<PAGE>
AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON MARCH 18, 1998
REGISTRATION NO. 333-
333- -01
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
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FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
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BTI CAPITAL TRUST
(EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS TRUST AGREEMENT)
DELAWARE TO BE APPLIED FOR
(STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION) IDENTIFICATION NO.)
BREED TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
(EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)
DELAWARE 22-2767118
(STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION) IDENTIFICATION NO.)
5300 OLD TAMPA HIGHWAY
LAKELAND, FLORIDA 33807
(941) 668-6000
(ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE, OF
REGISTRANT'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)
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CHARLES J. SPERANZELLA, JR.
VICE CHAIRMAN
BREED TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
5300 OLD TAMPA HIGHWAY
LAKELAND, FLORIDA 33807
(941) 668-6473
(NAME, ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE,
OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)
COPIES TO:
MARY A. BERNARD
KING & SPALDING
1185 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10036
(212) 556-2100
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APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC: From time
to time after the effective date of this Registration Statement, as determined
in light of market conditions.
If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered
pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the
following box. [_]
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on
a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or
interest reinvestment plans, 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. [_]
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
<TABLE>
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<CAPTION>
PROPOSED PROPOSED
TITLE OF EACH CLASS OF SECURITIES AMOUNT TO BE MAXIMUM OFFERING MAXIMUM AGGREGATE AMOUNT OF
TO BE REGISTERED REGISTERED PRICE PER SECURITY(1) OFFERING PRICE(1) REGISTRATION FEE
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<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
6.50% Convertible Trust
Preferred Securities of
BTI Capital Trust...... 5,000,000 $50 $250,000,000(1)(2) $73,750
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6.50% Convertible
Subordinated Debentures
of Breed Technologies,
Inc.................... (3) (3) (3) (3)
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Common Stock of Breed
Technologies, Inc...... 10,986,500 (4) (4) (4)
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Guarantee by Breed
Technologies, Inc. of
the above-referenced
Preferred Securities... (5) (5) (5) (5)
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Total................... N/A N/A $250,000,000 $73,750
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</TABLE>
(1) Estimated solely for the purpose of computing the registration fee in
accordance with Rule 457(c) of the Securities Act of 1933.
(2) Exclusive of accrued interest and distributions, if any.
(3) $257.7 million in aggregate principal amount of 6.50% Convertible
Subordinated Debentures due 2027 were issued and sold to BTI Capital Trust
in connection with the issuance by BTI Capital Trust of its 6.50%
Convertible Trust Preferred Securities. The 6.50% Convertible Subordinated
Debentures may be distributed, under certain circumstances, to holders of
the 6.50% Convertible Trust Preferred Securities for no additional
consideration.
(4) The 6.50% Convertible Trust Preferred Securities are convertible into
common stock, par value $.01 per share, of Breed Technologies, Inc. (the
"Common Stock") at an initial conversion rate of 2.1973 shares of Common
Stock for each 6.50% Convertible Trust Preferred Security, subject to
adjustment under certain circumstances. Shares of Common Stock issued upon
conversion of the 6.50% Convertible Trust Preferred Securities will be
issued without the payment of additional consideration.
(5) No separate consideration will be received for the Guarantee.
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THE REGISTRANTS HEREBY AMEND THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR
DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANTS
SHALL FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS
REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH
SECTION 8(A) OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THIS REGISTRATION
STATEMENT SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING
PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(A), MAY DETERMINE.
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<PAGE>
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS SUBJECT TO COMPLETION OR AMENDMENT. A +
+REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATING TO THESE SECURITIES HAS BEEN FILED WITH THE +
+SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD NOR MAY +
+OFFERS TO BUY BE ACCEPTED PRIOR TO THE TIME THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT +
+BECOMES EFFECTIVE. THIS PROSPECTUS SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR +
+THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY SALE OF THESE +
+SECURITIES IN ANY STATE IN WHICH SUCH OFFER, SOLICITATION OR SALE WOULD BE +
+UNLAWFUL PRIOR TO REGISTRATION OR QUALIFICATION UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF +
+ANY SUCH STATE. +
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED MARCH 19, 1998
PROSPECTUS
BREED TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
6.50% CONVERTIBLE SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES
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BTI CAPITAL TRUST
6.50% CONVERTIBLE TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES
(LIQUIDATION AMOUNT $50 PER CONVERTIBLE TRUST PREFERRED SECURITY)
GUARANTEED TO THE EXTENT SET FORTH HEREIN BY, AND CONVERTIBLE INTO
COMMON STOCK OF,
BREED TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
This Prospectus relates to the resale from time to time of the 6.50%
Convertible Trust Preferred Securities (the "Preferred Securities"), which
represent preferred undivided beneficial interests in the assets of BTI Capital
Trust, a statutory business trust created under the laws of the State of
Delaware (the "Trust") and the shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share
("Common Stock"), of Breed Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Securities. The Preferred
Securities were originally issued and sold (the "Original Offering") by the
trust in a private placement to the Initial Purchasers (as defined herein) on
November 25, 1997 (the "Original Offering Date") and were simultaneously resold
by the Initial Purchasers in transactions exempt from the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), in the United States to persons
reasonably believed by the Initial Purchasers to be qualified institutional
buyers as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act, and outside the United
States to non-U.S. persons in reliance on Regulation S under the Securities
Act. The Company owns all of the common securities, which represent undivided
beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust (the "Common Securities" and,
together with the Preferred Securities, the "Trust Securities"). The Trust
exists for the sole purpose of issuing the Preferred Securities and the Common
Securities, investing the proceeds thereof in an equivalent amount of 6.50%
Convertible Subordinated Debentures due 2027 (the "Convertible Debentures") of
the Company in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate liquidation
amount of Trust Securities. The Convertible Debentures are unsecured,
subordinated obligations of the Company as described herein. Upon an event of
default under the Declaration (as defined herein), the holders of Preferred
Securities will have a preference over the holders of the Common Securities
with respect to payments in respect of distributions and payments upon
redemption, liquidation and otherwise.
Each Preferred Security is convertible in the manner described herein, at the
option of the holder thereof, into shares of the Company's Common Stock, at a
conversion rate of 2.1973 shares of Common Stock for each Preferred Security
(equivalent to $22.755 per share of Common Stock), subject to adjustment in
certain circumstances. The Common Stock is listed on The New York Stock
Exchange (the "NYSE") under the symbol "BDT." See "Description of the Preferred
Securities--Conversion Rights." On March 12, 1998, the last reported sales
price of the Common Stock on the NYSE was $23 5/8 per share.
Holders of the Preferred Securities are entitled to receive cumulative cash
distributions at an annual rate of 6.50% of the liquidation amount of $50 per
Preferred Security, accruing from, and including, November 25, 1997 and payable
quarterly in arrears on February 15, May 15, August 15 and November 15 of each
year, commencing February 15, 1998 (the "Distributions"). The distribution rate
and the distribution and other payment dates for the Preferred Securities
correspond to the interest rate and interest and other payment dates on the
Convertible Debentures, which are the sole asset of the Trust. As a result, if
principal and interest are not paid on the Convertible Debentures, no amounts
will be paid on the Preferred Securities.
The Preferred Securities, the Convertible Debentures, the Common Stock
issuable upon conversion thereof and the associated Guarantee (as defined
below) (collectively, the "Offered Securities") may be offered and sold from
time to time by the holders named herein or in an accompanying supplement to
this Prospectus (a "Prospectus Supplement") or by their transferees, pledgees,
donees or their successors (collectively, the "Selling Holders") pursuant to
this Prospectus. The Offered Securities may be sold by the Selling Holders from
time to time directly to purchasers or through agents, underwriters or dealers.
See "Plan of Distribution" and "Selling Holders." If required, the names of any
such agents or underwriters involved in the sale of the Offered Securities and
the applicable agent's commission, dealer's purchase price or underwriter's
discount, if any, will be set forth in a Prospectus Supplement. The Selling
Holders will receive all of the net proceeds from the sale of the Offered
Securities and will pay all underwriting discounts and selling commissions, if
any, applicable to any such sale. No portion of the net proceeds from the sale
of Offered Securities will be received by the Company or the Trust. The Company
is responsible for payment of certain other expenses incident to the offer and
sale of the Offered Securities. The Selling Holders and any broker/dealers,
agents or underwriters that participate in the distribution of the Offered
Securities may be deemed to be "underwriters" within the meaning of the
Securities Act, and any commission received by them and any profit on the
resale of the Offered Securities purchased by them may be deemed to be
underwriting commissions or discounts under the Securities Act. See "Plan of
Distribution" for a description of indemnification arrangements.
(continued on next page)
SEE "RISK FACTORS" BEGINNING ON PAGE 5 OF THIS PROSPECTUS FOR A DISCUSSION OF
CERTAIN MATERIAL FACTORS THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED IN CONNECTION WITH AN
INVESTMENT IN THE PREFERRED SECURITIES OFFERED HEREBY.
APPLICATION WILL BE MADE TO LIST THE COMMON STOCK REGISTERED PURSUANT HERETO
ON THE NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION
PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY
REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
-----------
The Date of this Prospectus is March , 1998
<PAGE>
(continued from cover page)
The payment of Distributions out of moneys held by the Trust and payments on
liquidation of the Trust or the redemption of Preferred Securities, as set
forth below, are guaranteed by the Company (the "Guarantee") to the extent
described under "Description of the Guarantee." The Guarantee covers payments
of Distributions and other payments on the Preferred Securities only if and to
the extent that the Trust has funds available therefor, which will not be the
case unless the Company has made corresponding payments of interest or
principal or other payments on the Convertible Debentures held by the Trust.
The Guarantee, when taken together with the Company's obligations under the
Convertible Debentures, the Indenture (as defined herein) pursuant to which
the Convertible Debentures are issued and its obligations under the
Declaration, including its obligations to pay costs, expenses, debts and
liabilities of the Trust (other than with respect to the Trust Securities),
provides a full and unconditional guarantee of amounts due on the Preferred
Securities. See "Effect of Obligations Under the Convertible Debentures and
the Guarantee" and "Description of the Guarantee."
The Convertible Debentures are redeemable by the Company, in whole or in
part, from time to time, on or after November 25, 2000 at the redemption
prices specified herein, or at any time, in whole or in part, in certain
circumstances upon the occurrence of a Tax Event (as defined herein). If the
Company redeems Convertible Debentures, the Trust must redeem Trust Securities
having an aggregate liquidation amount equal to the aggregate principal amount
of the Convertible Debentures so redeemed at the redemption prices specified
herein per Trust Security, plus accrued and unpaid Distributions thereon to
the date fixed for redemption. The outstanding Preferred Securities will be
redeemed upon maturity of the Convertible Debentures on November 15, 2027. In
addition, upon the occurrence of a Special Event (as defined herein) arising
from a change in laws or a change in legal interpretation regarding tax or
investment company matters, unless the Convertible Debentures are redeemed in
the limited circumstances described herein, the Trust shall be dissolved, with
the result that the Convertible Debentures will be distributed to the holders
of the Trust Securities, on a pro rata basis, in lieu of any cash
distribution. See "Description of the Preferred Securities--Mandatory
Redemption," "Description of the Preferred Securities--Special Event
Redemption or Distribution" and "Description of the Convertible Debentures."
In the event of the voluntary or involuntary dissolution, winding up or
termination of the Trust, after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of
the Trust as required by applicable law, the holders of the Preferred
Securities will be entitled to receive for each Preferred Security a
liquidation amount of $50 plus accrued and unpaid Distributions thereon to the
date of payment, unless, in connection with such dissolution, winding-up or
termination of the Trust, the Convertible Debentures are distributed to the
holders of the Preferred Securities. See "Description of the Preferred
Securities--Liquidation Distribution Upon Dissolution."
The obligations of the Company under the Guarantee rank (i) subordinate and
junior in right of payment to all other liabilities of the Company except any
liabilities that may be pari passu expressly by their terms, (ii) pari passu
with the most senior preferred or preference stock, if any, issued from time
to time by the Company, and with any guarantee now or hereafter entered into
by the Company in respect of any preferred or preference stock or preferred
securities of any affiliate of the Company and (iii) senior to the Common
Stock. If the Company does not make principal or interest payments on the
Convertible Debentures, the Trust will not have sufficient funds to redeem or
make distributions on the Preferred Securities, in which event holders of the
Preferred Securities would not be able to rely on the Guarantee for payment of
such redemption or distributions until the Trust has sufficient funds
available therefor. The obligations of the Company under the Convertible
Debentures are subordinate and junior in right of payment to all present and
future Senior Indebtedness (as defined herein) of the Company. As of January
31, 1998, the aggregate Senior Indebtedness of the Company was approximately
$864 million. The obligations of the Company under the Convertible Debentures
are also effectively subordinated to all existing and future indebtedness and
other liabilities, including trade payables, of the Company's subsidiaries. As
of January 31, 1998, the aggregate of such indebtedness and other liabilities,
including trade payables, of the Company's subsidiaries was approximately $435
million.
The Company has the right to defer payments of interest on the Convertible
Debentures by extending the interest payment period on the Convertible
Debentures at any time (so long as no Indenture Event of Default (as defined
herein) has occurred and is continuing) for up to 20 consecutive quarters
(each, an "Extension Period"); provided that no such Extension Period may
extend beyond the maturity date of the Convertible Debentures. If interest
payments are so deferred, Distributions on the Preferred Securities will also
be deferred. During any Extension Period, Distributions on the Preferred
Securities will continue to accrue with interest thereon (to the extent
permitted by applicable law) at an annual rate of 6.50% per annum, compounded
quarterly. Additionally, during any Extension Period, holders of Preferred
Securities will continue to recognize interest income in the form of original
issue discount ("OID") for United States federal income tax purposes in
advance of receipt of cash distributions with respect to such deferred
interest payments. There could be multiple Extension Periods of varying
lengths throughout the term of the Convertible Debentures. The Company has no
current intention of exercising its right to defer payments of interest by
extending the interest payment period on the Convertible Debentures. See
"Description of the Convertible Debentures--Interest Income and Option to
Extend Interest Payment Periods," "Risk Factors--Company Option to Extend
Interest Payment Periods; OID Risk" and "United States Federal Income
Taxation--Interest Income and Original Issue Discount."
2
<PAGE>
AVAILABLE INFORMATION
The Company is subject to the information requirements of 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 concerning the Company
can be inspected and copied at the public reference facilities maintained by
the Commission at Judiciary Plaza, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Room 1024,
Washington, D.C. 20549 and at the following regional offices of the
Commission: Seven World Trade Center, Suite 1300, New York, New York 10048 and
at Citicorp Center, 500 West Madison Street, Chicago, Illinois 60661. Copies
of such material can be obtained by writing to the Public Reference Section of
the Commission at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549 at prescribed
rates. The Commission also maintains a web site that contains reports, proxy
statements and other information regarding registrants that file
electronically with the Commission. The address of such site is
http://www.sec.gov. Such material can also be inspected at the reading room of
the library of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., 1735 K
Street, N.W., 2nd Floor, Washington, D.C. 20006.
The Company has filed with the Commission a Registration Statement on Form
S-3 (herein together with all amendments and exhibits thereto, called the
"Registration Statement") under the Securities Act with respect to the Offered
Securities. This Prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth
or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the exhibits
and schedules relating thereto, certain portions of which have been omitted as
permitted by the Rules and Regulations of the Commission. For further
information with respect to the Company and the securities offered by this
Prospectus, reference is made to the Registration Statement and the exhibits
filed or incorporated as a part thereof, which are on file at the offices of
the Commission and may be obtained upon payment of the fee prescribed by the
Commission, or may be examined without charge at the offices of the Commission
or on the Commission's web site. Statements contained in this Prospectus as to
the contents of any documents referred to are not necessarily complete; with
respect to any such document filed as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement, reference is made to such exhibit for a more complete description
of the matter involved, and each such statement shall be deemed qualified in
its entirety by such reference.
No separate financial statements of the Trust have been included herein. The
Company does not believe that such financial statements would be material to
holders of Preferred Securities because (i) all of the voting securities of
the Trust are, and will continue to be, owned, directly or indirectly, by the
Company, a reporting company under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the
"Exchange Act"), (ii) the Trust has no independent operations and exists for
the sole purpose of issuing securities representing undivided beneficial
interests in the assets of the Trust, investing the proceeds thereof in the
Convertible Debentures issued by the Company and engaging in only those other
activities that are necessary or incidental thereto and (iii) the obligations
of the Trust under the Trust Securities are fully and unconditionally
guaranteed by the Company if and to the extent that the Trust has funds
available to meet such obligations. See "The Trust," "Description of the
Preferred Securities," "Description of the Convertible Debentures" and
"Description of the Guarantee."
The summaries of various agreements referred to in this Prospectus do not
purport to be complete descriptions of such agreements and are subject to the
detailed provisions contained in the various documents. Copies of forms of
such agreements are available upon request from the Secretary of the Company.
3
<PAGE>
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
The following documents have been filed with the Commission and are
incorporated herein by reference: (a) the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1997; (b) the Company's Quarterly Reports
on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended September 30, 1997 and December 31, 1997;
(c) the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 14, 1997, as
amended by the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed on January 13,
1998; and (d) the description of the Company's Common Stock contained in the
Company's Registration Statement on Form 8-A as filed with the Commission on
October 19, 1992.
All documents filed by the Company pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or
15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this Prospectus and prior to the
termination of the offering of the Offered Securities shall be deemed to be
incorporated by reference in this Prospectus and to be a part hereof from the
date of filing of such documents. Any statement contained 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 other 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.
The Company will provide without charge to each person to whom this
Prospectus is delivered, upon the request of such person, a copy of any or all
of the foregoing documents incorporated herein by reference, other than
exhibits to such documents (unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated
by reference into such documents). Requests for such documents should be
submitted in writing to Stuart Boyd, Esq., Associate General Counsel, Breed
Technologies, Inc., 5300 Old Tampa Highway, P.O. Box 33050, Lakeland, Florida
33807, or by telephone at 941-668-6000.
4
<PAGE>
RISK FACTORS
An investment in the Offered Securities involves a high degree of risk.
Prospective investors should carefully consider the following risk factors, in
addition to the other information set forth in this Prospectus or incorporated
by reference herein, in connection with an investment in the Offered
Securities offered hereby.
RISKS RELATING TO THE COMPANY
Substantial Leverage. The Company has been and will continue to be highly
leveraged. The Company has indebtedness that is substantial in relation to its
stockholders' equity. As of January 31, 1998, the Company had outstanding
approximately $864 million of total debt (excluding the Convertible
Debentures) and approximately $17 million of stockholders' equity. All of this
debt is senior to the Convertible Debentures, the interest payments on which
will provide the funds required for Distributions on the Preferred Securities.
See "Risk Factors--Ranking of Subordinate Obligations Under the Guarantee and
Convertible Debentures."
The degree to which the Company is leveraged could have important
consequences for the holders of the Preferred Securities (or Common Stock
which may be acquired upon conversion), including, but not limited to, the
following: (i) a substantial portion of the Company's cash flow from
operations must be dedicated to the payment of principal and interest on its
indebtedness and will not be available for other purposes; (ii) the Company's
ability to obtain additional financing in the future for working capital,
capital expenditures, acquisitions or other purposes may be impaired; (iii)
the Company's leverage may increase its vulnerability to economic downturns
and limit its ability to withstand competitive pressures; and (iv) the
Company's ability to capitalize on significant business opportunities may be
limited.
The ability of the Company to meet its debt service obligations and its
obligations under the Convertible Debentures will depend on the future
operating performance and financial results of the Company, which will be
subject in part to factors beyond the Company's control. Although management
believes that the Company's cash flow will be adequate to meet its interest
and principal payments, there can be no assurance that the Company will
continue to generate earnings in the future sufficient to cover its fixed
charges. If the Company is unable to generate earnings in the future
sufficient to cover its fixed charges (including its obligations under the
Convertible Debentures) and is unable to borrow sufficient funds under its
existing credit facilities or from other sources, it may be required to
refinance all or a portion of its existing debt (including the Convertible
Debentures) or to sell all or a portion of its assets. There can be no
assurance that a refinancing would be possible, nor can there be any assurance
as to the timing of any asset sales or the proceeds the Company could realize
therefrom.
Integration and Management of Acquired Businesses. Since August 1994, the
Company has completed ten acquisitions, including the acquisition of the
safety restraint systems business ("SRS") of AlliedSignal Inc.
("AlliedSignal") on October 30, 1997 (the "SRS Acquisition"). The SRS
Acquisition was significantly larger than any acquisition previously completed
by the Company and represents a substantial increase in the scope of the
Company's business. Pro forma for the SRS Acquisition and three acquisitions
completed during fiscal 1997 (the "1997 Acquisitions"), the Company's fiscal
1997 net sales would have been $1.8 billion compared to $795 million on an
actual basis. The Company has limited experience in the design, development,
manufacture and sale of seat belt systems, which represent a significant
portion of the SRS business. Pro forma for the SRS Acquisition and the 1997
Acquisitions, seat belt system sales would have accounted for 27.1% of the
Company's fiscal 1997 net sales. There can be no assurance that the Company
will be able to successfully integrate the operations of SRS or the other
recently acquired businesses into the Company's operations. In particular, the
Company may experience (i) difficulty in assimilating the operations and
personnel of the acquired companies, (ii) disruption of the Company's ongoing
business, (iii) the inability of management to maximize the financial and
strategic position of the Company by the successful incorporation of acquired
products or technologies into the Company's offerings, (iv) difficulty in the
maintenance of uniform standards, controls, procedures and policies and (v)
the impairment of relationships with employees and customers. In addition, the
Company has committed to a plan to reposition and combine certain of the
Company's manufacturing and sales and
5
<PAGE>
engineering facilities and, in connection with such plan, incurred a
repositioning charge of $244 million during the three months ended December
31, 1997. Any failure on the part of the Company to successfully integrate and
manage the operations of SRS or the other recently acquired businesses, or to
successfully consolidate its facilities and sales and marketing offices in
accordance with the plan, could have a material adverse effect on the
Company's financial condition and results of operations. The Company has
little or no history of operations on a combined basis with SRS or the other
most recently acquired businesses.
Dependence on the Development of New Products. In recent years, automotive
occupant protection systems have changed significantly, based on changes in
government regulations, the demand by OEMs and consumers for improved systems
and rapid advances in the technology underlying these systems. The Company
believes that occupant protection systems will continue to change rapidly,
with industry participants seeking to develop and introduce intelligent
occupant protection systems that will be able to react differently to
individual crash situations and to make improvements in other components of
occupant protection systems. The Company believes that its future success will
depend in part on its ability to enhance its existing products and to develop
new products that meet changing government regulatory requirements and satisfy
OEM and consumer requirements, particularly requirements for intelligent
occupant protection systems. There can be no assurance that the Company will
meet these objectives and any failure to do so could have a material adverse
effect on the Company's financial condition and results of operations.
Reliance on Major Customers. Pro forma for the SRS Acquisition and the 1997
Acquisitions, sales to GM, Fiat, Ford and Chrysler represented approximately
21%, 18%, 17% and 16%, respectively, of the Company's net sales during fiscal
1997 and 24%, 15%, 15% and 19%, respectively, of the Company's net sales for
the first six months of fiscal 1998. These customers are not committed to
purchase any specified quantities of products from the Company and there can
be no assurance that these customers will continue to purchase products from
the Company at levels consistent with previous purchases. A significant
decline in sales of the Company's products to these customers would have a
material adverse effect on the Company's financial condition and results of
operations.
Effects of Likely Price Decreases. The Company anticipates that the prices
of automotive occupant protection systems and components such as those sold by
the Company will continue to decline over the next several years as a result
of competitive pressures and OEM requirements. The Company's future
profitability, therefore, will depend, among other things, on its ability to
continue to reduce its per-unit costs and maintain a cost structure,
internally and with its suppliers, that will enable it to offer competitive
prices. There can be no assurance that the Company will be successful in doing
so.
Dependence on the Automotive Industry. Sales of products to the automotive
industry have accounted for substantially all of the net sales of the Company.
The automobile market is cyclical and dependent on general economic
conditions. Future declines in car production in the United States or in
markets outside the United States could have an adverse effect on the
Company's financial condition and results of operations. In addition, most of
the Company's customers are unionized and may, from time to time, experience
labor disruptions. Any disruption in production by the Company's customers
could have an adverse effect on the Company's financial condition and results
of operations.
Government Regulation. The North American market for automotive occupant
protection systems has been significantly affected by federal safety
regulations and the Company believes that such regulations will continue to
have a significant effect on this market. Specifically, the rapid installation
of driver-side and passenger-side airbags was initially caused in the United
States by federal safety regulations. Recently, there has been negative
publicity concerning airbag performance, particularly the performance of
passenger-side airbags, and it is possible that federal safety regulations
will be revised in response to the concerns raised. It is difficult to predict
the nature of any such regulatory changes or the impact of such changes on the
Company's financial condition and results of operations.
6
<PAGE>
Product Liability. The sale of airbag and seat belt systems and components
entails an inherent risk of product liability claims. Although the Company
maintains product liability insurance covering certain types of claims, the
Company's policies are subject to substantial deductibles and there can be no
assurance that the coverage limits of the Company's insurance policies will be
adequate or that any particular loss will be covered. Such insurance can be
expensive and in the future may not be available on acceptable terms, if at
all. A successful claim brought against the Company not covered by the
Company's insurance or resulting in a recovery in excess of its insurance
coverage could have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial
condition and results of operations.
Warranty and Recall Exposure. The Company warrants to its OEM customers that
its products are free from defects and that they meet certain OEM designated
specifications. The OEMs in turn offer product warranties to the purchasers of
vehicles. In some instances of common complaint, the automobile manufacturer
will institute a vehicle recall or will be required by a governmental agency
to conduct a recall. As a result, from time to time, the Company has received
claims against it and requests for payment from its OEM customers to remedy
complaints made by the purchasers of vehicles. There can be no assurance that
the Company will not incur substantial warranty or recall expense in the
future. Such complaints and the related expenses could have a material adverse
effect on the Company's relationship with its OEM customers and its financial
condition and results of operations.
Potential Fluctuations in Quarterly Results. The Company's quarterly
operating results may vary significantly depending on factors such as the
timing of significant orders, the level of sales by automobile manufacturers,
disruptions caused by labor disputes and the seasonal patterns of its
customers, especially those located in Europe. A large portion of the
Company's expenses are fixed and cannot be adjusted in response to a shortfall
in quarterly revenues. There can be no assurance that the Company will operate
profitably in any quarter.
Long Lead Times for Sales. The Company typically competes for new business
at the beginning of the development of new vehicle models and upon the
redesign of existing models by its customers. New model development generally
begins three to five years prior to the marketing of such models to the
public. As a result of the relatively long lead times required for sales of
automotive occupant protection systems and components, it may be difficult for
the Company to obtain new sales to replace any unexpected decline in sales to
existing customers. The failure of the Company to obtain new business for new
models or to retain or increase business on redesigned existing models could
adversely affect the Company's financial condition and results of operations.
Competition. The markets for automotive occupant protection systems and
components are highly competitive. Increased competition could result in price
reductions and loss of market share, which would adversely affect the
Company's financial condition and results of operations. Many of the Company's
current and potential competitors have greater financial and other resources
than the Company. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to
continue to compete successfully with its existing competitors or will be able
to compete successfully with new competitors.
Risks Associated with International Sales. Pro forma for the SRS Acquisition
and the 1997 Acquisitions, international sales accounted for approximately 42%
and 49% of the Company's net sales in fiscal 1997 and the first six months of
1998, respectively. The Company expects that international business will
continue to account for a significant portion of its business in the future.
The Company's ability to compete effectively outside the United States will
depend on its ability to develop the relationships and, if demand requires,
additional facilities necessary to service international customers. In
addition, the Company's financial results from international sales may be
affected by fluctuations in currency exchange rates, increases in duty rates,
difficulties in obtaining export licenses, trade and tariff regulations,
political instability, difficulties or delays in collecting accounts
receivable and difficulties in staffing and managing international operations.
Pro forma for the SRS Acquisition and the 1997 Acquisitions, sales in Asia
accounted for approximately 6% and 5% of the Company's net sales for
fiscal 1997 and the first six months of fiscal 1998, respectively. In recent
months, certain Asian currencies have
7
<PAGE>
devalued significantly in relation to the United States dollar and financial
markets in Asia have experienced significant turmoil. There can be no
assurance that the Company's sales in Asia will not be materially adversely
affected by such developments.
Dependence on Key Personnel. The Company's success depends to a significant
degree upon the continued contributions of its key personnel, and the loss of
the services of such key personnel could have a material adverse effect on the
Company.
Dependence on Suppliers. Certain key components used in the Company's
products, such as restraints control modules and certain hybrid inflators, are
currently purchased from single sources. In addition, the Company subcontracts
the manufacture of certain of its subassemblies to third parties. The
inability to obtain sufficient sources of components or subassemblies as
required, or to obtain or develop alternative sources at competitive prices
and quality if and as required in the future, could result in delays in
product shipments or increase the Company's supply costs, either of which
would adversely affect the Company's financial condition and results of
operations.
Patents and Proprietary Technology. The Company relies on a number of
patents, trade secrets and non-disclosure agreements to protect its
technology. There can be no assurance that any patents now or hereafter owned
by the Company will afford protection against competitors that develop similar
technology. In addition, upon expiration of such patents, competitors may
develop and sell products based on technologies similar or equivalent to those
currently covered by the Company's patents. In addition, the laws of some
foreign countries do not protect the Company's patents and other proprietary
rights to the same extent as do the laws of the United States. There can be no
assurance that the steps taken by the Company to protect its proprietary
rights will be adequate to prevent imitation of its products or technology,
that the Company's proprietary information will not become known to
competitors, that the Company can effectively protect its rights to unpatented
proprietary information or that the Company's competitors will not
independently develop products or technologies that are superior to the
Company's products or technologies without infringing on the Company's
intellectual property rights. Although the Company believes that its products
and technology do not infringe on the proprietary rights of others, there can
be no assurance that third parties will not assert infringement claims in the
future.
Safety and Environmental Considerations. Sodium azide, which is used in the
propellant for certain of the Company's inflators, is flammable and has
exhibited toxicity in laboratory animal tests. In addition, the manufacture of
propellant containing sodium azide, as well as primers used in certain of the
Company's products, entails certain hazards. The Company's method of
production limits the quantity of these energetic materials in process at any
one time and utilizes certain safety measures. Notwithstanding these
precautions, the Company has on occasion experienced fires and explosions at
its manufacturing facilities. Although the Company's facilities and processes
are designed in a manner intended to minimize risks associated with the use of
energetic materials such as sodium azide and primers, there can be no
assurance that the Company will not encounter additional incidents or safety
issues relating to the use and manufacture of these energetic materials. The
Company uses various hazardous and toxic substances in its manufacturing
processes, including certain solvents, lubricants, sodium azide and other
pyrotechnic materials. The inadvertent release of any of these materials into
the environment could subject the Company to significant liability for clean-
up costs or fines, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company's
financial condition and results of operations. Additionally, the Company may
be required to make significant expenditures to ensure that the Company's
facilities and operations continue to satisfy environmental regulations and
these regulations may change significantly in the future.
Control of the Company by Principal Stockholders. As of February 28, 1998,
Allen K. Breed and Johnnie Cordell Breed beneficially own approximately 47% of
the outstanding Common Stock of the Company. As of result, Mr. and Mrs. Breed
are able to exercise control over the Company's affairs through their ability
to elect all of the directors of the Company and control the vote on all
matters requiring stockholder approval.
8
<PAGE>
RISKS RELATING TO THE OFFERED SECURITIES
Ranking of Subordinate Obligations Under the Guarantee and Convertible
Debentures. The Company's obligations under the Guarantee are subordinate and
junior in right of payment to all liabilities of the Company and pari passu
with the most senior preferred or preference stock issued, from time to time,
if any, by the Company. The obligations of the Company under the Convertible
Debentures are subordinate and junior in right of payment to all present and
future Senior Indebtedness of the Company. No payment of principal (including
redemption payments, if any), or premium, if any, on the Convertible
Debentures may be made if (i) any Senior Indebtedness of the Company is not
paid when due and any applicable grace period with respect to such default has
ended with such default not having been cured or waived or ceasing to exist,
or (ii) the maturity of any Senior Indebtedness has been accelerated because
of a default. At January 31, 1998, Senior Indebtedness, aggregated
approximately $864 million. In addition, because a significant portion of the
Company's operations are conducted through its subsidiaries and the
subsidiaries have not guaranteed the payment of principal of and interest on
the Convertible Debentures, all liabilities of such subsidiaries, including
trade payables (which aggregated approximately $435 million at January 31,
1998), are effectively senior to the Convertible Debentures and the Guarantee.
There are no terms in the Preferred Securities, the Convertible Debentures or
the Guarantee that limit the Company's or any subsidiary's ability to incur
additional indebtedness, including indebtedness that ranks senior to the
Convertible Debentures and the Guarantee. See "Description of the Convertible
Debentures" and "Description of the Guarantee--Status of the Guarantee."
The Guarantee guarantees to the holders of the Preferred Securities the
payment of (i) any accrued and unpaid Distributions that are required to be
paid on the Preferred Securities, to the extent the Trust has funds available
therefor, (ii) the Redemption Price, including all accrued and unpaid
Distributions with respect to the Preferred Securities called for redemption
by the Trust, to the extent the Trust has funds available therefor, and (iii)
upon a voluntary or involuntary dissolution, winding-up or termination of the
Trust (other than in connection with the distribution of Convertible
Debentures to the holders of Preferred Securities or a redemption of all the
Preferred Securities), the lesser of (a) the aggregate of the liquidation
amount and all accrued and unpaid Distributions on the Preferred Securities to
the date of the payment, to the extent the Trust has funds available therefor,
or (b) the amount of assets of the Trust remaining available for distribution
to holders of the Preferred Securities in liquidation of the Trust. The
holders of a majority in liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities have
the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding
for any remedy available to the Guarantee Trustee (as defined herein) or to
direct the exercise of any trust or power conferred upon the Guarantee Trustee
under the Guarantee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company fails to
make a payment under the Guarantee, any holder of Preferred Securities may
directly institute a legal proceeding against the Company 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. If the
Company were to default on its obligation to pay amounts payable on the
Convertible Debentures, the Trust would lack available funds for the payment
of Distributions or amounts payable on redemption of the Preferred Securities
or otherwise, and, in such event, holders of the Preferred Securities would
not be able to rely upon the Guarantee for payment of such amounts. Instead,
holders of the Preferred Securities would be required to rely on the
enforcement by (i) the Institutional Trustee of its rights as registered
holder of the Convertible Debentures against the Company pursuant to the terms
of the Convertible Debentures or (ii) such holder of its right against the
Company under certain circumstances to enforce payments on the Convertible
Debentures. See "--Enforcement of Certain Rights by Holders of Preferred
Securities," "Description of the Guarantee" and "Description of the
Convertible Debentures." The Declaration provides that each holder of
Preferred Securities, by acceptance thereof, agrees to the provisions of the
Guarantee, including the subordination provisions thereof, and the Indenture.
Enforcement of Certain Rights by Holders of Preferred Securities. If a
Declaration Event of Default occurs and is continuing, then the holders of
Preferred Securities would rely on the enforcement by the Institutional
Trustee of its rights as a holder of the Convertible Debentures against the
Company. In addition, the holders of a majority in liquidation amount of the
Preferred Securities have the right to direct the time, method and place of
conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Institutional
Trustee or to direct the exercise of any
9
<PAGE>
trust or power conferred upon the Institutional Trustee under the Declaration,
including the right to direct the Institutional Trustee to exercise the
remedies available to it as a holder of the Convertible Debentures. If the
Institutional Trustee fails to enforce its rights under the Convertible
Debentures, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any holder of Preferred
Securities may directly institute a legal proceeding against the Company to
enforce the Institutional Trustee's rights under the Convertible Debentures
without first instituting any legal proceeding against the Institutional
Trustee or any other person or entity. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a
Declaration Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and such event is
attributable to the failure of the Company to pay principal on the Convertible
Debentures on the date such principal is otherwise payable (or in the case of
redemption, on the redemption date), then a holder of Preferred Securities may
directly institute a proceeding for enforcement of payment to such holder of
the principal of the Convertible Debentures having a principal amount equal to
the aggregate liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities of such holder (a
"Direct Action") on or after the respective due date specified in the
Convertible Debentures. In connection with such Direct Action, the Company
will be subrogated to the rights of such holder of Preferred Securities under
the Declaration to the extent of any payment made by the Company to such
holder of Preferred Securities in such Direct Action. The holders of Preferred
Securities will not be able to exercise directly any other remedy available to
the holders of the Convertible Debentures. The Indenture provides that the
Indenture Trustee shall give holders of the Convertible Debentures notice of
all uncured defaults or events of default within 30 days after occurrence.
However, except in the case of a default or an event of default in payment on
the Convertible Debentures, the Indenture Trustee is protected in withholding
such notice if its officers or directors in good faith determine that
withholding of such notice is in the interest of the holders.
Company Option to Extend Interest Payment Periods; OID Risk. The Company has
the right under the Indenture to defer payment of interest on the Convertible
Debentures by extending the interest payment period at any time (so long as no
Indenture Event of Default has occurred and is continuing), and from time to
time, on the Convertible Debentures. As a consequence of such an extension,
quarterly Distributions on the Preferred Securities would be deferred
(although such Distributions would continue to accrue thereon compounded
quarterly) by the Trust during any such extended interest payment period. Such
right to extend the interest payment period for the Convertible Debentures is
limited to a period not exceeding 20 consecutive quarters, during which no
interest shall be due and payable, provided that no such Extension Period may
extend beyond the maturity date of the Convertible Debentures. In the event
that the Company exercises this right to defer interest payments, the Company
has agreed, among other things, (a) not to declare or pay dividends on, or
make a distribution with respect to, any of its capital stock (other than (i)
purchases or acquisitions of shares of Common Stock in connection with the
satisfaction by the Company of its obligations under any employee benefit
plans or the satisfaction by the Company of its obligations pursuant to any
contract or security requiring the Company to purchase shares of Common Stock,
(ii) as a result of a reclassification of the Company's capital stock or the
exchange or conversion of one class or series of the Company's capital stock
for another class or series of the Company's capital stock, (iii) the purchase
of fractional interests in shares of the Company's capital stock pursuant to
the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock or the security
being converted or exchanged, (iv) purchases or acquisitions of shares of the
Company's Common Stock to be used in connection with acquisitions of the
Company's Common Stock by stockholders pursuant to a dividend reinvestment
plan or (v) stock dividends paid by the Company where the dividend stock is
the same stock as that on which the dividend is paid), (b) not to make any
payment of interest, principal or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or
redeem any debt securities (including guarantees) issued by the Company that
rank pari passu with or junior to the Convertible Debentures and (c) not to
make any guarantee payments with respect to the foregoing (other than pursuant
to the Guarantee). Prior to the termination of any such Extension Period, the
Company may further extend the interest payment period; provided that such
Extension Period, together with all such previous and further extensions
thereof, may not exceed 20 consecutive quarters or extend beyond the maturity
date of the Convertible Debentures. Upon the termination of any Extension
Period and the payment of all amounts then due, the Company may commence a new
Extension Period, subject to the above requirements. See "Description of the
Preferred Securities--Distributions," "Description of the Convertible
Debentures--Interest Income and Option to Extend Interest Payment Periods" and
"United States Federal Income Taxation--Interest Income and Original Issue
Discount."
10
<PAGE>
Should the Company exercise its right to defer payments of interest by
extending the interest payment period, each holder of Preferred Securities
will continue to accrue income (as OID) in respect of the deferred interest
allocable to its Preferred Securities for United States federal income tax
purposes, which will be allocated but not distributed to holders of record of
Preferred Securities. As a result, each such holder of Preferred Securities
will recognize income for United States federal income tax purposes in advance
of the receipt of cash and will not receive the cash from the Trust related to
such income if such holder disposes of its Preferred Securities prior to the
record date for distributions of such amounts. There could be multiple
Extension Periods of varying lengths throughout the term of the Convertible
Debentures. The Company has no current intention of exercising its rights to
defer payments of interest by extending the interest payment period on the
Convertible Debentures. However, should the Company determine to exercise such
right in the future, the market price of the Preferred Securities is likely to
be adversely affected. In that event, a holder that disposes of its Preferred
Securities during an Extension Period might not receive the same return on its
investment as a holder that continues to hold its Preferred Securities. See
"--Uncertainty with Respect to Trading Price" and "United States Federal
Income Taxation--Interest Income and Original Issue Discount."
Special Event Redemption or Distribution. Upon the occurrence of a Special
Event, the Trust shall be dissolved, except in the limited circumstance
described below, with the result that the Convertible Debentures would be
distributed to the holders of the Trust Securities in connection with the
liquidation of the Trust. In the case of a Special Event that is a Tax Event,
in certain circumstances, the Company shall have the right to redeem the
Convertible Debentures, in whole or in part, in lieu of a distribution of the
Convertible Debentures by the Trust, in which event the Trust will redeem the
Trust Securities on a pro rata basis to the same extent as the Convertible
Debentures are redeemed by the Company. See "Description of the Preferred
Securities--Special Event Redemption or Distribution."
Under current United States federal income tax law, a distribution of
Convertible Debentures upon the dissolution of the Trust would not be a
taxable event to holders of the Preferred Securities. Upon the occurrence of a
Tax Event, however, a dissolution of the Trust in which holders of the
Preferred Securities receive cash would be a taxable event to such holders.
See "United States Federal Income Taxation--Receipt of Convertible Debentures
or Cash Upon Liquidation of the Trust."
There can be no assurance as to the market prices for the Preferred
Securities or the Convertible Debentures that may be distributed in exchange
for the Preferred Securities if a dissolution or liquidation of the Trust were
to occur. Accordingly, the Preferred Securities that an investor may purchase,
whether in this Offering or in the secondary market, or the Convertible
Debentures that a holder of Preferred Securities may receive on dissolution
and liquidation of the Trust, may trade at a discount to the price that the
investor paid to purchase the Preferred Securities offered hereby. Because
holders of Preferred Securities may receive Convertible Debentures upon the
occurrence of a Special Event, prospective purchasers of Preferred Securities
are also making an investment decision with regard to the Convertible
Debentures and should carefully review all the information regarding the
Convertible Debentures contained in this Prospectus. See "Description of the
Preferred Securities---Special Event Redemption or Distribution."
Limited Voting Rights. Holders of Preferred Securities have limited voting
rights and are not entitled to vote to appoint, remove, replace, or increase
or decrease the number of Trustees, which voting rights are vested exclusively
in the holder of the Common Securities. Prior to any conversion, holders of
Preferred Securities do not have any voting rights with respect to the Common
Stock of the Company. See "Description of the Preferred Securities."
Uncertainty with Respect to Trading Price. The Preferred Securities may
trade at a price that does not fully reflect the value of accrued but unpaid
interest with respect to the underlying Convertible Debentures. In addition,
as a result of the Company's right to defer interest payments, the market
price of the Preferred Securities (which represent an undivided interest in
the assets of the Trust) may be more volatile than other similar securities
where the issuer does not have such right to defer interest payments. A holder
who disposes of
11
<PAGE>
his or her Preferred Securities between record dates for payments of
distributions thereon will be required to include in income accrued but unpaid
interest on the Convertible Debentures through the date of disposition as
ordinary income (i.e., OID) and to add such amount to his or her adjusted tax
basis in his or her pro rata share of the underlying Convertible Debentures
deemed disposed. To the extent the selling price is less than the holder's
adjusted tax basis, a holder will recognize a capital loss. Subject to certain
limited exceptions, capital losses cannot be applied to offset ordinary income
for federal income tax purposes. See "United States Federal Income Taxation --
Interest Income and Original Issue Discount" and "-- Sales of Preferred
Securities."
THE COMPANY
The Company is a worldwide leader in the design, development, manufacture and
sale of automotive occupant protection systems and components. Its principal
products include sensors, electronics and related software, airbags and
inflators, seat belt systems and steering wheels. These products are used in
over 400 vehicle models manufactured by over 45 automobile manufacturers
("OEMs"), including General Motors, Fiat, Ford, Chrysler, Suzuki and most of
the other largest OEMs in the world.
The Company's goal is to become the leading worldwide supplier of complete,
integrated occupant protection systems, which consist of (i) sensors and
electronics (including crash and occupant protection sensors, diagnostic
electronics and related software), (ii) airbag modules (consisting primarily of
airbags and inflators), seat belt systems (including pretensioners and
retractors) and (iv) steering wheels. Since August 1994, the Company has
completed ten acquisitions. As a result of these ten acquisitions, the Company
has rapidly evolved from predominately the producer of a single product --
electromechanical sensors ("EMS sensors") -- to a leading manufacturer of all
of the components required for complete, integrated occupant protection
systems.
The Company was incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware in 1986.
The Company's principal executive offices are located at 5300 Old Tampa
Highway, P.O. Box 33050 Lakeland, FL 33807-3050 and its telephone number is
(941) 668-6000.
RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO COMBINED FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS
The following table sets forth the consolidated ratio of earnings to combined
fixed charges and preferred stock dividends of the Company. The consolidated
ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends has
been computed by dividing (i) net income plus all applicable income taxes plus
combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends by (ii) combined fixed
charges and preferred stock dividends. For purposes of computing the ratio,
earnings consist of earnings before income taxes and extraordinary item plus
combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends. Combined fixed charges
and preferred stock dividends consist of interest expense, amortization of debt
issuance costs, distributions on the Preferred Securities and an estimated
portion of rental expense that is representative of the interest factor in such
rentals.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SIX MONTHS ENDED
YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, PRO FORMA(1) DECEMBER 31, PRO FORMA(2)
------------------------------ YEAR ENDED ----------------- SIX MONTHS ENDED
1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 JUNE 30, 1997 1996 1997 DECEMBER 31, 1997
----- ----- ----- ----- ---- ------------- ----------------- -----------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
13.5x 52.3x 96.3x 34.0x 2.0x 0.8x 2.6x (8.9x) (3.6x)
</TABLE>
During the six months ended December 31, 1997, the Company incurred
repositioning and certain other special charges aggregating $349.9 million and,
as a result, earnings were insufficient to cover combined fixed charges and
preferred stock dividends by $373.3 million and $445.9 million, respectively,
for the historical and pro forma six months ended December 31, 1997. On a pro
forma basis for the year ended June 30, 1997, earnings were insufficient to
cover combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends by $37.3 million.
- --------
(1) Gives effect to the SRS Acquisition and the 1997 Acquisitions.
(2) Gives effect to the SRS Acquisition.
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<PAGE>
THE TRUST
The Trust is a statutory business trust created under Delaware law pursuant
to (i) a trust agreement, dated as of October 17, 1997, as amended by the
Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust dated as of November 25, 1997 (the
"Declaration"), executed by the Company, as sponsor (the "Sponsor"), and
certain of the trustees of the Trust (as described below) and (ii) the filing
of a certificate of trust with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware
on October 17, 1997. The Declaration will be qualified as an indenture under
the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the "Trust Indenture Act"). See
"Description of the Preferred Securities." The Company has acquired all of the
Common Securities of the Trust. The Trust exists for the exclusive purposes of
(i) issuing the Trust Securities representing undivided beneficial interests
in the assets of the Trust, (ii) investing the gross proceeds of the Trust
Securities in the Convertible Debentures and (iii) engaging in only those
other activities necessary or incidental thereto.
The Trust's business and affairs are conducted by its trustees, each
appointed by the Company as holder of the Common Securities. Pursuant to the
Declaration, the number of trustees of the Trust is currently five: Wilmington
Trust Company, as the institutional trustee (the "Institutional Trustee"),
Wilmington Trust Company, as the Delaware trustee (the "Delaware Trustee"),
and three individual trustees (the "Regular Trustees" and, together with the
Institutional Trustee and the Delaware Trustee, the "Trustees"), who are, and
any successor Regular Trustees must be, persons who are employees or officers
of, or who are affiliated with, the Company. The Regular Trustees are
initially Charles J. Speranzella, Jr., Fred J. Musone and Frank J. Gnisci,
each of whom is an officer of the Company. The Institutional Trustee will act
as the sole indenture trustee under the Declaration for purposes of compliance
with the Trust Indenture Act until removed or replaced by the holder of the
Common Securities. Wilmington Trust Company will also act as indenture trustee
(the "Guarantee Trustee") under the Guarantee for the purposes of compliance
with the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act. See "Description of the
Guarantee" and "Description of the Convertible Debentures."
The Institutional Trustee holds title to the Convertible Debentures for the
benefit of the holders of the Trust Securities and, in its capacity as the
holder, the Institutional Trustee has the power to exercise all rights, powers
and privileges under the Indenture pursuant to which the Convertible
Debentures are issued. In addition, the Institutional Trustee maintains
exclusive control of a segregated non-interest bearing bank account (the
"Property Account") to hold all payments made in respect of the Convertible
Debentures for the benefit of the holders of the Trust Securities. The
Institutional Trustee will make payments of distributions and payments on
liquidation, redemption and otherwise for the holders of the Trust Securities
out of funds from the Property Account. The Guarantee Trustee holds the
Guarantee for the benefit of the holders of the Preferred Securities. The
Company, as the direct or indirect holder of all the Common Securities, has
the right, subject to certain restrictions contained in the Declaration, to
appoint, remove or replace any Trustee and to increase or decrease the number
of Trustees. The Company has agreed to pay all fees and expenses related to
the Trust and the Offering of the Trust Securities. See "Description of the
Convertible Debentures--Miscellaneous".
USE OF PROCEEDS
The Selling Holders will receive all of the proceeds from any sale of the
Offered Securities. Neither the Company nor the Trust will receive any
proceeds from the sale of the Offered Securities.
The rights of the holders of the Preferred Securities, including economic
rights, rights to information and voting rights are set forth in the
Declaration, the Delaware Business Trust Act, as amended (the "Trust Act"),
and the Trust Indenture Act. See "Description of the Preferred Securities."
The place of business and the telephone number of the Trust are the
principal executive offices and telephone numbers of the Company.
ACCOUNTING TREATMENT
The financial statements of the Trust will be reflected in the Company's
consolidated financial statements, with the Preferred Securities shown as
"Company-obligated Mandatorily Redeemable Convertible Preferred Securities of
BTI Capital Trust holding solely Convertible Debentures."
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<PAGE>
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED SECURITIES
The Preferred Securities were issued pursuant to the terms of the
Declaration. The Declaration has been qualified as an indenture under the
Trust Indenture Act. Wilmington Trust Company, as Institutional Trustee, acts
as indenture trustee under the Declaration for purposes of compliance with the
provisions of the Trust Indenture Act. The terms of the Preferred Securities
include those stated in the Declaration and those made part of the Declaration
by the Trust Indenture Act. The following summary of the material terms and
provisions of the Preferred Securities does not purport to be complete and is
subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, the Declaration,
the Trust Act and the Trust Indenture Act.
GENERAL
The Declaration authorizes the Regular Trustees to issue on behalf of the
Trust the Trust Securities, which represent undivided beneficial interests in
the assets of the Trust. All of the Common Securities are owned, directly or
indirectly, by the Company. The Common Securities rank pari passu, and
payments are made thereon on a pro rata basis, with the Preferred Securities,
except that upon the occurrence and during the continuance of a Declaration
Event of Default, the rights of the holders of the Common Securities to
receive payment of periodic Distributions and payments upon liquidation,
redemption and otherwise are subordinated to the rights of the holders of the
Preferred Securities. The Declaration does not permit the issuance by the
Trust of any securities other than the Trust Securities or the incurrence of
any indebtedness by the Trust. Pursuant to the Declaration, the Institutional
Trustee holds title to the Convertible Debentures purchased by the Trust for
the benefit of the holders of the Trust Securities. The payment of
Distributions out of money held by the Trust, and payments upon redemption of
the Preferred Securities or liquidation of the Trust out of money held by the
Trust, are guaranteed by the Company to the extent described under
"Description of the Guarantee." The Guarantee is held by the Guarantee
Trustee, for the benefit of the holders of the Preferred Securities. The
Guarantee does not cover payment of Distributions when the Trust does not have
sufficient available funds to pay such Distributions. In such event, the
remedy of a holder of Preferred Securities is to (i) vote to direct the
Institutional Trustee to enforce the Institutional Trustee's rights under the
Convertible Debentures or (ii) if the failure of the Trust to pay
distributions is attributable to the failure of the Company to pay interest or
principal on the Convertible Debentures, to institute a proceeding directly
against the Company for enforcement of payment to such holder of the principal
of or interest on the Convertible Debentures having a principal amount equal
to the aggregate liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities of such holder
on or after the respective due date specified in the Convertible Debentures.
See "--Declaration Events of Default" and "--Voting Rights."
DISTRIBUTIONS
Distributions on Preferred Securities are fixed at a rate per annum of 6.50%
of the stated liquidation amount of $50 per Preferred Security. Distributions
in arrears beyond the first date such Distributions are payable or would be
payable, if not for any Extension Period or default by the Company on the
Convertible Debentures, bear interest thereon at the rate per annum of 6.50%
thereof, compounded quarterly. The term "Distribution" as used herein includes
any such interest payable unless otherwise stated. The amount of Distributions
payable for any period is computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve
30-day months.
Distributions on the Preferred Securities are cumulative, accrue from the
date of initial issuance and are payable quarterly in arrears on February 15,
May 15, August 15 and November 15 of each year, commencing February 15, 1998,
when, as and if available for payment. Distributions are made by the
Institutional Trustee, except as otherwise described below.
The Distribution rate and the Distribution payment dates and other payment
dates for the Preferred Securities correspond to the interest rate and
interest payment dates and other payment dates on the Convertible Debentures.
Distributions on the Preferred Securities are made on the dates payable to
the extent that the Trust has funds available for the payment of such
Distributions in the Property Account. The Trust's funds available for
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<PAGE>
distribution to the holders of the Preferred Securities are limited to
payments received by the Trust from the Company pursuant to the Convertible
Debentures. See "Description of the Convertible Debentures." The payment of
Distributions out of monies held by the Trust is guaranteed by the Company to
the extent set forth under "Description of the Guarantee."
Distributions on the Preferred Securities are payable to the holders thereof
as they appear on the books and records of the Trust at the close of business
on the relevant record dates, which, as long as the Preferred Securities
remain in book-entry-only form, will be one Business Day (as defined below)
prior to the relevant payment dates. Such Distributions will be paid through
the Institutional Trustee, who holds amounts received in respect of the
Convertible Debentures in the Property Account for the benefit of the holders
of the Trust Securities. In the event that any date on which Distributions are
payable on the Preferred Securities is not a Business Day, then payment of the
Distributions payable on such date will be made on the next succeeding day
that is a Business Day (and without any interest or other payment in respect
of any such delay), except that, if such Business Day is in the next
succeeding calendar year, such payment will be made on the immediately
preceding Business Day, in each case with the same force and effect as if made
on such date (the date on which Distributions are actually payable, a
"Distribution Date"). The period beginning on, and including, the date of
original issuance of the Preferred Securities, and ending on, but excluding,
the first Distribution Date, and each successive period beginning on, and
including, a Distribution Date, and ending on, but excluding, the next
succeeding Distribution Date is herein called a "Distribution Period." A
"Business Day" shall mean any day other than Saturday, Sunday or any other day
on which banking institutions in New York, New York or Wilmington, Delaware
are permitted or required by any applicable law or executive order to close.
So long as no Indenture Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the
Company has the right under the Indenture to defer payments of interest on the
Convertible Debentures by extending the interest payment period from time to
time on the Convertible Debentures for an Extension Period not exceeding 20
consecutive quarterly interest periods during which no interest shall be due
and payable; provided, that no such Extension Period may extend beyond the
maturity date of the Convertible Debentures. As a consequence of the Company's
extension of the interest payment period, quarterly Distributions on the
Preferred Securities would be deferred (though such Distributions would
continue to accrue with interest thereon compounded quarterly since interest
would continue to accrue on the Convertible Debentures) during any such
Extension Period. In the event that the Company exercises its right to extend
the interest payment period, then (a) the Company shall not declare or pay
dividends on, or make any distribution or liquidation payment with respect to,
or redeem, purchase or acquire any of its capital stock (other than (i)
purchases or acquisitions of shares of Common Stock in connection with the
satisfaction by the Company of its obligations under any employee benefit
plans or the satisfaction by the Company of its obligations pursuant to any
contract or security requiring the Company to purchase shares of the Common
Stock, (ii) as a result of a reclassification of the Company's capital stock
or the exchange or conversion of one class or series of the Company's capital
stock for another class or series of the Company's capital stock, (iii) the
purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Company's capital stock
pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock or the
security being converted or exchanged, (iv) purchases or acquisitions of
shares of the Company's Common Stock to be used in connection with the
acquisition of the Company's Common Stock by stockholders pursuant to a
dividend reinvestment plan or (v) stock dividends paid by the Company where
the dividend stock is the same stock as that on which the dividend is paid),
(b) the Company shall not make any payment of interest on or principal of (or
premium, if any, on) or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities
(including guarantees) issued by the Company that rank pari passu with or
junior to the Convertible Debentures and (c) the Company shall not make any
guarantee payment with respect to the foregoing (other than pursuant to the
Guarantees). Prior to the termination of any Extension Period, the Company may
further extend such Extension Period; provided, that such Extension Period,
together with all previous and further extensions thereof, may not exceed 20
consecutive quarters; and provided further that no Extension Period may extend
beyond the maturity date of the Convertible Debentures. Upon the termination
of any Extension Period and the payment of all amounts then due, the Company
may commence a new Extension Period, subject to the above requirements. See
"Description of the Convertible Debentures--Interest" and "Description of the
Convertible Debentures--Interest Income and Option to Extend Interest Payment
Periods."
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<PAGE>
The Regular Trustees shall give the holders of the Preferred Securities notice
of any Extension Period upon receipt of notice thereof from the Company. See
"Description of the Convertible Debentures--Interest Income and Option to
Extend Interest Payment Periods." If distributions are deferred as a result of
an Extension Period, the deferred distributions and accrued interest thereon
shall be paid to holders of record of the Preferred Securities as they appear
on the books and records of the Trust on the record date next following the
termination of such deferral period.
CONVERSION RIGHTS
General. The Preferred Securities are convertible at any time on or after
January 25, 1998 and prior to the close of business on the Business Day
immediately preceding the date of repayment of such Preferred Securities (or
in the case of Preferred Securities called for redemption, prior to the close
of business on the Business Day prior to the Redemption Date), whether at
maturity or upon redemption, at the option of the holder thereof and in the
manner described below, into shares of Common Stock at an initial conversion
rate of 2.1973 shares of Common Stock for each Preferred Security (equivalent
to a conversion price of $22.755 per share of Common Stock) (the "Initial
Conversion Price"), subject to adjustment as described under "--Conversion
Price Adjustments--General" and "--Conversion Price Adjustments--Fundamental
Change" below.
The Indenture Trustee has covenanted in the Indenture not to convert
Convertible Debentures held by it except pursuant to a notice of conversion
delivered to the Institutional Trustee, as conversion agent (the "Conversion
Agent"), by a holder of Preferred Securities. A holder of a Preferred Security
wishing to exercise its conversion right must deliver an irrevocable notice of
conversion, together, if the Preferred Security is held in certificated form,
with such certificated Preferred Security, to the Conversion Agent, which
shall, on behalf of such holder, exchange such Preferred Security for a
portion of the Convertible Debentures and immediately convert such Convertible
Debentures into Common Stock. Holders may obtain copies of the required form
of the notice of conversion notice from the Conversion Agent. Procedures for
converting book-entry Preferred Securities into shares of Common Stock will
differ, as described under "--Book-Entry-Only Issuance--The Depository Trust
Company."
Accrued Distributions will not be paid on Preferred Securities that are
converted, except that holders of Preferred Securities at the close of
business on a Distribution record date will be entitled to receive the
Distribution payable on such Preferred Securities on the corresponding
Distribution Date notwithstanding the conversion of such Preferred Securities
following such Distribution record date but prior to such Distribution Date,
and when so surrendered for conversion, the Preferred Securities must be
accompanied by payment of an amount equal to the Distribution payable on such
Distribution payment date. Except as described above, no Distribution will be
payable by the Company on converted Preferred Securities with respect to any
Distribution Date subsequent to the date of conversion. Except as provided
above, neither the Trust nor the Company will make, or be required to make,
any payment, allowance or adjustment for accumulated and unpaid Distributions,
whether or not in arrears, on Preferred Securities. Each conversion will be
deemed to have been effected immediately prior to the close of business on the
day on which the related conversion notice was received by the Conversion
Agent.
Shares of Common Stock issued upon conversion of Preferred Securities will
be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. No fractional shares of
Common Stock will be issued as a result of conversion, but in lieu thereof
such fractional interest will be paid by the Company in cash based on the last
reported sale price of Common Stock on the date such Preferred Securities are
surrendered for conversion.
Conversion Price Adjustments--General. The Initial Conversion Price is
subject to adjustment (under formulae set forth in the Indenture) in certain
events, including (a) the issuance of shares of Common Stock as a dividend or
a distribution with respect to Common Stock, (b) subdivisions, combinations
and reclassifications of Common Stock, (c) the issuance to all holders of
Common Stock of rights or warrants entitling them (for a period not exceeding
45 days) to subscribe for shares of Common Stock at less than the then Current
Market Price (as
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<PAGE>
defined below) of the Common Stock, (d) the distribution to holders of Common
Stock of (i) equity securities of the Company (other than Common Stock), (ii)
evidences of indebtedness of the Company and/or (iii) other assets (including
securities, but excluding (A) any rights or warrants referred to in clause (c)
above, (B) any rights or warrants to acquire any capital stock of any entity
other than the Company or any subsidiary of the Company, (C) any dividends or
distributions in connection with the liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of
the Company, (D) any dividends payable solely in cash that may from time to
time be fixed by the Board of Directors of the Company and (E) any dividends
or distributions referred to in clause (a) above), (e) distributions to all
holders of Common Stock, consisting of cash, excluding (i) any cash dividends
on Common Stock to the extent that the aggregate cash dividends per share of
Common Stock in any consecutive 12-month period do not exceed the greater of
(x) the amount per share of Common Stock of the cash dividends paid on Common
Stock in the immediately preceding 12-month period, to the extent that such
dividends for the immediately preceding 12-month period did not require an
adjustment of the conversion price pursuant to this clause (e) (as adjusted to
reflect subdivisions or combinations of Common Stock), and (y) 15% of the
Current Market Price of Common Stock for the trading day immediately prior to
the date of declaration of such dividend, and (ii) any dividend or
distribution in connection with the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of
the Company or a redemption of any rights issued under a rights agreement;
provided, however, that no adjustment shall be made pursuant to this clause
(e) if such distribution would otherwise constitute a Fundamental Change (as
defined below) and be reflected in a resulting adjustment described below, and
(f) the consummation of a tender offer by the Company or any subsidiary of the
Company for the Common Stock that involves an aggregate consideration that,
together with (X) any cash and other consideration payable in respect of any
tender offer consummated by the Company or a subsidiary of the Company for the
Common Stock consummated within the 12 months preceding the consummation of
such tender offer and (Y) the aggregate amount of all cash distributions
(excluding any cash distributions referred to in (d) above) to all holders of
the Common Stock within the 12 months preceding the consummation of such
tender offer, exceeds 110% of the Company's market capitalization at the date
of consummation of such tender offer. "Current Market Price" means the average
of the daily closing prices for the ten consecutive trading days selected by
the Company commencing not more than 20 trading days before, and ending not
later than, the day in question.
If any adjustment is required to be made as set forth in clause (e) above as
a result of a distribution that is a dividend described in clause (e) above
but exceeds the amount of the dividend permitted to be excluded pursuant to
such subclause (i) of clause (e), such adjustment would be based upon the
amount by which such distribution exceeds the amount permitted to be excluded.
If an adjustment is required to be made as set forth in clause (e) above as a
result of a distribution that is not such a dividend, such adjustment would be
based upon the full amount of such distribution. If an adjustment is required
to be made as set forth in clause (f) above, such adjustment would be
calculated based upon the amount by which the aggregate consideration paid for
the Common Stock acquired in the tender offer exceeds 110% of the Company's
market capitalization at the date of consummation of such tender offer. In
lieu of making such a conversion price adjustment in the case of certain
dividends or distributions, the Company may provide that upon the conversion
of the Preferred Securities the holder converting such Preferred Securities
will receive, in addition to the Common Stock to which such holder is
entitled, the cash, securities or other property which such holder would have
received if such holder had, immediately prior to the record date for such
dividend or distribution, converted its Preferred Securities into Common
Stock.
The Company from time to time may, to the extent permitted by law, reduce
the conversion price of the Convertible Debentures (and thus, the conversion
price of the Preferred Securities) by any amount selected by the Company for
any period of at least 20 days, in which case the Company shall give at least
15 days' notice of such reduction. The Company may, at its option, make such
reductions in the conversion price, in addition to those set forth above, as
the Company's Board of Directors deems advisable to avoid or diminish any
income tax to holders of Common Stock resulting from any dividend or
distribution of stock (or rights to acquire stock) or from any event treated
as such for income tax purposes. See "United States Federal Income Taxation--
Conversion of Preferred Securities."
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<PAGE>
No adjustment of the conversion price will be made upon the issuance of any
shares of Common Stock pursuant to any present or future plan providing for
the reinvestment of dividends or interest payable on securities of the Company
and the investment of additional optional amounts in shares of Common Stock
under any such plan. No adjustment in the conversion price will be required
unless such adjustment would require a change of at least 1% in the conversion
price then in effect; provided, however, that any adjustment that would not be
required to be made shall be carried forward and taken into account in any
subsequent adjustment. If any action would require adjustment of the
conversion price pursuant to more than one of the provisions described above,
only one adjustment shall be made and such adjustment shall be the amount of
adjustment that has the highest absolute value to the holders of the Preferred
Securities.
Conversion Price Adjustments--Fundamental Change. In the event that the
Company shall be a party to any transaction or series of transactions
constituting a Fundamental Change, including, without limitation, (i) any
recapitalization or reclassification of the Common Stock (other than a change
in par value or as a result of a subdivision or combination of the Common
Stock); (ii) any consolidation or merger of the Company with or into another
entity as a result of which holders of Common Stock shall be entitled to
receive securities or other property or assets (including cash) with respect
to or in exchange for Common Stock (other than a merger which does not result
in a reclassification, conversion, exchange or cancellation of the outstanding
Common Stock); (iii) any sale or transfer of all or substantially all of the
assets of the Company constituting a Fundamental Change; or (iv) any
compulsory share exchange, pursuant to any of which holders of Common Stock
shall be entitled to receive other securities, cash or other property or
assets, then appropriate provision shall be made so that the holders of all
the Preferred Securities then outstanding shall have the right thereafter to
convert such Preferred Securities only into (x) if any such transaction is a
Non-Stock Fundamental Change (as defined below), the kind and amount of the
securities, cash or other property or assets that would have been receivable
upon such recapitalization, reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale,
transfer or share exchange by a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock
issuable upon conversion of such Preferred Securities immediately prior to
such recapitalization, reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer
or share exchange, after giving effect to any adjustment in the conversion
price in accordance with clause (i) of the following paragraph, and (y) if any
such transaction constitutes a Common Stock Fundamental Change (as defined
below), shares of common stock of the kind received by holders of Common Stock
as a result of such Common Stock Fundamental Change in an amount determined in
accordance with clause (ii) of the following paragraph. The company formed by
such consolidation or resulting from such merger or which acquires such assets
or which acquires the Common Stock, as the case may be, shall enter into a
supplemental indenture with the Indenture Trustee, satisfactory in form to the
Indenture Trustee and executed and delivered to the Indenture Trustee, the
provisions of which shall establish such right. Such supplemental indenture
shall provide for adjustments, which, for events subsequent to the effective
date of such supplemental indenture, shall be as nearly equivalent as
practical to the relevant adjustments provided for in the preceding paragraphs
and in this paragraph.
Notwithstanding any other provision in the preceding paragraphs, if any
Fundamental Change occurs, the conversion price in effect will be adjusted
immediately after that Fundamental Change as follows:
(i) in the case of a Non-Stock Fundamental Change, the conversion price
per share of Common Stock immediately following such Non-Stock Fundamental
Change will be the lower of (A) the conversion price in effect immediately
prior to such Non-Stock Fundamental Change, but after giving effect to any
other prior adjustments effected pursuant to the preceding paragraphs, and
(B) the result obtained by multiplying (X) the greater of the Applicable
Price (as defined below) and the then applicable Reference Market Price (as
defined below) by (Y) a fraction, the numerator of which is $50 and the
denominator of which is (I) the applicable Redemption Price for one
Preferred Security if the redemption date were the date of such Non-Stock
Fundamental Change (or for the twelve-month periods commencing November 25,
1997, November 25, 1998 and November 25, 1999, the product of 106.50%,
105.20% and 103.90%, respectively, times $50) plus (II) any then-accrued
but unpaid Distributions on one Preferred Security; and
(ii) in the case of a Common Stock Fundamental Change, the conversion
price per share of Common Stock will be the conversion price in effect
immediately prior to the Common Stock Fundamental Change,
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<PAGE>
but after giving effect to any other prior adjustments effected pursuant to
the preceding paragraphs, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which
is the Purchaser Stock Price (as defined below) and the denominator of
which is the Applicable Price; provided, however, that in the event of a
Common Stock Fundamental Change in which (A) 100% of the value of the
consideration received by a holder of Common Stock (subject to certain
limited exceptions) is shares of common stock of the successor, acquiror or
other third party (and cash, if any, paid with respect to any fractional
interests in the shares of common stock resulting from the Common Stock
Fundamental Change) and (B) all of the Common Stock (subject to certain
limited exceptions) shall have been exchanged for, converted into, or
acquired for, shares of common stock (and cash, if any, with respect to
fractional interests) of the successor, acquiror or other third party, the
conversion price per share of Common Stock immediately following the Common
Stock Fundamental Change shall be the conversion price in effect
immediately prior to the Common Stock Fundamental Change divided by the
number of shares of common stock of the successor, acquiror, or other third
party received by a holder of one share of Common Stock as a result of the
Common Stock Fundamental Change.
The foregoing conversion price adjustments are designed, in "Fundamental
Change" transactions where all or substantially all of the Common Stock is
converted into securities, cash, or property and not more than 50% of the
value received by the holders of Common Stock consists of stock listed or
admitted for listing subject to notice of issuance on a national securities
exchange or quoted on the Nasdaq National Market ("NNM") (a "Non-Stock
Fundamental Change," as defined herein), to increase the securities, cash or
property into which each Preferred Security is convertible.
In a Non-Stock Fundamental Change transaction where the initial value
received per share of Common Stock (measured as described in the definition of
Applicable Price below) is lower than the then applicable conversion price of
the Preferred Securities but greater than or equal to the Reference Market
Price, the conversion price will be adjusted as described above with the
effect that each Preferred Security will be convertible into securities, cash
or property of the same type received by the holders of Common Stock in such
transaction but in an amount per Preferred Security equal to the amount
indicated as the denominator as of the date of such transaction as set forth
in clause (i) above with respect to conversion prices for Non-Stock
Fundamental Changes.
In a Non-Stock Fundamental Change transaction where the initial value
received per share of Common Stock (measured as described in the definition of
Applicable Price below) is lower than both the conversion price of a Preferred
Security and the Reference Market Price, the conversion price will be adjusted
as described above but calculated as though such initial value had been the
Reference Market Price.
In a Fundamental Change transaction where all or substantially all the
Common Stock is converted into securities, cash, or property and more than 50%
of the value received by the holders of Common Stock (subject to certain
limited exceptions) consists of listed or NNM-traded common stock (a "Common
Stock Fundamental Change," as defined herein), the foregoing adjustments are
designed to provide in effect that (a) where Common Stock is converted partly
into such common stock and partly into other securities, cash, or property,
each Preferred Security will be convertible solely into a number of shares of
such common stock determined so that the initial value of such shares
(measured as described in the definition of Purchaser Stock Price below)
equals the value of the shares of Common Stock into which such Preferred
Security was convertible immediately before the transaction (measured as
aforesaid) and (b) where Common Stock is converted solely into such common
stock, each Preferred Security will be convertible into the same number of
shares of such common stock receivable by a holder of the number of shares of
Common Stock into which such Preferred Security was convertible before such
transaction.
In determining the amount and type of consideration received by a holder of
Common Stock in the event of a Fundamental Change, consideration received by a
holder of Common Stock pursuant to a statutory right of appraisal will be
disregarded.
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<PAGE>
"Applicable Price" means (i) in the event of a Non-Stock Fundamental Change
in which the holders of Common Stock receive only cash, the amount of cash
receivable by a holder of one share of Common Stock and (ii) in the event of
any other Fundamental Change, the Current Market Price for one share of Common
Stock on the record date for the determination of the holders of Common Stock
entitled to receive cash, securities, property or other assets in connection
with such Fundamental Change or, if there is no such record date, on the date
on which the holders of the Common Stock will have the right to receive such
cash, securities, property or other assets.
"Common Stock Fundamental Change" means any Fundamental Change in which more
than 50% of the value (as determined in good faith by the Company's Board of
Directors) of the consideration received by holders of Common Stock (subject
to certain limited exceptions) pursuant to such transaction consists of shares
of common stock that, for the twenty consecutive trading days immediately
prior to such Fundamental Change, has been admitted for listing or admitted
for listing subject to notice of issuance on a national securities exchange or
quoted on the NNM; provided, however, that a Fundamental Change will not be a
Common Stock Fundamental Change unless either (i) the Company continues to
exist after the occurrence of such Fundamental Change and the outstanding
Preferred Securities continue to exist as outstanding Preferred Securities, or
(ii) the outstanding Preferred Securities continue to exist as Preferred
Securities and are convertible into shares of common stock of the successor to
the Company.
"Fundamental Change" means the occurrence of any transaction or event or
series of transactions or events pursuant to which all or substantially all of
the Common Stock is exchanged for, converted into, acquired for or constitutes
solely the right to receive cash, securities, property or other assets
(whether by means of an exchange offer, liquidation, tender offer,
consolidation, merger, combination, reclassification, recapitalization or
otherwise); provided, however, in the case of a plan involving more than one
such transaction or event, for purposes of adjustment of the conversion price,
such Fundamental Change will be deemed to have occurred when substantially all
of the Common Stock has been exchanged for, converted into, or acquired for or
constitutes solely the right to receive cash, securities, property or other
assets but the adjustment shall be based upon the consideration that the
holders of Common Stock received in the transaction or event as a result of
which more than 50% of the Common Stock shall have been exchanged for,
converted into, or acquired for, or shall constitute solely the right to
receive such cash, securities, property or other assets.
"Non-Stock Fundamental Change" means any Fundamental Change other than a
Common Stock Fundamental Change.
"Purchaser Stock Price" means, with respect to any Common Stock Fundamental
Change, the Current Market Price of common stock received by holders of Common
Stock in such Common Stock Fundamental Change on the record date for the
determination of the holders of Common Stock entitled to receive such shares
of common stock or, if there is no such record date, on the date upon which
the holders of Common Stock shall have the right to receive such shares of
common stock.
"Reference Market Price" will initially mean $12.33 (which is 66 2/3% of the
last reported sales price per share of Common Stock on the NYSE on the date of
the Offering Memorandum used in connection with the Original Offering) and, in
the event of any adjustment to the conversion price other than as a result of
a Fundamental Change, the Reference Market Price will also be adjusted so that
the ratio of the Reference Market Price to the conversion price after giving
effect to any adjustment will always be the same as the ratio of the initial
Reference Market Price to the Initial Conversion Price of the Preferred
Securities.
Conversions of the Preferred Securities may be effected by delivering them
to the office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose in the
Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York.
Conversion price adjustments or omissions in making such adjustments may,
under certain circumstances, result in constructive distributions that could
be taxable as dividends under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
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as amended (the "Code") to holders of Preferred Securities or to the holders
of Common Stock. See "United States Federal Income Taxation--Conversion of
Preferred Securities."
MANDATORY REDEMPTION
The Preferred Securities have no stated maturity date but will be redeemed
upon the maturity of the Convertible Debentures or to the extent the
Convertible Debentures are redeemed. The Convertible Debentures will mature on
November 15, 2027 and are redeemable in whole or in part, from time to time,
on or after November 25, 2000 (as described under "Description of the
Convertible Debentures--Optional Redemption"). The Institutional Trustee shall
simultaneously use the proceeds from any such redemption to redeem Trust
Securities with an aggregate liquidation amount equal to the aggregate
principal amount of the Convertible Debentures redeemed by the Company at the
redemption prices (expressed as a percentage of the liquidation amount)
specified below for the twelve-month period commencing November 25, in the
year indicated:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ORIGINAL
YEAR REDEMPTION PRICE
---- ----------------
<S> <C>
2000...................................................... 102.60%
2001...................................................... 101.30
</TABLE>
and 100% if redeemed on or after November 25, 2002.
plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid Distributions to the date set for
redemption.
Upon the redemption of the Convertible Debentures by the Company, in whole
or in part, at any time in certain circumstances upon the occurrence of a Tax
Event described under "--Special Event Redemption or Distribution," the
Institutional Trustee shall simultaneously use the proceeds from such
redemption to redeem Trust Securities with an aggregate liquidation amount
equal to the aggregate principal amount of the Convertible Debentures redeemed
by the Company at a redemption price equal to 100% of the liquidation amount
thereof plus accrued and unpaid Distributions (including Distributions with
respect to Additional Interest (as defined herein) and Compound Interest (as
defined herein), if any, on the corresponding Convertible Debentures so
redeemed) to the date set for redemption (subject to the right of holders on
the relevant record date to receive Distributions due on the applicable
Distribution payment date that is on or prior to the redemption date).
Holders of the Trust Securities shall be given not less than 30 nor more
than 60 days' notice of any redemption. In the event that fewer than all of
the outstanding Preferred Securities are to be redeemed, the Preferred
Securities will be redeemed pro rata as described under "--Book-Entry-Only
Issuance--The Depository Trust Company" below.
SPECIAL EVENT REDEMPTION OR DISTRIBUTION
As used herein, "Tax Event" means that the Regular Trustees shall have
received an opinion of nationally recognized independent tax counsel
experienced in such matters (a "Dissolution Tax Opinion") to the effect that
as a result of (a) any amendment to, clarification of, or change (including
any announced prospective change) in, the laws (or any regulations thereunder)
of the United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof
or therein, (b) any judicial decision, official administrative pronouncement,
ruling, regulatory procedure, notice or announcement, including any notice or
announcement of intent to adopt such procedures or regulations (an
"Administrative Action"), or (c) any amendment to, clarification of, or change
in, the official position or the interpretation of such Administrative Action
or judicial decision that differs from the theretofore generally accepted
position by any legislative body, court, governmental agency or regulatory
authority (including the enactment of any legislation and the publication of
any judicial decision or regulatory determination), in each case after the
date of this Prospectus, there is more than an insubstantial risk that (i) the
Trust is, or will be, subject to United States federal income tax with respect
to income accrued or received on the Convertible Debentures, (ii) the Trust
is, or will be, subject to more than a de minimis amount of other taxes,
duties or other
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governmental charges or (iii) interest paid in cash by the Company to the
Trust on the Convertible Debentures is not, or will not be, deductible, in
whole or in part, by the Company for United States federal income tax
purposes.
As used herein, "Investment Company Event" means that the Regular Trustees
shall have received an opinion of a nationally recognized independent counsel
experienced in practicing under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "1940
Act"), to the effect that, as a result of the occurrence of a change in law or
regulation or a written change in interpretation or application of law or
regulation by any legislative body, court, governmental agency or regulatory
authority (a "Change in 1940 Act Law"), which Change in 1940 Act Law becomes
effective on or after the date of this Prospectus, there is more than an
insubstantial risk that the Trust is or will be considered an "investment
company" which is required to be registered under the 1940 Act.
If, at any time, a Tax Event or an Investment Company Event (in either case,
a "Special Event") shall occur and be continuing, the Trust shall, except in
the limited circumstances described below, be dissolved with the result that
Convertible Debentures, with an aggregate principal amount equal to the
aggregate stated liquidation amount of, with an interest rate identical to the
Distribution rate of, with accrued and unpaid interest equal to accrued and
unpaid Distributions on, and having the same record date for payment as, the
Preferred Securities outstanding at such time, would be distributed to the
holders of the Trust Securities in liquidation of such holders' interests in
the Trust, on a pro rata basis within 90 days following the occurrence of such
Special Event; provided, however, that such dissolution and distribution shall
be conditioned on the Regular Trustees receipt of an opinion of nationally
recognized independent tax counsel experienced in such matters (a "No
Recognition Opinion"), which No Recognition Opinion may rely on, among other
things, published revenue rulings of the Internal Revenue Service, to the
effect that the holders of the Preferred Securities will not recognize any
gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes as a result of such
dissolution and distribution of Convertible Debentures; and, provided,
further, that if at the time there is available to the Company or the Trust
the opportunity to eliminate, within such 90-day period, the Special Event by
taking some ministerial action, such as filing a form or making an election,
or pursuing some other similar reasonable measure that, in the sole judgment
of the Company, has or will cause no adverse effect on the Trust, the Company
or the holders of the Trust Securities, the Company or the Trust will pursue
such measure in lieu of dissolution. Furthermore, if in the case of the
occurrence of a Tax Event, (i) the Company has received an opinion (a
"Redemption Tax Opinion") of nationally recognized independent tax counsel
experienced in such matters that, as a result of such Tax Event, there is more
than an insubstantial risk that the Company would be precluded from deducting
the interest on the Convertible Debentures, in whole or in part, for United
States federal income tax purposes, even after the Convertible Debentures were
distributed to the holders of Trust Securities in liquidation of such holders'
interests in the Trust as described above, or (ii) the Regular Trustees shall
have been informed by such tax counsel that it cannot deliver a No Recognition
Opinion to the Regular Trustees, the Company shall have the right, upon not
less than 30 nor more than 60 days' notice to the holders of the Preferred
Securities, to redeem the Convertible Debentures, in whole or in part, at 100%
of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon for
cash within 90 days following the occurrence of such Tax Event, and promptly
following such redemption, Preferred Securities with an aggregate liquidation
amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of Convertible Debentures so
redeemed shall be redeemed by the Trust at the Redemption Price on a pro rata
basis; provided, however, that if, at the time, there is available to the
Company or the Trust the opportunity to eliminate, within such 90-day period,
the Tax Event by taking some ministerial action, such as filing a form or
making an election, or pursuing some other similar reasonable measure that, in
the sole judgment of the Company, has or will cause no adverse effect on the
Trust, the Company or the holders of the Trust Securities, the Company or the
Trust will pursue such measure in lieu of redemption.
After the date fixed for any distribution of Convertible Debentures upon
dissolution of the Trust, (i) the Preferred Securities will no longer be
deemed to be outstanding, (ii) the depositary or its nominee, as the record
holder of the Preferred Securities, will receive a registered global
certificate or certificates representing the Convertible Debentures to be
delivered to the holders of the Preferred Securities upon such distribution
and (ii) any certificates representing Preferred Securities not held by the
securities depositary or its nominee will be deemed to represent beneficial
interests in Convertible Debentures having an aggregate principal amount equal
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to the aggregate stated liquidation amount of, with an interest rate identical
to the Distribution rate of, and with accrued and unpaid interest equal to
accrued and unpaid Distributions on, such Preferred Securities until such
certificates are presented to the Company or its agent for transfer or
reissuance.
There can be no assurance as to the market prices either for the Preferred
Securities or for the Convertible Debentures that may be distributed in
exchange for Preferred Securities if a dissolution and liquidation of the
Trust were to occur. Accordingly, the Preferred Securities that an investor
may purchase, whether pursuant to the offer made hereby or in the secondary
market, or the Convertible Debentures that the investor may receive if a
dissolution and liquidation of the Trust were to occur, may trade at a
discount to the price the investor paid to purchase Preferred Securities.
REDEMPTION PROCEDURES
The Trust may not redeem fewer than all of the outstanding Preferred
Securities unless all accrued and unpaid Distributions have been paid on all
Preferred Securities for all quarterly Distribution Periods occurring on or
prior to the date of redemption.
If the Trust gives a notice of redemption in respect of Preferred Securities
(which notice will be irrevocable), then, if the Company has paid to the
Institutional Trustee a sufficient amount of cash in connection with the
related redemption or maturity of the Convertible Debentures by 12:00 noon New
York City time on the redemption date, the Institutional Trustee will
irrevocably deposit (i) with the Depository Trust Company ("DTC"), funds
sufficient to pay the applicable Redemption Price on redemption of all
Preferred Securities represented by the Global Certificates (as defined
herein) and will give DTC irrevocable instructions and authority to pay such
amount in respect of Preferred Securities represented by the Global
Certificates and (ii) with the paying agent for the Preferred Securities,
funds sufficient to pay the applicable Redemption Price in respect of any
certificated Preferred Securities and will give such paying agent irrevocable
instructions and authority to pay such Redemption Price to the holders of
certificated Preferred Securities upon surrender of their certificates. See
"--Book-Entry-Only Issuance--The Depository Trust Company." If notice of
redemption shall have been given and funds are deposited as required, then
immediately prior to the close of business on the date of such deposit
Distributions will cease to accrue and all rights of holders of Preferred
Securities so called for redemption will cease, except the right of the
holders of such Preferred Securities to receive the Redemption Price, but
without interest on such Redemption Price. In the event that any date fixed
for redemption of 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 that is a Business Day (without any interest or other payment
in respect of any such delay), except that, if such Business Day falls in the
next calendar year, such payment will be made on the immediately preceding
Business Day. In the event that payment of the Redemption Price in respect of
Preferred Securities is improperly withheld or refused and not paid either by
the Trust or by the Company pursuant to the Guarantee, Distributions on such
Preferred Securities will continue to accrue at the applicable rate from the
original redemption date to the date of payment, in which case the actual
payment date will be considered the date fixed for redemption for purposes of
calculating the Redemption Price.
In the event that fewer than all of the outstanding Preferred Securities are
to be redeemed, the Preferred Securities will be redeemed as described below
under "--Book-Entry-Only Issuance--The Depository Trust Company."
Subject to the foregoing and applicable law (including, without limitation,
United States federal securities laws), the Company or its subsidiaries may at
any time, and from time to time, purchase outstanding Preferred Securities by
tender, in the open market or by private agreement.
SUBORDINATION OF COMMON SECURITIES
Payment of Distributions on, and the amount payable upon redemption of, the
Trust Securities, as applicable, shall be made pro rata based on the
liquidation amount of the Trust Securities; provided, however,
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that, if on any Distribution date or redemption date a Declaration Event of
Default shall have occurred and be continuing, no payment of any Distribution
on, or amount payable upon redemption of, any Common Security, and no other
payment on account of the redemption, liquidation or other acquisition of
Common Securities, shall be made unless payment in full in cash of all
accumulated and unpaid Distributions on all outstanding Preferred Securities
for all distribution periods terminating on or prior thereto, or in the case
of payment of the amount payable upon redemption of the Preferred Securities,
all of such amount in respect of all outstanding Preferred Securities shall
have been made or provided for, and all funds available to the Institutional
Trustee shall first be applied to the payment in full in cash of all
Distributions on, or the amount payable upon redemption of, Preferred
Securities then due and payable.
In the case of any Declaration Event of Default, the holders of Common
Securities will be deemed to have waived any such Declaration Event of Default
with respect to the Common Securities until all such Declaration Events of
Default with respect to the Preferred Securities have been cured, waived or
otherwise eliminated. Until any such Declaration Events of Default with
respect to the Preferred Securities have been so cured, waived or otherwise
eliminated, the Institutional Trustee will act solely on behalf of the holders
of the Preferred Securities and not the holders of the Common Securities and
only the holders of the Preferred Securities will have the right to direct the
Institutional Trustee to act on their behalf.
LIQUIDATION DISTRIBUTION UPON DISSOLUTION
In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution,
winding-up or termination of the Trust (each, a "Liquidation"), the holders of
the Preferred Securities will be entitled to receive out of the assets of the
Trust, after satisfaction of liabilities of the Trust, distributions in an
amount equal to the aggregate of the stated liquidation amount of $50 per
Preferred Security plus accrued and unpaid Distributions thereon to the date
of payment (the "Liquidation Distribution"), unless, in connection with such
Liquidation, Convertible Debentures in an aggregate stated principal amount
equal to the aggregate stated liquidation amount of, with an interest rate
identical to the Distribution rate of, and accrued and unpaid interest equal
to accrued and unpaid Distributions on, the Preferred Securities outstanding
at such time have been distributed on a pro rata basis to the holders of the
Preferred Securities.
If, upon any such Liquidation, the Liquidation Distribution can be paid only
in part because the Trust has insufficient assets available to pay in full the
aggregate Liquidation Distribution, then the amounts payable directly by the
Trust on the Preferred Securities shall be paid on a pro rata basis. The
holders of the Common Securities will be entitled to receive distributions
upon any such dissolution pro rata with the holders of the Preferred
Securities, except that if a Declaration Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing, the holders of the Common Securities shall not be permitted to
receive such distributions until such Declaration Event of Default has been
cured.
Pursuant to the Declaration, the Trust shall dissolve: (i) upon the
bankruptcy of the Company or the holder of the Common Securities; (ii) upon
the filing of a certificate of dissolution or its equivalent with respect to
the holder of the Common Securities or the Company, the filing of a
certificate of cancellation with respect to the Trust after having obtained
the consent of at least a majority in liquidation amount of the Trust
Securities, voting together as a single class, to file such certificate of
cancellation, or the revocation of the charter of the Company or the holder of
the Common Securities and the expiration of 90 days after the date of
revocation without a reinstatement thereof; (iii) upon the entry of a decree
of judicial dissolution of the holder of the Common Securities, the Company or
the Trust; (iv) when all of the Trust Securities shall have been called for
redemption and the amounts necessary for redemption thereof, including any
Additional Interest and Compound Interest, shall have been paid to the holders
thereof in accordance with the terms of the Trust Securities; (v) upon the
distribution of Convertible Debentures upon the occurrence of a Special Event;
(vi) upon the distribution of the Common Stock to all Holders of the Trust
Securities upon conversion of all outstanding Preferred Securities; or (vii)
on November 15, 2027, the expiration of the term of the Trust.
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DECLARATION EVENTS OF DEFAULT
An event of default under the Indenture (an "Indenture Event of Default")
constitutes an event of default under the Declaration with respect to the
Trust Securities (a "Declaration Event of Default"); provided, that pursuant
to the Declaration, the holder of the Common Securities will be deemed to have
waived any Declaration Event of Default with respect to the Common Securities
until all Declaration Events of Default with respect to the Preferred
Securities have been cured, waived or otherwise eliminated. Until such
Declaration Events of Default with respect to the Preferred Securities have
been so cured, waived or otherwise eliminated, the Institutional Trustee will
be deemed to be acting solely on behalf of the holders of the Preferred
Securities, and only the holders of the Preferred Securities will have the
right to direct the Institutional Trustee with respect to certain matters
under the Declaration and, therefore, the Indenture. In the event any
Declaration Event of Default with respect to the Preferred Securities is
waived by the holders of the Preferred Securities as provided in the
Declaration, the holders of Common Securities pursuant to the Declaration have
agreed that such waiver also constitutes a waiver of such Declaration Event of
Default with respect to the Common Securities for all purposes under the
Declaration without any further act, vote or consent of the holders of Common
Securities. See "--Voting Rights." The Institutional Trustee shall notify all
holders of the Preferred Securities of any notice of default received from the
Indenture Trustee with respect to the Convertible Debentures. Such notice
shall state that such Indenture Event of Default also constitutes a
Declaration Event of Default.
If the Institutional Trustee fails to enforce its rights under the
Convertible Debentures, any holder of Preferred Securities may, to the fullest
extent permitted by law, directly institute a legal proceeding against the
Company to enforce the Institutional Trustee's rights under the Convertible
Debentures without first instituting any legal proceeding against the
Institutional Trustee or any other person or entity. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, if a Declaration Event of Default has occurred and is continuing
and such event is attributable to the failure of the Company to pay interest
or principal on the Convertible Debentures on the date such interest or
principal is otherwise payable (or in the case of redemption, on the
redemption date), the Company acknowledges that a holder of Preferred
Securities may then also directly institute a proceeding for enforcement of
payment to such holder of the principal of or interest on the Convertible
Debentures having a principal amount equal to the aggregate liquidation amount
of the Preferred Securities of such holder on or after the respective due date
specified in the Convertible Debentures without first (i) directing the
Institutional Trustee to enforce the terms of the Convertible Debentures or
(ii) instituting a legal proceeding against the Company to enforce the
Institutional Trustee's rights under the Convertible Debentures. In connection
with such Direct Action, the Company will be subrogated to the rights of such
holder of Preferred Securities under the Declaration to the extent of any
payment made by the Company to such holder of Preferred Securities in such
Direct Action. Consequently, the Company will be entitled to payment of
amounts that a holder of Preferred Securities receives in respect of an unpaid
Distribution that resulted in the bringing of a Direct Action to the extent
that such holder receives or has already received full payment with respect to
such unpaid Distribution from the Trust. The holders of Preferred Securities
will not be able to exercise directly any other remedy available to the
holders of the Convertible Debentures.
Upon the occurrence of an Indenture Event of Default, the Institutional
Trustee as the sole holder of the Convertible Debentures will have the right
under the Indenture to declare the principal of and interest on the
Convertible Debentures to be immediately due and payable. The Company and the
Trust are each required to file annually with the Institutional Trustee an
officers' certificate as to its compliance with all conditions and covenants
under the Declaration.
After the date for any distribution of Convertible Debentures upon
dissolution of the Trust, (i) the Preferred Securities will no longer be
deemed to be outstanding, (ii) the depositary or its nominee, as the record
holder of the Preferred Securities, will receive a registered global
certificate or certificates representing the Convertible Debentures to be
delivered upon such distribution and (iii) any certificates representing
Preferred Securities not held by the depositary or its nominee will be deemed
to represent Convertible Debentures having an aggregate principal amount equal
to the aggregate stated liquidation amount of, with an interest rate identical
to the Distribution rate of, and accrued and unpaid interest equal to accrued
and unpaid Distributions on, such Preferred Securities until such certificates
are presented to the Company or its agent for transfer or reissuance.
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REGISTRATION RIGHTS
The Company, the Trust and the Initial Purchasers entered into a
Registration Rights Agreement dated November 25, 1997 (the "Registration
Rights Agreement") pursuant to which the Company and the Trust agreed to file
with the Commission, on or prior to March 19, 1998 (the "Required Filing
Date"), a shelf registration statement (the "Shelf Registration Statement") on
Form S-1 or Form S-3 to cover resales of Transfer Restricted Securities (as
defined below) by the holders thereof. The Company further agreed to use its
best efforts to cause such Shelf Registration Statement to be declared
effective by the Commission as soon as practicable following the filing
thereof, but in any case no later than June 17, 1998 (the "Required
Effectiveness Date") and to maintain the effectiveness thereof until two years
after the date of the Original Offering Date or such earlier date as of which
all the Transfer Restricted Securities have been sold pursuant to the Shelf
Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company is
permitted to prohibit offers and sales of Transfer Restricted Securities
pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement under certain circumstances and
subject to certain conditions (any period during which offers and sales are
prohibited being referred to as a "Suspension Period"). "Transfer Restricted
Securities" means each Preferred Security and any underlying Convertible
Debenture or Common Stock until the date on which such Preferred Security or
underlying Convertible Debenture or Common Stock (i) has been effectively
registered under the Securities Act and disposed of pursuant to the Shelf
Registration Statement, (ii) is distributed to the public pursuant to Rule 144
under the Securities Act or (iii) may be sold or transferred pursuant to Rule
144(k) under the Securities Act (or any similar provisions then in force).
