S-3ASR
Table of Contents

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 23, 2018

Registration No. 333-            

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

CONN’S, INC.*

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   06-1672840
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  (I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)

2445 Technology Forest Blvd., Suite 800

The Woodlands, Texas 77381

(936) 230-5899

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

 

 

Mark L. Prior

Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

2445 Technology Forest Blvd., Suite 800

The Woodlands, Texas 77381

(936) 230-5899

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

 

Copies to:

Kevin P. Lewis

Sidley Austin LLP

1000 Louisiana Street, Suite 6000

Houston, Texas 77002

(713) 495-4500

 

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effective date of this Registration Statement.

If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box:  ☐

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box:  ☒

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 this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box.  ☒

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box.  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer      Accelerated filer  
Non-accelerated filer      Smaller reporting company  
     Emerging growth company  

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐

 

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 

Title of Each Class of
Securities to be Registered
  Amount
to be
Registered
  Proposed
Maximum
Offering Price
per Share
  Proposed
Maximum
Aggregate
Offering Price
  Amount of
Registration Fee(1)

Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (2)

               

Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (2)

               

Debt Securities (2)

               

Warrants (2)

               

Rights (2)

               

Stock Purchase Contracts (2)

               

Depositary Shares (2)

               

Units (2)

               

Guarantees of Debt Securities (2)

               

 

 

(1)

In accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r) under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”), the registrants are deferring payment of the registration fee for all securities that may be offered by the registrants. As permitted by Rule 415(a)(6) under the Securities Act, this Registration Statement includes $500,000,000 of securities that were previously registered, but were not sold (collectively, the “Unsold Securities”), under the registrants’ Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-211024), as amended (the “Prior Registration Statement”). Filing fees totaling $38,561 were previously paid in connection with the Prior Registration Statement, of which $38,561 is attributable to the Unsold Securities and will continue to be applied to the Unsold Securities pursuant to Rule 415(a)(6) under the Securities Act.

(2)

An indeterminate aggregate amount or number of securities of each class is being registered hereunder, as may from time to time be offered, at indeterminate prices. Securities registered hereunder may be sold separately, together or as units with other securities registered hereunder. The indeterminate aggregate amount or number also includes such securities as may, from time to time, be issued upon conversion or exchange of securities registered hereunder, to the extent any such securities are, by their terms, convertible into or exchangeable for other securities.

 

 

 


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* TABLE OF ADDITIONAL REGISTRANTS

 

Exact Name of Registrant Guarantor as specified in its charter(1)

   State or Other Jurisdiction
of Incorporation or
Organization
   I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number
 

CAI Credit Insurance Agency, Inc.

   Louisiana      76-0575846  

CAI Holding Co.

   Delaware      76-0612675  

Conn Appliances, Inc.

   Texas      74-1290706  

Conn Credit Corporation, Inc.

   Texas      74-1589273  

Conn Credit I, LP

   Texas      26-3080545  

Conn Lending, LLC

   Delaware      26-3049857  

 

(1)

The address of the principal executive offices for each of the additional registrants is c/o Conn’s, Inc., 2445 Technology Forest Boulevard, Suite 800, The Woodlands, Texas 77381, Telephone: (936) 230-5899. The name, address, including zip code, and telephone number of the agent for service for each of the additional registrants is Mark L. Prior, Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of Conn’s, Inc., 2445 Technology Forest Boulevard, Suite 800, The Woodlands, Texas 77381, Telephone: (936) 230-5899.

 


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PROSPECTUS

CONN’S, INC.

Common Stock

Preferred Stock

Debt Securities

Warrants

Rights

Stock Purchase Contracts

Depositary Shares

Units

Guarantees of Debt Securities

 

 

By this prospectus, we and selling security holders identified by us may from time to time offer and sell in one or more offerings any combination of the following securities:

 

   

shares of common stock;

 

   

shares of preferred stock;

 

   

debt securities;

 

   

warrants;

 

   

rights;

 

   

stock purchase contracts;

 

   

depositary shares;

 

   

units; and

 

   

guarantees of debt securities.

This prospectus provides a general description of the securities we and selling security holders identified by us may offer. Supplements to this prospectus will provide the specific terms of the securities, including the offering prices and the net proceeds that we expect to receive, as well as the identities of and other information regarding the selling security holders, if applicable. You should carefully read this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement and any information under the headings “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation by Reference” before you invest in any of these securities. This prospectus may not be used to sell securities until it is accompanied by a prospectus supplement that describes those securities.

We and selling security holders identified by us may sell these securities to or through underwriters, dealers, to other purchasers and through agents. Supplements to this prospectus will specify the names of any underwriters or agents.

Our common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “CONN.”

 

 

Investing in our securities involves various risks. You should carefully review the risks and uncertainties described under the heading “Risk Factors” contained on page 4 herein, in the applicable prospectus supplement and in any free writing prospectuses we have authorized for use in connection with a specific offering, and under similar headings in the documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus or the applicable prospectus supplement, before deciding to invest in our securities.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

The date of this prospectus is November 23, 2018


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

     1  

CONN’S, INC

     3  

RISK FACTORS

     4  

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

     5  

USE OF PROCEEDS

     6  

THE SECURITIES WE MAY OFFER

     7  

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

     8  

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES AND GUARANTEES OF DEBT SECURITIES

     13  

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

     18  

DESCRIPTION OF RIGHTS

     20  

DESCRIPTION OF STOCK PURCHASE CONTRACTS

     21  

DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES

     22  

DESCRIPTION OF UNITS

     23  

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

     24  

SELLING SECURITY HOLDERS

     26  

LEGAL MATTERS

     27  

EXPERTS

     27  

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

     27  

INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

     28  


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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC” or the “Commission”), using a “shelf” registration process pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). Under this shelf registration process, we and selling security holders identified by us may from time to time offer and sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus in connection with one or more offerings from time to time.

This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities covered by this prospectus, which is not intended to be a complete description of each security. Each time we or selling security holders identified by us offer to sell securities covered by this prospectus, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering, about the securities offered by us or such selling security holders in that offering and about us or such selling security holders, as applicable. We may also authorize one or more free writing prospectuses to be provided to you that may contain material information relating to these offerings. Each such prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you may also add, update, change or supersede any of the information contained in this prospectus or in the documents that we have incorporated by reference into this prospectus. To the extent there is a conflict between the information contained in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus we have authorized for use in connection with a specific offering, you should rely on the information in the relevant prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus we have authorized for use in connection with a specific offering, provided, that, if any statement in one of these documents is inconsistent with a statement in another document having a later date — for example, a document incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus we have authorized for use in connection with a specific offering — the statement in the document having the later date modifies or supersedes the earlier statement. This prospectus does not contain all of the information included in the registration statement of which it is a part. The registration statement filed with the SEC includes exhibits that provide more details about the matters discussed in this prospectus. You should carefully read this prospectus, the related exhibits filed with the SEC and any prospectus supplement, together with the additional information described below under the headings “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Documents by Reference.”

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, any supplement to this prospectus and any free writing prospectus we have authorized for use in connection with a specific offering. No dealer, sales person or other person is authorized to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. This prospectus, any prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectus we have authorized for use in connection with a specific offering do not constitute an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

This prospectus contains summaries of certain provisions contained in some of the documents described herein, but reference is made to the actual documents for complete information. All of the summaries are qualified in their entirety by reference to the actual documents. Copies of some of the documents referred to herein have been filed, will be filed or will be incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and you may obtain copies of those documents as described below under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

You should not assume that the information in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement or any free writing prospectus we have authorized for use in connection with a specific offering is accurate as of any date other than the date of the document containing the information, regardless of the date of delivery of such document or sale of any subject security. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since then.

This prospectus may not be used to sell securities unless it is accompanied by a prospectus supplement that describes those securities.

 

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Unless otherwise indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, all references in this prospectus to “Conn’s,” “CONN,” “the Company,” “we,” “our,” “us” or similar references mean Conn’s, Inc., its consolidated bankruptcy-remote variable-interest entities and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. In this prospectus, we sometimes refer to our common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants, rights, stock purchase contracts, depositary shares, units and guarantees of debt securities collectively as the “securities.”

 

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CONN’S, INC.

Overview

Conn’s is a leading specialty retailer that offers a broad selection of quality, branded durable consumer goods and related services in addition to proprietary credit solutions for its core credit-constrained consumers. We operate an integrated and scalable business through our retail stores and website. Our complementary product offerings include furniture and mattresses, home appliances, consumer electronics and home office products from leading global brands across a wide range of price points. Our credit offering provides financing solutions to a large, under-served population of credit-constrained consumers who typically have limited credit alternatives.

We operate two reportable segments: retail and credit. Our retail stores bear the “Conn’s HomePlus” name with all of our stores providing the same products and services to a common customer group. Our stores follow the same procedures and methods in managing their operations. Our retail business and credit business are operated independently from each other. The credit segment is dedicated to providing short- and medium-term financing to our retail customers. The retail segment is not involved in credit approval decisions. Our management evaluates performance and allocates resources based on the operating results of the retail and credit segments. Our operating segments provide customers the opportunity to comparison shop across brands with confidence in our competitive prices as well as affordable monthly payment options, next day delivery and installation in the majority of our markets and product repair service. We believe our large, attractively merchandised retail stores and credit solutions offer a distinctive value proposition compared to other retailers that target our core customer demographic. For additional discussion of our business, please read the documents listed under “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Documents by Reference.”

Our principal executive offices are located at 2445 Technology Forest Blvd., Suite 800, The Woodlands, Texas 77381. Our telephone number is (936) 230-5899, and our company website is www.conns.com. Information on our website is not incorporated into this prospectus and does not constitute a part of this prospectus.

 

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RISK FACTORS

An investment in our securities involves various risks. When considering an investment in any of the securities, you should consider carefully all of the risk factors described in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 31, 2018 and in our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended July 31, 2018 and similar information in any annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly report on Form 10-Q or other document incorporated by reference into this prospectus or filed by us with the SEC after the date of this prospectus. If applicable, we will include in any prospectus supplement a description of those significant factors that could make the offering described in the prospectus supplement speculative or risky. The risks described are not the only risks facing our company, but are those that we currently consider to be material. There may be other unknown or unpredictable economic, business, competitive, regulatory or other factors that could have material adverse effects on our future results. Past financial performance may not be a reliable indicator of future performance, and historical trends should not be used to anticipate results or trends in future periods. If any of these risks actually occurs, our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flow could be seriously harmed. This could cause the trading price of our securities to decline, resulting in a loss of all or part of your investment. Please also carefully read the section below entitled “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”

 

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SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated by reference herein, contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including but not limited to, the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, that involve risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements include information concerning our future financial performance, business strategy, plans, goals and objectives. Statements containing the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “project,” “should,” “predict,” “will,” “potential,” or the negative of such terms or other similar expressions are generally forward-looking in nature and not historical facts. Such forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations. We can give no assurance that such statements will prove to be correct, and actual results may differ materially. A wide variety of potential risks, uncertainties, and other factors could materially affect our ability to achieve the results either expressed or implied by our forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to: general economic conditions impacting our customers or potential customers; our ability to execute periodic securitizations of future originated customer loans on favorable terms; our ability to continue existing customer financing programs or to offer new customer financing programs; changes in the delinquency status of our credit portfolio; unfavorable developments in ongoing litigation; increased regulatory oversight; higher than anticipated net charge-offs in the credit portfolio; the success of our planned opening of new stores; technological and market developments and sales trends for our major product offerings; our ability to manage effectively the selection of our major product offerings; our ability to protect against cyber-attacks or data security breaches and to protect the integrity and security of individually identifiable data of our customers and employees; our ability to fund our operations, capital expenditures, debt repayment and expansion from cash flows from operations, borrowings from our revolving credit facility, and proceeds from accessing debt or equity markets; and other risks.

For a discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties, please refer to the section entitled “Risk Factors” in this prospectus and similar sections included in the applicable prospectus supplement and any documents incorporated by reference herein. If one or more of these or other risks or uncertainties materialize (or the consequences of such a development changes), or should our underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual outcomes may vary materially from those reflected in our forward-looking statements.

You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this prospectus or the applicable prospectus supplement or other document incorporated by reference herein. We disclaim any intention or obligation to update publicly or revise such statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as otherwise required by applicable law. All forward-looking statements attributable to us, or to persons acting on our behalf, are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

Except as described in any applicable prospectus supplement or in any free writing prospectuses we have authorized for use in connection with a specific offering, we intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of securities by us under this prospectus for general corporate purposes, which may include general and administrative expenses, capital expenses, repayment or refinancing of debt, acquisitions of, or investment in, properties, companies, subsidiaries or assets that complement our business, or repurchasing or redeeming our securities. We will set forth in a prospectus supplement relating to a specific offering undertaken by us the intended use for the net proceeds received from the sale of securities in that offering. Pending the application of such net proceeds, we may invest such net proceeds in marketable securities and/or short-term investment grade and U.S. government securities.

Unless otherwise set forth in a prospectus supplement, we will not receive any proceeds in the event that securities are sold by a selling security holder.

 

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THE SECURITIES WE MAY OFFER

The descriptions of the securities contained in this prospectus, together with the applicable prospectus supplements and any free writing prospectus we have authorized for use in connection with a specific offering, summarize the material terms and provisions of the various types of securities that may be offered. The applicable prospectus supplement relating to any securities will describe the particular terms of the securities offered by that prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectus we have authorized for use in connection with a specific offering. If indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectus we have authorized for use in connection with a specific offering, the terms of the securities may differ from the terms summarized below. The prospectus supplement will also include information, where applicable, about material U.S. federal income tax considerations relating to the securities, and the securities exchange, if any, on which the securities are expected to be listed. The descriptions herein and in the applicable prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectus we have authorized for use in connection with a specific offering do not contain all of the information that you may find useful or that may be important to you. You should refer to the provisions of the actual documents whose terms are summarized herein and in the applicable prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectus we have authorized for use in connection with a specific offering (including, in each case, documents incorporated by reference herein or therein), because those documents, and not the summaries, define your rights as holders of the relevant securities. For more information, please review the forms of these documents, which are or will be filed with the SEC and will be available as described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

We or selling security holders identified by us may sell, from time to time, in one or more offerings:

 

   

common stock;

 

   

preferred stock;

 

   

debt securities;

 

   

warrants to purchase any of the securities listed above;

 

   

rights to purchase any of the securities listed above;

 

   

stock purchase contracts;

 

   

depositary shares;

 

   

units that include any combination of the securities listed above; and

 

   

guarantees of our debt securities.

If debt securities are issued at a discount from their original stated principal amount, then, for purposes of calculating the total dollar amount of all securities issued under this prospectus, we will treat the initial offering price of the debt securities as the total original principal amount of the debt securities.

This prospectus may not be used to consummate a sale of securities unless it is accompanied by a prospectus supplement.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

The following description of our common stock and preferred stock, together with the additional information included in any applicable prospectus supplements and any free writing prospectuses we have authorized for use in connection with a specific offering, summarizes the material terms and provisions of the common stock and preferred stock that may be offered under this prospectus. For the complete terms of our common stock and preferred stock, please refer to our certificate of incorporation and bylaws, which are incorporated by reference into the registration statement, of which this prospectus forms a part. The terms of our common stock and preferred stock may also be affected by Delaware law.

Authorized Capital Stock

Our authorized capital stock consists of 100,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.01 par value per share, and 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share. As of November 19, 2018, we had 31,711,984 shares of common stock outstanding and no shares of preferred stock outstanding.

Common Stock

Subject to the provisions of our certificate of incorporation and limitations prescribed by law or the rules of any stock exchange or automated quotation system on which our securities may be listed or traded, we may issue our common stock from time to time upon such terms and for such consideration as may be determined by our board of directors. Generally, the issuance of common stock, up to the aggregate amounts authorized by our certificate of incorporation and any limitations prescribed by law or the rules of any stock exchange or automated quotation system on which our securities may be listed or traded, will not require approval of our stockholders. The shares of common stock have no preemptive rights to participate in future stock offerings.

Voting

For all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders, the holders of our common stock, subject to any rights that may be granted to any preferred stockholders, elect all directors and are entitled to one vote for each share registered in the stockholder’s name on all other matters coming before a stockholders’ meeting. Our common stock does not have cumulative voting rights. Accordingly, holders of a majority of the shares of common stock entitled to vote in any uncontested election of directors may elect all of the directors standing for election. In a contested election, directors are elected by a plurality of the shares voting in person or by proxy. A plurality means receiving the largest number of votes, regardless of whether that is a majority.

Dividends

Holders of common stock are entitled to share ratably in any dividends declared by our board of directors, subject to any preferential dividend rights of any outstanding preferred stock. Dividends consisting of shares of common stock may be paid to holders of shares of common stock. It is our current policy to retain future earnings to finance operations and expansion. Accordingly, we have not, and do not contemplate, declaring or paying cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Any future payment of dividends will be at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend upon our results of operations, financial condition, cash requirements and other factors deemed relevant by our board of directors, including the terms of our indebtedness. In addition, provisions in agreements governing our long-term indebtedness restrict the amount of dividends that we may pay to our stockholders. For further information on how we are restricted from paying dividends, see “Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Liquidity and Capital Resources” of our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended July 31, 2018.

Liquidation and Dissolution

If we are liquidated or dissolve, the holders of our common stock will be entitled to share ratably in all the assets that remain after we pay our liabilities, subject to the prior rights of any outstanding preferred stock.

 

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Other Rights and Restrictions

Holders of our common stock do not have preemptive rights, are not entitled to the benefits of any sinking fund, and have no right to convert their common stock into any other securities. Our common stock is not subject to redemption by us. Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws do not restrict the ability of a holder of common stock to transfer the stockholder’s shares of common stock. When we issue shares of common stock under this prospectus, the shares will be fully paid and non-assessable and will not have, or be subject to, any preemptive or similar rights.

The rights, powers, preferences and privileges of holders of our common stock are subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of the holders of any series of our preferred stock.

Listing

Our common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “CONN.”

Transfer Agent and Registrar

The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Computershare Trust Company, Inc.

Anti-Takeover Provisions of Our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws and the Delaware General Corporation Laws

Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws and the Delaware General Corporation Laws (the “DGCL”) contain provisions that could have the effect of delaying, deferring or discouraging another party from acquiring control of us. These provisions, which are summarized below, are designed to, among other things, discourage coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids and encourage persons seeking to acquire control of us to first negotiate with our board of directors in hopes of improving the terms of any such takeover bids.

Authorized but Unissued Capital Stock

We currently have 100,000,000 authorized shares of common stock and 1,000,000 authorized shares of preferred stock. Due to our authorized but unissued common stock and preferred stock, our board of directors may be able to discourage or make any attempt to obtain control of us more difficult. If, in the exercise of its fiduciary obligations, our board of directors determines that a takeover proposal is not in our best interest, the board of directors could issue a portion of these shares without stockholder approval, subject to any limitations prescribed by law or the rules of any stock exchange or automated quotation or system on which our securities may be listed or traded. These shares could be issued in one or more transactions that might prevent or make the completion of a proposed change of control transaction more difficult or costly by:

 

   

diluting the voting or other rights of the proposed acquiror or insurgent stockholder group;

 

   

creating a substantial voting block in institutional or other hands that might undertake to support the position of the incumbent board of directors; or

 

   

effecting an acquisition that might complicate or preclude the takeover.

In this regard, our certificate of incorporation grants our board of directors broad power to establish the rights, preferences and limitations of the authorized and unissued shares of our preferred stock. For example, our board of directors could establish one or more series of preferred stock that entitle holders to:

 

   

vote separately as a class on any proposed merger or consolidation;

 

   

cast a proportionately larger vote together with our common stock on any proposed transaction or other voting matter;

 

   

elect directors having terms of office or voting rights greater than those of our other directors;

 

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convert preferred stock into a greater number of shares of our common stock or other securities;

 

   

demand redemption at a specified price under prescribed circumstances related to a change of control of us; or

 

   

exercise other rights designed to impede a takeover.

Stockholder Action, Special Meeting of Stockholders, Advance Notice Requirements for Stockholder Proposals and Director Nominations

Our bylaws establish an advance notice procedure for stockholders to make nominations of candidates for election as directors and to bring other business before an annual meeting of our stockholders. For notice of stockholder nominations to be timely, the notice must be received by our secretary not later than the close of business on the 90th calendar day, nor earlier than the close of business on the 120th calendar day, prior to the first anniversary of the date of the preceding year’s proxy statement in connection with the preceding year’s annual meeting. In addition to these procedures, a stockholder’s notice proposing to nominate a person for election as a director or relating to the conduct of business other than the nomination of directors must contain certain specified information. Otherwise, the chairman of a meeting may determine that an individual was not nominated or the other business was not properly brought before the meeting.

No Stockholder Action by Written Consent; Special Meetings.

Any action required or permitted to be taken by our stockholders must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of stockholders and may not be effected by written consent without a meeting unless approved in advance by our board of directors. Special meetings of our stockholders for any purpose or purposes may be called only by our chairman of the board, our president or by a majority of our board of directors.

Delaware Anti-Takeover Provisions

We are subject to Section 203 of the DGCL. In general, the statute prohibits a publicly-held Delaware corporation from engaging in any “business combination” with any person deemed to be an “interested stockholder” for a period of three years following the date that the stockholder became an interested stockholder unless:

 

   

prior to the date that the person became an interested stockholder, the board of directors of the corporation approved either the business combination or the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder;

 

   

upon consummation of the transaction that resulted in the stockholder 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 those shares owned by persons who are directors and also officers and by employee stock plans in which employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer; or

 

   

on or subsequent to the date that the person became an interested stockholder, the business combination is approved by the board of directors and authorized at an annual or special meeting of stockholders by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the outstanding voting stock not held by the interested stockholder.

Section 203 of the DGCL defines “business combination” to include:

 

   

any merger or consolidation involving the corporation and the interested stockholder;

 

   

any sale, lease, transfer, pledge, or other disposition involving the interested stockholder of 10% or more of the assets of the corporation;

 

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subject to certain exceptions, any transaction that results in the issuance or transfer by the corporation of any stock of the corporation to the interested stockholder;

 

   

any transaction involving the corporation which directly or indirectly materially increases the proportionate share of stock owned by the interested stockholder; or

 

   

the receipt by the interested stockholder of the benefit of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges or other financial benefits provided by or through the corporation.

In general, Section 203 of the DGCL defines an interested stockholder as any person beneficially owning 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation and any person controlling, controlled by or under common control with that person.

Section 203 of the DGCL may make it more difficult for an interested stockholder to effect various business combinations with us for a three-year period.

The above description of Section 203 of the DGCL is intended as a summary only and is qualified in its entirety by reference to Section 203 of the DGCL. Additionally, in June of 2018, we granted a waiver of the applicability of the provisions of Section 203 to one of our largest shareholders, Anchorage Capital Group, LLC (“Anchorage”), such that, subject to certain conditions, Anchorage may increase its position in our common stock up to 20% of the outstanding shares without being subject to Section 203’s restrictions on business combinations. The foregoing description of the waiver granted to Anchorage is intended as a summary only and is qualified in its entirety by reference to that certain letter agreement, dated as of June 6, 2018 and filed as Exhibit 10.2 to our Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended July 31, 2018, filed with the SEC on September 4, 2018, which is incorporated herein by reference.

Liability and Indemnification of Directors

As permitted by the DGCL, we have adopted provisions in our certificate of incorporation and bylaws that provide for the indemnification of our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law. These provisions, among other things, indemnify each of our directors and officers for certain expenses, including judgments, fines, and amounts paid in settling or otherwise disposing of actions or threatened actions, incurred by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of Conn’s or of any other business organization which such person served at the request of Conn’s.

In addition, we have entered into indemnification agreements with each of our directors pursuant to which we will indemnify them against judgments, claims, damages, losses, and expenses incurred as a result of the fact that any director, in his capacity as a director, is made or threatened to be made a party to any suit or proceeding. The indemnification agreements also provide for the advancement of certain expenses (such as attorney’s fees, witness fees, damages, judgments, fines and settlement costs) to our directors in connection with any such suit or proceeding.

We maintain a directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policy to insure our directors and officers against certain losses resulting from acts committed by them in their capacities as our directors and officers, including liabilities arising under the Securities Act.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling the Company pursuant to the foregoing provisions, the Company has been informed that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.

Preferred Stock

Our certificate of incorporation authorizes our board to issue up to 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock in such series and with such preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to

 

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dividends, qualifications, or other provisions as may be fixed by the board. While providing desired flexibility in connection with possible acquisitions and other corporate purposes, the issuance of preferred stock may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of the company without further action by the stockholders. Shares of preferred stock may be convertible into common stock based on terms, conditions, rates and subject to such adjustments set by the board. The issuance of preferred stock with voting and conversion rights may also adversely affect the voting power of the holders of common stock, including the loss of voting control to others, and negatively affect any dividend payments or liquidation payments to holders of our common stock. No shares of preferred stock are currently outstanding.

If we decide to issue any preferred stock pursuant to this prospectus, we will describe in a prospectus supplement the terms of the preferred stock, including, if applicable, the following:

 

   

the title of the series and stated value;

 

   

the number of shares of the series of preferred stock offered, the liquidation preference per share, if applicable, and the offering price;

 

   

applicable dividend rate(s) or amount(s), period(s) and payment date(s) or method(s) of calculation thereof;

 

   

the date from which dividends on the preferred stock will accumulate, if applicable;

 

   

any procedures for auction and remarketing;

 

   

any provisions for a sinking fund;

 

   

any applicable provision for redemption and the price or prices, terms and conditions on which preferred stock may be redeemed;

 

   

any securities exchange listing;

 

   

any voting rights and powers;

 

   

whether interests in the preferred stock will be represented by depositary shares;

 

   

the terms and conditions, if applicable, of conversion into shares of our common stock, including the conversion price or rate or manner of calculation thereof;

 

   

a discussion of any material U.S. federal income tax considerations;

 

   

the relative ranking and preference as to dividend rights and rights upon our liquidation, dissolution or the winding up of our affairs;

 

   

any limitations on issuance of any series of preferred stock ranking senior to or on a parity with such series of preferred stock as to dividend rights and rights upon our liquidation, dissolution or the winding up of our affairs; and

 

   

any other specific terms, preferences, rights, limitations or restrictions of such series of preferred stock.

All shares of preferred stock offered will, when issued, be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES AND GUARANTEES OF DEBT SECURITIES

Senior notes will be issued under a senior indenture, and subordinated notes will be issued under a subordinated indenture. Each indenture for debt securities issued by us will be entered into between us and a trustee to be named in such indenture. We have filed forms of the senior indenture and the subordinated indenture as exhibits to the registration statement, of which this prospectus forms a part. We use the term “indentures” to refer to both the senior indenture and the subordinated indenture. The indentures will be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (the “Trust Indenture Act”). We use the term “trustee” to refer to either the trustee under the senior indenture or the trustee under the subordinated indenture, as applicable.

The following summaries of material provisions of senior notes, subordinated notes and the indentures are subject to, and qualified in their entirety by reference to, the provisions of the indenture applicable to a particular series of debt securities. Except as we may otherwise indicate, the terms of the senior indenture and the subordinated indenture are identical.

General

If we decide to issue any senior notes or subordinated notes pursuant to this prospectus, we will describe in a prospectus supplement the terms of the series of notes, including the following:

 

   

the name of the issuer of those debt securities and, if applicable, the name of the guarantor;

 

   

the title of the debt securities and whether the debt securities and, if applicable, the guarantee will be senior or subordinated;

 

   

the total principal amount of the debt securities;

 

   

whether those debt securities will be guaranteed;

 

   

any limit on the amount that may be issued;

 

   

whether or not we will issue the series of notes in global form, and, if so, who the depository will be;

 

   

the maturity date;

 

   

the annual interest rate, which may be fixed or variable, or the method for determining the rate and the date interest will begin to accrue, the dates interest will be payable and the regular record dates for interest payment dates or the method for determining such dates;

 

   

whether or not the notes will be secured or unsecured, and the terms of any secured debt;

 

   

whether or not the notes will be senior or subordinated;

 

   

the terms of the subordination of any series of subordinated debt;

 

   

the place where payments will be payable;

 

   

our right, if any, to defer payment of interest and the maximum length of any such deferral period;

 

   

the date, if any, after which, and the price at which, we may, at our option, redeem the series of notes pursuant to any optional redemption provisions;

 

   

the date, if any, on which, and the price at which we are obligated, pursuant to any mandatory sinking fund provisions or otherwise, to redeem, or at the holder’s option to purchase, the series of notes;

 

   

whether the indenture will restrict our ability to pay dividends, or will require us to maintain any asset ratios or reserves;

 

   

whether we will be restricted from incurring any additional indebtedness;

 

   

a discussion of any material or special U.S. federal income tax considerations;

 

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whether the debt securities will be convertible or exchangeable into other securities and, if so, the terms and conditions upon which the debt securities will be convertible or exchangeable;

 

   

the denominations in which we will issue the series of notes, if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof; and

 

   

any other specific terms, preferences, rights or limitations of, or restrictions on, the debt securities.

Guarantees of Debt Securities

If any debt securities are issued with guarantees, under each guarantee, the applicable guarantor will fully and unconditionally guarantee the due and punctual payment of the principal, interest (if any), premium (if any) and all other amounts due on the applicable debt securities and under the indenture when the same shall become due and payable, whether at maturity, pursuant to mandatory or optional redemption or repayments, by acceleration or otherwise, in each case after any applicable grace periods or notice requirements, according to the terms of the applicable debt securities.

The obligations of each guarantor under the guarantees will be full and unconditional, regardless of the enforceability of the applicable debt securities, and will not be discharged until all obligations under those debt securities and the applicable indenture are satisfied. Holders of the applicable debt securities may proceed directly against the guarantor under the applicable guarantee if an event of default affecting those debt securities occurs without first proceeding against the issuer. Other subsidiaries of the Company that are not guarantors are minor.

Consolidation, Merger or Sale

The indentures do not contain any covenant that restricts our ability to merge or consolidate, or sell, convey, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of our assets. However, any successor to or acquirer of such assets must assume all of our obligations under the indentures or the debt securities, as appropriate.

Events of Default Under the Indentures

The following are events of default under the indentures with respect to any series of debt securities that we may issue:

 

   

if we fail to pay interest when due and our failure continues for 30 days and the time for payment has not been extended or deferred;

 

   

if we fail to pay the principal, or premium, if any, when due and the time for payment has not been extended or delayed;

 

   

if we fail to observe or perform any other covenant contained in the notes or the indentures, other than a covenant specifically relating to another series of notes, and our failure continues for 30 days after we receive notice from the trustee or holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding notes of the applicable series; and

 

   

if we experience specified events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization.

If an event of default with respect to debt securities of any series occurs and is continuing, the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series, by notice to us in writing, and to the trustee if notice is given by such holders, may declare the unpaid principal of or premium, if any, on and accrued interest, if any, on the debt securities due and payable immediately.

The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of an affected series may waive any default or event of default with respect to the series and its consequences, except uncured defaults or events of default regarding payment of principal or premium, if any, or interest, if any, unless we have cured the default or event of default in accordance with the indenture. Any waiver shall cure the default or event of default.

 

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If an event of default under an indenture shall occur and be continuing, the trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under such indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders of the applicable series of debt securities, unless such holders have offered the trustee indemnity satisfactory to it. The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee, with respect to the notes of that series, provided that:

 

   

the direction so given by the holder is not in conflict with any law or the applicable indenture; and

 

   

subject to its duties under the Trust Indenture Act, the trustee need not take any action that might involve it in personal liability or might be unduly prejudicial to the holders not involved in the proceeding.

A holder of the debt securities of any series will only have the right to institute a proceeding under the indentures or to appoint a receiver or trustee, or to seek other remedies, if:

 

   

the holder has given written notice to the trustee of a continuing event of default with respect to that series;

 

   

the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series have made written request, and such holders have offered indemnity satisfactory to the trustee to institute the proceeding as trustee; and

 

   

the trustee does not institute the proceeding, and does not receive from the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series other conflicting directions within 60 days after the notice, request and offer.

These limitations do not apply to a suit instituted by a holder of debt securities if we default in the payment of the principal of, or the premium, if any, or interest on, the debt securities.

We will periodically file statements with the trustee regarding our compliance with specified covenants in the indentures.

Modification of Indenture; Waiver

We and the trustee may change an indenture without the consent of any holders with respect to specific matters, including:

 

   

to fix any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency in the indenture; or

 

   

to change anything that does not materially adversely affect the interests of any holder of notes of any series.

In addition, under the indentures, we and the trustee may change the rights of holders of a series of debt securities with the written consent of the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each series that is affected. However, we and the trustee may only make the following changes with the consent of each holder of any outstanding debt securities affected:

 

   

extending the fixed maturity of the series of debt securities;

 

   

reducing the principal amount, the rate of interest or any premium payable upon the redemption of any debt securities;

 

   

reducing the minimum percentage of notes, the holders of which are required to consent to any amendment; or

 

   

release any guarantor from any of its obligations under its guarantee or the indenture in respect of the series of debt securities.

 

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Discharge

Each indenture provides that we can elect, under specified circumstances, to be discharged from our obligations with respect to one or more series of debt securities, except for obligations to:

 

   

register the transfer or exchange of debt securities of the series;

 

   

replace stolen, lost or mutilated debt securities of the series;

 

   

pay principal and interest in respect of the debt securities of such series;

 

   

maintain paying agencies; and

 

   

hold monies for payment in trust.

In order to exercise our rights to be discharged, we must deposit with the trustee money or government obligations sufficient to pay all the principal of, premium, if any, on and interest, if any, on the debt securities of the series on the dates payments are due.

Form, Exchange and Transfer

We will issue the debt securities of each series only in fully registered form without coupons and, unless we otherwise specify in the applicable prospectus supplement, in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof. The indentures provide that we may issue notes of a series in temporary or permanent global form and as book-entry securities that will be deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York (“DTC”), or another depository named by us and identified in a prospectus supplement with respect to that series. See “Legal Ownership of Securities” for a further description of the terms relating to any book-entry securities.

At the option of the holder, subject to the terms of the indentures and the limitations applicable to global securities described in the applicable prospectus supplement, the holder of the debt securities of any series can exchange the debt securities for other debt securities of the same series, in any authorized denomination and of like tenor and aggregate principal amount.

Subject to the terms of the indentures and the limitations applicable to global securities set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, holders of the debt securities may present the debt securities for exchange or for registration of transfer, duly endorsed or with the form of transfer endorsed thereon duly executed if so required by us or the security registrar, at the office of the security registrar or at the office of any transfer agent designated by us for this purpose. Unless otherwise provided in the debt securities that the holder presents for transfer or exchange, we will not require any payment for any registration of transfer or exchange, but we may require payment of any taxes or other governmental charges.

We will name in the applicable prospectus supplement the security registrar, and any transfer agent in addition to the security registrar, that we initially designate for any debt securities. We may at any time designate additional transfer agents or rescind the designation of any transfer agent or approve a change in the office through which any transfer agent acts, except that we will be required to maintain a transfer agent in each place of payment for the notes of each series.

If we elect to redeem the debt securities of any series, we will not be required to:

 

   

reissue, register the transfer of, or exchange any notes of that series during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of mailing of a notice of redemption of any debt securities that may be selected for redemption and ending at the close of business on the day of the mailing; or

 

   

register the transfer of or exchange any notes so selected for redemption, in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any notes we are redeeming in part.

 

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Information Concerning the Trustee

The trustee, other than during the occurrence and continuance of an event of default under an indenture, undertakes to perform only those duties as are specifically set forth in the applicable indenture. Upon an event of default under an indenture, the trustee must use the same degree of care and skill as a prudent person would exercise or use in the conduct of his or her own affairs. The trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of the powers given to it by the indentures at the request of any holder of notes unless it is offered reasonable security and indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities that it might incur.

Payment and Paying Agents

Unless we otherwise indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will make payment of the interest on any debt securities on any interest payment date to the person in whose name the debt securities, or one or more predecessor securities, are registered at the close of business on the regular record date for the interest payment.

We will pay principal of and any premium and interest on the notes of a particular series at the office of the paying agents designated by us, except that unless we otherwise indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will make interest payments by check which we will mail to the holder. Unless we otherwise indicate in a prospectus supplement, we will designate the corporate trust office of the trustee in the city of New York as our sole paying agent for payments with respect to notes of each series. We will name in the applicable prospectus supplement any other paying agents that we initially designate for the notes of a particular series. We will maintain a paying agent in each place of payment for the notes of a particular series.

All money we pay to a paying agent or the trustee for the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any notes which remains unclaimed at the end of two years after such principal, premium or interest has become due and payable will be repaid to us, and the holder of the security thereafter may look only to us for payment thereof.

Governing Law

The indentures and the notes will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, except to the extent that the Trust Indenture Act is applicable.

Subordination of Subordinated Notes

The subordinated debt securities will be unsecured and will be subordinate and junior in priority of payment to certain of our other indebtedness to the extent described in a prospectus supplement. The subordinated indenture does not limit the amount of subordinated debt securities that we may issue. It also does not limit us from issuing any other secured or unsecured debt.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

General

We may issue warrants for the purchase of common stock, preferred stock or debt securities in one or more series. We may issue warrants independently or together with common stock, preferred stock and debt securities, and the warrants may be attached to or separate from these securities.

If we issue warrants, we may do so under a separate agreement with a warrant agent. We will indicate the name and address and other information regarding the warrant agent in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of warrants.

Terms

If we decide to issue warrants pursuant to this prospectus, we will specify in a prospectus supplement the terms of the series of warrants, including, if applicable, the following:

 

   

the offering price and aggregate number of warrants offered;

 

   

the currency for which the warrants may be purchased;

 

   

the designation and terms of the securities with which the warrants are issued and the number of warrants issued with each such security or each principal amount of such security;

 

   

the date on and after which the warrants and the related securities will be separately transferable;

 

   

in the case of warrants to purchase debt securities, the principal amount of debt securities purchasable upon exercise of one warrant and the price at, and currency in which, this principal amount of debt securities may be purchased upon such exercise;

 

   

in the case of warrants to purchase common stock, the number of shares of common stock purchasable upon exercise of one warrant and the price at which these shares may be purchased upon such exercise;

 

   

in the case of warrants to purchase preferred stock, the number of shares of preferred stock purchasable upon exercise of one warrant, the price at which these shares may be purchased upon such exercise and the name and material terms of the corresponding series of preferred stock;

 

   

the effect of any merger, consolidation, sale or other disposition of our business on the warrant agreement and the warrants;

 

   

the terms of any rights to redeem or call the warrants;

 

   

any provisions for changes to or adjustments in the exercise price or number of securities issuable upon exercise of the warrants;

 

   

the dates on which the right to exercise the warrants will commence and expire;

 

   

the manner in which the warrant agreement and warrants may be modified;

 

   

a discussion of any material U.S. federal income tax considerations of holding or exercising the warrants;

 

   

the terms of the securities issuable upon exercise of the warrants;

 

   

the procedures for exercising the warrants; and

 

   

any other specific terms, preferences, rights or limitations of or restrictions on the warrants.

Before exercising their warrants, holders of warrants will not have any of the rights of holders of the securities purchasable upon such exercise, including:

 

   

in the case of warrants to purchase debt securities, the right to receive payments of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, the debt securities purchasable upon exercise or to enforce covenants in the applicable indenture; or

 

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in the case of warrants to purchase common stock or preferred stock, the right to receive dividends, if any, or payments upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up or to exercise voting rights, if any.

Enforceability of Rights by Holders of Warrants

Any holder of a warrant may, without the consent of the related warrant agent or the holder of any other warrant, enforce by appropriate legal action its right to exercise, and receive the securities purchasable upon exercise of, its warrants.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF RIGHTS

General

We may issue rights to purchase common stock, preferred stock, warrants or debt securities. The rights may or may not be transferable by the persons purchasing or receiving the rights. In connection with any rights issuance, we may enter into a standby underwriting or other arrangement with one or more underwriters or other persons pursuant to which such underwriters or other persons would purchase any offered securities remaining unsubscribed for after such rights issuance. Rights may be issued independently or together with any of our common stock, preferred stock, warrants or debt securities offered by a prospectus supplement, and may be attached to or separate from those offered securities. Each series of rights will be issued under a separate rights agent or subscription agent agreement to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company, as rights agent or subscription agent, as applicable, all as further set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to the particular issue of rights. The rights agent or subscription agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the rights and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders of rights certificates or beneficial owners of rights. A copy of the form of rights certificate representing a series of rights, will be filed with the SEC in connection with the offering of a particular series of rights.

Terms

The prospectus supplement relating to a particular issue of rights to purchase our common stock, preferred stock, warrants or debt securities will describe the terms of those rights, which may include, without limitation, one or more of the following:

 

   

the date of determining the security holders entitled to the rights distribution;

 

   

the aggregate number of rights issued and the aggregate number of shares of common stock, aggregate number of shares of preferred stock, aggregate number of warrants or aggregate principal amount of debt securities purchasable upon exercise of the rights;

 

   

the exercise price;

 

   

the conditions to completion of the rights offering;

 

   

the date on which the right to exercise the rights will commence and the date on which the rights will expire;

 

   

any other terms of the rights, including the terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the rights; and

 

   

a discussion of any material U.S. federal income tax considerations.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF STOCK PURCHASE CONTRACTS

General

We may issue stock purchase contracts, including contracts obligating holders to purchase from us, and for us to sell to holders, a specific or varying number of shares of common stock or preferred stock at a future date or dates. Alternatively, the stock purchase contracts may obligate us to purchase from holders, and obligate holders to sell to us, a specific or varying number of shares of common stock or preferred stock. The price per share of the common stock or preferred stock may be fixed at the time the stock purchase contracts are issued or may be determined by reference to a specific formula described in the stock purchase contracts.

We may issue stock purchase contracts separately or as a part of units each consisting of a stock purchase contract and one or more of the other securities described in this prospectus or securities of third parties. If we issue a stock purchase contract as part of a unit, the applicable prospectus supplement will state whether the stock purchase contract will be separable from the other securities in the unit before the stock purchase contract settlement date. The stock purchase contracts may require us to make periodic payments to holders or vice versa and the payments may be unsecured or pre-funded on some basis. The stock purchase contracts may require holders to secure the holder’s obligations in a manner specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, and, in certain circumstances, we may deliver newly issued prepaid stock purchase contracts, often known as prepaid securities, upon release to a holder of any collateral securing such holder’s obligations under the original stock purchase contract.

Terms

The prospectus supplement relating to a particular issuance of stock purchase contracts will describe the terms of those stock purchase contracts, which may include, without limitation, one or more of the following:

 

   

whether the stock purchase contracts obligate the holder or us to purchase or sell, or both purchase and sell, the common stock or preferred stock subject to the stock purchase contract, and the nature and amount of such common stock or preferred stock, or the method of determining those amounts;

 

   

whether the stock purchase contracts are to be prepaid or not;

 

   

whether the stock purchase contracts will be issued as part of a unit and, if so, the other securities comprising the unit;

 

   

whether the stock purchase contracts are to be settled by delivery, or by reference or linkage to the value or performance of the common stock or preferred stock subject to the stock purchase contract;

 

   

any acceleration, cancellation, termination, or other provisions relating to the settlement of the stock purchase contracts; and

 

   

whether the stock purchase contracts will be issued in fully registered or global form.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES

We may elect to offer fractional shares or some multiple of shares of preferred stock, rather than offer whole shares of preferred stock. If we choose to do this, we will issue receipts for depositary shares. Each depositary share will represent a fraction or some multiple of a share of a particular series of preferred stock.

The shares of any series of preferred stock underlying the depositary shares will be deposited under a separate deposit agreement between us and a bank or trust company, which we will select. The bank or trust company must have its principal office in the United States and a combined capital and surplus of at least $500,000,000. The prospectus supplement relating to a series of depositary shares will state the name and address of the depositary. Unless otherwise provided by the deposit agreement, each owner of depositary shares will be entitled, in proportion to the applicable fraction or multiple of a share of preferred stock underlying the depositary shares, to all the rights and preferences of the preferred stock underlying the depositary shares including dividend, voting, redemption, conversion and liquidation rights.

The depositary shares will be evidenced by depositary receipts issued under the deposit agreement. Depositary receipts will be distributed to those persons purchasing the fractional interest in or multiple of shares of the related series of preferred stock in accordance with the terms of the offering described in the related prospectus supplement.

Other terms of depositary shares, including dividends and other distributions in respect thereof, redemption thereof, and voting of the corresponding preferred stock, will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to a particular issuance of depositary shares.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF UNITS

We may issue units consisting of one or more debt securities, shares of common stock, shares of preferred stock, warrants, rights, stock purchase contracts, or depositary shares or any combination of such securities under this prospectus. The specific terms and conditions of the units will be described in a prospectus supplement relating to an issuance of units, which may include, without limitation, one or more of the following:

 

   

the title of the series of units;

 

   

the identification and description of the separate securities comprising the units;

 

   

the price or prices at which the units will be issued;

 

   

the date, if any, on and after which the securities comprising the units will be separately transferrable; and

 

   

any other material terms of the units and the securities comprising such units.

