
thereof (to the extent permitted by law) at the rate per annum of ____________%
thereof, compounded [annually, semi-annually, quarterly] from the relevant
Distribution Date.
(b) The Trust Securities represent undivided beneficial ownership
interests in the Trust Property, and, assuming payments of interest on the
Junior Subordinated Debt Securities are made when due (and before giving effect
to Additional Distributions, defined below, if applicable), Distributions on the
Trust Securities shall be payable at a rate of _______________ per annum of the
Liquidation Amount of the Trust Securities. The amount of Distributions payable
for any full period shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve
30-day months. The amount of Distributions for any partial period shall be
computed on the basis of the number of days elapsed in a 360-day year of twelve
30-day months. The amount of Distributions payable for any period shall include
the Additional Distributions, if any.
(c) So long as no Debenture Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing, the Depositor has the right under the Indenture to defer the payment
of interest on the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities at any time and from time
to time for a period not exceeding 10 consecutive semi-annual periods (an
"Extension Period"), provided that no Extension Period may extend beyond the
Stated Maturity of the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities. As a consequence of
any such deferral, [annual, semi-annual,] Distributions on the Trust
Securities by the Trust will also be deferred (and the amount of Distributions
to which Holders of the Trust Securities are entitled will accumulate additional
Distributions thereon at the rate of ____________% per annum, compounded
[annually, semi-annually, quarterly]) from the relevant payment date for such
Distributions, but not exceeding the interest rate then accruing on the Junior
Subordinated Debt Securities. Each increase in Distribution, described in
Section 4.1(c), is an "Additional Distribution".
(d) 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 Trust has funds legally available in the Payment
Account for the payment of such Distributions.
(e) Distributions on the Trust Securities with respect to a Distribution
Date shall be payable to the Holders of record as they appear on the Securities
Register for the Trust Securities on each ______________ and _______________.
SECTION 4.2. Redemption.
(a) On each Junior Subordinated Debt Securities Redemption Date and on the
Stated Maturity of the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities, the Trust will be
required to redeem a Like Amount of Trust Securities at the Redemption Price.
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(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 applicable Redemption Price, which shall be equal to (i) in
the case of the repayment of the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities on
the Stated Maturity of the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities, the
Maturity Redemption Price (equal to the principal of, and accrued but
unpaid interest on, the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities) or (ii) in
the case of the optional prepayment of the Junior Subordinated Debt
Securities, the Optional Redemption Price (equal to the Optional
Prepayment Price in respect of the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities).
If less than all of the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities are to be
repaid or redeemed on a Redemption Date, then the proceeds from such
repayment or redemption shall be allocated to the redemption of the
Preferred Securities and the Common Securities on pro rata basis. The
amount of premium, if any, paid by the Depositor upon the redemption of
the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities to be repaid or redeemed on a
Redemption Date shall be allocated to the redemption of the Preferred
Securities and the Common Securities on a pro rata basis;
(iii) if less than all the Outstanding Trust Securities are to be
redeemed, the identification and the total Liquidation Amount of the
particular Trust Securities to be redeemed; and
(iv) 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 accrue on and after said date.
The Trust in issuing the Trust Securities may use "CUSIPnumbers in
notices or redemption and related materials as a convenience to Securityholders;
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 material.
(c) The Trust Securities redeemed on each Redemption Date shall be
redeemed at the Redemption Price with the proceeds from the contemporaneous
redemption of Junior Subordinated Debt Securities. Redemptions of the Trust
Securities shall be made and the applicable Redemption Price shall be payable on
each Redemption Date only to the extent that the 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
Trust Securities, then, by 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the Redemption
Date, subject to Section 4.2(c), the Property Trustee will, so long as the
Preferred Securities are in book-entry-only form, irrevocably deposit with the
Clearing Agency for the Preferred Securities 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 thereof.
With respect to Preferred Securities held in certificated form, the Property
Trustee, subject to Section 4.2(c), will irrevocably deposit with the Paying
Agent 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 thereof upon surrender of their Preferred Securities
Certificates. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Distributions payable on or prior
to the Redemption Date for any Trust
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Securities called for redemption shall be payable to the Holders of such Trust
Securities as they appear on the 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 Securityholders holding Trust Securities so
called for redemption will cease, except the right of such Securityholders to
receive the applicable Redemption Price and any Distribution payable on or prior
to the Redemption Date, but without interest, and such Preferred Securities will
cease to be outstanding. In the event that any date on which any applicable
Redemption Price is payable is not a Business Day, then payment of the
applicable Redemption Price payable on such date will be made on the next
succeeding day that is a Business Day (and without any interest or other payment
in respect of any such delay), except that, if such Business Day falls in the
next calendar year, such payment will be made on the immediately preceding
Business Day, in each case, with the same force and effect as if made on such
date. In the event that payment of the applicable Redemption Price in respect of
any Trust Securities called for redemption is improperly withheld or refused and
not paid either by the Trust or by the Depositor pursuant to the Guarantee,
Distributions on such Trust Securities will continue to accrue, at the then
applicable rate, from the Redemption Date originally established by the Trust
for such Trust Securities to the date such applicable Redemption Price is
actually paid, in which case the actual payment date will be the date fixed for
redemption for purposes of calculating the applicable Redemption Price.
(e) Payment of the applicable Redemption Price on, and any distributions
of Junior Subordinated Debt Securities to holders of, the Trust Securities shall
be made to the recordholders thereof as they appear on the Securities Register
for the Trust Securities on the relevant record date, and, with respect to Trust
Securities held in certificated form, upon surrender of such certificated Trust
Securities to the Paying Agent.
(f) 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 on a
pro rata basis (based on Liquidation Amounts) among the Common Securities and
the Preferred Securities. The particular Trust Securities to be redeemed shall
be selected on a pro rata basis (based upon Liquidation Amounts) not more than
60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Property Trustee from the
Outstanding Trust 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 $__________ or an
integral multiple of $__________ in excess thereof) of the Liquidation Amount of
Trust Securities of a denomination larger than $__________. The Property Trustee
shall promptly notify the Security Registrar in writing of the Trust Securities
selected for redemption and, in the case of any Trust Securities selected for
partial redemption, the Liquidation Amount thereof to be redeemed. For all
purposes of this Declaration of Trust, unless the context otherwise requires,
all provisions relating to the redemption of Trust Securities shall relate in
the case of any Trust Securities redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the
portion of the Liquidation Amount of Trust Securities that has been or is to be
redeemed.
SECTION 4.3. Subordination of Common Securities.
(a) Payment of Distributions (including Additional Distributions, if
applicable) on, and the Redemption Price of the Trust Securities, as applicable,
shall be made subject to Section 4.2(f), pro rata to the holders of the Common
Securities and the Preferred Securities based on the Liquidation Amount of the
Trust Securities; provided, however, that if on any Distribution Date or
Redemption Date any Event of Default resulting from a Debenture Event of Default
shall have occurred and be continuing, no payment of any Distribution (including
Additional Distributions, if applicable) on, or Redemption Price of, any of the
Common Securities, and no other payment on account of the redemption,
liquidation or other acquisition of
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such Common Securities, shall be made unless payment in full in cash of all
accumulated and unpaid Distributions (including Additional Distributions, if
applicable) on all outstanding Preferred Securities for all Distribution periods
terminating on or prior thereto, or, in the case of payment of the applicable
Redemption Price the full amount of such Redemption Price on all Outstanding
Preferred 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 Additional
Distributions, if applicable) on, or the Redemption Price of, Preferred
Securities then due and payable.
(b) In the case of the occurrence of any Event of Default resulting from
any Debenture Event of Default, the Holder of Common Securities will be deemed
to have waived any right to act with respect to any such Event of Default under
this Declaration of Trust until the effect of all such Events of Default with
respect to the Preferred Securities have been cured, waived or otherwise
eliminated. Until all such Events of Default under this Declaration of Trust
with respect to the Preferred Securities have been so cured, waived or otherwise
eliminated, the Property Trustee shall act solely on behalf of the Holders of
the Preferred Securities and not on behalf of the Holder of the Common
Securities, and only the Holders of the Preferred Securities will have the right
to direct the Property Trustee to act on their behalf.
SECTION 4.4. Payment Procedures.
In the event Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates are issued,
payments of Distributions (including Additional Distributions, if applicable) in
respect of the Preferred Securities shall be made by check mailed to the address
of the Person entitled thereto at such address as shall appear on the Securities
Register. If the Preferred Securities are held by a Clearing Agency, such
Distributions shall be made to the Clearing Agency in immediately available
funds, which shall credit the relevant Persons' accounts at such Clearing Agency
on the applicable Distribution Dates. Payments in respect of the Common
Securities shall be made in such manner as shall be mutually agreed between the
Property Trustee and the Common Securityholder.
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
Trust. In this regard, the Administrative Trustees shall (a) prepare and file
(or cause to be prepared and filed) the appropriate Internal Revenue Service
form required to be filed in respect of the Trust in each taxable year of the
Trust and (b) prepare and furnish (or cause to be prepared and furnished) to
each Securityholder the appropriate Internal Revenue Service form required to be
provided pursuant to the form referenced in clause (a) hereof. 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 Trustees shall comply with United States federal withholding and
backup withholding tax laws and information reporting requirements with respect
to any payments to Securityholders under the Trust Securities.
SECTION 4.6. Payment of Taxes; Duties, Etc. of the Trust.
Pursuant to Section 10.6 of the Indenture, the Depositor, as borrower, has
agreed to, and it shall, promptly pay any taxes, duties or governmental charges
of whatever nature (other than United States withholding taxes) imposed on the
Trust by the United States or any other taxing authority.
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SECTION 4.7. Payments under Indenture.
Any amount payable hereunder to any Holder of Preferred Securities (and
any Owner with respect thereto) shall be reduced by the amount of any
corresponding payment such Holder (and Owner) has directly received pursuant to
Section 5.8 of the Indenture.
ARTICLE V
TRUST SECURITIES CERTIFICATES
SECTION 5.1. Initial Ownership.
Upon the formation of the 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 Trust.
SECTION 5.2. Execution of Trust Securities Certificates.
The Trust Securities Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the Trust
by the manual or facsimile signature of at least one Administrative Trustee.
Trust Securities Certificates bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of
individuals who were, at the time when such signatures shall have been affixed,
authorized to sign on behalf of the Trust, shall be validly issued and entitled
to the benefits of this Declaration of Trust, 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.
SECTION 5.3. Execution and Delivery of Trust Securities Certificates.
At the Closing Date, 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 Trust and delivered upon
the written order of the Depositor, signed by its chairman of the board, its
president, any executive vice president or any vice president, treasurer or
assistant treasurer or controller without further corporate action by the
Depositor, in authorized denominations.
SECTION 5.4. Restrictions on Transfer; Registration of Transfer and
Exchange of Preferred Securities Certificates.
Trust Securities may only be transferred, in whole or in part, in
accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in this Declaration and in
the Trust Securities. Any transfer or purported transfer of any Trust Security
not made in accordance with this Declaration and the Trust Securities shall be
null and void. Subject to this Article V, Preferred Securities shall be freely
transferable.
A transferee of a Trust Securities shall become a Securityholder, and
shall be entitled to the rights and subject to the obligations of a
Securityholder hereunder, upon due registration of such Trust Securities in such
transferee's name pursuant to Sections 5.4, 5.11 and 5.13.
The Depositor shall keep or cause to be kept, at the office or agency
maintained pursuant to Section 5.8, a register or registers for the purpose of
registering Holders of the Trust Securities and
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transfers and exchanges of Preferred Securities (the "Securities Register") in
which the registrar designated by the Depositor (the "Securities Registrar"),
subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, shall provide for
the registration of Holders of the Preferred Securities and Common Securities
Certificates (subject to Section 5.10 in the case of the Common Securities
Certificates) and registration of transfers and exchanges of Holders of the
Preferred Securities as herein provided. The Bank shall be the initial
Securities Registrar and Transfer Agent. The provisions of Sections 8.1, 8.3 and
8.6 hereunder shall apply to the Bank also in its role as Securities Registrar
and Transfer Agent.
If Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates are issued, then upon
surrender for registration of transfer of any Preferred Securities Certificate
at the office or agency maintained pursuant to Section 5.8, the Administrative
Trustees or any one of them shall execute and deliver, in the name of the
designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Preferred 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 to register the transfer of
any Preferred Securities that have been called for redemption. In the event that
Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates are issued, at the option of a
Holder, Preferred Securities Certificates may be exchanged for other Preferred
Securities Certificates in authorized denominations of the same class and of a
like aggregate Liquidation Amount upon surrender of the Preferred Securities
Certificates to be exchanged at the office or agency maintained pursuant to
Section 5.8.
Every Definitive Preferred Securities Certificate, if issued, presented or
surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange shall be accompanied by a
written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Administrative
Trustees and the Securities Registrar duly executed by the Holder or his
attorney duly authorized in writing. Each Preferred Securities Certificate
surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange shall be canceled and
subsequently disposed of by an Administrative Trustee or his agent in accordance
with such Persons customary practice. No service charge shall be made for any
registration of transfer or exchange of Preferred 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 Preferred Securities Certificates.
