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Form S-3ASR QUANTA SERVICES, INC.

September 14, 2020 9:20 AM EDT
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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 14, 2020

Registration No. 333-                

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

Quanta Services, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   74-2851603

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

2800 Post Oak Boulevard, Suite 2600

Houston, Texas 77056

(713) 629-7600

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

 

 

Donald C. Wayne

Executive Vice President and General Counsel

2800 Post Oak Boulevard, Suite 2600

Houston, Texas 77056

(713) 629-7600

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

 

 

Copy to:

Gene J. Oshman

Jeremy L. Moore

Baker Botts L.L.P.

910 Louisiana Street

Houston, Texas 77002

(713) 229-1234

 

 

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.  ☐


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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 Securities and Exchange 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 (Check one):

 

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 Securities Act.   ☐

 

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 

Title of Each Class of

Securities to be Registered

 

Amount
to be
Registered(1)

  Proposed
Maximum
Offering Price
Per Unit(1)
 

Proposed
Maximum
Aggregate

Offering Price(1)

 

Amount of

Registration Fee(2)

Common Stock, par value $.00001 per share

               

Preferred Stock, par value $.00001 per share

               

Debt Securities

               

Warrants

               

Depositary Shares(3)

               

Purchase Contracts

               

Purchase Units

               

Units(4)

               

 

 

(1)

An indeterminate aggregate initial offering price or number of the securities of each identified class is being registered as may from time to time be offered hereunder at indeterminate prices. This registration statement also covers an indeterminate amount of securities that may be issued in exchange for, or upon conversion or exercise of, as the case may be, the preferred stock, debt securities or warrants registered hereunder. Pursuant to Rule 416, there is also being registered hereunder such indeterminate amount of securities as may from time to time be issuable as a result of stock splits, stock dividends or applicable antidilution provisions. Any securities registered hereunder may be sold separately or as units with other securities registered hereunder. Separate consideration may or may not be received for securities that are issuable on exercise, conversion or exchange of other securities or that are issued in units or represented by depositary shares.

(2)

In accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r), the registrant is deferring payment of all of the registration fee.

(3)

The depositary shares being registered will be evidenced by depositary receipts issued under a deposit agreement. If the registrant elects to offer fractional interests in preferred stock to the public, depositary receipts will be distributed to the investors purchasing the fractional interests, and the preferred stock will be issued to the depositary under the deposit agreement.

(4)

Each unit will be issued under a unit agreement or indenture and will represent an interest in any combination of two or more securities, which may or may not be separable from one another.

 

 

 


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PROSPECTUS

 

LOGO

Quanta Services, Inc.

Common Stock

Preferred Stock

Debt Securities

Warrants

Depositary Shares

Purchase Contracts

Purchase Units

Units

 

 

We may offer and sell from time to time, together or separately, in one or more offerings, any combination of the securities listed above. The securities we may offer may be convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for other securities. We may offer and sell these securities from time to time in amounts, at prices and on terms to be determined by market conditions and other factors at the time of the offerings. We may offer and sell these securities to or through one or more underwriters, dealers and agents, or directly to one or more purchasers, on a continuous or delayed basis.

This prospectus provides you with a general description of these securities and the general manner in which we will offer and sell the securities. Each time we offer and sell securities under this prospectus, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering and the securities being offered. A prospectus supplement also may add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should carefully read this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement before you invest in any of our securities.

Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) under the symbol “PWR.”

 

 

Investing in our securities involves risks. You should carefully review and consider the information under the heading “Risk Factors” beginning on page 2 of this prospectus and in any applicable prospectus supplement and under similar headings in the other documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus.

 

 

NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED OF THESE SECURITIES OR DETERMINED IF THIS PROSPECTUS IS TRUTHFUL OR COMPLETE. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

 

 

The date of this prospectus is September 14, 2020.


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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement and any written communication from us or any underwriter specifying the final terms of a particular offering. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with information different from that contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement. We take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. We are not making an offer of these securities in any state where the offer is not permitted.

You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement or any document incorporated by reference or any written communication from us or any underwriter specifying the final terms of a particular offering is accurate only as of the date of the applicable documents, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or any sale of securities. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since that date.

This prospectus is part of an automatic registration statement on Form S-3 that we have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as a “well-known seasoned issuer” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). Under this shelf registration statement, we may offer and sell from time to time, together or separately, in one or more offerings, any combination of the securities described in this prospectus.

This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer and sell. Each time we sell securities pursuant to this prospectus, we will provide a prospectus supplement and, if applicable, a free writing prospectus that will contain specific information about the offering and the terms of the particular securities to be offered. The prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. If there is any inconsistency between the information in this prospectus and in any prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, you should rely on the information in that prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, as applicable. You should carefully read this prospectus, any prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, together with the additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference” before you invest.

The registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, including the exhibits to the registration statement, provides additional information about us and the securities. Wherever references are made in this prospectus to information that will be included in a prospectus supplement, to the extent permitted by applicable law, rules or regulations, we may instead include such information or add, update or change the information contained in this prospectus by means of a post-effective amendment to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, through filings we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus or by any other method as may then be permitted under applicable law, rules or regulations. The registration statement, including the exhibits to the registration statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, can be obtained from the Securities and Exchange Commission, as described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

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. For additional information about our business, operations and financial results, please read the documents incorporated by reference herein under the heading “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference.”

As used in this prospectus, the terms “Quanta,” “the Company,” “we,” “our” and “us” refer to Quanta Services, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries, except where the context otherwise requires or as otherwise indicated.

 

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ABOUT QUANTA SERVICES, INC.

We are a leading provider of specialty contracting services, delivering comprehensive infrastructure solutions for the electric and gas utility, energy and communications industries in the United States, Canada, Australia and select other international markets. The performance of our business generally depends on our ability to obtain contracts with customers and to effectively deliver the services provided under those contracts. The services we provide include the design, installation, upgrade, repair and maintenance of infrastructure within each of the industries we serve, such as electric power transmission and distribution networks; substation facilities; gas utility systems; refinery, petrochemical and industrial facilities; pipeline transmission systems and facilities; and telecommunications and cable multi-system operator networks. Our customers include many of the leading companies in the industries we serve, and we endeavor to develop and maintain strategic alliances and preferred service provider status with our customers. Our services are typically provided pursuant to master service agreements, repair and maintenance contracts and fixed price and non-fixed price installation contracts.

Our principal executive offices are located at 2800 Post Oak Boulevard, Suite 2600, Houston, Texas 77056. Our telephone number at that location is (713) 629-7600. Our website is www.quantaservices.com. Information contained in our website is not incorporated by reference to this prospectus and you should not consider information contained in our website as part of this prospectus.

 

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RISK FACTORS

An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risks described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission referred to under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information,” including our most recent annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and other reports and documents we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission that are incorporated by reference herein, together with all of the other information included in this prospectus and the documents we incorporate by reference. If any of these risks were to occur, our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows could be adversely affected. You could lose all or part of your investment. When we offer and sell any securities pursuant to a prospectus supplement, we may include additional risk factors relevant to that offering in the prospectus supplement.

 

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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus includes “forward-looking statements” reflecting assumptions, expectations, projections, intentions or beliefs about future events that are intended to qualify for the “safe harbor” from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify these statements by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. They use words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “project,” “forecast,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “expect,” “believe,” “plan,” “intend” and other words of similar meaning.

In particular, these include, but are not limited to, statements relating to the following:

 

   

projected revenues, net income, earnings per share, margins, cash flows, liquidity, weighted average shares outstanding, capital expenditures, tax rates and other projections of operating or financial results;

 

   

expectations regarding our business or financial outlook;

 

   

expectations regarding opportunities, trends and economic and regulatory conditions in particular markets or industries;

 

   

expectations regarding the novel coronavirus disease (“COVID-19”), including the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and of governmental responses to the pandemic on our business, operations, supply chain, personnel, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and liquidity;

 

   

expectations regarding our plans and strategies, including plans, effects and other matters relating to the COVID-19 pandemic and our exit, through potential sale or otherwise, from our Latin American operations;

 

   

the business plans or financial condition of our customers, including with respect to or as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic;

 

   

the potential impact of commodity prices and commodity production volumes on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows and demand for our services;

 

   

the potential benefits from, and future performance of, acquired businesses and our investments, including a joint venture in which we own a 50% interest, LUMA Energy, LLC, which was selected for a 15-year operation and maintenance agreement to operate, maintain and modernize the approximately 18,000-mile electric transmission and distribution system in Puerto Rico;

 

   

beliefs and assumptions about the collectability of receivables;

 

   

the expected value of contracts or intended contracts with customers, as well as the scope, services, term or results of any awarded or expected projects;

 

   

the development of and opportunities with respect to future projects, including renewable energy projects and larger electric transmission and pipeline projects;

 

   

future capital allocation initiatives, including the amount, timing and strategies with respect to any future stock repurchases, and expectations regarding the declaration, amount and timing of any future cash dividends;

 

   

the impact of existing or potential legislation or regulation;

 

   

potential opportunities that may be indicated by bidding activity or similar discussions with customers;

 

   

the future demand for and availability of labor resources in the industries we serve;

 

   

the expected realization of remaining performance obligations or backlog;

 

   

the expected outcome of pending or threatened legal proceedings; and

 

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possible recovery of pending or contemplated insurance claims, change orders and claims asserted against customers or third parties.

These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, involve or rely on a number of risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that are difficult to predict or are beyond our control, and reflect management’s beliefs and assumptions based on information available at the time the statements are made. We caution you that actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed, implied or forecasted by our forward-looking statements and that any or all of our forward-looking statements may turn out to be inaccurate or incorrect. Those statements can be affected by inaccurate assumptions and by known or unknown risks and uncertainties, including the following:

 

   

market, industry, economic, financial or political conditions outside our control, including weakness in the capital markets or the ongoing and potential impact to financial markets and worldwide economic activity resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and related governmental actions;

 

   

quarterly variations in our operating and financial results, liquidity, financial condition, cash flows, capital requirements, and reinvestment opportunities, including the ongoing and potential impact to our business, operations and supply chains resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and related governmental actions;

 

   

the severity, magnitude and duration of the COVID-19 pandemic, including impacts of the pandemic and of business and governmental responses to the pandemic (e.g., shelter-in-place and other mobility restrictions, business closures) on our operations, personnel and supply chains, and on commercial activity and demand across our and our customers’ businesses;

 

   

our inability to predict the extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic and related impacts will adversely impact our business, financial performance, results of operations, financial position, the prices of our securities and the achievement of our strategic objectives, including with respect to governmental restrictions on our ability to operate, workforce and key personnel availability, regulatory and permitting delays, and future demand for energy and the resulting impact on demand for our services;

 

   

trends and growth opportunities in relevant markets, including our ability to obtain future project awards;

 

   

the time and costs required to exit our Latin American operations and our ability to effect related transactions on acceptable terms, as well as the business and political climate in Latin America;

 

   

delays, deferrals, reductions in scope or cancellations of anticipated, pending or existing projects as a result of, among other things, the COVID-19 pandemic, weather, regulatory or permitting issues (including the recent court ruling vacating the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Nationwide Permit 12), environmental processes, project performance issues, claimed force majeure events, protests or other political activity, legal challenges, reductions or eliminations in governmental funding or customer capital constraints;

 

   

the effect of commodity prices and commodity production volumes on our operations and growth opportunities and on our customers’ capital programs and demand for our services, including as a result of the recent significant decrease in commodity prices;

 

   

the successful negotiation, execution, performance and completion of anticipated, pending and existing contracts;

 

   

risks associated with operational hazards that arise due to the nature of the services we provide and the conditions in which we operate, including, among others, wildfires and explosions;

 

   

unexpected costs, liabilities, fines or penalties that may arise from legal proceedings, indemnity obligations, reimbursement obligations associated with letters of credit or bonds, multiemployer pension plans (e.g., underfunding of liabilities, termination or withdrawal liability) or other claims or actions asserted against us, including amounts that are not covered by, or are in excess of, our third-party insurance;

 

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potential unavailability or cancellation of third-party insurance coverage, as well as the exclusion of coverage for certain losses, potential increases in premiums for coverage deemed beneficial to us, or the unavailability of coverage deemed beneficial to us at reasonable and competitive rates;

 

   

damage to our brands or reputation arising as a result of cyber-security breaches, environmental and occupational health and safety matters, corporate scandal, failure to successfully perform a high-profile project, involvement in a catastrophic event (e.g., fire, explosion) or other negative incidents;

 

   

our dependence on suppliers, subcontractors, equipment manufacturers and other third-party contractors and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on these service providers;

 

   

estimates and assumptions related to our financial results, remaining performance obligations and backlog;

 

   

our ability to attract and the potential shortage of skilled employees and our ability to retain key personnel and qualified employees and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the availability and performance of our workforce and key personnel;

 

   

our dependence on fixed price contracts and the potential to incur losses with respect to these contracts;

 

   

adverse weather conditions, natural disasters and other emergencies, including wildfires, pandemics (including the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic), hurricanes, tropical storms, floods, earthquakes and other geological- and weather-related hazards;

 

   

our ability to generate internal growth;

 

   

competition in our business, including our ability to effectively compete for new projects and market share;

 

   

the future development of natural resources;

 

   

the failure of existing or potential legislative actions and initiatives to result in increased demand for our services;

 

   

fluctuations of prices of certain materials used in our and our customers’ businesses, including as a result of the imposition of tariffs, governmental regulations affecting the sourcing of certain materials and equipment and other changes in U.S. trade relationships with other countries;

 

   

cancellation provisions within our contracts and the risk that contracts expire and are not renewed or are replaced on less favorable terms;

 

   

loss of customers with whom we have long-standing or significant relationships;

 

   

the potential that participation in joint ventures or similar structures exposes us to liability and/or harm to our reputation for acts or omissions by our partners;

 

   

our inability or failure to comply with the terms of our contracts, which may result in additional costs, unexcused delays, warranty claims, failure to meet performance guarantees, damages or contract terminations;

 

   

the inability or refusal of our customers or third-party contractors to pay for services, which could be attributable to, among other things, the COVID-19 pandemic or the recent decrease in commodity prices and which could include the failure to collect our outstanding receivables, failure to recover amounts billed to customers in bankruptcy, or failure to recover on change orders or contract claims;

 

   

budgetary or other constraints that may reduce or eliminate tax incentives or government funding for projects, which may result in project delays or cancellations;

 

   

our ability to successfully complete our remaining performance obligations or realize our backlog;

 

   

risks associated with operating in international markets, including instability of foreign governments, currency exchange fluctuations, and compliance with unfamiliar foreign legal systems and cultural

 

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practices, the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and other applicable anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws, and complex U.S. and foreign tax regulations and international treaties;

 

   

our ability to successfully identify, complete, integrate and realize synergies from acquisitions, including the ability to retain key personnel from acquired businesses;

 

   

the potential adverse impact resulting from uncertainty surrounding acquisitions and investments, including the potential increase in risks already existing in our operations and poor performance or decline in value of our investments;

 

   

the adverse impact of impairments of goodwill, other intangible assets, receivables, long-lived assets or investments;

 

   

our growth outpacing our decentralized management and infrastructure;

 

   

inability to enforce our intellectual property rights or the obsolescence of such rights;

 

   

the impact of our unionized workforce on our operations, including labor stoppages or interruptions due to strikes or lockouts;

 

   

the ability to access sufficient funding to finance desired growth and operations, including our ability to access capital markets on favorable terms, as well as fluctuations in the price and volume of our common stock, debt covenant compliance, interest rate fluctuations and other factors affecting our financing and investing activities;

 

   

our ability to obtain performance bonds and other project security;

 

   

our ability to meet the regulatory requirements applicable to us and our subsidiaries, including the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the U.S. Investment Advisers Act of 1940;

 

   

rapid technological and other structural changes that could reduce the demand for our services;

 

   

risks related to the implementation of new information technology systems;

 

   

new or changed tax laws, treaties or regulations;

 

   

our ability to realize deferred tax assets;

 

   

legislative or regulatory changes that result in increased costs, including with respect of labor and healthcare costs;

 

   

significant fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; and

 

   

the other risks and uncertainties described elsewhere herein and in Item 1A. Risk Factors of Part I of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2020, our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2020 and as may be detailed from time to time in our other public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

All of our forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, are expressly qualified by these cautionary statements and any other cautionary statements that may accompany such forward-looking statements or that are otherwise included in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. Although forward-looking statements reflect our good faith beliefs at the time made, reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from anticipated future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In addition, we do not undertake and expressly disclaim any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this prospectus or otherwise.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

Unless we inform you otherwise in a prospectus supplement, we anticipate using any net proceeds from the sale of our securities offered by this prospectus for general corporate purposes. These purposes may include, but are not limited to:

 

   

working capital;

 

   

capital expenditures;

 

   

acquisitions; and

 

   

the repayment, refinancing, redemption or repurchase of indebtedness or other securities.

Pending any specific application, we may initially invest funds in short-term investments or apply them to the reduction of short-term indebtedness or indebtedness under the credit agreement for our senior secured credit facility.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

The following describes Quanta’s common stock, preferred stock, restated certificate of incorporation (the “certificate of incorporation”) and amended and restated bylaws (the “bylaws”). This description is a summary only and does not purport to be complete. We encourage you to read the complete text of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws, which we have filed or incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. References to “stockholders” in this section refer to holders of our common stock, unless the context otherwise requires.

General

Under our certificate of incorporation, we have the authority to issue 610,000,000 shares of capital stock, consisting of 600,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.00001 per share (“common stock”), and 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.00001 per share (“preferred stock”).

As of September 4, 2020, there were 138,843,346 shares of our common stock and no shares of our preferred stock issued and outstanding. All of the outstanding shares of our common stock are fully paid and nonassessable.

Voting Rights

Our stockholders are entitled to one vote for each share of common stock held on all matters voted upon by stockholders, including the election of directors.

Under our bylaws, when a quorum is present at any meeting of our stockholders, the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast affirmatively or negatively on a matter will be the act of the stockholders, unless the question is one upon which by express provision of law, our certificate of incorporation, or our bylaws, a different vote is required or unless under the rules and regulations of any stock exchange applicable to us or pursuant to any regulation applicable to us or our securities, a different vote is provided, in which case such express provision will govern and control the decision of such question.

Under our bylaws, in connection with an election of directors, each nominee for election in an uncontested election is elected by the vote of the majority of votes cast with respect to such director at any meeting of our stockholders at which a quorum is present, meaning that the number of shares voted for such director must exceed the number of shares voted against such director; provided, however, that in all elections other than uncontested elections, directors will be elected by a plurality of the votes cast at any meeting of the stockholders. If directors are to be elected by a plurality of the votes cast, stockholders will not be permitted to vote against a nominee. Holders of our common stock have no right to cumulate their votes in an election of directors.

Dividend Rights

Subject to the preferred rights of the holders of shares of any class or series of our preferred stock, holders of our common stock are entitled to receive out of our funds legally available therefor, such dividends (payable in cash, stock or otherwise) as Quanta’s board of directors (the “board of directors”) may from time to time determine, payable to stockholders of record on such dates. The declaration and amount of future dividends is at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend on, among other factors, our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, current and anticipated expansion plans, requirements under Delaware law and other factors that our board of directors may deem relevant.

Liquidation Rights

Our stockholders are entitled to share equally and ratably in our net assets upon a liquidation or dissolution after the payment or provision for all liabilities, subject to any preferential liquidation rights of any preferred stock that at the time may be outstanding.

 

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No Preemptive, Conversion or Redemption Rights

Our stockholders have no preemptive, subscription, conversion or redemption rights, and are not subject to further calls or assessments by us. There are no sinking fund provisions applicable to our common stock.

Listing

Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “PWR.”

Issuance of Preferred Stock

Our certificate of incorporation authorizes up to 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock. Preferred stock may be issued in one or more series as may be determined from time to time by the board of directors, and the board of directors, without further approval of the stockholders, is authorized to fix by resolution or resolutions providing for the issue of each such series the voting powers, designations, preferences, and relative, participating, optional, redemption, conversion, exchange or other special rights, qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such series, and the number of shares in each series, to the fullest extent permitted by law.

The prospectus supplement relating to any series of preferred stock Quanta offers will include specific terms relating to the offering and the name of any transfer agent for that series. We will file the form of the preferred stock with the Securities and Exchange Commission before Quanta issues any preferred stock, and you should read any such form of preferred stock for provisions that may be important to you. The prospectus supplement will include some or all of the following terms:

 

   

the title of the preferred stock;

 

   

the maximum number of shares of the series;

 

   

the dividend rate or the method of calculating the dividend, the date from which dividends will accrue and whether dividends will be cumulative or non-cumulative;

 

   

any terms for the conversion or exchange of the preferred stock for other securities of Quanta or any other entity;

 

   

any redemption provisions;

 

   

any liquidation preference;

 

   

any voting rights; and

 

   

any other preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights or any qualifications, limitations or restrictions on the rights of the shares.

As described under “Description of Depositary Shares” below, we may elect to offer depositary shares of preferred stock represented by depositary receipts. If we so elect, a depositary share may represent a fractional interest, to be specified in any applicable prospectus supplement, in a share of preferred stock. If we issue depositary shares representing interests in preferred stock, those shares of preferred stock will be deposited with a depositary.

The purpose of authorizing the board of directors to determine these rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions is to eliminate delays associated with a stockholder vote on specific issuances. The issuance of preferred stock, while providing flexibility in connection with possible acquisitions and other corporate purposes, could, among other things, adversely affect the voting power of our then-existing stockholders, as well as dividend and liquidation payments on both common and preferred stock, and, under certain circumstances, make it more difficult for a third party to gain control of Quanta.

 

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Effects of Certain Provisions of Our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws and Delaware Law

Our certificate of incorporation, our bylaws and Delaware law contain provisions that may deter or render more difficult proposals to acquire control of Quanta, including proposals a stockholder might consider to be in his or her best interest, impede or delay a change in membership of the board of directors and make removal of our management more difficult.

Action by Stockholders Without a Meeting

Our certificate of incorporation provides that any action to be taken by our stockholders must be effected at an annual or special meeting and may not be effected by any consent in writing of such stockholders.

Special Meetings of Stockholders

Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws provide that special meetings of stockholders may be called at any time only by the chairman of the board of directors and shall be called within ten days after receipt of the written request of the board of directors, pursuant to a resolution of a majority of the board of directors to call a special meeting. Holders of our common stock do not have the right to call a special meeting of stockholders. The business transacted at a special meeting of stockholders is confined to the purpose stated in the notice of the meeting.

Advance Notice Provisions

Our bylaws provide that proposals and director nominations made by a stockholder to be voted upon at any annual meeting or special meeting of the stockholders may be considered only if such proposal or director nomination is properly brought before such meeting. In order for any matter, to be considered properly brought before such meeting, a stockholder must comply with certain requirements regarding advance notice to us.

Generally, in the case of an annual meeting, stockholders must deliver to the Secretary of Quanta a written notice between 90 and 120 days before the anniversary date of our immediately preceding annual meeting of the stockholders. In the case of an annual meeting that is more than 30 days before or more than 30 days after such anniversary date, or in the event that no annual meeting was held in the preceding year, stockholders must deliver such notice between 90 and 120 days prior to such annual meeting or within 10 days following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made by us. In no event will the adjournment of an annual meeting, or postponement of an annual meeting for which notice was given, or the public announcement of such adjournment or postponement, commence a new time period for any stockholder to give notice.