If (i) the Shelf Registration Statement is not filed with the Commission
prior to the Required Filing Date, (ii) the Shelf Registration Statement has
not been declared effective by the Commission under the Securities Act on or
prior to the Required Effectiveness Date or (iii) a Suspension Period is in
effect then, in any such case referred to in clause (i), (ii) or (iii), a
"Registration Default" shall have occurred. During such period as a
Registration Default shall occur and until either the Shelf Registration
Statement is declared effective or the Suspension Period is terminated, as the
case may be, the Company will pay to each holder of Transfer Restricted
Securities as liquidated damages ("Liquidated Damages") an amount equal to an
additional one-quarter of one percent (25 basis points) per quarter, payable
in arrears, with the first quarterly payment due on the first interest or
Distribution date following the date on which such Liquidated Damages begin to
accrue in respect of any Preferred Security that is a Transfer Restricted
Security owned by such holder.
Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities are required, among other things,
to make certain representations to the Company and the Trust (as described in
the Registration Rights Agreement) in connection with the Shelf Registration
Statement pursuant to which such holder proposes to offer and sell Transfer
Restricted Securities. The Company will provide to each holder of Transfer
Restricted Securities copies of the prospectus which is a part of the Shelf
Registration Statement, notify each such Holder when the Shelf Registration
Statement has become effective and take certain other actions as are required
to permit unrestricted resales of the Transfer Restricted Securities. A holder
that proposes to sell Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the Shelf
Registration Statement generally will be required to be named as a selling
securityholder in the related prospectus and to deliver a prospectus to
purchasers, will be subject to certain of the civil liability provisions under
the Securities Act in connection with such sales and will be bound by the
provisions of the Registrations Rights Agreement that are applicable to such a
holder (including indemnification and contribution rights and obligations).
The summary herein of certain provisions of the Registration Rights Agreement
is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, all the
provisions of the Registration Rights Agreement. The Company will provide a
copy of the Registration Rights Agreement upon request.
VOTING RIGHTS
Except as described in this Prospectus and except as provided under the
Trust Act and the Trust Indenture Act and as otherwise required by law and the
Declaration, the holders of the Preferred Securities have no voting rights.
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Subject to the requirement of the Institutional Trustee's obtaining a tax
opinion in certain circumstances set forth in the following paragraph, the
holders of a majority in aggregate liquidation amount of the Preferred
Securities have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting
any proceeding for any remedy available to the Institutional Trustee, or to
direct the exercise of any trust or power conferred upon the Institutional
Trustee under the Declaration, including the right to direct the Institutional
Trustee, as holder of the Convertible Debentures, to (i) exercise the remedies
available to the Institutional Trustee under the Indenture with respect to the
Convertible Debentures, (ii) waive any past Indenture Event of Default and its
consequences that is waivable under the Indenture, (iii) exercise any right to
rescind or annul a declaration that the principal of all the Convertible
Debentures shall be due and payable or (iv) consent to any amendment,
modification or termination of the Indenture or the Convertible Debentures
where such consent shall be required; provided, however, that where a consent
or action under the Indenture would require the consent or act of the holders
of more than a majority in principal amount of Convertible Debentures (a
"Super Majority") affected thereby, only the holders of at least such Super
Majority in aggregate liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities may
direct the Institutional Trustee to give such consent or take such action. If
the Institutional Trustee fails to enforce its rights under the Convertible
Debentures, any record holder of Preferred Securities may, to the fullest
extent permitted by law, directly institute a legal proceeding against the
Company to enforce the Institutional Trustee's rights under the Convertible
Debentures without first instituting any legal proceeding against the
Institutional Trustee or any other person or entity.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Declaration Event of Default has
occurred and is continuing and such event is attributable to the failure of
the Company to pay interest or principal on the Convertible Debentures on the
date such interest or principal is otherwise payable (or in the case of
redemption on the redemption date), the Company acknowledges that a holder of
Preferred Securities may then institute a Direct Action for enforcement of
payment to such holder of the principal of or interest on the Convertible
Debentures having a principal amount equal to the aggregate liquidation amount
of the Preferred Securities of such holder on or after the respective due date
specified in the Convertible Debentures. The Institutional Trustee shall,
within 90 days, notify all holders of the Preferred Securities of any notice
of default received from the Indenture Trustee with respect to the Convertible
Debentures. Such notice shall state that such Indenture Event of Default also
constitutes a Declaration Event of Default. Except with respect to directing
the time, method and place of conducting a proceeding for a remedy available
to the Institutional Trustee, the Institutional Trustee, as holder of the
Convertible Debentures, shall be under no obligation to take any action in
accordance with the direction of the holders of Preferred Securities under
clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) of the preceding paragraph unless the Institutional
Trustee has obtained an opinion of independent tax counsel experienced in such
matters to the effect that as a result of such action, the Trust will not fail
to be classified as a grantor trust for United States federal income tax
purposes. The holders of a majority in aggregate outstanding principal amount
of Convertible Debentures may annul any declaration of acceleration under the
Indenture and waive any default if the 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 Indenture Trustee.
In the case of the Convertible Debentures held by the Institutional Trustee on
behalf of the Trust, a waiver of any default shall not be effective until a
majority in liquidation amount of the Trust Securities shall have consented to
such waiver; provided, however, that if the Indenture requires the consent of
a Super Majority, such waiver shall be effective only if the holders of at
least the proportion in liquidation amount of the Trust Securities that the
relevant Super Majority represents of the aggregate principal amount of the
Convertible Debentures outstanding so consent.
In the event the consent of the Institutional Trustee, as the holder of the
Convertible Debentures, is required under the Indenture with respect to any
amendment, modification or termination of the Indenture, the Institutional
Trustee shall request the written direction of the holders of the Trust
Securities with respect to such amendment, modification or termination and
shall vote with respect to such amendment, modification or termination as
directed by a majority in liquidation amount of the Trust Securities voting
together as a single class; provided, however, that where any amendment,
modification or termination under the Indenture would require the consent of a
Super Majority, the Institutional Trustee may only give such consent at the
direction of the holders of at least the proportion in aggregate stated
liquidation amount of the Trust Securities which the relevant Super
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Majority represents of the aggregate principal amount of the Convertible
Debentures outstanding. The Institutional Trustee shall be under no obligation
to take any such action in accordance with the direction of the holders of the
Trust Securities unless the Institutional Trustee has obtained an opinion of a
nationally recognized independent tax counsel experienced in such matters to
the effect that for United States federal income tax purposes the Trust will
not be classified as other than a grantor trust.
A waiver of an Indenture Event of Default constitutes a waiver of the
corresponding Declaration Event of Default.
Any required approval or direction of holders of Preferred Securities may be
given at a separate meeting of holders of Preferred Securities convened for
such purpose, at a meeting of all of the holders of Trust Securities or
pursuant to written consent. The Regular Trustees will cause a notice of any
meeting at which holders of Preferred Securities are entitled to vote, or of
any matter upon which action by written consent of such holders is to be
taken, to be mailed to each holder of record of Preferred Securities. Each
such notice will include a statement setting forth the following information:
(i) the date of such meeting or the date by which such action is to be taken;
(ii) a description of any resolution proposed for adoption at such meeting on
which such holders are entitled to vote or of such matter upon which written
consent is sought; and (iii) instructions for the delivery of proxies or
consents. No vote or consent of the holders of Preferred Securities will be
required for the Trust to redeem and cancel Preferred Securities or distribute
Convertible Debentures in accordance with the Declaration.
Notwithstanding that holders of Preferred Securities are entitled to vote or
consent under any of the circumstances described above, any of the Preferred
Securities that are owned at such time by the Company or any entity directly
or indirectly controlling or controlled by, or under direct or indirect common
control with, the Company, shall not be entitled to vote or consent and shall,
for purposes of such vote or consent, be treated as if such Preferred
Securities were not outstanding.
The procedures by which holders of Preferred Securities represented by the
Global Certificates may exercise their voting rights are described below. See
"--Book-Entry-Only Issuance--The Depository Trust Company."
Holders of the Preferred Securities have no right to appoint or remove any
of the Trustees, who may be appointed, removed or replaced solely by the
Company as the indirect or direct holder of the Common Securities.
MODIFICATION OF THE DECLARATION
The Declaration may be modified and amended if approved by the Regular
Trustees (and, in certain circumstances, the Institutional Trustee and/or the
Delaware Trustee), except that if any proposed amendment provides for, or the
Regular Trustees otherwise propose to effect, (i) any action that would
adversely affect the powers, preferences or special rights of the holders of
the Trust Securities, whether by way of amendment to the Declaration or
otherwise or (ii) the dissolution, winding-up or termination of the Trust
other than pursuant to the terms of the Declaration, then the holders of the
Trust Securities voting together as a single class will be entitled to vote on
such amendment or proposal and such amendment or proposal shall not be
effective except with the approval of holders of at least a majority in
liquidation amount of the Trust Securities affected thereby; provided, that if
any amendment or proposal referred to in clause (i) above would adversely
affect only the Preferred Securities or the Common Securities, then only the
affected class will be entitled to vote on such amendment or proposal and such
amendment or proposal shall not be effective except with the approval of a
majority in liquidation amount of such class of Trust Securities.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, no amendment or modification may be made to
the Declaration if such amendment or modification would (i) cause the Trust to
be classified for United States federal income tax purposes as other than a
grantor trust, (ii) reduce or otherwise adversely affect the powers of the
Institutional Trustee or (iii) cause the Trust to be deemed an "investment
company" that is required to be registered under the 1940 Act.
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MERGER, CONSOLIDATION OR AMALGAMATION OF THE TRUST
The Trust may not consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or be
replaced by, or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets
substantially as an entirety to, any corporation or other body, except as
described below or as otherwise set forth in the Declaration. The Trust may,
with the consent of the Regular Trustees and without the consent of the
holders of the Trust Securities, the Institutional Trustee or the Delaware
Trustee, consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, 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) if the Trust is not the survivor, such successor entity
either (x) expressly assumes all of the obligations of the Trust under the
Trust Securities or (y) substitutes for the Trust Securities other securities
having substantially the same terms as the Trust Securities (the "Successor
Securities"), so long as the Successor Securities rank the same as the Trust
Securities rank with respect to Distributions, assets and payments upon
liquidation, redemption and otherwise, (ii) the Company expressly acknowledges
a trustee of such successor entity possessing the same powers and duties as
the Institutional Trustee, in its capacity as the holder of the Convertible
Debentures, (iii) the Preferred Securities or any Successor Securities are
listed, or any Successor Securities will be listed upon notification of
issuance, on the NNM, any national securities exchange or another organization
on which the Preferred Securities are then listed or quoted, (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 Trust Securities (including any Successor Securities) in any
material respect (other than with respect to any dilution of the holders'
interest in the new entity), (vi) such successor entity has a purpose
substantially identical to that of the Trust, (vii) the Company guarantees the
obligations of such successor entity under the Successor Securities to the
same extent as provided by the Guarantees and (viii) prior to such merger,
consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease, the
Company has received an opinion of a nationally recognized independent counsel
to the Trust and experienced in such matters to the effect that: (A) such
merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or
lease will not adversely affect the rights, preferences and privileges of the
holders of the Trust Securities (including any Successor Securities) in any
material respect (other than with respect to any dilution of the holders'
interest in the new entity) and (B) following such merger, consolidation,
amalgamation or replacement, neither the Trust nor such successor entity will
be required to register as an "investment company" under the 1940 Act.
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, in the opinion of a nationally recognized independent
tax counsel experienced in such matters, 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. In addition, so long as any Preferred
Securities remain outstanding and are not held entirely by the Company, the
Trust may not voluntarily liquidate, dissolve, wind-up or terminate except as
described above under "--Special Event Redemption or Distribution."
BOOK-ENTRY-ONLY ISSUANCE--THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY
The Preferred Securities were issued in fully registered form. Except as
provided below, Preferred Securities held by "qualified institutional buyers,"
as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act ("QIBs"), are currently
evidenced by one or more global certificates representing Preferred Securities
(collectively, the "Restricted Global Certificate"), which has been deposited
with DTC and registered in the name of Cede & Co. ("Cede") as DTC's nominee.
Preferred Securities held by persons who acquired such Preferred Securities
in compliance with Regulation S under the Securities Act ("Non-U.S. persons")
are currently evidenced by one or more global certificates (collectively, the
"Regulation S Global Certificate" and together with the Restricted Global
Certificate, the "Global Certificates" or each individually, a "Global
Certificate"), which has been registered in
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the name of a nominee of DTC for the accounts of the Euroclear System
("Euroclear") or Cedel Bank, societe anonyme ("Cedel").
A QIB may hold its interest in the Restricted Global Certificate directly
through DTC if such QIB is a participant in DTC, or indirectly through
organizations that are participants in DTC ("Participants"). The laws of some
jurisdictions require that certain purchasers of securities take physical
delivery of securities in definitive form. Such laws may impair the ability to
transfer beneficial interests in the Preferred Securities as represented by
the Restricted Global Certificate.
Beneficial interests in the Restricted Global Certificate may be transferred
to a person who takes delivery in the form of an interest in the Regulation S
Global Certificate only upon receipt by the Institutional Trustee of a written
certification from the transferor to the effect that such transfer is being
made in accordance with Regulation S or Rule 144A under the Securities Act and
that the interest transferred will be held immediately thereafter through
Euroclear or Cedel. Any beneficial interest in one of the Global Certificates
will, upon transfer, cease to be an interest in such Global Certificate and
become an interest in such other Global Certificate and, accordingly,
thereafter will be subject to all transfer restrictions and other procedures
applicable to beneficial interest in such other Global Certificate for as long
as it remains such an interest.
Investors may hold their interests in the Regulation S Global Certificate
through Euroclear or Cedel, if they are participants in such systems, or
indirectly through organizations that are participants in such systems.
Investors also may hold such interests through organizations other than
Euroclear or Cedel that are Participants in DTC. Euroclear and Cedel will hold
interests in the Regulation S Global Certificate on behalf of their
participants through customers' securities accounts in their respective names
on the books of DTC. All interests in a Global Certificate, including those
held through Euroclear or Cedel, may be subject to the procedures and
requirements of DTC. Those interests held through Euroclear and Cedel also may
be subject to the procedures and requirements of such systems.
QIBs and Non-U.S. persons that are not Participants may beneficially own
interests in a Global Certificate held by DTC only through Participants,
including Euroclear and Cedel, or certain banks, brokers, dealers, trust
companies and other parties that clear through or maintain a custodial
relationship with a Participant, either directly or indirectly ("Indirect
Participants"). So long as the nominee of DTC is the registered owner of a
Global Certificate, such nominee will be considered for all purposes the sole
holder of the Global Certificate. Except as provided below, owners of
beneficial interests in a Global Certificate will not be entitled to have
certificates registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to
receive physical delivery of certificates in definitive form and will not be
considered holders thereof.
Because DTC can act only on behalf of Participants, who in turn act on
behalf of Indirect Participants and certain banks, the ability of a person
having a beneficial interest in Preferred Securities represented by a Global
Certificate to pledge such interest to persons or entities that do not
participate in the DTC system, or otherwise take actions in respect of such
interest, may be affected by the lack of a physical certificate evidencing
such interest.
DTC has advised the Company and the Trust as follows: DTC is a limited-
purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law, a "banking
organization" within the meaning of New York Banking Law, a member of the
Federal Reserve System, a "clearing corporation" within the meaning of the New
York Uniform Commercial Code, and a "clearing agency" registered pursuant to
the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act. DTC holds securities that
its Participants deposit with DTC. DTC also facilitates the settlement among
Participants of securities transactions, such as transfers and pledges, in
deposited securities through electronic computerized book-entry changes in
Participants' accounts, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of
securities certificates. Participants in DTC include securities brokers and
dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other
organizations. DTC is owned by a number of its Participants and by the New
York Stock Exchange, Inc., the American Stock Exchange, Inc., and the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Access to the DTC system is also
available to others such as securities brokers and
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dealers, banks and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial
relationship with a Participant, either directly or indirectly. The rules
applicable to DTC and its Participants are on file with the Commission.
Purchases of Preferred Securities within the DTC system must be made by or
through Participants, which will receive a credit for the Preferred Securities
on DTC's records. The ownership interest of each actual purchaser of each
Preferred Security ("Beneficial Owner") is in turn recorded on the
Participants' and Indirect Participants' records. Beneficial Owners will not
receive written confirmation from DTC of their purchases, but Beneficial
Owners are expected to receive written confirmations providing details of the
transactions, as well as periodic statements of their holdings, from the
Participants or Indirect Participants through which the Beneficial Owners
purchased Preferred Securities. Transfers of ownership interests in the
Preferred Securities are to be accomplished by entries made on the books of
Participants acting on behalf of Beneficial Owners. Beneficial Owners will not
receive certificates representing their ownership interests in the Preferred
Securities, except in the event that use of the book-entry system for the
Preferred Securities is discontinued. Accordingly, each Beneficial Owner must
rely on the procedures of DTC to exercise any rights under the Preferred
Securities.
Transfers between Participants will be effected in accordance with DTC's
procedures and will be settled in same-day funds. Transfers between
participants in Euroclear and Cedel will be effected in the ordinary way in
accordance with their respective rules and operating procedures.
Cross-market transfers between Participants, on the one hand, and Euroclear
participants or Cedel participants, on the other hand, will be effected in DTC
in accordance with DTC's rules on behalf of Euroclear or Cedel, as the case
may be, by its respective depositary; however, such cross-market transactions
will require delivery of instructions to Euroclear or Cedel, as the case may
be, by the counterparty in such system in accordance with the rules and
procedures and within the established deadlines (Brussels time) of such
system. Euroclear or Cedel, as the case may be, will, if the transaction meets
its settlement requirements, deliver instructions to its respective depositary
to take action to effect final settlement on its behalf by delivering or
receiving interests in the Preferred Securities in DTC, and making or
receiving payment in accordance with normal procedures for same-day funds
settlement applicable to DTC. Euroclear participants and Cedel participants
may not deliver instructions directly to the depositaries for Euroclear or
Cedel.
Because of time zone differences, the securities account of a Euroclear or
Cedel participant purchasing an interest in a Preferred Security from a
Participant in DTC will be credited, and any such crediting will be reported
to the relevant Euroclear participant or Cedel participant, during the
securities settlement processing day (which must be a business day for
Euroclear and Cedel, as the case may be) immediately following the DTC
settlement date. Cash received in Euroclear or Cedel as a result of sales of
interests in a Preferred Security by or through a Euroclear or Cedel
participant to a Participant in DTC will be received with value on the DTC
settlement date, but will be available in the relevant Euroclear or Cedel cash
account only as of the business day for Euroclear or Cedel following the DTC
settlement date.
DTC has advised the Company that it will take any action permitted to be
taken by a holder of Preferred Securities (including the presentation of
Preferred Securities for exchange as described below) only at the direction of
one or more Participants to whose account the DTC interests in the Global
Certificates are credited and only in respect of such portion of the aggregate
liquidation amount of Preferred Securities as to which such Participant or
Participants has or have given such direction.
Conveyance of notices and other communications by DTC to Participants, by
Participants to Indirect Participants, and by Participants and Indirect
Participants to Beneficial Owners will be governed by arrangements among them,
subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from
time to time.
Conversion and redemption notices shall be sent to DTC. If less than all of
the Preferred Securities are being redeemed, DTC will reduce the amount of the
interest of each Participant in such Preferred Securities in accordance with
its procedures.
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Although voting with respect to the Preferred Securities is limited, in
those cases where a vote is required, DTC will not itself consent or vote with
respect to the Preferred Securities. Under its usual procedures, DTC would
mail an omnibus proxy to the Trust as soon as possible after the record date.
The omnibus proxy assigns DTC's consenting or voting rights to those
Participants to whose accounts the Preferred Securities are credited on the
record date (identified in a listing attached to the omnibus proxy).
Distributions on the Preferred Securities in the form of Global Certificates
will be made to DTC. DTC's practice is to credit Participants' accounts on the
relevant payment date in accordance with their respective holdings shown on
DTC's records unless DTC has reason to believe that it will not receive
payments on such payment date. Payments by Participants and Indirect
Participants to Beneficial Owners will be governed by standing instructions
and customary practices, as is the case with securities held for the account
of customers in bearer form or registered in "street name," and such payments
will be the responsibility of such Participants and not of DTC, the Trust or
the Company, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in
effect from time to time. Payment of Distributions to DTC is the
responsibility of the Trust, disbursement of such payments to Participants is
the responsibility of DTC, and disbursement of such payments to the Beneficial
Owners is the responsibility of Participants and Indirect Participants.
Although DTC has agreed to the foregoing procedures in order to facilitate
transfers of interests in the Global Certificates among Participants of DTC,
DTC is under no obligation to perform or continue to perform such procedures,
and such procedures may be discontinued at any time. Neither the Company, the
Trust nor any Trustee will have any responsibility for the performance by DTC
or its Participants or Indirect Participants under the rules and procedures
governing DTC. DTC may discontinue providing its services as securities
depositary with respect to the Preferred Securities at any time by giving
reasonable notice to the Trust. Under such circumstances, in the event that a
successor securities depositary is not obtained, Preferred Securities in the
form of physical certificates will be delivered in exchange for beneficial
interests in each Global Certificate. Additionally, the Trust (with the
consent of the Company) may decide to discontinue use of the system of book-
entry transfers through DTC (or a successor depositary) with respect to the
Preferred Securities. In that event, certificates for the Preferred Securities
will be printed and delivered. In each of the above circumstances, the Company
will appoint a paying agent with respect to the Preferred Securities.
The information in this Section concerning DTC, Cedel, Euroclear and DTC's
book-entry system has been obtained from sources that the Trust and the
Company believe to be reliable, but neither the Trust nor the Company takes
responsibility for the accuracy thereof.
INFORMATION CONCERNING THE INSTITUTIONAL TRUSTEE
The Institutional Trustee, prior to the occurrence of a default with respect
to the Trust Securities and after the curing of any default that may have
occurred, undertakes to perform only such duties as are specifically set forth
in the Declaration and, after such a default, shall exercise the same degree
of care as a prudent individual would exercise in the conduct of his or her
own affairs. Subject to such provisions, the Institutional Trustee is under no
obligation to exercise any of the powers vested in it by the Declaration at
the request of any holder of Preferred Securities, unless offered reasonable
indemnity by such holder against the costs, expenses and liabilities which
might be incurred thereby. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the holders of
Preferred Securities will not be required to offer such indemnity in the event
such holders, by exercising their voting rights, direct the Institutional
Trustee to take any action following a Declaration Event of Default. The
Institutional Trustee also serves as Delaware Trustee and as trustee under the
Guarantee and the Indenture.
PAYMENT
Payments in respect of the Preferred Securities represented by the Global
Certificates will be made to DTC, which will credit the relevant accounts at
DTC on the applicable Distribution Dates or, in the case of certificated
Preferred Securities, such payments shall be made by check mailed to the
address of the holder entitled thereto as such address shall appear on the
Register.
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REGISTRAR, TRANSFER AGENT, PAYING AGENT AND CONVERSION AGENT
The Institutional Trustee acts as Registrar, Transfer Agent, Paying Agent
and Conversion Agent for the Preferred Securities. The Paying Agent initially
is the Institutional Trustee, which is presently located in Wilmington,
Delaware. The Paying Agent is permitted to resign as Paying Agent upon 30
days' written notice to the Trustees. In the event that the Institutional
Trustee will no longer be the Paying Agent, the Regular Trustees shall appoint
a successor to act as Paying Agent (which shall be a bank or trust company).
Registration of transfers of Preferred Securities will be effected without
charge by or on behalf of the Trust, but upon payment (with the giving of such
indemnity as the Trust or the Company may require) in respect of any tax or
other government charges that may be imposed in relation to it.
The Trust will not be required to register or cause to be registered the
transfer of Preferred Securities after such Preferred Securities have been
called for redemption.
GOVERNING LAW
The Declaration and the Preferred Securities are governed by, and construed
in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of Delaware.
MISCELLANEOUS
The Regular Trustees are authorized and directed to operate the Trust in
such a way that the Trust will not be deemed to be an "investment company"
required to be registered under the 1940 Act or characterized as other than a
grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes. In this
connection, the Company and the Regular Trustees are authorized to take any
action, not inconsistent with applicable law, the certificate of trust or the
Declaration that each of the Company and the Regular 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 Preferred Securities.
Holders of the Preferred Securities have no preemptive or similar rights.
DESCRIPTION OF THE CONVERTIBLE DEBENTURES
Set forth below is a description of the specific terms of the Convertible
Debentures in which the Trust has invested the proceeds from the initial
issuance and sale of the Trust Securities. The Convertible Debentures have
been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act. The following description does
not purport to be complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety
by reference to, the Indenture, dated as of November 25, 1997 (the
"Indenture") between the Company and Wilmington Trust Company, as trustee (the
"Indenture Trustee"). Certain capitalized terms used herein are defined in the
Indenture.
Under certain circumstances involving the dissolution of the Trust following
the occurrence of a Special Event, Convertible Debentures may be distributed
to the holders of the Trust Securities in liquidation of the Trust. See
"Description of the Preferred Securities--Special Event Redemption or
Distribution."
GENERAL
The Convertible Debentures were issued as unsecured debt under the
Indenture. The Convertible Debentures were limited in aggregate principal
amount to approximately $257.7 million, such amount being the sum of the
aggregate stated liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities and the
capital contributed by the Company in exchange for the Common Securities.
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The Convertible Debentures are not subject to a sinking fund provision. The
entire principal amount of the Convertible Debentures will mature and become
due and payable, together with any accrued and unpaid interest thereon,
including Compound Interest and Additional Interest, if any, on November 15,
2027.
If Convertible Debentures are distributed to holders of Preferred Securities
in liquidation of such holder's interest in the Trust, such Convertible
Debentures will initially be issued in the form of one or more Global
Securities (as defined below). As described herein under certain limited
circumstances, Convertible Debentures may be issued in certificated form in
exchange for a Global Security. In the event that Convertible Debentures are
issued in certificated form, such Convertible Debentures will be in
denominations of $50 and integral multiples thereof and may be transferred or
exchanged at the offices described below. Payments on Convertible Debentures
issued as a Global Security will be made to DTC, a successor depositary or, in
the event that no depositary is used, to a paying agent for the Convertible
Debentures. In the event Convertible Debentures are issued in certificated
form, principal and interest will be payable, the transfer of the Convertible
Debentures will be registrable and Convertible Debentures will be exchangeable
for Convertible Debentures of other denominations of a like aggregate
principal amount at the corporate trust office of the Indenture Trustee in New
York, New York; provided, however, that payment of interest may be made at the
option of the Company by check mailed to the address of the persons entitled
thereto.
There are no covenants or provisions in the Indenture that afford holders of
Convertible Debentures protection in the event of a highly leveraged
transaction, reorganization, restructuring, merger or similar transaction
involving the Company that may adversely affect such holders.
SUBORDINATION
The Indenture provides that the Convertible Debentures are subordinate and
junior in right of payment to all existing and future Senior Indebtedness of
the Company. No payment of principal of (including redemption payments),
premium, if any, or interest (including Additional Interest and Compound
Interest) on, the Convertible Debentures may be made if (i) any Senior
Indebtedness of the Company has not been paid when due and any applicable
grace period with respect to such default has ended and such default has not
been cured or waived, or ceased to exist or (ii) the maturity of any Senior
Indebtedness of the Company has been accelerated because of a default. At
January 31, 1998, Senior Indebtedness of the Company aggregated approximately
$864 million. Upon any distribution of assets of the Company to creditors upon
any dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization, whether voluntary
or involuntary or in bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other
proceedings, all principal, premium, if any, and interest due or to become due
on, all Senior Indebtedness of the Company must be paid in full before the
holders of the Convertible Debentures are entitled to receive or retain any
payment. Upon satisfaction of all claims related to all Senior Indebtedness of
the Company then outstanding, the rights of the holders of the Convertible
Debentures will be subrogated to the rights of the holders of Senior
Indebtedness of the Company to receive payments or distributions applicable to
Senior Indebtedness until all amounts owing on the Convertible Debentures are
paid in full.
The term "Senior Indebtedness" means, with respect to the Company, (i) the
principal, premium, if any, and interest in respect of (A) every obligation of
the Company for money borrowed and (B) every obligation of the Company
evidenced by securities, notes, debentures, bonds or other similar instruments
including obligations incurred in connection with the acquisition of property,
assets or businesses, (ii) all capital lease obligations of the Company, (iii)
all obligations of the Company issued or assumed as the deferred purchase
price of property, all conditional sale obligations of the Company and all
obligations of the Company under any title retention agreement (but excluding
trade accounts payable arising in the ordinary course of business), (iv) all
obligations of the Company for the reimbursement of any letter of credit,
banker's acceptance, security purchase facility or similar credit transaction
issued for the account of the Company, (v) all obligations of the Company in
respect of derivative products, including interest rate swap, cap or other
similar agreements, interest rate future or option contracts, currency swap
agreements, currency future or option contracts and other similar agreements,
(vi) all obligations of the type referred to in clauses (i) through (v) above
of other persons for the payment of which the
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Company is responsible or liable as obligor, guarantor or otherwise, and (vii)
all obligations of the type referred to in clauses (i) through (vi) above of
other persons secured by any lien on any property or asset of the Company
(whether or not such obligation is assumed by the Company), except for (1) any
such indebtedness that is by its terms subordinated to or pari passu with the
Convertible Debentures and (2) any indebtedness between or among the Company
and its affiliates, including all other debt securities and guarantees in
respect of those debt securities issued to (a) the Trust or a trustee of the
Trust and (b) any other trust, or a trustee of such trust, partnership or
other entity affiliated with the Company that is a financing vehicle of the
Company (a "financing entity") in connection with the issuance by such
financing entity of preferred securities or other securities that rank pari
passu with, or junior to, the Preferred Securities. Such Senior Indebtedness
shall continue to be Senior Indebtedness and be entitled to the benefits of
the subordination provisions irrespective of any amendment, modification or
waiver of any term of such Senior Indebtedness.
In addition, because a significant portion of the Company's operations is
conducted through its subsidiaries and the subsidiaries have not guaranteed
the payment of and interest on the Convertible Debentures, all liabilities of
such subsidiaries, including trade payables (which aggregated approximately
$435 million at January 31, 1998), are effectively senior to the Convertible
Debentures.
The Indenture does not limit the aggregate amount of Senior Indebtedness
that may be issued by the Company.
OPTIONAL REDEMPTION
The Company has the right to redeem the Convertible Debentures, in whole or
in part, from time to time, on or after November 25, 2000 upon not less than
30 nor more than 60 days' notice, at the following Redemption Prices
(expressed as a percentage of the principal amount of the Convertible
Debentures), if redeemed during the twelve-month period commencing November 25
in the year indicated:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ORIGINAL
YEAR REDEMPTION PRICE
---- ----------------
<S> <C>
2000...................................................... 102.60%
2001...................................................... 101.30
</TABLE>
and 100% if redeemed on or after November 25, 2002.
plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest, including Additional Interest
and Compound Interest, if any, to, but not including, the date set for
redemption.
The Company may also redeem the Convertible Debentures, in whole or in part,
at any time in certain circumstances upon the occurrence of a Tax Event as
described under "Description of the Preferred Securities-Special Event
Redemption or Distribution" at a redemption price equal to 100% of the
principal amount to be redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest, including
Additional Interest and Compound Interest, if any, to the date set for
redemption (subject to the rights of holders of record on the relevant record
date to receive interest due on an Interest Payment Date (as defined below)
that is on or prior to the redemption date).
If a partial redemption of the Preferred Securities resulting from a partial
redemption of the Convertible Debentures would result in the delisting of the
Preferred Securities, the Company may only redeem Convertible Debentures in
whole.
INTEREST
Each Convertible Debenture bears interest at the rate of 6.50% per annum
from the original date of issuance, payable quarterly in arrears on February
15, May 15, August 15 and November 15 (each, an "Interest Payment Date"),
commencing February 15, 1998 to the person in whose name such Convertible
Debenture is registered, subject to certain exceptions, at the close of
business on the Business Day next preceding such Interest Payment Date. In the
event the Convertible Debentures shall not continue to remain in book-entry
only form, the Company
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shall have the right to select record dates, which shall be more than 14 days
but less than 60 days prior to the Interest Payment Date.
The amount of interest payable for any period is computed on the basis of a
360-day year of twelve 30-day months. The amount of interest payable for any
period shorter than a full quarterly period for which interest is computed
will be computed on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed. In the
event that any date on which interest is payable on the Convertible Debentures
is not a Business Day, then payment of the interest payable on such date will
be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day (and without any
interest or other payment in respect of any such delay), except that, if such
Business Day is in the next succeeding calendar year, then such payment shall
be made on the immediately preceding Business Day, in each case with the same
force and effect as if made on such date.
INTEREST INCOME AND OPTION TO EXTEND INTEREST PAYMENT PERIODS
So long as no Indenture Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the
Company has the right at any time, and from time to time, during the term of
the Convertible Debentures, to defer payments of interest by extending the
interest payment period for a period not exceeding 20 consecutive quarters
with respect to each Extension Period; provided, that no Extension Period may
extend beyond the maturity of the Convertible Debentures, and at the end of
which Extension Period the Company shall pay all interest then accrued and
unpaid (including any Additional Interest) together with interest thereon
compounded quarterly at the rate specified for the Convertible Debentures to
the extent permitted by applicable law ("Compound Interest"); provided,
further, that during any such Extension Period, (a) the Company shall not
declare or pay dividends on, or make any distribution or liquidation payment
with respect to, or redeem, purchase or acquire any of its capital stock
(other than (i) purchases or acquisitions of shares of Common Stock in
connection with the satisfaction by the Company of its obligations under any
employee benefit plans or the satisfaction by the Company of its obligations
pursuant to any contract or security requiring the Company to purchase shares
of the Common Stock, (ii) as a result of a reclassification of the Company's
capital stock or the exchange or conversion of one class or series of the
Company's capital stock for another class or series of the Company's capital
stock, (iii) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Company's
capital stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such
capital stock or the security being converted or exchanged, (iv) purchases or
acquisitions of shares of the Company's Common Stock to be used in connection
with acquisitions of the Company's Common Stock by stockholders pursuant to a
dividend reinvestment plan, or (v) stock dividends paid by the Company where
the dividend stock is the same stock as that on which the dividend is paid),
(b) the Company shall not make any payment of interest on or principal of (or
premium, if any, on) or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities
(including guarantees) issued by the Company which rank pari passu with or
junior to the Convertible Debentures and (c) the Company shall not make any
guarantee payments with respect to the foregoing (other than pursuant to the
Guarantees). Prior to the termination of any such Extension Period, the
Company may further defer payments of interest by extending the interest
payment period; provided, however, that such Extension Period together with
all previous and further extensions thereof may not exceed 20 consecutive
quarters; and provided further that no Extension Period may extend beyond the
maturity of the Convertible Debentures. Upon the termination of any Extension
Period and the payment of all amounts then due, the Company may commence a new
Extension Period, subject to the terms set forth in this section. No interest
shall be due and payable during an Extension Period. There could be multiple
Extension Periods of varying lengths throughout the terms of the Convertible
Debentures. The Company has no current intention of exercising its right to
defer payments of interest by extending the interest payment period on the
Convertible Debentures. If the Institutional Trustee shall be the sole holder
of the Convertible Debentures, the Company shall give the Regular Trustees,
the Indenture Trustee and the Institutional Trustee written notice of its
selection of such Extension Period at least one Business Day prior to the
earlier of (i) the date the Distributions on the Preferred Securities would be
payable, if not for such Extension Period or (ii) the date the Regular
Trustees are required to give notice to any applicable self-regulatory
organization or to holders of the Preferred Securities of the record date or
the date such Distribution would be payable if not for such Extension Period,
but in any event not less than one Business Day prior to such record date. The
Regular Trustees shall give notice of the Company's selection
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of such Extension Period to the holders of the Preferred Securities. If the
Institutional Trustee shall not be the sole holder of the Convertible
Debentures, the Company shall give the holders of the Convertible Debentures
and the Indenture Trustee written notice of its selection of such Extension
Period at least ten Business Days prior to the earlier of (i) the next
succeeding Interest Payment Date or (ii) the date upon which the Company is
required to give notice to any applicable self-regulatory organization or to
holders of the Convertible Debentures on the record or payment date of such
related interest payment.
ADDITIONAL INTEREST
If at any time the Trust shall be required to pay any taxes, duties,
assessments or governmental charges of whatever nature (other than withholding
taxes) imposed by the United States, or any other taxing authority, then, in
any such case, the Company will pay as additional interest ("Additional
Interest") on the Convertible Debentures such additional amounts as shall be
required so that the net amounts received and retained by the Trust after
paying any such taxes, duties, assessments or governmental charges will be not
less than the amounts the Trust would have received had no such taxes, duties,
assessments or governmental charges been imposed.
CONVERSION OF THE CONVERTIBLE DEBENTURES
The Convertible Debentures are convertible into Common Stock at the option
of the holders of the Convertible Debentures at any time on or after January
25, 1998 and prior to 5:00 P.M. (Eastern time) on the Business Day immediately
preceding the date of repayment of such Convertible Debentures, whether at
maturity or upon redemption (or, in the case of Convertible Debentures called
for redemption, the close of business or the Business Day prior to the
Redemption Date), at the Initial Conversion Price subject to the conversion
price adjustments described under "Description of the Preferred Securities--
Conversion Rights." The Trust has agreed not to convert Convertible Debentures
held by it except pursuant to a notice of conversion delivered to the
Conversion Agent by a holder of Preferred Securities. Upon surrender of a
Preferred Security to the Conversion Agent for conversion, the Trust will
distribute Convertible Debentures to the Conversion Agent on behalf of the
holder of the Preferred Securities so converted, whereupon the Conversion
Agent will convert such Convertible Debentures to Common Stock on behalf of
such holder. The Company's delivery to the holders of the Convertible
Debentures (through the Conversion Agent) of the fixed number of shares of
Common Stock into which the Convertible Debentures are convertible (together
with the cash payment, if any, in lieu of fractional shares) will be deemed to
satisfy the Company's obligation to pay the principal amount of the
Convertible Debentures so converted, and the accrued and unpaid interest
thereon attributable to the period from the last date to which interest has
been paid or duly provided for; provided, however, that if any Convertible
Debenture is converted after a record date for payment of interest, the
interest payable on the related interest payment date with respect to such
Convertible Debenture shall be paid to the Trust (which will distribute such
interest to the converting holder of such Preferred Security on the record
date) or other holder of Convertible Debentures, as the case may be, despite
such conversion; provided, further that if any Convertible Debenture is
delivered for conversion during an Extension Period by a holder after
receiving a notice of redemption from the Institutional Trustee, the Company
shall be required to pay to the Trust all accrued and unpaid interest, if any,
on such Convertible Debenture through the date of conversion, which amount
shall be simultaneously distributed to the holders of the Preferred Securities
in respect of which such Convertible Debentures were delivered. See "--
Optional Redemption," "Description of the Preferred Securities--Conversion
Rights" and "Description of the Preferred Securities--Mandatory Redemption."
CERTAIN COVENANTS
In the Indenture, so long as any Convertible Debentures are outstanding, if
(i) there shall have occurred and be continuing any event that with the giving
of notice or the lapse of time or both, would constitute an Indenture Event of
Default, or (ii) the Company shall be in default with respect to its payment
of any obligations under the Guarantee, or (iii) the Company has exercised its
option to defer interest payments on the Convertible Debentures by extending
the interest payment period and such period, or any extension thereof, shall
be continuing, then (a) the Company shall not declare or pay dividends on, or
make any distribution or liquidation payment with
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respect to, or redeem, purchase or acquire any of its capital stock (other
than (i) purchases or acquisitions of shares of Common Stock in connection
with the satisfaction by the Company of its obligations under any employee
benefit plans or the satisfaction by the Company of its obligations pursuant
to any contract or security requiring the Company to purchase shares of the
Common Stock, (ii) as a result of a reclassification of the Company's capital
stock or the exchange or conversion of one class or series of the Company's
capital stock for another class or series of the Company's capital stock,
(iii) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Company's capital
stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock
or the security being converted or exchanged, (iv) purchases or acquisitions
of shares of the Common Stock to be used in connection with acquisitions of
the Common Stock by shareholders pursuant to a dividend reinvestment plan, or
(v) stock dividends paid by the Company where the dividend stock is the same
stock as that on which the dividend is paid), (b) the Company shall not make
any payment of interest on or principal of (or premium, if any, on) or repay,
repurchase or redeem any debt securities (including guarantees) issued by the
Company that rank pari passu with or junior to the Convertible Debentures and
(c) the Company shall not make any guarantee payments with respect to the
foregoing (other than pursuant to the Guarantees).
The Company has covenanted (i) to maintain, directly or indirectly, 100%
ownership of the Common Securities of the Trust; provided, however, that any
permitted successor of the Company under the Indenture may succeed to the
Company's ownership of such Common Securities, (ii) as issuer of the
Convertible Debentures, not to voluntarily terminate, wind-up or liquidate the
Trust, except in connection with (a) a distribution of Convertible Debentures
to the holders of the Trust Securities in liquidation of the Trust or (b)
certain mergers, consolidations or amalgamations permitted by the Declaration,
(iii) to use its reasonable efforts (a) to cause the Convertible Debentures to
continue to be classified as indebtedness of the Company for United States
federal income tax purposes, and (b) to cause the Trust to otherwise continue
to be classified as a grantor trust for United States federal income tax
purposes.
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER AND SALE OF ASSETS
The Indenture provides that the Company will not consolidate with or merge
into any other corporation or convey, transfer or lease its properties and
assets substantially as an entirety unless (a) if the Company is not the
survivor, the successor is a corporation organized under the laws of a State
of the United States and expressly assumes the due and punctual payment of the
principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on all Convertible Debentures
issued under the Indenture and the performance or observance of every other
covenant of the Indenture on the part of the Company, (b) immediately
thereafter no Indenture Event of Default and no event which, after notice or
lapse of time, or both, would become an Indenture Event of Default, shall have
occurred and be continuing and (c) the Company shall have delivered to the
Indenture Trustee an officers' certificate and an opinion of counsel, each
stating that such transaction and any supplemental indenture required pursuant
to such transaction, comply with the terms of the Indenture and that all
conditions precedent provided for therein relating to such transaction have
been complied with. Upon any such consolidation, merger, conveyance or
transfer, the successor corporation shall succeed to and be substituted for
the Company under the Indenture and thereafter the predecessor corporation
shall be relieved of all obligations and covenants under the Indenture and the
Convertible Debentures.
INDENTURE EVENTS OF DEFAULT
The Indenture provides that any one or more of the following described
events that has occurred and is continuing constitutes an Indenture Event of
Default with respect to the Convertible Debentures: (i) failure for 30 days to
pay interest on the Convertible Debentures, including any Additional Interest
and Compound Interest in respect thereof, when due; provided, however, that a
valid extension of an interest payment period will not constitute a default in
the payment of interest (including any Additional Interest and Compound
Interest) for this purpose; or (ii) failure to pay principal of or premium, if
any, on the Convertible Debentures when due whether at maturity, upon
redemption, by declaration or otherwise; or (iii) failure to observe or
perform, or breach of, in any material respect, any other covenant or
agreement contained in the Indenture that shall not have been
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remedied for a period of 90 days after notice to the Company by the Indenture
Trustee or by the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate outstanding
principal amount of the Convertible Debentures; or (iv) failure by the Company
to deliver shares of Common Stock upon an election by a holder of Preferred
Securities to convert such Preferred Securities; or (v) the dissolution,
winding-up or termination of the Trust, except in connection with (A) the
distribution of Convertible Debentures to the holders of Preferred Securities
in liquidation of the Trust upon the redemption of all outstanding Preferred
Securities and (B) certain mergers, consolidations or amalgamations permitted
by the Declaration; or (vi) certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or
reorganization of the Company.
The Indenture provides that the Indenture Trustee may withhold notice to the
holders of the Convertible Debentures (except notice relating to any default
in the payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest on, the Convertible
Debentures) if the Indenture Trustee considers it in the interest of such
holders to do so.
The Indenture Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate
outstanding principal amount of the Convertible Debentures may declare the
principal of and interest on the Convertible Debentures due and payable
immediately on the occurrence of an Indenture Event of Default; provided,
however, that, after such acceleration, but before a judgment or decree based
on acceleration, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of
outstanding Convertible Debentures may, under certain circumstances, rescind
and annul such acceleration if all Indenture Events of Default, other than the
nonpayment of accelerated principal, have been cured or waived as provided in
the Indenture. For information as to waiver of defaults, see "--Modifications
and Amendments of the Indenture."
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Indenture Event of Default has occurred
and is continuing and such event is attributable to the failure of the Company
to pay interest or principal on the Convertible Debentures on the date such
interest or principal is otherwise payable (or in the case of redemption, the
redemption date), the Company acknowledges that, in such event, a holder of
Preferred Securities may then institute a Direct Action for payment on or
after the respective due date specified in the Convertible Debentures. The
Company may not amend the Indenture to remove the foregoing right to bring a
Direct Action without the prior written consent of all the holders of
Preferred Securities. Notwithstanding any payment made to such holder of
Preferred Securities by the Company in connection with a Direct Action, the
Company shall remain obligated to pay the principal of (premium, if any, on)
or interest on the Convertible Debentures held by the Trust or the
Institutional Trustee, and the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of
the holder of such Preferred Securities with respect to payments on the
Preferred Securities to the extent of any payment made by the Company to such
holder in any Direct Action. The holders of Preferred Securities will not be
able to exercise directly any other remedy available to the holders of the
Convertible Debentures.
The holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the
outstanding Convertible Debentures may on behalf of the holders of all the
Convertible Debentures waive any past default and its consequences except (a)
a default in payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest
(including Additional Interest and Compound Interest) on any Convertible
Debentures and (b) a default in respect of a covenant or provision of the
Indenture that cannot be amended or modified without the consent of the holder
of each Convertible Debenture; provided, however, that if the Convertible
Debentures are held by the Trust or a trustee of the Trust, such waiver or
modification to such waiver shall not be effective until the holders of a
majority in liquidation amount of Trust Securities shall have consented to
such waiver or modification to such waiver; and provided, further, that if the
consent of the holder of each outstanding Convertible Debenture is required,
such waiver shall not be effective until each holder of the Trust Securities
shall have consented to such waiver.
A default under any other indebtedness of the Company would not constitute
an Indenture Event of Default.
Subject to the provisions of the Indenture relating to the duties of the
Indenture Trustee, in case an Indenture Event of Default shall occur and be
continuing, the Indenture Trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any
of its rights or powers under the Indenture at the request or direction of any
holders of Convertible Debentures, unless such holders shall have offered to
the Indenture Trustee reasonable indemnity against expenses and
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liabilities. Subject to such provisions for the indemnification of the
Indenture Trustee and subject to any rule of law, the holders of a majority in
aggregate principal amount of the Convertible Debentures then outstanding will
have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any
proceeding for any remedy available to the Indenture Trustee, or exercising
any trust or power conferred on the Indenture Trustee.
No holder of any Convertible Debenture has any right to institute any
proceeding with respect to the Indenture or for any remedy thereunder, unless
(i) such holder shall have previously given to the Indenture Trustee written
notice of a continuing Indenture Event of Default, (ii) if the Trust is not
the sole holder of Convertible Debentures, the holders of not less than 25% in
aggregate principal amount of the Convertible Debentures then outstanding
shall also have made a written request to the Indenture Trustee, (iii) such
holder has offered reasonable indemnity to the Indenture Trustee to institute
such proceeding as Indenture Trustee, (iv) the Indenture Trustee shall have
failed to institute such proceeding within 60 days of such notice, and (v) the
Indenture Trustee shall not have received from the holders of a majority in
aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Convertible Debentures a
direction inconsistent with such request. However, such limitations do not
apply to a suit instituted by a holder of a Convertible Debenture for
enforcement of payment of the principal of or interest on such Convertible
Debenture on or after the respective due dates set forth in such Convertible
Debenture.
The Indenture requires the Company to file annually with the Indenture
Trustee and the Institutional Trustee a certificate as to the absence of
certain defaults and whether or not the Company is in compliance with all the
conditions and covenants under the Indenture.
MODIFICATIONS AND AMENDMENTS OF THE INDENTURE
The Indenture contains provisions permitting the Company and the Indenture
Trustee, with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in
aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Convertible Debentures, to
modify the Indenture or the rights of the holders of Convertible Debentures;
provided, however, that no such modification shall, without the consent of the
holder of each outstanding Convertible Debenture affected thereby, (i) change
the stated maturity of the Convertible Debentures or reduce the principal
amount thereof, or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest
thereon, or make the principal of, or interest or premium, if any, on the
Convertible Debentures payable in any coin or currency other than that
provided in the Convertible Debentures, or impair or affect the right of any
holder of Convertible Debentures to institute suit for the payment thereof or
the right of prepayment, if any, at the option of the holder, or adversely
affect the right to convert Convertible Debentures or the subordination
provisions of the Indenture in a manner adverse to the holders of Convertible
Debentures, (ii) reduce the percentage in aggregate principal amount of
outstanding Convertible Debentures, for which the consent of the holders is
required for any such modification or (iii) modify any provision of the
Indenture with respect to (A) modification of the Indenture or (B) waiver of
defaults except under certain limited circumstances. If Convertible Debentures
are held by the Trust or a trustee thereof, a supplemental indenture requiring
such consent will not be effective until the holders of a majority in
liquidation amount of the Trust Securities shall have consented to such
supplemental indenture; provided, that if the consent of the holders of each
outstanding Convertible Debenture is required, such supplemental indenture
shall not be effective until each holder of the Trust Securities shall have
consented to such supplemental indenture. As a result of these pass-through
voting rights with respect to modifications to the Indenture, no modification
thereto shall be effective until the holders of a majority in liquidation
amount of the Trust Securities consent to such modification and no
modification described in clauses (i) or (ii) shall be effective without the
consent of each holder of Preferred Securities and each holder of Common
Securities.
In addition, the Company and the Indenture Trustee may execute, without the
consent of any holder of Convertible Debentures, any supplemental indenture to
cure any ambiguities, comply with the Trust Indenture Act and for certain
other customary purposes.
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SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE
The Indenture provides that when, among other things, all Convertible
Debentures not previously delivered to the Indenture Trustee for cancellation
(i) have become due and payable or (ii) will become due and payable at their
stated maturity within one year, and the Company deposits or causes to be
deposited with the Indenture Trustee trust funds, in trust, for the purpose
of, and in an amount sufficient for, payment and discharge of the entire
indebtedness on the Convertible Debentures not previously delivered to the
Indenture Trustee for cancellation, for the principal (and premium, if any)
and interest and any Compound Interest and Additional Interest to the date of
the deposit or to the maturity of the Convertible Debentures or the Redemption
Date, as the case may be, then the Indenture will cease to be of further
effect (except as to the Company's obligations to pay all other sums due
pursuant to the Indenture and to provide the officers' certificates and
opinions of counsel described therein), and the Company will be deemed to have
satisfied and discharged the Indenture.
BOOK-ENTRY AND SETTLEMENT
If distributed to holders of Preferred Securities in connection with the
involuntary or voluntary dissolution, winding-up or liquidation of the Trust
as a result of the occurrence of a Special Event, the Convertible Debentures
will be issued in the same form as the Preferred Securities that such
Convertible Debentures replace. Any Preferred Securities evidenced by a Global
Certificate will be replaced by Convertible Debentures in the form of one or
more global certificates (each, a "Global Security") registered in the name of
the depositary or its nominee. Except under the limited circumstances
described below under "--Discontinuance of the Depositary's Services,"
Convertible Debentures represented by a Global Security will not be
exchangeable for, and will not otherwise be issuable as, Convertible
Debentures in definitive form. The Global Securities described above may not
be transferred except 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 or to a successor depositary or its nominee.
The laws of some jurisdictions require that certain purchasers of securities
take delivery of such securities in definitive form. Such laws may impair the
ability to transfer beneficial interests in such a Global Security.
Except as described below under "--Discontinuance of the Depositary's
Services," owners of beneficial interests in such a Global Security will not
be entitled to receive physical delivery of Convertible Debentures in
definitive form and will not be considered the holders thereof for any purpose
under the Indenture, and no Global Security representing Convertible
Debentures shall be exchangeable, except for another Global Security of like
denomination and tenor to be registered in the name of the depositary or its
nominee or to a successor depositary or its nominee. Accordingly, each
beneficial owner must rely on the procedures of the depositary or if such
person is not a Participant, on the procedures of the Participant through
which such person owns its interest to exercise any rights of a holder under
the Indenture.
THE DEPOSITARY
If Convertible Debentures are distributed to holders of Preferred Securities
in liquidation of such holders' interest in the Trust, DTC will act as
securities depositary for the Convertible Debentures. For a description of DTC
and the specific terms of the depositary arrangements, see "Description of the
Preferred Securities--Book-Entry-Only Issuance--The Depository Trust Company."
As of the date of this Prospectus, the description herein of DTC's book-entry
system and DTC's practices as they relate to purchases, transfers, notices and
payments with respect to the Preferred Securities in the form of Global
Certificates apply in all material respects to any debt obligations
represented by one or more Global Securities held by DTC. The Company may
appoint a successor to DTC or any successor depositary in the event DTC or
such successor depositary is unable or unwilling to continue as a depositary
for the Global Securities.
None of the Company, the Trust, the Indenture Trustee, any paying agent and
any other agent of the Company or the Indenture Trustee will have any
responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or
payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in a Global
Security for such Convertible Debentures or for maintaining, supervising or
reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.
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DISCONTINUANCE OF THE DEPOSITARY'S SERVICES
Each Global Security shall be exchangeable for a Convertible Debenture
registered in the names of persons other than the depositary or its nominee
only, if (i) the depositary notifies the Company that it is unwilling or
unable to continue as a depositary for such Global Security and no successor
depositary shall have been appointed, (ii) the depositary, at any time, ceases
to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act at which time the
depositary is required to be so registered to act as such depositary and no
successor depositary shall have been appointed, (iii) the Company, in its sole
discretion, determines that such Global Security shall be so exchangeable or
(iv) there shall have occurred an Indenture Event of Default with respect to
such Convertible Debentures. Any Global Security that is exchangeable pursuant
to the preceding sentence shall be exchangeable for Convertible Debentures
registered in such names as the depositary shall direct. It is expected that
such instructions will be based upon directions received by the depositary
from its Participants with respect to ownership of beneficial interests in
such Global Security.
GOVERNING LAW
The Indenture and the Convertible Debentures are governed by, and construed
in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of New York.
INFORMATION CONCERNING THE INDENTURE TRUSTEE
The Indenture Trustee, prior to default, undertakes to perform only such
duties as are specifically set forth in the Indenture and, after default,
shall exercise the same degree of care as a prudent individual would exercise
in the conduct of his or her own affairs. Subject to such provision, the
Indenture Trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or
powers vested in it by the Indenture at the request or direction of any holder
of Convertible Debentures, unless offered reasonable security or indemnity by
such holder against the costs, expenses and liabilities that might be incurred
thereby. The Indenture 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 Indenture Trustee reasonably believes that repayment or adequate
indemnity is not reasonably assured to it. The Indenture Trustee also serves
as the Institutional Trustee and Delaware Trustee under the Declaration and
the Guarantee Trustee under the Guarantee.
MISCELLANEOUS
The Indenture provides that the Company will pay all fees and expenses
related to (i) the offering of the Trust Securities and the Convertible
Debentures, (ii) the organization, maintenance and dissolution of the Trust,
(iii) the retention of the Trustees and (iv) the enforcement by the
Institutional Trustee of the rights of the holders of the Preferred
Securities. The payment of such fees and expenses is fully and unconditionally
guaranteed by the Company.
DESCRIPTION OF THE GUARANTEE
Set forth below is a summary of information concerning the Guarantee that
has been executed and delivered by the Company for the benefit of the holders
of Preferred Securities. The summary does not purport to be complete and is
subject in all respects to the provisions of, and is qualified in its entirety
by reference to, the Guarantee. The Guarantee incorporates by reference the
terms of the Trust Indenture Act. The Guarantee has been qualified under the
Trust Indenture Act. Wilmington Trust Company, as the Guarantee Trustee, holds
the Guarantee for the benefit of the holders of the Preferred Securities. Any
references in this Prospectus to the "Guarantees" shall mean both the
Guarantee and the guarantee with respect to the Common Securities.
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GENERAL
Pursuant to and to the extent set forth in the Guarantee, the Company has
agreed, irrevocably and unconditionally, to pay in full to the holders of the
Preferred Securities (except to the extent paid by the Trust), as and when
due, regardless of any defense, right of set-off or counterclaim which the
Trust may have or assert, the following payments (the "Guarantee Payments"),
without duplication: (i) any accrued and unpaid Distributions that are
required to be paid on the Preferred Securities, to the extent the Trust has
funds available therefor, (ii) the Redemption Price with respect to any
Preferred Securities called for redemption by the Trust, to the extent the
Trust has funds available therefor, and (iii) upon a voluntary or involuntary
dissolution, winding-up or termination of the Trust (other than in connection
with the distribution of Convertible Debentures to the holders of Preferred
Securities or the redemption of all the Preferred Securities), the lesser of
(a) the aggregate of the liquidation amount and all accrued and unpaid
Distributions on the Preferred Securities to the date of payment and (b) the
amount of assets of the Trust remaining available for distribution to holders
of Preferred Securities upon the liquidation of the Trust. The Company's
obligation to make a Guarantee Payment may be satisfied by direct payment of
the required amount by the Company to the holders of Preferred Securities or
by causing the Trust to pay such amounts to such holders.
The Guarantee is a guarantee on a subordinated basis with respect to the
Preferred Securities from the time of issuance of such Preferred Securities
but does not apply to any payment of Distributions or Redemption Price, or to
payments upon the dissolution, winding-up or termination of the Trust, except
to the extent the Trust shall have funds available therefor. If the Company
does not make interest payments on the Convertible Debentures, the Trust will
not pay Distributions on the Preferred Securities and will not have funds
available therefor. See "Description of the Convertible Debentures." The
Guarantee, when taken together with the Company's obligations under the
Convertible Debentures, the Indenture and the Declaration, including its
obligations to pay costs, expenses, debts and liabilities of the Trust (other
than with respect to the Trust Securities), provides a full and unconditional
guarantee on a subordinated basis by the Company of payments due on the
Preferred Securities.
The Company has also agreed, irrevocably and unconditionally, to guarantee
the obligations of the Trust with respect to the Common Securities to the same
extent as the Guarantee for the Preferred Securities, except that upon an
Indenture Event of Default, holders of Preferred Securities shall have
priority over holders of Common Securities with respect to distributions and
payments on liquidation, redemption or otherwise.
CERTAIN COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY
In the Guarantee, the Company has covenanted that so long as any Preferred
Securities remain outstanding, if (i) the Company has exercised its option to
defer interest payments on the Convertible Debentures by extending the
interest payment period and such extension shall be continuing, (ii) the
Company shall be in default with respect to its payment or other obligations
under the Guarantee or (iii) there shall have occurred and be continuing any
event that, with the giving of notice or the lapse of time or both, would
constitute an Indenture Event of Default or a Declaration Event of Default,
then the Company shall not (a) declare or pay dividends on, or make a
distribution or liquidation payment with respect to, or redeem, purchase or
acquire any of its capital stock (other than (i) purchases or acquisitions of
shares of Common Stock in connection with the satisfaction by the Company of
its obligations under any employee benefit plans or the satisfaction by the
Company of its obligations pursuant to any contract or security requiring the
Company to purchase shares of Common Stock, (ii) as a result of a
reclassification of the Company's capital stock or the exchange or conversion
of one class or series of the Company's capital stock for another class or
series of the Company's capital stock, (iii) the purchase of fractional
interests in shares of the Company's capital stock pursuant to the conversion
or exchange provisions of such capital stock or the security being converted
or exchanged, (iv) purchases or acquisitions of shares of the Company's Common
Stock to be used in connection with acquisitions of the Company's Common Stock
by shareholders pursuant to a dividend reinvestment plan or (v) stock
dividends paid by the Company where the dividend stock is the same stock as
that on which the dividend is paid), (b) make any payment of interest on or
principal of (or premium, if any, on) or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt
securities of the Company
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(including guarantees) that rank pari passu with or junior to the Convertible
Debentures, or (c) make any guarantee payments with respect to the foregoing
(other than pursuant to the Guarantees).
As part of the Guarantee, the Company has agreed that it will honor all
obligations described therein relating to the conversion of the Preferred
Securities into Common Stock as described in "Description of the Preferred
Securities--Conversion Rights."
MODIFICATION OF THE GUARANTEE; ASSIGNMENT
Except with respect to any changes that do not adversely affect the rights
of holders of Preferred Securities (in which case no vote will be required),
the Guarantee may be amended only with the prior approval of the holders of at
least a majority in aggregate liquidation amount of all the outstanding
Preferred Securities. All guarantees and agreements contained in the Guarantee
shall bind the successors, assigns, receivers, trustees and representatives of
the Company and shall inure to the benefit of the holders of the Preferred
Securities then outstanding. Except in connection with any permitted merger or
consolidation of the Company with or into another entity or any permitted
sale, transfer or lease of the Company's assets to another entity as described
under "Description of the Convertible Debentures--Consolidation, Merger and
Sale of Assets," the Company may not assign its rights or delegate its
obligations under the Guarantee without the prior approval of the holders of
at least a majority of the aggregate stated liquidation amount of the
Preferred Securities then outstanding. All guarantees and agreements contained
in the Guarantee shall bind the permitted successors, assigns and transferees
of the Company and shall inure to the benefit of the holders of the Preferred
Securities then outstanding.
EVENTS OF DEFAULT
An Event of Default under the Guarantee will occur upon the failure of the
Company to perform any of its payment or other obligations thereunder. The
holders of a majority in aggregate liquidation amount of the 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. If the Guarantee Trustee fails to
enforce the Guarantee Trustee's rights under the Guarantee, any holder of
Preferred Securities may directly institute a legal proceeding against the
Company to enforce the Guarantee Trustee's rights under the Guarantee without
first instituting a legal proceeding against the Trust, the Guarantee Trustee
or any other person or entity. A holder of Preferred Securities may also
directly institute a legal proceeding against the Company to enforce such
holder's right to receive payment under the Guarantee without first (i)
directing the Guarantee Trustee to enforce the terms of the Guarantee or (ii)
instituting a legal proceeding against the Trust or any other person or
entity.
The Company is required to provide annually to the Guarantee Trustee a
statement as to the performance by the Company of certain of its obligations
under the Guarantee and as to any default in such performance.
INFORMATION CONCERNING THE INSTITUTIONAL TRUSTEE
The Institutional Trustee, prior to the occurrence of a default with respect
to the Trust Securities, undertakes to perform only such duties as are
specifically set forth in the Declaration and, after default, shall exercise
the same degree of care as a prudent individual would exercise in the conduct
of his or her own affairs. Subject to such provisions, the Institutional
Trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of the powers vested in it by
the Declaration at the request of any holder of Preferred Securities unless
offered reasonable indemnity by such holder against the costs, expenses and
liabilities that might be incurred thereby. The holders of Preferred
Securities are not required to offer such indemnity in the event such holders,
by exercising their voting rights, direct the Institutional Trustee to take
any action following a Declaration Event of Default.
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TERMINATION OF THE GUARANTEE
The Guarantee will terminate as to the Preferred Securities upon (i) full
payment of the Redemption Price of all Preferred Securities; (ii) distribution
of the Convertible Debentures held by the Trust to the holders of the
Preferred Securities; (iii) full payment of the amounts payable in accordance
with the Declaration upon liquidation of the Trust; or (iv) distribution of
Common Stock to the holders in respect of conversion of the holders' Preferred
Securities into Common Stock. The Guarantee will continue to be effective or
will be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any holder of Preferred
Securities must restore payment of any sum paid under such Preferred
Securities or the Guarantee.
STATUS OF THE GUARANTEE
The Guarantee constitutes an unsecured obligation of the Company and ranks
(i) subordinate and junior to all other liabilities of the Company except any
liabilities that may be pari passu expressly by their terms, (ii) pari passu
with the most senior preferred or preference stock, if any, issued from time
to time by the Company, including the Series A Preference Shares [ISSUED TO
SIEMENS IN THE SIEMENS INVESTMENT] and with any guarantee now or hereafter
entered into by the Company in respect of any preferred or preference stock or
preferred securities of any affiliate of the Company and (iii) senior to the
Common Stock. The terms of the Preferred Securities provide that each holder
of Preferred Securities by acceptance thereof agrees to the subordination
provisions and other terms of the Guarantee.
The Guarantee constitutes a guarantee of payment and not of collection (that
is, the guaranteed party may directly institute a legal proceeding against the
Company to enforce its rights under a Guarantee without instituting a legal
proceeding against any other person or entity).
GOVERNING LAW
The Guarantee is governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal
laws of the State of New York.
EFFECT OF OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE CONVERTIBLE DEBENTURES AND THE GUARANTEE
As set forth in the Declaration, the sole purpose of the Trust is to issue
the Trust Securities evidencing undivided beneficial interests in the assets
of the Trust, to invest the proceeds from such issuance and sale in the
Convertible Debentures and to engage in only those other activities that are
necessary or incidental to the issuance of the Trust Securities and investment
in the Convertible Debentures.
As long as payments of interest and other payments are made when due on the
Convertible Debentures, such payments will be sufficient to cover
Distributions and payments due on the Trust Securities because of the
following factors: (i) the aggregate principal amount of Convertible
Debentures will be equal to the sum of the aggregate stated liquidation amount
of the Trust Securities; (ii) the interest rate and the interest and other
payment dates on the Convertible Debentures will match the Distribution rate
and Distribution and other payment dates for the Preferred Securities; (iii)
pursuant to the Indenture, the Company shall pay all, and the Trust shall not
be obligated to pay, directly or indirectly, any, costs, expenses, debts and
liabilities of the Trust other than with respect to the Trust Securities; and
(iv) the Declaration further provides that the Trustees will not cause or
permit the Trust to, among other things, engage in any activity that is not
consistent with the purposes of the Trust.
Payments of Distributions (to the extent funds therefor are available) and
other payments due on the Preferred Securities (to the extent funds therefor
are available) are guaranteed by the Company as and to the extent set forth
under "Description of the Guarantee." If the Company does not make interest
payments on the Convertible Debentures purchased by the Trust, it is expected
that the Trust will not have sufficient funds to pay
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Distributions on the Preferred Securities. The Guarantee is a guarantee on a
subordinated basis with respect to the Preferred Securities from the time of
its issuance but does not apply to any payment of Distributions unless and
until the Trust has sufficient funds for the payment of such Distributions.
The Guarantee covers the payment of distributions and other payments on the
Preferred Securities only if and to the extent that the Company has made a
payment of interest or principal on the Convertible Debentures held by the
Trust as its sole asset. The Guarantee, when taken together with the Company's
obligations under the Convertible Debentures and the Indenture and its
obligations under the Declaration, including its obligations to pay costs,
expenses, debts and liabilities of the Trust (other than with respect to the
Trust Securities), provides a full and unconditional guarantee of amounts on
the Preferred Securities.
If the Company fails to make interest or other payments on the Convertible
Debentures when due (taking account of any Extension Period), the Declaration
provides a mechanism whereby the holders of the Preferred Securities, using
the procedures described in "Description of the Preferred Securities--Voting
Rights" and "--Book-Entry-Only Issuance--The Depository Trust Company," may
direct the Institutional Trustee to enforce its rights under the Convertible
Debentures. If the Institutional Trustee fails to enforce its rights under the
Convertible Debentures, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any holder of
Preferred Securities may directly institute a legal proceeding against the
Company to enforce the Institutional Trustee's rights under the Convertible
Debentures without first instituting any legal proceeding against the
Institutional Trustee or any other person or entity. If a Declaration Event of
Default has occurred and is continuing and such event is attributable to the
failure of the Company to pay interest or principal on the Convertible
Debentures on the date such interest or principal is otherwise payable (or in
the case of redemption, on the redemption date), then a holder of Preferred
Securities may institute a Direct Action for payment on or after the
respective due date specified in the Convertible Debentures. In connection
with such Direct Action, the Company will be subrogated to the rights of such
holder of Preferred Securities under the Declaration to the extent of any
payment made by the Company to such holder of Preferred Securities in such
Direct Action. The Company, under the Guarantee, acknowledges that the
Guarantee Trustee shall enforce the Guarantee on behalf of the holders of the
Preferred Securities. If the Company fails to make payments under the
Guarantee, the Guarantee provides a mechanism whereby the holders of the
Preferred Securities may direct the Guarantee Trustee to enforce its rights
thereunder. If the Guarantee Trustee fails to enforce the Guarantee, any
holder of Preferred Securities may directly institute a legal proceeding
against the Company to enforce the Guarantee Trustee's rights under the
Guarantee without first instituting a legal proceeding against the Trust, the
Guarantee Trustee, or any other person or entity.
The Company and the Trust believe that the above mechanisms and obligations,
taken together, are equivalent to a full and unconditional guarantee by the
Company of payments due on the Preferred Securities. See "Description of
Guarantee--General."
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
As of February 28, 1998, there were outstanding an aggregate of 36,620,425
shares of Common Stock held of record by 1,036 stockholders, and 1 Series A
Preference Share held of record by one stockholder.
COMMON STOCK
The Company is authorized to issue up to 75,000,000 shares of Common Stock,
par value $.01 per share. Holders of Common Stock are entitled to one vote for
each share held on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders and do not
have cumulative voting rights. Accordingly, holders of a majority of the
shares of Common Stock entitled to vote in any election of directors may elect
all of the directors standing for election. Holders of Common Stock are
entitled to receive ratably such dividends if, as and when declared by the
Board of Directors out of assets legally available therefor, subject to any
preferential dividend rights of outstanding Preferred Stock and restrictions
set forth in the Company's existing loan agreements and restrictions, if any,
imposed by other indebtedness outstanding from time to time, including any new
loan agreement that may be
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entered into after this Offering. Upon the liquidation, dissolution or winding
up of the Company, the holders of Common Stock are entitled to receive ratably
the net assets of the Company remaining available after the satisfaction of
all debts and other liabilities and the payment of the liquidation preference
of any outstanding Preferred Stock. Holders of Common Stock have no
preemptive, subscription, redemption or conversion rights, nor are they
entitled to the benefits of any sinking fund provisions. The outstanding
shares of Common Stock are fully paid and nonassessable. The rights,
preferences and privileges of holders of Common Stock are subject to, and may
be adversely affected by, the rights of the holders of shares of any series of
Preferred Stock which the Company may designate and issue in the future.
WARRANTS
Pursuant to a Warrant Agreement between NationsBank, N.A. ("NationsBank")
and the Company dated October 30, 1997 (the "Warrant Agreement"), in
connection with that certain loan agreement dated as of October 30, 1997 by
and among the Company and certain subsidiaries as borrowers, NationsBank as
agent and lender, and the lenders party thereto from time to time (the "Loan
Agreement"), the Company issued to NationsBank a warrant (the "NB Warrant")
exercisable for Common Stock of the Company (the "Warrant Shares"). As of the
date of the Warrant Agreement, the NB Warrant was exercisable for 250,000
Warrant Shares at an exercise price of $23.125 per share. The number of shares
for which the NB Warrant is exercisable may be increased to a maximum of
3,000,000 shares if the Company fails to fulfill certain obligations prior to
July 26, 1998, as described more fully below. The exercise price for such
additional shares shall be the market price of the Common Stock on the day
such Warrant Shares become exercisable. The Warrant Agreement and the NB
Warrant expire on October 30, 2000. NationsBank may elect that the Warrant
Shares be included in certain registration statements filed by the Company
under the Securities Act and also has certain demand registration rights and,
until October 30, 2002.
The number of shares of Common Stock subject to the NB Warrant will be
increased as follows: (a) in the event the Company shall not have paid in full
its borrowings and other obligations under the New Credit Facility on or prior
to July 26, 1998 (or if a binding commitment to refinance and/or repay the
obligations does not then exist), the number of Warrant Shares will be
automatically increased to 3,000,000 effective as of July 26, 1998; and (b) if
the Company shall not have paid in full its borrowings and other obligations
under the New Credit Facility on or prior to July 31, 1998, the number of
Warrant Shares shall be automatically increased to equal the greater of (x)
7.7% of all shares of Common Stock outstanding or deemed outstanding on a
fully diluted basis on July 31, 1998 and (y) 3,000,000.
In connection with the Company's June 1995 acquisition of VTI Hamlin OY
("VTI"), a Finnish company that designs and manufactures silicon capacitive
micro-machined accelerometers and angular rate and differential and absolute
pressure sensors, the Company issued to the former stockholders of VTI
warrants to purchase an aggregate of 100,000 shares of Common Stock for a
purchase price of $25.75 per share. These warrants are exercisable between
July 1, 1998 and June 30, 2000. The Company granted certain demand and
incidental registration rights with respect to the shares of Common Stock
issuable upon the exercise of these warrants.
PREFERRED STOCK
The Company is authorized to issue up to 5,000,000 shares of Preferred
Stock, par value $.001 per share. The Board of Directors is authorized,
subject to any limitations prescribed by law, without further stockholder
approval, to issue such shares of Preferred Stock in one or more series. Each
such series of Preferred Stock shall have such rights, preferences, privileges
and restrictions, including voting rights, dividend rights, conversion rights,
redemption privileges and liquidation preferences, as shall be determined by
the Board of Directors.
The purpose of authorizing the Board of Directors to issue Preferred Stock
and determine its rights and preferences is to eliminate delays associated
with a stockholder vote on specific issuances. The issuance of Preferred
Stock, while providing desirable flexibility in connection with possible
acquisitions and other corporate purposes, could have the effect of making it
more difficult for a third party to acquire, or of discouraging a third
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party from attempting to acquire, a majority of the outstanding voting stock
of the Company. The Company has no present plans to issue any additional
shares of Preferred Stock.
SIEMENS INVESTMENT
Stock Purchase Agreement. On October 30, 1997, pursuant to a Stock Purchase
Agreement dated October 14, 1997 (the "Stock Purchase Agreement"), Siemens
Aktiengesellschaft ("Siemens") acquired 4,883,227 Series A Preference Shares
for an aggregate purchase price of $115.0 million (the "Siemens Investment").
Pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement, the Company made certain customary
representations and warranties concerning its business, agreed to certain
post-closing covenants, including an agreement to provide Siemens with
substantially equivalent rights to those granted in the future to any
stockholder acquiring an equal or smaller percentage of voting interest in the
Company as Siemens, agreed to indemnify Siemens for breaches of
representations and warranties for a period of up to 18 months, agreed to
indemnify Siemens for breaches of covenants and granted Siemens certain anti-
dilution rights. The indemnification obligations of the Company are subject to
a $1.5 million deductible and a cap of $30.0 million.
Series A Preference Shares. Each Series A Preference Share represents one
one-thousandth ( 1/1000) of a share of 1997 Series A Convertible Non-Voting
Preferred Stock of the Company and, subject to adjustment, is convertible into
one share of Common Stock. Except for voting rights required by law, and
except for the right to elect as a class one director of the Company during
the period that begins on the date when any Series A Preference Shares are
converted into Common Stock and ends on the date of the termination of the
Stockholders Agreement (as defined below), the holders of shares of Series A
Preference Shares have no voting rights. All other rights of the holders of
Series A Preference Shares, including rights upon liquidation or dissolution
of the Company, are identical to the rights of the holders of Common Stock and
are shared ratably on an as-converted basis. On January 20, 1998, Siemens
converted 4,883,226 of its Series A Preference Shares into 4,883,226 shares of
Common Stock.
Stockholders Agreement. In connection with the Siemens Investment, the
Company entered into a Stockholders Agreement (the "Stockholders Agreement")
with Siemens, Allen K. Breed, Johnnie Cordell Breed, AB, L.P. and JB, L.P.
(collectively, the "Breed Holders"). See "Principal Stockholders." The
Stockholders Agreement obligates the Breed Holders to vote their shares and
take other necessary and appropriate corporate action to elect a designee of
Siemens to the Board of Directors of the Company at any time the right of the
holders of Series A Preference Shares to elect a member of the Board of
Directors is not in effect and to ensure that the Siemens director is a member
of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors. The Stockholders Agreement
also (i) grants Siemens rights of first offer for up to five years with
respect to certain future issuances of Common Stock or securities convertible
into Common Stock by the Company (subject to certain exceptions), (ii) allows
Siemens to participate in certain sales of Common Stock by the Breed Holders,
(iii) grants the Company and the Breed Holders rights of first offer for up to
three years with respect to any sales by Siemens or its affiliates (subject to
certain exceptions), (iv) prohibits Siemens for three years from acquiring
certain securities of the Company (subject to certain exceptions), (v) grants
Siemens rights of first offer for up to three years with respect to transfers
of certain securities by the Breed Holders (subject to certain exceptions) and
(vi) grants the Siemens director special consent rights with respect to
certain business activities of the Company, including the conduct by the
Company of any business in the field of electronic components for automotive
safety restraint systems, other than through the joint venture formed between
the Company and Siemens in December 1997 (the "Siemens Joint Venture") or as
currently conducted by designated subsidiaries of the Company. The
Stockholders Agreement terminates upon the earlier to occur of the date on
which Siemens and certain of its affiliates first collectively beneficially
own less than the number of shares of Common Stock issued or issuable pursuant
to the conversion of the shares of Series A Preference Shares acquired by
Siemens pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement or the delivery of a "First
Make-Whole Notice" (as defined in the Make-Whole Agreement).
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The Make-Whole Agreement. In connection with the Siemens Investment, the
Company entered into a Make-Whole Agreement (the "Make-Whole Agreement") with
Siemens. Under the Make-Whole Agreement, within 30 days after a "Triggering
Event," Siemens will have the right to require the Company, at the Company's
election, either (i) to repurchase the Series A Preference Shares purchased
pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement (and any securities issuable with
respect to such Series A Preference Shares) for a purchase price equal to
$115.0 million plus $15,753 per day for each day between December 15, 1997 and
the termination of the right (the "Make-Whole Price") or (ii) if the net
proceeds from the bona fide sale of such Series A Preference Shares by Siemens
to a third party financial institution do not equal the Make-Whole Price, to
issue to Siemens such number of Series A Preference Shares (subject to certain
limits) the net proceeds from the sale of which would equal the amount of the
deficit. Under the Make-Whole Agreement, a "Triggering Event" means, among
other things, any of the following: (a) the parties shall have been unable,
after diligent and good faith efforts, to obtain the requisite governmental
approvals with respect to the formation of the Siemens Joint Venture; or (b)
the formation of the Siemens Joint Venture shall not have been completed by
June 30, 1998. The Make-Whole Agreement terminates (x) if, prior to Siemens'
delivery of a notice that it has entered into an agreement to sell its Series
A Preference Shares to a third party financial institution as described above,
Siemens sells or otherwise transfers any of the securities subject to the
Make-Whole Agreement to any person other than a direct or indirect subsidiary
of Siemens or (y) if Siemens has not delivered such a notice by the later to
occur of (i) July 31, 1998 or (ii) 45 days after a Triggering Event.
Registration Rights Agreement. In connection with the Siemens Investment,
the Company entered into a Registration Rights Agreement with Siemens (the
"Siemens Registration Rights Agreement"). Pursuant to the Siemens Registration
Rights Agreement, Siemens shall have the right, after June 1, 1998 and before
the tenth anniversary of the date of the Siemens Registration Rights
Agreement, to require the Company to file up to three registration statements
under the Securities Act to register any shares of Common Stock or Series A
Preference Shares owned by Siemens for sale to the public, subject to certain
limitations. The Company is required to pay all expenses (other than discounts
and commissions) in connection with such demand registrations. In addition, if
the Company elects to register securities under the Securities Act for its
account or for the account of other stockholders, Siemens shall have the right
to register its shares under any such registration statement, subject to
certain limitations.
DELAWARE LAW AND CERTAIN CHARTER PROVISIONS
The Company is subject to Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation
Law, which prohibits a publicly held Delaware corporation from consummating a
"business combination," except under certain circumstances, with an
"interested stockholder" for a period of three years after the date such
person became an "interested stockholder" unless (i) before such person became
an interested stockholder, the board of directors of the corporation approved
the transaction in which the interested stockholder became an interested
stockholder or approved the business combination; (ii) upon consummation of
the transaction that resulted in the interested stockholder's becoming an
interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the
voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction
commenced (excluding shares held by directors who are also officers of the
corporation and certain shares held by employee stock plans); or (iii)
following the transaction in which such person became an interested
stockholder, the business combination is approved by the board of directors of
the corporation and authorized at a meeting of stockholders by the affirmative
vote of the holders of 66 2/3% of the outstanding voting stock of the
corporation not owned by the interested stockholder. An "interested
stockholder" generally is defined as a person who, together with affiliates
and associates, owns (or, within the prior three years, owned) 15% or more of
a corporation's outstanding voting stock. A "business combination" includes
mergers, asset sales and certain other transactions resulting in a financial
benefit to an interested stockholder.
TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR
The transfer agent and registrar for the Company's Common Stock is The Bank
of New York.
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UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAXATION
THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX DISCUSSION SET FORTH HEREIN IS INCLUDED
FOR GENERAL INFORMATION ONLY AND MAY NOT BE APPLICABLE DEPENDING UPON A
HOLDER'S PARTICULAR SITUATION. HOLDERS SHOULD CONSULT THEIR TAX ADVISORS WITH
RESPECT TO THE TAX CONSEQUENCES TO THEM OF THE PURCHASE, OWNERSHIP AND
DISPOSITION OF THE PREFERRED SECURITIES AND COMMON STOCK, INCLUDING THE TAX
CONSEQUENCES UNDER STATE, LOCAL, FOREIGN AND OTHER TAX LAWS AND THE POSSIBLE
EFFECTS OF CHANGES IN UNITED STATES FEDERAL OR OTHER TAX LAWS.
GENERAL
The following is a summary of certain of the material United States federal
income tax consequences of the purchase, ownership, disposition and conversion
of Preferred Securities and Common Stock. This summary does not deal with
special classes of holders such as banks, thrift institutions, real estate
investment trusts, regulated investment companies, insurance companies,
dealers in securities or currencies, tax-exempt investors, or persons that
will hold the Preferred Securities or Common Stock as part of a straddle,
hedge or conversion transaction, or as other than a capital asset. This
summary also does not address tax consequences to persons that have a
functional currency other than the U.S. Dollar or the tax consequences to
shareholders, partners or beneficiaries of a holder of Preferred Securities or
Common Stock. Further, it does not include any description of any alternative
minimum tax consequences or the tax laws of any state or local government or
of any foreign government that may be applicable to the Preferred Securities.
This summary is based on the Code, United States Treasury Regulations
thereunder ("Treasury Regulations") and administrative and judicial
interpretations thereof, as of the date hereof, all of which are subject to
change, possibly on a retroactive basis.
As used herein, the term "U.S. Holder" means any beneficial owner of
Preferred Securities or Common Stock that is, for United States federal income
tax purposes, (i) a citizen or resident of the United States, (ii) a
corporation, partnership or other entity created or organized in or under the
laws of the United States or of any political subdivision thereof, (iii) an
estate the income of which is subject to United States federal income taxation
regardless of its source, or (iv) a trust if (A) a court within the United
States is able to exercise primary supervision over the administration of the
trust and (B) one or more United States persons have the authority to control
all substantial decisions of the trust. As used herein, the term "Non-U.S.
Holder" means a beneficial owner of Preferred Securities or Common Stock that
is not a U.S. Holder.
CLASSIFICATION OF THE CONVERTIBLE DEBENTURES
King & Spalding, special tax counsel to the Company and the Trust ("Tax
Counsel"), has rendered an opinion to the effect that under current law and
assuming full compliance with the terms of the Declaration and the Indenture
(and certain other documents), and based on certain facts and assumptions
contained in such opinion, the Convertible Debentures to be held by the Trust
will be classified for United States federal income tax purposes as
indebtedness of the Company. Such opinion is not binding on the Internal
Revenue Service ("IRS") and, accordingly, no complete assurance can be given
that the IRS will not challenge the classification of the Convertible
Debentures as debt, or if the classification were challenged, that such a
challenge would not be successful. The remainder of this discussion assumes
that the Convertible Debentures will be classified as indebtedness of the
Company for United States federal income tax purposes.
CLASSIFICATION OF THE TRUST
Tax Counsel also has rendered its opinion to the effect that, under current
law and assuming full compliance with the terms of the Declaration and the
Indenture (and certain other documents), and based on certain facts and
assumptions contained in such opinion, the Trust will be classified for United
States federal income tax purposes as a grantor trust and not as an
association taxable as a corporation. Because the Trust will be classified as
a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes, each holder of
Preferred Securities generally
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will be considered the owner of an undivided interest in the Convertible
Debentures and, as discussed below, each holder will be required to include in
gross income its allocable share of interest (or OID) paid or accrued on the
Convertible Debentures.
INTEREST INCOME AND ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT
Because the Company has the option, under the terms of the Convertible
Debentures, to defer payments of interest by extending interest payment
periods for up to 20 consecutive quarters and the likelihood of the Company's
exercise of this option is not remote, the Convertible Debentures were issued
with OID. As a result, U.S. Holders of Preferred Securities will be required
to include in income their allocable share of the interest income earned by
the Trust from the Convertible Debentures on an economic accrual basis over
the period of time the Preferred Securities (and underlying allocable share of
the Convertible Debentures) are held, regardless of their method of accounting
and whether interest has been paid on the Convertible Debentures or
distributions are made on the Preferred Securities. The amount of OID that
accrues in any taxable period will be approximately equal to the amount of
stated interest payments called for under the terms of the Convertible
Debentures. Actual distributions of stated interest will not be separately
reported as taxable income. Any OID included in income will increase the U.S.
Holder's tax basis in the Preferred Securities and the U.S. Holder's actual
receipt of interest payments will reduce such basis.
If the Company were to exercise its option to defer payments of stated
interest on the Convertible Debentures, U.S. Holders of the Preferred
Securities would continue to accrue OID income even though the Company would
not be making any actual cash payments during the extended interest payment
period.
Because income on the Preferred Securities will constitute interest for
federal income tax purposes, corporate U.S. Holders of Preferred Securities
will not be entitled to a dividends received deduction with respect to any
income recognized with respect to the Preferred Securities.
ACQUISITION PREMIUM; PREMIUM
A U.S. Holder who purchases a Preferred Security will be considered to have
purchased the underlying Convertible Debenture at an "acquisition premium" if
such U.S. Holder's adjusted basis in the Preferred Security immediately after
the purchase is (i) greater than the "adjusted issue price" of the underlying
Convertible Debenture as of the purchase date and (ii) less than or equal to
the sum of all amounts payable on the underlying Convertible Debenture after
the purchase date. The "adjusted issue price" of a Convertible Debenture
equals its issue price ($[ ], i.e., the first price at which a substantial
amount of the Convertible Debentures were sold, excluding sales to bond
houses, brokers or other persons acting in the capacity of an underwriter or
selling agent), plus the amount of OID allocable to all prior periods, and
minus the amount of any prior payments on the Convertible Debenture. Under the
acquisition premium rules, the amount of OID which such U.S. Holder must
include in its gross income for any taxable year (or portion thereof in which
the U.S. Holder holds the Preferred Securities) will be reduced (but not below
zero) by the portion of the acquisition premium properly allocable to the
period.
A. U.S. Holder who purchases a Preferred Security will be considered to have
purchased the underlying Convertible Debenture at a "premium" if such U.S.
Holder's adjusted basis in the Preferred Security immediately after the
purchase is greater than the sum of all amounts payable on the underlying
Convertible Debenture after the purchase date. A U.S. Holder that purchases a
Preferred Security at a "premium" will not include any OID in gross income.
MARKET DISCOUNT
A U.S. Holder who purchases a Preferred Security will be considered to have
purchased the underlying Convertible Debenture at a "market discount" if such
U.S. Holder's adjusted basis in the Preferred Security immediately after the
purchase is less than the adjusted issue price of the underlying Convertible
Debenture as of the purchase date, unless such market discount is less than a
specified de minimis amount (generally 1/4 of 1
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percent of the adjusted issue price of the Convertible Debenture as of the
purchase date multiplied by its weighted average maturity as of such date).
Under the market discount rules, a U.S. Holder will be required to treat any
gain realized on the sale, exchange, retirement or other disposition of the
Preferred Securities as ordinary income to the extent of the lesser of (i) the
amount of such realized gain or (ii) the market discount which has not
previously been included in income and is treated as having accrued on the
underlying Convertible Debentures at the time of such disposition. Market
discount will be considered to accrue ratably during the period from the date
of acquisition to the maturity date of the Convertible Debentures, unless the
U.S. Holder elects to accrue market discount on a constant yield basis. Once
made, such an election is irrevocable.
A U.S. Holder may be required to defer the deduction of all or a portion of
the interest paid or accrued on any indebtedness incurred or maintained to
purchase or carry Preferred Securities with market discount until the maturity
of the Convertible Debentures or certain earlier dispositions, because a
current deduction is only allowed to the extent the interest expense exceeds
the portion of market discount allocable to the days during the taxable year
in which the Preferred Securities were held by the taxpayer. A U.S. Holder may
elect to include market discount in income currently as it accrues (on either
a ratable or constant yield basis), in which case the rules described above
regarding the treatment as ordinary income of gain upon the disposition of the
Preferred Securities and the deferral of interest deductions will not apply.
Generally, such currently included market discount is treated as ordinary
interest for federal income tax purposes. Such an election will apply to all
debt instruments with market discount acquired by the holder on or after the
first day of the taxable year to which such election applies and may be
revoked only with the consent of the IRS.
RECEIPT OF CONVERTIBLE DEBENTURES OR CASH UPON LIQUIDATION OF THE TRUST
Under certain circumstances, as described under the caption "Description of
the Preferred Securities--Special Event Redemption or Distribution," the
Convertible Debentures may be distributed to holders in exchange for the
Preferred Securities and in liquidation of the Trust. Under current law, such
a distribution, for United States federal income tax purposes, would be
treated as a non-taxable event to each holder, and each holder would receive
an aggregate tax basis in the Convertible Debentures equal to such holder's
aggregate tax basis in its Preferred Securities. A holder's holding period in
the Convertible Debentures so received in liquidation of the Trust would
include the period during which the Preferred Securities were held by such
holder.
Under certain circumstances described under "Description of the Preferred
Securities--Special Event Redemption or Distribution," the Convertible
Debentures may be redeemed for cash and the proceeds of such redemption
distributed to holders in redemption of their Preferred Securities. Such a
redemption of the Convertible Debentures would, for United States federal
income tax purposes, constitute a taxable disposition of the redeemed
Preferred Securities, and a holder could recognize gain or loss as if it sold
such redeemed Preferred Securities for cash. See "--Sales of Preferred
Securities."
SALES OF PREFERRED SECURITIES
A U.S. Holder that sells Preferred Securities will recognize gain or loss
equal to the difference between its adjusted tax basis in the Preferred
Securities and the amount realized on the sale of such Preferred Securities.
For purposes of determining gain or loss, a U.S. Holder's adjusted tax basis
in Preferred Securities generally will equal the cost of the Preferred
Securities to such Holder, increased by any OID included in income (and
accrued market discount, if any, if the U.S. Holder has included such market
discount in income), and decreased by the amount of any payment received with
respect to such Preferred Securities. Subject to the discussion below about
accrued and unpaid interest, such gain or loss generally will be a capital
gain or loss. In the case of a U.S. Holder that is treated as an individual or
as an estate or trust, the tax rate applicable to such a capital gain will
depend, among other things, upon the U.S. Holder's holding period for the
Preferred Securities that are sold.
The Preferred Securities may trade at a price that does not accurately
reflect the value of accrued but unpaid interest with respect to the
underlying Convertible Debentures. A U.S. Holder who disposes of Preferred
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Securities between record dates for payments of distributions thereon will be
required to include accrued but unpaid interest on the Convertible Debentures
through the date of disposition in income as ordinary income (i.e., OID) and
to add such amount to his or her adjusted tax basis in his or her pro rata
share of the underlying Convertible Debentures deemed disposed of. To the
extent the selling price is less than the U.S. Holder's adjusted tax basis
(which will include, in the form of OID, all accrued but unpaid interest), a
U.S. Holder will recognize a capital loss. Subject to certain limited
exceptions, capital losses cannot be applied to offset ordinary income for
United States federal income tax purposes.
CONVERSION OF PREFERRED SECURITIES
A U.S. Holder generally will not recognize income, gain or loss upon the
conversion of its Preferred Securities into Common Stock, except to the extent
of ordinary income recognized with respect to accrued and unpaid interest on
the Convertible Debentures at that time. A U.S. Holder also will recognize
gain upon the receipt of cash in lieu of a fractional share of Common Stock
equal to the amount of cash received less the U.S. Holder's tax basis in such
fractional share. A U.S. Holder's tax basis in the Common Stock received upon
exchange and conversion should generally be equal to the U.S. Holder's tax
basis in the Preferred Securities exchanged, less the basis allocated to any
fractional share for which cash is received. Such U.S. Holder's holding period
in the Common Stock received upon exchange and conversion should generally
begin on the date the holder acquired the Preferred Securities exchanged.
DIVIDENDS
The amount of any distribution by the Company in respect of the Common Stock
will be equal to the amount of cash and the fair market value, on the date of
distribution, of any property distributed. Generally, distributions will be
treated as a dividend, subject to tax as ordinary income, to the extent of the
Company's current or accumulated earnings and profits, then as a tax-free
return of capital to the extent of a U.S. Holder's tax basis in the Common
Stock and thereafter as gain from the sale of exchange of such stock.
In general, a dividend distribution to a corporate U.S. Holder will qualify
for the 70% dividends received deduction if the U.S. Holder owns less than 20%
of the voting power and value of the Company's stock (other than any non-
voting, non-convertible, non-participating preferred stock). A corporate U.S.
Holder that owns 20% or more of the voting power and value of the Company's
stock (other than any non-voting, non-convertible, non-participating preferred
stock) generally will qualify for an 80% dividends received deduction. The
dividends received deduction is subject, however, to certain holding period,
taxable income and other limitations.
SALE OF COMMON STOCK
Upon the sale or exchange of Common Stock, a U.S. Holder generally will
recognize capital gain or loss equal to the difference between (i) the amount
of cash and the fair market value of any property received upon the sale or
exchange and (ii) such U.S. Holder's adjusted tax basis in the Common Stock.
In the case of a U.S. Holder that is treated as an individual or as an estate
or trust, the tax rate applicable to such a capital gain will depend, among
other things, upon the U.S. Holder's holding period for the Common Stock that
is sold. A U.S. Holder's basis and holding period in Common Stock received
upon conversion of the Preferred Securities are determined as discussed above
under "--Conversion of Preferred Securities."
ADJUSTMENT OF CONVERSION PRICE
Treasury Regulations promulgated under Section 305 of the Code would treat
holders of Preferred Securities as having received a constructive distribution
from the Company in the event the conversion ratio of the Convertible
Debentures were adjusted if (i) as a result of such adjustment, the
proportionate interest (measured by the quantum of Common Stock into or for
which the Convertible Debentures are convertible or exchangeable) of the
holders of the Preferred Securities in the assets or earnings and profits of
the Company were increased, and (ii) the adjustment was not made pursuant to a
bona fide, reasonable anti-dilution formula. An adjustment in the conversion
ratio would not be considered made pursuant to such a formula if the
adjustment was made to
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compensate for certain taxable distributions with respect to the Common Stock.