Neither the Property Trustee nor the Securities Registrar shall have any
liability in respect of transfers of Trust Securities effected by the Clearing
Agency.
SECTION 5.5. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Trust Securities
Certificates.
Provided Definitive Trust Securities Certificates are issued, 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 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 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, 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
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constitute conclusive evidence of an undivided beneficial interest in the assets
of the Trust, as if originally issued, whether or not the lost, stolen or
destroyed Trust Securities Certificate shall be found at any time.
SECTION 5.6. Persons Deemed Securityholders.
The Trustees or the Securities Registrar shall treat the Person in whose
name any Trust Securities are issued as the owner of such Trust Securities for
the purpose of receiving distributions and for all other purposes whatsoever,
and neither the Trustees nor the Securities Registrar shall be bound by any
notice to the contrary.
SECTION 5.7. Access to List of Securityholders' Names and Addresses.
Each Owner of Trust Securities acknowledges that the Depositor, the
Property Trustee, the Delaware Trustee or the Administrative Trustees may from
time to time make reasonable use of information consisting of such Owner's name
and address, including the furnishing of a list of such names and addresses as
contemplated hereunder, and each Owner shall be deemed to have agreed not to
hold the Depositor, the Property 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 5.8. Maintenance of Office or Agency; Transfer Agent
The Administrative Trustees shall maintain an office or offices or agency
or agencies where Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates, if issued, may
be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices and
demands to or upon the Trustees in respect of the Trust Securities may be
served. The Administrative Trustees initially designate Bankers Trust Company,
Four Albany Street, New York, NY 10006, Attention: Corporate Trust and Agency
Group - Corporate Market Services, as its corporate trust office for such
purposes. The Administrative Trustees shall give prompt written notice to the
Depositor and to the Securityholders of any change in the location of the
Securities Register or any such office or agency. The Bank shall act as initial
transfer agent for the Trust Securities.
SECTION 5.9. Appointment of Paying Agent.
The Paying Agent shall make Distributions to Securityholders 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 for the purpose
of making the Distributions referred to above. The Administrative Trustees may
revoke such power and remove any Paying Agent if such Administrative Trustees
determine in their sole discretion that such Paying Agent shall have failed to
perform its obligations under this Declaration of Trust in any material respect.
The Paying Agent shall initially be the Bank, and any co-paying agent chosen by
the Bank, and acceptable to the Administrative Trustees and the Depositor. Any
Person acting as Paying Agent shall be permitted to resign as Paying Agent upon
30 days' written notice to the Administrative Trustees, the Property Trustee and
the Depositor. In the event that 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 that is acceptable to the
Property Trustee and the Depositor to act as Paying Agent (which shall be a bank
or trust company). The Administrative Trustees shall cause such successor Paying
Agent or any additional Paying Agent appointed by the Administrative Trustees to
execute and deliver to the Trustees an instrument in which such successor Paying
Agent or additional Paying Agent shall agree with the 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 Securityholders in trust for the
benefit of the Securityholders
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entitled thereto until such sums shall be paid to such Securityholders. 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 Declaration of Trust to
the Paying Agent shall include any co-paying agent unless the context requires
otherwise.
SECTION 5.10. Ownership of Common Securities by Depositor.
On the Closing Date, the Depositor shall acquire and retain beneficial and
record ownership of the Common Securities. To the fullest extent permitted by
law, other than a transfer or a transfer 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, any attempted transfer
of the Common Securities shall be void. The Administrative Trustees shall cause
each Common Securities Certificate issued to the Depositor to contain a legend
stating "THIS CERTIFICATE IS NOT TRANSFERABLE".
SECTION 5.11. Book-Entry Preferred Securities Certificates; Common
Securities Certificate.
(a) The Preferred Securities, upon original issuance, will be represented
by one or more Preferred Securities in registered book-entry global form (the
"Global Preferred Securities"), to be delivered to the Property Trustee as
custodian for the initial Clearing Agency, by, or on behalf of, the Trust. Such
Global Preferred Securities shall initially be registered on the Securities
Register in the name of Cede & Co., the nominee of the initial Clearing Agency,
and no Owner will receive a Definitive Preferred Securities Certificate
representing such Owner's interest in such Global Preferred Securities, except
as provided in Section 5.13. Unless and until Definitive Preferred Securities
Certificates have been issued to Owners pursuant to Section 5.13:
(i) the provisions of this Section 5.11(a) shall be in full force
and effect;
(ii) the Securities Registrar and the Trustees shall be entitled to
deal with the Clearing Agency for all purposes of this Declaration of
Trust relating to the Global Preferred Securities (including the payment
of the Liquidation Amount of and Distributions on the Global Preferred
Securities and the giving of instructions or directions to Owners of
Global Preferred Securities) as the sole Holder of Global Preferred
Securities and shall have no obligations to the Owners thereof;
(iii) the rights of the Owners of the Global Preferred Securities
shall be exercised only through the Clearing Agency and shall be limited
to those established by law 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 Preferred
Securities Certificates are issued pursuant to Section 5.13, the initial
Clearing Agency will make book-entry transfers among the Clearing Agency
Participants and receive and transmit payments on the Preferred Securities
to such Clearing Agency Participants;
(iv) the Global Preferred Securities may be transferred, in whole
but not in part, only to another nominee of the initial Clearing Agency or
to a successor thereof or its nominee. Beneficial interests in the Global
Preferred Securities may not be exchanged for Preferred Securities in
certificated form except as set forth in Section 5.13; and
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(v) interests in the Global Preferred Securities are subject to
restrictions on transfer as set forth in Section 5.4.
(b) A single Common Securities Certificate representing the Common
Securities shall be issued to the Depositor in the form of a definitive Common
Securities Certificate.
Except as set forth in Section 10.11 hereof, to the extent that the
provisions of this Section 5.11 conflict with any other provisions of this
Declaration of Trust, the provisions of this Section 5.11 shall prevail.
SECTION 5.12. Notices to Clearing Agency.
To the extent that a notice or other communication to the Owners is
required under this Declaration of Trust, unless and until Definitive Preferred
Securities Certificates shall have been issued to Owners pursuant to Section
5.13, the Trustees shall give all such notices and communications specified
herein to be given to Owners to the Clearing Agency, and shall have no
obligations to give duplicates thereof to the Owners.
SECTION 5.13. Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates.
Notwithstanding any other provision in this Declaration of Trust, no
Global Securities Certificate may be exchanged in whole or in part for
Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates unless (a) the Clearing Agency (i)
notifies the Property Trustee that it is no longer willing or able to properly
discharge its responsibilities with respect to the Preferred Securities, and the
Depositor is unable to locate a qualified successor or (ii) has ceased to be a
clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, (b) the Depositor at its
option advises the Trustees in writing that it elects to terminate the
book-entry system through the Clearing Agency or (c) there shall have occurred
and be continuing a Debenture Event of Default. In addition, beneficial
interests in a Global Preferred Security may be exchanged by or on behalf of the
Clearing Agency for certificated Preferred Securities upon request by the
Clearing Agency but only upon at least 20 days' prior written notice given to
the Property Trustee in accordance with the Clearing Agency customary
procedures. Upon the occurrence of the foregoing events, the Administrative
Trustee shall notify the Clearing Agency and the Clearing Agency shall notify
all Owners of Preferred Securities and the other Trustees of the occurrence of
any such event and of the availability of the Definitive Preferred Securities
Certificates to Owners of such class or classes, as applicable, requesting the
same. Upon surrender to the Administrative Trustees of the Preferred Securities
Certificate or Certificates representing the Global Preferred Securities
Certificates by the Clearing Agency, accompanied by registration instructions,
the Administrative Trustees, or any one of them, shall execute the Definitive
Preferred Securities Certificates in accordance with the instructions of the
Clearing Agency. Neither the Securities Registrar nor the Trustees shall 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. Upon the
issuance of Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates, the Trustees shall
recognize the Holders of the Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates as
Securityholders. The Definitive Preferred 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 manual
or facsimile execution thereof by the Administrative Trustees or any one of
them. If issued, the Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates will be
subject to restrictions on transfer as set forth in Section 5.4.
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SECTION 5.14. Rights of Securityholders.
(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 Securityholders shall not have any right or title therein other than the
undivided beneficial ownership interest in the assets of the 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 Trust except as described below.
The Trust Securities shall be personal property giving only the rights
specifically set forth therein and in this Declaration of Trust. The Trust
Securities shall have no preemptive or singular rights and when issued and
delivered to Securityholders against payment of the purchase price therefor will
be fully paid and nonassessable. 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 Preferred 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 Junior Subordinated Debt
Securities fail to declare the principal of all of the Junior Subordinated Debt
Securities to be immediately due and payable, the Holders of at least 25% in
Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities then Outstanding shall have such
right by a notice in writing to the Depositor and the Debenture Trustee with a
copy to the Property Trustee; and upon any such declaration such principal
amount of and the accrued interest on all of the Junior Subordinated Debt
Securities shall become immediately due and payable, provided that the payment
of principal and interest on such Junior Subordinated Debt Securities shall
remain subordinated to the extent provided in the Indenture.
At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to the
Junior Subordinated Debt Securities has been made and before a judgment or
decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Debenture Trustee
as provided in the Indenture, the Holders of a majority in Liquidation Amount of
the Preferred 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 (including any
Additional Interest (as defined in the Indenture)) on all of the
Junior Subordinated Debt Securities,
(B) the principal of (and premium, if any, on) any Junior
Subordinated Debt Securities which have become due otherwise than by
such declaration of acceleration and interest thereon at the rate
borne by the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities, and
(C) 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 Junior Subordinated
Debt Securities, other than the non-payment of the principal of the
Junior Subordinated Debt Securities which has become due solely by
such acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section
5.13 of the Indenture.
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The Holders of a majority in aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Preferred
Securities may, on behalf of the Holders of all the Preferred 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 which under the Indenture cannot be modified
or amended without the consent of the holder of each outstanding Junior
Subordinated Debt Securities. 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 the Preferred
Securities all or part of which is represented by Global Preferred Securities, a
record date shall be established for determining Holders of Outstanding
Preferred Securities entitled to join in such notice, which 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 acclamation 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 which 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 which 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 5.14(c).
(c) For so long as any Preferred Securities remain Outstanding, to the
fullest extent permitted by law and subject to the terms of this Declaration of
Trust 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 Preferred 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 the
principal amount of or interest on Junior Subordinated Debt Securities having a
principal amount equal to the Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities of
such Holder (a "Direct Action"). Except as set forth in Sections 5.14(b) and
5.14 (c), the Holders of Preferred Securities shall have no right to exercise
directly any right or remedy available to the holders of, or in respect of, the
Junior Subordinated Debt Securities.
(d) A Securityholder may institute a legal proceeding directly against the
Guarantor under the Guarantee to enforce its rights under the Guarantee without
first instituting a legal proceeding against the Trust or any person or entity.
ARTICLE VI
ACTS OF SECURITYHOLDERS; MEETINGS; VOTING
SECTION 6.1. Limitations on Preferred Securityholder's Voting Rights.
(a) Except as provided in this Section, in Sections 5.14, 6.1(c), 8.10 and
10.3 and in the Indenture and as otherwise required by law, no Holder of
Preferred Securities shall have any right to vote or in any manner otherwise
control the administration, operation and management of the Trust or the
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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 Preferred Securityholders from time to time as partners or
members of an association. Unless a Debenture Event of Default shall have
occurred and be continuing, any Trustee may be removed at any time by the vote
of the Common Securityholder. The right to vote to appoint, remove or replace
the Administrative Trustees is vested exclusively in the Depositor as the holder
of the Common Securities.
(b) So long as any Junior Subordinated Debt Securities are held by the
Property Trustee, the 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 Junior Subordinated Debt Securities, (ii) waive any past default which
is waivable under Section 5.13 of the Indenture, (iii) exercise any right to
rescind or annul a declaration that the principal of all the Junior Subordinated
Debt Securities shall be due and payable or (iv) consent to any amendment,
modification or termination of the Indenture or the Junior Subordinated Debt
Securities, where such consent shall be required, without, in each case,
obtaining the prior approval of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate
Liquidation Amount of all Outstanding Preferred Securities, provided, however,
that where a consent under the Indenture would require the consent of each
Holder of Junior Subordinated Debt Securities affected thereby, no such consent
shall be given by the Property Trustee without the prior written consent of each
Holder of Preferred Securities. The Trustees shall not revoke any action
previously authorized or approved by a vote of the Holders of Preferred
Securities, except by a subsequent vote of the Holders of Preferred Securities.
The Property Trustee shall notify all Holders of the Preferred Securities of any
notice of default received from the Debenture Trustee with respect to the Junior
Subordinated Debt Securities. In addition to obtaining the foregoing approvals
of the Holders of the Preferred Securities, prior to taking any of the foregoing
actions, the Trustees shall, at the expense of the Depositor, obtain an Opinion
of Counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that the Trust will not
fail to be classified as a grantor trust for United States federal income tax
purposes on account of such action.