To be in proper form, the notice must include, among other things, the name and address of the stockholder, certain information regarding the shares owned by the stockholder, a brief description of the business desired to be brought by the stockholder at the meeting, the text of the proposal or business, the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and any material interest in such business of the stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made. To nominate directors, the notice must include, as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or re-election as a director, all information relating to such person that would be required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors in an election contest, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act, as well as representations regarding whether a director nominee is a party to any agreement with respect to voting or compensation or that might limit such director nominee’s exercise of fiduciary duties, among other things. Additionally, the notice must include such other information about the stockholder, each proposal and nominee as required by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Director nominations and stockholder proposals that are late or that do not include all required information may be rejected. This could prevent stockholders from bringing certain matters before a meeting, including making nominations for directors.

 

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Vacancies on the Board of Directors

Our bylaws provide that, subject to the rights of the holders of any outstanding series of preferred stock and unless otherwise required by law or resolution of our board of directors, vacancies on the board of directors arising through death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal, an increase in the number of directors or otherwise may be filled by a majority of the directors then in office, though less than a quorum, or a successor or successors may be chosen at a special meeting of the stockholders called for that purpose.

Delaware Business Combination Statute

We are a Delaware corporation and are subject to Section 203 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”). Section 203 of the DGCL prohibits a “business combination” between a corporation and an “interested stockholder” within three years of the time the stockholder became an interested stockholder, unless:

 

   

prior to such time, 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, exclusive of shares owned by directors who are also officers and by certain employee stock plans; or

 

   

at or subsequent to such time, the business combination is approved by the board of directors and authorized at a stockholders’ meeting by at least two-thirds of the outstanding voting stock that is not owned by the interested stockholder.

Generally, a “business combination” includes a merger, asset or stock sale, or other transaction resulting in a financial benefit to the interested stockholder. Generally, an “interested stockholder” is a person who owns, individually or with or through other persons, 15% or more of the corporation’s outstanding voting stock.

Forum Selection

Our bylaws provide that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, and to the fullest extent permitted by law, the sole and exclusive forum for certain legal matters will be the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware (or, if the Court of Chancery does not have jurisdiction, the federal district court for the District of Delaware). This provision applies to (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of Quanta, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any of our present or former directors, officers or employees to Quanta or our stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL, (iv) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the certificate of incorporation or bylaws (as either may be amended from time to time), or (v) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine.

Transfer Agent and Registrar

The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

The debt securities that we may offer by this prospectus consist of unsecured notes, debentures or other evidences of indebtedness of the Company (collectively, the “debt securities”). The following description of the terms of the debt securities sets forth certain general terms and provisions of the debt securities to which any prospectus supplement may relate. The particular terms of the debt securities offered by any prospectus supplement and the extent, if any, to which such general provisions may apply to the debt securities so offered will be described in the prospectus supplement or other offering material relating to such debt securities. Accordingly, for a description of the terms of a particular issue of debt securities, reference must be made to the prospectus supplement and such other offering material relating thereto and to the following description.

The debt securities will be general obligations of the Company and will be senior debt of the Company.

Debt securities will be issued under an indenture (the “Indenture”) between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association or any separate trustee appointed by the Company with respect to one or more series of debt securities (the “Trustee”). The following discussion of certain provisions of the Indenture is a summary only and does not purport to be a complete description of the terms and provisions of the Indenture. The following discussion is qualified in its entirety by reference to the provisions of the Indenture. The Indenture is subject to any amendments or supplements that we may enter into from time to time, as permitted under the Indenture. Except as otherwise defined in this prospectus, capitalized terms used in this prospectus have the meanings given to them in the Indenture. For additional information, you should review the Indenture that is incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. We urge you to read the Indenture because it, and not the summary below, defines your rights as a holder of debt securities.

General

The Indenture does not limit the aggregate principal amount of debt securities that can be issued thereunder. The debt securities may be issued in one or more series as may be authorized from time to time by the Company’s board of directors or established in one or more supplemental indentures. You should read the prospectus supplement and any other offering material relating to a particular series of debt securities for any or all of the following terms of such series of debt securities offered by that prospectus supplement and this prospectus:

 

   

the title of the debt securities of the series;

 

   

any limit on the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of the series that may be authenticated and delivered under the Indenture;

 

   

the date or dates on which the principal and premium, if any, with respect to the debt securities of the series are payable or the method of determination thereof;

 

   

the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) at which the debt securities of the series shall bear interest (if any) or the method of determining such rate or rates, the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue, the dates on which such interest shall be payable or the method by which such dates will be determined, the record dates for the determination of holders thereof to whom such interest is payable (in the case of any debt securities registered as to principal and interest), and the basis upon which interest will be calculated if other than that of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months;

 

   

the place or places, if any, in addition to or instead of a corporate trust office of the Trustee where the principal, premium, if any, and interest with respect to debt securities of the series shall be payable;

 

   

the price or prices at which, the period or periods within which and the terms and conditions upon which debt securities of the series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company or otherwise;

 

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the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem, purchase or repay debt securities of the series pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of a holder thereof and the price or prices at which, the period or periods within which and the terms and conditions upon which debt securities of the series shall be redeemed, purchased or repaid, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligations;

 

   

whether the debt securities will be convertible into or exchangeable for any other securities of the Company or any other obligor and the applicable terms and conditions;

 

   

if other than denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof, the denominations in which debt securities of the series shall be issuable;

 

   

if the amount of principal, premium, if any, or interest with respect to the debt securities of the series may be determined with reference to an index or pursuant to a formula, the manner in which such amounts will be determined;

 

   

if the principal amount payable at the stated maturity of the debt securities of the series will not be determinable as of any one or more dates prior to such stated maturity, the amount that will be deemed to be such principal amount as of any such date for any purpose, including the principal amount thereof which will be due and payable upon any maturity other than the stated maturity or which will be deemed to be outstanding as of any such date (or, in any such case, the manner in which such deemed principal amount is to be determined), and, if necessary, the manner of determining the equivalent thereof in United States currency;

 

   

any changes or additions relating to the discharge, defeasance and covenant defeasance described below under the heading “—Satisfaction and Discharge of the Indenture; Defeasance;”

 

   

if other than the coin or currency of the United States, the coin, currency, currencies or units of currencies in which payment of the principal, premium, if any, and interest with respect to the debt securities of the series will be payable;

 

   

if other than the principal amount, the portion of the principal amount of the debt securities of the series that will be payable upon declaration of acceleration of maturity or provable in bankruptcy;

 

   

the terms, if any, of the transfer, mortgage, pledge or assignment as security for the debt securities of the series of any properties, assets, moneys, proceeds, securities or other collateral;

 

   

any addition to or change in the Events of Default (as defined below) with respect to the debt securities of the series and any change in the right of the Trustee or the holders to declare the principal of and interest on such debt securities due and payable;

 

   

the terms, if any, of any guarantee of the payment of principal of and interest on the debt securities of the series;

 

   

the applicability of, and any changes in or additions to, the covenants and definitions set forth in the Indenture or the terms of the Indenture relating to consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or lease described below under the heading “—Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets;”

 

   

the identity of any trustees, authenticating or paying agents, transfer agents or registrars other than the Trustee;

 

   

if the debt securities of the series shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of a Global Security (as defined below), the terms and conditions, if any, upon which such Global Security may be exchanged in whole or in part for other individual debt securities in definitive registered form and the Depositary (as defined below) for such Global Security;

 

   

with regard to debt securities of the series that do not bear interest, the dates for certain required reports to the Trustee; and

 

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any other terms of the debt securities of the series which are not prohibited by the provisions of the Indenture or applicable law.

The prospectus supplement will also describe any material U.S. federal income tax consequences or other special considerations applicable to the series of debt securities to which such prospectus supplement relates, including those applicable to (1) debt securities with respect to which payments of principal, premium, if any, or interest are determined with reference to an index or formula (including changes in prices of particular securities, currencies or commodities), (2) debt securities with respect to which principal, premium, if any, or interest is payable in a foreign or composite currency, (3) debt securities that are issued at a discount below their stated principal amount, bearing no interest or interest at a rate that at the time of issuance is below market rates and (4) variable rate debt securities that are exchangeable for fixed rate debt securities.

Payments of interest on debt securities may be made (1) at the office of the Trustee at which its corporate trust office for such purpose is administered in the United States (the “corporate office of the Trustee”); (2) at the office of the Company’s agent in New York City at which its corporate agency business is conducted; (3) at the option of the Company, by check mailed to the registered holders thereof; or (4) if so provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, at the option of a holder by wire transfer to an account designated by such holder.

Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, if a payment date is not a business day, payment shall be made on the next succeeding day that is a business day, and no interest shall accrue on any amount that would have been otherwise payable on such payment date if it were a business day for the intervening period. If a regular record date is not a business day, the record date shall not be affected.

Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, debt securities may be transferred or exchanged at a corporate office of the Trustee, subject to the limitations provided in the Indenture, without the payment of any service charge, other than any tax or governmental charge payable in connection therewith. The transferor of any debt security shall provide or cause to be provided to the Trustee all information necessary to allow the Trustee to comply with any applicable tax reporting obligations, including without limitation, any cost basis reporting obligations under Internal Revenue Code Section 6045. The Trustee may rely on information provided to it and shall have no responsibility to verify or ensure the accuracy of such information.

Registered Global Securities

The debt securities of a series may be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more fully registered global securities (a “Global Security”) that will be deposited with The Depository Trust Company or a custodian or a nominee for a depositary identified in the prospectus supplement relating to such series (the “Depositary”). In such case, one or more Global Securities will be issued in a denomination or aggregate denomination equal to the portion of the aggregate principal amount of outstanding registered debt securities of the series to be represented by such Global Security or Securities. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for debt securities in definitive registered form, a Global Security may not be registered for transfer or exchange except (1) by the Depositary to a nominee of such Depositary, (2) by a nominee of such Depositary to such Depositary or another nominee of such Depositary, (3) by such Depositary or any such nominee to a successor of such Depositary or a nominee of such successor or (4) in any other circumstance described in an applicable prospectus supplement.

The specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to any portion of a series of debt securities to be represented by a Global Security will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to such series. The Company anticipates that the following provisions will apply to all depositary arrangements.

Upon the issuance of a Global Security, the Depositary for such Global Security will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the respective principal amounts of the debt securities represented by such Global Security to the accounts of persons that have accounts with such Depositary (“participants”). The accounts to be credited will be designated by any dealers, underwriters or agents participating in the distribution

 

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of such debt securities or by the Company if such debt securities are offered and sold directly by the Company. Ownership of beneficial interests in a Global Security will be limited to participants or persons that may hold interests through participants. Ownership of beneficial interests in such Global Security will be shown on, and the transfer of that ownership will be effected only through, records maintained by the Depositary for such Global Security (with respect to interests of participants) or by participants or persons that hold interests through participants (with respect to interests of persons other than participants). The laws of some states require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of such securities in definitive form. Such limits and such laws may impair the ability to transfer beneficial interests in a Global Security.

So long as the Depositary for a Global Security, or its nominee, is the registered owner of such Global Security, such Depositary or such nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the debt securities represented by such Global Security for all purposes under the Indenture and the debt securities. Any notices required to be given to the holders while the debt securities are Global Securities shall be given only to the Depositary. Except as set forth below, owners of beneficial interests in a Global Security will not (1) be entitled to have the debt securities represented by such Global Security registered in their names, (2) receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of such debt securities in definitive form and (3) be considered the owners or holders thereof under the Indenture.

Principal, premium, if any, and interest payments on debt securities represented by a Global Security registered in the name of a Depositary or its nominee will be made to such Depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner of such Global Security. None of the Company, the Trustee, any registrar, any paying agent or any agent of the Company or the Trustee will have any responsibility or liability for (1) any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in such Global Security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests, (2) the payments to the beneficial owners of such Global Security of amounts paid to such Depositary or its nominee or (3) any other matter relating to the actions and practices of such Depositary, its nominees or any of its direct or indirect participants.

The Company expects that the Depositary for any debt securities represented by a Global Security, upon receipt of any payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest, will credit, in accordance with the Depositary’s policies, participants’ accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in the principal amount of such Global Security as shown on the records of such Depositary. The Company also expects that payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in such Global Security held through such participants will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with the securities held for the accounts of customers registered in “street names” and will be the responsibility of such participants, and will not be the responsibility of the Company. The Company will not be liable for any delay by the Depositary or any of its participants in identifying the beneficial owners of any Global Security, and the Company may conclusively rely on and will be protected in relying on instructions from the Depositary or its nominee for all purposes.

If the Depositary for any debt securities represented by a Global Security is at any time unwilling, unable, ineligible or unqualified under applicable law to continue as Depositary and a successor Depositary is not appointed by the Company within 90 days, the Company will issue such debt securities in definitive form in exchange for such Global Security. In addition, the Company may at any time and in its sole discretion determine not to have any of the debt securities of a series represented by one or more Global Securities and, in such event, will issue debt securities of such series in definitive form in exchange for all of the Global Security or Global Securities representing such debt securities. In the event that the Company issues debt securities in definitive form in exchange for such Global Securities, ownership of beneficial interests in such debt securities will be shown on, and the transfer of that ownership will be effected only through, records maintained by (or on behalf of) the Company for such debt securities. In connection with any proposed exchange of a debt security in definitive form for a Global Security, there shall be provided to the Trustee all information necessary to allow the Trustee to comply with any applicable tax reporting obligations, including without limitation, any cost basis reporting obligations under Internal Revenue Code Section 6045. The Trustee may rely on information provided to it and shall have no responsibility to verify or ensure the accuracy of such information.

 

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Certain Covenants

The Indenture contains certain covenants of the Company, including the following:

 

   

the Company will punctually pay or cause to be paid the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, the debt securities, at the places and times and in the manner provided in the Indenture and in the debt securities;

 

   

the Company will maintain an office or agency where the debt securities may be presented or surrendered for payment, transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the debt securities and the Indenture may be served;

 

   

the Company will deliver to the Trustee, on or before a date not more than four months after the end of each fiscal year of the Company, a statement complying with the Trust Indenture Act signed by an Officer of the Company, which need not constitute an Officers’ Certificate, stating (1) that a review of the activities of the Company during such year and of the Company’s performance under the Indenture and under the terms of the debt securities has been made under his or her supervision, (2) whether or not, to the best of his or her knowledge, the Company was in compliance with all conditions and covenants under the Indenture during such year and (3) if, to the best of his knowledge, the Company is in Default, specifying all such Defaults known to such Officer and the nature and status thereof;

 

   

the Company will, upon request of the Trustee, execute and deliver such further instruments and do such further acts as may reasonably be necessary or proper to carry out more effectually the purposes of the Indenture; and

 

   

the Company will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its existence.

Any restrictive covenants of the Company applicable to any series of debt securities will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering material.

Events of Default and Remedies

The following events are defined in the Indenture as “Events of Default” with respect to a series of debt securities:

 

   

default in the payment of any installment of interest on any debt securities of that series as and when the same become due and payable and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days;

 

   

default in the payment of principal or premium, if any, with respect to any debt securities of that series as and when the same become due and payable, whether at maturity, upon redemption, by declaration, upon required purchase or otherwise;

 

   

default in the payment of any sinking fund payment with respect to any debt securities of that series as and when the same become due and payable and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days;

 

   

failure on the part of the Company to comply with any of the covenants or agreements on the part of the Company in the debt securities of that series, in any resolution of the board of directors of the Company authorizing the issuance of that series of debt securities, in the Indenture with respect to such series or in any supplemental indenture with respect to such series (other than a covenant a default in the performance of which is otherwise specifically dealt with) continuing for a period of 90 days after the date on which written notice specifying such failure and requiring the Company to remedy the same has been given, by registered or certified mail or by overnight courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of that series at the time outstanding;

 

   

the Company (1) voluntarily commences any proceeding or files any petition seeking relief under the United States Bankruptcy Code or other federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law, (2) consents to the institution of, or fails to controvert within the time and in the manner prescribed by law, any such proceeding or the filing of any such petition, (3) applies for or consents to the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator or similar official for the Company or for a

 

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substantial part of its property, (4) files an answer admitting the material allegations of a petition filed against it in any such proceeding, (5) makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors, (6) admits in writing its inability to pay, or fails generally to pay, its debts as they become due or (7) takes any comparable action under any foreign laws relating to insolvency;

 

   

the entry of an order or decree by a court having competent jurisdiction for (1) relief with respect to the Company or a substantial part of its property under the United States Bankruptcy Code or any other federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law, (2) the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator or similar official for the Company or for a substantial part of its property or (3) the winding-up or liquidation of the Company, and such order or decree continues unstayed and in effect for 90 consecutive days, or any similar relief is granted under any foreign laws and the order or decree stays in effect for 90 consecutive days; and

 

   

any other Event of Default provided with respect to debt securities of that series.

An Event of Default with respect to one series of debt securities may not necessarily be an Event of Default for another series and Events of Default for any series of debt securities may be modified as described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

If an Event of Default described in the first, second, third, fourth or seventh bullet points above occurs and is continuing with respect to any series of outstanding debt securities, unless the principal and interest with respect to all the debt securities of such series has already become due and payable, either the Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of such series then outstanding may declare the principal of (or, if original issue discount debt securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in such series) and interest on all the debt securities of such series due and payable immediately. If an Event of Default described in the fifth or sixth bullet points above occurs, unless the principal and interest with respect to all the debt securities of the series has become due and payable, the principal of (or, if any series are original issue discount debt securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in such series) and interest on all debt securities of all series then outstanding will become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any holder of debt securities.

If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee will be entitled and empowered to institute any action or proceeding for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid or to enforce the performance of any provision of the debt securities of the affected series or the Indenture, to prosecute any such action or proceeding to judgment or final decree and to enforce any such judgment or final decree against the Company or any other obligor on the debt securities of such series (and collect in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or any other obligor upon the debt securities of such series wherever situated the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable). In addition, if there are any pending proceedings for the bankruptcy or reorganization of the Company or any other obligor on the debt securities, or if a receiver, trustee or similar official has been appointed for its property, the Trustee will be entitled and empowered, irrespective of whether the principal of any series of debt securities is due and payable, to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of principal, premium, if any, and interest (or, in the case of original issue discount debt securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of such series) owing and unpaid with respect to the debt securities. No holder of any debt security of any series will have any right to institute any action or proceeding upon, under or with respect to the Indenture for the appointment of a receiver or trustee or for any other remedy, unless (1) such holder previously has given to the Trustee written notice of an Event of Default with respect to debt securities of that series and of the continuance thereof, (2) the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series have made written request to the Trustee to institute such action or proceeding with respect to such Event of Default and have offered to the Trustee such security or indemnity as it may require against the costs, expenses, and liabilities to be incurred therein or thereby and (3) the Trustee, for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of security or indemnity, has failed to institute such action or proceeding and no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the Trustee pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture.

 

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Prior to the acceleration of the maturity of the debt securities of any series, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of that series at the time outstanding may, on behalf of the holders of all debt securities of that series, waive any past default or Event of Default and its consequences for that series, except (1) a default in the payment of the principal, premium, if any, or interest with respect to such debt securities or (2) a default with respect to a provision of the Indenture that cannot be amended without the consent of each holder affected thereby. In the case of any such waiver, such default so waived will cease to exist, any Event of Default arising therefrom will be deemed to have been cured for all purposes and the Company, the Trustee and the holders of the debt securities of that series will be restored to their former positions and rights under the Indenture. Following acceleration of the maturity of the debt securities of a series (including acceleration as specified in the fifth and sixth bullet points), the holders of a majority in principal amount of such series may rescind an acceleration of the maturity of the series and its consequences if such rescission would not conflict with a rendered judgment or decree and all existing Events of Default (except nonpayment of principal or interest solely due to such acceleration) have been cured or waived, and the Company has paid the Trustee its compensation and all sums paid or advanced by the Trustee hereunder and the reasonable and documented out-of-pocket compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.

The Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any direction of the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of any series if the Trustee being advised by counsel determines that the action so directed may not lawfully be taken, or if the Trustee shall by a responsible officer or officers determine that the action so directed would involve it in personal liability or would be unjustly prejudicial to the holders of the debt securities of such series not taking part in such direction. The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it under the Indenture at the request, order or direction of any of the holders of debt securities of any series pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture, unless such holders shall have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities which may be incurred therein or thereby.

The Trustee is required to give, within 90 days after the occurrence of a default actually known to a responsible officer of the Trustee with respect to a series of debt securities, to the holders of the debt securities of such series notice of all defaults with respect to such series so known to it, unless such defaults have been cured or waived before the giving of such notice; provided, however, that except in the case of default in the payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest with respect to the debt securities of such series or in the making of any sinking fund or purchase fund payment with respect to the debt securities of such series, the Trustee will be protected in withholding such notice if it in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interest of the holders of such debt securities.

Modification of the Indenture

The Company and the Trustee may, from time to time, enter into supplemental indentures without the consent of the holders of debt securities issued under the Indenture for one or more of the following purposes:

 

   

to evidence the succession of another person to the Company pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture and the assumption by such successor of the covenants, agreements and obligations of the Company in the Indenture and in the debt securities;

 

   

to surrender any right or power conferred upon the Company by the Indenture, to add to the covenants of the Company such further covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions for the protection of the holders of all or any series of debt securities as the board of directors of the Company shall consider to be for the protection of the holders of such debt securities and to make the occurrence, or the occurrence and continuance, of a default in any of such additional covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions a default or an Event of Default under the Indenture (provided, however, that with respect to any such additional covenant, restriction, condition or provision, such supplemental indenture may provide for a period of grace after default, which may be shorter or longer than that allowed in the case of other defaults, may provide for an immediate enforcement upon such default, may limit the remedies

 

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available to the Trustee upon such default or may limit the right of holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of any or all series of debt securities to waive such default);

 

   

to cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any provision contained in the Indenture, in any supplemental indenture or in any debt securities that may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision contained therein, to convey, transfer, assign, mortgage or pledge any property to or with the Trustee or to make such other provisions in regard to matters or questions arising under the Indenture as do not adversely affect the interests in any material respect of any holders of debt securities of any series;

 

   

to modify or amend the Indenture in such a manner as to permit the qualification of the Indenture or any supplemental indenture under the Trust Indenture Act, as then in effect;

 

   

to add or change any of the provisions of the Indenture that would change or eliminate any restrictions on the payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest with respect to the debt securities so long as any such action does not adversely affect the interests of the holders of debt securities in any material respect or permit or facilitate the issuance of debt securities of any series in uncertificated form;

 

   

to evidence the succession of another corporation to the Company and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants of the Company in the Indenture and in the debt securities;

 

   

to add guarantees with respect to the debt securities or to secure the debt securities;

 

   

to add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of the Indenture with respect to one or more series of debt securities, so long as any such addition, change or elimination not otherwise permitted under the Indenture (1) neither applies to any debt security of any series created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture and entitled to the benefit of such provision nor modifies the rights of the holders of any such debt security with respect to such provision or (2) becomes effective only when there is no such debt security outstanding;

 

   

to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment by a successor or separate Trustee with respect to the debt securities of one or more series and to add to or change any of the provisions of the Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the Indenture by more than one Trustee; and

 

   

to establish the form or terms of debt securities of any series, as described under the heading “—General” above.