Thus, under certain circumstances, a reduction in the conversion price for the
holders may result in deemed dividend income to U.S. Holders to the extent of
the current or accumulated earnings and profits of the Company. U.S. Holders
of the Preferred Securities would be required to include their allocable share
of such deemed dividend income in gross income but would not receive any cash
related thereto.
INFORMATION REPORTING AND BACKUP WITHHOLDING
In general, information reporting requirements will apply to income earned
on Preferred Securities, payments of dividends on Common Stock, and payments
of the proceeds of the sale of Preferred Securities or Common Stock. Such
income and payment of proceeds may be subject to a "backup" withholding tax of
31% unless the holder complies with certain identification and certification
requirements. Any withheld amounts will be allowed as a credit against the
holder's United States federal income tax, provided the required information
is provided to the IRS on a timely basis.
NON-U.S. HOLDERS
The rules governing United States federal income taxation of a beneficial
owner of Preferred Securities or Common Stock that, for United States federal
income tax purposes, is a Non U.S. Holder are complex and no attempt will be
made herein to provide more than a summary of such rules. NON-U.S. HOLDERS
SHOULD CONSULT WITH THEIR OWN TAX ADVISORS TO DETERMINE THE EFFECT OF FEDERAL,
STATE, LOCAL AND FOREIGN INCOME LAWS WITH REGARD TO AN INVESTMENT IN THE
PREFERRED SECURITIES AND COMMON STOCK, INCLUDING ANY REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.
Payment of Interest
Generally, interest income (or OID) of a Non-U.S. Holder that is not
effectively connected with a United States trade or business will be subject
to a withholding tax at a 30% rate (or, if applicable, a lower treaty rate).
However, OID earned on the Convertible Debentures by a Non-U.S. Holder will
qualify for the "portfolio interest exemption" and therefore will not be
subject to United States federal income tax or withholding tax, provided that
such interest income is not effectively connected with a United States trade
or business of the Non-U.S. Holder and provided that the Non-U.S. Holder (i)
does not actually or constructively own (pursuant to the conversion feature of
the Preferred Securities or otherwise) 10% or more of the combined voting
power of all classes of stock of the Company entitled to vote, (ii) is not a
controlled foreign corporation related to the Company actually or
constructively through stock ownership, (iii) is not a bank which acquired the
Preferred Securities in consideration for an extension of credit made pursuant
to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of business and (iv)
either (a) provides a Form W-8 (or a suitable substitute form) signed under
penalties of perjury that includes its name and address and certifies as to
its Non-U.S. status, or (b) is a securities clearing organization, bank or
other financial institution that holds customers' securities in the ordinary
course of its trade or business and provides a statement to the Company or its
agent under penalties of perjury in which it certifies that a Form W-8 (or a
suitable substitute) has been received by it from the Non-U.S. Holder or
qualifying intermediary and furnishes the Company or its agent with a copy
thereof.
Recently issued Treasury Regulations provide alternative methods for
satisfying the certification requirements described in clause (iv) above. The
Treasury Regulations are effective for payments made after December 31, 1998.
Generally, any certification provided on a Form W-8 that is validly in effect
prior to January 1, 1999 will be treated as a valid certification until it
expires under the Treasury Regulations or, if earlier, until December 31,
1999. Accordingly, the alternative methods of satisfying the certification
requirements will generally not be effective until January 1, 1999 and
subsequent years.
Except to the extent that an applicable treaty otherwise provides, a Non-
U.S. Holder generally will be taxed in the same manner as a U.S. Holder with
respect to interest (or OID) if the interest (or OID) income is effectively
connected with a United States trade or business of the Non-U.S. Holder.
Effectively connected interest (or OID) received or accrued by a corporate
Non-U.S. Holder may also, under certain circumstances, be
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subject to an additional "branch profits tax" at a 30% rate (or, if
applicable, a lower treaty rate). Even though such effectively connected
interest (or OID) is subject to income tax, and may be subject to the branch
profits tax, it is not subject to withholding tax if the holder delivers a
properly executed IRS Form 4224 to the payor.
Interest (or OID) income of a Non-U.S. Holder that is not effectively
connected with a United States trade or business and that does not qualify for
the portfolio interest exemption described above generally will be subject to
a withholding tax at a 30% rate (or, if applicable, a lower tax rate specified
by a treaty).
Sale, Exchange or Redemption of Preferred Securities
A Non-U.S. Holder of Preferred Securities will generally not be subject to
United States federal income tax or withholding tax on any gain realized on
the sale, exchange or redemption of the Preferred Securities (including the
receipt of cash in lieu of fractional shares upon conversion of Preferred
Securities into Common Stock) unless (1) the gain is effectively connected
with a United States trade or business of the Non-U.S. Holder, (2) in the case
of a Non-U.S. Holder who is an individual, such holder is present in the
United States for a period or periods aggregating 183 days or more during the
taxable year of the disposition, and either such holder has a "tax home" in
the United States or the disposition is attributable to an office or other
fixed place of business maintained by such holder in the United States, or (3)
the holder is subject to tax pursuant to the provisions of the Code applicable
to certain United States expatriates.
Conversion of the Preferred Securities
In general, no United States federal income tax or withholding tax will be
imposed upon the conversion of Preferred Securities into Common Stock by a
Non-U.S. Holder except with respect to the receipt of cash in lieu of
fractional shares by Non-U.S. Holders upon conversion of Preferred Securities
where one of the conditions described above under "--Sale, Exchange or
Redemption of the Preferred Securities" is satisfied.
Sale or Exchange of Common Stock
A Non-U.S. Holder generally will not be subject to United States federal
income tax or withholding tax on the sale or exchange of Common Stock unless
one of the conditions described above under "--Sale, Exchange or Redemption of
Preferred Securities" is satisfied.
Dividends
Distributions by the Company with respect to the Common Stock that are
treated as dividends paid (or deemed paid), as described above under "--
Dividends" to a Non-U.S. Holder (excluding dividends that are effectively
connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the United States by such
holder and are taxable as described below) will be subject to United States
federal withholding tax at a 30% rate (or a lower rate provided under any
applicable income tax treaty). Except to the extent that an applicable tax
treaty otherwise provides, a Non-U.S. Holder will be taxed in the same manner
as a United States holder on dividends paid (or deemed paid) that are
effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the United
States by the Non-U.S. Holder. If such Non-U.S. Holder is a foreign
corporation, it may also be subject to a United States branch profits tax on
such effectively connected income at a 30% rate or such lower rate as may be
specified by an applicable income tax treaty. Even though such effectively
connected dividends are subject to income tax, and may be subject to the
branch profits tax, they will not be subject to U.S. withholding tax if the
holder delivers a properly executed IRS Form 4224 to the payor.
Under current Treasury Regulations, dividends paid to an address in a
foreign country are presumed to be paid to a resident of that country (unless
the payor has knowledge to the contrary) for purposes of the withholding
discussed above and, under the current interpretation of Treasury Regulations,
for purposes of determining the applicability of a tax treaty rate. Under
recently issued Treasury Regulations, however, Non-U.S. Holders of Common
Stock who wish to claim the benefit of an applicable treaty rate would be
required to satisfy certain certification requirements. The new Treasury
Regulations are effective for payments made after December 31, 1998.
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Death of a Non-U.S. Holder
Preferred Securities held by an individual who is not a citizen or resident
of the United States at the time of death will not be includable in the
decedent's gross estate for United States federal estate tax purposes,
provided that such holder or beneficial owner did not at the time of death
actually or constructively own 10% or more of the combined voting power of all
classes of stock of the Company entitled to vote, and provided that, at the
time of death, payments with respect to such Preferred Securities would not
have been effectively connected with the conduct by such Non-U.S. Holder of a
trade or business within the United States.
Common Stock actually or beneficially held (other than through a foreign
corporation) by a Non-U.S. Holder at the time of his or her death (or
previously transferred subject to certain retained rights or powers) will be
subject to United States federal estate tax unless otherwise provided by an
applicable estate tax treaty.
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding Tax
United States information reporting requirements and backup withholding tax
will not apply to payments on Preferred Securities to a Non-U.S. Holder if the
statement described in "--Payment of Interest" is duly provided by such
holder, provided that the payor does not have actual knowledge that the holder
is a United States person.
Information reporting requirements and backup withholding tax will not apply
to any payment of the proceeds of the sale of Preferred Securities, or any
payment of the proceeds of the sale of Common Stock effected outside the
United States by a foreign office of a "broker" (as defined in applicable
Treasury Regulations), unless such broker (i) is a United States person, (ii)
is a foreign person that derives 50% or more of its gross income for certain
periods from the conduct of a trade or business in the United States or (iii)
is a controlled foreign corporation for United States federal income tax
purposes. Payment of the proceeds of any such sale effected outside the United
States by a foreign office of any broker that is described in (i), (ii) or
(iii) of the preceding sentence will not be subject to backup withholding tax,
but will be subject to information reporting requirements unless such broker
has documentary evidence in its records that the beneficial owner is a Non-
U.S. Holder and certain other conditions are met, or the beneficial owner
otherwise establishes an exemption. Payment of the proceeds of any such sale
to or through the United States office of a broker is subject to information
reporting and backup withholding requirements unless the beneficial owner of
the Preferred Securities provides the statement described in "--Payment of
Interest" or otherwise establishes an exemption.
If paid to an address outside the United States, dividends on Common Stock
held by a Non-U.S. Holder will generally not be subject to the information
reporting and backup withholding requirements described in this section.
However, under recently issued Treasury Regulations, dividend payments will be
subject to information reporting and backup withholding unless applicable
certification requirements are satisfied. The new Treasury Regulations apply
to dividend payments made after December 31, 1998.
United States Real Property Holding Corporations
The discussion of the United States taxation of Non-U.S. Holders of
Preferred Securities and Common Stock assumes that the Company is at no time a
United States real property holding corporation within the meaning of Section
897(c) of the Code. If the Company were a United States real property holding
corporation, gain realized on the sale of the Common Stock by a Non-U.S.
Holder who owns 5 percent or more of the Common Stock, or gain realized on the
sale of Preferred Securities by a Non-U.S. Holder whose Preferred Securities
have a value greater than 5 percent of the Common Stock on the date the
Preferred Securities are acquired, generally would be subject to United States
federal income tax. Under present law, the Company would not be a United
States real property holding corporation so long as (a) the fair market value
of its United States real property interests is less than (b) 50% of the sum
of the fair market value of its United States real property interests, its
interests in real property located outside the United States, and its other
assets which are used or held or use in a trade or business. The Company
believes that it is not, and has not been at any time during the last five
years, a United States real property holding corporation and does not expect
to become such a corporation.
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THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX DISCUSSION SET FORTH ABOVE IS INCLUDED
FOR GENERAL INFORMATION ONLY AND MAY NOT BE APPLICABLE DEPENDING UPON A
HOLDER'S PARTICULAR SITUATION. HOLDERS SHOULD CONSULT THEIR TAX ADVISORS WITH
RESPECT TO THE TAX CONSEQUENCES TO THEM OF THE PURCHASE, OWNERSHIP, AND
DISPOSITION OF THE PREFERRED SECURITIES AND THE COMMON STOCK, INCLUDING THE
TAX CONSEQUENCES UNDER STATE, LOCAL, FOREIGN, AND OTHER TAX LAWS AND THE
POSSIBLE EFFECTS OF CHANGES IN UNITED STATES FEDERAL OR OTHER TAX LAWS WITH
POSSIBLE RETROACTIVE EFFECTS.
SELLING HOLDERS
The Convertible Preferred Securities were originally issued by the Trust and
sold by Prudential Securities Incorporated and Furman Selz LLC (the "Initial
Purchasers"), in transactions exempt from the registration requirements of the
Securities Act, to persons reasonably believed by such Initial Purchasers to
be "qualified institutional buyers" (as defined in Rule 144A of the Securities
Act), or outside the United States to Non-U.S. persons in reliance on
Regulation S under the Securities Act. The Selling Holders may from time to
time offer and sell pursuant to this Prospectus any or all of the Preferred
Securities, the Convertible Debentures, the Common Stock issued upon
conversion of the Preferred Securities, and the associated Guarantee. The term
"Selling Holder" includes the holders listed below and the beneficial owners
of the Convertible Preferred Securities and their transferees, pledgees,
donees or other successors.
The Offered Securities have been registered pursuant to the Registration
Rights Agreement which provides that the Company file a registration statement
with regard to the Offered Securities by March 19, 1998 and use its best
efforts to keep such registration statement effective until two years after
the Original Offering Date or such earlier date as of which all the Transfer
Restricted Securities have been sold pursuant to this Registration Statement.
The following table sets forth information, as of , 1998, with respect
to the Selling Holders of the Preferred Securities and the respective number
of Preferred Securities and Common Stock beneficially owned by each Selling
Holder that may be offered pursuant to this Prospectus. Such information has
been obtained from the Selling Holders. Except as otherwise indicated, to the
knowledge of the Company, all persons listed below have sole voting and
investment power with respect to their securities.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SELLING PREFERRED SECURITIES PREFERRED SECURITIES COMMON STOCK COMMON STOCK
HOLDER BENEFICIALLY OWNED OFFERED HEREBY BENEFICIALLY OWNED OFFERED HEREBY
------- -------------------- -------------------- ------------------ --------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
</TABLE>
[Information to be provided by Amendment]
None of the Selling Holders has, or within the past three years has had, any
position, office or other material relationship with the Trust or the Company
or any of their predecessors or affiliates. Because the Selling Holders may,
pursuant to this Prospectus, offer all or some portion of the Preferred
Securities, the Convertible Debentures or the Common Stock issuable upon
conversion of the Preferred Securities, no estimate can be given as to the
amount of the Preferred Securities, Convertible Debentures or Common Stock
issuable upon conversion of Preferred Securities that will be held by the
Selling Holders upon termination of any such sales. In addition, the Selling
Holders identified above may have sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of
all or a portion of their Preferred Securities since the date on which they
provided the information regarding their Preferred Securities included herein
in transactions exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities
Act. See "Plan of Distribution."
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Although none of the Selling Holders (other than those Selling Holders
listed above) have advised the Company that they currently intend to sell all
or any of the Offered Securities pursuant to this Prospectus, the Selling
Holders may choose to sell the Offered Securities from time to time upon
notice to the Company and the Trust. See "Plan of Distribution."
Prior to any use of this Prospectus in connection with an offering of the
Offered Securities, this Prospectus will be supplemented to set forth the name
and number of shares beneficially owned by the Selling Holder intending to
sell such Offered Securities, and the number of Offered Securities to be
offered. The Prospectus Supplement will also disclose whether any Selling
Holder selling in connection with such Prospectus Supplement has held any
position or office with, been employed by or otherwise has a material
relationship with, the Company or any of its affiliates during the three (3)
years prior to the date of the Prospectus Supplement.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
The Offered Securities may be sold from time to time to purchasers directly
by the Selling Holders. Alternatively, the Selling Holders may from time to
time offer the Offered Securities to or through underwriters, broker/dealers
or agents, who may receive compensation in the form of underwriting discounts,
concessions or commissions from the Selling Holders or the purchasers of such
securities for whom they may act as agents. The Selling Holders, and any
underwriters, broker/dealers or agents that participate in the distribution of
Offered Securities may be deemed to be "underwriters" within the meaning of
the Securities Act, and any profit on the sale of such securities and any
discounts, commissions, concessions or other compensation received by any such
underwriter, broker/dealer or agent may be deemed to be underwriting discounts
and commissions under the Securities Act.
The Offered Securities may be sold from time to time in one or more
transactions at fixed prices, at prevailing market prices at the time of sale,
at varying prices determined at the time of sale or at negotiated prices. The
sale of the Offered Securities may be effected in transactions (which may
involve crosses or block transactions) (i) on any national securities exchange
or quotation service on which the Offered Securities may be listed or quoted
at the time of sale, (ii) in the over-the-counter market, (iii) in
transactions otherwise than on such exchanges or in the over-the-counter
market or (iv) through the writing and exercise of options. At the time a
particular offering of the Offered Securities is made, a Prospectus
Supplement, if required, will be distributed, which will set forth the
aggregate amount and type of Offered Securities being offered and the terms of
the offering, including the name or names of any underwriters, broker/dealers
or agents, any discounts, commissions and other terms constituting
compensation from the Selling Holders and any discounts, commissions or
concessions allowed or reallowed to paid broker/dealers.
To comply with the securities laws of certain jurisdictions, if applicable,
the Offered Securities will be offered or sold in such jurisdictions only
through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, in certain
jurisdictions the Offered Securities may not be offered or sold unless they
have been registered or qualified for sale in such jurisdictions or any
exemption from registration or qualification is available and is complied
with.
The Selling Holders will be subject to applicable provisions of the Exchange
Act and rules and regulations thereunder, which provisions may limit the
timing of purchases and sales of any of the Offered Securities by the Selling
Holders. The foregoing may affect the marketability of such securities.
Pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company and the Trust
shall pay all expenses of the registration of the Offered Securities
including, without limitation, all registration and filing fees and expenses
and fees and expenses of compliance with federal securities or state blue sky
laws; provided, however, that the Selling Holders will pay all broker's
commissions and underwriting discounts and commissions, if any. The Selling
Holders will be indemnified by the Company and the Trust, jointly and
severally against certain civil liabilities, including certain liabilities
under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act or otherwise, or will be entitled
to contribution in connection therewith. The Company and the Trust will be
indemnified by the Selling
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Holders severally against certain civil liabilities, including certain
liabilities under the Securities Act or otherwise, or will be entitled to
contribution in connection therewith.
LEGAL MATTERS
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the
validity of the Convertible Debentures and Common Stock issuable upon the
conversion of the Preferred Securities will be passed upon for the Company by
King & Spalding. Certain matters of Delaware law relating to the validity of
the Preferred Securities will be passed upon on behalf of the Trust by
Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A., special Delaware counsel to the Trust.
Certain United States income taxation matters have been passed upon for the
Company and the Trust by King & Spalding.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements of the Company at June 30, 1996 and
1997 and for each of the years in the two-year period ended June 30, 1997,
appearing in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K incorporated by
reference herein have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent certified
public accountants, as set forth in their report thereon included therein and
incorporated herein by reference which, as to 1997 is based in part on the
report of KPMG S.p.A., independent auditors. The financial statements referred
to above are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such reports
given upon the authority of such firms as experts in accounting and auditing.
The audited consolidated financial statements of the Company for the year
ended June 30, 1995 that are incorporated by reference in this Prospectus and
elsewhere in the Registration Statement have been audited by KPMG Peat Marwick
LLP, independent public accountants, as indicated in their report with respect
thereto, and are incorporated herein in reliance upon the authority of said
firm as experts in giving said report.
The combined financial statements of Safety Restraint Systems, a division of
AlliedSignal Inc., as of December 31, 1995 and 1996 and for each of the three
years in the period ended December 31, 1996 incorporated by reference in this
Prospectus from the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K/A dated October 30,
1997 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report (which contains an
explanatory paragraph relating to Safety Restraint Systems' transactions and
relationships with AlliedSignal Inc.) of Price Waterhouse LLP, independent
accountants, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and
accounting.
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PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN THE PROSPECTUS
ITEM 14. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee................... $ 73,750
Legal fees and expenses............................................... 75,000
Accounting fees and expenses.......................................... 25,000
Printing and engraving expenses....................................... 75,000
Miscellaneous expenses................................................ 11,250
--------
Total............................................................... $405,000
========
</TABLE>
ITEM 15. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.
Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law permits indemnification
of officers and directors of the Company under certain conditions and subject
to certain limitations. Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation law
also provides that a corporation has the power to purchase and maintain
insurance on behalf of its officers and directors against any liability
asserted against such person and incurred by him or her in such capacity, or
arising out of his or her status as such, whether or not the corporation would
have the power to indemnify him or her against such liability under the
provisions of Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law.
Pursuant to Article 8 of the of the Company's Second Restated Certificate of
Incorporation (the "Restated Certificate"), the Company will indemnify any
person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any
threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil,
criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the
right of the Company) by reason of the fact that such person is or was, or has
agreed to become, a director or officer of the Company, or is or was serving,
or has agreed to serve, at the Company's request, in a similar capacity with
another enterprise. The Company will indemnify such officers and directors in
an action by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor
under the same conditions, except that no indemnification is permitted without
judicial approval if the officer or director is adjudged to be liable to the
Company. Where an officer or director is successful on the merits or otherwise
in the defense of any action referred to above, the Company must indemnify him
or her against the expenses (including attorneys' fees) which he or she
actually and reasonably incurred in connection therewith.
In the event that the Company does not assume the defense of any action,
suit or proceeding, the Company will, in advance of the final disposition of
any such action, pay the expenses (including attorneys' fees) incurred by any
officer or director in defending such action, provided that the director or
officer undertakes to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined
that he or she is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company as authorized
by Article 8 of the Restated Certificate.
The indemnification provided by the Restated Certificate is not deemed to be
exclusive of any other rights to which an officer or director may be entitled
under any law, agreement, vote or otherwise, and inures to the benefit of the
estate, heirs, executors and administrators of the officer or director.
The Company is authorized to enter into agreements with its officers and
directors providing indemnification rights different from those provided in
the Restated Certificate, and may grant indemnification rights to other
employees or agents of, or other persons serving, the Company. The Company is
also permitted to purchase directors' and officers' liability insurance.
Article 8 of the Restated Certificate also provides that if the Delaware
General Corporation Law is amended after the adoption of the Restated
Certificate, the Company will indemnify its officers and directors to the
fullest extent permitted by applicable law in effect from time to time.
The foregoing statements are subject to the detailed provisions of Article 8
of the Restated Certificate.
II-1
<PAGE>
The Declaration of Trust of BTI Capital Trust, filed as Exhibit 4.2 to this
Registration Statement, limits the liability of the Trustee to the Trust and
certain persons and provides for the indemnification by the Trust or the
Company of the Trustees, their officers, directors and employees and certain
other persons.
ITEM 16. EXHIBITS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT
NUMBER DESCRIPTION OF EXHIBITS
------- -----------------------
<C> <S> <C>
4.1 -- Certificate of Trust of BTI Capital Trust.
4.2 -- Declaration of Trust of BTI Capital Trust dated as of October
17, 1997, among Breed Technologies, Inc. and Wilmington Trust
Company.
4.3 -- Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust dated as of
November 25, 1997 between Breed Technologies, Inc., as
Sponsor, Wilmington Trust Company, as Delaware Trustee and
Institutional Trustee, and Charles J. Speranzella, Jr., Fred
J. Musone, and Frank J. Gnisci, as Regular Trustees.
4.4 -- Indenture for the Convertible Debentures dated as of November
25, 1997 between Breed Technologies, Inc. and Wilmington Trust
Company, as Indenture Trustee.
4.5 -- Form of Preferred Security.
4.6 -- Form of Convertible Debentures.
4.7 -- Common Securities Guarantee Agreement dated as of November
25, 1997 by Breed Technologies, Inc., as Guarantor.
4.8 -- Preferred Securities Guarantee Agreement dated as of November
25, 1997 between Breed Technologies, Inc., as Guarantor, and
Wilmington Trust Company, as Preferred Guarantee Trustee.
4.9* -- Amendment No. 1 to Warrant Agreement dated March 2, 1998
between Breed Technologies, Inc. and Nationsbank, N.A.
5.1* -- Opinion of King & Spalding as to the legality of the
Convertible Debentures, the Breed Technologies, Inc. Common
Stock issuable on the conversion of the Preferred Securities
and the Preferred Securities Guarantee (including the Consent
of such Counsel).
5.2* -- Opinion of Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A. as to the legality
of the Preferred Securities to be issued by BTI Capital Trust
(including the consent of such Counsel).
8.1* -- Tax Opinion of King & Spalding.
12.1 -- Computation of the Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges.
23.1 -- Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.
23.2 -- Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP.
23.3 -- Consent of Price Waterhouse LLP.
23.4 -- Consent of KPMG S.p.A.
23.5* -- Consent of King & Spalding (included in Exhibit 5.1).
23.6* -- Consent of Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A. (included in
Exhibit 5.2).
25.1 -- Statement of Eligibility of Indenture Trustee under the
Indenture.
25.2 -- Statement of Eligibility of Institutional Trustee under the
Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of BTI Capital
Trust.
25.3 -- Statement of Eligibility of Preferred Guarantee Trustee under
the Preferred Securities Guarantee of Breed Technologies, Inc.
for the benefit of the holders of Preferred Securities of BTI
Capital Trust.
</TABLE>
- --------
* To be filed by Amendment
II-2
<PAGE>
ITEM 17. UNDERTAKINGS
Each of the undersigned registrants (the "Registrants") hereby undertakes:
(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 the Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any
increase or decrease in the volume of securities offered (if the total
dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was
registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated
maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed
with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the
changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change
in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the "Calculation
of Registration Fee" table in the effective registration statement;
(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of
distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or
any material change to such information in the Registration Statement;
provided, however, that paragraphs (1)(i) and (1)(ii) do not apply if the
information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those
paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the
Commission by any Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed
to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered
therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed
to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment
any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
termination of the offering.
(4) That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities
Act of 1933, each filing of any Registrant's annual report pursuant to
Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and,
where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual report
pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is
incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall be deemed to
be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein,
and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the
initial bona fide offering thereof.
(5) That, 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 foregoing
provisions, or otherwise, the Registrants have been advised that in the
opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is
against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is,
therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification
against such liabilities (other than the payment by any Registrant of
expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of
such Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the Registrants will,
unless in the opinion of their counsel the matter has been settled by
controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the
question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as
expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final
adjudication of such issue.
(6) That, (i) for purposes of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus
filed as part of this Registration Statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and
contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule
424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed
to be part of this Registration Statement as of the time it
II-3
<PAGE>
was declared effective; and (ii) for the purpose of determining any
liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment
that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration
statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of
such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide
offering thereof.
II-4
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, EACH REGISTRANT
CERTIFIES THAT IT HAS REASONABLE GROUNDS TO BELIEVE THAT IT MEETS ALL OF THE
REQUIREMENTS FOR FILING ON FORM S-3 AND HAS DULY CAUSED THIS REGISTRATION
STATEMENT TO BE SIGNED ON ITS BEHALF BY THE UNDERSIGNED, THEREUNTO DULY
AUTHORIZED, IN THE CITY OF LAKELAND, STATE OF FLORIDA, ON MARCH , 1998.
BREED TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
By: _________________________________
Johnnie Cordell Breed
Chairman of the Board and Chief
Executive Officer
BTI CAPITAL TRUST
By: _________________________________
Charles J. Speranzella, Jr.
Regular Trustee
By: _________________________________
Fred J. Musone
Regular Trustee
By: _________________________________
Frank J. Gnisci
Regular Trustee
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears
below constitutes and appoints CHARLES J. SPERANZELLA, JR., Vice Chairman and
a Director of the Company, FRED J. MUSONE, President, Chief Operating Officer
and a Director of the Company, FRANK J. GNISCI, Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer of the Company, and LIZANNE GUPTILL, Secretary of the
Company, or any one of them, and any agent for service named in this
Registration Statement and each of them, his or her true and lawful attorney-
in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him
or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to
sign any registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended and any and all amendments (including post-
effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same,
with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with
the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact
and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each
and every act and thing requisite or necessary to be done in and about the
premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do
in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and
agents or any of them, their, or his or her, substitute or substitutes, may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
II-5
<PAGE>
PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, THIS
REGISTRATION STATEMENT HAS BEEN SIGNED BY THE FOLLOWING PERSONS IN THE
CAPACITIES WITH BREED TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AND ON THE DATE INDICATED.
SIGNATURE TITLE DATE
--------- ----- ----
/s/ Johnnie Cordell Breed Chairman of the March 18, 1998
- ------------------------------------- Board and Chief
JOHNNIE CORDELL BREED Executive Officer
/s/ Charles J. Speranzella, Jr. Vice Chairman and March 18, 1998
- ------------------------------------- Director
CHARLES J. SPERANZELLA, JR.
/s/ Fred J. Musone President, Chief March 18, 1998
- ------------------------------------- Operating Officer
FRED J. MUSONE and Director
/s/ Frank J. Gnisci Executive Vice March 18, 1998
- ------------------------------------- President and Chief
FRANK J. GNISCI Financial Officer
/s/ Larry W. McCurdy Director March 18, 1998
- -------------------------------------
LARRY W. MCCURDY
/s/ Robert W. Shower Director March 18, 1998
- -------------------------------------
ROBERT W. SHOWER
/s/ Alberto Negro Director March 18, 1998
- -------------------------------------
ALBERTO NEGRO
/s/ Dr.-Ing. Franz Wressnigg Director March 18, 1998
- -------------------------------------
DR.-ING. FRANZ WRESSNIGG
II-6
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 4.1
CERTIFICATE OF TRUST OF
BTI CAPITAL TRUST
THIS Certificate of Trust of BTI Capital Trust (the "Trust"), dated October
17, 1997, is being duly executed and filed by Wilmington Trust Company, a
Delaware banking corporation, as trustee, to form a business trust under the
Delaware Business Trust Act (12 Del C (S) 3801 et seq.).
----- -- ---
1. Name. The name of the business trust formed hereby is BTI Capital
----
Trust.
2. Delaware Trustee. The name and business address of the trustee of the
----------------
Trust in the State of Delaware is Wilmington Trust Company, Rodney Square North,
1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19890-0001, Attn: Corporate
Trust Administration.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned trustee of the Trust has executed this
Certificate of Trust as of the date first above written.
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY,
as trustee
By: /s/ Patricia A. Evans
---------------------------
Name: Patricia A. Evans
Title: Financial Services Officer
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 4.2
TRUST AGREEMENT
OF
BTI CAPITAL TRUST
TRUST AGREEMENT (this "Declaration of Trust"), dated as of October 17,
1997, between Breed Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation, as depositor or
sponsor (the "Depositor"), and Wilmington Trust Company, a Delaware banking
corporation, as trustee (the "Trustee"). The Depositor and the Trustee hereby
agree as follows:
1. The trust created hereby shall be known as BTI Capital Trust
(the "Trust"), in which name the Trustee, 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 Trustee the sum of $1. The Trustee hereby acknowledges receipt of such
amount in trust from the Depositor, which amount shall constitute the initial
trust estate. The Trustee hereby declares that it 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 3 of Title 12 of
the Delaware Code, 12 Del. C. (S) 3801 et seq. (the "Business Trust Act"), and
that this document constitutes the governing instrument of the Trust. The
Trustee is hereby authorized and directed to execute and file a certificate of
trust with the Delaware Secretary of State in accordance with the provisions of
the Business Trust Act.
3. The Depositor and the Trustee will enter into an amended and
restated declaration or agreement of Trust, satisfactory to each such party, to
provide for the contemplated operation of the Trust created hereby and the
issuance of the capital or preferred securities and common securities referred
to therein. Prior to the execution and delivery of such amended and restated
agreement or declaration of Trust, the Trustee shall not have any duty or
obligation hereunder or with respect to the trust estate, except as otherwise
required by applicable law or as may be necessary to obtain prior to such
execution and delivery any licenses, consents or approvals required by
applicable law or otherwise.
4. The Depositor and the Trustee hereby authorize and direct the
Depositor, as the sponsor of the Trust, (i) to prepare and distribute one or
more offering circulars on behalf of the Trust, including any necessary or
desirable amendments thereto (including any exhibits contained therein or
forming a part thereof), relating to the capital securities or preferred
securities of the Trust and certain other securities; (ii) if and at such time
as determined by the Depositor, to execute and file an application, and all
other applications, statements, certificates, agreements and other instruments
that shall be necessary or desirable to cause the Capital Securities to be
listed on the Private Offerings, Resales and Trading through Automated Linkages
("PORTAL") Market, with
<PAGE>
PORTAL, and, if and at such time as determined by the Depositor, with the New
York Stock Exchange or any other national stock exchange or the Nasdaq National
Market for listing or quotation of the Capital Securities of the Trust; (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 Capital Securities under, or obtain for
the capital or preferred securities an exemption from, the securities or "Blue
Sky" laws; (iv) to execute, deliver and perform on behalf of the Trust one or
more underwriting agreements, purchase agreements, pricing agreements, exchange
agreements, registration rights agreements and other similar or related
agreements providing for or relating to the sale of the capital or preferred
securities of the Trust and the exchange of the capital or preferred securities
of the Trust for capital or preferred securities of the Trust with the same
terms as the capital or preferred Securities of the Trust (the "Exchange Capital
Securities")(except that the Exchange Capital Securities will not contain terms
with respect to the transfer restrictions under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, or for the provision of any increased distribution rate under certain
circumstances); and (v) to execute on behalf of the Trust any and all documents,
papers and instruments as may be desirable in connection with any of the
foregoing. If any filing referred to in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) above is
required by law or by the rules and regulations of applicable governmental
agency, self-regulatory organization or other person or organization to be
executed on behalf of the Trust by a Trustee, the Depositor and any trustee of
the Trust 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.
5. This Declaration of Trust may be executed in one or more
counterparts.
6. The Trustee shall initially be the only trustee of the Trust.
Thereafter, the Depositor may increase or decrease (but not below one) the
number of trustees of the Trust by executing a written instrument fixing such
number; provided, however, that so long as it is required by the Business a
-------- -------
Trust Act, one trustee of the Trust shall be either a natural person who is a
resident of the State of Delaware or an entity other than a natural person that
has its principal place of business in the State of Delaware and that, in either
case, 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. 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).
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Declaration of
Trust to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.
BREED TECHNOLOGIES, INC., as
Depositor
By: /s/ ^^
____________________________________
Name:
Title:
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY,
as Trustee
By: /s/ ^^
____________________________________
Name: ^^
Title: ^^
-3-
<PAGE>
EXECUTION COPY
================================
AMENDED AND RESTATED
DECLARATION OF TRUST
OF
BTI CAPITAL TRUST
Dated as of November 25, 1997
================================
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
----
ARTICLE I
INTERPRETATION AND DEFINITIONS
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
SECTION 1.1. Definitions................................................... 1
ARTICLE II
TRUST INDENTURE ACT
SECTION 2.1. Trust Indenture Act; Application.............................. 9
SECTION 2.2. Lists of Holders of Securities................................ 9
SECTION 2.3. Reports by the Institutional Trustee.......................... 10
SECTION 2.4. Periodic Reports to Institutional Trustee..................... 10
SECTION 2.5. Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent.............. 10
SECTION 2.6. Events of Default; Waiver..................................... 10
SECTION 2.7. Event of Default; Notice...................................... 12
ARTICLE III
ORGANIZATION OF TRUST
SECTION 3.1. Name.......................................................... 13
SECTION 3.2. Office........................................................ 13
SECTION 3.3. Purpose....................................................... 13
SECTION 3.4. Prohibition of Actions by the Trust and the Trustees.......... 13
SECTION 3.5. General Authority of the Trustees............................. 14
SECTION 3.6. Title to Property of the Trust................................ 14
SECTION 3.7. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities........ 15
SECTION 3.8. Duration of the Trust......................................... 15
SECTION 3.9. Mergers....................................................... 15
SECTION 3.10. Termination and Dissolution of the Trust..................... 17
ARTICLE IV
SPONSOR
SECTION 4.1. Sponsor's Purchase of Common Securities....................... 18
SECTION 4.2. Responsibilities of the Sponsor............................... 18
ARTICLE V
TRUSTEES
SECTION 5.1. Number of Trustees............................................ 19
SECTION 5.2. Delaware Trustee; Eligibility................................. 19
SECTION 5.3. Institutional Trustee; Eligibility............................ 19
SECTION 5.4. Qualifications of Regular Trustees and Delaware Trustee
Generally................................................... 20
SECTION 5.5. Initial Trustees.............................................. 21
SECTION 5.6. Appointment, Removal and Resignation of Trustees.............. 21
SECTION 5.7. Vacancies among Trustees...................................... 23
SECTION 5.8. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to
Business of a Trustee ...................................... 23
SECTION 5.9. Authority, Powers and Duties of the Regular Trustees.......... 23
SECTION 5.10. Delegation of Powers and Duties of the Regular Trustees...... 27
SECTION 5.11. Powers and Duties of the Institutional Trustee............... 27
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
SECTION 5.12. Certain Duties and Responsibilities of the Institutional
Trustee.................................................... 29
SECTION 5.13. Certain Rights of Institutional Trustee...................... 30
SECTION 5.14. Delaware Trustee............................................. 32
SECTION 5.15. Meetings..................................................... 33
ARTICLE VI
DISTRIBUTIONS
SECTION 6.1. Distributions................................................ 33
ARTICLE VII
THE SECURITIES
SECTION 7.1. Title and Terms.............................................. 34
SECTION 7.2. General Provisions Regarding the Securities.................. 34
SECTION 7.3. General Form of Certificates................................. 34
SECTION 7.4. Execution and Authentication of Certificates................. 35
SECTION 7.5. Paying Agent and Conversion Agent............................ 35
SECTION 7.6. Outstanding Preferred Securities............................. 36
SECTION 7.7. Preferred Securities in Treasury............................. 36
ARTICLE VIII
TRANSFERS, EXCHANGES AND CANCELLATIONS OF SECURITIES
SECTION 8.1. Transfer of Securities....................................... 37
SECTION 8.2. Transfer of Certificates..................................... 39
SECTION 8.3. Deemed Security Holders...................................... 39
SECTION 8.4. Book Entry Interests......................................... 39
SECTION 8.5. Notices to Clearing Agency................................... 42
SECTION 8.6. Appointment of Successor Clearing Agency..................... 42
SECTION 8.7. Definitive Trust Preferred Security Certificates............. 42
SECTION 8.8. Mutilated Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Certificates............. 43
ARTICLE IX
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY OF
HOLDERS OF SECURITIES, TRUSTEES AND OTHERS
SECTION 9.1. Liability.................................................... 43
SECTION 9.2. Exculpation.................................................. 44
SECTION 9.3. Fiduciary Duty............................................... 44
SECTION 9.4. Indemnification.............................................. 45
SECTION 9.5. Outside Businesses........................................... 48
ARTICLE X
ACCOUNTING
SECTION 10.1. Fiscal Year................................................. 49
SECTION 10.2. Certain Accounting Matters.................................. 49
SECTION 10.3. Banking..................................................... 49
SECTION 10.4. Withholding................................................. 50
ARTICLE XI
AMENDMENTS AND MEETINGS
SECTION 11.1. Amendments.................................................. 50
</TABLE>
- ii -
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
SECTION 11.2. Meetings of The Holders of Securities; Action by
Written Consent............................................ 52
ARTICLE XII
REPRESENTATIONS OF INSTITUTIONAL TRUSTEE
AND DELAWARE TRUSTEE
SECTION 12.1. Representations and Warranties of Institutional Trustee...... 53
SECTION 12.2. Representations and Warranties of Delaware Trustee........... 54
ARTICLE XIII
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 13.1. Notices...................................................... 55
SECTION 13.2. Governing Law................................................ 56
SECTION 13.3. Intention of the Parties..................................... 57
SECTION 13.4. Headings..................................................... 57
SECTION 13.5. Successors and Assigns....................................... 57
SECTION 13.6. Partial Enforceability....................................... 57
SECTION 13.7. Counterparts................................................. 57
</TABLE>
- iii -
<PAGE>
ANNEX AND EXHIBITS
ANNEX I Terms of Preferred Securities and Common Securities
EXHIBIT A-1 Form of Preferred Security Certificate
EXHIBIT A-2 Form of Common Security Certificate
EXHIBIT B Specimen Convertible Debenture
- iv -
<PAGE>
CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE*
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Section of
Trust Indenture Act Section of
of 1939, as amended Declaration
- ------------------- -----------
<S> <C>
310(a)....................................................... 5.3(a)
310(c)....................................................... Inapplicable
311(c)....................................................... Inapplicable
312(a)....................................................... 2.2(a)
312(b)....................................................... 2.2(b)
313.......................................................... 2.3
314(a)....................................................... 2.4
314(b)....................................................... Inapplicable
314(c)....................................................... 2.5
314(d)....................................................... Inapplicable
314(f)....................................................... Inapplicable
315(a)....................................................... 5.12(b)-(e)
315(c)....................................................... 5.12(a)
315(d)....................................................... 5.12(a)
316(a)....................................................... Annex I
316(c)....................................................... 5.9(d)(v)
</TABLE>
- ----------------
* This Cross-Reference Table does not constitute part of the Declaration and
shall not affect the interpretation of any of its terms or provisions.
- v -
<PAGE>
AMENDED AND RESTATED DECLARATION OF TRUST
OF
BTI CAPITAL TRUST
November 25, 1997
AMENDED AND RESTATED DECLARATION OF TRUST ("Declaration") dated and
effective as of November 25, 1997, by the undersigned trustees (together with
all other Persons from time to time duly appointed and serving as trustees in
accordance with the provisions of this Declaration, the "Trustees"), Breed
Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation, as trust sponsor (the "Sponsor"),
and by the holders, from time to time, of undivided beneficial interests in the
assets of the Trust issued pursuant to this Declaration;
WHEREAS, the Trustees and the Sponsor created BTI Capital Trust (the
"Trust"), a business trust under the Business Trust Act (as defined herein)
pursuant to a Trust Agreement dated as of October 17, 1997 (the "Original
Declaration"), and a Certificate of Trust filed with the Secretary of State of
the State of Delaware on October 17, 1997, for the sole purpose of issuing and
selling certain securities representing undivided beneficial interests in the
assets of the Trust and investing the proceeds thereof in certain Debentures (as
defined herein) of the Debenture Issuer (as defined herein); and
WHEREAS, all of the Trustees and the Sponsor, by this Declaration, amend
and restate each and every term and provision of the Original Declaration;
NOW, THEREFORE, it being the intention of the parties hereto to continue
the Trust as a business trust under the Business Trust Act and that this
Declaration constitute the governing instrument of such business trust, the
Trustees declare that all assets contributed to the Trust will be held in trust
for the benefit of the holders, from time to time, of the securities
representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust issued
hereunder, subject to the provisions of this Declaration.
ARTICLE I
INTERPRETATION AND DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.1. Definitions
-----------
Unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) Capitalized terms used in this Declaration but not defined in
the preamble above have the respective meanings assigned to them in this
Section 1.1;
1
<PAGE>
(b) a term defined anywhere in this Declaration has the same meaning
throughout;
(c) all references to "the Declaration" or "this Declaration" are to
this Declaration as modified, supplemented or amended from time to time;
(d) all references in this Declaration to Articles and Sections and
Annexes and Exhibits are to Articles and Sections and Annexes and Exhibits
to this Declaration unless otherwise specified;
(e) a term defined in the Trust Indenture Act has the same meaning
when used in this Declaration unless otherwise defined in this Declaration
or unless the context otherwise requires;
(f) a reference to the singular includes the plural and vice versa;
and
(g) a reference to the masculine includes the feminine and vice versa.
"Additional Interest" means if the Trust is required to pay any taxes,
duties, assessments or governmental charges of whatever nature (other than
withholding taxes) imposed by the United States or any other taxing authority,
such amounts as shall be required so that the net amounts received and retained
by the Trust after paying such taxes, duties, assessments and governmental
charges will not be less than the amounts the Trust would have received had no
such taxes, duties, assessments or governmental charges been imposed.
"Affiliate" has the same meaning as given to that term in Rule 405 of the
Securities Act or any successor rule thereunder.
"Agent" means any Paying Agent or Conversion Agent.
"Authorized Officer" of a Person means any Person that is authorized to
bind such Person.
"Book Entry Interest" means a beneficial interest in a Global Certificate,
ownership and transfers of which shall be maintained and made through book
entries by a Clearing Agency as described in Section 8.4.
"Business Day" means any day other than a day on which banking institutions
in the City of New York or Wilmington, Delaware are authorized or required by
law to close.
"Business Trust Act" means Chapter 38 of Title 12 of the Delaware Code, 12
Del. C. Section 3801 et seq., as it may be amended from time to time, or any
successor legislation.
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"Certificate" means a certificate representing a Common Security or a
Preferred Security.
"Clearing Agency" means an organization registered as a "Clearing Agency"
pursuant to Section 17A of the Exchange Act that is acting as depositary for the
Preferred Securities and in whose name or in the name of a nominee of that
organization shall be registered a Global Certificate and which shall undertake
to effect book entry transfers and pledges of the Preferred Securities.
"Clearing Agency Participant" means a broker, dealer, bank, other financial
institution or other Person for whom from time to time the Clearing Agency
effects book entry transfers and pledges of Securities deposited with the
Clearing Agency."
"Closing Date" means November 25, 1997.
"Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to
time, or any successor legislation.
"Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"Common Security" has the meaning specified in Section 7.1.
"Common Security Certificate" means a definitive certificate in fully
registered form representing a Common Security substantially in the form of
Exhibit A-2.
"Common Securities Guarantee" means the guarantee agreement dated as of
November 25, 1997, of the Sponsor in respect of the Common Securities.
"Common Stock" means the common stock, par value $.01 per share, of the
Sponsor.
"Company Indemnified Person" means (i) any Regular Trustee; (ii) any
Affiliate of any Regular Trustee; (iii) any officer, director, shareholder,
member, partner, employee, representative or agent of any Regular Trustee; or
(iii) any officer, employee or agent of the Trust or its Affiliates.
"Compounded Interest" means interest compounded quarterly at the rate
specified for the Debentures to the extent permitted by applicable law upon
interest accrued and unpaid (including Additional Interest) at the end of each
Extension Period.
"Conversion Agent" has the meaning set forth in Section 7.5.
"Corporate Trust Office" means the principal corporate trust office of the
Institutional Trustee, which on the date of this Declaration is 1100 North
Market Street, Rodney Square North, Wilmington, Delaware 19890.
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"Covered Person" means (a) any officer, director, shareholder, partner,
member, representative, employee or agent of (i) the Trust or (ii) the Trust's
Affiliates; and (b) any Holder of Securities.
"Debenture Issuer" means the Sponsor in its capacity as issuer of the
Debentures.
"Debenture Trustee" means Wilmington Trust Company, as trustee under the
Indenture until a successor is appointed thereunder, and thereafter means such
successor trustee.
"Debentures" means the Debentures to be issued by the Debenture Issuer
under the Indenture and to be held by the Institutional Trustee, a specimen
certificate for such Debentures being Exhibit B hereto.
"Definitive Preferred Security Certificates" has the meaning set forth in
Section 8.4.
"Delaware Trustee" has the meaning set forth in Section 5.2.
"Distribution" means a distribution payable to Holders of Securities in
accordance with Section 6.1.
"Depositary" means The Depository Trust Company, the initial Clearing
Agency, until a successor shall be appointed pursuant to Section 8.6, and
thereafter means such successor Depositary.
"Event of Default" in respect of the Securities means an Event of Default
(as defined in the Indenture) has occurred and is continuing in respect of the
Debentures.
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from
time to time, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, or any
successor legislation.
"Fiduciary Indemnified Person" has the meaning set forth in Section 9.4(b).
"Global Certificate" has the meaning set forth in Section 8.4(a).
"Holder" means a Person in whose name a Certificate representing a Security
is registered, such Person being a beneficial owner within the meaning of the
Business Trust Act.
"Indemnified Person" means a Company Indemnified Person or a Fiduciary
Indemnified Person.
"Indenture" means the Indenture dated as of November 25, 1997, between the
Debenture Issuer and the Debenture Trustee, as it may be amended from time to
time.
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"Institutional Trustee" means the Trustee meeting the eligibility
requirements set forth in Section 5.3, in its capacity as a trustee of the
Trust.
"Institutional Trustee Account" has the meaning set forth in Section
5.11(c).
"Investment Company" means an investment company as defined in the
Investment Company Act.
"Investment Company Act" means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder,
or any successor legislation.
"Legal Action" has the meaning set forth in Section 5.9(a)(viii).
"Majority in liquidation amount of the Securities" means, except as
provided in the terms of the Preferred Securities or by the Trust Indenture Act,
Holders of outstanding Securities voting together as a single class or, as the
context may require, Holders of outstanding Preferred Securities or Holders of
outstanding Common Securities voting separately as a class, who are the record
owners of more than 50% of the aggregate liquidation amount (including the
stated amount that would be paid on redemption, liquidation or otherwise, plus
accrued and unpaid Distributions to the date upon which the voting percentages
are determined) of all outstanding Securities of the relevant class.
"Ministerial Action" has the meaning set forth in the terms of the
Securities, as set forth in Annex I hereto.
"Offering Memorandum" has the meaning set forth in Section 5.9.
"Officers' Certificate" means, with respect to any Person, a certificate
signed by two Authorized Officers of such Person. Any Officers' Certificate
delivered with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for
in this Declaration shall include:
(i) a statement that each officer signing the Certificate has read
the covenant or condition and the definitions relating thereto;
(ii) a brief statement of the nature and scope of the examination or
investigation undertaken by each officer in rendering the Certificate;
(iii) 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
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(iv) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such officer,
such condition or covenant has been complied with.
"144A Global Security" has the meaning specified in Section 8.4(b).
"Paying Agent" has the meaning specified in Section 7.5.
"Permanent Regulation S Global Security" has the meaning set forth in
Section 8.4(b).
"Person" means any legal person, including any individual, corporation,
estate, partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock company, limited
liability company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any
agency or political subdivision thereof, or any other entity of whatever nature.
"PORTAL Market" means the Private Offerings, Resales and Trading through
Automated Linkages Market operated by the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc. (or any successor thereto).
"Preferred Securities" has the meaning specified in Section 7.1
"Preferred Security Certificate" means a certificate representing a
Preferred Security substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1.
"Preferred Securities Guarantee" means the guarantee agreement, dated as of
November 25, 1997, of the Sponsor in respect of the Preferred Securities.
"Preferred Security Beneficial Owner" means, with respect to a Book Entry
Interest, a Person who is the beneficial owner of such Book Entry Interest, as
reflected on the books of the Depositary, or on the books of a Person
maintaining an account with such Depositary (directly as a participant or as an
indirect participant, in each case in accordance with the rules of such
Depositary).
"Purchase Agreement" means the Purchase Agreement, dated as of November 19,
1997, between the Sponsor and the purchasers named therein, relating to the
Preferred Securities.
"QIB" means a "qualified institutional buyer" as defined in Rule 144A.
"Quorum" means a majority of the Regular Trustees or, if there are only two
Regular Trustees, both of them.
"Registration Rights Agreement" means the registration rights agreement,
dated as of November 25, 1997, among the Sponsor, the Trust and the Initial
Purchasers named in Schedule I of the Purchase Agreement.
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"Regular Trustee" means any Trustee other than the Institutional Trustee
and the Delaware Trustee.
"Regulation S" means Regulation S under the Securities Act.
"Regulation S Global Security" has the meaning specified in Section 8.4(b).
"Regulation S Securities Exchange Date" has the meaning set forth in
Section 8.4(b).
"Related Party" means, with respect to the Sponsor, any direct or indirect
wholly owned subsidiary of the Sponsor or any other Person that owns, directly
or indirectly, 100% of the outstanding voting securities of the Sponsor.
"Responsible Officer" means, with respect to the Institutional Trustee, any
vice-president, any assistant vice-president, the treasurer, any assistant
treasurer, any trust officer or assistant trust officer or any other officer in
the Corporate Trust Office of the Institutional Trustee customarily performing
functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and
also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other
officer to whom such matter is referred because of that officer's knowledge of
and familiarity with the particular subject.
"Restricted Security" has the meaning specified in Section 8.1(d).
"Rule 144" means Rule 144 as promulgated under the Securities Act.
"Rule 144A" means Rule 144A as promulgated under the Securities Act.
"Rule 144(k)" means Rule 144(k) as promulgated under the Securities Act.
"Rule 3a-5" means Rule 3a-5 under the Investment Company Act.
"Securities" means the Common Securities and the Preferred Securities.
"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to
time, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, or any successor
legislation.
"Securities Guarantees" means the Common Securities Guarantee and the
Preferred Securities Guarantee.
"Shelf Registration Statement" means the registration statement to be filed
by the Company pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement.
"Special Event" has the meaning set forth in Annex I hereto.
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"Sponsor" means Breed Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation, or any
successor entity in a merger, consolidation or amalgamation, in its capacity as
sponsor of the Trust.
"Successor Entity" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.9(b)(i).
"Successor Securities" has the meaning specified in Section 3.9(b)(i)(B).
"Super Majority" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.6(a)(ii).
"Tax Event" has the meaning set forth in Annex I hereto.
"10% in liquidation amount of the Securities" means, except as provided in
the terms of the Preferred Securities or by the Trust Indenture Act, Holders of
outstanding Securities voting together as a single class or, as the context may
require, Holders of outstanding Preferred Securities or Holders of outstanding
Common Securities, voting separately as a class, who are the record owners of
10% or more of the aggregate liquidation amount (including the stated amount
that would be paid on redemption, liquidation or otherwise, plus accrued and
unpaid Distributions to the date upon which the voting percentages are
determined) of all outstanding Securities of the relevant class.
"Temporary Regulation S Global Security" has the meaning set forth in
Section 8.4(b).
"Transfer Restriction Termination Date" means the first date on which the
Securities and any Common Stock issued or issuable upon the conversion or
exchange thereof (other than (i) Securities acquired by the Trust or any
Affiliate thereof and (ii) Common Stock issued upon the conversion or exchange
of any Security described in clause (i) above) may be sold pursuant to Rule
144(k).
"Treasury Regulations" means the income tax regulations, including
temporary and proposed regulations, promulgated under the Code by the United
States Treasury, as such regulations may be amended from time to time (including
corresponding provisions of succeeding regulations).
"Trustee" or "Trustees" means each Person who has signed this Declaration
as a trustee, so long as such Person shall continue in office in accordance with
the terms hereof, and all other Persons who may from time to time be duly
appointed, qualified and serving as Trustees in accordance with the provisions
hereof, and references herein to a Trustee or the Trustees shall refer to such
Person or Persons solely in their capacity as trustees hereunder.
"Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended
from time to time, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, or any
successor legislation.
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ARTICLE II
TRUST INDENTURE ACT
SECTION 2.1. Trust Indenture Act; Application
--------------------------------
(a) Prior to the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement, this
Indenture shall incorporate and be governed by the provisions of the Trust
Indenture Act. After the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement,
this Declaration shall be subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act
that are required to be part of this Declaration, which are incorporated by
reference in and made part of this Declaration and shall, to the extent
applicable, be governed by such provisions.
(b) The Institutional Trustee shall be the only Trustee that is a Trustee
for the purposes of the Trust Indenture Act.
(c) If and to the extent that any provision of this Declaration limits,
qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by Sections 310 to 317,
inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act, such imposed duties shall control.
(d) The application of the Trust Indenture Act to this Declaration shall
not affect the nature of the Securities as equity securities representing
undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust.
SECTION 2.2. Lists of Holders of Securities
------------------------------
(a) Each of the Sponsor and the Regular Trustees on behalf of the Trust
shall provide the Institutional Trustee (i) within 14 days after each record
date for payment of Distributions, a list, in such form as the Institutional
Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Holders of the
Securities ("List of Holders") as of such record date, provided that neither the
Sponsor nor the Regular Trustees on behalf of the Trust shall be obligated to
provide such List of Holders at any time the List of Holders does not differ
from the most recent List of Holders given to the Institutional Trustee by the
Sponsor and the Regular Trustees on behalf of the Trust, and (ii) at any other
time, within 30 days of receipt by the Trust of a written request for a List of
Holders as of a date no more than 14 days before such List of Holders is given
to the Institutional Trustee. The Institutional Trustee shall preserve, in as
current a form as is reasonably practicable, all information contained in any
List of Holders given to it or which it receives in the capacity as Paying Agent
(if acting in such capacity), provided that the Institutional Trustee may
destroy any List of Holders previously given to it on receipt of a new List of
Holders.
(b) The Institutional Trustee shall comply with its obligations under
Sections 311(a), 311(b) and 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
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SECTION 2.3. Reports by the Institutional Trustee
------------------------------------
Within 60 days after November 15 of each year, commencing November 15,
1998, the Institutional Trustee shall provide to Holders of Preferred Securities
such reports concerning the Institutional Trustee as are required by Section
313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, if any, in the form and manner provided by
Section 313 of the Trust Indenture Act. The Institutional Trustee shall also
comply with the other requirements of Section 313 of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 2.4. Periodic Reports to Institutional Trustee
-----------------------------------------
Each of the Sponsor and the Regular Trustees on behalf of the Trust shall
file with the Institutional Trustee, and transmit to Holders, such information,
documents and other reports as required by Section 314 (if any) and the
compliance certificate required by Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act, at
the times, in the form and in the manner provided pursuant to the Trust
Indenture Act.
Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Institutional
Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Institutional Trustee's
receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information
contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including
the Trust's compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the
Institutional Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officers'
Certificates).
Each of the Sponsor and the Regular Trustees on behalf of the Trust shall
also provide to the Institutional Trustee on a timely basis such information as
the Institutional Trustee requires to enable the Institutional Trustee to
prepare and file any form required to be submitted by the Company with the
Internal Revenue Service and the Holders of the Securities relating to original
issue discount, if any, including, without limitation, Form 1099-OID or any
successor form.
SECTION 2.5. Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent
------------------------------------------------
Each of the Sponsor and the Regular Trustees on behalf of the Trust shall
provide to the Institutional Trustee such evidence of compliance with any
conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Declaration that relate to
any of the matters set forth in Section 314(c) of the Trust Indenture Act. Any
certificate or opinion required to be given by an officer pursuant to Section
314(c)(1) may be given in the form of an Officers' Certificate.
SECTION 2.6. Events of Default; Waiver
-------------------------
(a) The Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of Preferred Securities
may, by vote, on behalf of the Holders of all of the Preferred Securities, waive
any past Event of Default in respect of the Preferred Securities and its
consequences, provided that, if the underlying Event of Default under the
Indenture:
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(i) is not waivable under the Indenture, the Event of Default under
the Declaration shall also not be waivable; or
(ii) requires the consent or vote of greater than a majority in
principal amount of the holders of the Debentures (a "Super Majority") to
be waived under the Indenture, the Event of Default under the Declaration
may only be waived by the vote of the Holders of at least the proportion in
liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities that the relevant Super
Majority represents of the aggregate principal amount of the Debentures
outstanding.
The foregoing provisions of this Section 2.6(a) shall be in lieu of Section
316(a)(1)(B) of the Trust Indenture Act and such Section 316(a)(1)(B) of the
Trust Indenture Act is hereby expressly excluded from this Declaration and the
Securities, as permitted by the Trust Indenture Act. Upon such waiver, any such
default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default with respect to the
Preferred Securities arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for
every purpose of this Declaration, but no such waiver shall extend to any
subsequent or other default or an Event of Default with respect to the Preferred
Securities or impair any right consequent thereon. Any waiver by the Holders of
the Preferred Securities of an Event of Default with respect to the Preferred
Securities shall also be deemed to constitute a waiver by the Holders of the
Common Securities of any such Event of Default with respect to the Common
Securities for all purposes of this Declaration without any further act, vote,
or consent of the Holders of the Common Securities.
(b) The Holders of a majority in liquidation amount of the Common
Securities may, by vote, on behalf of the Holders of all of the Common
Securities, waive any past Event of Default with respect to the Common
Securities and its consequences, provided that, if the underlying Event of
Default under the Indenture:
(i) is not waivable under the Indenture, except where the Holders of
the Common Securities are deemed to have waived such Event of Default under
the Declaration as provided below in this Section 2.6(b), the Event of
Default under the Declaration shall also not be waivable; or
(ii) requires the consent or vote of a Super Majority to be waived,
except where the Holders of the Common Securities are deemed to have waived
such Event of Default under the Declaration as provided below in this
Section 2.6(b), the Event of Default under the Declaration may only be
waived by the vote of the Holders of at least the proportion in liquidation
amount of the Common Securities that the relevant Super Majority represents
of the aggregate principal amount of the Debentures outstanding;
provided further, that each Holder of Common Securities will be deemed to
have waived any such Event of Default and all Events of Default with
respect to the Common Securities and its consequences until all Events of
Default with respect to the Preferred
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Securities have been cured, waived or otherwise eliminated, and until such
Events of Default have been so cured, waived or otherwise eliminated, the
Institutional Trustee will be deemed to be acting solely on behalf of the
Holders of the Preferred Securities and only the Holders of the Preferred
Securities will have the right to direct the Institutional Trustee in
accordance with the terms of the Securities. The foregoing provisions of
this Section 2.6(b) shall be in lieu of Sections 316(a)(1)(A) and
316(a)(1)(B) of the Trust Indenture Act and such Sections 316(a)(1)(A) and
316(a)(1)(B) of the Trust Indenture Act are hereby expressly excluded from
this Declaration and the Securities, as permitted by the Trust Indenture
Act. Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.6(b), upon such
waiver, any such default shall cease to exist and any Event of Default with
respect to the Common Securities arising therefrom shall be deemed to have
been cured for every purpose of this Declaration, but no such waiver shall
extend to any subsequent or other default or Event of Default with respect
to the Common Securities or impair any right consequent thereon.
(c) A waiver of an Event of Default under the Indenture by the
Institutional Trustee at the direction of the Holders of the Preferred
Securities constitutes a waiver of the corresponding Event of Default under this
Declaration. The foregoing provisions of this Section 2.6(c) shall be in lieu of
Section 316(a)(1)(B) of the Trust Indenture Act and such Section 316(a)(1)(B) of
the Trust Indenture Act is hereby expressly excluded from this Declaration and
the Securities, as permitted by the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 2.7 Event of Default; Notice
------------------------
(a) The Institutional Trustee shall, within 90 days after the occurrence of
an Event of Default, transmit by mail, first class postage prepaid, to the
Holders of the Securities, notices of all defaults with respect to the
Securities actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Institutional Trustee,
unless such defaults have been cured before the giving of such notice (the term
"defaults" for the purposes of this Section 2.7(a) being hereby defined to be an
Event of Default as defined in the Indenture, not including any periods of grace
provided for therein and irrespective of the giving of any notice provided
therein); provided that, except for a default in the payment of principal of (or
premium, if any) or interest on any of the Debentures, the Institutional 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 Institutional Trustee in good faith determines that
the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Holders of the
Securities.
(b) The Institutional Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any
default except:
(i) a default under Sections 5.01(1) and 5.01(2) of the Indenture; or
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(ii) any default as to which the Institutional Trustee shall have
received written notice or of which a Responsible Officer of the
Institutional Trustee charged with the administration of the Declaration
shall have actual knowledge.
ARTICLE III
ORGANIZATION OF TRUST
SECTION 3.1 Name
----
The Trust is named "BTI Capital Trust," as such name may be modified from
time to time by the Regular Trustees following 10 Business Days written notice
to the Holders of Securities. The Trust's activities may be conducted under the
name of the Trust or any other name deemed advisable by the Regular Trustees.
SECTION 3.2 Office
------
The address of the principal office of the Trust is c/o Breed Technologies,
Inc., 5300 Old Tampa Highway, Lakeland, Florida 33807, Attention: Charles J.
Speranzella, Jr. On ten Business Days written notice to the Holders of
Securities, the Regular Trustees may designate another principal office.
SECTION 3.3 Purpose
-------
The exclusive purposes and functions of the Trust are (a) to issue and sell
Securities and use the proceeds from such sale to acquire the Debentures, and
(b) except as otherwise limited herein, to engage in only those other activities
necessary or incidental thereto. The Trust shall not borrow money, issue debt or
reinvest proceeds derived from investments, pledge any of its assets, or
otherwise undertake (or permit to be undertaken) any activity that would cause
the Trust not to be classified for United States federal income tax purposes as
a grantor trust.
SECTION 3.4 Prohibition of Actions by the Trust and the Trustees
----------------------------------------------------
The Trust shall not, and the Trustees (including the Institutional Trustee)
shall not, engage in any activity other than as required or authorized by this
Declaration. In particular, the Trust shall not and the Trustees (including the
Institutional Trustee) shall not cause the Trust to:
(a) invest any proceeds received by the Trust from holding the
Debentures, but shall distribute all such proceeds to Holders of Securities
pursuant to the terms of this Declaration and of the Securities;
(b) acquire any assets other than as expressly provided herein;
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(c) possess Trust property for other than a Trust purpose;
(d) make any loans or incur any indebtedness other than loans
represented by the Debentures;
(e) possess any power or otherwise act in such a way as to vary the
Trust assets or the terms of the Securities in any way whatsoever;
(f) issue any securities or other evidences of beneficial ownership
of, or beneficial interest in, the Trust other than the Securities; or
(g) other than as provided in this Declaration or Annex I hereto, (A)
direct the time, method and place of exercising any trust or power
conferred upon the Debenture Trustee with respect to the Debentures, (B)
waive any past default that is waivable under the Indenture, (C) exercise
any right to rescind or annul any declaration that the principal of all the
Debentures shall be due and payable, or (D) consent to any amendment,
modification or termination of the Indenture or the Debentures where such
consent shall be required unless the Trust shall have received an opinion
of counsel to the effect that such amendment or modification will not cause
more than an insubstantial risk that (i) the Trust will be deemed an
Investment Company required to be registered under the Investment Company
Act, or (ii) for United States federal income tax purposes the Trust will
not be classified as a grantor trust.
SECTION 3.5. General Authority of the Trustees
---------------------------------
Subject to the limitations provided in this Declaration and to the specific
duties of the Institutional Trustee, the Regular Trustees shall have exclusive
and complete authority to carry out the purposes of the Trust. An action taken
by the Regular Trustees in accordance with their powers shall constitute the act
of and serve to bind the Trust and an action taken by the Institutional Trustee
on behalf of the Trust in accordance with its powers shall constitute the act of
and serve to bind the Trust. In dealing with the Trustees acting on behalf of
the Trust, no person shall be required to inquire into the authority of the
Trustees to bind the Trust. Persons dealing with the Trust are entitled to rely
conclusively on the power and authority of the Trustees as set forth in this
Declaration.
SECTION 3.6. Title to Property of the Trust
------------------------------
Except as provided in Section 5.11 with respect to the Debentures and the
Institutional Trustee Account or as otherwise provided in this Declaration,
legal title to all assets of the Trust shall be vested in the Trust. The Holders
shall not have legal title to any part of the assets of the Trust, but shall
have an undivided beneficial interest in the assets of the Trust.
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SECTION 3.7. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities
------------------------------------------------------
The recitals contained in this Declaration and the Securities shall be
taken as the statements of the Sponsor, and the Trustees do not assume any
responsibility for their correctness. The Trustees make no representations as to
the value or condition of the property of the Trust or any part thereof. The
Trustees make no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this
Declaration or the Securities.
SECTION 3.8. Duration of the Trust
---------------------
The Trust, unless dissolved pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.10
hereof, shall exist until November 15, 2027.
SECTION 3.9. Mergers
-------
(a) The Trust may not consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or be
replaced by, or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets
substantially as an entirety, to any Person, except as described in Sections
3.9(b) and 3.9(c).
(b) The Trust may, with the consent of the Regular Trustees or, if there
are more than two, a majority of the Regular Trustees, and without the consent
of the Holders of the Securities, the Delaware Trustee or the Institutional
Trustee, consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or be replaced by, or
convey, transfer or lease its properties substantially as an entirety to, a
trust organized as such under the laws of any state of the United States;
provided that:
(i) if the Trust is not the survivor, such successor entity (the
"Successor Entity") either:
(A) expressly assumes all of the obligations of the Trust under
the Securities; or
(B) substitutes for the Preferred Securities 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 with respect to Distributions, assets
and payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise;
(ii) the Debenture Issuer expressly acknowledges a trustee of the
Successor Entity that possesses the same powers and duties as the
Institutional Trustee as the Holder of the Debentures;
(iii) the Preferred Securities or any Successor Securities are listed,
or any Successor Securities will be listed upon notification of issuance,
on any national
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securities exchange or with another organization on which the Preferred
Securities are then listed or quoted;
(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 or replacement does not
adversely affect the rights, preferences and privileges of the Holders of
the Preferred Securities (including any Successor Securities) in any
material respect (other than with respect to any dilution of the Holders'
interest in the new entity);
(vi) such Successor Entity has a purpose substantially identical to
that of the Trust;
(vii) the Sponsor guarantees the obligations of such Successor Entity
under the Successor Securities at least to the extent provided by the
Securities Guarantees; and
(viii) prior to such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement,
conveyance, transfer or lease, the Sponsor has received an opinion of a
nationally recognized independent counsel to the Trust reasonably
acceptable to the Institutional Trustee and experienced in such matters to
the effect that:
(A) such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement,
conveyance, transfer or lease, will not adversely affect the rights,
preferences and privileges of the Holders of the Securities (including
any Successor Securities) in any material respect (other than with
respect to any dilution of the Holders' interest in the new entity);
(B) following such merger, consolidation, amalgamation,
replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease, neither the Trust nor the
Successor Entity will be required to register as an Investment
Company; and
(C) following such merger, consolidation, amalgamation,
replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease, the Trust (or the
Successor Entity) will be treated as a grantor trust for United States
federal income tax purposes.
(c) Notwithstanding Section 3.9(b), the Trust shall not, except with the
consent of Holders of 100% in liquidation amount of the Securities, consolidate,
amalgamate, merge with or into, or be replaced by, 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 in the opinion of a nationally recognized independent tax counsel
experienced in such matters, such consolidation, amalgamation, merger,
replacement,
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conveyance, transfer or lease, would cause the Trust or Successor Entity to be
classified as other than a grantor trust for United States federal income tax
purposes.
SECTION 3.1 Termination and Dissolution of the Trust
----------------------------------------
(a) The Trust shall dissolve:
(i) upon the bankruptcy of the Sponsor or the Holder of the Common
Securities;
(ii) upon the filing of a certificate of dissolution or its equivalent
with respect to the Sponsor or the Holder of the Common Securities,
obtaining the consent of at least a Majority in liquidation amount of the
Securities, voting together as a single class, to dissolve the Trust, or
the revocation of the Certificate of Incorporation of the Sponsor or the
Holder of the Common Securities and the expiration of 90 days after the
date of revocation without a reinstatement thereof;
(iii) upon the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of the Holder
of the Common Securities, the Sponsor or the Trust;
(iv) when all of the Securities shall have been called for redemption
and the amounts necessary for redemption thereof, including any
Additional Interest and Compound Interest, shall have been paid to the
Holders in accordance with the terms of the Securities;
(v) upon the occurrence and continuation of a Special Event pursuant
to which the Trust shall have been dissolved in accordance with the terms
of the Securities and, after satisfaction of liabilities of creditors
(whether by payment or reasonable provisions for payment), all of the
Debentures held by the Institutional Trustee shall have been distributed to
the Holders of Securities in exchange for all of the Securities;
(vi) upon the distribution of the Common Stock to all Securities
Holders upon conversion of all outstanding Preferred Securities;
(vii) the expiration of the term of the Trust on November 15, 2027; or
(viii) before the issuance of any Securities, with the consent of all
of the Regular Trustees and the Sponsor.
(b) As soon as is practicable after the occurrence of an event
referred to in Section 3.10(a), the Regular Trustees shall pay (or make
provision for the payment of) all claims against the Trust and shall execute and
file a certificate of cancellation with the Secretary of State of the State of
Delaware.
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(c) The provisions of Article IX shall survive the termination of the
Trust.
ARTICLE IV
SPONSOR
SECTION 4.1 Sponsor's Purchase of Common Securities
---------------------------------------
On the Closing Date and on any other date Preferred Securities and Common
Securities are sold pursuant to the over-allotment option granted in the
Purchase Agreement, the Sponsor will purchase all of the Common Securities
issued by the Trust, in an aggregate amount at least equal to 3% of the capital
of the Trust, at the same time as the Preferred Securities are sold.
SECTION 4.2 Responsibilities of the Sponsor
-------------------------------
In connection with the issue and sale of the Preferred Securities, the
Sponsor shall have the exclusive right and responsibility to engage in the
following activities:
(a) prepare and execute, if necessary, the Offering Memorandum in
preliminary and final form, in relation to the offering and sale of the
Preferred Securities to QIBs in reliance on Rule 144A and outside the United
States to non-U.S. persons in offshore transactions in reliance on Regulation S;
(b) to prepare for filing by the Trust with the Commission a registration
statement on Form S-3 in relation to the Preferred Securities, including any
amendments thereto;
(c) prepare for execution and filing by the Trust of an application to the
PORTAL Market;
(d) prepare for execution and filing by the Trust of documents, or
instruments to be delivered to the Depositary relating to the Preferred
Securities;
(e) prepare for execution and filing by the Trust of a registration
statement on Form 8-A, including any amendments thereto, relating to the
registration of the Preferred Securities under Section 12(b) of the Exchange
Act;
(f) to determine the States in which to take appropriate action to qualify
or register for sale all or part of the Preferred Securities and to do any and
all such acts, other than actions which must be taken by the Trust, and advise
the Trust of actions it must take, and prepare for execution and filing any
documents to be executed and filed by the Trust, as the Sponsor deems necessary
or advisable in order to comply with the applicable laws of any such States;
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(g) to negotiate the terms of the Purchase Agreement and other agreements,
documents and instruments providing for the sale of the Preferred Securities;
and
(h) to negotiate the terms of, and execute, the Registration Rights
Agreement providing for, among other things, the registration under the
Securities Act of resales from time to time of the Preferred Securities.
ARTICLE V
TRUSTEES
SECTION 5.1 Number of Trustees
------------------
The initial number of Trustees shall be five.
The number of Trustees may be increased or decreased by vote of the
Holders of a majority in liquidation amount of the Common Securities voting as a
class at a meeting of the Holders of the Common Securities; provided, however,
that the number of Trustees shall in no event be fewer than two; provided
further that (i) there shall be at least one Regular Trustee who is an employee
or officer of, or is affiliated with, the Sponsor and (ii) one Trustee shall be
the Institutional Trustee for so long as this Declaration is required to qualify
as an indenture under the Trust Indenture Act, and such Trustee may also serve
as Delaware Trustee if it meets the applicable requirements.
SECTION 5.2 Delaware Trustee; Eligibility
-----------------------------
If required by the Business Trust Act, one Trustee (the "Delaware Trustee")
shall be
(a) a natural person who is resident of the State of Delaware; or
(b) if not a natural person, an entity that has its principal place of
business in the State of Delaware, and otherwise meets the requirements of
applicable law, provided that, if the Institutional Trustee has its principal
place of business in the State of Delaware and otherwise meets the requirements
of applicable law, then the Institutional Trustee may also be the Delaware
Trustee and Section 5.14 shall have no application to such Person in its
capacity as Institutional Trustee.
SECTION 5.3 Institutional Trustee; Eligibility
----------------------------------
(a) There shall at all times be one Trustee that shall act as Institutional
Trustee and that shall:
(i) not be an Affiliate of the Sponsor;
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(ii) be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of
the United States of America or any state or territory thereof or of the
District of Columbia, or a Person permitted by the Commission to act as an
institutional trustee under the Trust Indenture Act, authorized under such
laws to exercise corporate trust powers, having a combined capital and
surplus of at least $50,000,000, and subject to supervision or examination
by federal, state, territorial or District of Columbia authority. If such
corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to
law or to the requirements of the supervising or examining authority
referred to above, then for the purposes of this Section 5.3(a)(ii), the
combined capital and surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its
combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of
condition so published; and
(iii) if the Trust is excluded from the definition of an Investment
Company solely by means of Rule 3a-5 and to the extent the Investment
Company Act or Trust Indenture Act requires a trustee having certain
qualifications to hold title to the "eligible assets" of the Trust, the
Institutional Trustee shall possess those qualifications.
(b) If at any time the Institutional Trustee shall cease to be eligible to
so act under Section 5.3(a), the Institutional Trustee shall immediately resign
in the manner and with the effect set forth in Section 5.6(d).
(c) If the Institutional Trustee has or shall acquire any "conflicting
interest" within the meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, the
Institutional Trustee and the Holder of the Common Securities (as if it were the
obligor referred to in Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act) shall in all
respects comply with the provisions of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture
Act.
(d) The Preferred Securities Guarantee shall be deemed to be specifically
described in this Declaration for purposes of clause (i) of the first provision
contained in Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 5.4 Qualifications of Regular Trustees and Delaware Trustee Generally
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Each Regular Trustee and the Delaware Trustee (unless the Institutional
Trustee also acts as Delaware Trustee) shall be either a natural person who is
at least 21 years of age or a legal entity that shall act through one or more
Authorized Officers.
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SECTION 5.5 Initial Trustees
----------------
(a) The initial Regular Trustees are:
Charles J. Speranzella, Jr.
c/o Breed Technologies, Inc.
5300 Old Tampa Highway
Lakeland, Florida 33807
Fred J. Musone
c/o Breed Technologies, Inc.
5300 Old Tampa Highway
Lakeland, Florida 33807
Frank J. Gnisci
c/o Breed Technologies, Inc.
5300 Old Tampa Highway
Lakeland, Florida 33807
The initial Delaware Trustee is:
Wilmington Trust Company
1100 North Market Square
Rodney Square North
Wilmington, Delaware 19890
Attention: Corporate Trust Administration
The initial Institutional Trustee is:
Wilmington Trust Company
1100 North Market Square
Rodney Square North
Wilmington, Delaware 19890
Attention: Corporate Trust Administration
SECTION 5.6 Appointment, Removal and Resignation of Trustees
------------------------------------------------
(a) Subject to Sections 5.6(b) and 5.6(c), Trustees may be appointed or
removed without cause at any time by vote of the Holders of a majority in
liquidation amount of the Common Securities voting as a class.
(b) The Trustee that acts as Institutional Trustee shall not be removed in
accordance with Section 5.6(a) until a successor possessing the qualifications
to act as an Institutional Trustee under Section 5.3 (a "Successor Institutional
Trustee") has been appointed and has
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accepted such appointment by instrument executed by such Successor Institutional
Trustee and delivered to the Trust, the Sponsor and the removed Institutional
Trustee.
(c) The Trustee that acts as Delaware Trustee shall not be removed in
accordance with Section 5.6(a) until a successor possessing the qualifications
to act as Delaware Trustee under Sections 5.2 and 5.4 (a "Successor Delaware
Trustee") has been appointed and has accepted such appointment by instrument
executed by such Successor Delaware Trustee and delivered to the Trust, the
Sponsor and the removed Delaware Trustee.
(d) A Trustee appointed to office shall hold office until his, her or its
successor shall have been appointed or until his, her or its death, removal,
resignation, dissolution or liquidation. Any Trustee may resign from office
(without need for prior or subsequent accounting) by an instrument in writing
signed by the Trustee and delivered to the Sponsor and the Trust, which
resignation shall take effect upon such delivery or upon such later date as is
specified therein; provided, however, that:
(i) No such resignation of the Trustee that acts as the Institutional
Trustee shall be effective:
(A) until a Successor Institutional Trustee has been appointed
and has accepted such appointment by instrument executed by such
Successor Institutional Trustee and delivered to the Trust, the
Sponsor and the resigning Institutional Trustee; or
(B) until the assets of the Trust have been completely liquidated
and the proceeds thereof distributed to the holders of the Securities;
and
(ii) no such resignation of the Trustee that acts as the Delaware
Trustee shall be effective until a Successor Delaware Trustee has been
appointed and has accepted such appointment by instrument executed by such
Successor Delaware Trustee and delivered to the Trust, the Sponsor and the
resigning Delaware Trustee.
(e) The Holders of the Common Securities shall use their best efforts to
promptly appoint a Successor Institutional Trustee or Successor Delaware
Trustee, as the case may be, if the Institutional Trustee or the Delaware
Trustee delivers an instrument of resignation in accordance with Section 5.6(d).
(f) If no Successor Institutional Trustee or Successor Delaware Trustee
shall have been appointed and accepted appointment as provided in this Section
5.6 within 60 days after delivery pursuant to this Section 5.6 of an instrument
of resignation or removal, the Institutional Trustee or Delaware Trustee
resigning or being removed, as applicable, may petition any court of competent
jurisdiction for appointment of a Successor Institutional Trustee or Successor
Delaware Trustee. Such court may thereupon, after prescribing such notice, if
any, as it may
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deem proper and prescribe, appoint a Successor Institutional Trustee or
Successor Delaware Trustee, as the case may be.
(g) No Institutional Trustee or Delaware Trustee shall be liable for the
acts or omissions to act of any Successor Institutional Trustee or Successor
Delaware Trustee, as the case may be.
SECTION 5.7 Vacancies among Trustees
------------------------
If a Trustee ceases to hold office for any reason and the number of
Trustees is not reduced pursuant to Section 5.1, or if the number of Trustees is
increased pursuant to Section 5.1, a vacancy shall occur. A resolution
certifying the existence of such vacancy by the Regular Trustees or, if there
are more than two Regular Trustees, a majority of the Regular Trustees, shall be
conclusive evidence of the existence of such vacancy. The vacancy shall be
filled with a Trustee appointed in accordance with Section 5.6.
The death, resignation, retirement, removal, bankruptcy, dissolution,
liquidation, incompetence or incapacity to perform the duties of a Trustee shall
not operate to dissolve the Trust. Whenever a vacancy in the number of Regular
Trustees shall occur, until such vacancy is filled by the appointment of a
Regular Trustee in accordance with Section 5.6, the Regular Trustees in office,
regardless of their number, shall have all the powers granted to the Regular
Trustees and shall discharge all the duties imposed upon the Regular Trustees by
this Declaration.
SECTION 5.8 Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business of a
----------------------------------------------------------------
Trustee
- -------
Any corporation into which the Institutional Trustee or the Delaware
Trustee, as the case may be, may be merged or converted or with which either may
be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or
consolidation to which the Institutional Trustee or the Delaware Trustee, as the
case may be, shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or
substantially all the corporate trust business of the Institutional Trustee or
the Delaware Trustee, as the case may be, shall be the successor of the
Institutional Trustee or the Delaware Trustee, as the case may be, hereunder,
provided that such corporation shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under
this Article V, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act
on the part of any of the parties hereto.
SECTION 5.9 Authority, Powers and Duties of the Regular Trustees
----------------------------------------------------
(a) The Regular Trustees shall have the exclusive power, duty and
authority to engage in the following activities on behalf of the Trust:
(i) to issue and sell the Preferred Securities and the Common
Securities in accordance with this Declaration; provided, however, that the
Trust may issue no more
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than one series of Preferred Securities and no more than one series of
Common Securities, and, provided further, that there shall be no interests
in the Trust other than the Securities, and the issuance of Securities
shall be limited to simultaneous issuance of both Preferred Securities and
Common Securities on the Closing Date and any other date Preferred
Securities and Common Securities are sold pursuant to the over-allotment
option granted in the Purchase Agreement;
(ii) in connection with the issue and sale of the Preferred
Securities, at the direction of the Sponsor, to:
(A) prepare and execute, if necessary, an offering memorandum
(the "Offering Memorandum") in preliminary and final form prepared by
the Sponsor, in relation to the offering and sale of Preferred
Securities to QIBs in reliance on Rule 144A and outside the United
States to non-U.S. persons in offshore transactions in reliance on
Regulation S;
(B) execute and file an application, prepared by the Sponsor, to
the PORTAL Market;
(C) execute and deliver letters, documents, or instruments with
the Depositary relating to the Preferred Securities;
(D) execute and file with the Commission, at such time as
determined by the Sponsor, a registration statement on Form 8-A,
including any amendments thereto, prepared by the Sponsor relating to
the registration of the Preferred Securities under Section 12(b) of
the Exchange Act;
(E) execute and file with the Commission a registration statement
on Form S-1 or S-3 prepared by the Sponsor, including any amendments
thereto, pertaining to the resale from time to time of the Preferred
Securities; and
(F) execute and file any documents prepared by the Sponsor, or
take any acts as determined by the Sponsor to be necessary in order to
qualify or register all or part of the Preferred Securities in any
State in which the Sponsor has determined to qualify or register such
Preferred Securities for sale or resale, as the case may be;
(iii) execute and perform the Purchase Agreement and other
agreements, documents and instruments providing for the sale of the
Preferred Securities;
(iv) to acquire the Debentures with the proceeds of the sale of the
Preferred Securities and the Common Securities; provided, however, that the
Regular Trustees shall cause legal title to the Debentures to be held of
record in the name of the Institutional
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Trustee for the benefit of the Holders of the Preferred Securities and the
Holders of Common Securities;
(v) to give the Sponsor and the Institutional Trustee prompt written
notice of the occurrence of a Special Event; provided that the Regular
Trustees shall consult with the Sponsor and the Institutional Trustee
before taking or refraining from taking any Ministerial Action in relation
to a Special Event;
(vi) to establish a record date with respect to all actions to be
taken hereunder that require a record date be established, including and
with respect to, for the purposes of Section 316(c) of the Trust Indenture
Act, Distributions, voting rights, redemptions and exchanges, and to issue
relevant notices to the Holders of Preferred Securities and Holders of
Common Securities as to such actions and applicable record dates;
(vii) to take all actions and perform such duties as may be required
of the Regular Trustees pursuant to the terms of the Securities;
(viii) to bring or defend, pay, collect, compromise, arbitrate, resort
to legal action, or otherwise adjust claims or demands of or against the
Trust ("Legal Action"), unless pursuant to Section 5.11(e), the
Institutional Trustee has the exclusive power to bring such Legal Action;
(ix) to employ or otherwise engage agents and managers, advisors, and
consultants and pay reasonable compensation for such services;
(x) to cause the Trust to comply with the Trust's obligations under
the Trust Indenture Act;
(xi) to give the certificate required by Section 314(a)(4) of the
Trust Indenture Act to the Institutional Trustee, which certificate may be
executed by any Regular Trustee;
(xii) to incur expenses that are necessary or incidental to carry out
any of the purposes of the Trust;
(xiii) to act as, or appoint another Person to act as registrar and
transfer agent for the Securities;
(xiv) to give prompt written notice to the Holders of the Securities
of any notice received from the Debenture Issuer of its election to defer
payments of interest on the Debentures by extending the interest payment
period under the Indenture;
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(xv) to execute all documents or instruments, perform all duties and
powers, and do all things for and on behalf of the Trust in all matters
necessary or incidental to the foregoing;
(xvi) to take all action that may be necessary or appropriate for the
preservation and the continuation of the Trust's valid existence, rights,
franchises and privileges as a statutory business trust under the laws of
the State of Delaware and of each other jurisdiction in which such
existence is necessary to protect the limited liability of the Holders of
the Preferred Securities or to enable the Trust to effect the purposes for
which the Trust was created;
(xvii) to take any action, not inconsistent with this Declaration or
with applicable law, that the Regular Trustees determine in their
discretion to be necessary or desirable in carrying out the activities of
the Trust as set out in this Section 5.9, including, but not limited to:
(A) causing the Trust not to be deemed to be an Investment
Company required to be registered under the Investment Company Act;
(B) causing the Trust to be classified for United States federal
income tax purposes as a grantor trust; and
(C) cooperating with the Debenture Issuer to ensure that the
Debentures will be treated as indebtedness of the Debenture Issuer for
United States federal income tax purposes;
provided that such action does not adversely affect the interests of
Holders; and
(xviii) to take all action necessary to cause all applicable tax
returns and tax information reports that are required to be filed with
respect to the Trust to be duly prepared and filed by the Regular Trustees,
on behalf of the Trust.
(b) The Regular Trustees must exercise the powers set forth in this Section
5.9 in a manner that is consistent with the purposes and functions of the Trust
set out in Section 3.3, and the Regular Trustees shall not take any action that
is inconsistent with the purposes and functions of the Trust set forth in
Section 3.3. Except as otherwise required by the Business Trust Act or any
applicable law, and except as may otherwise be required by this Declaration, any
Regular Trustee is authorized to execute on behalf of the Trust any documents
that the Regular Trustees have the power and authority to execute pursuant to
this Section 5.9.
(c) Subject to this Section 5.9, the Regular Trustees shall have none of
the powers or the authority of the Institutional Trustee set forth in Section
5.11.
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(d) Any expenses incurred by the Regular Trustees pursuant to this Section
5.9 shall be reimbursed by the Debenture Issuer.
SECTION 5.10 Delegation of Powers and Duties of the Regular Trustees
-------------------------------------------------------
The Regular Trustees shall have power to delegate from time to time to such
of their number or to officers of the Trust the doing of such things and the
execution of such instruments either in the name of the Trust or the names of
the Regular Trustees or otherwise as the Regular Trustees may deem expedient, to
the extent such delegation is not prohibited by applicable law or contrary to
the provisions of the Trust, as set forth herein. The Regular Trustees may, by
power of attorney consistent with applicable law, delegate to any other natural
person over the age of 21 their power for the purpose of executing any documents
contemplated in Section 5.9.
SECTION 5.11 Powers and Duties of the Institutional Trustee
----------------------------------------------
(a) The legal title to the Debentures shall be owned by and held of record
in the name of the Institutional Trustee in trust for the benefit of the Holders
of the Securities. The right, title and interest of the Institutional Trustee to
the Debentures shall vest automatically in each Person who may hereafter be
appointed as Institutional Trustee in accordance with Section 5.6. Such vesting
and cessation of title shall be effective whether or not conveyancing documents
with regard to the Debentures have been executed and delivered.
(b) The Institutional Trustee shall not transfer its right, title and
interest in the Debentures to the Regular Trustees or to the Delaware Trustee
(if the Institutional Trustee does not also act as Delaware Trustee).
(c) The Institutional Trustee shall:
(i) establish and maintain a segregated non-interest bearing trust
account (the "Institutional Trustee Account") in the name of and under the
exclusive control of the Institutional Trustee on behalf of the Holders of
the Securities and, upon the receipt of payments of funds made in respect
of the Debentures held by the Institutional Trustee, deposit such funds
into the Institutional Trustee Account and make payments to the Holders of
the Preferred Securities and Holders of the Common Securities from the
Institutional Trustee Account in accordance with Section 6.1. Funds in the
Institutional Trustee Account shall be held uninvested until disbursed in
accordance with this Declaration. The Institutional Trustee Account shall
be an account that is maintained with the Institutional Trustee or, if the
Preferred Securities are rated, at a banking institution the rating on
whose long-term unsecured indebtedness is at least equal to the rating
assigned to the Preferred Securities by a "nationally recognized
statistical rating organization," as that term is defined for purposes of
Rule 436(g)(2) under the Securities Act;
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(ii) engage in such ministerial activities as so directed and as shall
be necessary or appropriate to effect the redemption of the Preferred
Securities and the Common Securities to the extent the Debentures are
redeemed or mature; and
(iii) upon written notice of distribution issued by the Regular
Trustees in accordance with the terms of the Securities, engage in such
ministerial activities as so directed as shall be necessary or appropriate
to effect the distribution of the Debentures to Holders of Securities upon
the occurrence of certain Special Events pursuant to the terms of the
Securities.
(d) The Institutional Trustee shall take all actions and perform such
duties as may be specifically required of the Institutional Trustee pursuant to
the terms of the Securities.
(e) The Institutional Trustee shall have the legal power to exercise all of
the rights, powers and privileges of a holder of Debentures under the Indenture
and, if an Event of Default actually known to a Responsible Officer of the
Institutional Trustee occurs and is continuing, the Institutional Trustee shall,
for the benefit of Holders of the Securities, but subject to the rights of the
Holders pursuant to the terms of such Securities, enforce its rights as holder
of the Debentures, including the right to take any Legal Action which arises out
of or in connection with such an Event of Default.
(f) The Institutional Trustee shall continue to serve as a Trustee until
either:
(i) the Trust has been completely liquidated and the proceeds of the
liquidation distributed to the Holders of Securities pursuant to the terms
of the Securities; or
(ii) a Successor Institutional Trustee has been appointed and has
accepted that appointment in accordance with Section 5.6.
(g) The Institutional Trustee may authorize one or more Persons (each, a
"Paying Agent") to pay Distributions, redemption payments or liquidation
payments on behalf of the Trust with respect to all Securities and any such
Paying Agent shall comply with Section 317(b) of the Trust Indenture Act. Any
Paying Agent may be removed by the Institutional Trustee at any time and a
successor Paying Agent or additional Paying Agents may be appointed at any time
by the Institutional Trustee.
(h) Subject to this Section 5.11, the Institutional Trustee shall have none
of the duties, liabilities, powers or the authority of the Regular Trustees set
forth in Section 5.9.
(i) The Institutional Trustee must exercise the powers set forth in this
Section 5.11 in a manner that is consistent with the purposes and functions of
the Trust set out in Section 3.3,
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and the Institutional Trustee shall not take any action that is inconsistent
with the purposes and functions of the Trust set out in Section 3.3
SECTION 5.12 Certain Duties and Responsibilities of the Institutional Trustee
----------------------------------------------------------------
(a) The Institutional Trustee, before the occurrence of any Event of
Default and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default that may have
occurred, shall undertake to perform only such duties and obligations as are
specifically set forth in this Declaration and no implied covenants shall be
read into this Declaration against the Institutional Trustee. In case an Event
of Default has occurred (that has not been cured or waived pursuant to Section
2.6) of which a Responsible Officer of the Institutional Trustee has actual
knowledge, the Institutional Trustee shall exercise such rights and powers
vested in it by this Declaration, and use the same degree of care and skill in
its exercise, as a prudent individual would exercise or use under the
circumstances in the conduct of his or her own affairs.
(b) No provision of this Declaration shall be construed to relieve the
Institutional Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own
negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that prior to
the occurrence of an Event of Default and after the curing or waiving of all
such Events of Default that may have occurred, in the absence of bad faith on
the part of the Institutional Trustee, the Institutional 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
Institutional Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Declaration;
but in the case of any such certificates or opinions that by any provision
hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Institutional Trustee,
the Institutional Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine
whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Declaration.
(c) The Institutional Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment
made in good faith by a Responsible Officer of the Institutional Trustee, unless
it shall be proved that the Institutional Trustee was negligent in ascertaining
the pertinent facts.
(d) The Institutional Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any
action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the
direction of the Holders of not less than a Majority in liquidation amount of
the Securities relating to the time, method and place of conducting any
proceeding for any remedy available to the Institutional Trustee, or exercising
any trust or power conferred upon the Institutional Trustee under this
Declaration.
(e) The Institutional Trustee shall not be responsible for monitoring the
compliance by the Regular Trustees or the Sponsor with their respective duties
under this Declaration, nor shall the Institutional Trustee be liable for any
default or misconduct of the Regular Trustees or the Sponsor.
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(f) No provision of this Declaration shall require the Institutional
Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur personal financial
liability in the performance of any of its duties or in the exercise of any of
its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that the
repayment of such funds or liability is not reasonably assured to it under the
terms of this Declaration or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the
Institutional Trustee against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured
to it.
(g) The Institutional Trustee's sole duty with respect to the custody, safe
keeping and physical preservation of the Debentures and the Institutional
Trustee Account shall be to deal with such property in a similar manner as the
Institutional Trustee deals with similar property for its own account, subject
to the protections and limitations on liability afforded to the Institutional
Trustee under this Declaration and the Trust Indenture Act.
(h) The Institutional Trustee shall not be liable for any interest on any
money received by it except as it may otherwise agree in writing with the
Sponsor. Money held by the Institutional Trustee need not be segregated from
other funds held by it except in relation to the Institutional Trustee Account
maintained by the Institutional Trustee pursuant to Section 5.11(c)(i) and
except to the extent otherwise required by law.
(i) The Institutional Trustee shall have no duty or liability for or with
respect to the value, genuineness, existence or sufficiency of the Debentures or
the payment of any taxes or assessments levied thereon or in connection
therewith.