(c) If any proposed amendment to the Declaration of Trust provides for, or
the Trustees otherwise propose to effect, (i) any action that would adversely
affect in any material respect the interests, powers, preferences or special
rights of the Trust Securities, whether by way of amendment to the Declaration
of Trust or otherwise, or (ii) the dissolution, winding-up or termination of the
Trust, other than pursuant to the terms of this Declaration of Trust, then the
Holders of Outstanding Trust Securities as a class will be entitled to vote on
such amendment or proposal.
SECTION 6.2. Notice of Meetings.
Notice of all meetings of the Securityholders, stating the time, place and
purpose of the meeting, shall be given by the Property Trustee pursuant to
Section 10.9 to each Securityholder of record, at his 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 Securityholders.
No annual meeting of Securityholders is required to be held. The
Administrative Trustees, however, shall call a meeting of Securityholders to
vote on any matter upon the written request of the Securityholders of record of
25% of the Securities (based upon their Liquidation Amount) and the
Administrative Trustees or the Property Trustee may, at any time in their
discretion, call a meeting of Securityholders to vote on any matters as to which
Securityholders are entitled to vote.
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Securityholders of record of 50% of the Outstanding Securities (based upon
their Liquidation Amount), present in person or represented by proxy, shall
constitute a quorum at any meeting of Securityholders.
If a quorum is present at a meeting, an affirmative vote by the
Securityholders of record present, in person or by proxy, holding more than a
majority of the Securities (based upon their Liquidation Amount) held by the
Securityholders of record present, either in person or by proxy, at such meeting
shall constitute the action of the Securityholders, unless this Declaration of
Trust requires a greater number of affirmative votes.
SECTION 6.4. Voting Rights.
Securityholders shall be entitled to one vote for each $__________ of
Liquidation Amount represented by their Trust Securities in respect of any
matter as to which such Securityholders are entitled to vote.
SECTION 6.5. Proxies, etc.
At any meeting of Securityholders, any Securityholder 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 Trust as the Administrative Trustees may
direct, for verification prior to the time at which such vote shall be taken.
Proxies may be solicited in the name of the Property Trustee or one or more
officers of the Property Trustee. Only Securityholders 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
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
Securities. A proxy purporting to be executed by or on behalf of a
Securityholder 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. Securityholder Action by Written Consent.
Any action which may be taken by Securityholders at a meeting may be taken
without a meeting if Securityholders holding more than a majority of all
Outstanding Securities entitled to vote at the meeting (based upon their
Liquidation Amount) entitled to vote in respect of such action (or such larger
proportion thereof as shall be required by any express provision of this
Declaration of Trust) shall consent to the action in writing.
SECTION 6.7. Record Date for Voting and Other Purposes.
For the purposes of determining the Securityholders 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 Declaration of Trust, or for the purpose of
any other action, the Administrative Trustees may from time to time fix a date,
not more than 90 days prior to the date of any meeting of Securityholders 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 Securityholders of record for such
purposes.
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SECTION 6.8. Acts of Securityholders.
Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or
other action provided or permitted by this Declaration of Trust to be given,
made or taken by Securityholders or Owners may be embodied in and evidenced by
one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such
Securityholders or Owners 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
Securityholders or Owners 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 Declaration of Trust and (subject to
Section 8.1) conclusive in favor of the 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 which any 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 Securityholder of any Trust Security shall bind every future
Securityholder of the same Trust Security and the Securityholder 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 Trustees or the Trust in reliance thereon, whether or not
notation of such action is made upon such Trust Security.
Without limiting the foregoing, a Securityholder 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 between the Securityholders and the
Administrative Trustees or among such Securityholders or Trustees with respect
to the authenticity, validity or binding nature of any request, demand,
authorization, direction, consent, waiver or other Act of such Securityholder or
Trustee under this Article VI, then the determination of such matter by the
Property Trustee shall be conclusive with respect to such matter.
SECTION 6.9. Inspection of Records.
Upon reasonable notice to the Administrative Trustees and the Property
Trustee, the records of the Trust shall be open to inspection by Securityholders
during normal business hours for any purpose reasonably related to such
Securityholder's interest as a Securityholder.
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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 Securityholders that:
(a) The Property Trustee is a banking corporation with trust powers, duly
organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of New York,
with trust power and authority to execute and deliver, and to carry out and
perform its obligations under the terms of this Declaration.
(b) The execution, delivery and performance by the Property Trustee of the
Declaration has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the
part of the Property Trustee; and the Declaration has been duly executed and
delivered by the Property Trustee, and constitutes a legal, valid and binding
obligation of the Property Trustee, enforceable against it in accordance with
its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, moratorium,
insolvency, and other similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally and to
general principles of equity and the discretion of the court (regardless of
whether the enforcement of such remedies is considered in a proceeding in equity
or at law).
(c) The execution, delivery and performance of the Declaration by the
Property Trustee does not conflict with or constitute a breach of the
certificate of incorporation or by-laws of the Property Trustee.
(d) At the Closing Date, the Property Trustee has not knowingly created
any liens or encumbrances on such Trust Securities.
(e) No consent, approval or authorization of, or registration with or
notice to, any New York State or federal banking authority is required for the
execution, delivery or performance by the Property Trustee, of the Declaration.
(f) The Delaware Trustee is duly organized, validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with trust power and authority
to execute and deliver, and to carry out and perform its obligations under the
terms of, the Declaration.
(g) The execution, delivery and performance by the Delaware Trustee of the
Declaration has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the
part of the Delaware Trustee; and the Declaration has been duly executed and
delivered by the Delaware Trustee, and constitutes a legal, valid and binding
obligation of the Delaware Trustee, enforceable against it in accordance with
its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, moratorium,
insolvency, and other similar laws affecting creditors' right generally and to
general principles of equity and the discretion of the court (regardless of
whether the enforcement of such remedies is considered in a proceeding in equity
or at law).
(h) The execution, delivery and performance or the Declaration by the
Delaware Trustee does not conflict with or constitute a breach of the
certificate of incorporation or by-laws of the Delaware Trustee.
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(i) No consent, approval or authorization of, or registration with or
notice to, any state or Federal banking authority is required for the execution,
delivery or performance by the Delaware Trustee, of this Declaration.
(j) The Delaware Trustee is an entity which has its principal place of
business in the State of Delaware.
SECTION 7.2. Representations and Warranties of Depositor.
The Depositor hereby represents and warrants for the benefit of the
Securityholders that:
(a) the Trust Securities Certificates issued at the Closing Date on behalf
of the Trust have been duly authorized and will have been duly and validly
executed, issued and delivered by the Trustees pursuant to the terms and
provisions of, and in accordance with the requirements of, this Declaration of
Trust, and the Securityholders will be, as of each such date, entitled to the
benefits of this Declaration of Trust; and
(b) there are no taxes, fees or other governmental charges payable by the
Trust (or the Trustees on behalf of the 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 Declaration of Trust.
ARTICLE VIII
THE TRUSTEES
SECTION 8.1. Certain Duties and Responsibilities.
(a) The duties and responsibilities of the Trustees shall be as provided
by this Declaration of Trust and, in the case of the Property Trustee, by the
Trust Indenture Act. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no provision of this
Declaration of Trust shall require the Trustees to expend or risk their own
funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of
their duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of their rights or powers, if
they shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or
indemnity satisfactory to it against such risk or liability is not reasonably
assured to it. Whether or not herein expressly so provided, every provision of
this Declaration of Trust relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of
or affording protection to the Trustees shall be subject to the provisions of
this Article. Nothing in this Declaration of Trust shall be construed to release
an Administrative Trustee from liability for his own grossly negligent action,
his own grossly negligent failure to act, or his own willful misconduct. To the
extent that, at law or in equity, an Administrative Trustee has duties
(including fiduciary duties) and liabilities relating thereto to the Trust or to
the Securityholders, such Administrative Trustee shall not be liable to the
Trust or to any Securityholder for such Trustee's good faith reliance on the
provisions of this Declaration of Trust. The provisions of this Declaration of
Trust, to the extent that they restrict the duties and liabilities of the
Administrative Trustees otherwise existing at law or in equity, are agreed by
the Depositor and the Securityholders to replace such other duties and
liabilities of the Administrative 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
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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 Securityholder, 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 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.l(b) does not limit the liability
of the Trustees expressly set forth elsewhere in this Declaration of Trust or,
in the case of the Property Trustee, in the Trust Indenture Act, if applicable.
(c) No provision of this Declaration of Trust shall be construed to
relieve the Property Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its
own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that:
(i) 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;
(ii) the Property Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any
action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with
the direction of the Holders of not less than a majority in Liquidation
Amount of the Trust Securities relating to the time, method and place of
conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Property
Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Property
Trustee under this Declaration of Trust;
(iii) the Property Trustee's sole duty with respect to the custody,
safe keeping and physical preservation of the Junior Subordinated Debt
Securities 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 Declaration of Trust and the
Trust Indenture Act;
(iv) 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; and
(v) the Property Trustee shall not be responsible for monitoring the
compliance by the Administrative Trustees or the Depositor with their
respective duties under this Declaration of Trust nor shall the Property
Trustee be liable for the default or misconduct of the Administrative
Trustees or the Depositor.
SECTION 8.2. Events of Default Notices; Deferral of Interest Payment
Notices.
Within five Business Days after the occurrence of any Event of Default
actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Property Trustee, the Property
Trustee shall transmit, in the manner and to the extent provided in Section
10.9, notice of such Event of Default to the Securityholders, the Administrative
Trustees and the Depositor, 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 the Declaration.
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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 Junior
Subordinated Debt Securities pursuant to the Indenture, the Administrative
Trustee shall transmit, in the manner and to the extent provided in Section
10.9, notice of such exercise to the Securityholders and the Property Trustee,
unless such exercise shall have been revoked.
SECTION 8.3. Certain Rights of Property Trustee.
Subject to the provisions of Section 8.1:
(a) the Property Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be fully
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 Declaration of Trust the
Property Trustee is required to decide between alternative courses of action or
(ii) in construing any of the provisions of this Declaration of Trust 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 Declaration of Trust, then, except as to
any matter as to which the Securityholders are entitled to vote under the terms
of this Declaration of Trust, the Property Trustee shall deliver a notice to the
Depositor requesting written instructions of the Depositor 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 Declaration of
Trust as it shall deem advisable and in the best interests of the
Securityholders, 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 or the Administrative Trustees
contemplated by this Declaration of Trust shall be sufficiently evidenced by an
Officers' Certificate;
(d) whenever in the administration of this Declaration of Trust, the
Property Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be established before
undertaking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Property Trustee
(unless other evidence is herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of
bad faith on its part, request and conclusively rely upon an Officers'
Certificate which, upon receipt of such request, shall be promptly delivered by
the Depositor or the Administrative Trustees; (which Officers' Certificate will
be evidence only for purposes of determining entitlement to indemnification of
the Property Trustee from the Depositor but not with respect to any liability to
Security holders).
(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
re-recording, refiling or reregistration thereof;
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(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, such counsel may be counsel to the Depositor or any of its
Affiliates, and may include any of its employees; the Property Trustee shall
have the right at any time to seek instructions concerning the administration of
this Declaration of Trust 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 Declaration of Trust at the request or
direction of any of the Securityholders pursuant to this Declaration of Trust,
unless such Securityholders shall have offered to the Property Trustee security
or indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities
which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction;
(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 Securityholders, 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 its trusts or powers hereunder
or perform any of its duties hereunder either directly or by or through its
agents or attorneys, and the Property Trustee shall not be responsible for any
misconduct or negligence on the part of or for the supervision of any such agent
or attorney appointed by it with due care hereunder;
(j) whenever in the administration of this Declaration of Trust the
Property Trustee shall deem it desirable to receive instructions with respect to
enforcing any remedy or right or taking any other action hereunder, the Property
Trustee (i) may request instructions from the Holders of the Trust Securities
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 fully protected in acting in accordance with such instructions;
(k) except as otherwise expressly provided by this Declaration of Trust,
the Property Trustee shall not be under any obligation to take any action that
is discretionary under the provisions of this Declaration of Trust;
(l) when the Property Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in
connection with a Bankruptcy Event, such expenses (including the fees and
expenses of its counsel) and the compensation for such services are intended to
constitute expenses of administration under any bankruptcy law or law relating
to creditors rights generally; and
(m) the Property Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of an Event
of Default unless a Responsible Officer of the Property Trustee obtains actual
knowledge of such event or the Property Trustee receives written notice of such
event from Securityholders holding at least 25%, of the Outstanding Trust
Securities (based upon Liquidation Amount).
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No provision of this Declaration of Trust shall be deemed to impose any
duty or obligation on the Property Trustee to perform any act or acts or
exercise any right, power, duty or obligation conferred or imposed on it, in any
jurisdiction in which it shall be illegal, or in which the Property Trustee
shall be unqualified or incompetent in accordance with applicable law, to
perform any such act or acts, or to exercise any such right, power, duty or
obligation. No permissive power or authority available to the Property Trustee
shall be construed to be a duty.
SECTION 8.4. Not Responsible for Recitals.
The recitals contained herein and in the Trust Securities Certificates
shall be taken as the statements of the Trust, and the Trustees do not assume
any responsibility for their correctness. The Trustees shall not be accountable
for the use or application by the Depositor of the proceeds of the Junior
Subordinated Debt Securities.
SECTION 8.5. May Hold Securities.