With the consent of the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each series affected thereby, the Company and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time enter into a supplemental indenture for the purpose of adding any provisions to, changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of the Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or modifying in any manner the rights of the holders of the debt securities of such series; provided, however, that without the consent of the holders of each Debt Security so affected, no such supplemental indenture may (1) reduce the percentage in principal amount of debt securities of any series whose holders must consent to an amendment, (2) reduce the rate of or extend the time for payment of interest on any debt security, (3) reduce the principal of or extend the stated maturity of any debt security, (4) reduce the premium, if any, payable upon the redemption of any debt security or change the time at which any debt security may or must be redeemed, provided, however, that any amendment to the notice requirements may be made with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of such series, (5) make any debt security payable in a currency other than that stated in the debt security, (6) release any security that may have been granted with respect to the debt securities or (7) make any change in certain provisions of the Indenture relating to waivers of defaults or modifications of the Indenture by the consent of the holders of the debt securities.

 

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Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets

The Company may not consolidate with or merge with or into any person, or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of its assets, unless the following conditions have been satisfied:

 

   

either (1) the Company is the continuing person in the case of a merger or (2) the resulting, surviving or transferee person, if other than the Company (the “Successor Company”), is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia and expressly assumes pursuant to a supplemental indenture all of the obligations of the Company under the debt securities and the Indenture;

 

   

immediately after giving effect to such transaction (and treating any indebtedness that becomes an obligation of the Successor Company or any subsidiary of the Company as a result of such transaction as having been incurred by the Successor Company or such subsidiary at the time of such transaction), no default or Event of Default would occur or be continuing; and

 

   

the Company has delivered to the Trustee an officers’ certificate and an opinion of counsel (which opinion of counsel may be subject to customary assumptions, qualifications and exclusions), each stating that such consolidation, merger, or transfer and such supplemental indenture (if any) comply with the Indenture.

If the Successor Company expressly assumes all of the obligations of the Company under the debt securities and the Indenture, the Company will promptly thereafter be released from such obligations.

Satisfaction and Discharge of the Indenture; Defeasance

The Indenture will generally cease to be of any further effect with respect to a series of debt securities if (1) the Company has delivered to the Trustee for cancellation all debt securities of such series (with certain limited exceptions) or (2) all debt securities of such series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation 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, and the Company has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds the entire amount in the currency in which the debt securities are denominated sufficient to pay at maturity or upon redemption all such debt securities (other than any debt securities which shall have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which shall have been replaced or paid), including principal and premium, if any, and interest due or to become due on such date of maturity or redemption date, as the case may be, and if, in either case, the Company also pays or causes to be paid all other sums payable under the Indenture by the Company, and the Company delivers to the Trustee an officers’ certificate and an opinion of counsel (which opinion of counsel may be subject to customary assumptions, qualifications and exclusions), each stating that all conditions precedent to the discharge of the debt securities of such series as contemplated by the Indenture have been complied with.

In addition, the Company has a “legal defeasance option” (pursuant to which it may terminate, with respect to the debt securities of a particular series, all of its obligations under such debt securities and the Indenture with respect to such debt securities) and a “covenant defeasance option” (pursuant to which it may terminate, with respect to the debt securities of a particular series, its obligations with respect to such debt securities under certain specified covenants contained in the Indenture or supplemental indenture). If the Company exercises its legal defeasance option with respect to a series of debt securities, payment of such debt securities may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default. If the Company exercises its covenant defeasance option with respect to a series of debt securities, payment of such debt securities may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default related to the specified covenants.

 

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The Company may exercise its legal defeasance option or its covenant defeasance option with respect to the debt securities of a series only if:

 

   

the Company irrevocably deposits or causes to be deposited in trust with the Trustee cash, U.S. Government Obligations, or a combination thereof, for the payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest with respect to such series to maturity or redemption, as the case may be;

 

   

the Company delivers to the Trustee a certificate from a nationally recognized firm of independent accountants expressing their opinion that the payments of principal and interest when due and without reinvestment on the deposited U.S. Government Obligations plus any deposited money without investment will provide cash at such times and in such amounts as will be sufficient to pay the principal, premium, if any, and interest when due with respect to all the debt securities of such series to maturity or redemption, as the case may be;

 

   

91 days pass after the deposit is made and during the 91-day period no default described in the fifth or sixth bullet points under the heading “—Events of Default and Remedies” above with respect to the Company occurs that is continuing at the end of such period;

 

   

no default has occurred and is continuing on the date of such deposit and immediately after giving effect thereto;

 

   

the Company delivers to the Trustee an opinion of counsel (which opinion of counsel may be subject to customary assumptions, qualifications and exclusions) to the effect that the trust resulting from the deposit does not constitute, or is qualified as, a regulated investment company required to register under the Investment Company Act of 1940;

 

   

the Company delivers to the Trustee an opinion of counsel (which opinion of counsel may be subject to customary assumptions, qualifications and exclusions) addressing certain U.S. federal income tax matters relating to the defeasance; and

 

   

the Company delivers to the Trustee an officers’ certificate and an opinion of counsel (which opinion of counsel may be subject to customary assumptions, qualifications and exclusions), each stating that all conditions precedent to the defeasance and discharge of the debt securities of such series as contemplated by the Indenture have been complied with.

The Trustee will hold in trust money or U.S. Government Obligations deposited with it as described above and will apply the deposited money and the proceeds from deposited U.S. Government Obligations to the payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest with respect to the debt securities of the defeased series.

The Trustee

The Indenture does not prohibit the Trustee from serving as trustee under any other indenture to which the Company may be a party from time to time or from engaging in other transactions with the Company. The Company may maintain banking and other commercial relationships with the Trustee and its affiliates in the ordinary course of business and the Trustee may own debt securities. The Trustee assumes no responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the information concerning the Company or its affiliates or any other party contained in this prospectus or the related documents or for any failure by us or any other party to disclose events that may have occurred and may affect the significance or accuracy of such information. The Trustee shall not be responsible for monitoring the rating status of the Company or its affiliates, making any request upon any rating agency, or determining whether any rating event with respect to the debt securities of any series has occurred. The Trustee may resign at any time with respect to all or any series of debt securities. The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of debt securities of a particular series may remove the Trustee for such series and appoint a successor Trustee. The Company shall remove the Trustee for the causes set forth in the Indenture, including the Trustee’s failure to satisfy applicable requirements under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 or failure to maintain a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000.

 

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Except as otherwise provided with respect to removal by the holders of a series of debt securities, in any of the foregoing events of resignation or removal of the Trustee, the Company shall appoint a successor Trustee and such appointment, and the retiring Trustee’s resignation or removal, shall become effective upon acceptance by the successor Trustee.

Governing Law

The Indenture is, and the debt securities will be, governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York. The Indenture provides that the Company and the Trustee, and each holder of a debt security by its acceptance thereof, irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to the Indenture, the debt securities or any transaction contemplated thereby.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

We may issue warrants to purchase any combination of common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, depositary shares and purchase contracts. Each warrant will entitle the holder to purchase for cash a number of securities at the exercise price as will in each case be described in, or can be determined from, the applicable prospectus supplement relating to the offered warrants.

Warrants may be issued independently or together with any securities and may be attached to or separate from the securities. The warrants will be issued under warrant agreements to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company, as warrant agent. You should read the particular terms of the warrants, which will be described in more detail in any applicable prospectus supplement. The particular terms of any warrants offered by any prospectus supplement, and the extent to which the general provisions summarized below may apply to the offered securities, will be described in a prospectus supplement.

Any applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of warrants we offer, the warrant agreement relating to the warrants and the certificates representing the warrants, including, to the extent applicable:

 

   

the title of the warrants;

 

   

the aggregate number of warrants;

 

   

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

 

   

the currency or currencies, including composite currencies or currency units, in which the price of the warrants may be payable if not payable in U.S. dollars;

 

   

the designation, number or aggregate principal amount and terms of the securities purchasable upon exercise of the warrants, and the procedures and conditions relating to the exercise of the warrants;

 

   

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

 

   

the designation and terms of any related securities with which the warrants are issued, and the number of the warrants issued with each security;

 

   

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

 

   

the maximum or minimum number of warrants that may be exercised at any time;

 

   

if appropriate, a discussion of material United States federal income tax considerations; and

 

   

any other terms of the warrants.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES

Shares of preferred stock may be offered either separately or represented by depositary shares. We may also, at our option, elect to offer fractional shares of preferred stock. If we exercise this option, we will issue receipts for depositary shares, each of which will represent a fraction of a share of a particular series of preferred stock, to be described in an applicable prospectus supplement.

The shares represented by depositary shares will be deposited under a deposit agreement between us and a bank or trust company selected by us and having its principal office in the United States and having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000. Subject to the terms of the deposit agreement, each owner of a depositary share will be entitled, in proportion to the applicable share or fraction thereof represented by the depositary share, to all of the rights and preferences, if any, of the share represented thereby, including any dividend, voting, redemption, conversion and liquidation rights. The depositary shares will be evidenced by depositary receipts issued pursuant to the deposit agreement.

The particular terms of the depositary shares offered by any prospectus supplement will be described in a prospectus supplement, which will also include a discussion of certain United States federal income tax consequences.

We will include a copy of the form of deposit agreement, including the form of depositary receipt, and any other instrument establishing the terms of any depositary shares we offer as exhibits to a filing we will make with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with that offering. See “Where You Can Find More Information.”

 

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DESCRIPTION OF PURCHASE CONTRACTS AND PURCHASE UNITS

We may issue purchase contracts representing contracts obligating holders, subject to the terms of such purchase contracts, to purchase from us, and us to sell to the holders, a specified or varying number of our common stock, preferred stock or other securities described in this prospectus at a future date or dates. Alternatively, the purchase contracts may, subject to the terms of such purchase contracts, obligate us to purchase from holders, and obligate the holders to sell to us, a specified or varying number of common stock, preferred stock or other securities described in this prospectus. The price per unit of our common stock, preferred stock or other securities described in this prospectus and number of units may be fixed at the time the purchase contracts are entered into or may be determined by reference to a specific formula set forth in the purchase contracts. We may issue the purchase contracts separately or as part of units, which we refer to as “purchase units,” consisting of a purchase contract and other securities or obligations issued by us or third parties, including government securities, in each case, securing the holders’ obligations to purchase the relevant securities under the purchase contracts. The purchase contracts may require us to make periodic payments to the holders of the purchase contracts or purchase units or vice versa, and such payments may be unsecured or prefunded on some basis.

Any applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of any purchase contract or purchase units. The description in a prospectus supplement will not necessarily be complete and will be qualified in its entirety by reference to the purchase contracts, and, if applicable, collateral arrangements and depositary arrangements, relating to the purchase contracts or purchase units.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF UNITS

We may issue units of securities consisting of one or more of the following securities: common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants, depositary shares and purchase contracts. We may evidence each series of units issued by unit certificates that we will issue under a separate unit agreement. We may enter into unit agreements with a unit agent. Each unit agent will be a bank or trust company that we select. You should read the particular terms of these documents, which will be described in more detail in a prospectus supplement.

If we offer any units, certain terms of that series of units will be described in a prospectus supplement, including, without limitation, the following, as applicable:

 

   

the title of the series of units;

 

   

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

 

   

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

 

   

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

 

   

if appropriate, a discussion of material United States federal income tax considerations; and

 

   

any other terms of the units and their constituent securities.

 

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We may sell the securities on a delayed or continuous basis in and outside the United States through the methods described below or through any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law, including through a combination of such methods.

A prospectus supplement, if required, will set forth any required information such as the terms of the offering and the method of distribution and will include the following information:

 

   

the name or names of any underwriters or agents;

 

   

the purchase price of the securities from us;

 

   

the net proceeds to us from the sale of the securities;

 

   

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

 

   

any underwriting discounts, commissions and other items constituting compensation to underwriters, dealers or agents;

 

   

any public offering price;

 

   

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

 

   

any securities exchange or market on which the securities offered in a prospectus supplement may be listed.

Sale Through Underwriters or Dealers

If we use underwriters in the sale of securities, the underwriters will acquire the securities for their own account. The underwriters may resell the securities from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. Underwriters may offer securities to the public either through underwriting syndicates represented by one or more managing underwriters or directly by one or more firms acting as underwriters. The obligations of the underwriters to purchase the securities may be subject to conditions, and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all the offered securities if they purchase any of them. The underwriters may change from time to time any initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers.

Underwriters may sell our common stock under this prospectus by any method permitted by law deemed to be an “at the market” offering as defined in Rule 415 under the Securities Act, which includes sales made directly on the NYSE, on any other existing trading market for our common stock or to or through a market maker, or in privately negotiated transactions. Unless stated otherwise in any applicable prospectus supplement, the sales agent with respect to any such at the market offering will make all sales using commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices, on mutually agreeable terms between the sales agent and us. Any applicable prospectus supplement will include the amount of any compensation to be received by the sales agent.

During and after an offering through underwriters, the underwriters may purchase and sell the securities in the open market. These transactions may include overallotment and stabilizing transactions and purchases to cover syndicate short positions created in connection with the offering. The underwriters also may impose a penalty bid, which means that selling concessions allowed to syndicate members or other broker-dealers for the offered securities sold for their account may be reclaimed by the syndicate if the offered securities are repurchased by the syndicate in stabilizing or covering transactions. These activities may stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of the offered securities, which may be higher than the price that might otherwise prevail in the open market. If commenced, the underwriters may discontinue these activities at any time.

 

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If we use dealers in the sale of securities, we will sell the securities to them as principals. They may then resell those securities to the public at varying prices determined by the dealers at the time of resale. We also may agree to sell, and the relevant underwriters or agents may agree to solicit offers to purchase, blocks of securities. The terms of each such agreement will be set forth in more detail in any applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus. The dealers participating in any sale of the securities may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act with respect to any sale of those securities. If required, we will include in any applicable prospectus supplement the names of the dealers and the terms of the transaction.

Direct Sales and Sales Through Agents

We may sell the securities directly. In that event, no underwriters or agents would be involved. We also may sell the securities through agents we designate from time to time to solicit offers from purchasers to purchase the securities included in this prospectus or to sell such securities in ordinary brokerage transactions on our behalf. If required, a prospectus supplement will name any agent involved in the offer or sale of the offered securities and will describe any commissions payable by us to the agent. Unless stated otherwise in any applicable prospectus supplement, any agent will agree to use its reasonable best efforts to solicit purchases for the period of its appointment.

We may sell the securities directly to institutional investors or others who may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act with respect to any sale of those securities. We will describe the terms of any such sales in a prospectus supplement.

Delayed Delivery Contracts

We may authorize agents, underwriters or dealers to solicit offers from certain types of institutions to purchase securities from us at the public offering price under delayed delivery contracts. These contracts would provide for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future. The contracts would be subject only to those conditions described in a prospectus supplement. Such prospectus supplement will describe the commission payable for solicitation of those contracts.

Remarketing

We may offer and sell any of the securities in connection with a remarketing upon their purchase, in accordance with a redemption or repayment by their terms or otherwise, by one or more remarketing firms acting as principals for their own accounts or as our agents. The name of any remarketing firm, the terms of any remarketing agreement and the compensation to be paid to the remarketing firm will be included in a prospectus supplement, as required. Remarketing firms may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act.

Derivative Transactions

We may enter into derivative transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. If any applicable prospectus supplement indicates, in connection with those derivatives, the third parties may sell securities covered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, including in short sale transactions then the third parties may use securities pledged by us or borrowed from us or others to settle those sales or to close out any related open borrowings of securities, and may use securities received from us in settlement of those derivatives to close out any related open borrowings of securities. The third parties in these sale transactions will be underwriters and will be identified in such applicable prospectus supplement or in a post-effective amendment to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.

 

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General Information

In connection with the sale of the securities, underwriters, dealers or agents may be deemed to have received compensation from us in the form of underwriting discounts or commissions and also may receive commissions from securities purchasers for whom they may act as agent. Underwriters may sell the securities to or through dealers, and the dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriters or commissions from the purchasers for whom they may act as agent. We will provide in a prospectus supplement any required information regarding any underwriting discounts or other compensation that we pay to underwriters or agents in connection with the securities offering, and any discounts, concessions or commissions that underwriters allow to dealers.

Any underwriters, dealers or agents participating in a distribution of the securities may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act, and any discounts and commissions received by them and any profit realized by them on resale of the securities may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. We may agree to indemnify underwriters, dealers and agents who participate in the distribution of securities against certain liabilities to which they may become subject in connection with the sale of the securities, including liabilities arising under the Securities Act, or to contribute with respect to payments that the agents, dealers or underwriters may be required to make because of those liabilities. Agents, dealers and underwriters, or their affiliates or associates, may be customers of, engage in transactions with or perform services for us in the ordinary course of their businesses.

Other than our common stock, which is listed on the NYSE, each series of offered securities will have no established trading market. We may elect to list any series of offered securities on an exchange, but we are not obligated to do so. It is possible that one or more underwriters may make a market in a series of offered securities. However, they will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue market making at any time without notice. We cannot assure you as to the liquidity of, or the trading market for, any of our offered securities.

To the extent required, this prospectus may be amended or supplemented from time to time to describe a specific plan of distribution. The place and time of delivery for the securities in respect of which this prospectus is delivered may be set forth in a prospectus supplement, if required.

 

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LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the securities offered by this prospectus and certain other legal matters will be passed upon for us by Baker Botts L.L.P., Houston, Texas. If certain legal matters in connection with an offering of the securities made by this prospectus are passed on by counsel for the underwriters of such offering, that counsel will be named in a prospectus supplement related to that offering.

EXPERTS

The financial statements and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting (which is included in Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting) incorporated in this prospectus by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report (which contains an explanatory paragraph on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting due to the exclusion of certain elements of the internal control over financial reporting of the seven businesses the registrant acquired during 2019) of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act with respect to the shares being offered under this prospectus. This prospectus, which is included in the registration statement, does not contain all of the information in the registration statement. For further information regarding the company and our securities, please see the registration statement and our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our annual, quarterly and current reports and proxy statements. Our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission are also available to the public on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Internet website at www.sec.gov. Our Internet website address is www.quantaservices.com.

We furnish holders of our common stock with annual reports containing financial statements audited by our independent auditors in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles following the end of each fiscal year. We file reports and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).

Descriptions in this prospectus of documents are intended to be summaries of the material, relevant portions of those documents, but may not be complete descriptions of those documents. For complete copies of those documents, please refer to the exhibits to the registration statement and other documents filed by us with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

The Securities and Exchange Commission allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information we have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which means that we can disclose important information to you without actually including the specific information in this prospectus by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus, and later information that we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission 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 Securities and Exchange Commission after the date of this prospectus. We incorporate by reference into this prospectus the documents listed below, including the exhibits

 

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thereto, and any future filings we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Exchange Act until the applicable offering under this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement is terminated, other than information furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission under Item 2.02 or 7.01 of Form 8-K and which is not deemed filed under the Exchange Act and is not incorporated in this prospectus:

 

   

our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 28, 2020 (the “Form 10-K”);

 

   

our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended March 31, 2020 and June 30, 2020, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May  8, 2020 and August 7, 2020;

 

   

our Current Reports on Form 8-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 1, 2020 and June 2, 2020;

 

   

our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A for our 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 17, 2020, to the extent incorporated by reference in Part III of the Form 10-K; and

 

   

our Form 8-A12B, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 28, 1998, and any amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating the description therein, including the description of our capital stock filed as Exhibit 4.1 to our Form 10-K.

Any statement contained in a document incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for all purposes to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus, or in any other subsequently filed document which is also incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference, modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus.

We will provide, without charge, to each person to whom a copy of this prospectus has been delivered, including any beneficial owner, upon written or oral request of such person, a copy of any or all of the documents incorporated by reference herein (other than certain exhibits to such documents not specifically incorporated by reference). Requests for such copies should be directed to:

2800 Post Oak Boulevard, Suite 2600

Houston, Texas 77056

(713) 629-7600

Attention: Corporate Secretary

 

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PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

An estimate of the fees and expenses in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities registered under this registration statement hereby is as follows:

 

Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee

     $            *  

Trustee fees and expenses

                 †  

Legal fees and expenses

                 †  

Accounting fees and expenses

                 †  

Printing expenses

                 †  

Rating agency fees and expenses

                 †  

Miscellaneous expenses

                 †  
  

 

 

 

Total

     $            †  
  

 

 

 

 

*

Under Securities and Exchange Commission Rules 456(b) and 457(r), the Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee will be paid at the time of any particular offering of securities under the registration statement, and is therefore not currently determinable.

Estimated expenses are not currently known. The foregoing sets forth the general categories of expenses (other than underwriting discounts and commissions) that Quanta Services, Inc. (“Quanta,” “we,” “us” or “our”) anticipates it will incur in connection with the offering of securities under this registration statement. An estimate of the aggregate expenses in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities being offered will be included in any applicable prospectus supplement.

Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

Section 145(a) of the DGCL provides that a Delaware corporation may 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 such 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 or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if he or she acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful.

Section 145(b) of the DGCL provides that a Delaware corporation may 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 such person acted in any of the capacities set forth above, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if he or she acted under similar standards to those set forth above, except that no indemnification may be made with respect to any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine that despite the adjudication of liability, but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to be indemnified for such expenses which the court shall deem proper.

Section 145 of the DGCL further provides that, to the extent a director or officer of a corporation has been successful in the defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in subsection (a) and (b) or in the defense of

 

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any claim, issue or matter therein, he shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection therewith; that indemnification provided for by Section 145 of the DGCL shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which the indemnified party may be entitled; and that the corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of a director or officer of the corporation against any liability asserted against such officer or director and incurred by him or her in any such capacity or arising out of his or her status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify him or her against such liabilities under Section 145 of the DGCL.

Article VII of the registrant’s bylaws contains provisions for indemnification of directors and officers and for the advancements of expenses to any director or officer to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law.

Additionally, Article Eleventh of the registrant’s certificate of incorporation provides that, to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, no director shall be liable to the registrant or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director.

Article VIII of the registrant’s bylaws permits the registrant to purchase insurance for directors, officers, trustees, employees and agents whether or not the registrant has the power to indemnify pursuant to law against liability for expenses, judgments or settlements. The registrant has director and officer insurance in place for its directors and officers.