SECTION 5.13 Certain Rights of Institutional Trustee
---------------------------------------
(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 5.12:
(i) the Institutional Trustee may rely and shall be fully protected
in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate,
statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction,
consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or
other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been
signed, sent or presented by the proper party or parties;
(ii) any direction or act of the Sponsor or the Regular Trustees
contemplated by this Declaration shall be sufficiently evidenced by an
Officers' Certificate;
(iii) whenever in the administration of this Declaration, the
Institutional Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or
established before taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the
Institutional Trustee (unless other evidence is herein specifically
prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, request and rely
upon an Officers' Certificate which, upon receipt of such request, shall be
promptly delivered by the Sponsor or the Regular Trustees;
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(iv) the Institutional Trustee shall have no duty to see to any
recording, filing or registration of any instrument (including any
financing or continuation statement or any filing under tax or securities
laws) or any rerecording, refiling or registration thereof;
(v) the Institutional Trustee may consult with counsel of its choice
or other experts and the advice or opinion of such counsel and experts with
respect to legal matters or advice within the scope of such experts' area
of expertise shall be full and complete authorization and protection in
respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good
faith and in accordance with such advice or opinion, such counsel may be
counsel to the Sponsor or any of its Affiliates, and may include any of its
employees. The Institutional Trustee shall have the right at any time to
seek instructions concerning the administration of this Declaration from
any court of competent jurisdiction;
(vi) the Institutional Trustee shall be under no obligation to
exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Declaration at
the request or direction of any Holder, unless such Holder shall have
provided to the Institutional Trustee adequate security and indemnity,
reasonably satisfactory to the Institutional Trustee, against the costs,
expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses and the
expenses of the Institutional Trustee's agents, nominees or custodians) and
liabilities that might be incurred by it in complying with such request or
direction, including such reasonable advances as may be requested by the
Institutional Trustee; provided that, nothing contained in this Section
5.13(a)(vi) shall be taken to relieve the Institutional Trustee, upon the
occurrence of an Event of Default, of its obligation to exercise the rights
and powers vested in it by this Declaration;
(vii) the Institutional 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, security, bond, debenture, note, other evidence
of indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Institutional Trustee,
in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such
facts or matters as it may see fit;
(viii) the Institutional Trustee may execute any of the trusts or
powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or
through agents or attorneys and the Institutional Trustee shall not be
responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent or
attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder;
(ix) any action taken by the Institutional Trustee or its agents
hereunder shall bind the Trust and the Holders of the Securities, and the
signature of the Institutional Trustee or its agents alone shall be
sufficient and effective to perform any such action and no third party
shall be required to inquire as to the authority of the Institutional
Trustee to so act or as to its compliance with any of the terms and
provisions of this Declaration,
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both of which shall be conclusively evidenced by the Institutional
Trustee's or its agent's taking such action;
(x) whenever in the administration of this Declaration the
Institutional Trustee shall deem it desirable to receive instructions with
respect to enforcing any remedy or right or taking any other action
hereunder, the Institutional Trustee (A) may request instructions from the
Holders of the Securities, which instructions may be given only by the
Holders of the same proportion in liquidation amount of the Securities as
would be entitled to direct the Institutional Trustee under the terms of
the Securities in respect of such remedy, right or action, (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;
(xi) except as otherwise expressly provided by this Declaration, the
Institutional Trustee shall not be under any obligation to take any action
that is discretionary under the provisions of this Declaration; and
(xii) the Institutional Trustee shall not be liable for any action
taken, suffered, or omitted to be taken by it in good faith and reasonably
believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or
powers conferred upon it by this Declaration.
(b) No provision of this Declaration shall be deemed to impose any duty or
obligation on the Institutional 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 Institutional 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 Institutional
Trustee shall be construed to be a duty.
SECTION 5.14. Delaware Trustee
----------------
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Declaration other than Section
5.2, the Delaware Trustee shall not be entitled to exercise any powers, nor
shall the Delaware Trustee have any of the duties and responsibilities of the
Regular Trustees or the Institutional Trustee described in this Declaration.
Except as set forth in Section 5.2, the Delaware Trustee shall be a Trustee for
the sole and limited purpose of fulfilling the requirements of Section 3807 of
the Business Trust Act. The duties of the Delaware Trustee shall be limited to
(a) accepting legal process served on the Trust in the State of Delaware and (b)
the execution of any certificates required to be filed with the Delaware
Secretary of State which the Delaware Trustee is required to execute under
Section 3811 of the Business Trust Act.
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SECTION 5.15 Meetings
--------
If there is more than one Regular Trustee, meetings of the Regular Trustees
shall be held from time to time upon the call of any Regular Trustee. Regular
meetings of the Regular Trustees may be held at a time and place fixed by
resolution of the Regular Trustees. Notice of any in-person meetings of the
Regular Trustees shall be hand delivered or otherwise delivered in writing
(including by facsimile, with a hard copy by overnight courier) not less than 48
hours before such meeting. Notice of any telephonic meetings of the Regular
Trustees or any committee thereof shall be hand delivered or otherwise delivered
in writing (including by facsimile, with a hard copy by overnight courier) not
less than 24 hours before a meeting. Notices shall contain a brief statement of
the time, place and anticipated purposes of the meeting. The presence (whether
in person or by telephone) of a Regular Trustee at a meeting shall constitute a
waiver of notice of such meeting except where a Regular Trustee attends a
meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of an activity
on the ground that the meeting has not been lawfully called or convened. Unless
provided otherwise in this Declaration, any action of the Regular Trustees may
be taken at a meeting by vote of a majority of the Regular Trustees present
(whether in person or by telephone) and eligible to vote with respect to such
matter, provided that a Quorum is present, or without a meeting by the unanimous
written consent of the Regular Trustees. In the event there is only one Regular
Trustee, any and all action of such Regular Trustee shall be evidenced by a
written consent of such Regular Trustee.
ARTICLE VI
DISTRIBUTIONS
SECTION 6.1 Distributions
-------------
If and to the extent that the Debenture Issuer makes a payment of interest
(including Compounded Interest), Additional Interest, premium and/or principal
on the Debentures held by the Institutional Trustee (the amount of any such
payment being a "Payment Amount"), the Institutional Trustee shall and is
directed, to the extent funds are available for that purpose, to make a
distribution (a "Distribution") of the Payment Amount to Holders of Preferred
Securities and Common Securities in accordance with the preferences set forth in
the respective terms of such Securities, as described it Annex I hereto.
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ARTICLE VII
THE SECURITIES
SECTION 7.1 Title and Terms
---------------
The Regular Trustees shall on behalf of the Trust issue one class of
convertible preferred securities, representing undivided beneficial interests in
the assets of the Trust (the "Preferred Securities"), and one class of
convertible common securities, representing undivided beneficial interests in
the assets of the Trust (the "Common Securities"), each having such terms (the
"Terms") as are set forth in Annex I. The Trust shall issue no securities or
other interests in the assets of the Trust other than the Preferred Securities
and the Common Securities. The aggregate number of Preferred Securities
outstanding at any time shall not exceed the number set forth in the Terms in
Annex I hereto.
The Terms of the Securities set forth in Annex I and the forms of
Certificates set forth in Exhibits A-1 and A-2 are part of the terms of this
Declaration and to the extent applicable, the Institutional Trustee and the
Sponsor, by their execution and delivery of this Declaration, expressly agree to
such Terms and to be bound thereby.
SECTION 7.2 General Provisions Regarding the Securities
-------------------------------------------
(a) The consideration received by the Trust for the issuance of the
Securities shall constitute a contribution to the capital of the Trust and shall
not constitute a loan to the Trust.
(b) Upon issuance of the Securities as provided in this Declaration, the
Securities so issued shall be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
(c) Every Person, by virtue of having become a Holder or a Preferred
Security Beneficial Owner in accordance with the terms of this Declaration,
shall be deemed to have expressly assented and agreed to the terms of, and shall
be bound by, this Declaration.
SECTION 7.3 General Form of Certificates
----------------------------
The Preferred Security Certificates and the Institutional Trustee's
certificate of authentication shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1
and the Common Security Certificates shall be substantially in the form of
Exhibit A-2, each of which is hereby incorporated in and expressly made a part
of this Declaration.
The Certificates may have letters, numbers, notations or other marks of
identification or designation and such legends or endorsements required by law,
stock exchange rule, agreements to which the Trust is subject, if any, or usage.
The Trust at the direction of the Sponsor shall furnish any such legend not
contained in Exhibit A-1 to the Institutional Trustee in writing.
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The Certificates shall be printed, lithographed or engraved or produced by
any combination of these methods on steel engraved borders as determined by the
Regular Trustees, as evidenced by their execution thereof.
SECTION 7.4 Execution and Authentication of Certificates
--------------------------------------------
(a) The Certificates shall be signed on behalf of the Trust by a Regular
Trustee. In case any Regular Trustee who shall have signed any of the
Certificates shall cease to be such Regular Trustee before the Certificates so
signed shall be delivered by the Trust, such Certificates nevertheless may be
delivered as though the person who signed such Certificates had not ceased to be
such Regular Trustee; and any Certificates may be signed on behalf of the Trust
by such persons who, at the actual date of execution of such Certificate, shall
be the Regular Trustees of the Trust, although at the date of the execution and
delivery of the Declaration any such person was not such a Regular Trustee. Each
Preferred Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.
(b) One Regular Trustee shall sign the Preferred Security Certificates for
the Trust by manual or facsimile signature. Unless otherwise determined by the
Trust, such signature shall, in the case of Common Security Certificates, be a
manual signature.
A Preferred Security shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual
or facsimile signature of an authorized signatory of the Institutional Trustee.
The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Preferred Security has been
authenticated under this Declaration.
Upon a written order of the Trust signed by one Regular Trustee, the
Institutional Trustee shall authenticate the Preferred Securities for original
issue.
The Institutional Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent acceptable to
the Trust to authenticate Preferred Securities. An authenticating agent may
authenticate Preferred Securities whenever the Institutional Trustee may do so.
Each reference in this Declaration to authentication by the Institutional
Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An authenticating agent has the
same rights as the Institutional Trustee to deal with the Company or an
Affiliate of the Company.
SECTION 7.5 Paying Agent and Conversion Agent
---------------------------------
In the event that the Preferred Securities are not in book-entry only form,
the Trust shall maintain in the Borough of Manhattan, City of New York, State of
New York, or in the City of Wilmington, State of Delaware, an office or agency
where the Preferred Securities may be presented for payment ("Paying Agent").
The Trust shall maintain an office or agency where Securities may be presented
for conversion ("Conversion Agent"). The Trust may appoint the Paying Agent and
the Conversion Agent and may appoint one or more additional paying agents and
one or more additional conversion agents in such other locations as it shall
determine. The
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term "Paying Agent" includes any additional paying agent and the
term "Conversion Agent" includes any additional conversion agent. The Trust may
change any Paying Agent or Conversion Agent without prior notice to any Holder.
The Trust shall notify the Institutional Trustee in writing of the name and
address of any Agent not a party to this Declaration. If the Trust fails to
appoint or maintain another entity as Paying Agent or Conversion Agent, the
Institutional Trustee shall act as such. The Trust or any of its Affiliates may
act as Paying Agent or Conversion Agent. The Trust shall act as Paying Agent
and Conversion Agent for the Common Securities. The Paying Agent and Conversion
Agent shall be entitled to the rights and protections extended to the
Institutional Trustee when acting in such capacity.
The Institutional Trustee is hereby initially appointed as Conversion Agent
for the Preferred Securities.
SECTION 7.6 Outstanding Preferred Securities
--------------------------------
The Preferred Securities outstanding at any time are all the Preferred
Securities authenticated by the Institutional Trustee except for those cancelled
by it, those delivered to it for cancellation, and those described in this
Section 7.6 as not outstanding.
If a Preferred Security is replaced pursuant to Section 8.8 or paid in
full, it ceases to be outstanding unless the Institutional Trustee receives
proof satisfactory to it that the replaced, paid or purchased Preferred Security
is held by a bona fide purchaser.
If Preferred Securities are considered paid in accordance with the terms of
this Declaration, they cease to be outstanding and return on them ceases to
accrue.
A Preferred Security does not cease to be outstanding because one of the
Trust, the Sponsor or an Affiliate of the Sponsor holds the Preferred Security.
SECTION 7.7 Preferred Securities in Treasury
--------------------------------
In determining whether the Holders of the required amount of Securities
have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, Preferred Securities owned
by the Trust, the Sponsor or an Affiliate of the Sponsor, as the case may be,
shall be disregarded and deemed not to be outstanding, except that for the
purposes of determining whether the Institutional Trustee shall be fully
protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent, only Preferred
Securities which the Institutional Trustee knows are so owned shall be so
disregarded.
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ARTICLE VII
TRANSFERS, EXCHANGES AND CANCELLATIONS OF SECURITIES
SECTION 8.1 Transfer of Securities.
----------------------
(a) Securities may only be transferred, in whole or in part, in accordance
with the terms and conditions set forth in this Declaration and in the terms of
the Securities. Any transfer or purported transfer of any Security not made in
accordance with this Declaration shall be null and void.
(b) Subject to this Article 8, Preferred Securities shall be freely
transferable.
(c) Subject to this Article 8, the Sponsor and any Related Party may only
transfer Common Securities to the Sponsor or a Related Party of the Sponsor;
provided that, any such transfer is subject to the condition precedent that the
transferor obtain the written opinion of nationally recognized independent
counsel experienced in such matters that such transfer would not cause more than
an insubstantial risk that:
(i) the Trust would not be classified for United States federal income
tax purposes as a grantor trust; and
(ii the Trust would be an Investment Company required to register
under the Investment Company Act or the transferee would become an
Investment Company required to register under the Investment Company Act.
(d) Each Security that bears or is required to bear the legend set forth in
this Section 8.1(d) (a "Restricted Security") shall be subject to the
restrictions on transfer provided in the legend set forth in this Section
8.1(d), unless such restrictions on transfer shall be waived by the written
consent of the Regular Trustees, and the Holder of each Restricted Security, by
such securityholder's acceptance thereof, agrees to be bound by such
restrictions on transfer. As used in this Section 8.1(d) and in Section 8.4(f),
the term "transfer" encompasses any sale, pledge, transfer or other disposition
of any Restricted Security.
Prior to the Transfer Restriction Termination Date, the 144A Global
Security, Temporary Regulation S Global Security, each Definitive Preferred
Security and any certificate evidencing Common Stock issued upon conversion
thereof shall bear a legend in substantially the following form, unless
otherwise agreed by the Regular Trustees (with written notice thereof to the
Institutional Trustee):
THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF
1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"), AND, ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE
OFFERED OR SOLD EXCEPT AS SET FORTH IN THE FOLLOWING SENTENCE. BY ITS
ACQUISITION HEREOF, THE HOLDER (1)
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REPRESENTS THAT (A) IT IS A "QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER" (AS DEFINED IN
RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT), OR (B) IT IS NOT A U.S. PERSON AND IS
ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION, (2) AGREES THAT IT WILL
NOT WITHIN TWO YEARS AFTER THE ORIGINAL ISSUANCE OF THIS SECURITY RESELL OR
OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SECURITY EXCEPT (A) TO BREED TECHNOLOGIES, INC. OR
ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREOF, (B) INSIDE THE UNITED STATES TO A QUALIFIED
INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT,
(C) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH
RULE 904 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (D) PURSUANT TO THE EXEMPTION FROM
REGISTRATION PROVIDED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (IF AVAILABLE)
OR (E) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES
ACT AND (3) AGREES THAT IT WILL DELIVER TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS
SECURITY IS TRANSFERRED A NOTICE SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE EFFECT OF THIS
LEGEND. IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY WITHIN TWO YEARS
AFTER THE ORIGINAL ISSUANCE OF THIS SECURITY, THE TRANSFEROR MUST CHECK THE
APPROPRIATE BOX SET FORTH ON THE REVERSE HEREOF RELATING TO THE MANNER OF
SUCH TRANSFER AND SUBMIT THIS CERTIFICATE TO THE INSTITUTIONAL TRUSTEE. THE
TRUST AGREEMENT CONTAINS A PROVISION REQUIRING THE INSTITUTIONAL TRUSTEE TO
REFUSE TO REGISTER ANY TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IN VIOLATION OF THE
FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS. AS USED HEREIN, THE TERMS "OFFSHORE TRANSACTION",
"UNITED STATES" AND "U.S. PERSON" HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM BY
REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.
Following the Transfer Restrictions Termination Date or the sale of a
Security or Common Stock for which a transfer is permitted pursuant to an
effective registration statement or Rule 144, any Security or security issued in
exchange or substitution therefor (other than (i) Securities acquired by the
Sponsor or any Affiliate thereof and (ii) Common Stock issued upon the
conversion or exchange of any Security described in clause (i) above) may upon
surrender of such Security for exchange to any Regular Trustee on behalf of the
Trust in accordance with the provisions of this Section 8.1(d), be exchanged for
a new Security or Securities, of like tenor and aggregate liquidation amount,
which shall not bear the restrictive legend required by this Section 8.1(d).
Any Preferred Security or Common Stock issued upon the conversion or
exchange of a Preferred Security that, prior to the Transfer Restriction
Termination Date, is purchased or owned by the Sponsor or any Affiliate thereof
may not be resold by the Sponsor or such Affiliate unless registered under the
Securities Act or resold pursuant to an exemption from the registration
requirements of the Securities Act in a transaction that results in such
Preferred Securities or
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Common Stock, as the case may be, no longer being "restricted securities" (as
defined under Rule 144).
SECTION 8.2 Transfer of Certificates.
------------------------
The Regular Trustees shall provide for the registration of Certificates and
of transfers of Certificates, which will be effected without charge but only
upon payment (with such indemnity as the Regular Trustees may require) in
respect of any tax or other government charges that may be imposed in relation
to it. Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Certificate, the
Regular Trustees shall cause one or more new Certificates to be issued in the
name of the designated transferee or transferees. Every Certificate surrendered
for registration of transfer shall be accompanied by a written instrument of
transfer in form satisfactory to the Regular Trustees duly executed by the
Holder or such Holder's attorney duly authorized in writing. Each Certificate
surrendered for registration of transfer shall be canceled by the Regular
Trustees. A transferee of a Certificate shall be entitled to the rights and
subject to the obligations of a Holder hereunder upon the receipt by such
transferee of a Certificate. By acceptance of a Certificate, each transferee
shall be deemed to have agreed to be bound by this Declaration.
SECTION 8.3 Deemed Security Holders.
-----------------------
The Trustees may treat the Person in whose name any Certificate shall be
registered on the books and records of the Trust as the sole holder of such
Certificate and of the Securities represented by such Certificate for purposes
of receiving Distributions and for all other purposes whatsoever and,
accordingly, shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or
interest in such Certificate or in the Securities represented by such
Certificate on the part of any Person, whether or not the Trust shall have
actual or other notice thereof.
SECTION 8.4 Book Entry Interests.
--------------------
(a) So long as Preferred Securities are eligible for book-entry settlement
with a Clearing Agency or unless otherwise required by law, all Preferred
Securities that are so eligible may be represented by one or more fully
registered Preferred Security Certificates (each a "Global Certificate") in
global form to be delivered to the Depositary, the initial Clearing Agency, by,
or on behalf of, the Trust. Such Global Certificates shall initially be
registered on the books and records of the Trust in the name of Cede & Co., the
nominee of the initial Depositary, and no Preferred Security Beneficial Owner
will receive a definitive Preferred Security Certificate representing such
Preferred Security Beneficial Owner's interests in such Global Certificates,
except as provided in Section 8.7 below. The transfer and exchange of
beneficial interests in any such Security in global form shall be effected
through the Clearing Agency in accordance with this Declaration and the
procedures of the Clearing Agency therefor.
(b) Preferred Securities that upon initial issuance are beneficially owned
by QIBs may, at the option of the Trust, be represented by a Global Certificate
(a "144A Global
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Security"), and Preferred Securities that upon initial issuance are
beneficially owned by Non-U.S. persons may, at the option of the Trust, be
represented by another Global certificate (a "Temporary Regulation S Global
Security"). At any time on or after January 4, 1998 (the "Regulation S
Securities Exchange Date"), a single permanent Global Certificate without the
legend set forth in Section 8.1(d) (the "Permanent Regulation S Global
Security", and together with the Temporary Regulation S Global Security, the
"Regulation S Global Securities") shall be deposited with the Clearing Agency,
and the Institutional Trustee shall make endorsements reflecting a decrease in
the principal amount of the Temporary Regulation S Global Security in an amount
equal to the principal amount of the beneficial interest in the Temporary
Regulation S Global Security transferred. Transfers of interests in the
Preferred Securities between any 144A Global Security and any Regulation S
Global Security will be made in accordance with the standing instructions and
procedures of the Clearing Agency and its participants. The Institutional
Trustee shall make appropriate endorsements to reflect increases or decreases in
the amount of such Preferred Securities in global form to reflect any such
transfers.
Except as provided below, beneficial owners of a Preferred Security in
global form shall not be entitled to have certificates registered in their
names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of
certificates in definitive form and will not be considered Holders of such
Preferred Security in global form.
(c) So long as the Preferred Securities are eligible for book-entry
settlement and to the extent Preferred Securities held by QIBs or Non-U.S.
Persons, as the case may be, are held in a global form, or unless otherwise
required by law, upon any transfer of a Definitive Preferred Security to a QIB
in accordance with Rule 144A or to a Non-U.S. Person in accordance with
Regulation S, unless otherwise requested by the transferor, and upon receipt of
the Definitive Preferred Security being so transferred, together with a
certification from the transferor that the transfer is being made in compliance
with Rule 144A or Regulation S, as the case may be (or other evidence
satisfactory to the Institutional Trustee on behalf of the Trust), the
Institutional Trustee on behalf of the Trust shall make an endorsement on any
144A Global Security or any Regulation S Global Security, as the case may be, to
reflect an increase in the number of Preferred Securities represented by such
Global Certificate, and the Institutional Trustee on behalf of the Trust shall
cancel such Definitive Preferred Security in accordance with the standing
instructions and procedures of the Clearing Agency, the number of Preferred
Securities represented by such Preferred Security in global form to be increased
accordingly; provided that no Definitive Preferred Security, or portion thereof,
in respect of which the Trust or an Affiliate of the Trust held any beneficial
interest shall be included in such Preferred Security in global form until such
Definitive Preferred Security is freely tradable in accordance with Rule 144(k);
provided further, that the Trust shall issue Preferred Securities in definitive
form upon any transfer of a beneficial interest in the Preferred Security in
global form to the Company or any Affiliate of the Company.
(d) Any Global Certificate may be endorsed with or have incorporated in the
text thereof such legends or recitals or changes not inconsistent with the
provisions of this
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Declaration as may be required by the Clearing Agency, by any national
securities exchange or by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
in order for the Preferred Securities to be tradeable on the PORTAL Market or as
may be required for the Preferred Securities to be tradeable on any other market
developed for trading of securities pursuant to Rule 144A or required to comply
with any applicable law or any regulation thereunder or with the rules and
regulations of any securities exchange upon which the Preferred Securities may
be listed or traded or to conform with any usage with respect thereto, or to
indicate any special limitations or restrictions to which any particular Trust
Preferred Securities are subject.
(e) Unless and until definitive, fully registered Preferred Security
Certificates (the "Definitive Preferred Security Certificates") have been issued
to the Preferred Security Beneficial Owners of a Preferred Security in global
form pursuant to Section 8.7:
(i) the provisions of this Section 8.4 shall be in full force and
effect with respect to such Preferred Securities;
(ii) the Regular Trustees and the Institutional Trustee shall be
entitled to deal with the Clearing Agency for all purposes of this
Declaration (including the payment of Distributions on the Global
Certificates and receiving approvals, votes or consents hereunder) as the
Holder of such Preferred Securities and the sole holder of the Global
Certificates and shall have no obligation to the Preferred Security
Beneficial Owners of such Preferred Securities;
(iii) to the extent that the provisions of this Section 8.4 conflict
with any other provisions of this Declaration, the provisions of this
Section 8.4 shall control; and
(iv) the rights of the Preferred Security Beneficial Owners of
Preferred Securities in global form shall be exercised only through the
Clearing Agency and shall be limited to those established by law and
agreements between such Preferred Security Beneficial Owners and the
Clearing Agency and/or the Clearing Agency Participants. The Clearing
Agency will make book-entry transfers among Clearing Agency Participants
and receive and transmit payments of Distributions on the Global
Certificates to such Clearing Agency Participants. The Depositary will
make book entry transfers among the Clearing Agency Participants.
(f) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Declaration (other than
the provisions set forth in this Section 8.4(f)), a Preferred Security in global
form may not be transferred as a whole except by the Clearing Agency to a
nominee of the Clearing Agency or by a nominee of the Clearing Agency to the
Clearing Agency or another nominee to a successor Clearing Agency or a nominee
of such successor Clearing Agency.
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SECTION 8.5. Notices to Clearing Agency.
--------------------------
Whenever a notice or other communication to the Preferred Security Holders
is required under this Declaration, unless and until Definitive Preferred
Security Certificates shall have been issued to the Trust Preferred Security
Beneficial Owners pursuant to Section 8.7, the Regular Trustees shall give all
such notices and communications specified herein to be given to the Preferred
Security Holders to the Clearing Agency, and shall have no notice obligations to
the Preferred Security Beneficial Owners.
SECTION 8.6. Appointment of Successor Clearing Agency.
----------------------------------------
If any Clearing Agency elects to discontinue its services as securities
depositary with respect to the Preferred Securities, the Regular Trustees may,
in their sole discretion, appoint a successor Clearing Agency with respect to
such Preferred Securities.
SECTION 8.7. Definitive Trust Preferred Security Certificates.
------------------------------------------------
If:
(a) a Clearing Agency elects to discontinue its services as securities
depositary with respect to the Preferred Securities and a successor Clearing
Agency is not appointed within 90 days after such discontinuance pursuant to
Section 8.6; or
(b) the Regular Trustees elect after consultation with the Sponsor to
terminate the book-entry system through the Clearing Agency with respect to the
Preferred Securities,
then:
(c) Definitive Preferred Security Certificates shall be prepared by the
Regular Trustees on behalf of the Trust with respect to such Preferred
Securities; and
(d) upon surrender of the Global Certificates by the Clearing Agency,
accompanied by registration instructions, the Regular Trustees shall cause
Definitive Preferred Security Certificates to be delivered to Preferred Security
Beneficial Owners in accordance with the instructions of the Clearing Agency.
Neither the Trustees nor the Trust shall be liable for any delay in delivery of
such instructions and each of them may conclusively rely on and shall be
protected in relying on, said instructions of the Clearing Agency. The
Definitive Preferred Security Certificates shall be printed, lithographed or
engraved or may be produced in any other manner as is reasonably acceptable to
the Regular Trustees, as evidenced by their execution thereof; and may have such
letters, numbers or other marks of identification or designation and such
legends or endorsements as the Regular Trustees may deem appropriate, or as may
be required to comply with any law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant
thereto or with any
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rule or regulation of any stock exchange on which Preferred Securities may be
listed, or to conform to usage.
At such time as all interests in a Preferred Security in global form have
been redeemed, converted, exchanged, repurchased or canceled, such Preferred
Security in global form shall be, upon receipt thereof, canceled by the Trust in
accordance with standing procedures and instructions of the Clearing Agency.
SECTION 8.8. Mutilated Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Certificates.
------------------------------------------------
If:
(a) any mutilated Certificates should be surrendered to the Regular
Trustees, or if the Regular Trustees shall receive evidence to their
satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Certificate; and
(b) there shall be delivered to the Institutional Trustee or the Regular
Trustees such security or indemnity as may be required by them to keep each of
them harmless,
then, in the absence of notice that such Certificate shall have been
acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Institutional Trustee or any Regular
Trustee on behalf of the Trust shall execute and deliver, in exchange for, or in
lieu of, any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Certificate, a new
Certificate of like denomination. In connection with the issuance of any new
Certificate under this Section 8.8, the Institutional Trustee or the Regular
Trustees may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other
governmental charge that may be imposed in connection therewith. Any duplicate
Certificate issued pursuant to this Section shall constitute conclusive evidence
of an ownership interest in the relevant Securities, as if originally issued,
whether or not the lost, stolen or destroyed Certificate shall be found at any
time.
ARTICLE IX
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY OF
HOLDERS OF SECURITIES, TRUSTEES AND OTHERS
SECTION 9.1. Liability
---------
(a) Except as expressly set forth in this Declaration, the Securities
Guarantees and the terms of the Securities, the Sponsor shall not be:
(i) personally liable for the return of any portion of the capital
contributions (or any return thereon) of the Holders of the Securities
which shall be made solely from assets of the Trust; or
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(ii) required to pay to the Trust or to any Holder of Securities any
deficit upon dissolution of the Trust or otherwise.
(b) The Holder of the Common Securities shall be liable for all of the
debts and obligations of the Trust (other than with respect to the Securities)
to the extent not satisfied out of the Trust's assets.
(c) Pursuant to Section 3803(a) of the Business Trust Act, the Holders of
the Preferred Securities shall be entitled to the same limitation of personal
liability as is extended to stockholders of private corporations for profit
organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
(d) Except as expressly set forth in this Declaration, each Trustee acts
solely as a trustee hereunder and not in its individual capacity, and all
Persons having any claim against a Trustee by reason of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement shall look only to the Trust's property for
payment or satisfaction thereof.
SECTION 9.2. Exculpation
-----------
(a) No Indemnified Person shall be liable, responsible or accountable in
damages or otherwise to the Trust or any Covered Person for any loss, damage or
claim incurred by reason of any act or omission performed or omitted by such
Indemnified Person in good faith on behalf of the Trust and in a manner such
Indemnified Person reasonably believed to be within the scope of the authority
conferred on such Indemnified Person by this Declaration or by law, except that
an Indemnified Person shall be liable for any such loss, damage or claim
incurred by reason of such Indemnified Person's gross negligence (or, in the
case of the Institutional Trustee, negligence) or willful misconduct with
respect to such acts or omissions.
(b) An Indemnified Person shall be fully protected in relying in good faith
upon the records of the Trust and upon such information, opinions, reports or
statements presented to the Trust by any Person as to matters the Indemnified
Person reasonably believes are within such other Person's professional or expert
competence and who has been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the
Trust, including information, opinions, reports or statements as to the value
and amount of the assets, liabilities, profits, losses, or any other facts
pertinent to the existence and amount of assets from which Distributions to
Holders of Securities might properly be paid.
SECTION 9.3. Fiduciary Duty
--------------
(a) To the extent that, at law or in equity, an Indemnified Person has
duties (including fiduciary duties) and liabilities relating thereto to the
Trust or to any other Covered Person, an Indemnified Person acting under this
Declaration shall not be liable to the Trust or to any other Covered Person for
its good faith reliance on the provisions of this Declaration. The provisions of
this Declaration, to the extent that they restrict the duties and liabilities of
an Indemnified
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Person otherwise existing at law or in equity (other than the duties imposed on
the Institutional Trustee under the Trust Indenture Act), are agreed by the
parties hereto to replace such other duties and liabilities of such Indemnified
Person.
(b) Unless otherwise expressly provided herein:
(i) whenever a conflict of interest exists or arises between an
Indemnified Person and any Covered Person or
(ii) whenever this Declaration or any other agreement contemplated
herein or therein provides that an Indemnified Person shall act in a manner
that is, or provides terms that are, fair and reasonable to the Trust or
any Holder of Securities, the Indemnified Person shall resolve such
conflict of interest, take such action or provide such terms, considering
in each case the relative interest of each party (including its own
interest) to such conflict, agreement, transaction or situation and the
benefits and burdens relating to such interests, any customary or accepted
industry practices, and any applicable generally accepted accounting
practices or principles. In the absence of bad faith by the Indemnified
Person, the resolution, action or term so made, taken or provided by the
Indemnified Person shall not constitute a breach of this Declaration or any
other agreement contemplated herein or of any duty or obligation of the
Indemnified Person at law or in equity or otherwise.
(c) Whenever in this Declaration an Indemnified Person is permitted or
required to make a decision:
(i) in its "discretion" or under a grant of similar authority, the
Indemnified Person shall be entitled to consider such interests and factors
as it desires, including its own interests, and shall have no duty or
obligation to give any consideration to any interest of or factors
affecting the Trust or any other Person; or
(ii) in its "good faith" or under another express standard, the
Indemnified Person shall act under such express standard and shall not be
subject to any other or different standard imposed by this Declaration or
by applicable law.
SECTION 9.4. Indemnification
---------------
(a) (i) The Debenture Issuer shall indemnify, to the full extent
permitted by law, any Company Indemnified Person who was or is a party or
is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed
action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the Trust) by
reason of the fact that he is or was a Company Indemnified Person against
expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in
settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with such
action, suit or
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proceeding if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed
to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Trust, and, with
respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to
believe his conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or
proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of
nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a
presumption that the Company Indemnified Person did not act in good faith
and in a manner which he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the
best interests of the Trust, and, with respect to any criminal action or
proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.
(ii) The Debenture Issuer shall indemnify, to the full extent
permitted by law, any Company Indemnified Person who was or is a party or
is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed
action or suit by or in the right of the Trust to procure a judgment in its
favor by reason of the fact that he is or was a Company Indemnified Person
against expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably
incurred by him in connection with the defense or settlement of such action
or suit if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to
be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Trust and except that no
such indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter
as to which such Company Indemnified Person shall have been adjudged to be
liable to the Trust unless and only to the extent that the Court of
Chancery of Delaware or the court in which such action or suit was brought
shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of
liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is
fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which such
Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.
(iii) To the extent that a Company Indemnified Person shall be
successful on the merits or otherwise (including dismissal of an action
without prejudice or the settlement of an action without admission of
liability) in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in
paragraphs (i) and (ii) of this Section 9.4(a), or in defense of any claim,
issue or matter therein, he shall be indemnified, to the full extent
permitted by law, against expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and
reasonably incurred by him in connection therewith.
(iv) Any indemnification under paragraphs (i) and (ii) of this Section
9.4(a) (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the Debenture Issuer
only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that
indemnification of the Company Indemnified Person is proper in the
circumstances because he has met the applicable standard of conduct set
forth in paragraphs (i) and (ii). Such determination shall be made (1) by
the Regular Trustees by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of such
Regular Trustees who were not parties to such action, suit or proceeding,
(2) if such a Quorum is not obtainable, or, even if obtainable, if a quorum
of disinterested Regular Trustees so directs, by independent legal counsel
in a written opinion, or (3) by the Holders of the Common Securities of the
Trust.
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(v) Expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) incurred by a
Company Indemnified Person in defending a civil, criminal, administrative
or investigative action, suit or proceeding referred to in paragraphs (i)
and (ii) of this Section 9.4(a) shall be paid by the Debenture Issuer in
advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon
receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such Company Indemnified
Person to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that he is
not entitled to be indemnified by the Debenture Issuer as authorized in
this Section 9.4(a). Notwithstanding the foregoing, no advance shall be
made by the Debenture Issuer if a determination is reasonably and promptly
made (i) by the Regular Trustees by a majority vote of a quorum of
disinterested Regular Trustees, (ii) if such a quorum is not obtainable,
or, even if obtainable, if a quorum of disinterested Regular Trustees so
directs, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion or (iii) the
Holders of the Common Securities of the Trust, that, based upon the facts
known to the Regular Trustees, counsel or the Holders of the Common
Securities at the time such determination is made, such Company Indemnified
Person acted in bad faith or in a manner that such person did not believe
to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Trust, or, with
respect to any criminal proceeding, that such Company Indemnified Person
believed or had reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. In no
event shall any advance be made in instances where the Regular Trustees,
independent legal counsel or the Holders of the Common Securities
reasonably determine that such person deliberately breached his duty to the
Trust or the Holders of the Common or Preferred Securities.
(vi) The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or
granted pursuant to, the other paragraphs of this Section 9.4(a) shall not
be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking
indemnification and advancement of expenses may be entitled under any
agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors of the Debenture
Issuer or Holders of the Preferred Securities of the Trust or otherwise,
both as to action in his official capacity and as to action in another
capacity while holding such office. All rights to indemnification under
this Section 9.4(a) shall be deemed to be provided by a contract between
the Debenture Issuer and each Company Indemnified Person who serves in such
capacity at any time while this Section 9.4(a) is in effect. Any repeal or
modification of this Section 9.4(a) shall not affect any rights or
obligations then existing.
(vii) The Debenture Issuer or the Trust may purchase and maintain
insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a Company Indemnified
Person against any liability asserted against him and incurred by him in
any such capacity, or arising out of his status as such, whether or not the
Debenture Issuer would have the power to indemnify him against such
liability under the provisions of this Section 9.4(a).
(viii) For purposes of this Section 9.4(a), references to "the Trust"
shall include, in addition to the resulting or surviving entity, any
constituent entity (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in
a consolidation or merger, so that any person
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who is or was a director, trustee, officer or employee of such constituent
entity, or is or was serving at the request of such constituent entity as a
director, trustee, officer, employee or agent of another entity, shall
stand in the same position under the provisions of this Section 9.4(a) with
respect to the resulting or surviving entity as he would have with respect
to such constituent entity if its separate existence had continued.
(ix) The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or
granted pursuant to, this Section 9.4(a) shall, unless otherwise provided
when authorized or ratified, continue as to a person who has ceased to be a
Company Indemnified Person and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs,
executors and administrators of such a person.
(b) The Sponsor agrees to indemnify the (i) Institutional Trustee, (ii) the
Delaware Trustee, (iii) any Affiliate of the Institutional Trustee and the
Delaware Trustee, and (iv) any officers, directors, shareholders, members,
partners, employees, representatives, custodians, nominees or agents of the
Institutional Trustee and the Delaware Trustee (each of the Persons in (i)
through (iv) being referred to as a "Fiduciary Indemnified Person") for, and to
hold each Fiduciary Indemnified Person harmless against, any and all loss,
liability or expense including taxes (other than taxes based on the income of
such Fiduciary Indemnified Person) incurred without negligence or bad faith on
its part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration
or the trust or trusts hereunder, including the costs and expenses (including
reasonable legal fees and expenses) of defending itself against or investigating
any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of
its powers or duties hereunder. The obligation to indemnify as set forth in this
Section 9.4(b) shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Declaration.
SECTION 9.5. Outside Businesses
------------------
Any Covered Person, the Sponsor, the Delaware Trustee and the Institutional
Trustee may engage in or possess an interest in other business ventures of any
nature or description, independently or with others, similar or dissimilar to
the business of the Trust, and the Trust and the Holders of Securities shall
have no rights by virtue of this Declaration in and to such independent ventures
or the income or profits derived therefrom, and the pursuit of any such venture,
even if competitive with the business of the Trust, shall not be deemed wrongful
or improper. No Covered Person, the Sponsor, the Delaware Trustee, or the
Institutional Trustee shall be obligated to present any particular investment or
other opportunity to the Trust even if such opportunity is of a character that,
if presented to the Trust, could be taken by the Trust, and any Covered Person,
the Sponsor, the Delaware Trustee and the Institutional 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
Covered Person, the Delaware Trustee and the Institutional Trustee may engage or
be interested in any financial or other transaction with the Sponsor or any
Affiliate of the Sponsor, or may act as depositary for, trustee or agent for, or
act on any committee or body of holders of, securities or other obligations of
the Sponsor or its Affiliates.
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ARTICLE X
ACCOUNTING
SECTION 10.1. Fiscal Year.
-----------
The fiscal year ("Fiscal Year") of the Trust shall end on June 30, or such
other year as is required by the Code.
SECTION 10.2. Certain Accounting Matters.
--------------------------
(a) At all times during the existence of the Trust, the Regular Trustees
shall keep, or cause to be kept, full books of account, records and supporting
documents, which shall reflect in reasonable detail, each transaction of the
Trust. The books of account shall be maintained on the accrual method of
accounting, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles,
consistently applied. The Trust shall use the accrual method of accounting for
United States federal income tax purposes. The books of account and the records
of the Trust shall be examined by and reported upon as of the end of each Fiscal
Year by a firm of independent certified public accountants selected by the
Regular Trustees.
(b) The Regular Trustees shall cause to be prepared and delivered to each
of the Holders of Securities, within 90 days after the end of each Fiscal Year
of the Trust, annual financial statements of the Trust, including a balance
sheet of the Trust as of the end of such Fiscal Year, and the related statements
of income or loss;
(c) The Regular Trustees shall cause to be duly prepared and delivered to
each of the Holders of Securities, any annual United States federal income tax
information statement required by the Code, containing such information with
regard to the Securities held by each Holder as is required by the Code and the
Treasury Regulations. Notwithstanding any right under the Code to deliver any
such statement at a later date, the Regular Trustees shall endeavor to deliver
all such statements within 30 days after the end of each Fiscal Year of the
Trust.
(d) The Regular Trustees shall cause to be duly prepared and filed with the
appropriate taxing authority, an annual United States federal income tax return,
on a Form 1041 or such other form required by the Code, and any other annual
income tax returns required to be filed by the Regular Trustees on behalf of the
Trust with any state or local taxing authority.
SECTION 10.3. Banking.
-------
The Trust shall maintain one or more bank accounts in the name and for the
sole benefit of the Trust; provided, however, that all payments of funds in
respect of the Debentures held by the Institutional Trustee shall be made
directly to the Institutional Trustee Account and no other funds of the Trust
shall be deposited in the Institutional Trustee Account. The sole signatories
for
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such accounts shall be designated by the Regular Trustees; provided, however,
that the Institutional Trustee shall designate the signatories for the
Institutional Trustee Account.
SECTION 10.4. Withholding.
-----------
The Trust and the Regular Trustees shall comply with all withholding
requirements under United States federal, state and local law. The Trust shall
request, and the Holders shall provide to the Trust, such forms or certificates
as are necessary to establish an exemption from withholding with respect to each
Holder, and any representations and forms as shall reasonably be requested by
the Trust to assist it in determining the extent of, and in fulfilling, its
withholding obligations. The Regular Trustees shall file required forms with
applicable jurisdictions and, unless an exemption from withholding is properly
established by a Holder, shall remit amounts withheld with respect to the Holder
to applicable jurisdictions. To the extent that the Trust is required to
withhold and pay over any amounts to any authority with respect to distributions
or allocations to any Holder, the amount withheld shall be deemed to be a
distribution in the amount of the withholding to the Holder. In the event of any
claimed overwithholding, Holders shall be limited to an action against the
applicable jurisdiction. If the amount required to be withheld was not withheld
from actual Distributions made, the Trust may reduce subsequent Distributions by
the amount of such withholding.
ARTICLE XI
AMENDMENTS AND MEETINGS
SECTION 11.1. Amendments.
----------
(a) Except as otherwise provided in this Declaration or by any applicable
terms of the Securities, this Declaration may only be amended by a written
instrument approved and executed by:
(i) the Regular Trustees (or, if there are more than two Regular
Trustees, a majority of the Regular Trustees);
(ii) if the amendment affects the rights, powers, duties, obligations
or immunities of the Institutional Trustee, the Institutional Trustee; and
(iii) if the amendment affects the rights, powers, duties, obligations
or immunities of the Delaware Trustee, the Delaware Trustee.
(b) No amendment shall be made, and any such purported amendment shall be
void and ineffective:
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(i) unless, in the case of any proposed amendment, the Institutional
Trustee shall have first received an Officers' Certificate from each of the
Trust and the Sponsor that such amendment is permitted by, and conforms to,
the terms of this Declaration (including the terms of the Securities);
(ii) unless, in the case of any proposed amendment that affects the
rights, powers, duties, obligations or immunities of the Institutional
Trustee, the Institutional Trustee shall have first received:
(A) an Officers' Certificate from each of the Trust and the
Sponsor that such amendment is permitted by, and conforms to, the
terms of this Declaration (including the terms of the Securities); and
(B) an opinion of counsel (who may be counsel to the Sponsor or
the Trust) that such amendment is permitted by, and conforms to, the
terms of this Declaration (including the terms of the Securities); and
(iii) to the extent the result of such amendment would be to:
(A) cause the Trust to fail to continue to be classified for
purposes of United States federal income taxation as a grantor trust;
(B) reduce or otherwise adversely affect the powers of the
Institutional Trustee in contravention of the Trust Indenture Act; or
(C) cause the Trust to be deemed to be an Investment Company that
is required to be registered under the Investment Company Act.
(c) So long as any Securities remain outstanding, any amendment that would
adversely affect the rights, privileges or preferences of any Holder of
Securities may be effected only with such additional requirements as may be set
forth in the terms of such Securities.
(d) Section 8.1(c) and this Section 11.1 shall not be amended without the
consent of all of the Holders of the Securities.
(e) Article IV and the rights of the holders of the Common Securities under
Article V to increase or decrease the number of, and appoint and remove Trustees
shall not be amended without the consent of the Holders of a majority in
liquidation amount of the Common Securities.
(f) Notwithstanding Section 11.1(c), this Declaration may be amended
without the consent of the Holders of the Securities to:
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(i) cure any ambiguity;
(ii) correct or supplement any provision in this Declaration that may
be defective or inconsistent with any other provision of this Declaration;
(iii) add to the covenants, restrictions or obligations of the Sponsor;
and
(iv) conform to any change in Rule 3a-5 or written change in
interpretation or application of Rule 3a-5 by any legislative body, court,
government agency or regulatory authority, which amendment does not have a
material adverse effect on the rights, preferences or privileges of the
Holders.
SECTION 11.2 Meetings of The Holders of Securities; Action by Written Consent.
----------------------------------------------------------------
(a) Meetings of the Holders of any class of Securities may be called at any
time by the Regular Trustees (or as provided in the terms of the Securities) to
consider and act on any matter on which Holders of such class of Securities are
entitled to act under the terms of this Declaration, the terms of the Securities
or the rules of any stock exchange on which the Preferred Securities are listed
or quoted for trading. The Regular Trustees shall call a meeting of the Holders
of such class if directed to do so by the Holders of at least 10% in liquidation
amount of such class of Securities. Such direction shall be given by delivering
to the Regular Trustees one or more calls in a writing stating that the signing
Holders of Securities wish to call a meeting and indicating the general or
specific purpose for which the meeting is to be called. Any Holders of
Securities calling a meeting shall specify in writing the Certificates held by
the Holders of Securities exercising the right to call a meeting and only those
Securities so specified shall be counted for purposes of determining whether the
required percentage set forth in the second sentence of this paragraph has been
met.
(b) Except to the extent otherwise provided in the terms of the Securities,
the following provisions shall apply to meetings of Holders of Securities:
(i) notice of any such meeting shall be given to all the Holders of
Securities having a right to vote thereat at least seven days and not more
than 60 days before the date of such meeting. Whenever a vote, consent or
approval of the Holders of Securities is permitted or required under this
Declaration, such vote, consent or approval may be given at a meeting of
the Holders of Securities. Any action that may be taken at a meeting of the
Holders of Securities may be taken without a meeting if a consent in
writing setting forth the action so taken is signed by the Holders of
Securities owning not less than the minimum amount of Securities in
liquidation amount that would be necessary to authorize or take such action
at a meeting at which all Holders of Securities having a right to vote
thereon were present and voting. Prompt notice of the taking of action
without a meeting shall be given to the Holders of Securities entitled to
vote who have not consented in writing. The Regular Trustees may specify
that any written ballot
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submitted to the Security Holders for the purpose of taking any action
without a meeting shall be returned to the Trust within the time specified
by the Regular Trustees;
(ii) each Holder of a Security may authorize any Person to act for it
by proxy on all matters in which a Holder of Securities is entitled to
participate, including waiving notice of any meeting, or voting or
participating at a meeting. No proxy shall be valid after the expiration
of 11 months from the date thereof unless otherwise provided in the proxy.
Every proxy shall be revocable at the pleasure of the Holder of Securities
executing it. Except as otherwise provided herein, all matters relating to
the giving, voting or validity of proxies shall be governed by the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware relating to proxies, and judicial
interpretations thereunder, as if the Trust were a Delaware corporation and
the Holders of the Securities were stockholders of a Delaware corporation;
(iii) each meeting of the Holders of the Securities shall be conducted
by the Regular Trustees or by such other Person that the Regular Trustees
may designate; and
(iv) unless the Business Trust Act, this Declaration, the terms of the
Securities, the Trust Indenture Act or the listing rules of any stock
exchange on which the Preferred Securities are then listed or trading
provide otherwise, the Regular Trustees, in their sole discretion, shall
establish all other provisions relating to meetings of Holders of
Securities, including notice of the time, place or purpose of any meeting
at which any matter is to be voted on by any Holders of Securities, waiver
of any such notice, action by consent without a meeting, the establishment
of a record date, quorum requirements, voting in person or by proxy or any
other matter with respect to the exercise of any such right to vote.
ARTICLE XII
REPRESENTATIONS OF INSTITUTIONAL TRUSTEE
AND DELAWARE TRUSTEE
SECTION 12.1 Representations and Warranties of Institutional Trustee.
-------------------------------------------------------
The Trustee that acts as initial Institutional Trustee represents and
warrants to the Trust and to the Sponsor at the date of this Declaration, and
each Successor Institutional Trustee represents and warrants to the Trust and
the Sponsor at the time of the Successor Institutional Trustee's acceptance of
its appointment as Institutional Trustee that:
(a) The Institutional Trustee is a banking corporation with trust powers,
duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its
jurisdiction of organization, with trust power and authority to execute and
deliver, and to carry out and perform its obligations under the terms of, this
Declaration.
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(b) The execution, delivery and performance by the Institutional Trustee of
the Declaration has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on
the part of the Institutional Trustee; and the Declaration has been duly
executed and delivered by the Institutional Trustee, and constitutes a legal,
valid and binding obligation of the Institutional 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
Institutional Trustee does not conflict with or constitute a breach of the
certificate of incorporation or Bylaws of the Institutional Trustee.
(d) At the Closing Date, the Institutional Trustee has not knowingly
created any liens or encumbrances on such Debentures.
(e) 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 Institutional Trustee, of the Declaration.
(f) It satisfies the qualifications set forth in Section 5.3.
SECTION 12.2 Representations and Warranties of Delaware Trustee.
--------------------------------------------------
The Trustee that acts as initial Delaware Trustee represents and warrants
to the Trust and to the Sponsor at the date of this Declaration and at the time
of Closing, and each Successor Delaware Trustee represents and warrants to the
Trust and the Sponsor at the time of the Successor Delaware Trustee's acceptance
of its appointment as Delaware Trustee that:
(a) The Delaware Trustee is a duly organized, validly existing and in
good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with power and
authority to execute and deliver, and to carry out and perform its
obligations under the terms of, the Declaration.
(b) 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' 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).
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(c) The execution, delivery and performance of 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.
(d) 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.
(e) The Delaware Trustee is an entity which has its principal place of
business in the State of Delaware.
(f) The Delaware Trustee has been authorized to perform its
obligations under the Certificate of Trust and the Declaration.
(g) It satisfies the qualifications set forth in Section 5.2.
ARTICLE XIII
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 13.1 Notices.
-------
All notices provided for in this Declaration shall be in writing, duly
signed by the party giving such notice, and shall be delivered, sent by
facsimile or mailed by first class mail, as follows:
(a) if given to the Trust, in care of the Regular Trustees at the
Trust's mailing address set forth below (or such other address as the Trust
may give notice of to the Holders of the Securities):
Breed Technologies, Inc.
5300 Old Tampa Highway
Lakeland, Florida 33807
Tel: 941-668-6000
Telecopy: 941-668-6063
Attention: Charles J. Speranzella, Jr.
(b) if given to the Institutional Trustee, at the mailing address set
forth below (or such other address as the Institutional Trustee may give
notice of to the Holders of the Securities):
55
<PAGE>
Wilmington Trust Company
1100 North Market Street
Rodney Square North
Wilmington, Delaware 19890
Tel: 302-651-1000
Telecopy: 302-651-8882
Attention: Corporate Trust Administration
(c) if given to the Delaware Trustee, at the mailing address set forth
below (or such other address as the Delaware Trustee may give notice of to
the Holders of the Securities):
Wilmington Trust Company
1100 North Market Street
Rodney Square North
Wilmington, Delaware 19890
Attention: Corporate Trust Administration
(d) if given to the Holder of the Common Securities, at the mailing
address of the Sponsor set forth below (or such other address as the Holder
of the Common Securities may give notice to the Trust):
Breed Technologies, Inc.
5300 Old Tampa Highway
Lakeland, Florida 33807
Tel: 941-668-6000
Telecopy: 941-668-6063
Attention: Charles J. Speranzella, Jr.
(e) if given to any other Holder, at the address set forth on the
books and records of the Trust or the Registrar, as applicable.
All such notices shall be deemed to have been given when received in
person, telecopied with receipt confirmed, or mailed by first class mail,
postage prepaid except that if a notice or other document is refused delivery or
cannot be delivered because of a changed address of which no notice was given,
such notice or other document shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date
of such refusal or inability to deliver.
SECTION 13.2 Governing Law.
-------------
This Declaration and the rights of the parties hereunder shall be governed
by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware and all
rights and remedies shall be governed by such laws without regard to principles
of conflict of laws.
56
<PAGE>
SECTION 13.3 Intention of the Parties.
------------------------
It is the intention of the parties hereto that the Trust be classified for
United States federal income tax purposes as a grantor trust. The provisions of
this Declaration shall be interpreted to further this intention of the parties.
SECTION 13.4 Headings.
--------
Headings contained in this Declaration are inserted for convenience of
reference only and do not affect the interpretation of this Declaration or any
provision hereof.
SECTION 13.5 Successors and Assigns.
----------------------
Whenever in this Declaration any of the parties hereto is named or referred
to, the successors and assigns of such party shall be deemed to be included, and
all covenants and agreements in this Declaration by the Sponsor and the Trustees
shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns,
whether so expressed.
SECTION 13.6 Partial Enforceability.
----------------------
If any provision of this Declaration, or the application of such provision
to any Person or circumstance, shall be held invalid, the remainder of this
Declaration, or the application of such provision to Persons or circumstances
other than those to which it is held invalid, shall not be affected thereby.
SECTION 13.7 Counterparts.
------------
This Declaration may contain more than one counterpart of the signature
page and this Declaration may be executed by the affixing of the signature of
each of the Trustees to one of such counterpart signature pages. All of such
counterpart signature pages shall be read as though one, and they shall have the
same force and effect as though all of the signers had signed a single signature
page.
57
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused these presents to be
executed as of the date first above written.
/s/ Charles J. Speranzella, Jr.
________________________________
Charles J. Speranzella, Jr.,
as Regular Trustee
/s/ Fred J. Musone
_________________________
Fred J. Musone,
as Regular Trustee
/s/ Frank J. Gnisci
_________________________
Frank J. Gnisci,
as Regular Trustee
Wilmington Trust Company,
as Delaware Trustee
/s/ W. Chris Sponenberg
By: _________________________
Name: W. Chris Sponenberg
Title: Senior Financial Services Officer
Wilmington Trust Company,
as Institutional Trustee
/s/ W. Chris Sponenberg
By: _________________________
Name: W. Chris Sponenberg
Title: Senior Financial Services Officer
Breed Technologies, Inc.,
as Sponsor
/s/ ??^^
By: ______________________
Name:
Title:
58
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
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ARTICLE I
INTERPRETATION AND DEFINITIONS
<TABLE>
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SECTION 1.1. Definitions................................................... 1
ARTICLE II
TRUST INDENTURE ACT
SECTION 2.1. Trust Indenture Act; Application.............................. 9
SECTION 2.2. Lists of Holders of Securities................................ 9
SECTION 2.3. Reports by the Institutional Trustee.......................... 10
SECTION 2.4. Periodic Reports to Institutional Trustee..................... 10
SECTION 2.5. Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent.............. 10
SECTION 2.6. Events of Default; Waiver..................................... 10
SECTION 2.7. Event of Default; Notice...................................... 12
ARTICLE III
ORGANIZATION OF TRUST
SECTION 3.1. Name.......................................................... 13
SECTION 3.2. Office........................................................ 13
SECTION 3.3. Purpose....................................................... 13
SECTION 3.4. Prohibition of Actions by the Trust and the Trustees.......... 13
SECTION 3.5. General Authority of the Trustees............................. 14
SECTION 3.6. Title to Property of the Trust................................ 14
SECTION 3.7. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities........ 15
3.9. Mergers....................................................... 15
SECTION 3.10. Termination and Dissolution of the Trust..................... 17
ARTICLE IV
SPONSOR
SECTION 4.1. Sponsor's Purchase of Common Securities....................... 18
SECTION 4.2. Responsibilities of the Sponsor............................... 18
ARTICLE V
TRUSTEES
SECTION 5.1. Number of Trustees............................................ 19
SECTION 5.2. Delaware Trustee; Eligibility................................. 19
SECTION 5.3. Institutional Trustee; Eligibility............................ 19
SECTION 5.4. Qualifications of Regular Trustees and Delaware Trustee
Generally................................................... 20
SECTION 5.5. Initial Trustees.............................................. 21
SECTION 5.6. Appointment, Removal and Resignation of Trustees.............. 21
SECTION 5.7. Vacancies among Trustees...................................... 23
SECTION 5.8. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to
Business of a Trustee ...................................... 23
SECTION 5.9. Authority, Powers and Duties of the Regular Trustees.......... 23
SECTION 5.10. Delegation of Powers and Duties of the Regular Trustees...... 27
SECTION 5.11. Powers and Duties of the Institutional Trustee............... 27
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 4.4
INDENTURE
BETWEEN
Breed Technologies, Inc., as Issuer
and
Wilmington Trust Company, as Indenture Trustee
_________________
Dated as of November 25, 1997
$257,732,000.00/1/
6.50% Convertible Subordinated Debentures Due 2027
_________________
_________________
/1/ Subject to increase to up to $296,391,800.00 in the event an
over-allotment option is exercised.
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
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ARTICLE I
Definitions and Other Provisions
of General Application
SECTION 1.01. Definitions................................................... 2
SECTION 1.02. Compliance Certificates and Opinions.......................... 11
SECTION 1.03. Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee........................ 12
SECTION 1.04. Acts of Holders; Record Dates................................. 13
SECTION 1.05. Notices, Etc., to Indenture Trustee and the Company........... 14
SECTION 1.06. Notice to Holders; Waiver..................................... 14
SECTION 1.07. Conflict with Trust Indenture Act............................. 15
SECTION 1.08. Effect of Headings and Table of Contents...................... 15
SECTION 1.09. Successors and Assigns........................................ 15
SECTION 1.10. Separability Clause........................................... 15
SECTION 1.11. Benefits of Indenture......................................... 15
SECTION 1.12. Governing Law................................................. 16
SECTION 1.13. Legal Holidays................................................ 16
ARTICLE II
Security Forms
SECTION 2.01. Forms Generally............................................... 16
SECTION 2.02. Initial Issuance to Institutional Trustee..................... 17
SECTION 2.03. Exchange and Registration of Debt Securities;
Restrictions on Transfer; Depositary.......................... 17
SECTION 2.04. Form of Conversion Notice..................................... 21
SECTION 2.05. Securities in Global Form..................................... 21
ARTICLE III
The Securities
SECTION 3.01. Title and Terms............................................... 22
SECTION 3.02. Denominations................................................. 23
SECTION 3.03. Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating................ 23
SECTION 3.04. Temporary Securities.......................................... 24
SECTION 3.05. Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange........... 24
SECTION 3.06. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities.............. 25
SECTION 3.07. Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved................ 26
SECTION 3.08. Persons Deemed Owners......................................... 28
SECTION 3.09. Cancellation.................................................. 28
</TABLE>
i
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SECTION 3.10. Right of Setoff............................................... 29
SECTION 3.11. CUSIP Numbers................................................. 29
SECTION 3.12. Option to Extend Interest Payment Period...................... 29
SECTION 3.13. Paying Agent, Security Registrar and Conversion Agent......... 31
ARTICLE IV
Satisfaction and Discharge
SECTION 4.01. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture....................... 31
SECTION 4.02. Application of Trust Money.................................... 32
ARTICLE V
Remedies
SECTION 5.01. Events of Default............................................. 32
SECTION 5.02. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment............ 34
SECTION 5.03. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by
Indenture Trustee............................................. 35
SECTION 5.04. Indenture Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.................... 35
SECTION 5.05. Indenture Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession
Of Securities................................................. 36
SECTION 5.06. Application of Money Collected................................ 36
SECTION 5.07. Limitation on Suits........................................... 37
SECTION 5.08. Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal and
Interest And Convert.......................................... 37
SECTION 5.09. Restoration of Rights and Remedies............................ 38
SECTION 5.10. Rights and Remedies Cumulative................................ 38
SECTION 5.11. Delay or Omission Not Waiver.................................. 38
SECTION 5.12. Control by Holders............................................ 38
SECTION 5.13. Waiver of Past Defaults....................................... 39
SECTION 5.14. Undertaking for Costs......................................... 39
SECTION 5.15. Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws.............................. 40
SECTION 5.16. Enforcement by Holders of Preferred Securities................ 40
SECTION 5.17. Application of Trust Indenture Act to this Indenture.......... 40
ARTICLE VI
The Trustee
SECTION 6.01. Certain Duties and Responsibilities........................... 41
SECTION 6.02. Notice of Defaults............................................ 41
SECTION 6.03. Certain Rights of Indenture Trustee........................... 41
SECTION 6.04. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Debt Securities... 42
SECTION 6.05. May Hold Debt Securities...................................... 43
SECTION 6.06. Money Held in Trust........................................... 43
</TABLE>
ii
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SECTION 6.07. Compensation and Reimbursement................................ 43
SECTION 6.08. Disqualification; Conflicting Interests....................... 44
SECTION 6.09. Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility....................... 44
SECTION 6.10. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor............. 44
SECTION 6.11. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor........................ 46
SECTION 6.12. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business... 46
SECTION 6.13. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company............. 46
SECTION 6.14. Appointment of Authenticating Agent........................... 46
ARTICLE VII
Holders' Lists and Reports by Indenture Trustee and Company
SECTION 7.01. Company to Furnish Indenture Trustee Names and Addresses of
Holders....................................................... 48
SECTION 7.02. Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders........ 48
SECTION 7.03. Reports by Indenture Trustee.................................. 49
SECTION 7.04. Reports by Company............................................ 49
ARTICLE VIII
Consolidation, Merger, Conveyance, Transfer or Lease
SECTION 8.01. Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms.......... 50
SECTION 8.02. Successor Substituted......................................... 51
ARTICLE IX
Supplemental Indentures
SECTION 9.01. Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders............ 51
SECTION 9.02. Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders............... 52
SECTION 9.03. Execution of Supplemental Indentures.......................... 54
SECTION 9.04. Effect of Supplemental Indentures............................. 54
SECTION 9.05. Conformity with Trust Indenture Act........................... 54
SECTION 9.06. Reference in Debt Securities to Supplemental Indenture........ 54
ARTICLE X
Covenants, Representations and Warranties
SECTION 10.01. Payment of Principal and Interest............................. 55
SECTION 10.02. Maintenance of Office or Agency............................... 55
SECTION 10.03. Money for Security Payments to Be Held in Trust............... 55
SECTION 10.04. Statement by Officers as to Default........................... 56
SECTION 10.05. Limitation on Dividends; Covenants as to the Trust............ 57
SECTION 10.06. Maintenance of Properties..................................... 58
SECTION 10.07. Payment of Expenses of the Trust.............................. 58
</TABLE>
iii
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ARTICLE XI
Redemption of Securities
SECTION 11.01. Optional Redemption........................................... 59
SECTION 11.02. Tax Event Optional Redemption................................. 59
SECTION 11.03. Applicability of Article...................................... 60
SECTION 11.04. Election to Redeem; Notice to Indenture Trustee............... 60
SECTION 11.05. Selection by Indenture Trustee of Debt Securities to Be
Redeemed...................................................... 60
SECTION 11.06. Notice of Redemption.......................................... 61
SECTION 11.07. Deposit and Payment of Redemption Price....................... 62
SECTION 11.08. Securities Payable on Redemption Date......................... 62
SECTION 11.09. Debt Securities Redeemed in Part.............................. 63
SECTION 11.10. No Sinking Fund............................................... 63
ARTICLE XII
Subordination of Securities
SECTION 12.01. Agreement to Subordinate...................................... 63
SECTION 12.02. Default on Senior Indebtedness................................ 64
SECTION 12.03. Liquidation; Dissolution; Bankruptcy.......................... 64
SECTION 12.04. Subrogation................................................... 65
SECTION 12.05. Indenture Trustee to Effectuate Subordination................. 67
SECTION 12.06. Notice by the Company......................................... 67
SECTION 12.07. Rights of the Indenture Trustee; Holders of Senior
Indebtedness.................................................. 68
SECTION 12.08. Subordination May Not Be Impaired............................. 68
SECTION 12.09. Prior Payment to Senior Indebtedness Upon Acceleration of
Debt Securities............................................... 69
SECTION 12.10. Payment Permitted in Certain Situations....................... 69
SECTION 12.11. Article Applicable to Paying Agents........................... 69
SECTION 12.12. Certain Conversions Deemed Payment............................ 70
ARTICLE XIII
Conversion of Securities
SECTION 13.01. Conversion Rights............................................. 70
SECTION 13.02. Conversion Procedures......................................... 71
SECTION 13.03. Conversion Price Adjustments.................................. 73
SECTION 13.04. Reclassification, Consolidation, Merger or Sale of Assets..... 78
SECTION 13.05. Notice of Adjustments of Conversion Price..................... 82
SECTION 13.06. Prior Notice of Certain Events................................ 82
SECTION 13.07. Dividend or Interest Reinvestment Plans....................... 83
SECTION 13.08. Certain Additional Rights..................................... 83
SECTION 13.09. Indenture Trustee Not Responsible for Determining Conversion
Price or Adjustments.......................................... 84
</TABLE>
iv
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ARTICLE XIV
Immunity of Incorporators, Stockholders, Officers and Directors
SECTION 14.01. No Recourse................................................... 85
SECTION 14.02. Counterparts.................................................. 85
</TABLE>
v
<PAGE>
Breed Technologies, Inc.
Certain Sections of this Indenture relating to
Sections 3.10 through 3.18 of the
Trust Indenture Act of 1939:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Trust Indenture Indenture
Act Section Section
--------------- ---------
<S> <C>
Section 310(a)(1) 6.09
(a)(2) 6.09
(a)(3) Not Applicable
(a)(4) Not Applicable
(b) 6.08, 6.10
Section 311(a) 6.13
(b) 6.13
Section 312(a) 7.01, 7.02(a)
(b) 7.02(b)
(c) 7.02(c)
Section 313(a) 7.03(a)
(b) 7.03(a)
(c) 7.03(a)
(d) 7.03(b)
Section 314(a) 7.04
(a)(4) 10.04
(b) Not Applicable
(c)(1) 1.02
(c)(2) 1.02
(d) Not Applicable
(e) 1.02
Section 315(a) 6.01
(b) 6.02
(c) 6.01
(d) 6.01
(e) 5.14
Section 316(a)
(a)(1)(A) 5.02, 5.12
(a)(1)(B) 5.13
(a)(2) Not Applicable
(b) 5.08
(c) 1.04(c)
</TABLE>
vi
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Section 317(a)(1) 5.03
(a)(2) 5.04
(b) 10.03
Section 318(a) 1.07
</TABLE>
Note: This reconciliation and tie shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a
part of the Indenture.
vii
<PAGE>
INDENTURE, dated as of November 25, 1997, between Breed Technologies, Inc.,
a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of
Delaware (herein called the "Company"), having its principal office at 5300 Old
Tampa Highway, P.O. Box 33050, Lakeland, Florida 33807 and Wilmington Trust
Company, as Trustee (herein called the "Indenture Trustee").
RECITALS OF THE COMPANY
WHEREAS, BTI Capital Trust, a Delaware business trust (the "Trust"),
governed by an Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust among the Company, as
trust sponsor, Wilmington Trust Company, as institutional trustee (the
"Institutional Trustee"), Wilmington Trust Company, as Delaware trustee (the
"Delaware Trustee"), and Charles J. Speranzella, Fred J. Musone and Frank J.
Gnisci, as regular trustees (the "Regular Trustees"), and the holders, from time
to time, of undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust, dated as
of November 25, 1997 (the "Declaration"), pursuant to the Purchase Agreement
(the "Purchase Agreement") dated November 25, 1997, as amended from time to
time, among the Company and the purchasers named therein, will issue and sell up
to 5,000,000 (or 5,750,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) of
its Convertible Trust Preferred Securities (the "Preferred Securities") with a
liquidation amount of $50.00 per Preferred Security, having an aggregate
liquidation amount with respect to the assets of the Trust of $250,000,000 (or
$287,500,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full);
WHEREAS, the trustees of the Trust, on behalf of the Trust, will execute
and deliver to the Company Common Securities (as defined herein) of the Trust,
registered in the name of the Company, in an aggregate amount equal to three
percent of the capitalization of the Trust, equivalent to 154,140 Common
Securities (or 177,836 shares of Common Securities if the over-allotment option
is exercised in full);
WHEREAS, the Trust will use the proceeds from the sale of the Preferred
Securities and the Common Securities to purchase from the Company 6.50%
Convertible Subordinated Debentures Due 2027 (the "Debt Securities") of the
Company in an aggregate principal amount of $257,732,000 (or $296,391,800 if the
over-allotment option is exercised in full);
WHEREAS, the Company is guaranteeing the payment of distributions on the
Preferred Securities, and payment of the Redemption Price and payments on
liquidation with respect to the Preferred Securities, to the extent provided in
the Preferred Securities Guarantee Agreement (the "Preferred Securities
Guarantee") dated November 25, 1997 between the Company and Wilmington Trust
Company, as guarantee trustee, for the benefit of the holders of the Preferred
Securities;
WHEREAS, upon the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement (as
defined herein) this Indenture will be subject to, and shall be governed by, the
provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are required or deemed to be part of
and to govern indentures qualified under the Trust Indenture Act;
<PAGE>
WHEREAS, the Company has duly authorized the creation of the Debt
Securities of the tenor and amount herein set forth and to provide therefor the
Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture;
WHEREAS, so long as the Trust is a Holder of Debt Securities, and any
Preferred Securities are outstanding, the Declaration provides that the holders
of Preferred Securities may cause the Conversion Agent (as defined herein) to
(a) exchange such Preferred Securities for Debt Securities held by the Trust and
(b) immediately convert such Debt Securities into Common Stock (as defined
herein); and
WHEREAS, all things necessary to make the Debt Securities, when executed by
the Company and authenticated and delivered hereunder and duly issued by the
Company, the valid obligations of the Company, and to make this Indenture a
valid agreement of the Company, in accordance with their and its terms, have
been done.
NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:
For and in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Debt
Securities by the Holders thereof, it is mutually agreed, for the equal and
proportionate benefit of all Holders of the Debt Securities, as follows:
ARTICLE I
Definitions and Other Provisions
of General Application
SECTION 1.01. Definitions.
For all purposes of this Indenture, except as otherwise expressly provided
or unless the context otherwise requires:
(1) the terms defined in this Article have the meanings assigned to
them in this Article and include the plural as well as the singular;
(2) all other terms used herein which are defined in the Trust
Indenture Act, either directly or by reference therein, have the meanings
assigned to them therein;
(3) all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the
meanings assigned to them in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles; and
2
<PAGE>
(4) unless the context otherwise requires, any reference to an
"Article" or a "Section" refers to an Article or a Section, as the case may
be, of this Indenture; and
(5) the words "herein", "hereof" and "hereunder" and other words of
similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular
Article, Section or other subdivision.
"Act", when used with respect to any Holder, has the meaning specified in
Section 1.04.
"Additional Interest" has the meaning specified in Section 3.01.
"Additional Payments" means Compounded Interest and Additional Interest, if
any.
"Affiliate" has the same meaning as given to that term in Rule 405 of the
Securities Act or any successor rule thereunder.
"Agent" means any Registrar, Paying Agent, Conversion Agent or co-
registrar.
"Authenticating Agent" means any Person authorized by the Trustee pursuant
to Section 6.14 to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Debt Securities
of one or more series.
"Bankruptcy Law" shall mean title 11, U.S. Code, or any similar Federal or
State law for the relief of debtors.
"Board of Directors" means either the board of directors of the Company or
any duly authorized committee of that board.
"Board Resolution" means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary
or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been duly adopted by the Board
of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of such
certification, and delivered to the Trustee.
"Business Day" means any day other than a day on which banking institutions
in New York, New York, or Wilmington, Delaware are permitted or required by any
applicable law or executive order to close.
"Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from time to
time constituted, created under the Exchange Act, or, if at any time after the
execution of this instrument such Commission is not existing and performing the
duties now assigned to it under the Trust Indenture Act, then the body
performing such duties at such time.
"Common Securities" means the Securities representing common, undivided,
beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust, which rank pari passu with
Preferred Securities issued by the
3
<PAGE>
Trust; provided, however, that upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, the
rights of holders of Common Securities to payment in respect to distributions
and payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise are subordinated to the
rights of holders of Preferred Securities.
"Common Securities Guarantee" means the guarantee dated November 25, 1997
by the Company for the benefit of holders of Common Securities.
"Common Stock" includes any stock of any class of the Company that has no
preference in respect of dividends or of amounts payable in the event of any
voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company
and that is not subject to redemption by the Company. However, subject to the
provisions of Article Thirteen, shares issuable on conversion of Debt Securities
shall include only shares of the class designated as Common Stock of the Company
at the date of this instrument or shares of any class or classes resulting from
any reclassification or reclassifications thereof and that have no preference in
respect of dividends or of amounts payable in the event of any voluntary or
involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Company and that are
not subject to redemption by the Company; provided, that if at any time there
shall be more than one such resulting class, the shares of each such class then
so issuable on conversion shall be substantially in the proportion that the
total number of shares of such class resulting from all such reclassifications
bears to the total number of shares of all such classes resulting from all such
reclassifications.
"Company" means the Person named as the "Company" in the first paragraph of
this instrument until a successor Person shall have become such pursuant to the
applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter "Company" shall mean
such successor Person.
"Company Request" or "Company Order" means a written request or order
signed in the name of the Company by its Chairman of the Board, its Vice
Chairman of the Board, its President or a Vice President, and by its Treasurer,
an Assistant Treasurer, its Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, and delivered
to the Trustee.
"Compounded Interest" has the meaning specified in Section 3.12.
"Conversion Agent" means the Person appointed to act on behalf of the
holders of Preferred Securities in effecting the conversion of Preferred
Securities as and in the manner set forth in the Declaration and Section 13.02
hereof.
"Conversion Date" has the meaning specified in Section 13.02.
"Corporate Trust Office" means, when used with respect to the Indenture
Trustee, the principal office of the Indenture Trustee in Wilmington, Delaware,
at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be
administered and which at the date of this Indenture is 1100 North Market
Street, Rodney Square North, Wilmington, Delaware 19890, Attention: Corporate
Trust Administration.
4
<PAGE>
"Current Market Price" has the meaning specified in Section 13.03.
"Custodian" shall mean any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator, or
similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.
"Debt Securities" has the meaning specified in the Recitals of this
Indenture and more particularly means any Debt Security authenticated and
delivered under this Indenture.
"Declaration" has the meaning specified in the Recitals of this instrument.
"Defaulted Interest" has the meaning specified in Section 3.07.
"Delaware Trustee" has the meaning given it in the Recitals of this
instrument.
"Depositary" means, with respect to Debt Securities issuable in whole or in
part in the form of one or more Global Debt Securities, a clearing agency
registered under the Exchange Act that is designated to act as Depositary for
such Debt Securities as contemplated by Section 3.01.
"Direct Action" means a proceeding directly instituted by a holder of
Preferred Securities for enforcement of payment to such holder of the principal
of or interest on the Debt Securities having a principal amount equal to the
aggregate liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities of such holder on or
after the respective due date specified in the Debt Securities, if an Event of
Default under the Declaration has occurred and is continuing and such event is
attributable to the failure of the Company to pay interest or principal on the
Debt Securities on the date such interest or principal is otherwise payable (or
in the case of redemption, on the redemption date).
"Dissolution Event" means that, as a result of the occurrence and
continuation of a Special Event, the Trust is to be dissolved in accordance with
the Declaration and the Debt Securities held by the Institutional Trustee are to
be distributed to the holders of Trust Securities issued by the Trust pro rata
in accordance with the Declaration.
"Dissolution Tax Opinion" has the meaning specified in the Declaration.
"Event of Default" has the meaning specified in Section 5.01.
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from
time to time, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, or any
successor legislation.
"Extension Period" has the meaning specified in Section 3.12.
"Global Debt Security" means, with respect to any Debt Security, a Debt
Security executed by the Company and delivered by the Indenture Trustee to the
Depositary or pursuant
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to the Depositary's instruction, all in accordance with this Indenture, which
shall be registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee.
"Guarantee" means the Preferred Securities Guarantee and the Common
Securities Guarantee.
"Guarantor" means Breed Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation, in its
capacity as guarantor under the Guarantee.
"Holder" means a Person in whose name a Debt Security is registered in the
Security Register.
"Indenture" means this instrument as originally executed or as it may from
time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental
hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof, including, for
all purposes of this instrument and any such supplemental indenture, the
provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are deemed to be a part of and govern
this instrument and any such supplemental indenture, respectively.
"Indenture Trustee" means the Person named as the "Indenture Trustee" in
the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor Indenture Trustee shall
have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and
thereafter "Indenture Trustee" shall mean such successor Indenture Trustee, in
each case not in its individual capacity but solely in its capacity as trustee.
"Interest Payment Date" means, when used with respect to any Debt Security,
the Stated Maturity of an installment of interest on such Debt Security.
"Institutional Trustee" has the meaning specified in the Recitals of this
instrument.
"Investment Company Event" has the meaning specified in Annex I to the
Declaration.
"Maturity", when used with respect to any Debt Security, means the date on
which the principal of such Debt Security becomes due and payable as therein or
herein provided, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of
acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise.
"Ministerial Action" has the meaning specified in Section 11.02.
"90-Day Period" has the meaning specified in Section 11.02.
"No Recognition Opinion" has the meaning specified in Annex I to the
Declaration.
"Notice of Conversion" means either the notice to be given by a Holder to
the Conversion Agent directing the Conversion Agent to convert Debt Securities
into Common Stock on behalf
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of such Holder, or the notice to be given by a holder of Preferred Securities to
the Conversion Agent directing the Conversion Agent to exchange such Preferred
Securities for Debt Securities and to convert such Debt Securities into Common
Stock on behalf of such holder.
"Officer" shall mean any of the Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer, the
President, a Vice President, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer, an
Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company.
"Officers' Certificate" means a certificate signed by two Officers and
delivered to the Indenture Trustee. One of the officers signing an Officers'
Certificate given pursuant to Section 10.04 shall be the principal executive,
financial or accounting officer of the Company. Each such certificate shall
include the statements provided for in Section 1.02 if and to the extent
required by the provisions thereof.
"Opinion of Counsel" means a written opinion of counsel, who may be counsel
for the Company, and who shall be acceptable to the Indenture Trustee.
"Outstanding", when used with respect to Debt Securities, means, as of the
date of determination, all Debt Securities theretofore authenticated and
delivered under this Indenture, except:
(i) Debt Securities theretofore cancelled by the Indenture Trustee
or delivered to the Indenture Trustee for cancellation;
(ii) Debt Securities, or portions thereof, for whose payment or
redemption money in the necessary amount has been theretofore deposited
with the Indenture Trustee or any Paying Agent (other than the Company) in
trust or set aside and segregated in trust by the Company (if the Company
shall act as its own Paying Agent) for the Holders of such Debt Securities;
provided, that if such Debt Securities, or portions thereof, are to be
redeemed prior to maturity thereof, notice of such redemption has been duly
given pursuant to this Indenture or provision therefor satisfactory to the
Indenture Trustee has been made; and
(iii) Debt Securities that have been paid pursuant to Section 3.07,
converted into Common Stock pursuant to Section 13.01, or in exchange for
or in lieu of which other Debt Securities have been authenticated and
delivered pursuant to this Indenture, other than any such Debt Securities
in respect of which there shall have been presented to the Trustee proof
satisfactory to it that such Debt Securities are held by a bona fide
purchaser in whose hands such Debt Securities are valid obligations of the
Company, provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the
requisite principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities have given
any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver
hereunder, Debt Securities owned by the Company or any other obligor upon
the Debt Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other
obligor
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shall be disregarded and deemed not to be outstanding, except that, in
determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such
request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, only
Debt Securities that the Trustee knows to be so owned shall be so
disregarded. Debt Securities so owned that have been pledged in good faith
may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the
satisfaction of the Indenture Trustee the pledgee's right so to act with
respect to such Debt Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company or
any other obligor upon the Debt Securities or any Affiliate of the Company
or of such other obligor.
"Paying Agent" means any Person authorized by the Company to pay the
principal of or interest on any Debt Security on behalf of the Company.
"Person" means any legal person, including any individual, corporation,
estate, partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock company, limited
liability company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any
agency or political subdivision thereof, or any other entity of whatever nature.
"Predecessor Debt Security" of any particular Debt Security means every
previous Debt Security evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that
evidenced by such particular Debt Security; and, for the purposes of this
definition, any Debt Security authenticated and delivered under Section 3.06 in
exchange for or in lieu of a mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Debt Security
shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the mutilated, destroyed, lost or
stolen Debt Security.
"Preferred Securities" means undivided, beneficial interests in the assets
of the Trust that rank pari passu with Common Securities issued by the Trust;
provided, however, that upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, the rights
of holders of Common Securities to payment in respect to distributions and
payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise are subject to the rights of
holders of Preferred Securities.
"Preferred Securities Guarantee" has the meaning specified in the Recitals
to this instrument.
"Purchased Shares" has the meaning specified in Section 13.03(e).
"QIB" means a "qualified institutional buyer" as defined in Rule 144A.
"Redemption Date", when used with respect to any Debt Security to be
redeemed, means the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this
Indenture.
"Redemption Price", when used with respect to any Debt Security to be
redeemed, means the price at which it is to be redeemed pursuant to this
Indenture.
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"Redemption Tax Opinion" has the meaning set forth in Annex I to the
Declaration.
"Reference Date" has the meaning specified in Section 13.03(c).
"Regular Record Date" has the meaning specified in Section 3.01.
"Regular Trustees" has the meaning specified in the Recitals of this
instrument.
"Responsible Officer", when used with respect to the Indenture Trustee,
means any vice-president, any assistant vice-president, the treasurer, any
assistant treasurer, any trust officer or assistant trust officer or any other
officer in the Corporate Trust Department of the Trustee customarily performing
functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and
also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other
officer to whom such matter is referred because of that officer's knowledge of
and familiarity with the particular subject.
"Rule 144" means Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act.
"Rule 144A" means Rule 144A promulgated under the Securities Act.
"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to
time, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, or any successor
legislation.
"Security Register" and "Security Registrar" have the respective meanings
specified in Section 3.05.
"Senior Indebtedness" means with respect to the Company (i) the principal,
premium, if any, and interest in respect of (A) every obligation of the Company
for money borrowed and (B) every obligation of the Company evidenced by
securities, notes, debentures, bonds or other similar instruments including
obligations incurred in connection with the acquisition of property, assets or
businesses, (ii) all capital lease obligations of the Company, (iii) all
obligations of the Company issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of
property, all conditional sale obligations of the Company and all obligations of
the Company under any title retention agreement (but excluding trade accounts
payable arising in the ordinary course of business), (iv) all obligations of the
Company for the reimbursement of any letter of credit, banker's acceptance,
security purchase facility or similar credit transaction issued for the account
of the Company, (v) all obligations of the Company in respect of derivative
products, including interest rate swap, cap or other similar agreements,
interest rate future or option contracts, currency swap agreements, currency
future or option contracts and other similar agreements, (vi) all obligations of
the type referred to in clauses (i) through (v) above of other Persons for the
payment of which the Company is responsible or liable as obligor, guarantor or
otherwise, and (vii) all obligations of the type referred to in clauses (i)
through (vi) above of other Persons secured by any lien on any property or asset
of the Company (whether or not such obligation is assumed by the
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Company), except for (1) any such indebtedness that is by its terms subordinated
to or pari passu with the Debt Securities and (2) any indebtedness between or
among the Company or its Affiliates, including all other debt securities and
guarantees in respect of those debt securities issued to (a) the Trust or a
trustee of such trust and (b) any other trust, or a trustee of such trust,
partnership, or other entity affiliated with the Company that is a financing
vehicle of the Company (a "Financing Entity") in connection with the issuance by
such Financing Entity of preferred securities or other securities that rank pari
passu with, or junior to, the Preferred Securities. Such Senior Indebtedness
shall continue to be Senior Indebtedness and entitled to the benefits of the
subordination provisions irrespective of any amendment, modification or waiver
of any term of such Senior Indebtedness.
"Shelf Registration Statement" means the registration statement to be filed
by the Company with respect to the Preferred Securities, pursuant to the
Registration Rights Agreement dated as of November 25, 1997, among the Company,
the Trust and Prudential Securities Incorporated and Furman Selz LLC as the
Initial Purchasers of the Preferred Securities.
"Special Event" has the meaning specified in Annex I to the Declaration.
"Special Record Date" for the payment of any Defaulted Interest means a
date fixed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 3.07.
"Stated Maturity" when used with respect to any Debt Security or any
installment of interest thereon, means the date specified in such Debt Security
as the fixed date on which the principal, together with any accrued and unpaid
interest (including Compounded Interest), of such Debt Security or such
installment of interest is due and payable.
"Subsidiary" of any Person means (i) a corporation more than 50% of the
outstanding Voting Stock of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by such
Person or by one or more other Subsidiaries of such Person or by such Person and
one or more Subsidiaries thereof or (ii) any other Person (other than a
corporation) in which such Person, or one or more other Subsidiaries of such
Person or such Person and one or more other Subsidiaries thereof, directly or
indirectly, has at least a majority ownership and power to direct the policies,
management and affairs thereof.
"Tax Event" has the meaning specified in Annex I to the Declaration.
"Trading Day" has the meaning specified in Section 13.07.
"Transfer Restriction Termination Date" means the first date on which the
Preferred Securities, the Debt Securities and any Common Stock issued or
issuable upon the conversion or exchange thereof (other than (i) such securities
acquired by the Company or any Affiliate thereof and (ii) Common Stock issued
upon the conversion or exchange of any such security described in clause (i)
above) may be sold pursuant to Rule 144(k).
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"Trust" has the meaning specified in the Recitals to this instrument.
"Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended
from time to time, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, or any
successor legislation.
"Trust Securities" means Common Securities and Preferred Securities.
"Purchase Agreement" has the meaning specified in the Recitals to this
instrument.
"U.S. Government Obligations" means securities that are (i) direct
obligations of the United States of America for the payment of which its full
faith and credit is pledged or (ii) obligations of a Person controlled or
supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of
America the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and
credit obligation by the United States of America, which, in either case under
clauses (i) or (ii) are not callable or prepayable at the option of the issuer
thereof, and shall also include a depository receipt issued by a bank or trust
company as custodian with respect to any such U.S. Government Obligation or a
specific payment of interest on or principal of any such U.S. Government
Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of a depository
receipt, provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not
authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such
depository receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the
U.S. Government Obligation or the specific payment of interest on or principal
of the U.S. Government Obligation evidenced by such depository receipt.
"Vice President," when used with respect to the Company or the Trustee,
means any vice president, whether or not designated by a number or a word or
words added before or after the title "vice president."
"Voting Stock" of any Person means capital stock of such Person which
ordinarily has voting power for the election of directors (or Persons performing
similar functions) of such Person, whether at all times or only so long as no
senior class of securities has such voting power by reason of any contingency.
SECTION 1.02. Compliance Certificates and Opinions.
Upon any application or request by the Company to the Indenture Trustee to
take any action under any provision of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish
to the Indenture Trustee such certificates and opinions as may be required under
the Trust Indenture Act or reasonably requested by the Indenture Trustee in
connection with such application or request. Each such certificate or opinion
shall be given in the form of an Officers' Certificate, if to be given by an
officer of the Company, or an Opinion of Counsel, if to be given by counsel, and
shall comply with the applicable requirements of the Trust Indenture Act and any
other applicable requirement set forth in this Indenture.
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Every certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or
covenant provided for in this Indenture shall include
(a) a statement that each individual signing such certificate or
opinion has read such covenant or condition and the definitions herein
relating thereto;
(b) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or
investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such
certificate or opinion are based;
(c) a statement that, in the opinion of each such individual, he has
made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to
express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition
has been complied with; and
(d) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such individual,
such condition or covenant has been complied with.
SECTION 1.03. Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee.
In any case where several matters are required to be certified by, or
covered by an opinion of, any specified Person, it is not necessary that all
such matters be certified by, or covered by the opinion of, only one such
Person, or that they be so certified or covered by only one document, but one
such Person may certify or give an opinion with respect to some matters and one
or more other such Persons as to other matters, and any such Person may certify
or give an opinion as to such matters in one or several documents.
Any certificate or opinion of an officer of the Company may be based,
insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or
representations by, counsel, unless such officer knows, or in the exercise of
reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations
with respect to the matters upon which his certificate or opinion is based are
erroneous. Any such certificate or opinion of counsel may be based, insofar as
it relates to factual matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or
representations by, an officer or officers of the Company stating that the
information with respect to such factual matters is in the possession of the
Company, unless such counsel knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should
know, that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to such
matters are erroneous.
Where any Person is required to make, give or execute two or more
applications, requests, consents, certificates, statements, opinions or other
instruments under this Indenture, they may, but need not, be consolidated and
form one instrument.
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SECTION 1.04. Acts of Holders; Record Dates.
(a) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent,
waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by
Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of
substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by an agent
duly appointed in writing; and, except as herein otherwise expressly
provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or
instruments are delivered to the Indenture Trustee and, where it is hereby
expressly required, to the Company. Such instrument or instruments (and the
action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes
referred to as the "Act" of the Holders signing such instrument or
instruments. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing
appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose of this
Indenture and (subject to Section 6.01) conclusive in favor of the
Indenture Trustee and the Company, if made in the manner provided in this
Section.
(b) The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such
instrument or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness of such
execution or by a certificate of a notary public or other officer
authorized by law to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the
individual signing such instrument or writing acknowledged to him the
execution thereof. Where such execution is by a signer acting in a capacity
other than his individual capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall
also constitute sufficient proof of his authority. The fact and date of
the execution of any such instrument or writing, or the authority of the
Person executing the same, may also be proved in any other manner that the
Indenture Trustee or the Company, as the case may be, deems sufficient.
(c) The Company may, in the circumstances permitted by the Trust
Indenture Act, fix any day as the record date for the purpose of
determining the Holders of Outstanding Debt Securities entitled to give,
make or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice,
consent, waiver or other action, or to vote on any action, authorized or
permitted to be given or taken by Holders. If not set by the Company prior
to the first solicitation of a Holder made by any Person in respect of any
such action, or, in the case of any such vote, prior to such vote, the
record date for any such action or vote shall be the 30th day (or, if
later, the date of the most recent list of Holders required to be provided
pursuant to Section 7.01) prior to such first solicitation or vote, as the
case may be. With regard to any record date, only the Holders on such date
(or their duly designated proxies) shall be entitled to give or take, or
vote on, the relevant action.
(d) The ownership of Debt Securities shall be proved by the Security
Register.
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(e) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent,
waiver or other Act of the Holder of any Debt Security shall bind every
future Holder of the same Debt Security and the Holder of every Debt
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 Indenture Trustee or the Company in reliance
thereon, whether or not notation of such action is made upon such Debt
Security.
(f) Without limiting the foregoing, a Holder entitled hereunder to
give or take any such action with regard to any particular Debt Security
may do so with regard to all or any part of the principal amount of such
Debt 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 different part of
such principal amount.
SECTION 1.05. Notices, Etc., to Indenture Trustee and the Company.
Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or
Act of Holders or other document provided or permitted by this Indenture to be
made upon, given or furnished to, or filed with,
(a) the Indenture Trustee by any Holder or by the Company shall be
sufficient for every purpose hereunder if made, given, furnished or filed
in writing to or with the Indenture Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office,
Attention: Corporate Trust & Agency Department, or
(b) the Company by the Indenture Trustee or by any Holder shall be
sufficient for every purpose hereunder (unless otherwise herein expressly
provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to the
Company addressed to it at the address of its principal office specified in
the first paragraph of this instrument or at any other address previously
furnished in writing to the Indenture Trustee by the Company.
SECTION 1.06. Notice to Holders; Waiver.
Where this Indenture provides for notice to Holders of any event, such
notice shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein expressly provided)
if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder affected
by such event, at such Holder's address as it appears in the Security Register,
not later than the latest date (if any), and not earlier than the earliest date
(if any), prescribed for the giving of such notice. In any case where notice to
Holders is given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any
defect in any notice so mailed, to any particular Holder shall affect the
sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders. Any notice when
mailed to a Holder in the aforesaid manner shall be conclusively deemed to have
been received by such Holder whether or not actually received by such Holder.
Where this Indenture
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provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the
Person entitled to receive such notice, either before or after the event, and
such waiver shall be the equivalent of such notice. Waivers of notice by Holders
shall be filed with the Indenture Trustee, but such filing shall not be a
condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance upon such
waiver.
In case by reason of the suspension of regular mail service or by reason of
any other cause it shall be impracticable to give such notice by mail, then such
notification as shall be made with the approval of the Indenture Trustee shall
constitute a sufficient notification for every purpose hereunder.
SECTION 1.07. Conflict with Trust Indenture Act.
If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with a provision of
the Trust Indenture Act that is required under such Act to be a part of and
govern this Indenture, the latter provision shall control. If any provision of
this Indenture modifies or excludes any provision of the Trust Indenture Act
that may be so modified or excluded, the latter provision shall be deemed to
apply to this Indenture as so modified or to be excluded, as the case may be.
SECTION 1.08. Effect of Headings and Table of Contents.
The Article and Section headings herein and the Table of Contents are for
convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.
SECTION 1.09. Successors and Assigns.
All covenants and agreements in this Indenture by the Company shall bind
its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.
SECTION 1.10. Separability Clause.
In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Debt Securities shall be
invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of
the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
SECTION 1.11. Benefits of Indenture.
Nothing in this Indenture or in the Debt Securities, express or implied,
shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto and their successors
hereunder, the holders of Senior Indebtedness, the holders of Preferred
Securities (to the extent provided herein) and the Holders of Debt Securities,
any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this
Indenture.
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SECTION 1.12. Governing Law.
THIS INDENTURE AND THE SECURITIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO ITS
PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS.
SECTION 1.13. Legal Holidays.
In any case where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated
Maturity of any Debt Security or the last date on which a Holder has the right
to convert his Debt Securities shall not be a Business Day, then
(notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or of the Debt
Securities) payment of interest or principal or conversion of the Debt
Securities need not be made on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding
Business Day (except that, if such Business Day is in the next succeeding
calendar year, such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated Maturity,
as the case may be, shall be the immediately preceding Business Day) with the
same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date or Redemption
Date, or at the Stated Maturity or on such last day for conversion, provided,
that no interest shall accrue for the period from and after such Interest
Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated Maturity, as the case may be.
ARTICLE II
Security Forms
SECTION 2.01. Forms Generally.
The Debt Securities and the Trustee's certificate of authentication shall
be substantially in the form of Exhibit A, which is hereby incorporated in and
expressly made a part of this Indenture. The Debt Securities may have letters,
numbers, notations or other marks of identification or designation and such
legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule, agreements to
which the Company is subject, if any, or usage (provided that any such notation,
legend or endorsement is in a form acceptable to the Company). The Company
shall furnish any such legend not contained in Exhibit A to the Indenture
Trustee in writing. Each Debt Security shall be dated the date of its
authentication. The terms and provisions of the Debt Securities set forth in
Exhibit A are part of the terms of this Indenture and to the extent applicable,
the Company and the Indenture Trustee, by their execution and delivery of this
Indenture, expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound thereby.