 

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We and any applicable selling security holders may sell securities being offered by this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement in one or more of the following ways from time to time:

 

   

through agents to the public or to investors;

 

   

to one or more underwriters for resale to the public or to investors;

 

   

in “at the market offerings,” within the meaning of Rule 415(a)(4) of the Securities Act, to or through a market maker or into an existing trading market, on an exchange or otherwise;

 

   

directly to investors in privately negotiated transactions;

 

   

through a combination of these methods of sale; or

 

   

through any other manner permitted under applicable law and described in an applicable prospectus supplement.

A prospectus supplement will set forth the terms of the offering of securities, including:

 

   

the name or names of any agents or underwriters;

 

   

the price of the securities being offered and the proceeds to be received from the sale;

 

   

any over-allotment options under which underwriters may purchase additional securities;

 

   

any agency fees or underwriting discounts and other items constituting agents’ or underwriters’ compensation;

 

   

any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers; and

 

   

any securities exchanges on which such securities may be listed.

We will disclose in the applicable prospectus supplement any required information with respect to the selling security holders, if any.

Underwriters

If underwriters are used for a sale of securities, the underwriters will acquire the securities for their own account. The underwriters may resell the securities in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. The obligations of the underwriters to purchase the securities will be subject to the conditions set forth in the applicable underwriting agreement. The underwriters will be obligated to purchase all the securities of the series offered if they purchase any of the securities of that series. Any public offering price and any discounts or concessions the underwriters allow or reallow or pay to dealers may be changed from time to time. Underwriters with whom we have a material relationship may be used, and if so, the applicable prospectus supplement will name the underwriter the nature of any such relationship.

Agents

Agents who agree to use their reasonable efforts to solicit purchases for the period of their appointment or to sell securities on a continuing basis may be designated.

Direct Sales

Securities may also be sold directly to one or more purchasers without using underwriters or agents.

 

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Underwriters, dealers and agents that participate in the distribution of the securities may be underwriters as defined in the Securities Act and any discounts or commissions they receive and any profit on their resale of the securities may be treated as underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. The applicable prospectus supplement will identify any underwriters, dealers or agents and will describe their compensation. We may have agreements with the underwriters, dealers and agents to indemnify them against specified civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. Underwriters, dealers and agents may engage in transactions with or perform services for us in the ordinary course of their businesses.

Trading Markets and Listing of Securities

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, each class or series of securities will be a new issue with no established trading market, other than our common stock, which is listed on The NASDAQ Global Select Market. We may elect to list any other class or series of securities on any exchange, but we are not obligated to do so. It is possible that one or more underwriters may make a market in a class or series of securities, but the underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. No assurance can be given as to the liquidity of the trading market for any of the securities.

Stabilization Activities

In connection with an offering, an underwriter may purchase and sell securities in the open market. These transactions may include short sales, stabilizing transactions and purchases to cover positions created by short sales. Short sales involve the sale by the underwriters of a greater number of securities than they are required to purchase in the offering. “Covered” short sales are sales made in an amount not greater than the underwriters’ option to purchase additional securities, if any, in the offering. If the underwriters have an over-allotment option to purchase additional securities, the underwriters may close out any covered short position by either exercising their over-allotment option or purchasing securities in the open market. In determining the source of securities to close out the covered short position, the underwriters may consider, among other things, the price of securities available for purchase in the open market as compared to the price at which they may purchase securities through the over-allotment option. “Naked” short sales are any sales in excess of such option or where the underwriters do not have an over-allotment option. The underwriters must close out any naked short position by purchasing securities in the open market. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the underwriters are concerned that there may be downward pressure on the price of the securities in the open market after pricing that could adversely affect investors who purchase in the offering.

Accordingly, to cover these short sales positions or to otherwise stabilize or maintain the price of the securities, the underwriters may bid for or purchase securities in the open market and may impose penalty bids. If penalty bids are imposed, selling concessions allowed to syndicate members or other broker-dealers participating in the offering are reclaimed if securities previously distributed in the offering are repurchased, whether in connection with stabilization transactions or otherwise. The effect of these transactions may be to stabilize or maintain the market price of the securities at a level above that which might otherwise prevail in the open market. The impositions of a penalty bid may also affect the price of the securities to the extent that it discourages resale of the securities. The magnitude or effect of any stabilization or other transactions is uncertain. These transactions may be effected on The NASDAQ Global Market or otherwise and, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time.

 

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SELLING SECURITY HOLDERS

Selling security holders are persons or entities that, directly or indirectly, have acquired or will from time to time acquire from us, securities in various private transactions. Such selling security holders may be parties to registration rights agreements with us or we otherwise may have agreed or will agree to register their securities for resale. The initial purchasers of our securities designated by us from time to time, as well as their transferees, pledges, donees, successors, all of whom we refer to as “selling security holders,” may from time to time offer and sell the securities pursuant to this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement.

In the case of an offering of securities by selling security holders designated by us, the applicable prospectus supplement will set forth the name of each of the selling security holders and the number of securities beneficially owned by such selling security holders that are covered by such prospectus supplement.

 

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LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the securities offered by this prospectus will be passed upon for us by Sidley Austin LLP, Houston, Texas and certain legal matters as to guarantees of debt securities given by CAI Credit Insurance Agency, Inc. will be passed upon by Jones Walker LLP, New Orleans, Louisiana. Legal counsel to underwriters engaged in connection with any offering of securities covered hereby may pass upon legal matters for such underwriters.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements of Conn’s, Inc. appearing in Conn’s, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated November 23, 2018 for the year ended January 31, 2018, and the effectiveness of Conn’s, Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting as of January 31, 2018, have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their reports thereon, included therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such financial statements are, and audited financial statements to be included in subsequently filed documents will be, incorporated herein in reliance upon the reports of Ernst & Young LLP pertaining to such financial statements and the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of the respective dates (to the extent covered by consents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission) given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We maintain a website at www.conns.com which contains information concerning us and our subsidiaries. The information contained on our website and those of our subsidiaries is not incorporated by reference in this prospectus and does not constitute a part of this prospectus.

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. We have also filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act with respect to the securities being offered under this prospectus. This prospectus, which forms part of the registration statement, does not contain all of the information in the registration statement. We have omitted certain parts of the registration statement, as permitted by the rules and regulations of the SEC. For further information about us and our securities, please see the registration statement and our other filings with the SEC, including our annual, quarterly, and current reports and proxy statements, which are available to the public on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

 

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INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” into this prospectus the information we file with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents without actually including the specific information in this prospectus. The information incorporated by reference in this prospectus is considered to be part of this prospectus, and later information we file with the SEC or contained in this prospectus will automatically update and supersede this information. Therefore, before you decide to invest in a particular offering under this shelf registration, you should always check for reports we may have filed with the SEC after the date of this prospectus.

We incorporate by reference into this prospectus (1) the documents listed below, and (2) any future filings we make with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), after the date of this prospectus and until the offering of the securities under the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part is terminated or completed, in each case, other than information furnished to the SEC rather than filed:

 

   

our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2018 filed with the SEC on April 5, 2018 (other than Part II, Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation and Part II, Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data), including portions of our Definitive Proxy Statement, filed with the SEC on April 20, 2018, to the extent specifically incorporated by reference into such Form 10-K;

 

   

our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarters ended April 30, 2018 and July 31, 2018, filed with the SEC on June 7, 2018 and September 4, 2018, respectively;

 

   

our Current Reports on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on February 12, 2018, February 13, 2018, February 20, 2018, March 30, 2018, May 24, 2018, June 1, 2018, June 7, 2018, July 12, 2018, July 17, 2018, August 10, 2018, August 17, 2018, September 4, 2018 and November 23, 2018; and

 

   

the description of our common stock, par value $0.01 per share, contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed by us with the SEC on October 10, 2003 pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act, including any amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description.

Any statement contained in a document that is incorporated by reference herein will be deemed to be modified or superseded for all purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus (or in any other document that is subsequently filed with the SEC and incorporated by reference herein) modifies or is to the contrary of that previous statement. Any statement so modified or superseded will not be deemed a part of this prospectus except as so modified or superseded. You may request a copy of any of these filings at no cost, by writing or telephoning us at the following address and telephone number:

Conn’s, Inc.

Attention: Lee A. Wright, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

2445 Technology Forest Blvd, Suite 800

The Woodlands, Texas 77381

(936) 230-5899

 

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CONN’S, INC.

Common Stock

Preferred Stock

Debt Securities

Warrants

Rights

Stock Purchase Contracts

Depositary Shares

Units

Guarantees of Debt Securities

 

 

Prospectus

 

 

November 23, 2018

 

 

 

 


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PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution

The following table sets forth an estimate of the fees and expenses, other than the underwriting discounts and commissions, payable by us in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities being registered. All the amounts shown are estimates.

 

     Amount  

SEC registration fee

   $ *  

NASDAQ Global Select Market listing fee

     **  

Legal fees and expenses

     **  

Accounting fees and expenses

     **  

Printing, mailing and filing expenses

     **  

Transfer agent and registrar fees and expenses

     **  

Trustee fees and expenses

     **  

Miscellaneous

     **  
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ **  
  

 

 

 

 

*

The registrant is deferring payment of the registration fee in reliance on Rules 456(b) and 457(r). As permitted by Rule 415(a)(6) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), this Registration Statement includes $500,000,000 of securities that were previously registered, but were not sold (collectively, the “Unsold Securities”), under the registrants’ Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-211024), as amended (the “Prior Registration Statement”). Filing fees totaling $38,561 were previously paid in connection with the Prior Registration Statement, of which $38,561 is attributable to the Unsold Securities and will continue to be applied to the Unsold Securities pursuant to Rule 415(a)(6) under the Securities Act.

**

These fees and expenses are calculated based on the number of issuance and amount of securities offered and accordingly cannot be estimated at this time.

Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers

Delaware Corporations (Conn’s, Inc. and CAI Holding Co.)

Section 102(b)(7) of the Delaware General Corporation Law, as amended, or the DGCL, provides that a certificate of incorporation may contain a provision eliminating or limiting the personal liability of a director to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, provided that such provision may not eliminate or limit the liability of a director (i) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) under Section 174 of the DGCL (relating to liability for unauthorized acquisitions or redemptions of, or dividends on, capital stock) or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.

Section 145(a) of the DGCL empowers a corporation to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending, or completed action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that the person 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, or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with such action, suit, or proceeding if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not

 

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opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that the person’s 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, does not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that such person’s conduct was unlawful.

Section 145(b) of the DGCL empowers a corporation to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending, or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that the person is or was serving in any of the capacities set forth above against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, except that no indemnification is permitted in respect of any claim, issue, or matter as to which such person is adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought determines 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 the Court of Chancery or such other court deems proper.

Section 145(c) of the DGCL further provides that, to the extent that a present or former director or officer of a corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in Sections 145(a) or 145(b) of the DGCL, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, such person will be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith. Section 145(d) of the DGCL provides that any indemnification under Sections 145(a) and 145(b) of the DGCL (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by a corporation only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the present or former director, officer, employee or agent is proper in the circumstances because the person has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Sections 145(a) and 145(b) of the DGCL. Such determination is to be made, with respect to a person who is a director or officer at the time of such determination, (i) by a majority vote of the directors who are not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, even though less than a quorum, (ii) by a committee of such directors designated by majority vote of such directors, even though less than a quorum, (iii) if there are not such directors, or if such directors so direct, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (iv) by the stockholders.

Section 145(f) of the DGCL provides that the indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, the other subsections of Section 145 of the DGCL shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under any bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in such person’s official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office.

Section 145(g) of the DGCL empowers a corporation to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any such liability asserted against such person in any such capacity or arising out of such person’s status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against liability under Section 145 of the DGCL.

Section 145(j) of the DGCL provides that that indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, Section 145 of the DGCL shall, unless otherwise provided when authorized or ratified, continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee, or agent and shall inure to the benefit of such person’s heirs, executors, and administrators.

 

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Conn’s, Inc.

Article Seven of Conn’s, Inc.’s Certificate of Incorporation provides that Conn’s, Inc. will indemnify to the fullest extent permitted by law any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to a proceeding by reason of the fact that such person is or was its director, officer, incorporator, employee, or agent, or is or was serving at its request as a director, officer, incorporator, employee, partner, trustee, or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise (including an employee benefit plan) against expenses (including counsel fees and disbursements), judgments, fines (including excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to an employee benefit plan), and amounts paid in settlement incurred by such person in connection with such proceeding. Article Seven of Conn’s, Inc.’s Certificate of Incorporation also requires Conn’s, Inc. to pay expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by a director or officer in defending any proceeding in advance of the final disposition of such proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such director or officer to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified by Conn’s, Inc. as permitted by law. In addition, Article Seven of Conn’s, Inc.’s Certificate of Incorporation provides that if the DGCL is amended after the effective date of the Certificate of Incorporation to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the personal liability of directors, then the liability of its directors shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL. Conn’s, Inc. has included in its Amended and Restated Bylaws provisions to indemnify its directors and officers, as permitted by the DGCL.

In accordance with Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL, Article Eight of Conn’s, Inc.’s Certificate of Incorporation contains a provision eliminating the personal liability of directors except (i) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) under Section 174 of the DGCL (relating to liability for unauthorized acquisitions or redemptions of, or dividends on, capital stock), or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.

Conn’s, Inc. has entered into indemnification agreements with its directors and certain of its officers under which Conn’s, Inc. agreed to provide indemnification and expense reimbursement as outlined above.

Conn’s, Inc. has obtained and expects to maintain a directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policy insuring its directors and officers against certain losses resulting from wrongful acts committed by them as directors and officers, including liabilities arising under the Securities Act.

The foregoing discussion of the indemnification provisions of the DGCL, Conn’s, Inc.’s Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaws is not intended to be exhaustive and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such statute, Conn’s, Inc.’s Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaws.

CAI Holding Co.

CAI Holding Co.’s Certificate of Incorporation provides that CAI Holding Co. will, to the fullest extent permitted by Section 145 the DGCL, as amended, indemnify any officer or director from and against any and all expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement other than for actions by or in the right of CAI Holding Co. CAI Holding Co. will not indemnify any person seeking indemnification in connection with a proceeding initiated by such person unless the initiation thereof was approved by the board of directors of CAI Holding Co. The board of directors of CAI Holding Co. has the authority to expand or limit the rights to indemnification in the Certificate of Incorporation. CAI Holding Co. has included in its Bylaws provisions to indemnify its directors and officer to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL.

Delaware Limited Liability Company (Conn Lending, LLC)

Section 18-108 of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act provides that, subject to such standards and restrictions, if any, as are set forth in its limited liability company agreement, a Delaware limited liability

 

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company may, and has the power to, indemnify and hold harmless any member or manager or other person from and against any and all claims and demands whatsoever.

Section 14 of Conn Lending, LLC’s Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement provides that Conn Lending, LLC shall indemnify members, managers and officers who were or are a party or are threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding by virtue of the fact that such person is or was a member, manager or officer of Conn Lending, LLC; provided that, in the judgment of the managers of Conn Lending, LLC, such person acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of Conn Lending, LLC and, with respect to any criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. Section 14 of Conn Lending, LLC’s Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement provides for the indemnification or reimbursement of certain expenses of such persons in such circumstances; provided further that such person shall not be entitled to indemnification for any claim or matter brought by or in the right of Conn Lending, LLC to which such person has been adjudged to be liable to Conn Lending, LLC unless a court of appropriate jurisdiction has determined that such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification for such expenses that such court deems proper. Section 14 of Conn Lending, LLC’s Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement also provides that that no member, manager or officer shall be liable for any loss, damage or claim incurred by reason of any act or omission performed or omitted by such person in good faith on behalf of Conn Lending, LLC and in a manner reasonably believed to be within the scope of such person’s authority, except in the event of such person’s gross negligence or willful misconduct.

Texas Corporations (Conn Appliances, Inc. and Conn Credit Corporation, Inc.)

Generally, the Texas Business Organizations Code (“TBOC”) permits a corporation to indemnify a person who was, is, or is threatened to be made a named defendant or respondent in a proceeding because the person was or is a director or officer if it is determined that such person (1) conducted themselves in good faith, (2) reasonably believed (a) in the case of conduct in his or her official capacity as a director or officer of the corporation, that his or her conduct was in the corporation’s best interest, or (b) in other cases, that his or her conduct was at least not opposed to the corporation’s best interests, and (3) in the case of any criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful. In addition, the TBOC requires a corporation to indemnify a director or officer for any action that such director or officer is wholly successful in defending on the merits.

The TBOC also authorizes a Texas corporation to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation or who is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, partner, venturer, proprietor, trustee, employee, agent or similar functionary of another foreign or domestic corporation, employee benefit plan, other enterprise or other entity, against any liability asserted against them and incurred by them in such a capacity or arising out of their status as such a person, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify him against that liability under the TBOC.

The foregoing discussion of the TBOC is not intended to be exhaustive and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such statute.

Conn Appliances, Inc.

Conn Appliances, Inc.’s Articles of Incorporation provide for indemnification rights to its officers and directors to the maximum extent allowed by Texas law. Pursuant to the TBOC and Article VIII of the Articles of Incorporation, Conn Appliances, Inc. will indemnify and, under certain circumstances, advance expenses to, any person who was, is, or is threatened to be named as, a defendant or respondent in a proceeding because that person is or was a director or officer of Conn Appliances, Inc.

 

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Conn Appliances, Inc.’s Articles of Incorporation authorizes it to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of Conn Appliances, Inc., whether or not it would have the power to indemnify such person against that liability under the Articles of Incorporation or under the TBOC.

Conn Appliances, Inc.’s Articles of Incorporation include provisions that eliminate the personal liability of its directors for monetary damages resulting from breaches of the director’s duty of loyalty to Conn Appliances, Inc. and its shareholders, from acts or omissions not in good faith that constitute a breach of duty of the director or an act that involves intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, from any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit or from an act or omission for which the liability of a director is expressly provided by an applicable statute.

The Bylaws of Conn Appliances, Inc. elect to indemnify all such persons to the fullest extent permitted or required by the TBOC promptly upon request of any such person making a request for indemnity. Conn Appliances, Inc. shall pay or reimburse the reasonable expenses of such persons covered thereby in advance of the final disposition of any proceeding to the fullest extent permitted by the TBOC and subject to the conditions thereof.

Conn Credit Corporation, Inc.

Conn Credit Corporation, Inc.’s Articles of Incorporation permit indemnification of each present and future director and officer, and his or her heirs, executors and administrators, against expenses reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with or arising out of any action, suit or proceeding in which he or she may be involved by reason of being or having been a director or officer of Conn Credit Corporation, Inc. to the fullest extent permitted by the Texas Business Corporation Act (the predecessor to the TBOC); such expenses to include, but not to be limited to, court costs and attorneys’ fees and the costs of reasonable settlements (other than amounts paid to the Conn Credit Corporation, Inc. itself). Conn Credit Corporation, Inc. will not indemnify such director or officer with respect to matters as to which he or she shall admit that the claim made against him or her is just or as to which he or she shall be finally adjudged in any such action, suit or proceeding to be liable for negligence or misconduct; and in the event of a settlement, such indemnification shall be provided only in connection with such matters covered by the settlement as to which Conn Credit Corporation, Inc. is advised by its counsel that the person to be indemnified did not commit such a breach of duty.

Texas Limited Partnership (Conn Credit I, LP)

Section 8.051 of the TBOC, which applies to Texas limited partnerships, provides that an enterprise shall indemnify a governing person, former governing person, or delegate against reasonable expenses actually incurred by the person in connection with a proceeding in which the person is a respondent because the person is or was a governing person or delegate if the person is wholly successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of the proceeding.

Section 8.101 of the TBOC provides that an enterprise may indemnify a governing person, former governing person, or delegate who was, is, or is threatened to be made a respondent in a proceeding if it is determined that (1) the person (a) acted in good faith, (b) reasonably believed, in the case of conduct in the person’s official capacity, that the person’s conduct was in the enterprise’s best interest and, in any other case, that the person’s conduct was not opposed to the enterprise’s best interest, and (c) in the case of a criminal proceeding, did not have reasonable cause to believe the person’s conduct was unlawful; (2) with respect to expenses, the amount of expenses other than a judgment is reasonable; and (3) indemnification should be paid.

Section 8.102 of the TBOC provides that indemnification of a person found liable to the enterprise or found liable on the basis that a personal benefit was improperly received by him or her (1) is limited to reasonable expenses actually incurred by the person in connection with the proceeding, (2) does not include a judgment, a penalty, a fine, or an excise or similar tax, and (3) may not be made if the person is found liable for (a) willful or

 

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intentional misconduct in the performance of the person’s duty to the enterprise, (b) breach of the person’s duty of loyalty owed to the enterprise, or (c) an act or omission not committed in good faith that constitutes a breach of a duty owed by the person to the enterprise.

Section 7.001(d)(2) of the TBOC provides that a limited partnership by its partnership agreement may permit the limitation or elimination of liability of a governing person to the organization or its owners or members for monetary damages for an act or omission by the person in the person’s capacity as a governing person. However, such limitation or elimination of liability is not authorized to the extent the person is found liable under applicable law for (1) a breach of the person’s duty of loyalty, if any, to the organization or its owners or members, (2) an act or omission not in good faith that (A) constitutes a breach of duty of the person to the organization or (B) involves intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (3) a transaction from which the person received an improper benefit, regardless of whether the benefit resulted from an action taken within the scope of the person’s duties; or (4) an act or omission for which the liability of a governing person is expressly provided by an applicable statute. Section 7.001(d)(2) also provides that such liability of a governing person may be limited or eliminated to the additional extent permitted under Chapter 153 of the TBOC and, to the extent applicable to limited partnerships, Chapter 152 of the TBOC.

The foregoing discussion of the TBOC is not intended to be exhaustive and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such statute.

The Agreement of Limited Partnership of Conn Credit I, LP does not contain specific provisions for the indemnification of directors and officers.

Louisiana Corporation (CAI Credit Insurance Agency, Inc.)

Section 1-851 of the Louisiana Business Corporation Act (“LBCA”) authorizes a corporation to limit or eliminate the personal liability of a director to it or its shareholders for monetary damages for breach of a director’s fiduciary duties, if any one of the conditions below exists:

 

   

the director conducted himself or herself in good faith and reasonably believed either of the following: (i) in the case of conduct in an official capacity, that his or her conduct was in our best interest; and (ii) in all other cases, that the director’s conduct was at least not opposed to the corporation’s best interests;

 

   

in the case of any criminal proceeding, the director had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful; or

 

   

the director engaged in conduct for which broader indemnification has been made permissible or obligatory under a provision of the articles of incorporation, for which liability has been eliminated;

Section 1-851 of the LBCA also permits indemnification where (i) a director’s conduct with respect to an employee benefit plan for a purpose the director reasonably believed to be in the interests of the participants in, and the beneficiaries of, the plan is conduct that satisfies the requirements above, or (ii) the termination of a proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, is not, of itself, determinative that the director did not meet the relevant standard of conduct.

Section 1-851 of the LBCA prohibits a corporation from indemnifying a director in connection with either of the following: (i) a proceeding by or in the right of the corporation, except for expenses incurred in connection with the proceeding if it is determined that the director has met the relevant standard of conduct listed above; or (ii) any proceeding with respect to conduct for which the director was adjudged liable on the basis of receiving a financial benefit to which he or she was not entitled, whether or not involving action in the director’s official capacity.

 

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Under Section 1-852 of the LBCA, a corporation shall indemnify a director who was wholly successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of any proceeding to which the director was a party because he or she was a director of the corporation against expenses incurred by the director in connection with the proceeding.

Under Section 1-853 of the LBCA, a corporation may, before final disposition of a proceeding, advance funds to pay for or reimburse expenses incurred in connection with the proceeding by an individual who is a party to the proceeding because that individual is a member of the board of directors if the director delivers to the corporation both of the following: (i) a written affirmation of the director’s good faith belief that the relevant standard of conduct described in Section 1-851 has been met by the director or that the proceeding involves conduct for which liability has been eliminated under Section 1-852; and (ii) a written undertaking of the director to repay any funds advanced if the director is not entitled to mandatory indemnification under Section 1-852 and it is ultimately determined under Section 1-854 or 1-855 that the director has not met the relevant standard of conduct described in Section 1-851. The undertaking required in Section 1-853 must be an unlimited general obligation of the director but need not be secured and may be accepted without reference to the financial ability of the director to make repayment. Authorizations under this Section shall be made by one of the following: (X) by the board of directors in either of the following manners: (i) if there are two or more qualified directors, by a majority vote of all the qualified directors, a majority of whom shall for such purpose constitute a quorum, or by a majority of the members of a committee of two or more qualified directors appointed by such a vote or (ii) if there are fewer than two qualified directors, by the vote necessary for action by the board, in which authorization directors who are not qualified directors may participate; or (Y) by the shareholders, except that shares owned by or voted under the control of a director who at the time is not a qualified director may not be voted on the authorization.

The foregoing discussion of the LBCA is not intended to be exhaustive and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such statute.

Article VIII of CAI Credit Insurance Agency, Inc.’s Bylaws provides for indemnification of current and former directors and officers from and against any and all claims and liabilities to which they may be or become subject by reason of being, or having been, such directors and officers; provided, however, that no director or officer will be indemnified against any claim or liability arising out of their own negligence or willful misconduct, unless in the judgment of the board of directors of CAI Credit Insurance Agency, Inc. the director or officer has not been guilty of negligence of willful misconduct.

Item 16. Exhibits

 

Exhibit No.

  

Description

1.1**    Form of Underwriting Agreement.
3.1    Certificate of Incorporation of Conn’s, Inc. (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit  3.1 to Conn’s, Inc. registration statement on Form S-1 (file no. 333-109046) as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September  23, 2003).
3.1.1    Certificate of Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation of Conn’s, Inc. dated June  3, 2004 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1.1 to Conn’s, Inc. Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended April 30, 2004 (File No.  000-50421) as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 7, 2004).
3.1.2    Certificate of Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation of Conn’s, Inc. dated May  30, 2012 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1.2 to Conn’s, Inc. Form 10-Q for the quarter ended April 30, 2012 (File No.  001-34956) as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 5, 2012).

 

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Exhibit No.

  

Description

3.1.3    Certificate of Correction to Certificate to the Certificate of Amendment to Conn’s, Inc. Certificate of Incorporation (as corrected December 31, 2013) (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1.3 to Conn’s, Inc. Form 10-K for the annual period ended January 31, 2014 (File No. 001-34956) as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 27, 2014).
3.1.4    Certificate of Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation of Conn’s, Inc. as filed on May  29, 2014 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1.4 to Conn’s, Inc. Form 10-Q for the quarter ended April 30, 2014 (File No.  001-34956) as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 2, 2014).
3.2    Amended and Restated Bylaws of Conn’s, Inc. effective as of December 3, 2013 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit  3.2 to Conn’s, Inc. Form 10-Q for the quarter ended October 31, 2013 (File No.  001-34956) as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 6, 2013).
4.1    Specimen of certificate for shares of Conn’s, Inc.’s common stock (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit  4.1 to Conn’s, Inc. Amendment No. 1 to registration statement on Form S-1/A (file no.  333-109046) as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 29, 2003).
4.2    Indenture, dated as of July 1, 2014, by and among Conn’s, Inc., the several guarantors named therein and U.S.  Bank National Association, as trustee (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Conn’s, Inc. Current Report on Form 8-K (File No.  001-34956) as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 2, 2014).
4.3    First Supplemental Indenture, dated September  10, 2015, by and among Conn’s, Inc., as issuer, the guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended October 31, 2015 (File No. 001-34956) as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 8, 2015)
4.4    Second Supplemental Indenture, dated October  30, 2015, by and among Conn’s Inc., as issuer, the guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to Form 8-K (File No. 001-34956) as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 2, 2015)
4.5    Form of 7.250% Senior Notes due 2022 (included as Exhibit A to Exhibit 4.2) (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Conn’s, Inc. Current Report on Form 8 K (File No. 001-34956) as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 2, 2014).
4.6    Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of July  1, 2014, by and among Conn’s, Inc., the several guarantors named therein and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner  & Smith, Incorporated, as representative of the initial purchasers named therein (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to Conn’s, Inc. Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-34956) as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 2, 2014).
4.7    Base Indenture, dated as of October  6, 2016, by and between Conn’s Receivables Funding 2016-B, LLC and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Conn’s Inc. Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-34956) as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 7, 2016)
4.8    Series 2016-B Supplement to the Base Indenture, dated as of October  6, 2016, by and between Conn’s Receivables Funding 2016-B, LLC and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to Form 8-K (File No. 001-34956) as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 7, 2016)
4.9    Base Indenture, dated as of April  19, 2017 by and between Conn’s Receivables Funding 2017-A, LLC, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Form 8-K (File No. 001-34956) as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 20, 2017)

 

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Exhibit No.

  

Description

4.10    Series 2017-A Supplement to the Base Indenture, dated as of April  19, 2017, by and between Conn’s Receivables Funding 2017-A, LLC and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to Form 8-K (File No. 001-34956) as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 20, 2017)
4.11    Indenture, dated as of February 24, 2017, as amended and made effective as of August  8, 2017 by and among Conn’s Receivables Warehouse, LLC, Conn Appliances, Inc., Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, Conn’s Receivables Warehouse Trust, and Credit Suisse AG, New York Branch (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Form 8-K (File No. 001-34956) as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 14, 2017)
4.12    Base Indenture, dated as of December 20, 2017, by and between Conn’s Receivables Funding 2017-B, LLC and Wilmington Trust, NA, as Trustee (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Form 8-K (File No.  001-34956) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 26, 2017)
4.13    Series 2017-B Supplement to the Base Indenture, dated as of December  20, 2017, by and between Conn’s Receivables Funding 2017-B, LLC and Wilmington Trust, National Association (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to Form 8-K (File No. 001-34956) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 26, 2017)
4.14*    Form of Senior Indenture.
4.15*    Form of Subordinated Indenture.
4.16**    Form of Senior Note.
4.17**    Form of Subordinated Note.
4.18**    Form of Warrant.
4.19**    Form of Warrant Agreement.
4.20**    Form of Preferred Stock Certificate.
4.21**    Form of Certificate of Designation.
4.22**    Form of Rights Agent Agreement or Subscription Agreement.
4.23**    Form of Rights Certificate.
4.24**    Form of Stock Purchase Contract.
4.25**    Form of Deposit Agreement for Depositary Shares.
4.26**    Form of Depositary Receipt for Depositary Shares.
4.27**    Form of Unit Agreement.
4.28**    Form of Unit Certificate.
5.1*    Opinion of Sidley Austin LLP.
5.2*    Opinion of Jones Walker LLP.
23.1*    Consent of Sidley Austin LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).
23.2*    Consent of Jones Walker LLP (included in Exhibit 5.2).
23.3*    Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
24.1*    Powers of Attorney (included in signature pages).

 

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Exhibit No.

  

Description

25.1*    Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1 under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 of Trustee under Senior Indenture.
25.2*    Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1 under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 of Trustee under Subordinated Indenture.

 

*

Filed herewith.

**

To be filed, if necessary, by amendment or as an exhibit to a report under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and incorporated herein by reference.

Item 17. Undertakings

(a) The undersigned registrants hereby undertake:

(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;

(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 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) of the Securities Act 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; and

(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) of this section do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrants pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, 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 the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act to any purchaser:

(i) Each prospectus filed by the registrants pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

 

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(ii) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii) or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.

(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrants under the Securities Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities: The undersigned registrants undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrants pursuant to the registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrants will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrants relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

(ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrants or used or referred to by the undersigned registrants;

(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrants or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrants; and

(iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrants to the purchaser.

(b) The undersigned registrants hereby further undertake that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the registrants’ annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(c) In the event that rights or warrants are offered to existing security holders and any securities not taken by the security holders are to be offered to the public, the undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to supplement the prospectus, after the expiration of the subscription period, to set forth the results of the subscription offer, the transactions by the underwriters during the subscription period, the amount of unsubscribed securities to be purchased by the underwriters, and the terms of any subsequent reoffering thereof. If any public offering by the underwriters is to be made on terms differing from those set forth on the cover page of the prospectus, a post-effective amendment will be filed to set forth the terms of such offering.

(d) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act 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

 

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indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrants of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrants in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrants will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all 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 The Woodlands, State of Texas, on November 23, 2018.

 

CONN’S, INC.
By:   /s/ Norman Miller
  Norman Miller
  Chief Executive Officer and President

KNOW ALL BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Norman Miller, Lee A. Wright and Mark L. Prior and each of them, either of whom may act without joinder of the other, his or her lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, 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 or 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 such attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and 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 said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, or the substitute or substitutes of either of them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

 

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Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on November 23, 2018.

 

Signature

  

Title

/s/ Norman Miller

Norman Miller

   Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and President
(Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ Lee A. Wright

Lee A. Wright

   Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)

/s/ George L. Bchara

George L. Bchara

   Chief Accounting Officer
(Principal Accounting Officer)

/s/ Kelly M. Malson

Kelly M. Malson

   Director

/s/ Bob L. Martin

Bob L. Martin

   Director

/s/ Douglas H. Martin

Douglas H. Martin

   Director

/s/ William E. Saunders Jr.

William E. Saunders Jr.

   Director

/s/ David Schofman

David Schofman

   Director

/s/ Oded Shein

Oded Shein

   Director

/s/ James H. Haworth

James H. Haworth

   Director

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all 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 The Woodlands, State of Texas, on November 23, 2018.

 

CAI CREDIT INSURANCE AGENCY, INC.
By:   /s/ Norman Miller
  Norman Miller
  President and Chief Executive Officer

KNOW ALL BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Norman Miller, Lee A. Wright and Mark L. Prior and each of them, either of whom may act without joinder of the other, his or her lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, 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 or 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 such attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and 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 said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, or the substitute or substitutes of either of them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on November 23, 2018.

 

Signature

  

Title

/s/ Norman Miller

Norman Miller

   President and Chief Executive Officer and Director
(Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ Lee A. Wright

Lee A. Wright

   Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)

/s/ George L. Bchara

George L. Bchara

   Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer
(Principal Accounting Officer)

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all 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 The Woodlands, State of Texas, on November 23, 2018.

 

CAI HOLDING CO.
By:   /s/ Norman Miller
  Norman Miller
  Chief Executive Officer

KNOW ALL BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Norman Miller, Lee A. Wright and Mark L. Prior and each of them, either of whom may act without joinder of the other, his or her lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, 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 or 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 such attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and 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 said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, or the substitute or substitutes of either of them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on November 23, 2018.

 

Signature

  

Title

/s/ Norman Miller

Norman Miller

   Chief Executive Officer and Sole Director
(Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ Lee A. Wright

Lee A. Wright

   Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)

/s/ George L. Bchara

George L. Bchara

   Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer
(Principal Accounting Officer)

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all 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 The Woodlands, State of Texas, on November 23, 2018.

 

CONN APPLIANCES, INC.
By:   /s/ Norman Miller
  Norman Miller
  President and Chief Executive Officer

KNOW ALL BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Norman Miller, Lee A. Wright and Mark L. Prior and each of them, either of whom may act without joinder of the other, his or her lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, 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 or 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 such attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and 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 said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, or the substitute or substitutes of either of them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on November 23, 2018.

 

Signature

  

Title

/s/ Norman Miller

Norman Miller

   Director, President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ Lee A. Wright

Lee A. Wright

   Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)

/s/ George L. Bchara

George L. Bchara

   Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer
(Principal Accounting Officer)

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all 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 The Woodlands, State of Texas, on November 23, 2018.

 

CONN CREDIT CORPORATION, INC.
By:   /s/ Norman Miller
  Norman Miller
  Chief Executive Officer

KNOW ALL BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Norman Miller, Lee A. Wright and Mark L. Prior and each of them, either of whom may act without joinder of the other, his or her lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, 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 or 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 such attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and 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 said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, or the substitute or substitutes of either of them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on November 23, 2018.

 

Signature

  

Title

/s/ Norman Miller

Norman Miller

   Chief Executive Officer and Director
(Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ Lee A. Wright

Lee A. Wright

   Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)

/s/ George L. Bchara

George L. Bchara

   Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer
(Principal Accounting Officer)

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all 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 The Woodlands, State of Texas, on November 23, 2018.

 

CONN LENDING, LLC
By:   /s/ Norman Miller
  Norman Miller
  President and Chief Executive Officer

KNOW ALL BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Norman Miller, Lee A. Wright and Mark L. Prior and each of them, either of whom may act without joinder of the other, his or her lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, 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 or 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 such attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and 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 said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, or the substitute or substitutes of either of them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on November 23, 2018.

 

Signature

  

Title

/s/ Norman Miller

Norman Miller

   President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ Lee A. Wright

Lee A. Wright

   Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)

/s/ George L. Bchara

George L. Bchara

   Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer
(Principal Accounting Officer)

/s/ Mary S. Stawikey

Mary S. Stawikey

   Sole Manager

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all 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 The Woodlands, State of Texas, on November 23, 2018.

 

CONN CREDIT I, LP
By:  

Conn Credit Corporation, Inc.,

its general partner

By:   /s/ Norman Miller
  Norman Miller
  Chief Executive Officer

KNOW ALL BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Norman Miller, Lee A. Wright and Mark L. Prior and each of them, either of whom may act without joinder of the other, his or her lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, 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 or 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 such attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and 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 said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, or the substitute or substitutes of either of them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on November 23, 2018.

 

Signature

  

Title

/s/ Norman Miller

Norman Miller

  

Chief Executive Officer and Director

of Conn Credit Corporation, Inc.

(Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ Lee A. Wright

Lee A. Wright

  

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

of Conn Credit Corporation, Inc.

(Principal Financial Officer)

/s/ George L. Bchara

George L. Bchara

  

Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer

of Conn Credit Corporation, Inc.

(Principal Accounting Officer)

 

II-20

EX-4.14

Exhibit 4.14

FORM OF SENIOR INDENTURE

 

 

CONN’S, INC.,

ISSUER

AND

REGIONS BANK,

TRUSTEE

INDENTURE

DATED AS OF [    ], 20[    ]

SENIOR DEBT SECURITIES

 

 


CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE(1)

 

Section of
Trust Indenture Act
of 1939, as amended

   Section of
Indenture

310(a)(1)

   7.10

310(a)(2)

   7.10

310(a)(3)

   Inapplicable

310(a)(4)

   Inapplicable

310(a)(5)

   7.10

310(b)

   7.10
   7.10

310(c)

   Inapplicable

311(a)

   7.11

311(b)

   7.11

311(c)

   Inapplicable

312(a)

   5.01
   5.02(a)

312(b)

   5.02(c)

312(c)

   5.02(c)

313(a)

   5.04(a)

313(b)

   5.04(b)

313(c)

   5.04(a)
   5.04(b)
   5.04(c)

313(d)

   5.04(b)
   5.04(c)

314(a)

   5.03
   13.05(c)

314(b)

   Inapplicable

314(c)

   13.05

314(d)

   Inapplicable

314(e)

   13.05

314(f)

   Inapplicable

315(a)(1)

   7.01; 7.07

315(a)(2)

   7.05

315(b)

   5.04(d)

315(c)

   7.01

315(d)

   7.01

315(e)

   6.07

316(a)

   6.06
   8.04

316(b)

   6.04

316(c)

   8.01

317(a)

   6.02

317(b)

   4.03

318(a)

   13.07

 

(1)

This Cross-Reference Table does not constitute part of the Indenture and shall not have any bearing on the interpretation of any of its terms or provisions.

 

i


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  

ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS

     1  

SECTION 1.01. Definitions of Terms

     1  

ARTICLE II ISSUE, DESCRIPTION, TERMS, EXECUTION, REGISTRATION AND EXCHANGE OF SECURITIES

     5  

SECTION 2.01. Designation and Terms of Securities

     5  

SECTION 2.02. Form of Securities and Trustee’s Certificate

     7  

SECTION 2.03. Denominations; Provisions for Payment

     7  

SECTION 2.04. Execution and Authentications

     9  

SECTION 2.05. Registration of Transfer and Exchange

     10  

SECTION 2.06. Temporary Securities

     11  

SECTION 2.07. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Securities

     11  

SECTION 2.08. Cancellation

     12  

SECTION 2.09. Benefits of Indenture

     12  

SECTION 2.10. Authenticating Agent

     12  

SECTION 2.11. Global Securities

     13  

ARTICLE III REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES AND SINKING FUND PROVISIONS

     14  

SECTION 3.01. Redemption

     14  

SECTION 3.02. Notice of Redemption

     14  

SECTION 3.03. Payment Upon Redemption

     15  

SECTION 3.04. Sinking Fund

     16  

SECTION 3.05. Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities

     16  

SECTION 3.06. Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund

     16  

ARTICLE IV COVENANTS

     17  

SECTION 4.01. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest

     17  

SECTION 4.02. Maintenance of Office or Agency

     17  

SECTION 4.03. Paying Agents

     17  

SECTION 4.04. Appointment to Fill Vacancy in Office of Trustee

     18  

ARTICLE V SECURITYHOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE

     18  

SECTION 5.01. Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Securityholders

     18  

SECTION 5.02. Preservation Of Information; Communications With Securityholders

     19  

SECTION 5.03. Reports by the Company

     19  

SECTION 5.04. Reports by the Trustee

  

 

ii


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

ARTICLE VI REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS ON EVENT OF DEFAULT

     20  

SECTION 6.01. Events of Default

     20  

SECTION 6.02. Suits for Enforcement by Trustee

     22  

SECTION 6.03. Application of Moneys Collected

     23  

SECTION 6.04. Limitation on Suits

     23  

SECTION 6.05. Rights and Remedies Cumulative; Delay or Omission Not Waiver

     24  

SECTION 6.06. Control by Securityholders

     24  

SECTION 6.07. Undertaking to Pay Costs

     25  

ARTICLE VII CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE

     25  

SECTION 7.01. Duties of Trustee

     25  

SECTION 7.02. Rights of Trustee

     26  

SECTION 7.03. Individual Rights of Trustee

     28  

SECTION 7.04. Trustee’s Disclaimer

     28  

SECTION 7.05. Notice of Defaults

     28  

SECTION 7.06. Reports by Trustee to Securityholders

     28  

SECTION 7.07. Compensation and Indemnity

     29  

SECTION 7.08. Replacement of Trustee

     29  

SECTION 7.09. Successor Trustee by Merger, etc

     30  

SECTION 7.10. Eligibility; Disqualification

     31  

SECTION 7.11. Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Company

     31  

ARTICLE VIII CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS

     31  

SECTION 8.01. Evidence of Action by Securityholders

     31  

SECTION 8.02. Proof of Execution by Securityholders

     32  

SECTION 8.03. Who May be Deemed Owners

     32  

SECTION 8.04. Certain Securities Owned by Company Disregarded

     32  

SECTION 8.05. Actions Binding on Future Securityholders

     33  

ARTICLE IX SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

     33  

SECTION 9.01. Supplemental Indentures Without the Consent of Securityholders

     33  

SECTION 9.02. Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Securityholders

     34  

SECTION 9.03. Effect of Supplemental Indentures

     35  

SECTION 9.04. Securities Affected by Supplemental Indentures

     35  

SECTION 9.05. Execution of Supplemental Indentures

     35  

 

iii


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

ARTICLE X SUCCESSOR ENTITY

     36  

SECTION 10.01. Company May Consolidate, Etc

     36  

SECTION 10.02. Successor Entity Substituted

     36  

SECTION 10.03. Evidence of Consolidation, Etc. to Trustee

     37  

ARTICLE XI SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

     37  

SECTION 11.01. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture

     37  

SECTION 11.02. Discharge of Obligations

     37  

SECTION 11.03. Deposited Moneys to be Held in Trust

     38  

SECTION 11.04. Payment of Moneys Held by Paying Agents

     38  

SECTION 11.05. Repayment to Company

     38  

ARTICLE XII IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

     38  

SECTION 12.01. No Recourse

     38  

ARTICLE XIII MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

     39  

SECTION 13.01. Effect on Successors and Assigns

     39  

SECTION 13.02. Actions by Successor

     39  

SECTION 13.03. Notices

     39  

SECTION 13.04. Governing Law

     40  

SECTION 13.05. Compliance Certificates and Opinions

     40  

SECTION 13.06. Payments on Business Days

     40  

SECTION 13.07. Conflict with Trust Indenture Act

     41  

SECTION 13.08. Counterparts

     41  

SECTION 13.09. Separability

     41  

SECTION 13.10. Assignment

     41  

ARTICLE XIV GUARANTEE OF SECURITIES

     41  

SECTION 14.01. Securities Guarantee

     41  

SECTION 14.02. Limitation on Guarantor Liability

     42  

SECTION 14.03. Execution and Delivery of Securities Guarantee Notation

     43  

 

(2)

This Table of Contents does not constitute part of the Indenture and shall not have any bearing on the interpretation of any of its terms or provisions.

 

iv


INDENTURE, dated as of [ ], 20[ ], between Conn’s, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), the Guarantors (as hereinafter defined) and Regions Bank, as trustee (the “Trustee”):

WHEREAS, for its lawful corporate purposes, the Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance of unsecured debt securities (hereinafter referred to as the “Securities”), which may, but are not required to be guaranteed by the Guarantors, in an unlimited aggregate principal amount to be issued from time to time in one or more series as in this Indenture provided, as registered Securities without coupons, to be authenticated by the certificate of the Trustee;

WHEREAS, to provide the terms and conditions upon which the Securities are to be authenticated, issued and delivered, the Company and Guarantors have duly authorized the execution of this Indenture; and

WHEREAS, all things necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement of the Company and of the Guarantors, in accordance with its terms, have been done.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Securities by the holders thereof, it is mutually covenanted and agreed as follows for the equal and ratable benefit of the holders of Securities:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

SECTION 1.01. Definitions of Terms.