In addition, the registrant has entered into indemnity agreements with its directors and executive officers. The indemnity agreements generally provide that the registrant will, to the extent permitted by applicable law, indemnify and hold harmless each indemnitee that is, or is threatened to be made, a party to any civil, criminal or administrative proceeding by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of the registrant or is or was serving at the request of the registrant as a director, officer, trustee, general partner, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any other enterprise, against all expenses, judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the indemnitee in connection with any such proceeding. The indemnity agreements provide the indemnitee with indemnification rights in connection with third-party proceedings and proceedings brought by or in the right of the registrant. In addition, the indemnity agreements provide for the advancement of expenses incurred by the indemnitee in connection with any covered proceeding, or in connection with responding to discovery requests in any covered proceeding, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law. The indemnity agreements also provide that if the indemnification rights provided for therein are unavailable for any reason, the registrant will pay, in the first instance, the entire amount incurred by the indemnitee in connection with any covered proceeding and waives and relinquishes any right of contribution it may have against the indemnitee. The rights provided by the indemnity agreements are in addition to any other rights to indemnification or advancement of expenses to which the indemnitee may be entitled under applicable law, the registrant’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws, or otherwise. The above description of the indemnity agreements is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, all the provisions of the form of indemnity agreement, previously filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 11, 2018.

The registrant’s board of directors may from time to time authorize the registrant to enter into additional indemnity agreements with other of its future directors and officers utilizing the same form of indemnity agreement.

 

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Item 16. Exhibits.*

 

Exhibit
Number

  

Description

  3.1    Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Quanta Services, Inc. (previously filed as Exhibit 3.1 to Quanta’s Form 8-K (No. 001-13831) filed March 26, 2019 and incorporated herein by reference).
  3.2    Bylaws of Quanta Services, Inc., as amended and restated December  6, 2018 (previously filed as Exhibit 3.1 to Quanta’s Form 8-K (No. 001-13831) filed December 11, 2018 and incorporated herein by reference).
  3.3    Form of Common Stock Certificate (previously filed as Exhibit 3.1 to Quanta’s Registration Statement on Form S-1/Amendment No. 2 (No. 333-42957) filed February 9, 1998 and incorporated herein by reference).
  4.1**    Form of Indenture (the “Senior Indenture”) relating to senior debt securities.
  5.1**    Opinion of Baker Botts L.L.P.
23.1**    Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
23.2**    Consent of Baker Botts L.L.P. (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 5.1).
24.1**    Power of Attorney (included in signature page).
25.1**    Statement of Eligibility of Trustee under the Senior Indenture on Form T-1.

 

*

The registrant will file as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K (i) any underwriting, remarketing or agency agreement relating to the securities offered hereby, (ii) the instruments setting forth the terms of any securities, (iii) any additional required opinions of our counsel with respect to the legality of the securities offered hereby or (iv) any required opinion of our counsel as to certain tax matters relative to the securities offered hereby.

**

Filed herewith.

Item 17. Undertakings.

(a)    The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

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

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

(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 a prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

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

provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) 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

 

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the Securities and Exchange Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act 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 registrant 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

(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 registrant under the Securities Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this 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 registrant 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 registrant 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 registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;

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

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

(b)    The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the registrant’s 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

 

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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)    Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such 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 registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant 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 Houston, State of Texas, on September 14, 2020.

 

Quanta Services, Inc.

By:   /s/ Earl C. Austin, Jr.
 

Earl C. Austin, Jr.

 

President, Chief Executive Officer, Chief

Operating Officer and Director

 

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POWER OF ATTORNEY

Each person whose signature appears below appoints Earl C. Austin, Jr., Derrick A. Jensen and Donald C. Wayne, and each of them severally, each of whom may act without the joinder of the others, as such person’s true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for such person and in such person’s name, place and stead, in any and all capacities to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and all other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully and for all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them or their substitutes, 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 and on September 14, 2020.

 

/s/ Earl C. Austin, Jr.

Earl C. Austin, Jr.

  

President, Chief Executive Officer,

Chief Operating Officer and Director

(Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ Derrick A. Jensen

Derrick A. Jensen

  

Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial Officer)

/s/ Jerry K. Lemon

Jerry K. Lemon

  

Chief Accounting Officer

(Principal Accounting Officer)

/s/ David M. McClanahan

David M. McClanahan

  

Chairman of the Board of Directors

/s/ Doyle N. Beneby

Doyle N. Beneby

  

Director

/s/ J. Michal Conaway

J. Michal Conaway

  

Director

/s/ Vincent D. Foster

Vincent D. Foster

  

Director

/s/ Bernard Fried

Bernard Fried

  

Director

/s/ Worthing F. Jackman

Worthing F. Jackman

  

Director

/s/ Margaret B. Shannon

Margaret B. Shannon

  

Director

/s/ Pat Wood, III

Pat Wood, III

  

Director

/s/ Martha B. Wyrsch

Martha B. Wyrsch

  

Director

 

II-7

Exhibit 4.1

 

QUANTA SERVICES, INC.

and

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Trustee

 

 

INDENTURE

Dated as of                     ,             

 

 

Debt Securities

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  

Recitals of the Company

     1  

ARTICLE I

Definitions

 

Section 1.01.

  

Certain Terms Defined

     1  
  

Affiliate

     1  
  

Agent

     1  
  

Applicable Procedures

     2  
  

Authorized Newspaper

     2  
  

Board of Directors

     2  
  

Business Day

     2  
  

Capital Stock

     2  
  

Common Stock

     2  
  

Company

     2  
  

Company Order

     2  
  

Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee

     2  
  

Currency

     2  
  

Debt Security or Debt Securities

     3  
  

Default

     3  
  

Depositary

     3  
  

Depositary Custodian

     3  
  

Dollar or $

     3  
  

Dollar Equivalent

     3  
  

Event of Default

     3  
  

Exchange Act

     3  
  

Foreign Currency

     3  
  

GAAP

     3  
  

Global Security

     3  
  

Guarantee

     4  
  

Holder, Holder of Debt Securities

     4  
  

Incur

     4  
  

Indebtedness

     4  
  

Indenture

     4  
  

Lien

     4  
  

Officer

     4  
  

Officers’ Certificate

     4  
  

Opinion of Counsel

     5  
  

Original Issue Discount Debt Security

     5  
  

Outstanding

     5  
  

Person

     6  

 

i


  

Place of Payment

     6  
  

Preferred Stock

     6  
  

Registered Holder

     6  
  

Registered Security

     6  
  

Registrar

     6  
  

Responsible Officer

     6  
  

Securities Act

     6  
  

Stated Maturity

     6  
  

Subsidiary

     6  
  

TIA or Trust Indenture Act

     7  
  

Trustee

     7  
  

U.S. Government Obligations

     7  
  

United States

     7  
  

Yield to Maturity

     7  

Section 1.02.

  

Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act

     7  

Section 1.03.

  

Rules of Construction

     8  
ARTICLE II        

 

Debt Securities        

 

Section 2.01.

  

Forms Generally

     8  

Section 2.02.

  

Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication

     8  

Section 2.03.

  

Principal Amount; Issuable in Series

     9  

Section 2.04.

  

Execution of Debt Securities

     11  

Section 2.05.

  

Authentication and Delivery of Debt Securities

     12  

Section 2.06.

  

Denomination of Debt Securities

     13  

Section 2.07.

  

Registration of Transfer and Exchange

     13  

Section 2.08.

  

Temporary Debt Securities

     15  

Section 2.09.

  

Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Debt Securities

     15  

Section 2.10.

  

Cancellation of Surrendered Debt Securities

     16  

Section 2.11.

  

Provisions of the Indenture and Debt Securities for the Sole Benefit of the Parties and the Holders

    

16

 

Section 2.12.

  

Payment of Interest; Rights Preserved

     17  

Section 2.13.

  

Securities Denominated in Foreign Currencies

     17  

Section 2.14.

  

Wire Transfers

     17  

Section 2.15.

  

Securities Issuable in the Form of a Global Security

     18  

Section 2.16.

  

Medium Term Securities

     20  

Section 2.17.

  

Defaulted Interest

     21  

Section 2.18.

  

Judgments

     21  

Section 2.19.

  

CUSIP Numbers

     22  

 

ii


ARTICLE III        
Redemption of Debt Securities        
Section 3.01.   

Applicability of Article

   22
Section 3.02.   

Notice of Redemption; Selection of Debt Securities

   22
Section 3.03.   

Payment of Debt Securities Called for Redemption

   24
Section 3.04.   

Mandatory and Optional Sinking Funds

   24
Section 3.05.   

Redemption of Debt Securities for Sinking Fund

   25
ARTICLE IV        
Particular Covenants of the Company        
Section 4.01.   

Payment of Principal of, and Premium, if any, and Interest on, Debt Securities

   26
Section 4.02.   

Maintenance of Offices or Agencies for Registration of Transfer, Exchange and Payment of Debt Securities

   27
Section 4.03.   

Appointment to Fill a Vacancy in the Office of Trustee

   27
Section 4.04.   

Duties of Paying Agents, etc

   28
Section 4.05.   

Statement by Officers as to Default

   29
Section 4.06.   

Existence

   29
ARTICLE V        
Holders’ Lists and Reports by the Company and the Trustee        
Section 5.01.   

Company to Furnish Trustee Information as to Names and Addresses of Holders; Preservation of Information

   29
Section 5.02.   

Communications to Holders

   29
Section 5.03.   

Reports by Company

   30
Section 5.04.   

Reports by Trustee

   30
Section 5.05.   

Record Dates for Action by Holders

   31
ARTICLE VI        
Remedies of the Trustee and Holders in Event of Default        
Section 6.01.   

Events of Default

   31
Section 6.02.   

Collection of Indebtedness by Trustee, etc

   33
Section 6.03.   

Application of Moneys Collected by Trustee

   35
Section 6.04.   

Limitation on Suits by Holders

   36
Section 6.05.   

Remedies Cumulative; Delay or Omission in Exercise of Rights Not a Waiver of Default

   36
Section 6.06.   

Rights of Holders of Majority in Principal Amount of Debt Securities to Direct Trustee and to Waive Default

   37
Section 6.07.   

Trustee to Give Notice of Defaults Known to it, but may Withhold Such Notice in Certain Circumstances

   37
Section 6.08.   

Requirement of an Undertaking to Pay Costs in Certain Suits Under the Indenture or Against the Trustee

   38

 

iii


ARTICLE VII        

 

Concerning the Trustee        

 

Section 7.01.

  

Certain Duties and Responsibilities

     38  

Section 7.02.

  

Certain Rights of Trustee

     39  

Section 7.03.

  

Trustee Not Liable for Recitals in Indenture or in Debt Securities

     41  

Section 7.04.

  

Trustee, Paying Agent or Registrar May Own Debt Securities

     41  

Section 7.05.

  

Moneys Received by Trustee to be Held in Trust

     42  

Section 7.06.

  

Compensation and Reimbursement

     42  

Section 7.07.

  

Right of Trustee to Rely on an Officers’ Certificate Where No Other Evidence Specifically Prescribed

    

43

 

Section 7.08.

  

Separate Trustee; Replacement of Trustee

     43  

Section 7.09.

  

Successor Trustee by Merger

     44  

Section 7.10.

  

Eligibility; Disqualification

     44  

Section 7.11.

  

Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company

     45  
ARTICLE VIII        

 

Concerning the Holders        

 

Section 8.01.

  

Evidence of Action by Holders

     45  

Section 8.02.

  

Proof of Execution of Instruments and of Holding of Debt Securities

    

45

 

Section 8.03.

  

Who may be Deemed Owner of Debt Securities

     45  

Section 8.04.

  

Instruments Executed by Holders Bind Future Holders

     46  
ARTICLE IX        

 

Supplemental Indentures        

 

Section 9.01.

  

Purposes for Which Supplemental Indenture may be Entered into Without Consent of Holders

    

46

 

Section 9.02.

  

Modification of Indenture with Consent of Holders of Debt Securities

    

48

 

Section 9.03.

  

Effect of Supplemental Indentures

     49  

Section 9.04.

  

Debt Securities May Bear Notation of Changes by Supplemental Indentures

    

50

 
ARTICLE X        

 

Consolidation, Merger, Sale or Conveyance        

 

Section 10.01.

  

Consolidations and Mergers of the Company

     50  

Section 10.02.

  

Rights and Duties of Successor Corporation

     50  

 

iv


ARTICLE XI        

 

Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture; Defeasance; Unclaimed Moneys        

 

Section 11.01.

  

Applicability of Article

     51  

Section 11.02.

  

Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture; Defeasance

     51  

Section 11.03.

  

Conditions of Defeasance

     52  

Section 11.04.

  

Application of Trust Money

     53  

Section 11.05.

  

Repayment to Company

     53  

Section 11.06.

  

Indemnity for U.S. Government Obligations

     54  

Section 11.07.

  

Reinstatement

     54  
ARTICLE XII        

 

Miscellaneous Provisions        

 

Section 12.01.

  

Successors and Assigns of Company Bound by Indenture

     54  

Section 12.02.

  

Acts of Board, Committee or Officer of Successor Company Valid

     54  

Section 12.03.

  

Required Notices or Demands

     54  

Section 12.04.

  

Indenture and Debt Securities to be Construed in Accordance with the Laws of the State of New York; Jury Trial Waiver

     56  

Section 12.05.

  

Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel to be Furnished Upon Application or Demand by the Company

     56  

Section 12.06.

  

Payments Due on Legal Holidays

     56  

Section 12.07.

  

Provisions Required by Trust Indenture Act to Control

     57  

Section 12.08.

  

Computation of Interest on Debt Securities

     57  

Section 12.09.

  

Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent and Registrar

     57  

Section 12.10.

  

No Recourse Against Others

     57  

Section 12.11.

  

Severability

     57  

Section 12.12.

  

Effect of Headings

     57  

Section 12.13.

  

Indenture may be Executed in Counterparts

     57  

Section 12.14.

  

U.S.A. Patriot Act

     57  

 

v


QUANTA SERVICES, INC.

Debt Securities

CROSS REFERENCE SHEET*

This Cross Reference Sheet shows the location in the Indenture of the provisions inserted pursuant to Sections 310-318(a), inclusive of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (TIA).

 

TIA Section    Indenture Section

§ 310 (a)(1)

   7.10

          (a)(2)

   7.10

          (a)(3)

   7.10

          (a)(4)

   7.10

          (a)(5)

   7.10

          (b)

   7.10, 7.04

          (c)

  

N.A. **

§ 311 (a)

   7.11

          (b)

   7.11

          (c)

  

N.A.

§ 312 (a)

   5.01

          (b)

   5.02

          (c)

   5.02

§ 313 (a)

   5.04

          (b)(1)

   5.04

          (b)(2)

   5.04

          (c)

   5.04, 12.03

          (d)

   5.04

§ 314 (a)(1)

   5.03(a)

          (a)(2)

   5.03(a)

          (a)(3)

  

5.03(a), 5.03(b), 12.03

          (a)(4)

   4.05

§ 314 (b)

  

N.A.

          (c)(1)

   12.05

          (c)(2)

   12.05

          (c)(3)

  

N.A.

          (d)

  

N.A.

          (e)

   12.05

          (f)

  

N.A.

§ 315 (a)

  

7.01(a), 7.01(b)

          (b)

   6.07, 12.03

          (c)

   7.01

          (d)

   7.01

          (e)

   6.08

§ 316 (a) (last sentence)

   1.01

          (a)(1)

   6.06

          (a)(2)

   9.01(d)

          (b)

   6.04

          (c)

   5.05

 

vi


§ 317 (a)(1)

   6.02

          (a)(2)

   6.02

          (b)

   4.04

§ 318 (a)

   12.07

 

*

The Cross Reference Sheet is not part of the Indenture.

**

N.A. means “Not Applicable.”

 

vii


INDENTURE dated as of                         ,             , between QUANTA SERVICES, INC., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (hereinafter sometimes called the “Company”), and U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, an association duly incorporated and existing under the Federal laws of the United States, as trustee (hereinafter sometimes called the “Trustee”).

RECITALS OF THE COMPANY

The Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of its debentures, notes, bonds or other evidences of indebtedness to be issued in one or more series unlimited as to principal amount (herein called the “Debt Securities”), as in this Indenture provided.

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

NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH

That in order to declare the terms and conditions upon which the Debt Securities are authenticated, issued and delivered, and in consideration of the premises, and of the purchase and acceptance of the Debt Securities by the holders thereof, the Company and the Trustee covenant and agree with each other, for the benefit of each other and for the benefit of the respective Holders from time to time of the Debt Securities or any series thereof, as follows:

ARTICLE I

Definitions

Section 1.01.    Certain Terms Defined. The terms defined in this Section (except as herein 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 1.01. All other terms used in this Indenture which are defined in the Trust Indenture Act or which are by reference therein defined in the Securities Act (except as herein otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires), shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Trust Indenture Act and in the Securities Act as in force as of the date of original execution of this Indenture.

“Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person, directly or indirectly, controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition, “control” when used with respect to any Person means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

“Agent” means any Registrar, paying agent, authenticating agent, Depositary Custodian or agent for service of notices and demands.


“Applicable Procedures” means, with respect to any matter at any time relating to a Global Security, the rules, policies and procedures of the Depositary applicable to such matter.

“Authorized Newspaper” means a newspaper in an official language of the country of publication customarily published at least once a day, and customarily published for at least five days in each calendar week, and of general circulation in such city or cities specified as the Place of Payment pursuant to Section 2.03 with respect to the Debt Securities of any series. Where successive publications are required to be made in Authorized Newspapers, the successive publications may be made in the same or in different newspapers in the same city meeting the foregoing requirements and in each case on any business day in such city.

“Board of Directors” means either the board of directors of the Company or any duly authorized committee or subcommittee of such board, except as the context may otherwise require.

“Business Day” means, when used with respect to any Place of Payment specified pursuant to Section 2.03, any day that is not a Saturday, a Sunday or a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions or trust companies in such Place of Payment are authorized or obligated by law to close, except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 2.03.

“Capital Stock” of any Person means any and all shares, interests, rights to purchase, warrants, options, participations or other equivalents of or interests (including partnership interests) in (however designated) equity of such Person, including any Preferred Stock, but excluding any debt securities convertible into such equity.

“Common Stock” means the common stock, par value $0.00001 per share, of the Company, which shares are currently listed for trading on the New York Stock Exchange.

“Company” means Quanta Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and, subject to the provisions of Article X, shall also include its successors and assigns.

“Company Order” means a written order of the Company, signed by its Chairman of the Board, Vice Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer or any Vice President and by its Treasurer, Chief Accounting Officer, Secretary, any Assistant Treasurer or any Assistant Secretary.

“Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee” or other similar term means the office of the Trustee at which at any particular time its corporate trust business with respect to this Indenture shall be administered, which office at the date hereof is located at 8 Greenway Plaza, Suite 1100, Houston, Texas 77046-0892 Attention: Alejandro Hoyos, and for Agent services, such office shall also mean the office or agency of the Trustee located at 13737 Noel Road, Suite 800, Dallas, Texas 75240, or such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Company, or the corporate trust office of any successor Trustee or other Trustee with respect to a series of Debt Securities (or such other address as such successor Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Company).

“Currency” means Dollars or Foreign Currency.

 

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“Debt Security” or “Debt Securities” has the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture and more particularly means any debt security or debt securities, as the case may be, of any series authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.

“Default” means any event which is, or after notice or passage of time or both would be, an Event of Default.

“Depositary” means, unless otherwise specified by the Company pursuant to either Section 2.03 or 2.15, with respect to registered Debt Securities of any series issuable or issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, or any successor thereto registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act or other applicable statute or regulations.

“Depositary Custodian” means the Trustee as custodian with respect to the Global Notes or any successor entity thereto.

“Dollar” or “$” means such currency of the United States as at the time of payment is legal tender for the payment of public and private debts.

“Dollar Equivalent” means, with respect to any monetary amount in a Foreign Currency, at any time for the determination thereof, the amount of Dollars obtained by converting such Foreign Currency involved in such computation into Dollars at the spot rate for the purchase of Dollars with the applicable Foreign Currency as quoted by Bankers Trust Company (unless another comparable financial institution is designated by the Company) in New York, New York at approximately 11:00 a.m. (New York time) on the date two Business Days prior to such determination.

“Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 6.01.

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

“Foreign Currency” means a currency issued by the government of any country other than the United States or a composite currency the value of which is determined by reference to the values of the currencies of any group of countries.

“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States as in effect as of the date on which the Debt Securities of the applicable series are issued, including those set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity as approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession. All ratios and computations based on GAAP contained in this Indenture shall be computed in conformity with GAAP consistently applied.

“Global Security” means with respect to any series of Debt Securities issued hereunder, a Debt Security which is executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee to the Depositary or pursuant to the Depositary’s instruction, all in accordance with this Indenture and any Indentures supplemental hereto, or resolution of the Board of Directors and set forth in an Officers’ Certificate, which shall be registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee and

 

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which shall represent, and shall be denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of, all the Outstanding Debt Securities of such series or any portion thereof, in either case having the same terms, including, without limitation, the same original issue date, date or dates on which principal is due and interest rate or method of determining interest.

“Guarantee” means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of any Person directly or indirectly guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other obligation of any other Person and any obligation, direct or indirect, contingent or otherwise, of such Person (i) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other obligation of such other Person (whether arising by virtue of partnership arrangements, or by agreement to keep-well, to purchase assets, goods, securities or services, to take-or-pay, or to maintain financial statement conditions or otherwise) or (ii) entered into for purposes of assuring in any other manner the obligee of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part); provided, however, that the term “Guarantee” shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business. The term “Guarantee” used as a verb has a corresponding meaning.

“Holder,” “Holder of Debt Securities” or other similar terms means, with respect to a Registered Security, the Registered Holder.

“Incur” means issue, assume, Guarantee, incur or otherwise become liable for; provided, however, that any Indebtedness or Capital Stock of a Person existing at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary (whether by merger, consolidation, acquisition or otherwise) shall be deemed to be incurred by such Subsidiary at the time it becomes a Subsidiary. The terms “Incurred”, “Incurrence” and “Incurring” shall each have a correlative meaning.

“Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person on any date of determination, indebtedness for borrowed money.

“Indenture” means this instrument as originally executed or as it may from time to time be amended or supplemented as herein provided and shall include the form and terms of particular series of Debt Securities as contemplated hereunder, whether or not a supplemental Indenture is entered into with respect thereto.

“Lien” means any mortgage, pledge, security interest, encumbrance, lien or charge of any kind (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement or lease in the nature thereof).

“Officer” means, with respect to the Company, (i) the Chairman of the Board, any Vice Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Vice President or the Chief Financial Officer, and (ii) the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer, Chief Accounting Officer, or the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary.

“Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed by one Officer listed in clause (i) of the definition thereof and one Officer listed in clause (ii) of the definition thereof or two officers listed in clause (i) of the definition thereof. Each Officers’ Certificate (other than certificates provided pursuant to TIA Section 314(a)(4)) shall include the statements provided for in TIA Section 314(e).

 

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“Opinion of Counsel” means an opinion in writing signed by legal counsel for the Company (which counsel may be an employee of the Company), or outside counsel for the Company. Each such opinion (i) shall include the statements provided for in Section 12.05, if applicable and (ii)  may be subject to customary assumptions, qualifications and exclusions.

“Original Issue Discount Debt Security” means any Debt Security which provides for an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon a declaration or acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.01.