The definitive Debt Securities shall be typewritten or printed,
lithographed or engraved or produced by any combination of these methods on
steel engraved borders or may be produced in any other manner permitted by the
rules of any securities exchange on which the Debt Securities may be listed, all
as determined by the officers executing such Debt Securities, as evidenced by
their execution thereof.
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SECTION 2.02. Initial Issuance to Institutional Trustee.
The Securities initially issued to the Institutional Trustee of the Trust
shall be in the form of one or more individual certificates in definitive, fully
registered form without coupons.
SECTION 2.03. Exchange and Registration of Debt Securities; Restrictions on
Transfer; Depositary.
If distributed to holders of Preferred Securities in connection with a
Special Event, the Debt Securities will be issued to such holders in the same
form as the Preferred Securities that such Debt Securities replace in accordance
with the following procedures:
(a) So long as Debt Securities are eligible for book-entry settlement with
the Depositary, or unless otherwise required by law, all Debt Securities that
are so eligible may be represented by one or more Debt Securities in global form
registered in the name of the Depositary or the nominee of the Depositary,
except as otherwise specified below. The transfer and exchange of beneficial
interests in any such Debt Security in global form shall be effected through the
Depositary in accordance with this Indenture and the procedures of the
Depositary therefor.
Debt Securities that are distributed to QIBs in replacement of Preferred
Securities represented by a global Preferred Security will be represented by a
global Debt Security (the "144A Global Debenture"). Debt Securities that are
distributed to Non-U.S. Persons in replacement of Preferred Securities
represented by a global Preferred Security will be represented by a global Debt
Security (the "Regulation S Global Debenture"). Each of the 144A Global
Debenture and the Regulation S Global Debenture shall be referred to herein as a
"Global Debenture". Debt Securities that are distributed to QIBs or to Non-U.S.
Persons in replacement of Certificated Preferred Securities will be represented
by definitive Debt Securities as set forth in Section 2.03(b). If Global
Debentures are issued, transfers of interests in the Debt Securities between the
144A Global Debenture and the Regulation S Global Debenture will be made in
accordance with the standing instructions and procedures of the Depositary and
its participants and the Indenture Trustee shall make appropriate endorsements
to reflect increases or decreases in the principal amounts of such Global
Debentures to reflect any such transfers.
Except as provided below, beneficial owners of a Debt Security in global
form shall not be entitled to have certificates registered in their names, will
not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of certificates in
definitive form and will not be considered Holders of such Debt Securities in
global form.
(b) Preferred Securities held in certificated form, except for certificates
representing Preferred Securities held by the Depositary or its nominee (or any
successor clearing agency or its nominee), shall upon presentation to the
Indenture Trustee by the Institutional Trustee or by
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the holder thereof or by the Institutional Trustee on behalf of such holders
shall be exchanged for Debt Securities in fully registered certificated form of
like aggregate principal amount and tenor.
(c) So long as the Debt Securities are eligible for book-entry settlement,
and to the extent that Debt Securities are held by QIBs or Non-U.S. Persons, as
the case may be, in a Global Debenture, or unless otherwise required by law,
upon any transfer of a definitive Debt Security to a QIB in accordance with Rule
144A or to a Non-U.S. Person in accordance with Regulation S, unless otherwise
requested by the transferor, and upon receipt of the definitive Debt Security or
Debt Securities being so transferred, together with a certification from the
transferor that the transfer is being made in compliance with Rule 144A or
Regulation S, as the case may be (or other evidence satisfactory to the
Indenture Trustee), the Indenture Trustee shall make an endorsement on any 144A
Global Debenture or any Regulation S Global Debenture, as the case may be, to
reflect an increase in the aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities
represented by such Global Debenture, and the Indenture Trustee shall cancel
such definitive Debt Security or Debt Securities in accordance with the standing
instructions and procedures of the Depositary, the aggregate principal amount of
Debt Securities represented by such Global Debenture to be increased
accordingly; provided that no definitive Debt Security, or portion thereof, in
respect of which the Company or an Affiliate of the Company held any beneficial
interest shall be included in such Global Debenture until such definitive Debt
Security is freely tradable in accordance with Rule 144(k); provided further
that the Indenture Trustee shall, at the written request of the Company, issue
Debt Securities in definitive form upon any transfer of a beneficial interest in
the Global Debenture to the Company or any Affiliate of the Company.
Any Global Debenture may be endorsed with or have incorporated in the text
thereof such legends or recitals or changes not inconsistent with the provisions
of this Indenture as may be required by the Depositary, by the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. in order for the Debt Securities to be
tradeable on the PORTAL Market or as may be required for the Debt Securities to
be tradeable on any other market developed for trading of securities pursuant to
Rule 144A or required to comply with any applicable law or any regulation
thereunder or with the rules and regulations of any securities exchange upon
which the Debt Securities may be listed or traded or to conform with any usage
with respect thereto, or to indicate any special limitations or restrictions to
which any particular Debt Securities are subject.
(d) Each Debt Security that bears or is required to bear the legend set
forth in this Section 2.03(d) (a "Restricted Security") shall be subject to the
restrictions on transfer provided in the legend set forth in this Section
2.03(d), unless such restrictions on transfer shall be waived by the written
consent of the Company, and the Holder of each Restricted Security, by such
securityholder's acceptance thereof, agrees to be bound by such restrictions on
transfer. As used in this Section 2.03(d) and in Section 2.03(e), the term
"transfer" encompasses any sale, pledge, transfer or other disposition of any
Restricted Security.
Prior to the Transfer Restriction Termination Date, any certificate
evidencing a Debt Security or Common Stock issued upon the conversion or
exchange of any Debt Security shall
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bear a legend in substantially the following form, unless otherwise agreed by
the Company (with written notice thereof to the Trustee):
THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF
1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"), AND, ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE
OFFERED OR SOLD EXCEPT AS SET FORTH IN THE FOLLOWING SENTENCE. BY ITS
ACQUISITION HEREOF, THE HOLDER (1) REPRESENTS THAT (A) IT IS A "QUALIFIED
INSTITUTIONAL BUYER" (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT), OR
(B) IT IS NOT A U.S. PERSON AND IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY IN AN OFFSHORE
TRANSACTION (2) AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT WITHIN TWO YEARS AFTER THE ORIGINAL
ISSUANCE OF THIS SECURITY RESELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SECURITY EXCEPT
(A) TO BREED TECHNOLOGIES, INC. OR ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREOF, (B) INSIDE THE
UNITED STATES TO A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE
144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN AN OFFSHORE
TRANSACTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 904 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (D)
PURSUANT TO THE EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION PROVIDED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT (IF AVAILABLE) OR (E) PURSUANT OT AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION
STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND (3) AGREES THAT IT WILL DELIVER TO
EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS SECURITY IS TRANSFERRED A NOTICE SUBSTANTIALLY TO
THE EFFECT OF THIS LEGEND. IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER OF THIS
SECURITY WITHIN TWO YEARS AFTER THE ORIGINAL ISSUANCE OF THE SECURITY, THE
TRANSFEROR MUST CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX SET FORTH ON THE REVERSE HEREOF
RELATING TO THE MANNER OF SUCH TRANSFER AND SUBMIT THIS CERTIFICATE TO THE
INDENTURE TRUSTEE. AS USED HEREIN, THE TERMS "OFFSHORE TRANSACTION."
"UNITED STATES" AND "U.S. PERSON" HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM BY
REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.
Following the Transfer Restriction Termination Date or the sale of a Debt
Security or Common Stock issued upon the conversion or exchange of a Debt
Security pursuant to an effective registration statement or Rule 144 (or any
successor provision) under the Securities Act, any Debt Security or security
issued in exchange or substitution therefor (other than (i) Debt Securities
acquired by the Company or any Affiliate thereof since the issue date of the
Preferred Securities and (ii) Common Stock issued upon the conversion or
exchange of any Debt Security described in clause (i) above) may upon surrender
of such Debt Security for exchange to the Security Registrar in accordance with
the provisions of this Section 2.03, be exchanged for a new Debt Security or
Debt Securities, of like tenor and aggregate principal amount, which shall not
bear the restrictive legend required by this Section 2.03(d).
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Notwithstanding any other provisions of the Indenture (other than the
provisions set forth in this Section 2.03(d)), a Global Debenture may not be
transferred as a whole except by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary
or by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or another nominee to a
successor Depositary or a nominee of such successor Depositary.
The Depositary shall be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange
Act. The Company initially appoints The Depository Trust Company to act as
Depositary with respect to the Debt Securities in global form. Initially, the
Global Debentures shall be issued to the Depositary, registered in the name of
Cede & Co., as the nominee of the Depositary, and deposited with the Trustee as
custodian for Cede & Co.
If at any time the Depositary for the Global Debentures notifies the
Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Debt
Securities, the Company may appoint a successor Depositary with respect to such
Debt Securities. If a successor Depositary for the Debt Securities is not
appointed by the Company within 90 days after the Company receives such notice,
the Company will execute, and the Indenture Trustee, upon receipt of an
Officers' Certificate for authentication and delivery of Debt Securities, will
authenticate and deliver, Debt Securities in definitive form, in an aggregate
principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Debentures, in
exchange for such Global Debentures.
Definitive Debt Securities issued in exchange for all or a part of a Global
Debenture pursuant to this Section 2.03(d) shall be registered in such names and
in such authorized denominations as the Depositary, pursuant to instructions
from its direct or indirect participants or otherwise, shall instruct the
Indenture Trustee. Upon execution and authentication, the Indenture Trustee
shall deliver such definitive Debt Securities to the person in whose names such
definitive Debt Securities are so registered.
At such time as all interests in a Global Debenture have been redeemed,
converted, exchanged, repurchased or canceled, such Global Debenture shall be,
upon receipt thereof, canceled by the Indenture Trustee in accordance with
standing procedures and instructions of the Depositary. At any time prior to
such cancellation, if any interest in a Global Debenture is exchanged for
definitive Debt Securities, redeemed, converted, exchanged, repurchased by the
Company pursuant to Article X or canceled, or transferred for part of a Global
Debenture, the principal amount of such Global Debenture shall, in accordance
with the standing procedures and instructions of the Depositary be reduced or
increased, as the case may be, and an endorsement shall be made on such Global
Debenture by, or at the direction of, the Indenture Trustee to reflect such
reduction or increase.
(e) Any Debt Security or Common Stock issued upon the conversion or
exchange of a Debt Security that, prior to the Transfer Restriction Termination
Date, is purchased or owned by the Company or any Affiliate thereof may not be
resold by the Company or such Affiliate unless registered under the Securities
Act or resold pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the
Securities Act in a transaction which results in such Debt Securities or
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Common Stock, as the case may be, no longer being "restricted securities" (as
defined under Rule 144).
SECTION 2.04. Form of Conversion Notice.
The form of conversion notice for the conversion of Debt Securities into
shares of Common Stock or other securities of the Company shall be in
substantially the form included with the applicable form of Debt Securities as
shall be established pursuant to Section 2.01 hereinabove.
SECTION 2.05. Securities in Global Form.
If Debt Securities of any series are issuable as Global Debentures, as
specified as contemplated by Section 2.03, then, notwithstanding the provisions
of Section 2.03, any such Debt Security shall represent such of the Outstanding
Debt Securities as shall be specified therein and may provide that it shall
represent the aggregate amount of Outstanding Debt Securities from time to time
endorsed thereon and that the aggregate amount of Outstanding Debt Securities
represented thereby may from time to time be reduced to reflect changes. Any
endorsement of a Global Debenture to reflect the amount, or any increase or
decrease in the amount of Outstanding Debt Securities represented thereby shall
be made by the Indenture Trustee in such manner and upon instructions given by
such Person or Persons as shall be specified therein or in the Company Order to
be delivered to the Indenture Trustee pursuant to Section 3.03 or Section 3.04.
Subject to the provisions of Section 3.03 and, if applicable, Section 3.04 the
Indenture Trustee shall deliver and redeliver any Global Debenture in the manner
and upon instructions given by the Person or Persons specified therein or in the
applicable Company Order. If a Company Order pursuant to Section 3.03 or 3.04
has been, or simultaneously is, delivered, any instructions by the Company with
respect to endorsement or delivery or redelivery of a Global Debenture shall be
in writing but need not comply with Section 1.02 and need not be accompanied by
an Opinion of Counsel.
The provisions of the last sentence of Section 3.03 shall apply to any Debt
Security represented by a Global Debenture if such Debt Security was never
issued and sold by the Company and the Company delivers to the Indenture Trustee
the Global Debenture with written instructions (which need not comply with
Section 1.02 and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel) with regard
to the reduction in the principal amount of Debt Securities represented thereby,
together with the written statement contemplated by the last sentence of Section
3.03.
Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2.01 and 3.07, unless otherwise
specified as contemplated by Section 3.01, payment of principal of and any
premium and interest on any Global Debenture shall be made to the Person or
Persons specified therein.
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Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3.08 and except as provided in
the preceding paragraph, the Company, the Indenture Trustee and any agent of the
Company and the Indenture Trustee shall treat a Person as the Holder of such
principal amount of Outstanding Debt Securities represented by a Global
Debenture as shall be specified in a written statement of the Holder of such
Global Debenture.
ARTICLE III
The Securities
SECTION 3.01. Title and Terms.
The aggregate principal amount of Debt Securities that may be authenticated
and delivered under this Indenture is limited to $257,732,000.00 (or up to
$296,391,800.00 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full in accordance
with the terms and provisions of the Purchase Agreement), except for Debt
Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in
exchange for, or in lieu of, other Debt Securities pursuant to Section 3.04,
3.05, 3.06, 9.06, 11.09 or 13.01.
The Debt Securities shall be known and designated as the "6.50% Convertible
Subordinated Debentures Due 2027" of the Company. Their Stated Maturity shall
be November 15, 2027, and they shall bear interest at the rate of 6.50% per
annum, from November 25, 1997 or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to
which interest has been paid or duly provided for, (subject to deferral as set
forth herein), in arrears and they shall be paid to the Person in whose name the
Security is registered at 5:00 p.m. (New York City time).
The amount of interest payable for any period will be computed on the basis
of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. Except as provided in the following
sentence, the amount of interest payable for any period shorter than a full
quarterly period for which interest in computed, will be computed on the basis
of the actual number of days elapsed per 90-day quarter. In the event that any
date on which interest is payable on the Debt Securities is not a Business Day,
then payment of interest payable on such date will be made on the next
succeeding day that is a Business Day (and without any interest or other payment
in respect of any such delay), except that, if such Business Day is in the next
succeeding calendar year, such payment shall be made on the immediately
preceding Business Day, in each case with the same force and effect as if made
on such date.
If at any time while the Institutional Trustee is the Holder of any Debt
Securities, the Trust or the Institutional Trustee is required to pay any taxes,
duties, assessments or governmental charges of whatever nature (other than
withholding taxes) imposed by the United States, or any other taxing authority,
then, in any such case, the Company will pay as additional interest ("Additional
Interest") on the Debt Securities held by the Institutional Trustee, such
amounts as shall be required so that the net amounts received and retained by
the Trust and the Institutional
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Trustee after paying any such taxes, duties, assessments or other governmental
charges will be not less than the amounts the Trust and the Institutional
Trustee would have received had no such taxes, duties, assessments or other
governmental charges been imposed.
The principal of and interest on the Debt Securities shall be payable at
the office or agency of the Company in the United States maintained for such
purpose and at any other office or agency maintained by the Company for such
purpose in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time
of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided,
however, that at the option of the Company payment of interest may be made by
check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall
appear in the Security Register.
The Debt Securities shall be redeemable as provided in Article Eleven
hereof.
The Debt Securities shall be subordinated in right of payment to Senior
Indebtedness as provided in Article Twelve hereof.
The Debt Securities shall be convertible as provided in Article Thirteen
hereof.
SECTION 3.02. Denominations.
The Debt Securities shall be issuable only in registered form without
coupons and only in such denominations of $50.00 and integral multiples thereof.
SECTION 3.03. Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating.
The Debt Securities shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its
Chairman of the Board, its Vice Chairman of the Board, its President or one of
its Vice Presidents, under its corporate seal reproduced thereon attested by its
Secretary or one of its Assistant Secretaries. The signature of any of these
officers on the Debt Securities may be manual or facsimile.
Debt Securities bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of individuals
who were at any time the proper officers of the Company shall bind the Company,
notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased to hold such
offices prior to the authentication and delivery of such Debt Securities or did
not hold such offices at the date of such Debt Securities.
At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this
Indenture, the Company may deliver Debt Securities executed by the Company to
the Indenture Trustee for authentication, together with a Company Order for the
authentication and delivery of such Debt Securities; and the Indenture Trustee
in accordance with such Company Order shall authenticate and make available for
delivery such Debt Securities as in this Indenture provided and not otherwise.
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No Debt Security shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or
be valid or obligatory for any purpose unless there appears on such Debt
Security a certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for
herein executed by the Indenture Trustee by manual or facsimile signature, and
such certificate upon any Debt Security shall be conclusive evidence, and the
only evidence, that such Debt Security has been duly authenticated and delivered
hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Debt Security shall have been
authenticated and delivered hereunder but never issued and sold by the Company,
and the Company shall deliver such Debt Security to the Indenture Trustee for
cancellation as provided in Section 3.09, for all purposes of this Indenture
such Debt Security shall be deemed never to have been authenticated and
delivered hereunder and shall never be entitled to the benefits of this
Indenture.
SECTION 3.04. Temporary Securities.
Pending the preparation of definitive Debt Securities, the Company may
execute, and upon Company Order the Indenture Trustee shall authenticate and
deliver, temporary Debt Securities that are typewritten, printed, lithographed
or otherwise produced, in any authorized denomination, substantially of the
tenor of the definitive Debt Securities in lieu of which they are issued and
with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations
as the officers executing such Debt Securities may determine, as evidenced by
their execution of such Debt Securities.
If temporary Debt Securities are issued, the Company will cause definitive
Debt Securities to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the
preparation of definitive Debt Securities, the temporary Debt Securities shall
be exchangeable for definitive Debt Securities upon surrender of the temporary
Debt Securities at any office or agency of the Company designated pursuant to
Section 10.02, without charge to the Holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of
any one or more temporary Debt Securities the Company shall execute and the
Indenture Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery in exchange
therefor a like principal amount of definitive Debt Securities of authorized
denominations. Until so exchanged the temporary Debt Securities shall in all
respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive
Debt Securities.
SECTION 3.05. Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange.
The Company shall cause to be kept at the Corporate Trust Office of the
Indenture Trustee a register (the register maintained in such office and in any
other office or agency designated pursuant to Section 10.02 being herein
sometimes collectively referred to as the "Security Register") in which, subject
to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall provide
for the registration of Debt Securities and of transfers of Debt Securities.
The Indenture Trustee is hereby appointed "Security Registrar" for the purpose
of registering Securities and transfers of Debt Securities as herein provided.
Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Debt Security at an
office or agency of the Company designated pursuant to Section 10.02 for such
purpose, the Company shall execute, and the Indenture Trustee shall authenticate
and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee
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or transferees, one or more new Debt Securities of any authorized denominations
and of a like aggregate principal amount.
At the option of the Holder, Debt Securities may be exchanged for other
Debt Securities of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate
principal amount, upon surrender of the Debt Securities to be exchanged at such
office or agency. Whenever any Debt Securities are so surrendered for exchange,
the Company shall execute, and the Indenture Trustee shall authenticate and make
available for delivery, the Debt Securities that the Holder making the exchange
is entitled to receive.
All Debt Securities issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of
Debt Securities shall be the valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the
same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Debt
Securities surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.
Every Debt Security presented or surrendered for registration of transfer
or for exchange shall (if so required by the Company or the Indenture Trustee)
be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form
satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed, by the
Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing.
No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or
exchange of Debt Securities, but the Company may require payment of a sum
sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in
connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Debt Securities,
other than exchanges pursuant to Section 3.04, 9.06, 11.09 or 13.01 not
involving any transfer.
SECTION 3.06. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities.
If any mutilated Debt Security is surrendered to the Indenture Trustee, the
Company shall execute and the Indenture Trustee shall authenticate and deliver
in exchange therefor a new Debt Security of like tenor and principal amount and
bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.
If there shall be delivered to the Company and the Indenture Trustee (i)
evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Debt
Security and (ii) such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save
each of them and any agent of either of them harmless, then, in the absence of
notice to the Company or the Indenture Trustee that such Debt Security has been
acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Company shall execute and the Indenture
Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or
stolen Debt Security, a new Debt Security of like tenor and principal amount and
bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.
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In case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Debt Security has
become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may,
instead of issuing a new Debt Security, pay such Debt Security.
Upon the issuance of any new Debt Security under this Section, the Company
may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other
governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other
expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Indenture Trustee) connected
therewith.
Every new Debt Security issued pursuant to this Section in lieu of any
destroyed, lost or stolen Debt Security shall constitute an original additional
contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or
stolen Debt Security shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be
entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with
any and all other Debt Securities duly issued hereunder.
The provisions of this Section are exclusive and shall preclude (to the
extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or
payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Debt Securities.
SECTION 3.07. Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved.
Interest on any Debt Security that is payable, and is punctually paid or
duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall be paid to the Person in
whose name that Debt Security (or one or more Predecessor Debt Securities) is
registered at 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the Regular Record Date.
Any interest on any Debt Security that is payable, but is not punctually
paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date (herein called
"Defaulted Interest") shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on the
relevant Regular Record Date by virtue of having been such Holder, and such
Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Company, at its election in each case, as
provided in Clause (a) or (b) below:
(a) The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to
the Persons in whose names the Debt Securities (or their respective
Predecessor Debt Securities) are registered at 5:00 p.m. (New York City
time) on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest,
which shall be fixed in the following manner. The Company shall notify the
Indenture Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed
to be paid on each Debt Security and the date of the proposed payment, and
at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Indenture Trustee an
amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in
respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory
to the Indenture Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed
payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit
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of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this Clause (a)
provided. Thereupon the Indenture Trustee shall fix a Special Record Date
for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be not more than 15
days and not less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment
and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Indenture Trustee of the
notice of the proposed payment. The Indenture Trustee shall promptly notify
the Company of such Special Record Date and, in the name and at the expense
of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such
Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be mailed,
first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder at his address as it appears in
the Security Register, not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record
Date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the
Special Record Date therefor having been so mailed, such Defaulted Interest
shall be paid to the Persons in whose names the Securities (or their
respective Predecessor Debt Securities) are registered at 5:00 p.m. (New
York City time) on such Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable
pursuant to the following Clause (b).
(b) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest in any
other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any
securities exchange on which the Debt Securities may be listed, and, if so
listed, upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, if, after
notice given by the Company to the Indenture Trustee of the proposed
payment pursuant to this Clause (b), such manner of payment shall be deemed
practicable by the Indenture Trustee.
Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.07, each Debt
Security delivered under this Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in
exchange for or in lieu of any other Debt Security shall carry the rights to
interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue (including in each such case
Additional Payments, if any) that were carried by such other Debt Security.
In the case of any Debt Security that is converted after any Regular Record
Date and on or prior to the next succeeding Interest Payment Date (other than
any Debt Security whose Maturity is prior to such Interest Payment Date),
interest whose Stated Maturity is on such Interest Payment Date shall be payable
on such Interest Payment Date notwithstanding such conversion, and such interest
(whether or not punctually paid or duly provided for) shall be paid to the
Person in whose name that Debt Security (or one or more Predecessor Debt
Securities) is registered at 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on such Regular
Record Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if, during an Extension Period, a
notice of redemption is mailed pursuant to Section 11.06 and a Debt Security is
converted after such mailing but prior to the relevant Redemption Date, all
accrued but unpaid interest (including Additional Payments, if any) through the
date of conversion shall be paid to the holder of such Debt Security on the
Redemption Date. Except as otherwise expressly provided in the immediately
preceding two sentences, in the case of any Debt Security that is converted
prior to any Regular Record Date, interest whose Stated Maturity is after the
date of conversion of such Debt Security shall not be payable, and the Company
shall not make nor be required to make any other payment, adjustment or
allowance with respect to accrued but
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unpaid interest (including Additional Payments, if any) on the Debt Securities
being converted, which shall be deemed to be paid in full. Subject to any right
of the Holder of such Debt Security or any Predecessor Debt Security to receive
interest as provided in this paragraph and the second paragraph of clause (a) of
Section 13.02, the Company's delivery upon conversion of the fixed number of
shares of Common Stock into which the Debt Securities are convertible (together
with the cash payment, if any, in lieu of fractional shares) shall be deemed to
satisfy the Company's obligation to pay the principal amount at Maturity of the
portion of Debt Securities so converted and any unpaid interest (including
Additional Payments, if any) accrued on such Securities at the time of such
conversion. If any Debt Security called for redemption is converted, any money
deposited with the Indenture Trustee or with any Paying Agent or so segregated
and held in trust for the redemption of such Debt Security shall (subject to any
right of the Holder of such Debt Security or any Predecessor Debt Security to
receive interest as provided in this paragraph) be paid to the Company upon
Company Request or, if then held by the Company, shall be discharged from such
trust.
SECTION 3.08. Persons Deemed Owners.
Prior to due presentment of a Debt Security for registration of transfer,
the Company, the Indenture Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Indenture
Trustee may treat the Person in whose name such Debt Security is registered as
the owner of such Debt Security for the purpose of receiving payment of
principal of and (subject to Section 3.07) interest (including Additional
Payments, if any) on such Security and for all other purposes whatsoever,
whether or not such Debt Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the
Indenture Trustee nor any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be affected
by notice to the contrary.
SECTION 3.09. Cancellation.
All Debt Securities surrendered for payment, redemption, registration of
transfer or exchange or conversion shall, if surrendered to any Person other
than the Indenture Trustee, be delivered to the Indenture Trustee and shall be
promptly cancelled by it. The Company may at any time deliver to the Indenture
Trustee for cancellation any Debt Securities previously authenticated and
delivered hereunder that the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever,
and all Debt Securities so delivered shall be promptly cancelled by the
Indenture Trustee. No Debt Security shall be authenticated in lieu of or in
exchange for any Debt Security cancelled as provided in this Section, except as
expressly permitted by this Indenture. All cancelled Debt Securities held by
the Indenture Trustee shall be disposed of as directed by a Company Order;
provided, however, that the Indenture Trustee shall not be required to destroy
the certificates representing such cancelled Debt Securities.
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SECTION 3.10. Right of Setoff.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture, the Company
shall have the right to set off any payment it is otherwise required to make
hereunder to the extent the Company has theretofore made, or is concurrently on
the date of such payment making, a payment under the Guarantees.
SECTION 3.11. CUSIP Numbers.
The Company in issuing the Debt Securities may use "CUSIP" numbers (if then
generally in use), and, if so, the Indenture Trustee shall use "CUSIP" numbers
in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided, that any such
notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such
numbers either as printed on the Debt Securities or as contained in any notice
of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification
numbers printed on the Debt Securities, and any such redemption shall not be
affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers.
SECTION 3.12. Option to Extend Interest Payment Period.
(a) So long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the
Company shall have the right at any time, and from time to time during the
term of the Debt Securities, to defer payments of interest (including
Additional Payments) by extending the interest payment period for a period
(each, an "Extension Period") not exceeding 20 consecutive quarters with
respect to each Extension Period; provided, no Extension Period may extend
beyond the Stated Maturity of the Debt Securities, and at the end of which
Extension Period the Company shall pay all interest then accrued and unpaid
(including Additional Interest) together with interest thereon compounded
quarterly at the rate specified for the Debt Securities to the extent
permitted by applicable law ("Compounded Interest"); provided, further,
that during any such Extension Period, (i) the Company shall not declare or
pay dividends on, or make any distribution or liquidation payment with
respect to, or redeem, purchase or acquire any of its capital stock (other
than (A) purchases or acquisitions of shares of Common Stock in connection
with the satisfaction by the Company of its obligations under any employee
benefit plans or the satisfaction by the Company of its obligations
pursuant to any contract or security requiring the Company to purchase
shares of Common Stock, (B) as a result of a reclassification of the
Company's capital stock or the exchange or conversion of one class or
series of the Company's capital stock for another class or series of the
Company's capital stock, (C) the purchase of fractional interests in shares
of the Company's capital stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange
provisions of such capital stock or the security being converted or
exchanged, (D) purchases or acquisitions of shares of Common Stock to be
used in connection with acquisitions of Common Stock by stockholders
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pursuant to the Company's dividend reinvestment plan or (E) stock dividends
paid by the Company where the dividend stock is the same as that on which
the dividend is paid), (ii) the Company shall not make any payment of
interest on or principal of (or premium, if any, on) or repay, repurchase
or redeem any debt securities (including guarantees) issued by the Company
that rank pari passu with or junior to the Debt Securities and (iii) not
make any guarantee payment with respect to the foregoing (other than
pursuant to the Guarantees). Prior to the termination of any such
Extension Period, the Company may further defer payments of interest by
extending the interest payment period; provided, however, that such
Extension Period, together with all such previous and further extensions
thereof, may not exceed 20 consecutive quarters; and provided further, that
no Extension Period may extend beyond the Maturity of the Debt Securities.
Upon the termination of any Extension Period and the payment of all amounts
then due, the Company may commence a new Extension Period, subject to the
terms set forth in this Section 3.12(a). No interest during an Extension
Period shall be due and payable.
(b) If the Institutional Trustee is the sole Holder of the Debt
Securities at the time the Company selects an Extension Period, the Company
shall give written notice to the Regular Trustees, the Institutional
Trustee and the Indenture Trustee of its selection of such Extension Period
at least one Business Day prior to the earlier of (i) the date the
distributions on the Preferred Securities would be payable, if not for such
Extension Period, or (ii) if the Preferred Securities are quoted for
trading on any stock exchange or quotation system, the date the Regular
Trustees are required to give notice to any applicable self-regulatory
organization or to holders of the Preferred Securities of the record date
or the date such distribution would be payable if not for such Extension
Period, but in any event not less than one Business Day prior to such
record date. The Regular Trustees shall give notice of the Company's
selection of such Extension Period to the holders of the Preferred
Securities.
(c) If the Institutional Trustee is not the sole Holder of the Debt
Securities at the time the Company selects an Extension Period, the Company
shall give the Holders of the Debt Securities and the Institutional Trustee
written notice of its selection of such Extension Period at least ten
Business Days prior to the earlier of (i) the next succeeding Interest
Payment Date or (ii) the date upon which the Company is required to give
notice to any applicable self-regulatory organization or to Holders of the
Debt Securities on the record or payment date of such related interest
payment.
(d) The quarter in which any notice is given pursuant to paragraphs
(b) and (c) hereof shall be counted as one of the 20 quarters permitted in
the maximum Extension Period permitted under paragraph (a) hereof.
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SECTION 3.13. Paying Agent, Security Registrar and Conversion Agent.
The Indenture Trustee will initially act as Paying Agent, Security
Registrar and Conversion Agent. The Company may change any Paying Agent,
Security Registrar, co-registrar or Conversion Agent without prior notice. The
Company or any of its Affiliates may act in any such capacity. The Indenture
Trustee is entitled to the protections of Article Six in its capacity as Paying
Agent, Registrar and Conversion Agent.
ARTICLE IV
Satisfaction and Discharge
SECTION 4.01. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.
This Indenture shall cease to be of further effect (except as to any
surviving rights of conversion, registration of transfer or exchange of Debt
Securities herein expressly provided for), and the Indenture Trustee, on demand
of and at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments
acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, when
(a) either
(i) all Debt Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered
(other than (A) Debt Securities that have been destroyed, lost or
stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section
3.06 and (B) Debt Securities for whose payment money has theretofore
been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company
and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust, as
provided in Section 10.03) have been delivered to the Indenture
Trustee for cancellation; or
(ii) all such Debt Securities not theretofore delivered to the
Indenture Trustee for cancellation have become due and payable, and
the Company has deposited or caused to be deposited with the Indenture
Trustee as trust funds in trust for the purpose of, and in an amount
sufficient for payment and discharge of the entire indebtedness on
such Debt Securities not theretofore delivered to the Indenture
Trustee for cancellation, for the principal (and premium, if any) and
interest (including Additional Payments) to the date of such deposit
(in the case of Debt Securities that have become due and payable) or
to the Stated Maturity or Redemption Date, as the case may be, along
with an accountant's certificate
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stating such funds are sufficient to pay principal and interest on the
Debt Securities when and as due;
(b) the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable
hereunder by the Company; and
(c) the Company has delivered to the Indenture Trustee an Officers'
Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions
precedent herein provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge of
this Indenture have been complied with.
Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the
obligations of the Company to the Indenture Trustee under Section 6.07 and, if
money shall have been deposited with the Indenture Trustee pursuant to subclause
(ii) of clause (a) of this Section, the obligations of the Indenture Trustee
under Section 4.02 and the last paragraph of Section 10.03 shall survive.
SECTION 4.02. Application of Trust Money.
Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 10.03, all money
deposited with the Indenture Trustee pursuant to Section 4.01 shall be held in
trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Debt
Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any
Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the
Indenture Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the
principal and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with the
Indenture Trustee. All moneys deposited with the Indenture Trustee pursuant to
Section 4.01 (and held by it or any Paying Agent) for the payment of Debt
Securities subsequently converted shall be returned to the Company upon Company
Request.
ARTICLE V
Remedies
SECTION 5.01. Events of Default.
"Event of Default," wherever used herein, means any one of the following
events that has occurred and is continuing (whatever the reason for such Event
of Default and whether it shall be occasioned by the provisions of Article
Twelve or 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) failure for 30 days to pay interest on the Debt Securities,
including any Additional Payments in respect thereof, when due; provided,
however that a
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valid extension of an interest payment period will not constitute a default
in the payment of interest (including Additional Payments, if any) for this
purpose; or
(b) failure to pay principal of or premium, if any, on the Debt
Securities when due, whether at maturity, upon redemption, by declaration
or otherwise; or
(c) failure by the Company to deliver shares of its Common Stock upon
an election by a holder of Preferred Securities to convert such Preferred
Securities; or
(d) failure to observe or perform, or breach of, in any material
respect, any other covenant or agreement contained in this Indenture that
shall not have been remedied for a period of 90 days after notice to the
Company by the Indenture Trustee or by the Holders of not less than 25% in
aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities;
(e) entry by a court having jurisdiction in the premises of (i) a
decree or order for relief in respect of the Company in an involuntary case
or proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law or (ii) a decree or order adjudging
the Company a bankrupt or insolvent, or approving as properly filed a
petition seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition of
or in respect of the Company under any applicable federal or state law, or
appointing a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee,
sequestrator or other similar official of the Company or of substantially
all of the property of the Company, or ordering the winding-up or
liquidation of its affairs, and the continuance of any such decree or order
for relief or any such other decree or order unstayed and in effect for a
period of 60 consecutive days;
(f) the commencement by the Company of a voluntary case or proceeding
under any Bankruptcy Law or of any other case or proceeding to be
adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent, or the consent by the Company or to
the entry of a decree or order for relief in respect of itself in an
involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable federal or state
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or to the
commencement of any bankruptcy or insolvency case or proceeding against the
Company, or the filing by the Company of a petition or answer or consent
seeking reorganization or relief under any applicable federal or state law,
or the consent by the Company to the filing of such petition or to the
appointment of or taking possession by a custodian, receiver, liquidator,
assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of the Company or
of substantially all of the property of the Company, or the making by the
Company of an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the admission by
the Company in writing of its inability to pay its debts generally as they
become due,
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or the taking of corporate action by the Company in furtherance of any such
action; or
(g) the voluntary or involuntary dissolution, winding-up or
termination of the Trust, except in connection with (i) the distribution of
Debt Securities to the holders of Preferred Securities in liquidation of
the Trust upon the redemption of all outstanding Preferred Securities of
the Trust or (ii) certain mergers, consolidations or amalgamations, each as
permitted by the Declaration.
The Indenture Trustee may withhold notice to the holders of the Debt
Securities (except in payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest on, the
Debt Securities) if the Indenture Trustee considers it in the interests of such
holders to do so.
SECTION 5.02. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.
If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, then and in every such
case the Indenture Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate
principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities may declare the principal of
and interest on all the Debt Securities (and any other amounts payable
hereunder) to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the
Company (and to the Indenture Trustee if given by Holders), and upon any such
declaration such principal and all accrued interest shall become immediately due
and payable.
At any time after such a declaration of acceleration has been made and
before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by
the Indenture Trustee as provided in this Article, the Holders of a majority in
aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities, by written
notice to the Company and the Indenture Trustee, may rescind and annul such
declaration of acceleration and its consequences if:
(a) the Company has paid or deposited with the Indenture Trustee a sum
sufficient to pay
(i) all overdue interest (including Additional Payments, if
any) on all Debt Securities,
(ii) the principal of (and premium, if any, on) any Debt
Security that has become due otherwise than by such declaration of
acceleration and interest thereon at the rate borne by the Debt
Securities, and
(iii) all sums paid or advanced by the Indenture Trustee
hereunder and the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and
advances of the Indenture Trustee, its agents and counsel;
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and
(b) all Events of Default, other than the nonpayment of the principal
of Debt Securities that has become due solely by such declaration of
acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 5.13. No
such rescission shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right
consequent thereon.
SECTION 5.03. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Indenture
Trustee.
The Company covenants that if:
(a) default is made in the payment of any interest (including
Additional Payments, if any) on any Debt Security when such interest
becomes due and payable and such default continues for a period of 30 days,
or
(b) default is made in the payment of the principal of any Debt
Security at the Maturity thereof,
the Company will, upon demand of the Indenture Trustee, pay to it, for the
benefit of the Holders of such Debt Securities, the whole amount then due and
payable on such Debt Securities for principal and interest (including Additional
Payments, if any) and, to the extent that payment thereof shall be legally
enforceable, interest on any overdue principal and on any overdue interest
(including Additional Payments, if any), at the rate borne by the Debt
Securities, and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient
to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable
compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Indenture Trustee, its
agents and counsel.
If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Indenture Trustee may
in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of
the Holders by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Indenture Trustee
shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any such rights, whether for
the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement in this Indenture or in
aid of the exercise of any power granted herein, or to enforce any other proper
remedy.
SECTION 5.04. Indenture Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.
In case of any judicial proceeding relative to the Company (or any other
obligor upon the Debt Securities), its property or its creditors, the Indenture
Trustee shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or
otherwise, to take any and all actions authorized under the Trust Indenture Act
in order to have claims of the Holders and the Indenture Trustee allowed in any
such proceeding. In particular, the Indenture Trustee shall be authorized to
collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any
such claims and to distribute the same; and any custodian, receiver, assignee,
trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial
proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make
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such payments to the Indenture Trustee and, in the event that the Indenture
Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to
pay to the Indenture Trustee any amount due it for the reasonable compensation,
expenses, disbursements and advances of the Indenture Trustee, its agents and
counsel, and any other amounts due the Indenture Trustee under Section 6.07.
No provision of this Indenture shall be deemed to authorize the Indenture
Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder
any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the
Debt Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof or to authorize the
Indenture Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such
proceeding.
SECTION 5.05. Indenture Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of
Securities.
All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or the Debt Securities
may be prosecuted and enforced by the Indenture Trustee without the possession
of any of the Debt Securities or the production thereof in any proceeding
relating thereto, and any such proceeding instituted by the Indenture Trustee
shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any
recovery of judgment shall, after provision for the payment of the reasonable
compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Indenture Trustee, its
agents and counsel, be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Debt
Securities in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.
SECTION 5.06. Application of Money Collected.
Subject to Article Twelve, any money collected by the Indenture Trustee
pursuant to this Article shall be applied in the following order, at the date or
dates fixed by the Indenture Trustee and, in case of the distribution of such
money on account of principal of (premium, if any, on) or interest (including
Additional Payments, if any), upon presentation of the Debt Securities and the
notation thereon of the payment if only partially paid and upon surrender
thereof if fully paid:
FIRST: To the payment of all amounts due the Indenture Trustee under
Section 6.07; and
SECOND: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid for principal
of (premium, if any on) and interest (including Additional Payments, if any) on
the Debt Securities in respect of which or for the benefit of which such money
has been collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind,
according to the amounts due and payable on such Debt Securities for principal
(premium, if any) and interest (including Additional Payments, if any),
respectively.
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SECTION 5.07. Limitation on Suits.
Subject to Section 5.16, no Holder of any Debt Security shall have any
right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to this
Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other
remedy hereunder, unless
(a) such Holder has previously given written notice to the Indenture
Trustee of a continuing Event of Default;
(b) if the Trust is not the sole holder of Debt Securities, the
Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the
Outstanding Debt Securities shall also have made written request to the
Indenture Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of
Default in its own name as Indenture Trustee hereunder;
(c) such Holder or Holders have offered to the Indenture Trustee
reasonable indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be
incurred in compliance with such request;
(d) the Indenture Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such
notice, request and offer of indemnity has failed to institute any such
proceeding; and
(e) no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given
to the Indenture Trustee during such 60-day period by the Holders of a
majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities;
it being understood and intended that no one or more Holders shall have any
right in any manner whatever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision of
this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other Holders,
or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other Holders
or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein
provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of all the Holders.
SECTION 5.08. Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal and Interest
and Convert.
Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of any
Debt Security shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to
receive payment of the principal of (premium, if any, on) and (subject to
Section 3.07) interest (including Additional Payments, if any) on such Debt
Security on the respective Stated Maturities expressed in such Debt Security
(or, in the case of redemption, on the Redemption Date) and to convert such Debt
Security in accordance with Article Thirteen and to institute suit for the
enforcement of any such payment and right to convert, and such rights shall not
be impaired without the consent of such Holder.
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SECTION 5.09. Restoration of Rights and Remedies.
If the Indenture Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceeding to
enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been
discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to
the Indenture Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case, subject to
any determination in such proceeding, the Company, the Indenture Trustee and the
Holders shall be restored severally and respectively to their former positions
hereunder and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Indenture Trustee and
the Holders shall continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted.
SECTION 5.10. Rights and Remedies Cumulative.
Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of
mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Debt Securities in the last paragraph of
Section 3.06, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the
Indenture Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other
right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by
law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given
hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The
assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall
not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate
right or remedy.
SECTION 5.11. Delay or Omission Not Waiver.
No delay or omission of the Indenture Trustee or of any Holder of any Debt
Security to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default
shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event
of Default or an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this
Article or by law to the Indenture Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised
from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Indenture
Trustee or by the Holders, as the case may be.
SECTION 5.12. Control by Holders.
The Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the
Outstanding Debt Securities shall have the right to direct the time, method and
place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Indenture
Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Indenture Trustee;
provided, that
(a) such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or
with this Indenture;
(b) such Holder or Holders shall have offered to the Indenture Trustee
reasonable indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be
incurred in connection therewith; and
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(c) the Indenture Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by
the Trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction.
SECTION 5.13. Waiver of Past Defaults.
The Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the
Outstanding Debt Securities may on behalf of the Holders of all the Debt
Securities waive any past default hereunder and its consequences, except a
default
(a) in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any), or
interest (including Additional Payments, if any) on any Debt Security
(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 Indenture Trustee); or
(b) in respect of a covenant or provision hereof that cannot be
modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding
Security affected;
provided, however, that if the Debt Securities are held by the Trust or a
trustee of the Trust, such waiver or modification to such waiver shall not be
effective until the holders of a majority in liquidation amount of Trust
Securities shall have consented to such waiver or modification to such waiver;
provided, further, that if the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Debt
Security is required, such waiver shall not be effective until each holder of
the Trust Securities shall have consented to such waiver.
Upon any such waiver, such default shall cease to exist, and any Event of
Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose
of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other
default or impair any right consequent thereon.
SECTION 5.14. Undertaking for Costs.
In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this
Indenture, or in any suit against the Indenture Trustee for any action taken,
suffered or omitted by it as Indenture Trustee, a court may require any party
litigant in such suit to file an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and
may assess costs against any such party litigant, in the manner and to the
extent provided in the Trust Indenture Act; provided, that neither this Section
nor the Trust Indenture Act shall be deemed to authorize any court to require
such an undertaking or to make such an assessment in any suit instituted by the
Company or the Indenture Trustee or in any suit for the enforcement of the right
to receive the principal of (premium, if any, on) and interest (including
Additional Payments, if any) on any Debt Security or to convert any Debt
Security in accordance with Article Thirteen.
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SECTION 5.15. Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws.
The Company covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it
will not at any time insist upon, or plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or
take the benefit or advantage of, any stay or extension law wherever enacted,
now or at any time hereafter in force, that may affect the covenants or the
performance of this Indenture; and the Company (to the extent that it may
lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law
and covenants that it will not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any
power herein granted to the Indenture Trustee, but will suffer and permit the
execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.
SECTION 5.16. Enforcement by Holders of Preferred Securities.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing and such event is attributable to the failure of the Company to pay
interest or principal on the Debt Securities on the date such interest or
principal is otherwise payable (or in the case of redemption, on the Redemption
Date), the Company acknowledges that, in such event, a holder of Preferred
Securities may institute a Direct Action for payment on or after the respective
due date specified in the Debt Securities. The Company may not amend this
Indenture to remove the foregoing right to bring a Direct Action without the
prior written consent of all the holders of Preferred Securities.
Notwithstanding any payment made to such holder of Preferred Securities by the
Company in connection with a Direct Action, the Company shall remain obligated
to pay the principal of (premium, if any, on) or interest on the Debt Securities
(including Additional Payments, if any) held by the Trust or the Institutional
Trustee of the Trust, and the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the
holder of such Preferred Securities with respect to payments on the Preferred
Securities to the extent of any payment made by the Company to such holder in
any Direct Action. The holders of Preferred Securities will not be able to
exercise directly any other remedy available to the Holders of the Debt
Securities.
SECTION 5.17. Application of Trust Indenture Act to this Indenture.
Prior to the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement, this
Indenture shall incorporate and be governed by the provisions of the Trust
Indenture Act. After the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement,
this Indenture shall be subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act
that are required to be part of this Indenture and shall, to the extent
applicable, be governed by such provisions.
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ARTICLE VI
The Trustee
SECTION 6.01. Certain Duties and Responsibilities.
The duties and responsibilities of the Indenture Trustee shall be as
provided by the Trust Indenture Act. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no
provision of this Indenture shall require the Indenture Trustee to expend or
risk its own funds or otherwise incur personal financial liability in the
performance of any of its duties or in the exercise of any of its rights or
powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that the repayment of
such funds or liability is not reasonably assured to it under the terms of this
Indenture or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the Indenture Trustee against
such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it. Whether or not therein
expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct
or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Indenture Trustee
shall be subject to the provisions of this Section 6.01.
SECTION 6.02. Notice of Defaults.
The Indenture Trustee shall give the Holders notice of any default
hereunder as and to the extent provided by the Trust Indenture Act; provided,
however, that in the case of any default of the character specified in Section
5.01(d), no such notice to Holders shall be given until at least 30 days after
the occurrence thereof. For the purpose of this Section 6.02, the term
"default" means any event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both
would become, an Event of Default.
SECTION 6.03. Certain Rights of Indenture Trustee.
Subject to the provisions of Section 6.01:
(a) the Indenture Trustee may rely and shall be protected in acting or
refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement,
instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order,
bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or
document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented
by the proper party or parties;
(b) any request or direction of the Company mentioned herein shall be
sufficiently evidenced by a Company Request or Company Order and any
resolution of the Board of Directors may be sufficiently evidenced by a
Board Resolution;
(c) whenever in the administration of this Indenture the Indenture
Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established
prior to
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taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Indenture Trustee
(unless other evidence be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the
absence of bad faith on its part, rely upon an Officers' Certificate;
(d) the Indenture Trustee may consult with counsel of its choice and
the advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and
complete written authorization and protection in respect of any action
taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance
thereon;
(e) the Indenture Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any
of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or
direction of any of the Holders pursuant to this Indenture, unless such
Holders shall have offered to the Indenture Trustee reasonable security or
indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities that might be
incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction;
(f) the Indenture 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 Indenture Trustee, in its discretion, may make such
further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see
fit, and, if the Indenture Trustee shall determine to make such further
inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to reasonable examination of
the books, records and premises of the Company, personally or by agent or
attorney;
(g) the Indenture Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers
hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through
agents or attorneys and the Indenture Trustee shall not be responsible for
any misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed
with due care by it hereunder; and
(h) the Indenture Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken,
suffered, or omitted to be taken by it in good faith, without negligence or
willful misconduct, and reasonably believed by it to be authorized or
within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this
Indenture.
SECTION 6.04. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Debt Securities.
The recitals contained herein and in the Debt Securities, except the
Indenture Trustee's certificates of authentication, shall be taken as the
statements of the Company, and the Indenture Trustee assumes no responsibility
for their correctness. The Indenture Trustee makes no representations as to the
validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Debt Securities. The
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Indenture Trustee shall not be accountable for the use or application by the
Company of the Debt Securities or the proceeds thereof.
SECTION 6.05. May Hold Debt Securities.
The Indenture Trustee, any Paying Agent, any Security Registrar or any
other agent of the Company, in its individual or any other capacity, may become
the owner or pledgee of Debt Securities and, subject to Sections 6.08 and 6.13,
may otherwise deal with the Company with the same rights it would have if it
were not Indenture Trustee, Paying Agent, Security Registrar, or such other
agent.
SECTION 6.06. Money Held in Trust.
Money held by the Indenture Trustee in trust hereunder need not be
segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Indenture
Trustee shall be under no liability for interest on any money received by it
hereunder except as otherwise agreed with the Company.
SECTION 6.07. Compensation and Reimbursement.
The Company agrees
(a) to pay to the Indenture Trustee from time to time such
compensation as the Company and the Indenture Trustee shall from time to
time agree in writing for all services rendered by it hereunder;
(b) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse the
Indenture Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, fees,
disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Indenture Trustee in
accordance with any provision of this Indenture (including the reasonable
compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel),
except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be attributable to
its negligence or bad faith; and
(c) to indemnify the Indenture Trustee and any predecessor Indenture
Trustee for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability or
expense incurred without negligence or bad faith on its part, arising out
of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the Trust,
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.
When the Indenture Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in
connection with an Event of Default specified in Section 5.01(f) or Section
5.01(g), the expenses (including the reasonable charges and expenses of its
counsel) and the compensation for the services are intended
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to constitute expenses of administration under any applicable federal or state
bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law.
The provisions of this Section shall survive the termination of this
Indenture.
SECTION 6.08. Disqualification; Conflicting Interests.
If the Indenture Trustee has or shall acquire a conflicting interest within
the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act, the Indenture Trustee shall either
eliminate such interest or resign, to the extent and in the manner provided by,
and subject to the provisions of, the Trust Indenture Act and this Indenture.
SECTION 6.09. Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility.
There shall at all times be an Indenture Trustee hereunder, which shall be
a Person that is eligible pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act to act as such and
has a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 and has its Corporate
Trust Office in Wilmington, Delaware or New York, New York. If such Person
publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the
requirements of said supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes
of this Section, and to the extent permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, the
combined capital and surplus of such Person shall be deemed to be its combined
capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so
published. If at any time the Indenture Trustee shall cease to be eligible in
accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately in
the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article.
SECTION 6.10. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.
(a) No resignation or removal of the Indenture Trustee and no
appointment of a successor Indenture Trustee pursuant to this Article shall
become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor
Indenture Trustee under Section 6.11.
(b) The Indenture Trustee may resign at any time by giving written
notice thereof to the Company. If an instrument of acceptance by a
successor Indenture Trustee shall not have been delivered to the Indenture
Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such notice of resignation, the
resigning Indenture Trustee may petition any court of competent
jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Indenture Trustee.
(c) The Indenture Trustee may be removed at any time by Act of the
Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Debt
Securities, delivered to the Indenture Trustee and to the Company.
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(d) If at any time:
(i) the Indenture Trustee shall fail to comply with Section
6.08 after written request therefor by the Company or by any Holder
who has been a bona fide Holder of a Debt Security for at least six
months, or
(ii) the Indenture Trustee shall cease to be eligible under
Section 6.09 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor
by the Company or by any such Holder, or
(iii) the Indenture Trustee shall become incapable of acting, or
shall be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent, or a receiver of the
Indenture Trustee or of its property shall be appointed, or any public
officer shall take charge or control of the Indenture Trustee or of
its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation,
conservation or liquidation,
then, in any such case, (A) the Company by Board Resolution may remove the
Indenture Trustee, or (B) subject to Section 5.14, any Holder who has been
a bona fide Holder of a Debt Security for at least six months may, on
behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of
competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Indenture Trustee and the
appointment of a successor Indenture Trustee.
(e) If the Indenture Trustee shall resign, be removed or become
incapable of acting, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of Indenture
Trustee for any cause, the Company, by a Board Resolution, shall promptly
appoint a successor Indenture Trustee. If, within one year after such
resignation, removal or incapability, or the occurrence of such vacancy, a
successor Indenture Trustee shall be appointed by Act of the Holders of a
majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities delivered
to the Company and the retiring Indenture Trustee, the successor Indenture
Trustee so appointed shall, forthwith upon its acceptance of such
appointment, become the successor Indenture Trustee and supersede the
successor Trustee appointed by the Company. If no successor Trustee shall
have been so appointed by the Company or the Holders and accepted
appointment in the manner hereinafter provided, any Holder who has been a
bona fide Holder of a Debt Security 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 Indenture
Trustee.
(f) The Company shall give notice of each resignation and each removal
of the Indenture Trustee and each appointment of a successor Indenture
Trustee to all Holders in the manner provided in Section 1.06. Each notice
shall include the name of the successor Indenture Trustee and the address
of its Corporate Trust Office.
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SECTION 6.11. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.
Every successor Indenture Trustee appointed hereunder shall execute,
acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to the retiring Indenture Trustee an
instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal
of the retiring Indenture Trustee shall become effective and such successor
Indenture Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become
vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Indenture
Trustee; provided, that on request of the Company or the successor Indenture
Trustee, such retiring Indenture Trustee shall, upon payment of its charges,
execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Indenture
Trustee all the rights, powers and trusts of the retiring Indenture Trustee and
shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Indenture Trustee all
property and money held by such retiring Indenture Trustee hereunder. Upon
request of any such successor Indenture Trustee, the Company shall execute any
and all instruments required to more fully and certainly vest in and confirm to
such successor Indenture Trustee all such rights, powers and trusts.
No successor Indenture Trustee shall accept its appointment unless at the
time of such acceptance such successor Indenture Trustee shall be qualified and
eligible under this Article.
SECTION 6.12. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business.
Any corporation into which the Indenture Trustee may be merged or converted
or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any
merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Indenture Trustee shall be a
party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate
trust business of the Indenture Trustee, shall be the successor of the Indenture
Trustee hereunder, provided such corporation shall be otherwise qualified and
eligible under this Article, without the execution or filing of any paper or any
further act on the part of any of the parties hereto. In case any Debt
Securities shall have been authenticated, but not delivered, by the Indenture
Trustee then in office, any successor by merger, conversion or consolidation to
such authenticating Indenture Trustee may adopt such authentication and deliver
the Debt Securities so authenticated with the same effect as if such successor
Indenture Trustee had itself authenticated such Debt Securities.
SECTION 6.13. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.
If and when the Indenture Trustee shall be or become a creditor of the
Company (or any other obligor upon the Debt Securities), the Indenture Trustee
shall be subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act regarding the
collection of claims against the Company (or any such other obligor).
SECTION 6.14. Appointment of Authenticating Agent
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The Indenture Trustee may appoint an Authenticating Agent or Agents with
respect to the Debt Securities, which shall be authorized to act on behalf of
the Indenture Trustee to authenticate the Debt Securities issued upon original
issue and upon exchange, registration of transfer or partial redemption thereof
or pursuant to Section 3.06, and the Debt Securities so authenticated shall be
entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for
all purposes as if authenticated by the Indenture Trustee hereunder. Wherever
reference is made in this Indenture to the authentication and delivery of Debt
Securities by the Indenture Trustee or the Indenture Trustee's certificate of
authentication, such reference shall be deemed to include authentication and
delivery on behalf of the Indenture Trustee by an Authenticating Agent and a
certificate of authentication executed on behalf of the Indenture Trustee by an
Authenticating Agent. Each Authenticating Agent shall be acceptable to the
Company and shall at all times be a Person organized and doing business under
the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of
Columbia, authorized under such laws to act as Authenticating Agent, having a
combined capital and surplus of not less than $50,000,000 and subject to
supervision or examination by federal or state authority. If such Authenticating
Agent publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to
the requirements of said supervising or examining authority, then for the
purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such
Authenticating Agent shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as
set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time an
Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the
provisions of this Section, such Authenticating Agent shall resign immediately
in the manner and with the effect specified in this Section.
Any Person into which an Authenticating Agent may be merged or converted or
with which it may be consolidated, or any Person resulting from any merger,
conversion or consolidation to which such Authenticating Agent shall be a party,
or any Person succeeding to the corporate agency or corporate trust business of
an Authenticating Agent, shall continue to be an Authenticating Agent, provided
such Person shall be otherwise eligible under this Section, without the
execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of the Indenture
Trustee or the Authenticating Agent.
An Authenticating Agent may resign at any time by giving written notice
thereof to the Indenture Trustee and to the Company. The Indenture Trustee may
at any time terminate the agency of an Authenticating Agent by giving written
notice thereof to such Authenticating Agent and to the Company. Upon receiving
such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time
such Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the
provisions of this Section, the Indenture Trustee may appoint a successor
Authenticating Agent which shall be acceptable to the Company and shall give
notice of such appointment in the manner provided in Section 1.06 to all Holders
of Debt Securities of the series with respect to which such Authenticating Agent
will serve. Any successor Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its
appointment hereunder shall become vested with all the rights, powers and duties
of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as an
Authenticating Agent. No successor Authenticating Agent shall be appointed
unless eligible under the provisions of this Section.
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The Indenture Trustee agrees to pay to each Authenticating Agent from time
to time compensation for its services under this Section, and the Indenture
Trustee shall be entitled to be reimbursed for such payments, subject to the
provisions of Section 6.07.
If an appointment with respect to one or more series is made pursuant to
this Section, the Debt Securities may have endorsed thereon, in addition to the
Indenture Trustee's certificate of authentication, an alternative certificate of
authentication in the following form:
This is one of the Debt Securities of the series designated therein
referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
_______________, as Indenture Trustee
By________________________________
As Authenticating Agent
By________________________________
Authorized Officer
ARTICLE VII
Holders' Lists and Reports by Indenture Trustee and Company
SECTION 7.01. Company to Furnish Indenture Trustee Names and Addresses of
Holders.
The Company will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Indenture Trustee
(a) semiannually, not later than June 30 and December 31 in each year,
a list, in such form as the Indenture Trustee may reasonably require, of
the names and addresses of the Holders as of a date not more than 15 days
prior to the delivery thereof, and
(b) at such other times as the Indenture Trustee may request in
writing, within 30 days after the receipt by the Company of any such
request, a list of similar form and content as of a date not more than 15
days prior to the time such list is furnished;
excluding from any such list names and addresses received by the Indenture
Trustee in its capacity as Security Registrar.
SECTION 7.02. Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders.
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(a) The Indenture Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is
reasonably practicable, the names and addresses of Holders contained in the
most recent list furnished to the Indenture Trustee as provided in Section
7.01 and the names and addresses of Holders received by the Indenture
Trustee in its capacity as Security Registrar. The Indenture Trustee may
destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 7.01 upon receipt
of a new list so furnished.
(b) The rights of Holders to communicate with other Holders with
respect to their rights under this Indenture or under the Debt Securities,
and the corresponding rights and duties of the Indenture Trustee, shall be
as provided by the Trust Indenture Act.
(c) Every Holder of Debt Securities, by receiving and holding the
same, agrees with the Company and the Indenture Trustee that neither the
Company nor the Indenture Trustee nor any agent of either of them shall be
held accountable by reason of any disclosure of information as to names and
addresses of Holders made pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 7.03. Reports by Indenture Trustee.
(a) The Indenture Trustee shall transmit by mail to Holders such
reports concerning the Indenture Trustee and its actions under this
Indenture as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act in the
manner provided pursuant thereto.
(b) A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission
to Holders, be filed by the Indenture Trustee with each stock exchange or
inter-dealer quotation system upon which the Debt Securities are listed,
with the Commission and with the Company. The Company will notify the
Indenture Trustee when the Debt Securities are listed on any stock exchange
or inter-dealer quotation system.
SECTION 7.04. Reports by Company.
The Company shall file with the Indenture Trustee and the Commission, and
transmit to Holders, such information, documents and other reports, and such
summaries thereof, as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act at the
times and in the manner provided pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act; provided,
that any such information, documents or reports required to be filed with the
Commission pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act shall be filed
with the Indenture Trustee within 15 days after the same is so required to be
filed with the Commission.
Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Indenture
Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Indenture Trustee's receipt
of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained
therein or determinable from information
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contained therein, including the Company's compliance with any of its covenants
hereunder (as to which the Indenture Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on
Officers' Certificates).
The Company shall also provide to the Indenture Trustee on a timely basis
such information as the Indenture Trustee requires to enable the Indenture
Trustee to prepare and file any form required to be submitted by the Company
with the Internal Revenue Service and the Holders of the Debt Securities
relating to original issue discount, if any, including, without limitation, Form
1099-OID or any successor form.
ARTICLE VIII
Consolidation, Merger, Conveyance, Transfer or Lease
SECTION 8.01. Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms.
The Company shall not consolidate with, or merge with or into, any other
Person or, directly or indirectly, convey, transfer or lease all or
substantially all of its properties and assets on a consolidated basis to any
Person and the Company shall not permit any Person to consolidate with, or merge
with or into, the Company or, directly or indirectly, convey, transfer or lease
all or substantially all of its properties and assets on a consolidated basis to
the Company, unless:
(a) the Person formed by such consolidation or into which the Company
is merged or the Person that acquires by conveyance, transfer or lease, all
or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company on a
consolidated basis shall be a corporation, partnership or trust, shall be
organized and validly existing under the laws of the United States of
America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia and shall expressly
assume, by an indenture supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to the
Indenture Trustee, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Indenture
Trustee, the due and punctual payment of the principal of (and premium, if
any) and interest (including Additional Payments, if any) on all the Debt
Securities and the performance or observance of every covenant of this
Indenture on the part of the Company to be performed or observed and shall
have provided for conversion rights in accordance with Article Thirteen;
(b) immediately after giving effect to such transaction and treating
any indebtedness that becomes an obligation of the Company or a Subsidiary
as a result of such transaction as having been incurred by the Company or
such Subsidiary at the time of 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; and
(c) the Company has delivered to the Indenture Trustee an Officers'
Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such
consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease and, if a supplemental
indenture is required in connection with such
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transaction, such supplemental indenture, comply with this Article and that
all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction
have been complied with.
SECTION 8.02. Successor Substituted.
Upon any consolidation of the Company with, or merger of the Company into,
any other Person or any conveyance, transfer or lease of all or substantially
all the properties and assets of the Company on a consolidated basis in
accordance with Section 8.01, the successor Person formed by such consolidation
or into which the Company is merged or to which such conveyance, transfer or
lease is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every
right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if
such successor Person had been named as the Company herein, and thereafter the
predecessor Person shall be relieved of all obligations and covenants under this
Indenture and the Debt Securities.
ARTICLE IX
Supplemental Indentures
SECTION 9.01. Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders.
Without the consent of any Holders, the Company, when authorized by a Board
Resolution, and the Indenture Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may
enter into one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in form satisfactory to
the Indenture Trustee, for any of the following purposes:
(a) to evidence the succession of another Person to the Company and
the assumption by any such successor of the covenants of the Company herein
and in the Debt Securities; or
(b) to add to the covenants of the Company for the benefit of the
Holders, or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the
Company, including providing for the conversion of the Debt Securities into
any security or property (other than the Common Stock of the Company); or
(c) to make provision with respect to the conversion rights of Holders
pursuant to the requirements of Article Thirteen; or
(d) to add any additional Events of Default for the benefit of the
Holders of Debt Securities; or
(e) to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture to
such extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the issuance of
Debt Securities in bearer form,
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registrable or not registrable as to principal, and with or without
interest coupons, or to permit or facilitate the issuance of Debt
Securities in uncertificated form; or
(f) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment
hereunder by a successor Indenture Trustee with respect to the Debt
Securities of one or more series and to add to or change any of the
provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or
facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one
Indenture Trustee, pursuant to the requirements of Section 6.11; or
(g) to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision
herein that may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision
herein, or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or
questions arising under this Indenture that shall not be inconsistent with
the provisions of this Indenture; provided, that such action pursuant to
this clause (g) shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of
the Debt Securities or, so long as any of the Preferred Securities shall
remain outstanding, the holders of the Preferred Securities;
(h) to comply with the requirements of the Commission in order to
effect or maintain the qualification of this Indenture under the Trust
Indenture Act; or
(i) to make provision for transfer procedures, certification, book-
entry provisions, the form of restricted securities legends, if any, to be
placed on Debt Securities, and all other matters required pursuant to
Section 3.05(b) or otherwise necessary, desirable or appropriate in
connection with the issuance of Debt Securities to holders of Preferred
Securities in the event of a distribution of Debt Securities by the Trust
if a Special Event occurs and is continuing.
SECTION 9.02. Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders.
With the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities, by Act of said Holders
delivered to the Company and the Indenture Trustee, the Company, when authorized
by a Board Resolution, and the Indenture Trustee may enter into an indenture or
indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to or
changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or
of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders under this Indenture;
provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture shall, without the
consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Debt Security affected thereby,
(a) change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any installment
of interest (including Additional Payments, if any) on, any Debt Security,
or reduce the principal amount thereof, or reduce the rate or extend the
time for payment of interest thereon, or extend the Extension Period, or
reduce any premium payable upon the redemption thereof,
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or change the place of payment where, or the coin or currency in which, any
Debt Security or interest thereon is payable, or impair the right to
institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the
Stated Maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the
Redemption Date), or impair or affect the right to convert any Debt
Security as provided in Article Thirteen (except as permitted by Section
9.01(c)), or modify the provisions of this Indenture with respect to the
subordination of the Debt Securities in a manner adverse to the Holders,
(b) reduce the percentage in aggregate principal amount of the
Outstanding Debt Securities, for which the consent of the Holders is
required for any such supplemental indenture, or for which the consent of
the Holders is required for any waiver (of compliance with certain
provisions of this Indenture or certain defaults hereunder and their
consequences) provided for in this Indenture, or
(c) modify any of the provisions of this Section 9.02 or Section 5.13,
except to increase the percentage of Holders required to consent in order
for the actions described in such Sections to take place, or to provide
that certain other provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or
waived without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Debt Security
affected thereby.
If the Debt Securities are held by the Trust or a trustee of the Trust,
such supplemental indenture shall not be effective until the holders of a
majority in liquidation amount of Trust Securities shall have consented to such
supplemental indenture; provided, that if the consent of the Holder of each
Outstanding Debt Security is required, such supplemental indenture shall not be
effective until each holder of the Trust Securities of the Trust shall have
consented to such supplemental indenture.
It shall not be necessary for any Act of Holders under this Section to
approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall
be sufficient if such Act shall approve the substance thereof.
The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the
purpose of determining the Persons entitled to consent to any indenture
supplemental hereto. If a record date is fixed, the Holders on such record
date, or their duly designated proxies, and only such Persons, shall be entitled
to consent to such supplemental indenture, whether or not such Holders remain
Holders after such record date; provided, that unless such consent shall have
become effective by virtue of the requisite percentage having been obtained
prior to the date that is 90 days after such record date, any such consent
previously given shall automatically and without further action by any Holder be
cancelled and of no further effect.
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SECTION 9.03. Execution of Supplemental Indentures.
In executing any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article or the
modifications thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Indenture
Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 6.01) shall be
fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating that the
execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this
Indenture. The Indenture Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into
any such supplemental indenture that affects the Indenture Trustee's own rights,
duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.
SECTION 9.04. Effect of Supplemental Indentures.
Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture under this Article, this
Indenture shall be modified in accordance therewith, and such supplemental
indenture shall form a part of this Indenture for all purposes; and every Holder
of Debt Securities theretofore or thereafter authenticated and delivered
hereunder shall be bound thereby. No such supplemental indenture shall directly
or indirectly modify the provisions of Article Twelve in any manner that might
terminate or impair the rights of the Senior Indebtedness pursuant to such
subordination provisions.
SECTION 9.05. Conformity with Trust Indenture Act.
Every supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article shall
conform to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 9.06. Reference in Debt Securities to Supplemental Indenture.
Debt Securities authenticated and delivered after the execution of any
supplemental indenture pursuant to this Article may, and shall if required by
the Indenture Trustee, bear a notation in form approved by the Indenture Trustee
as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Company
shall so determine, new Debt Securities so modified as to conform, in the
opinion of the Indenture Trustee and the Company, to any such supplemental
indenture may be prepared and executed by the Company and authenticated and
delivered by the Indenture Trustee in exchange for Outstanding Debt Securities.
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ARTICLE X
Covenants, Representations and Warranties
SECTION 10.01. Payment of Principal and Interest.
The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of the Debt Securities
that it will duly and punctually pay the principal of (and premium, if any) and
interest on the Debt Securities and Additional Payments, if any in accordance
with the terms of the Debt Securities and this Indenture.
SECTION 10.02. Maintenance of Office or Agency.
The Company will maintain in the United States an office or agency where
Debt Securities may be presented or surrendered for payment, where Debt
Securities may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and where
notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Debt Securities and
this Indenture may be served. The Company will give prompt written notice to
the Indenture Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such
office or agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such
required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Indenture Trustee with
the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be
made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Indenture Trustee, and the
Company hereby appoints the Indenture Trustee as its agent to receive all such
presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.
The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other offices
or agencies (in the United States) where the Debt Securities may be presented or
surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such
designations; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission shall in
any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain an office or agency
in the United States for such purposes. The Company will give prompt written
notice to the Indenture Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any
change in the location of any such other office or agency.
SECTION 10.03. Money for Security Payments to Be Held in Trust.
If the Company shall at any time act as its own Paying Agent, it will, on
or before each due date of the principal of or interest on any of the Debt
Securities, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled
thereto a sum sufficient to pay the principal or interest so becoming due until
such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein
provided and will promptly notify the Indenture Trustee of its action or failure
so to act.
Whenever the Company shall have one or more Paying Agents, it will, prior
to each due date of the principal of or interest on any of the Debt Securities,
deposit with a Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay such amount, such sum to be
held as provided by the Trust Indenture Act,
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and (unless such Paying Agent is the Indenture Trustee) the Company will
promptly notify the Indenture Trustee of its action or failure so to act.
The Company will cause each Paying Agent other than the Indenture Trustee
to execute and deliver to the Indenture Trustee an instrument in which such
Paying Agent shall agree with the Indenture Trustee, subject to the provisions
of this Section, that such Paying Agent will (i) comply with the provisions of
the Trust Indenture Act applicable to it as a Paying Agent and (ii) during the
continuance of any default by the Company (or any other obligor upon the Debt
Securities) in the making of any payment in respect of the Debt Securities, upon
the written request of the Indenture Trustee, forthwith pay to the Indenture
Trustee all sums held in trust by such Paying Agent as such.
The Company may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the satisfaction
and discharge of this Indenture or for any other purpose, pay, or by Company
Order direct any Paying Agent to pay, to the Indenture Trustee all sums held in
trust by the Company or such Paying Agent, such sums to be held by the Indenture
Trustee upon the same trusts as those upon which such sums were held by the
Company or such Paying Agent; and, upon such payment by any Paying Agent to the
Indenture Trustee, such Paying Agent shall be released from all further
liability with respect to such money.
Any money deposited with the Indenture Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then
held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of, premium, if
any, on or interest on (including Additional Payments, if any) any Debt Security
and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal or interest has
become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on Company Request, or (if
then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of
any such Debt Security shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look
only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Indenture
Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability
of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided, however,
that the Indenture Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make
any such repayment, may at the expense of the Company cause to be published
once, in a newspaper published in the English language, customarily published on
each Business Day and of general circulation in the Borough of Manhattan, The
City of New York, notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a
date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of
such publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be
repaid to the Company. The Paying Agent shall be entitled to the rights and
protections extended to the Indenture Trustee hereunder.
SECTION 10.04. Statement by Officers as to Default.
The Company will deliver to the Indenture Trustee, within 120 days after
the end of each fiscal year of the Company ending after the date hereof, an
Officers' Certificate, stating whether or not to the best knowledge of the
signers thereof the Company is in default in the performance and observance of
any of the material terms, provisions and conditions of this Indenture (without
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regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice provided hereunder) and,
if the Company shall be in default, specifying all such defaults and the nature
and status thereof of which they may have knowledge.
SECTION 10.05. Limitation on Dividends; Covenants as to the Trust.
(a) The Company covenants that so long as the Debt Securities are
outstanding, if (i) there shall have occurred and be continuing any event
that with the giving of notice or the lapse of time or both, would
constitute an Event of Default, (ii) the Company shall be in default with
respect to its payment of any obligations under the Guarantee, or (iii) the
Company has exercised its option to defer interest payments on the Debt
Securities by extending the interest payment period and such period, or any
extension thereof, shall be continuing, then the Company shall (A) not
declare or pay dividends on, or make a distribution with respect to, or
redeem or purchase or acquire, or make a liquidation payment with respect
to, any of its capital stock (other than (v) purchases or acquisitions of
shares of Common Stock in connection with the satisfaction by the Company
of its obligations under any employee benefit plans or the satisfaction by
the Company of its obligations pursuant to any contract or security
requiring the Company to purchase shares of Common Stock, (w) as a result
of a reclassification of the Company's capital stock or the exchange or
conversion of one class or series of the Company's capital stock for
another class or series of the Company's capital stock, (x) the purchase of
fractional interests in shares of the Company's capital stock pursuant to
the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock or the security
being converted or exchanged, (y) purchases or acquisitions of shares of
Common Stock to be used in connection with acquisitions of the Common Stock
by stockholders pursuant to a dividend reinvestment plan or (z) stock
dividends paid by the Company where the dividend stock is the same stock as
that on which the dividend is paid), (B) not make any payment of interest
on or principal of (or premium, if any, on) or repay, repurchase or redeem
any debt securities (including guarantees) issued by the Company that rank
pari passu with or junior to the Debt Securities and (C) not make any
guarantee payments with respect to the foregoing (other than pursuant to
the Guarantees).
(b) The Company also covenants and agrees (i) that it shall directly
or indirectly maintain 100% ownership of the Common Securities of the
Trust; provided, however, that any permitted successor of the Company
hereunder may succeed to the Company's ownership of such Common Securities
and (ii) as issuer of the Debt Securities that it shall not voluntarily
terminate, wind-up or liquidate the Trust, except in connection with (A) a
distribution of Debt Securities to the holders of the Trust Securities in
liquidation of the Trust or (B) certain mergers, consolidations or
amalgamations permitted by the Declaration of the Trust, (iii) that it
shall use its reasonable efforts (A) to cause the Debt Securities to
continue to be classified as indebtedness of the Company for United States
federal income tax purposes, and (B) that it shall cause the Trust to
otherwise continue to be classified as a grantor trust for United States
Federal income tax purposes.
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SECTION 10.06. Maintenance of Properties.
The Company will cause all properties used or useful in the conduct of its
business or the business of any Subsidiary to be maintained and kept in good
condition, repair and working order and supplied with all necessary equipment
and will cause to be made all necessary repairs, renewals, replacements,
betterments and improvements thereof, all as in the judgment of the Company may
be necessary so that the business carried on in connection therewith may be
properly and advantageously conducted at all times; provided, however, that
nothing in this Section shall prevent the Company from discontinuing the
operation or maintenance of any of such properties if such discontinuance is, in
the judgment of the Company, desirable in the conduct of its business or the
business of any Subsidiary and not disadvantageous in any material respect to
the Holders.
SECTION 10.07. Payment of Expenses of the Trust.
Notwithstanding Section 3.12, the Company shall:
(a) pay for all costs, fees and expenses relating to the offering,
sale and issuance of the Debt Securities, including commissions, discounts
and expenses payable pursuant to the Purchase Agreement and compensation of
the Indenture Trustee under the Indenture in accordance with the provisions
of Section 6.07 of the Indenture;
(b) be responsible for and pay for all debts and obligations (other
than with respect to the Trust Securities) of the Trust, pay for all costs
and expenses of the Trust (including, but not limited to, costs and
expenses relating to the organization of the Trust, the offering, sale and
issuance of the Trust Securities (including commissions, discounts and
expenses in connection therewith), the fees and expenses of the
Institutional Trustee and the Delaware Trustee, the costs and expenses
relating to the operation of the Trust, including, without limitation,
costs and expenses of accountants, attorneys, statistical or bookkeeping
services, expenses for printing and engraving and computing or accounting
equipment, paying agent(s), registrar(s), transfer agent(s), duplicating,
travel and telephone and other telecommunications expenses and costs and
expenses incurred in connection with the acquisition, financing, and
disposition of Trust assets); and
(c) pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged, before the
same shall become delinquent, (1) all taxes (other than United States
withholding taxes attributable to the trust or its assets), assessments and
governmental charges levied or imposed upon the Company or any Subsidiary
or upon the income, profits or property of the Company or any Subsidiary,
(2) all lawful claims for labor, materials and supplies which, if unpaid,
might by law become a lien upon the property of the Company or any
Subsidiary and (3) at any time the Institutional Trustee is the Holder of
of any Debt Securities, all taxes, duties, assessments or government
charges of whatever nature (other than withholding taxes) that the Trust or
the Institutional Trustee is required to pay; provided, however, that
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the Company shall not be required to pay or discharge or cause to be paid
or discharged any such tax, assessment, charge or claim whose amount,
applicability or validity is being contested in good faith by appropriate
proceedings.
ARTICLE XI
Redemption of Securities
SECTION 11.01. Optional Redemption.
(a) The Company shall have the right to redeem the Debt Securities, in
whole or in part, at any time or from time to time after November 25, 2000, at
the redemption prices (expressed as a percentage of the principal amount of Debt
Securities) specified below (the "Redemption Prices") for the 12-month period
commencing November 25 in the year indicated:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Optional
Year Redemption Price
---- -----------------
<S> <C>
2000 102.6%
2001 101.3%
and 100% if redeemed on or after November 25,
2002
</TABLE>
plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest (including Additional Payments,
if any) to, but not including, the Redemption Date. Any redemption pursuant to
this Section 11.01 shall be made pursuant to the provisions of Sections 11.03
through 11.08 hereof.
(b) If a partial redemption of the Debt Securities would result in the
delisting of the Preferred Securities issued by the Trust from any national
securities exchange or other organization on which the Preferred Securities are
listed or quoted, the Company shall not be permitted to effect such partial
redemption and may only redeem the Debt Securities in whole.
SECTION 11.02. Tax Event Optional Redemption.
If a Tax Event has occurred and is continuing and:
(a) the Company has received a Redemption Tax Opinion; or
(b) after receiving a Dissolution Tax Opinion, if the Regular Trustees
shall have been informed by tax counsel rendering the Dissolution Tax
Opinion that a No Recognition Opinion cannot be delivered to the Regular
Trustees,
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then, notwithstanding Section 11.01(a) but subject to Section 11.01(b), the
Company shall have the right, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days'
notice to the Holders of the Preferred Securities to redeem the Debt Securities
in whole or in part, for cash at a redemption price equal to 100% of the
principal amount of the Debt Securities plus accrued and unpaid interest
(including Additional Payments, if any) thereon, within 90 days following the
occurrence of such Tax Event (the "90-day Period"); provided, however, that at
the time there is available to the Company or the Trust the opportunity to
eliminate, within such 90-Day Period, the Tax Event by taking some ministerial
action ("Ministerial Action"), such as filing a form or making an election, or
pursuing some other similar reasonable measure that, in the sole judgment of the
Company, has or will cause no adverse effect on the Company, the Trust or the
Holders of the Trust Securities, the Company or the Trust shall pursue such
Ministerial Action or other measure in lieu of redemption, and provided,
further, that the Company shall have no right to redeem the Debt Securities
while the Trust is pursuing any Ministerial Action or other similar measure
pursuant to its obligations under the Declaration.
SECTION 11.03. Applicability of Article.
Redemption of Debt Securities prior to their Stated Maturity, as permitted
by Sections 11.01 and 11.02, shall be made in accordance with such provision and
this Article.
SECTION 11.04. Election to Redeem; Notice to Indenture Trustee.
The election of the Company to redeem Debt Securities pursuant to Section
11.01 or 11.02 shall be evidenced by a Board Resolution. In case of any
redemption at the election of the Company, the Company shall, at least 60 days
and no more than 90 days prior to the Redemption Date fixed by the Company
(unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Indenture Trustee), notify
the Indenture Trustee in writing of such Redemption Date and of the principal
amount of Debt Securities to be redeemed and provide a copy of the notice of
redemption given to Holders of Debt Securities to be redeemed pursuant to
Section 11.05. In the case of any redemption of Debt Securities prior to the
expiration of any restriction on such redemption provided in the terms of such
Debt Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture, the Company shall furnish the
Indenture Trustee with an Officer's Certificate evidencing compliance with such
restriction.
SECTION 11.05. Selection by Indenture Trustee of Debt Securities to Be Redeemed.
If fewer than all the Debt Securities are to be redeemed (unless such
redemption affects only a single Debt Security), the particular Debt Securities
to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption
Date by the Indenture Trustee, from the Outstanding Debt Securities not
previously called for redemption, by such method as the Indenture Trustee shall
deem fair and appropriate and that may provide for the selection for redemption
of a portion of the principal amount of such Debt Security provided that the
unredeemed portion of the principal amount of any Debt Security shall be in an
authorized denomination (which shall not be less than the minimum authorized
denomination) for such Debt Security.
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The Indenture Trustee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the
Debt Securities selected for redemption as aforesaid and, in case of any Debt
Securities selected for partial redemption as aforesaid, the principal amount
thereof to be redeemed.
The provisions of the two preceding paragraphs shall not apply with respect
to any redemption affecting only a single Debt Security, whether such Debt
Security is to be redeemed in whole or in part. In the case of any such
redemption in part, the unredeemed portion of the principal amount of the Debt
Security shall be in an authorized denomination (which shall not be less than
the minimum authorized denomination) for such Debt Security.
For all purposes of this Indenture, unless the context otherwise requires,
all provisions relating to the redemption of Debt Securities shall relate, in
the case of any Debt Securities redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the
portion of the principal amount of such Debt Securities which has been or is to
be redeemed.
SECTION 11.06. Notice of Redemption.
Notice of redemption shall be given by first-class mail, postage prepaid,
mailed not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date, to
each Holder of Debt Securities to be redeemed, at such Holder's address
appearing in the Security Register.
All notices of redemption shall identify the Debt Securities to be redeemed
and shall state:
(a) the Redemption Date;
(b) the Redemption Price;
(c) if less than all the Outstanding Debt Securities are to be
redeemed, the identification of the particular Debt Securities to be
redeemed and, the principal amount of the particular Debt Security to be
redeemed;
(d) that on the Redemption Date the Redemption Price will become due
and payable upon each such Debt Security to be redeemed and that interest
thereon will cease to accrue on and after said date;
(e) the place or places where such Securities are to be surrendered
for payment of the Redemption Price; and
(f) the conversion rate or price, the date on which the right to
convert the Debt Securities to be redeemed will terminate and the place or
places where such Debt Securities may be surrendered for conversion.
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Notice of redemption of Debt Securities to be redeemed at the election of
the Company shall be given by the Company or, at the Company's request, by the
Indenture Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company.
SECTION 11.07. Deposit and Payment of Redemption Price.
Prior to 10:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the Redemption Date, the
Company shall deposit with the Indenture Trustee (or, if the Company is acting
as its own Paying Agent) segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section
10.03) an amount of money sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of, plus
(except if the Redemption Date shall be an Interest Payment Date) accrued and
unpaid interest (including Additional Payments, if any) on, all the Debt
Securities that are to be redeemed on that date. Such redemption payment shall
be made to the Holders prior to 12:00 noon (New York City time) on the
Redemption Date or such earlier time as the Company determines.
If any Debt Security called for redemption is converted into Common Stock,
any money deposited with the Indenture Trustee or with any Paying Agent or so
segregated and held in trust for the redemption of such Debt Security shall
(subject to any right of the Holder of such Debt Security or any Predecessor
Debt Security to receive interest as provided in the last paragraph of Section
3.07) be paid to the Company upon Company Request or, if then held by the
Company, shall be discharged from such trust.
SECTION 11.08. Securities Payable on Redemption Date.
Notice of redemption having been given as aforesaid, the Debt Securities so
to be redeemed shall, on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at the
Redemption Price therein specified, and from and after such date (unless the
Company shall default in the payment of the Redemption Price and accrued and
unpaid interest, including Additional Payments, if any) such Debt Securities
shall cease to bear interest. Upon surrender of any such Debt Security for
redemption in accordance with said notice, such Debt Security shall be paid by
the Company at the Redemption Price, together with accrued and unpaid interest
(including Additional Payments, if any) to the Redemption Date; provided,
however, that installments of interest whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to
the Redemption Date shall be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one
or more Predecessor Debt Securities, registered as such at 5:00 p.m. (New York
City time) on the relevant Record Dates according to the terms and provisions of
Section 3.07.
If any Debt Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon
surrender thereof for redemption, the principal shall, until paid, bear
interest from the Redemption Date at the rate borne by the Debt Security.
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SECTION 11.09. Debt Securities Redeemed in Part.
In the event of any redemption in part, the Company shall not be required
to (i) issue, register the transfer of, or exchange any Debt Security during a
period beginning at 9:00 a.m. (New York City time) 15 Business Days before any
selection for redemption of Debt Securities and ending at 5:00 p.m. (New York
City time) on the earliest date in which the relevant notice of redemption is
deemed to have been given to all holders of Debt Securities to be so redeemed
and (ii) register the transfer of or exchange any Debt Securities so selected
for redemption, in whole or in part, except for the unredeemed portion of any
Debt Securities being redeemed in part.
Any Debt Security that is to be redeemed only in part shall be surrendered
at a place of payment therefor (with, if the Company or the Indenture Trustee so
requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form
satisfactory to the Company and the Indenture Trustee duly executed by, the
Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing), and the Company
shall execute, and the Indenture Trustee shall authenticate and make available
for delivery to the Holder of such Debt Security without service charge, a new
Debt Security or Debt Securities, of any authorized denomination as requested by
such Holder, in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the
unredeemed portion of the principal of the Debt Security so surrendered.
SECTION 11.10. No Sinking Fund.
The Securities are not entitled to the benefit of any sinking fund.
ARTICLE XII
Subordination of Securities
SECTION 12.01. Agreement to Subordinate.
The Company covenants and agrees, and each Holder of Debt Securities, by
such Holder's acceptance thereof, likewise covenants and agrees, that all Debt
Securities shall be issued subject to the provisions of this Article Twelve; and
each Holder of a Debt Security, whether upon original issue or upon transfer or
assignment thereof, accepts and agrees to be bound by such provisions. The
payment by the Company of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest
(including Additional Payments, if any) on all Debt Securities issued hereunder
shall, to the extent and in the manner hereinafter set forth, be expressly made
subordinate and junior in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all
existing and future Senior Indebtedness, whether outstanding at the date of this
Indenture or thereafter incurred; provided however, that no provision of this
Article Twelve shall prevent the occurrence of any default or Event of Default
hereunder.
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SECTION 12.02. Default on Senior Indebtedness.
In the event and during the continuation of any default by the Company in
the payment of principal, premium, interest or any other payment due on any
Senior Indebtedness continuing beyond the period of grace, if any, specified in
the instrument evidencing such Senior Indebtedness, or in the event that the
Maturity of any Senior Indebtedness of the Company, as the case may be, has been
accelerated because of a default, unless and until such default shall have been
cured or waived or shall have ceased to exist, or any such acceleration or
demand for payment has been rescinded, then, in any such case, no payment shall
be made by the Company with respect to the principal of (including redemption
payments, if any), premium, if any, or interest on the Debt Securities.
In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment shall be
received by the Indenture Trustee when such payment is prohibited by the
preceding paragraph of this Section 12.02, such payment shall be held in trust
for the benefit of, and shall be paid over or delivered to, the holders of
Senior Indebtedness or their respective representatives, or to the trustee or
trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any of such Senior Indebtedness
may have been issued, as their respective interests may appear, but only to the
extent that the holders of the Senior Indebtedness (or their representative or
representatives or a trustee) notify the Indenture Trustee in writing within 90
days of such payment of the amounts then due and owing on the Senior
Indebtedness and only the amounts specified in such notice to the Indenture
Trustee shall be paid to the holders of Senior Indebtedness.
SECTION 12.03. Liquidation; Dissolution; Bankruptcy.
Upon any distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character,
whether in cash, property or securities, to creditors upon any dissolution or
winding-up or liquidation or reorganization of the Company, whether voluntary or
involuntary, or in bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other proceedings,
all principal of, and premium, if any, and interest due or to become due on, all
Senior Indebtedness must first be paid in full before any payment is made on
account of the principal (and premium, if any) or interest (including Additional
Payments, if any) on the Debt Securities; and upon any such dissolution or
winding-up or liquidation or reorganization, any payment by the Company, or
distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash,
property or securities, to which the Holders of the Debt Securities or the
Indenture Trustee would be entitled, except for the provisions of this Article
Twelve, shall be paid by the Company or by any receiver, trustee in bankruptcy,
liquidating trustee, agent or other Person making such payment or distribution,
or by the Holders of the Debt Securities or by the Indenture Trustee under this
Indenture if received by them or it, directly to the holders of Senior
Indebtedness (pro rata to such holders on the basis of the respective amounts of
Senior Indebtedness held by such holders, as calculated by the Company) or their
representative or representatives, or to the trustee or trustees under any
indenture pursuant to which any instruments evidencing such Senior Indebtedness
may have been issued, as their respective interests may appear, to the extent
necessary to pay such Senior Indebtedness in full, in money
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or money's worth, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution
to or for the holders of such Senior Indebtedness, before any payment or
distribution is made to the Holders of Debt Securities or to the Indenture
Trustee.
In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment or
distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash,
property or securities, prohibited by the foregoing, shall be received by the
Indenture Trustee or the Holders of the Debt Securities before all Senior
Indebtedness is paid in full, or provision is made for such payment in money in
accordance with its terms, such payment or distribution shall be held in trust
for the benefit of and shall be paid over or delivered to the holders of Senior
Indebtedness or their representative or representatives, or to the trustee or
trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any instruments evidencing such
Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, and their respective interests may
appear, as calculated by the Company, for application to the payment of all
Senior Indebtedness remaining unpaid to the extent necessary to pay such Senior
Indebtedness in full in money in accordance with its terms, after giving effect
to any concurrent payment or distribution to or for the holders of such Senior
Indebtedness.
For purposes of this Article Twelve, the words, "cash, property or
securities" shall not be deemed to include shares of stock of the Company as
reorganized or readjusted, or securities of the Company or any other corporation
provided for by a plan of reorganization or readjustment, that are subordinated
in right of payment to all Senior Indebtedness that may at the time be
outstanding to substantially the same extent as, or to a greater extent than,
the Debt Securities are so subordinated as provided in this Article; provided,
that (i) such Senior Indebtedness is assumed by the new corporation, if any,
resulting from any such reorganization or readjustment, and (ii) the rights of
the holders of such Senior Indebtedness are not, without the consent of such
holders, altered by such reorganization or readjustment. The consolidation of
the Company with, or the merger of the Company with or into, another Person or
the liquidation or dissolution of the Company following the conveyance, transfer
or lease of all or substantially all its properties and assets on a consolidated
basis to another Person upon the terms and conditions provided for in Article
Eight hereof shall not be deemed a dissolution, winding-up, liquidation,
reorganization, assignment for the benefit of creditors or marshalling of assets
and liabilities of the Company for the purposes of this Section 12.03 if such
other Person shall, as a part of such consolidation, merger, conveyance,
transfer or lease, comply with the conditions stated in Article Eight hereof.
Nothing in Section 12.02 or in this Section 12.03 shall apply to claims of, or
payments to, the Indenture Trustee under or pursuant to Section 6.07 hereof.
SECTION 12.04. Subrogation.
Subject to the payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness or the provision
for such payment in cash or cash equivalents or otherwise in a manner
satisfactory to the holders of Senior Indebtedness, the rights of the Holders of
the Debt Securities shall be subrogated to the extent of the payments or
distributions made to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness pursuant to the
provisions of this Article (equally and ratably with the holders of indebtedness
of the Company
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which by its express terms is subordinated to indebtedness of the Company to
substantially the same extent as the Securities are subordinated to the Senior
Indebtedness and is entitled to like rights of subrogation) to the rights of the
holders of such Senior Indebtedness to receive payments or distributions of
cash, property or securities of the Company, as the case may be, applicable to
such Senior Indebtedness until the principal of (and premium, if any) and
interest (including Additional Payments, if any) on the Debt Securities shall be
paid in full. For the purposes of such subrogation, no payment or distribution
to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness of any cash, property or securities
to which the Holders of the Debt Securities or the Indenture Trustee would be
entitled except for the provisions of this Article Twelve, and no payment over
pursuant to the provisions of this Article Twelve, to or for the benefit of the
holders of such Senior Indebtedness by Holders of the Debt Securities or the
Indenture Trustee, shall, as among the Company, its creditors other than holders
of Senior Indebtedness, and the Holders of the Debt Securities, be deemed to be
a payment by the Company to or on account of such Senior Indebtedness. It is
understood that the provisions of this Article Twelve are and are intended
solely for the purposes of defining the relative rights of the Holders of the
Debt Securities, on the one hand, and the holders of such Senior Indebtedness on
the other hand.
Nothing contained in this Article Twelve or elsewhere in this Indenture or
in the Securities Debt is intended to or shall (1) impair, as among the Company,
its creditors other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness, and the Holders of
the Debt Securities, the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and
unconditional (and which, subject to the rights under this Article of the
holders of Senior Indebtedness, is intended to rank equally with all other
general obligations of the Company), to pay to the Holders of the Debt
Securities the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest (including
Additional Payments, if any) on the Debt Securities as and when the same shall
become due and payable in accordance with their terms, or (2) affect the
relative rights of the Holders of the Debt Securities and creditors of the
Company, as the case may be, other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness, or
(3) prevent the Indenture Trustee or the Holder of any Debt Security from
exercising all remedies otherwise permitted by applicable law upon default under
this Indenture, subject to the rights, if any, under this Article Twelve of the
holders of such Senior Indebtedness in respect of cash, property or securities
of the Company, as the case may be, received upon the exercise of any such
remedy.
Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company referred to in
this Article Twelve, the Indenture Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section
6.03, and the Holders of the Debt Securities, shall be entitled to rely upon any
order or decree made by any court of competent jurisdiction in which such
dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization proceedings are pending,
or a certificate of the receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidation trustee,
agent or other Person making such payment or distribution, delivered to the
Indenture Trustee or to the Holders of the Debt Securities, for the purposes of
ascertaining the Persons entitled to participate in such distribution, the
holders of the Senior Indebtedness and other indebtedness of the Company, as the
case may be, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid
or distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Article
Twelve.
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SECTION 12.05. Indenture Trustee to Effectuate Subordination.
Each Holder of Debt Securities by such Holder's acceptance thereof
authorizes and directs the Indenture Trustee on such Holder's behalf to take
such action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination
provided in this Article Twelve and appoints the Indenture Trustee as such
Holder's attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes.