The terms defined in this Section (except as in this Indenture otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires) for all purposes of this Indenture and of any indenture supplemental hereto shall have the respective meanings specified in this Section and shall include the plural as well as the singular. All other terms used in this Indenture that are defined in the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, or that are by reference in such Act defined in the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (except as herein otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires), shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in said Trust Indenture Act and in said Securities Act as in force at the date of the execution of this instrument.

“Authenticating Agent” means an authenticating agent with respect to all or any of the series of Securities appointed with respect to all or any series of the Securities by the Trustee pursuant to Section 2.10.

“Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11, U.S. Code, or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors.

“Board of Directors” means the Board of Directors of the Company or Guarantor, as the case may be, or any duly authorized committee of such Board of Directors.

 

1


“Board Resolution” means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company or a Guarantor, as the case may be, to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification.

“Business Day” means, with respect to any series of Securities, any day other than a day on which Federal or State banking institutions in the United States (or in any city in which the paying agent appointed pursuant to Section 4.03 has an office), are authorized or obligated by law, executive order or regulation to close.

“Certificate” means a certificate signed by the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer or the principal accounting officer of the Company. The Certificate need not comply with the provisions of Section 13.05.

“Company” means Conn’s, Inc., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware, and, subject to the provisions of Article Ten, shall also include its successors and assigns.

“Corporate Trust Office” means the office of the Trustee at which, at any particular time, its corporate trust business shall be principally administered, which office at the date hereof is located at 10245 Centurion Parkway, 2nd Floor, Jacksonville, Florida, 32256, Attention: Craig Kaye, or such other office as the Trustee may provide in a to the Company and Holders.

“Custodian” means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator, or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.

“Default” means any event, act or condition that with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute an Event of Default.

“Depositary” means, with respect to Securities of any series, for which the Company shall determine that such Securities will be issued as a Global Security, The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, another clearing agency, or any successor registered as a clearing agency under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or other applicable statute or regulation, which, in each case, shall be designated by the Company pursuant to either Section 2.01 or 2.11.

“Event of Default” means, with respect to Securities of a particular series any event specified in Section 6.01, continued for the period of time, if any, therein designated.

“Global Security” means, with respect to any series of Securities, a Security executed by the Company and delivered by the Trustee to the Depositary or pursuant to the Depositary’s instruction, all in accordance with the Indenture, which shall be registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee.

 

2


“Governmental 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 that, in either case, are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and shall also include a depositary receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) as custodian with respect to any such Governmental Obligation or a specific payment of principal of or interest on any such Governmental Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of such depositary receipt; provided, however, that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depositary receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the Governmental Obligation or the specific payment of principal of or interest on the Governmental Obligation evidenced by such depositary receipt.

“Guarantor” means each Person that becomes a guarantor of any Securities pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture.

“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.

“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 in accordance with the terms hereof.

“Interest Payment Date,” when used with respect to any installment of interest on a Security of a particular series, means the date specified in such Security or in a Board Resolution or in an indenture supplemental hereto with respect to such series as the fixed date on which an installment of interest with respect to Securities of that series is due and payable.

“Officers’ Certificate” means in the case of the Company, a certificate signed by the Chairman, Vice Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, an Executive Vice President or a Senior Vice President and by the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer or the Controller or an Assistant Controller or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company, or in the case of a Guarantor, a certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, President, any Vice President or any duly authorized officer of such Guarantor and by the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer or the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of such Guarantor, that is delivered to the Trustee in accordance with the terms hereof. Each such certificate shall include the statements provided for in Section 13.05, if and to the extent required by the provisions thereof.

“Opinion of Counsel” means an opinion in writing of legal counsel, who may be an employee of or counsel for the Company or a Guarantor, as the case may be, that is delivered to the Trustee in accordance with the terms hereof. Each such opinion shall include the statements provided for in Section 13.05, if and to the extent required by the provisions thereof.

“Outstanding,” when used with reference to Securities of any series, means, subject to the provisions of Section 8.04, as of any particular time, all Securities of that series theretofore authenticated and delivered by the Trustee under this Indenture, except (a) Securities theretofore canceled by the Trustee or any paying agent, or delivered to the Trustee or any paying agent for cancellation or that have previously been canceled; (b) Securities or portions thereof for the

 

3


payment or redemption of which moneys or Governmental Obligations in the necessary amount shall have been deposited in trust with the Trustee or with any paying agent (other than the Company) or shall have been set aside and segregated in trust by the Company (if the Company shall act as its own paying agent); provided, however, that if such Securities or portions of such Securities are to be redeemed prior to the maturity thereof, notice of such redemption shall have been given as in Article Three provided, or provision satisfactory to the Trustee shall have been made for giving such notice; and (c) Securities in lieu of or in substitution for which other Securities shall have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to the terms of Section 2.07.

“Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, joint-stock company, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

“Predecessor Security” of any particular Security means every previous Security evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular Security; and, for the purposes of this definition, any Security authenticated and delivered under Section 2.07 in lieu of a lost, destroyed or stolen Security shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the lost, destroyed or stolen Security.

“Responsible Officer” when used with respect to the Trustee means the President, any Vice President, the Secretary, the Treasurer, any trust officer, any corporate trust officer or any other officer or assistant officer of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by the Persons who at the time shall be such officers, respectively, or to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of his or her knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject and, in each case, who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.

“Securities” means the debt Securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.

“Securities Guarantee” means each guarantee of the obligations of the Company under this Indenture and the Securities by a Guarantor in accordance with the provisions hereof.

“Securityholder,” “holder of Securities,” “registered holder” or other similar term, means the Person or Persons in whose name or names a particular Security shall be registered on the books of the Security Registrar kept for that purpose in accordance with the terms of this Indenture.

“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, (i) any corporation at least a majority of whose outstanding Voting Stock shall at the time be owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person or by one or more of its Subsidiaries or by such Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries, (ii) any general partnership, joint venture or similar entity, at least a majority of whose outstanding partnership or similar interests shall at the time be owned by such Person, or by one or more of its Subsidiaries, or by such Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries and (iii) any limited partnership of which such Person or any of its Subsidiaries is a general partner.

“Trustee” means Regions Bank, in its capacity as Trustee hereunder, and, subject to the provisions of Article Seven, shall also include its successors and assigns, and, if at any time there is more than one Person acting in such capacity hereunder, “Trustee” shall mean each such Person. The term “Trustee” as used with respect to a particular series of the Securities shall mean the trustee with respect to that series as appointed pursuant to a supplemental indenture.

 

4


“Trust Indenture Act” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, subject to the provisions of Sections 9.01, 9.02 and 10.01, as in effect at the date of execution of this instrument.

“Voting Stock,” as applied to stock of any Person, means shares, interests, participations or other equivalents in the equity interest (however designated) in such Person having ordinary voting power for the election of the directors (or the equivalent) of such Person, other than shares, interests, participations or other equivalents having such power only by reason of the occurrence of a contingency.

ARTICLE II

ISSUE, DESCRIPTION, TERMS, EXECUTION,

REGISTRATION AND EXCHANGE OF SECURITIES

SECTION 2.01. Designation and Terms of Securities.

(a) The aggregate principal amount of Securities that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited. The Securities may be issued in one or more series up to the aggregate principal amount of Securities of that series from time to time authorized by or pursuant to a Board Resolution of the Company or pursuant to one or more indentures supplemental hereto. Prior to the initial issuance of Securities of any series, there shall be established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution of the Company, and set forth in an Officers’ Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto:

(1) the title of the Security of the series (which shall distinguish the Securities of the series from all other Securities);

(2) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of that series that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of that series);

(3) the date or dates on which the principal of the Securities of the series is payable and the place(s) of payment;

(4) the rate or rates at which the Securities of the series shall bear interest or the manner of calculation of such rate or rates, if any;

(5) the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue, the Interest Payment Dates on which such interest will be payable or the manner of determination of such Interest Payment Dates, the place(s) of payment, and the record date for the determination of holders to whom interest is payable on any such Interest Payment Dates;

 

5


(6) the right, if any, to extend the interest payment periods and the duration of such extension;

(7) the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which, Securities of the series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company;

(8) the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem or purchase Securities of the series pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions (including payments made in cash in satisfaction of future sinking fund obligations) or at the option of a holder thereof and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which, and the terms and conditions upon which, Securities of the series shall be redeemed or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;

(9) the form of the Securities of the series including the form of the certificate of authentication for such series;

(10) if other than denominations of one thousand U.S. dollars ($1,000) or any integral multiple thereof, the denominations in which the Securities of the series shall be issuable;

(11) any and all other terms with respect to such series (which terms shall not be inconsistent with the terms of this Indenture, as amended by any supplemental indenture) including any terms which may be required by or advisable under United States laws or regulations or advisable in connection with the marketing of Securities of that series;

(12) whether the Securities are issuable as a Global Security and, in such case, the identity of the Depositary for such series;

(13) whether the Securities will be convertible into shares of common stock or other securities of the Company and, if so, the terms and conditions upon which such Securities will be so convertible, including the conversion price and the conversion period;

(14) if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of Securities of the series which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.01;

(15) any additional or different Events of Default or restrictive covenants provided for with respect to the Securities of the series;

(16) whether the Securities of the series will be guaranteed pursuant to the Securities Guarantee set forth in ARTICLE XIV, any modifications to the terms of ARTICLE XIV applicable to the Securities of such series and the applicability of any other guarantee; and

(17) the Securities Registrar appointed for purposes of registering the Securities or the transfer thereof.

 

6


All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical except as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to any such Board Resolution or in any indentures supplemental hereto.

If any of the terms of the series are established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company and, if applicable, the Guarantors, and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Officers’ Certificate setting forth the terms of the series.

Securities of any particular series may be issued at various times, with different dates on which the principal or any installment of principal is payable, with different rates of interest, if any, or different methods by which rates of interest may be determined, with different dates on which such interest may be payable and with different redemption dates.

SECTION 2.02. Form of Securities and Trustee’s Certificate.

The Securities of any series and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication to be borne by such Securities shall be substantially of the tenor and purport as set forth in one or more indentures supplemental hereto or as provided in a Board Resolution and as set forth in an Officers’ Certificate and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification or designation and such legends or endorsements printed, lithographed or engraved thereon as the Company may deem appropriate and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, or as may be required to comply with any law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation of any stock exchange on which Securities of that series may be listed, or to conform to usage.

SECTION 2.03. Denominations; Provisions for Payment.

The Securities shall be issuable as registered Securities and in the denominations of one thousand U.S. dollars ($1,000) or any integral multiple thereof, subject to Section 2.01(10). The Securities of a particular series shall bear interest payable on the dates and at the rate specified with respect to that series. The principal of and the interest on the Securities of any series, as well as any premium thereon in case of redemption thereof prior to maturity, shall be payable in the coin or currency of the United States of America that at the time is legal tender for public and private debt, at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in the United States. Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication. Interest on the Securities shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year composed of twelve 30-day months.

The interest installment on any Security that is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date for Securities of that series shall be paid to the Person in whose name said Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the regular record date for such interest installment. In the event that any Security of a particular series or portion thereof is called for redemption and the redemption date is subsequent to a regular record date with respect to any Interest Payment Date and prior to such Interest Payment Date, interest on such Security will be paid upon presentation and surrender of such Security as provided in Section 3.03.

 

7


Any interest on any Security that is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date for Securities of the same series (herein called “Defaulted Interest”) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the registered holder on the relevant regular record date by virtue of having been such holder; and such Defaulted Interest shall be paid by the Company, at its election, as provided in clause (1) or clause (2) below:

(1) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on Securities to the Persons in whose names such Securities (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on a special record date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner: the Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each such Security and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a special record date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall not be more than 15 nor less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such special record date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the special record date therefor to be mailed, first class postage prepaid, to each Securityholder at his or her address as it appears in the Security Register (as hereinafter defined), 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 mailed as aforesaid, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names such Securities (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered on such special record date.

(2) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on any Securities in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which such Securities may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, if, after notice given by the Company to the Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant to this clause, such manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.

Provided that notwithstanding the foregoing, any interest which is paid prior to the expiration of the 30 day period set forth in Section 6.01(a)(1) shall be paid to Securityholders as of the regular record date for the Interest Payment Date for which interest has not been paid.

 

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Unless otherwise set forth in a Board Resolution or one or more indentures supplemental hereto establishing the terms of any series of Securities pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof, the term “regular record date” as used in this Section with respect to a series of Securities with respect to any Interest Payment Date for such series shall mean either the fifteenth day of the month immediately preceding the month in which an Interest Payment Date established for such series pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof shall occur, if such Interest Payment Date is the first day of a month, or the last day of the month immediately preceding the month in which an Interest Payment Date established for such series pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof shall occur, if such Interest Payment Date is the fifteenth day of a month, whether or not such date is a Business Day.

Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section, each Security of a series delivered under this Indenture upon transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Security of such series shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, that were carried by such other Security.

SECTION 2.04. Execution and Authentications.

The Securities shall be signed on behalf of the Company by its Chairman, Vice Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, or one of its Executive Vice Presidents or Senior Vice Presidents, or its Treasurer, or one of its Assistant Treasurers, or its Secretary, or one of its Assistant Secretaries, under its corporate seal attested by its Secretary or one of its Assistant Secretaries. Any Securities Guarantee endorsed on the Securities shall be executed on behalf of the applicable Guarantor by its Chairman of the Board, its Chief Executive Officer, its President, its Chief Financial Officer or any of its Vice Presidents and need not be attested. Signatures may be in the form of a manual or facsimile signature. The Company and the Guarantors may use the facsimile signature of any Person who were at any time proper officers of the Company or a Guarantor, as the case may be, notwithstanding the fact that at the time the Securities shall be authenticated and delivered or disposed of such Person shall have ceased to hold such office. The seal of the Company may be in the form of a facsimile of such seal and may be impressed, affixed, imprinted or otherwise reproduced on the Securities. The Securities may contain such notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule or usage. Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication by the Trustee.

No Security or Securities Guarantee endorsed thereon shall be valid until authenticated manually by an authorized signatory of the Trustee, or by an Authenticating Agent. Such signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Security so authenticated has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder and that the holder is entitled to the benefits of this Indenture. At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities of any series executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, together with a written order of the Company for the authentication and delivery of such Securities, signed by an authorized officer and its Secretary or any Assistant Secretary, and the Trustee in accordance with such written order shall authenticate and deliver such Securities.

In authenticating such Securities and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 7.01) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating that the form and terms thereof have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture.

 

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The Trustee shall not be required to authenticate such Securities if the issue of such Securities pursuant to this Indenture will affect the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under the Securities and this Indenture or otherwise in a manner that is not reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.

SECTION 2.05. Registration of Transfer and Exchange.

(a) Securities of any series may be exchanged upon presentation thereof at the office or agency of the Company designated for such purpose in the United States, for other Securities of such series of authorized denominations, and for a like aggregate principal amount, upon payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge in relation thereto, all as provided in this Section. In respect of any Securities so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, the Trustee shall authenticate and such office or agency shall deliver in exchange therefor the Security or Securities of the same series that the Securityholder making the exchange shall be entitled to receive, bearing numbers not contemporaneously outstanding.

(b) The Company shall keep, or cause to be kept, at its office or agency designated for such purpose in the United States, or such other location designated by the Company a register or registers (herein referred to as the “Security Register”) in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall register the Securities and the transfers of Securities as in this Article provided and which at all reasonable times shall be open for inspection by the Trustee. The registrar for the purpose of registering Securities and transfer of Securities as herein provided shall be appointed as authorized by a Board Resolution (the “Security Registrar”).

Upon surrender for transfer of any Security at the office or agency of the Company designated for such purpose, the Company and, if applicable, the Guarantor, shall execute, the Trustee shall authenticate and such office or agency shall deliver in the name of the transferee or transferees a new Security or Securities, with an endorsement of the Securities Guarantee, if applicable, executed by the Guarantors, of the same series as the Security presented for a like aggregate principal amount.

All Securities presented or surrendered for exchange or registration of transfer, as provided in this Section, shall be accompanied (if so required by the Company or the Security Registrar) by a written instrument or instruments of transfer, in form satisfactory to the Company or the Security Registrar, duly executed by the registered holder or by such holder’s duly authorized attorney in writing.

(c) No service charge shall be made for any exchange or registration of transfer of Securities, or issue of new Securities in case of partial redemption of any series, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge in relation thereto, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 2.06, Section 3.03(b) and Section 9.04 not involving any transfer.

 

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(d) The Company shall not be required (1) to issue, exchange or register the transfer of any Securities during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of the mailing of a notice of redemption of less than all the Outstanding Securities of the same series and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing, nor (2) to register the transfer of or exchange any Securities of any series or portions thereof called for redemption. The provisions of this Section 2.05 are, with respect to any Global Security, subject to Section 2.11 hereof.

SECTION 2.06. Temporary Securities.

Pending the preparation of definitive Securities of any series, the Company may execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, temporary Securities (printed, lithographed or typewritten) of any authorized denomination. Such temporary Securities shall be substantially in the form of the definitive Securities in lieu of which they are issued, but with such omissions, insertions and variations as may be appropriate for temporary Securities, all as may be determined by the Company. Every temporary Security of any series shall be executed by the Company and be authenticated by the Trustee upon the same conditions and in substantially the same manner, and with like effect, as the definitive Securities of such series. Without unnecessary delay the Company will execute and will furnish definitive Securities of such series and thereupon any or all temporary Securities of such series may be surrendered in exchange therefor (without charge to the holders), at the office or agency of the Company designated for the purpose in the United States, and the Trustee shall authenticate and such office or agency shall deliver in exchange for such temporary Securities an equal aggregate principal amount of definitive Securities of such series, unless the Company advises the Trustee to the effect that definitive Securities need not be executed and furnished until further notice from the Company. Until so exchanged, the temporary Securities of such series shall be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities of such series authenticated and delivered hereunder.

SECTION 2.07. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Securities.

In case any temporary or definitive Security shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company (subject to the next succeeding sentence) shall execute, and upon the Company’s request, the Trustee (subject as aforesaid) shall authenticate and deliver, a new Security with an endorsement of the Securities Guarantee, if applicable, executed by the Guarantors, of the same series, bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding, in exchange and substitution for the mutilated Security, or in lieu of and in substitution for the Security so destroyed, lost or stolen. In every case the applicant for a substituted Security shall furnish to the Company and the Trustee such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them harmless, and, in every case of destruction, loss or theft, the applicant shall also furnish to the Company and the Trustee evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of the applicant’s Security and of the ownership thereof. The Trustee may authenticate any such substituted Security and deliver the same upon the written request or authorization of any officer of the Company. Upon the issuance of any substituted Security, the Company and the Guarantors (if applicable) may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith. In case any Security that has matured or is about to mature shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company may, instead of issuing a substitute Security, pay or authorize the payment of the same (without surrender thereof except in the case of a mutilated Security) if the applicant for such payment shall furnish to the Company, the Guarantors (if applicable) and the Trustee such security or indemnity as they may require to save each of them harmless, and, in case of destruction, loss or theft, evidence to the satisfaction of the Company, the Guarantors (if applicable) and the Trustee of the destruction, loss or theft of such Security and of the ownership thereof.

 

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Every replacement Security issued pursuant to the provisions of this Section shall constitute an additional contractual obligation of the Company and, if applicable, the Guarantors, whether or not the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be found at any time, or be enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of the same series duly issued hereunder. All Securities shall be held and owned upon the express condition that the foregoing provisions are exclusive with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities, and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) any and all other rights or remedies, notwithstanding any law or statute existing or hereafter enacted to the contrary with respect to the replacement or payment of negotiable instruments or other securities without their surrender.

SECTION 2.08. Cancellation.

All Securities surrendered for the purpose of payment, redemption, exchange or registration of transfer shall, if surrendered to the Company or any paying agent, be delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, or, if surrendered to the Trustee, shall be cancelled by it, and no Securities shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly required or permitted by any of the provisions of this Indenture. On request of the Company at the time of such surrender, the Trustee shall deliver to the Company canceled Securities held by the Trustee (subject to the Trustee record retention policies). In the absence of such request the Trustee shall provide a certificate of cancellation to the Company, upon request. If the Company shall otherwise acquire any of the Securities, however, such acquisition shall not operate as a redemption or satisfaction of the indebtedness represented by such Securities unless and until the same are delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.

SECTION 2.09. Benefits of Indenture.

Nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities, express or implied, shall give or be construed to give to any Person, other than the parties hereto and the holders of the Securities, any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Indenture, or under any covenant, condition or provision herein contained; all such covenants, conditions and provisions being for the sole benefit of the parties hereto and of the holders of the Securities.

SECTION 2.10. Authenticating Agent.

So long as any of the Securities of any series remain Outstanding there may be an Authenticating Agent for any or all such series of Securities which the Trustee shall have the right to appoint. Said Authenticating Agent shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of such series issued upon exchange, transfer or partial redemption thereof, and Securities so authenticated shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee hereunder. All references in this Indenture to the authentication of Securities by the Trustee shall be deemed to include authentication by an Authenticating Agent for such series. Each Authenticating Agent

 

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shall be acceptable to the Company and shall be a corporation that has a combined capital and surplus, as most recently reported or determined by it, sufficient under the laws of any jurisdiction under which it is organized or in which it is doing business to conduct a trust business, and that is otherwise authorized under such laws to conduct such business and is subject to supervision or examination by Federal or State authorities. If at any time any Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with these provisions, it shall resign immediately.

Any Authenticating Agent may at any time resign by giving written notice of resignation to the Trustee, to the Company, and if applicable, to the Guarantor. The Trustee may at any time (and upon request by the Company shall) terminate the agency of any Authenticating Agent by giving written notice of termination to such Authenticating Agent, to the Company, and if applicable, to the Guarantor. Upon resignation, termination or cessation of eligibility of any Authenticating Agent, the Trustee may appoint an eligible successor Authenticating Agent acceptable to the Company. Any successor Authenticating Agent, upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder, shall become vested with all the rights, powers and duties of its predecessor hereunder as if originally named as an Authenticating Agent pursuant hereto.

SECTION 2.11. Global Securities.

(a) If the Company shall establish pursuant to Section 2.01 that the Securities of a particular series are to be issued as a Global Security, then the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall, in accordance with Section 2.04, authenticate and deliver, a Global Security that (1) shall represent, and shall be denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of, all of the Outstanding Securities of such series, (2) shall be registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, (3) shall be delivered by the Trustee to the Depositary or pursuant to the Depositary’s instruction and (4) shall bear a legend substantially to the following effect: “Except as otherwise provided in Section 2.11 of the Indenture, this Security may be transferred, in whole but not in part, only to another nominee of the Depositary or to a successor Depositary or to a nominee of such successor Depositary.”

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2.05, the Global Security of a series may be transferred, in whole but not in part and in the manner provided in Section 2.05, only to another nominee of the Depositary for such series, or to a successor Depositary for such series selected or approved by the Company or to a nominee of such successor Depositary.

(c) If at any time the Depositary for a series of the Securities notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such series or if at any time the Depositary for such series shall no longer be registered or in good standing under the Exchange Act, or other applicable statute or regulation, and a successor Depositary for such series is not appointed by the Company within 90 days after the Company receives such notice or becomes aware of such condition, as the case may be, this Section 2.11 shall no longer be applicable to the Securities of such series and the Company, and, if applicable, the Guarantors, will execute and, subject to Section 2.05, the Trustee will authenticate and deliver the Securities with an endorsement of the Securities Guarantee, if applicable, executed by the Guarantors, of such series in definitive registered form without coupons, in authorized denominations, and in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security of such series in

 

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exchange for such Global Security. In addition, the Company may at any time determine that the Securities of any series shall no longer be represented by a Global Security and that the provisions of this Section 2.11 shall no longer apply to the Securities of such series. In such event the Company, and, if applicable, the Guarantors will execute and, subject to Section 2.05, the Trustee, upon receipt of an Officers’ Certificate evidencing such determination by the Company, will authenticate and deliver the Securities with an endorsement of the Securities Guarantee, if applicable, of such series in definitive registered form without coupons, in authorized denominations, and in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security of such series in exchange for such Global Security. Upon the exchange of the Global Security for such Securities in definitive registered form without coupons, in authorized denominations, the Global Security shall be canceled by the Trustee. Such Securities in definitive registered form issued in exchange for the Global Security pursuant to this Section 2.11(c) 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 Trustee. The Trustee shall deliver such Securities to the Depositary for delivery to the Persons in whose names such Securities are so registered.

ARTICLE III

REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES AND SINKING FUND PROVISIONS

SECTION 3.01. Redemption.

The Company may redeem the Securities of any series issued hereunder on and after the dates and in accordance with the terms established for such series pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof.

SECTION 3.02. Notice of Redemption.

(a) In case the Company shall desire to exercise such right to redeem all or, as the case may be, a portion of the Securities of any series in accordance with the right reserved so to do, the Company shall, or shall cause the Trustee (with at least five Business Days notice to the Trustee) to, give notice of such redemption to holders of the Securities of such series to be redeemed by mailing, first class postage prepaid, a notice of such redemption not less than 30 days and not more than 60 days before the date fixed for redemption of that series to such holders at their last addresses as they shall appear upon the Security Register unless a shorter period is specified in the Securities to be redeemed. Any notice that is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the registered holder receives the notice. In any case, failure duly to give such notice to the holder of any Security of any series designated for redemption in whole or in part, or any defect in the notice, shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Securities of such series or any other series. In the case of any redemption of Securities prior to the expiration of any restriction on such redemption provided in the terms of such Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture, the Company shall furnish the Trustee with an Officers’ Certificate evidencing compliance with any such restriction.

 

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Each such notice of redemption shall specify the date fixed for redemption and the redemption price at which Securities of that series are to be redeemed, and shall state that payment of the redemption price of such Securities to be redeemed will be made at the office or agency of the Company in the United States, upon presentation and surrender of such Securities, that interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption will be paid as specified in said notice, that from and after said date interest will cease to accrue and that the redemption is for a sinking fund, if such is the case. If less than all the Securities of a series are to be redeemed, the notice to the holders of Securities of that series to be redeemed in whole or in part shall specify the particular Securities to be so redeemed. In case any Security is to be redeemed in part only, the notice that relates to such Security shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed, and shall state that on and after the redemption date, upon surrender of such Security, a new Security or Securities of such series in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof will be issued.

(b) If less than all the Securities of a series are to be redeemed, the Company shall give the Trustee at least 60 days’ notice in advance of the date fixed for redemption as to the aggregate principal amount of Securities of the series to be redeemed, and thereupon the Trustee shall select, by lot or in such other manner as it shall deem appropriate and fair in its discretion (and in accordance with the Depositary’s applicable procedures) and that may provide for the selection of a portion or portions (equal to one thousand U.S. dollars ($1,000) or any integral multiple thereof) of the principal amount of such Securities of a denomination larger than $1,000, the Securities to be redeemed and shall thereafter promptly notify the Company in writing of the numbers of the Securities to be redeemed, in whole or in part. The Company may, if and whenever it shall so elect, by delivery of instructions signed on its behalf by its Chairman, Vice Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, or any Executive Vice President or Senior Vice President, instruct the Trustee or any paying agent to call all or any part of the Securities of a particular series for redemption and to give notice of redemption in the manner set forth in this Section, such notice to be in the name of the Company or its own name as the Trustee or such paying agent may deem advisable. In any case in which notice of redemption is to be given by the Trustee or any such paying agent, the Company shall deliver or cause to be delivered to, or permit to remain with, the Trustee or such paying agent, as the case may be, such Security Register, transfer books or other records, or suitable copies or extracts therefrom, sufficient to enable the Trustee or such paying agent to give any notice by mail that may be required under the provisions of this Section.

SECTION 3.03. Payment Upon Redemption.

(a) If the giving of notice of redemption shall have been completed as above provided, the Securities or portions of Securities of the series to be redeemed specified in such notice shall become due and payable on the date and at the place stated in such notice at the applicable redemption price, together with interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption and interest on such Securities or portions of Securities shall cease to accrue on and after the date fixed for redemption, unless the Company shall default in the payment of such redemption price and accrued interest with respect to any such Security or portion thereof. On presentation and surrender of such Securities on or after the date fixed for redemption at the place of payment specified in the notice, said Securities shall be paid and redeemed at the applicable redemption price for such series, together with interest accrued thereon to the date fixed for redemption (but if the date fixed for redemption is an interest payment date, the interest installment payable on such date shall be payable to the registered holder at the close of business on the applicable record date pursuant to Section 2.03).

 

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(b) Upon presentation of any Security of such series that is to be redeemed in part only, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and the office or agency where the Security is presented shall deliver to the holder thereof, at the expense of the Company, a new Security of the same series of authorized denominations in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the Security so presented.

SECTION 3.04. Sinking Fund.

The provisions of Sections 3.04, 3.05 and 3.06 shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of Securities of a series, except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.01 for Securities of such series.

The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as a “mandatory sinking fund payment,” and any payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as an “optional sinking fund payment”. If provided for by the terms of Securities of any series, the cash amount of any sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 3.05. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities of any series as provided for by the terms of Securities of such series.

SECTION 3.05. Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities.

The Company (a) may deliver Outstanding Securities of a series (other than any Securities previously called for redemption) and (b) may apply as a credit Securities of a series that have been redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such Securities or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the terms of such Securities, in each case in satisfaction of all or any part of any sinking fund payment with respect to the Securities of such series required to be made pursuant to the terms of such Securities, provided that such Securities have not been previously so credited. Such Securities shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the redemption price specified in such Securities for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly.

SECTION 3.06. Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund.

Not less than 45 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for any series of Securities, the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing sinking fund payment for that series pursuant to the terms of the series, the portion thereof, if any, that is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting Securities of that series pursuant to Section 3.05 and the basis for such credit and will, together with such Officers’ Certificate, deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so delivered. Not less than 30 days before each such sinking fund payment date the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 3.02 and cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the Company in the manner provided in Section 3.02. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Section 3.03.

 

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ARTICLE IV

COVENANTS

SECTION 4.01. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest.

The Company will duly and punctually pay or cause to be paid the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Securities of that series at the time and place and in the manner provided herein and established with respect to such Securities.

SECTION 4.02. Maintenance of Office or Agency.

So long as any series of the Securities remain Outstanding, the Company agrees to maintain an office or agency in the United States, with respect to each such series and at such other location or locations as may be designated as provided in this Section 4.02, where (a) Securities of that series may be presented for payment, (b) Securities of that series may be presented as herein above authorized for registration of transfer and exchange, and (c) notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of that series and this Indenture may be given or served, such designation to continue with respect to such office or agency until the Company shall, by written notice signed by its Chairman, Vice Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, or an Executive Vice President or Senior Vice President and delivered to the Trustee, designate some other office or agency for such purposes or any of them. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all such presentations, notices and demands, provided however, that such appointment shall not be deemed to be as an agent for service of process on the Company.

SECTION 4.03. Paying Agents.

(a) If the Company shall appoint one or more paying agents for all or any series of the Securities, other than the Trustee, the Company will cause each such paying agent to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section:

(1) that it will hold all sums held by it as such agent for the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on the Securities of that series (whether such sums have been paid to it by the Company or by any other obligor of such Securities) in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto;

(2) that it will give the Trustee notice of any failure by the Company (or by any other obligor of such Securities) to make any payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on the Securities of that series when the same shall be due and payable;

 

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(3) that it will, at any time during the continuance of any failure referred to in the preceding paragraph (a)(2) above, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so held in trust by such paying agent; and

(4) that it will perform all other duties of paying agent as set forth in this Indenture.

(b) If the Company shall act as its own paying agent with respect to any series of the Securities, it will on or before each due date of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on Securities of that series, set aside, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto a sum sufficient to pay such principal (and premium, if any) or interest so becoming due on Securities of that series until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided and will promptly notify the Trustee of such action, or any failure (by it or any other obligor on such Securities) to take such action. Whenever the Company shall have one or more paying agents for any series of Securities, it will, prior to each due date of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any Securities of that series, deposit with the paying agent a sum sufficient to pay the principal (and premium, if any) or interest so becoming due, such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such principal, premium or interest, and (unless such paying agent is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee of this action or failure so to act.

(c) Notwithstanding anything in this Section to the contrary, (1) the agreement to hold sums in trust as provided in this Section is subject to the provisions of Section 11.05, and (2) the Company, and, if applicable, the Guarantors, may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or for any other purpose, pay, or direct any paying agent to pay, to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Company or such paying agent, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the same terms and conditions as those upon which such sums were held by the Company or such paying agent; and, upon such payment by any paying agent to the Trustee, such paying agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such money.

SECTION 4.04. Appointment to Fill Vacancy in Office of Trustee.

The Company, whenever necessary to avoid or fill a vacancy in the office of Trustee, will appoint, in the manner provided in Section 7.10, a Trustee, so that there shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder.

ARTICLE V

SECURITYHOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS

BY THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE

SECTION 5.01. Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Securityholders.

The Company will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee (a) on each regular record date (as defined in Section 2.03), but in each case will be no more than six months apart, a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the holders of each series of Securities as of such regular record date, provided that the Company

 

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shall not be obligated to furnish or cause to be furnished such list at any time that the list shall not differ in any respect from the most recent list furnished to the Trustee by the Company and (b) at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing within 30 days after the receipt by the Company of any such request, a list of similar form and content as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list is furnished; provided, however, that, in either case, no such list need be furnished for any series for which the Trustee shall be the Security Registrar.

SECTION 5.02. Preservation Of Information; Communications With Securityholders.

(a) The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, all information as to the names and addresses of the holders of Securities contained in the most recent list furnished to it as provided in Section 5.01 and as to the names and addresses of holders of Securities received by the Trustee in its capacity as Security Registrar (if acting in such capacity).

(b) The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 5.01 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.

(c) Securityholders may communicate as provided in Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act with other Securityholders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under the Securities. The Company, the Guarantors (if applicable), the Trustee, the Security Registrar and any other Person shall have the protection of the Trust Indenture Act Section 312(c).

SECTION 5.03. Reports by the Company.

(a) The Company covenants and agrees to file with the Trustee, within 15 days after the Company files the same with the Commission, copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the Commission may from time to time by rules and regulations prescribe) that the Company may be required to file with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act; or, if the Company is not required to file information, documents or reports pursuant to either of such sections, then to file with the Trustee and the Commission, in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission, such of the supplementary and periodic information, documents and reports that may be required pursuant to Section 13 of the Exchange Act, in respect of a security listed and registered on a national securities exchange as may be prescribed from time to time in such rules and regulations.

(b) The Company covenants and agrees to file with the Trustee and the Commission, in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed from to time by the Commission, such additional information, documents and reports with respect to compliance by the Company with the conditions and covenants provided for in this Indenture as may be required from time to time by such rules and regulations.

 

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(c) The Company covenants and agrees to transmit by mail, first class postage prepaid, or reputable overnight delivery service that provides for evidence of receipt, to the Securityholders, as their names and addresses appear upon the Security Register, within 30 days after the filing thereof with the Trustee, such summaries of any information, documents and reports required to be filed by the Company pursuant to subsections (a) and (b) of this Section as may be required by rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission.

Delivery of reports, information and documents to the Trustee under this Section are for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of the foregoing shall not constitute constructive or actual notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of their covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officers’ Certificates).

ARTICLE VI

REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS ON EVENT OF DEFAULT

SECTION 6.01. Events of Default.

(a) Whenever used herein with respect to Securities of a particular series, “Event of Default” means any one or more of the following events that has occurred and is continuing:

(1) the Company defaults in the payment of any installment of interest upon any of the Securities of that series, as and when the same shall become due and payable, and such default continues for a period of 30 days; provided, however, that a valid extension of an interest payment period by the Company in accordance with the terms of any indenture supplemental hereto, shall not constitute a default in the payment of interest for this purpose;

(2) the Company defaults in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any of the Securities of that series as and when the same shall become due and payable whether at maturity, upon redemption, by declaration or otherwise, or in any payment required by any sinking or analogous fund established with respect to that series; provided, however, that a valid extension of the maturity of such Securities in accordance with the terms of any indenture supplemental hereto shall not constitute a default in the payment of principal or premium, if any;

(3) the Company fails to observe or perform any other of its covenants or agreements with respect to that series contained in this Indenture or otherwise established with respect to that series of Securities pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof (other than a covenant or agreement that has been expressly included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of one or more series of Securities other than such series) for a period of 90 days after the date on which written notice of such failure, requiring the same to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder, shall have been given to the Company by the Trustee, by registered or certified mail, or to the Company and the Trustee by the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Securities of that series at the time Outstanding;

(4) the Company pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law (i) commences a voluntary case, (ii) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case, (iii) consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its property or (iv) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors; or

 

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(5) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order under any Bankruptcy Law that (i) is for relief against the Company in an involuntary case, (ii) appoints a Custodian of the Company for all or substantially all of its property or (iii) orders the liquidation of the Company, and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 90 days.

(b) In each and every such case, unless the principal of all the Securities of that series shall have already become due and payable, either the Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of that series then Outstanding hereunder, by notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by such Securityholders), may declare the principal of all the Securities of that series to be due and payable immediately, and upon any such declaration the same shall become and shall be immediately due and payable.

(c) At any time after the principal of the Securities of that series shall have been so declared due and payable, and before any judgment or decree for the payment of the moneys due shall have been obtained or entered as hereinafter provided, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of that series then Outstanding hereunder, by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if: (1) the Company, or, if applicable, one or more Guarantors, has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest upon all the Securities of that series and the principal of (and premium, if any, on) all Securities of that series that shall have become due otherwise than by acceleration (with interest upon such principal and premium, if any, and, to the extent that such payment is enforceable under applicable law, upon overdue installments of interest, at the rate per annum expressed in the Securities of that series to the date of such payment or deposit) and any amount payable to the Trustee under Section 7.07, and (2) any and all other Events of Default under the Indenture with respect to such series, other than the nonpayment of principal on Securities of that series that shall not have become due by their terms, shall have been remedied or waived as provided in Section 6.06.

No such rescission and annulment shall extend to or shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right consequent thereon.

(d) In case the Trustee shall have proceeded to enforce any right with respect to Securities of that series under this Indenture and such proceedings shall have been discontinued or abandoned because of such rescission or annulment or for any other reason or shall have been determined adversely to the Trustee, then and in every such case, subject to any determination in such proceedings, the Company, the Guarantors, if applicable, and the Trustee shall be restored respectively to their former positions and rights hereunder, and all rights, remedies and powers of the Company, the Guarantors, if applicable, and the Trustee shall continue as though no such proceedings had been taken.

 

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SECTION 6.02. Suits for Enforcement by Trustee.

(a) If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(a)(1) or (2) hereof occurs and is continuing, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, shall be entitled and empowered to institute any action or proceedings at law or in equity for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, and may prosecute any such action or proceeding to judgment or final decree, and may enforce any such judgment or final decree against the Company, or, if applicable, one or more Guarantors, or any other obligor upon the Securities of that series and collect the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company, or, if applicable, one or more Guarantors, or any other obligor upon the Securities of that series, wherever situated.

(b) In case of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, readjustment, arrangement, composition or judicial proceedings affecting the Company, or its creditors or property, the Trustee shall have power to intervene in such proceedings and take any action therein that may be permitted by the court and shall (except as may be otherwise provided by law) be entitled to file such proofs of claim and other papers and documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee and of the holders of Securities of a series allowed for the entire amount due and payable by the Company under this Indenture at the date of institution of such proceedings and for any additional amount that may become due and payable by the Company after such date, and to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claim, and to distribute the same after the deduction of the amount payable to the Trustee under Section 7.07; and any receiver, assignee or trustee in bankruptcy or reorganization is hereby authorized by each of the holders of Securities of such series to make such payments to the Trustee, and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to such Securityholders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it under Section 7.07.

(c) All rights of action and of asserting claims under this Indenture, or under any of the terms established with respect to Securities of a series, may be enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of such Securities, or the production thereof at any trial or other proceeding relative thereto, and any such suit or proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall, after provision for payment to the Trustee of any amounts due under Section 7.07, be for the ratable benefit of the holders of the Securities of such series.

In case of an Event of Default hereunder, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce the rights vested in it by this Indenture by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any of such rights, either at law or in equity or in bankruptcy or otherwise, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement contained in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted in this Indenture, or to enforce any other legal or equitable right vested in the Trustee by this Indenture or by law.

Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Securityholder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities of that series or the rights of any holder thereof or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Securityholder in any such proceeding.

 

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SECTION 6.03. Application of Moneys Collected.

Any moneys collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article with respect to a particular series of Securities shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and, in case of the distribution of such moneys on account of principal (or premium, if any) or interest, upon presentation of the Securities of that series, and notation thereon the payment, if only partially paid, and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:

FIRST: To the payment of costs and expenses of collection and of all amounts payable to the Trustee under Section 7.07; and

SECOND: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid upon Securities of such series for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, in respect of which or for the benefit of which such money has been collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on such Securities for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, respectively.

SECTION 6.04. Limitation on Suits.

No holder of any Security of any series shall have any right by virtue or by availing of any provision of this Indenture to institute any suit, action or proceeding in equity or at law upon or under or with respect to this Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless (a) such holder previously shall have given to the Trustee written notice of an Event of Default and of the continuance thereof with respect to the Securities of such series specifying such Event of Default, as hereinbefore provided; (b) the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series then Outstanding shall have made written request upon the Trustee to institute such action, suit or proceeding in its own name as trustee hereunder; (c) such holder or holders shall have offered to the Trustee such indemnity as it may require against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred therein or thereby; (d) the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity, shall have failed to institute any such action, suit or proceeding; and (e) during such 60-day period, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of that series shall not have given the Trustee a direction inconsistent with the request.

Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the right of any holder of any Security to receive payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on such Security, as therein provided, on or after the respective due dates expressed in such Security (or in the case of redemption, on the redemption date), or to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates or redemption date, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such holder. By accepting a Security hereunder it is expressly understood, intended and covenanted by the taker and holder of every Security of such series with every other such taker and holder and the Trustee, that no one or more holders of Securities of such series shall have any right in any manner whatsoever by virtue or by availing of any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of the holders of any other of such Securities, or to obtain or seek to obtain priority over or preference to any other such holder, or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal, ratable and common benefit of all holders of Securities of such series. For the protection and enforcement of the provisions of this Section, each and every Securityholder and the Trustee shall be entitled to such relief as can be given either at law or in equity.

 

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SECTION 6.05. Rights and Remedies Cumulative; Delay or Omission Not Waiver.

(a) All powers and remedies given by this Article to the Trustee or to the Securityholders shall, to the extent permitted by law, be deemed cumulative and not exclusive of any other powers and remedies available to the Trustee or the holders of the Securities, by judicial proceedings or otherwise, to enforce the performance or observance of the covenants and agreements contained in this Indenture or otherwise established with respect to such Securities.

(b) No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any holder of any of the Securities to exercise any right or power accruing upon any Event of Default occurring and continuing as aforesaid shall impair any such right or power, or shall be construed to be a waiver of any such default or on acquiescence therein; and, subject to the provisions of Section 6.04, every power and remedy given by this Article or by law to the Trustee or the Securityholders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as shall be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Securityholders.

SECTION 6.06. Control by Securityholders.

The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any series at the time Outstanding, determined in accordance with Section 8.01, shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee with respect to such series; provided, however, that such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture or be unduly prejudicial to the rights of holders of Securities of any other series at the time Outstanding determined in accordance with Section 8.01. Subject to the provisions of Section 7.01, the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee in good faith shall, by a Responsible Officer or Officers of the Trustee, determine that the proceeding so directed would involve the Trustee in personal liability. The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any series at the time Outstanding affected thereby, determined in accordance with Section 8.01, may on behalf of the holders of all of the Securities of such series waive any past default in the performance of any of the covenants contained herein or established pursuant to Section 2.01 with respect to such series and its consequences, except an uncured default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on, any of the Securities of that series as and when the same shall become due by the terms of such Securities otherwise than by acceleration (unless such default has been cured and a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest and principal and any premium has been deposited with the Trustee (in accordance with Section 6.01(c))). Upon any such waiver, the default covered thereby shall be deemed to be cured for all purposes of this Indenture and the Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee and the holders of the Securities of such series shall be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder, respectively; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or impair any right consequent thereon.

 

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SECTION 6.07. Undertaking to Pay Costs.

All parties to this Indenture agree, and each holder of any Securities by such holder’s acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; but the provisions of this Section shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Securityholder, or group of Securityholders, holding more than 10% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, or to any suit instituted by any Securityholder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Security of such series, on or after the respective due dates expressed in such Security or established pursuant to this Indenture.

ARTICLE VII

CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE

SECTION 7.01. Duties of Trustee.

(a) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee will exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs.

(b) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:

(1) the duties of the Trustee will be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture and the Trustee need perform only those duties that are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no others, and no implied covenants or obligations will be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and

(2) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture. However, in the case of any such certificates or opinions which by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee will examine the certificates and opinions to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture (but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of mathematical calculations or other facts stated therein).

(c) The Trustee may not be relieved from liabilities for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that:

(1) this paragraph does not limit the effect of Section 7.01(b);

 

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(2) the Trustee will not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer, unless it is proved in a court of competent jurisdiction that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and

(3) the Trustee will not be liable with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to Section 6.06.

(d) Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to Sections 7.01 and 7.02.