“Outstanding” when used with respect to any series of Debt Securities, means, as of the date of determination, all Debt Securities of that series theretofore authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, except:

(i)    Debt Securities of that series theretofore canceled by the Trustee or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;

(ii)    Debt Securities of that series for whose payment or redemption money in the necessary amount has been theretofore deposited with the Trustee or any paying agent (other than the Company) in trust or set aside and segregated in trust by the Company (if the Company shall act as its own paying agent) for the holders of such Debt Securities; provided, that, if such Debt Securities are to be redeemed, notice of such redemption has been duly given pursuant to this Indenture or provision therefor satisfactory to the Trustee has been made; and

(iii)    Debt Securities of that series which have been paid pursuant to Section 2.09 or in exchange for or in lieu of which other Debt Securities have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture, other than any such Debt Securities in respect of which there shall have been presented to the Trustee proof satisfactory to it that such Debt Securities are held by a bona fide purchaser in whose hands such Debt Securities are legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company;

provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of any series have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, Debt Securities owned by the Company or any other obligor upon the Debt Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, only Debt Securities which the Trustee knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Debt Securities so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Debt Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company or any other obligor upon the Debt Securities or an Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor. In determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Debt Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Debt Security that shall be deemed to be Outstanding for such purposes shall be the amount of the principal thereof that would be due and payable as of the date of such determination upon a declaration of acceleration of the maturity

 

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thereof pursuant to Section 6.01. In determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of any series have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, the principal amount of a Debt Security denominated in one or more foreign currencies or currency units that shall be deemed to be Outstanding for such purposes shall be the Dollar Equivalent, determined in the manner provided as contemplated by Section 2.03 on the date of original issuance of such Debt Security, of the principal amount (or, in the case of any Original Issue Discount Debt Security, the Dollar Equivalent on the date of original issuance of such Debt Security of the amount determined as provided in the preceding sentence above) of such Debt Security.

“Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, government or any agency or political subdivision thereof or any other entity.

“Place of Payment” mean, when used with respect to the Debt Securities of any series, the place or places where the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, the Debt Securities of that series are payable as specified pursuant to Section 2.03.

“Preferred Stock” as applied to the Capital Stock of any corporation, means Capital Stock of any class or classes (however designated) which is preferred as to the payment of dividends, or as to the distribution of assets upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation or dissolution of such corporation, over shares of Capital Stock of any other class of such corporation.

“Registered Holder” means the Person in whose name a Registered Security is registered in the Debt Security Register (as defined in Section  2.07(a)).

“Registered Security” means any Debt Security registered as to principal and interest in the Debt Security Register (as defined in Section 2.07(a)).

“Registrar” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.07(a).

“Responsible Officer” when used with respect to the Trustee, means any officer within the Trustee, including any Vice President, any Assistant Vice President, any trust officer or any other officer of the Trustee performing functions similar to those performed by the persons who at the time shall be such officers, and any other officer of the Trustee to whom corporate trust matters are referred because of his knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

“Stated Maturity” means, with respect to any security, the date specified in such security as the fixed date on which the payment of principal of such security is due and payable, including pursuant to any mandatory redemption provision (but excluding any provision providing for the repurchase of such security at the option of the holder thereof upon the happening of any contingency beyond the control of the issuer unless such contingency has occurred).

“Subsidiary” of any Person means any corporation, association, partnership or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers

 

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or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by (i) such Person, (ii) such Person and one or more Subsidiaries of such Person or (iii) one or more Subsidiaries of such Person; provided, however, that any Person the accounts of which are not consolidated with those of the Company in its consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP shall not be deemed to be a “Subsidiary” of the Company.

“TIA” or “Trust Indenture Act” (except as herein otherwise expressly provided) means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as in force at the date of this Indenture as originally executed and, to the extent required by law, as amended.

“Trustee” initially means U.S. Bank National Association and any other Person or Persons appointed as such from time to time pursuant to Section 7.08, and, subject to the provisions of Article VII, includes its or their successors and assigns. If at any time there is more than one such Person, “Trustee” as used with respect to the Debt Securities of any series shall mean only the Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of that series.

“U.S. Government Obligations” means securities that are (x) direct obligations of the United States or (y) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States, the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States.

“United States” means the United States of America (including the States and the District of Columbia), its territories, its possessions and other areas subject to its jurisdiction.

“Yield to Maturity” means the yield to maturity, calculated at the time of issuance of a series of Debt Securities, or, if applicable, at the most recent redetermination of interest on such series and calculated in accordance with accepted financial practice.

Section 1.02.    Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act. THIS INDENTURE IS SUBJECT TO THE MANDATORY PROVISIONS OF THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT WHICH ARE INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE IN AND MADE A PART OF THIS INDENTURE. THE FOLLOWING TRUST INDENTURE ACT TERMS HAVE THE FOLLOWING MEANINGS:

(1)    “indenture securities” means the Debt Securities.

(2)    “indenture security holder” means a Holder.

(3)    “indenture to be qualified” means this Indenture.

(4)    “indenture trustee” or “institutional trustee” means the Trustee.

(5)    “obligor” on the indenture securities means the Company and any other obligor on the Debt Securities.

All other Trust Indenture Act terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the Trust Indenture Act, reference to another statute or defined by rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission have the meanings assigned to them by such definitions.

 

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Section 1.03.    Rules of Construction. Unless the context otherwise requires:

(1)    a term has the meaning assigned to it;

(2)    an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to it in accordance with GAAP;

(3)    “or” is not exclusive;

(4)    “including” means including without limitation;

(5)    words in the singular include the plural and words in the plural include the singular;

(6)    the principal amount of any noninterest bearing or other discount security at any date shall be the principal amount thereof that would be shown on a balance sheet of the issuer dated such date prepared in accordance with GAAP; and

(7)    the principal amount of any Preferred Stock shall be the greater of (i) the maximum liquidation value of such Preferred Stock or (ii) the maximum mandatory redemption or mandatory repurchase price with respect to such Preferred Stock.

ARTICLE II

Debt Securities

Section 2.01.    Forms Generally. The Debt Securities of each series shall be in substantially the form established by or pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors or in one or more Indentures supplemental hereto, in each case with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture, and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as the Company may deem appropriate (and, if not contained in a Supplemental Indenture entered into in accordance with Article IX, as are not prohibited by the provisions of this Indenture) or as may be required or appropriate to comply with any law or with any rules made pursuant thereto or with any rules of any securities exchange on which such series of Debt Securities may be listed, or to conform to general usage, or as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the officers executing such Debt Securities as evidenced by their execution of the Debt Securities.

The definitive Debt Securities of each series shall be printed, lithographed or engraved on steel engraved borders or may be produced in any other manner, all as determined by the officers executing such Debt Securities, as evidenced by their execution of such Debt Securities.

Section 2.02.    Form of Trustees Certificate of Authentication. The Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication on all Debt Securities authenticated by the Trustee shall be in substantially the following form:

 

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TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

This is one of the Debt Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

Dated:

 

U.S. Bank National Association,
as Trustee

By:

 

 

 

Authorized Signatory

Section 2.03.    Principal Amount; Issuable in Series. The aggregate principal amount of Debt Securities which may be issued, executed, authenticated, delivered and outstanding under this Indenture is unlimited.

The Debt Securities may be issued in one or more series. There shall be established, without the approval of any Holders, in or pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors and set forth in an Officers’ Certificate, or established in one or more Indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of Debt Securities of any series any or all of the following:

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

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

(3)    the date or dates on which the principal and premium, if any, of the Debt Securities of the series are payable or the method of determination thereof;

(4)    the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) at which the Debt Securities of the series shall bear interest, if any, or the method of determining such rate or rates, the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue, the interest payment dates on which such interest shall be payable, or the method by which such date will be determined, in the case of Registered Securities, the record dates for the determination of Holders thereof to whom such interest is payable; and the basis upon which interest will be calculated if other than that of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months;

(5)    the place or places, if any, in addition to or instead of the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee where the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, Debt Securities of the series shall be payable;

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

 

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(7)    the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem, purchase or repay Debt Securities of the series pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of a Holder thereof, and the price or prices at which and the period or periods within which and the terms and conditions upon which Debt Securities of the series shall be redeemed, purchased or repaid, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligations;

(8)    the terms, if any, upon which the Debt Securities of the series may be convertible into or exchanged for Common Stock, Preferred Stock (which may be represented by depositary shares), other Debt Securities or warrants for Common Stock, Preferred Stock or Indebtedness or other securities of any kind of the Company or any other obligor and the terms and conditions upon which such conversion or exchange shall be effected, including the initial conversion or exchange price or rate, the conversion or exchange period and any other provision in addition to or in lieu of those described herein;

(9)    if other than denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof, the denominations in which Debt Securities of the series shall be issuable;

(10)    if the amount of principal, premium, if any, or interest on Debt Securities of the series may be determined with reference to an index or pursuant to a formula, the manner in which such amounts will be determined;

(11)    if the principal amount payable at the Stated Maturity of Debt Securities of the series will not be determinable as of any one or more dates prior to such Stated Maturity, the amount that will be deemed to be such principal amount as of any such date for any purpose, including the principal amount thereof which will be due and payable upon any maturity other than the Stated Maturity or which will be deemed to be Outstanding as of any such date (or, in any such case, the manner in which such deemed principal amount is to be determined); and the manner of determining the equivalent thereof in the currency of the United States for purposes of the definition of Dollar Equivalent;

(12)    any changes or additions to Article XI, including the addition of additional covenants that may be subject to the covenant defeasance option pursuant to Section 11.02(b)(ii);

(13)    if other than such coin or Currency of the United States as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts, the coin, Currency or Currencies or units of Currencies in which payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on, Debt Securities of the series shall be payable;

(14)    if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of Debt Securities of the series which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.01 or provable in bankruptcy pursuant to Section 6.02;

(15)    the terms, if any, of the transfer, mortgage, pledge or assignment as security for the Debt Securities of the series of any properties, assets, moneys, proceeds, securities or other collateral, including whether certain provisions of the Trust Indenture Act are applicable and any corresponding changes to provisions of this Indenture as currently in effect;

 

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(16)    any addition to or change in the Events of Default with respect to the Debt Securities of the series and any change in the right of the Trustee or the Holders to declare the principal of and interest on such Debt Securities due and payable;

(17)    if the Debt Securities of the series shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of a Global Security or Global Securities, the terms and conditions, if any, upon which such Global Security or Global Securities may be exchanged in whole or in part for other individual Debt Securities in definitive registered form; and the Depositary for such Global Security or Global Securities and the form of any legend or legends to be borne by any such Global Security or Global Securities in addition to or in lieu of the legend referred to in Section 2.15;

(18)    any trustees, authenticating or paying agents, transfer agents or registrars other than the Trustee;

(19)    the applicability of, and any addition to or change in the covenants and definitions currently set forth in this Indenture or in the terms currently set forth in Article X, including conditioning any merger, conveyance, transfer or lease permitted by Article X upon the satisfaction of an Indebtedness coverage standard by the Company and Successor Company (as defined in Article X);

(20)    the terms, if any, of any Guarantee of the payment of principal of and interest on, Debt Securities of the series and any corresponding changes to the provisions of this Indenture as currently in effect;

(21)    with regard to Debt Securities of the series that do not bear interest, the dates for certain required reports to the Trustee; and

(22)    any other terms of the Debt Securities of the series (which terms shall not be prohibited by the provisions of this Indenture or applicable law).

All Debt Securities of any one series appertaining thereto shall be substantially identical except as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to such resolution of the Board of Directors and as set forth in such Officers’ Certificate or in any such Indenture supplemental hereto. If any of the terms of a series of Debt Securities 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 delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Officers’ Certificate setting forth the terms of the series. No board resolution or Officers’ Certificate may affect the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise with respect to any series of Debt Securities except as it may agree in writing.

Section 2.04.    Execution of Debt Securities. The Debt Securities shall be signed on behalf of the Company by its Chairman of the Board, its Vice Chairman, its Chief Executive Officer, its President, its Chief Financial Officer or a Vice President and by its Chief Accounting Officer, Secretary, an Assistant Secretary, a Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer. Such signatures upon the Debt Securities may be the manual or facsimile signatures of the present or any future such authorized officers and may be imprinted or otherwise reproduced on the Debt Securities. The seal of the Company, if any, may be in the form of a facsimile thereof and may be impressed, affixed, imprinted or otherwise reproduced on the Debt Securities.

 

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Only such Debt Securities as shall bear thereon a certificate of authentication substantially in the form hereinbefore recited, signed manually by the Trustee, shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose. Such certificate by the Trustee upon any Debt Security executed by the Company shall be conclusive evidence that the Debt Security so authenticated has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder.

In case any officer of the Company who shall have signed any of the Debt Securities shall cease to be such officer before the Debt Securities so signed shall have been authenticated and delivered by the Trustee, or disposed of by the Company, such Debt Securities nevertheless may be authenticated and delivered or disposed of as though the Person who signed such Debt Securities had not ceased to be such officer of the Company; and any Debt Security may be signed on behalf of the Company by such Persons as, at the actual date of the execution of such Debt Security, shall be the proper officers of the Company, although at the date of such Debt Security or of the execution of this Indenture any such Person was not such officer.

Section 2.05.    Authentication and Delivery of Debt Securities. At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Debt Securities of any series executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, and the Trustee shall thereupon authenticate and deliver said Debt Securities to or upon a Company Order. In authenticating such Debt Securities and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Debt Securities, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 7.01) shall be fully protected in relying upon:

(1)    a copy of any resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors, certified by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Company, authorizing the terms of issuance of any series of Debt Securities;

(2)    an executed supplemental Indenture, if any;

(3)    an Officers’ Certificate; and

(4)    an Opinion of Counsel prepared in accordance with Section 12.05 which shall also state:

(a)    that the form of such Debt Securities has been established by or pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors or by a supplemental Indenture as permitted by Section 2.01 in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;

(b)    that the terms of such Debt Securities have been established by or pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors or by a supplemental Indenture as permitted by Section 2.03 in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture; and

(c)    that this Indenture and such Debt Securities, when authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and issued by the Company in the manner and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute valid and binding

 

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obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights and remedies generally and subject, as to enforceability, to general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding in equity or law) and subject to such other exceptions as counsel shall request and as to which the Trustee shall not reasonably object.

Such Opinion of Counsel need express no opinion as to whether a court in the United States would render a money judgment in a currency other than that of the United States.

The Trustee shall have the right to decline to authenticate and deliver any Debt Securities under this Section 2.05 if the Trustee, being advised by counsel, determines that such action may not lawfully be taken or if the Trustee in good faith by its board of directors or trustees, executive committee or a trust committee of directors, trustees or vice presidents shall determine that such action would expose the Trustee to personal liability to existing Holders.

The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent reasonably acceptable to the Company to authenticate Debt Securities of any series. Unless limited by the terms of such appointment, an authenticating agent may authenticate Debt Securities whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An authenticating agent has the same rights as any Registrar, paying agent or agent for service of notices and demands.

Unless otherwise provided in the form of Debt Security for any series, each Debt Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.

Section 2.06.    Denomination of Debt Securities. Unless otherwise provided in the form of Debt Security for any series, the Debt Securities of each series shall be issuable only as Registered Securities in such denominations as shall be specified or contemplated by Section 2.03. In the absence of any such specification with respect to the Debt Securities of any series, the Debt Securities of such series shall be issuable in denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.

Section 2.07.    Registration of Transfer and Exchange.

(a)    The Company shall keep or cause to be kept a register for each series of Registered Securities issued hereunder (hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Debt Security Register”), in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration of Registered Securities and the registration of transfer of Registered Securities as provided in this Article II. At all reasonable times the Debt Security Register shall be open for inspection by the Trustee. Subject to Section 2.15, upon due presentment for registration of transfer of any Registered Security at any office or agency to be maintained by the Company in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.02, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in the name of the transferee or transferees a new Registered Security or Registered Securities of authorized denominations for a like aggregate principal amount.

Unless and until otherwise determined by the Company by resolution of the Board of Directors, the register of the Company for the purpose of registration, exchange or registration of transfer of the Registered Securities shall be kept at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee and, for this purpose, the Trustee shall be designated “Registrar”.

 

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Registered Securities of any series (other than a Global Security) may be exchanged for a like aggregate principal amount of Registered Securities of the same series of other authorized denominations. Subject to Section 2.15, Registered Securities to be exchanged shall be surrendered at the office or agency to be maintained by the Company as provided in Section 4.02, and the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor the Registered Security or Registered Securities which the Holder making the exchange shall be entitled to receive.

(b)    All Registered Securities presented or surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange or payment shall (if so required by the Company, the Trustee or the Registrar) be duly endorsed or be accompanied by a written instrument or instruments of transfer, in form satisfactory to the Company, the Trustee and the Registrar, duly executed by the Registered Holder or his attorney duly authorized in writing.

All Debt Securities issued in exchange for or upon transfer of Debt Securities shall be the valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as the Debt Securities surrendered for such exchange or transfer.

No service charge shall be made for any exchange or registration of transfer of Debt Securities (except as provided by Section 2.09), but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto, other than those expressly provided in this Indenture to be made at the Company’s own expense or without expense or without charge to the Holders. Each Holder that is a transferor of a Debt Security shall provide or cause to be provided to the Trustee all information necessary to allow the Trustee to comply with any applicable tax reporting obligations, including without limitation, any cost basis reporting obligations under Internal Revenue Code Section 6045. The Trustee may rely on information provided to it and shall have no responsibility to verify or ensure the accuracy of such information.

The Company shall not be required (a) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Debt Securities for a period of 15 days next preceding any mailing or sending of notice of redemption of Debt Securities of such series or (b) to register the transfer of or exchange any Debt Securities selected, called or being called for redemption.

Prior to the due presentation for registration of transfer of any Debt Security, the Company, the Trustee, any paying agent or any Registrar may deem and treat the Person in whose name a Debt Security is registered as the absolute owner of such Debt Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, such Debt Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Debt Security is overdue, and none of the Company, the Trustee, any paying agent or Registrar shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

None of the Company, the Trustee, any agent of the Trustee, any paying agent or any Registrar will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to, or payments made on account of, beneficial ownership interests of a Global Security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.

 

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Section 2.08.    Temporary Debt Securities. Pending the preparation of definitive Debt Securities of any series, the Company may execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver temporary Debt Securities (which may be printed, lithographed, photocopied, typewritten or otherwise produced) of any authorized denomination, and substantially in the form of the definitive Debt Securities in lieu of which they are issued, in registered form and with such omissions, insertions and variations as may be appropriate for temporary Debt Securities, all as may be determined by the Company with the concurrence of the Trustee. Temporary Debt Securities may contain such reference to any provisions of this Indenture as may be appropriate. Every temporary Debt Security 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 Debt Securities.

If temporary Debt Securities of any series are issued, the Company will cause definitive Debt Securities of such series to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the preparation of definitive Debt Securities of such series, the temporary Debt Securities of such series shall be exchangeable for definitive Debt Securities of such series upon surrender of the temporary Debt Securities of such series at the office or agency of the Company at a Place of Payment for such series, without charge to the Holder thereof, except as provided in Section 2.07 in connection with a transfer. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Debt Securities of any series, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a like principal amount of definitive Debt Securities of the same series of authorized denominations and of like tenor. Until so exchanged, temporary Debt Securities of any series shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Debt Securities of such series, except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.03(17) with respect to the payment of interest on Global Securities in temporary form.

Upon any exchange of a portion of a temporary Global Security for a definitive Global Security or for the individual Debt Securities represented thereby pursuant to Section 2.07 or this Section 2.08, the temporary Global Security shall be endorsed by the Trustee to reflect the reduction of the principal amount evidenced thereby, whereupon the principal amount of such temporary Global Security shall be reduced for all purposes by the amount to exchanged and endorsed.

Section 2.09.    Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Debt Securities. If (i) any mutilated Debt Security is surrendered to the Trustee at its corporate trust office (in the case of Registered Securities) or (ii) the Company and the Trustee receive evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Debt Security, and there is delivered to the Company and the Trustee such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and any paying agent harmless, and neither the Company nor the Trustee receives notice that such Debt Security has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, then the Company shall execute and, upon a Company Order, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in exchange for or in lieu of any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Debt Security, a new Debt Security of the same series of like tenor, form, terms and principal amount, bearing a number not contemporaneously Outstanding. Upon the issuance of any substituted Debt Security, the Company may require the payment of a

 

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sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses connected therewith. In case any Debt Security which has matured or is about to mature or which has been called for redemption shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company may, instead of issuing a substituted Debt Security, pay or authorize the payment of the same (without surrender thereof except in the case of a mutilated Debt Security) if the applicant for such payment shall furnish the Company and the Trustee with such security or indemnity as either may require to save it harmless from all risk, however remote, and, in case of destruction, loss or theft, evidence to the satisfaction of the Company and the Trustee of the destruction, loss or theft of such Debt Security and of the ownership thereof.

The Holder must furnish an indemnity bond that is sufficient in the judgment of each of the Trustee and the Company to protect each of the Company, the Trustee or any Agent from any loss that any of them may suffer if a Debt Security is replaced. The Company shall charge the Holder, and the Holder shall pay, for the Company’s and the Trustee’s expenses in replacing the Debt Security (including, without limitation, attorney’s fees and disbursements in replacing such Debt Security).

Every substituted Debt Security of any series issued pursuant to the provisions of this Section 2.09 by virtue of the fact that any Debt Security is destroyed, lost or stolen shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Debt Security shall be found at any time, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of and shall be subject to all the limitations of rights set forth in this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Debt Securities of that series duly issued hereunder. All Debt 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 Debt Securities, and shall preclude 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 2.10.    Cancellation of Surrendered Debt Securities. All Debt Securities surrendered for payment, redemption, registration of transfer or exchange shall, if surrendered to the Company or any paying agent or a Registrar, be delivered to the Trustee for cancellation by it, or if surrendered to the Trustee, shall be canceled by it, and no Debt Securities shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly permitted by any of the provisions of this Indenture. All canceled Debt Securities held by the Trustee shall be destroyed (subject to the record retention requirements of the Exchange Act) and certification of their destruction delivered to the Company upon request. If the Company shall acquire any of the Debt Securities, however, such acquisition shall not operate as a redemption or satisfaction of the indebtedness represented thereby unless and until the same are delivered or surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation. The Company may not issue new Debt Securities to replace Debt Securities it has redeemed, paid or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.

Section 2.11.    Provisions of the Indenture and Debt Securities for the Sole Benefit of the Parties and the Holders. Nothing in this Indenture or in the Debt Securities, expressed or implied, shall give or be construed to give to any Person, other than the parties hereto, the Holders or any Registrar or paying agent, 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 its covenants, conditions and provisions being for the sole benefit of the parties hereto, the Holders and any Registrar and paying agents.

 

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Section 2.12.    Payment of Interest; Rights Preserved.

(a)    Interest on any Registered Security that is payable and is punctually paid or duly provided for on any interest payment date shall be paid to the Person in whose name such Registered Security is registered at the close of business on the regular record date for such interest notwithstanding the cancellation of such Registered Security upon any transfer or exchange subsequent to the regular record date. Payment of interest on Registered Securities shall be made at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 2.03), or at the option of the Company, by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Debt Security Register or, if provided pursuant to Section 2.03 and in accordance with arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee, at the option of the Registered Holder by wire transfer to an account designated by the Registered Holder.