SECTION 12.06. Notice by the Company.
The Company shall give prompt written notice to a Responsible Officer of
the Indenture Trustee of any fact known to the Company that would prohibit the
making of any payment to or by the Indenture Trustee in respect of the Debt
Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Article Twelve. Notwithstanding
the provisions of this Article Twelve or any other provision of this Indenture,
the Indenture Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of the existence of
any facts that would prohibit the payment to or by the Indenture Trustee in
respect of the Debt Securities pursuant to the provision of this Article Twelve,
unless and until a Responsible Officer of the Indenture Trustee shall have
received written notice thereof at the Corporate Trust Office of the Indenture
Trustee from the Company or a holder or holders of Senior Indebtedness or from
any trustee therefor; and, before the receipt of any such written notice, the
Indenture Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section 6.02 hereof, shall be
entitled in all respects to assume that no such facts exist; provided, however,
that if the Indenture Trustee shall not have received the notice provided for in
this Section 12.06 at least two Business Days prior to the date upon which by
the terms hereof any money may become payable for any purpose (including,
without limitation, the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or
interest (including Additional Payments, if any) on any Debt Security), then,
anything herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding, the Indenture Trustee
shall have full power and authority to receive such money and to apply the same
to the purposes for which they were received, and shall not be affected by any
notice to the contrary which may be received by it within two Business Days
prior to such date.
The Indenture Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section 6.02, shall be
entitled to rely on the delivery to it of a written notice by a Person
representing himself to be a holder of Senior Indebtedness (or a trustee on
behalf of such holder) to establish that such notice has been given by a holder
of such Senior Indebtedness (or a trustee on behalf of any such holder or
holders). In the event that the Indenture Trustee determines in good faith that
further evidence is required with respect to the right of any Person as a holder
of Senior Indebtedness to participate in any payment or distribution pursuant to
this Article Twelve, the Indenture Trustee may request such Person to furnish
evidence to the reasonable satisfaction of the Indenture Trustee as to the
amount of Senior Indebtedness held by such Person, the extent to which such
Person is entitled to participate in such payment or distribution and any other
facts pertinent to the right of such Person under this Article Twelve, and, if
such evidence is not furnished, the Indenture Trustee may defer any payment to
such Person pending judicial determination as to the right of such Person to
receive such payment.
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SECTION 12.07. Rights of the Indenture Trustee; Holders of Senior Indebtedness.
The Indenture Trustee in its individual capacity shall be entitled to all
the rights set forth in this Article Twelve in respect of any Senior
Indebtedness at any time held by it, to the same extent as any other holder of
Senior Indebtedness, and nothing in this Indenture shall deprive the Indenture
Trustee of any of its rights as such holder.
With respect to the holders of Senior Indebtedness, the Indenture Trustee
undertakes to perform or to observe only such of its covenants and obligations
as are set forth in this Article Twelve, and no implied covenants or obligations
with respect to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness shall be read into this
Indenture against the Indenture Trustee. The Indenture Trustee shall not be
deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness and
shall not be liable to any holder of such Senior Indebtedness if it shall pay
over or deliver to Holders of Debt Securities, the Company or any other Person
money or assets to which any holder of such Senior Indebtedness shall be
entitled by virtue of this Article Twelve or otherwise.
SECTION 12.08. Subordination May Not Be Impaired.
No right of any present or future holder of any Senior Indebtedness to
enforce subordination as herein provided shall at any time in any way be
prejudiced or impaired by any act or failure to act on the part of the Company
or by any act or failure to act, in good faith, by any such holder, or by any
noncompliance by the Company with the terms, provisions and covenants of this
Indenture, regardless of any knowledge thereof which any such holder may have or
otherwise be charged with.
Without in any way limiting the generality of the foregoing paragraph, the
holders of Senior Indebtedness may, at any time and from time to time, without
the consent of or notice to the Indenture Trustee or the Holders of the Debt
Securities, without incurring responsibility to the holders of the Debt
Securities and without impairing or releasing the subordination provided in this
Article Twelve or the obligations hereunder of the Holders of the Debt
Securities to the holders of Senior Indebtedness, do any one or more of the
following: (i) change the manner, place or terms of payment or extend the time
of payment of, or renew or alter, such Senior Indebtedness or otherwise amend or
supplement in any manner such Senior Indebtedness or any instrument evidencing
the same or any agreement under which such Senior Indebtedness is outstanding;
(ii) sell, exchange, release or otherwise deal with any property pledged,
mortgaged or otherwise securing such Senior Indebtedness; (iii) release any
Person liable in any manner for the collection of such Senior Indebtedness; and
(iv) exercise or refrain from exercising any rights against the Company and any
other Person.
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SECTION 12.09. Prior Payment to Senior Indebtedness Upon Acceleration of Debt
Securities.
In the event that any of the Debt Securities are declared due and payable
before their Stated Maturity, then and in such event the holders of Senior
Indebtedness shall be entitled to receive payment in full of all amounts due or
to become due on or in respect of all Senior Indebtedness or provision shall be
made for such payment in cash, before the Holders of the Debt Securities are
entitled to receive any payment (including any payment which may be payable by
reason of the payment of any other indebtedness of the Company being
subordinated to the payment of the Debt Securities) by the Company on account of
the principal of or any premium or interest on the Debt Securities or on account
of the purchase or other acquisition of Debt Securities.
In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall make
any payment to the Indenture Trustee or the Holder of any Debt Security
prohibited by the foregoing provisions of this Section, and if such fact shall,
at or prior to the time of such payment, have been made known to the Indenture
Trustee or, as the case may be, such Holder, then and in such event such payment
shall be paid over and delivered forthwith to the Company.
SECTION 12.10. Payment Permitted in Certain Situations.
Nothing contained in this Article or elsewhere in this Indenture or in any
of the Debt Securities shall prevent (1) the Company, at any time except during
the pendency of any dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization of
the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary or any bankruptcy, insolvency,
receivership or other proceedings of the Company referred to in Section 12.03 or
under the conditions described in Section 12.02 or 12.09, from making payments
at any time of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on the Debt
Securities, or (2) the application by the Indenture Trustee of any money
deposited with it hereunder to the payment of or on account of the principal of,
or premium, if any, or interest on the Debt Securities or the retention of such
payment by the Holders, if, at the time of such application by the Indenture
Trustee, it did not have actual knowledge that such payment would have been
prohibited by the provisions of this Article.
SECTION 12.11. Article Applicable to Paying Agents.
In case at any time any Paying Agent other than the Indenture Trustee shall
have been appointed by the Company and be then acting hereunder, the term
"Indenture Trustee" as used in this Article shall in such case (unless the
context otherwise requires) be construed as extending to and including such
Paying Agent within its meaning as fully for all intents and purposes as if such
Paying Agent were named in this Article in addition to or in place of the
Indenture Trustee.
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SECTION 12.12. Certain Conversions Deemed Payment.
For the purposes of this Article only, (1) the issuance and delivery of
junior securities (or cash paid in lieu of fractional shares) upon conversion of
Debt Securities in accordance with Article Thirteen, or pursuant to the terms
set forth in an Officer's Certificate shall not be deemed to constitute a
payment or distribution on account of the principal of or, if any, interest on
Debt Securities or on account of the purchase or other acquisition of Debt
Securities, and (2) the payment, issuance or delivery of cash, property or
securities (other than junior securities and cash paid in lieu of fractional
shares) upon conversion of a Debt Security shall be deemed to constitute payment
on account of the principal of such Debt Security. For the purposes of this
Section, the term "junior securities" means (A) shares of any stock of any class
of the Company and (B) securities of the Company that are subordinated in right
of payment to all Senior Indebtedness that may be outstanding at the time of
issuance or delivery of such securities to substantially the same extent as, or
to a greater extent than, the Debt Securities are so subordinated as provided in
this Article. Nothing contained in this Article or elsewhere in this Indenture
or in the Debt Securities is intended to or shall impair, as among the Company,
its creditors other than holders of Senior Indebtedness and the Holders of Debt
Securities, the right, which is absolute and unconditional, of the Holder of any
Debt Security to convert such Debt Security in accordance with Article Thirteen.
ARTICLE XII
Conversion of Securities
SECTION 13.01. Conversion Rights.
Subject to and upon compliance with the provisions of this Article, the
Debt Securities are convertible, at the option of the Holder at any time after
January 25, 1998 (or, in the case of Debt Securities called for redemption, the
close of business or the Business Day prior to the Redemption Date) and prior to
5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the Business Day immediately preceding the
date of repayment of such Debt Securities, whether at maturity or upon
redemption, into fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock of the
Company at an initial conversion rate of 2.1973 shares of Common Stock for each
$50 in aggregate principal amount of Debt Securities (equal to a conversion
price of $22.755 per share of Common Stock) (the "Initial Conversion Price"),
subject to adjustment as described in this Article Thirteen. A Holder of Debt
Securities may convert any portion of the principal amount of the Debt
Securities into that number of fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common
Stock (calculated as to each conversion to the nearest 1/100th of a share)
obtained by dividing the principal amount of the Debt Securities to be
converted by such conversion price. In case a Debt Security or portion thereof
is called for redemption, such conversion right in respect of the Debt Security
or portion so called shall expire at 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the
Business Day immediately preceding the corresponding Redemption Date, unless the
Company defaults in making the payment due upon redemption.
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SECTION 13.02. Conversion Procedures.
(a) In order to convert all or a portion of the Debt Securities, the Holder
thereof shall deliver to the Conversion Agent an irrevocable Notice of
Conversion setting forth the principal amount of Debt Securities to be
converted, together with the name or names, if other than the Holder, in which
the shares of Common Stock should be issued upon conversion and, if such Debt
Securities are definitive Debt Securities, surrender to the Conversion Agent the
Debt Securities to be converted, duly endorsed or assigned to the Company or in
blank. In addition, a holder of Preferred Securities may exercise its right
under the Declaration to convert such Preferred Securities into Common Stock by
delivering to the Conversion Agent an irrevocable Notice of Conversion setting
forth the information called for by the preceding sentence (except such notice
shall set forth the principal amount of Preferred Securities, rather than Debt
Securities, to be converted) and directing the Conversion Agent (i) to exchange
such Preferred Securities for a portion of the Debt Securities held by the Trust
(at an exchange rate of $50 principal amount of Debt Securities for each
Preferred Security) and (ii) to immediately convert such Debt Securities, on
behalf of such holder, into Common Stock of the Company pursuant to this Article
Thirteen and, if such Preferred Debt Securities are in definitive form,
surrendering such Preferred Securities, duly endorsed or assigned to the Company
or in blank. So long as any Preferred Securities are outstanding, the Trust
shall not convert any Debt Securities except pursuant to a Notice of Conversion
delivered to the Conversion Agent by a holder of Preferred Securities.
If a Notice of Conversion is delivered on or after the Regular Record Date
and prior to the subsequent Interest Payment Date, the Holder shall be required
to pay to the Company the interest payable on the subsequent Interest Payment
Date, and will be entitled to receive the interest payable on the subsequent
Interest Payment Date, on the portion of Debt Securities to be converted
notwithstanding the conversion thereof prior to such Interest Payment Date.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if, during an Extension Period, a notice of
redemption is mailed pursuant to Section 11.06 and a Debt Security is converted
after such mailing but prior to the relevant Redemption Date, all accrued but
unpaid interest (including Additional Payments, if any) through the date of
conversion shall be paid to the holder of such Debt Security on the Redemption
Date. Except as otherwise provided in the immediately preceding two sentences,
in the case of any Debt Security that is converted, interest whose Stated
Maturity is after the date of conversion of such Debt Security shall not be
payable, and the Company shall not make nor be required to make any other
payment, adjustment or allowance with respect to accrued but unpaid interest
(including Additional Payments, if any) on the Debt Securities being converted,
which shall be deemed to be paid in full. If any Debt Security called for
redemption is converted, any money deposited with the Indenture Trustee or with
any Paying Agent or so segregated and held in trust for the redemption of such
Debt Security shall (subject to any right of the Holder of such Debt Security or
any Predecessor Debt Security to receive interest as provided in the last
paragraph of Section 3.07 and this paragraph) be paid to the Company upon
Company Request or, if then held by the Company, shall be discharged from such
trust.
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Each conversion shall be deemed to have been effected immediately prior to
5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the day on which the Notice of Conversion was
received (the "Conversion Date") by the Conversion Agent from the Holder or from
a holder of the Preferred Securities effecting a conversion thereof pursuant to
its conversion rights under the Declaration, as the case may be. The Person or
Persons entitled to receive the Common Stock issuable upon such conversion shall
be treated for all purposes as the record holder or holders of such Common Stock
as of the Conversion Date. As promptly as practicable on or after the
Conversion Date, the Company shall issue and deliver at the office of the
Conversion Agent, unless otherwise directed by the Holder in the Notice of
Conversion, a certificate or certificates for the number of full shares of
Common Stock issuable upon such conversion, together with the cash payment, if
any, in lieu of any fraction of any share to the Person or Persons entitled to
receive the same. The Conversion Agent shall deliver such certificate or
certificates to such Person or Persons.
(b) Subject to any right of the Holder of such Debt Security or any
Predecessor Debt Security to receive interest as provided in the last paragraph
of Section 3.07 and the second paragraph of clause (a) of Section 13.02, the
Company's delivery upon conversion of the fixed number of shares of Common Stock
into which the Debt Securities are convertible (together with the cash payment,
if any, in lieu of fractional shares) shall be deemed to satisfy the Company's
obligation to pay the principal amount of the portion of Securities so converted
and any unpaid interest (including Additional Payments, if any) accrued on such
Securities at the time of such conversion.
(c) No fractional shares of Common Stock will be issued as a result of
conversion, but in lieu thereof, the Company shall pay to the Conversion Agent a
cash adjustment in an amount equal to the same fraction of the last reported
sale price of such fractional interest on the date on which the Debt Securities
or Preferred Securities, as the case may be, were duly surrendered to the
Conversion Agent for conversion, or, if such day is not a Trading Day, on the
next Trading Day, and the Conversion Agent in turn will make such payment, if
any, to the Holder of the Debt Securities or the holder of the Preferred
Securities so converted.
(d) In the event of the conversion of any Debt Security in part only, a new
Debt Security or Debt Securities for the unconverted portion thereof will be
issued in the name of the Holder thereof upon the cancellation thereof in
accordance with Section 3.05.
(e) In effecting the conversion transactions described in this Section, the
Conversion Agent is acting as agent of the holders of Preferred Securities (in
the exchange of Preferred Securities for Debt Securities) and as agent of the
Holders of Debt Securities (in the conversion of Debt Securities into Common
Stock), as the case may be, directing it to effect such conversion transactions.
The Conversion Agent is hereby authorized (i) to exchange Debt Securities held
by the Trust from time to time for Preferred Securities in connection with the
conversion of such Preferred Securities in accordance with this Article Thirteen
and (ii) to convert all or a portion of the Debt Securities into Common Stock
and thereupon to deliver such shares of Common Stock
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in accordance with the provisions of this Article Thirteen and to deliver to the
Trust a new Debt Security or Debt Securities for any resulting unconverted
principal amount.
SECTION 13.03. Conversion Price Adjustments.
The conversion price shall be subject to adjustment (without duplication)
from time to time as follows:
(a) In case the Company shall, while any of the Debt Securities are
outstanding, (i) pay a dividend or make a distribution with respect to its
Common Stock in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide its outstanding
shares of Common Stock, (iii) combine its outstanding shares of Common
Stock into a smaller number of shares or (iv) issue by reclassification of
its shares of Common Stock any shares of capital stock of the Company, the
conversion price in effect immediately prior to such action shall be
adjusted so that the Holder of any Debt Securities thereafter surrendered
for conversion shall be entitled to receive the number of shares of capital
stock of the Company that he would have owned immediately following such
action had such Debt Securities been converted immediately prior thereto.
An adjustment made pursuant to this Section 13.03(a) shall become effective
immediately after the record date in the case of a dividend or other
distribution and shall become effective immediately after the effective
date in case of a subdivision, combination or reclassification (or
immediately after the record date if a record date shall have been
established for such event). If, as a result of an adjustment made
pursuant to this Section 13.03(a), the Holder of any Debt Security
thereafter surrendered for conversion shall become entitled to receive
shares of two or more classes or series of capital stock of the Company,
the Board of Directors (whose determination shall be conclusive and shall
be described in a Board Resolution filed with the Indenture Trustee) shall
determine the allocation of the adjusted conversion price between or among
shares of such classes or series of capital stock.
(b) In case the Company shall, while any of the Debt Securities are
outstanding, issue rights or warrants to all holders of its Common Stock
entitling them (for a period expiring within 45 days after the record date
mentioned in this Section 13.03(b)) 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 (as determined pursuant to 13.03(f) below) on such
record date, the conversion price for the Debt Securities shall be adjusted
so that the same shall equal the price determined by multiplying the
conversion price in effect immediately prior to the date of issuance of
such rights or warrants by a fraction of which the numerator shall be the
number of shares of Common Stock outstanding on the date of issuance of
such rights or warrants plus the number of shares that the aggregate
offering price of the total number of shares so offered for subscription
or purchase would purchase at such Current Market Price, and of which the
denominator shall be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding on
the date of issuance of such rights or warrants plus the number of
additional shares of Common Stock offered for subscription or
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purchase. Such adjustment shall become effective immediately after the
record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive such
rights or warrants. For the purposes of this subsection, the number of
shares of Common Stock at any time outstanding shall not include shares
held in the treasury of the Company. The Company shall not issue any rights
or warrants in respect of shares of Common Stock held in the treasury of
the Company. In case any rights or warrants referred to in this subsection
in respect of which an adjustment shall have been made shall expire
unexercised within 45 days after the same shall have been distributed or
issued by the Company, the conversion price shall be readjusted at the time
of such expiration to the conversion price that would have been in effect
if no adjustment had been made on account of the distribution or issuance
of such expired rights or warrants
(c) Subject to the last sentence of this Section 13.03(c), in case the
Company shall, by dividend or otherwise, distribute to holders of its
Common Stock (i) equity securities of the Company (other than Common
Stock), (ii) evidences of indebtedness of the Company and/or (iii) other
assets (including securities, but excluding (A) any rights or warrants
referred to in paragraph (b) above, (B) any rights or warrants to acquire
any capital stock of any entity other than the Company or any subsidiary of
the Company, (C) any dividends or distributions in connection with the
liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Company, (D) any dividends
payable solely in cash that may from time to time be fixed by the Board of
Directors of the Company and (E) any dividends or distributions referred to
in clause (a) above), the conversion price shall be reduced so that the
same shall equal the price determined by multiplying the conversion price
in effect immediately prior to the effectiveness of the conversion price
reduction contemplated by Section 13.03(c) by a fraction of which the
numerator shall be the Current Market Price per share (determined as
provided in Section 13.03(f)) of the Common Stock on the date fixed for the
payment of such distribution (the "Reference Date") less the fair market
value (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors, whose
determination shall be conclusive and described in a resolution of the
Board of Directors), on the Reference Date, of the portion of the evidences
of indebtedness, shares of capital stock, cash and assets so distributed
applicable to one share of Common Stock and the denominator shall be such
Current Market Price per share of the Common Stock, such reduction to
become effective immediately prior to the opening of business on the day
following the Reference Date. In the event that such dividend or
distribution is not so paid or made, the conversion price shall again be
adjusted to be the conversion price which would then be in effect if such
dividend or distribution had not occurred. If the Board of Directors
determines the fair market value of any distribution for purposes of this
Section 13.03(c) by reference to the actual or when issued trading market
for any securities comprising such distribution, it must in doing so
consider the prices in such market over the same period used in computing
the Current Market Price per share of Common Stock (determined as provided
in Section 13.03(f)). For purposes of this Section 13.03(c), any dividend
or distribution that includes shares of Common Stock or rights or warrants
to subscribe for or purchase shares of Common Stock shall be deemed instead
to be (1) a dividend or distribution of
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the evidences of indebtedness, shares of capital stock, cash or assets
other than such shares of Common Stock or such rights or warrants (making
any conversion price reduction required by this Section 13.03(c))
immediately followed by (2) a dividend or distribution of such shares of
Common Stock or such rights or warrants (making any further conversion
price reduction required by Section 13.03(a) or 13.03(b)), except (A) the
Reference Date of such dividend for distribution as defined in this
13.03(c) shall be substituted as (a) "the record date in the case of a
dividend or other distribution," and (b) "the record date for the
determination of stockholders entitled to receive such rights or warrants"
and (c) "the date fixed for such determination" within the meaning of
Sections 13.03(a) and 13.03(b) and (B) any shares of Common Stock included
in such dividend or distribution shall not be deemed outstanding for
purposes of computing any adjustment of the conversion price in Section
13.03(a).
The occurrence of a distribution or the occurrence of any other event
as a result of which Holders of Debt Securities converting such instruments
into Common Stock hereunder will not be entitled to receive rights issued
pursuant to any shareholder protective rights agreement now or hereafter in
effect (the "Rights") in the same amount and manner as if such holders had
converted such shares immediately prior to the occurrence of such
distribution or other event shall be deemed a distribution of Rights for
the purposes of conversion adjustments pursuant to this Section 13.03(c).
In lieu of making any adjustment to the Conversion Price under this Section
13.03(c) as a result of such a distribution of Rights, the Company may
elect, in its sole discretion, to provide that Rights shall be issuable in
the same amount and manner upon conversion of the Debt Securities without
regard to whether the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of
the Debt Securities were issued before or after such distribution or other
event.
(d) In case the Company shall pay or make a dividend or other
distribution on its Common Stock consisting of cash to all holders of
Common Stock, excluding (A) any cash distributions on Common Stock to the
extent the aggregate cash dividends per share of Common Stock in any
consecutive 12-month period do not exceed the greater of (x) the amount per
share of Common Stock of the cash dividends paid on the Common Stock in the
immediately preceding 12-month period, to the extent that such dividends
for the immediately preceding 12-month period did not require an adjustment
to the Conversion Price pursuant to the this Section 13.03(d) (as adjusted
to reflect subdivisions or combinations of the Common Stock) and (y) 15% of
the Current Market Price of the Common Stock for the Trading Day
immediately prior to the date of declaration of such dividend and (B) any
dividend or distribution in connection with the liquidation, dissolution or
winding-up of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary, or any
redemption of any Rights; provided, however, that no adjustment shall be
made pursuant to this Section 13.03(d) if such distribution would otherwise
constitute a Fundamental Change (as hereinafter defined) and be reflected
in the resulting adjustment to the Conversion Price (as described below)
then, in each case (unless the Company makes the
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election referred to in the proviso following this clause), the Conversion
Price shall be reduced so that the same shall equal the price determined by
multiplying the Conversion Price in effect at the close of business on such
record date by a fraction the numerator of which shall be the Current
Market Price of a share of Common Stock on such record date less the amount
of cash so distributed (to the extent not excluded as provided above)
applicable to one share of Common Stock, and the denominator shall be the
Current Market Price of a share of Common Stock, such reduction to become
effective immediately prior to the opening of business on the day following
such record date; provided, however, that the Company may elect, in its
sole discretion, in lieu of the foregoing adjustment, to make adequate
provision so that each Holder of Debt Securities shall thereafter have the
right to receive upon conversion the amount of cash such Holder would have
received had such Holder converted each Debt Security on such record date.
If any adjustment is required to be made as set forth in this Section
13.03(d) as a result of a distribution which is a dividend described in
clause (A) of this Section 13.03(d), such adjustment will be based upon the
amount by which such distribution exceeds the amount of the dividend
permitted to be excluded pursuant to such clause (A) of this Section
13.03(d). If an adjustment is required to be made pursuant to this Section
13.03(d) as a result of a distribution which is not such a dividend, such
adjustment would be based upon the full amount of such distribution.
(e) In the case of a tender offer by the Company or any Subsidiary of
the Company for Common Stock that involves an aggregate consideration that,
together with (x) any cash and other consideration payable in respect of
any tender offer consummated by the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company
for the Common Stock consummated within the 12 months preceding the
consummation of such tender offer and (y) the aggregate amount of all cash
distributions (excluding any cash distributions referred to in Section
13.03(c)) to all holders of the Common Stock within the twelve months
preceding the consummation of such tender offer, exceeds 110% of the
Company's market capitalization (being the product of the Current Market
Price multiplied by the number of shares of Common Stock then outstanding
(Current Market Price per share shall be determined as provided in
13.03(f)) at the date of consummation of such tender offer, the conversion
price shall be reduced so that the same shall equal the price determined by
multiplying the conversion price in effect immediately prior to the
effectiveness of the conversion price reduction contemplated by this
Section 13.03(e) by a fraction of which the numerator shall be the number
of shares of Common Stock outstanding (including any tendered shares)
multiplied by the closing bid price per share of the Common Stock on the
Trading Day next succeeding the last time tenders may be made pursuant to
such tender offer (as it shall have been amended) (the "Expiration Time")
and the denominator shall be the sum of (x) the fair market value
(determined as aforesaid) of the aggregate consideration payable to
stockholders based on the acceptance (up to any maximum specified in the
terms of the tender offer) of all shares validly tendered and not withdrawn
as of the Expiration Time (the shares deemed so accepted, up to any such
maximum, being referred to as the "Purchased Shares") and (the product of
the number of shares of
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Common Stock outstanding (less any Purchased Shares) at the Expiration Time
and the closing bid price per share of the Common Stock on the Trading Day
next succeeding the Expiration Time, such reduction to become effective
immediately prior to the opening of business on the day following the
Expiration Time.
(f) For the purpose of any computation under Section 13.03(b),
13.03(c), 13.03(d) or 13.03(e), the "Current Market Price" per share of
Common Stock or any other security on any date in question shall be deemed
to be the average of the daily Closing Prices for the ten consecutive
Trading Days selected by the Company commencing not more than 20 Trading
Days before, and ending not later than, the day in question; provided,
however, that if another event occurs that would require an adjustment
pursuant to Section 13.03(a) through (e), inclusive, the Board of Directors
may make such adjustments to the Closing Prices during such ten Trading Day
period as it deems appropriate to effectuate the intent of the adjustments
in this Section 13.03, in which case any such determination by the Board of
Directors shall be set forth in a Board Resolution and shall be conclusive.
(g) The Company may make at its option such reductions in the
conversion price, in addition to those required by Sections 13.03 (a)
through (e), as it considers to be advisable to avoid or diminish any
income tax to holders of Common Stock or rights to purchase Common Stock
resulting from any dividend or distribution of stock (or rights to acquire
stock) or from any event treated as such for income tax purposes. The
Company from time to time may, to the extent permitted by law, reduce the
conversion price by any amount selected by the Company for any period of at
least 20 days, during which period the reduction is irrevocable, and the
Board of Directors of the Company shall have made a determination that such
reduction would be in the best interest of the Company, which determination
shall be conclusive. Whenever the conversion price is reduced pursuant to
the preceding sentence, the Company shall mail to holders of record of the
Debt Securities a notice of the reduction at least 15 days prior to the
date the reduced conversion price takes effect, and such notice shall state
the reduced conversion price and the period it will be in effect.
(h) No adjustment in the conversion price shall be required unless
such adjustment would require an increase or decrease of at least 1% in the
conversion price then in effect; provided, however, that any adjustments
that by reason of this Section 13.03(h) are not required to be made shall
be carried forward and taken into account in determining whether any
subsequent adjustment shall be required.
(i) If any action would require adjustment of the conversion price
pursuant to more than one of the provisions described above, only one
adjustment shall be made and such adjustment shall be the amount of
adjustment that has the highest absolute value to the Holder of the Debt
Securities.
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If any adjustment is required to be made as set forth in paragraph (d) above as
a result of a distribution that is a dividend described in subclause (i) of
paragraph (d) above, such adjustment would be based upon the amount by which
such distribution exceeds the amount of the dividend permitted to be excluded
pursuant to such subclause (i) of paragraph (d). If an adjustment is required
to be made as set forth in paragraph (d) above as a result of a distribution
that is not such a dividend, such adjustment would be based upon the full amount
of such distribution. If an adjustment is required to be made as set forth in
paragraph (e) above, such adjustment would be calculated based upon the amount
by which the aggregate consideration paid for the Common Stock acquired in the
tender offer exceeds 110% of the value of such shares based on the first
reported sale price of Common Stock on the Trading Day next succeeding the
Expiration Time. In lieu of making such a conversion price adjustment in the
case of certain dividends or distributions, the Company may provide that upon
the conversion of the Preferred Securities the holder converting such Preferred
Securities will receive, in addition to the Common Stock to which such holder is
entitled, the cash, securities or other property which such holder would have
received if such holder had, immediately prior to the record date for such
dividend or distribution, converted its Preferred Securities into Common Stock.
SECTION 13.04. Reclassification, Consolidation, Merger or Sale of Assets.
(a) In the event that the Company shall be a party to any transaction
or series of transactions constituting a Fundamental Change (as hereinafter
defined), including, without limitation, (i) any recapitalization or
reclassification of the Common Stock (other than a change in par value or
as a result of a subdivision or combination of the Common Stock), (ii) any
consolidation or merger of the Company with or into any other Person as a
result of which holders of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive
securities or other property or assets (including cash) with respect to or
in exchange for Common Stock (other than a merger which does not result in
a reclassification, conversion, exchange or cancellation of outstanding
shares of Common Stock), (iii) any sale or transfer of all or substantially
all of the assets of the Company constituting a Fundamental Change or (iv)
any compulsory share exchange pursuant to any of which holders of Common
Stock shall be entitled to receive other securities, cash or other property
or assets, then appropriate provision shall be made as part of the terms of
such transaction or series of transactions so that the holders of each Debt
Security then outstanding shall have the right thereafter to convert such
Debt Security only into (A) if any such transaction is a Non-Stock
Fundamental Change (as hereinafter defined), the kind and amount of the
securities, cash or other property or assets that would have been
receivable upon such recapitalization, reclassification, consolidation,
merger, sale, transfer or share exchange by a holder of the number of
shares of Common Stock into which such Debt Security might have been
converted immediately prior to such recapitalization, reclassification,
consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or share exchange, after, giving
effect to any adjustment in the conversion price required by the provisions
that follow in subparagraph (i) of Section 13.04(c), and (B) in the case of
a Common Stock Fundamental Change (as hereinafter defined), shares of
common stock of the kind received by holders of Common Stock as a
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result of such Common Stock Fundamental Change in an amount determined
pursuant to the provisions which follow in subparagraph (ii) of Section
13.04(c). The Person formed by such consolidation or resulting from such
merger or that acquires such assets or that acquires the Common Stock, as
the case may be, shall enter into a supplemental indenture with the
Indenture Trustee, satisfactory in form to the Indenture Trustee and
executed and delivered to the Indenture Trustee, the provisions of which
shall establish such right and provide for adjustments, which, for events
subsequent to the effective date of such supplemental indenture, shall be
as nearly equivalent as may be practicable to the adjustments provided for
in this Article Thirteen. The above provisions shall similarly apply to
successive recapitalization, reclassifications, consolidations, mergers,
sales, transfers or share exchanges.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provisions in this Article Thirteen to
the contrary, if any Fundamental Change occurs, the conversion price in
effect will be adjusted immediately following such Fundamental Change as
described below in Section 13.04(c). In addition, in the event of a Common
Stock Fundamental Change, each Debt Security shall be convertible solely
into common stock of the kind received by holders of Common Stock as the
result of such Common Stock Fundamental Change as more specifically
provided below in Section 13.04(c).
(c) For purposes of calculating any adjustment to be made pursuant to
this Article Thirteen in the event of a Fundamental Change, immediately
following such Fundamental Change (and for such purposes a Fundamental
Change shall be deemed to occur on the earlier of (a) the occurrence of
such Fundamental Change and (b) the date, if any, fixed for determination
of stockholders entitled to receive the cash, securities, property or other
assets distributable in such Fundamental Change to holders of the Common
Stock):
(i) in the case of a Non-Stock Fundamental Change, the conversion
price per share of Common Stock shall be the lower of (A) the
conversion price in effect immediately prior to such Non-Stock
Fundamental Change, but after giving effect to any other prior
adjustments effected pursuant to this Article Thirteen, and (B) the
result obtained by multiplying (1) the greater of the Applicable Price
(as hereinafter defined) or the then applicable Reference Market Price
(as hereinafter defined) by (2) a fraction, the numerator of which
shall be $50 and the denominator of which shall be (x) the applicable
Redemption Price for $50 principal amount of Debt Securities if the
redemption date were on the date on which such Non-Stock Fundamental
Change occurs (for the twelve month periods beginning November 25,
1997, November 25, 1998 and November 25, 1999, the product of 106.50%,
105.20% and 103.90%, respectively, time $50) plus (y) any then accrued
but unpaid interest (including Additional Payments, if any) on
principal amount of Debt Securities; and
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(ii) in the case of a Common Stock Fundamental Change, the
conversion price per share of Common Stock shall be the conversion
price in effect immediately prior to such Common Stock Fundamental
Change, but after giving effect to any other adjustments effected
pursuant to this Article Thirteen, multiplied by a fraction, the
numerator of which is the Purchaser Stock Price (as hereinafter
defined) and the denominator of which is the Applicable Price;
provided, however, that in the event of a Common Stock Fundamental
Change in which (A) 100% of the value of the consideration received by
a holder of Common Stock (subject to certain limited exceptions) is
shares of common stock of the successor, acquiror or other third party
(and cash, if any, paid with respect to any fractional interests in
such shares of common stock resulting from such Common Stock
Fundamental Change) and (B) all of the Common Stock shall have been
exchanged for, converted into or acquired for shares of common stock
(and cash, if any, with respect to fractional interests) of the
successor, acquiror or other third party, the conversion price per
share of Common Stock immediately following such Common Stock
Fundamental Change shall be the conversion price in effect immediately
prior to such Common Stock Fundamental Change divided by the number of
shares of common stock of the successor, acquiror or other third party
received by a holder of one share of Common Stock as a result of such
Common Stock Fundamental Change.
(d) The following definitions shall apply to terms used in this
Article Thirteen:
(i) "Applicable Price" means (A) in the event of a Non-Stock
Fundamental Change in which the holders of Common Stock receive only
cash, the amount of cash receivable by a holder of one share of
Common Stock and (B) in the event of any other Fundamental Change, the
Current Market Price for one share of Common Stock on the record date
for the determination of the holders of Common Stock entitled to
receive cash, securities, property or other assets in connection with
such Fundamental Change or, if there is no such record date, on the
date on which the holders of the Common Stock will have the right to
receive such cash, securities, property or other assets.
(ii) "Common Stock Fundamental Change" means any Fundamental
Change in which more than 50% of the value (as determined in good
faith by the Company's Board of Directors) of the consideration
received by holders of Common Stock (subject to certain limited
exceptions) pursuant to such transaction consists of shares of common
stock that, for the twenty consecutive Trading Days immediately prior
to such Fundamental Change, has been admitted for listing or admitted
for listing subject to notice of issuance on a national securities
exchange or quoted on the Nasdaq National Market; provided, however,
that a Fundamental Change will not be a Common Stock Fundamental
Change unless either (A) the Company continues to exist after the
occurrence of such Fundamental Change and
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the outstanding Preferred Securities continue to exist as outstanding
Preferred Securities, or (B) the outstanding Preferred Securities
continue to exist as Preferred Securities and are convertible into
shares of common stock of the successor to the Company.
(iii) "Fundamental Change" means the occurrence of any
transaction or event or series of transactions or events pursuant to
which all or substantially all of the Common Stock is exchanged for,
converted into, acquired for or constitutes solely the right to
receive cash, securities, property or other assets (whether by means
of an exchange offer, liquidation, tender offer, consolidation,
merger, combination, reclassification, recapitalization or otherwise);
provided, however, in the case of a plan involving more than one such
transaction or event, for purposes of adjustment of the conversion
price, such Fundamental Change will be deemed to have occurred when
substantially all of the Common Stock has been exchanged for,
converted into, or acquired for or constitutes solely the right to
received cash, securities, property or other assets but the adjustment
shall be based upon the consideration that the holders of Common Stock
received in the transaction or event as a result of which more than
50% of the Common Stock shall have been exchanged for, converted into,
or acquired for, or shall constitute solely the right to receive such
cash, securities, property or other assets.
(iv) "Non-Stock Fundamental Change" means any Fundamental Change
other than a Common Stock Fundamental Change.
(v) "Purchaser Stock Price" means, with respect to any Common
Stock Fundamental Change, the Current Market Price of common stock
received by holders of Common Stock in such Common Stock Fundamental
Change on the record date for the determination of the holders of
Common Stock entitled to receive such shares of common stock or, if
there is no such record date, on the date upon which the holders of
Common Stock shall have the right to receive such shares of common
stock.
(vi) "Reference Market Price" will initially mean $12.33 (which
will be 66 2/3% of the last reported sale price per share of Common
Stock on the New York Stock Exchange on November 19, 1997) and, in the
event of any adjustment to the conversion price other than as a result
of a Fundamental Change, the Reference Market Price will also be
adjusted so that the ratio of the Reference Market Price to the
conversion price after giving effect to any adjustment will always be
the same as the ratio of the initial Reference Market Price to the
Initial Conversion Price of the Preferred Securities.
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(e) In determining the amount and type of consideration received by a
holder of Common Stock in the event of a Fundamental Change, consideration
received by a holder of Common Stock pursuant to a statutory right of
appraisal will be disregarded.
SECTION 13.05. Notice of Adjustments of Conversion Price.
Whenever the conversion price is adjusted as herein provided:
(a) the Company shall compute the adjusted conversion price and
shall prepare a certificate signed by the Chief Financial Officer or the
Treasurer of the Company setting forth the adjusted conversion price and
showing in reasonable detail the facts upon which such adjustment is based,
and such certificate shall forthwith be filed with the Indenture Trustee,
the Conversion Agent and the transfer agent for the Preferred Securities
and the Debt Securities; and
(b) a notice stating the conversion price has been adjusted and
setting forth the adjusted conversion price shall as soon as practicable be
mailed by the Company to all record holders of Preferred Securities and the
Debt Securities at their last addresses as they appear upon the stock
transfer books of the Company and the Trust.
SECTION 13.06. Prior Notice of Certain Events.
In case:
(a) the Company shall (i) declare any dividend (or any other
distribution) on its Common Stock, other than (A) a dividend payable in
shares of Common Stock or (B) a dividend payable in cash that would not
require an adjustment pursuant to Section 13.03(c) or 13.03(d), or (ii)
authorize a tender or exchange offer that would require an adjustment
pursuant to Section 13.03(e);
(b) the Company shall authorize the granting to all holders of Common
Stock of rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase any shares of
stock of any class or series or of any other rights or warrants;
(c) of any reclassification of Common Stock (other than a subdivision
or combination of the outstanding Common Stock, or a change in par value,
or from par value to no par value, or from no par value to par value), or
of any consolidation or merger to which the Company is a party and for
which approval of any stockholders of the Company shall be required, or of
the sale or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the
Company or of any compulsory share exchange whereby the Common Stock is
converted into other securities, cash or other property; or
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(d) of the voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or
winding up of the Company;
then the Company shall (1) if any Preferred Securities are outstanding, cause to
be filed with the transfer agent for the Preferred Securities, and shall cause
to be mailed to the holders of record of the Preferred Securities, at their last
addresses as they shall appear upon the stock transfer books to the Trust or (2)
shall cause to be mailed to all Holders at their last addresses as they shall
appear in the Security Register, at least 15 days prior to the applicable record
or effective date hereinafter specified, a notice stating (x) the date on which
a record (if any) is to be taken for the purpose of such dividend, distribution,
rights or warrants or, if a record is not to be taken, the date as of which the
holders of Common Stock of record to be entitled to such dividend, distribution,
rights or warrants are to be determined or (y) the date on which such
reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer, share exchange,
dissolution, liquidation or winding up is expected to become effective, and the
date as of which it is expected that holders of Common Stock of record shall be
entitled to exchange their shares of Common Stock for securities, cash or other
property deliverable upon such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale,
transfer, share exchange, dissolution, liquidation or winding up (but no failure
to mail such notice or any defect therein or in the mailing thereof shall affect
the validity of the corporate action required to be specified in such notice).
SECTION 13.07. Dividend or Interest Reinvestment Plans.
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, the issuance of any shares of
Common Stock pursuant to any plan providing for the reinvestment of dividends or
interest payable on securities of the Company and the investment of additional
optional amounts in shares of Common Stock under any such plan, and the issuance
of any shares of Common Stock or options or rights to purchase such shares
pursuant to any employee benefit plan or program of the Company or pursuant to
any option, warrant, right or exercisable, exchangeable or convertible security
outstanding as of the date the Debt Securities were first issued, shall not be
deemed to constitute an issuance of Common Stock or exercisable, exchangeable or
convertible securities by the Company to which any of the adjustment provisions
described above applies. There shall also be no adjustment of the conversion
price in case of the issuance of any stock (or securities convertible into or
exchangeable for stock) of the Company except as specifically described in this
Article Thirteen.
SECTION 13.08. Certain Additional Rights.
In case the Company shall, by dividend or otherwise, declare or make a
distribution on its Common Stock referred to in Section 13.03(c) or 13.03(d)
(including, without limitation, dividends or distributions referred to in the
last sentence of Section 13.03(c)), the Holder of the Debt Securities, upon the
conversion thereof subsequent to 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the date
fixed for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive such
distribution and prior to the effectiveness of the conversion price adjustment
in respect of such distribution, shall also
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be entitled to receive for each share of Common Stock into which the Debt
Securities are converted, the portion of the shares of Common Stock, rights,
warrants, evidences of indebtedness, shares of capital stock, cash and assets so
distributed applicable to one share of Common Stock; provided, however, that, at
the election of the Company (whose election shall be evidenced by a resolution
of the Board of Directors with respect to all Holders so converting, the Company
may, in lieu of distributing to such Holder any portion of such distribution not
consisting of cash or securities of the Company, pay such Holder an amount in
cash equal to the fair market value thereof (as determined in good faith by the
Board of Directors, whose determination shall be conclusive and described in a
resolution of the Board of Directors). If any conversion of Debt Securities
described in the immediately preceding sentence occurs prior to the payment date
for a distribution to holders of Common Stock that the Holder of Debt Securities
so converted is entitled to receive in accordance with the immediately preceding
sentence, the Company may elect (such election to be evidenced by a resolution
of the Board of Directors) to distribute to such Holder a due bill for the
shares of Common Stock, rights, warrants, evidences of indebtedness, shares of
capital stock, cash or assets to which such Holder is so entitled, provided,
that such due bill (i) meets any applicable requirements of the principal
national securities exchange or other market on which the Common Stock is then
traded and (ii) requires payment or delivery of such shares of Common Stock,
rights, warrants, evidences of indebtedness, shares of capital stock, cash or
assets no later than the date of payment or delivery thereof to holders of
shares of Common Stock receiving such distribution.
SECTION 13.09. Indenture Trustee Not Responsible for Determining Conversion
Price or Adjustments.
Neither the Indenture Trustee nor any Conversion Agent shall at any time be
under any duty or responsibility to any Holder of any Debt Security to determine
whether any facts exist which may require any adjustment of the conversion
price, or with respect to the nature or extent of any such adjustment when made,
or with respect to the method employed, or herein or in any supplemental
indenture provided to be employed, in making the same. Neither the Indenture
Trustee nor any Conversion Agent shall be accountable with respect to the
validity or value (or the kind of account) of any shares of Common Stock or of
any securities or property, which may at any time be issued or delivered upon
the conversion of any Debt Security; and neither the Indenture Trustee nor any
Conversion Agent makes any representation with respect thereto. Neither the
Indenture Trustee nor any Conversion Agent shall be responsible for any failure
of the Company to make any cash payment or to issue, transfer or deliver any
shares of Common Stock or stock certificates or other securities or property
upon the surrender of any Debt Security for the purpose of conversion, or,
except as expressly herein provided, to comply with any of the covenants of the
Company contained in Article Ten or this Article Thirteen.
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ARTICLE XIV
Immunity of Incorporators, Stockholders,
Officers and Directors; Counterparts
SECTION 14.01. No Recourse.
No recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of this
Indenture, or of any Debt Security, or for any claim based thereon or otherwise
in respect thereof, shall be had against any incorporator, stockholder, officer
or director, past, present or future as such, of the Company or of any
predecessor or successor corporation, either directly or through the Company or
any such predecessor or successor corporation, whether by virtue of any
constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or
penalty or otherwise; it being expressly understood that this Indenture and the
obligations issued hereunder are solely corporate obligations, and that no such
personal liability whatever shall attach to, or is or shall be incurred by, the
incorporators, stockholders, officers or directors as such, of the Company or of
any predecessor or successor corporation, or any of them, because of the
creation of the indebtedness hereby authorized, or under or by reason of the
obligations, covenants or agreements contained in this Indenture or in any of
the Debt Securities or implied therefrom; and that any and all such personal
liability of every name and nature, either at common law or in equity or by
constitution or statute, of, and any and all such rights and claims against,
every such incorporator, stockholder, officer or director as such, because of
the creation of the indebtedness hereby authorized, or under or by reason of the
obligations, covenants or agreements contained in this Indenture or in any of
the Debt Securities or implied therefrom, are hereby expressly waived and
released as a condition of, and as a consideration for, the execution of this
Indenture and the issuance of such Debt Security.
SECTION 14.02. Counterparts.
This instrument may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of
which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts
shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be
duly executed, and their respective corporate seals to be hereunto affixed and
attested, all as of the day and year first above written.
BREED TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
By:/s/ Charles J. ^^ Jr.
--------------------------------
Name:
Title:
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY,
as Indenture Trustee
By: /s/ W. Chris Sponenberg
-----------------------------------
Name: W. Chris Sponenberg
Title: Senior Financial Services Officer
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EXHIBIT 4.5
THIS PREFERRED SECURITY IS A BOOK-ENTRY SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE
DECLARATION 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 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 DEPOSITORY) 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, NEW YORK) TO THE
TRUST 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 OF OTHERWISE BY A PERSON IS WRONGFUL SINCE THE
REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.
THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF
1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"), AND, ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR
SOLD EXCEPT AS SET FORTH IN THE FOLLOWING SENTENCE. BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF,
THE HOLDER (1) REPRESENTS THAT (A) IT IS A "QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER" (AS
DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT), OR (B) IT IS NOT A U.S. PERSON
AND IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION, (2) AGREES THAT IT
WILL NOT WITHIN TWO YEARS AFTER THE ORIGINAL ISSUANCE OF THIS SECURITY RESELL OR
OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SECURITY EXCEPT (A) TO BREED TECHNOLOGIES, INC. OR ANY
SUBSIDIARY THEREOF, (B) INSIDE THE UNITED STATES TO A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL
BUYER IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) OUTSIDE THE
UNITED STATES IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 904 UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT, (D) PURSUANT TO THE EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION PROVIDED BY RULE
144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (IF AVAILABLE) OR (E) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND (3) AGREES THAT IT WILL
DELIVER TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS SECURITY IS TRANSFERRED A NOTICE
SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE EFFECT OF THIS LEGEND. IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER OF
THIS SECURITY WITHIN TWO YEARS AFTER THE ORIGINAL ISSUANCE OF THIS SECURITY, THE
TRANSFEROR MUST CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX SET FORTH ON THE REVERSE HEREOF
RELATING TO THE MANNER OF SUCH TRANSFER AND SUBMIT THIS CERTIFICATE TO THE
INSTITUTIONAL TRUSTEE. THE TRUST AGREEMENT CONTAINS A PROVISION REQUIRING THE
INSTITUTIONAL TRUSTEE TO REFUSE TO REGISTER ANY TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IN
VIOLATION OF THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS. AS USED HEREIN, THE TERMS "OFFSHORE
TRANSACTION", "UNITED STATES" AND "U.S. PERSON" HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM
BY REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.
Cusip No. 05576M 20 3 No. of Preferred Securities
Certificate No. 1 5,000,000
BTI CAPITAL TRUST
6.50% CONVERTIBLE TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES
(LIQUIDATION AMOUNT $50 PER CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED SECURITY)
BTI Capital Trust, 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 five million (5,000,000) preferred securities of the
Trust representing preferred, undivided beneficial interests in the assets of
the Trust designated the "6.50% Convertible Trust Preferred Securities
(liquidation amount $50 per Convertible Preferred Security)" (the "Preferred
Securities"). The Preferred Securities are transferable on the books and
records of the Trust, in person or by a duly authorized attorney, upon surrender
of this certificate duly endorsed and in proper form for transfer. The
designation, rights, privileges, restrictions, preferences and other terms and
provisions of the Preferred Securities represented hereby are issued and shall
in all respects be subject to the provisions of the Amended and Restated
Declaration of Trust of the Trust dated as of November 25, 1997, as the same may
be amended from time to time (the "Declaration"), including the designation of
the terms of the Preferred Securities as set forth in Annex I to the
Declaration. Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the
meaning given them in the Declaration. The Holder is entitled to the benefits
of the Preferred Securities Guarantee to the extent provided therein. The
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Sponsor will provide a copy of the Declaration, the Preferred Securities
Guarantee and the Indenture to a Holder without charge upon written request to
the Trust at its principal place of business.
Reference is hereby made to select provisions of the Preferred Securities
set forth on the reverse hereof, which select provisions shall for all purposes
have the same effect as if set forth at this place.
Upon receipt of this certificate, the Holder is bound by the Declaration
and is entitled to the benefits thereunder.
By acceptance, the Holder agrees to treat, for United States federal income
tax purposes, the Debentures as indebtedness and the Preferred Securities as
evidence of indirect beneficial ownership in the Debentures.
Unless the Institutional Trustee's Certificate of Authentication hereon has
been properly executed, these Preferred Securities shall not be entitled to any
benefit under the Declaration or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Trust has executed this certificate this 25th day
of November, 1997.
BTI Capital Trust
By: /s/ Charles J. Speranzella, Jr.
---------------------------------
Charles J. Speranzella, Jr.
Regular Trustee
CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
This certificate represents the Preferred Securities referred to in the
within-mentioned Declaration.
Dated: November 25, 1997
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY,
as Institutional Trustee
By: ^
---------------------------------
Authorized Signatory
<PAGE>
BTI CAPITAL TRUST
6.50% CONVERTIBLE TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES
Each Preferred Security will be entitled to receive cumulative
Distributions at a fixed rate per annum of 6.50% (the "Coupon Rate") applied to
the stated liquidation amount of $50 per Preferred Security, such rate being the
rate of interest payable on the Debentures to be held by the Institutional
Trustee. Distributions in arrears for more than one quarter will bear interest
thereon compounded quarterly at the Coupon Rate (to the extent permitted by
applicable law). The term "Distributions" as used herein includes such cash
distributions and any such interest payable including any Additional Interest
and Compounded Interest unless otherwise stated. A Distribution is payable only
to the extent that payments are made in respect of the Debentures held by the
Institutional Trustee and to the extent the Trust has funds available therefor.
The amount of Distributions payable for any period will be computed for any full
quarterly Distribution period on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day
months, and for any period shorter than a full quarterly Distribution period for
which Distributions are computed, Distributions will be computed on the basis of
the actual number of days elapsed per 90-day quarter.
Except as otherwise described below, Distributions on the Preferred
Securities will be cumulative, will accrue from the date of initial issuance and
will be payable quarterly in arrears, on the following dates, which dates
correspond to the interest payment dates on the Debentures: February 15, May 15,
August 15 and November 15 of each year, commencing on February 15, 1998, when,
as and if available for payment by the Institutional Trustee. The Debenture
Issuer has the right at any time during the term of the Debentures to defer
interest payments thereon from time to time by extending the interest payment
period for successive periods not exceeding 20 consecutive quarters (each, an
"Extension Period"), during which no interest shall be due and payable; provided
that no such Extension Period may extend beyond the maturity date of the
Debentures. As a consequence of the Debenture Issuer's extension of the
interest payment period, quarterly Distributions on the Preferred Securities
would be deferred (though such Distributions would continue to accrue with
interest since interest would continue to accrue on the Debentures) during any
such Extension Period. In the event that the Debenture Issuer exercises its
right to extend the interest payment period, then, during such period, (a) the
Debenture Issuer shall not declare or pay dividends on, or make any distribution
or liquidation payment with respect to, or redeem, purchase or acquire any of
its capital stock (other than (i) purchases or acquisitions of shares of Common
Stock in connection with the satisfaction by the Debenture Issuer of its
obligations under any employee benefit plan or the satisfaction by the Debenture
Issuer of its obligations pursuant to any contract or security requiring the
Debenture Issuer to purchase shares of the Common Stock, (ii) as a result of a
reclassification of the Debenture Issuer's capital stock or the exchange or
conversion of one class or series of the Debenture Issuer's capital stock for
another class or series of the Debenture Issuer's capital stock, (iii) the
purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Debenture Issuer's capital
stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock or
the security being converted or exchanged, (iv) purchases or acquisitions of
shares of the Debenture Issuer's Common Stock to be used in connection with the
acquisition of the Debenture Issuer's Common Stock pursuant to a dividend
reinvestment plan, or (v) stock dividends paid by the Debenture Issuer where the
dividend stock is the same stock as that on which the dividend is paid), (b) the
Debenture Issuer shall not make any payment of interest on or principal of (or
premium, if any, on) or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities
(including guarantees) issued by the Debenture Issuer that rank pari passu with
or junior to the Debentures and (c) the Debenture Issuer shall not make any
guarantee payment with respect to the foregoing (other than pursuant to the
Preferred Securities Guarantee or Common Securities Guarantee). Prior to the
termination of any such Extension
3
<PAGE>
Period, the Debenture Issuer may further extend the interest payment period;
provided that such Extension Period, together with all such previous and further
extensions thereof, may not exceed 20 consecutive quarters; and provided
further, that no Extension Period may extend beyond the maturity date of the
Debentures. Upon the termination of any Extension Period and the payment of all
amounts then due, the Debenture Issuer may commence a new Extension Period,
subject to the above requirements.
Distributions on the Preferred Securities will be payable to the Holders
thereof as they appear on the books and records of the Trust on the relevant
record dates, which, with respect to Preferred Securities that are in book-entry
form, will be one Business Day prior to the relevant payment dates. With
respect to Preferred Securities that are not in book-entry form, the relevant
record dates shall conform to the rules of any securities exchange or other
organization on which the Preferred Securities are listed or quoted and, if
none, the Regular Trustees shall have the right to select relevant record dates,
which shall be more than one Business Day prior to the relevant payment dates.
The Preferred Securities shall be convertible into shares of Common Stock
of Breed Technologies, Inc., through (i) the exchange of Preferred Securities
for a portion of the Debentures and (ii) the immediate conversion of such
Debentures into Common Stock of Breed Technologies, Inc., in the manner and
according to the terms set forth in the Declaration.
The Preferred Securities shall be redeemable as provided in the
Declaration.
4
<PAGE>
-------------------------
ASSIGNMENT
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned assigns and transfers this Preferred
Security Certificate to:
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ---------------------------------------------
(Insert assignee's social security or tax identification number)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ---------------------------------------------
(Insert address and zip code of assignee)
and irrevocably appoints
- -------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------
- ----------------------------------------------- agent to transfer this Preferred
Security Certificate on the books of the Trust. The agent may substitute
another to act for him or her.
Date:
-------------------------
Signature:
-----------------------------
(Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Preferred Security
Certificate)
Signature Guarantee:*
--------------------------------
- -------------------------
* Signature must be guaranteed by an "eligible guarantor institution"
that is a bank, stockbroker, savings and loan association or credit union
meeting the requirements of the Registrar, which requirements include membership
or participation in the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program ("STAMP")
or such other "signature guarantee program" as may be determined by the
Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
5
<PAGE>
-------------------------
CONVERSION REQUEST
To: Wilmington Trust Company,
as Conversion Agent
The undersigned owner of these Preferred Securities hereby irrevocably
exercises the option to convert these Preferred Securities, or the portion below
designated, into Common Stock of Breed Technologies, Inc. (the "Common Stock")
in accordance with the terms of the Declaration. Pursuant to the aforementioned
exercise of the option to convert these Preferred Securities, the undersigned
hereby directs the Conversion Agent (as that term is defined in the Declaration)
to (i) exchange such Preferred Securities for a portion of the Debentures (as
that term is defined in the Declaration) held by the Trust (at the rate of
exchange specified in the terms of the Preferred Securities set forth as Annex I
to the Declaration) and (ii) immediately convert such Debentures on behalf of
the undersigned, into Common Stock (at the conversion rate specified in the
terms of the Preferred Securities set forth as Annex I to the Declaration).
The undersigned also hereby directs the Conversion Agent that the shares
issuable and deliverable upon conversion, together with any check in payment for
fractional shares, be issued in the name of and delivered to the undersigned,
unless a different name has been indicated in the assignment below. If shares
are to be issued in the name of a person other than the undersigned, the
undersigned will pay all transfer taxes payable with respect thereto.
Date: ____________________
Number of Preferred Securities to be converted: ______________
If a name or names other than the undersigned, please indicate in the spaces
below the name or names in which the shares of Common Stock are to be issued,
along with the address or addresses of such person or persons.
__________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
(Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Preferred Security
certificate)
(for conversion only)
Please Print or Typewrite Name and Address,
Including Zip Code, and Social Security or
Other Identifying Number.
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
Signature Guarantee:*
_________________________________
* Signature must be guaranteed by an "eligible guarantor institution" that
is, a bank, stockbroker, savings and loan association or credit union meeting
the requirements of the Registrar, which requirements include membership or
participation in the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program ("STAMP") or
such other "signature guarantee program" as may be determined by the Registrar
in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
6
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 4.6
THIS DEBENTURE IS A BOOK-ENTRY SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE
INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITARY
OR A NOMINEE OF A DEPOSITARY. THIS DEBENTURE IS EXCHANGEABLE FOR DEBENTURES
REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A PERSON OTHER THAN THE DEPOSITARY OR ITS NOMINEE ONLY
IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE, AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS
DEBENTURE (OTHER THAN A TRANSFER OF THIS DEBENTURE 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 DEBENTURE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF
THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (55 WATER STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK) TO THE ISSUER
OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY
DEBENTURE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS
REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF 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 SINCE THE REGISTERED OWNER
HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.
THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF
1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"), AND, ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR
SOLD EXCEPT AS SET FORTH IN THE FOLLOWING SENTENCE. BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF,
THE HOLDER (1) REPRESENTS THAT (A) IT IS A "QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER" (AS
DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT), OR (B) IT IS NOT A U.S. PERSON
AND IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION (2) AGREES THAT IT
WILL NOT WITHIN TWO YEARS AFTER THE ORIGINAL ISSUANCE OF THIS SECURITY RESELL OR
OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SECURITY EXCEPT (A) TO BREED TECHNOLOGIES, INC. OR ANY
SUBSIDIARY THEREOF, (B) INSIDE THE UNITED STATES TO A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL
BUYER IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) OUTSIDE THE
UNITED STATES IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 904 UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT, (D) PURSUANT TO THE EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION PROVIDED BY RULE
144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (IF AVAILABLE) OR (E) PURSUANT OT AN EFFECTIVE
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND (3) AGREES THAT IT WILL
DELIVER TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS SECURITY IS TRANSFERRED A NOTICE
SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE EFFECT OF THIS LEGEND. IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER OF
THIS SECURITY WITHIN TWO YEARS AFTER THE ORIGINAL ISSUANCE OF THE SECURITY, THE
TRANSFEROR MUST CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX SET FORTH ON THE REVERSE HEREOF
RELATING TO THE MANNER OF SUCH TRANSFER AND SUBMIT THIS CERTIFICATE TO THE
INDENTURE TRUSTEE. AS USED HEREIN, THE TERMS "OFFSHORE TRANSACTION." "UNITED
STATES" AND "U.S. PERSON" HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM BY REGULATION S UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT.
Cusip No. 106702 AA 1 $257,732,000
Certificate No. 1
BREED TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
6.50% CONVERTIBLE SUBORDINATED DEBENTURE DUE 2027
BREED TECHNOLOGIES, INC., a corporation duly organized and existing under
the laws of the State of Delaware (herein called the "Company", which term
includes any successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for
value received, hereby promises to pay to Wilmington Trust Company, as
Institutional Trustee for the benefit of BTI Capital Trust, or registered
assigns, the principal sum of two hundred fifty seven million seven hundred
thirty-two thousand dollars ($257,732,000) on November 15, 2027 and to pay
interest thereon from November 25, 1997 or from the most recent Interest Payment
Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, as the case may be,
quarterly (subject to deferral as set forth in the Indenture), in arrears, on
February 15, May 15, August 15 and November 15 (each an "Interest Payment Date")
of each year, commencing February 15, 1998, until the principal thereof is paid
or made available for payment, and they shall be paid to the Person in whose
name the Debenture is registered at the close of business on the Business Day
next preceding such Interest Payment Date (the "Regular Record Date"). In the
event the Debentures shall not continue to remain in book-entry only
<PAGE>
form, the Company shall have the right to select record dates, which shall be
more than 14 days but fewer than 60 days prior to the Interest Payment Date. In
the event that any date on which interest is payable on the Debentures is not a
Business Day, then payment of the interest payable on such date will be made on
the next succeeding day 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, then such payment shall be made on the
immediately preceding Business Day, in each case with the same force and effect
as if made on such date.
The indebtedness evidenced by this Debenture is, to the extent provided in
the Indenture, subordinate and junior in right of payment to all existing and
future Senior Indebtedness of the Company, and this Debenture is issued subject
to the provisions of the Indenture with respect thereto. Each Holder of this
Debenture, by accepting the same, (a) agrees to and shall be bound by such
provisions, (b) authorizes and directs the Indenture Trustee on his or her
behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to acknowledge or
effectuate the subordination so provided and (c) appoints the Indenture Trustee
his or her attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes. Each Holder hereof,
by his or her acceptance hereof, hereby waives all notice of the acceptance of
the subordination provisions contained herein and in the Indenture by each
holder of Senior Indebtedness, whether now outstanding or hereafter incurred,
and waives reliance by each such holder or creditor upon said provisions.
This Debenture shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture
hereinafter referred to, or be valid or become obligatory for any purpose until
the Certificate of Authentication hereon shall have been signed by or on behalf
of the Indenture Trustee.
The provisions of this Debenture are continued on the reverse side hereof
and such continued provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as
though fully set forth at this place.
2
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly
executed under its corporate seal.
Dated: November 25, 1997
BREED TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
By: /s/ Charles J. Speranzella, Jr.
-----------------------------------
Name: Charles J. Speranzella, Jr.
Title: Vice Chairman
Attest:
/s/ Lizanne Guptill
_____________________
Lizanne Guptill
CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
This is one of the Debt Securities referred to in the within-mentioned
Indenture.
Wilmington Trust Company,
as Indenture Trustee
By: /s/ ^^
--------------------
Authorized Signatory
Dated: November 25, 1997
3
<PAGE>
This Debenture is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the
Company designated as its 6.50% Convertible Subordinated Debenture Due 2027
(herein called the "Debentures"), in aggregate principal amount of $257,732,000,
issued and to be issued under an Indenture, dated as of November 25, 1997
(herein called the "Indenture"), between the Company and Wilmington Trust
Company, as Indenture Trustee (herein called the "Trustee", which term includes
any successor trustee under the Indenture), to which Indenture and all
indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a statement of the
respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of
the Trustee, the Company and the Holders of the Debentures, and of the terms
upon which the Debentures are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. The
terms of the Debentures include those stated in the Indenture and those made or
deemed part of the Indenture by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C.
Section Section 77aaa-77bbbb) ("TIA") as in effect on the date of the Indenture.
The Debentures are subject to, and qualified by, all such terms, certain of
which are summarized hereon, and holders are referred to the Indenture and the
TIA for a statement of such terms. No reference herein to the Indenture and no
provision of this Debenture or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the
obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the
principal of and interest on this Debenture at the times, place and rate, and in
the coin or currency, herein prescribed or to convert this Debenture as provided
in the Indenture. All terms used in this Debenture which are defined in the
Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture. The
Company will furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge a
copy of the Indenture.
(1) Interest. The Debentures shall bear interest at the rate of 6.50% per
annum, from the original date of issuance, payable quarterly (subject to
deferral as set forth herein), in arrears, on February 15, May 15, August 15 and
November 15 (each an "Interest Payment Date") of each year, commencing February
15, 1998 to the Person in whose name the Debenture is registered at the close of
business on the Business Day next preceding such Interest Payment Date (the
"Regular Record Date"). Interest will compound quarterly and will accrue at the
rate of 6.50% per annum on any interest installment in arrears for more than one
quarter or during an extension of an interest payment period as set forth below.
The amount of interest payable for any period will be computed on the basis
of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. Except as provided in the following
sentence, the amount of interest payable for any period shorter than a full
quarterly period for which interest is computed, will be computed on the basis
of the actual number of days elapsed per 90-day quarter. In the event that any
date on which interest is payable on the Debentures is not a Business Day, then
payment of interest payable on such date will be made on the next succeeding day
which is a Business Day (and without any interest or other payment in respect of
any such delay), except that, if such Business Day is in the next succeeding
calendar year, such payment shall be made on the immediately preceding Business
Day, in each case with the same force and effect as if made on such date.
If at any time the Trust or the Institutional Trustee shall be required to
pay any taxes, duties, assessments or governmental charges of whatever nature
(other than withholding taxes) imposed by the United States, or any other taxing
authority, then, in any such case, the Company shall pay as additional interest
("Additional Interest") on the Debentures, such amounts as shall be required so
that the net
4
<PAGE>
amounts received and retained by the Trust and the Institutional Trustee after
paying any such taxes, duties, assessments or other governmental charges will be
not less than the amounts the Trust and the Institutional Trustee would have
received had no such taxes, duties, assessments or other governmental charges
been imposed.
The principal of and interest on the Debentures shall be payable at the
office or agency of the Company in the United States maintained for such purpose
and at any other office or agency maintained by the Company for such purpose in
such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment
is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided, however, that
at the option of the Company payment of interest may be made by check mailed to
the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the
Security Register.
(2) Option to Extend Interest Payment Period. So long as no Indenture
Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Company shall have the
right at any time, and from time to time, during the term of the Debentures to
defer payments of interest by extending the interest payment period for a period
(each, an "Extension Period") not exceeding 20 consecutive quarters with respect
to each Extension Period; provided, that no Extension Period may extend beyond
the maturity date of the Debentures, and at the end of which Extension Period
the Company shall pay all interest then accrued and unpaid (including Additional
Interest) together with interest thereon compounded quarterly at the rate
specified for the Debentures, to the extent permitted by applicable law
("Compounded Interest"); provided further, that during any such Extension
Period, (a) the Company shall not declare or pay dividends on, or make any
distribution or liquidation payment with respect to, or redeem, purchase or
acquire, any of its capital stock (other than (i) purchases or acquisitions of
shares of Common Stock in connection with the satisfaction by the Company of its
obligations under any employee benefit plan or the satisfaction by the Company
of its obligations pursuant to any contract or security requiring the Company to
purchase shares of Common Stock, (ii) as a result of a reclassification of the
Company's capital stock or the exchange or conversion of one class or series of
the Company's capital stock for another class or series of the Company's capital
stock, (iii) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Company's
capital stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital
stock or the security being converted or exchanged, (iv) purchases of
acquisitions of shares of the Company's Common Stock to be used in connection
with the acquisitions of the Company's Common Stock by shareholders pursuant to
a dividend reinvestment plan, or (v) stock dividends paid by the Company where
the dividend stock is the same as that on which the dividend is paid), (b) the
Company shall not make any payment of interest on or principal of (or premium,
if any, on) or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities (including
guarantees) issued by the Company that rank pari passu with or junior to the
Debentures and (iii) the Company shall not make any guarantee payments with
respect to the foregoing (other than pursuant to the Guarantees). Prior to the
termination of any such Extension Period, the Company may further extend such
Extension Period; provided, however, that such Extension Period, together with
all such previous and further extensions thereof, may not exceed 20 consecutive
quarters; and provided further, that no Extension Period may extend beyond the
maturity date of the Debentures. Upon the termination of any Extension Period
and the payment of all amounts then due, the Company may commence a new
Extension Period, subject to the above requirements. No interest during an
Extension Period shall be due and payable.
5
<PAGE>
If the Institutional Trustee shall be the sole Holder of the Debentures at
the time the Company selects an Extension Period, the Company shall give written
notice to the Regular Trustees, the Institutional Trustee and the Trustee of its
selection of such Extension Period at least one Business Day prior to the
earlier of (i) the date the distributions on the Preferred Securities would be
payable, if not for such Extension Period or (ii) if the Preferred Securities
are listed on the Nasdaq National Market or any other stock exchange or
quotation system, the date the Regular Trustees are required to give notice to
any applicable self-regulatory organization or to holders of the Preferred
Securities of the record date or the date such Distribution would be payable if
not for such Extension Period, but in any event not less than one Business Day
prior to such record date.
If the Institutional Trustee shall not be the sole Holder of the Debentures
at the time the Company selects an Extension Period, the Company shall give the
Holders of the Debentures and the Trustee written notice of its selection of
such Extension Period at least ten Business Days prior to the earlier of (i) the
next succeeding Interest Payment Date or (ii) the date upon which the Company is
required to give notice to any applicable self-regulatory organization or to
Holders of the Debentures on the record or payment date of such related interest
payment.
The quarter in which any notice is given pursuant to paragraphs second and
third of this Section 2 shall be counted as one of the 20 quarters permitted in
the maximum Extension Period permitted under paragraph one of this Section 2.
(3) Paying Agent and Security Registrar. The Trustee will act as Paying
Agent, Security Registrar and Conversion Agent. The Company may change any
Paying Agent, Security Registrar, co-registrar or Conversion Agent without prior
notice. The Company or any of its Affiliates may act in any such capacity.
(4) Redemption. The Debentures are redeemable, in whole or in part, at any
time or from time to time on or after November 25, 2000 upon not less than 30
nor more than 60 days' notice at the redemption prices (expressed as a
percentage of the principal amount of Debentures) specified below for the 12
month period commencing November 25 in the year indicated:
Percentage of
Principal
Year Amount
----- -----------------
2000 102.60 %
2001 101.30
and 100% if redeemed on or after November 25, 2002
6
<PAGE>
plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest (including Additional Interest
and Compound Interest, if any) to, but not including the date set for
redemption. On and after the Redemption Date, interest ceases to accrue on the
Debentures or portions of them called for redemption.
The Company may also redeem the Debentures, in whole or in part, at any
time under certain circumstances upon the occurrence of a Tax Event (as defined
in the Declaration), at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount
to be redeemed plus accrued but unpaid interest, including Additional Interest
and Compound Interest, if any, to the date set for redemption. On and after the
date set for redemption, interest ceases to accrue on the Debentures or portions
of them called for redemption.
Notice of redemption shall be given by first-class mail, postage prepaid,
mailed not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date, to
each Holder of Debentures to be redeemed, at such Holder's address appearing in
the Security Register. The Debentures in denominations larger than $50 may be
redeemed in part but only in integral multiples of $50. In the event of a
redemption of less than all of the Debentures, the Debentures will be chosen for
redemption by the Trustee in accordance with the Indenture.
If this Debenture is redeemed subsequent to a Regular Record Date with
respect to any Interest Payment Date specified above and on or prior to such
Interest Payment Date, then any accrued interest will be paid to the person in
whose name this Debenture is registered at the close of business on such record
date.
(5) Sinking Fund. The Debentures are not entitled to the benefit of any
sinking fund.
(6) Subordination. The payment of the principal of (including redemption
payments), premium, if any, or interest (including Additional Interest and
Compound Interest, if any) on, the Debentures is subordinate and junior in right
of payment to all existing and future Senior Indebtedness, whether outstanding
at the date of this Indenture or thereafter incurred. Each holder, by accepting
a Debenture, agrees to such subordination and authorizes and directs the Trustee
on its behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to
effectuate the subordination so provided and appoints the Trustee as its
attorney-in-fact for such purpose.
(7) Conversion. The Holder of any Debenture has the right, exercisable at
any time on or after January 25, 1998 and prior to 5:00 P.M. (Eastern time) on
the Business Day immediately preceding the date of repayment of such Debentures,
whether at maturity or upon redemption (or, in the case of Convertible
Debentures called for redemption, the close of business or the Business Day
prior to the Redemption Date), at the Initial Conversion Price, to convert the
principal amount thereof (or any portion thereof that is an integral multiple of
$50) into fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock of the Company at
an initial conversion rate of 2.1973 shares of Common Stock for each Debenture
(equal to a conversion price of $22.755 per share of Common Stock), subject to
adjustment under certain circumstances. The number of shares issuable upon
conversion of a Debenture is determined by dividing the principal amount of the
Debenture converted by the conversion price in effect on the Conversion Date. No
fractional shares will be issued upon conversion but a cash adjustment will be
made for any fractional
7
<PAGE>
interest. The outstanding principal amount of any Debenture shall be reduced by
the portion of the principal amount thereof converted into shares of Common
Stock.
To convert a Debenture, a Holder must (i) complete and sign a conversion
notice substantially in the form attached hereto, (ii) surrender the Debenture
to a Conversion Agent, (iii) furnish appropriate endorsements or transfer
documents if required by the Security Registrar or Conversion Agent and (iv) pay
any transfer or similar tax, if required. If a Notice of Conversion is
delivered on or after the Regular Record Date and prior to the subsequent
Interest Payment Date, the Holder shall be required to pay to the Company the
interest payment on the subsequent Interest Payment Date and, will be entitled
to receive the interest payable on the subsequent Interest Payment Date, on the
portion of Debentures to be converted notwithstanding the conversion thereof
prior to such Interest Payment Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if, during
an Extension Period, a notice of redemption is mailed pursuant to Section 11.06
of the Indenture and a Debenture is converted after such mailing but prior to
the relevant Redemption Date, all accrued but unpaid interest (including
Additional Interest and Compound Interest, if any) through the date of
conversion shall be paid to the holder of such Debenture on the Redemption Date.
Except as otherwise expressly provided in the immediately preceding two
sentences, in the case of any Debenture that is converted prior to any Regular
Record, interest whose Stated Maturity is after the date of conversion of such
Debenture shall not be payable, and the Company shall not make nor be required
to make any other payment, adjustment or allowance with respect to accrued but
unpaid interest (including Additional Interest and Compound Interest, if any) on
the Debentures being converted, which shall be deemed to be paid in full. If any
Debenture called for redemption is converted, any money deposited with the
Trustee or with any Paying Agent or so segregated and held in trust for the
redemption of such Debenture shall (subject to any right of the Holder of such
Debenture or any Predecessor Debenture to receive interest as provided in the
last paragraph of Section 3.07 of the Indenture and this paragraph) be paid to
the Company upon Company Request or, if then held by the Company, shall be
discharged from such trust.
(8) Registration, Transfer, Exchange and Denominations. As provided in the
Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of
this Debenture is registrable in the Security Register, upon surrender of this
Debenture for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Company,
duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form
satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed by, the
Holder hereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or
more new Debentures, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate
principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.
The Debentures are issuable only in registered form without coupons in
denominations of $50 and integral multiples thereof. No service charge shall be
made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may
require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental
charge payable in connection therewith. Prior to due presentment of this
Debenture for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent
of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Debenture
is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this
Debenture be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any such agent
shall be affected by notice to the contrary. In the event of redemption or
conversion of this Debenture in part only, a new
8
<PAGE>
Debenture or Debentures for the unredeemed or unconverted portion hereof will be
issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof.
(9) Persons Deemed Owners. Except as provided in the Indenture, the
registered Holder of a Debenture may be treated as its owner for all purposes.
(10) Unclaimed Money. If money for the payment of principal or interest
remains unclaimed for two years, the Trustee and the Paying Agent shall pay the
money back to the Company at its written request. After that, holders of
Debentures entitled to the money must look to the Company for payment unless an
abandoned property law designates another Person and all liability of the
Trustee and such Paying Agent with respect to such money shall cease.
(11) Defaults and Remedies. The Debentures shall have the Events of
Default as set forth in Section 5.01 of the Indenture. Subject to certain
limitations in the Indenture, if an Event of Default occurs and is continuing,
the Trustee by notice to the Company or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate
principal amount of the then outstanding Debentures by notice to the Company and
the Trustee may declare all the Debentures to be due and payable immediately.
The holders of a majority in principal amount of the Debentures then
outstanding by written notice to the Trustee may rescind an acceleration and its
consequences if the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree
and if all existing Events of Default have been cured or waived except
nonpayment of principal or interest that has become due solely because of the
acceleration. Holders may not enforce the Indenture or the Debentures except as
provided in the Indenture. Subject to certain limitations, holders of a
majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Debentures issued under the
Indenture may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power. The
Debentures are unsecured general obligations of the Company. The Company must
furnish annually compliance certificates to the Trustee. The above description
of Events of Default and remedies is qualified by reference to, and subject in
its entirety by, the more complete description thereof contained in the
Indenture.
(12) Amendments, Supplements and Waivers. The Indenture permits, with
certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the
modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the
Holders of the Debentures under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the
Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal
amount of the Debentures at the time outstanding. The Indenture also contains
provisions permitting the Holders of specified percentages in aggregate
principal amount of the Debentures at the time outstanding, on behalf of the
Holders of all the Debentures to waive compliance by the Company with certain
provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and
their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Debenture
shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of
this Debenture and of any Debenture issued upon the registration of transfer
hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such
consent or waiver is made upon this Debenture.
9
<PAGE>
(13) Trustee Dealings with the Company. The Trustee, in its individual or
any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of the Debentures and may
otherwise deal with the Company or an Affiliate with the same rights it would
have, as if it were not Trustee, subject to certain limitations provided for in
the Indenture and in the TIA. Any Agent may do the same with like rights.
(14) No Recourse Against Others. A director, officer, employee or
stockholder, as such, of the Company shall not have any liability for any
obligations of the Company under the Debentures or the Indenture or for any
claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their
creation. Each Holder of the Debentures by accepting a Debenture waives and
releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the
consideration for the issue of the Debentures.
(15) Governing Law. THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SHALL
GOVERN THE INDENTURE AND THE SECURITIES WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAW
PROVISIONS THEREOF.
(16) Authentication. The Debentures shall not be valid until authenticated
by the manual or facsimile signature of an authorized officer of the Trustee or
an authenticating agent.
10
<PAGE>
-------------------
ASSIGNMENT
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned assigns and transfers this Debenture
to:
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ----------------
(Insert assignee's social security or tax identification number)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ----------------
(Insert address and zip code of assignee)
and irrevocably appoints
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
agent to
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
transfer this Debenture on the books of the Company. The agent may substitute
another to act for him or her.
Date:
------------------------------
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
(Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Debenture)
Signature Guarantee:/1/
---------------------
- ---------------------
/1/ Signature must be guaranteed by an "eligible guarantor institution" that
is, a bank, stockbroker, savings and loan association or credit union meeting
the requirements of the Registrar, which requirements include membership or
participation in the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program ("STAMP") or
such other "signature guarantee program" as may be determined by the Registrar
in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
11
<PAGE>
NOTICE OF CONVERSION
To: Wilmington Trust Company, as Conversion Agent
The undersigned owner of these Debentures hereby irrevocably exercises the
option to convert these Debentures, or the portion below designated, into Common
Stock (the "Common Stock") of Breed Technologies, Inc. (the "Company") in
accordance with the terms of the Indenture, between the Company and Wilmington
Trust Company, as Trustee. Pursuant to the aforementioned exercise of the
option to convert this Debenture, the undersigned hereby directs the Conversion
Agent to convert the Debentures herein designated, on behalf of the undersigned,
into Common Stock (at the conversion rate specified in the terms of the
Debentures).
The undersigned also hereby directs the Conversion Agent that the shares
issuable and deliverable upon conversion, together with any check in payment for
fractional shares, be issued in the name of and delivered to the undersigned,
unless a different name has been indicated in the assignment below. If shares
are to be issued in the name of a person other than the undersigned, the
undersigned will pay all transfer taxes payable with respect thereto.
12
<PAGE>
Date:
--------------------
Number of Debentures to be converted ($50 or integral
multiples thereof):
--------------------------
If a name or names other than the undersigned, please indicate in the spaces
below the name or names in which the shares of Common Stock are to be issued,
along with the address or addresses of such person or persons.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ----------------------------------------
(Sign exactly as your name appears on the Debenture) (for conversion only)
Please Print or Typewrite Name and
Address, Including Zip Code, and Social
Security or Other Identifying Number.
- ------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------
Signature Guarantee:/2/
-------------
- --------------------------
/2/ Signature must be guaranteed by an "eligible guarantor institution" that
is, a bank, stockbroker, savings and loan association or credit union meeting
the requirements of the Registrar, which requirements include membership or
participation in the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program ("STAMP") or
such other "signature guarantee program" as may be determined by the Registrar
in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
13
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 4.7
EXECUTION COPY
================================================================================
COMMON SECURITIES GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
BTI CAPITAL TRUST
Dated as of November 25, 1997
================================================================================
<PAGE>
Table of Contents
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Page
----
<S> <C>
SECTION 1.01. Definitions Interpretation................................... 1
ARTICLE II
GUARANTEE
SECTION 2.01. Guarantee................................................... 3
SECTION 2.02. Subordination............................................... 3
SECTION 2.03. Waiver of Notice and Demand................................. 3
SECTION 2.04. Obligations Not Affected.................................... 4
SECTION 2.05. Rights of Holders........................................... 5
SECTION 2.06. Guarantee of Payment........................................ 5
SECTION 2.07. Subrogation................................................. 5
SECTION 2.08. Independent Obligations..................................... 5
ARTICLE III
LIMITATION OF TRANSACTIONS, SUBORDINATION
SECTION 3.01. Limitation of Transactions.................................. 5
SECTION 3.02. Subordination............................................... 6
ARTICLE IV
TERMINATION
SECTION 4.01. Termination................................................. 6
ARTICLE V
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 5.01. Successors and Assigns...................................... 7
SECTION 5.02. Amendments.................................................. 7
SECTION 5.03. Notices..................................................... 7
SECTION 5.04. Benefit..................................................... 8
SECTION 5.05. Governing Law............................................... 8
</TABLE>
i
<PAGE>
COMMON SECURITIES GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
This GUARANTEE AGREEMENT (the "Common Securities Guarantee"), dated as of
November 25, 1997, is executed and delivered by Breed Technologies, Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the "Guarantor"), for the benefit of the Holders (as
defined herein) from time to time of the Common Securities (as defined herein)
of BTI Capital Trust, a Delaware statutory business trust (the "Issuer").
WHEREAS, pursuant to an Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust (the
"Declaration"), dated as of November 25, 1997, as amended from time to time,
among the trustees of the Issuer named therein, the Guarantor, as sponsor, and
the holders from time to time of undivided beneficial ownership interests in the
assets of the Issuer, the Issuer is issuing on the date hereof 154,140 (177,836,
if the initial purchasers named in the Purchase Agreement (as defined in the
Declaration) exercise their over-allotment option in full) common securities
(the "Common Securities"), having an aggregate liquidation amount of $7,732,000
($8,891,800, if such over-allotment option is exercised in full) and designated
the 6.50% Convertible Trust Common Securities, representing undivided,
beneficial interests in the assets of the Issuer and having the terms set forth
in Annex I to the Declaration;
WHEREAS, as incentive for the Holders to purchase the Common Securities,
the Guarantor desires to irrevocably and unconditionally agree, to the extent
set forth in this Common Securities Guarantee, to pay to the holders of the
Common Securities the Guarantee Payments (as defined herein) and to make certain
other payments on the terms and conditions set forth herein; and
WHEREAS, as of the date hereof, the Guarantor is also executing and
delivering a guarantee agreement (the "Preferred Securities Guarantee") in
substantially identical terms to this Common Securities Guarantee for the
benefit of the holders of the Preferred Securities (as defined herein), except
that if an Event of Default (as defined in the Indenture), has occurred and is
continuing, the rights of holders of the Common Securities to receive Guarantee
Payments under this Common Securities Guarantee are subordinated to the rights
of holders of Preferred Securities to receive Guarantee Payments under the
Preferred Securities Guarantee.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the purchase by each holder of Common
Securities, which purchase the Guarantor hereby agrees shall benefit the
Guarantor, the Guarantor executes and delivers this Common Securities Guarantee
for the benefit of the holders of Common Securities.
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION
SECTION 1.01. Definitions Interpretation.
<PAGE>
2
In this Common Securities Guarantee, unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) Capitalized terms used in this Common Securities Guarantee but not
defined in the preamble above have the respective meanings assigned to them
in this Section 1.01 or in the Declaration, as the case may be;
(b) Terms defined in the Declaration as at the date of execution of
this Common Securities Guarantee have the same meaning when used in this
Common Securities Guarantee unless otherwise defined in this Common
Securities Guarantee;
(c) a terms defined anywhere in this Common Securities Guarantee has
the same meaning throughout;
(d) all references to "the Common Securities Guarantee" or "this
Common Securities Guarantee" are to this common Securities Guarantees
modified, supplemented or amended from time to time;
(e) all references in this common Securities Guarantee to Articles and
Sections are to Articles and Sections of this Common Securities Guarantee
unless otherwise specified; and
(f) a reference to the singular includes the plural and vice versa.
"Distributions" means the periodic distributions and other payments
payable to the Holders in accordance with the terms of the Common
Securities set forth in Annex I to the Declaration.
"Guarantee Payments" means the following payments or distributions,
without duplication, with respect to the Common Securities, to the extent
not paid or made by the Issuer: (i) any accrued and unpaid Distributions
that are required to be paid on such Common Securities, to the extent the
Issuer has funds available therefor; (ii) the redemption price, including
all accrued and unpaid Distributions to the date of redemption (the
"REDEMPTION PRICE"), to the extent the Issuer has funds available therefor,
with respect to any of the Common Securities called for redemption by the
Issuer; and (iii) upon a voluntary or involuntary dissolution, winding-up
or termination of the Issuer (other than in connection with the
distribution of Debentures to the Holders or the redemption of all the
Common Securities), the lesser of (a) the aggregate of the liquidation
amount and all accrued and unpaid Distributions on the Common Securities to
the date of payment, and (b) the amount of assets of the Issuer remaining
available for distribution to Holders upon the liquidation of the Issuer
(in either case, the "Liquidation Distribution"). If an event of default
under the Indenture has occurred and is continuing, the rights of Holders
of the Common Securities to receive Guarantee payments under this Common
Securities
<PAGE>
3
Guarantee are subordinated to the rights of Holders of Preferred Securities
to receive Guarantee Payments.
"Holder" shall mean any holder, as registered on the books and records
of the Issuer, of any of the Common Securities.
"Indenture" means the Indenture dated as of November 25, 1997, between
the Guarantor and Wilmington Trust Company, as trustee, pursuant to which
the Debentures are to be issued.
"Preferred Securities" mean the securities representing preferred
undivided beneficial ownership interests in the assets of the Issuer.
ARTICLE II
GUARANTEE
SECTION 2.01. Guarantee.
The Guarantor irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to pay in full to the
Holders the Guarantee Payments (without duplication of amounts theretofore paid
by the Issuer), as and when due, regardless of any defense, right of set-off or
counterclaim that the Issuer may have or assert. The Guarantor's obligation to
make a Guarantee Payment may be satisfied by direct payment of the required
amount by the Guarantor to the Holders or by causing the Issuer to pay such
amounts to such Holders.
SECTION 2.02. Subordination.
If an event of default under the Indenture has occurred and is continuing,
the rights of Holders to receive Guarantee Payments under this Common Securities
Guarantee are subordinate to the rights of the holders of Preferred Securities
to receive Guarantee Payments under the Preferred Securities Guarantee.
SECTION 2.03. Waiver of Notice and Demand.
The Guarantor hereby waives notice of acceptance of this Common Securities
Guarantee and of any liability to which it applies or may apply, presentment,
demand for payment, any right to require a proceeding first against the Issuer
or any other person before proceeding against the Guarantor, protest, notice of
nonpayment, notice of dishonor, notice of redemption and all other notices and
demands.
<PAGE>
4
SECTION 2.04. Obligations Not Affected.
The obligations, covenants, agreements and duties of the Guarantor under
this Common Securities Guarantee 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 Common Securities to
be performed or observed by the Issuer;
(b) the extension of time for the payment by the Issuer of all or any
portion of the Distributions, Redemption Price, Liquidation Distribution or
any other sums payable under the terms of the Common Securities or the
extension of time for the performance of any other obligation under,
arising out of, or in connection with, the Common Securities (other than an
extension of time for payment of Distributions, Redemption Price,
Liquidation Distribution or other sum payable that results from the
extension of any interest payment period on the Debentures or any extension
of the maturity date of the Debentures permitted by the Indenture);
(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 Common
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 Common
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 2.04 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 consent
of, the Guarantor with respect to the happening of any of the foregoing.
<PAGE>
5
SECTION 2.05. Rights of Holders.
The Guarantor expressly acknowledges that any Holder may institute a legal
proceeding directly against the Guarantor to enforce its rights under this
Common Securities Guarantee, without first instituting a legal proceeding
against the Issuer or any other person or entity.
SECTION 2.06. Guarantee of Payment.
This Common Securities Guarantee creates a guarantee of payment and not of
collection.
SECTION 2.07. Subrogation.
The Guarantor shall be subrogated to all (if any) rights of the Holders
against the Issuer in respect of any amounts paid to such Holders by the
Guarantor under this Common Securities Guarantee; provided, however, that the
Guarantor shall not (except to the extent required by mandatory provisions of
law) be entitled to enforce or exercise any right that it may acquire by way of
subrogation or any indemnity, reimbursement or other agreement, in all cases as
a result of payment under this Common Securities Guarantee, if, at the time of
any such payment, any amounts are due and unpaid under this Common Securities
Guarantee. If any amount shall be paid to the Guarantor in violation of the
preceding sentence, the Guarantor agrees to hold such amount in trust for the
Holders and to pay over such amount to the Holders.
SECTION 2.08. Independent Obligations.
The Guarantor acknowledges that its obligations hereunder are independent
of the obligations of the Issuer with respect to the Common Securities and that
the Guarantor shall be liable as principal and as debtor hereunder to make
Guarantee Payments pursuant to the terms of this Common Securities Guarantee
notwithstanding the occurrence of any event referred to in subsections (a)
through (g), inclusive, of Section 2.04 hereof.
ARTICLE III
LIMITATION OF TRANSACTIONS, SUBORDINATION
SECTION 3.01. Limitation of Transactions.
So long as any Common Securities remain outstanding, if (i) the Guarantor
has exercised its option to defer interest payments on the Debentures by
extending the interest payment period and such extension shall be continuing,
(ii) the Guarantor shall be in default with respect to its Guarantee Payments or
other obligations hereunder, or (iii) there shall have occurred and be
continuing any event that, with the giving of notice or lapse of time or both,
would constitute an event of default under the Indenture or under the
Declaration that has not been cured or waived, then (a) the Guarantor shall not
declare or pay any dividend on, make any distribution or
<PAGE>
6
liquidation payment with respect to, or redeem, purchase or acquire any shares
of the Guarantor's capital stock (other than (i) purchases or acquisitions of
shares of the Guarantor's common stock (the "Common Stock") in connection with
the satisfaction by the Guarantor of its obligations under any employee benefit
plan or the satisfaction by the Guarantor of its obligations pursuant to any
contract or security requiring the Guarantor to purchase shares of the Common
Stock, (ii) as a result of a reclassification of the Guarantor's capital stock
or the exchange or conversion of one class or series of the Guarantor's capital
stock for another class or series of the Guarantor's capital stock, (iii) the
purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Guarantor's capital stock
pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock of the
Guarantor or the security being converted or exchanged, (iv) purchases or
acquisitions of shares of the Common Stock to be used in connection with
acquisitions of the Common Stock by shareholders pursuant to a dividend
reinvestment plan, or (v) stock dividends paid by the Guarantor where the
dividend stock is the same stock as that on which the dividend is paid), (b) the
Guarantor shall not make any payment of interest on or principal of (or premium,
if any, on) or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities (including
guarantees) of the Guarantor that rank pari passu with or junior to the
Debentures, and (c) the Guarantor shall not make any guarantee payment with
respect to the foregoing (other than pursuant to the Preferred Securities
Guarantee and this Common Securities Guarantee).
SECTION 3.02. Subordination.
This Common Securities Guarantee will constitute an unsecured obligation of
the Guarantor and will rank (i) subordinate and junior in right of payment to
all other liabilities of the Guarantor except any liability that may be pari
passu expressly by its terms, and (ii) senior to all capital stock now or
hereafter issued by the Guarantor and to any guarantee now or hereafter entered
into by the Guarantor in respect of any of its capital stock.
SECTION 3.03. Pari Passu Guarantees.
The obligations of the Guarantor under this Common Securities Guarantee
shall rank pari passu with the obligations of the Guarantor under any similar
Common Securities Guarantee (as defined in the Indenture) now or hereafter
entered into by the Guarantor in respect of any other trust or similar financing
vehicle sponsored by the Guarantor.
ARTICLE IV
TERMINATION
SECTION 4.01. Termination.
This Common Securities Guarantee shall terminate upon (i) full payment of
the Redemption Price of all Common Securities; (ii) distribution of the
Debentures held by the Issuer to the Holders; or (iii) full payment of the
amounts payable in accordance with the Declaration
<PAGE>
7
upon liquidation of the Issuer. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Common
Securities Guarantee will continue to be effective or will be reinstated, as the
case may be, if, at any time, any Holder must restore payment of any sum paid
under the Common Securities or under this Common Securities Guarantee.
ARTICLE V
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 5.01. Successors and Assigns.
All guarantees and agreements contained in this Common Securities Guarantee
shall bind the successors, assigns, receivers, trustees and representatives of
the Guarantor and shall inure to the benefit of the Holders of the Common
Securities then outstanding. Except in connection with any permitted merger of
consolidation of the Guarantor with or into another entity or any permitted
sale, transfer or lease of the Guarantor's assets to another entity, the
Guarantor may not assign its rights or delegate its obligations under this
Common Securities Guarantee without the prior approval of the Holders of at
least a majority of the aggregate stated liquidation amount of the Common
Securities then outstanding. All guarantees and agreements contained in this
Common Securities Guarantee shall bind the permitted successors, assigns and
transferees of the Guarantor and shall inure to the benefit of the Holders of
the Common Securities then outstanding.
SECTION 5.02. Amendments.
Except with respect to any change that does not adversely affect the rights
of Holders (in which case no vote will be required), this Common Securities
Guarantee may be amended only with the prior approval of the Holders of at least
a majority in liquidation amount of all the outstanding common Securities
(including the stated amount that would be paid on redemption, liquidation or
otherwise, plus accrued and unpaid Distributions to the date upon which the
voting percentages are determined). The provisions of Section 11.2 of the
Declaration with respect to meetings of Holders of the Securities shall apply to
the giving of such approval.
SECTION 5.03. Notices.
All notices provided for in this Common Securities Guarantee shall be in
writing, duly signed by the party giving such notice, and shall be delivered,
faxed or mailed by registered or certified mail, as follows:
(a) if given to the Issuer, in care of the Regular Trustee at the
Issuer's mailing address set forth below (or such other address as the
Issuer may give notice of to the Holders):
<PAGE>
8
BTI Capital Trust
c/o Breed Technologies, Inc.
5300 Old Tampa Highway
Lakeland, Florida 3807-3050
Attention: Charles J. Speranzella, Jr.
(b) if given to the Guarantor, at the Guarantor's mailing address set
forth below (or such other address as the Guarantor may give notice of to
the Holders):
Breed Technologies, Inc.
5300 Old Tampa Highway
Lakeland, Florida 3807-3050
Attention: Charles J. Speranzella, Jr.