Except as provided in the definition of the term "Outstanding" in Article
I, any Trustee or any other agent of any Trustee or the 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, may otherwise deal with the Trust with the
same rights it would have if it were not a Trustee or such other agent.
SECTION 8.6. Compensation, Indemnity, Fees.
Pursuant to Section 10.6 of the Indenture, the Depositor agrees:
(a) to pay to the Trustees from time to time reasonable compensation for
all services rendered by them hereunder (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
Trustees upon request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances
incurred or made by the Trustees in accordance with any provision of this
Declaration of Trust (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 willful misconduct;
(c) to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, to indemnify and
hold harmless (i) each Trustee, (ii) any Affiliate of any Trustee, (iii) any
officer, director, shareholder, employee, representative or agent of any
Trustee, and (iv) any employee or agent of the Trust or its Affiliates,
(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,
operation or termination of the Trust or any act or omission performed or
omitted by such Indemnified Person in good faith on behalf of the Trust and in a
manner such Indemnified Person reasonably believed to be within the scope of
authority conferred on such Indemnified Person by this Declaration of 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 or willful misconduct with respect to such acts or omissions; and
(d) to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, to advance expenses
(including legal fees) incurred by an Indemnified Person in defending any claim,
demand, action, suit or proceeding, from time to
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time, prior to the final disposition of such claim, demand action, suit or
proceeding upon receipt by the Depositor of (i) a written affirmation by or on
behalf of the Indemnified Person of its or his good faith belief that it or he
has met the standard of conduct set forth in this Section 8.6 and (ii) an
undertaking by or on behalf of the Indemnified Person to repay such amount if it
shall be determined that the Indemnified Person is not entitled to be
indemnified as authorized in the preceding subsection.
The provisions of this Section 8.6 shall survive the termination of this
Declaration of Trust or the earlier resignation or removal of any Trustee.
No Trustee may claim any lien or charge on any Trust Property as a result
of any amount due pursuant to this Section 8.6.
The Depositor and any Trustee (in the case of the Property Trustee,
subject to Section 8.8 hereof) may engage in or possess an interest in other
business ventures of any nature or description, independently or with others,
similar or dissimilar to the business of the Trust, and none of the Trust, the
Holders of Trust Securities, the Depositor or any such Trustee shall have any
rights by virtue of this Declaration of Trust in and to such independent
ventures or the income or profits derived therefrom, and the pursuit of any such
venture, even if competitive with the business of the Trust, shall not be deemed
wrongful or improper. Neither the Depositor, nor any Trustee, shall be obligated
to present any particular investment or other opportunity to the Trust even if
such opportunity is of a character that, if presented to the Trust, could be
taken by the Trust, and the Depositor or any Trustee shall have the right to
take for its own account (individually or as a partner or fiduciary) or to
recommend to others any such particular investment or other opportunity. Any
Trustee may engage or be interested in any financial or other transaction with
the Depositor or any Affiliate of the Depositor, or may act as depository for,
trustee or agent for, or act on any committee or body of holders of, securities
or other obligations of the Depositor or its Affiliates.
SECTION 8.7. Corporate Property Trustee Required; Eligibility of 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 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, 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.
(b) There shall at all times be one or more Administrative Trustees
hereunder. 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. 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 that shall act through one or more
persons authorized to bind such entity.
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SECTION 8.8. Conflicting Interests.
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 Declaration
of Trust.
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. If the Depositor does not join
in such appointment within 15 days after the receipt by it of a request so to
do, or in case a Debenture Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the
Property Trustee alone shall have power to make such appointment. 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.
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 and delivered 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 Trustees specified hereunder, shall be exercised,
solely by such Trustees 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
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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 of all instruments and agreements necessary or proper
to effectuate such resignation or removal. A successor to any co-trustee or
separate trustee so resigned 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 required to supervise any co-trustee
or separate trustee nor shall it be liable by reason of any act of a co-trustee
or separate trustee or any employees or agents 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 Trustee (the "Relevant Trustee") and no
appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to this Article shall become
effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee in
accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 8.11.
Subject to the immediately preceding paragraph, a Relevant Trustee may
resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Securityholders. 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 Trustee may be removed at any time by Act of the Common Securityholder. 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 Outstanding
Preferred Securities, delivered to the Relevant Trustee (in its individual
capacity and on behalf of the Trust). An Administrative Trustee may be removed
by Act of the Common Securityholder at any time.
If any Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting as
Trustee, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of any Trustee for any cause,
at a time when no Debenture Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing, the Common Securityholder, by Act of the Common Securityholder
delivered to the retiring Trustee, shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or
Trustees and the retiring 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 Preferred Securityholders, by
Act of the Preferred Securityholders of a majority in Liquidation Amount of the
Preferred Securities then Outstanding delivered to the retiring Relevant
Trustee, 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
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Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Common
Securityholder, by Act of the Common Securityholder delivered to the
Administrative Trustee, 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 Common
Securityholder or the Preferred Securityholders and accepted appointment in the
manner required by Section 8.11, any Securityholder who has been a
Securityholder 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 a Trustee and each appointment of a successor Trustee to all
Securityholders 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 Declaration
of Trust, 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 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 Trustee, such
successor Trustee so appointed shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the
Trust 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 Depositor 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 if the Property Trustee is the
resigning Trustee the Property Trustee shall duly assign, transfer and deliver
to the successor Property Trustee all Trust 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 Trust and (b) shall add to or change any of the
provisions of this Declaration of Trust as shall be necessary to provide for or
facilitate the administration of the Trust by more than one Relevant Trustee, it
being understood that nothing herein or in such amendment shall constitute such
Relevant Trustees co-trustees if the same trust and that each such Relevant
Trustee shall be Trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from
any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such Relevant Trustee;
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 Trustee; but, on request of the Trust or any
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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 Trust.
Upon request of any such successor Relevant Trustee, the 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 corporation 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 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
Trust.
In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation,
bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other
similar judicial proceeding relative to the Trust or any other obligor upon the
Trust Securities or the property of the Trust or of such other obligor or their
creditors, the Property Trustee (irrespective of whether any Distributions on
the Trust Securities shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by
declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Property Trustee shall
have made any demand on the Trust for the payment of any past due Distributions)
shall be entitled and empowered, to the fullest extent permitted by law, by
intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:
(a) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of any Distributions
owing and unpaid in respect of the 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
(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.
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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 8.14. Reports by Property Trustee.
(a) Within 60 days after May 15 of each year or at such other time as
required under (S) 313(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Property Trustee
shall transmit to all Securityholders in accordance with Section 10.8, and to
the Depositor, a brief report dated as of the prior 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; and
(ii) 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 Securityholders
such reports concerning the Property Trustee and its actions under this
Declaration of Trust 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.
SECTION 8.15. Reports to the Property Trustee.
The Depositor and the Administrative Trustees on behalf of the Trust 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.
SECTION 8.16. Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent.
Each of the Depositor and the Administrative Trustees on behalf of the
Trust shall provide to the Property Trustee such evidence of compliance with any
conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Declaration of Trust 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 8.17 Number of Trustees.
(a) The number of Trustees shall be four, provided that the Holder of all
of the Common Securities by written instrument may increase or decrease the
number of Administrative Trustees. The Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee
may be the same Person.
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(b) If a Trustee ceases to hold office for any reason and the number of
Administrative Trustees is not reduced pursuant to Section 8.17(a), or if the
number of Trustees is increased pursuant to Section 8.17(a), a vacancy shall
occur. The vacancy shall be filled with a Trustee appointed in accordance with
Section 8.10.
(c) The death, resignation, retirement, removal, bankruptcy, incompetence
or incapacity to perform the duties of a Trustee shall not operate to annul the
Trust. 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 Section 8.10, the Administrative Trustees in office, regardless
of their number (and notwithstanding 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
Declaration of Trust.
SECTION 8.18. 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 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 Declaration of Trust, as set forth
herein.
ARTICLE IX
TERMINATION, LIQUIDATION AND MERGER
SECTION 9.1. Termination Upon Expiration Date; Termination Upon Tax Event.
(a) Unless earlier terminated, the Trust shall automatically terminate on
November 18, 2051 (the "Expiration Date"), following the distribution of the
Trust Property in accordance with Section 9.4.
(b) If a Tax Event shall occur and be continuing, the Depositor may, at
its option and subject to receipt of prior approval of the Federal Reserve if
then required under applicable capital guidelines or policies of the Federal
Reserve, terminate the Trust and distribute the Junior Subordinated Debt
Securities to the Holders of the Trust Securities at any time within 90 days of
the occurrence of such Tax Event and, if such Tax Event continues
notwithstanding the taking of such actions, to prepay the Junior Subordinated
Debt Securities in whole, but not in part, at the prepayment price (the "Tax
Event Prepayment Price") equal to 100% of the principal amount of such Junior
Subordinated Debt Securities plus accrued interest thereon to the date of
prepayment; provided, however, that following such distribution of the Junior
Subordinated Debt Securities or pursuant to Section 9.2(b), the Depositor agrees
to use its best efforts to maintain any ratings of such Junior Subordinated Debt
Securities by any nationally recognized rating agency for so long as any such
Junior Subordinated Debt Securities are outstanding. Such right is subject to
prior approval of the Federal Reserve if then required under applicable
guidelines or policies of the Federal Reserve.
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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 or the Holder of the Common Securities;
(b) the written direction to the Property Trustee from the Holder of the
Common Securities at any time (which direction is optional and wholly within the
discretion of the Holder of the Common Securities (including upon the occurrence
and continuation of a Tax Event in respect of the Trust)) to terminate the Trust
and, after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the Trust as provided by
applicable law, distribute a Like Amount of the Junior Subordinated Debt
Securities to Securityholders in exchange for the Preferred Securities;
(c) the redemption of all of the Trust Securities in connection with the
redemption of all the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities (including upon the
occurrence and continuation of a Tax Event pursuant to Section 11.7(b) of the
Indenture); and
(d) the entry of an order for dissolution of the Trust by a court of
competent jurisdiction.
SECTION 9.3. Termination.
The respective obligations and responsibilities of the Trustees and the
Trust created and continued hereby shall terminate upon the latest to occur of
the following: (a) the payment of any expenses owed by the Trust, (b), the
distribution by the Property Trustee to Securityholders upon the liquidation of
the Trust pursuant to Section 9.4, or upon the redemption of all of the Trust
Securities pursuant to Section 4.2, of all amounts required to be distributed
hereunder upon the final payment of the Trust Securities, and (c) the discharge
of all administrative duties of the Administrative Trustees, including the
performance of any tax reporting obligations with respect to the Trust or the
Securityholders.
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 Trust shall be liquidated by
the Trustees as expeditiously as the Trustees determine to be possible by
distributing, after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the Trust as
provided by applicable law, to each Securityholder a Like Amount of Junior
Subordinated Debt Securities, subject to Section 9.4(d). Notice of liquidation
shall be given by the Property Trustee by first-class mail, postage prepaid,
mailed not later than 30 nor more than 90 days prior to the Liquidation Date to
each Holder of Trust Securities at such Holder's address appearing in the
Securities Register. All notices of liquidation shall:
(i) state the Liquidation Date (which in the case of any liquidation
following the occurrence of a Tax Event shall not be more than 90 days
following such occurrence);
(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 Junior Subordinated Debt Securities; and
42
<PAGE> 47
(iii) provide such information with respect to the mechanics by
which Holders may exchange Trust Securities Certificates for Junior
Subordinated Debt Securities, or if Section 9.4(d) applies receive a
Liquidation Distribution, as the 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 Trust and distribution of the Junior Subordinated Debt
Securities to Securityholders, the Property Trustee shall establish a record
date for such distribution (which shall be not more than 45 days prior to the
Liquidation Date) and, either itself acting as exchange agent or through the
appointment of a separate exchange agent, shall establish such procedures as it
shall deem appropriate to effect the distribution of Junior Subordinated Debt
Securities 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 Junior Subordinated Debt Securities
will be issued to holders of Trust Securities, upon surrender of such
certificates to the Administrative Trustees or their agent for exchange, (iii)
any Trust Securities Certificates not so surrendered for exchange will be deemed
to represent a Like Amount of Junior Subordinated Debt Securities accruing
interest at the rate provided for in the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities
from the last Distribution Date on which a Distribution was made on such Trust
Securities Certificates until such certificates are so surrendered (or until
such certificates are so surrendered, no payments of interest or principal will
be made to the Holders of Trust Securities Certificates with respect to such
Junior Subordinated Debt Securities) and (iv) all rights Securityholders holding
Trust Securities will cease, except the right of such securityholders to receive
Junior Subordinated Debt Securities upon surrender of Trust Securities
Certificates.
(d) In the event that, 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 Junior Subordinated
Debt Securities in the manner provided herein is determined by the Property
Trustee not to be practical, the Trust Property shall be liquidated, and the
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 Trust, Securityholders
will be entitled to receive out of the assets of the Trust available for
distribution to Securityholders after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors
of the Trust as provided by applicable law, an amount equal to the aggregate of
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 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 Trust on the Trust Securities shall be paid on a pro rata basis (based
upon Liquidation Amounts). The holder 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 Preferred
Securities, except that, if a Debenture Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing, the Preferred Securities shall have a priority over the Common
Securities. Any such determination and liquidation by the Property Trustee shall
be conclusive upon the Securityholders and the Property Trustee shall have no
liability in connection therewith.