(b)    Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.12 and Section 2.17, each Debt Security of a particular series delivered under this Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Debt Security of the same series shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Debt Security.

Section 2.13.    Securities Denominated in Foreign Currencies.

(a)    Except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 2.03 for Registered Securities of any series, payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, Registered Securities of such series will be made in Dollars.

(b)    For the purposes of calculating the principal amount of Debt Securities of any series denominated in a Foreign Currency or in units of two or more Foreign Currencies for any purpose under this Indenture, the principal amount of such Debt Securities at any time Outstanding shall be deemed to be the Dollar Equivalent of such principal amount as of the date of any such calculation.

In the event any Foreign Currency or currencies or units of two or more Currencies in which any payment with respect to any series of Debt Securities may be made ceases to be a freely convertible Currency on United States Currency markets, for any date thereafter on which payment of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, the Debt Securities of a series is due, the Company shall select the Currency of payment for use on such date, all as provided in the Debt Securities of such series. In such event, the Company shall, as provided in the Debt Securities of such series, notify the Trustee of the Currency which it has selected to constitute the funds necessary to meet the Company’s obligations or such payment date and of the amount of such Currency to be paid. Such amount shall be determined as provided in the Debt Securities of such series. The payment to the Trustee with respect to such payment date shall be made by the Company solely in the Currency so selected.

Section 2.14.    Wire Transfers. Notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary in this Indenture, the Company may make any payment of monies required to be deposited with the Trustee on account of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, the Debt Securities (whether

 

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pursuant to optional or mandatory redemption payments, interest payments or otherwise) by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated by the Trustee on or before noon Eastern Time on the date such moneys are to be paid to the Holders of the Debt Securities in accordance with the terms hereof.

Section 2.15.    Securities Issuable in the Form of a Global Security.

(a)    If the Company shall establish pursuant to Sections 2.01 and 2.03 that the Debt Securities of a particular series are to be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, then the Company shall execute and the Trustee or its agent shall, in accordance with Section 2.05, authenticate and deliver, such Global Security or Global Securities, which (i) shall represent, and shall be denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of, the Outstanding Debt Securities of such series to be represented by such Global Security or Global Securities, or such portion thereof as the Company shall specify in an Officers’ Certificate, (ii) shall be registered in the name of the Depositary for such Global Security or Global Securities or its nominee, (iii) shall be delivered by the Trustee or its agent to the Depositary or pursuant to the Depositary’s instruction and (iv) shall bear a legend substantially to the following effect: “Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for the individual Debt Securities represented hereby, this Global Security may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary or by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or another nominee of the Depositary or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such successor Depositary,” or such other legend as may then be required by the Depositary for such Global Security or Global Securities. The Trustee and each Agent are hereby authorized to act in accordance with Applicable Procedures with respect to any series of Debt Securities represented by a Global Security or Global Securities.

(b)    Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 2.15 or of Section 2.07 to the contrary, and subject to the provisions of paragraph (c) below, unless the terms of a Global Security expressly permit such Global Security to be exchanged in whole or in part for definitive Debt Securities in registered form, a Global Security may be transferred, in whole but not in part and in the manner provided in Section 2.07, only by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary for such Global Security, or by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or another nominee of the Depositary, or by the Depositary or a nominee of the Depositary to a successor Depositary for such Global Security selected or approved by the Company, or to a nominee of such successor Depositary.

(c)    (i) If at any time the Depositary for a Global Security or Global Securities notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Global Security or Global Securities or if at any time the Depositary for the Debt Securities for such series shall no longer be eligible or in good standing under the Exchange Act or other applicable statute, rule or regulation, the Company shall appoint a successor Depositary with respect to such Global Security or Global Securities. If a successor Depositary for such Global Security or Global Securities is not appointed by the Company within 90 days after the Company receives such notice or becomes aware of such ineligibility, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee or its agent, upon receipt of a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of such individual Debt Securities of such series in exchange for such Global Security, will authenticate and deliver, individual Debt Securities of such series of like tenor and terms in definitive form in an aggregate

 

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principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security in exchange for such Global Security or Global Securities. In connection with any proposed transfer of individual Debt Securities in exchange for Global Securities, there shall be provided to the Trustee all information necessary to allow the Trustee to comply with any applicable tax reporting obligations, including without limitation, any cost basis reporting obligations under Internal Revenue Code Section 6045. The Trustee may rely on information provided to it and shall have no responsibility to verify or ensure the accuracy of such information.

(ii)    The Company may at any time and in its sole discretion determine that the Debt Securities of any series or portion thereof issued or issuable in the form of one or more Global Securities shall no longer be represented by such Global Security or Global Securities. In such event the Company will execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of individual Debt Securities of such series in exchange in whole or in part for such Global Security, will authenticate and deliver individual Debt Securities of such series of like tenor and terms in definitive form in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such series or portion thereof in exchange for such Global Security or Global Securities.

(iii)    If specified by the Company pursuant to Sections 2.01 and 2.03 with respect to Debt Securities issued or issuable in the form of a Global Security, the Depositary for such Global Security may surrender such Global Security in exchange in whole or in part for individual Debt Securities of such series of like tenor and terms in definitive form on such terms as are acceptable to the Company, the Trustee and such Depositary. Thereupon the Company shall execute, and the Trustee or its agent upon receipt of a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of definitive Debt Securities of such series shall authenticate and deliver, without service charge, (1) to each Person specified by such Depositary a new Debt Security or Debt Securities of the same series of like tenor and terms and of any authorized denomination as requested by such Person in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for such Person’s beneficial interest in the Global Security; and (2) to such Depositary a new Global Security of like tenor and terms and in an authorized denomination equal to the difference, if any, between the principal amount of the surrendered Global Security and the aggregate principal amount of Debt Securities delivered to Holders thereof.

(iv)    In any exchange provided for in any of the preceding three paragraphs, the Company will execute and the Trustee or its agent will authenticate and deliver individual Debt Securities. Upon the exchange of the entire principal amount of a Global Security for individual Debt Securities, such Global Security shall be canceled by the Trustee or its agent. Except as provided in the preceding paragraph, Registered Securities issued in exchange for a Global Security pursuant to this Section 2.15 shall be registered in such names, and in such authorized denominations as the Depositary for such Global Security, pursuant to instructions from its direct or indirect participants or otherwise, shall instruct the Trustee or the Registrar. The Trustee or the Registrar shall deliver such Registered Securities to the Persons in whose names such Registered Securities are so registered.

(v)    Payments in respect of the principal of and interest on any Debt Securities registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee will be payable to the Depositary

 

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or such nominee in its capacity as the registered owner of such Global Security. The Company and the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name the Debt Securities, including the Global Security, are registered as the owner thereof for the purpose of receiving such payments and for any and all other purposes whatsoever. None of the Company, the Trustee, any Registrar, the paying agent or any agent of the Company or the Trustee will have any responsibility or liability for (a) any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of the beneficial ownership interests of the Global Security by the Depositary or its nominee or any of the Depositary’s direct or indirect participants, or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records of the Depositary, its nominee or any of its direct or indirect participants relating to the beneficial ownership interests of the Global Security, (b) the payments to the beneficial owners of the Global Security of amounts paid to the Depositary or its nominee, or (c) any other matter relating to the actions and practices of the Depositary, its nominee or any of its direct or indirect participants. None of the Company, the Trustee or any such agent will be liable for any delay by the Depositary, its nominee, or any of its direct or indirect participants in identifying the beneficial owners of the Debt Securities, and the Company and the Trustee may conclusively rely on, and will be protected in relying on, instructions from the Depositary or its nominee for all purposes (including with respect to the registration and delivery, and the respective principal amounts, of the Debt Securities to be issued).

Section 2.16.    Medium Term Securities. Notwithstanding any contrary provision herein, if all Debt Securities of a series are not to be originally issued at one time, it shall not be necessary for the Company to deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate, resolutions of the Board of Directors, supplemental Indenture, Opinion of Counsel or written order or any other document otherwise required pursuant to Section 2.01, 2.03, 2.05 or 12.05 at or prior to the time of authentication of each Debt Security of such series if such documents are delivered to the Trustee or its agent at or prior to the authentication upon original issuance of the first such Debt Security of such series to be issued; provided, that any subsequent request by the Company to the Trustee to authenticate Debt Securities of such series upon original issuance shall constitute a representation and warranty by the Company that, as of the date of such request, the statements made in the Officers’ Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.05 or shall be true and correct as if made on such date and that the Opinion of Counsel delivered at or prior to such time of authentication of an original issuance of Debt Securities shall specifically state that it shall relate to all subsequent issuances of Debt Securities of such series that are identical to the Debt Securities issued in the first issuance of Debt Securities of such series.

A Company Order delivered by the Company to the Trustee in the circumstances set forth in the preceding paragraph, may provide that Debt Securities which are the subject thereof will be authenticated and delivered by the Trustee or its agent on original issue from time to time upon the telephonic or written order of Persons designated in such written order (any such telephonic instructions to be promptly confirmed in writing by such Person) and that such Persons are authorized to determine, consistent with the Officers’ Certificate, supplemental Indenture or resolution of the Board of Directors relating to such written order, such terms and conditions of such Debt Securities as are specified in such Officers’ Certificate, supplemental Indenture or such resolution.

 

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Section 2.17.    Defaulted Interest. Any interest on any Debt Security of a particular series which is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on the dates and in the manner provided in the Debt Securities of such series and in this Indenture (herein called “Defaulted Interest”) shall, if such Debt Security is a Registered Security, forthwith cease to be payable to the Registered Holder thereof on the relevant record date by virtue of his having been such Registered Holder, and such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Company, at its election in each case, as provided in clause (i) or (ii) below:

(i)    The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the Persons in whose names the Registered Securities of such series 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 Registered Security of such series 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 be not more than 15 days and not less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such special record date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company, the Trustee shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the special record date therefor to be mailed, first class postage pre-paid, or sent to each Holder thereof at its address as it appears in the Security Register, not less than 10 days prior to such special record date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the special record date therefor having been so mailed or sent, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names the Registered Securities of such series are registered at the close of business on such special record date.

(ii)    The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on the Registered Securities of such series in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Registered Securities of such series 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.

Section 2.18.    Judgments. The Company may provide pursuant to Section 2.03 for Debt Securities of any series that (a) the obligation, if any, of the Company to pay the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, the Debt Securities of any series in a Foreign Currency or Dollars (the “Designated Currency”) as may be specified pursuant to Section 2.03 is of the essence and agrees that, to the fullest extent possible under applicable law, judgments in respect of Debt Securities of such series shall be given in the Designated Currency; (b) the obligation of the Company to make payments in the Designated Currency of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, such Debt Securities shall, notwithstanding any payment in any other Currency (whether pursuant to a judgment or otherwise), be discharged only to the extent of the amount in

 

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the Designated Currency that the Holder receiving such payment may, in accordance with normal banking procedures, purchase with the sum paid in such other Currency (after any premium and cost of exchange) on the business day in the country of issue of the Designated Currency or in the international banking community (in the case of a composite currency) immediately following the day on which such Holder receives such payment; (c) if the amount in the Designated Currency that may be so purchased for any reason falls short of the amount originally due, the Company shall pay such additional amounts as may be necessary to compensate for such shortfall; and (d) any obligation of the Company not discharged by such payment shall be due as a separate and independent obligation and, until discharged as provided herein, shall continue in full force and effect.

Section 2.19.    CUSIP Numbers. The Company in issuing the Debt Securities may use “CUSIP” numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee may use “CUSIP” numbers in notices as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Debt Securities or as contained in any notice and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Debt Securities, and any such notice shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee of any change in the “CUSIP” numbers.

ARTICLE III

Redemption of Debt Securities

Section 3.01.    Applicability of Article. The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to the Debt Securities of any series which are redeemable before their Stated Maturity except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.03 for Debt Securities of such series.

Section 3.02.    Notice of Redemption; Selection of Debt Securities. In case the Company shall desire to exercise the right to redeem all or, as the case may be, any part of the Debt Securities of any series in accordance with their terms, a resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company or a supplemental Indenture, the Company shall fix a date for redemption and shall give notice of such redemption at least 15 and not more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for redemption to the Holders of Debt Securities of such series so to be redeemed as a whole or in part, in the manner provided in Section 12.03 and to the Trustee. Upon the Company’s request, at least 15 days prior to the date notice of redemption is to be delivered (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee) together with the notice to be given, notice of redemption shall be given by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company. The notice if given in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the Holder receives such notice. In any case, failure to give such notice or any defect in the notice to the Holder of any Debt Security of a series designated for redemption as a whole or in part shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Debt Security of such series. If the redemption price is not known at the time such notice is to be given, the actual redemption price, calculated as described in the terms of the Debt Securities, will be set forth in an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Trustee no later than two Business Days prior to the date fixed for redemption and the calculation of any such redemption price shall not be an obligation of the Trustee. Any notice to the Trustee pursuant to this Section 3.02 may be canceled at any time prior to the mailing or

 

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sending of the notice of redemption to any Holder of the Debt Securities of such series and shall thereupon be void and of no effect. A redemption or notice thereof may be subject to one or more conditions precedent, including, but not limited to, completion of a corporate transaction that is pending (such as an equity or equity-linked offering, an incurrence of indebtedness or an acquisition or other strategic transaction involving a change of control in us or another entity).

Each such notice of redemption shall identify the Debt Securities, specify the date fixed for redemption, the redemption price at which Debt Securities of such series are to be redeemed, the Place or Places of Payment that payment will be made upon presentation and surrender of such Debt Securities and the paying agent, that any interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption will be paid as specified in said notice, that the redemption is for a sinking fund payment (if applicable), that on and after said date unless the Company defaults any interest thereon or on the portions thereof to be redeemed will cease to accrue, that in the case of Original Issue Discount Debt Securities original issue discount accrued after the date fixed for redemption will cease to accrue, the terms of the Debt Securities of that series pursuant to which the Debt Securities of that series are being redeemed, whether the redemption is subject to one or more conditions precedent and describe each such condition, and state that such notice may be rescinded in the event that any or all such conditions shall not have been satisfied or otherwise waived on or prior to the Business Day immediately preceding the relevant redemption date, the CUSIP number and that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of the CUSIP number, if any, listed in such notice or printed on the Debt Securities of that series. In case any Debt Security of a series is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed and shall state that on and after the date fixed for redemption, upon surrender of such Debt Security, a new Debt Security or Debt Securities of that series in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof will be issued or transferred by book entry.

At least five Business Days before notice of redemption is to be given, unless the Trustee consents to a shorter period, the Company shall give notice to the Trustee of the redemption date, the principal amount of Debt Securities to be redeemed and the series and terms of the Debt Securities pursuant to which such redemption will occur. Such notice shall be accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel from the Company to the effect that such redemption will comply with the conditions herein. If fewer than all the Debt Securities of a series are to be redeemed, the record date relating to such redemption shall be selected by the Company and given to the Trustee, which record date shall be not less than 10 days after the date of notice to the Trustee.

On or prior to noon Eastern Time on the redemption date for any Registered Securities, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or with a paying agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own paying agent, segregate and hold in trust) an amount of money in the Currency in which such Debt Securities are denominated (except as provided pursuant to Section 2.03) sufficient to pay the redemption price of such Registered Securities or any portions thereof that are to be redeemed on that date.

If less than all the Debt Securities of like tenor and terms of a series are to be redeemed (other than pursuant to mandatory sinking fund redemptions), and the Debt Securities are Global Securities, they will be selected for redemption in accordance with Applicable Procedures. If the Debt Securities are not Global Securities, the Trustee shall select, in such manner as in its sole discretion it shall deem appropriate and fair, the Debt Securities of that series or portions thereof (in multiples of $1,000) to be redeemed. In any case where more than one Registered Security of such series is registered in the same name, the Trustee in its discretion may treat the aggregate principal amount so registered as if it were represented by one Registered Security of such series.

 

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The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the Debt Securities selected for redemption and, in the case of any Debt Securities selected for partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed. If any Debt Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof on such redemption date, the principal, premium, if any, and interest shall bear interest until paid from the redemption date at the rate borne by the Debt Securities of that series. If less than all the Debt Securities of unlike tenor and terms of a series are to be redeemed, the particular Debt Securities to be redeemed shall be selected by the Company. Provisions of this Indenture that apply to Debt Securities called for redemption also apply to portions of Debt Securities called for redemption.

Section 3.03.    Payment of Debt Securities Called for Redemption. If notice of redemption has been given as provided in Section 3.02, the Debt Securities or portions of Debt Securities of the series with respect to which such notice has been given shall become due and payable on the date and at the Place or Places of Payment stated in such notice at the applicable redemption price, together with any interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption, and on and after said date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of such Debt Securities at the applicable redemption price, together with any interest accrued to said date) any interest on the Debt Securities or portions of Debt Securities of any series so called for redemption shall cease to accrue and any original issue discount in the case of Original Issue Discount Debt Securities shall cease to accrue. On presentation and surrender of such Debt Securities at the Place or Places of Payment in said notice specified, the said Debt Securities or the specified portions thereof shall be paid and redeemed by the Company at the applicable redemption price, together with any interest accrued thereon to the date fixed for redemption.

Any Debt Security that is to be redeemed only in part shall be surrendered at the corporate trust office or such other office or agency of the Company as is specified pursuant to Section 2.03 with, if the Company, the Registrar or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company, the Registrar and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver or transfer by book entry to the Holder of such Debt Security without service charge, a new Debt Security or Debt Securities of the same series, of like tenor and form, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Debt Security so surrendered; except that if a Global Security is so surrendered, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Depositary for such Global Security, without service charge, a new Global Security in a denomination equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Global Security so surrendered. In the case of a Debt Security providing appropriate space for such notation, at the option of the Holder thereof, the Trustee, in lieu of delivering a new Debt Security or Debt Securities as aforesaid, may make a notation on such Debt Security of the payment of the redeemed portion thereof.

Section 3.04.    Mandatory and Optional Sinking Funds. The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of Debt Securities of any series, resolution of the Board of Directors or a supplemental Indenture 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 Debt Securities of any series, resolution of the Board of Directors or a supplemental Indenture is herein referred to as an “optional sinking fund payment”.

 

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In lieu of making all or any part of any mandatory sinking fund payment with respect to any Debt Securities of a series in cash, the Company may at its option (a) deliver to the Trustee Debt Securities of that series theretofore purchased or otherwise acquired by the Company or (b) receive credit for the principal amount of Debt Securities of that series which have been redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such Debt Securities or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the terms of such Debt Securities, resolution or supplemental Indenture; provided, that such Debt Securities have not been previously so credited. Such Debt Securities shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the redemption price specified in such Debt Securities, resolution or supplemental Indenture for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such mandatory sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly.

Section 3.05.    Redemption of Debt Securities for Sinking Fund. Not less than 45 days (unless a shorter period shall be satisfactory to the Trustee) prior to each sinking fund payment date for any series of Debt Securities, the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing sinking fund payment for that series pursuant to the terms of that series, any resolution or supplemental Indenture, the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash in the Currency in which the Debt Securities of such series are denominated (except as provided pursuant to Section 2.03) and the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting Debt Securities of that series pursuant to this Section (which Debt Securities, if not previously redeemed, will accompany such certificate) and whether the Company intends to exercise its right to make any permitted optional sinking fund payment with respect to such series. Such certificate shall also state that no Event of Default has occurred (which has not been waived or cured) and is continuing with respect to such series. Such certificate shall be irrevocable and upon its delivery the Company shall be obligated to make the cash payment or payments therein referred to, if any, on or before the next succeeding sinking fund payment date. Failure of the Company to deliver such certificate (or to deliver the Debt Securities specified in this paragraph) shall not constitute a Default, but such failure shall require that the sinking fund payment due on the next succeeding sinking fund payment date for that series shall be paid entirely in cash and shall be sufficient to redeem the principal amount of such Debt Securities subject to a mandatory sinking fund payment without the option to deliver or credit Debt Securities as provided in this Section 3.05 and without the right to make any optional sinking fund payment, if any, with respect to such series.

Any sinking fund payment or payments (mandatory, optional or both) made in cash plus any unused balance of any preceding sinking fund payments made in cash which shall equal or exceed $100,000 (or a lesser amount if the Company shall so request) with respect to the Debt Securities of any particular series shall be applied by the Trustee on the sinking fund payment date on which such payment is made (or, if such payment is made before a sinking fund payment date, on the next succeeding sinking fund payment date following the date of such payment) to the redemption of such Debt Securities at the redemption price specified in such Debt Securities, resolution or supplemental Indenture for operation of the sinking fund together with any accrued interest to the date fixed for redemption. Any sinking fund moneys not so applied or allocated by the Trustee to the redemption of Debt Securities shall be added to the next cash sinking fund payment received by the Trustee for such series and, together with such payment, shall be applied in accordance with the provisions of this Section 3.05. Any and all sinking fund moneys with respect to the Debt Securities of any particular series held by the Trustee on the last sinking fund

 

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payment date with respect to Debt Securities of such series and not held for the payment or redemption of particular Debt Securities shall be applied by the Trustee, together with other moneys, if necessary, to be deposited sufficient for the purpose, to the payment of the principal of the Debt Securities of that series at its Stated Maturity.

The Trustee shall select the Debt Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in the last paragraph of Section 3.02 and the Company shall cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the manner provided in Section 3.02 except that the notice of redemption shall also state that the Debt Securities are being redeemed by operation of the sinking fund. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Debt Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Section 3.03.

At least one Business Day before each sinking fund payment date, the Company shall pay to the Trustee or shall otherwise provide funds available on such date for the payment (or, if the Company is acting as its own paying agent, the Company shall segregate and hold in trust) in cash a sum in the Currency in which the Debt Securities of such series are denominated (except as provided pursuant to Section 2.03) equal to any interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption of Debt Securities or portions thereof to be redeemed on such sinking fund payment date pursuant to this Section 3.05.

The Trustee shall not redeem or caused to be redeemed any Debt Securities of a series with sinking fund moneys or mail, send or publish any notice of redemption of such Debt Securities by operation of the sinking fund for such series during the continuance of a Default in payment of interest on such Debt Securities or of any Event of Default (other than an Event of Default occurring as a consequence of this paragraph) with respect to such Debt Securities, except that if the notice of redemption of any such Debt Securities shall theretofore have been mailed or sent in accordance with the provisions hereof, the Trustee shall redeem or cause to be redeemed such Debt Securities if cash sufficient for that purpose shall be deposited with the Trustee for that purpose in accordance with the terms of this Article III. Except as aforesaid, any moneys in the sinking fund for such series at the time when any such Default or Event of Default shall occur and any moneys thereafter paid into such sinking fund shall, during the continuance of such Default or Event of Default, be held as security for the payment of such Debt Securities; provided, however, that in case such Event of Default or Default shall have been cured or waived as provided herein, such moneys shall thereafter be applied on the next sinking fund payment date for such Debt Securities on which such moneys may be applied pursuant to the provisions of this Section 3.05.