(c) if given to any Holder, at the address set forth on the books and
records of the Issuer.
All such notices shall be deemed to have been given when received in
person, faxed 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 5.04. Benefit.
This Common Securities Guarantee is solely for the benefit of the Holders
and is not separately transferable from the Common Securities.
SECTION 5.05. Governing Law.
THIS COMMON SECURITIES GUARANTEE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
<PAGE>
9
THIS COMMON SECURITIES GUARANTEE is executed as of the day and year first
above written.
BREED TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
By: /s/ Charles J. Sperenzella, Jr.
-------------------------------
Name:
Title:
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 4.8
EXECUTION COPY
================================================================================
PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
BTI Capital Trust
Dated as of November 25, 1997
===============================================================================
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
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Page
<S> <C>
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION
SECTION 1.01. Definitions and Interpretation.............................. 2
ARTICLE II
TRUST INDENTURE ACT
SECTION 2.01. Trust Indenture Act; Application............................ 5
SECTION 2.02. Lists of Holders of Securities.............................. 6
SECTION 2.03. Reports by the Preferred Guarantee Trustee.................. 6
SECTION 2.04. Periodic Reports to Preferred Guarantee Trustee............. 6
SECTION 2.05. Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent............ 6
SECTION 2.06. Events of Default; Waiver................................... 7
SECTION 2.07. Event of Default; Notice.................................... 7
SECTION 2.08. Conflicting Interests....................................... 7
SECTION 2.09. Disclosure of Information................................... 7
ARTICLE III
POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF PREFERRED GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 3.01. Powers and Duties of the Preferred Guarantee Trustee........ 8
SECTION 3.02. Certain Rights of Preferred Guarantee Trustee............... 10
SECTION 3.03. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Preferred
Securities Guarantee........................................ 12
ARTICLE IV
PREFERRED GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 4.01. Preferred Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility.................... 12
SECTION 4.02. Appointment, Removal and Resignation of
Preferred Guarantee Trustee................................. 13
ARTICLE V
GUARANTEE
SECTION 5.01. Guarantee................................................... 14
SECTION 5.02. Subordination............................................... 14
SECTION 5.03. Waiver of Notice and Demand................................. 14
SECTION 5.04. Obligations Not Affected.................................... 14
SECTION 5.05. Rights of Holders........................................... 15
SECTION 5.06. Guarantee of Payment........................................ 16
SECTION 5.07. Subrogation................................................. 16
SECTION 5.08. Independent Obligations..................................... 17
</TABLE>
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<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ARTICLE VI
LIMITATION OF TRANSACTIONS; SUBORDINATION
<S> <C>
SECTION 6.01. Limitation of Transactions.................................. 17
SECTION 6.02. Subordination............................................... 18
<CAPTION>
ARTICLE VII
TERMINATION
<S> <C>
SECTION 7.01. Termination................................................. 18
<CAPTION>
ARTICLE VIII
INDEMNIFICATION
<S> <C>
SECTION 8.01. Exculpation................................................. 18
SECTION 8.02. Indemnification............................................. 19
<CAPTION>
ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS
<S> <C>
SECTION 9.01. Successors and Assigns...................................... 19
SECTION 9.02. Amendments.................................................. 20
SECTION 9.03. Notices..................................................... 20
SECTION 9.04. Benefit..................................................... 21
SECTION 9.05. Governing Law............................................... 21
</TABLE>
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PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
This GUARANTEE (the "Preferred Securities Guarantee"), dated as of November
25, 1997, is executed and delivered by Breed Technologies, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Guarantor"), and Wilmington Trust Company, as trustee (the
"Preferred Guarantee Trustee"), for the benefit of the Holders (as defined
herein) from time to time of the Preferred Securities (as defined herein) of BTI
Capital Trust, a Delaware statutory business trust (the "Issuer").
WHEREAS, pursuant to an Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust (the
"Declaration"), dated as of November 25, 1997, as amended from time to time,
among the trustees of the Issuer named therein, the Guarantor, as sponsor, and
the holders from time to time of undivided, beneficial interests in the assets
of the Issuer, the Issuer is issuing on the date hereof 5,000,000 (5,750,000, if
the initial purchasers named in the Purchase Agreement (as defined in the
Declaration) exercise their over-allotment option in full) preferred securities
(the "Preferred Securities"), having an aggregate liquidation amount of
$250,000,000 (287,500,800, if such over-allotment option is exercised in full)
and designated the 6.50% Convertible Trust Preferred Securities, representing
undivided, beneficial ownership interests in the assets of the Issuer and having
the terms set forth in Annex I to the Declaration.
WHEREAS, as incentive for the Holders to purchase the Preferred Securities,
the Guarantor desires irrevocably and unconditionally to agree, to the extent
set forth in this Preferred Securities Guarantee, to pay to the holders of the
Preferred Securities the Guarantee Payments (as defined herein) and to make
certain other payments on the terms and conditions set forth herein.
WHEREAS, as of the date hereof, the Guarantor is also executing and
delivering a guarantee agreement (the "Common Securities Guarantee") in
substantially identical terms to this Preferred Securities Guarantee for the
benefit of the holders of the Common Securities (as defined herein), except that
if an event of default under the Indenture (an "Indenture Event of Default") has
occurred and is continuing, the rights of holders of the Common Securities to
receive Guarantee Payments under the Common Securities Guarantee are
subordinated to the rights of Holders of Preferred Securities to receive
Guarantee Payments under this Preferred Securities Guarantee.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the purchase by each Holder of
Preferred Securities, which purchase the Guarantor hereby agrees shall benefit
the Guarantor, the Guarantor executes and delivers this Preferred Securities
Guarantee for the benefit of the Holders.
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ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION
SECTION 1.0 Definitions and Interpretation.
In this Preferred Securities Guarantee, unless the context otherwise
requires:
(a) Capitalized terms used in this Preferred Securities Guarantee but
not defined in the preamble above have the respective meanings assigned to
them in this Section 1.01 or in the Declaration, as the case may be;
(b) a term defined anywhere in this Preferred Securities Guarantee has
the same meaning throughout;
(c) all references to "the Preferred Securities Guarantee" or "this
Preferred Securities Guarantee" are to this Preferred Securities Guarantee
as modified, supplemented or amended from time to time;
(d) all references in this Preferred Securities Guarantee to Articles
and Sections are to Articles and Sections of this Preferred Securities
Guarantee, unless otherwise specified;
(e) a term defined in the Trust Indenture Act has the same meaning
when used in this Preferred Securities Guarantee, unless otherwise defined
in this Preferred Securities Guarantee or unless the context otherwise
requires; and
(f) a reference to the singular includes the plural and vice versa.
"Affiliate" has the same meaning as given to that term in Rule 405 of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any successor rule thereunder.
"Authorized Officer" of a Person means any Person that is authorized to
bind such Person.
"Business Day" means any day other than a day on which banking institutions
in New York, New York or in Wilmington, Delaware are permitted or required by
any applicable law or executive order to close.
"Common Securities" means the securities representing common, undivided,
beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust.
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"Corporate Trust Office" means the office of the Preferred Guarantee
Trustee at which the corporate trust business of the Preferred Guarantee Trustee
shall, at any particular time, be principally administered, which office at the
date of execution of this Preferred Securities Guarantee is located at 1100
North Market Street, Rodney Square North, Wilmington, Delaware 19890.
"Covered Person" means any Holder or beneficial owner of Preferred
Securities.
"Debentures" means the 6.50% Convertible Subordinated Debentures due 2027
of the Guarantor held by the Institutional Trustee (as defined in the
Declaration).
"Distributions" means the periodic distributions and other payments payable
to Holders in accordance with the terms of the Preferred Securities set forth in
Annex I to the Declaration.
"Event of Default" means a default by the Guarantor on any of its payment
or other obligations under this Preferred Securities Guarantee.
"Guarantee Payments" means the following payments or distributions, without
duplication, with respect to the Preferred Securities, to the extent not paid or
made by the Issuer: (i) any accrued and unpaid Distributions that are required
to be paid on such Preferred Securities, to the extent the Issuer has funds
available therefor; (ii) the redemption price, including all accrued and unpaid
Distributions to the date of redemption (the "Redemption Price"), to the extent
the Issuer has funds available therefor, with respect to any of the Preferred
Securities called for redemption by the Issuer; and (iii) upon a voluntary or
involuntary dissolution, winding-up or termination of the Issuer (other than in
connection with the distribution of Debentures to the Holders or the redemption
of all the Preferred Securities), the lesser of (a) the aggregate of the
liquidation amount and all accrued and unpaid Distributions on the Preferred
Securities to the date of payment, and (b) the amount of assets of the Issuer
remaining available for distribution to Holders upon the liquidation of the
Issuer (in either case, the "Liquidation Distribution").
"Holder" shall mean any holder, as registered on the books and records of
the Issuer of any of the Preferred Securities; provided, however, that, in
determining whether the holders of the requisite percentage of Preferred
Securities have given any request, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, "Holder"
shall not include the Guarantor or any Affiliate of the Guarantor.
"Indemnified Person" means the Preferred Guarantee Trustee, any Affiliate
of the Preferred Guarantee Trustee, or any officer, director, shareholder,
member, partner, employee, representative, nominee, custodian or agent of the
Preferred Guarantee Trustee.
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"Indenture" means the Indenture dated as of November 25, 1997, between the
Guarantor (the "Debenture Issuer") and Wilmington Trust Company, as trustee,
pursuant to which the Debentures are to be issued to the Institutional Trustee
of the Trust.
"Indenture Trustee" means the Person acting as trustee under the Indenture,
initially Wilmington Trust Company.
"Majority in liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities" means, except
as provided in the terms of the Preferred Securities or, except as provided by
the Trust Indenture Act, a vote by Holder(s) of outstanding Preferred
Securities, voting separately as a class, who are the record owners of Preferred
Securities representing more than 50% of the aggregate liquidation amount
(including the stated amount that would be paid on redemption, liquidation or
otherwise, plus accrued and unpaid Distributions to the date upon which the
voting percentages are determined) of all Preferred Securities.
"Officers' Certificate" means, with respect to any Person, a certificate
signed by two Authorized Officers of such Person. Any Officers' Certificate
delivered with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for
in this Preferred Securities Guarantee (other than pursuant to Section 314(a)(4)
of the Trust Indenture Act) shall include:
(a) a statement that each officer signing the Officers' Certificate
has read the covenant or condition and the definition 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 each 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.
"Person" means a legal person, including any individual, corporation,
estate, partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock company, limited
liability company, trust, unincorporated association, or government or any
agency or political subdivision thereof, or any other entity of whatever nature.
"Preferred Guarantee Trustee" means Wilmington Trust Company, in its
capacity as trustee, until a Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee has been
appointed and has accepted such appointment pursuant to the terms of this
Preferred Securities Guarantee and thereafter means each such Successor
Preferred Guarantee Trustee.
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"Responsible Officer" means, when used with respect to the Preferred
Guarantee Trustee, any officer assigned to the Corporate Trust Office of the
Preferred Guarantee Trustee, including any managing director, vice president,
any assistant vice president, any assistant secretary, the treasurer, any
assistant treasurer or any other officer of the Corporate Trust Office of the
Preferred Guarantee Trustee, customarily performing functions similar to those
performed by any of the above designated officers, and also means, with respect
to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is
referred because of that officer's knowledge of and familiarity with the
particular subject.
"Shelf Registration Statement" means the registration statement to be filed
by the Company with respect to the Preferred Securities, pursuant to that
certain Registration Rights Agreement dated as of November 25, 1997, among the
Guarantor, the Issuer and Prudential Securities Incorporated and Furman Selz
LLC, as the Initial Purchasers of the Preferred Securities.
"Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee" means a successor Preferred
Guarantee Trustee possessing the qualifications to act as Preferred Guarantee
Trustee under Section 4.01.
"Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.
"Trust Securities" means the Common Securities and the Preferred
Securities.
ARTICLE II
TRUST INDENTURE ACT
SECTION 2.01. Trust Indenture Act; Application.
(a) Prior to the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement, this
Preferred Securities Guarantee shall incorporate and be governed by the
provisions of the Trust Indenture Act. After the effectiveness of the Shelf
Registration Statement, this Preferred Securities Guarantee shall be subject to
the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are required to be part of this
Preferred Securities Guarantee and shall, to the extent applicable, be governed
by such provisions.
(b) If and to the extent that any provision of this Preferred Securities
Guarantee limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by Section 310
to 317, inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act, such imposed duties shall
control.
(c) The application of the Trust Indenture Act to this Preferred Securities
Guarantee shall not affect the nature of the Preferred Securities as equity
securities representing beneficial ownership interests in the assets of the
Issuer.
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SECTION 2.02. Lists of Holders of Securities.
(a) The Guarantor shall provide the Preferred Guarantee Trustee with a
list, in such form as the Preferred Guarantee Trustee may reasonably require, of
the names and addresses of the Holders ("List of Holders") as of such date, (i)
within one Business Day after each record date for payment of Distributions as
of such record date, and (ii) at any other time within 30 days of receipt by the
Guarantor of a written request for a List of Holders as of a date no more than
14 days before such List of Holders is given to the Preferred Guarantee Trustee
provided, that the Guarantor shall not be obligated to provide such List of
Holders at any time the List of Holders does not differ from the most recent
List of Holders given to the Preferred Guarantee Trustee by the Guarantor. The
Preferred Guarantee Trustee may destroy any List of Holders previously given to
it on receipt of a new List of Holders.
(b) The Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall comply with its obligations under
Sections 311(a), 311(b) and Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 2.03. Reports by the Preferred Guarantee Trustee.
Within 60 days after November 15 of each year, beginning November 15, 1998
the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall provide to the Holders such reports as are
required by Section 313 of the Trust Indenture Act, if any, in the form and in
the manner provided by Section 313 of the Trust Indenture Act. The Preferred
Guarantee Trustee shall also comply with the requirements of Section 313(d) of
the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 2.04. Periodic Reports to Preferred Guarantee Trustee.
The Guarantor shall provide to the Preferred Guarantee Trustee such
documents, reports and information as required by Section 314 (if any) 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; provided that such compliance certificate shall be delivered on
or before 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Guarantor.
Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Preferred
Guarantee Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Preferred Guarantee
Trustee's receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any
information contained therein, including the Guarantor's compliance with any of
its covenants hereunder (as to which the Preferred Guarantee Trustee is entitled
to rely exclusively on Officers' Certificates).
SECTION 2.05. Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent.
The Guarantor shall provide to the Preferred Guarantee Trustee such
evidence of compliance with any condition precedent, if any, provided for in
this Preferred Securities Guarantee that relates to any of the matters set forth
in Section 314(c) of the Trust Indenture
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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 2.06. Events of Default; Waiver.
The Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of Preferred Securities
may, by vote, on behalf of all 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 Preferred Securities Guarantee, but no such
waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or Event of Default or
impair any right consequent thereon.
SECTION 2.07. Event of Default; Notice.
(a) The Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall, within 90 days after the
occurrence of an Event of Default actually known to a Responsible Officer of the
Preferred Guarantee Trustee, transmit by mail, first class postage prepaid, to
the Holders, notices of all Events of Default, unless such defaults have been
cured before the giving of such notice, provided that, the Preferred Guarantee
Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as a
Responsible Officer of the Preferred Guarantee Trustee in good faith determines
that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Holders.
(b) The Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge
of any Event of Default unless the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall have
received written notice thereof, or of which a Responsible Officer of the
Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall have obtained actual knowledge thereof.
SECTION 2.08. Conflicting Interests.
The Declaration shall be deemed to be specifically described in this
Preferred Securities Guarantee for the purposes of clause (i) of the first
proviso contained in Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 2.09. Disclosure of Information
The disclosure of information as to the names of the Holders of the
Preferred Securities in accordance with Section 312 of the Trust Indenture Act,
regardless of the source from which such information was derived, shall not be
deemed to be a violation of any existing law, or any law hereafter enacted that
does not specifically refer to Section 312 of the Trust Indenture Act, nor shall
the Preferred Guarantee Trustee be held accountable by reason of mailing any
material pursuant to a request made under Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture
Act.
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ARTICLE III
POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF PREFERRED GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 3.01. Powers and Duties of the Preferred Guarantee Trustee.
(a) This Preferred Securities Guarantee shall be held by the Preferred
Guarantee Trustee for the benefit of the Holders, and the Preferred Guarantee
Trustee shall not transfer this Preferred Securities Guarantee to any Person
except a Holder exercising his or her rights pursuant to Section 5.05(c) hereof
or to a Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee on acceptance by such Successor
Preferred Guarantee Trustee of its appointment to act as Successor Preferred
Guarantee Trustee. The right, title and interest of the Preferred Guarantee
Trustee shall automatically vest in any Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee,
and such vesting and cessation of title shall be effective whether or not
conveyancing documents have been executed and delivered pursuant to the
appointment of such Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee.
(b) If an Event of Default actually known to a Responsible Officer of the
Preferred Guarantee Trustee has occurred and is continuing, the Preferred
Guarantee Trustee shall enforce this Preferred Securities Guarantee for the
benefit of the Holders.
(c) The Preferred 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 Preferred Securities Guarantee, and no implied covenant shall be read into
this Preferred Securities Guarantee against the Preferred Guarantee Trustee. In
case an Event of Default has occurred (that has not been cured or waived
pursuant to Section 2.06) and is actually known to a Responsible Officer of the
Preferred Guarantee Trustee, the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall exercise such
of the rights and powers vested in it by this Preferred Securities Guarantee,
and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise thereof, as a prudent
person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his or
her own affairs.
(d) This Preferred Securities Guarantee and all moneys received by the
Holders hereunder in respect of the Guarantee Payments will not be subject to
any right, charge, security interest, lien or claim of any kind in favor of, or
for the benefit of, the Preferred Guarantee Trustee or its agents or their
creditors.
(e) The Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall not resign as a Trustee unless a
Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and accepted that
appointment in accordance with Article IV.
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(f) No provision of this Preferred Securities Guarantee shall be construed
to relieve the Preferred Guarantee Trustee from liability for its own negligent
action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except
that:
(i) prior to the occurrence of any 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 Preferred Guarantee Trustee
shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Preferred
Securities Guarantee, and the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall not be
liable except for the performance of such duties and obligations as
are specifically set forth in this Preferred Securities Guarantee, and
no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Preferred
Securities Guarantee against the Preferred Guarantee Trustee; and
(B) in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Preferred
Guarantee Trustee, the Preferred Guarantee Trustee may conclusively
rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the
opinions expressed therein, upon any certificates or opinions
furnished to the Preferred Guarantee Trustee and conforming to the
requirements of this Preferred Securities Guarantee; but in the case
of any such certificates or opinions that by any provision hereof are
specifically required to be furnished to the Preferred Guarantee
Trustee, the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall be under a duty to
examine the same to determine whether or not they conform to the
requirements of this Preferred Securities Guarantee;
(ii) the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable for any
error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer of the
Preferred Guarantee Trustee, unless it shall be proved that the Preferred
Guarantee Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts upon
which such judgment was made;
(ii) the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable with respect
to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in
accordance with the direction of the Holders of not less than a Majority in
liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities relating to the time, method
and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the
Preferred Guarantee Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred
upon the Preferred Guarantee Trustee under this Preferred Securities
Guarantee; and
(iv) no provision of this Preferred Securities Guarantee shall
require the Preferred Guarantee Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or
otherwise incur personal financial liability in the performance of any of
its duties or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if the
Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall have reasonable
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grounds for believing that the repayment of such funds or liability is not
reasonably assured to it under the terms of this Preferred Securities
Guarantee or indemnity, reasonably satisfactory to the Preferred Guarantee
Trustee, against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.
SECTION 3.02. Certain Rights of Preferred Guarantee Trustee.
(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 3.01:
(i) The Preferred Guarantee Trustee may conclusively rely, and shall
be fully protected in acting or refraining from acting upon, any
resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice,
request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence
of indebtedness or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and
to have been signed, sent or presented by the proper party or parties.
(ii) Any direction or act of the Guarantor contemplated by this
Preferred Securities Guarantee shall be sufficiently evidenced by an
Officers' Certificate.
(iii) Whenever, in the administration of this Preferred Securities
Guarantee, the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall deem it desirable that a
matter be proved or established before taking, suffering or omitting any
action hereunder, the Preferred Guarantee Trustee (unless other evidence is
herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its
part, request and conclusively rely upon an Officers' Certificate, which,
upon receipt of such request, shall be promptly delivered by the Guarantor.
(iv) The Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall have no duty to see to any
recording, filing or registration of any instrument (or any rerecording,
refiling or registration thereof).
(v) The Preferred Guarantee Trustee may consult with counsel of its
selection, and the advice or opinion of such counsel with respect to legal
matters shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect
of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and
in accordance with such advice or opinion. Such counsel may be counsel to
the Guarantor or any of its Affiliates and may include any of its
employees. The Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall have the right at any time
to seek instructions concerning the administration of this Preferred
Securities Guarantee from any court of competent jurisdiction.
(vi) The Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall be under no obligation to
exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Preferred
Securities Guarantee at the request or direction of any Holder, unless such
Holder shall have provided to the
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Preferred Guarantee Trustee such security and indemnity, reasonably
satisfactory to the Preferred Guarantee Trustee, against the costs,
expenses (including attorneys' fees and expenses and the expenses of the
Preferred Guarantee Trustee's agents, nominees or custodians) and
liabilities that might be incurred by it in complying with such request or
direction, including such reasonable advances as may be requested by the
Preferred Guarantee Trustee; provided that, nothing contained in this
Section 3.02(a)(vi) shall be taken to relieve the Preferred Guarantee
Trustee, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default (that has not been
cured or waived), of its obligation to exercise the rights and powers
vested in it by this Preferred Securities Guarantee and to use the same
degree of care and skill in this exercise, as a prudent person would
exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his or her own
affairs.
(vii) The Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall not be bound to make any
investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution,
certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request,
direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of
indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Preferred Guarantee
Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation
into such facts or matters as it may see fit.
(viii) The Preferred Guarantee Trustee may execute any of the trusts
or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by
or through agents, nominees, custodians or attorneys, and the Preferred
Guarantee Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence
on the part of any agent or attorney appointed with due care by it
hereunder.
(ix) Any action taken by the Preferred Guarantee Trustee or its
agents hereunder shall bind the Holders, and the signature of the Preferred
Guarantee Trustee or its agents alone shall be sufficient and effective to
perform any such action. No third party shall be required to inquire as to
the authority of the Preferred Guarantee Trustee to so act or as to its
compliance with any of the terms and provisions of this Preferred
Securities Guarantee, both of which shall be conclusively evidenced by the
Preferred Guarantee Trustee's or its agent's taking such action.
(x) Whenever in the administration of this Preferred Securities
Guarantee the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall deem it desirable to
receive instructions with respect to enforcing any remedy or right or
taking any other action hereunder, the Preferred Guarantee Trustee (i) may
request instructions from the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount
of the Preferred Securities, (ii) may refrain from enforcing such remedy or
right or taking such other action until such instructions are received, and
(iii) shall be protected in conclusively relying on or acting in accordance
with such instructions.
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(xi) The Preferred Guarantee Trustee may execute any of the trusts or
powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or
through agents or attorneys and the Trustee shall not be responsible for
any misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed
with due care by it hereunder.
(xi) The Preferred Securities Trustee shall not be liable for any
action taken, suffered, or omitted to be taken by it in good faith and
reasonably believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or
rights or powers conferred upon it by this Preferred Securities Guarantee.
(b) No provision of this Preferred Securities Guarantee shall be deemed to
impose any duty or obligation on the Preferred Guarantee Trustee to perform any
act or acts or exercise any right, power, duty or obligation conferred or
imposed on it in any jurisdiction in which it shall be illegal, or in which the
Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall be unqualified or incompetent in accordance
with applicable law, to perform any such act or acts or to exercise any such
right, power, duty or obligation. No permissive power or authority available to
the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall be construed to be a duty.
SECTION 3.03. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Preferred
Securities Guarantee.
The recitals contained in this Preferred Securities Guarantee shall be
taken as the statements of the Guarantor, and the Preferred Guarantee Trustee
does not assume any responsibility for their correctness. The Preferred
Guarantee Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or sufficiency of
this Preferred Securities Guarantee.
ARTICLE IV
PREFERRED GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION 4.01. Preferred Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility.
(a) There shall at all times be a Preferred Guarantee Trustee which shall:
(i) not be an Affiliate of the Guarantor; and
(ii) be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of
the United States of America or any State or territory thereof or of the
District of Columbia, or a corporation or Person permitted by the
Securities and Exchange Commission to act as an institutional trustee under
the Trust Indenture Act, authorized under such laws to exercise corporate
trust powers, having a combined capital and
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surplus of at least 50 million U.S. dollars ($50,000,000), and subject to
supervision or examination by federal, state, territorial or District of
Columbia authority. If such corporation publishes reports of condition at
least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of the supervising
or examining authority referred to above, then, for the purposes of this
Section 4.01(a)(ii), the combined capital and surplus of such corporation
shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its
most recent report of condition so published.
(b) If at any time the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall cease to be
eligible to so act under Section 4.01(a), the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall
immediately resign in the manner and with the effect set out in Section 4.02(c).
(c) If the Preferred Guarantee Trustee has or shall acquire any
"conflicting interest" within the meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust
Indenture Act, the Preferred Guarantee Trustee and Guarantor shall in all
respects comply with the provisions of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture
Act, subject to the penultimate paragraph thereof.
SECTION 4.02. Appointment, Removal and Resignation of Preferred Guarantee
Trustee.
(a) Subject to Section 4.02(b), the Preferred Guarantee Trustee may be
appointed or removed without cause at any time by the Guarantor.
(b) The Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall not be removed in accordance with
Section 4.02(a) until a Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee has been appointed
and has accepted such appointment by written instrument executed by such
Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor.
(c) The Preferred Guarantee Trustee appointed to office shall hold office
until a Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall have been appointed or until
its removal or resignation. The Preferred Guarantee Trustee may resign from
office (without need for prior or subsequent accounting) by an instrument in
writing executed by the Preferred Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the
Guarantor, which resignation shall not take effect until a Successor Preferred
Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment by
instrument in writing executed by such Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee and
delivered to the Guarantor and the resigning Preferred Guarantee Trustee.
(d) If no Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall have been appointed
and accepted appointment as provided in this Section 4.02 within 60 days after
delivery of an instrument of resignation or removal, the Preferred Guarantee
Trustee resigning or being removed may petition any court of competent
jurisdiction for appointment of a Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee. Such
court may thereupon, after prescribing such notice, if any, as it may deem
proper, appoint a Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee.
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(e) No Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall be liable for the acts or
omissions to act of any Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee.
(f) Upon termination of this Preferred Securities Guarantee or removal or
resignation of the Preferred Guarantee Trustee pursuant to this Section 4.02,
the Guarantor shall pay to the Preferred Guarantee Trustee all amounts accrued
to the date of such termination, removal or resignation.
ARTICLE V
GUARANTEE
SECTION 5.01. Guarantee.
The Guarantor irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to pay in full to the
Holders the Guarantee Payments (without duplication of amounts theretofore paid
by the Issuer), as and when due, regardless of any defense, right of set-off or
counterclaim that the Issuer may have or assert. The Guarantor's obligation to
make a Guarantee Payment may be satisfied by direct payment of the required
amount by the Guarantor to the Holders or by causing the Issuer to pay such
amounts to such Holders.
SECTION 5.02. Subordination.
If an event of default under the Indenture (an "Indenture Event of
Default") has occurred and is continuing, the rights of holders of Common
Securities to receive Guarantee Payments under the Common Securities Guarantee
are subordinate to the rights of the Holders to receive Guarantee Payments under
this Preferred Securities Guarantee.
SECTION 5.03. Waiver of Notice and Demand.
The Guarantor hereby waives notice of acceptance of this Preferred
Securities Guarantee and of any liability to which it applies or may apply,
presentment, demand for payment, any right to require a proceeding first against
the Issuer or any other Person before proceeding against the Guarantor, protest,
notice of nonpayment, notice of dishonor, notice of redemption and all other
notices and demands.
SECTION 5.04. Obligations Not Affected.
The obligations, covenants, agreements and duties of the Guarantor under
this Preferred Securities Guarantee shall in no way be affected or impaired by
reason of the happening from time to time of any of the following:
14
<PAGE>
(a) the release or waiver, by operation of law or otherwise, of the
performance or observance by the Issuer of any express or implied
agreement, covenant, term or condition relating to the Preferred Securities
to be performed or observed by the Issuer;
(b) the extension of time for the payment by the Issuer of all or any
portion of the Distributions, Redemption Price, Liquidation Distribution or
any other sums payable under the terms of the Preferred Securities or the
extension of time for the performance of any other obligation under,
arising out of, or in connection with, the Preferred Securities (other than
an extension of time for payment of Distributions, Redemption Price,
Liquidation Distribution or other sum payable that results from the
extension of any interest payment period on the Debentures or any extension
of the maturity date of the Debentures permitted by the Indenture);
(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 Preferred
Securities, or any action on the part of the Issuer granting indulgence or
extension of any kind;
(d) the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, sale of any
collateral, receivership, insolvency, bankruptcy, assignment for the
benefit of creditors, reorganization, arrangement, composition or
readjustment of debt of, or other similar proceedings affecting, the Issuer
or any of the assets of the Issuer;
(e) any invalidity of, or defect or deficiency in, the Preferred
Securities;
(f) the settlement or compromise of any obligation guaranteed hereby
or hereby incurred; or
(g) any other circumstance whatsoever that might otherwise constitute
a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor, it being the
intent of this Section 5.04 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
consent of, the Guarantor with respect to the happening of any of the foregoing.
SECTION 5.05. Rights of Holders.
(a) The Issuer expressly acknowledges that (i) this Preferred Securities
Guarantee will be deposited with the Preferred Guarantee Trustee to be held for
the benefit of the Holders and (ii) the Preferred Guarantee Trustee has the
right to enforce this Preferred Securities Guarantee on behalf of the Holders.
15
<PAGE>
(b) The Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Preferred
Securities have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any
proceeding for any remedy available to the Preferred Guarantee Trustee in
respect of this Preferred Securities Guarantee, including the giving of
directions to the Preferred Guarantee Trustee, or directing the exercise of any
trust or power conferred upon the Preferred Guarantee Trustee under this
Preferred Securities Guarantee.
(c) If the Preferred Guarantee Trustee fails to enforce its rights under
this Preferred Securities Guarantee, any Holder may institute a legal proceeding
directly against the Guarantor to enforce the Preferred Guarantee Trustee's
rights under this Preferred Securities Guarantee without first instituting a
legal proceeding against the Issuer, the Preferred Guarantee Trustee or any
other person or entity. The Guarantor waives any right or remedy to require
that any action be brought first against the Issuer or any other person or
entity before proceeding directly against the Guarantor.
(d) If an Indenture Event of Default with respect to the Debentures,
constituting the failure to pay interest or principal on the Debentures on the
date such interest or principal is otherwise payable, has occurred and is
continuing, then a Holder of Preferred Securities may directly, at any time,
institute a proceeding for enforcement of payment to such Holder of the
principal of or interest on the Debentures having a principal amount equal to
the aggregate liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities of such Holder on
or after the respective due date specified in the Debentures. The Holders will
not be able to exercise directly any other remedy available to the holders of
the Debentures unless the Institutional Trustee fails to do so.
SECTION 5.06. Guarantee of Payment.
This Preferred Securities Guarantee creates a guarantee of payment and not
of collection.
SECTION 5.07. Subrogation.
The Guarantor shall be subrogated to all (if any) rights of the Holders
against the Issuer in respect of any amounts paid to such Holders by the
Guarantor under this Preferred Securities Guarantee; provided, however, that the
Guarantor shall not (except to the extent required by mandatory provisions of
law) be entitled to enforce or exercise any right that it may acquire by way of
subrogation or any indemnity, reimbursement or other agreement, in all cases as
a result of payment under this Preferred Securities Guarantee, if, at the time
of any such payment, any amounts are due and unpaid under this Preferred
Securities Guarantee. If any amount shall be paid to the Guarantor in violation
of the preceding sentence, the Guarantor agrees to hold such amount in trust for
the Holders and to pay over such amount to the Holders.
16
<PAGE>
SECTION 5.08. Independent Obligations.
The Guarantor acknowledges that its obligations hereunder are independent
of the obligations of the Issuer with respect to the Preferred Securities, and
that the Guarantor shall be liable as principal and as debtor hereunder to make
Guarantee Payments pursuant to the terms of this Preferred Securities Guarantee
notwithstanding the occurrence of any event referred to in subsections (a)
through (g), inclusive, of Section 5.04 hereof.
ARTICLE VI
LIMITATION OF TRANSACTIONS; SUBORDINATION
SECTION 6.01. Limitation of Transactions.
So long as any Preferred Securities remain outstanding, if (i) the
Guarantor has exercised its option to defer interest payments on the Debentures
by extending the interest payment period and such extension shall be continuing,
(ii) the Guarantor shall be in default with respect to its payment or other
obligations under this Preferred Securities Guarantee, or (iii) there shall have
occurred and be continuing any event that, with the giving of notice or lapse of
time or both, would constitute an Event of Default or an Indenture Event of
Default that has not been cured or waived, then (a) the Guarantor shall not
declare or pay any dividend on, make any distribution or liquidation payment
with respect to, or redeem, purchase or acquire any of the Guarantor's capital
stock (other than (i) purchases or acquisitions of shares of the Guarantor's
common stock (the "Common Stock") in connection with the satisfaction by the
Guarantor of its obligations under any employee benefit plan or the satisfaction
by the Guarantor of its obligations pursuant to any contract or security
requiring the Guarantor to purchase shares of the Common Stock, (ii) as a result
of a reclassification of the Guarantor's capital stock or the exchange or
conversion of one class or series of the Guarantor's capital stock for another
class or series of the Guarantor's capital stock, (iii) the purchase of
fractional interests in shares of the Guarantor's capital stock pursuant to the
conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock of the Guarantor or the
security being converted or exchanged, (iv) purchases or acquisitions of shares
of the Common Stock to be used in connection with acquisitions of the Common
Stock by shareholders pursuant to a dividend reinvestment plan, or (v) stock
dividends paid by the Guarantor where the dividend stock is the same stock as
that on which the dividend is paid), (b) the Guarantor shall not make any
payment of interest on or principal of (or premium, if any, on) or repay,
repurchase or redeem any debt securities (including guarantees) of the Guarantor
that rank pari passu with or junior to the Debentures, and (c) the Guarantor
shall not make any guarantee payment with respect to the foregoing (other than
pursuant to this Preferred Securities Guarantee and the Common Securities
Guarantee).
17
<PAGE>
SECTION 6.02. Subordination
This Preferred Securities Guarantee will constitute an unsecured obligation
of the Guarantor and will rank (i) subordinate and junior in right of payment to
all other liabilities of the Guarantor except any liability that may be pari
passu expressly by its terms, (ii) pari passu with the most senior preferred or
preference stock, if any, issued from time to time by the Guarantor, including
the Series A Preference Shares issued to Siemens Aktiengesellschaft in the
Siemens Investment (as defined in the Offering Memorandum relating to the
Preferred Securities dated November 19, 1997), and with any guarantee now or
hereafter entered into by the Guarantor in respect of any preferred or
preference stock or preferred securities of any affiliate of the Guarantor, and
(iii) senior to the Common Stock.
ARTICLE VII
TERMINATION
SECTION 7.01. Termination.
This Preferred Securities Guarantee shall terminate upon (i) full payment
of the Redemption Price of all Preferred Securities, (ii) distribution of the
Debentures held by the Issuer to the Holders; (iii) full payment of the amounts
payable in accordance with the Declaration upon liquidation of the Issuer; or
(iv) distribution of Common Stock to all of the Holders in respect of conversion
of the Preferred Securities into the Common Stock. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, this Preferred Securities Guarantee will continue to be effective or
will be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any Holder must restore
payment of any sum paid under the Preferred Securities or under this Preferred
Securities Guarantee.
ARTICLE VII
INDEMNIFICATION
SECTION 8.01. Exculpation.
(a) No Indemnified Person shall be liable, responsible or accountable in
damages or otherwise to the Guarantor or any Covered Person for any loss,
damage, liability, expense or claim incurred by reason of any act or omission
performed or omitted by such Indemnified Person in good faith in accordance with
this Preferred Securities Guarantee and in a manner that such Indemnified Person
reasonably believed to be within the scope of the authority conferred on such
Indemnified Person by this Preferred Securities Guarantee or by law, except that
an Indemnified Person shall be liable for any such loss, damage or claim
incurred by
18
<PAGE>
reason of such Indemnified Person's negligence or willful misconduct with
respect to such acts or omissions.
(b) An Indemnified Person shall be fully protected in relying in good faith
upon the records of the Guarantor and upon such information, opinions, reports
or statements presented to the Guarantor by any Person as to matters the
Indemnified Person reasonably believes are within such other Person's
professional or expert competence and who has been selected with reasonable care
by or on behalf of the Guarantor, including information, opinions, reports or
statements as to the value and amount of the assets, liabilities, profits,
losses, or any other facts pertinent to the existence and amount of assets from
which Distributions to Holders might properly be paid.
SECTION 8.02. Indemnification.
The Guarantor agrees to indemnify each Indemnified Person for, and to hold
each Indemnified Person harmless against, any and all loss, liability, damage,
claim or expense incurred without negligence, wilful misconduct or bad faith on
its part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration
of the trust or trusts hereunder, including the costs and expenses (including
reasonable legal fees and expenses) of defending itself against, or
investigating, any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or
performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder. The obligation to
indemnify as set forth in this Section 8.02 shall survive the termination of
this Preferred Securities Guarantee.
When the Preferred Guarantee Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in
connection with an Indenture Event of Default specified in Section 5.01(5) or
Section 5.01(6) of the Indenture, the expenses (including the reasonable charges
and expenses of its counsel) and the compensation for services are intended to
constitute expenses of administration under any applicable federal or state
bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law.
ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 9.01. Successors and Assigns.
All guarantees and agreements contained in this Preferred Securities
Guarantee shall bind the successors, assigns, receivers, trustees and
representatives of the Guarantor and shall inure to the benefit of the Holders
of the Preferred Securities then outstanding. Except in connection with any
permitted merger of consolidation of the Guarantor with or into another entity
or any permitted sale, transfer or lease of the Guarantor's assets to another
entity, the Guarantor may not assign its rights or delegate its obligations
under this Preferred Securities Guarantee without the prior approval of the
Holders of at least a majority of the aggregate
19
<PAGE>
stated liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities then outstanding. All
guarantees and agreements contained in this Preferred Securities Guarantee shall
bind the permitted successors, assigns and transferees of the Guarantor and
shall inure to the benefit of the Holders of the Preferred Securities then
outstanding.
SECTION 9.02. Amendments.
Except with respect to any change that does not adversely affect the
material rights of Holders (in which case no vote will be required), this
Preferred Securities Guarantee may be amended only with the prior approval of
the Holders of at least a Majority in liquidation amount of the Preferred
Securities (including the stated amount that would be paid on redemption,
liquidation or otherwise, plus accrued and unpaid Distributions to the date upon
which the voting percentages are determined). The provisions of Section 11.2 of
the Declaration with respect to meetings of Holders of the Securities apply to
the giving of such approval.
SECTION 9.03. Notices.
All notices provided for in this Preferred Securities Guarantee shall be in
writing, duly signed by the party giving such notice, and shall be delivered,
telecopied or mailed by first class mail, as follows:
(a) If given to the Preferred Guarantee Trustee, at the Preferred
Guarantee Trustee's mailing address set forth below (or such other address
as the Preferred Guarantee Trustee may give notice of to the Holders):
Wilmington Trust Company
1100 North Market Street
Rodney Square North
Wilmington, Delaware 19890
Attention: Corporate Trust Administration
(b) If given to the Guarantor, at the Guarantor's mailing address set
forth below (or such other address as the Guarantor may give notice of to
the Holders):
Breed Technologies, Inc.
5300 Old Tampa Highway
Lakeland, Florida 33807-3050
Attention: Charles J. Speranzella, Jr.
(c) If given to any Holder of Preferred Securities, at the address set
forth on the books and records of the Issuer.
20
<PAGE>
All such notices shall be deemed to have been given when received in
person, telecopied with receipt confirmed, or mailed by first class mail,
postage prepaid except that if a notice or other document is refused delivery or
cannot be delivered because of a changed address of which no notice was given,
such notice or other document shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date
of such refusal or inability to deliver.
SECTION 9.04. Benefit.
This Preferred Securities Guarantee is solely for the benefit of the
Holders and, subject to Section 3.01(a), is not separately transferable from the
Preferred Securities.
SECTION 9.05. Governing Law.
THIS PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND
INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT
REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF.
21
<PAGE>
THIS PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE is executed as of the day and year
first above written.
BREED TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
as Guarantor
By: /s/ Charles J. ^^
--------------------------
Name:
Title:
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY,
as Preferred Guarantee Trustee
By: /s/ W. Chris Sponenberg
---------------------------------------
Name: W. Chris Sponenberg
Title: Senior Financial Services Officer
22
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 12.1
Ratio of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock Dividends
BREED Technologies, Inc.
December 31, 1997
($ in 000)
<TABLE>
ProForma (1) ProForma (2)
Year Six Months Ended Six Months
Years Ended June 30, Ended December 31, Ended
----------------------------------------- June 30, ---------------- December 31,
1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1997 1996 1997 1997
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Net Earnings (Loss) before extraordinary
item $18,304 $44,623 $ 72,333 $ 63,038 $14,847 $(10,300) $11,000 $(323,400) $(389,200)
Add: Income taxes 9,334 28,386 37,800 35,300 14,800 (27,000) 7,100 (49,900) (56,700)
--------------------------------------------- -------- -------- ----------- ----------
Profit (Loss) before income taxes $27,638 $73,009 $110,133 $ 98,338 $29,647 $(37,300) $18,100 $(373,300) $(445,900)
============================================= ======== ======== =========== ==========
Fixed Charges
Interest expensed $ 2,112 $ 1,062 $ 829 $ 2,664 $26,789 $ 97,800 $11,100 $ 25,400 $ 42,700
Amortization of deferred financing
costs 726 43,500 - 10,000 43,500
Estimated Interest factor on
operating leases 106 361 327 315 2,060 3,592 158 1,030 1,796
Dividends on redeemable preferred stock - 16,300 - 1,400 8,100
--------------------------------------------- -------- -------- ---------- ---------
Total Fixed Charges $ 2,218 $ 1,423 $ 1,156 $ 2,979 $29,575 $161,192 $11,258 $ 37,830 $ 96,096
============================================= ======== ======== ========== =========
Earnings Computation
Profit/(Loss) before tax $27,638 $73,009 $110,133 $ 98,338 $29,647 $(37,300) $18,100 $(373,300) $(445,900)
Fixed charges 2,216 1,423 1,156 2,979 29,575 161,192 11,258 37,630 96,096
-------------------------------------------- -------- -------- ---------- ----------
Total Earnings as Adjusted $29,856 $74,432 $111,289 $101,317 $59,222 $123,892 $29,358 $(335,470) $(349,804)
============================================ ======== ======== ========== ==========
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges 13.5 52.3 96.3 34.0 2.0 0.8 2.6 (8.9) (3.6)
============================================ ======== ======== ========== =========
Insufficiency of earnings to cover
combined fixed charge and preferred
stock dividends. - - - - - $ 37,300 - $ 373,300 $ 445,900
============================================ ======== ======== ========== =========
</TABLE>
1. Gives effect to the 1997 Acquisitions and the SRS Acquisition.
2. Gives effect to the SRS Acquisition.
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 23.1
We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption "Experts" in the
Registration Statement on Form S-3 and related Prospectus of Breed Technologies,
Inc. (the "Company") for the registration of 10,986,500 shares of its common
stock and the 6.50% Convertible Trust Preferred Securities of BTI Capital Trust
and to the incorporation by reference therein of our report dated July 31, 1997,
except for Note 12, as to which the date is August 27, 1997, with respect to the
consolidated financial statements of the Company included in its Annual Report
on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 1997, filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
Ernst & Young
Tampa, Florida
March 17, 1998
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 23.2
The Board of Directors
Breed Technologies, Inc.
We consent to the use of our report incorporated herein by reference and to the
reference to our firm under the heading "Experts" in the prospectus.
/s/ KPMG Peat Marwick, LLP
Tampa, Florida
March 18, 1998
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 23.3
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Prospectus
constituting part of the Registration Statement on Form S-3 of Breed
Technologies, Inc. of our report dated October 31, 1997 relating to the combined
financial statements of Safety Restraint Systems, a Division of AlliedSignal,
Inc., which appears in the Current Report on Form 8-K/A of Breed Technologies,
Inc. dated October 30, 1997.
/s/ Price Waterhouse LLP
Price Waterhouse LLP
Detroit, Michigan
March 18, 1998
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 23.4
We consent to the incorporation by reference of our report dated July 25, 1997
with respect to the consolidated financial statements of the MOMO group included
in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 1997, of BREED
Technologies, Inc. (the "Company") in the Registration Statement on Form S-3 and
related Prospectus of the Company for the registration of 10,986,500 shares of
its common stock and the 6.50% Convertible Trust Preferred Securities of BTI
Capital Trust.
KPMG S.p.A.
Milan, Italy
March 17, 1998
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 25.1
Registration No.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM T-1
STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939
OF A CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE
CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY OF A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO
SECTION 305(b)(2) X
---
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
(Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)
Delaware 51-0055023
(State of incorporation) (I.R.S. employer identification no.)
Rodney Square North
1100 North Market Street
Wilmington, Delaware 19890
(Address of principal executive offices)
Cynthia L. Corliss
Vice President and Trust Counsel
Wilmington Trust Company
Rodney Square North
Wilmington, Delaware 19890
(302) 651-8516
(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)
BREED TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)
Delaware
(State of incorporation) (I.R.S. employer identification no.)
5300 Old Tampa Highway
Lakeland, Florida 33807
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
6.50% Convertible Subordinated Debentures of Breed Technologies, Inc.
(Title of the indenture securities)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
ITEM 1. GENERAL INFORMATION.
Furnish the following information as to the trustee:
(a) Name and address of each examining or supervising authority
to which it is subject.
Federal Deposit Insurance Co. State Bank Commissioner
Five Penn Center Dover, Delaware
Suite #2901
Philadelphia, PA
(b) Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.
The trustee is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.
ITEM 2. AFFILIATIONS WITH THE OBLIGOR.
If the obligor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each
affiliation:
Based upon an examination of the books and records of the trustee
and upon information furnished by the obligor, the obligor is not an
affiliate of the trustee.
ITEM 3. LIST OF EXHIBITS.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
List below all exhibits filed as part of this Statement of
Eligibility and Qualification.
<S> <C>
A. Copy of the Charter of Wilmington Trust Company, which includes the
certificate of authority of Wilmington Trust Company to commence
business and the authorization of Wilmington Trust Company to
exercise corporate trust powers.
B. Copy of By-Laws of Wilmington Trust Company.
C. Consent of Wilmington Trust Company required by Section 321(b) of
Trust Indenture Act.
D. Copy of most recent Report of Condition of Wilmington Trust Company.
</TABLE>
Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
amended, the trustee, Wilmington Trust Company, a corporation organized and
existing under the laws of Delaware, has duly caused this Statement of
Eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, all in the City of Wilmington and State of Delaware on the 13th day
of March, 1998.
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
[SEAL]
Attest: /s/ Patricia A. Evans By:/s/ Norma P. Closs
----------------------------- ---------------------
Assistant Secretary Name: Norma P. Closs
Title: Vice President
2
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT A
AMENDED CHARTER
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
WILMINGTON, DELAWARE
AS EXISTING ON MAY 9, 1987
<PAGE>
AMENDED CHARTER
OR
ACT OF INCORPORATION
OF
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, originally incorporated by an Act of the General
Assembly of the State of Delaware, entitled "An Act to Incorporate the Delaware
Guarantee and Trust Company", approved March 2, A.D. 1901, and the name of which
company was changed to "WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY" by an amendment filed in the
Office of the Secretary of State on March 18, A.D. 1903, and the Charter or Act
of Incorporation of which company has been from time to time amended and changed
by merger agreements pursuant to the corporation law for state banks and trust
companies of the State of Delaware, does hereby alter and amend its Charter or
Act of Incorporation so that the same as so altered and amended shall in its
entirety read as follows:
FIRST: - The name of this corporation is WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY.
SECOND: - The location of its principal office in the State of Delaware is
at Rodney Square North, in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle;
the name of its resident agent is WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY whose address is
Rodney Square North, in said City. In addition to such principal office,
the said corporation maintains and operates branch offices in the City of
Newark, New Castle County, Delaware, the Town of Newport, New Castle
County, Delaware, at Claymont, New Castle County, Delaware, at Greenville,
New Castle County Delaware, and at Milford Cross Roads, New Castle County,
Delaware, and shall be empowered to open, maintain and operate branch
offices at Ninth and Shipley Streets, 418 Delaware Avenue, 2120 Market
Street, and 3605 Market Street, all in the City of Wilmington, New Castle
County, Delaware, and such other branch offices or places of business as
may be authorized from time to time by the agency or agencies of the
government of the State of Delaware empowered to confer such authority.
THIRD: - (a) The nature of the business and the objects and purposes
proposed to be transacted, promoted or carried on by this Corporation are
to do any or all of the things herein mentioned as fully and to the same
extent as natural persons might or could do and in any part of the world,
viz.:
(1) To sue and be sued, complain and defend in any Court of law or
equity and to make and use a common seal, and alter the seal at pleasure,
to hold, purchase, convey, mortgage or otherwise deal in real and personal
estate and property, and to appoint such officers and agents as the
business of the Corporation shall require,
<PAGE>
to make by-laws not inconsistent with the Constitution or laws of the
United States or of this State, to discount bills, notes or other evidences
of debt, to receive deposits of money, or securities for money, to buy gold
and silver bullion and foreign coins, to buy and sell bills of exchange,
and generally to use, exercise and enjoy all the powers, rights, privileges
and franchises incident to a corporation which are proper or necessary for
the transaction of the business of the Corporation hereby created.
(2) To insure titles to real and personal property, or any estate or
interests therein, and to guarantee the holder of such property, real or
personal, against any claim or claims, adverse to his interest therein, and
to prepare and give certificates of title for any lands or premises in the
State of Delaware, or elsewhere.
(3) To act as factor, agent, broker or attorney in the receipt,
collection, custody, investment and management of funds, and the purchase,
sale, management and disposal of property of all descriptions, and to
prepare and execute all papers which may be necessary or proper in such
business.
(4) To prepare and draw agreements, contracts, deeds, leases,
conveyances, mortgages, bonds and legal papers of every description, and to
carry on the business of conveyancing in all its branches.
(5) To receive upon deposit for safekeeping money, jewelry, plate,
deeds, bonds and any and all other personal property of every sort and
kind, from executors, administrators, guardians, public officers, courts,
receivers, assignees, trustees, and from all fiduciaries, and from all
other persons and individuals, and from all corporations whether state,
municipal, corporate or private, and to rent boxes, safes, vaults and other
receptacles for such property.
(6) To act as agent or otherwise for the purpose of registering,
issuing, certificating, countersigning, transferring or underwriting the
stock, bonds or other obligations of any corporation, association, state or
municipality, and may receive and manage any sinking fund therefor on such
terms as may be agreed upon between the two parties, and in like manner may
act as Treasurer of any corporation or municipality.
(7) To act as Trustee under any deed of trust, mortgage, bond or
other instrument issued by any state, municipality, body politic,
corporation, association or person, either alone or in conjunction with any
other person or persons, corporation or corporations.
(8) To guarantee the validity, performance or effect of any contract
or agreement, and the fidelity of persons holding places of responsibility
or trust; to become
2
<PAGE>
surety for any person, or persons, for the faithful performance of any
trust, office, duty, contract or agreement, either by itself or in
conjunction with any other person, or persons, corporation, or
corporations, or in like manner become surety upon any bond, recognizance,
obligation, judgment, suit, order, or decree to be entered in any court of
record within the State of Delaware or elsewhere, or which may now or
hereafter be required by any law, judge, officer or court in the State of
Delaware or elsewhere.
(9) To act by any and every method of appointment as trustee, trustee
in bankruptcy, receiver, assignee, assignee in bankruptcy, executor,
administrator, guardian, bailee, or in any other trust capacity in the
receiving, holding, managing, and disposing of any and all estates and
property, real, personal or mixed, and to be appointed as such trustee,
trustee in bankruptcy, receiver, assignee, assignee in bankruptcy,
executor, administrator, guardian or bailee by any persons, corporations,
court, officer, or authority, in the State of Delaware or elsewhere; and
whenever this Corporation is so appointed by any person, corporation,
court, officer or authority such trustee, trustee in bankruptcy, receiver,
assignee, assignee in bankruptcy, executor, administrator, guardian,
bailee, or in any other trust capacity, it shall not be required to give
bond with surety, but its capital stock shall be taken and held as security
for the performance of the duties devolving upon it by such appointment.
(10) And for its care, management and trouble, and the exercise of
any of its powers hereby given, or for the performance of any of the duties
which it may undertake or be called upon to perform, or for the assumption
of any responsibility the said Corporation may be entitled to receive a
proper compensation.
(11) To purchase, receive, hold and own bonds, mortgages, debentures,
shares of capital stock, and other securities, obligations, contracts and
evidences of indebtedness, of any private, public or municipal corporation
within and without the State of Delaware, or of the Government of the
United States, or of any state, territory, colony, or possession thereof,
or of any foreign government or country; to receive, collect, receipt for,
and dispose of interest, dividends and income upon and from any of the
bonds, mortgages, debentures, notes, shares of capital stock, securities,
obligations, contracts, evidences of indebtedness and other property held
and owned by it, and to exercise in respect of all such bonds, mortgages,
debentures, notes, shares of capital stock, securities, obligations,
contracts, evidences of indebtedness and other property, any and all the
rights, powers and privileges of individual owners thereof, including the
right to vote thereon; to invest and deal in and with any of the moneys of
the Corporation upon such securities and in such manner as it may think fit
and proper, and from time to time to vary or realize such investments; to
issue bonds and secure the same by pledges or deeds of trust or mortgages
of or upon the whole or any part of the property
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held or owned by the Corporation, and to sell and pledge such bonds, as and
when the Board of Directors shall determine, and in the promotion of its
said corporate business of investment and to the extent authorized by law,
to lease, purchase, hold, sell, assign, transfer, pledge, mortgage and
convey real and personal property of any name and nature and any estate or
interest therein.
(b) In furtherance of, and not in limitation, of the powers conferred by
the laws of the State of Delaware, it is hereby expressly provided that the
said Corporation shall also have the following powers:
(1) To do any or all of the things herein set forth, to the same
extent as natural persons might or could do, and in any part of the world.
(2) To acquire the good will, rights, property and franchises and to
undertake the whole or any part of the assets and liabilities of any
person, firm, association or corporation, and to pay for the same in cash,
stock of this Corporation, bonds or otherwise; to hold or in any manner to
dispose of the whole or any part of the property so purchased; to conduct
in any lawful manner the whole or any part of any business so acquired, and
to exercise all the powers necessary or convenient in and about the conduct
and management of such business.
(3) To take, hold, own, deal in, mortgage or otherwise lien, and to
lease, sell, exchange, transfer, or in any manner whatever dispose of
property, real, personal or mixed, wherever situated.
(4) To enter into, make, perform and carry out contracts of every
kind with any person, firm, association or corporation, and, without limit
as to amount, to draw, make, accept, endorse, discount, execute and issue
promissory notes, drafts, bills of exchange, warrants, bonds, debentures,
and other negotiable or transferable instruments.
(5) To have one or more offices, to carry on all or any of its
operations and businesses, without restriction to the same extent as
natural persons might or could do, to purchase or otherwise acquire, to
hold, own, to mortgage, sell, convey or otherwise dispose of, real and
personal property, of every class and description, in any State, District,
Territory or Colony of the United States, and in any foreign country or
place.
(6) It is the intention that the objects, purposes and powers
specified and clauses contained in this paragraph shall (except where
otherwise expressed in said paragraph) be nowise limited or restricted by
reference to or inference from the terms of any other clause of this or any
other paragraph in this charter, but that the
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objects, purposes and powers specified in each of the clauses of this
paragraph shall be regarded as independent objects, purposes and powers.
FOURTH: - (a) The total number of shares of all classes of stock which the
Corporation shall have authority to issue is forty-one million (41,000,000)
shares, consisting of:
(1) One million (1,000,000) shares of Preferred stock, par value
$10.00 per share (hereinafter referred to as "Preferred Stock"); and
(2) Forty million (40,000,000) shares of Common Stock, par value
$1.00 per share (hereinafter referred to as "Common Stock").
(b) Shares of Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time in one or
more series as may from time to time be determined by the Board of
Directors each of said series to be distinctly designated. All shares of
any one series of Preferred Stock shall be alike in every particular,
except that there may be different dates from which dividends, if any,
thereon shall be cumulative, if made cumulative. The voting powers and the
preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights
of each such series, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions
thereof, if any, may differ from those of any and all other series at any
time outstanding; and, subject to the provisions of subparagraph 1 of
Paragraph (c) of this Article FOURTH, the Board of Directors of the
Corporation is hereby expressly granted authority to fix by resolution or
resolutions adopted prior to the issuance of any shares of a particular
series of Preferred Stock, the voting powers and the designations,
preferences and relative, optional and other special rights, and the
qualifications, limitations and restrictions of such series, including, but
without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the following:
(1) The distinctive designation of, and the number of shares of
Preferred Stock which shall constitute such series, which number may be
increased (except where otherwise provided by the Board of Directors) or
decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding)
from time to time by like action of the Board of Directors;
(2) The rate and times at which, and the terms and conditions on
which, dividends, if any, on Preferred Stock of such series shall be paid,
the extent of the preference or relation, if any, of such dividends to the
dividends payable on any other class or classes, or series of the same or
other class of stock and whether such dividends shall be cumulative or non-
cumulative;
(3) The right, if any, of the holders of Preferred Stock of such
series to convert the same into or exchange the same for, shares of any
other class or classes or of any series of the same or any other class or
classes of stock of the Corporation and the terms and conditions of such
conversion or exchange;
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(4) Whether or not Preferred Stock of such series shall be subject to
redemption, and the redemption price or prices and the time or times at
which, and the terms and conditions on which, Preferred Stock of such
series may be redeemed.
(5) The rights, if any, of the holders of Preferred Stock of such
series upon the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, merger,
consolidation, distribution or sale of assets, dissolution or winding-up,
of the Corporation.
(6) The terms of the sinking fund or redemption or purchase account,
if any, to be provided for the Preferred Stock of such series; and
(7) The voting powers, if any, of the holders of such series of
Preferred Stock which may, without limiting the generality of the foregoing
include the right, voting as a series or by itself or together with other
series of Preferred Stock or all series of Preferred Stock as a class, to
elect one or more directors of the Corporation if there shall have been a
default in the payment of dividends on any one or more series of Preferred
Stock or under such circumstances and on such conditions as the Board of
Directors may determine.
(c) (1) After the requirements with respect to preferential dividends on
the Preferred Stock (fixed in accordance with the provisions of section (b)
of this Article FOURTH), if any, shall have been met and after the
Corporation shall have complied with all the requirements, if any, with
respect to the setting aside of sums as sinking funds or redemption or
purchase accounts (fixed in accordance with the provisions of section (b)
of this Article FOURTH), and subject further to any conditions which may be
fixed in accordance with the provisions of section (b) of this Article
FOURTH, then and not otherwise the holders of Common Stock shall be
entitled to receive such dividends as may be declared from time to time by
the Board of Directors.
(2) After distribution in full of the preferential amount, if any,
(fixed in accordance with the provisions of section (b) of this Article
FOURTH), to be distributed to the holders of Preferred Stock in the event
of voluntary or involuntary liquidation, distribution or sale of assets,
dissolution or winding-up, of the Corporation, the holders of the Common
Stock shall be entitled to receive all of the remaining assets of the
Corporation, tangible and intangible, of whatever kind available for
distribution to stockholders ratably in proportion to the number of shares
of Common Stock held by them respectively.
(3) Except as may otherwise be required by law or by the provisions
of such resolution or resolutions as may be adopted by the Board of
Directors pursuant to section (b) of this Article FOURTH, each holder of
Common Stock shall have one vote in respect of each share of Common Stock
held on all matters voted upon by the stockholders.
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(d) No holder of any of the shares of any class or series of stock or of
options, warrants or other rights to purchase shares of any class or series
of stock or of other securities of the Corporation shall have any
preemptive right to purchase or subscribe for any unissued stock of any
class or series or any additional shares of any class or series to be
issued by reason of any increase of the authorized capital stock of the
Corporation of any class or series, or bonds, certificates of indebtedness,
debentures or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for stock
of the Corporation of any class or series, or carrying any right to
purchase stock of any class or series, but any such unissued stock,
additional authorized issue of shares of any class or series of stock or
securities convertible into or exchangeable for stock, or carrying any
right to purchase stock, may be issued and disposed of pursuant to
resolution of the Board of Directors to such persons, firms, corporations
or associations, whether such holders or others, and upon such terms as may
be deemed advisable by the Board of Directors in the exercise of its sole
discretion.
(e) The relative powers, preferences and rights of each series of
Preferred Stock in relation to the relative powers, preferences and rights
of each other series of Preferred Stock shall, in each case, be as fixed
from time to time by the Board of Directors in the resolution or
resolutions adopted pursuant to authority granted in section (b) of this
Article FOURTH and the consent, by class or series vote or otherwise, of
the holders of such of the series of Preferred Stock as are from time to
time outstanding shall not be required for the issuance by the Board of
Directors of any other series of Preferred Stock whether or not the powers,
preferences and rights of such other series shall be fixed by the Board of
Directors as senior to, or on a parity with, the powers, preferences and
rights of such outstanding series, or any of them; provided, however, that
the Board of Directors may provide in the resolution or resolutions as to
any series of Preferred Stock adopted pursuant to section (b) of this
Article FOURTH that the consent of the holders of a majority (or such
greater proportion as shall be therein fixed) of the outstanding shares of
such series voting thereon shall be required for the issuance of any or all
other series of Preferred Stock.
(f) Subject to the provisions of section (e), shares of any series of
Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time as the Board of Directors
of the Corporation shall determine and on such terms and for such
consideration as shall be fixed by the Board of Directors.
(g) Shares of Common Stock may be issued from time to time as the Board of
Directors of the Corporation shall determine and on such terms and for such
consideration as shall be fixed by the Board of Directors.
(h) The authorized amount of shares of Common Stock and of Preferred Stock
may, without a class or series vote, be increased or decreased from time to
time by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the stock of
the Corporation entitled to vote thereon.
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FIFTH: - (a) The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be
conducted and managed by a Board of Directors. The number of directors
constituting the entire Board shall be not less than five nor more than
twenty-five as fixed from time to time by vote of a majority of the whole
Board, provided, however, that the number of directors shall not be reduced
so as to shorten the term of any director at the time in office, and
provided further, that the number of directors constituting the whole Board
shall be twenty-four until otherwise fixed by a majority of the whole
Board.
(b) The Board of Directors shall be divided into three classes, as nearly
equal in number as the then total number of directors constituting the
whole Board permits, with the term of office of one class expiring each
year. At the annual meeting of stockholders in 1982, directors of the
first class shall be elected to hold office for a term expiring at the next
succeeding annual meeting, directors of the second class shall be elected
to hold office for a term expiring at the second succeeding annual meeting
and directors of the third class shall be elected to hold office for a term
expiring at the third succeeding annual meeting. Any vacancies in the Board
of Directors for any reason, and any newly created directorships resulting
from any increase in the directors, may be filled by the Board of
Directors, acting by a majority of the directors then in office, although
less than a quorum, and any directors so chosen shall hold office until the
next annual election of directors. At such election, the stockholders shall
elect a successor to such director to hold office until the next election
of the class for which such director shall have been chosen and until his
successor shall be elected and qualified. No decrease in the number of
directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.
(c) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Charter or Act of
Incorporation or the By-Laws of the Corporation (and notwithstanding the
fact that some lesser percentage may be specified by law, this Charter or
Act of Incorporation or the By-Laws of the Corporation), any director or
the entire Board of Directors of the Corporation may be removed at any time
without cause, but only by the affirmative vote of the holders of two-
thirds or more of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the
Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors
(considered for this purpose as one class) cast at a meeting of the
stockholders called for that purpose.
(d) Nominations for the election of directors may be made by the Board of
Directors or by any stockholder entitled to vote for the election of
directors. Such nominations shall be made by notice in writing, delivered
or mailed by first class United States mail, postage prepaid, to the
Secretary of the Corporation not less than 14 days nor more than 50 days
prior to any meeting of the stockholders called for the election of
directors; provided, however, that if less than 21 days' notice of the
meeting is given to stockholders, such written notice shall be delivered or
mailed, as prescribed, to the Secretary of the Corporation not later than
the close of the seventh day following the day on which notice of the
meeting was mailed to stockholders. Notice of nominations which are
proposed by the Board of Directors shall be given by the Chairman on behalf
of the Board.
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(e) Each notice under subsection (d) shall set forth (i) the name, age,
business address and, if known, residence address of each nominee proposed
in such notice, (ii) the principal occupation or employment of such nominee
and (iii) the number of shares of stock of the Corporation which are
beneficially owned by each such nominee.
(f) The Chairman of the meeting may, if the facts warrant, determine and
declare to the meeting that a nomination was not made in accordance with
the foregoing procedure, and if he should so determine, he shall so declare
to the meeting and the defective nomination shall be disregarded.
(g) No action required to be taken or which may be taken at any annual or
special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation may be taken without a
meeting, and the power of stockholders to consent in writing, without a
meeting, to the taking of any action is specifically denied.
SIXTH: - The Directors shall choose such officers, agent and servants as
may be provided in the By-Laws as they may from time to time find necessary
or proper.
SEVENTH: - The Corporation hereby created is hereby given the same powers,
rights and privileges as may be conferred upon corporations organized under
the Act entitled "An Act Providing a General Corporation Law", approved
March 10, 1899, as from time to time amended.
EIGHTH: - This Act shall be deemed and taken to be a private Act.
NINTH: - This Corporation is to have perpetual existence.
TENTH: - The Board of Directors, by resolution passed by a majority of the
whole Board, may designate any of their number to constitute an Executive
Committee, which Committee, to the extent provided in said resolution, or
in the By-Laws of the Company, shall have and may exercise all of the
powers of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and
affairs of the Corporation, and shall have power to authorize the seal of
the Corporation to be affixed to all papers which may require it.
ELEVENTH: - The private property of the stockholders shall not be liable
for the payment of corporate debts to any extent whatever.
TWELFTH: - The Corporation may transact business in any part of the world.
THIRTEENTH: - The Board of Directors of the Corporation is expressly
authorized to make, alter or repeal the By-Laws of the Corporation by a
vote of the majority of the entire Board. The stockholders may make, alter
or repeal any By-Law whether or not adopted by them, provided however, that
any such additional By-Laws, alterations or repeal may
9
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be adopted only by the affirmative vote of the holders of two-thirds or
more of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled
to vote generally in the election of directors (considered for this purpose
as one class).
FOURTEENTH: - Meetings of the Directors may be held outside
of the State of Delaware at such places as may be from time to time
designated by the Board, and the Directors may keep the books of the
Company outside of the State of Delaware at such places as may be from time
to time designated by them.
FIFTEENTH: - (a) In addition to any affirmative vote required by law, and
except as otherwise expressly provided in sections (b) and (c) of this
Article FIFTEENTH:
(A) any merger or consolidation of the Corporation or any Subsidiary
(as hereinafter defined) with or into (i) any Interested Stockholder (as
hereinafter defined) or (ii) any other corporation (whether or not itself
an Interested Stockholder), which, after such merger or consolidation,
would be an Affiliate (as hereinafter defined) of an Interested
Stockholder, or
(B) any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other
disposition (in one transaction or a series of related transactions) to or
with any Interested Stockholder or any Affiliate of any Interested
Stockholder of any assets of the Corporation or any Subsidiary having an
aggregate fair market value of $1,000,000 or more, or
(C) the issuance or transfer by the Corporation or any Subsidiary (in
one transaction or a series of related transactions) of any securities of
the Corporation or any Subsidiary to any Interested Stockholder or any
Affiliate of any Interested Stockholder in exchange for cash, securities or
other property (or a combination thereof) having an aggregate fair market
value of $1,000,000 or more, or
(D) the adoption of any plan or proposal for the liquidation or
dissolution of the Corporation, or
(E) any reclassification of securities (including any reverse stock
split), or recapitalization of the Corporation, or any merger or
consolidation of the Corporation with any of its Subsidiaries or any
similar transaction (whether or not with or into or otherwise involving an
Interested Stockholder) which has the effect, directly or indirectly, of
increasing the proportionate share of the outstanding shares of any class
of equity or convertible securities of the Corporation or any Subsidiary
which is directly or indirectly owned by any Interested Stockholder, or any
Affiliate of any Interested Stockholder,
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shall require the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of
the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote
generally in the election of directors, considered for the purpose of this
Article FIFTEENTH as one class ("Voting Shares"). Such affirmative vote
shall be required notwithstanding the fact that no vote may be required, or
that some lesser percentage may be specified, by law or in any agreement
with any national securities exchange or otherwise.
(2) The term "business combination" as used in this Article
FIFTEENTH shall mean any transaction which is referred to any one
or more of clauses (A) through (E) of paragraph 1 of the section
(a).
(b) The provisions of section (a) of this Article FIFTEENTH shall not
be applicable to any particular business combination and such business
combination shall require only such affirmative vote as is required by
law and any other provisions of the Charter or Act of Incorporation of
By-Laws if such business combination has been approved by a majority
of the whole Board.
(c) For the purposes of this Article FIFTEENTH:
(1) A "person" shall mean any individual firm, corporation or other
entity.
(2) "Interested Stockholder" shall mean, in respect of any business
combination, any person (other than the Corporation or any Subsidiary) who
or which as of the record date for the determination of stockholders
entitled to notice of and to vote on such business combination, or
immediately prior to the consummation of any such transaction:
(A) is the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 10%
of the Voting Shares, or
(B) is an Affiliate of the Corporation and at any time within two
years prior thereto was the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly,
of not less than 10% of the then outstanding voting Shares, or
(C) is an assignee of or has otherwise succeeded in any share of
capital stock of the Corporation which were at any time within two
years prior thereto beneficially owned by any Interested Stockholder,
and such assignment or succession shall have occurred in the course of
a transaction or series of transactions not involving a public
offering within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933.
(3) A person shall be the "beneficial owner" of any Voting Shares:
(A) which such person or any of its Affiliates and Associates (as
hereafter defined) beneficially own, directly or indirectly, or
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(B) which such person or any of its Affiliates or Associates has (i)
the right to acquire (whether such right is exercisable immediately or
only after the passage of time), pursuant to any agreement,
arrangement or understanding or upon the exercise of conversion
rights, exchange rights, warrants or options, or otherwise, or (ii)
the right to vote pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or
understanding, or
(C) which are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by any
other person with which such first mentioned person or any of its
Affiliates or Associates has any agreement, arrangement or
understanding for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting or
disposing of any shares of capital stock of the Corporation.
(4) The outstanding Voting Shares shall include shares deemed owned
through application of paragraph (3) above but shall not include any other
Voting Shares which may be issuable pursuant to any agreement, or upon
exercise of conversion rights, warrants or options or otherwise.
(5) "Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the respective meanings given
those terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as in effect on December 31, 1981.
(6) "Subsidiary" shall mean any corporation of which a majority of any
class of equity security (as defined in Rule 3a11-1 of the General Rules
and Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as in effect in
December 31, 1981) is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation;
provided, however, that for the purposes of the definition of Investment
Stockholder set forth in paragraph (2) of this section (c), the term
"Subsidiary" shall mean only a corporation of which a majority of each
class of equity security is owned, directly or indirectly, by the
Corporation.
(d) majority of the directors shall have the power and duty to
determine for the purposes of this Article FIFTEENTH on the basis of
information known to them, (1) the number of Voting Shares
beneficially owned by any person (2) whether a person is an Affiliate
or Associate of another, (3) whether a person has an agreement,
arrangement or understanding with another as to the matters referred
to in paragraph (3) of section (c), or (4) whether the assets subject
to any business combination or the consideration received for the
issuance or transfer of securities by the Corporation, or any
Subsidiary has an aggregate fair market value of $1,000,000 or more.
(e) Nothing contained in this Article FIFTEENTH shall be construed to
relieve any Interested Stockholder from any fiduciary obligation
imposed by law.
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SIXTEENTH: Notwithstanding any other provision of this Charter or Act of
Incorporation or the By-Laws of the Corporation (and in addition to any
other vote that may be required by law, this Charter or Act of
Incorporation by the By-Laws), the affirmative vote of the holders of at
least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of the capital stock of the
Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors
(considered for this purpose as one class) shall be required to amend,
alter or repeal any provision of Articles FIFTH, THIRTEENTH, FIFTEENTH or
SIXTEENTH of this Charter or Act of Incorporation.
SEVENTEENTH: (a) a Director of this Corporation shall not be liable to the
Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of
fiduciary duty as a Director, except to the extent such exemption from
liability or limitation thereof is not permitted under the Delaware General
Corporation Laws as the same exists or may hereafter be amended.
(b) Any repeal or modification of the foregoing paragraph shall not
adversely affect any right or protection of a Director of the
Corporation existing hereunder with respect to any act or omission
occurring prior to the time of such repeal or modification."
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EXHIBIT B
BY-LAWS
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
WILMINGTON, DELAWARE
AS EXISTING ON JANUARY 16, 1997
<PAGE>
BY-LAWS OF WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
ARTICLE I
STOCKHOLDERS' MEETINGS
Section 1. The Annual Meeting of Stockholders shall be held on the third
Thursday in April each year at the principal office at the Company or at such
other date, time, or place as may be designated by resolution by the Board of
Directors.
Section 2. Special meetings of all stockholders may be called at any time
by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board or the President.
Section 3. Notice of all meetings of the stockholders shall be given by
mailing to each stockholder at least ten (10) days before said meeting, at his
last known address, a written or printed notice fixing the time and place of
such meeting.
Section 4. A majority in the amount of the capital stock of the Company
issued and outstanding on the record date, as herein determined, shall
constitute a quorum at all meetings of stockholders for the transaction of any
business, but the holders of a small number of shares may adjourn, from time to
time, without further notice, until a quorum is secured. At each annual or
special meeting of stockholders, each stockholder shall be entitled to one vote,
either in person or by proxy, for each shares of stock registered in the
stockholder's name on the books of the Company on the record date for any such
meeting as determined herein.
ARTICLE II
DIRECTORS
Section 1. The number and classification of the Board of Directors shall
be as set forth in the Charter of the Bank.
Section 2. No person who has attained the age of seventy-two (72) years
shall be nominated for election to the Board of Directors of the Company,
provided, however, that this limitation shall not apply to any person who was
serving as director of the Company on September 16, 1971.
Section 3. The class of Directors so elected shall hold office for three
years or until their successors are elected and qualified.
Section 4. The affairs and business of the Company shall be managed and
conducted by the Board of Directors.
Section 5. The Board of Directors shall meet at the principal office of
the Company or elsewhere in its discretion at such times to be determined by a
majority of its members, or at the
<PAGE>
call of the Chairman of the Board of Directors or the President.
Section 6. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called at any
time by the Chairman of the Board of Directors or by the President, and shall be
called upon the written request of a majority of the directors.
Section 7. A majority of the directors elected and qualified shall be
necessary to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting
of the Board of Directors.
Section 8. Written notice shall be sent by mail to each director of any
special meeting of the Board of Directors, and of any change in the time or
place of any regular meeting, stating the time and place of such meeting, which
shall be mailed not less than two days before the time of holding such meeting.
Section 9. In the event of the death, resignation, removal, inability to
act, or disqualification of any director, the Board of Directors, although less
than a quorum, shall have the right to elect the successor who shall hold office
for the remainder of the full term of the class of directors in which the
vacancy occurred, and until such director's successor shall have been duly
elected and qualified.
Section 10. The Board of Directors at its first meeting after its election
by the stockholders shall appoint an Executive Committee, a Trust Committee, an
Audit Committee and a Compensation Committee, and shall elect from its own
members a Chairman of the Board of Directors and a President who may be the same
person. The Board of Directors shall also elect at such meeting a Secretary and
a Treasurer, who may be the same person, may appoint at any time such other
committees and elect or appoint such other officers as it may deem advisable.
The Board of Directors may also elect at such meeting one or more Associate
Directors.
Section 11. The Board of Directors may at any time remove, with or without
cause, any member of any Committee appointed by it or any associate director or
officer elected by it and may appoint or elect his successor.
Section 12. The Board of Directors may designate an officer to be in
charge of such of the departments or division of the Company as it may deem
advisable.
2
<PAGE>
ARTICLE III
COMMITTEES
Section 1. Executive Committee
(A) The Executive Committee shall be composed of not more than nine
members who shall be selected by the Board of Directors from its own members and
who shall hold office during the pleasure of the Board.
(B) The Executive Committee shall have all the powers of the Board of
Directors when it is not in session to transact all business for and in behalf
of the Company that may be brought before it.
(C) The Executive Committee shall meet at the principal office of the
Company or elsewhere in its discretion at such times to be determined by a
majority of its members, or at the call of the Chairman of the Executive
Committee or at the call of the Chairman of the Board of Directors. The
majority of its members shall be necessary to constitute a quorum for the
transaction of business. Special meetings of the Executive Committee may be
held at any time when a quorum is present.
(D) Minutes of each meeting of the Executive Committee shall be kept
and submitted to the Board of Directors at its next meeting.
(E) The Executive Committee shall advise and superintend all
investments that may be made of the funds of the Company, and shall direct the
disposal of the same, in accordance with such rules and regulations as the Board
of Directors from time to time make.
(F) In the event of a state of disaster of sufficient severity to
prevent the conduct and management of the affairs and business of the Company by
its directors and officers as contemplated by these By-Laws any two available
members of the Executive Committee as constituted immediately prior to such
disaster shall constitute a quorum of that Committee for the full conduct and
management of the affairs and business of the Company in accordance with the
provisions of Article III of these By-Laws; and if less than three members of
the Trust Committee is constituted immediately prior to such disaster shall be
available for the transaction of its business, such Executive Committee shall
also be empowered to exercise all of the powers reserved to the Trust Committee
under Article III Section 2 hereof. In the event of the unavailability, at such
time, of a minimum of two members of such Executive Committee, any three
available directors shall constitute the Executive Committee for the full
conduct and management of the affairs and business of the Company in accordance
with the foregoing provisions of this Section. This By-Law shall be subject to
implementation by Resolutions of the Board of Directors presently existing or
hereafter passed from time to time for that purpose, and any provisions of these
By-Laws (other than this Section) and any resolutions which are contrary to the
provisions of this Section or to the provisions of any such implementary
Resolutions shall be suspended during such a disaster period until it shall be
determined by any interim Executive Committee acting under this section that it
shall be to the advantage of the Company to resume the conduct and management of
its affairs and business under all of the other provisions of these By-Laws.
3
<PAGE>
Section 2. Trust Committee
(A) The Trust Committee shall be composed of not more than thirteen
members who shall be selected by the Board of Directors, a majority of whom
shall be members of the Board of Directors and who shall hold office during the
pleasure of the Board.
(B) The Trust Committee shall have general supervision over the Trust
Department and the investment of trust funds, in all matters, however, being
subject to the approval of the Board of Directors.
(C) The Trust Committee shall meet at the principal office of the
Company or elsewhere in its discretion at such times to be determined by a
majority of its members or at the call of its chairman. A majority of its
members shall be necessary to constitute a quorum for the transaction of
business.
(D) Minutes of each meeting of the Trust Committee shall be
kept and promptly submitted to the Board of Directors.
(E) The Trust Committee shall have the power to appoint Committees
and/or designate officers or employees of the Company to whom supervision over
the investment of trust funds may be delegated when the Trust Committee is not
in session.
Section 3. Audit Committee
(A) The Audit Committee shall be composed of five members who shall
be selected by the Board of Directors from its own members, none of whom shall
be an officer of the Company, and shall hold office at the pleasure of the
Board.
(B) The Audit Committee shall have general supervision over the Audit
Division in all matters however subject to the approval of the Board of
Directors; it shall consider all matters brought to its attention by the officer
in charge of the Audit Division, review all reports of examination of the
Company made by any governmental agency or such independent auditor employed for
that purpose, and make such recommendations to the Board of Directors with
respect thereto or with respect to any other matters pertaining to auditing the
Company as it shall deem desirable.
(C) The Audit Committee shall meet whenever and wherever the majority
of its members shall deem it to be proper for the transaction of its business,
and a majority of its Committee shall constitute a quorum.
4
<PAGE>
Section 4. Compensation Committee
(A) The Compensation Committee shall be composed of not more than
five (5) members who shall be selected by the Board of Directors from its own
members who are not officers of the Company and who shall hold office during the
pleasure of the Board.
(B) The Compensation Committee shall in general advise upon all
matters of policy concerning the Company brought to its attention by the
management and from time to time review the management of the Company, major
organizational matters, including salaries and employee benefits and
specifically shall administer the Executive Incentive Compensation Plan.
(C) Meetings of the Compensation Committee may be called at any time
by the Chairman of the Compensation Committee, the Chairman of the Board of
Directors, or the President of the Company.
Section 5. Associate Directors
(A) Any person who has served as a director may be elected by the
Board of Directors as an associate director, to serve during the pleasure of the
Board.
(B) An associate director shall be entitled to attend all directors
meetings and participate in the discussion of all matters brought to the Board,
with the exception that he would have no right to vote. An associate director
will be eligible for appointment to Committees of the Company, with the
exception of the Executive Committee, Audit Committee and Compensation
Committee, which must be comprised solely of active directors.
Section 6. Absence or Disqualification of Any Member of a Committee
(A) In the absence or disqualification of any member of any Committee
created under Article III of the By-Laws of this Company, the member or members
thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not
he or they constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the
Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of any such absence or
disqualified member.
ARTICLE IV
OFFICERS
Section 1. The Chairman of the Board of Directors shall preside at all
meetings of the Board and shall have such further authority and powers and shall
perform such duties as the Board of Directors may from time to time confer and
direct. He shall also exercise such powers and
5
<PAGE>
perform such duties as may from time to time be agreed upon between himself and
the President of the Company.
Section 2. The Vice Chairman of the Board. The Vice Chairman of the Board
-------------------------------
of Directors shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors at which
the Chairman of the Board shall not be present and shall have such further
authority and powers and shall perform such duties as the Board of Directors or
the Chairman of the Board may from time to time confer and direct.
Section 3. The President shall have the powers and duties pertaining to
the office of the President conferred or imposed upon him by statute or assigned
to him by the Board of Directors in the absence of the Chairman of the Board the
President shall have the powers and duties of the Chairman of the Board.
Section 4. The Chairman of the Board of Directors or the President as
designated by the Board of Directors, shall carry into effect all legal
directions of the Executive Committee and of the Board of Directors, and shall
at all times exercise general supervision over the interest, affairs and
operations of the Company and perform all duties incident to his office.
Section 5. There may be one or more Vice Presidents, however denominated
by the Board of Directors, who may at any time perform all the duties of the
Chairman of the Board of Directors and/or the President and such other powers
and duties as may from time to time be assigned to them by the Board of
Directors, the Executive Committee, the Chairman of the Board or the President
and by the officer in charge of the department or division to which they are
assigned.
Section 6. The Secretary shall attend to the giving of notice of meetings
of the stockholders and the Board of Directors, as well as the Committees
thereof, to the keeping of accurate minutes of all such meetings and to
recording the same in the minute books of the Company. In addition to the other
notice requirements of these By-Laws and as may be practicable under the
circumstances, all such notices shall be in writing and mailed well in advance
of the scheduled date of any other meeting. He shall have custody of the
corporate seal and shall affix the same to any documents requiring such
corporate seal and to attest the same.
Section 7. The Treasurer shall have general supervision over all assets
and liabilities of the Company. He shall be custodian of and responsible for
all monies, funds and valuables of the Company and for the keeping of proper
records of the evidence of property or indebtedness and of all the transactions
of the Company. He shall have general supervision of the expenditures of the
Company and shall report to the Board of Directors at each regular meeting of
the condition of the Company, and perform such other duties as may be assigned
to him from time to time by the Board of Directors of the Executive Committee.
6
<PAGE>
Section 8. There may be a Controller who shall exercise general
supervision over the internal operations of the Company, including accounting,
and shall render to the Board of Directors at appropriate times a report
relating to the general condition and internal operations of the Company.
There may be one or more subordinate accounting or controller officers
however denominated, who may perform the duties of the Controller and such
duties as may be prescribed by the Controller.
Section 9. The officer designated by the Board of Directors to be in
charge of the Audit Division of the Company with such title as the Board of
Directors shall prescribe, shall report to and be directly responsible only to
the Board of Directors.
There shall be an Auditor and there may be one or more Audit Officers,
however denominated, who may perform all the duties of the Auditor and such
duties as may be prescribed by the officer in charge of the Audit Division.
Section 10. There may be one or more officers, subordinate in rank to all
Vice Presidents with such functional titles as shall be determined from time to
time by the Board of Directors, who shall ex officio hold the office Assistant
Secretary of this Company and who may perform such duties as may be prescribed
by the officer in charge of the department or division to whom they are
assigned.
Section 11. The powers and duties of all other officers of the Company
shall be those usually pertaining to their respective offices, subject to the
direction of the Board of Directors, the Executive Committee, Chairman of the
Board of Directors or the President and the officer in charge of the department
or division to which they are assigned.
ARTICLE V
STOCK AND STOCK CERTIFICATES
Section 1. Shares of stock shall be transferrable on the books of the
Company and a transfer book shall be kept in which all transfers of stock shall
be recorded.
Section 2. Certificate of stock shall bear the signature of the President
or any Vice President, however denominated by the Board of Directors and
countersigned by the Secretary or Treasurer or an Assistant Secretary, and the
seal of the corporation shall be engraved thereon. Each certificate shall recite
that the stock represented thereby is transferrable only upon the books of the
Company by the holder thereof or his attorney, upon surrender of the certificate
properly endorsed. Any certificate of stock surrendered to the Company shall be
cancelled at the time of
7
<PAGE>
transfer, and before a new certificate or certificates shall be issued in lieu
thereof. Duplicate certificates of stock shall be issued only upon giving such
security as may be satisfactory to the Board of Directors or the Executive
Committee.
Section 3. The Board of Directors of the Company is authorized to fix in
advance a record date for the determination of the stockholders entitled to
notice of, and to vote at, any meeting of stockholders and any adjournment
thereof, or entitled to receive payment of any dividend, or to any allotment or
rights, or to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or
exchange of capital stock, or in connection with obtaining the consent of
stockholders for any purpose, which record date shall not be more than 60 nor
less than 10 days proceeding the date of any meeting of stockholders or the date
for the payment of any dividend, or the date for the allotment of rights, or the
date when any change or conversion or exchange of capital stock shall go into
effect, or a date in connection with obtaining such consent.
ARTICLE VI
SEAL
Section 1. The corporate seal of the Company shall be in the following
form:
Between two concentric circles the words
"Wilmington Trust Company" within the inner
circle the words "Wilmington, Delaware."
ARTICLE VII
FISCAL YEAR
Section 1. The fiscal year of the Company shall be the calendar year.
ARTICLE VIII
EXECUTION OF INSTRUMENTS OF THE COMPANY
Section 1. The Chairman of the Board, the President or any Vice President,
however denominated by the Board of Directors, shall have full power and
authority to enter into, make, sign, execute, acknowledge and/or deliver and the
Secretary or any Assistant Secretary shall have full power and authority to
attest and affix the corporate seal of the Company to any and all deeds,
conveyances, assignments, releases, contracts, agreements, bonds, notes,
mortgages and all other instruments incident to the business of this Company or
in acting as executor, administrator, guardian, trustee, agent or in any other
fiduciary or representative capacity by any and every
8
<PAGE>
method of appointment or by whatever person, corporation, court officer or
authority in the State of Delaware, or elsewhere, without any specific
authority, ratification, approval or confirmation by the Board of Directors or
the Executive Committee, and any and all such instruments shall have the same
force and validity as though expressly authorized by the Board of Directors
and/or the Executive Committee.
ARTICLE IX
COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS AND MEMBERS OF COMMITTEES
Section 1. Directors and associate directors of the Company, other than
salaried officers of the Company, shall be paid such reasonable honoraria or
fees for attending meetings of the Board of Directors as the Board of Directors
may from time to time determine. Directors and associate directors who serve as
members of committees, other than salaried employees of the Company, shall be
paid such reasonable honoraria or fees for services as members of committees as
the Board of Directors shall from time to time determine and directors and
associate directors may be employed by the Company for such special services as
the Board of Directors may from time to time determine and shall be paid for
such special services so performed reasonable compensation as may be determined
by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE X
INDEMNIFICATION
Section 1. (A) The Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless, to the
fullest extent permitted by applicable law as it presently exists or may
hereafter be amended, any person who was or is made or is threatened to be made
a party or is otherwise involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether
civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a "proceeding") by reason of
the fact that he, or a person for whom he is the legal representative, is or was
a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or is or was serving
at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee, fiduciary or
agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust,
enterprise or non-profit entity, including service with respect to employee
benefit plans, against all liability and loss suffered and expenses reasonably
incurred by such person. The Corporation shall indemnify a person in connection
with a proceeding initiated by such person only if the proceeding was authorized
by the Board of Directors of the Corporation.
(B) The Corporation shall pay the expenses incurred in defending any
proceeding in advance of its final disposition, provided, however, that the
-------- -------
payment of expenses incurred by a Director officer in his capacity as a Director
or officer in advance of the final disposition of the proceeding shall be made
only upon receipt of an undertaking by the Director
9
<PAGE>
or officer to repay all amounts advanced if it should be ultimately determined
that the Director or officer is not entitled to be indemnified under this
Article or otherwise.
(C) If a claim for indemnification or payment of expenses, under this
Article X is not paid in full within ninety days after a written claim therefor
has been received by the Corporation the claimant may file suit to recover the
unpaid amount of such claim and, if successful in whole or in part, shall be
entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting such claim. In any such action
the Corporation shall have the burden of proving that the claimant was not
entitled to the requested indemnification of payment of expenses under
applicable law.
(D) The rights conferred on any person by this Article X shall not be
exclusive of any other rights which such person may have or hereafter acquire
under any statute, provision of the Charter or Act of Incorporation, these By-
Laws, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested Directors or otherwise.
(E) Any repeal or modification of the foregoing provisions of this
Article X shall not adversely affect any right or protection hereunder of any
person in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such
repeal or modification.
ARTICLE XI
AMENDMENTS TO THE BY-LAWS
Section 1. These By-Laws may be altered, amended or repealed, in whole or
in part, and any new By-Law or By-Laws adopted at any regular or special meeting
of the Board of Directors by a vote of the majority of all the members of the
Board of Directors then in office.
10
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT C
SECTION 321(b) CONSENT
Pursuant to Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended,
Wilmington Trust Company hereby consents that reports of examinations by
Federal, State, Territorial or District authorities may be furnished by such
authorities to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon requests therefor.
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
Dated: March 13, 1998 By: /s/ Norma P. Closs
--------------------
Name: Norma P. Closs
Title: Vice President
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT D
NOTICE
This form is intended to assist state nonmember banks and savings banks with
state publication requirements. It has not been approved by any state banking
authorities. Refer to your appropriate state banking authorities for your state
publication requirements.
R E P O R T O F C O N D I T I O N
Consolidating domestic subsidiaries of the
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY of WILMINGTON
- ---------------------------------------- ----------------------------------
Name of Bank City
in the State of DELAWARE , at the close of business on December 31, 1997.
----------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ASSETS
Thousands of dollars
<S> <C>
Cash and balances due from depository institutions:
Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coins................. 236,646
Interest-bearing balances........................................... 0
Held-to-maturity securities.............................................. 331,880
Available-for-sale securities............................................ 1,258,661
Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell... 91,500
Loans and lease financing receivables:
Loans and leases, net of unearned income........... 3,822,320
LESS: Allowance for loan and lease losses......... 59,373
LESS: Allocated transfer risk reserve............. 0
Loans and leases, net of unearned income, allowance, and reserve.... 3,762,947
Assets held in trading accounts.......................................... 0
Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases)................. 129,740
Other real estate owned.................................................. 2,106
Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies...... 22
Customers' liability to this bank on acceptances outstanding............. 0
Intangible assets........................................................ 4,905
Other assets............................................................. 100,799
Total assets............................................................. 5,919,206
</TABLE>
CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
LIABILITIES
<S> <C>
Deposits:
In domestic offices................................................................ 4,034,633
Noninterest-bearing.......... 839,928
Interest-bearing............. 3,194,705
Federal funds purchased and Securities sold under agreements to repurchase......... 575,827
Demand notes issued to the U.S. Treasury........................................... 61,290
Trading liabilities (from Schedule RC-D)........................................... 0
Other borrowed money:.............................................................. ///////
With original maturity of one year or less.................................... 673,000
With original maturity of more than one year.................................. 43,000
Bank's liability on acceptances executed and outstanding........................... 0
Subordinated notes and debentures.................................................. 0
Other liabilities (from Schedule RC-G)............................................. 76,458
Total liabilities.................................................................. 5,464,208
<CAPTION>
EQUITY CAPITAL
<S>................................................................................ <C>
Perpetual preferred stock and related surplus...................................... 0
Common Stock....................................................................... 500
Surplus (exclude all surplus related to preferred stock)........................... 62,118
Undivided profits and capital reserves............................................. 385,018
Net unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities............. 7,362
Total equity capital............................................................... 454,998
Total liabilities, limited-life preferred stock, and equity capital................ 5,919,206
</TABLE>
2
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 25.2
Registration No.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM T-1
STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939
OF A CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE
CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY OF A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO
SECTION 305(b)(2) X
---
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
(Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)
Delaware 51-0055023
(State of incorporation) (I.R.S. employer identification no.)
Rodney Square North
1100 North Market Street
Wilmington, Delaware 19890
(Address of principal executive offices)
Cynthia L. Corliss
Vice President and Trust Counsel
Wilmington Trust Company
Rodney Square North
Wilmington, Delaware 19890
(302) 651-8516
(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)
BREED TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
BTI CAPITAL TRUST
(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)
Delaware
Delaware To Be Applied For
(State of incorporation) (I.R.S. employer identification no.)
5300 Old Tampa Highway
Lakeland, Florida 33807
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
6.50% Convertible Trust Preferred Securities of BTI Capital Trust
(Title of the indenture securities)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
ITEM 1. GENERAL INFORMATION.
Furnish the following information as to the trustee:
(a) Name and address of each examining or supervising authority
to which it is subject.
Federal Deposit Insurance Co. State Bank Commissioner
Five Penn Center Dover, Delaware
Suite #2901
Philadelphia, PA
(b) Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.
The trustee is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.
ITEM 2. AFFILIATIONS WITH THE OBLIGOR.
If the obligor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each
affiliation:
Based upon an examination of the books and records of the trustee and
upon information furnished by the obligor, the obligor is not an
affiliate of the trustee.
ITEM 3. LIST OF EXHIBITS.
List below all exhibits filed as part of this Statement of
Eligibility and Qualification.
A. Copy of the Charter of Wilmington Trust Company, which includes the
certificate of authority of Wilmington Trust Company to commence
business and the authorization of Wilmington Trust Company to
exercise corporate trust powers.