(e) The Trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Securityholders unless the Securityholders have offered to the Trustee indemnity or security reasonably satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense.

(f) The Trustee will not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Company. Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

SECTION 7.02. Rights of Trustee.

(a) The Trustee may conclusively rely upon any document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper Person. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee will determine in good faith to make such further inquiry or investigation, it will be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Company, personally or by agent or attorney at the sole cost of the Company and will incur no liability or additional liability of any kind by reason of such inquiry or investigation.

(b) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officers’ Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both. The Trustee will not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection and the advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel will be full and complete authorization and protection from liability in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon.

(c) The Trustee may act through its attorneys and agents and will not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent or attorney appointed with due care.

(d) The Trustee will not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith that it believes to be authorized or within the rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture.

(e) Unless otherwise specifically provided in this Indenture, any demand, request, direction or notice from the Company or a Guarantor will be sufficient if signed by an Officer of the Company or such Guarantor.

 

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(f) None of the provisions of this Indenture will require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise to incur any liability, financial or otherwise, in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers if it has reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it against such risk or liability is not assured to it.

(g) The Trustee will not be deemed to have notice or actual knowledge of any Default or Event of Default unless written notice of any event which is in fact such a Default or an Event of Default is received by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and such notice references the existence of a Default or Event of Default and this Indenture.

(h) In no event will the Trustee be responsible or liable for special, indirect, punitive or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including, but not limited to, loss of profit) irrespective of whether the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action.

(i) The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and will be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, and each agent, custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder.

(j) The Trustee may request that the Company deliver an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture, which Officers’ Certificate may be signed by any person authorized to sign an Officers’ Certificate, including any Person specified as so authorized in any such certificate previously delivered and not superseded.

(k) The Trustee will not be required to give any bond or surety in respect of the performance of its powers and duties hereunder.

(l) The permissive rights of the Trustee enumerated herein will not be construed as duties.

(m) The Trustee is not responsible for monitoring the performance of other persons or for failure of others to perform their duties.

(n) Any action to be taken, or omitted to be taken, by the Trustee in good faith pursuant to this Indenture upon the request or authority or consent of any person who, at the time of making such request or giving such authority or consent, is the holder of any Security shall be conclusive and binding upon future holders of Securities, and upon Securities executed and delivered in exchange therefor or in place thereof.

 

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SECTION 7.03. Individual Rights of Trustee.

The Trustee, any Security Registrar or any Paying Agent in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and may otherwise deal with the Company or any Affiliate of the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee or such Security Registrar or Paying Agent. However, in the event that the Trustee acquires any conflicting interest within the meaning of Trust Indenture Act Section 310(b) it must eliminate such conflict within 90 days, apply to the SEC for permission to continue as trustee (if this Indenture has been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act) or resign. Any Security Registrar or Paying Agent may do the same with like rights and duties. The Trustee is also subject to Sections 7.10 and 7.11.

SECTION 7.04. Trustee’s Disclaimer.

The Trustee will not be responsible for and makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Securities, it will not be accountable for the Company’s use of the proceeds from the Securities or any money paid to the Company or upon the Company’s direction under any provision of this Indenture, it will not be responsible for the use or application of any money received by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee, and it will not be responsible for any statement or recital herein or any statement in the Securities or any other document in connection with the sale of the Securities or pursuant to this Indenture other than its certificate of authentication on the Securities.

SECTION 7.05. Notice of Defaults.

If a Default or an Event of Default occurs and is continuing and if, in accordance with Section 7.02(g), it is known to the Trustee, the Trustee will mail to each Securityholder a notice of the Default within 90 days after it occurs unless such Default or Event of Default will have been cured or waived. Except in the case of an Event of Default specified in clauses (1) or (2) of Section 6.01(a), the Trustee may withhold from the Securityholders notice of any continuing Default if and so long as a Responsible Officer of the Trustee determines in good faith that withholding the notice is in the interest of the Securityholders.

SECTION 7.06. Reports by Trustee to Securityholders.

(a) Within 60 days after each May 15 on which the Securities are Outstanding, the Trustee will mail to the Securityholders of the Securities a brief report dated as of such reporting date that complies with Trust Indenture Act Section 313(a) (but if no event described in Trust Indenture Act Section 313(a) has occurred within the twelve months preceding the reporting date, no report need be transmitted). The Trustee also will comply with Trust Indenture Act Section 313(b)(2). The Trustee will also transmit by mail all reports as required by Trust Indenture Act Section 313(c).

(b) A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to the Securityholders will be mailed to the Company and filed with the SEC and each national securities exchange on which the Securities are listed in accordance with Trust Indenture Act Section 313(d). The Company will promptly notify the Trustee in writing in the event the Securities are listed or delisted on any national securities exchange or delisted therefrom.

 

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SECTION 7.07. Compensation and Indemnity.

(a) The Company and the Guarantors, jointly and severally, will pay to the Trustee from time to time such compensation for its acceptance of this Indenture and services hereunder as the parties will agree in writing from time to time. The Trustee’s compensation will not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Company will reimburse the Trustee promptly upon request for all reasonable disbursements, advances and expenses incurred or made by it in addition to the compensation for its services. Such expenses will include the reasonable compensation, disbursements and expenses of the Trustee’s agents and counsel. The Trustee will provide the Company reasonable notice of any expenditure not in the ordinary course of business.

(b) The Company and the Guarantors, jointly and severally, will indemnify the Trustee for, and hold each of the Trustee and any predecessor harmless against, any and all loss, damage, claims, liability or expense (including attorneys’ fees and expenses) incurred by it in connection with the acceptance or administration of this trust, the exercise of its rights and remedies and the performance of its duties hereunder (including the costs and expenses of enforcing this Indenture against the Company or any Guarantor (including this Section 7.07) and including claims involving the Company or any third party) or defending itself against any claim or liability in connection with the acceptance, exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder. The Trustee will notify the Company promptly of any third party claim of which a Responsible Officer has received written notice for which it may seek indemnity. Failure by the Trustee to so notify the Company will not relieve the Company of its obligations hereunder. The Company will defend any third party claim and the Trustee may have separate counsel and the Company will pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company and the Guarantors need not reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss, liability or expense incurred by the Trustee through the Trustee’s own willful misconduct, gross negligence or bad faith. In addition, the Company and the Guarantors need not pay for any settlement made without their consent, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld. This indemnification shall apply to officers, directors, employees, shareholders and agents of the Trustee.

(c) The obligations of the Company and the Guarantors under this Section 7.07 will survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or the earlier resignation or removal of the Trustee.

(d) To secure the payment obligations of the Company and the Guarantors in this Section 7.07, the Trustee will have a lien prior to the Securities on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay principal and interest on particular Securities. Such lien will survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.

(e) When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(a)(4) or (5) occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the services (including the fees and expenses of its agents and counsel) are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.

 

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SECTION 7.08. Replacement of Trustee.

(a) A resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor Trustee will become effective only upon the successor Trustee’s acceptance of appointment as provided in this Section 7.08. The Trustee may resign with respect to one or more Series in writing at any time by giving 30 days’ prior notice of such resignation to the Company and be discharged from the trust hereby created by so notifying the Company. Following an Event of Default, the Securityholders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Securities may remove the Trustee by so notifying the Trustee and the Company in writing. The Company may remove the Trustee if:

(1) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10;

(2) the Trustee is adjudged a bankrupt or an insolvent or an order for relief is entered with respect to the Trustee under any Bankruptcy Law;

(3) a receiver or public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or

(4) the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.

(b) If the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason, the Company will promptly appoint a successor Trustee. Within one year after the successor Trustee takes office, the Securityholders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Securities may remove the successor Trustee to replace it with another successor Trustee appointed by the Company.

(c) If a successor Trustee does not take office within 60 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee (at the Company’s expense), the Company or the Securityholders of at least 10% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Securities may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.

(d) If the Trustee, after written request by any Securityholder who has been a Securityholder for at least six months, fails to comply with Section 7.10, such Securityholder may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee.

(e) A successor Trustee will deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Company. Thereupon, the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee will become effective, and the successor Trustee will have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee under this Indenture. The successor Trustee will mail a notice of its succession to Securityholders. The retiring Trustee will promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee; provided that all sums owing to the Trustee hereunder have been paid and such transfer will be subject to the lien provided for in Section 7.07. Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section 7.08, the Company’s obligations under Section 7.07 will continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee.

(f) As used in this Section 7.08, the term “Trustee” will also include each Security Registrar or any Paying Agent.

SECTION 7.09. Successor Trustee by Merger, etc.

If the Trustee consolidates, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business to, another corporation or national banking association, the successor corporation or national banking association without any further act will be the successor Trustee, subject to Section 7.10.

 

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SECTION 7.10. Eligibility; Disqualification.

(a) There will at all times be a Trustee hereunder that is a corporation or national banking association organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or of any state thereof that is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trustee power, that is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authorities and that has a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition. The Company may not, nor may any Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Company, serve as Trustee. In case at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, the Trustee shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in Section 7.08.

(b) This Indenture will always have a Trustee who satisfies the requirements of Trust Indenture Act Sections 310(a)(1), (2) and (5). The Trustee is subject to Trust Indenture Act Section 310(b).

SECTION 7.11. Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Company.

The Trustee is subject to Trust Indenture Act Section 311(a), excluding any creditor relationship listed in Trust Indenture Act Section 311(b). A Trustee who has resigned or been removed will be subject to Trust Indenture Act Section 311(a) to the extent indicated therein.

ARTICLE VIII

CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS

SECTION 8.01. Evidence of Action by Securityholders.

Whenever in this Indenture it is provided that the holders of a majority or specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of a particular series may take any action (including the making of any demand or request, the giving of any notice, consent or waiver or the taking of any other action), the fact that at the time of taking any such action the holders of such majority or specified percentage of that series have joined therein may be evidenced by any instrument or any number of instruments of similar tenor executed by such holders of Securities of that series in Person or by agent or proxy appointed in writing.

If the Company shall solicit from the Securityholders of any series any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, the Company may, at its option, as evidenced by an Officers’ Certificate, fix in advance a record date for such series for the determination of Securityholders entitled to give such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, but the Company shall have no obligation to do so. If such a record date is fixed, such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action may be given before or after the record date, but only the Securityholders of record at the close of business on the record date shall be deemed to be Securityholders for the purposes of determining whether Securityholders of the requisite proportion of Outstanding

 

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Securities of that series have authorized or agreed or consented to such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, and for that purpose the Outstanding Securities of that series shall be computed as of the record date; provided, however, that no such authorization, agreement or consent by such Securityholders on the record date shall be deemed effective unless it shall become effective pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture not later than six months after the record date.

SECTION 8.02. Proof of Execution by Securityholders.

Subject to the provisions of Section 7.01, proof of the execution of any instrument by a Securityholder (such proof will not require notarization) or his agent or proxy and proof of the holding by any Person of any of the Securities shall be sufficient if made in the following manner:

(a) The fact and date of the execution by any such Person of any instrument may be proved in any reasonable manner acceptable to the Trustee.

(b) The ownership of Securities shall be proved by the Security Register of such Securities or by a certificate of the Security Registrar thereof.

(c) The Trustee may require such additional proof of any matter referred to in this Section as it shall deem necessary.

SECTION 8.03. Who May be Deemed Owners.

Prior to the due presentment for registration of transfer of any Security, the Company, the Guarantors (if applicable), the Trustee, any paying agent and any Security Registrar may deem and treat the Person in whose name such Security shall be registered upon the books of the Company as the absolute owner of such Security (whether or not such Security shall be overdue and notwithstanding any notice of ownership or writing thereon made by anyone other than the Security Registrar) for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account of the principal of (and premium, if any) and (subject to Section 2.03) interest on such Security and for all other purposes; and neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any paying agent nor any Security Registrar shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.

SECTION 8.04. Certain Securities Owned by Company Disregarded.

In determining whether the holders of the requisite aggregate principal amount of Securities of a particular series have concurred in any direction, consent or waiver under this Indenture, the Securities of that series that are owned by the Company, or, if applicable, any Guarantor, or any other obligor on the Securities of that series or by any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under common control with the Company, or, if applicable, any Guarantor, or any other obligor on the Securities of that series shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding for the purpose of any such determination, except that for the purpose of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, consent or waiver, only Securities of such series that the Trustee actually knows are so owned shall be so disregarded. The Securities so owned that have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding for the purposes of this Section, if the pledgee shall establish to

 

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the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not a Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Company, or, if applicable, any Guarantor, or any such other obligor. In case of a dispute as to such right, any decision by the Trustee taken upon the advice of counsel shall be full protection to the Trustee.

SECTION 8.05. Actions Binding on Future Securityholders.

At any time prior to (but not after) the evidencing to the Trustee, as provided in Section 8.01, of the taking of any action by the holders of the majority or percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of a particular series specified in this Indenture in connection with such action, any holder of a Security of that series that is shown by the evidence to be included in the Securities the holders of which have consented to such action may, by filing written notice with the Trustee, and upon proof of holding as provided in Section 8.02, revoke such action so far as concerns such Security. Except as aforesaid any such action taken by the holder of any Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such holder and upon all future holders and owners of such Security, and of any Security issued in exchange therefor, on registration of transfer thereof or in place thereof, irrespective of whether or not any notation in regard thereto is made upon such Security. Any action taken by the holders of the majority or percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of a particular series specified in this Indenture in connection with such action shall be conclusively binding upon the Company, the Trustee and the holders of all the Securities of that series.

ARTICLE IX

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

SECTION 9.01. Supplemental Indentures Without the Consent of Securityholders.

In addition to any supplemental indenture otherwise authorized by this Indenture, the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto (which shall conform to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect), without the consent of the Securityholders, for one or more of the following purposes:

(a) to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency herein or in the Securities of any series;

(b) to comply with Article Ten;

(c) to provide for uncertificated Securities in addition to or in place of certificated Securities;

(d) to add to the covenants of the Company for the benefit of the holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such covenants are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such covenants are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series) or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company;

 

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(e) to add to, delete from or revise the conditions, limitations and restrictions on the authorized amount, terms, purposes of issue, authentication and delivery of Securities, as herein set forth;

(f) to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any Securityholder in any material respect;

(g) to provide for the issuance of and establish the form and terms and conditions of the Securities of any series as provided in Section 2.01, to establish the form of any certifications required to be furnished pursuant to the terms of this Indenture or any series of Securities, or to add to the rights of the holders of any series of Securities; or

(h) to add Securities Guarantee and cause any Person to become a Guarantor, and/or evidence the succession of another Person to a Guarantor and the assumption by any such successor of the Securities Guarantee of Guarantor herein and, to the extent applicable, endorsed Company Securities of any series.

The Trustee is hereby authorized to join with the Company and any Guarantors in the execution of any such supplemental indenture, and to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations that may be therein contained, but the Trustee shall not be obligated to enter into any such supplemental indenture that affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

Any supplemental indenture authorized by the provisions of this Section may be executed by the Company and the Trustee without the consent of the holders of any of the Securities at the time Outstanding, notwithstanding any of the provisions of Section 9.02.

SECTION 9.02. Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Securityholders.

With the consent (evidenced as provided in Section 8.01) of the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of each series affected by such supplemental indenture or indentures at the time Outstanding, the Company, and if applicable, the Guarantors, when authorized by Board Resolutions, and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto (which shall conform to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect) for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner not covered by Section 9.01 the rights of the holders of the Securities of such series under this Indenture; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the holders of each Security then Outstanding and affected thereby, (i) extend the fixed maturity of any Securities of any series, or reduce the principal amount thereof, or reduce the rate of interest thereon, or reduce any premium payable upon the redemption thereof, (ii) reduce the aforesaid percentage of Securities, the holders of which are required to consent to any such supplemental indenture, or (iii) release any Guarantor from any of its obligations under its Securities Guarantee or this Indenture.

It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Securityholders of any series affected thereby under this Section to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such consent shall approve the substance thereof.

 

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SECTION 9.03. Effect of Supplemental Indentures.

Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article or of Section 10.01, this Indenture shall, with respect to such series, be and be deemed to be modified and amended in accordance therewith and the respective rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities under this Indenture of the Trustee, the Company, the Guarantors (if applicable), and the holders of Securities of the series affected thereby shall thereafter be determined, exercised and enforced hereunder subject in all respects to such modifications and amendments, and all the terms and conditions of any such supplemental indenture shall be and be deemed to be part of the terms and conditions of this Indenture for any and all purposes.

SECTION 9.04. Securities Affected by Supplemental Indentures.

Securities of any series affected by a supplemental indenture, authenticated and delivered after the execution of such supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article or of Section 10.01, may bear a notation in form approved by the Company, provided such form meets the requirements of any exchange upon which such series may be listed, as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Company shall so determine, new Securities of that series so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Board of Directors, to any modification of this Indenture contained in any such supplemental indenture may be prepared by the Company, authenticated by the Trustee and delivered in exchange for the Securities of that series then Outstanding.

SECTION 9.05. Execution of Supplemental Indentures.

Upon the request of the Company, accompanied by Board Resolutions authorizing the execution of any such supplemental indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence of the consent of Securityholders required to consent thereto as aforesaid, the Trustee shall join with the Company, and if applicable, any Guarantors, in the execution of such supplemental indenture unless such supplemental indenture affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion but shall not be obligated to enter into such supplemental indenture. The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section 7.01 and in addition to Section 13.05, may receive an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article is authorized or permitted by, and conforms to, the terms of this Article and that it is proper for the Trustee under the provisions of this Article to join in the execution thereof; provided, however, that such Opinion of Counsel need not be provided in connection with the execution of a supplemental indenture that establishes the terms of a series of Securities pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof.

Promptly after the execution by the Company, and if applicable, any Guarantors, and the Trustee of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Section, the Trustee shall transmit by mail, first class postage prepaid, a notice, setting forth in general terms the substance of such supplemental indenture, to the Securityholders of all series affected thereby as their names and addresses appear upon the Security Register. Any failure of the Trustee to mail such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such supplemental indenture.

 

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ARTICLE X

SUCCESSOR ENTITY

SECTION 10.01. Company May Consolidate, Etc.

Nothing contained in this Indenture or in any of the Securities shall prevent any consolidation or merger of the Company or any Guarantor with or into any other Person (whether or not affiliated with the Company) or successive consolidations or mergers in which the Company or any Guarantor; or their successor or successors shall be a party or parties, or shall prevent any sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition of the property of the Company, or any Guarantor, or their successor or successors as an entirety, or substantially as an entirety, to any other corporation (whether or not affiliated with the Company or its successor or successors) authorized to acquire and operate the same; provided, however, the Company, and, if applicable, the Guarantors, hereby covenants and agrees that, upon any such consolidation or merger (in each case, if the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, is not the survivor of such transaction), sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition, the due and punctual payment of the principal of (premium, if any) and interest on all of the Securities of all series in accordance with the terms of each series, according to their tenor, and the due and punctual performance and observance of all the covenants and conditions of this Indenture with respect to each series or established with respect to such series pursuant to Section 2.01 to be kept or performed by the Company shall be expressly assumed, or guaranteed, as the case may be, if applicable, by supplemental indenture (which shall conform to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect) satisfactory in form to the Trustee executed and delivered to the Trustee by the entity formed by such consolidation, or into which the Company, or a Guarantor, as the case may be, shall have been merged, or by the entity which shall have acquired such property.

SECTION 10.02. Successor Entity Substituted.

(a) In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition and upon the assumption by the successor entity by supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee and satisfactory in form to the Trustee, of the due and punctual payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on all of the Securities of all series Outstanding and the due and punctual performance of all of the covenants and conditions of this Indenture or established with respect to each series of the Securities pursuant to Section 2.01 to be performed by the Company with respect to each series, such successor entity shall succeed to and be substituted for the Company with the same effect as if it had been named as the Company herein, and thereupon the predecessor corporation shall be relieved of all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities.

(b) In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition, such changes in phraseology and form (but not in substance) may be made in the Securities thereafter to be issued as may be appropriate.

 

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(c) Nothing contained in this Article shall apply to limit or impose any requirements upon the consolidation or merger of any Person into the Company or Guarantor where the Company or Guarantor, as the case may be, is the survivor of such transaction, or the acquisition by the Company or a Guarantor, by purchase or otherwise, of all or any part of the property of any other Person (whether or not affiliated with the Company).

SECTION 10.03. Evidence of Consolidation, Etc. to Trustee.

The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section 7.01, may receive an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer, if applicable, or other disposition, and any such assumption, comply with the provisions of this Article and, in the case of any supplemental indenture, that such supplement constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of such successor entity.

ARTICLE XI

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

SECTION 11.01. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.

If at any time: (a) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee for cancellation all Securities of a series theretofore authenticated (other than any Securities that have been destroyed, lost or stolen and that have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 2.07) and Securities for whose payment money or Governmental Obligations have theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company (and thereupon repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 11.05); or (b) all such Securities of a particular series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation shall have become due and payable, or are by their terms to become due and payable within one year or are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption, and the Company or any Guarantor shall deposit or cause to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds the entire amount in moneys or Governmental Obligations or a combination thereof, sufficient in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay at maturity or upon redemption all Securities of that series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, including principal (and premium, if any) and interest due or to become due to such date of maturity or date fixed for redemption, as the case may be, and if the Company shall also pay or cause to be paid all other sums payable hereunder with respect to such series by the Company then this Indenture shall thereupon cease to be of further effect with respect to such series except for the provisions of Sections 2.03, 2.05, 2.07, 4.01, 4.02, 4.03 and 7.10, that shall survive until the date of maturity or redemption date, as the case may be, and Sections 7.07 and 11.05, that shall survive to such date and thereafter, and the Trustee, on demand of the Company and at the cost and expense of the Company, shall, on receipt of the documents set forth in Section 13.05, execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction of and discharging this Indenture with respect to such series.

 

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SECTION 11.02. Discharge of Obligations.

If at any time all such Securities of a particular series not heretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation or that have not become due and payable as described in Section 11.01 shall have been paid by the Company or any Guarantor by depositing irrevocably with the Trustee as trust funds moneys or an amount of Governmental Obligations sufficient to pay at maturity or upon redemption all such Securities of that series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, including principal (and premium, if any) and interest due or to become due to such date of maturity or date fixed for redemption, as the case may be, and if the Company or any Guarantor shall also pay or cause to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company with respect to such series, then after the date such moneys or Governmental Obligations, as the case may be, are deposited with the Trustee, the obligations of the Company and the Guarantors under this Indenture with respect to such series shall cease to be of further effect except for the provisions of Sections 2.03, 2.05, 2.07, 4.01, 4.02, 4.03, 7.07, 7.10 and 11.05 hereof that shall survive until such Securities shall mature and be paid. Thereafter, Sections 7.07 and 11.05 shall survive.

SECTION 11.03. Deposited Moneys to be Held in Trust.

All moneys or Governmental Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Sections 11.01 or 11.02 shall be held in trust and shall be available for payment as due, either directly or through any paying agent (including the Company acting as its own paying agent), to the holders of the particular series of Securities for the payment or redemption of which such moneys or Governmental Obligations have been deposited with the Trustee.

SECTION 11.04. Payment of Moneys Held by Paying Agents.

In connection with the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture all moneys or Governmental Obligations then held by any paying agent under the provisions of this Indenture shall, upon demand of the Company, be paid to the Trustee and thereupon such paying agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such moneys or Governmental Obligations.

SECTION 11.05. Repayment to Company.

Subject to applicable law, any moneys or Governmental Obligations deposited with any paying agent or the Trustee, or then held by the Company, in trust for payment of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on the Securities of a particular series that are not applied but remain unclaimed by the holders of such Securities for at least two years after the date upon which the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on such Securities shall have respectively become due and payable, shall be repaid to the Company or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and thereupon the paying agent and the Trustee shall be released from all further liability with respect to such moneys or Governmental Obligations, and the holder of any of the Securities entitled to receive such payment shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company for the payment thereof.

 

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ARTICLE XII

IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

SECTION 12.01. No Recourse.

No recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of this Indenture, or of any 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, any Guarantor or of any predecessor or successor Person, either directly or through the Company, any Guarantor or any such predecessor or successor Person, 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, any Guarantor or of any predecessor or successor Person, 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 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 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 Securities.

ARTICLE XIII

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

SECTION 13.01. Effect on Successors and Assigns.

All the covenants, stipulations, promises and agreements in this Indenture contained by or on behalf of the Company and a Guarantor, as the case may be, shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.

SECTION 13.02. Actions by Successor.

Any act or proceeding by any provision of this Indenture authorized or required to be done or performed by any board, committee or officer of the Company or a Guarantor shall and may be done and performed with like force and effect by the corresponding board, committee or officer of any corporation that shall at the time be the lawful successor of the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be.

SECTION 13.03. Notices.

Except as otherwise expressly provided herein any notice or demand that by any provision of this Indenture is required or permitted to be given or served by the Trustee or by the holders of Securities to or on the Company or any Guarantors may be given or served by being deposited first class postage prepaid in a post-office letterbox addressed (until another address is filed in writing by the Company with the Trustee), as follows: [ ]. Any notice, election, request or demand by the Company, any Guarantor or any Securityholder to or upon the Trustee shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given or made, for all purposes, if given or made in writing at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.

 

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Any notice or communication to a Securityholder shall be sent electronically or by first-class mail to his address shown on the register kept by the Registrar, in accordance with the procedures of the Depositary. Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Securityholder of any Series or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Securityholders of that or any other Series.

If a notice or communication is sent or published in the manner provided above, within the time prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the Securityholder receives it.

If the Company sends a notice or communication to Securityholders, it shall send a copy to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or any Security, where this Indenture or any Security provides for notice of any event (including any notice of redemption) to a Holder of a Global Security (whether by mail or otherwise), such notice shall be sufficiently given to the Depositary for such Security (or its designee) pursuant to the customary procedures of such Depositary.

SECTION 13.04. Governing Law.

This Indenture and each Security and, if applicable, each Securities Guarantee, shall be deemed to be a contract made under the internal laws of the State of New York, and for purposes shall be construed in accordance with the laws of said State.

SECTION 13.05. Compliance Certificates and Opinions.

(a) Upon any application or demand by the Company or Guarantor to the Trustee to take any action under any of the provisions of this Indenture, the Company or Guarantor, as the case may be, shall furnish to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that all conditions precedent provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel stating that in the opinion of such counsel all such conditions precedent have been complied with, except that in the case of any such application or demand as to which the furnishing of such documents is specifically required by any provision of this Indenture relating to such particular application or demand, no additional certificate or opinion need be furnished.

(b) Each certificate or opinion provided for in this Indenture and delivered to the Trustee with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant in this Indenture shall include (1) a statement that the Person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition; (2) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based; (3) a statement that, in the opinion of such Person, he has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and (4) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such Person, such condition or covenant has been complied with.

 

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(c) The Company shall furnish to the Trustee, on [ ] of each year, a brief certificate from the principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer as to his or her knowledge of such obligor’s compliance with all conditions and covenants under this Indenture. For purposes of this subsection, such compliance shall be determined without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice provided hereunder.

SECTION 13.06. Payments on Business Days.

Except as provided pursuant to Section 2.01 pursuant to a Board Resolution, and as set forth in an Officers’ Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental to this Indenture, in any case where the date of maturity of interest or principal of any Security or the date of redemption of any Security shall not be a Business Day, then payment of interest or principal (and premium, if any) may be made on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on the nominal date of maturity or redemption, and no interest shall accrue for the period after such nominal date.

SECTION 13.07. Conflict with Trust Indenture Act.

If and to the extent that any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by Sections 310 to 317, inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act, such imposed duties shall control.

SECTION 13.08. Counterparts.

This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

SECTION 13.09. Separability.

In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Indenture or in the Securities of any series shall for any reason be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of this Indenture or of such Securities, but this Indenture and such Securities shall be construed as if such invalid or illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein or therein.

SECTION 13.10. Assignment.

The Company will have the right at all times to assign any of its rights or obligations under this Indenture to a direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company, provided that, in the event of any such assignment, the Company will remain liable for all such obligations. Subject to the foregoing, the Indenture is binding upon and inures to the benefit of the parties thereto and their respective successors and assigns. This Indenture may not otherwise be assigned by the parties thereto.

 

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ARTICLE XIV

GUARANTEE OF SECURITIES

SECTION 14.01. Securities Guarantee.

(a) Subject to the other provisions of this ARTICLE XIV, each of the Guarantors hereby jointly and severally, guarantees to each holder of a Security of each series to which this ARTICLE XIV has been made applicable as provided in SECTION 2.01(a)(16) (the Securities of such series being referred to herein as the “Guaranteed Securities”) (which Security has been authenticated and delivered by the Trustee), and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns, irrespective of the validity and enforceability of this Indenture, the Guaranteed Securities, the obligations of the Company hereunder or thereunder, that:

(i) the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Guaranteed Securities will be promptly paid in full when due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, redemption or otherwise, and interest on the overdue principal of and interest on the Guaranteed Securities, if any, if lawful, and all other obligations of the Company to the holders of Guaranteed Securities, or the Trustee hereunder or thereunder will be promptly paid in full or performed, all in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof; and

(ii) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Guaranteed Securities or any of such other obligations, that same will be promptly paid in full when due or performed in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise.

Failing payment when due of any amount so guaranteed or any performance so guaranteed for whatever reason, the Guarantors will be jointly and severally obligated to pay the same immediately. Each Guarantor agrees that this is a guarantee of payment and not a guarantee of collection.

(b) To the extent permissible under applicable law, the obligations of the Guarantors under this Securities Guarantee are unconditional, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Guaranteed Securities or this Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any waiver or consent by any holder of the Guaranteed Securities with respect to any provisions hereof or thereof, the recovery of any judgment against the Company, any action to enforce the same or any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor. To the extent permitted by applicable law, each Guarantor hereby waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of the Company, any right to require a proceeding first against the Company, protest, notice and all demands whatsoever and covenant that this Securities Guarantee will not be discharged except by complete performance of the obligations contained in the Guaranteed Securities and this Indenture.

(c) If any holder or the Trustee is required by any court or otherwise to return to the Company, the Guarantors or any custodian, trustee, liquidator or other similar official acting in relation to either the Company or the Guarantors, any amount paid by either to the Trustee or such holder, this Securities Guarantee, to the extent theretofore discharged, will be reinstated in full force and effect.

 

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(d) Each Guarantor agrees that it will not be entitled to any right of subrogation in relation to the holders in respect to any obligations guaranteed hereby until payment in full of all obligations guaranteed hereby. Each Guarantor further agrees that, to the extent permitted by applicable law, as between the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the holders of Guaranteed Securities and the Trustee, on the other hand, (i) the maturity of the obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in ARTICLE VI hereof for the purposes of this Securities Guarantee, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the obligations guaranteed hereby, and (ii) in the event of any declaration of acceleration of such obligations as provided in ARTICLE VI hereof, such obligations (regardless of whether due and payable) will forthwith become due and payable by the Guarantors for the purpose of this Securities Guarantee. The Guarantors will have the right to seek contribution from any non-paying Guarantor so long as the exercise of such right does not impair the rights of the Holders under the Securities Guarantee.

SECTION 14.02. Limitation on Guarantor Liability.

Each Guarantor, and by its acceptance of Guaranteed Securities, each holder thereof, hereby confirms that it is the intention of all such parties that the Securities Guarantee of such Guarantor not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance for purposes of Bankruptcy Law, the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act or any similar federal or state law to the extent applicable to any Securities Guarantee. To effectuate the foregoing intention, the Trustee, to the extent permitted under applicable law, the holders and each Guarantor hereby irrevocably agree that the obligations of such Guarantor will be limited to the maximum amount that will, after giving effect to such maximum amount and all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Guarantor that are relevant under such laws, and after giving effect to any collections from, rights to receive contribution from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Guarantor under this ARTICLE XIV, result in the obligations of such Guarantor under its Securities Guarantee not constituting a fraudulent transfer or conveyance.

SECTION 14.03. Execution and Delivery of Securities Guarantee Notation.

To evidence its Securities Guarantee set forth in SECTION 14.01 hereof, each Guarantor hereby agrees that a notation of such Securities Guarantee substantially in the form established pursuant to a Board Resolution or in a supplemental indenture, will be endorsed by an officer of such Guarantor on each Guaranteed Security authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and that this Indenture will be executed on behalf of such Guarantor by one of its officers.

Each Guarantor hereby agrees that its Securities Guarantee set forth in SECTION 14.01 hereof will remain in full force and effect notwithstanding any failure to endorse on each Guaranteed Security a notation of such Securities Guarantee.

 

43


If an officer whose signature is on this Indenture or on the Securities Guarantee no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates the Guaranteed Security on which a Securities Guarantee is endorsed, the Securities Guarantee will be valid nevertheless.

The delivery of any Guaranteed Security by the Trustee, after the authentication thereof hereunder, will constitute due delivery of the Securities Guarantee of such Guaranteed Security set forth in this Indenture on behalf of the Guarantors.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed all as of the day and year first above written.

 

CONN’S, INC.
By:    
Name:    
Title:  
[Name of any Guarantor]
By:    
Name:    
Title:    
REGIONS BANK,
as Trustee
By:    
Name:    
Title:    

 

44

EX-4.15

Exhibit 4.15

 

 

FORM OF SUBORDINATED INDENTURE

CONN’S, INC.,

ISSUER

AND

REGIONS BANK,

TRUSTEE

INDENTURE

DATED AS OF [    ], 20[    ]

SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES

 

 


CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE (1)

 

Section of

Trust Indenture Act

of 1939, as amended

       

Section of

Indenture

310(a)(1)

      7.10

310(a)(2)

      7.10

310(a)(3)

     

Inapplicable

310(a)(4)

     

Inapplicable

310(a)(5)

      7.10

310(b)

      7.10
     

7.10

310(c)

     

Inapplicable

311(a)

      7.11

311(b)

      7.11

311(c)

     

Inapplicable

312(a)

      5.01
     

5.02(a)

312(b)

      5.02(c)

312(c)

      5.02(c)

313(a)

      5.04(a)

313(b)

      5.04(b)

313(c)

      5.04(a)

5.04(b)

      5.04(c)

313(d)

      5.04(b)
     

5.04(c)

314(a)

      5.03
     

13.05(c)

314(b)

     

Inapplicable

314(c)

      13.05

314(d)

     

Inapplicable

314(e)

      13.05

314(f)

     

Inapplicable

315(a)(1)

      7.01; 7.07

315(a)(2)

      7.05

315(b)

      5.04(d)

315(c)

      7.01

315(d)

      7.01

315(e)

      6.07

316(a)

      6.06
     

8.04

316(b)

      6.04

316(c)

      8.01

317(a)

      6.02

317(b)

      4.03

318(a)

      13.07

 

(1)

This Cross-Reference Table does not constitute part of the Indenture and shall not have any bearing on the interpretation of any of its terms or provisions.

 

-i-


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  

ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS

     1  
 

SECTION 1.01. Definitions of Terms

     1  

ARTICLE II ISSUE, DESCRIPTION, TERMS, EXECUTION, REGISTRATION AND EXCHANGE OF SECURITIES

     5  
 

SECTION 2.01. Designation and Terms of Securities

     5  
 

SECTION 2.02. Form of Securities and Trustee’s Certificate

     7  
 

SECTION 2.03. Denominations; Provisions for Payment

     7  
 

SECTION 2.04. Execution and Authentications

     9  
 

SECTION 2.05. Registration of Transfer and Exchange

     10  
 

SECTION 2.06. Temporary Securities

     11  
 

SECTION 2.07. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Securities

     11  
 

SECTION 2.08. Cancellation

     12  
 

SECTION 2.09. Benefits of Indenture

     12  
 

SECTION 2.10. Authenticating Agent

     13  
 

SECTION 2.11. Global Securities

     13  

ARTICLE III REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES AND SINKING FUND PROVISIONS

     14  
 

SECTION 3.01. Redemption

     14  
 

SECTION 3.02. Notice of Redemption

     14  
 

SECTION 3.03. Payment Upon Redemption

     16  
 

SECTION 3.04. Sinking Fund

     16  
 

SECTION 3.05. Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities

     16  
 

SECTION 3.06. Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund

     17  

ARTICLE IV COVENANTS

     17  
 

SECTION 4.01. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest

     17  
 

SECTION 4.02. Maintenance of Office or Agency

     17  
 

SECTION 4.03. Paying Agents

     18  
 

SECTION 4.04. Appointment to Fill Vacancy in Office of Trustee

     19  

ARTICLE V SECURITYHOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE

     19  
 

SECTION 5.01. Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Securityholders

     19  
 

SECTION 5.02. Preservation Of Information; Communications With Securityholders

     19  
 

SECTION 5.03. Reports by the Company

     19  

 

-ii-


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

     Page  

SECTION 5.04. Reports by the Trustee

  

ARTICLE VI REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS ON EVENT OF DEFAULT

     20  

SECTION 6.01. Events of Default

     20  

SECTION 6.02. Suits for Enforcement by Trustee

     22  

SECTION 6.03. Application of Moneys Collected

     23  

SECTION 6.04. Limitation on Suits

     23  

SECTION 6.05. Rights and Remedies Cumulative; Delay or Omission Not Waiver

     24  

SECTION 6.06. Control by Securityholders

     24  

SECTION 6.07. Undertaking to Pay Costs

     25  

ARTICLE VII CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE

     25  

SECTION 7.01. Duties of Trustee

     25  

SECTION 7.02. Rights of Trustee

     26  

SECTION 7.03. Individual Rights of Trustee

     28  

SECTION 7.04. Trustee’s Disclaimer

     28  

SECTION 7.05. Notice of Defaults

     28  

SECTION 7.06. Reports by Trustee to Securityholders

     28  

SECTION 7.07. Compensation and Indemnity

     29  

SECTION 7.08. Replacement of Trustee

     30  

SECTION 7.09. Successor Trustee by Merger, etc

     30  

SECTION 7.10. Eligibility; Disqualification

     31  

SECTION 7.11. Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Company

     31  

ARTICLE VIII CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS

     31  

SECTION 8.01. Evidence of Action by Securityholders

     31  

SECTION 8.02. Proof of Execution by Securityholders

     32  

SECTION 8.03. Who May be Deemed Owners

     32  

SECTION 8.04. Certain Securities Owned by Company Disregarded

     32  

SECTION 8.05. Actions Binding on Future Securityholders

     33  

ARTICLE IX SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

     33  

SECTION 9.01. Supplemental Indentures Without the Consent of Securityholders

     33  

SECTION 9.02. Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Securityholders

     34  

SECTION 9.03. Effect of Supplemental Indentures

     35  

SECTION 9.04. Securities Affected by Supplemental Indentures

     35  

 

-iii-


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

     Page  

SECTION 9.05. Execution of Supplemental Indentures

     36  

ARTICLE X SUCCESSOR ENTITY

     36  

SECTION 10.01. Company May Consolidate, Etc

     36  

SECTION 10.02. Successor Entity Substituted

     37  

SECTION 10.03. Evidence of Consolidation, Etc. to Trustee

     37  

ARTICLE XI SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

     38  

SECTION 11.01. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture

     38  

SECTION 11.02. Discharge of Obligations

     38  

SECTION 11.03. Deposited Moneys to be Held in Trust

     38  

SECTION 11.04. Payment of Moneys Held by Paying Agents

     39  

SECTION 11.05. Repayment to Company

     39  

ARTICLE XII IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

     39  

SECTION 12.01. No Recourse

     39  

ARTICLE XIII MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

     40  

SECTION 13.01. Effect on Successors and Assigns

     40  

SECTION 13.02. Actions by Successor

     40  

SECTION 13.03. Notices

     40  

SECTION 13.04. Governing Law

     41  

SECTION 13.05. Compliance Certificates and Opinions

     41  

SECTION 13.06. Payments on Business Days

     41  

SECTION 13.07. Conflict with Trust Indenture Act

     41  

SECTION 13.08. Counterparts

     42  

SECTION 13.09. Separability

     42  

SECTION 13.10. Assignment

     42  

ARTICLE XIV SUBORDINATION OF SECURITIES

     42  

SECTION 14.01. Subordination Terms

     42  

ARTICLE XV GUARANTEE OF SECURITIES

     42  

SECTION 15.01. Securities Guarantee

     42  

SECTION 15.02. Limitation on Guarantor Liability

     44  

SECTION 15.03. Execution and Delivery of Securities Guarantee Notation

     44  

 

(2)

This Table of Contents does not constitute part of the Indenture and shall not have any bearing on the interpretation of any of its terms or provisions.

 

-iv-


INDENTURE, dated as of [ ], 20[ ], between Conn’s, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), the Guarantors (as hereinafter defined) and Regions Bank, as trustee (the “Trustee”):

WHEREAS, for its lawful corporate purposes, the Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance of unsecured subordinated debt securities (hereinafter referred to as the “Securities”), which may, but are not required to be guaranteed by the Guarantors, in an unlimited aggregate principal amount to be issued from time to time in one or more series as in this Indenture provided, as registered Securities without coupons, to be authenticated by the certificate of the Trustee;

WHEREAS, to provide the terms and conditions upon which the Securities are to be authenticated, issued and delivered, the Company and Guarantors have duly authorized the execution of this Indenture; and

WHEREAS, all things necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement of the Company and of the Guarantors, in accordance with its terms, have been done.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Securities by the holders thereof, it is mutually covenanted and agreed as follows for the equal and ratable benefit of the holders of Securities:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

SECTION 1.01. Definitions of Terms.

The terms defined in this Section (except as in this Indenture otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires) for all purposes of this Indenture and of any indenture supplemental hereto shall have the respective meanings specified in this Section and shall include the plural as well as the singular. All other terms used in this Indenture that are defined in the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, or that are by reference in such Act defined in the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (except as herein otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires), shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in said Trust Indenture Act and in said Securities Act as in force at the date of the execution of this instrument.

“Authenticating Agent” means an authenticating agent with respect to all or any of the series of Securities appointed with respect to all or any series of the Securities by the Trustee pursuant to Section 2.10.

“Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11, U.S. Code, or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors.

“Board of Directors” means the Board of Directors of the Company or Guarantor, as the case may be, or any duly authorized committee of such Board of Directors.

 

-1-


“Board Resolution” means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company or a Guarantor, as the case may be, to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification.

“Business Day” means, with respect to any series of Securities, any day other than a day on which Federal or State banking institutions in the United States (or in any city in which the paying agent appointed pursuant to Section 4.03 has an office), are authorized or obligated by law, executive order or regulation to close.

“Certificate” means a certificate signed by the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer or the principal accounting officer of the Company. The Certificate need not comply with the provisions of Section 13.05.

“Company” means Conn’s, Inc., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware, and, subject to the provisions of Article Ten, shall also include its successors and assigns.

“Corporate Trust Office” means the office of the Trustee at which, at any particular time, its corporate trust business shall be principally administered, which office at the date hereof is located at 10245 Centurion Parkway, 2nd Floor, Jacksonville, Florida, 32256, Attention: Craig Kaye, or such other office as the Trustee may provide in a notice to the Company and the Holders.

“Custodian” means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator, or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.

“Default” means any event, act or condition that with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute an Event of Default.

“Depositary” means, with respect to Securities of any series, for which the Company shall determine that such Securities will be issued as a Global Security, The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, another clearing agency, or any successor registered as a clearing agency under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or other applicable statute or regulation, which, in each case, shall be designated by the Company pursuant to either Section 2.01 or 2.11.

“Event of Default” means, with respect to Securities of a particular series any event specified in Section 6.01, continued for the period of time, if any, therein designated.

“Global Security” means, with respect to any series of Securities, a Security executed by the Company and delivered by the Trustee to the Depositary or pursuant to the Depositary’s instruction, all in accordance with the Indenture, which shall be registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee.

 

-2-


“Governmental 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 that, in either case, are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and shall also include a depositary receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) as custodian with respect to any such Governmental Obligation or a specific payment of principal of or interest on any such Governmental Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of such depositary receipt; provided, however, that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depositary receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the Governmental Obligation or the specific payment of principal of or interest on the Governmental Obligation evidenced by such depositary receipt.

“Guarantor” means each Person that becomes a guarantor of any Securities pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture.

“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.

“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 in accordance with the terms hereof.

“Interest Payment Date,” when used with respect to any installment of interest on a Security of a particular series, means the date specified in such Security or in a Board Resolution or in an indenture supplemental hereto with respect to such series as the fixed date on which an installment of interest with respect to Securities of that series is due and payable.

“Officers’ Certificate” means in the case of the Company, a certificate signed by the Chairman, Vice Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, an Executive Vice President or a Senior Vice President and by the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer or the Controller or an Assistant Controller or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company, or in the case of a Guarantor, a certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, President, any Vice President or any duly authorized officer of such Guarantor and by the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer or the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of such Guarantor, that is delivered to the Trustee in accordance with the terms hereof. Each such certificate shall include the statements provided for in Section 13.05, if and to the extent required by the provisions thereof.

“Opinion of Counsel” means an opinion in writing of legal counsel, who may be an employee of or counsel for the Company or a Guarantor, as the case may be, that is delivered to the Trustee in accordance with the terms hereof. Each such opinion shall include the statements provided for in Section 13.05, if and to the extent required by the provisions thereof.