ARTICLE IV

Particular Covenants of the Company

Section 4.01.    Payment of Principal of, and Premium, if any, and Interest on, Debt Securities. The Company, for the benefit of each series of Debt Securities, will duly and punctually pay or cause to be paid the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, each of the Debt Securities at the place, at the respective times and in the manner provided herein and in the Debt Securities. Each installment of interest on the Debt Securities may at the Company’s option be paid by mailing checks for such interest payable to the Person entitled thereto pursuant to Section 2.07(a) to the address of such Person as it appears on the Debt Security Register. The Company

 

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shall be responsible for making calculations called for under the Debt Securities, including but not limited to, determination of redemption price, premium, if any, and any additional amounts or other amounts payable on the Debt Securities. The Company will make the calculations in good faith and, absent manifest error, its calculations will be final and binding on the Holders. The Company will provide a schedule of its calculations to the Trustee when requested by the Trustee, and the Trustee is entitled to rely conclusively on the accuracy of the Company’s calculations without independent verification. The Trustee shall forward the Company’s calculations to any Holder of the Notes upon the written request of such Holder.

Principal, premium and interest of Debt Securities of any series shall be considered paid on the date due if by noon Eastern Time on such date the Trustee or any paying agent holds in accordance with this Indenture money sufficient to pay in the Currency in which the Debt Securities of such series are denominated (except as provided pursuant to Section 2.03) all principal, premium and interest then due.

The Company shall pay interest on overdue principal at the rate specified therefor in the Debt Securities and it shall pay interest on overdue installments of interest at the same rate to the extent lawful.

Section 4.02.    Maintenance of Offices or Agencies for Registration of Transfer, Exchange and Payment of Debt Securities. So long as any of the Debt Securities remain outstanding, the Company will maintain in each Place of Payment for any series of Debt Securities, an office or agency (which may be an office of the Trustee, the Registrar or the paying agent) where Debt Securities of such series may be presented or surrendered for payment, where Debt Securities of such series may be surrendered for transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Debt Securities of such series and this Indenture may be served.

The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all presentations, surrenders, notices and demands. The Company may also from time to time designate different or additional offices or agencies to be maintained for such purposes (in or outside of such Place of Payment), and may from time to time rescind any such designation; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligations described in the preceding paragraph. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such additional designation or rescission of designation and any change in the location of any such different or additional office or agency.

Section 4.03.    Appointment to Fill a Vacancy in the 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 with respect to each series of Debt Securities.

 

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Section 4.04.    Duties of Paying Agents, etc.

(a)    The Company shall cause each paying agent, if any, other than the Trustee, 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 4.04,

(i)    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 Debt Securities of any series (whether such sums have been paid to it by the Company or by any other obligor on the Debt Securities of such series) in trust for the benefit of the Holders of the Debt Securities of such series;

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

(iii)    that it will at any time during the continuance of an Event of Default, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so held by it as such agent.

(b)    If the Company shall act as its own paying agent, it will, on or before each due date of the principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on, the Debt Securities if any, of any series, set aside, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Holders of the Debt Securities of such series a sum sufficient to pay such principal, premium, if any, or interest so becoming due. The Company will promptly notify the Trustee of any failure by the Company to take such action or the failure by any other obligor on such Debt Securities to make any payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on, such Debt Securities when the same shall be due and payable.

(c)    Anything in this Section 4.04 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company may, at any time, for the purpose of obtaining a satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, or for any other reason, pay or cause to be paid to the Trustee all sums held in trust by it or any paying agent, as required by this Section 4.04, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the same trusts as those upon which such sums were held by the Company or such paying agent.

(d)    Whenever the Company shall have one or more paying agents with respect to any series of Debt Securities, it will, prior to each due date of the principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on, any Debt Securities of such series, deposit with any such paying agent a sum sufficient to pay the principal, premium or interest so becoming due, such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto, and (unless any such paying agent is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.

(e)    Anything in this Section 4.04 to the contrary notwithstanding, the agreement to hold sums in trust as provided in this Section 4.04 is subject to the provisions of Section 11.05.

(f)    If the Company fails to appoint or maintain another entity as paying agent, the Company shall act as such or, if the Trustee consents, the Trustee shall act as such. The Company initially appoints the Trustee as paying agent.

 

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Section 4.05.    Statement by Officers as to Default. The Company will deliver to the Trustee, on or before a date not more than four months after the end of each fiscal year of the Company a statement complying with Section 314(a)(4) of the Trust Indenture Act signed by an Officer of the Company, which need not constitute an Officers’ Certificate, stating (i) that a review of the activities of the Company during such year and of the Company’s performance under this Indenture and under the terms of the debt securities has been made under his or her supervision, (ii) whether or not, to the best of his or her knowledge, the Company was in compliance with all conditions and covenants under this Indenture during such year and (iii) if, to the best of his or her knowledge, the Company is in Default, specifying all such Defaults known to such Officer and the nature and status thereof.

Section 4.06.    Existence. Subject to Article X, the Company will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its existence.

Section 4.07.    Further Instruments and Acts. The Company will, upon request of the Trustee, execute and deliver such further instruments and do such further acts as may reasonably be necessary or proper to carry out more effectually the purposes of this Indenture.

ARTICLE V

Holders’ Lists and Reports by the Company and the Trustee

Section 5.01.    Company to Furnish Trustee Information as to Names and Addresses of Holders; Preservation of Information. The Company covenants and agrees that it will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee with respect to the Registered Securities of each series:

(a)    semiannually, not more than 15 days after each regular record date with respect to the payment of interest, if any, a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Registered Holders as of such record date, 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 as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list is furnished;

provided, however, that so long as the Trustee shall be the Registrar, such lists shall not be required to be furnished.

The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, all information as to the names and addresses of the Holders (1) contained in the most recent list furnished to it as provided in this Section 5.01 or (2) received by it in the capacity of paying agent or Registrar (if so acting) hereunder.

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

Section 5.02.    Communications to Holders. The Trustee shall comply with Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act. Holders may communicate pursuant to Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Debt Securities. The Company, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of Section 312(c) of the Trust Indenture Act.

 

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Section 5.03.    Reports by Company.

(a)    The Company covenants and agrees, and any obligor hereunder shall covenant and agree, so long as any of the Debt Securities remain outstanding, to file with the Trustee and the Holders (to the extent and in the manner of delivery provided for in the second paragraph of Section 5.04), within 15 days after the Company or such obligor, as the case may be, is required to file the same with the Securities and Exchange 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 said Commission may from time to time by rules and regulations prescribe) which the Company or such obligor, as the case may be, may be required to file with said Commission pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act; or, if the Company or such obligor, as the case may be, is not required to file information, documents or reports pursuant to either of such Sections, then to file with the Trustee and the Holders (to the extent and in the manner of delivery provided for in the second paragraph of Section 5.04) and said Commission, in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by said Commission, such of the supplementary and periodic information, documents and reports which 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. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent the Company files the information, documents and reports referred to in this Section 5.03 with said Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval (“EDGAR”) system or such other publicly available electronic filing medium established by said Commission, such information, documents and reports shall be deemed to be filed with the Trustee and the Holders as of such time such information, documents or reports are filed or furnished via EDGAR. The Trustee shall have no obligation to determine whether or not such information, documents or reports have been filed through the EDGAR filing system (or such successor thereto). Delivery of such statements, reports, notices and other information and documents to the Trustee pursuant to any of the provisions of this Section 5.03 is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officers’ Certificates and certificates provided pursuant to Section 4.05).

(b)    The Company covenants and agrees, and any obligor hereunder shall covenant and agree, to file with the Trustee, the Holders (in the manner and to the extent provided in Section 5.04) and the Securities and Exchange Commission, in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by said Commission, such additional information, documents, and reports with respect to compliance by the Company or such obligor, as the case may be, with the conditions and covenants provided for in this Indenture as may be required from time to time by such rules and regulations.

Section 5.04.    Reports by Trustee. Within 45 days after the end of each calendar year, beginning with the calendar year immediately following the date of this Indenture, for as long as the Debt Securities remain Outstanding, the Trustee shall mail or send to each Holder a brief report dated as of such reporting date that complies with Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, except

 

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that no such report need be mailed or sent if no event under Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act has occurred within such calendar year. The Trustee also shall comply with Section 313(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.

Reports pursuant to this Section 5.04 shall be transmitted by mail, or sent to a Depositary pursuant to Applicable Procedures:

(1)    to all Registered Holders, as the names and addresses of such Holders appear in the Debt Security Register;

(2)    to all Holders who have, within the two (2) years preceding such transmission, filed their names and addresses with the Trustee for that purpose; and

(3)    except in the cases of reports under Section 313(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act, to each holder of a Debt Security of any series whose name and address appear in the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with Section 5.01.

A copy of each report at the time of its mailing or sending to Holders shall be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and each stock exchange (if any) on which the Debt Securities of any series are listed. The Company agrees to notify promptly the Trustee whenever the Debt Securities of any series become listed on any stock exchange and of any delisting thereof.

Section 5.05.    Record Dates for Action by Holders. If the Company shall solicit from the Holders of Debt Securities of any series any action (including the making of any demand or request, the giving of any direction, notice, consent or waiver or the taking of any other action), the Company may, at its option, by resolution of the Board of Directors, fix in advance a record date for the determination of Holders of Debt Securities entitled to take such action, but the Company shall have no obligation to do so.

Any such record date shall be fixed at the Company’s discretion. If such a record date is fixed, such action may be sought or given before or after the record date, but only the Holders of Debt Securities of record at the close of business on such record date shall be deemed to be Holders of Debt Securities for the purpose of determining whether Holders of the requisite proportion of Debt Securities of such series Outstanding have authorized or agreed or consented to such action, and for that purpose the Debt Securities of such series Outstanding shall be computed as of such record date.

ARTICLE VI

Remedies of the Trustee and Holders in Event of Default

Section 6.01.    Events of Default. If any one or more of the following shall have occurred and be continuing with respect to Debt Securities of any series (each of the following, an “Event of Default”):

(a)    default in the payment of any installment of interest upon any Debt Securities of that series as and when the same shall become due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days; or

 

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(b)    default in the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, on any Debt Securities of that series as and when the same shall become due and payable, whether at maturity, upon redemption, by declaration, upon required purchase or otherwise; or

(c)    default in the payment of any sinking fund payment with respect to any Debt Securities of that series as and when the same shall become due and payable and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days; or

(d)    failure on the part of the Company to comply with any of the covenants or agreements on the part of the Company in the Debt Securities of that series, in any resolution of the Board of Directors authorizing the issuance of that series of Debt Securities, in this Indenture with respect to such series or in any supplemental Indenture with respect to such series (other than a covenant a default in the performance of which is elsewhere in this Section specifically dealt with), continuing for a period of 90 days after the date on which written notice specifying such failure and requiring the Company to remedy the same shall have been given, by registered or certified mail or overnight courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of that series at the time Outstanding; or

(e)    the Company shall (i) voluntarily commence any proceeding or file any petition seeking relief under Title 11 of the United States Code or any other Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law, (ii) consent to the institution of, or fail to controvert within the time and in the manner prescribed by law, any such proceeding or the filing of any such petition, (iii) apply for or consent to the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator or similar official for the Company or for a substantial part of its property, (iv) file an answer admitting the material allegations of a petition filed against it in any such proceeding, (v) make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors, (vi) admit in writing its inability or fail generally to pay its debts as they become due or (vii) take any comparable action under any foreign laws relating to insolvency; or

(f)    the entry of an order or decree by a court having competent jurisdiction for (i) relief in respect of the Company or a substantial part of its property under Title 11 or the United States Code or any other Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law, (ii) the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator or similar official for the Company or for a substantial part of its property or (iii) the winding-up or liquidation of the Company; and such order or decree shall continue unstayed and in effect for 90 consecutive days; or any similar relief is granted under any foreign laws and the order or decree stays in effect for 90 consecutive days; or

(g)    any other Event of Default provided with respect to Debt Securities of that series,

then and in each and every case that an Event of Default described in clause (a), (b), (c), (d) or (g) with respect to Debt Securities of that series at the time Outstanding occurs and is continuing, unless the principal of and interest on all the Debt 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 Debt Securities of that series then Outstanding hereunder, by notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Holders), may declare the principal of (or, if the Debt Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Debt Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of that series) and interest on all the Debt

 

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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, anything in this Indenture or in the Debt Securities of that series contained to the contrary notwithstanding. If an Event of Default described in clause (e) or (f) occurs, then and in each and every such case, unless the principal of and interest on all the Debt Securities shall have become due and payable, the principal of (or, if any Debt Securities are Original Issue Discount Debt Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms thereto) and interest on all the Debt Securities then Outstanding hereunder shall IPSO FACTO become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holders, anything in this Indenture or in the Debt Securities contained to the contrary notwithstanding.

The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Debt Securities of a particular series by notice to the Trustee may rescind an acceleration (including acceleration as specified in clause (e) and (f)) and its consequences if the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree already rendered and if all existing Events of Default have been cured or waived except nonpayment of principal or interest that has become due solely because of acceleration and the Company has paid the Trustee its compensation and all sums paid or advanced by the Trustee hereunder and the reasonable and documented out-of-pocket compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel. Upon any such rescission, the parties hereto shall be restored respectively to their several positions and rights hereunder, and all rights, remedies and powers of the parties hereto shall continue as though no proceeding had been taken.

In case the Trustee or any Holder shall have proceeded to enforce any right 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 or such Holder, then and in every such case the parties hereto shall be restored respectively to their several positions and rights hereunder and all rights, remedies and powers of the parties hereto shall continue as though no such proceeding had been taken.

The foregoing Events of Default shall constitute Events of Default whatever the reason for any such Event of Default and whether is voluntary or involuntary or is effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body, unless such Event of Default is either inapplicable to a particular series or it is specifically deleted or modified in the supplemental indenture creating such series of Debt Securities or in the form of Debt Security for such series.

Section 6.02.    Collection of Indebtedness by Trustee, etc. If an Event of Default 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 or enforce the performance of any provision of the Debt Securities of the affected series or this Indenture, and may prosecute any such action or proceedings to judgment or final decree, and may enforce any such judgment or final decree against the Company or any other obligor upon the Debt Securities of such series (and collect in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or any other obligor upon the Debt Securities of such series, wherever situated, the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable) and such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable and documented compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.

 

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In case there shall be pending proceedings for the bankruptcy or for the reorganization of the Company or any other obligor upon the Debt Securities of any series under Title 11 of the United States Code or any other Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law, or in case a receiver, trustee or other similar official shall have been appointed for its property, or in case of any other similar judicial proceedings relative to the Company or any other obligor upon the Debt Securities of any series, its creditors or its property, the Trustee, irrespective of whether the principal of Debt Securities of any series shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand pursuant to the provisions of this Section 6.02, shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceedings or otherwise, to file and prove a claim or claims for the whole amount of principal, premium, if any, and interest (or, if the Debt Securities of such series are Original Issue Discount Debt Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of such series) owing and unpaid in respect of the Debt Securities of such series, and to file such other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for reasonable compensation to the Trustee, its agents, attorneys and counsel, and for reimbursement of all expenses and liabilities Incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee except as a result of its negligence or willful misconduct as finally adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction) and of the Holders thereof allowed in any such judicial proceedings relative to the Company, or any other obligor upon the Debt Securities of such series, its creditors or its property, and to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims, and to distribute all amounts received with respect to the claims of such Holders and of the Trustee on their behalf, and any receiver, assignee or trustee in bankruptcy or reorganization is hereby authorized by each of such Holders to make payments to the Trustee, and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of payments directly to such Holders, to pay to the Trustee such amount as shall be sufficient to cover reasonable compensation to the Trustee, its agents, attorneys and counsel, and all other reasonable expenses and liabilities Incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee except as a result of its negligence or willful misconduct as finally adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction. To the extent that the payment of any such compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.06 hereof out of the estate in any such proceeding, shall be unpaid for any reason, payment of the same shall be secured by a lien on, and shall be paid out of, any and all distributions, dividends, money, securities and other properties that the Holders may be entitled to receive in such proceeding whether in liquidation or under any plan of reorganization or arrangement or otherwise. The Trustee may, on behalf of the Holders, vote for the election of a trustee in bankruptcy or similar official and be a member of a creditors’ committee or other similar committee. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Notes or the rights of any Holder, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.

All rights of action and of asserting claims under this Indenture, or under any of the Debt Securities appertaining thereto, of any series, may be enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any such Debt Securities or the production thereof in any trial or other proceedings

 

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relative thereto, and any such action or proceedings instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment (except for any amounts payable to the Trustee pursuant to Section 7.06) shall be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of all the Debt Securities in respect of which such action was taken.

In case an Event of Default hereunder had occurred and is continuing, 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.

Section 6.03.    Application of Moneys Collected by Trustee. Any moneys or other property collected by the Trustee pursuant to Section 6.02 with respect to Debt Securities of any series, and after an Event of Default, any money or other property distributable in respect of the Company’s obligations under this Indenture, shall, after payment of the reasonable, documented costs and expenses relating to the collection of such moneys or property and of the reasonable, documented expenses, liabilities and advances owing to or incurred or made by the Trustee, including reasonable attorneys’ and agents’ fees and expenses, be applied in the order following, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee for the distribution of such moneys or other property, upon presentation of the several Debt Securities of such series in respect of which moneys or other property have been collected, and the notation thereon of the payment, if only partially paid, and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:

FIRST: To the payment of all money due the Trustee pursuant to Section 7.06;

SECOND: In case the principal of the Outstanding Debt Securities in respect of which such moneys have been collected shall not have become due, to the payment of interest on the Debt Securities of such series in the order of the maturity of the installments of such interest, with interest (to the extent that such interest has been collected by the Trustee) upon the overdue installments of interest at the rate or Yield to Maturity (in the case of Original Issue Discount Debt Securities) borne by the Debt Securities of such series, such payments to be made ratably to the Persons entitled thereto, without discrimination or preference;

THIRD: In case the principal of the Outstanding Debt Securities in respect of which such moneys have been collected shall have become due, by declaration or otherwise, to the payment of the whole amount then owing and unpaid upon the Debt Securities of such series for principal and premium, if any, and interest, with interest on the overdue principal and premium, if any, and (to the extent that such interest has been collected by the Trustee) upon overdue installments of interest at the rate or Yield to Maturity (in the case of Original Issue Discount Debt Securities) borne by the Debt Securities of such series; and, in case such moneys shall be insufficient to pay in full the whole amount so due and unpaid upon the Debt Securities of such series, then to the payment of such principal and premium, if any, and interest, without preference or priority of principal and premium, if any, over interest, or of interest over principal and premium, if any, or of any installment of interest

 

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over any other installment of interest, or of any Debt Security of such series over any Debt Security of such series, ratably to the aggregate of such principal and premium, if any, and interest; and

FOURTH: The remainder, if any, shall be paid to the Company, its successors or assigns, or to whomsoever may be lawfully entitled to receive the same, or as a court of competent jurisdiction may direct.

The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Holders pursuant to this Section 6.03. If the Trustee has given the Company notice of such record date and payment date and the amount to be paid to each Holder at least 30 days before such record date, then at least 15 days before such record date, the Company shall mail or send to each Holder and the Trustee a notice that states the record date, the payment date and amount to be paid.

Section 6.04.    Limitation on Suits by Holders. No Holder of any Debt Security of any series shall have any right by virtue or by availing of any provision of this Indenture to institute any action or proceeding at law or in equity or in bankruptcy or otherwise, 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 such Holder previously shall have given to the Trustee written notice of an Event of Default with respect to Debt Securities of that same series and of the continuance thereof and unless the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of that series shall have made written request upon the Trustee to institute such action or proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in its own name as Trustee hereunder and shall have offered to the Trustee such security or indemnity as it may require against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be Incurred therein or thereby, and the Trustee, for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of security or indemnity shall have failed to institute any such action or proceedings and no direction inconsistent with such written request shall have been given to the Trustee pursuant to Section 6.06; it being understood and intended, and being expressly covenanted by the Holder of every Debt Security with every other Holder and the Trustee, that no one or more Holders shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue or by availing of any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other Holders, or to obtain or seek to obtain priority over or preference to any other Holders, or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal, ratable and common benefit of all such Holders. For the protection and enforcement of the provisions of this Section 6.04, each and every Holder and the Trustee shall be entitled to such relief as can be given either at law or in equity.

Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, however, the right of any Holder of any Debt Security to receive payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and (subject to Section 2.12) interest on, such Debt Security on or after the respective due dates expressed in such Debt Security, and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder.

Section 6.05.    Remedies Cumulative; Delay or Omission in Exercise of Rights Not a Waiver of Default. All powers and remedies given by this Article VI to the Trustee or to the Holders shall, to the extent permitted by law, be deemed cumulative and not exclusive of any thereof or of any other powers and remedies available to the Trustee or the Holders, by judicial

 

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proceedings or otherwise, to enforce the performance or observance of the covenants and agreements contained in this Indenture, and no delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder 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 Event of Default or an acquiescence therein; and, subject to the provisions of Section 6.04, every power and remedy given by this Article VI or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as shall be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders.

Section 6.06.    Rights of Holders of Majority in Principal Amount of Debt Securities to Direct Trustee and to Waive Default. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of any series at the time Outstanding shall have the right to direct the time, method, and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee, with respect to the Debt Securities of such series; provided, however, that such direction shall not be otherwise than in accordance with law and the provisions of this Indenture, and that subject to the provisions of Section 7.01, the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee being advised by counsel shall determine that the action so directed may not lawfully be taken, or if the Trustee shall by a Responsible Officer or Officers determine that the action so directed would involve it in personal liability or would be unjustly prejudicial to Holders of Debt Securities of such series not taking part in such direction (it being understood that the Trustee does not have an affirmative duty to ascertain whether or not any such directions are unduly prejudicial to such Holders); and provided, further, however, that nothing in this Indenture contained shall impair the right of the Trustee to take any action deemed proper by the Trustee and which is not inconsistent with such direction by such Holders.

Prior to the acceleration of the maturity of the Debt Securities of any series, as provided in Section 6.01, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of that series at the time Outstanding may on behalf of the Holders of all the Debt Securities of that series waive any past Default or Event of Default and its consequences for that series specified in the terms thereof as contemplated by Section 2.03, except (i) a Default in the payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on, any of such Debt Securities and (ii) a Default in respect of a provision that under Section 9.02 cannot be amended without the consent of each Holder affected thereby. In case of any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist, any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured for every purpose of this Indenture, and the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Debt Securities of that 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.    Trustee to Give Notice of Defaults Known to it, but may Withhold Such Notice in Certain Circumstances. The Trustee shall, within 90 days after the occurrence of a Default actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee with respect to a series of Debt Securities, give to the Holders thereof, in the manner provided in Section 12.03, notice of all Defaults with respect to such series so known to the Trustee, unless such Defaults shall have been cured or waived before the giving of such notice; provided, that, except in the case of Default in the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, any of the Debt Securities of such series or in the making of any sinking fund or purchase fund payment with respect to the Debt

 

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Securities of such series, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the board of directors, the executive committee or a committee of directors or Responsible Officers of the Trustee in good faith determine that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Holders thereof.

Section 6.08.    Requirement of an Undertaking to Pay Costs in Certain Suits Under the Indenture or Against the Trustee. All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Debt Security by his acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit in the manner and to the extent provided in the Trust Indenture Act, 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 6.08 shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Holder, or group of Holders, holding in the aggregate more than ten percent in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of that series or to any suit instituted by any Holder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, any Debt Security on or after the due date for such payment expressed in such Debt Security.