SECTION 9.5. Mergers, Consolidations, Amalgamations or Replacements of the
Trust.
The 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 Person,
43
<PAGE> 48
except pursuant to this Section 9.5. At the request of the Depositor, with the
consent of the Administrative Trustees and without the consent of the Holders of
the Preferred Securities, the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee, the
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, however,
that (i) such successor entity either (a) expressly assumes all of the
obligations of the Trust with respect to the Preferred Securities or (b)
substitutes for the Preferred Securities other securities having substantially
the same terms as the Preferred Securities (the "Successor Securities") so long
as the Successor Securities rank the same as the Preferred Securities rank in
priority with respect to distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption
and otherwise, (ii) the Depositor expressly appoints a trustee of such successor
entity possessing the same powers and duties as the Property Trustee as the
holder of the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities, (iii) the Successor
Securities are listed or traded, or any Successor Securities will be listed or
traded upon notification of issuance, on any national securities exchange or
other organization on which the Preferred Securities are then listed or traded,
if any, (iv) such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance,
transfer or lease does not cause the Preferred Securities (including any
Successor Securities) to be downgraded by any nationally recognized statistical
rating organization, (v) such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement,
conveyance, transfer or lease does not adversely affect the rights, preferences
and privileges of the holders of the Preferred Securities (including any
Successor Securities) in any material respect, (vi) such successor entity has a
purpose identical to that of the 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
Preferred Securities (including any Successor Securities) in any material
respect, and (b) following such merger, consolidation, amalgamation,
replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease, neither the Trust nor such successor
entity will be required to register as an investment company under the 1940 Act
and (viii) the Depositor or any permitted successor or assign 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. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Trust shall not,
except with the consent of holders of 100% in Liquidation Amount of the Trust
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 Trust or the
successor entity to be 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 Securityholders.
The death or incapacity of any person having an interest, beneficial or
otherwise, in Trust Securities shall not operate to terminate this Declaration
of Trust, nor entitle the legal representatives or heirs of such person or any
Securityholder 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.
44
<PAGE> 49
SECTION 10.2 Liability of the Common Securityholder
The Holder of the Common Securities shall be liable for all the debts and
obligations of the Trust (other than with respect to the Preferred Securities)
to the extent not satisfied out of the Trust's assets.
SECTION 10.3. Amendment.
(a) This Declaration of Trust may be amended from time to time by the
Property Trustee, the Administrative Trustees and the Depositor, without the
consent of any Securityholders (i) to cure any ambiguity, correct or supplement
any provision herein which may be inconsistent with any other provision herein,
or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising
under this Declaration of Trust, which shall not be inconsistent with the other
provisions of this Declaration of Trust; (ii) to modify, eliminate or add to any
provisions of this Declaration of Trust to such extent as shall be necessary to
ensure that the Trust will be classified for United States federal income tax
purposes as a grantor trust at all times that any Trust Securities are
Outstanding or to ensure that the Trust will not be required to register as an
investment company under the 1940 Act; provided, however, that in the case of
clause (i), such action shall not adversely effect in any material respect the
interests of any Securityholder, and any amendments to this Declaration of Trust
shall become effective when notice thereof is given to the Securityholders.
(b) Except as provided in Section 10.2(c) hereof, any provision of this
Declaration of Trust may be amended by the Trustees and the Depositor with (i)
the consent of Trust Securityholders representing not less than a majority
(based upon Liquidation Amounts) of the Trust Securities then Outstanding and
(ii) receipt by the Trustees of an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that such
amendment or the exercise of any power granted to the Trustees in accordance
with such amendment will not affect the Trust's status as a grantor trust for
United States federal income tax purposes or the Trust's exemption from status
of an investment company under the 1940 Act.
(c) In addition to and notwithstanding any other provision in this
Declaration of Trust, without the consent of each affected Securityholder (such
consent being obtained in accordance with Section 6.3 or 6.8 hereof), this
Declaration of Trust 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 Securityholder
to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such date.
Notwithstanding any other provision herein, without the unanimous consent of the
Securityholders (such consent being obtained in accordance with Section 6.3 or
6.8 hereof), this paragraph (c) of this Section 10.2 may not be amended.
(d) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Declaration of Trust, no
Trustee shall enter into or consent to any amendment to this Declaration of
Trust which would cause the Trust to fail or cease to qualify for the exemption
from status of an investment company under the 1940 Act or fail or cease to be
classified as a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes.
(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Declaration of Trust to the contrary,
without the consent of the Depositor this Declaration of Trust may not be
amended in a manner which imposes any additional obligation on the Depositor.
45
<PAGE> 50
(f) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Declaration of Trust, no
amendment to this Declaration of Trust may be made if, as a result of such
amendment, it would cause the Trust to fail to be classified as a grantor trust
for United States federal income tax purposes.
(g) In the event that any amendment to this Declaration of Trust is made,
the Administrative Trustees shall promptly provide to the Depositor a copy of
such amendment.
(h) Neither the Property Trustee nor the Delaware Trustee shall be
required to enter into any amendment to this Declaration of Trust which affects
its own rights, duties or immunities under this Declaration of Trust or would
otherwise expose the Property Trustee to any liability or be contrary to
applicable law. The Property Trustee shall be entitled to receive an Opinion of
Counsel and an Officers' Certificate stating that any amendment to this
Declaration of Trust is in compliance with this Declaration of Trust.
SECTION 10.4. Separability.
In case any provision in this Declaration of Trust 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.
SECTION 10.5. Governing Law.
This Declaration of Trust and the rights and obligations of each of the
Securityholders, the Trust and the Trustees with respect to this Declaration of
Trust and the Trust Securities shall be construed in accordance with and
governed by the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to its conflict of
laws principles. The provisions of Sections 3540 and 3561 of Title 12 of the
Delaware Code shall not apply to this Trust.
SECTION 10.6. 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 interest shall
accrue thereon for the period after such date.
SECTION 10.7. Successors.
This Declaration of Trust shall be binding upon and shall inure to the
benefit of any successor to the Depositor, the Trust or the Relevant 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 VI 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 10.8. Headings.
The Article and Section headings are for convenience only and shall not
affect the construction of this Declaration of Trust.
46
<PAGE> 51
SECTION 10.9. Reports, Notices and Demands.
Any report, notice, demand or other communication which by any provision
of this Declaration of Trust is required or permitted to be given or served to
or upon any Securityholder or the Depositor 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 Preferred Securityholder, to such Preferred Securityholder as such
Securityholder's name and address may appear on the Securities Register; and (b)
in the case of the Common Securityholder or the Depositor, to Republic New York
Corporation, 452 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10018, Attention: Office of the
Secretary, facsimile no.: (212) 382-5982. Any notice to Preferred
Securityholders may also be given to such owners as have, within two years
preceding the giving of such notice, filed their names and addresses with the
Property Trustee for that purpose. Such notice, demand or other communication to
or upon a Securityholder shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given or
made, for all purposes, upon hand delivery, mailing or transmission.
Any notice, demand or other communication which by any provision of this
Declaration of Trust is required or permitted to be given or served to or upon
the Trust, the Property Trustee, the Delaware Trustee or the Administrative
Trustees shall be given in writing addressed (until another address is published
by the Trust) as follows: (a) with respect to the Property Trustee to Bankers
Trust Company, Four Albany Street, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10006, Attention:
Corporate Trust and Agency Group - Corporate Market Services; (b) with respect
to the Delaware Trustee to Bankers Trust (Delaware), 1011 Centre Road, Suite
200, Wilmington, DE 19805-1266, Attention: Ms. Lisa Wilkins; and (c) with
respect to the Administrative Trustees, to them at the address above for notices
to the Depositor, marked "Attention: Office of the Secretary". Such notice,
demand or other communication to or upon the Trust or the Property Trustee shall
be deemed to have been sufficiently given or made only upon actual receipt of
the writing by the Trust or the Property Trustee.
SECTION 10.10 Agreement Not to Petition.
Each of the Trustees and the Depositor agree for the benefit of the
Securityholders that, until at least one year and one day after the Trust has
been terminated in accordance with Article IX, they shall not file, or join in
the filing of, a petition against the Trust under any bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization or other similar law (including, without limitation, the United
States Bankruptcy Code) (collectively, "Bankruptcy Laws") or otherwise join in
the commencement of any proceeding against the Trust under any Bankruptcy Law.
In the event the Depositor takes action in violation of this Section 10.9, the
Property Trustee agrees, for the benefit of Securityholders, 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 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 estopped and precluded
therefrom and such other defenses, if any, as counsel for the Trustee or the
Trust may assert. The provisions of this Section 10.9 shall survive the
termination of this Declaration of Trust.
SECTION 10.11. Trust Indenture Act; Conflict with Trust Indenture Act.
This Declaration of Trust will be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act.
This Declaration of Trust incorporates certain provisions of the Trust Indenture
Act.
(a) This Declaration of Trust is subject to the provisions of the Trust
Indenture Act that are required to be part of this Declaration of Trust and
shall, to the extent applicable, be governed by such provisions.
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<PAGE> 52
(b) The Property Trustee shall be the only Trustee which is a trustee for
the purposes of the Trust Indenture Act.
(c) If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with another
provision hereof which is required to be included in this Declaration of Trust
by any of the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act, such required provision
shall control. If any provision of this Declaration of Trust 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 Declaration of
Trust as so modified or excluded, as the case may be.
(d) The application of the Trust Indenture Act to this Declaration of
Trust shall not affect the nature of the Securities as equity securities
representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust.
SECTION 10.12. Acceptance of Terms of Declaration of Trust, Guarantee and
Indenture.
THE RECEIPT AND ACCEPTANCE OF A TRUST SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN BY
OR ON BEHALF OF A SECURITYHOLDER OR ANY BENEFICIAL OWNER, WITHOUT ANY SIGNATURE
OR FURTHER MANIFESTATION OF ASSENT, SHALL CONSTITUTE THE UNCONDITIONAL
ACCEPTANCE BY THE SECURITYHOLDER AND ALL OTHERS HAVING A BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN
SUCH TRUST SECURITY OF ALL THE TERMS AND PROVISIONS OF THIS DECLARATION OF TRUST
AND AGREEMENT TO THE SUBORDINATION PROVISIONS AND OTHER TERMS OF THE GUARANTEE
AND THE INDENTURE, AND SHALL CONSTITUTE THE AGREEMENT OF THE TRUST, SUCH
SECURITYHOLDER AND SUCH OTHERS THAT THE TERMS AND PROVISIONS OF THIS DECLARATION
OF TRUST SHALL BE BINDING, OPERATIVE AND EFFECTIVE AS BETWEEN THE TRUST AND SUCH
SECURITYHOLDER AND SUCH OTHERS.
REPUBLIC NEW YORK CORPORATION,
Depositor
By:
Name:
Title:
BANKERS TRUST COMPANY,
as Property Trustee
By:
Name:
Title:
48
<PAGE> 53
BANKERS TRUST (DELAWARE),
as Delaware Trustee and not
in its individual capacity
By:
Name:
Title:
THOMAS F. ROBARDS, not in his
individual capacity but solely
as Trustee
---------------------------------
STEPHEN J. SAALI, not in his
individual capacity but solely
as Trustee
---------------------------------
49
<PAGE> 54
EXHIBIT A
CERTIFICATE OF TRUST OF
REPUBLIC NEW YORK CAPITAL ___________
THIS CERTIFICATE OF TRUST of Republic New York Capital _________ (the "Trust"),
dated as of _________________, is being duly executed and filed by Bankers Trust
(Delaware), a Delaware banking corporation, as trustee, Thomas F. Robards, an
individual, as trustee and Stephen Saali, an individual, as trustee to form a
business trust under the Delaware Business Trust Act (12 Del. C. Section 3801,
et seq.).
1. The name of the business trust formed hereby is Republic New York
Capital ________.
2. The name and business address of the trustee of the Trust which has its
principal place of business in the State of Delaware are as follows: Bankers
Trust (Delaware)1011 Centre Road, Suite 200, Wilmington, DE 19805-1266.
3. This Certificate of Trust shall be effective upon filing with the
Secretary of State.
4. The Trust created hereby shall terminate on ________________.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, being the trustees of the Trust, have
executed this Certificate of Trust as of the date first written above.
BANKERS TRUST (DELAWARE),
not in its individual capacity but
solely as trustee
By:
-----------------------------
Name:
Title:
THOMAS F. ROBARDS, not in his
individual capacity but solely as
trustee
--------------------------------
STEPHEN SAALI, not in his
individual capacity but solely as
trustee
--------------------------------
<PAGE> 55
EXHIBIT B
IF THE PREFERRED SECURITY IS TO BE A GLOBAL CERTIFICATE INSERT--This
Preferred Security is a Global Certificate within the meaning of the Declaration
of Trust hereinafter referred to and is registered in the name of The Depository
Trust Company (the "Depositary") or a nominee of the Depositary. This Preferred
Security is exchangeable for Preferred Securities registered in the name of a
person other than the Depositary or its nominee only in the limited
circumstances described in the Declaration of Trust and no transfer of this
Preferred Security (other than a transfer of this Preferred Security as a whole
by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary or by a nominee of the
Depositary to the Depositary or another nominee of the Depositary) may be
registered except in limited circumstances.