“Outstanding,” when used with reference to Securities of any series, means, subject to the provisions of Section 8.04, as of any particular time, all Securities of that series theretofore authenticated and delivered by the Trustee under this Indenture, except (a) Securities theretofore canceled by the Trustee or any paying agent, or delivered to the Trustee or any paying agent for

 

-3-


cancellation or that have previously been canceled; (b) Securities or portions thereof for the payment or redemption of which moneys or Governmental Obligations in the necessary amount shall have been deposited in trust with the Trustee or with any paying agent (other than the Company) or shall have been set aside and segregated in trust by the Company (if the Company shall act as its own paying agent); provided, however, that if such Securities or portions of such Securities are to be redeemed prior to the maturity thereof, notice of such redemption shall have been given as in Article Three provided, or provision satisfactory to the Trustee shall have been made for giving such notice; and (c) Securities in lieu of or in substitution for which other Securities shall have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to the terms of Section 2.07.

“Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, joint-stock company, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

“Predecessor Security” of any particular Security means every previous Security evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular Security; and, for the purposes of this definition, any Security authenticated and delivered under Section 2.07 in lieu of a lost, destroyed or stolen Security shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the lost, destroyed or stolen Security.

“Responsible Officer” when used with respect to the Trustee means the President, any Vice President, the Secretary, the Treasurer, any trust officer, any corporate trust officer or any other officer or assistant officer of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by the Persons who at the time shall be such officers, respectively, or to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of his or her knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject and, in each case, who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.

“Securities” means the debt Securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.

“Securities Guarantee” means each guarantee of the obligations of the Company under this Indenture and the Securities by a Guarantor in accordance with the provisions hereof.

“Securityholder,” “holder of Securities,” “registered holder” or other similar term, means the Person or Persons in whose name or names a particular Security shall be registered on the books of the Security Registrar kept for that purpose in accordance with the terms of this Indenture.

“Senior Indebtedness” means indebtedness issued pursuant to a senior indenture, as supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental thereto, payment of which shall be senior to the payment of the Securities issued hereunder, pursuant to ARTICLE XIV hereof.

“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, (i) any corporation at least a majority of whose outstanding Voting Stock shall at the time be owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person or by one or more of its Subsidiaries or by such Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries, (ii) any general partnership, joint venture or similar entity, at least a majority of whose outstanding partnership or similar interests shall at the time be owned by such Person, or by one or more of its Subsidiaries, or by such Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries and (iii) any limited partnership of which such Person or any of its Subsidiaries is a general partner.

 

-4-


“Trustee” means Regions Bank, in its capacity as Trustee hereunder, and, subject to the provisions of Article Seven, shall also include its successors and assigns, and, if at any time there is more than one Person acting in such capacity hereunder, “Trustee” shall mean each such Person. The term “Trustee” as used with respect to a particular series of the Securities shall mean the trustee with respect to that series as appointed pursuant to a supplemental indenture.

“Trust Indenture Act” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, subject to the provisions of Sections 9.01, 9.02 and 10.01, as in effect at the date of execution of this instrument.

“Voting Stock,” as applied to stock of any Person, means shares, interests, participations or other equivalents in the equity interest (however designated) in such Person having ordinary voting power for the election of the directors (or the equivalent) of such Person, other than shares, interests, participations or other equivalents having such power only by reason of the occurrence of a contingency.

ARTICLE II

ISSUE, DESCRIPTION, TERMS, EXECUTION,

REGISTRATION AND EXCHANGE OF SECURITIES

SECTION 2.01. Designation and Terms of Securities.

(a) The aggregate principal amount of Securities that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited. The Securities may be issued in one or more series up to the aggregate principal amount of Securities of that series from time to time authorized by or pursuant to a Board Resolution of the Company or pursuant to one or more indentures supplemental hereto. Prior to the initial issuance of Securities of any series, there shall be established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution of the Company, and set forth in an Officers’ Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto:

(1) the title of the Security of the series (which shall distinguish the Securities of the series from all other Securities);

(2) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of that series that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of that series);

(3) the date or dates on which the principal of the Securities of the series is payable and the place(s) of payment;

(4) the rate or rates at which the Securities of the series shall bear interest or the manner of calculation of such rate or rates, if any;

 

-5-


(5) the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue, the Interest Payment Dates on which such interest will be payable or the manner of determination of such Interest Payment Dates, the place(s) of payment, and the record date for the determination of holders to whom interest is payable on any such Interest Payment Dates;

(6) the right, if any, to extend the interest payment periods and the duration of such extension;

(7) the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which, Securities of the series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company;

(8) the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem or purchase Securities of the series pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions (including payments made in cash in satisfaction of future sinking fund obligations) or at the option of a holder thereof and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which, and the terms and conditions upon which, Securities of the series shall be redeemed or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;

(9) the form of the Securities of the series including the form of the certificate of authentication for such series;

(10) if other than denominations of one thousand U.S. dollars ($1,000) or any integral multiple thereof, the denominations in which the Securities of the series shall be issuable;

(11) any and all other terms with respect to such series (which terms shall not be inconsistent with the terms of this Indenture, as amended by any supplemental indenture) including any terms which may be required by or advisable under United States laws or regulations or advisable in connection with the marketing of Securities of that series;

(12) whether the Securities are issuable as a Global Security and, in such case, the identity of the Depositary for such series;

(13) whether the Securities will be convertible into shares of common stock or other securities of the Company and, if so, the terms and conditions upon which such Securities will be so convertible, including the conversion price and the conversion period;

(14) if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of Securities of the series which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.01;

(15) the subordination terms of the Securities of the series;

(16) any additional or different Events of Default or restrictive covenants provided for with respect to the Securities of the series;

 

-6-


(17) whether the Securities of the series will be guaranteed pursuant to the Securities Guarantee set forth in ARTICLE XV, any modifications to the terms of ARTICLE XV applicable to the Securities of such series and the applicability of any other guarantee; and

(18) the Securities Registrar appointed for purposes of registering the Securities or the transfer thereof.

All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical except as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to any such Board Resolution or in any indentures supplemental hereto.

If any of the terms of the series are established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company, and, if applicable, the Guarantors, delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Officers’ Certificate setting forth the terms of the series.

Securities of any particular series may be issued at various times, with different dates on which the principal or any installment of principal is payable, with different rates of interest, if any, or different methods by which rates of interest may be determined, with different dates on which such interest may be payable and with different redemption dates.

SECTION 2.02. Form of Securities and Trustee’s Certificate.

The Securities of any series and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication to be borne by such Securities shall be substantially of the tenor and purport as set forth in one or more indentures supplemental hereto or as provided in a Board Resolution and as set forth in an Officers’ Certificate and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification or designation and such legends or endorsements printed, lithographed or engraved thereon as the Company may deem appropriate and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, or as may be required to comply with any law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation of any stock exchange on which Securities of that series may be listed, or to conform to usage.

SECTION 2.03. Denominations; Provisions for Payment.

The Securities shall be issuable as registered Securities and in the denominations of one thousand U.S. dollars ($1,000) or any integral multiple thereof, subject to Section 2.01(10). The Securities of a particular series shall bear interest payable on the dates and at the rate specified with respect to that series. The principal of and the interest on the Securities of any series, as well as any premium thereon in case of redemption thereof prior to maturity, shall be payable in the coin or currency of the United States of America that at the time is legal tender for public and private debt, at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in the United States. Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication. Interest on the Securities shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year composed of twelve 30-day months.

 

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The interest installment on any Security that is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date for Securities of that series shall be paid to the Person in whose name said Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the regular record date for such interest installment. In the event that any Security of a particular series or portion thereof is called for redemption and the redemption date is subsequent to a regular record date with respect to any Interest Payment Date and prior to such Interest Payment Date, interest on such Security will be paid upon presentation and surrender of such Security as provided in Section 3.03.

Any interest on any Security that is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date for Securities of the same series (herein called “Defaulted Interest”) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the registered holder on the relevant regular record date by virtue of having been such holder; and such Defaulted Interest shall be paid by the Company, at its election, as provided in clause (1) or clause (2) below:

(1) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on Securities to the Persons in whose names such Securities (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on a special record date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner: the Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each such Security and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a special record date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall not be more than 15 nor less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such special record date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the special record date therefor to be mailed, first class postage prepaid, to each Securityholder at his or her address as it appears in the Security Register (as hereinafter defined), 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 mailed as aforesaid, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names such Securities (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered on such special record date.

(2) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on any Securities in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which such Securities may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, if, after notice given by the Company to the Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant to this clause, such manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.

Provided that notwithstanding the foregoing, any interest which is paid prior to the expiration of the 30 day period set forth in Section 6.01(a)(1) shall be paid to Securityholders as of the regular record date for the Interest Payment Date for which interest has not been paid.

 

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Unless otherwise set forth in a Board Resolution or one or more indentures supplemental hereto establishing the terms of any series of Securities pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof, the term “regular record date” as used in this Section with respect to a series of Securities with respect to any Interest Payment Date for such series shall mean either the fifteenth day of the month immediately preceding the month in which an Interest Payment Date established for such series pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof shall occur, if such Interest Payment Date is the first day of a month, or the last day of the month immediately preceding the month in which an Interest Payment Date established for such series pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof shall occur, if such Interest Payment Date is the fifteenth day of a month, whether or not such date is a Business Day.

Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section, each Security of a series delivered under this Indenture upon transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Security of such series shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, that were carried by such other Security.

SECTION 2.04. Execution and Authentications.

The Securities shall be signed on behalf of the Company by its Chairman, Vice Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, or one of its Executive Vice Presidents or Senior Vice Presidents, or its Treasurer, or one of its Assistant Treasurers, or its Secretary, or one of its Assistant Secretaries, under its corporate seal attested by its Secretary or one of its Assistant Secretaries. Any Securities Guarantee endorsed on the Securities shall be executed on behalf of the applicable Guarantor by its Chairman of the Board, its Chief Executive Officer, its President, its Chief Financial Officer or any of its Vice Presidents and need not be attested. Signatures may be in the form of a manual or facsimile signature. The Company and the Guarantors may use the facsimile signature of any Person who were at any time proper officers of the Company or a Guarantor, as the case may be, notwithstanding the fact that at the time the Securities shall be authenticated and delivered or disposed of such Person shall have ceased to hold such office. The seal of the Company may be in the form of a facsimile of such seal and may be impressed, affixed, imprinted or otherwise reproduced on the Securities. The Securities may contain such notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule or usage. Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication by the Trustee.

No Security or Securities Guarantee endorsed thereon shall be valid until authenticated manually by an authorized signatory of the Trustee, or by an Authenticating Agent. Such signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Security so authenticated has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder and that the holder is entitled to the benefits of this Indenture. At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities of any series executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, together with a written order of the Company for the authentication and delivery of such Securities, signed by an authorized officer and its Secretary or any Assistant Secretary, and the Trustee in accordance with such written order shall authenticate and deliver such Securities.

 

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In authenticating such Securities and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 7.01) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating that the form and terms thereof have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture.

The Trustee shall not be required to authenticate such Securities if the issue of such Securities pursuant to this Indenture will affect the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under the Securities and this Indenture or otherwise in a manner that is not reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.

SECTION 2.05. Registration of Transfer and Exchange.

(a) Securities of any series may be exchanged upon presentation thereof at the office or agency of the Company designated for such purpose in the United States, for other Securities of such series of authorized denominations, and for a like aggregate principal amount, upon payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge in relation thereto, all as provided in this Section. In respect of any Securities so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, the Trustee shall authenticate and such office or agency shall deliver in exchange therefor the Security or Securities of the same series that the Securityholder making the exchange shall be entitled to receive, bearing numbers not contemporaneously outstanding.

(b) The Company shall keep, or cause to be kept, at its office or agency designated for such purpose in the United States, or such other location designated by the Company a register or registers (herein referred to as the “Security Register”) in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall register the Securities and the transfers of Securities as in this Article provided and which at all reasonable times shall be open for inspection by the Trustee. The registrar for the purpose of registering Securities and transfer of Securities as herein provided shall be appointed as authorized by a Board Resolution (the “Security Registrar”).

Upon surrender for transfer of any Security at the office or agency of the Company designated for such purpose, the Company and, if applicable, the Guarantor, shall execute, the Trustee shall authenticate and such office or agency shall deliver in the name of the transferee or transferees a new Security or Securities, with an endorsement of the Securities Guarantee, if applicable, executed by the Guarantors, of the same series as the Security presented for a like aggregate principal amount.

All Securities presented or surrendered for exchange or registration of transfer, as provided in this Section, shall be accompanied (if so required by the Company or the Security Registrar) by a written instrument or instruments of transfer, in form satisfactory to the Company or the Security Registrar, duly executed by the registered holder or by such holder’s duly authorized attorney in writing.

(c) No service charge shall be made for any exchange or registration of transfer of Securities, or issue of new Securities in case of partial redemption of any series, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge in relation thereto, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 2.06, Section 3.03(b) and Section 9.04 not involving any transfer.

 

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(d) The Company shall not be required (1) to issue, exchange or register the transfer of any Securities during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of the mailing of a notice of redemption of less than all the Outstanding Securities of the same series and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing, nor (2) to register the transfer of or exchange any Securities of any series or portions thereof called for redemption. The provisions of this Section 2.05 are, with respect to any Global Security, subject to Section 2.11 hereof.

SECTION 2.06. Temporary Securities.

Pending the preparation of definitive Securities of any series, the Company may execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, temporary Securities (printed, lithographed or typewritten) of any authorized denomination. Such temporary Securities shall be substantially in the form of the definitive Securities in lieu of which they are issued, but with such omissions, insertions and variations as may be appropriate for temporary Securities, all as may be determined by the Company. Every temporary Security of any series shall be executed by the Company and be authenticated by the Trustee upon the same conditions and in substantially the same manner, and with like effect, as the definitive Securities of such series. Without unnecessary delay the Company will execute and will furnish definitive Securities of such series and thereupon any or all temporary Securities of such series may be surrendered in exchange therefor (without charge to the holders), at the office or agency of the Company designated for the purpose in the United States, and the Trustee shall authenticate and such office or agency shall deliver in exchange for such temporary Securities an equal aggregate principal amount of definitive Securities of such series, unless the Company advises the Trustee to the effect that definitive Securities need not be executed and furnished until further notice from the Company. Until so exchanged, the temporary Securities of such series shall be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities of such series authenticated and delivered hereunder.

SECTION 2.07. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Securities.

In case any temporary or definitive Security shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company (subject to the next succeeding sentence) shall execute, and upon the Company’s request, the Trustee (subject as aforesaid) shall authenticate and deliver, a new Security with an endorsement of the Securities Guarantee, if applicable, executed by the Guarantors, of the same series, bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding, in exchange and substitution for the mutilated Security, or in lieu of and in substitution for the Security so destroyed, lost or stolen. In every case the applicant for a substituted Security shall furnish to the Company and the Trustee such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them harmless, and, in every case of destruction, loss or theft, the applicant shall also furnish to the Company and the Trustee evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of the applicant’s Security and of the ownership thereof. The Trustee may authenticate any such substituted Security and deliver the same upon the written request or authorization of any officer of the Company. Upon the issuance of any substituted Security, the Company and the Guarantors (if applicable) may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other

 

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governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith. In case any Security that has matured or is about to mature shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company may, instead of issuing a substitute Security, pay or authorize the payment of the same (without surrender thereof except in the case of a mutilated Security) if the applicant for such payment shall furnish to the Company, the Guarantors (if applicable) and the Trustee such security or indemnity as they may require to save each of them harmless, and, in case of destruction, loss or theft, evidence to the satisfaction of the Company, the Guarantors (if applicable) and the Trustee of the destruction, loss or theft of such Security and of the ownership thereof.

Every replacement Security issued pursuant to the provisions of this Section shall constitute an additional contractual obligation of the Company and, if applicable, the Guarantors, whether or not the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be found at any time, or be enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of the same series duly issued hereunder. All Securities shall be held and owned upon the express condition that the foregoing provisions are exclusive with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities, and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) any and all other rights or remedies, notwithstanding any law or statute existing or hereafter enacted to the contrary with respect to the replacement or payment of negotiable instruments or other securities without their surrender.

SECTION 2.08. Cancellation.

All Securities surrendered for the purpose of payment, redemption, exchange or registration of transfer shall, if surrendered to the Company or any paying agent, be delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, or, if surrendered to the Trustee, shall be cancelled by it, and no Securities shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly required or permitted by any of the provisions of this Indenture. On request of the Company at the time of such surrender, the Trustee shall deliver to the Company canceled Securities held by the Trustee (subject to the Trustee record retention policies). In the absence of such request the Trustee shall provide a certificate of cancellation to the Company, upon request. If the Company shall otherwise acquire any of the Securities, however, such acquisition shall not operate as a redemption or satisfaction of the indebtedness represented by such Securities unless and until the same are delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.

SECTION 2.09. Benefits of Indenture.

Nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities, express or implied, shall give or be construed to give to any Person, other than the parties hereto and the holders of the Securities (and, with respect to the provisions of ARTICLE XIV, the holders of Senior Indebtedness), any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Indenture, or under any covenant, condition or provision herein contained; all such covenants, conditions and provisions being for the sole benefit of the parties hereto and of the holders of the Securities (and, with respect to the provisions of ARTICLE XIV, the holders of Senior Indebtedness).

 

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SECTION 2.10. Authenticating Agent.

So long as any of the Securities of any series remain Outstanding there may be an Authenticating Agent for any or all such series of Securities which the Trustee shall have the right to appoint. Said Authenticating Agent shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of such series issued upon exchange, transfer or partial redemption thereof, and Securities so authenticated shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee hereunder. All references in this Indenture to the authentication of Securities by the Trustee shall be deemed to include authentication by an Authenticating Agent for such series. Each Authenticating Agent shall be acceptable to the Company and shall be a corporation that has a combined capital and surplus, as most recently reported or determined by it, sufficient under the laws of any jurisdiction under which it is organized or in which it is doing business to conduct a trust business, and that is otherwise authorized under such laws to conduct such business and is subject to supervision or examination by Federal or State authorities. If at any time any Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with these provisions, it shall resign immediately.

Any Authenticating Agent may at any time resign by giving written notice of resignation to the Trustee, to the Company, and if applicable, to the Guarantor. The Trustee may at any time (and upon request by the Company shall) terminate the agency of any Authenticating Agent by giving written notice of termination to such Authenticating Agent, to the Company, and if applicable, to the Guarantor. Upon resignation, termination or cessation of eligibility of any Authenticating Agent, the Trustee may appoint an eligible successor Authenticating Agent acceptable to the Company. Any successor Authenticating Agent, upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder, shall become vested with all the rights, powers and duties of its predecessor hereunder as if originally named as an Authenticating Agent pursuant hereto.

SECTION 2.11. Global Securities.

(a) If the Company shall establish pursuant to Section 2.01 that the Securities of a particular series are to be issued as a Global Security, then the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall, in accordance with Section 2.04, authenticate and deliver, a Global Security that (1) shall represent, and shall be denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of, all of the Outstanding Securities of such series, (2) shall be registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, (3) shall be delivered by the Trustee to the Depositary or pursuant to the Depositary’s instruction and (4) shall bear a legend substantially to the following effect: “Except as otherwise provided in Section 2.11 of the Indenture, this Security may be transferred, in whole but not in part, only to another nominee of the Depositary or to a successor Depositary or to a nominee of such successor Depositary.”

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2.05, the Global Security of a series may be transferred, in whole but not in part and in the manner provided in Section 2.05, only to another nominee of the Depositary for such series, or to a successor Depositary for such series selected or approved by the Company or to a nominee of such successor Depositary.

 

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(c) If at any time the Depositary for a series of the Securities notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such series or if at any time the Depositary for such series shall no longer be registered or in good standing under the Exchange Act, or other applicable statute or regulation, and a successor Depositary for such series is not appointed by the Company within 90 days after the Company receives such notice or becomes aware of such condition, as the case may be, this Section 2.11 shall no longer be applicable to the Securities of such series and the Company, and, if applicable, the Guarantors, will execute and, subject to Section 2.05, the Trustee will authenticate and deliver the Securities with an endorsement of the Securities Guarantee, if applicable, executed by the Guarantors, of such series in definitive registered form without coupons, in authorized denominations, and in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security of such series in exchange for such Global Security. In addition, the Company may at any time determine that the Securities of any series shall no longer be represented by a Global Security and that the provisions of this Section 2.11 shall no longer apply to the Securities of such series. In such event the Company, and, if applicable, the Guarantors. will execute and, subject to Section 2.05, the Trustee, upon receipt of an Officers’ Certificate evidencing such determination by the Company, will authenticate and deliver the Securities with an endorsement of the Securities Guarantee, if applicable, of such series in definitive registered form without coupons, in authorized denominations, and in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security of such series in exchange for such Global Security. Upon the exchange of the Global Security for such Securities in definitive registered form without coupons, in authorized denominations, the Global Security shall be canceled by the Trustee. Such Securities in definitive registered form issued in exchange for the Global Security pursuant to this Section 2.11(c) 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 Trustee. The Trustee shall deliver such Securities to the Depositary for delivery to the Persons in whose names such Securities are so registered.

ARTICLE III

REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES AND SINKING FUND PROVISIONS

SECTION 3.01. Redemption.

The Company may redeem the Securities of any series issued hereunder on and after the dates and in accordance with the terms established for such series pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof.

SECTION 3.02. Notice of Redemption.

(a) In case the Company shall desire to exercise such right to redeem all or, as the case may be, a portion of the Securities of any series in accordance with the right reserved so to do, the Company shall, or shall cause the Trustee (with at least five Business Days notice to the Trustee) to, give notice of such redemption to holders of the Securities of such series to be redeemed by mailing, first class postage prepaid, a notice of such redemption not less than 30 days and not more than 60 days before the date fixed for redemption of that series to such holders at their last addresses as they shall appear upon the Security Register unless a shorter

 

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period is specified in the Securities to be redeemed. Any notice that is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the registered holder receives the notice. In any case, failure duly to give such notice to the holder of any Security of any series designated for redemption in whole or in part, or any defect in the notice, shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Securities of such series or any other series. In the case of any redemption of Securities prior to the expiration of any restriction on such redemption provided in the terms of such Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture, the Company shall furnish the Trustee with an Officers’ Certificate evidencing compliance with any such restriction.

Each such notice of redemption shall specify the date fixed for redemption and the redemption price at which Securities of that series are to be redeemed, and shall state that payment of the redemption price of such Securities to be redeemed will be made at the office or agency of the Company in the United States, upon presentation and surrender of such Securities, that interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption will be paid as specified in said notice, that from and after said date interest will cease to accrue and that the redemption is for a sinking fund, if such is the case. If less than all the Securities of a series are to be redeemed, the notice to the holders of Securities of that series to be redeemed in whole or in part shall specify the particular Securities to be so redeemed. In case any Security is to be redeemed in part only, the notice that relates to such Security shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed, and shall state that on and after the redemption date, upon surrender of such Security, a new Security or Securities of such series in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof will be issued.

(b) If less than all the Securities of a series are to be redeemed, the Company shall give the Trustee at least 60 days’ notice in advance of the date fixed for redemption as to the aggregate principal amount of Securities of the series to be redeemed, and thereupon the Trustee shall select, by lot or in such other manner as it shall deem appropriate and fair in its discretion (and in accordance with the Depositary’s applicable procedures)and that may provide for the selection of a portion or portions (equal to one thousand U.S. dollars ($1,000) or any integral multiple thereof) of the principal amount of such Securities of a denomination larger than $1,000, the Securities to be redeemed and shall thereafter promptly notify the Company in writing of the numbers of the Securities to be redeemed, in whole or in part. The Company may, if and whenever it shall so elect, by delivery of instructions signed on its behalf by its Chairman, Vice Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, or any Executive Vice President or Senior Vice President, instruct the Trustee or any paying agent to call all or any part of the Securities of a particular series for redemption and to give notice of redemption in the manner set forth in this Section, such notice to be in the name of the Company or its own name as the Trustee or such paying agent may deem advisable. In any case in which notice of redemption is to be given by the Trustee or any such paying agent, the Company shall deliver or cause to be delivered to, or permit to remain with, the Trustee or such paying agent, as the case may be, such Security Register, transfer books or other records, or suitable copies or extracts therefrom, sufficient to enable the Trustee or such paying agent to give any notice by mail that may be required under the provisions of this Section.

 

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SECTION 3.03. Payment Upon Redemption.

(a) If the giving of notice of redemption shall have been completed as above provided, the Securities or portions of Securities of the series to be redeemed specified in such notice shall become due and payable on the date and at the place stated in such notice at the applicable redemption price, together with interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption and interest on such Securities or portions of Securities shall cease to accrue on and after the date fixed for redemption, unless the Company shall default in the payment of such redemption price and accrued interest with respect to any such Security or portion thereof. On presentation and surrender of such Securities on or after the date fixed for redemption at the place of payment specified in the notice, said Securities shall be paid and redeemed at the applicable redemption price for such series, together with interest accrued thereon to the date fixed for redemption (but if the date fixed for redemption is an interest payment date, the interest installment payable on such date shall be payable to the registered holder at the close of business on the applicable record date pursuant to Section 2.03).

(b) Upon presentation of any Security of such series that is to be redeemed in part only, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and the office or agency where the Security is presented shall deliver to the holder thereof, at the expense of the Company, a new Security of the same series of authorized denominations in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the Security so presented.

SECTION 3.04. Sinking Fund.

The provisions of Sections 3.04, 3.05 and 3.06 shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of Securities of a series, except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.01 for Securities of such series.

The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as a “mandatory sinking fund payment,” and any payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as an “optional sinking fund payment”. If provided for by the terms of Securities of any series, the cash amount of any sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 3.05. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities of any series as provided for by the terms of Securities of such series.

SECTION 3.05. Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities.

The Company (a) may deliver Outstanding Securities of a series (other than any Securities previously called for redemption) and (b) may apply as a credit Securities of a series that have been redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such Securities or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the terms of such Securities, in each case in satisfaction of all or any part of any sinking fund payment with respect to the Securities of such series required to be made pursuant to the terms of such Securities, provided that such Securities have not been previously so credited. Such Securities shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the redemption price specified in such Securities for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly.

 

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SECTION 3.06. Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund.

Not less than 45 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for any series of Securities, the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing sinking fund payment for that series pursuant to the terms of the series, the portion thereof, if any, that is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting Securities of that series pursuant to Section 3.05 and the basis for such credit and will, together with such Officers’ Certificate, deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so delivered. Not less than 30 days before each such sinking fund payment date the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 3.02 and cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the Company in the manner provided in Section 3.02. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Section 3.03.

ARTICLE IV

COVENANTS

SECTION 4.01. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest.

The Company will duly and punctually pay or cause to be paid the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Securities of that series at the time and place and in the manner provided herein and established with respect to such Securities.

SECTION 4.02. Maintenance of Office or Agency.

So long as any series of the Securities remain Outstanding, the Company agrees to maintain an office or agency in the United States, with respect to each such series and at such other location or locations as may be designated as provided in this Section 4.02, where (a) Securities of that series may be presented for payment, (b) Securities of that series may be presented as herein above authorized for registration of transfer and exchange, and (c) notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of that series and this Indenture may be given or served, such designation to continue with respect to such office or agency until the Company shall, by written notice signed by its Chairman, Vice Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, or an Executive Vice President or Senior Vice President and delivered to the Trustee, designate some other office or agency for such purposes or any of them. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all such presentations, notices and demands, provided however, that such appointment shall not be deemed to be as an agent for service of process on the Company.

 

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SECTION 4.03. Paying Agents.

(a) If the Company shall appoint one or more paying agents for all or any series of the Securities, other than the Trustee, the Company will cause each such paying agent to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section:

(1) that it will hold all sums held by it as such agent for the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on the Securities of that series (whether such sums have been paid to it by the Company or by any other obligor of such Securities) in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto;

(2) that it will give the Trustee notice of any failure by the Company (or by any other obligor of such Securities) to make any payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on the Securities of that series when the same shall be due and payable;

(3) that it will, at any time during the continuance of any failure referred to in the preceding paragraph (a)(2) above, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so held in trust by such paying agent; and

(4) that it will perform all other duties of paying agent as set forth in this Indenture.

(b) If the Company shall act as its own paying agent with respect to any series of the Securities, it will on or before each due date of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on Securities of that series, set aside, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto a sum sufficient to pay such principal (and premium, if any) or interest so becoming due on Securities of that series until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided and will promptly notify the Trustee of such action, or any failure (by it or any other obligor on such Securities) to take such action. Whenever the Company shall have one or more paying agents for any series of Securities, it will, prior to each due date of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any Securities of that series, deposit with the paying agent a sum sufficient to pay the principal (and premium, if any) or interest so becoming due, such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such principal, premium or interest, and (unless such paying agent is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee of this action or failure so to act.

(c) Notwithstanding anything in this Section to the contrary, (1) the agreement to hold sums in trust as provided in this Section is subject to the provisions of Section 11.05, and (2) the Company, and, if applicable, the Guarantors, may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or for any other purpose, pay, or direct any paying agent to pay, to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Company or such paying agent, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the same terms and conditions as those upon which such sums were held by the Company or such paying agent; and, upon such payment by any paying agent to the Trustee, such paying agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such money.

 

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SECTION 4.04. Appointment to Fill Vacancy in Office of Trustee.

The Company, whenever necessary to avoid or fill a vacancy in the office of Trustee, will appoint, in the manner provided in Section 7.10, a Trustee, so that there shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder.

ARTICLE V

SECURITYHOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS

BY THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE

SECTION 5.01. Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Securityholders.

The Company will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee (a) on each regular record date (as defined in Section 2.03), but in each case will be no more than six months apart, a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the holders of each series of Securities as of such regular record date, provided that the Company shall not be obligated to furnish or cause to be furnished such list at any time that the list shall not differ in any respect from the most recent list furnished to the Trustee by the Company and (b) at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing within 30 days after the receipt by the Company of any such request, a list of similar form and content as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list is furnished; provided, however, that, in either case, no such list need be furnished for any series for which the Trustee shall be the Security Registrar.

SECTION 5.02. Preservation Of Information; Communications With Securityholders.

(a) The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, all information as to the names and addresses of the holders of Securities contained in the most recent list furnished to it as provided in Section 5.01 and as to the names and addresses of holders of Securities received by the Trustee in its capacity as Security Registrar (if acting in such capacity).

(b) The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 5.01 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.

(c) Securityholders may communicate as provided in Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act with other Securityholders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under the Securities. The Company, the Guarantors (if applicable), the Trustee, the Security Registrar and any other Person shall have the protection of the Trust Indenture Act Section 312(c).

SECTION 5.03. Reports by the Company.

(a) The Company covenants and agrees to file with the Trustee, within 15 days after the Company files the same with the Commission, copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the Commission may from time to time by rules and regulations prescribe) that the Company may be required to file with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the

 

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Exchange Act; or, if the Company is not required to file information, documents or reports pursuant to either of such sections, then to file with the Trustee and the Commission, in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission, such of the supplementary and periodic information, documents and reports that may be required pursuant to Section 13 of the Exchange Act, in respect of a security listed and registered on a national securities exchange as may be prescribed from time to time in such rules and regulations.

(b) The Company covenants and agrees to file with the Trustee and the Commission, in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed from to time by the Commission, such additional information, documents and reports with respect to compliance by the Company with the conditions and covenants provided for in this Indenture as may be required from time to time by such rules and regulations.

(c) The Company covenants and agrees to transmit by mail, first class postage prepaid, or reputable overnight delivery service that provides for evidence of receipt, to the Securityholders, as their names and addresses appear upon the Security Register, within 30 days after the filing thereof with the Trustee, such summaries of any information, documents and reports required to be filed by the Company pursuant to subsections (a) and (b) of this Section as may be required by rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission.

Delivery of reports, information and documents to the Trustee under this Section are for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of the foregoing shall not constitute constructive or actual notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of their covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officers’ Certificates).

ARTICLE VI

REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS ON EVENT OF DEFAULT

SECTION 6.01. Events of Default.

(a) Whenever used herein with respect to Securities of a particular series, “Event of Default” means any one or more of the following events that has occurred and is continuing:

(1) the Company defaults in the payment of any installment of interest upon any of the Securities of that series, as and when the same shall become due and payable, and such default continues for a period of 30 days; provided, however, that a valid extension of an interest payment period by the Company in accordance with the terms of any indenture supplemental hereto, shall not constitute a default in the payment of interest for this purpose;

(2) the Company defaults in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any of the Securities of that series as and when the same shall become due and payable whether at maturity, upon redemption, by declaration or otherwise, or in any payment required by any sinking or analogous fund established with respect to that series; provided, however, that a valid extension of the maturity of such Securities in accordance with the terms of any indenture supplemental hereto shall not constitute a default in the payment of principal or premium, if any;

 

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(3) the Company fails to observe or perform any other of its covenants or agreements with respect to that series contained in this Indenture or otherwise established with respect to that series of Securities pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof (other than a covenant or agreement that has been expressly included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of one or more series of Securities other than such series) for a period of 90 days after the date on which written notice of such failure, requiring the same to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder, shall have been given to the Company by the Trustee, by registered or certified mail, or to the Company and the Trustee by the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Securities of that series at the time Outstanding;

(4) the Company pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law (i) commences a voluntary case, (ii) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case, (iii) consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its property or (iv) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors; or

(5) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order under any Bankruptcy Law that (i) is for relief against the Company in an involuntary case, (ii) appoints a Custodian of the Company for all or substantially all of its property or (iii) orders the liquidation of the Company, and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 90 days.

(b) In each and every such case, unless the principal of all the Securities of that series shall have already become due and payable, either the Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of that series then Outstanding hereunder, by notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by such Securityholders), may declare the principal of all the Securities of that series to be due and payable immediately, and upon any such declaration the same shall become and shall be immediately due and payable.

(c) At any time after the principal of the Securities of that series shall have been so declared due and payable, and before any judgment or decree for the payment of the moneys due shall have been obtained or entered as hereinafter provided, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of that series then Outstanding hereunder, by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if: (1) the Company, or, if applicable, one or more Guarantors, has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest upon all the Securities of that series and the principal of (and premium, if any, on) all Securities of that series that shall have become due otherwise than by acceleration (with interest upon such principal and premium, if any, and, to the extent that such payment is enforceable under applicable law, upon overdue installments of interest, at the rate per annum expressed in the Securities of that series to the date of such payment or deposit) and any amount payable to the Trustee under Section 7.07, and (2) any and all other Events of Default under the Indenture with respect to such series, other than the nonpayment of principal on Securities of that series that shall not have become due by their terms, shall have been remedied or waived as provided in Section 6.06.

 

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No such rescission and annulment shall extend to or shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right consequent thereon.

(d) In case the Trustee shall have proceeded to enforce any right with respect to Securities of that series under this Indenture and such proceedings shall have been discontinued or abandoned because of such rescission or annulment or for any other reason or shall have been determined adversely to the Trustee, then and in every such case, subject to any determination in such proceedings, the Company, the Guarantors, if applicable, and the Trustee shall be restored respectively to their former positions and rights hereunder, and all rights, remedies and powers of the Company, the Guarantors, if applicable, and the Trustee shall continue as though no such proceedings had been taken.

SECTION 6.02. Suits for Enforcement by Trustee.

(a) If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(a)(1) or (2) hereof occurs and is continuing, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, shall be entitled and empowered to institute any action or proceedings at law or in equity for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, and may prosecute any such action or proceeding to judgment or final decree, and may enforce any such judgment or final decree against the Company or, if applicable, one or more Guarantors, or any other obligor upon the Securities of that series and collect the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company, or, if applicable, one or more Guarantors, or any other obligor upon the Securities of that series, wherever situated.

(b) In case of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, readjustment, arrangement, composition or judicial proceedings affecting the Company, or its creditors or property, the Trustee shall have power to intervene in such proceedings and take any action therein that may be permitted by the court and shall (except as may be otherwise provided by law) be entitled to file such proofs of claim and other papers and documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee and of the holders of Securities of a series allowed for the entire amount due and payable by the Company under this Indenture at the date of institution of such proceedings and for any additional amount that may become due and payable by the Company after such date, and to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claim, and to distribute the same after the deduction of the amount payable to the Trustee under Section 7.07; and any receiver, assignee or trustee in bankruptcy or reorganization is hereby authorized by each of the holders of Securities of such series to make such payments to the Trustee, and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to such Securityholders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it under Section 7.07.

(c) All rights of action and of asserting claims under this Indenture, or under any of the terms established with respect to Securities of a series, may be enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of such Securities, or the production thereof at any trial or other proceeding relative thereto, and any such suit or proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall, after provision for payment to the Trustee of any amounts due under Section 7.07, be for the ratable benefit of the holders of the Securities of such series.

 

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In case of an Event of Default hereunder, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce the rights vested in it by this Indenture by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any of such rights, either at law or in equity or in bankruptcy or otherwise, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement contained in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted in this Indenture, or to enforce any other legal or equitable right vested in the Trustee by this Indenture or by law.

Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Securityholder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities of that series or the rights of any holder thereof or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Securityholder in any such proceeding.

SECTION 6.03. Application of Moneys Collected.

Any moneys collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article with respect to a particular series of Securities shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and, in case of the distribution of such moneys on account of principal (or premium, if any) or interest, upon presentation of the Securities of that series, and notation thereon the payment, if only partially paid, and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:

FIRST: To the payment of costs and expenses of collection and of all amounts payable to the Trustee under Section 7.07;

SECOND: To the payment of all Senior Indebtedness of the Company if and to the extent required by ARTICLE XIV; and

THIRD: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid upon Securities of such series for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, in respect of which or for the benefit of which such money has been collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on such Securities for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, respectively.

SECTION 6.04. Limitation on Suits.

No holder of any Security of any series shall have any right by virtue or by availing of any provision of this Indenture to institute any suit, action or proceeding in equity or at law upon or under or with respect to this Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless (a) such holder previously shall have given to the Trustee written notice of an Event of Default and of the continuance thereof with respect to the Securities of such series specifying such Event of Default, as hereinbefore provided; (b) the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series then Outstanding shall have made written request upon the Trustee to institute such action, suit or proceeding in its

 

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own name as trustee hereunder; (c) such holder or holders shall have offered to the Trustee such indemnity as it may require against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred therein or thereby; (d) the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity, shall have failed to institute any such action, suit or proceeding; and (e) during such 60-day period, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of that series shall not have given the Trustee a direction inconsistent with the request.

Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the right of any holder of any Security to receive payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on such Security, as therein provided, on or after the respective due dates expressed in such Security (or in the case of redemption, on the redemption date), or to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates or redemption date, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such holder. By accepting a Security hereunder it is expressly understood, intended and covenanted by the taker and holder of every Security of such series with every other such taker and holder and the Trustee, that no one or more holders of Securities of such series shall have any right in any manner whatsoever by virtue or by availing of any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of the holders of any other of such Securities, or to obtain or seek to obtain priority over or preference to any other such holder, or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal, ratable and common benefit of all holders of Securities of such series. For the protection and enforcement of the provisions of this Section, each and every Securityholder and the Trustee shall be entitled to such relief as can be given either at law or in equity.

SECTION 6.05. Rights and Remedies Cumulative; Delay or Omission Not Waiver.

(a) All powers and remedies given by this Article to the Trustee or to the Securityholders shall, to the extent permitted by law, be deemed cumulative and not exclusive of any other powers and remedies available to the Trustee or the holders of the Securities, by judicial proceedings or otherwise, to enforce the performance or observance of the covenants and agreements contained in this Indenture or otherwise established with respect to such Securities.

(b) No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any holder of any of the Securities to exercise any right or power accruing upon any Event of Default occurring and continuing as aforesaid shall impair any such right or power, or shall be construed to be a waiver of any such default or on acquiescence therein; and, subject to the provisions of Section 6.04, every power and remedy given by this Article or by law to the Trustee or the Securityholders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as shall be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Securityholders.

SECTION 6.06. Control by Securityholders.

The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any series at the time Outstanding, determined in accordance with Section 8.01, shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee with respect to such series; provided, however, that such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture or be unduly prejudicial to the rights of holders of Securities of any other series at the

 

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time Outstanding determined in accordance with Section 8.01. Subject to the provisions of Section 7.01, the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee in good faith shall, by a Responsible Officer or Officers of the Trustee, determine that the proceeding so directed would involve the Trustee in personal liability. The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any series at the time Outstanding affected thereby, determined in accordance with Section 8.01, may on behalf of the holders of all of the Securities of such series waive any past default in the performance of any of the covenants contained herein or established pursuant to Section 2.01 with respect to such series and its consequences, except an uncured default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on, any of the Securities of that series as and when the same shall become due by the terms of such Securities otherwise than by acceleration (unless such default has been cured and a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest and principal and any premium has been deposited with the Trustee (in accordance with Section 6.01(c))). Upon any such waiver, the default covered thereby shall be deemed to be cured for all purposes of this Indenture and the Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee and the holders of the Securities of such series shall be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder, respectively; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or impair any right consequent thereon.

SECTION 6.07. Undertaking to Pay Costs.

All parties to this Indenture agree, and each holder of any Securities by such holder’s acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; but the provisions of this Section shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Securityholder, or group of Securityholders, holding more than 10% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, or to any suit instituted by any Securityholder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Security of such series, on or after the respective due dates expressed in such Security or established pursuant to this Indenture.

ARTICLE VII

CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE

SECTION 7.01. Duties of Trustee.

(a) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee will exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs.

 

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(b) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:

(1) the duties of the Trustee will be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture and the Trustee need perform only those duties that are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no others, and no implied covenants or obligations will be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and

(2) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture. However, in the case of any such certificates or opinions which by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee will examine the certificates and opinions to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture (but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of mathematical calculations or other facts stated therein).

(c) The Trustee may not be relieved from liabilities for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that:

(1) this paragraph does not limit the effect of Section 7.01(b);

(2) the Trustee will not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer, unless it is proved in a court of competent jurisdiction that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and

(3) the Trustee will not be liable with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to Section 6.06.

(d) Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to Sections 7.01 and 7.02.

(e) The Trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Securityholders unless the Securityholders have offered to the Trustee indemnity or security reasonably satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense.

(f) The Trustee will not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Company. Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

SECTION 7.02. Rights of Trustee.

(a) The Trustee may conclusively rely upon any document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper Person. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee will determine in good faith to make such further inquiry or investigation, it will be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Company, personally or by agent or attorney at the sole cost of the Company and will incur no liability or additional liability of any kind by reason of such inquiry or investigation.

 

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(b) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officers’ Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both. The Trustee will not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection and the advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel will be full and complete authorization and protection from liability in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon.

(c) The Trustee may act through its attorneys and agents and will not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent or attorney appointed with due care.

(d) The Trustee will not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith that it believes to be authorized or within the rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture.

(e) Unless otherwise specifically provided in this Indenture, any demand, request, direction or notice from the Company or a Guarantor will be sufficient if signed by an Officer of the Company or such Guarantor.

(f) None of the provisions of this Indenture will require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise to incur any liability, financial or otherwise, in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers if it has reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it against such risk or liability is not assured to it.

(g) The Trustee will not be deemed to have notice or actual knowledge of any Default or Event of Default unless written notice of any event which is in fact such a Default or an Event of Default is received by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and such notice references the existence of a Default or Event of Default and this Indenture.

(h) In no event will the Trustee be responsible or liable for special, indirect, punitive or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including, but not limited to, loss of profit) irrespective of whether the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action.

(i) The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and will be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, and each agent, custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder.

(j) The Trustee may request that the Company deliver an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture, which Officers’ Certificate may be signed by any person authorized to sign an Officers’ Certificate, including any Person specified as so authorized in any such certificate previously delivered and not superseded.

(k) The Trustee will not be required to give any bond or surety in respect of the performance of its powers and duties hereunder.

 

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(l) The permissive rights of the Trustee enumerated herein will not be construed as duties.

(m) The Trustee is not responsible for monitoring the performance of other persons or for failure of others to perform their duties.

(n) Any action to be taken, or omitted to be taken, by the Trustee in good faith pursuant to this Indenture upon the request or authority or consent of any person who, at the time of making such request or giving such authority or consent, is the holder of any Security shall be conclusive and binding upon future holders of Securities, and upon Securities executed and delivered in exchange therefor or in place thereof.

SECTION 7.03. Individual Rights of Trustee.

The Trustee, any Security Registrar or any Paying Agent in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and may otherwise deal with the Company or any Affiliate of the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee or such Security Registrar or Paying Agent. However, in the event that the Trustee acquires any conflicting interest within the meaning of Trust Indenture Act Section 310(b) it must eliminate such conflict within 90 days, apply to the SEC for permission to continue as trustee (if this Indenture has been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act) or resign. Any Security Registrar or Paying Agent may do the same with like rights and duties. The Trustee is also subject to Sections 7.10 and 7.11.

SECTION 7.04. Trustee’s Disclaimer.

The Trustee will not be responsible for and makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Securities, it will not be accountable for the Company’s use of the proceeds from the Securities or any money paid to the Company or upon the Company’s direction under any provision of this Indenture, it will not be responsible for the use or application of any money received by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee, and it will not be responsible for any statement or recital herein or any statement in the Securities or any other document in connection with the sale of the Securities or pursuant to this Indenture other than its certificate of authentication on the Securities.

SECTION 7.05. Notice of Defaults.