B. Copy of By-Laws of Wilmington Trust Company.
C. Consent of Wilmington Trust Company required by Section 321(b) of
Trust Indenture Act.
D. Copy of most recent Report of Condition of Wilmington Trust Company.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
amended, the trustee, Wilmington Trust Company, a corporation organized and
existing under the laws of Delaware, has duly caused this Statement of
Eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, all in the City of Wilmington and State of Delaware on the 13th day
of March, 1998.
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
[SEAL]
Attest: /s/ Patricia A. Evans By: /s/ Norma P. Closs
----------------------------- ---------------------
Assistant Secretary Name: Norma P. Closs
Title: Vice President
2
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT A
AMENDED CHARTER
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
WILMINGTON, DELAWARE
AS EXISTING ON MAY 9, 1987
<PAGE>
AMENDED CHARTER
OR
ACT OF INCORPORATION
OF
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, originally incorporated by an Act of the General
Assembly of the State of Delaware, entitled "An Act to Incorporate the Delaware
Guarantee and Trust Company", approved March 2, A.D. 1901, and the name of which
company was changed to "WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY" by an amendment filed in the
Office of the Secretary of State on March 18, A.D. 1903, and the Charter or Act
of Incorporation of which company has been from time to time amended and changed
by merger agreements pursuant to the corporation law for state banks and trust
companies of the State of Delaware, does hereby alter and amend its Charter or
Act of Incorporation so that the same as so altered and amended shall in its
entirety read as follows:
FIRST: - The name of this corporation is WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY.
SECOND: - The location of its principal office in the State of Delaware is
at Rodney Square North, in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle;
the name of its resident agent is WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY whose address is
Rodney Square North, in said City. In addition to such principal office,
the said corporation maintains and operates branch offices in the City of
Newark, New Castle County, Delaware, the Town of Newport, New Castle
County, Delaware, at Claymont, New Castle County, Delaware, at Greenville,
New Castle County Delaware, and at Milford Cross Roads, New Castle County,
Delaware, and shall be empowered to open, maintain and operate branch
offices at Ninth and Shipley Streets, 418 Delaware Avenue, 2120 Market
Street, and 3605 Market Street, all in the City of Wilmington, New Castle
County, Delaware, and such other branch offices or places of business as
may be authorized from time to time by the agency or agencies of the
government of the State of Delaware empowered to confer such authority.
THIRD: - (a) The nature of the business and the objects and purposes
proposed to be transacted, promoted or carried on by this Corporation are
to do any or all of the things herein mentioned as fully and to the same
extent as natural persons might or could do and in any part of the world,
viz.:
(1) To sue and be sued, complain and defend in any Court of law or
equity and to make and use a common seal, and alter the seal at pleasure,
to hold, purchase, convey, mortgage or otherwise deal in real and personal
estate and property, and to appoint such officers and agents as the
business of the Corporation shall require,
<PAGE>
to make by-laws not inconsistent with the Constitution or laws of the
United States or of this State, to discount bills, notes or other evidences
of debt, to receive deposits of money, or securities for money, to buy gold
and silver bullion and foreign coins, to buy and sell bills of exchange,
and generally to use, exercise and enjoy all the powers, rights, privileges
and franchises incident to a corporation which are proper or necessary for
the transaction of the business of the Corporation hereby created.
(2) To insure titles to real and personal property, or any estate or
interests therein, and to guarantee the holder of such property, real or
personal, against any claim or claims, adverse to his interest therein, and
to prepare and give certificates of title for any lands or premises in the
State of Delaware, or elsewhere.
(3) To act as factor, agent, broker or attorney in the receipt,
collection, custody, investment and management of funds, and the purchase,
sale, management and disposal of property of all descriptions, and to
prepare and execute all papers which may be necessary or proper in such
business.
(4) To prepare and draw agreements, contracts, deeds, leases,
conveyances, mortgages, bonds and legal papers of every description, and to
carry on the business of conveyancing in all its branches.
(5) To receive upon deposit for safekeeping money, jewelry, plate,
deeds, bonds and any and all other personal property of every sort and
kind, from executors, administrators, guardians, public officers, courts,
receivers, assignees, trustees, and from all fiduciaries, and from all
other persons and individuals, and from all corporations whether state,
municipal, corporate or private, and to rent boxes, safes, vaults and other
receptacles for such property.
(6) To act as agent or otherwise for the purpose of registering,
issuing, certificating, countersigning, transferring or underwriting the
stock, bonds or other obligations of any corporation, association, state or
municipality, and may receive and manage any sinking fund therefor on such
terms as may be agreed upon between the two parties, and in like manner may
act as Treasurer of any corporation or municipality.
(7) To act as Trustee under any deed of trust, mortgage, bond or
other instrument issued by any state, municipality, body politic,
corporation, association or person, either alone or in conjunction with any
other person or persons, corporation or corporations.
(8) To guarantee the validity, performance or effect of any contract
or agreement, and the fidelity of persons holding places of responsibility
or trust; to become
2
<PAGE>
surety for any person, or persons, for the faithful performance of any
trust, office, duty, contract or agreement, either by itself or in
conjunction with any other person, or persons, corporation, or
corporations, or in like manner become surety upon any bond, recognizance,
obligation, judgment, suit, order, or decree to be entered in any court of
record within the State of Delaware or elsewhere, or which may now or
hereafter be required by any law, judge, officer or court in the State of
Delaware or elsewhere.
(9) To act by any and every method of appointment as trustee, trustee
in bankruptcy, receiver, assignee, assignee in bankruptcy, executor,
administrator, guardian, bailee, or in any other trust capacity in the
receiving, holding, managing, and disposing of any and all estates and
property, real, personal or mixed, and to be appointed as such trustee,
trustee in bankruptcy, receiver, assignee, assignee in bankruptcy,
executor, administrator, guardian or bailee by any persons, corporations,
court, officer, or authority, in the State of Delaware or elsewhere; and
whenever this Corporation is so appointed by any person, corporation,
court, officer or authority such trustee, trustee in bankruptcy, receiver,
assignee, assignee in bankruptcy, executor, administrator, guardian,
bailee, or in any other trust capacity, it shall not be required to give
bond with surety, but its capital stock shall be taken and held as security
for the performance of the duties devolving upon it by such appointment.
(10) And for its care, management and trouble, and the exercise of
any of its powers hereby given, or for the performance of any of the duties
which it may undertake or be called upon to perform, or for the assumption
of any responsibility the said Corporation may be entitled to receive a
proper compensation.
(11) To purchase, receive, hold and own bonds, mortgages, debentures,
shares of capital stock, and other securities, obligations, contracts and
evidences of indebtedness, of any private, public or municipal corporation
within and without the State of Delaware, or of the Government of the
United States, or of any state, territory, colony, or possession thereof,
or of any foreign government or country; to receive, collect, receipt for,
and dispose of interest, dividends and income upon and from any of the
bonds, mortgages, debentures, notes, shares of capital stock, securities,
obligations, contracts, evidences of indebtedness and other property held
and owned by it, and to exercise in respect of all such bonds, mortgages,
debentures, notes, shares of capital stock, securities, obligations,
contracts, evidences of indebtedness and other property, any and all the
rights, powers and privileges of individual owners thereof, including the
right to vote thereon; to invest and deal in and with any of the moneys of
the Corporation upon such securities and in such manner as it may think fit
and proper, and from time to time to vary or realize such investments; to
issue bonds and secure the same by pledges or deeds of trust or mortgages
of or upon the whole or any part of the property
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held or owned by the Corporation, and to sell and pledge such bonds, as and
when the Board of Directors shall determine, and in the promotion of its
said corporate business of investment and to the extent authorized by law,
to lease, purchase, hold, sell, assign, transfer, pledge, mortgage and
convey real and personal property of any name and nature and any estate or
interest therein.
(b) In furtherance of, and not in limitation, of the powers conferred by
the laws of the State of Delaware, it is hereby expressly provided that the
said Corporation shall also have the following powers:
(1) To do any or all of the things herein set forth, to the same
extent as natural persons might or could do, and in any part of the world.
(2) To acquire the good will, rights, property and franchises and to
undertake the whole or any part of the assets and liabilities of any
person, firm, association or corporation, and to pay for the same in cash,
stock of this Corporation, bonds or otherwise; to hold or in any manner to
dispose of the whole or any part of the property so purchased; to conduct
in any lawful manner the whole or any part of any business so acquired, and
to exercise all the powers necessary or convenient in and about the conduct
and management of such business.
(3) To take, hold, own, deal in, mortgage or otherwise lien, and to
lease, sell, exchange, transfer, or in any manner whatever dispose of
property, real, personal or mixed, wherever situated.
(4) To enter into, make, perform and carry out contracts of every
kind with any person, firm, association or corporation, and, without limit
as to amount, to draw, make, accept, endorse, discount, execute and issue
promissory notes, drafts, bills of exchange, warrants, bonds, debentures,
and other negotiable or transferable instruments.
(5) To have one or more offices, to carry on all or any of its
operations and businesses, without restriction to the same extent as
natural persons might or could do, to purchase or otherwise acquire, to
hold, own, to mortgage, sell, convey or otherwise dispose of, real and
personal property, of every class and description, in any State, District,
Territory or Colony of the United States, and in any foreign country or
place.
(6) It is the intention that the objects, purposes and powers
specified and clauses contained in this paragraph shall (except where
otherwise expressed in said paragraph) be nowise limited or restricted by
reference to or inference from the terms of any other clause of this or any
other paragraph in this charter, but that the
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objects, purposes and powers specified in each of the clauses of this
paragraph shall be regarded as independent objects, purposes and powers.
FOURTH: - (a) The total number of shares of all classes of stock which the
Corporation shall have authority to issue is forty-one million (41,000,000)
shares, consisting of:
(1) One million (1,000,000) shares of Preferred stock, par value
$10.00 per share (hereinafter referred to as "Preferred Stock"); and
(2) Forty million (40,000,000) shares of Common Stock, par value
$1.00 per share (hereinafter referred to as "Common Stock").
(b) Shares of Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time in one or
more series as may from time to time be determined by the Board of
Directors each of said series to be distinctly designated. All shares of
any one series of Preferred Stock shall be alike in every particular,
except that there may be different dates from which dividends, if any,
thereon shall be cumulative, if made cumulative. The voting powers and the
preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights
of each such series, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions
thereof, if any, may differ from those of any and all other series at any
time outstanding; and, subject to the provisions of subparagraph 1 of
Paragraph (c) of this Article FOURTH, the Board of Directors of the
Corporation is hereby expressly granted authority to fix by resolution or
resolutions adopted prior to the issuance of any shares of a particular
series of Preferred Stock, the voting powers and the designations,
preferences and relative, optional and other special rights, and the
qualifications, limitations and restrictions of such series, including, but
without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the following:
(1) The distinctive designation of, and the number of shares of
Preferred Stock which shall constitute such series, which number may be
increased (except where otherwise provided by the Board of Directors) or
decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding)
from time to time by like action of the Board of Directors;
(2) The rate and times at which, and the terms and conditions on
which, dividends, if any, on Preferred Stock of such series shall be paid,
the extent of the preference or relation, if any, of such dividends to the
dividends payable on any other class or classes, or series of the same or
other class of stock and whether such dividends shall be cumulative or non-
cumulative;
(3) The right, if any, of the holders of Preferred Stock of such
series to convert the same into or exchange the same for, shares of any
other class or classes or of any series of the same or any other class or
classes of stock of the Corporation and the terms and conditions of such
conversion or exchange;
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(4) Whether or not Preferred Stock of such series shall be subject to
redemption, and the redemption price or prices and the time or times at
which, and the terms and conditions on which, Preferred Stock of such
series may be redeemed.
(5) The rights, if any, of the holders of Preferred Stock of such
series upon the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, merger,
consolidation, distribution or sale of assets, dissolution or winding-up,
of the Corporation.
(6) The terms of the sinking fund or redemption or purchase account,
if any, to be provided for the Preferred Stock of such series; and
(7) The voting powers, if any, of the holders of such series of
Preferred Stock which may, without limiting the generality of the foregoing
include the right, voting as a series or by itself or together with other
series of Preferred Stock or all series of Preferred Stock as a class, to
elect one or more directors of the Corporation if there shall have been a
default in the payment of dividends on any one or more series of Preferred
Stock or under such circumstances and on such conditions as the Board of
Directors may determine.
(c) (1) After the requirements with respect to preferential dividends on
the Preferred Stock (fixed in accordance with the provisions of section (b)
of this Article FOURTH), if any, shall have been met and after the
Corporation shall have complied with all the requirements, if any, with
respect to the setting aside of sums as sinking funds or redemption or
purchase accounts (fixed in accordance with the provisions of section (b)
of this Article FOURTH), and subject further to any conditions which may be
fixed in accordance with the provisions of section (b) of this Article
FOURTH, then and not otherwise the holders of Common Stock shall be
entitled to receive such dividends as may be declared from time to time by
the Board of Directors.
(2) After distribution in full of the preferential amount, if any,
(fixed in accordance with the provisions of section (b) of this Article
FOURTH), to be distributed to the holders of Preferred Stock in the event
of voluntary or involuntary liquidation, distribution or sale of assets,
dissolution or winding-up, of the Corporation, the holders of the Common
Stock shall be entitled to receive all of the remaining assets of the
Corporation, tangible and intangible, of whatever kind available for
distribution to stockholders ratably in proportion to the number of shares
of Common Stock held by them respectively.
(3) Except as may otherwise be required by law or by the provisions
of such resolution or resolutions as may be adopted by the Board of
Directors pursuant to section (b) of this Article FOURTH, each holder of
Common Stock shall have one vote in respect of each share of Common Stock
held on all matters voted upon by the stockholders.
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(d) No holder of any of the shares of any class or series of stock or of
options, warrants or other rights to purchase shares of any class or series
of stock or of other securities of the Corporation shall have any
preemptive right to purchase or subscribe for any unissued stock of any
class or series or any additional shares of any class or series to be
issued by reason of any increase of the authorized capital stock of the
Corporation of any class or series, or bonds, certificates of indebtedness,
debentures or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for stock
of the Corporation of any class or series, or carrying any right to
purchase stock of any class or series, but any such unissued stock,
additional authorized issue of shares of any class or series of stock or
securities convertible into or exchangeable for stock, or carrying any
right to purchase stock, may be issued and disposed of pursuant to
resolution of the Board of Directors to such persons, firms, corporations
or associations, whether such holders or others, and upon such terms as may
be deemed advisable by the Board of Directors in the exercise of its sole
discretion.
(e) The relative powers, preferences and rights of each series of
Preferred Stock in relation to the relative powers, preferences and rights
of each other series of Preferred Stock shall, in each case, be as fixed
from time to time by the Board of Directors in the resolution or
resolutions adopted pursuant to authority granted in section (b) of this
Article FOURTH and the consent, by class or series vote or otherwise, of
the holders of such of the series of Preferred Stock as are from time to
time outstanding shall not be required for the issuance by the Board of
Directors of any other series of Preferred Stock whether or not the powers,
preferences and rights of such other series shall be fixed by the Board of
Directors as senior to, or on a parity with, the powers, preferences and
rights of such outstanding series, or any of them; provided, however, that
the Board of Directors may provide in the resolution or resolutions as to
any series of Preferred Stock adopted pursuant to section (b) of this
Article FOURTH that the consent of the holders of a majority (or such
greater proportion as shall be therein fixed) of the outstanding shares of
such series voting thereon shall be required for the issuance of any or all
other series of Preferred Stock.
(f) Subject to the provisions of section (e), shares of any series of
Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time as the Board of Directors
of the Corporation shall determine and on such terms and for such
consideration as shall be fixed by the Board of Directors.
(g) Shares of Common Stock may be issued from time to time as the Board of
Directors of the Corporation shall determine and on such terms and for such
consideration as shall be fixed by the Board of Directors.
(h) The authorized amount of shares of Common Stock and of Preferred Stock
may, without a class or series vote, be increased or decreased from time to
time by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the stock of
the Corporation entitled to vote thereon.
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FIFTH: - (a) The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be
conducted and managed by a Board of Directors. The number of directors
constituting the entire Board shall be not less than five nor more than
twenty-five as fixed from time to time by vote of a majority of the whole
Board, provided, however, that the number of directors shall not be reduced
so as to shorten the term of any director at the time in office, and
provided further, that the number of directors constituting the whole Board
shall be twenty-four until otherwise fixed by a majority of the whole
Board.
(b) The Board of Directors shall be divided into three classes, as nearly
equal in number as the then total number of directors constituting the
whole Board permits, with the term of office of one class expiring each
year. At the annual meeting of stockholders in 1982, directors of the
first class shall be elected to hold office for a term expiring at the next
succeeding annual meeting, directors of the second class shall be elected
to hold office for a term expiring at the second succeeding annual meeting
and directors of the third class shall be elected to hold office for a term
expiring at the third succeeding annual meeting. Any vacancies in the Board
of Directors for any reason, and any newly created directorships resulting
from any increase in the directors, may be filled by the Board of
Directors, acting by a majority of the directors then in office, although
less than a quorum, and any directors so chosen shall hold office until the
next annual election of directors. At such election, the stockholders shall
elect a successor to such director to hold office until the next election
of the class for which such director shall have been chosen and until his
successor shall be elected and qualified. No decrease in the number of
directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.
(c) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Charter or Act of
Incorporation or the By-Laws of the Corporation (and notwithstanding the
fact that some lesser percentage may be specified by law, this Charter or
Act of Incorporation or the By-Laws of the Corporation), any director or
the entire Board of Directors of the Corporation may be removed at any time
without cause, but only by the affirmative vote of the holders of two-
thirds or more of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the
Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors
(considered for this purpose as one class) cast at a meeting of the
stockholders called for that purpose.
(d) Nominations for the election of directors may be made by the Board of
Directors or by any stockholder entitled to vote for the election of
directors. Such nominations shall be made by notice in writing, delivered
or mailed by first class United States mail, postage prepaid, to the
Secretary of the Corporation not less than 14 days nor more than 50 days
prior to any meeting of the stockholders called for the election of
directors; provided, however, that if less than 21 days' notice of the
meeting is given to stockholders, such written notice shall be delivered or
mailed, as prescribed, to the Secretary of the Corporation not later than
the close of the seventh day following the day on which notice of the
meeting was mailed to stockholders. Notice of nominations which are
proposed by the Board of Directors shall be given by the Chairman on behalf
of the Board.
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(e) Each notice under subsection (d) shall set forth (i) the name, age,
business address and, if known, residence address of each nominee proposed
in such notice, (ii) the principal occupation or employment of such nominee
and (iii) the number of shares of stock of the Corporation which are
beneficially owned by each such nominee.
(f) The Chairman of the meeting may, if the facts warrant, determine and
declare to the meeting that a nomination was not made in accordance with
the foregoing procedure, and if he should so determine, he shall so declare
to the meeting and the defective nomination shall be disregarded.
(g) No action required to be taken or which may be taken at any annual or
special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation may be taken without a
meeting, and the power of stockholders to consent in writing, without a
meeting, to the taking of any action is specifically denied.
SIXTH: - The Directors shall choose such officers, agent and servants as
may be provided in the By-Laws as they may from time to time find necessary
or proper.
SEVENTH: - The Corporation hereby created is hereby given the same powers,
rights and privileges as may be conferred upon corporations organized under
the Act entitled "An Act Providing a General Corporation Law", approved
March 10, 1899, as from time to time amended.
EIGHTH: - This Act shall be deemed and taken to be a private Act.
NINTH: - This Corporation is to have perpetual existence.
TENTH: - The Board of Directors, by resolution passed by a majority of the
whole Board, may designate any of their number to constitute an Executive
Committee, which Committee, to the extent provided in said resolution, or
in the By-Laws of the Company, shall have and may exercise all of the
powers of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and
affairs of the Corporation, and shall have power to authorize the seal of
the Corporation to be affixed to all papers which may require it.
ELEVENTH: - The private property of the stockholders shall not be liable
for the payment of corporate debts to any extent whatever.
TWELFTH: - The Corporation may transact business in any part of the world.
THIRTEENTH: - The Board of Directors of the Corporation is expressly
authorized to make, alter or repeal the By-Laws of the Corporation by a
vote of the majority of the entire Board. The stockholders may make, alter
or repeal any By-Law whether or not adopted by them, provided however, that
any such additional By-Laws, alterations or repeal may
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be adopted only by the affirmative vote of the holders of two-thirds or
more of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled
to vote generally in the election of directors (considered for this purpose
as one class).
FOURTEENTH: - Meetings of the Directors may be held outside
of the State of Delaware at such places as may be from time to time
designated by the Board, and the Directors may keep the books of the
Company outside of the State of Delaware at such places as may be from time
to time designated by them.
FIFTEENTH: - (a) In addition to any affirmative vote required by law, and
except as otherwise expressly provided in sections (b) and (c) of this
Article FIFTEENTH:
(A) any merger or consolidation of the Corporation or any Subsidiary
(as hereinafter defined) with or into (i) any Interested Stockholder (as
hereinafter defined) or (ii) any other corporation (whether or not itself
an Interested Stockholder), which, after such merger or consolidation,
would be an Affiliate (as hereinafter defined) of an Interested
Stockholder, or
(B) any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other
disposition (in one transaction or a series of related transactions) to or
with any Interested Stockholder or any Affiliate of any Interested
Stockholder of any assets of the Corporation or any Subsidiary having an
aggregate fair market value of $1,000,000 or more, or
(C) the issuance or transfer by the Corporation or any Subsidiary (in
one transaction or a series of related transactions) of any securities of
the Corporation or any Subsidiary to any Interested Stockholder or any
Affiliate of any Interested Stockholder in exchange for cash, securities or
other property (or a combination thereof) having an aggregate fair market
value of $1,000,000 or more, or
(D) the adoption of any plan or proposal for the liquidation or
dissolution of the Corporation, or
(E) any reclassification of securities (including any reverse stock
split), or recapitalization of the Corporation, or any merger or
consolidation of the Corporation with any of its Subsidiaries or any
similar transaction (whether or not with or into or otherwise involving an
Interested Stockholder) which has the effect, directly or indirectly, of
increasing the proportionate share of the outstanding shares of any class
of equity or convertible securities of the Corporation or any Subsidiary
which is directly or indirectly owned by any Interested Stockholder, or any
Affiliate of any Interested Stockholder,
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shall require the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of
the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote
generally in the election of directors, considered for the purpose of this
Article FIFTEENTH as one class ("Voting Shares"). Such affirmative vote
shall be required notwithstanding the fact that no vote may be required, or
that some lesser percentage may be specified, by law or in any agreement
with any national securities exchange or otherwise.
(2) The term "business combination" as used in this Article
FIFTEENTH shall mean any transaction which is referred to any one
or more of clauses (A) through (E) of paragraph 1 of the section
(a).
(b) The provisions of section (a) of this Article FIFTEENTH shall not
be applicable to any particular business combination and such business
combination shall require only such affirmative vote as is required by
law and any other provisions of the Charter or Act of Incorporation of
By-Laws if such business combination has been approved by a majority
of the whole Board.
(c) For the purposes of this Article FIFTEENTH:
(1) A "person" shall mean any individual firm, corporation or other
entity.
(2) "Interested Stockholder" shall mean, in respect of any business
combination, any person (other than the Corporation or any Subsidiary) who
or which as of the record date for the determination of stockholders
entitled to notice of and to vote on such business combination, or
immediately prior to the consummation of any such transaction:
(A) is the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 10%
of the Voting Shares, or
(B) is an Affiliate of the Corporation and at any time within two
years prior thereto was the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly,
of not less than 10% of the then outstanding voting Shares, or
(C) is an assignee of or has otherwise succeeded in any share of
capital stock of the Corporation which were at any time within two
years prior thereto beneficially owned by any Interested Stockholder,
and such assignment or succession shall have occurred in the course of
a transaction or series of transactions not involving a public
offering within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933.
(3) A person shall be the "beneficial owner" of any Voting Shares:
(A) which such person or any of its Affiliates and Associates (as
hereafter defined) beneficially own, directly or indirectly, or
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(B) which such person or any of its Affiliates or Associates has (i)
the right to acquire (whether such right is exercisable immediately or
only after the passage of time), pursuant to any agreement,
arrangement or understanding or upon the exercise of conversion
rights, exchange rights, warrants or options, or otherwise, or (ii)
the right to vote pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or
understanding, or
(C) which are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by any
other person with which such first mentioned person or any of its
Affiliates or Associates has any agreement, arrangement or
understanding for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting or
disposing of any shares of capital stock of the Corporation.
(4) The outstanding Voting Shares shall include shares deemed owned
through application of paragraph (3) above but shall not include any other
Voting Shares which may be issuable pursuant to any agreement, or upon
exercise of conversion rights, warrants or options or otherwise.
(5) "Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the respective meanings given
those terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as in effect on December 31, 1981.
(6) "Subsidiary" shall mean any corporation of which a majority of any
class of equity security (as defined in Rule 3a11-1 of the General Rules
and Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as in effect in
December 31, 1981) is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation;
provided, however, that for the purposes of the definition of Investment
Stockholder set forth in paragraph (2) of this section (c), the term
"Subsidiary" shall mean only a corporation of which a majority of each
class of equity security is owned, directly or indirectly, by the
Corporation.
(d) majority of the directors shall have the power and duty to
determine for the purposes of this Article FIFTEENTH on the basis of
information known to them, (1) the number of Voting Shares
beneficially owned by any person (2) whether a person is an Affiliate
or Associate of another, (3) whether a person has an agreement,
arrangement or understanding with another as to the matters referred
to in paragraph (3) of section (c), or (4) whether the assets subject
to any business combination or the consideration received for the
issuance or transfer of securities by the Corporation, or any
Subsidiary has an aggregate fair market value of $1,000,000 or more.
(e) Nothing contained in this Article FIFTEENTH shall be construed to
relieve any Interested Stockholder from any fiduciary obligation
imposed by law.
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SIXTEENTH: Notwithstanding any other provision of this Charter or Act of
Incorporation or the By-Laws of the Corporation (and in addition to any
other vote that may be required by law, this Charter or Act of
Incorporation by the By-Laws), the affirmative vote of the holders of at
least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of the capital stock of the
Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors
(considered for this purpose as one class) shall be required to amend,
alter or repeal any provision of Articles FIFTH, THIRTEENTH, FIFTEENTH or
SIXTEENTH of this Charter or Act of Incorporation.
SEVENTEENTH: (a) a Director of this Corporation shall not be liable to the
Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of
fiduciary duty as a Director, except to the extent such exemption from
liability or limitation thereof is not permitted under the Delaware General
Corporation Laws as the same exists or may hereafter be amended.
(b) Any repeal or modification of the foregoing paragraph shall not
adversely affect any right or protection of a Director of the
Corporation existing hereunder with respect to any act or omission
occurring prior to the time of such repeal or modification."
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EXHIBIT B
BY-LAWS
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
WILMINGTON, DELAWARE
AS EXISTING ON JANUARY 16, 1997
<PAGE>
BY-LAWS OF WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
ARTICLE I
STOCKHOLDERS' MEETINGS
Section 1. The Annual Meeting of Stockholders shall be held on the third
Thursday in April each year at the principal office at the Company or at such
other date, time, or place as may be designated by resolution by the Board of
Directors.
Section 2. Special meetings of all stockholders may be called at any time
by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board or the President.
Section 3. Notice of all meetings of the stockholders shall be given by
mailing to each stockholder at least ten (10) days before said meeting, at his
last known address, a written or printed notice fixing the time and place of
such meeting.
Section 4. A majority in the amount of the capital stock of the Company
issued and outstanding on the record date, as herein determined, shall
constitute a quorum at all meetings of stockholders for the transaction of any
business, but the holders of a small number of shares may adjourn, from time to
time, without further notice, until a quorum is secured. At each annual or
special meeting of stockholders, each stockholder shall be entitled to one vote,
either in person or by proxy, for each shares of stock registered in the
stockholder's name on the books of the Company on the record date for any such
meeting as determined herein.
ARTICLE II
DIRECTORS
Section 1. The number and classification of the Board of Directors shall
be as set forth in the Charter of the Bank.
Section 2. No person who has attained the age of seventy-two (72) years
shall be nominated for election to the Board of Directors of the Company,
provided, however, that this limitation shall not apply to any person who was
serving as director of the Company on September 16, 1971.
Section 3. The class of Directors so elected shall hold office for three
years or until their successors are elected and qualified.
Section 4. The affairs and business of the Company shall be managed and
conducted by the Board of Directors.
Section 5. The Board of Directors shall meet at the principal office of
the Company or elsewhere in its discretion at such times to be determined by a
majority of its members, or at the
<PAGE>
call of the Chairman of the Board of Directors or the President.
Section 6. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called at any
time by the Chairman of the Board of Directors or by the President, and shall be
called upon the written request of a majority of the directors.
Section 7. A majority of the directors elected and qualified shall be
necessary to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting
of the Board of Directors.
Section 8. Written notice shall be sent by mail to each director of any
special meeting of the Board of Directors, and of any change in the time or
place of any regular meeting, stating the time and place of such meeting, which
shall be mailed not less than two days before the time of holding such meeting.
Section 9. In the event of the death, resignation, removal, inability to
act, or disqualification of any director, the Board of Directors, although less
than a quorum, shall have the right to elect the successor who shall hold office
for the remainder of the full term of the class of directors in which the
vacancy occurred, and until such director's successor shall have been duly
elected and qualified.
Section 10. The Board of Directors at its first meeting after its election
by the stockholders shall appoint an Executive Committee, a Trust Committee, an
Audit Committee and a Compensation Committee, and shall elect from its own
members a Chairman of the Board of Directors and a President who may be the same
person. The Board of Directors shall also elect at such meeting a Secretary and
a Treasurer, who may be the same person, may appoint at any time such other
committees and elect or appoint such other officers as it may deem advisable.
The Board of Directors may also elect at such meeting one or more Associate
Directors.
Section 11. The Board of Directors may at any time remove, with or without
cause, any member of any Committee appointed by it or any associate director or
officer elected by it and may appoint or elect his successor.
Section 12. The Board of Directors may designate an officer to be in
charge of such of the departments or division of the Company as it may deem
advisable.
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ARTICLE III
COMMITTEES
Section 1. Executive Committee
(A) The Executive Committee shall be composed of not more than nine
members who shall be selected by the Board of Directors from its own members and
who shall hold office during the pleasure of the Board.
(B) The Executive Committee shall have all the powers of the Board of
Directors when it is not in session to transact all business for and in behalf
of the Company that may be brought before it.
(C) The Executive Committee shall meet at the principal office of the
Company or elsewhere in its discretion at such times to be determined by a
majority of its members, or at the call of the Chairman of the Executive
Committee or at the call of the Chairman of the Board of Directors. The
majority of its members shall be necessary to constitute a quorum for the
transaction of business. Special meetings of the Executive Committee may be
held at any time when a quorum is present.
(D) Minutes of each meeting of the Executive Committee shall be kept
and submitted to the Board of Directors at its next meeting.
(E) The Executive Committee shall advise and superintend all
investments that may be made of the funds of the Company, and shall direct the
disposal of the same, in accordance with such rules and regulations as the Board
of Directors from time to time make.
(F) In the event of a state of disaster of sufficient severity to
prevent the conduct and management of the affairs and business of the Company by
its directors and officers as contemplated by these By-Laws any two available
members of the Executive Committee as constituted immediately prior to such
disaster shall constitute a quorum of that Committee for the full conduct and
management of the affairs and business of the Company in accordance with the
provisions of Article III of these By-Laws; and if less than three members of
the Trust Committee is constituted immediately prior to such disaster shall be
available for the transaction of its business, such Executive Committee shall
also be empowered to exercise all of the powers reserved to the Trust Committee
under Article III Section 2 hereof. In the event of the unavailability, at such
time, of a minimum of two members of such Executive Committee, any three
available directors shall constitute the Executive Committee for the full
conduct and management of the affairs and business of the Company in accordance
with the foregoing provisions of this Section. This By-Law shall be subject to
implementation by Resolutions of the Board of Directors presently existing or
hereafter passed from time to time for that purpose, and any provisions of these
By-Laws (other than this Section) and any resolutions which are contrary to the
provisions of this Section or to the provisions of any such implementary
Resolutions shall be suspended during such a disaster period until it shall be
determined by any interim Executive Committee acting under this section that it
shall be to the advantage of the Company to resume the conduct and management of
its affairs and business under all of the other provisions of these By-Laws.
3
<PAGE>
Section 2. Trust Committee
(A) The Trust Committee shall be composed of not more than thirteen
members who shall be selected by the Board of Directors, a majority of whom
shall be members of the Board of Directors and who shall hold office during the
pleasure of the Board.
(B) The Trust Committee shall have general supervision over the Trust
Department and the investment of trust funds, in all matters, however, being
subject to the approval of the Board of Directors.
(C) The Trust Committee shall meet at the principal office of the
Company or elsewhere in its discretion at such times to be determined by a
majority of its members or at the call of its chairman. A majority of its
members shall be necessary to constitute a quorum for the transaction of
business.
(D) Minutes of each meeting of the Trust Committee shall be
kept and promptly submitted to the Board of Directors.
(E) The Trust Committee shall have the power to appoint Committees
and/or designate officers or employees of the Company to whom supervision over
the investment of trust funds may be delegated when the Trust Committee is not
in session.
Section 3. Audit Committee
(A) The Audit Committee shall be composed of five members who shall
be selected by the Board of Directors from its own members, none of whom shall
be an officer of the Company, and shall hold office at the pleasure of the
Board.
(B) The Audit Committee shall have general supervision over the Audit
Division in all matters however subject to the approval of the Board of
Directors; it shall consider all matters brought to its attention by the officer
in charge of the Audit Division, review all reports of examination of the
Company made by any governmental agency or such independent auditor employed for
that purpose, and make such recommendations to the Board of Directors with
respect thereto or with respect to any other matters pertaining to auditing the
Company as it shall deem desirable.
(C) The Audit Committee shall meet whenever and wherever the majority
of its members shall deem it to be proper for the transaction of its business,
and a majority of its Committee shall constitute a quorum.
4
<PAGE>
Section 4. Compensation Committee
(A) The Compensation Committee shall be composed of not more than
five (5) members who shall be selected by the Board of Directors from its own
members who are not officers of the Company and who shall hold office during the
pleasure of the Board.
(B) The Compensation Committee shall in general advise upon all
matters of policy concerning the Company brought to its attention by the
management and from time to time review the management of the Company, major
organizational matters, including salaries and employee benefits and
specifically shall administer the Executive Incentive Compensation Plan.
(C) Meetings of the Compensation Committee may be called at any time
by the Chairman of the Compensation Committee, the Chairman of the Board of
Directors, or the President of the Company.
Section 5. Associate Directors
(A) Any person who has served as a director may be elected by the
Board of Directors as an associate director, to serve during the pleasure of the
Board.
(B) An associate director shall be entitled to attend all directors
meetings and participate in the discussion of all matters brought to the Board,
with the exception that he would have no right to vote. An associate director
will be eligible for appointment to Committees of the Company, with the
exception of the Executive Committee, Audit Committee and Compensation
Committee, which must be comprised solely of active directors.
Section 6. Absence or Disqualification of Any Member of a Committee
(A) In the absence or disqualification of any member of any Committee
created under Article III of the By-Laws of this Company, the member or members
thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not
he or they constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the
Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of any such absence or
disqualified member.
ARTICLE IV
OFFICERS
Section 1. The Chairman of the Board of Directors shall preside at all
meetings of the Board and shall have such further authority and powers and shall
perform such duties as the Board of Directors may from time to time confer and
direct. He shall also exercise such powers and
5
<PAGE>
perform such duties as may from time to time be agreed upon between himself and
the President of the Company.
Section 2. The Vice Chairman of the Board. The Vice Chairman of the Board
-------------------------------
of Directors shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors at which
the Chairman of the Board shall not be present and shall have such further
authority and powers and shall perform such duties as the Board of Directors or
the Chairman of the Board may from time to time confer and direct.
Section 3. The President shall have the powers and duties pertaining to
the office of the President conferred or imposed upon him by statute or assigned
to him by the Board of Directors in the absence of the Chairman of the Board the
President shall have the powers and duties of the Chairman of the Board.
Section 4. The Chairman of the Board of Directors or the President as
designated by the Board of Directors, shall carry into effect all legal
directions of the Executive Committee and of the Board of Directors, and shall
at all times exercise general supervision over the interest, affairs and
operations of the Company and perform all duties incident to his office.
Section 5. There may be one or more Vice Presidents, however denominated
by the Board of Directors, who may at any time perform all the duties of the
Chairman of the Board of Directors and/or the President and such other powers
and duties as may from time to time be assigned to them by the Board of
Directors, the Executive Committee, the Chairman of the Board or the President
and by the officer in charge of the department or division to which they are
assigned.
Section 6. The Secretary shall attend to the giving of notice of meetings
of the stockholders and the Board of Directors, as well as the Committees
thereof, to the keeping of accurate minutes of all such meetings and to
recording the same in the minute books of the Company. In addition to the other
notice requirements of these By-Laws and as may be practicable under the
circumstances, all such notices shall be in writing and mailed well in advance
of the scheduled date of any other meeting. He shall have custody of the
corporate seal and shall affix the same to any documents requiring such
corporate seal and to attest the same.
Section 7. The Treasurer shall have general supervision over all assets
and liabilities of the Company. He shall be custodian of and responsible for
all monies, funds and valuables of the Company and for the keeping of proper
records of the evidence of property or indebtedness and of all the transactions
of the Company. He shall have general supervision of the expenditures of the
Company and shall report to the Board of Directors at each regular meeting of
the condition of the Company, and perform such other duties as may be assigned
to him from time to time by the Board of Directors of the Executive Committee.
6
<PAGE>
Section 8. There may be a Controller who shall exercise general
supervision over the internal operations of the Company, including accounting,
and shall render to the Board of Directors at appropriate times a report
relating to the general condition and internal operations of the Company.
There may be one or more subordinate accounting or controller officers
however denominated, who may perform the duties of the Controller and such
duties as may be prescribed by the Controller.
Section 9. The officer designated by the Board of Directors to be in
charge of the Audit Division of the Company with such title as the Board of
Directors shall prescribe, shall report to and be directly responsible only to
the Board of Directors.
There shall be an Auditor and there may be one or more Audit Officers,
however denominated, who may perform all the duties of the Auditor and such
duties as may be prescribed by the officer in charge of the Audit Division.
Section 10. There may be one or more officers, subordinate in rank to all
Vice Presidents with such functional titles as shall be determined from time to
time by the Board of Directors, who shall ex officio hold the office Assistant
Secretary of this Company and who may perform such duties as may be prescribed
by the officer in charge of the department or division to whom they are
assigned.
Section 11. The powers and duties of all other officers of the Company
shall be those usually pertaining to their respective offices, subject to the
direction of the Board of Directors, the Executive Committee, Chairman of the
Board of Directors or the President and the officer in charge of the department
or division to which they are assigned.
ARTICLE V
STOCK AND STOCK CERTIFICATES
Section 1. Shares of stock shall be transferrable on the books of the
Company and a transfer book shall be kept in which all transfers of stock shall
be recorded.
Section 2. Certificate of stock shall bear the signature of the President
or any Vice President, however denominated by the Board of Directors and
countersigned by the Secretary or Treasurer or an Assistant Secretary, and the
seal of the corporation shall be engraved thereon. Each certificate shall recite
that the stock represented thereby is transferrable only upon the books of the
Company by the holder thereof or his attorney, upon surrender of the certificate
properly endorsed. Any certificate of stock surrendered to the Company shall be
cancelled at the time of
7
<PAGE>
transfer, and before a new certificate or certificates shall be issued in lieu
thereof. Duplicate certificates of stock shall be issued only upon giving such
security as may be satisfactory to the Board of Directors or the Executive
Committee.
Section 3. The Board of Directors of the Company is authorized to fix in
advance a record date for the determination of the stockholders entitled to
notice of, and to vote at, any meeting of stockholders and any adjournment
thereof, or entitled to receive payment of any dividend, or to any allotment or
rights, or to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or
exchange of capital stock, or in connection with obtaining the consent of
stockholders for any purpose, which record date shall not be more than 60 nor
less than 10 days proceeding the date of any meeting of stockholders or the date
for the payment of any dividend, or the date for the allotment of rights, or the
date when any change or conversion or exchange of capital stock shall go into
effect, or a date in connection with obtaining such consent.
ARTICLE VI
SEAL
Section 1. The corporate seal of the Company shall be in the following
form:
Between two concentric circles the words
"Wilmington Trust Company" within the inner
circle the words "Wilmington, Delaware."
ARTICLE VII
FISCAL YEAR
Section 1. The fiscal year of the Company shall be the calendar year.
ARTICLE VIII
EXECUTION OF INSTRUMENTS OF THE COMPANY
Section 1. The Chairman of the Board, the President or any Vice President,
however denominated by the Board of Directors, shall have full power and
authority to enter into, make, sign, execute, acknowledge and/or deliver and the
Secretary or any Assistant Secretary shall have full power and authority to
attest and affix the corporate seal of the Company to any and all deeds,
conveyances, assignments, releases, contracts, agreements, bonds, notes,
mortgages and all other instruments incident to the business of this Company or
in acting as executor, administrator, guardian, trustee, agent or in any other
fiduciary or representative capacity by any and every
8
<PAGE>
method of appointment or by whatever person, corporation, court officer or
authority in the State of Delaware, or elsewhere, without any specific
authority, ratification, approval or confirmation by the Board of Directors or
the Executive Committee, and any and all such instruments shall have the same
force and validity as though expressly authorized by the Board of Directors
and/or the Executive Committee.
ARTICLE IX
COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS AND MEMBERS OF COMMITTEES
Section 1. Directors and associate directors of the Company, other than
salaried officers of the Company, shall be paid such reasonable honoraria or
fees for attending meetings of the Board of Directors as the Board of Directors
may from time to time determine. Directors and associate directors who serve as
members of committees, other than salaried employees of the Company, shall be
paid such reasonable honoraria or fees for services as members of committees as
the Board of Directors shall from time to time determine and directors and
associate directors may be employed by the Company for such special services as
the Board of Directors may from time to time determine and shall be paid for
such special services so performed reasonable compensation as may be determined
by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE X
INDEMNIFICATION
Section 1. (A) The Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless, to the
fullest extent permitted by applicable law as it presently exists or may
hereafter be amended, any person who was or is made or is threatened to be made
a party or is otherwise involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether
civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a "proceeding") by reason of
the fact that he, or a person for whom he is the legal representative, is or was
a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or is or was serving
at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee, fiduciary or
agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust,
enterprise or non-profit entity, including service with respect to employee
benefit plans, against all liability and loss suffered and expenses reasonably
incurred by such person. The Corporation shall indemnify a person in connection
with a proceeding initiated by such person only if the proceeding was authorized
by the Board of Directors of the Corporation.
(B) The Corporation shall pay the expenses incurred in defending any
proceeding in advance of its final disposition, provided, however, that the
-------- -------
payment of expenses incurred by a Director officer in his capacity as a Director
or officer in advance of the final disposition of the proceeding shall be made
only upon receipt of an undertaking by the Director
9
<PAGE>
or officer to repay all amounts advanced if it should be ultimately determined
that the Director or officer is not entitled to be indemnified under this
Article or otherwise.
(C) If a claim for indemnification or payment of expenses, under this
Article X is not paid in full within ninety days after a written claim therefor
has been received by the Corporation the claimant may file suit to recover the
unpaid amount of such claim and, if successful in whole or in part, shall be
entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting such claim. In any such action
the Corporation shall have the burden of proving that the claimant was not
entitled to the requested indemnification of payment of expenses under
applicable law.
(D) The rights conferred on any person by this Article X shall not be
exclusive of any other rights which such person may have or hereafter acquire
under any statute, provision of the Charter or Act of Incorporation, these By-
Laws, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested Directors or otherwise.
(E) Any repeal or modification of the foregoing provisions of this
Article X shall not adversely affect any right or protection hereunder of any
person in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such
repeal or modification.
ARTICLE XI
AMENDMENTS TO THE BY-LAWS
Section 1. These By-Laws may be altered, amended or repealed, in whole or
in part, and any new By-Law or By-Laws adopted at any regular or special meeting
of the Board of Directors by a vote of the majority of all the members of the
Board of Directors then in office.
10
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT C
SECTION 321(b) CONSENT
Pursuant to Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended,
Wilmington Trust Company hereby consents that reports of examinations by
Federal, State, Territorial or District authorities may be furnished by such
authorities to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon requests therefor.
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
Dated: March 13, 1998 By: /s/ Norma P. Closs
--------------------
Name: Norma P. Closs
Title: Vice President
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT D
NOTICE
This form is intended to assist state nonmember banks and savings banks with
state publication requirements. It has not been approved by any state banking
authorities. Refer to your appropriate state banking authorities for your state
publication requirements.
R E P O R T O F C O N D I T I O N
Consolidating domestic subsidiaries of the
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY of WILMINGTON
- ---------------------------------------- ----------------------------------
Name of Bank City
in the State of DELAWARE , at the close of business on December 31, 1997.
----------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ASSETS
Thousands of dollars
<S> <C>
Cash and balances due from depository institutions:
Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coins................. 236,646
Interest-bearing balances........................................... 0
Held-to-maturity securities.............................................. 331,880
Available-for-sale securities............................................ 1,258,661
Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell... 91,500
Loans and lease financing receivables:
Loans and leases, net of unearned income........... 3,822,320
LESS: Allowance for loan and lease losses......... 59,373
LESS: Allocated transfer risk reserve............. 0
Loans and leases, net of unearned income, allowance, and reserve.... 3,762,947
Assets held in trading accounts.......................................... 0
Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases)................. 129,740
Other real estate owned.................................................. 2,106
Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies...... 22
Customers' liability to this bank on acceptances outstanding............. 0
Intangible assets........................................................ 4,905
Other assets............................................................. 100,799
Total assets............................................................. 5,919,206
</TABLE>
CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
LIABILITIES
<S> <C>
Deposits:
In domestic offices................................................................ 4,034,633
Noninterest-bearing.......... 839,928
Interest-bearing............. 3,194,705
Federal funds purchased and Securities sold under agreements to repurchase......... 575,827
Demand notes issued to the U.S. Treasury........................................... 61,290
Trading liabilities (from Schedule RC-D)........................................... 0
Other borrowed money:.............................................................. ///////
With original maturity of one year or less.................................... 673,000
With original maturity of more than one year.................................. 43,000
Bank's liability on acceptances executed and outstanding........................... 0
Subordinated notes and debentures.................................................. 0
Other liabilities (from Schedule RC-G)............................................. 76,458
Total liabilities.................................................................. 5,464,208
<CAPTION>
EQUITY CAPITAL
<S>................................................................................ <C>
Perpetual preferred stock and related surplus...................................... 0
Common Stock....................................................................... 500
Surplus (exclude all surplus related to preferred stock)........................... 62,118
Undivided profits and capital reserves............................................. 385,018
Net unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities............. 7,362
Total equity capital............................................................... 454,998
Total liabilities, limited-life preferred stock, and equity capital................ 5,919,206
</TABLE>
2
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 25.3
Registration No.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM T-1
STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939
OF A CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE
CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY OF A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO
SECTION 305(b)(2) X
---
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
(Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)
Delaware 51-0055023
(State of incorporation) (I.R.S. employer identification no.)
Rodney Square North
1100 North Market Street
Wilmington, Delaware 19890
(Address of principal executive offices)
Cynthia L. Corliss
Vice President and Trust Counsel
Wilmington Trust Company
Rodney Square North
Wilmington, Delaware 19890
(302) 651-8516
(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)
BREED TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)
Delaware
(State of incorporation) (I.R.S. employer identification no.)
5300 Old Tampa Highway
Lakeland, Florida 33807
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Guarantee by Breed Technologies, Inc. with respect to
6.50% Convertible Trust Preferred Securities of BTI Capital Trust
(Title of the indenture securities)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
ITEM 1. GENERAL INFORMATION.
Furnish the following information as to the trustee:
(a) Name and address of each examining or supervising authority
to which it is subject.
Federal Deposit Insurance Co. State Bank Commissioner
Five Penn Center Dover, Delaware
Suite #2901
Philadelphia, PA
(b) Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.
The trustee is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.
ITEM 2. AFFILIATIONS WITH THE OBLIGOR.
If the obligor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each
affiliation:
Based upon an examination of the books and records of the trustee
and upon information furnished by the obligor, the obligor is not an
affiliate of the trustee.
ITEM 3. LIST OF EXHIBITS.
List below all exhibits filed as part of this Statement of
Eligibility and Qualification.
A. Copy of the Charter of Wilmington Trust Company, which includes the
certificate of authority of Wilmington Trust Company to commence
business and the authorization of Wilmington Trust Company to exercise
corporate trust powers.
B. Copy of By-Laws of Wilmington Trust Company.
C. Consent of Wilmington Trust Company required by Section 321(b) of Trust
Indenture Act.
D. Copy of most recent Report of Condition of Wilmington Trust Company.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
amended, the trustee, Wilmington Trust Company, a corporation organized and
existing under the laws of Delaware, has duly caused this Statement of
Eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, all in the City of Wilmington and State of Delaware on the 13th day
of March, 1998.
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
[SEAL]
Attest: /s/ Patricia A. Evans By: /s/ Norma P. Closs
----------------------------- ---------------------
Assistant Secretary Name: Norma P. Closs
Title: Vice President
2
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT A
AMENDED CHARTER
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
WILMINGTON, DELAWARE
AS EXISTING ON MAY 9, 1987
<PAGE>
AMENDED CHARTER
OR
ACT OF INCORPORATION
OF
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, originally incorporated by an Act of the General
Assembly of the State of Delaware, entitled "An Act to Incorporate the Delaware
Guarantee and Trust Company", approved March 2, A.D. 1901, and the name of which
company was changed to "WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY" by an amendment filed in the
Office of the Secretary of State on March 18, A.D. 1903, and the Charter or Act
of Incorporation of which company has been from time to time amended and changed
by merger agreements pursuant to the corporation law for state banks and trust
companies of the State of Delaware, does hereby alter and amend its Charter or
Act of Incorporation so that the same as so altered and amended shall in its
entirety read as follows:
FIRST: - The name of this corporation is WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY.
SECOND: - The location of its principal office in the State of Delaware is
at Rodney Square North, in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle;
the name of its resident agent is WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY whose address is
Rodney Square North, in said City. In addition to such principal office,
the said corporation maintains and operates branch offices in the City of
Newark, New Castle County, Delaware, the Town of Newport, New Castle
County, Delaware, at Claymont, New Castle County, Delaware, at Greenville,
New Castle County Delaware, and at Milford Cross Roads, New Castle County,
Delaware, and shall be empowered to open, maintain and operate branch
offices at Ninth and Shipley Streets, 418 Delaware Avenue, 2120 Market
Street, and 3605 Market Street, all in the City of Wilmington, New Castle
County, Delaware, and such other branch offices or places of business as
may be authorized from time to time by the agency or agencies of the
government of the State of Delaware empowered to confer such authority.
THIRD: - (a) The nature of the business and the objects and purposes
proposed to be transacted, promoted or carried on by this Corporation are
to do any or all of the things herein mentioned as fully and to the same
extent as natural persons might or could do and in any part of the world,
viz.:
(1) To sue and be sued, complain and defend in any Court of law or
equity and to make and use a common seal, and alter the seal at pleasure,
to hold, purchase, convey, mortgage or otherwise deal in real and personal
estate and property, and to appoint such officers and agents as the
business of the Corporation shall require,
<PAGE>
to make by-laws not inconsistent with the Constitution or laws of the
United States or of this State, to discount bills, notes or other evidences
of debt, to receive deposits of money, or securities for money, to buy gold
and silver bullion and foreign coins, to buy and sell bills of exchange,
and generally to use, exercise and enjoy all the powers, rights, privileges
and franchises incident to a corporation which are proper or necessary for
the transaction of the business of the Corporation hereby created.
(2) To insure titles to real and personal property, or any estate or
interests therein, and to guarantee the holder of such property, real or
personal, against any claim or claims, adverse to his interest therein, and
to prepare and give certificates of title for any lands or premises in the
State of Delaware, or elsewhere.
(3) To act as factor, agent, broker or attorney in the receipt,
collection, custody, investment and management of funds, and the purchase,
sale, management and disposal of property of all descriptions, and to
prepare and execute all papers which may be necessary or proper in such
business.
(4) To prepare and draw agreements, contracts, deeds, leases,
conveyances, mortgages, bonds and legal papers of every description, and to
carry on the business of conveyancing in all its branches.
(5) To receive upon deposit for safekeeping money, jewelry, plate,
deeds, bonds and any and all other personal property of every sort and
kind, from executors, administrators, guardians, public officers, courts,
receivers, assignees, trustees, and from all fiduciaries, and from all
other persons and individuals, and from all corporations whether state,
municipal, corporate or private, and to rent boxes, safes, vaults and other
receptacles for such property.
(6) To act as agent or otherwise for the purpose of registering,
issuing, certificating, countersigning, transferring or underwriting the
stock, bonds or other obligations of any corporation, association, state or
municipality, and may receive and manage any sinking fund therefor on such
terms as may be agreed upon between the two parties, and in like manner may
act as Treasurer of any corporation or municipality.
(7) To act as Trustee under any deed of trust, mortgage, bond or
other instrument issued by any state, municipality, body politic,
corporation, association or person, either alone or in conjunction with any
other person or persons, corporation or corporations.
(8) To guarantee the validity, performance or effect of any contract
or agreement, and the fidelity of persons holding places of responsibility
or trust; to become
2
<PAGE>
surety for any person, or persons, for the faithful performance of any
trust, office, duty, contract or agreement, either by itself or in
conjunction with any other person, or persons, corporation, or
corporations, or in like manner become surety upon any bond, recognizance,
obligation, judgment, suit, order, or decree to be entered in any court of
record within the State of Delaware or elsewhere, or which may now or
hereafter be required by any law, judge, officer or court in the State of
Delaware or elsewhere.
(9) To act by any and every method of appointment as trustee, trustee
in bankruptcy, receiver, assignee, assignee in bankruptcy, executor,
administrator, guardian, bailee, or in any other trust capacity in the
receiving, holding, managing, and disposing of any and all estates and
property, real, personal or mixed, and to be appointed as such trustee,
trustee in bankruptcy, receiver, assignee, assignee in bankruptcy,
executor, administrator, guardian or bailee by any persons, corporations,
court, officer, or authority, in the State of Delaware or elsewhere; and
whenever this Corporation is so appointed by any person, corporation,
court, officer or authority such trustee, trustee in bankruptcy, receiver,
assignee, assignee in bankruptcy, executor, administrator, guardian,
bailee, or in any other trust capacity, it shall not be required to give
bond with surety, but its capital stock shall be taken and held as security
for the performance of the duties devolving upon it by such appointment.
(10) And for its care, management and trouble, and the exercise of
any of its powers hereby given, or for the performance of any of the duties
which it may undertake or be called upon to perform, or for the assumption
of any responsibility the said Corporation may be entitled to receive a
proper compensation.
(11) To purchase, receive, hold and own bonds, mortgages, debentures,
shares of capital stock, and other securities, obligations, contracts and
evidences of indebtedness, of any private, public or municipal corporation
within and without the State of Delaware, or of the Government of the
United States, or of any state, territory, colony, or possession thereof,
or of any foreign government or country; to receive, collect, receipt for,
and dispose of interest, dividends and income upon and from any of the
bonds, mortgages, debentures, notes, shares of capital stock, securities,
obligations, contracts, evidences of indebtedness and other property held
and owned by it, and to exercise in respect of all such bonds, mortgages,
debentures, notes, shares of capital stock, securities, obligations,
contracts, evidences of indebtedness and other property, any and all the
rights, powers and privileges of individual owners thereof, including the
right to vote thereon; to invest and deal in and with any of the moneys of
the Corporation upon such securities and in such manner as it may think fit
and proper, and from time to time to vary or realize such investments; to
issue bonds and secure the same by pledges or deeds of trust or mortgages
of or upon the whole or any part of the property
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held or owned by the Corporation, and to sell and pledge such bonds, as and
when the Board of Directors shall determine, and in the promotion of its
said corporate business of investment and to the extent authorized by law,
to lease, purchase, hold, sell, assign, transfer, pledge, mortgage and
convey real and personal property of any name and nature and any estate or
interest therein.
(b) In furtherance of, and not in limitation, of the powers conferred by
the laws of the State of Delaware, it is hereby expressly provided that the
said Corporation shall also have the following powers:
(1) To do any or all of the things herein set forth, to the same
extent as natural persons might or could do, and in any part of the world.
(2) To acquire the good will, rights, property and franchises and to
undertake the whole or any part of the assets and liabilities of any
person, firm, association or corporation, and to pay for the same in cash,
stock of this Corporation, bonds or otherwise; to hold or in any manner to
dispose of the whole or any part of the property so purchased; to conduct
in any lawful manner the whole or any part of any business so acquired, and
to exercise all the powers necessary or convenient in and about the conduct
and management of such business.
(3) To take, hold, own, deal in, mortgage or otherwise lien, and to
lease, sell, exchange, transfer, or in any manner whatever dispose of
property, real, personal or mixed, wherever situated.
(4) To enter into, make, perform and carry out contracts of every
kind with any person, firm, association or corporation, and, without limit
as to amount, to draw, make, accept, endorse, discount, execute and issue
promissory notes, drafts, bills of exchange, warrants, bonds, debentures,
and other negotiable or transferable instruments.
(5) To have one or more offices, to carry on all or any of its
operations and businesses, without restriction to the same extent as
natural persons might or could do, to purchase or otherwise acquire, to
hold, own, to mortgage, sell, convey or otherwise dispose of, real and
personal property, of every class and description, in any State, District,
Territory or Colony of the United States, and in any foreign country or
place.
(6) It is the intention that the objects, purposes and powers
specified and clauses contained in this paragraph shall (except where
otherwise expressed in said paragraph) be nowise limited or restricted by
reference to or inference from the terms of any other clause of this or any
other paragraph in this charter, but that the
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objects, purposes and powers specified in each of the clauses of this
paragraph shall be regarded as independent objects, purposes and powers.
FOURTH: - (a) The total number of shares of all classes of stock which the
Corporation shall have authority to issue is forty-one million (41,000,000)
shares, consisting of:
(1) One million (1,000,000) shares of Preferred stock, par value
$10.00 per share (hereinafter referred to as "Preferred Stock"); and
(2) Forty million (40,000,000) shares of Common Stock, par value
$1.00 per share (hereinafter referred to as "Common Stock").
(b) Shares of Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time in one or
more series as may from time to time be determined by the Board of
Directors each of said series to be distinctly designated. All shares of
any one series of Preferred Stock shall be alike in every particular,
except that there may be different dates from which dividends, if any,
thereon shall be cumulative, if made cumulative. The voting powers and the
preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights
of each such series, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions
thereof, if any, may differ from those of any and all other series at any
time outstanding; and, subject to the provisions of subparagraph 1 of
Paragraph (c) of this Article FOURTH, the Board of Directors of the
Corporation is hereby expressly granted authority to fix by resolution or
resolutions adopted prior to the issuance of any shares of a particular
series of Preferred Stock, the voting powers and the designations,
preferences and relative, optional and other special rights, and the
qualifications, limitations and restrictions of such series, including, but
without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the following:
(1) The distinctive designation of, and the number of shares of
Preferred Stock which shall constitute such series, which number may be
increased (except where otherwise provided by the Board of Directors) or
decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding)
from time to time by like action of the Board of Directors;
(2) The rate and times at which, and the terms and conditions on
which, dividends, if any, on Preferred Stock of such series shall be paid,
the extent of the preference or relation, if any, of such dividends to the
dividends payable on any other class or classes, or series of the same or
other class of stock and whether such dividends shall be cumulative or non-
cumulative;
(3) The right, if any, of the holders of Preferred Stock of such
series to convert the same into or exchange the same for, shares of any
other class or classes or of any series of the same or any other class or
classes of stock of the Corporation and the terms and conditions of such
conversion or exchange;
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(4) Whether or not Preferred Stock of such series shall be subject to
redemption, and the redemption price or prices and the time or times at
which, and the terms and conditions on which, Preferred Stock of such
series may be redeemed.
(5) The rights, if any, of the holders of Preferred Stock of such
series upon the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, merger,
consolidation, distribution or sale of assets, dissolution or winding-up,
of the Corporation.
(6) The terms of the sinking fund or redemption or purchase account,
if any, to be provided for the Preferred Stock of such series; and
(7) The voting powers, if any, of the holders of such series of
Preferred Stock which may, without limiting the generality of the foregoing
include the right, voting as a series or by itself or together with other
series of Preferred Stock or all series of Preferred Stock as a class, to
elect one or more directors of the Corporation if there shall have been a
default in the payment of dividends on any one or more series of Preferred
Stock or under such circumstances and on such conditions as the Board of
Directors may determine.
(c) (1) After the requirements with respect to preferential dividends on
the Preferred Stock (fixed in accordance with the provisions of section (b)
of this Article FOURTH), if any, shall have been met and after the
Corporation shall have complied with all the requirements, if any, with
respect to the setting aside of sums as sinking funds or redemption or
purchase accounts (fixed in accordance with the provisions of section (b)
of this Article FOURTH), and subject further to any conditions which may be
fixed in accordance with the provisions of section (b) of this Article
FOURTH, then and not otherwise the holders of Common Stock shall be
entitled to receive such dividends as may be declared from time to time by
the Board of Directors.
(2) After distribution in full of the preferential amount, if any,
(fixed in accordance with the provisions of section (b) of this Article
FOURTH), to be distributed to the holders of Preferred Stock in the event
of voluntary or involuntary liquidation, distribution or sale of assets,
dissolution or winding-up, of the Corporation, the holders of the Common
Stock shall be entitled to receive all of the remaining assets of the
Corporation, tangible and intangible, of whatever kind available for
distribution to stockholders ratably in proportion to the number of shares
of Common Stock held by them respectively.
(3) Except as may otherwise be required by law or by the provisions
of such resolution or resolutions as may be adopted by the Board of
Directors pursuant to section (b) of this Article FOURTH, each holder of
Common Stock shall have one vote in respect of each share of Common Stock
held on all matters voted upon by the stockholders.
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(d) No holder of any of the shares of any class or series of stock or of
options, warrants or other rights to purchase shares of any class or series
of stock or of other securities of the Corporation shall have any
preemptive right to purchase or subscribe for any unissued stock of any
class or series or any additional shares of any class or series to be
issued by reason of any increase of the authorized capital stock of the
Corporation of any class or series, or bonds, certificates of indebtedness,
debentures or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for stock
of the Corporation of any class or series, or carrying any right to
purchase stock of any class or series, but any such unissued stock,
additional authorized issue of shares of any class or series of stock or
securities convertible into or exchangeable for stock, or carrying any
right to purchase stock, may be issued and disposed of pursuant to
resolution of the Board of Directors to such persons, firms, corporations
or associations, whether such holders or others, and upon such terms as may
be deemed advisable by the Board of Directors in the exercise of its sole
discretion.
(e) The relative powers, preferences and rights of each series of
Preferred Stock in relation to the relative powers, preferences and rights
of each other series of Preferred Stock shall, in each case, be as fixed
from time to time by the Board of Directors in the resolution or
resolutions adopted pursuant to authority granted in section (b) of this
Article FOURTH and the consent, by class or series vote or otherwise, of
the holders of such of the series of Preferred Stock as are from time to
time outstanding shall not be required for the issuance by the Board of
Directors of any other series of Preferred Stock whether or not the powers,
preferences and rights of such other series shall be fixed by the Board of
Directors as senior to, or on a parity with, the powers, preferences and
rights of such outstanding series, or any of them; provided, however, that
the Board of Directors may provide in the resolution or resolutions as to
any series of Preferred Stock adopted pursuant to section (b) of this
Article FOURTH that the consent of the holders of a majority (or such
greater proportion as shall be therein fixed) of the outstanding shares of
such series voting thereon shall be required for the issuance of any or all
other series of Preferred Stock.
(f) Subject to the provisions of section (e), shares of any series of
Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time as the Board of Directors
of the Corporation shall determine and on such terms and for such
consideration as shall be fixed by the Board of Directors.
(g) Shares of Common Stock may be issued from time to time as the Board of
Directors of the Corporation shall determine and on such terms and for such
consideration as shall be fixed by the Board of Directors.
(h) The authorized amount of shares of Common Stock and of Preferred Stock
may, without a class or series vote, be increased or decreased from time to
time by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the stock of
the Corporation entitled to vote thereon.
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FIFTH: - (a) The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be
conducted and managed by a Board of Directors. The number of directors
constituting the entire Board shall be not less than five nor more than
twenty-five as fixed from time to time by vote of a majority of the whole
Board, provided, however, that the number of directors shall not be reduced
so as to shorten the term of any director at the time in office, and
provided further, that the number of directors constituting the whole Board
shall be twenty-four until otherwise fixed by a majority of the whole
Board.
(b) The Board of Directors shall be divided into three classes, as nearly
equal in number as the then total number of directors constituting the
whole Board permits, with the term of office of one class expiring each
year. At the annual meeting of stockholders in 1982, directors of the
first class shall be elected to hold office for a term expiring at the next
succeeding annual meeting, directors of the second class shall be elected
to hold office for a term expiring at the second succeeding annual meeting
and directors of the third class shall be elected to hold office for a term
expiring at the third succeeding annual meeting. Any vacancies in the Board
of Directors for any reason, and any newly created directorships resulting
from any increase in the directors, may be filled by the Board of
Directors, acting by a majority of the directors then in office, although
less than a quorum, and any directors so chosen shall hold office until the
next annual election of directors. At such election, the stockholders shall
elect a successor to such director to hold office until the next election
of the class for which such director shall have been chosen and until his
successor shall be elected and qualified. No decrease in the number of
directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.
(c) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Charter or Act of
Incorporation or the By-Laws of the Corporation (and notwithstanding the
fact that some lesser percentage may be specified by law, this Charter or
Act of Incorporation or the By-Laws of the Corporation), any director or
the entire Board of Directors of the Corporation may be removed at any time
without cause, but only by the affirmative vote of the holders of two-
thirds or more of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the
Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors
(considered for this purpose as one class) cast at a meeting of the
stockholders called for that purpose.
(d) Nominations for the election of directors may be made by the Board of
Directors or by any stockholder entitled to vote for the election of
directors. Such nominations shall be made by notice in writing, delivered
or mailed by first class United States mail, postage prepaid, to the
Secretary of the Corporation not less than 14 days nor more than 50 days
prior to any meeting of the stockholders called for the election of
directors; provided, however, that if less than 21 days' notice of the
meeting is given to stockholders, such written notice shall be delivered or
mailed, as prescribed, to the Secretary of the Corporation not later than
the close of the seventh day following the day on which notice of the
meeting was mailed to stockholders. Notice of nominations which are
proposed by the Board of Directors shall be given by the Chairman on behalf
of the Board.
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(e) Each notice under subsection (d) shall set forth (i) the name, age,
business address and, if known, residence address of each nominee proposed
in such notice, (ii) the principal occupation or employment of such nominee
and (iii) the number of shares of stock of the Corporation which are
beneficially owned by each such nominee.
(f) The Chairman of the meeting may, if the facts warrant, determine and
declare to the meeting that a nomination was not made in accordance with
the foregoing procedure, and if he should so determine, he shall so declare
to the meeting and the defective nomination shall be disregarded.
(g) No action required to be taken or which may be taken at any annual or
special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation may be taken without a
meeting, and the power of stockholders to consent in writing, without a
meeting, to the taking of any action is specifically denied.
SIXTH: - The Directors shall choose such officers, agent and servants as
may be provided in the By-Laws as they may from time to time find necessary
or proper.
SEVENTH: - The Corporation hereby created is hereby given the same powers,
rights and privileges as may be conferred upon corporations organized under
the Act entitled "An Act Providing a General Corporation Law", approved
March 10, 1899, as from time to time amended.
EIGHTH: - This Act shall be deemed and taken to be a private Act.
NINTH: - This Corporation is to have perpetual existence.
TENTH: - The Board of Directors, by resolution passed by a majority of the
whole Board, may designate any of their number to constitute an Executive
Committee, which Committee, to the extent provided in said resolution, or
in the By-Laws of the Company, shall have and may exercise all of the
powers of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and
affairs of the Corporation, and shall have power to authorize the seal of
the Corporation to be affixed to all papers which may require it.
ELEVENTH: - The private property of the stockholders shall not be liable
for the payment of corporate debts to any extent whatever.
TWELFTH: - The Corporation may transact business in any part of the world.
THIRTEENTH: - The Board of Directors of the Corporation is expressly
authorized to make, alter or repeal the By-Laws of the Corporation by a
vote of the majority of the entire Board. The stockholders may make, alter
or repeal any By-Law whether or not adopted by them, provided however, that
any such additional By-Laws, alterations or repeal may
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be adopted only by the affirmative vote of the holders of two-thirds or
more of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled
to vote generally in the election of directors (considered for this purpose
as one class).
FOURTEENTH: - Meetings of the Directors may be held outside
of the State of Delaware at such places as may be from time to time
designated by the Board, and the Directors may keep the books of the
Company outside of the State of Delaware at such places as may be from time
to time designated by them.
FIFTEENTH: - (a) In addition to any affirmative vote required by law, and
except as otherwise expressly provided in sections (b) and (c) of this
Article FIFTEENTH:
(A) any merger or consolidation of the Corporation or any Subsidiary
(as hereinafter defined) with or into (i) any Interested Stockholder (as
hereinafter defined) or (ii) any other corporation (whether or not itself
an Interested Stockholder), which, after such merger or consolidation,
would be an Affiliate (as hereinafter defined) of an Interested
Stockholder, or
(B) any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other
disposition (in one transaction or a series of related transactions) to or
with any Interested Stockholder or any Affiliate of any Interested
Stockholder of any assets of the Corporation or any Subsidiary having an
aggregate fair market value of $1,000,000 or more, or
(C) the issuance or transfer by the Corporation or any Subsidiary (in
one transaction or a series of related transactions) of any securities of
the Corporation or any Subsidiary to any Interested Stockholder or any
Affiliate of any Interested Stockholder in exchange for cash, securities or
other property (or a combination thereof) having an aggregate fair market
value of $1,000,000 or more, or
(D) the adoption of any plan or proposal for the liquidation or
dissolution of the Corporation, or
(E) any reclassification of securities (including any reverse stock
split), or recapitalization of the Corporation, or any merger or
consolidation of the Corporation with any of its Subsidiaries or any
similar transaction (whether or not with or into or otherwise involving an
Interested Stockholder) which has the effect, directly or indirectly, of
increasing the proportionate share of the outstanding shares of any class
of equity or convertible securities of the Corporation or any Subsidiary
which is directly or indirectly owned by any Interested Stockholder, or any
Affiliate of any Interested Stockholder,
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shall require the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of
the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote
generally in the election of directors, considered for the purpose of this
Article FIFTEENTH as one class ("Voting Shares"). Such affirmative vote
shall be required notwithstanding the fact that no vote may be required, or
that some lesser percentage may be specified, by law or in any agreement
with any national securities exchange or otherwise.
(2) The term "business combination" as used in this Article
FIFTEENTH shall mean any transaction which is referred to any one
or more of clauses (A) through (E) of paragraph 1 of the section
(a).
(b) The provisions of section (a) of this Article FIFTEENTH shall not
be applicable to any particular business combination and such business
combination shall require only such affirmative vote as is required by
law and any other provisions of the Charter or Act of Incorporation of
By-Laws if such business combination has been approved by a majority
of the whole Board.
(c) For the purposes of this Article FIFTEENTH:
(1) A "person" shall mean any individual firm, corporation or other
entity.
(2) "Interested Stockholder" shall mean, in respect of any business
combination, any person (other than the Corporation or any Subsidiary) who
or which as of the record date for the determination of stockholders
entitled to notice of and to vote on such business combination, or
immediately prior to the consummation of any such transaction:
(A) is the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 10%
of the Voting Shares, or
(B) is an Affiliate of the Corporation and at any time within two
years prior thereto was the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly,
of not less than 10% of the then outstanding voting Shares, or
(C) is an assignee of or has otherwise succeeded in any share of
capital stock of the Corporation which were at any time within two
years prior thereto beneficially owned by any Interested Stockholder,
and such assignment or succession shall have occurred in the course of
a transaction or series of transactions not involving a public
offering within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933.
(3) A person shall be the "beneficial owner" of any Voting Shares:
(A) which such person or any of its Affiliates and Associates (as
hereafter defined) beneficially own, directly or indirectly, or
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(B) which such person or any of its Affiliates or Associates has (i)
the right to acquire (whether such right is exercisable immediately or
only after the passage of time), pursuant to any agreement,
arrangement or understanding or upon the exercise of conversion
rights, exchange rights, warrants or options, or otherwise, or (ii)
the right to vote pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or
understanding, or
(C) which are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by any
other person with which such first mentioned person or any of its
Affiliates or Associates has any agreement, arrangement or
understanding for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting or
disposing of any shares of capital stock of the Corporation.
(4) The outstanding Voting Shares shall include shares deemed owned
through application of paragraph (3) above but shall not include any other
Voting Shares which may be issuable pursuant to any agreement, or upon
exercise of conversion rights, warrants or options or otherwise.
(5) "Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the respective meanings given
those terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as in effect on December 31, 1981.
(6) "Subsidiary" shall mean any corporation of which a majority of any
class of equity security (as defined in Rule 3a11-1 of the General Rules
and Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as in effect in
December 31, 1981) is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation;
provided, however, that for the purposes of the definition of Investment
Stockholder set forth in paragraph (2) of this section (c), the term
"Subsidiary" shall mean only a corporation of which a majority of each
class of equity security is owned, directly or indirectly, by the
Corporation.
(d) majority of the directors shall have the power and duty to
determine for the purposes of this Article FIFTEENTH on the basis of
information known to them, (1) the number of Voting Shares
beneficially owned by any person (2) whether a person is an Affiliate
or Associate of another, (3) whether a person has an agreement,
arrangement or understanding with another as to the matters referred
to in paragraph (3) of section (c), or (4) whether the assets subject
to any business combination or the consideration received for the
issuance or transfer of securities by the Corporation, or any
Subsidiary has an aggregate fair market value of $1,000,000 or more.
(e) Nothing contained in this Article FIFTEENTH shall be construed to
relieve any Interested Stockholder from any fiduciary obligation
imposed by law.
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SIXTEENTH: Notwithstanding any other provision of this Charter or Act of
Incorporation or the By-Laws of the Corporation (and in addition to any
other vote that may be required by law, this Charter or Act of
Incorporation by the By-Laws), the affirmative vote of the holders of at
least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of the capital stock of the
Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors
(considered for this purpose as one class) shall be required to amend,
alter or repeal any provision of Articles FIFTH, THIRTEENTH, FIFTEENTH or
SIXTEENTH of this Charter or Act of Incorporation.
SEVENTEENTH: (a) a Director of this Corporation shall not be liable to the
Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of
fiduciary duty as a Director, except to the extent such exemption from
liability or limitation thereof is not permitted under the Delaware General
Corporation Laws as the same exists or may hereafter be amended.
(b) Any repeal or modification of the foregoing paragraph shall not
adversely affect any right or protection of a Director of the
Corporation existing hereunder with respect to any act or omission
occurring prior to the time of such repeal or modification."
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EXHIBIT B
BY-LAWS
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
WILMINGTON, DELAWARE
AS EXISTING ON JANUARY 16, 1997
<PAGE>
BY-LAWS OF WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
ARTICLE I
STOCKHOLDERS' MEETINGS
Section 1. The Annual Meeting of Stockholders shall be held on the third
Thursday in April each year at the principal office at the Company or at such
other date, time, or place as may be designated by resolution by the Board of
Directors.
Section 2. Special meetings of all stockholders may be called at any time
by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board or the President.
Section 3. Notice of all meetings of the stockholders shall be given by
mailing to each stockholder at least ten (10) days before said meeting, at his
last known address, a written or printed notice fixing the time and place of
such meeting.
Section 4. A majority in the amount of the capital stock of the Company
issued and outstanding on the record date, as herein determined, shall
constitute a quorum at all meetings of stockholders for the transaction of any
business, but the holders of a small number of shares may adjourn, from time to
time, without further notice, until a quorum is secured. At each annual or
special meeting of stockholders, each stockholder shall be entitled to one vote,
either in person or by proxy, for each shares of stock registered in the
stockholder's name on the books of the Company on the record date for any such
meeting as determined herein.
ARTICLE II
DIRECTORS
Section 1. The number and classification of the Board of Directors shall
be as set forth in the Charter of the Bank.
Section 2. No person who has attained the age of seventy-two (72) years
shall be nominated for election to the Board of Directors of the Company,
provided, however, that this limitation shall not apply to any person who was
serving as director of the Company on September 16, 1971.
Section 3. The class of Directors so elected shall hold office for three
years or until their successors are elected and qualified.
Section 4. The affairs and business of the Company shall be managed and
conducted by the Board of Directors.
Section 5. The Board of Directors shall meet at the principal office of
the Company or elsewhere in its discretion at such times to be determined by a
majority of its members, or at the
<PAGE>
call of the Chairman of the Board of Directors or the President.
Section 6. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called at any
time by the Chairman of the Board of Directors or by the President, and shall be
called upon the written request of a majority of the directors.
Section 7. A majority of the directors elected and qualified shall be
necessary to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting
of the Board of Directors.
Section 8. Written notice shall be sent by mail to each director of any
special meeting of the Board of Directors, and of any change in the time or
place of any regular meeting, stating the time and place of such meeting, which
shall be mailed not less than two days before the time of holding such meeting.
Section 9. In the event of the death, resignation, removal, inability to
act, or disqualification of any director, the Board of Directors, although less
than a quorum, shall have the right to elect the successor who shall hold office
for the remainder of the full term of the class of directors in which the
vacancy occurred, and until such director's successor shall have been duly
elected and qualified.
Section 10. The Board of Directors at its first meeting after its election
by the stockholders shall appoint an Executive Committee, a Trust Committee, an
Audit Committee and a Compensation Committee, and shall elect from its own
members a Chairman of the Board of Directors and a President who may be the same
person. The Board of Directors shall also elect at such meeting a Secretary and
a Treasurer, who may be the same person, may appoint at any time such other
committees and elect or appoint such other officers as it may deem advisable.
The Board of Directors may also elect at such meeting one or more Associate
Directors.
Section 11. The Board of Directors may at any time remove, with or without
cause, any member of any Committee appointed by it or any associate director or
officer elected by it and may appoint or elect his successor.
Section 12. The Board of Directors may designate an officer to be in
charge of such of the departments or division of the Company as it may deem
advisable.
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ARTICLE III
COMMITTEES
Section 1. Executive Committee
(A) The Executive Committee shall be composed of not more than nine
members who shall be selected by the Board of Directors from its own members and
who shall hold office during the pleasure of the Board.
(B) The Executive Committee shall have all the powers of the Board of
Directors when it is not in session to transact all business for and in behalf
of the Company that may be brought before it.
(C) The Executive Committee shall meet at the principal office of the
Company or elsewhere in its discretion at such times to be determined by a
majority of its members, or at the call of the Chairman of the Executive
Committee or at the call of the Chairman of the Board of Directors. The
majority of its members shall be necessary to constitute a quorum for the
transaction of business. Special meetings of the Executive Committee may be
held at any time when a quorum is present.
(D) Minutes of each meeting of the Executive Committee shall be kept
and submitted to the Board of Directors at its next meeting.
(E) The Executive Committee shall advise and superintend all
investments that may be made of the funds of the Company, and shall direct the
disposal of the same, in accordance with such rules and regulations as the Board
of Directors from time to time make.
(F) In the event of a state of disaster of sufficient severity to
prevent the conduct and management of the affairs and business of the Company by
its directors and officers as contemplated by these By-Laws any two available
members of the Executive Committee as constituted immediately prior to such
disaster shall constitute a quorum of that Committee for the full conduct and
management of the affairs and business of the Company in accordance with the
provisions of Article III of these By-Laws; and if less than three members of
the Trust Committee is constituted immediately prior to such disaster shall be
available for the transaction of its business, such Executive Committee shall
also be empowered to exercise all of the powers reserved to the Trust Committee
under Article III Section 2 hereof. In the event of the unavailability, at such
time, of a minimum of two members of such Executive Committee, any three
available directors shall constitute the Executive Committee for the full
conduct and management of the affairs and business of the Company in accordance
with the foregoing provisions of this Section. This By-Law shall be subject to
implementation by Resolutions of the Board of Directors presently existing or
hereafter passed from time to time for that purpose, and any provisions of these
By-Laws (other than this Section) and any resolutions which are contrary to the
provisions of this Section or to the provisions of any such implementary
Resolutions shall be suspended during such a disaster period until it shall be
determined by any interim Executive Committee acting under this section that it
shall be to the advantage of the Company to resume the conduct and management of
its affairs and business under all of the other provisions of these By-Laws.
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<PAGE>
Section 2. Trust Committee
(A) The Trust Committee shall be composed of not more than thirteen
members who shall be selected by the Board of Directors, a majority of whom
shall be members of the Board of Directors and who shall hold office during the
pleasure of the Board.
(B) The Trust Committee shall have general supervision over the Trust
Department and the investment of trust funds, in all matters, however, being
subject to the approval of the Board of Directors.
(C) The Trust Committee shall meet at the principal office of the
Company or elsewhere in its discretion at such times to be determined by a
majority of its members or at the call of its chairman. A majority of its
members shall be necessary to constitute a quorum for the transaction of
business.
(D) Minutes of each meeting of the Trust Committee shall be
kept and promptly submitted to the Board of Directors.
(E) The Trust Committee shall have the power to appoint Committees
and/or designate officers or employees of the Company to whom supervision over
the investment of trust funds may be delegated when the Trust Committee is not
in session.
Section 3. Audit Committee
(A) The Audit Committee shall be composed of five members who shall
be selected by the Board of Directors from its own members, none of whom shall
be an officer of the Company, and shall hold office at the pleasure of the
Board.
(B) The Audit Committee shall have general supervision over the Audit
Division in all matters however subject to the approval of the Board of
Directors; it shall consider all matters brought to its attention by the officer
in charge of the Audit Division, review all reports of examination of the
Company made by any governmental agency or such independent auditor employed for
that purpose, and make such recommendations to the Board of Directors with
respect thereto or with respect to any other matters pertaining to auditing the
Company as it shall deem desirable.
(C) The Audit Committee shall meet whenever and wherever the majority
of its members shall deem it to be proper for the transaction of its business,
and a majority of its Committee shall constitute a quorum.
4
<PAGE>
Section 4. Compensation Committee
(A) The Compensation Committee shall be composed of not more than
five (5) members who shall be selected by the Board of Directors from its own
members who are not officers of the Company and who shall hold office during the
pleasure of the Board.
(B) The Compensation Committee shall in general advise upon all
matters of policy concerning the Company brought to its attention by the
management and from time to time review the management of the Company, major
organizational matters, including salaries and employee benefits and
specifically shall administer the Executive Incentive Compensation Plan.
(C) Meetings of the Compensation Committee may be called at any time
by the Chairman of the Compensation Committee, the Chairman of the Board of
Directors, or the President of the Company.
Section 5. Associate Directors
(A) Any person who has served as a director may be elected by the
Board of Directors as an associate director, to serve during the pleasure of the
Board.
(B) An associate director shall be entitled to attend all directors
meetings and participate in the discussion of all matters brought to the Board,
with the exception that he would have no right to vote. An associate director
will be eligible for appointment to Committees of the Company, with the
exception of the Executive Committee, Audit Committee and Compensation
Committee, which must be comprised solely of active directors.
Section 6. Absence or Disqualification of Any Member of a Committee
(A) In the absence or disqualification of any member of any Committee
created under Article III of the By-Laws of this Company, the member or members
thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not
he or they constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the
Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of any such absence or
disqualified member.
ARTICLE IV
OFFICERS
Section 1. The Chairman of the Board of Directors shall preside at all
meetings of the Board and shall have such further authority and powers and shall
perform such duties as the Board of Directors may from time to time confer and
direct. He shall also exercise such powers and
5
<PAGE>
perform such duties as may from time to time be agreed upon between himself and
the President of the Company.
Section 2. The Vice Chairman of the Board. The Vice Chairman of the Board
-------------------------------
of Directors shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors at which
the Chairman of the Board shall not be present and shall have such further
authority and powers and shall perform such duties as the Board of Directors or
the Chairman of the Board may from time to time confer and direct.
Section 3. The President shall have the powers and duties pertaining to
the office of the President conferred or imposed upon him by statute or assigned
to him by the Board of Directors in the absence of the Chairman of the Board the
President shall have the powers and duties of the Chairman of the Board.
Section 4. The Chairman of the Board of Directors or the President as
designated by the Board of Directors, shall carry into effect all legal
directions of the Executive Committee and of the Board of Directors, and shall
at all times exercise general supervision over the interest, affairs and
operations of the Company and perform all duties incident to his office.
Section 5. There may be one or more Vice Presidents, however denominated
by the Board of Directors, who may at any time perform all the duties of the
Chairman of the Board of Directors and/or the President and such other powers
and duties as may from time to time be assigned to them by the Board of
Directors, the Executive Committee, the Chairman of the Board or the President
and by the officer in charge of the department or division to which they are
assigned.
Section 6. The Secretary shall attend to the giving of notice of meetings
of the stockholders and the Board of Directors, as well as the Committees
thereof, to the keeping of accurate minutes of all such meetings and to
recording the same in the minute books of the Company. In addition to the other
notice requirements of these By-Laws and as may be practicable under the
circumstances, all such notices shall be in writing and mailed well in advance
of the scheduled date of any other meeting. He shall have custody of the
corporate seal and shall affix the same to any documents requiring such
corporate seal and to attest the same.
Section 7. The Treasurer shall have general supervision over all assets
and liabilities of the Company. He shall be custodian of and responsible for
all monies, funds and valuables of the Company and for the keeping of proper
records of the evidence of property or indebtedness and of all the transactions
of the Company. He shall have general supervision of the expenditures of the
Company and shall report to the Board of Directors at each regular meeting of
the condition of the Company, and perform such other duties as may be assigned
to him from time to time by the Board of Directors of the Executive Committee.
6
<PAGE>
Section 8. There may be a Controller who shall exercise general
supervision over the internal operations of the Company, including accounting,
and shall render to the Board of Directors at appropriate times a report
relating to the general condition and internal operations of the Company.
There may be one or more subordinate accounting or controller officers
however denominated, who may perform the duties of the Controller and such
duties as may be prescribed by the Controller.
Section 9. The officer designated by the Board of Directors to be in
charge of the Audit Division of the Company with such title as the Board of
Directors shall prescribe, shall report to and be directly responsible only to
the Board of Directors.
There shall be an Auditor and there may be one or more Audit Officers,
however denominated, who may perform all the duties of the Auditor and such
duties as may be prescribed by the officer in charge of the Audit Division.
Section 10. There may be one or more officers, subordinate in rank to all
Vice Presidents with such functional titles as shall be determined from time to
time by the Board of Directors, who shall ex officio hold the office Assistant
Secretary of this Company and who may perform such duties as may be prescribed
by the officer in charge of the department or division to whom they are
assigned.
Section 11. The powers and duties of all other officers of the Company
shall be those usually pertaining to their respective offices, subject to the
direction of the Board of Directors, the Executive Committee, Chairman of the
Board of Directors or the President and the officer in charge of the department
or division to which they are assigned.
ARTICLE V
STOCK AND STOCK CERTIFICATES
Section 1. Shares of stock shall be transferrable on the books of the
Company and a transfer book shall be kept in which all transfers of stock shall
be recorded.
Section 2. Certificate of stock shall bear the signature of the President
or any Vice President, however denominated by the Board of Directors and
countersigned by the Secretary or Treasurer or an Assistant Secretary, and the
seal of the corporation shall be engraved thereon. Each certificate shall recite
that the stock represented thereby is transferrable only upon the books of the
Company by the holder thereof or his attorney, upon surrender of the certificate
properly endorsed. Any certificate of stock surrendered to the Company shall be
cancelled at the time of
7
<PAGE>
transfer, and before a new certificate or certificates shall be issued in lieu
thereof. Duplicate certificates of stock shall be issued only upon giving such
security as may be satisfactory to the Board of Directors or the Executive
Committee.
Section 3. The Board of Directors of the Company is authorized to fix in
advance a record date for the determination of the stockholders entitled to
notice of, and to vote at, any meeting of stockholders and any adjournment
thereof, or entitled to receive payment of any dividend, or to any allotment or
rights, or to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or
exchange of capital stock, or in connection with obtaining the consent of
stockholders for any purpose, which record date shall not be more than 60 nor
less than 10 days proceeding the date of any meeting of stockholders or the date
for the payment of any dividend, or the date for the allotment of rights, or the
date when any change or conversion or exchange of capital stock shall go into
effect, or a date in connection with obtaining such consent.
ARTICLE VI
SEAL
Section 1. The corporate seal of the Company shall be in the following
form:
Between two concentric circles the words
"Wilmington Trust Company" within the inner
circle the words "Wilmington, Delaware."
ARTICLE VII
FISCAL YEAR
Section 1. The fiscal year of the Company shall be the calendar year.
ARTICLE VIII
EXECUTION OF INSTRUMENTS OF THE COMPANY
Section 1. The Chairman of the Board, the President or any Vice President,
however denominated by the Board of Directors, shall have full power and
authority to enter into, make, sign, execute, acknowledge and/or deliver and the
Secretary or any Assistant Secretary shall have full power and authority to
attest and affix the corporate seal of the Company to any and all deeds,
conveyances, assignments, releases, contracts, agreements, bonds, notes,
mortgages and all other instruments incident to the business of this Company or
in acting as executor, administrator, guardian, trustee, agent or in any other
fiduciary or representative capacity by any and every
8
<PAGE>
method of appointment or by whatever person, corporation, court officer or
authority in the State of Delaware, or elsewhere, without any specific
authority, ratification, approval or confirmation by the Board of Directors or
the Executive Committee, and any and all such instruments shall have the same
force and validity as though expressly authorized by the Board of Directors
and/or the Executive Committee.
ARTICLE IX
COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS AND MEMBERS OF COMMITTEES
Section 1. Directors and associate directors of the Company, other than
salaried officers of the Company, shall be paid such reasonable honoraria or
fees for attending meetings of the Board of Directors as the Board of Directors
may from time to time determine. Directors and associate directors who serve as
members of committees, other than salaried employees of the Company, shall be
paid such reasonable honoraria or fees for services as members of committees as
the Board of Directors shall from time to time determine and directors and
associate directors may be employed by the Company for such special services as
the Board of Directors may from time to time determine and shall be paid for
such special services so performed reasonable compensation as may be determined
by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE X
INDEMNIFICATION
Section 1. (A) The Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless, to the
fullest extent permitted by applicable law as it presently exists or may
hereafter be amended, any person who was or is made or is threatened to be made
a party or is otherwise involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether
civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a "proceeding") by reason of
the fact that he, or a person for whom he is the legal representative, is or was
a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or is or was serving
at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee, fiduciary or
agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust,
enterprise or non-profit entity, including service with respect to employee
benefit plans, against all liability and loss suffered and expenses reasonably
incurred by such person. The Corporation shall indemnify a person in connection
with a proceeding initiated by such person only if the proceeding was authorized
by the Board of Directors of the Corporation.
(B) The Corporation shall pay the expenses incurred in defending any
proceeding in advance of its final disposition, provided, however, that the
-------- -------
payment of expenses incurred by a Director officer in his capacity as a Director
or officer in advance of the final disposition of the proceeding shall be made
only upon receipt of an undertaking by the Director
9
<PAGE>
or officer to repay all amounts advanced if it should be ultimately determined
that the Director or officer is not entitled to be indemnified under this
Article or otherwise.
(C) If a claim for indemnification or payment of expenses, under this
Article X is not paid in full within ninety days after a written claim therefor
has been received by the Corporation the claimant may file suit to recover the
unpaid amount of such claim and, if successful in whole or in part, shall be
entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting such claim. In any such action
the Corporation shall have the burden of proving that the claimant was not
entitled to the requested indemnification of payment of expenses under
applicable law.
(D) The rights conferred on any person by this Article X shall not be
exclusive of any other rights which such person may have or hereafter acquire
under any statute, provision of the Charter or Act of Incorporation, these By-
Laws, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested Directors or otherwise.
(E) Any repeal or modification of the foregoing provisions of this
Article X shall not adversely affect any right or protection hereunder of any
person in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such
repeal or modification.
ARTICLE XI
AMENDMENTS TO THE BY-LAWS
Section 1. These By-Laws may be altered, amended or repealed, in whole or
in part, and any new By-Law or By-Laws adopted at any regular or special meeting
of the Board of Directors by a vote of the majority of all the members of the
Board of Directors then in office.
10
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT C
SECTION 321(b) CONSENT
Pursuant to Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended,
Wilmington Trust Company hereby consents that reports of examinations by
Federal, State, Territorial or District authorities may be furnished by such
authorities to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon requests therefor.
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
Dated: March 13, 1998 By: /s/ Norma P. Closs
--------------------
Name: Norma P. Closs
Title: Vice President
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT D
NOTICE
This form is intended to assist state nonmember banks and savings banks with
state publication requirements. It has not been approved by any state banking
authorities. Refer to your appropriate state banking authorities for your state
publication requirements.
R E P O R T O F C O N D I T I O N
Consolidating domestic subsidiaries of the
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY of WILMINGTON
- ---------------------------------------- ----------------------------------
Name of Bank City
in the State of DELAWARE , at the close of business on December 31, 1997.
----------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ASSETS
Thousands of dollars
<S> <C>
Cash and balances due from depository institutions:
Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coins................. 236,646
Interest-bearing balances........................................... 0
Held-to-maturity securities.............................................. 331,880
Available-for-sale securities............................................ 1,258,661
Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell... 91,500
Loans and lease financing receivables:
Loans and leases, net of unearned income........... 3,822,320
LESS: Allowance for loan and lease losses......... 59,373
LESS: Allocated transfer risk reserve............. 0
Loans and leases, net of unearned income, allowance, and reserve.... 3,762,947
Assets held in trading accounts.......................................... 0
Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases)................. 129,740
Other real estate owned.................................................. 2,106
Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies...... 22
Customers' liability to this bank on acceptances outstanding............. 0
Intangible assets........................................................ 4,905
Other assets............................................................. 100,799
Total assets............................................................. 5,919,206
</TABLE>
CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
LIABILITIES
<S> <C>
Deposits:
In domestic offices................................................................ 4,034,633
Noninterest-bearing.......... 839,928
Interest-bearing............. 3,194,705
Federal funds purchased and Securities sold under agreements to repurchase......... 575,827
Demand notes issued to the U.S. Treasury........................................... 61,290
Trading liabilities (from Schedule RC-D)........................................... 0
Other borrowed money:.............................................................. ///////
With original maturity of one year or less.................................... 673,000
With original maturity of more than one year.................................. 43,000
Bank's liability on acceptances executed and outstanding........................... 0
Subordinated notes and debentures.................................................. 0
Other liabilities (from Schedule RC-G)............................................. 76,458
Total liabilities.................................................................. 5,464,208
<CAPTION>
EQUITY CAPITAL
<S>................................................................................ <C>
Perpetual preferred stock and related surplus...................................... 0
Common Stock....................................................................... 500
Surplus (exclude all surplus related to preferred stock)........................... 62,118
Undivided profits and capital reserves............................................. 385,018
Net unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities............. 7,362
Total equity capital............................................................... 454,998
Total liabilities, limited-life preferred stock, and equity capital................ 5,919,206
</TABLE>
2