Unless this Preferred Security is presented by an authorized
representative of The Depository Trust Company (55 Water Street, New York) to
Republic New York Capital ________ or its agent for registration of transfer,
exchange or payment, and any Preferred Security issued is registered in the name
of Cede & Co. or such other name as requested by an authorized representative of
The Depository Trust Company and any payment hereon is made to Cede & Co., ANY
TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY A PERSON IS
WRONGFUL inasmuch as the registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest
herein.
Certificate Number Number of Preferred Securities
CUSIP NO. [ ]
Certificate Evidencing Preferred Securities
of
Republic New York Capital ________
[Name of Issue]
(Liquidation Amount $_____________ per Preferred Security)
Republic New York Capital ___________, a statutory business trust formed
under the laws of the State of Delaware (the "Trust"), hereby certifies that
Cede & Co. (the "Holder") is the registered owner of _______ ( ) Preferred
Securities of the Trust representing an undivided beneficial interest in the
assets of the Trust and designated Republic New York Capital _____ [Name of
issue] (Liquidation Amount $____________ per Preferred Security) (the "Preferred
Securities"). The Preferred Securities are transferable on the books and records
of the Trust, in person or by a duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of this
certificate duly endorsed and in proper form for transfer as provided in Section
5.4 of the Declaration of Trust (as defined below). The designations, rights,
privileges, restrictions, preferences and other terms and provisions of the
Preferred Securities are set forth in, and this certificate and the Preferred
Securities represented hereby are issued and shall in all respects be subject to
the terms and provisions of, the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of
the Trust dated as of ______________________, as the same may be amended from
time to time (the "Declaration of Trust") including the designation of the terms
of Preferred Securities as set forth therein. The Holder is entitled to the
benefits of the Guarantee Agreement entered into by Republic New York
Corporation, a corporation, and Bankers Trust Company, as guarantee trustee,
dated as of _____________________, (the "Guarantee"), to the extent provided
therein. The Trust will furnish a copy of the Declaration of Trust and the
Guarantee to the Holder without charge upon written request to the Trust at its
principal place of business or registered office.
Upon receipt of this certificate, the Holder is bound by the Declaration
of Trust and is entitled to the benefits thereunder.
<PAGE> 56
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, one of the Administrative Trustees of the Trust has
executed this certificate this ___ day of ________ , __________
Republic New York Capital ___
By:
------------------------------
Name:
Administrative Trustee
COUNTERSIGNED AND REGISTERED:
BANKERS TRUST COMPANY,
as Transfer Agent and Registrar
BY:
Authorized Signatory
B-2
<PAGE> 57
ASSIGNMENT
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned assigns and transfers
this Preferred 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 Preferred Security Certificate on the books of the Trust.
The agent may substitute another to act for him or her.
Date: _________
Signature:
----------------------------------------------------------------------
(Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this
Preferred Security Certificate)
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 SEC Rule 17Ad-15.
B-3
<PAGE> 58
EXHIBIT C
THIS CERTIFICATE IS NOT TRANSFERABLE
Certificate Number Number of Common Securities
Certificate Evidencing Common Securities
of
Republic New York Capital _________
________% Common Securities
(Liquidation Amount $________ per Common Security)
Republic New York Capital __________, a statutory business trust formed
under the laws of the State of Delaware (the "Trust"), hereby certifies that
Republic New York Corporation (the "Holder") is the registered owner of
__________( ) common securities of the Trust representing beneficial interests
of the Trust and designated the _______% Common Securities (Liquidation Amount
$___________ per Common Security) (the "Common Securities"). Except as set forth
in Section 5.10 of the Declaration of Trust (as defined below) the Common
Securities are not transferable and any attempted transfer hereof 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
Declaration of Trust of the Trust dated as of ____________, ____, as the same
may be amended from time to time (the "Declaration of Trust") including the
designation of the terms of the Common Securities as set forth therein. The
Trust will furnish a copy of the Declaration of Trust to the Holder without
charge upon written request to the Trust at its principal place of business or
registered office.
Upon receipt of this certificate, the Holder is bound by the Declaration
of Trust and is entitled to the benefits thereunder.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, one of the Administrative Trustees of the Trust has
executed this certificate this ____ day of __________, __.
REPUBLIC NEW YORK CAPITAL _____
By:
--------------------------------
Name:
Administrative Trustee
COUNTERSIGNED AND REGISTERED:
BANKERS TRUST COMPANY,
as Transfer Agent and Registrar
BY:
Authorized Signatory
C-1
<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT 4.29
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Form of
GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
Between
REPUBLIC NEW YORK CORPORATION
(as Guarantor)
and
BANKERS TRUST COMPANY
(as Trustee)
dated as of
------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<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(b)
318(b) ......................................................... 2.1
318(c) ......................................................... 2.1(c)
* 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.
<PAGE> 3
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
----
ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS ..................................................... 2
Section 1.1. Definitions ............................................. 2
ARTICLE II. TRUST INDENTURE ACT ............................................ 5
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 Guarantee Trustee ................... 6
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 ............ 6
Section 3.1. Powers and Duties of the Guarantee Trustee .............. 6
Section 3.2. Certain Rights of Guarantee Trustee ..................... 8
Section 3.3. Indemnity ............................................... 9
Section 3.4. Expenses ................................................ 9
ARTICLE IV. GUARANTEE TRUSTEE .............................................. 10
Section 4.1. Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility .......................... 10
Section 4.2. Appointment, Removal and Resignation
of the Guarantee Trustee ............................................. 10
ARTICLE V. GUARANTEE ....................................................... 11
Section 5.1. Guarantee ............................................... 11
Section 5.2. Waiver of Notice and Demand ............................. 11
Section 5.3. Obligations Not Affected ................................ 11
Section 5.4. Rights of Holders ....................................... 12
Section 5.5. Guarantee of Payment .................................... 12
Section 5.6. Subrogation ............................................. 12
Section 5.7. Independent Obligations ................................. 12
ARTICLE VI. COVENANTS AND SUBORDINATION .................................... 13
Section 6.1. Subordination ........................................... 13
Section 6.2. Pari Passu Guarantees ................................... 13
ARTICLE VII. TERMINATION ................................................... 13
Section 7.1. Termination ............................................. 13
ARTICLE VIII. MISCELLANEOUS ................................................ 13
Section 8.1. Successors and Assigns .................................. 13
Section 8.2. Amendments .............................................. 13
Section 8.3. Notices ................................................. 14
Section 8.4. Benefit ................................................. 15
Section 8.5. Interpretation .......................................... 15
Section 8.6. Governing Law ........................................... 15
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GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
This GUARANTEE AGREEMENT, dated as of _______________-, is executed and
delivered by REPUBLIC NEW YORK CORPORATION, a bank holding company (the
"Guarantor") having its principal office at 452 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York
10018 and BANKERS TRUST COMPANY, a New York banking corporation, as trustee (the
"Guarantee Trustee"), for the benefit of the Holders (as defined herein) from
time to time of the Trust Securities (as defined herein) of Republic New York
Capital __________, a Delaware statutory business trust (the "Issuer").
WHEREAS, pursuant to an Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust (the
"Declaration of Trust"), dated as of ______________, among the Trustees named
therein, the Guarantor, as Depositor, and the Holders from time to time of
undivided beneficial ownership interests in the assets of the Issuer, the Issuer
is issuing $____________ aggregate Liquidation Amount of its ____________
Preferred Securities, Liquidation Amount $____________ per security (the
"Preferred Securities") and $___________ of aggregate Liquidation of Common
Securities, liquidation preference $_________ per security (the "Common
Securities" and collectively with the Securities (as defined herein), the "Trust
Securities") representing undivided beneficial ownership interests in the assets
of the Issuer and having the terms set forth in the Declaration of Trust; and
WHEREAS, the Trust Securities were issued by the Issuer and the proceeds
thereof were used to purchase the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities due
_______________ (as defined in the Declaration of Trust) (the "Junior
Subordinated Debt Securities") of the Guarantor which will be deposited with
Bankers Trust Company, as Property Trustee under the Declaration of Trust, as
trust assets; and
WHEREAS, on ____________, 1997, the Guarantor and the Issuer filed a
registration statement (the "Registration Statement") with the Securities and
Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, pursuant to
which the Preferred Securities and the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities and
this Guarantee were registered; and
WHEREAS, as incentive for the Holders to purchase Trust Securities, the
Guarantor desires irrevocably and unconditionally to agree, to the extent set
forth herein, to pay to the Holders of the Trust Securities the Guarantee
Payments (as defined herein) and to make certain other payments on the terms and
conditions set forth herein;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the purchase by each Holder of Trust
Securities, which purchase the Guarantor hereby agrees shall benefit the
Guarantor, the Guarantor executes and delivers this Guarantee Agreement for the
benefit of the Holders from time to time of the Trust Securities.
ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.1. Definitions.
As used in this Guarantee Agreement, the terms set forth below shall,
unless the context otherwise requires, have the following meanings. Capitalized
or otherwise defined terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the
meanings assigned to such terms in the Declaration of Trust as in effect on the
date hereof.
"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; provided, however, that
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an Affiliate of the Guarantor shall not be deemed to include the Issuer. 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.
"Common Securities" shall have the meaning specified in the first recital
of this Guarantee Agreement.
"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, (i) the
principal of and premium, if any, and unpaid interest on indebtedness for money
borrowed, (ii) purchase money and similar obligations, (iii) obligations under
capital leases, (iv) guarantees, assumptions or purchase commitments relating
to, or other transactions as a result of which the Guarantor is responsible for
the payment of, such indebtedness of others, (v) renewals, extensions and
refunding of any such indebtedness, (vi) interest or obligations in respect of
any such indebtedness accruing after the commencement of any insolvency or
bankruptcy proceedings and (vii) obligations associated with derivative products
such as interest rate and currency exchange contracts, foreign exchange
contracts, commodity contracts and similar arrangements.
"Declaration of Trust" means the Amended and Restated Declaration of
Trust, dated _____________, executed by the Guarantor, as Depositor, Bankers
Trust (Delaware), as Delaware Trustee, Bankers Trust Company, as Property
Trustee, and the Administrative Trustees named therein.
"Event of Default" means a default by the Guarantor on any of its payment
or other obligations under this Guarantee Agreement; provided, however, that,
except with respect to a default in payment of any Guarantee Payment, the
Guarantor shall have received notice of default and shall not have cured such
default within 60 days after receipt of such notice.
"Guarantee Payments" means the following payments or distributions,
without duplication, with respect to the Trust Securities, to the extent not
paid or made by or on behalf of the Issuer: (i) any accrued and unpaid
Distributions (as defined in the Declaration of Trust) required to be paid on
the Trust Securities, to the extent the Issuer shall have funds on hand
available therefor at such time, (ii) the redemption price, including all
accrued and unpaid Distributions to the date of redemption (the "Redemption
Price"), with respect to the Trust Securities called for redemption by the
Issuer to the extent the Issuer 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, unless Junior Subordinated Debt Securities are
distributed to the Holders, the lesser of (a) the aggregate of the liquidation
preference of $__________ per Trust Security plus accrued and unpaid
Distributions on the Trust Securities to the date of payment to the extent the
Issuer shall have funds on hand available to make such payment at such time and
(b) the amount of assets of the Issuer remaining available for distribution to
Holders in liquidation of the Issuer (in either case, the "Liquidation
Distribution").
"Guarantee Trustee" means Bankers Trust Company, 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" shall have the meaning specified in the first recital of this
Guarantee Agreement.
"Holder" means any holder, as registered on the books and records of the
Issuer, of any Trust Securities; provided, however, that in determining whether
the holders of the requisite percentage of Trust Securities have given any
request, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, "Holder" shall not include the
Guarantor, the Guarantee Trustee, or any Affiliate of the Guarantor or the
Guarantee Trustee.
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"Indenture" means the Junior Subordinated Indenture dated as of November
27, 1996, between the Guarantor and Bankers Trust Company, as trustee as
supplemented and amended.
"Issuer" shall have the meaning specified in the first recital of this
Guarantee Agreement.
"List of Holders" has the meaning specified in Section 2.2(a).
"Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Securities" means, except as
provided by the Trust Indenture Act, a vote by the Holder(s), voting separately
as a class, of more than 50% of the aggregate Liquidation Amount of all then
outstanding Trust Securities issued by the Issuer.
"Officers' Certificate" means, with respect to any Person, a certificate
signed by the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, President or a Vice
President, and by the Treasurer, an Associate Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer,
the Controller, 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:
(a) a statement that each officer signing the Officers' Certificate has
read the covenant or condition and the definitions relating thereto;
(b) a brief statement of the nature and scope of the examination or
investigation undertaken by each officer in rendering the Officers' Certificate;
(c) a statement that each officer has made such examination or
investigation as, in such officer's opinion, is necessary to enable such officer
to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition
has been complied with; and
(d) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each officer, such
condition or covenant has been complied with.
"Person" means a legal person, including any individual, corporation,
estate, partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock company, limited
liability company, trust, unincorporated association, or government or any
agency or political subdivision thereof, or any other entity of whatever nature.