If a Default or an Event of Default occurs and is continuing and if, in accordance with Section 7.02(g), it is known to the Trustee, the Trustee will mail to each Securityholder a notice of the Default within 90 days after it occurs unless such Default or Event of Default will have been cured or waived. Except in the case of an Event of Default specified in clauses (1) or (2) of Section 6.01(a), the Trustee may withhold from the Securityholders notice of any continuing Default if and so long as a Responsible Officer of the Trustee determines in good faith that withholding the notice is in the interest of the Securityholders.

 

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SECTION 7.06. Reports by Trustee to Securityholders.

(a) Within 60 days after each May 15 on which the Securities are Outstanding, the Trustee will mail to the Securityholders of the Securities a brief report dated as of such reporting date that complies with Trust Indenture Act Section 313(a) (but if no event described in Trust Indenture Act Section 313(a) has occurred within the twelve months preceding the reporting date, no report need be transmitted). The Trustee also will comply with Trust Indenture Act Section 313(b)(2). The Trustee will also transmit by mail all reports as required by Trust Indenture Act Section 313(c).

(b) A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to the Securityholders will be mailed to the Company and filed with the SEC and each national securities exchange on which the Securities are listed in accordance with Trust Indenture Act Section 313(d). The Company will promptly notify the Trustee in writing in the event the Securities are listed or delisted on any national securities exchange or delisted therefrom.

SECTION 7.07. Compensation and Indemnity.

(a) The Company and the Guarantors, jointly and severally, will pay to the Trustee from time to time such compensation for its acceptance of this Indenture and services hereunder as the parties will agree in writing from time to time. The Trustee’s compensation will not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Company will reimburse the Trustee promptly upon request for all reasonable disbursements, advances and expenses incurred or made by it in addition to the compensation for its services. Such expenses will include the reasonable compensation, disbursements and expenses of the Trustee’s agents and counsel. The Trustee will provide the Company reasonable notice of any expenditure not in the ordinary course of business.

(b) The Company and the Guarantors, jointly and severally, will indemnify the Trustee for, and hold each of the Trustee and any predecessor harmless against, any and all loss, damage, claims, liability or expense (including attorneys’ fees and expenses) incurred by it in connection with the acceptance or administration of this trust, the exercise of its rights and remedies and the performance of its duties hereunder (including the costs and expenses of enforcing this Indenture against the Company or any Guarantor (including this Section 7.07) and including claims involving the Company or any third party) or defending itself against any claim or liability in connection with the acceptance, exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder. The Trustee will notify the Company promptly of any third party claim of which a Responsible Officer has received written notice for which it may seek indemnity. Failure by the Trustee to so notify the Company will not relieve the Company of its obligations hereunder. The Company will defend any third party claim and the Trustee may have separate counsel and the Company will pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company and the Guarantors need not reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss, liability or expense incurred by the Trustee through the Trustee’s own willful misconduct, gross negligence or bad faith. In addition, the Company and the Guarantors need not pay for any settlement made without their consent, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld. This indemnification shall apply to officers, directors, employees, shareholders and agents of the Trustee.

 

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(c) The obligations of the Company and the Guarantors under this Section 7.07 will survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or the earlier resignation or removal of the Trustee.

(d) To secure the payment obligations of the Company and the Guarantors in this Section 7.07, the Trustee will have a lien prior to the Securities on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay principal and interest on particular Securities. Such lien will survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.

(e) When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(a)(4) or (5) occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the services (including the fees and expenses of its agents and counsel) are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.

SECTION 7.08. Replacement of Trustee.

(a) A resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor Trustee will become effective only upon the successor Trustee’s acceptance of appointment as provided in this Section 7.08. The Trustee may resign with respect to one or more Series in writing at any time by giving 30 days’ prior notice of such resignation to the Company and be discharged from the trust hereby created by so notifying the Company. Following an Event of Default, the Securityholders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Securities may remove the Trustee by so notifying the Trustee and the Company in writing. The Company may remove the Trustee if:

(1) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10;

(2) the Trustee is adjudged a bankrupt or an insolvent or an order for relief is entered with respect to the Trustee under any Bankruptcy Law;

(3) a receiver or public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or

(4) the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.

(b) If the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason, the Company will promptly appoint a successor Trustee. Within one year after the successor Trustee takes office, the Securityholders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Securities may remove the successor Trustee to replace it with another successor Trustee appointed by the Company.

(c) If a successor Trustee does not take office within 60 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee (at the Company’s expense), the Company or the Securityholders of at least 10% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Securities may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.

(d) If the Trustee, after written request by any Securityholder who has been a Securityholder for at least six months, fails to comply with Section 7.10, such Securityholder may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee.

 

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(e) A successor Trustee will deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Company. Thereupon, the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee will become effective, and the successor Trustee will have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee under this Indenture. The successor Trustee will mail a notice of its succession to Securityholders. The retiring Trustee will promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee; provided that all sums owing to the Trustee hereunder have been paid and such transfer will be subject to the lien provided for in Section 7.07. Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section 7.08, the Company’s obligations under Section 7.07 will continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee.

(f) As used in this Section 7.08, the term “Trustee” will also include each Security Registrar or any Paying Agent.

SECTION 7.09. Successor Trustee by Merger, etc.

If the Trustee consolidates, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business to, another corporation or national banking association, the successor corporation or national banking association without any further act will be the successor Trustee, subject to Section 7.10.

SECTION 7.10. Eligibility; Disqualification.

(a) There will at all times be a Trustee hereunder that is a corporation or national banking association organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or of any state thereof that is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trustee power, that is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authorities and that has a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition. The Company may not, nor may any Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Company, serve as Trustee. In case at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, the Trustee shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in Section 7.08.

(b) This Indenture will always have a Trustee who satisfies the requirements of Trust Indenture Act Sections 310(a)(1), (2) and (5). The Trustee is subject to Trust Indenture Act Section 310(b).

SECTION 7.11. Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Company.

The Trustee is subject to Trust Indenture Act Section 311(a), excluding any creditor relationship listed in Trust Indenture Act Section 311(b). A Trustee who has resigned or been removed will be subject to Trust Indenture Act Section 311(a) to the extent indicated therein.

 

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ARTICLE VIII

CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS

SECTION 8.01. Evidence of Action by Securityholders.

Whenever in this Indenture it is provided that the holders of a majority or specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of a particular series may take any action (including the making of any demand or request, the giving of any notice, consent or waiver or the taking of any other action), the fact that at the time of taking any such action the holders of such majority or specified percentage of that series have joined therein may be evidenced by any instrument or any number of instruments of similar tenor executed by such holders of Securities of that series in Person or by agent or proxy appointed in writing.

If the Company shall solicit from the Securityholders of any series any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, the Company may, at its option, as evidenced by an Officers’ Certificate, fix in advance a record date for such series for the determination of Securityholders entitled to give such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, but the Company shall have no obligation to do so. If such a record date is fixed, such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action may be given before or after the record date, but only the Securityholders of record at the close of business on the record date shall be deemed to be Securityholders for the purposes of determining whether Securityholders of the requisite proportion of Outstanding Securities of that series have authorized or agreed or consented to such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, and for that purpose the Outstanding Securities of that series shall be computed as of the record date; provided, however, that no such authorization, agreement or consent by such Securityholders on the record date shall be deemed effective unless it shall become effective pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture not later than six months after the record date.

SECTION 8.02. Proof of Execution by Securityholders.

Subject to the provisions of Section 7.01, proof of the execution of any instrument by a Securityholder (such proof will not require notarization) or his agent or proxy and proof of the holding by any Person of any of the Securities shall be sufficient if made in the following manner:

(a) The fact and date of the execution by any such Person of any instrument may be proved in any reasonable manner acceptable to the Trustee.

(b) The ownership of Securities shall be proved by the Security Register of such Securities or by a certificate of the Security Registrar thereof.

(c) The Trustee may require such additional proof of any matter referred to in this Section as it shall deem necessary.

 

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SECTION 8.03. Who May be Deemed Owners.

Prior to the due presentment for registration of transfer of any Security, the Company, the Guarantors (if applicable), the Trustee, any paying agent and any Security Registrar may deem and treat the Person in whose name such Security shall be registered upon the books of the Company as the absolute owner of such Security (whether or not such Security shall be overdue and notwithstanding any notice of ownership or writing thereon made by anyone other than the Security Registrar) for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account of the principal of (and premium, if any) and (subject to Section 2.03) interest on such Security and for all other purposes; and neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any paying agent nor any Security Registrar shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.

SECTION 8.04. Certain Securities Owned by Company Disregarded.

In determining whether the holders of the requisite aggregate principal amount of Securities of a particular series have concurred in any direction, consent or waiver under this Indenture, the Securities of that series that are owned by the Company, or, if applicable, any Guarantor, or any other obligor on the Securities of that series or by any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under common control with the Company, or, if applicable, any Guarantor, or any other obligor on the Securities of that series shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding for the purpose of any such determination, except that for the purpose of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, consent or waiver, only Securities of such series that the Trustee actually knows are so owned shall be so disregarded. The Securities so owned that have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding for the purposes of this Section, if the pledgee shall establish to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not a Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Company or, if applicable, any Guarantor, or any such other obligor. In case of a dispute as to such right, any decision by the Trustee taken upon the advice of counsel shall be full protection to the Trustee.

SECTION 8.05. Actions Binding on Future Securityholders.

At any time prior to (but not after) the evidencing to the Trustee, as provided in Section 8.01, of the taking of any action by the holders of the majority or percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of a particular series specified in this Indenture in connection with such action, any holder of a Security of that series that is shown by the evidence to be included in the Securities the holders of which have consented to such action may, by filing written notice with the Trustee, and upon proof of holding as provided in Section 8.02, revoke such action so far as concerns such Security. Except as aforesaid any such action taken by the holder of any Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such holder and upon all future holders and owners of such Security, and of any Security issued in exchange therefor, on registration of transfer thereof or in place thereof, irrespective of whether or not any notation in regard thereto is made upon such Security. Any action taken by the holders of the majority or percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of a particular series specified in this Indenture in connection with such action shall be conclusively binding upon the Company, the Trustee and the holders of all the Securities of that series.

 

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ARTICLE IX

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

SECTION 9.01. Supplemental Indentures Without the Consent of Securityholders.

In addition to any supplemental indenture otherwise authorized by this Indenture, the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto (which shall conform to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect), without the consent of the Securityholders, for one or more of the following purposes:

(a) to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency herein or in the Securities of any series;

(b) to comply with Article Ten;

(c) to provide for uncertificated Securities in addition to or in place of certificated Securities;

(d) to add to the covenants of the Company for the benefit of the holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such covenants are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such covenants are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series) or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company;

(e) to add to, delete from or revise the conditions, limitations and restrictions on the authorized amount, terms, purposes of issue, authentication and delivery of Securities, as herein set forth;

(f) to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any Securityholder in any material respect;

(g) to provide for the issuance of and establish the form and terms and conditions of the Securities of any series as provided in Section 2.01, to establish the form of any certifications required to be furnished pursuant to the terms of this Indenture or any series of Securities, or to add to the rights of the holders of any series of Securities; or

(h) to add Securities Guarantee and cause any Person to become a Guarantor, and/or evidence the succession of another Person to a Guarantor and the assumption by any such successor of the Securities Guarantee of Guarantor herein and, to the extent applicable, endorsed Company Securities of any series.

The Trustee is hereby authorized to join with the Company and any Guarantors in the execution of any such supplemental indenture, and to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations that may be therein contained, but the Trustee shall not be obligated to enter into any such supplemental indenture that affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

 

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Any supplemental indenture authorized by the provisions of this Section may be executed by the Company and the Trustee without the consent of the holders of any of the Securities at the time Outstanding, notwithstanding any of the provisions of Section 9.02.

SECTION 9.02. Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Securityholders.

With the consent (evidenced as provided in Section 8.01) of the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of each series affected by such supplemental indenture or indentures at the time Outstanding, the Company, and if applicable, the Guarantors, when authorized by Board Resolutions, and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto (which shall conform to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect) for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner not covered by Section 9.01 the rights of the holders of the Securities of such series under this Indenture; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the holders of each Security then Outstanding and affected thereby, (i) extend the fixed maturity of any Securities of any series, or reduce the principal amount thereof, or reduce the rate of interest thereon, or reduce any premium payable upon the redemption thereof, (ii) reduce the aforesaid percentage of Securities, the holders of which are required to consent to any such supplemental indenture or (iii) release any Guarantor from any of its obligations under its Securities Guarantee or this Indenture.

It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Securityholders of any series affected thereby under this Section to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such consent shall approve the substance thereof.

SECTION 9.03. Effect of Supplemental Indentures.

Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article or of Section 10.01, this Indenture shall, with respect to such series, be and be deemed to be modified and amended in accordance therewith and the respective rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities under this Indenture of the Trustee, the Company, the Guarantors (if applicable), and the holders of Securities of the series affected thereby shall thereafter be determined, exercised and enforced hereunder subject in all respects to such modifications and amendments, and all the terms and conditions of any such supplemental indenture shall be and be deemed to be part of the terms and conditions of this Indenture for any and all purposes.

SECTION 9.04. Securities Affected by Supplemental Indentures.

Securities of any series affected by a supplemental indenture, authenticated and delivered after the execution of such supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article or of Section 10.01, may bear a notation in form approved by the Company, provided such form meets the requirements of any exchange upon which such series may be listed, as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Company shall so determine, new Securities of that series so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Board of Directors, to any modification of this Indenture contained in any such supplemental indenture may be prepared by the Company, authenticated by the Trustee and delivered in exchange for the Securities of that series then Outstanding.

 

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SECTION 9.05. Execution of Supplemental Indentures.

Upon the request of the Company, accompanied by Board Resolutions authorizing the execution of any such supplemental indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence of the consent of Securityholders required to consent thereto as aforesaid, the Trustee shall join with the Company, and if applicable, any Guarantors, in the execution of such supplemental indenture unless such supplemental indenture affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion but shall not be obligated to enter into such supplemental indenture. The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section 7.01 and in addition to Section 13.05, may receive an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article is authorized or permitted by, and conforms to, the terms of this Article and that it is proper for the Trustee under the provisions of this Article to join in the execution thereof; provided, however, that such Opinion of Counsel need not be provided in connection with the execution of a supplemental indenture that establishes the terms of a series of Securities pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof.

Promptly after the execution by the Company, and if applicable, any Guarantors, and the Trustee of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Section, the Trustee shall transmit by mail, first class postage prepaid, a notice, setting forth in general terms the substance of such supplemental indenture, to the Securityholders of all series affected thereby as their names and addresses appear upon the Security Register. Any failure of the Trustee to mail such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such supplemental indenture.

ARTICLE X

SUCCESSOR ENTITY

SECTION 10.01. Company May Consolidate, Etc.

Nothing contained in this Indenture or in any of the Securities shall prevent any consolidation or merger of the Company or any Guarantor with or into any other Person (whether or not affiliated with the Company) or successive consolidations or mergers in which the Company or any Guarantor; or their successor or successors shall be a party or parties, or shall prevent any sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition of the property of the Company, or any Guarantor, or their successor or successors as an entirety, or substantially as an entirety, to any other corporation (whether or not affiliated with the Company or its successor or successors) authorized to acquire and operate the same; provided, however, the Company, and, if applicable, the Guarantors, hereby covenants and agrees that, upon any such consolidation or merger (in each case, if the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, is not the survivor of such transaction), sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition, the due and punctual payment of the principal of (premium, if any) and interest on all of the Securities of all series in accordance with the terms of each series, according to their tenor, and the due and punctual performance and

 

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observance of all the covenants and conditions of this Indenture with respect to each series or established with respect to such series pursuant to Section 2.01 to be kept or performed by the Company shall be expressly assumed, or guaranteed, as the case may be, if applicable, by supplemental indenture (which shall conform to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect) satisfactory in form to the Trustee executed and delivered to the Trustee by the entity formed by such consolidation, or into which the Company, or a Guarantor, as the case may be, shall have been merged, or by the entity which shall have acquired such property.

SECTION 10.02. Successor Entity Substituted.

(a) In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition and upon the assumption by the successor entity by supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee and satisfactory in form to the Trustee, of the due and punctual payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on all of the Securities of all series Outstanding and the due and punctual performance of all of the covenants and conditions of this Indenture or established with respect to each series of the Securities pursuant to Section 2.01 to be performed by the Company with respect to each series, such successor entity shall succeed to and be substituted for the Company with the same effect as if it had been named as the Company herein, and thereupon the predecessor corporation shall be relieved of all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities.

(b) In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition, such changes in phraseology and form (but not in substance) may be made in the Securities thereafter to be issued as may be appropriate.

(c) Nothing contained in this Article shall apply to limit or impose any requirements upon the consolidation or merger of any Person into the Company or Guarantor where the Company or Guarantor, as the case may be, is the survivor of such transaction, or the acquisition by the Company or a Guarantor, by purchase or otherwise, of all or any part of the property of any other Person (whether or not affiliated with the Company).

SECTION 10.03. Evidence of Consolidation, Etc. to Trustee.

The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section 7.01, may receive an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer, if applicable, or other disposition, and any such assumption, comply with the provisions of this Article and, in the case of any supplemental indenture, that such supplement constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of such successor entity.

 

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ARTICLE XI

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

SECTION 11.01. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.

If at any time: (a) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee for cancellation all Securities of a series theretofore authenticated (other than any Securities that have been destroyed, lost or stolen and that have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 2.07) and Securities for whose payment money or Governmental Obligations have theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company (and thereupon repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 11.05); or (b) all such Securities of a particular series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation shall have become due and payable, or are by their terms to become due and payable within one year or are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption, and the Company or any Guarantor shall deposit or cause to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds the entire amount in moneys or Governmental Obligations or a combination thereof, sufficient in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay at maturity or upon redemption all Securities of that series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, including principal (and premium, if any) and interest due or to become due to such date of maturity or date fixed for redemption, as the case may be, and if the Company shall also pay or cause to be paid all other sums payable hereunder with respect to such series by the Company then this Indenture shall thereupon cease to be of further effect with respect to such series except for the provisions of Sections 2.03, 2.05, 2.07, 4.01, 4.02, 4.03 and 7.10, that shall survive until the date of maturity or redemption date, as the case may be, and Sections 7.07 and 11.05, that shall survive to such date and thereafter, and the Trustee, on demand of the Company and at the cost and expense of the Company, shall, on receipt of the documents set forth in Section 13.05, execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction of and discharging this Indenture with respect to such series.

SECTION 11.02. Discharge of Obligations.

If at any time all such Securities of a particular series not heretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation or that have not become due and payable as described in Section 11.01 shall have been paid by the Company or any Guarantor by depositing irrevocably with the Trustee as trust funds moneys or an amount of Governmental Obligations sufficient to pay at maturity or upon redemption all such Securities of that series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, including principal (and premium, if any) and interest due or to become due to such date of maturity or date fixed for redemption, as the case may be, and if the Company or any Guarantor shall also pay or cause to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company with respect to such series, then after the date such moneys or Governmental Obligations, as the case may be, are deposited with the Trustee, the obligations of the Company and the Guarantors under this Indenture with respect to such series shall cease to be of further effect except for the provisions of Sections 2.03, 2.05, 2.07, 4.01, 4.02, 4.03, 7.07, 7.10 and 11.05 hereof that shall survive until such Securities shall mature and be paid. Thereafter, Sections 7.07 and 11.05 shall survive.

SECTION 11.03. Deposited Moneys to be Held in Trust.

All moneys or Governmental Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Sections 11.01 or 11.02 shall be held in trust and shall be available for payment as due, either directly or through any paying agent (including the Company acting as its own paying agent), to the holders of the particular series of Securities for the payment or redemption of which such moneys or Governmental Obligations have been deposited with the Trustee.

 

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SECTION 11.04. Payment of Moneys Held by Paying Agents.

In connection with the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture all moneys or Governmental Obligations then held by any paying agent under the provisions of this Indenture shall, upon demand of the Company, be paid to the Trustee and thereupon such paying agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such moneys or Governmental Obligations.

SECTION 11.05. Repayment to Company.

Subject to applicable law, any moneys or Governmental Obligations deposited with any paying agent or the Trustee, or then held by the Company, in trust for payment of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on the Securities of a particular series that are not applied but remain unclaimed by the holders of such Securities for at least two years after the date upon which the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on such Securities shall have respectively become due and payable, shall be repaid to the Company or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and thereupon the paying agent and the Trustee shall be released from all further liability with respect to such moneys or Governmental Obligations, and the holder of any of the Securities entitled to receive such payment shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company for the payment thereof.

ARTICLE XII

IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

SECTION 12.01. No Recourse.

No recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of this Indenture, or of any 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, any Guarantor or of any predecessor or successor Person, either directly or through the Company, any Guarantor or any such predecessor or successor Person, 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, any Guarantor or of any predecessor or successor Person, 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 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 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 Securities.

 

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ARTICLE XIII

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

SECTION 13.01. Effect on Successors and Assigns.

All the covenants, stipulations, promises and agreements in this Indenture contained by or on behalf of the Company and a Guarantor, as the case may be, shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.

SECTION 13.02. Actions by Successor.

Any act or proceeding by any provision of this Indenture authorized or required to be done or performed by any board, committee or officer of the Company or a Guarantor shall and may be done and performed with like force and effect by the corresponding board, committee or officer of any corporation that shall at the time be the lawful successor of the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be.

SECTION 13.03. Notices.

Except as otherwise expressly provided herein any notice or demand that by any provision of this Indenture is required or permitted to be given or served by the Trustee or by the holders of Securities to or on the Company or any Guarantors may be given or served by being deposited first class postage prepaid in a post-office letterbox addressed (until another address is filed in writing by the Company with the Trustee), as follows: [ ]. Any notice, election, request or demand by the Company, any Guarantor or any Securityholder to or upon the Trustee shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given or made, for all purposes, if given or made in writing at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.

Any notice or communication to a Securityholder shall be sent electronically or by first-class mail to his address shown on the register kept by the Registrar, in accordance with the procedures of the Depositary. Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Securityholder of any Series or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Securityholders of that or any other Series.

If a notice or communication is sent or published in the manner provided above, within the time prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the Securityholder receives it.

If the Company sends a notice or communication to Securityholders, it shall send a copy to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or any Security, where this Indenture or any Security provides for notice of any event (including any notice of redemption) to a Holder of a Global Security (whether by mail or otherwise), such notice shall be sufficiently given to the Depositary for such Security (or its designee) pursuant to the customary procedures of such Depositary.

 

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SECTION 13.04. Governing Law.

This Indenture and each Security and, if applicable, each Securities Guarantee, shall be deemed to be a contract made under the internal laws of the State of New York, and for purposes shall be construed in accordance with the laws of said State.

SECTION 13.05. Compliance Certificates and Opinions.

(a) Upon any application or demand by the Company or Guarantor to the Trustee to take any action under any of the provisions of this Indenture, the Company or Guarantor, as the case may be, shall furnish to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that all conditions precedent provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel stating that in the opinion of such counsel all such conditions precedent have been complied with, except that in the case of any such application or demand as to which the furnishing of such documents is specifically required by any provision of this Indenture relating to such particular application or demand, no additional certificate or opinion need be furnished.

(b) Each certificate or opinion provided for in this Indenture and delivered to the Trustee with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant in this Indenture shall include (1) a statement that the Person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition; (2) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based; (3) a statement that, in the opinion of such Person, he has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and (4) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such Person, such condition or covenant has been complied with.

(c) The Company shall furnish to the Trustee, on [    ] of each year, a brief certificate from the principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer as to his or her knowledge of such obligor’s compliance with all conditions and covenants under this Indenture. For purposes of this subsection, such compliance shall be determined without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice provided hereunder.

SECTION 13.06. Payments on Business Days.

Except as provided pursuant to Section 2.01 pursuant to a Board Resolution, and as set forth in an Officers’ Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental to this Indenture, in any case where the date of maturity of interest or principal of any Security or the date of redemption of any Security shall not be a Business Day, then payment of interest or principal (and premium, if any) may be made on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on the nominal date of maturity or redemption, and no interest shall accrue for the period after such nominal date.

SECTION 13.07. Conflict with Trust Indenture Act.

If and to the extent that any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by Sections 310 to 317, inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act, such imposed duties shall control.

 

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SECTION 13.08. Counterparts.

This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

SECTION 13.09. Separability.

In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Indenture or in the Securities of any series shall for any reason be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of this Indenture or of such Securities, but this Indenture and such Securities shall be construed as if such invalid or illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein or therein.

SECTION 13.10. Assignment.

The Company will have the right at all times to assign any of its rights or obligations under this Indenture to a direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company, provided that, in the event of any such assignment, the Company will remain liable for all such obligations. Subject to the foregoing, the Indenture is binding upon and inures to the benefit of the parties thereto and their respective successors and assigns. This Indenture may not otherwise be assigned by the parties thereto.

ARTICLE XIV

SUBORDINATION OF SECURITIES

SECTION 14.01. Subordination Terms.

The payment by the Company of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on any series of Securities issued hereunder shall be subordinated to the extent set forth in an indenture supplemental hereto relating to such Securities. Nothing in this Article XIV or any indenture supplemental hereto regarding subordination shall apply to the claims of, or payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Section 7.07.

ARTICLE XV

GUARANTEE OF SECURITIES

SECTION 15.01. Securities Guarantee.

(a) Subject to the other provisions of this ARTICLE XV ARTICLE XV, each of the Guarantors hereby jointly and severally, guarantees to each holder of a Security of each series to which this ARTICLE XV has been made applicable as provided in SECTION 2.01(a)(16) (the Securities of such series being referred to herein as the “Guaranteed Securities”) (which Security has been authenticated and delivered by the Trustee), and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns, irrespective of the validity and enforceability of this Indenture, the Guaranteed Securities, the obligations of the Company hereunder or thereunder, that:

 

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(i) the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Guaranteed Securities will be promptly paid in full when due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, redemption or otherwise, and interest on the overdue principal of and interest on the Guaranteed Securities, if any, if lawful, and all other obligations of the Company to the holders of Guaranteed Securities, or the Trustee hereunder or thereunder will be promptly paid in full or performed, all in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof; and

(ii) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Guaranteed Securities or any of such other obligations, that same will be promptly paid in full when due or performed in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise.

Failing payment when due of any amount so guaranteed or any performance so guaranteed for whatever reason, the Guarantors will be jointly and severally obligated to pay the same immediately. Each Guarantor agrees that this is a guarantee of payment and not a guarantee of collection.

(b) To the extent permissible under applicable law, the obligations of the Guarantors under this Securities Guarantee are unconditional, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Guaranteed Securities or this Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any waiver or consent by any holder of the Guaranteed Securities with respect to any provisions hereof or thereof, the recovery of any judgment against the Company, any action to enforce the same or any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor. To the extent permitted by applicable law, each Guarantor hereby waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of the Company, any right to require a proceeding first against the Company, protest, notice and all demands whatsoever and covenant that this Securities Guarantee will not be discharged except by complete performance of the obligations contained in the Guaranteed Securities and this Indenture.

(c) If any holder or the Trustee is required by any court or otherwise to return to the Company, the Guarantors or any custodian, trustee, liquidator or other similar official acting in relation to either the Company or the Guarantors, any amount paid by either to the Trustee or such holder, this Securities Guarantee, to the extent theretofore discharged, will be reinstated in full force and effect.

(d) Each Guarantor agrees that it will not be entitled to any right of subrogation in relation to the holders in respect to any obligations guaranteed hereby until payment in full of all obligations guaranteed hereby. Each Guarantor further agrees that, to the extent permitted by applicable law, as between the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the holders of Guaranteed Securities and the Trustee, on the other hand, (i) the maturity of the obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in ARTICLE VI hereof for the purposes of this Securities Guarantee, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the obligations guaranteed hereby, and (ii) in the event of any declaration of acceleration of such obligations as provided in ARTICLE VI hereof, such obligations (regardless of whether due and payable) will forthwith become due and payable by the Guarantors for the purpose of this Securities Guarantee. The Guarantors will have the right to seek contribution from any non-paying Guarantor so long as the exercise of such right does not impair the rights of the Holders under the Securities Guarantee.

 

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SECTION 15.02. Limitation on Guarantor Liability.

Each Guarantor, and by its acceptance of Guaranteed Securities, each holder thereof, hereby confirms that it is the intention of all such parties that the Securities Guarantee of such Guarantor not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance for purposes of Bankruptcy Law, the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act or any similar federal or state law to the extent applicable to any Securities Guarantee. To effectuate the foregoing intention, the Trustee, to the extent permitted under applicable law, the holders and each Guarantor hereby irrevocably agree that the obligations of such Guarantor will be limited to the maximum amount that will, after giving effect to such maximum amount and all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Guarantor that are relevant under such laws, and after giving effect to any collections from, rights to receive contribution from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Guarantor under this ARTICLE XV, result in the obligations of such Guarantor under its Securities Guarantee not constituting a fraudulent transfer or conveyance.

SECTION 15.03. Execution and Delivery of Securities Guarantee Notation.

To evidence its Securities Guarantee set forth in SECTION 15.01 hereof, each Guarantor hereby agrees that a notation of such Securities Guarantee substantially in the form established pursuant to a Board Resolution or in a supplemental indenture, will be endorsed by an officer of such Guarantor on each Guaranteed Security authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and that this Indenture will be executed on behalf of such Guarantor by one of its officers.

Each Guarantor hereby agrees that its Securities Guarantee set forth in SECTION 15.01 hereof will remain in full force and effect notwithstanding any failure to endorse on each Guaranteed Security a notation of such Securities Guarantee.

If an officer whose signature is on this Indenture or on the Securities Guarantee no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates the Guaranteed Security on which a Securities Guarantee is endorsed, the Securities Guarantee will be valid nevertheless.

The delivery of any Guaranteed Security by the Trustee, after the authentication thereof hereunder, will constitute due delivery of the Securities Guarantee of such Guaranteed Security set forth in this Indenture on behalf of the Guarantors.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed all as of the day and year first above written.

 

CONN’S, INC.
By:    
Name:  
Title:  

 

[Name of any Guarantor]
By:    
Name:  
Title:  

 

REGIONS BANK,
as Trustee
By:    
Name:  
Title:  

 

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EX-5.1

Exhibit 5.1

 

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SIDLEY AUSTIN LLP

1000 LOUISIANA STREET

SUITE 6000

HOUSTON, TX 77002

+1 713 495 4500

+1 713 495 7799 FAX

 

AMERICA • ASIA PACIFIC • EUROPE

  

November 23, 2018

Conn’s, Inc.

2445 Technology Forest Blvd., Suite 800

The Woodlands, Texas 77381

 

  Re:

Registration Statement on Form S-3

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We refer to the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement”) being filed by Conn’s, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), CAI Credit Insurance Agency, Inc., a Louisiana corporation (“CAI Credit”), CAI Holding Co., a Delaware corporation (“CAI Holding”), Conn Appliances, Inc., a Texas corporation (“Conn Appliances”), Conn Credit Corporation, Inc., a Texas corporation (“Conn Credit”), Conn Credit I, L.P., a Texas limited partnership (“Conn Credit I”) and Conn Lending, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (together, with CAI Holding, Conn Appliances, Conn Credit and Conn Credit I, the “Covered Guarantors” and, the Covered Guarantors, together with CAI Credit, the “Guarantors” and, the Guarantors, together with the Company, the “Registrants”) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), relating to the registration of an unlimited amount of:

(i) shares of the Company’s common stock, $0.01 par value per share (the “Common Stock”);

(ii) shares of the Company’s preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share (the “Preferred Stock”), which may be represented by depositary shares (the “Depositary Shares”);

(iii) debt securities of the Company (the “Debt Securities”), which may be unsecured senior debt securities (the “Senior Debt Securities”) and/or unsecured subordinated debt securities (the “Subordinated Debt Securities”);

(iv) warrants to purchase Common Stock, Preferred Stock or Debt Securities (the “Warrants”);

(v) rights to purchase Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Debt Securities or Warrants (the “Rights”);

(vi) stock purchase contracts (the “Stock Purchase Contracts”), entitling or obligating the holders thereof to purchase from or sell to the Company and the Company to sell to or purchase from the holders thereof, Common Stock or Preferred Stock at a future date or dates;

SIDLEY AUSTIN LLP IS A LIMITED LIABILITY PARTNERSHIP PRACTICING IN AFFILIATION WITH OTHER SIDLEY AUSTIN PARTNERSHIPS.


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(vii) units (the “Units”), each consisting of one or more Debt Securities, shares of Common Stock, shares of Preferred Stock, Warrants, Rights, Stock Purchase Contracts or Depositary Shares or any combination of such securities; and

(viii) guarantees of Debt Securities by the Guarantors (the “Guarantees”).

The Common Stock, the Preferred Stock, the Depositary Shares, the Debt Securities, the Warrants, the Rights, the Stock Purchase Contracts, the Units and the Guarantees are collectively referred to herein as the “Securities.”

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement:

(1) the Depositary Shares will be issued under a deposit agreement (a “Deposit Agreement”) between the Company and a depositary agent (the “Depositary Agent”);

(2) the Senior Debt Securities and any related Guarantees will be issued under one or more indentures (each, a “Senior Indenture”) to be entered into among the Company, the Guarantors (if applicable) and a trustee (the “Senior Trustee”);

(3) the Subordinated Debt Securities and any related Guarantees will be issued under one or more indentures (each, a “Subordinated Indenture”) to be entered into among the Company, the Guarantors (if applicable) and a trustee (the “Subordinated Trustee”);

(4) the Warrants will be issued under a warrant agreement (the “Warrant Agreement”) to be entered into between the Company and a warrant agent (the “Warrant Agent”);

(5) the Rights will be issued under a rights agent agreement (the “Rights Agent Agreement”) or a subscription agreement (the “Subscription Agreement”) to be entered into between the Company and a rights agent (the “Rights Agent”) or the purchasers of such Rights (“Rights Purchasers”), respectively;

(6) the Stock Purchase Contracts will be issued under a stock purchase contract agreement (the “Stock Purchase Contract Agreement”) between the Company and a purchase contract agent (the “Stock Purchase Contract Agent”); and

(7) the Units will be issued under a unit purchase agreement (the “Unit Agreement”) between the Company and a unit agent (the “Unit Agent”);

in each case substantially in the form that has been or will be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement.

This opinion letter is being delivered in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act.


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We have examined the Registration Statement, the exhibits thereto, the charters and by-laws, certificate of formation, limited liability company agreement, limited partnership agreement or similar organizational and governing documents, each as amended to the date hereof, of the Registrants (the “Organizational Documents”) and resolutions adopted by the board of directors of the Company (the “Board” and such resolutions, the “Resolutions”) and the board of directors, managers, sole member or general partner of each Covered Guarantor relating to the Registration Statement. We have also examined originals, or copies of originals certified to our satisfaction, of such agreements, documents, certificates and statements of each Registrant and others, and have examined such questions of law, as we have considered relevant and necessary as a basis for this opinion letter. We have assumed the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of all persons and the conformity with the original documents of any copies thereof submitted to us for examination. As to facts relevant to the opinions expressed herein, we have relied without independent investigation or verification upon, and assumed the accuracy and completeness of, certificates, letters and oral and written statements and representations of public officials and officers and other representatives of each Registrant.

Based on and subject to the foregoing and the other limitations, qualifications and assumptions set forth herein, we are of the opinion that:

1. With respect to an offering of shares of Common Stock covered by the Registration Statement, such shares of Common Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable when: (i) the Registration Statement, as finally amended (including any necessary post-effective amendments), shall have become effective under the Securities Act; (ii) a prospectus supplement with respect to the sale of such shares of Common Stock shall have been filed with the SEC in compliance with the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder; (iii) the Board or a duly authorized committee thereof shall have duly adopted final resolutions in conformity with the applicable Organizational Documents and the Resolutions authorizing the issuance and sale of such shares of Common Stock; and (iv) certificates representing such shares of Common Stock shall have been duly executed, countersigned and registered and duly delivered in accordance with the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement upon payment of the agreed consideration therefor in an amount not less than the par value thereof or, if any such shares of Common Stock are to be issued in uncertificated form, the Company’s books shall reflect the issuance of such shares of Common Stock in accordance with the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement upon payment of the agreed consideration therefor in an amount not less than the par value thereof.

2. The issuance and sale of each series of Preferred Stock covered by the Registration Statement will be duly authorized, and each share of such series of Preferred Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, when: (i) the Registration Statement, as finally amended (including any necessary post-effective amendments), shall have become effective under the Securities Act; (ii) a prospectus supplement with respect to the sale of such series of Preferred Stock shall have been filed with the SEC in compliance with the Securities


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Act and the rules and regulations thereunder; (iii) the Board or a duly authorized committee thereof shall have duly adopted final resolutions in conformity with the applicable Organizational Documents and the Resolutions establishing the designations, preferences, rights, qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such series of Preferred Stock and authorizing the issuance and sale of such series of Preferred Stock; (iv) the Company shall have filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware a Certificate of Designations with respect to such series of Preferred Stock in accordance with the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”) and in conformity with the certificate of incorporation of the Company, as amended to the date hereof (the “Charter”) and the resolutions contemplated by clause (iii) above; and (v) certificates representing such series of Preferred Stock shall have been duly executed, countersigned and registered and duly delivered in accordance with the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement to the purchasers thereof against payment of the agreed consideration therefor in an amount not less than the par value thereof or, if any shares of such series of Preferred Stock are to be issued in uncertificated form, the Company’s books shall reflect the issuance of such shares in accordance with the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement upon payment of the agreed consideration therefor in an amount not less than the par value thereof.

3. The Depositary Shares covered by the Registration Statement will be duly authorized and will entitle the holders thereof to the rights specified in the Depositary Shares and the Deposit Agreement relating to the Depositary Shares when: (i) the Registration Statement, as finally amended (including any necessary post-effective amendments), shall have become effective under the Securities Act; (ii) a prospectus supplement with respect to the Depositary Shares and the series of Preferred Stock underlying such Depositary Shares shall have been filed with the SEC in compliance with the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder; (iii) a Deposit Agreement shall have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and duly executed and delivered by the Depositary Agent named in the Deposit Agreement; (iv) the Board or a duly authorized committee thereof shall have duly adopted final resolutions in conformity with the applicable Organizational Documents and the Resolutions establishing the designations, preferences, rights, qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such series of Preferred Stock underlying such Depositary Shares and authorizing the issuance and sale of such series of Preferred Stock; (v) the Company shall have filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware a Certificate of Designations with respect to such series of Preferred Stock underlying such Depositary Shares in accordance with the DGCL and in conformity with the Charter and the resolutions contemplated by clause (iv) above; (vi) certificates representing the series of Preferred Stock underlying such Depositary Shares shall have been duly executed, countersigned and registered and duly delivered against payment of the agreed consideration therefor in an amount not less than the par value thereof or, if any shares of such series of Preferred Stock are to be issued in uncertificated form, the Company’s books shall reflect the issuance of such shares in accordance with the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement upon payment of the agreed consideration therefor in an amount not less than the par value thereof; and (vii) the depositary receipts evidencing Depositary Shares shall have been duly executed and delivered by the Depositary Agent in the manner set forth in the Deposit Agreement and in accordance with the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement to the purchasers thereof against payment of the agreed consideration therefor.


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4. Each issue of Warrants covered by the Registration Statement will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company when: (i) the Registration Statement, as finally amended (including any necessary post-effective amendments), shall have become effective under the Securities Act; (ii) a prospectus supplement with respect to such issue of Warrants and the Common Stock, Debt Securities or Preferred Stock issuable upon exercise of such Warrants shall have been filed with the SEC in compliance with the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder; (iii) a Warrant Agreement relating to such issue of Warrants shall have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and duly executed and delivered by the Warrant Agent named in the Warrant Agreement; (iv) the Board or a duly authorized committee thereof shall have duly adopted final resolutions in conformity with the applicable Organizational Documents and the Resolutions authorizing the execution and delivery of the Warrant Agreement and the issuance and sale of such issue of Warrants; (v) if such Warrants are exercisable for Common Stock, the applicable actions described in paragraph 1 above shall have been taken; (vi) if such Warrants are exercisable for Debt Securities, the applicable actions described in paragraph 5 or 6 below, as applicable, shall have been taken; (vii) if such Warrants are exercisable for Preferred Stock, the applicable actions described in paragraph 2 above shall have been taken; and (viii) certificates representing such issue of Warrants shall have been duly executed, countersigned and issued in accordance with such Warrant Agreement and shall have been duly delivered in accordance with the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement to the purchasers thereof against payment of the agreed consideration therefor.

5. The Senior Debt Securities of each series covered by the Registration Statement will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company when: (i) the Registration Statement, as finally amended (including any necessary post-effective amendments), shall have become effective under the Securities Act and the Senior Indenture (including any necessary supplemental indenture) shall have been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “TIA”); (ii) a prospectus supplement with respect to such series of Senior Debt Securities shall have been filed with the SEC in compliance with the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder; (iii) the Senior Indenture shall have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the Senior Trustee; (iv) all necessary corporate action shall have been taken by the Company to authorize the form, terms, execution, delivery, performance, issuance and sale of such series of Senior Debt Securities as contemplated by the Registration Statement, the prospectus supplement relating to such Senior Debt Securities and the Senior Indenture and to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of a supplemental indenture or officers’ certificate establishing the form and terms of such series of Senior Debt Securities as contemplated by the Senior Indenture; (v) a supplemental indenture or officers’ certificate establishing the form and terms of such series of Senior Debt Securities shall have been duly executed and delivered by the Company and the Senior Trustee (in the case of such a supplemental indenture) or by duly authorized officers of the Company (in the case of such an officers’ certificate), in each case in accordance with the provisions of the applicable Organizational Documents, final resolutions of the Board or a duly authorized committee thereof


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and the Senior Indenture; and (vi) the certificates evidencing the Senior Debt Securities of such series shall have been duly executed and delivered by the Company, authenticated by the Senior Trustee and issued, all in accordance with the applicable Organizational Documents, final resolutions of the Board or a duly authorized committee thereof, the Senior Indenture and the supplemental indenture or officers’ certificate, as the case may be, establishing the form and terms of the Senior Debt Securities of such series, and shall have been duly delivered in accordance with the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement to the purchasers thereof against payment of the agreed consideration therefor.

6. The Subordinated Debt Securities of each series covered by the Registration Statement will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company when: (i) the Registration Statement, as finally amended (including any necessary post-effective amendments), shall have become effective under the Securities Act and the Subordinated Indenture (including any necessary supplemental indenture) shall have been qualified under the TIA; (ii) a prospectus supplement with respect to such series of Subordinated Debt Securities shall have been filed with the SEC in compliance with the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder; (iii) the Subordinated Indenture shall have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the Subordinated Trustee; (iv) all necessary corporate action shall have been taken by the Company to authorize the form, terms, execution, delivery, performance, issuance and sale of such series of Subordinated Debt Securities as contemplated by the Registration Statement, the prospectus supplement relating to such Subordinated Debt Securities and the Subordinated Indenture and to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of a supplemental indenture or officers’ certificate establishing the form and terms of such series of Subordinated Debt Securities as contemplated by the Subordinated Indenture; (v) a supplemental indenture or officers’ certificate establishing the form and terms of such series of Subordinated Debt Securities shall have been duly executed and delivered by the Company and the Subordinated Trustee (in the case of such a supplemental indenture) or by duly authorized officers of the Company (in the case of such an officers’ certificate), in each case in accordance with the provisions of the applicable Organizational Documents, final resolutions of the Board or a duly authorized committee thereof and the Subordinated Indenture; and (vi) the certificates evidencing the Subordinated Debt Securities of such series shall have been duly executed and delivered by the Company, authenticated by the Subordinated Trustee and issued, all in accordance with the applicable Organizational Documents, final resolutions of the Board or a duly authorized committee thereof, the Subordinated Indenture and the supplemental indenture or officers’ certificate, as the case may be, establishing the form and terms of the Subordinated Debt Securities of such series, and shall have been duly delivered in accordance with the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement to the purchasers thereof against payment of the agreed consideration therefor.

7. The Stock Purchase Contracts will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company when: (i) the Registration Statement, as finally amended (including any necessary post-effective amendments), shall have become effective under the Securities Act; (ii) a prospectus supplement with respect to such Stock Purchase Contracts shall have been filed with the SEC in compliance with the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder; (iii) a


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Stock Purchase Contract Agreement relating to such Stock Purchase Contracts shall have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and duly executed and delivered by the Stock Purchase Contract Agent named in the Stock Purchase Contract Agreement; (iv) the Board or a duly authorized committee thereof shall have duly adopted final resolutions in conformity with the applicable Organizational Documents and the Resolutions authorizing the execution, delivery, issuance and sale of such Stock Purchase Contracts; (v) if such Stock Purchase Contracts relate to the issuance and sale of Common Stock, the applicable actions described in paragraph 1 above shall have been taken; (vi) if such Stock Purchase Contracts relate to the issuance and sale of Preferred Stock, the applicable actions described in paragraph 2 above shall have been taken; and (vii) certificates representing such Stock Purchase Contracts shall have been duly executed, countersigned and registered in accordance with the Stock Purchase Contract Agreement and shall have been duly delivered to the purchasers thereof in accordance with the Stock Purchase Contract Agreement against payment of the agreed consideration therefor.

8. The Rights will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company when: (i) the Registration Statement, as finally amended (including any necessary post-effective amendments), shall have become effective under the Securities Act; (ii) a prospectus supplement with respect to such Rights shall have been filed with the SEC in compliance with the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder; (iii) a Rights Agent Agreement or one or more Subscription Agreements relating to such Rights shall have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and duly executed and delivered by, as applicable, the Rights Agent named in the Rights Agent Agreement or the Rights Purchasers named in the Subscription Agreements; (iv) the Board or a duly authorized committee thereof shall have duly adopted final resolutions in conformity with the applicable Organizational Documents and the Resolutions authorizing the execution, delivery, issuance and sale of such Rights; (v) if such Rights relate to the issuance and sale of Common Stock, the applicable actions described in paragraph 1 above shall have been taken; (vi) if such Rights relate to the issuance and sale of Preferred Stock, the applicable actions described in paragraph 2 above shall have been taken; (vii) if such Rights relate to the issuance and sale of Warrants, the applicable actions described in paragraph 4 above shall have been taken; (viii) if such Rights relate to the issuance and sale of Debt Securities, the applicable actions described in paragraph 5 or 6 above, as applicable, shall have been taken; and (ix) certificates representing such Rights shall have been duly executed, countersigned and registered in accordance with the Rights Agent Agreement or Subscription Agreement, as applicable, and shall have been duly delivered to the purchasers thereof in accordance with the Rights Agent Agreement or Subscription Agreement, respectively, against payment of the agreed consideration therefor.

9. The Units will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company when: (i) the Registration Statement, as finally amended (including any necessary post-effective amendments), shall have become effective under the Securities Act; (ii) a prospectus supplement with respect to such Units shall have been filed with the SEC in compliance with the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder; (iii) a Unit Agreement relating to such Units shall have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and duly executed and


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delivered by the Unit Agent named in the Unit Agreement; (iv) the Board or a duly authorized committee thereof shall have duly adopted final resolutions in conformity with the applicable Organizational Documents and the Resolutions authorizing the execution, delivery, issuance and sale of such Units; (v) if such Units relate to the issuance and sale of Common Stock, the applicable actions described in paragraph 1 above shall have been taken; (vi) if such Units relate to the issuance and sale of Preferred Stock, the applicable actions described in paragraph 2 above shall have been taken; (vii) if such Units relate to the issuance and sale of Depositary Shares, the applicable actions described in paragraph 3 above shall have been taken; (viii) if such Units relate to the issuance and saale of Warrants, the applicable actions described in paragraph 4 above shall have been taken; (ix) if such Units relate to the issuance and sale of Debt Securities, the applicable actions described in paragraph 5 or 6 above, as applicable, shall have been taken; (x) if such Units relate to the issuance and sale of Stock Purchase Contracts, the applicable actions described in paragraph 7 above shall have been taken; (xi) if such Units relate to the issuance and sale of Rights, the applicable actions described in paragraph 8 above shall have been taken; and (xii) certificates representing such Units shall have been duly executed, countersigned and registered in accordance with the Unit Agreement and shall have been duly delivered to the purchasers thereof in accordance with the Unit Agreement against payment of the agreed consideration therefor.

10. Each Guarantee will constitute a validly issued and binding obligation of the applicable Guarantor when: (i) the Registration Statement, as finally amended (including any necessary post-effective amendments), shall have become effective under the Securities Act and the applicable indenture shall have been qualified under the TIA; (ii) a prospectus supplement with respect to the Guarantee and the Debt Securities to which the Guarantee relates shall have been filed with the SEC in compliance with the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder; (iii) the applicable indenture shall have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the parties thereto (including the applicable Guarantor); (iv) all necessary corporate action shall have been taken by the Company to authorize the form, terms, execution, delivery, performance, issuance and sale of the series of Debt Securities to which such Guarantee relates as contemplated by the Registration Statement, the prospectus supplement relating to such Guarantee and the related Debt Securities and the applicable indenture and to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of a supplemental indenture or officers’ certificate establishing the form and terms of such series of Debt Securities as contemplated by the applicable indenture; (v) if applicable, a supplemental indenture or officers’ certificate establishing the form and terms of such Debt Securities shall have been duly executed and delivered by (a) the Company, the applicable Guarantors and the Senior Trustee (in the case of such a supplemental indenture relating to a Senior Indenture), (b) the Company, the applicable Guarantors and the Subordinated Trustee (in the case of such a supplemental indenture relating to a Subordinated Indenture), or (c) duly authorized officers of the Company (in the case of such an officers’ certificate); (vi) the certificates evidencing the Debt Securities to which such Guarantee relates shall have been duly executed and delivered by the Company, authenticated by the applicable trustee and issued, all in accordance with the applicable Organizational Documents, final resolutions of the Board or a duly authorized committee thereof, the applicable


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indenture and the supplemental indenture or officers’ certificate, as the case may be, establishing the form and terms of such Debt Securities, and shall have been duly delivered in accordance with the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement to the purchasers thereof against payment of the agreed consideration therefor; (vii) all necessary corporate, limited liability company or partnership action shall have been taken by each Guarantor to authorize the terms, execution, delivery, performance and issuance of such Guarantor’s Guarantee as contemplated by the Registration Statement, the prospectus supplement relating to the Debt Securities to which such Guarantee relates and the applicable indenture; and (viii) if applicable, the notation of guarantee evidencing the Guarantee shall have been duly executed and delivered by the applicable Guarantor, and issued, and shall have been duly delivered in accordance with the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement to the purchasers of the Debt Securities to which such Guarantee relates and the Guarantee against payment of the agreed consideration therefor.

Our opinions are subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance, fraudulent transfer and other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and to general equitable principles (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law), including concepts of commercial reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing and the possible unavailability of specific performance or injunctive relief. Our opinion is also subject to (i) provisions of law which may require that a judgment for money damages rendered by a court in the United States of America be expressed only in United States dollars, (ii) requirements that a claim with respect to any Debt Securities or other obligations that are denominated or payable other than in United States dollars (or a judgment denominated or payable other than in United States dollars in respect of such claim) be converted into United States dollars at a rate of exchange prevailing on a date determined pursuant to applicable law and (iii) governmental authority to limit, delay or prohibit the making of payments outside of the United States of America or in a foreign currency.

For the purposes of this letter, we have assumed that, at the time of the issuance, sale and delivery of any of the Securities:

(i) the Securities being offered will be issued and sold as contemplated in the Registration Statement and the prospectus supplement relating thereto;

(ii) the execution, delivery and performance by any Registrant of any Deposit Agreement, any Senior Indenture, any Subordinated Indenture, any Warrant Agreement, any Rights Agent Agreement, any Subscription Agreement, any Stock Purchase Contract Agreement and any Unit Agreement, as applicable, and the issuance sale and delivery of the Securities will not (A) contravene or violate the Organizational Documents of any applicable Registrant, (B) violate any law, rule or regulation applicable to any applicable Registrant, (C) result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon any applicable Registrant or any order, judgment or decree of any court or governmental authority applicable to any applicable Registrant, or (D) require any authorization, approval or other action by, or notice to or filing with, any court or governmental authority (other than such authorizations, approvals, actions, notices or filings which shall have been obtained or made, as the case may be, and which shall be in full force and effect);


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(iii) the authorization thereof by each applicable Registrant will not have been modified or rescinded, and there will not have occurred any change in law affecting the validity, legally binding character or enforceability thereof; and

(iv) the Organizational Documents, each as currently in effect, will not have been modified or amended and will be in full force and effect.

We have further assumed that each Warrant Agreement, each Warrant, each Deposit Agreement, each Depositary Share, each Stock Purchase Contract, the Senior Indenture, each indenture supplement to the Senior Indenture, the Subordinated Indenture, each supplement to the Subordinated Indenture, each Debt Security, each Guarantee, each Rights Agent Agreement, each Subscription Agreement, each Right, each Unit Agreement and each Unit will be governed by the laws of the State of New York.

With respect to each instrument or agreement referred to in or otherwise relevant to the opinions set forth herein (each, an “Instrument”), we have assumed, to the extent relevant to the opinions set forth herein, that (i) each party to such Instrument (if not a natural person) was duly organized or formed, as the case may be, and was at all relevant times and is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization or formation, as the case may be, and had at all relevant times and has full right, power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under such Instrument; (ii) such Instrument has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by each party thereto; and (iii) such Instrument was at all relevant times and is a valid, binding and enforceable agreement or obligation, as the case may be, of, each party thereto.

This opinion letter is limited to the DGCL, the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, the Texas Business Organizations Code and the laws of the State of New York (excluding the securities laws of the State of New York). We express no opinion as to the laws, rules or regulations of any other jurisdiction, including, without limitation, the federal laws of the United States of America or any state securities or blue sky laws.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter as an Exhibit to the Registration Statement and to all references to our Firm included in or made a part of the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act.

 

Very truly yours,
/s/ Sidley Austin LLP
EX-5.2

Exhibit 5.2

 

LOGO

 

201 ST. CHARLES AVENUE
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA 70170-5100

504-582-8000
FAX 504-582-8583

www.joneswalker.com

November 23, 2018

Conn’s Inc.

2445 Technology Forest Boulevard, Suite 800

The Woodlands, Texas 77381

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as Louisiana counsel to CAI Credit Insurance Agency, Inc., a Louisiana corporation (the “Louisiana Guarantor”), in connection with the Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed on November 23, 2018 (the “Registration Statement”) by Conn’s Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), the Louisiana Guarantor and the additional registrants named therein with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The Registration Statement relates to the offer and sale by the Company from time to time, pursuant to Rule 415 promulgated under the Securities Act, of an unlimited amount of the following securities: (i) such indeterminate number of shares of the Company’s common stock (the “Common Stock”); (ii) such indeterminate number of shares of the Company’s preferred stock (the “Preferred Stock”); (iii) such indeterminate principal amount of senior debt securities of the Company (the “Senior Debt Securities”); (iv) such indeterminate principal amount of subordinated debt securities of the Company (the “Subordinated Debt Securities” and, together with the Senior Debt Securities, the “Debt Securities”); (v) such indeterminate number of warrants of the Company (the “Warrants”) to purchase the Common Stock, Preferred Stock or Debt Securities; (vi) such indeterminate number of rights to purchase the Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Warrants or Debt Securities; (vii) such indeterminate amount of stock purchase contracts; (viii) such indeterminate amount of depositary shares; (ix) such indeterminate number of units that includes any combination of the securities listed in items (i) through (viii) above; and (x) guarantees of the Debt Securities (the “Guarantees”).

Any Senior Debt Securities are to be issued under an indenture to be entered into among the Company, the guarantors named therein (the “Guarantors”) and Regions Bank, as trustee (the “Trustee”), a form of which is attached to the Registration Statement as Exhibit 4.14, and, if applicable, one or more supplemental indentures thereto (the “Senior Indenture”). Any Subordinated Debt Securities are to be issued under an indenture to be entered into among the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee, a form of which is attached to the Registration Statement as Exhibit 4.15, and, if applicable, one or more supplemental indentures thereto (the “Subordinated Indenture” and, together with the Senior Indenture, collectively, the “Indentures” and individually, the “Indenture”).

In connection with the opinion set forth below, we have examined originals or certified copies of (a) the Registration Statement; (b) the form of each Indenture; (c) the articles of incorporation and bylaws of the Louisiana Guarantor (the “Organizational Documents”); (d) a certificate of good standing for the Louisiana Guarantor issued by the Louisiana Secretary of State dated as of November 21, 2018; and (e) certain resolutions of the board of directors of the Louisiana Guarantor dated as of November 20, 2018. We also have made such investigations of law and examined originals or copies of such other documents and records as we have deemed necessary and relevant as a basis for the opinion hereinafter expressed.

 

LOGO
ALABAMA • ARIZONA • CALIFORNIA • DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA • FLORIDA • GEORGIA • LOUISIANA • MISSISSIPPI • NEW YORK • OHIO • TEXAS

 

   Louisiana Guarantor Opinion


With your approval, we have relied as to certain matters on information and certificates obtained from public officials, officers of the Louisiana Guarantor and other sources believed by us to be responsible. In the course of the foregoing investigations and examinations, we have assumed (i) the genuineness of all signatures on, and the authenticity of, all documents and records submitted to us as originals and the conformity to original documents and records of all documents and records submitted to us as copies, (ii) the truthfulness of all statements of fact set forth in the documents and records examined by us and (iii) the legal capacity and competency of all natural persons.

Based on the foregoing and subject to the qualifications, limitations and assumptions set forth herein, and having due regard for such legal considerations as we deem relevant, we are of the opinion that:

1. The Louisiana Guarantor has been duly incorporated and is an existing corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Louisiana.

2. The execution and filing with the Commission of the Registration Statement have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Louisiana Guarantor.

3. The Louisiana Guarantor has the corporate power and authority to authorize the form and terms of, and the performance, issuance and sale by the Louisiana Guarantor of, a Guarantee (and, if relevant, the execution and delivery of such Guarantee or any notation of such Guarantee) of any series of Debt Securities issued under the applicable Indenture as contemplated by the Registration Statement.

4. The execution, delivery and performance of an Indenture and the issuance and sale of any Guarantee by the Louisiana Guarantor will be duly authorized by all necessary corporate action when (a) the specific terms of a particular series of Debt Securities and related Guarantees have been duly established in accordance with the terms of the applicable Indenture and authorized by all necessary corporate, limited liability company or partnership action, as applicable, of the Company and the applicable Guarantors; and (b) the series of Debt Securities to which the Guarantees relate shall have been duly issued by the Company.

For the purposes of this opinion letter, we have assumed that, at the time of the issuance, sale and delivery of any Guarantee: (a) at the time any Debt Securities or Guarantees are sold pursuant to the Registration Statement (the “Relevant Time”), the Registration Statement and any supplements and amendments thereto will be effective and will comply with all applicable laws; (b) at the Relevant Time, a prospectus supplement will have been prepared and filed with the Commission describing the Debt Securities and the Guarantees offered thereby and will comply with all applicable laws; (c) any Debt Securities and Guarantees will be issued and sold in the manner stated in the Registration Statement and the prospectus supplement relating thereto; (d) at the Relevant Time, the Trustee shall have been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1 shall have been properly filed with the Commission; (e) at the Relevant Time, a definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement and any other necessary agreement with respect to any Debt Securities and Guarantees offered or issued will have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate, limited liability company or partnership action of the Company and the applicable Guarantors and duly executed and delivered by the Company, the applicable Guarantors and the other parties thereto; (f) the execution, delivery and performance by the Louisiana Guarantor of a supplemental indenture or notation of Guarantee creating the form and terms of such Guarantee and the performance by the Louisiana Guarantor of the applicable Indenture and the Guarantee will not (i) contravene or violate the Organizational Documents of the Louisiana Guarantor, or any law, rule or regulation applicable to the Louisiana Guarantor, (ii) result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Louisiana Guarantor, or any order, judgment or decree of any court or governmental authority applicable to the Louisiana Guarantor,

 

  2   Louisiana Guarantor Opinion


or (iii) require any authorization, approval or other action by, or notice to or filing with, any court or governmental authority (other than such authorizations, approvals, actions, notices or filings which shall have been obtained or made, as the case may be, and which shall be in full force and effect); (g) the authorization by the Louisiana Guarantor of the transactions described above and the instruments, agreements and other documents entered into or to be entered into by the Louisiana Guarantor, as described above, will not have been modified or rescinded, and there will not have occurred any change in law affecting the validity, binding character or enforceability of any such instruments, agreements or other documents; (h) the applicable Indenture will not have been modified or amended (other than by a supplemental indenture establishing the form and terms of the Debt Securities of any series and, if applicable, creating the form and terms of any related Guarantee); and (i) the Organizational Documents of the Louisiana Guarantor and the resolutions of the board of directors of the Louisiana Guarantor, each as currently in effect, will not have been modified or amended and will be in full force and effect.

The opinions expressed herein are limited to the laws of the State of Louisiana, and we express no opinion as to the laws of any other jurisdiction (including the federal laws of the United States of America), or the local laws, ordinances or rules of any municipality, county or political subdivision of the State of Louisiana, or the effect any such laws may have on the matters set forth herein, nor do we express any opinion as to the validity, enforceability or scope of, or limitations on, any provisions relating to rights to indemnification or contribution. No opinions are expressed herein as to matters governed by laws pertaining to the Louisiana Guarantor solely because of the business activities of such entity which are not applicable to business entities generally. The opinions expressed herein are limited to the matters stated herein, and no opinions are implied or may be inferred beyond the matters expressly stated herein. In no way limiting the generality of the foregoing, we express no opinion concerning the enforceability of the Indenture, the Debt Securities or the Guarantees.

This letter is limited to the specific issues addressed herein, and no opinion may be inferred or implied beyond that expressly stated herein. This letter speaks only as of the date hereof. We assume no obligation to revise or supplement this letter should the presently applicable laws be changed by legislative action, judicial decision or otherwise.

Our opinions are furnished solely with regard to the Registration Statement pursuant to Item 16 of Form S-3 and in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act, may be relied upon by you and by persons entitled to rely upon them pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Securities Act but, except as set forth in the next paragraph, may not otherwise be used, quoted or referred to by or filed with any other person or entity without prior written permission.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not hereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

 

Very truly yours,
/s/ Jones Walker LLP
Jones Walker LLP

 

  3   Louisiana Guarantor Opinion
EX-23.3

Exhibit 23.3

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption “Experts” in this Registration Statement (Form S-3) and related Prospectus of Conn’s, Inc. for the registration of common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants, rights, stock purchase contracts, depositary shares, units, and guarantees of debt securities that may be offered and sold from time to time by Conn’s, Inc. and to the incorporation by reference therein of our reports dated April 5, 2018 (except with respect to the effects of the changes in presentation of restricted cash and debt extinguishment costs associated with the consolidated statements of cash flows as discussed in Notes 1 and 15, as to which the date is November 23, 2018) with respect to the consolidated financial statements of Conn’s, Inc. and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of Conn’s, Inc. included in Conn’s, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated November 23, 2018, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Houston, Texas

November 23, 2018

EX-25.1

Exhibit 25.1

 

 

 

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)

 

 

REGIONS BANK

(Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Alabama   63-0371391

(Jurisdiction of incorporation or

organization if not a U.S. national bank)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

1900 Fifth Avenue North

Birmingham, AL

 

35203

(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip code)

Regions Bank

10245 Centurion Parkway

Jacksonville, FL 32256

(904) 998-4995

(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)

 

 

Conn’s, Inc.

(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   06-1672840

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

2445 Technology Forest Blvd., Suite 800

The Woodlands, Texas 77381

 

77381

(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip code)

 

 

Senior Debt Securities

(Titles of the indenture securities)

 

 

 


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.

State of Alabama State Banking Department

PO Box 4600

Montgomery, AL 36103-4600

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

Washington, D.C.

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta

Atlanta, Georgia 30309

 

  (b)

Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

Yes.

Item 2. Affiliations with Obligor. If the obligor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each such affiliation.

None with respect to the trustee.

 

Items 3-15.

No responses are included for Items 3 through 15. Responses to those Items are not required because, as provided in General Instruction B, the obligor is not in default on any securities issued under indentures under which Regions Bank is a trustee.

Item 16. List of Exhibits. List below all exhibits filed as a part of this Statement of Eligibility.

 

  Exhibit 1.    A copy of the Articles of Incorporation of the trustee now in effect.
  Exhibit 2.    The authority of Regions Bank to commence business was granted under the Articles of Incorporation for Regions Bank, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 1 of Form T-1.
  Exhibit 3.    The authorization to exercise corporate trust powers was granted under the Articles of Incorporation for Regions Bank, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 1 of Form T-1.
  Exhibit 4.    A copy of the bylaws of the trustee as now in effect.
  Exhibit 5.    Not applicable.
  Exhibit 6.    The consent of the trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Act.
  Exhibit 7.    A copy of the latest report of condition of the trustee published pursuant to law or the requirements of its supervising or examining authority.
  Exhibit 8.    Not applicable.
  Exhibit 9.    Not applicable.


SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, the trustee, Regions Bank, a state chartered bank under the laws of Alabama, has duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of Jacksonville and State of Florida on November 23, 2018.

 

REGIONS BANK
/s/ Craig A. Kaye
Craig A. Kaye
Vice President


EXHIBIT 1

RESTATED ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION

OF

REGIONS BANK

The name of this corporation shall be Regions Bank.

The principal place of business shall be 1900 Fifth Avenue North, Birmingham, Alabama. The general business of Regions Bank (the “Bank”) shall be conducted at its main office and its branches and other facilities.

The Bank shall have the following objects, purposes and powers:

To sue and be sued, complain and defend, in its corporate name.

To have a corporate seal which may be altered at pleasure, and to use the same by causing it, or a facsimile thereof, to be impressed or affixed or in any other manner reproduced.

To purchase, take, receive, lease, or otherwise acquire, own, hold, improve, use and otherwise deal in and with, real or personal property, or any interest therein, wherever situated.

To sell, convey, mortgage, pledge, lease, exchange, transfer and otherwise dispose of all or any part of its property and assets, subject to the limitations hereinafter prescribed.

To lend money and use its credit to assist its employees.

To purchase, take, receive, subscribe for, or otherwise acquire, own, hold, vote, use, employ, sell, mortgage, lend, pledge, or otherwise dispose of, and otherwise use and deal in and with, shares or other interests in, or obligations of, other domestic or foreign corporations, associations, partnerships or individuals, or direct or indirect obligations of the United States or of any other government, state, territory, governmental district, or municipality or of any instrumentality thereof as may be permitted by law or appropriate regulations.

To make contracts, guarantees, and indemnity agreements and incur liabilities, borrow money at such rates of interest as the corporation may determine, issue its notes, bonds, and other obligations, and secure any of its obligations by mortgage, pledge of, or creation of security interests in, all or any of its property, franchises, or income, or any interest therein, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Constitution of Alabama as the same may be amended from time to time.


To lend money for its corporate purposes, invest and reinvest its funds, and take and hold real and personal property as security for the payment of funds so loaned or invested.

To conduct its business, carry on its operations and have offices and exercise the powers granted by this Article, within or without the State of Alabama.

To elect or appoint and remove officers and agents of the Bank, and define their duties and fix their compensation.

To make and alter by its board of directors bylaws not inconsistent with its articles of incorporation or with the laws of this state for the administration and regulation of the affairs of the Bank.

To make donations for the public welfare or for charitable, scientific, or educational purposes.

To transact any lawful business which the board of directors shall find will be in aid of governmental policy.

To pay pensions and establish pension plans, pension trusts, profit sharing plans, stock bonus plans, stock option plans and other incentive plans for any or all of its directors, officers and employees.

To be a promoter, incorporator, partner, member, trustee, associate, or manager of any domestic or foreign corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise.

To consolidate or merge, before or after the completion of its works or plants, in the manner herein provided, with any other foreign or domestic corporation or corporations engaged in the business of banking or trust companies doing a banking business subject to the limitations hereinafter prescribed.

To have and exercise all powers permitted by the laws of Alabama necessary or convenient to effect its purposes.

To discount bills, notes or other evidences of debt.

To receive and pay out deposits, with or without interest, pay checks, and impose charges for any services.

To receive on special deposit money, bullion or foreign coins or bonds or other securities.

To buy and sell foreign and domestic exchanges, gold and silver bullion or foreign coins, bonds, bills of exchange, notes and other negotiable paper.

To lend money on personal security or upon pledges of bonds, stocks or other negotiable securities.


To take and receive security by mortgage, security or otherwise on property, real and personal.

To become trustee for any purpose and be appointed and act as executor, administrator, guardian, receiver, or fiduciary.

To lease real and personal property upon specific request of a customer, provided it complies with any applicable Alabama laws regulating leasing real property or improvements thereon to others.

To perform computer, management and travel agency services for others.

To subscribe to the capital stock and become a member of the federal reserve system and comply with rules and regulations thereof.

To do any business and exercise directly or through operating subsidiaries any powers incident to the business of banks.

The duration of the corporation shall be perpetual.

The Board of Directors is expressly authorized from time to time to fix the number of Directors which shall constitute the entire Board, subject to the following:

The number of Directors constituting the entire Board shall be fixed from time to time by vote of a majority of the entire 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, shall not be less than three nor more than twenty-five (25). Each Director shall be the record owner of the requisite number of shares of common stock of the Bank’s parent bank holding company fixed by the appropriate regulatory authorities.

Notwithstanding any other provisions of the Articles of Incorporation or the bylaws of the Bank (and notwithstanding the fact that some lesser percentage may be specified by law, these Restated Articles of Incorporation or the bylaws of the Bank), any Director or the entire Board of Directors of the Bank may be removed at any time, with or without cause by the affirmative vote of the holders of ninety percent (90%) or more of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Bank 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.

The aggregate number of shares of capital stock which the Bank shall have authority to issue is thirty thousand five hundred forty six (30,546) shares, which shall be common stock, par value five dollars ($5.00) per share (the “Common Stock”). The Bank shall not issue fractional shares of stock, but shall pay in cash the fair value of fractions of a share as of the time when those otherwise entitled to receive such fractions are determined.

Shareholders shall not have pre-emptive rights to purchase shares of any class of capital stock of the Bank. The Bank, at any time and from time to time, may authorize and issue debt obligations, whether or not subordinated, without the approval of the shareholders.


Authority is hereby expressly granted to the Board of Directors from time to time to issue any authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock for such consideration and on such terms as it may determine. Every share of Common Stock of the Bank shall have one vote at any meeting of the shareholders and may be voted by the shareholders of record either in person or by proxy.

In the event of any liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of the Bank or upon the distribution of the assets of the Bank, the assets of the Bank remaining after satisfaction of all obligations and liabilities shall be divided and distributed among the holders of the Common Stock ratably. Neither the merger or consolidation of the Bank with another corporation nor the sale or lease of all or substantially all of the assets of the Bank shall be deemed to be a liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of the Bank or a distribution of its assets.

The holders of Common Stock shall have the exclusive power to vote and shall have one vote in respect of each share of such stock held by them.

The Chief Executive Officer, Secretary, Board of Directors, or holder(s) of at least 90% of the issued and outstanding voting stock of the Bank may call a special meeting of shareholders at any time. Unless otherwise provided by the laws of Alabama, notice of the time, place, and purpose of every annual and special meeting of the shareholders shall be given by first-class mail, postage prepaid, mailed at least ten days prior to the date of such meeting to each shareholder of record at his address as shown upon the stock transfer book of this Bank.

The Bank reserves the right to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in these Restated Articles of Incorporation, in the manner now or hereafter provided by law, at any regular or special meeting of the shareholders, and all rights conferred upon officers, directors and shareholders of the Bank hereby are granted subject to this reservation.

The Bank shall indemnify its officers, directors, employees, and agents to the fullest extent permitted by the Constitution and laws of the State of Alabama.


This amendment to and restatement of the Articles of Incorporation was duly adopted by vote of the directors of the Bank pursuant to Section 10A-2-10.03 of the Alabama Business Corporation Law and was approved by the sole shareholder in accordance with Section 10A-2-10.03, by unanimous consent of the holder of 21,546 shares of common stock, constituting all of the shares of capital stock of the Bank outstanding, indisputably represented, and entitled to vote on the amendment. The date of adoption of the Restated Articles of Incorporation was July 17, 2014.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, said Regions Bank has caused this certificate to be signed by Fournier J. Gale, III, its Senior Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, this 17th day of July, 2014.

 

REGIONS BANK
By:   /s/ Fournier J. Gale, III
  Fournier J. Gale, III
  Senior Executive Vice President, General
  Counsel and Corporate Secretary


STATE OF ALABAMA

MONTGOMERY COUNTY

I, John D. Harrison, as Superintendent of Banks for the State of Alabama, do hereby certify that I have fully and duly examined the foregoing Articles of Amendment whereby the shareholder of Regions Bank, a banking corporation located at Birmingham, Alabama, proposes to Restate the Articles of Incorporation.

See attached Articles of Amendment which Restate the Articles of Incorporation of Regions Bank.

I do hereby certify that said Amendment of the Articles of Incorporation appear to be in substantial conformity with the requirements of law and they are hereby approved. Upon the filing of the same, together with this Certificate of Approval, with the proper agency as required by law, the Restated Articles of Incorporation of said bank shall be effective.

Given under my hand and seal of office this the 30th day of July, 2014.

 

/s/ John D. Harrison
John D. Harrison
Superintendent of Banks


Jefferson County

I, the Undersigned, as Judge of Probate in and for said County, in said State, hereby certify that the foregoing is a full, true and correct copy of the instrument with the filing of same as appears of record in this office in vol. 201415 page 9638. Given under my hand and official seal, this the 31st day of July, 2014.

 

/s/ Alan L. King
Judge of Probate


EXHIBIT 4

BY-LAWS OF

REGIONS BANK

(As amended July 18, 2013)

ARTICLE I. OFFICES

Section 1. Registered Office.

The registered office shall be established and maintained at the office of the CSC Lawyers Incorporating Service, Inc., in the City of Montgomery, in the County of Montgomery, in the State of Alabama, and said corporation shall be the registered agent of this Bank in charge thereof.

Section 2. Other Offices.

The Bank may have other offices, either within or without the State of Alabama, at such place or places as the Board of Directors may from time to time appoint or the business of the Bank may require.

Section 3. Principal Place of Business.

The principal place of business of the Bank shall be in Birmingham, Alabama.

ARTICLE II. MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

Section 1. Annual Meeting.

Annual meetings of stockholders for the election of Directors and for such other business as may be stated in the notice of the meeting, shall be held at such place, either within or without the State of Alabama, and at such time and date as the Board of Directors, by resolution, shall determine and as set forth in the notice of the meeting.

At each annual meeting, the stockholders entitled to vote shall elect Directors, and they may transact such other corporate business as may properly come before the meeting.

Section 2. Special Meeting.

Special meetings of the stockholders for any purpose or purposes, other than the election of Directors, may be called at any time by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Secretary, or by resolution of the Directors. Special meetings of stockholders may be held at such time and place, within or without the State of Alabama, as shall be stated in the notice of the meeting.

Section 3. Voting.

The vote of a majority of the votes cast by the shares entitled to vote on any matter at a meeting of stockholders at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the stockholders on that matter, except as otherwise required by law or by the articles of incorporation of the Bank.


Section 4. Quorum.

A majority of the outstanding shares of the Bank entitled to vote, represented in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at meetings of stockholders. If less than a majority of the outstanding shares are represented, a majority of the shares so represented may adjourn the meeting from time to time without further notice, but until a quorum is secured no other business may be transacted. The stockholders present at a duly organized meeting may continue to transact business until an adjournment notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough stockholders to leave less than a quorum.

ARTICLE III. DIRECTORS

Section 1. Number of Term.

The number of Directors which shall constitute the whole Board of Directors shall be fixed, from time to time, by resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors, but shall not be less than three persons. The number of Directors shall not be reduced so as to shorten the term of any Director at the time in office.

At each annual meeting of stockholders, all Directors shall be elected for terms of one year, and except as hereinafter provided, each Director shall hold office until the next annual meeting or until his or her successor shall have been elected and qualified, or until his or her earlier retirement, death, resignation or removal. Directors need not be residents of Alabama.

Section 2. Chairman of the Board and Vice Chairman of the Board.

The Board of Directors shall by majority vote designate from time to time from among its members a Chairman of the Board. The Chairman of the Board shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders and of the Board of Directors of the Bank. He or she shall have and perform such duties as prescribed by the By-Laws and by the Board of Directors. The position of Chairman of the Board is a Board position, provided however, the position of Chairman of the Board may be held by a person who is also an officer of the Bank.

The Board of Directors may by majority vote designate from time to time from among its members one or more Vice Chairmen of the Board. A Vice Chairman of the Board shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders and of the Board of Directors of the Bank which the Chairman of the Board shall be unable to attend. He or she shall assist the Chairman of the Board in the exercise of his or her duties and shall have and perform such duties as are prescribed from time to time by the Board of Directors. In the event of the death or incapacity of the Chairman of the Board, he or she shall perform all the duties of the Chairman of the Board until the next annual meeting of the stockholders or until the Board shall have sooner elected a successor Chairman of the Board. The position of Vice Chairman of the Board is a Board position, provided however, that the position of Vice Chairman of the Board may be held by a person who is also an officer of the Bank.

In the absence of the Chairman of the Board and Vice Chairman of the Board or in case of their inability to act, the Independent Lead Director, if at the time a Director of the Bank has been designated by the Board of Directors as such, shall have and exercise all the powers and duties of such office and shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors. If at any Board of Directors meeting none of such persons is present or able to act, the Board of Directors shall select one of its members as acting chair of the meeting or portion thereof.


Section 3. Resignations.

Any Director may resign at any time. Such resignation shall be made in writing, and shall take effect at the time of its receipt by the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, the President, or the Secretary or at such other time as may be specified therein. The acceptance of a resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.

Section 4. Vacancies.

If the office of any Director becomes vacant, the remaining Directors in office, though less than a quorum, by a majority vote, may appoint any qualified person to fill such vacancy, who shall hold office for the unexpired term and until his successor shall be duly chosen.

Section 5. Removal.

Any Director may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Bank 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.

Section 6. Powers.

The Board of Directors shall exercise all the powers of the Bank except such as are by law, by the Articles of Incorporation of the Bank or pursuant to the Bank’s bylaws conferred upon or reserved to the stockholders.

Section 7. Meetings.

A regular meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held immediately before or after the annual meeting of stockholders. Additional regular meetings of the Directors may be held without notice at such places and times as shall be determined from time to time by resolution of the Directors.

Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, or by the Secretary on the written request of a majority of the Board of Directors on at least two days’ notice to each Director and shall be held at such place or places as may be determined by the Directors, or as shall be stated in the call of the meeting.

Unless otherwise restricted by the Articles of Incorporation or these By-Laws, members of the Board of Directors, or any committee designated by the Board of Directors, may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors, or any committee, by means of conference telephone or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and such participation in a meeting shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.

Section 8. Quorum.

A majority of the Directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. If at any meeting of the Board of Directors there shall be less than a quorum present, a majority of those present may adjourn the meeting from time to time until a quorum is obtained, and no further notice thereof need be given other than by announcement at the meeting which shall be so adjourned. Notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough Directors to leave less than a quorum, the Directors present at a duly organized meeting may continue to transact business until adjournment.

Section 9. Compensation.

Directors shall not receive any stated salary for their services as Directors or as members of committees, except that by resolution of the Board of Directors, retainer fees, meeting fees, and expenses of attendance at meetings may be authorized. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to preclude any Director from serving the Bank in any other capacity as an officer, agent or otherwise, and receiving compensation therefore.


Section 10. Action Without Meeting.

Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors or of any committee thereof, may be taken without a meeting, if prior to such action a written consent thereto is signed by all members of the Board of Directors, or of such committee as the case may be, and such written consent is filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors or committee.

Section 11. Committees.

A majority of the whole Board of Directors shall have the authority to designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the Directors of the Bank. The Board may designate one or more Directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. Any such committee, to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board or in these By-Laws, shall have and may exercise the powers of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the Bank, and may authorize the seal of the Bank to be affixed to all papers which may require it; provided, however, that in the absence or disqualification of any member of such committee or committees, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not the member or members constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member.

Section 12. Eligibility.

No person shall be eligible to serve as Director of the Bank unless such person shall be the owner of shares of stock of the parent holding company of the number and held in the manner sufficient to meet the requirements of any applicable law or regulation in effect requiring the ownership of Directors’ qualifying shares.

Section 13. Directors Protected.

Each Director shall in the performance of his or her duties be fully protected in relying in good faith upon reports made to the Directors by the officers of the Bank or by state or federal bank examiners or by any independent accountant or by any appraiser selected with reasonable care, or by counsel, or by a committee of the Board, or in relying in good faith upon other records or books of account of the Bank.

ARTICLE IV. OFFICERS

Section 1. Officers, Elections, Terms.

The officers of the Bank shall be a Chief Executive Officer; a President; one or more Regional or Local Presidents if the Board so determines; one or more Vice Presidents, who may be designated Senior Executive Vice Presidents, Executive Vice Presidents, Senior Vice Presidents, Vice Presidents, and Assistant Vice Presidents; a Secretary; one or more Assistant Secretaries; a Chief Financial Officer; a Controller; an Auditor; and such other officers as may be deemed appropriate. All of such officers shall be appointed annually by the Board of Directors to serve for a term of one year and until their respective successors are appointed and qualified or until such officer’s earlier death, resignation, retirement, or removal, except that the Board of Directors may delegate the authority to appoint officers holding the position of Senior Executive Vice President and below in accordance with procedures established or modified by the Board from time to time. Those Officers who serve in the Trust Department shall be so designated by the word “Trust” in their title. None of the officers of the Bank need be Directors. More than one office may be held by the same person.


Section 2. Chief Executive Officer.

The Board of Directors shall appoint a Chief Executive Officer of the Bank. The Chief Executive Officer is the most senior executive officer of the Bank, and shall be vested with authority to act for the Bank in all matters and shall have general supervision of the Bank and of its business affairs, including authority over the detailed operations of the Bank and over its personnel, with full power and authority during intervals between sessions of the Board to do and perform in the name of the Bank all acts and deeds necessary or proper, in his or her opinion, to be done and performed and to execute for and in the name of the Bank all instruments, agreements, and deeds which may be authorized to be executed in behalf of the Bank or which may be required by law. The Chief Executive Officer may, but need not, also hold the office of President.

Section 3. President.

The President shall, subject to the control of the Board of Directors and of any committee of the Board having authority in the premises, have, and may exercise the authority to act for the Bank in all ordinary matters and perform other such duties as directed by the By-Laws, the Board of Directors, or the Chief Executive Officer. Among the officers of the Bank, the President is subordinate to only the Chief Executive Officer and is senior to the other officers of the Bank. The authority of the President shall include authority over the detailed operations of the Bank and over its personnel with full power and authority during intervals between sessions of the Board to do and perform in the name of the Bank all acts and deeds necessary or proper, in his or her opinion, to be done and performed and to execute for and in the name of the Bank all instruments, agreements, and deeds which may be authorized to be executed in behalf of the Bank or which may be required by law.

Section 4. Vice Presidents.

The Vice Presidents shall, subject to the control of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or the President, have and may exercise the authority vested in them in all proper matters, including authority over the detailed operations of the Bank and over its personnel.

Section 5. Chief Financial Officer.

The Chief Financial Officer or his designee shall have custody of all funds of the Bank. He or his designee shall have and perform such duties as are incident to the office of Chief Financial Officer and such other duties as may from time to time be assigned to him by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, or the President.

Section 6. Secretary.

The Secretary shall keep minutes of all meetings of the stockholders and the Board of Directors unless otherwise directed by those bodies. The Secretary, or in his absence, any Assistant Secretary, shall attend to the giving and serving of all notices of the Bank. He shall perform all the duties incident to the office of Secretary, subject to the control of the Board of Directors, and shall do and perform such other duties as may from time to time be assigned by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, or the President.

Section 7. Controller.

The Controller shall, under the direction of the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Financial Officer, or a more senior officer, have general supervision and authority over all reports required of the Bank by law or by any public body or officer or regulatory authority pertaining to the condition of the Bank and its assets and liabilities. The Controller shall have general supervision of the books and accounts of the Bank and its methods and systems of recording and keeping accounts of its business transactions and of its assets and liabilities. The Controller shall be responsible for preparing statements showing the financial condition of the Bank and shall furnish such reports and financial records as may be required of him or her by the Board of Directors or by the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Financial Officer, or other more senior officer.


Section 8. Auditor.

The Auditor’s office may be filled by an employee of the Bank or his or her duties may be performed by an employee or committee of the parent company of the Bank. The Auditor shall have general supervision of the auditing of the books and accounts of the Bank, and shall continuously and from time to time check and verify the Bank’s transactions, its assets and liabilities, and the accounts and doings of the officers, agents and employees of the Bank with respect thereto. The Auditor whether an employee of the Bank or of its parent shall be directly accountable to and under the jurisdiction of the Board of Directors and, if applicable, its designated committee, acting independently of all officers, agents and employees of the bank. The Auditor shall render reports covering matters in his or her charge regularly and upon request to the Board and, if applicable, its designated committee.

Section 9. Other Officers and Agents.

The Board of Directors may appoint such other officers and agents as it may deem advisable, who shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as shall be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors. The functions of a cashier of the Bank may be performed by the Controller or any other officer of the Bank whose area of responsibility includes the function to be performed.

Section 10. Officer in Charge of Wealth Management.

The officer in charge of Wealth Management shall be designated as such by the Board of Directors and shall exercise general supervision and management over the affairs of Private Wealth Management, Institutional Services, and Wealth Management Operations and Support, which groups are responsible for exercise of the Bank’s trust powers. That officer is hereby empowered to appoint all necessary agents or attorneys; also to make, execute and acknowledge all checks, bonds, certificates, deeds, mortgages, notes, releases, leases, agreements, contracts, bills of sale, assignments, transfers, powers of attorney or of substitution, proxies to vote stock, or any other instrument in writing that may be necessary in the purchase, sale, mortgage, lease, assignment, transfer, management or handling, in any way of any property of any description held or controlled by the Bank in any fiduciary capacity. Said officer shall have such other duties and powers as shall be designated by the Board of Directors.

Section 11. Other Officers in Private Wealth Management, Institutional Services, and Wealth Management Operations and Support.

The officer in charge of Wealth Management shall appoint officers responsible for the activities of Private Wealth Management, Institutional Services, and Wealth Management Operations and Support. Various other officers as designated by the officers responsible for the activities of Private Wealth Management, Institutional Services, and Wealth Management Operations and Support are empowered and authorized to make, execute, and acknowledge all checks, bonds, certificates, deeds, mortgages, notes, releases, leases, agreements, contracts, bills of sale, assignments, transfers, powers of attorney or substitution, proxies to vote stock or any other instrument in writing that may be necessary to the purchase, sale, mortgage, lease, assignments, transfer, management or handling in any way, of any property of any description held or controlled by the Bank in any fiduciary capacity.

Section 12. Removal and Retirement of Officers.

At its pleasure, the Board of Directors may remove any officer from office at any time by a majority vote of the Board, provided however that the terms of any employment or compensation contract shall be honored according to its terms. An individual’s status as an officer will terminate without the necessity of any other action or ratification immediately upon termination for any reason of the individual’s employment by the Bank.


ARTICLE V. MISCELLANEOUS

Section 1. Certificates of Stock.

Certificates of stock of the Bank shall be signed by the President and the Secretary of the Bank, which signatures may be represented by a facsimile signature. The certificate may be sealed with the seal of the Bank or an engraved or printed facsimile thereof. The certificate represents the number of shares of stock registered in certificate form owned by such holder.

Section 2. Lost Certificates.

In case of the loss or destruction of any certificate of stock, the holder or owner of same shall give notice thereof to the Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Vice President, or the Secretary of the Bank and, if such holder or owner shall desire the issue of a new certificate in the place of the one lost or destroyed, he or she shall make affidavit of such loss or destruction and deliver the same to any one of said officers and accompany the same with a bond with surety satisfactory to the Bank to indemnify the Bank and save it harmless against any loss, cost or damage in case such certificate should thereafter be presented to the Bank, which affidavit and bond shall be, at the discretion of the deciding party listed in this Section 2, unless so ordered by a court having jurisdiction over the matter, approved or rejected by the Board of Directors or by the Chief Executive Officer or by the President or an Executive or Senior Vice President before the issue of any new certificate.

Section 3. Transfer of Shares.

Title to a certificate and to the shares represented thereby can be transferred only by delivery of the certificate endorsed either in blank or to a specified person by the person appearing by the certificate to be the owner of the shares represented thereby, or by delivery of the certificate and a separate document containing a written assignment of the certificate or a power of attorney to sell, assign, or transfer the same or the shares represented thereby, signed by the person appearing by the certificate to be the owner of the shares represented thereby. Such assignment or power of attorney may be either in blank or to a specified person.

Section 4. Fractional Shares.

No fractional part of a share of stock shall ever be issued by this Bank.

Section 5. Stockholders Record Date.

In order that the Bank may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, or entitled to receive any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix, in advance, a record date, which shall not be more than sixty nor less than ten days before the date of such meeting, nor more than sixty days prior to any other action. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting.

Section 6. Dividends.

Subject to the provisions of the Articles of Incorporation, the Board of Directors may, out of funds legally available therefore at any regular or special meeting, declare dividends upon the capital stock of the Bank as and when they deem expedient. Before declaring any dividend there may be set apart out of any fund of the Bank available for dividends, such sum or sums as the Directors from time to time in their discretion deem proper for working capital or as a reserve fund to meet contingencies or for equalizing dividends or for such other purposes as the Directors shall deem conducive to the interests of the Bank. No dividends shall be declared which exceed the amounts authorized by applicable laws and regulations or are otherwise contrary to law.


Section 7. Seal.

The corporate seal of the Bank shall be circular in shape and shall include the words “Regions Bank” around the outer edge of the circle and the word “Seal” in the center of the circle. The seal may also include appropriate descriptors, such as the words: “An Alabama Banking Corporation”. The Secretary of the Bank shall have custody of the seal and is authorized to affix the same to instruments, documents, and papers as required by law or as customary or appropriate in the Secretary’s judgment and discretion. Without limiting the general authority of the Board of Directors of the Bank to name, appoint, remove, and define the duties of officers of the Bank, the Secretary is further authorized to cause reproductions of the seal to be made, distributed to, and used by officers and employees of the Bank whose duties and responsibilities involve the execution and delivery of instruments, documents, and papers bearing the seal of the Bank. In this regard, the Secretary is further authorized to establish, implement, interpret, and enforce policies and procedures governing the use of the seal and the authorization by the Secretary of officers and employees of the Bank to have custody of and to use the seal. Such policies and procedures may include (i) the right of the Secretary to appoint any Bank employee as an Assistant Secretary of the Bank, if such appointment would, in the Secretary’s judgment, be convenient with respect to such employee’s custody and use of a seal and/or (ii) the right of the Secretary to authorize Bank employees to have and use seals as delegates of the Secretary without appointing such employees as Assistant Secretaries of the Bank.