"Preferred Securities" shall have the meaning specified in the fourth
recital of this Guarantee Agreement.
"Responsible Officer" when used with respect to the Guarantee Trustee
means any officer assigned to the Corporate Trust Office, including any managing
director, vice president, assistant vice president, assistant treasurer,
assistant secretary or any other officer of the Guarantee Trustee customarily
performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated
officers and having direct responsibility for the administration of this
Guarantee Agreement, and also, with respect to a particular matter, any other
officer to whom such matter is referred because of such officer's knowledge of
and familiarity with the particular subject.
"Senior Debt" means the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest,
if any (including interest accruing on or after the filing of any petition in
bankruptcy or for reorganization relating to the Guarantor whether or not such
claim for post-petition interest is allowed in such proceeding), on Debt,
whether incurred on or prior to the date of this Guaranty Agreement or
thereafter incurred, unless, in the instrument creating or
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evidencing the same or pursuant to which the same is outstanding, it is provided
that such obligations are not superior in right of payment to the Trust
Securities or to other Debt which is pari passu with, or subordinated to, the
Trust Securities; provided, however, that Senior Debt shall not be deemed to
include (a) any Debt of the Guarantor which, when incurred and without respect
to any election under Section 1111(b) of the United States Bankruptcy Code of
1978, as amended, was without recourse to the Guarantor, (b) any Debt of the
Guarantor to any of its Subsidiaries, (c) any Debt to any employee of the
Guarantor, (d) any Debt which by its terms is subordinated to trade accounts
payable or accrued liabilities arising in the ordinary course of business to the
extent that payments made to the holders of such Debt by the holders of the
Securities as a result of the subordination provisions of this Indenture would
be greater than such payments otherwise would have been as a result of any
obligation of such holders of such Debt to pay amounts over to the obligees on
such trade accounts payable or accrued liabilities arising in the ordinary
course of business as a result of the subordination provisions to which such
Debt is subject, (e) any other debt securities issued pursuant to this Indenture
and (f) this Guarantee Agreement.
"Successor Guarantee Trustee" means a successor Guarantee Trustee
possessing the qualifications to act as Guarantee Trustee under Section 4.1.
"Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C.
ss.ss.77aaa-77bbbb), as amended.
"Trust Securities" shall have the meaning specified in the first recital
of this Guarantee Agreement.
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 the 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 Sections 310 to 317,
inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act, such imposed duties shall control.
SECTION 2.2. List of Holders.
(a) The Guarantor shall furnish or cause to be furnished to the Guarantee
Trustee (i) semiannually, 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 ("List of Holders") as of a date not more
than 15 days prior to the delivery thereof, and (ii) at such other times as the
Guarantee Trustee may request in writing, within 30 days after the receipt by
the Guarantor 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 Guarantor and is not
identical to a previously supplied list of Holders or 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 its obligations under Section
311(a), Section 311(b) and Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
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SECTION 2.3. Reports by the Guarantee Trustee.
Not later than [July 15] of each year, commencing [July 15,], the
Guarantee Trustee shall provide to the Holders such reports, if any, as are
required by Section 313 of the Trust Indenture Act 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 Guarantor 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.
SECTION 2.5. Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent.
The Guarantor 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 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 a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Trust Securities
may, by vote, on behalf of the Holders, waive any past Event of Default and its
consequences. Upon such waiver, any such Event of Default shall cease to exist,
and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured,
for every purpose of this Guarantee Agreement, but no such waiver shall extend
to any subsequent or other default or Event of Default or impair any right
consequent therefrom.
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 all Events of Default known to the Guarantee Trustee, unless such
Events of Default have 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 a Responsible Officer charged with the administration of
the Declaration of Trust shall have received written notice of such Event of
Default.
SECTION 2.8. Conflicting Interests.
The Declaration of Trust 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 a Holder exercising his or her rights
pursuant to Section 5.4(iv) or to a Successor Guarantee Trustee on acceptance by
such Successor Guarantee Trustee of its appointment to act as Successor
Guarantee Trustee. The right, title and interest of the Guarantee Trustee shall
automatically vest in any Successor Guarantee Trustee upon acceptance by such
Successor Guarantee Trustee of its appointment hereunder, and such vesting and
cessation of title shall be effective whether or not conveyancing documents have
been executed and delivered pursuant to the appointment of such Successor
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. In case an Event of Default has
occurred (that has not been cured or waived pursuant to Section 2.6), 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 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 Guarantee Trustee shall
be determined solely by the express provisions of this Guarantee
Agreement, 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 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;
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(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 Trust 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; and
(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 assured to it under the terms of this Guarantee Agreement
or indemnity satisfactory to it 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 conclusively rely and shall be fully
protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution,
certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request,
direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of
indebtedness or other paper or document 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 the Guarantor 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 conclusively rely upon an Officers' Certificate which, upon
receipt of such request from the Guarantee Trustee, shall be promptly
delivered by the Guarantor.
(iv) The Guarantee Trustee may consult with legal counsel, and the
advice or written 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 may be legal counsel to the Guarantor 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 security and indemnity reasonably
satisfactory to it 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.
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(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 with due care by it 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
fully 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.
SECTION 3.3. Indemnity.
The Guarantor agrees to indemnify the Guarantee Trustee and its directors,
officers, agents and employees for, and to hold them harmless against, any loss,
liability or expense incurred without negligence 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. This indemnity shall
survive the termination of this Guarantee Agreement or the resignation or
removal of the Guarantee Trustee.
SECTION 3.4. Expenses.
The Guarantor shall from time to time reimburse the Guarantee Trustee for
its expenses and costs incurred in connection with the performance of its duties
hereunder.
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 the Guarantor; and
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(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(c) of the Trust Indenture Act. If such corporation publishes
reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the
requirements of the 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 corporation shall
be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most
recent report of condition so published.
(b) If at any time the 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).
(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 the Guarantor shall in all respects comply with the
provisions of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 4.2. Appointment, Removal and Resignation of the Guarantee
Trustee.
(a) Subject to Section 4.2(b), in the absence of the existence of an Event
of Default, the Guarantee Trustee may be appointed or removed without cause at
any time by the Guarantor.
(b) The Guarantee Trustee shall not be removed until a Successor Guarantee
Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment by a written
instrument executed by such Successor Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the
Guarantor.
(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 Guarantor, which resignation shall not
take effect until a Successor Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has
accepted such appointment by an instrument in writing executed by such Successor
Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor 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 Guarantor of an instrument of resignation, the resigning
Guarantee Trustee may petition, at the expense of the Guarantor, 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), as and when due, regardless of any defense,
right of set-off or counterclaim which the Issuer may have or assert. The
Guarantor's obligation to make a Guarantee Payment may be satisfied by direct
payment of the required amounts by the Guarantor to the Holders or by causing
the Issuer to pay such amounts to the Holders. The Guarantor shall give prompt
written notice to the Guarantee Trustee in the event it makes any direct payment
hereunder.
9
<PAGE> 13
SECTION 5.2. Waiver of Notice and Demand.
The Guarantor hereby waives notice of acceptance of the 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 or any other Person before proceeding against the
Guarantor, protest, notice of nonpayment, notice of dishonor, notice of
redemption and all other notices and demands.
SECTION 5.3. Obligations Not Affected.
The obligations, covenants, agreements and duties of the Guarantor under
this 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 of any express or implied agreement,
covenant, term or condition relating to the Trust Securities to be performed or
observed by the Issuer;
(b) the extension of time for the payment by the Issuer of all or any
portion of the Distributions (other than an extension of time for payment of
Distributions that results from the extension of any interest payment period on
the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities as so provided in the Indenture),
Redemption Price, Liquidation Distribution or any other sums payable under the
terms of the Trust Securities or the extension of time for the performance of
any other obligation under, arising out of, or in connection with, the Trust
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 Trust Securities, or any
action on the part of the Issuer granting indulgence or extension of any kind;
(d) the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, sale of any
collateral, receivership, insolvency, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of
creditors, reorganization, arrangement, composition or readjustment of debt of,
or other similar proceedings affecting, the Issuer or any of the assets of the
Issuer;
(e) any invalidity of, or defect or deficiency in, the Trust Securities;
(f) the settlement or compromise of any obligation guaranteed hereby or
hereby incurred; or
(g) any other circumstance whatsoever that might otherwise constitute a
legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor, it being the intent of
this Section 5.3 that the obligations of the Guarantor hereunder shall be
absolute and unconditional under any and all circumstances.
There shall be no obligation of the Holders to give notice to, or obtain
the consent of, the Guarantor with respect to the happening of any of the
foregoing.
SECTION 5.4. Rights of Holders.
The Guarantor 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 Trust 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
10
<PAGE> 14
institute a legal proceeding directly against the Guarantor to enforce its
rights under this Guarantee Agreement, without first instituting a legal
proceeding against the Issuer 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) or upon distribution of Junior Subordinated Debt Securities to
Holders as provided in the Declaration of Trust.
SECTION 5.6. Subrogation.
The Guarantor shall be subrogated to all (if any) rights of the Holders
against the Issuer in respect of any amounts paid to the Holders by the
Guarantor under this Guarantee Agreement and shall have the right to waive
payment by the Issuer pursuant to Section 5.1; provided, however, that 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 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 the Guarantor in violation of the preceding
sentence, the Guarantor agrees to hold such amount in trust for the Holders and
to pay over such amount to the Holders.
SECTION 5.7. Independent Obligations.
The Guarantor acknowledges that its obligations hereunder are independent
of the obligations of the Issuer with respect to the Trust Securities and that
the Guarantor shall be liable as principal and as debtor hereunder to make
Guarantee Payments 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.
ARTICLE VI. COVENANTS AND SUBORDINATION
SECTION 6.1. Subordination.
This Guarantee Agreement will constitute an unsecured obligation of the
Guarantor and will rank subordinate and junior in right of payment to all Senior
Debt of the Guarantor.
SECTION 6.2. Pari Passu Guarantees.
This Guarantee Agreement shall rank pari passu with any similar Guarantee
Agreements issued by the Guarantor on behalf of the holders of trust securities
issued by [Republic New York Capital I, Republic New York Capital II and
Republic New York Capital _________].
ARTICLE VII. TERMINATION
SECTION 7.1. Termination.
11
<PAGE> 15
This Guarantee Agreement shall terminate and be of no further force and
effect upon (i) full payment of the Redemption Price of all Trust Securities,
(ii) the distribution of Junior Subordinated Debt Securities to the Holders in
exchange for all of the Trust Securities or (iii) full payment of the amounts
payable in accordance with the Declaration of Trust upon liquidation of the
Issuer. 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 must repay any sums paid with respect to Trust Securities or this
Guarantee Agreement.
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 the
Guarantor and shall inure to the benefit of the Holders of the Trust Securities
then outstanding. Except in connection with a consolidation, merger or sale
involving the Guarantor that is permitted under Article VIII of the Indenture
and pursuant to which the assignee agrees in writing to perform the Guarantor's
obligations hereunder, the Guarantor shall not assign its obligations hereunder.
SECTION 8.2. Amendments.
Except with respect to any changes which 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 all the outstanding Trust Securities. The provisions of Article VI of the
Declaration of Trust 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 (confirmed by delivery of the original) or
mailed by first class mail as follows:
(a) if given to the Guarantor, to the address set forth below or such
other address, facsimile number or to the attention of such other Person as the
Guarantor may give notice to the Holders:
REPUBLIC NEW YORK CORPORATION
452 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10018
Facsimile No.: (212) 525-6875
Attention: Treasurer
(b) if given to the Issuer, in care of the Guarantee Trustee, at the
Issuer's (and the Guarantee Trustee's) address set forth below or such other
address as the Guarantee Trustee on behalf of the Issuer may give notice to the
Holders:
Republic New York Capital ___
c/o Republic New York Corporation
452 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10018
12
<PAGE> 16
Facsimile No.: (212) 525-6875
Attention: Treasurer
with a copy to: Bankers Trust Company
Four Albany Street - 4th Floor
New York, NY 10006
Facsimile No.: (212) 250-6961
Attention: Corporate Trust and Agency Group
Corporate Market Services
(c) if given to the Guarantee Trustee:
Bankers Trust Company
Four Albany Street - 4th Floor
New York, NY 10006
Facsimile No.: (212) 250-6961
Attention: Corporate Trust and Agency Group
Corporate Market Services
(d) if given to any Holder, at the address set forth on the books and
records of the Issuer.
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 Trust Securities.
SECTION 8.5. Interpretation.
In this Guarantee Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) capitalized terms used in this Guarantee Agreement but not defined in
the preamble hereto have the respective meanings assigned to them in Section
1.1;
(b) a term defined anywhere in this Guarantee Agreement has the same
meaning throughout;
(c) all references to "the Guarantee Agreement" or "this Guarantee
Agreement" are to this Guarantee Agreement as modified, supplemented or amended
from time to time;
(d) all references in this Guarantee Agreement to Articles and Sections
are to Articles and Sections of this Guarantee Agreement unless otherwise
specified;
(e) a term defined in the Trust Indenture Act has the same meaning when
used in this Guarantee Agreement unless otherwise defined in this Guarantee
Agreement or unless the context otherwise requires;
13
<PAGE> 17
(f) a reference to the singular includes the plural and vice versa; and
(g) the masculine, feminine or neuter genders used herein shall include
the masculine, feminine and neuter genders.