Section 8. Fiscal Year.

The fiscal year of the Bank shall be the calendar year.

Section 9. Checks, Drafts, Transfers, etc.

The Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Regional or Local President, any Vice President or Assistant Vice President, any Branch Manager or any other employee designated by the Board of Directors, is authorized and empowered on behalf of the Bank and in its name to sign and endorse checks and warrants, to draw drafts, to issue and sign cashier’s checks, to guarantee signatures, to give receipts for money due and payable to the Bank, to sell, assign and transfer shares of capital stock, bonds, or other personal property or securities standing in the name of or held by the Bank, whether in its own right or in any fiduciary capacity, and to make or join in such consents, requests or commitments with respect to the same as may be appropriate or authorized as to the holder thereof, and to sign such other papers and do such other acts as are necessary in the performance of his or her duties. The authority conveyed to any employee designated by the Board may be limited by general or specific resolution of the Board.

Section 10. Notice and Waiver of Notice.

Whenever any notice is required by these By-Laws to be given, personal notice is not meant unless expressly so stated, and any notice so required shall be deemed to be sufficient if given by depositing the same in the United States, mail, postage, prepaid, or by telegram, teletype, facsimile transmission or other form of wire, wireless, or other electronic communication or by private carrier addressed to the person entitled thereto at his address as it appears on the records of the Bank, and such notice shall be deemed to have been given on the date of such mailing. Stockholders not entitled to vote shall not be entitled to receive notice of meetings except as otherwise provided by statute.

Whenever any notice whatever is required to be given under the provisions of any law, or under the provisions of the Articles of Incorporation of the Bank or these By-Laws, a waiver thereof in writing, signed by the person or persons entitled to said notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent thereto.


Section 11. Right of Indemnity.

To the full extent allowed by Section 10-2B-8.5 et seq. of the Code of Alabama (1975), or any statute amendatory or supplemental thereof, the Bank shall indemnify and hold harmless each director or officer now or hereafter serving the Bank against any loss and reasonable expenses actually and necessarily incurred by him or her in connection with the defense of any claim, or any action, suit or proceeding against him or her or in which he or she is made a party, by reason of his or her being or having been a Director or officer of the Bank, or who, while a Director or officer of the Bank, is or was serving as at the Bank’s request as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee, or agent of another foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan, or other enterprise. Such right of indemnity shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which such Director or officer may be entitled under any statute, article of incorporation, rule of law, other bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or directors, or otherwise. Nor shall anything herein contained restrict the right of the Bank to indemnify or reimburse any officer or Director in any proper case even though not specifically provided for herein. The Bank may purchase and maintain insurance in such amounts as the Board of Directors deems appropriate on behalf of said Directors or officers so as to offset any potential liability asserted against said Directors or officers acting in such capacity as described in these By-Laws.

Section 12. Execution of Instruments and Documents.

The Chief Executive Officer, or the President, or any Regional or Local President or any Vice President is authorized, in his or her discretion, to do and perform any and all corporate and official acts in carrying on the business of the Bank, including, but not limited to, the authority to make, execute, acknowledge, accept and deliver any and all deeds, mortgages, releases, bills of sale, assignments, transfers, leases (as lessor or lessee), powers of attorney or of substitution, servicing or sub-servicing agreements, vendor agreements, proxies to vote stock or any other instrument in writing that may be necessary in the purchase, sale, lease, assignment, transfer, discount, management or handling in any way of any property of any description held, controlled or used by Bank or to be held, controlled or used by Bank, either in its own or in its fiduciary capacity and including the authority from time to time to open bank accounts with the Bank or any other institution, to borrow money in such amounts for such lengths of time, at such rates of interest and upon such terms and conditions as any said officer may deem proper and to evidence the indebtedness thereby created by executing and delivering in the name of the Bank promissory notes or other appropriate evidences of indebtedness, and to guarantee the obligations of any subsidiary or affiliate of the Bank. The enumeration herein of particular powers shall not restrict in any way the general powers and authority of said officers.

By way of example and not limitation, such officers of the Bank are authorized to execute, accept, deliver and issue, on behalf of the Bank and as binding obligations of Bank, such agreements and instruments as may be within the officer’s area of responsibility, including, as applicable, agreements and related documents (such as schedules, confirmations, transfers, assignments, acknowledgments, and other documents) relating to derivative transactions, loan or letter of credit transactions, syndications, participations, trades, purchase and sale or discount transactions, transfers and assignments, servicing and sub-servicing agreements, vendor agreements, securitizations, and transactions of whatever kind or description arising in the conduct of the Bank’s business.

The authority to execute and deliver documents, instruments, and agreements may be limited by resolution of the Board of Directors, by a committee of the Board of Directors, by the Chief Executive Officer, or by the President, by reference to subject matter, category, amount, geographical location, or any other criteria, and may be made subject to such policies, procedures, and levels of approval as may be adopted or amended from time to time.

Section 13. Voting Bank’s Securities.

Unless otherwise ordered by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Executive Vice President or above, the Controller, the Bank’s General Counsel, and any other officer as may be designated by the Board of Directors shall have full power and authority on behalf of the Bank to attend, and to act and to vote, and to execute a proxy or proxies empowering others to attend, and to act and to vote, at any meetings of security holders of any of the corporations in which the Bank may hold securities and, at such meetings, such officer shall possess and may exercise any and all rights and powers incident to the ownership of such securities which, as the owner thereof, the Bank might have possessed and exercised, if present.


Section 14. Bonds of Officers and Employees.

The Board of Directors shall from time to time designate the officers and employees who shall be required to give bond and fix the amounts thereof.

Section 15. Satisfaction of Loans.

On payment of sums lent, for which security shall have been taken either by way of mortgage or other lien on real or personal property or by the pledge of collateral, whether said loans have been made from funds of the Bank or from funds held in fiduciary capacity, any officer of the Bank shall have the power and authority to enter the fact of payment or satisfaction on the margin of the record of any such security or in any other legal manner to cancel such indebtedness and to release said security, and the Chief Executive Officer or the President or any Regional or Local President or any Vice President of the Bank shall have power and authority to execute a power of attorney authorizing the cancellation, release or satisfaction of any mortgage or other security given to the Bank in its corporate or fiduciary capacity, by such person as he or she may in his or her discretion appoint.

Section 16. Emergencies.

In the event of an emergency declared by the President of the United States or the person performing his or her functions, the officers and employees of this Bank will continue to conduct the affairs of the Bank under such guidance from the Directors as may be available except as to matters which by statute require specific approval of the Board of Directors and subject to conformance with any governmental directives or directives of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation during the emergency.

ARTICLE VI. AMENDMENTS

Except as otherwise provided herein or in the articles of incorporation of the Bank, these By-Laws may be amended or repealed by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Directors then holding office at any regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors, and the Stockholders may make, alter or repeal any By-Laws, whether or not adopted by them.


EXHIBIT 6

CONSENT

In accordance with Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, Regions Bank hereby consents that reports of examination of Regions Bank by Federal, State, Territorial or District regulatory authorities may be furnished by such regulatory authorities to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon request therefor.

Dated: November 23, 2018

 

REGIONS BANK
/s/ Craig A. Kaye
Craig A. Kaye
Vice President


EXHIBIT 7

Consolidated Report of Condition for Insured Banks

and Savings Associations

REGIONS BANK

As of the close of business on September 30, 2018:

 

ASSETS

   Thousands of Dollars  

Cash and balances due from depository institutions:

     3,597,672  

Securities:

     24,648,676  

Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreement to resell:

     0  

Loans and leases held for sale:

     330,803  

Loans and leases net of unearned income and allowance:

     80,980,280  

Trading Assets:

     75,531  

Premises and fixed assets:

     2,007,350  

Other real estate owned:

     69,086  

Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies:

     53,947  

Direct and indirect investments in real estate ventures:

     0  

Intangible assets:

     4,841,386  

Other assets:

     7,323,713  

Total Assets:

     123,928,444  
  

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES

   Thousands of Dollars  

Deposits

     95,129,702  

Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase

     0  

Trading liabilities:

     220,129  

Other borrowed money:

     10,925,340  

Subordinated notes and debentures:

     495,073  

Other Liabilities:

     1,689,252  

Total Liabilities

     108,459,496  
  

 

 

 

 

EQUITY CAPITAL

   Thousands of Dollars  

Common Stock

     103  

Surplus

     16,464,377  

Retained Earnings

     398,409  

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     (1,393,941

Total Equity Capital

     15,468,948  

Total Liabilities and Equity Capital

     123,928,444  
  

 

 

 
EX-25.2

Exhibit 25.2

 

 

 

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)

 

 

REGIONS BANK

(Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Alabama   63-0371391

(Jurisdiction of incorporation or

organization if not a U.S. national bank)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

1900 Fifth Avenue North

Birmingham, AL

 

35203

(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip code)

Regions Bank

10245 Centurion Parkway

Jacksonville, FL 32256

(904) 998-4995

(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)

 

 

Conn’s, Inc.

(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   06-1672840

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

2445 Technology Forest Blvd., Suite 800

The Woodlands, Texas 77381

 

77381

(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip code)

 

 

Subordinated Debt Securities

(Titles of the indenture securities)

 

 

 


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.

State of Alabama State Banking Department

PO Box 4600

Montgomery, AL 36103-4600

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

Washington, D.C.

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta

Atlanta, Georgia 30309

 

  (b)

Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

Yes.

Item 2. Affiliations with Obligor. If the obligor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each such affiliation.

None with respect to the trustee.

 

Items 3-15.

No responses are included for Items 3 through 15. Responses to those Items are not required because, as provided in General Instruction B, the obligor is not in default on any securities issued under indentures under which Regions Bank is a trustee.

Item 16. List of Exhibits. List below all exhibits filed as a part of this Statement of Eligibility.

 

  Exhibit 1.    A copy of the Articles of Incorporation of the trustee now in effect.
  Exhibit 2.    The authority of Regions Bank to commence business was granted under the Articles of Incorporation for Regions Bank, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 1 of Form T-1.
  Exhibit 3.    The authorization to exercise corporate trust powers was granted under the Articles of Incorporation for Regions Bank, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 1 of Form T-1.
  Exhibit 4.    A copy of the bylaws of the trustee as now in effect.
  Exhibit 5.    Not applicable.
  Exhibit 6.    The consent of the trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Act.
  Exhibit 7.    A copy of the latest report of condition of the trustee published pursuant to law or the requirements of its supervising or examining authority.
  Exhibit 8.    Not applicable.
  Exhibit 9.    Not applicable.


SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, the trustee, Regions Bank, a state chartered bank under the laws of Alabama, has duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of Jacksonville and State of Florida on November 23, 2018.

 

REGIONS BANK
/s/ Craig S. Kaye
Craig A. Kaye
Vice President


EXHIBIT 1

RESTATED ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION

OF

REGIONS BANK

The name of this corporation shall be Regions Bank.

The principal place of business shall be 1900 Fifth Avenue North, Birmingham, Alabama. The general business of Regions Bank (the “Bank”) shall be conducted at its main office and its branches and other facilities.

The Bank shall have the following objects, purposes and powers:

To sue and be sued, complain and defend, in its corporate name.

To have a corporate seal which may be altered at pleasure, and to use the same by causing it, or a facsimile thereof, to be impressed or affixed or in any other manner reproduced.

To purchase, take, receive, lease, or otherwise acquire, own, hold, improve, use and otherwise deal in and with, real or personal property, or any interest therein, wherever situated.

To sell, convey, mortgage, pledge, lease, exchange, transfer and otherwise dispose of all or any part of its property and assets, subject to the limitations hereinafter prescribed.

To lend money and use its credit to assist its employees.

To purchase, take, receive, subscribe for, or otherwise acquire, own, hold, vote, use, employ, sell, mortgage, lend, pledge, or otherwise dispose of, and otherwise use and deal in and with, shares or other interests in, or obligations of, other domestic or foreign corporations, associations, partnerships or individuals, or direct or indirect obligations of the United States or of any other government, state, territory, governmental district, or municipality or of any instrumentality thereof as may be permitted by law or appropriate regulations.

To make contracts, guarantees, and indemnity agreements and incur liabilities, borrow money at such rates of interest as the corporation may determine, issue its notes, bonds, and other obligations, and secure any of its obligations by mortgage, pledge of, or creation of security interests in, all or any of its property, franchises, or income, or any interest therein, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Constitution of Alabama as the same may be amended from time to time.


To lend money for its corporate purposes, invest and reinvest its funds, and take and hold real and personal property as security for the payment of funds so loaned or invested.

To conduct its business, carry on its operations and have offices and exercise the powers granted by this Article, within or without the State of Alabama.

To elect or appoint and remove officers and agents of the Bank, and define their duties and fix their compensation.

To make and alter by its board of directors bylaws not inconsistent with its articles of incorporation or with the laws of this state for the administration and regulation of the affairs of the Bank.

To make donations for the public welfare or for charitable, scientific, or educational purposes.

To transact any lawful business which the board of directors shall find will be in aid of governmental policy.

To pay pensions and establish pension plans, pension trusts, profit sharing plans, stock bonus plans, stock option plans and other incentive plans for any or all of its directors, officers and employees.

To be a promoter, incorporator, partner, member, trustee, associate, or manager of any domestic or foreign corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise.

To consolidate or merge, before or after the completion of its works or plants, in the manner herein provided, with any other foreign or domestic corporation or corporations engaged in the business of banking or trust companies doing a banking business subject to the limitations hereinafter prescribed.

To have and exercise all powers permitted by the laws of Alabama necessary or convenient to effect its purposes.

To discount bills, notes or other evidences of debt.

To receive and pay out deposits, with or without interest, pay checks, and impose charges for any services.

To receive on special deposit money, bullion or foreign coins or bonds or other securities.

To buy and sell foreign and domestic exchanges, gold and silver bullion or foreign coins, bonds, bills of exchange, notes and other negotiable paper.

To lend money on personal security or upon pledges of bonds, stocks or other negotiable securities.


To take and receive security by mortgage, security or otherwise on property, real and personal.

To become trustee for any purpose and be appointed and act as executor, administrator, guardian, receiver, or fiduciary.

To lease real and personal property upon specific request of a customer, provided it complies with any applicable Alabama laws regulating leasing real property or improvements thereon to others.

To perform computer, management and travel agency services for others.

To subscribe to the capital stock and become a member of the federal reserve system and comply with rules and regulations thereof.

To do any business and exercise directly or through operating subsidiaries any powers incident to the business of banks.

The duration of the corporation shall be perpetual.

The Board of Directors is expressly authorized from time to time to fix the number of Directors which shall constitute the entire Board, subject to the following:

The number of Directors constituting the entire Board shall be fixed from time to time by vote of a majority of the entire 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, shall not be less than three nor more than twenty-five (25). Each Director shall be the record owner of the requisite number of shares of common stock of the Bank’s parent bank holding company fixed by the appropriate regulatory authorities.

Notwithstanding any other provisions of the Articles of Incorporation or the bylaws of the Bank (and notwithstanding the fact that some lesser percentage may be specified by law, these Restated Articles of Incorporation or the bylaws of the Bank), any Director or the entire Board of Directors of the Bank may be removed at any time, with or without cause by the affirmative vote of the holders of ninety percent (90%) or more of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Bank 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.

The aggregate number of shares of capital stock which the Bank shall have authority to issue is thirty thousand five hundred forty six (30,546) shares, which shall be common stock, par value five dollars ($5.00) per share (the “Common Stock”). The Bank shall not issue fractional shares of stock, but shall pay in cash the fair value of fractions of a share as of the time when those otherwise entitled to receive such fractions are determined.

Shareholders shall not have pre-emptive rights to purchase shares of any class of capital stock of the Bank. The Bank, at any time and from time to time, may authorize and issue debt obligations, whether or not subordinated, without the approval of the shareholders.


Authority is hereby expressly granted to the Board of Directors from time to time to issue any authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock for such consideration and on such terms as it may determine. Every share of Common Stock of the Bank shall have one vote at any meeting of the shareholders and may be voted by the shareholders of record either in person or by proxy.

In the event of any liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of the Bank or upon the distribution of the assets of the Bank, the assets of the Bank remaining after satisfaction of all obligations and liabilities shall be divided and distributed among the holders of the Common Stock ratably. Neither the merger or consolidation of the Bank with another corporation nor the sale or lease of all or substantially all of the assets of the Bank shall be deemed to be a liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of the Bank or a distribution of its assets.

The holders of Common Stock shall have the exclusive power to vote and shall have one vote in respect of each share of such stock held by them.

The Chief Executive Officer, Secretary, Board of Directors, or holder(s) of at least 90% of the issued and outstanding voting stock of the Bank may call a special meeting of shareholders at any time. Unless otherwise provided by the laws of Alabama, notice of the time, place, and purpose of every annual and special meeting of the shareholders shall be given by first-class mail, postage prepaid, mailed at least ten days prior to the date of such meeting to each shareholder of record at his address as shown upon the stock transfer book of this Bank.

The Bank reserves the right to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in these Restated Articles of Incorporation, in the manner now or hereafter provided by law, at any regular or special meeting of the shareholders, and all rights conferred upon officers, directors and shareholders of the Bank hereby are granted subject to this reservation.

The Bank shall indemnify its officers, directors, employees, and agents to the fullest extent permitted by the Constitution and laws of the State of Alabama.


This amendment to and restatement of the Articles of Incorporation was duly adopted by vote of the directors of the Bank pursuant to Section 10A-2-10.03 of the Alabama Business Corporation Law and was approved by the sole shareholder in accordance with Section 10A-2-10.03, by unanimous consent of the holder of 21,546 shares of common stock, constituting all of the shares of capital stock of the Bank outstanding, indisputably represented, and entitled to vote on the amendment. The date of adoption of the Restated Articles of Incorporation was July 17, 2014.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, said Regions Bank has caused this certificate to be signed by Fournier J. Gale, III, its Senior Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, this 17th day of July, 2014.

 

REGIONS BANK
By:  

/s/ Fournier J. Gale, III

  Fournier J. Gale, III
  Senior Executive Vice President, General
  Counsel and Corporate Secretary


STATE OF ALABAMA

MONTGOMERY COUNTY

I, John D. Harrison, as Superintendent of Banks for the State of Alabama, do hereby certify that I have fully and duly examined the foregoing Articles of Amendment whereby the shareholder of Regions Bank, a banking corporation located at Birmingham, Alabama, proposes to Restate the Articles of Incorporation.

See attached Articles of Amendment which Restate the Articles of Incorporation of Regions Bank.

I do hereby certify that said Amendment of the Articles of Incorporation appear to be in substantial conformity with the requirements of law and they are hereby approved. Upon the filing of the same, together with this Certificate of Approval, with the proper agency as required by law, the Restated Articles of Incorporation of said bank shall be effective.

Given under my hand and seal of office this the 30th day of July, 2014.

 

/s/ John D. Harrison
John D. Harrison
Superintendent of Banks


Jefferson County

I, the Undersigned, as Judge of Probate in and for said County, in said State, hereby certify that the foregoing is a full, true and correct copy of the instrument with the filing of same as appears of record in this office in vol. 201415 page 9638. Given under my hand and official seal, this the 31st day of July, 2014.

 

/s/ Alan L. King
Judge of Probate


EXHIBIT 4

BY-LAWS OF

REGIONS BANK

(As amended July 18, 2013)

ARTICLE I. OFFICES

Section 1. Registered Office.

The registered office shall be established and maintained at the office of the CSC Lawyers Incorporating Service, Inc., in the City of Montgomery, in the County of Montgomery, in the State of Alabama, and said corporation shall be the registered agent of this Bank in charge thereof.

Section 2. Other Offices.

The Bank may have other offices, either within or without the State of Alabama, at such place or places as the Board of Directors may from time to time appoint or the business of the Bank may require.

Section 3. Principal Place of Business.

The principal place of business of the Bank shall be in Birmingham, Alabama.

ARTICLE II. MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

Section 1. Annual Meeting.

Annual meetings of stockholders for the election of Directors and for such other business as may be stated in the notice of the meeting, shall be held at such place, either within or without the State of Alabama, and at such time and date as the Board of Directors, by resolution, shall determine and as set forth in the notice of the meeting.

At each annual meeting, the stockholders entitled to vote shall elect Directors, and they may transact such other corporate business as may properly come before the meeting.

Section 2. Special Meeting.

Special meetings of the stockholders for any purpose or purposes, other than the election of Directors, may be called at any time by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Secretary, or by resolution of the Directors. Special meetings of stockholders may be held at such time and place, within or without the State of Alabama, as shall be stated in the notice of the meeting.

Section 3. Voting.

The vote of a majority of the votes cast by the shares entitled to vote on any matter at a meeting of stockholders at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the stockholders on that matter, except as otherwise required by law or by the articles of incorporation of the Bank.


Section 4. Quorum.

A majority of the outstanding shares of the Bank entitled to vote, represented in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at meetings of stockholders. If less than a majority of the outstanding shares are represented, a majority of the shares so represented may adjourn the meeting from time to time without further notice, but until a quorum is secured no other business may be transacted. The stockholders present at a duly organized meeting may continue to transact business until an adjournment notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough stockholders to leave less than a quorum.

ARTICLE III. DIRECTORS

Section 1. Number of Term.

The number of Directors which shall constitute the whole Board of Directors shall be fixed, from time to time, by resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors, but shall not be less than three persons. The number of Directors shall not be reduced so as to shorten the term of any Director at the time in office.

At each annual meeting of stockholders, all Directors shall be elected for terms of one year, and except as hereinafter provided, each Director shall hold office until the next annual meeting or until his or her successor shall have been elected and qualified, or until his or her earlier retirement, death, resignation or removal. Directors need not be residents of Alabama.

Section 2. Chairman of the Board and Vice Chairman of the Board.

The Board of Directors shall by majority vote designate from time to time from among its members a Chairman of the Board. The Chairman of the Board shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders and of the Board of Directors of the Bank. He or she shall have and perform such duties as prescribed by the By-Laws and by the Board of Directors. The position of Chairman of the Board is a Board position, provided however, the position of Chairman of the Board may be held by a person who is also an officer of the Bank.

The Board of Directors may by majority vote designate from time to time from among its members one or more Vice Chairmen of the Board. A Vice Chairman of the Board shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders and of the Board of Directors of the Bank which the Chairman of the Board shall be unable to attend. He or she shall assist the Chairman of the Board in the exercise of his or her duties and shall have and perform such duties as are prescribed from time to time by the Board of Directors. In the event of the death or incapacity of the Chairman of the Board, he or she shall perform all the duties of the Chairman of the Board until the next annual meeting of the stockholders or until the Board shall have sooner elected a successor Chairman of the Board. The position of Vice Chairman of the Board is a Board position, provided however, that the position of Vice Chairman of the Board may be held by a person who is also an officer of the Bank.

In the absence of the Chairman of the Board and Vice Chairman of the Board or in case of their inability to act, the Independent Lead Director, if at the time a Director of the Bank has been designated by the Board of Directors as such, shall have and exercise all the powers and duties of such office and shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors. If at any Board of Directors meeting none of such persons is present or able to act, the Board of Directors shall select one of its members as acting chair of the meeting or portion thereof.


Section 3. Resignations.

Any Director may resign at any time. Such resignation shall be made in writing, and shall take effect at the time of its receipt by the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, the President, or the Secretary or at such other time as may be specified therein. The acceptance of a resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.

Section 4. Vacancies.

If the office of any Director becomes vacant, the remaining Directors in office, though less than a quorum, by a majority vote, may appoint any qualified person to fill such vacancy, who shall hold office for the unexpired term and until his successor shall be duly chosen.

Section 5. Removal.

Any Director may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Bank 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.

Section 6. Powers.

The Board of Directors shall exercise all the powers of the Bank except such as are by law, by the Articles of Incorporation of the Bank or pursuant to the Bank’s bylaws conferred upon or reserved to the stockholders.

Section 7. Meetings.

A regular meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held immediately before or after the annual meeting of stockholders. Additional regular meetings of the Directors may be held without notice at such places and times as shall be determined from time to time by resolution of the Directors.

Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, or by the Secretary on the written request of a majority of the Board of Directors on at least two days’ notice to each Director and shall be held at such place or places as may be determined by the Directors, or as shall be stated in the call of the meeting.

Unless otherwise restricted by the Articles of Incorporation or these By-Laws, members of the Board of Directors, or any committee designated by the Board of Directors, may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors, or any committee, by means of conference telephone or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and such participation in a meeting shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.

Section 8. Quorum.

A majority of the Directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. If at any meeting of the Board of Directors there shall be less than a quorum present, a majority of those present may adjourn the meeting from time to time until a quorum is obtained, and no further notice thereof need be given other than by announcement at the meeting which shall be so adjourned. Notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough Directors to leave less than a quorum, the Directors present at a duly organized meeting may continue to transact business until adjournment.

Section 9. Compensation.

Directors shall not receive any stated salary for their services as Directors or as members of committees, except that by resolution of the Board of Directors, retainer fees, meeting fees, and expenses of attendance at meetings may be authorized. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to preclude any Director from serving the Bank in any other capacity as an officer, agent or otherwise, and receiving compensation therefore.


Section 10. Action Without Meeting.

Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors or of any committee thereof, may be taken without a meeting, if prior to such action a written consent thereto is signed by all members of the Board of Directors, or of such committee as the case may be, and such written consent is filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors or committee.

Section 11. Committees.

A majority of the whole Board of Directors shall have the authority to designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the Directors of the Bank. The Board may designate one or more Directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. Any such committee, to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board or in these By-Laws, shall have and may exercise the powers of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the Bank, and may authorize the seal of the Bank to be affixed to all papers which may require it; provided, however, that in the absence or disqualification of any member of such committee or committees, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not the member or members constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member.

Section 12. Eligibility.

No person shall be eligible to serve as Director of the Bank unless such person shall be the owner of shares of stock of the parent holding company of the number and held in the manner sufficient to meet the requirements of any applicable law or regulation in effect requiring the ownership of Directors’ qualifying shares.

Section 13. Directors Protected.

Each Director shall in the performance of his or her duties be fully protected in relying in good faith upon reports made to the Directors by the officers of the Bank or by state or federal bank examiners or by any independent accountant or by any appraiser selected with reasonable care, or by counsel, or by a committee of the Board, or in relying in good faith upon other records or books of account of the Bank.

ARTICLE IV. OFFICERS

Section 1. Officers, Elections, Terms.

The officers of the Bank shall be a Chief Executive Officer; a President; one or more Regional or Local Presidents if the Board so determines; one or more Vice Presidents, who may be designated Senior Executive Vice Presidents, Executive Vice Presidents, Senior Vice Presidents, Vice Presidents, and Assistant Vice Presidents; a Secretary; one or more Assistant Secretaries; a Chief Financial Officer; a Controller; an Auditor; and such other officers as may be deemed appropriate. All of such officers shall be appointed annually by the Board of Directors to serve for a term of one year and until their respective successors are appointed and qualified or until such officer’s earlier death, resignation, retirement, or removal, except that the Board of Directors may delegate the authority to appoint officers holding the position of Senior Executive Vice President and below in accordance with procedures established or modified by the Board from time to time. Those Officers who serve in the Trust Department shall be so designated by the word “Trust” in their title. None of the officers of the Bank need be Directors. More than one office may be held by the same person.


Section 2. Chief Executive Officer.

The Board of Directors shall appoint a Chief Executive Officer of the Bank. The Chief Executive Officer is the most senior executive officer of the Bank, and shall be vested with authority to act for the Bank in all matters and shall have general supervision of the Bank and of its business affairs, including authority over the detailed operations of the Bank and over its personnel, with full power and authority during intervals between sessions of the Board to do and perform in the name of the Bank all acts and deeds necessary or proper, in his or her opinion, to be done and performed and to execute for and in the name of the Bank all instruments, agreements, and deeds which may be authorized to be executed in behalf of the Bank or which may be required by law. The Chief Executive Officer may, but need not, also hold the office of President.

Section 3. President.

The President shall, subject to the control of the Board of Directors and of any committee of the Board having authority in the premises, have, and may exercise the authority to act for the Bank in all ordinary matters and perform other such duties as directed by the By-Laws, the Board of Directors, or the Chief Executive Officer. Among the officers of the Bank, the President is subordinate to only the Chief Executive Officer and is senior to the other officers of the Bank. The authority of the President shall include authority over the detailed operations of the Bank and over its personnel with full power and authority during intervals between sessions of the Board to do and perform in the name of the Bank all acts and deeds necessary or proper, in his or her opinion, to be done and performed and to execute for and in the name of the Bank all instruments, agreements, and deeds which may be authorized to be executed in behalf of the Bank or which may be required by law.

Section 4. Vice Presidents.

The Vice Presidents shall, subject to the control of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or the President, have and may exercise the authority vested in them in all proper matters, including authority over the detailed operations of the Bank and over its personnel.

Section 5. Chief Financial Officer.

The Chief Financial Officer or his designee shall have custody of all funds of the Bank. He or his designee shall have and perform such duties as are incident to the office of Chief Financial Officer and such other duties as may from time to time be assigned to him by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, or the President.

Section 6. Secretary.

The Secretary shall keep minutes of all meetings of the stockholders and the Board of Directors unless otherwise directed by those bodies. The Secretary, or in his absence, any Assistant Secretary, shall attend to the giving and serving of all notices of the Bank. He shall perform all the duties incident to the office of Secretary, subject to the control of the Board of Directors, and shall do and perform such other duties as may from time to time be assigned by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, or the President.

Section 7. Controller.

The Controller shall, under the direction of the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Financial Officer, or a more senior officer, have general supervision and authority over all reports required of the Bank by law or by any public body or officer or regulatory authority pertaining to the condition of the Bank and its assets and liabilities. The Controller shall have general supervision of the books and accounts of the Bank and its methods and systems of recording and keeping accounts of its business transactions and of its assets and liabilities. The Controller shall be responsible for preparing statements showing the financial condition of the Bank and shall furnish such reports and financial records as may be required of him or her by the Board of Directors or by the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Financial Officer, or other more senior officer.


Section 8. Auditor.

The Auditor’s office may be filled by an employee of the Bank or his or her duties may be performed by an employee or committee of the parent company of the Bank. The Auditor shall have general supervision of the auditing of the books and accounts of the Bank, and shall continuously and from time to time check and verify the Bank’s transactions, its assets and liabilities, and the accounts and doings of the officers, agents and employees of the Bank with respect thereto. The Auditor whether an employee of the Bank or of its parent shall be directly accountable to and under the jurisdiction of the Board of Directors and, if applicable, its designated committee, acting independently of all officers, agents and employees of the bank. The Auditor shall render reports covering matters in his or her charge regularly and upon request to the Board and, if applicable, its designated committee.

Section 9. Other Officers and Agents.

The Board of Directors may appoint such other officers and agents as it may deem advisable, who shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as shall be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors. The functions of a cashier of the Bank may be performed by the Controller or any other officer of the Bank whose area of responsibility includes the function to be performed.

Section 10. Officer in Charge of Wealth Management.

The officer in charge of Wealth Management shall be designated as such by the Board of Directors and shall exercise general supervision and management over the affairs of Private Wealth Management, Institutional Services, and Wealth Management Operations and Support, which groups are responsible for exercise of the Bank’s trust powers. That officer is hereby empowered to appoint all necessary agents or attorneys; also to make, execute and acknowledge all checks, bonds, certificates, deeds, mortgages, notes, releases, leases, agreements, contracts, bills of sale, assignments, transfers, powers of attorney or of substitution, proxies to vote stock, or any other instrument in writing that may be necessary in the purchase, sale, mortgage, lease, assignment, transfer, management or handling, in any way of any property of any description held or controlled by the Bank in any fiduciary capacity. Said officer shall have such other duties and powers as shall be designated by the Board of Directors.

Section 11. Other Officers in Private Wealth Management, Institutional Services, and Wealth Management Operations and Support.

The officer in charge of Wealth Management shall appoint officers responsible for the activities of Private Wealth Management, Institutional Services, and Wealth Management Operations and Support. Various other officers as designated by the officers responsible for the activities of Private Wealth Management, Institutional Services, and Wealth Management Operations and Support are empowered and authorized to make, execute, and acknowledge all checks, bonds, certificates, deeds, mortgages, notes, releases, leases, agreements, contracts, bills of sale, assignments, transfers, powers of attorney or substitution, proxies to vote stock or any other instrument in writing that may be necessary to the purchase, sale, mortgage, lease, assignments, transfer, management or handling in any way, of any property of any description held or controlled by the Bank in any fiduciary capacity.

Section 12. Removal and Retirement of Officers.

At its pleasure, the Board of Directors may remove any officer from office at any time by a majority vote of the Board, provided however that the terms of any employment or compensation contract shall be honored according to its terms. An individual’s status as an officer will terminate without the necessity of any other action or ratification immediately upon termination for any reason of the individual’s employment by the Bank.


ARTICLE V. MISCELLANEOUS

Section 1. Certificates of Stock.

Certificates of stock of the Bank shall be signed by the President and the Secretary of the Bank, which signatures may be represented by a facsimile signature. The certificate may be sealed with the seal of the Bank or an engraved or printed facsimile thereof. The certificate represents the number of shares of stock registered in certificate form owned by such holder.

Section 2. Lost Certificates.

In case of the loss or destruction of any certificate of stock, the holder or owner of same shall give notice thereof to the Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Vice President, or the Secretary of the Bank and, if such holder or owner shall desire the issue of a new certificate in the place of the one lost or destroyed, he or she shall make affidavit of such loss or destruction and deliver the same to any one of said officers and accompany the same with a bond with surety satisfactory to the Bank to indemnify the Bank and save it harmless against any loss, cost or damage in case such certificate should thereafter be presented to the Bank, which affidavit and bond shall be, at the discretion of the deciding party listed in this Section 2, unless so ordered by a court having jurisdiction over the matter, approved or rejected by the Board of Directors or by the Chief Executive Officer or by the President or an Executive or Senior Vice President before the issue of any new certificate.

Section 3. Transfer of Shares.

Title to a certificate and to the shares represented thereby can be transferred only by delivery of the certificate endorsed either in blank or to a specified person by the person appearing by the certificate to be the owner of the shares represented thereby, or by delivery of the certificate and a separate document containing a written assignment of the certificate or a power of attorney to sell, assign, or transfer the same or the shares represented thereby, signed by the person appearing by the certificate to be the owner of the shares represented thereby. Such assignment or power of attorney may be either in blank or to a specified person.

Section 4. Fractional Shares.

No fractional part of a share of stock shall ever be issued by this Bank.

Section 5. Stockholders Record Date.

In order that the Bank may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, or entitled to receive any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix, in advance, a record date, which shall not be more than sixty nor less than ten days before the date of such meeting, nor more than sixty days prior to any other action. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting.

Section 6. Dividends.

Subject to the provisions of the Articles of Incorporation, the Board of Directors may, out of funds legally available therefore at any regular or special meeting, declare dividends upon the capital stock of the Bank as and when they deem expedient. Before declaring any dividend there may be set apart out of any fund of the Bank available for dividends, such sum or sums as the Directors from time to time in their discretion deem proper for working capital or as a reserve fund to meet contingencies or for equalizing dividends or for such other purposes as the Directors shall deem conducive to the interests of the Bank. No dividends shall be declared which exceed the amounts authorized by applicable laws and regulations or are otherwise contrary to law.


Section 7. Seal.

The corporate seal of the Bank shall be circular in shape and shall include the words “Regions Bank” around the outer edge of the circle and the word “Seal” in the center of the circle. The seal may also include appropriate descriptors, such as the words: “An Alabama Banking Corporation”. The Secretary of the Bank shall have custody of the seal and is authorized to affix the same to instruments, documents, and papers as required by law or as customary or appropriate in the Secretary’s judgment and discretion. Without limiting the general authority of the Board of Directors of the Bank to name, appoint, remove, and define the duties of officers of the Bank, the Secretary is further authorized to cause reproductions of the seal to be made, distributed to, and used by officers and employees of the Bank whose duties and responsibilities involve the execution and delivery of instruments, documents, and papers bearing the seal of the Bank. In this regard, the Secretary is further authorized to establish, implement, interpret, and enforce policies and procedures governing the use of the seal and the authorization by the Secretary of officers and employees of the Bank to have custody of and to use the seal. Such policies and procedures may include (i) the right of the Secretary to appoint any Bank employee as an Assistant Secretary of the Bank, if such appointment would, in the Secretary’s judgment, be convenient with respect to such employee’s custody and use of a seal and/or (ii) the right of the Secretary to authorize Bank employees to have and use seals as delegates of the Secretary without appointing such employees as Assistant Secretaries of the Bank.

Section 8. Fiscal Year.

The fiscal year of the Bank shall be the calendar year.

Section 9. Checks, Drafts, Transfers, etc.

The Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Regional or Local President, any Vice President or Assistant Vice President, any Branch Manager or any other employee designated by the Board of Directors, is authorized and empowered on behalf of the Bank and in its name to sign and endorse checks and warrants, to draw drafts, to issue and sign cashier’s checks, to guarantee signatures, to give receipts for money due and payable to the Bank, to sell, assign and transfer shares of capital stock, bonds, or other personal property or securities standing in the name of or held by the Bank, whether in its own right or in any fiduciary capacity, and to make or join in such consents, requests or commitments with respect to the same as may be appropriate or authorized as to the holder thereof, and to sign such other papers and do such other acts as are necessary in the performance of his or her duties. The authority conveyed to any employee designated by the Board may be limited by general or specific resolution of the Board.

Section 10. Notice and Waiver of Notice.

Whenever any notice is required by these By-Laws to be given, personal notice is not meant unless expressly so stated, and any notice so required shall be deemed to be sufficient if given by depositing the same in the United States, mail, postage, prepaid, or by telegram, teletype, facsimile transmission or other form of wire, wireless, or other electronic communication or by private carrier addressed to the person entitled thereto at his address as it appears on the records of the Bank, and such notice shall be deemed to have been given on the date of such mailing. Stockholders not entitled to vote shall not be entitled to receive notice of meetings except as otherwise provided by statute.

Whenever any notice whatever is required to be given under the provisions of any law, or under the provisions of the Articles of Incorporation of the Bank or these By-Laws, a waiver thereof in writing, signed by the person or persons entitled to said notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent thereto.


Section 11. Right of Indemnity.

To the full extent allowed by Section 10-2B-8.5 et seq. of the Code of Alabama (1975), or any statute amendatory or supplemental thereof, the Bank shall indemnify and hold harmless each director or officer now or hereafter serving the Bank against any loss and reasonable expenses actually and necessarily incurred by him or her in connection with the defense of any claim, or any action, suit or proceeding against him or her or in which he or she is made a party, by reason of his or her being or having been a Director or officer of the Bank, or who, while a Director or officer of the Bank, is or was serving as at the Bank’s request as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee, or agent of another foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan, or other enterprise. Such right of indemnity shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which such Director or officer may be entitled under any statute, article of incorporation, rule of law, other bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or directors, or otherwise. Nor shall anything herein contained restrict the right of the Bank to indemnify or reimburse any officer or Director in any proper case even though not specifically provided for herein. The Bank may purchase and maintain insurance in such amounts as the Board of Directors deems appropriate on behalf of said Directors or officers so as to offset any potential liability asserted against said Directors or officers acting in such capacity as described in these By-Laws.

Section 12. Execution of Instruments and Documents.

The Chief Executive Officer, or the President, or any Regional or Local President or any Vice President is authorized, in his or her discretion, to do and perform any and all corporate and official acts in carrying on the business of the Bank, including, but not limited to, the authority to make, execute, acknowledge, accept and deliver any and all deeds, mortgages, releases, bills of sale, assignments, transfers, leases (as lessor or lessee), powers of attorney or of substitution, servicing or sub-servicing agreements, vendor agreements, proxies to vote stock or any other instrument in writing that may be necessary in the purchase, sale, lease, assignment, transfer, discount, management or handling in any way of any property of any description held, controlled or used by Bank or to be held, controlled or used by Bank, either in its own or in its fiduciary capacity and including the authority from time to time to open bank accounts with the Bank or any other institution, to borrow money in such amounts for such lengths of time, at such rates of interest and upon such terms and conditions as any said officer may deem proper and to evidence the indebtedness thereby created by executing and delivering in the name of the Bank promissory notes or other appropriate evidences of indebtedness, and to guarantee the obligations of any subsidiary or affiliate of the Bank. The enumeration herein of particular powers shall not restrict in any way the general powers and authority of said officers.

By way of example and not limitation, such officers of the Bank are authorized to execute, accept, deliver and issue, on behalf of the Bank and as binding obligations of Bank, such agreements and instruments as may be within the officer’s area of responsibility, including, as applicable, agreements and related documents (such as schedules, confirmations, transfers, assignments, acknowledgments, and other documents) relating to derivative transactions, loan or letter of credit transactions, syndications, participations, trades, purchase and sale or discount transactions, transfers and assignments, servicing and sub-servicing agreements, vendor agreements, securitizations, and transactions of whatever kind or description arising in the conduct of the Bank’s business.

The authority to execute and deliver documents, instruments, and agreements may be limited by resolution of the Board of Directors, by a committee of the Board of Directors, by the Chief Executive Officer, or by the President, by reference to subject matter, category, amount, geographical location, or any other criteria, and may be made subject to such policies, procedures, and levels of approval as may be adopted or amended from time to time.

Section 13. Voting Bank’s Securities.

Unless otherwise ordered by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Executive Vice President or above, the Controller, the Bank’s General Counsel, and any other officer as may be designated by the Board of Directors shall have full power and authority on behalf of the Bank to attend, and to act and to vote, and to execute a proxy or proxies empowering others to attend, and to act and to vote, at any meetings of security holders of any of the corporations in which the Bank may hold securities and, at such meetings, such officer shall possess and may exercise any and all rights and powers incident to the ownership of such securities which, as the owner thereof, the Bank might have possessed and exercised, if present.


Section 14. Bonds of Officers and Employees.

The Board of Directors shall from time to time designate the officers and employees who shall be required to give bond and fix the amounts thereof.

Section 15. Satisfaction of Loans.

On payment of sums lent, for which security shall have been taken either by way of mortgage or other lien on real or personal property or by the pledge of collateral, whether said loans have been made from funds of the Bank or from funds held in fiduciary capacity, any officer of the Bank shall have the power and authority to enter the fact of payment or satisfaction on the margin of the record of any such security or in any other legal manner to cancel such indebtedness and to release said security, and the Chief Executive Officer or the President or any Regional or Local President or any Vice President of the Bank shall have power and authority to execute a power of attorney authorizing the cancellation, release or satisfaction of any mortgage or other security given to the Bank in its corporate or fiduciary capacity, by such person as he or she may in his or her discretion appoint.

Section 16. Emergencies.

In the event of an emergency declared by the President of the United States or the person performing his or her functions, the officers and employees of this Bank will continue to conduct the affairs of the Bank under such guidance from the Directors as may be available except as to matters which by statute require specific approval of the Board of Directors and subject to conformance with any governmental directives or directives of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation during the emergency.

ARTICLE VI. AMENDMENTS

Except as otherwise provided herein or in the articles of incorporation of the Bank, these By-Laws may be amended or repealed by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Directors then holding office at any regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors, and the Stockholders may make, alter or repeal any By-Laws, whether or not adopted by them.


EXHIBIT 6

CONSENT

In accordance with Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, Regions Bank hereby consents that reports of examination of Regions Bank by Federal, State, Territorial or District regulatory authorities may be furnished by such regulatory authorities to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon request therefor.

Dated: November 23, 2018

 

REGIONS BANK
/s/ Craig A. Kaye
Craig A. Kaye
Vice President


EXHIBIT 7

Consolidated Report of Condition for Insured Banks

and Savings Associations

REGIONS BANK

As of the close of business on September 30, 2018:

 

ASSETS

   Thousands of Dollars  

Cash and balances due from depository institutions:

     3,597,672  

Securities:

     24,648,676  

Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreement to resell:

     0  

Loans and leases held for sale:

     330,803  

Loans and leases net of unearned income and allowance:

     80,980,280  

Trading Assets:

     75,531  

Premises and fixed assets:

     2,007,350  

Other real estate owned:

     69,086  

Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies:

     53,947  

Direct and indirect investments in real estate ventures:

     0  

Intangible assets:

     4,841,386  

Other assets:

     7,323,713  

Total Assets:

     123,928,444  
  

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES

   Thousands of Dollars  

Deposits

     95,129,702  

Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase

     0  

Trading liabilities:

     220,129  

Other borrowed money:

     10,925,340  

Subordinated notes and debentures:

     495,073  

Other Liabilities:

     1,689,252  

Total Liabilities

     108,459,496  
  

 

 

 

 

EQUITY CAPITAL

   Thousands of Dollars  

Common Stock

     103  

Surplus

     16,464,377  

Retained Earnings

     398,409  

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     (1,393,941

Total Equity Capital

     15,468,948  

Total Liabilities and Equity Capital

     123,928,444