SECTION 8.6. Governing Law.
THIS GUARANTEE AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED AND
INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD
TO THE CONFLICT OF LAW PRINCIPLES THEREOF.
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.
THIS GUARANTEE AGREEMENT is executed as of the day and year first above written.
REPUBLIC NEW YORK CORPORATION
By:
--------------------------------
Name:
Title:
BANKERS TRUST COMPANY,
as Guarantee Trustee
By:
--------------------------------
Name:
Title:
14
<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT 12.1
CALCULATION OF RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO
FIXED CHARGES-CONSOLIDATED
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Nine Months Ended
Years Ended December 31, September 30,
---------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------
1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1996 1997
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Excluding Interest on Deposits
Fixed Charges:
Interest on long-term debt and short-term
borrowings ........................... $ 513,322 $ 467,841 $ 499,065 $ 489,697 $ 588,693 $ 429,513 $ 533,350
One-third of rent expense ............... 10,252 10,859 14,412 13,651 14,495 11,131 10,629
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Total fixed charges ................. $ 523,574 $ 478,700 $ 513,477 $ 503,348 $ 603,188 $ 440,644 $ 543,979
========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
Earnings:
Income before income taxes .............. $ 347,269 $ 451,358 $ 492,366 $ 398,115 $ 590,546 $ 431,187 $ 480,997
Fixed charges ........................... 523,574 478,700 513,477 503,348 603,188 440,644 543,979
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Total earnings ...................... $ 870,843 $ 930,058 $1,005,843 $ 901,463 $1,193,734 $ 871,831 $1,024,976
========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges excluding
interest on deposits .................... 1.66x 1.94x 1.96x 1.79x 1.98x 1.98x 1.88x
----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----
Including Interest on Deposits
Fixed Charges:
Interest on long-term debt, short-term
borrowings and deposits .............. $1,318,228 $1,157,075 $1,326,855 $1,627,772 $1,870,898 $1,381,957 $1,603,690
One-third of rent expense ............... 10,252 10,859 14,412 13,651 14,495 11,131 10,629
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Total fixed charges ................. $1,328,480 $1,167,934 $1,341,267 $1,641,423 $1,885,393 $1,393,088 $1,614,319
========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
Earnings:
Income before income taxes .............. $ 347,269 $ 451,358 $ 492,366 $ 398,115 $ 590,546 $ 431,187 $ 480,997
Fixed charges ........................... 1,328,480 1,167,934 1,341,267 1,641,423 1,885,393 1,393,088 1,614,319
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Total earnings ...................... $1,675,749 $1,619,292 $1,833,633 $2,039,538 $2,475,939 $1,824,275 $2,095,316
========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges including
interest on deposits .................... 1.26x 1.39x 1.37x 1.24x 1.31x 1.31x 1.30x
----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----
</TABLE>
For the purpose of computing the consolidated ratio of earnings to fixed
charges, earnings represent consolidated income before income taxes plus fixed
charges. Fixed charges excluding interest on deposits consist of interest on
long-term debt and short-term borrowings and one-third of rental expense (which
is deemed representative of the interest factor). Fixed charges including
interest on deposits consist of the foregoing items plus interest on deposits.
<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT 12.2
CALCULATION OF RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO COMBINED FIXED CHARGES
AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS-CONSOLIDATED
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Years Ended December 31,
----------------------------------------------------------
1992 1993 1994 1995 1996
---- ---- ---- ---- ----
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Excluding Interest on Deposits
Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock Dividends:
Interest on long-term debt and short-term
borrowings ........................................ $ 513,322 $ 467,841 $ 499,065 $ 489,697 $ 588,693
One-third of rent expense ............................ 10,252 10,859 14,412 13,651 14,495
Preferred stock dividends* ........................... 38,037 42,623 49,895 50,203 44,440
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Total fixed charges and preferred
stock dividends ................................ $ 561,611 $ 521,323 $ 563,372 $ 553,551 $ 647,628
========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
Earnings:
Income before income taxes ........................... $ 347,269 $ 451,358 $ 492,366 $ 398,115 $ 590,546
Fixed charges ........................................ 523,574 478,700 513,477 503,348 603,188
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Total earnings ................................... $ 870,843 $ 930,058 $1,005,843 $ 901,463 $1,193,734
========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
Ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred
stock dividends excluding interest on deposits ....... 1.55x 1.78x 1.79x 1.63x 1.84x
----- ----- ----- ----- -----
Including Interest on Deposits
Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock Dividends:
Interest on long-term debt, short-term
borrowings and deposits ........................... $1,318,228 $1,157,075 $1,326,855 $1,627,772 $1,870,898
One-third of rent expense ............................ 10,252 10,859 14,412 13,651 14,495
Preferred stock dividends* ........................... 38,037 42,623 49,895 50,203 44,440
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Total fixed charges and preferred
stock dividends ................................ $1,366,517 $1,210,557 $1,391,162 $1,691,626 $1,929,833
========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
Earnings:
Income before income taxes ........................... $ 347,269 $ 451,358 $ 492,366 $ 398,115 $ 590,546
Fixed charges ........................................ 1,328,480 1,167,934 1,341,267 1,641,423 1,885,393
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Total earnings.................................... $1,675,749 $1,619,292 $1,833,633 $2,039,538 $2,475,939
========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges and preferred stock
dividends including interest on deposits .............. 1.23x 1.34x 1.32x 1.21x 1.28x
----- ----- ----- ----- -----
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
----------------------
1996 1997
---- ----
<S> <C> <C>
Excluding Interest on Deposits
Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock Dividends:
Interest on long-term debt and short-term
borrowings ........................................ $ 429,513 $ 533,350
One-third of rent expense ............................ 11,131 10,629
Preferred stock dividends* ........................... 32,758 24,670
---------- ----------
Total fixed charges and preferred
stock dividends ................................ $ 473,402 $ 568,649
========== ==========
Earnings:
Income before income taxes ........................... $ 431,187 $ 480,997
Fixed charges ........................................ 440,644 543,979
---------- ----------
Total earnings ................................... $ 871,831 $1,024,976
========== ==========
Ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred
stock dividends excluding interest on deposits ....... 1.84x 1.80x
----- -----
Including Interest on Deposits
Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock Dividends:
Interest on long-term debt, short-term
borrowings and deposits ........................... $1,381,957 $1,603,690
One-third of rent expense ............................ 11,131 10,629
Preferred stock dividends* ........................... 32,758 24,670
---------- ----------
Total fixed charges and preferred
stock dividends ................................ $1,425,846 $1,638,989
========== ==========
Earnings:
Income before income taxes ........................... $ 431,187 $ 480,997
Fixed charges ........................................ 1,393,088 1,614,319
---------- ----------
Total earnings.................................... $1,824,275 $2,095,316
========== ==========
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges and preferred stock
dividends including interest on deposits .............. 1.28x 1.28x
----- -----
</TABLE>
- ----------
* For the purpose of computing the ratios of earnings to combined fixed
charges and preferred stock dividends, the pre-tax equivalent of the preferred
stock dividends is calculated by multiplying the preferred stock dividends by
the ratio that pre-tax income bears to after-tax income.
<PAGE> 1
Exhibit 23.1
[Letterhead of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP]
The Board of Directors
Republic New York Corporation
We consent to incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement dated
December 16, 1997 for the offering of $1,000,000,000 of Securities on Form S-3
of Republic New York Corporation, Republic New York Capital III and Republic New
York Capital IV of our report dated January 14, 1997, relating to the
consolidated statements of condition of Republic New York Corporation as of
December 31, 1996 and 1995, and the related consolidated statements of income,
changes in stockholders' equity and cash flows for each of the years in the
three-year period ended December 31, 1996 and the consolidated statements of
condition of Republic National Bank of New York as of December 31, 1996 and
1995, which report appears on page 63 of the 1996 Republic New York Corporation
Annual Report to Stockholders, in the Republic New York Corporation Annual
Report on Form 10-K.
We also consent to the reference to our firm under the heading "Experts" in the
prospectus.
/s/ KPMG Peat Marwick LLP
New York, New York
December 16, 1997
<PAGE> 1
Exhibit 24.1
REPUBLIC NEW YORK CORPORATION
FORM OF POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned Director and/or Officer of
Republic New York Corporation ("Republic"), a Maryland corporation, hereby
constitutes and appoints each of Walter H. Weiner, Thomas F. Robards and William
F. Rosenblum, Jr., his or her true and lawful attorney and agent, in the name
and on behalf of the undersigned, with full power to act alone, to do any and
all acts and things and execute any and all instruments which the said attorney
and agent may deem necessary or advisable to enable Republic to file, in
electronic form, a Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 415 under the
Securities Act of 1933 on Form S-3 to register debt securities (which may be
convertible into common or preferred stock); warrants to purchase debt
securities; currency warrants; stock-index warrants; other warrants; preferred
stock, depositary shares representing preferred stock; warrants to purchase
preferred stock; warrants to purchase common stock; common stock, par value $5
per share; preferred securities of one or more Delaware statutory business
trusts to be formed by the Corporation and the guarantees of the Corporation of
the preferred securities of one or more Delaware statutory business trusts to be
formed by the Corporation in the aggregate principal amount or having proceeds
of up to $1,000,000,000 (or the equivalent in foreign denominated currencies or
composite currencies, determined at the date of issuance) (the "Securities") of
Republic in connection with a public offering of the Securities on a delayed or
continuous basis and to comply with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and
any rules and regulations and requirements of the Securities and Exchange
Commission in respect thereof, including the power and authority to sign the
name of the undersigned in his or her capacity as Director and/or Officer of
Republic (including the power to affix the undersigned's signature in typed form
as required by Rule 499(d)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) to the
Registration Statement to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
with respect thereto, to any and all amendments, including post-effective
amendments, to the said Registration Statement and to any and all instruments
and documents filed as a part of or in connection with the said Registration
Statement or amendments thereto, HEREBY RATIFYING AND CONFIRMING all that the
said attorneys and agents, or any of them, has done, shall do or cause to be
done by virtue hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his or her hand this 15th
day of October, 1997.
--------------------------------
<PAGE> 1
Exhibit 24.2
REPUBLIC NEW YORK CAPITAL III
FORM OF POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned Administrative Trustee of
Republic New York Capital III (the "Trust"), a Delaware statutory business
trust, hereby constitutes and appoints each of Walter H. Weiner and William F.
Rosenblum, Jr., his true and lawful attorney and agent, in the name and on
behalf of the undersigned, with full power to act alone, to do any and all acts
and things and execute any and all instruments which the said attorney and agent
may deem necessary or advisable to enable the Trust to file, in electronic form,
a Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933
on Form S-3 to register preferred securities in the aggregate principal amount
or having proceeds up to $1,000,0000,000 (or the equivalent in foreign
denominated currencies or composite currencies, determined at the date of
issuance) (the "Securities") of the Trust in connection with a public offering
of the Securities on a delayed or continuous basis and to comply with the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any rules and regulations and
requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission in respect thereof,
including the power and authority to sign the name of the undersigned in his
capacity as Administrative Trustee of the Trust (including the power to affix
the undersigned's signature in typed form as required by Rule 499(d)(2) of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended) to the Registration Statement to be filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission with respect thereto, to any and all
amendments, including post-effective amendments, to the said Registration
Statement and to any and all instruments and documents filed as a part of or in
connection with the said Registration Statement or amendments thereto, HEREBY
RATIFYING AND CONFIRMING all that the said attorneys and agents, or any of them,
has done, shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand this 18th day of
November, 1997.
--------------------------------
<PAGE> 1
Exhibit 24.3
REPUBLIC NEW YORK CAPITAL IV
FORM OF POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned Administrative Trustee of
Republic New York Capital IV (the "Trust"), a Delaware statutory business trust,
hereby constitutes and appoints each of Walter H. Weiner and William F.
Rosenblum, Jr., his true and lawful attorney and agent, in the name and on
behalf of the undersigned, with full power to act alone, to do any and all acts
and things and execute any and all instruments which the said attorney and agent
may deem necessary or advisable to enable the Trust to file, in electronic form,
a Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933
on Form S-3 to register preferred securities in the aggregate principal amount
or having proceeds up to $1,000,0000,000 (or the equivalent in foreign
denominated currencies or composite currencies, determined at the date of
issuance) (the "Securities") of the Trust in connection with a public offering
of the Securities on a delayed or continuos basis and to comply with the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any rules and regulations and
requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission in respect thereof,
including the power and authority to sign the name of the undersigned in his
capacity as Administrative Trustee of the Trust (including the power to affix
the undersigned's signature in typed form as required by Rule 499(d)(2) of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended) to the Registration Statement to be filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission with respect thereto, to any and all
amendments, including post-effective amendments, to the said Registration
Statement and to any and all instruments and documents filed as a part of or in
connection with the said Registration Statement or amendments thereto, HEREBY
RATIFYING AND CONFIRMING all that the said attorneys and agents, or any of them,
has done, shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand this 18th day of
November, 1997.
--------------------------------