ARTICLE VII

Concerning the Trustee

Section 7.01.    Certain Duties and Responsibilities. The Trustee, prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default which may have occurred, undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture. In case an Event of Default has occurred (which has not been cured or waived), the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent man would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs.

No provision of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve the Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that:

(a)    this subsection shall not be construed to limit the effect of Section 7.01(b)(1) and the first paragraph of this Section 7.01;

(b)    prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the Debt Securities of a series and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default with respect to such series which may have occurred:

(1)    the duties and obligations of the Trustee with respect to Debt Securities of any series shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture, and the Trustee shall not be liable except for the performance of such duties and obligations with respect to such series as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants or obligations with respect to such series shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and

 

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(2)    in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Trustee, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon any certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; but 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 shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture (but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of any mathematical calculations or other facts stated therein);

(c)    the Trustee shall not be liable for an error of judgment made in good faith by a responsible officer, unless it shall be proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and

(d)    the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it with respect to Debt Securities of any series in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of that series relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this Indenture with respect to Debt Securities of such series.

None of the provisions of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any personal financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if there shall be reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it. The Trustee shall not be required to give any bond or surety in respect of the performance of its powers or duties hereunder. The permissive rights or powers of the Trustee to do things enumerated in this Indenture shall not be construed as a duty of the Trustee.

Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section.

Section 7.02.    Certain Rights of Trustee. Except as otherwise provided in Section 7.01:

(a)    the Trustee may rely and shall be fully protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document (whether in its original or facsimile form) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties;

(b)    any request, direction, order or demand of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Company Order (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed); and any resolution of the Board of Directors may be evidenced to the Trustee by a copy thereof certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company;

(c)    the Trustee may consult with counsel, and the advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken or suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with such advice or Opinion of Counsel;

 

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(d)    the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request, order or direction of any of the Holders of Debt Securities of any series pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities which may be Incurred therein or thereby;

(e)    the Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted by it in good faith and reasonably believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture;

(f)    prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default and after the curing or waiver of all Events of Default which may have occurred, the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, approval or other paper or document, unless requested in writing to do so by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Debt Securities of a series affected by such matter pursuant to Section 6.06; provided, however, that if the payment within a reasonable time to the Trustee of the costs, expenses or liabilities likely to be incurred by it in the making of such investigation is not, in the opinion of the Trustee, reasonably assured to the Trustee by the security afforded to it by the terms of this Indenture, the Trustee may require security or indemnity satisfactory to it against such costs, expenses or liabilities as a condition to so proceeding. The reasonable expense of every such investigation shall be paid by the Company or, if paid by the Trustee, shall be repaid by the Company upon demand and the Trustee shall incur no liability or additional liability of any kind by reason of such inquiry or investigation;

(g)    the Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents or attorneys and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed by it with due care hereunder;

(h)    if any property other than cash shall at any time be subject to a Lien in favor of the Holders, the Trustee, if and to the extent authorized by a receivership or bankruptcy court of competent jurisdiction or by the supplemental instrument subjecting such property to such Lien, shall be entitled to make advances for the purpose of preserving such property or of discharging tax Liens or other prior Liens or encumbrances thereon;

(i)    the Trustee shall not be required to take notice or be deemed to have notice of any Default or Event of Default hereunder unless a Responsible Officer has actual knowledge thereof or the Trustee shall be specifically notified in writing of such Default or Event of Default by the Company or by the Holders of at least 25% of the aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of the applicable series by written notice of such event sent to the Trustee in accordance with Section 12.03, and such notice references the Debt Securities and this Indenture;

 

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(j)    the rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including without limitation, its right to be compensated, reimbursed, and indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, each Agent, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, and to each agent, custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder;

(k)    in no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its control, including, without limitation, strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software and hardware) services, or other unavailability of the Federal Reserve Bank wire or facsimile or other wire or communication facility; it being understood that the Trustee shall use reasonable efforts which are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances;

(l)    in no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for any 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; and

(m)    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 furnish the Trustee with Officers’ Certificates, Company Orders and any other matters or directions pursuant to this Indenture.

Section 7.03.    Trustee Not Liable for Recitals in Indenture or in Debt Securities. The recitals contained herein and in the Debt Securities (except the Trustee’s certificate of authentication) shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and the Trustee makes no representation as to and assumes no responsibility for the correctness of the same. The Trustee makes no representations as to and shall not be responsible for the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Debt Securities of any series, except that the Trustee represents that it is duly authorized to execute and deliver this Indenture, authenticate the Debt Securities and perform its obligations hereunder, and that the statements made by it or to be made by it in a Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1 supplied to the Company are true and accurate. The Trustee shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of any of the Debt Securities or of the proceeds thereof or any money paid to the Company or upon the Company’s direction under any provision of this Indenture, and shall not be responsible for the use or application of any money received by any Agent other than the Trustee. The Trustee shall not be bound to ascertain or inquire as to the performance, observance, or breach of any covenants, conditions, representations, warranties or agreements on the part of the Company. Under no circumstances shall the Trustee be liable in its individual capacity for the obligations evidenced by the Debt Securities. The Trustee shall have no obligation to pursue any action that is not in accordance with applicable law. The Trustee makes no representation as to and shall not be responsible for or any statement in any document in connection with the sale of any of the Debt Securities.

Section 7.04.    Trustee, Paying Agent or Registrar May Own Debt Securities. The Trustee, any Agent, or any paying agent or Registrar, in its individual or any other capacity, may become

 

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the owner or pledgee of Debt Securities and subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act relating to conflicts of interest and preferential claims may otherwise deal with the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, paying agent or Registrar. However, the Trustee is subject to Sections 7.10 and 7.11.

Section 7.05.    Moneys Received by Trustee to be Held in Trust. Subject to the provisions of Section 11.05, all moneys received by the Trustee shall, until used or applied as herein provided, be held in trust for the purposes for which they were received, but need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustee shall be under no liability for interest on any moneys received by it hereunder.

Section 7.06.    Compensation and Reimbursement. The Company covenants and agrees to pay in Dollars to the Trustee from time to time, and the Trustee shall be entitled to, compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder as agreed in writing with the Company (which shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust), and the Company will pay or reimburse in Dollars the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable and documented expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any of the provisions of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents, attorneys and counsel and of all Persons not regularly in its employ and court costs) except any such expense, disbursement or advances as may arise from its negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct as finally adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction. The Company also covenants to indemnify in Dollars the Trustee for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability, claim, fee, damage, cost or expense Incurred without negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on the part of the Trustee as finally adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this trust or trusts hereunder (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents, attorneys and counsel and of all Persons not regularly in its employ and court costs) of defending itself against any claim of liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder including any action, claim or suit brought to enforce this Indenture against the Company, to enforce the Trustee’s right to compensation, reimbursement or indemnification (including this Section 7.06), or any claim of the Trustee’s negligence or willful misconduct asserted by any Holder. The obligations of the Company under this Section 7.06 to compensate and indemnify the Trustee and to pay or reimburse the Trustee for expenses, disbursements and advances shall constitute additional Indebtedness hereunder and shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture and resignation or removal of the Trustee. The Company and the Holders agree that such additional Indebtedness shall be secured by a Lien prior to that of the Debt Securities upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee, as such, except funds held in trust for the payment of principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on, particular Debt Securities. All indemnifications and releases from liability granted hereunder to the Trustee shall extend to its officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys, custodians, successors and assigns. The Trustee shall notify the Company promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity. The Company need not pay for any settlement made without its consent.

When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(e) or (f) occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other

 

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similar law. “Trustee” for the purposes of this Section 7.06 shall include any predecessor Trustee and the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, each Agent and each agent, custodian and other person employed to act hereunder; provided, however, that the negligence or willful misconduct of any Trustee or Agent hereunder shall not affect the rights of any other Trustee or Agent hereunder.

Section 7.07.    Right of Trustee to Rely on an Officers Certificate Where No Other Evidence Specifically Prescribed. Except as otherwise provided in Section 7.01, whenever in the administration of the provisions of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it necessary or desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking or suffering or omitting any action hereunder, such matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of negligence or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by an Officers’ Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both delivered to the Trustee and such certificate or opinion, in the absence of negligence or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, shall be full warrant to the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it under the provisions of this Indenture upon the faith thereof.

Section 7.08.    Separate Trustee; Replacement of Trustee. The Company may, but need not, appoint a separate Trustee for any one or more series of Debt Securities. The Trustee may resign with respect to one or more or all series of Debt Securities at any time. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of a particular series may remove the Trustee for such series and only such series by so notifying the Trustee and the Company and may appoint a successor Trustee. The Company shall remove the Trustee if:

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

(2)    the Trustee is adjudged bankrupt or insolvent;

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

(4)    the Trustee otherwise becomes incapable of acting.

If the Trustee resigns, is removed by the Company or by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of a particular series and such Holders do not reasonably promptly appoint a successor Trustee, or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason (the Trustee in such event being referred to herein as the retiring Trustee), the Company shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee. No resignation or removal of the Trustee and no appointment of a successor Trustee shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee in accordance with the applicable requirements of this Section 7.08.

A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Company. Thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee under this Indenture. The successor Trustee shall mail or send a notice of its succession to Holders of Debt Securities of each applicable series. The retiring Trustee shall promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee, subject to the Lien provided for in Section 7.06.

 

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If a successor Trustee does not take office within 30 days after the retiring Trustee gives notice of resignation or is removed, the retiring Trustee or the Holders of 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of any applicable series may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee for the Debt Securities of such series.

If the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10, any Holder of Debt Securities of any applicable series may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee for the Debt Securities of such series.

Notwithstanding the replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section 7.08, the Company’s obligations under Section 7.06 shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee.

In the case of the appointment hereunder of a separate or successor Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of one or more series, the Company, any retiring Trustee and each successor or separate Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of any applicable series shall execute and deliver an Indenture supplemental hereto or other instrument (1) which shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of any retiring Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of any series as to which any such retiring Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in such retiring Trustee and (2) that shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental Indenture or instrument shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust and that each such separate, retiring or successor Trustee shall be Trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee.

Section 7.09.    Successor Trustee by Merger. If the Trustee consolidates with, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all its corporate trust business or assets to, another corporation or banking association, the resulting, surviving or transferee corporation or banking association without any further act shall be the successor Trustee.

In case at the time such successor or successors by merger, conversion or consolidation to the Trustee shall succeed to the trusts created by this Indenture any of the Debt Securities shall have been authenticated but not delivered, any such successor to the Trustee may adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor Trustee, and deliver such Debt Securities so authenticated; and in case at that time any of the Debt Securities shall not have been authenticated, any successor to the Trustee may authenticate such Debt Securities either in the name of any predecessor hereunder or in the name of the successor to the Trustee; and in all such cases such certificates shall have the full force which it is anywhere in the Debt Securities or in this Indenture provided that the certificate of the Trustee shall have.

Section 7.10.    Eligibility; Disqualification. The Trustee shall at all times satisfy the requirements of Section 310(a) of the Trust Indenture Act. The Trustee shall have a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition. No obligor upon the Debt Securities of a particular series or Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with such obligor shall serve as Trustee upon the Debt Securities of such series. The Trustee shall comply with Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.

 

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Section 7.11.    Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company. The Trustee shall comply with Section 311(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, excluding any creditor relationship listed in Section 311(b) of the Trust Indenture Act. A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to Section 311(a) of the Trust Indenture Act to the extent indicated therein.

ARTICLE VIII

Concerning the Holders

Section 8.01.    Evidence of Action by Holders. Whenever in this Indenture it is provided that the Holders of a specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of any or all series may take action (including the making of any demand or request, the giving of any direction, 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 specified percentage have joined therein may be evidenced (a) by any instrument or any number of instruments of similar tenor executed by Holders in person or by agent or proxy appointed in writing, (b) by the record of the Holders voting in favor thereof at any meeting of Holders duly called and held in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.02 or (c)  by a combination of such instrument or instruments and any such record of such a meeting of Holders.

Section 8.02.    Proof of Execution of Instruments and of Holding of Debt Securities. Subject to the provisions of Sections 7.01, 7.02 and 12.11, proof of the execution of any instrument by a Holder or his agent or proxy shall be sufficient if made in accordance with such reasonable rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the Trustee or in such manner as shall be satisfactory to the Trustee.

The ownership of Registered Securities of any series shall be proved by the Debt Security Register or by a certificate of the Registrar for such series.

The Trustee may require such additional proof of any matter referred to in this Section 8.02 as it shall deem necessary.

Section 8.03.    Who may be Deemed Owner of Debt Securities. Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of any Registered Security, the Company, the Trustee, any paying agent and any Registrar may deem and treat the Person in whose name any Registered Security shall be registered upon the books of the Company as the absolute owner of such Registered Security (whether or not such Registered Security shall be overdue and notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing thereon) 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 Registered Security and for all other purposes, and neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any paying agent nor any Registrar shall be affected by any notice to the contrary; and all such payments so made to any such Holder for the time being, or upon his order, shall be valid and, to the extent of the sum or sums so paid, effectual to satisfy and discharge the liability for moneys payable upon any such Registered Security.

 

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None of the Company, the Trustee, any paying agent or the Registrar will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in a Global Security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.

Section 8.04.    Instruments Executed by Holders Bind Future Holders. 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 percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of any series specified in this Indenture in connection with such action and subject to the following paragraph, any Holder of a Debt Security which is shown by the evidence to be included in the Debt Securities the Holders of which have consented to such action may, by filing written notice with the Trustee at its corporate trust office and upon proof of holding as provided in Section 8.02, revoke such action so far as concerns such Debt Security. Except as aforesaid any such action taken by the Holder of any Debt Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders and owners of such Debt Security and of any Debt Security issued upon transfer thereof or in exchange or substitution therefor, irrespective of whether or not any notation in regard thereto is made upon such Debt Security or such other Debt Securities. Any action taken by the Holders of the percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of any 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 Debt Securities of such series.

The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of Registered Securities entitled to give their consent or take any other action required or permitted to be taken pursuant to this Indenture. If a record date is fixed, then notwithstanding the immediately preceding paragraph, those Persons who were Holders of Registered Securities at such record date (or their duly designated proxies), and only those Persons, shall be entitled to give such consent or to revoke any consent previously given or to take any such action, whether or not such Persons continue to be Holders of Registered Securities after such record date. No such consent shall be valid or effective for more than 120 days after such record date unless the consent of the Holders of the percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of such series specified in this Indenture shall have been received within such 120-day period.

ARTICLE IX

Supplemental Indentures

Section 9.01.    Purposes for Which Supplemental Indenture may be Entered into Without Consent of Holders. The Company, when authorized by a resolution of the Board of Directors, and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time, without the consent of Holders, enter into an Indenture or Indentures supplemental hereto (which shall conform to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act as in force at the date of the execution thereof) for one or more of the following purposes:

(a)    to evidence the succession of another Person to the Company, or successive successions, and the assumption by the Successor Company (as defined in Section 10.01) of the covenants, agreements and obligations of the Company in this Indenture and in the Debt Securities;

 

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(b)    to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company, to add to the covenants of the Company such further covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions for the protection of the Holders of all or any series of Debt Securities (and if such covenants are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Debt Securities, stating that such covenants are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series) as the Board of Directors shall consider to be for the protection of the Holders of such Debt Securities, and to make the occurrence, or the occurrence and continuance, of a Default in any of such additional covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions a Default or an Event of Default permitting the enforcement of all or any of the several remedies provided in this Indenture; provided, that in respect of any such additional covenant, restriction, condition or provision such supplemental Indenture may provide for a particular period of grace after Default (which period may be shorter or longer than that allowed in the case of other Defaults) or may provide for an immediate enforcement upon such Default or may limit the remedies available to the Trustee upon such Default or may limit the right of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of any or all series of Debt Securities to waive such default;

(c)    to cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any provision contained herein, in any supplemental Indenture or in any Debt Securities of any series that may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision contained herein, in any supplemental Indenture or in the Debt Securities of such series; to convey, transfer, assign, mortgage or pledge any property to or with the Trustee, or to make such other provisions in regard to matters or questions arising under this Indenture as shall not adversely affect the interests of any Holders of Debt Securities of any series in any material respect;

(d)    to modify or amend this Indenture in such a manner as to permit the qualification of this Indenture or any Indenture supplemental hereto under the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect, except that nothing herein contained shall permit or authorize the inclusion in any Indenture supplemental hereto of the provisions referred to in Section 316(a)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act;

(e)    to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture to change or eliminate any restrictions on the payment of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, Debt Securities; provided, that any such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Debt Securities of any series in any material respect or permit or facilitate the issuance of Debt Securities of any series in uncertificated form;

(f)    to evidence the succession of another corporation to the Company and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants of the Company herein and in the Debt Securities;

(g)    to add Guarantees with respect to the Debt Securities or to secure the Debt Securities;

(h)    to add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture in respect of one or more series of Debt Securities; provided, however, that any such addition, change or elimination not otherwise permitted under this Section 9.01 shall (i) neither (A) apply to any Debt Security of any series created prior to the execution of such supplemental Indenture and entitled to the benefit of such provision nor (B) modify the rights of the Holder of any such Debt Security with respect to such provision or (ii) shall become effective only when there is no such Debt Security Outstanding;

 

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(i)    to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor or separate Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of one or more series and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee; and

(j)    to establish the form or terms of Debt Securities of any series as permitted by Sections 2.01 and 2.03.

The Trustee is hereby authorized to join with the Company in the execution of any such supplemental Indenture, to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations which may be therein contained and to accept the conveyance, transfer, assignment, mortgage or pledge of any property thereunder, but the Trustee shall not be obligated to enter into any such supplemental Indenture which affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

In executing any amendment or supplemental indenture, the Trustee shall receive and will be fully protected in conclusively relying upon an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such amendment of supplemental indenture is authorized and permitted by this Indenture and is the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against it in accordance with its terms. The Trustee shall have no responsibility for determining whether any such amendment or supplemental indenture will or may have an adverse effect on any Holder.

Any supplemental Indenture authorized by the provisions of this Section 9.01 may be executed by the Company and the Trustee without the consent of the Holders of any of the Debt Securities appertaining thereto at the time Outstanding, notwithstanding any of the provisions of Section 9.02.

After an amendment under this Section 9.01 becomes effective, the Company shall mail or send to Holders of Debt Securities of each series affected thereby a notice briefly describing such amendment. The failure to give such notice to all such Holders, or any defect therein, shall not impair or affect the validity of an amendment under this Section 9.01.

Section 9.02.    Modification of Indenture with Consent of Holders of Debt Securities. Without notice to any Holder but 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 Outstanding Debt Securities of each series affected by such supplemental Indenture, the Company, when authorized by a resolution of the Board of Directors, 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 in force at the date of execution thereof) 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 the rights of the Holders of the Debt Securities of such series; provided, that no such supplemental Indenture, without the consent of the Holders of each Debt Security so affected, shall (i) reduce the percentage in principal amount

 

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of Debt Securities of any series whose Holders must consent to an amendment; (ii) reduce the rate of or extend the time for payment of interest on any Debt Security; (iii) reduce the principal of or extend the Stated Maturity of any Debt Security; (iv) reduce the premium, if any, payable upon the redemption of any Debt Security or change the time at which any Debt Security may or shall be redeemed in accordance with Article III, provided that any amendment to the notice requirements may be made with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Debt Securities of such series; (v) make any Debt Security payable in Currency other than that stated in the Debt Security; (vi) release any security that may have been granted in respect of the Debt Securities; or (vii) make any change in Section 6.06 or this Section 9.02.

A supplemental Indenture which changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of this Indenture which has been expressly included solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of Debt Securities or which modifies the rights of the Holders of Debt Securities of such series with respect to such covenant or other provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under this Indenture of the Holders of Debt Securities of any other series.

Upon the request of the Company, accompanied by a copy of a resolution of the Board of Directors authorizing the execution of any such supplemental Indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence of the consent of Holders as aforesaid, the Trustee shall join with the Company 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 (except to the extent required in the case of a supplemental Indenture entered into under Section 9.01(d) or 9.01(i)).

It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders under this Section 9.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental Indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such consent shall approve the substance thereof.

After an amendment under this Section 9.02 becomes effective, the Company shall mail or send to Holders of Debt Securities of each series affected thereby a notice briefly describing such amendment. The failure to give such notice to all such Holders, or any defect therein, shall not impair or affect the validity of an amendment under this Section  9.02.

Section 9.03.    Effect of Supplemental Indentures. Upon the execution of any supplemental Indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article IX, this Indenture shall 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 and the Holders 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.

The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Sections 7.01 and 7.02, may request an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any such supplemental Indenture complies with the provisions of this Article IX and that it will be valid and binding upon the Company and enforceable in accordance with its terms.

 

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Section 9.04.    Debt Securities May Bear Notation of Changes by Supplemental Indentures. Debt Securities of any series authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental Indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article IX may, and shall if required by the Trustee, bear a notation in form approved by the Trustee as to any matter provided for in such supplemental Indenture. New Debt Securities of any series so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Trustee and the Board of Directors, to any modification of this Indenture contained in any such supplemental Indenture may be prepared and executed by the Company, authenticated by the Trustee and delivered in exchange for the Debt Securities of such series then Outstanding. Failure to make the appropriate notation or to issue a new Debt Security of such series shall not affect the validity of such amendment.

ARTICLE X

Consolidation, Merger, Sale or Conveyance

Section 10.01.    Consolidations and Mergers of the Company. The Company shall not consolidate with or merge with or into any Person, or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all its assets, unless: (i) either (a) the Company shall be the continuing Person in the case of a merger or (b) the resulting, surviving or transferee Person if other than the Company (the “Successor Company”) shall be a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia and the Successor Company shall expressly assume, by an indenture supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, all the obligations of the Company under the Debt Securities, and this Indenture; (ii) immediately after giving effect to such transaction (and treating any Indebtedness which becomes an obligation of the Successor Company or any Subsidiary of the Company as a result of such transaction as having been Incurred by the Successor Company or such Subsidiary at the time of such transaction), no Default or Event of Default would occur or be continuing; and (iii) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger or transfer and such supplemental Indenture (if any) comply with this Indenture.

Section 10.02.    Rights and Duties of Successor Corporation. In case of any consolidation or merger, or conveyance, transfer or lease of the assets of the Company as an entirety or virtually as an entirety in accordance with Section 10.01, the Successor Company shall succeed to and be substituted for the Company, with the same effect as if it had been named herein as the party of the first part, and the predecessor corporation shall be relieved of any further obligation under the Indenture and the Securities and promptly thereafter be released from such obligations. The Successor Company thereupon may cause to be signed, and may issue either in its own name or in the name of the Company, any or all the Debt Securities issuable hereunder which theretofore shall not have been signed by the Company and delivered to the Trustee; and, upon the order of the Successor Company, instead of the Company, and subject to all the terms, conditions and limitations in this Indenture prescribed, the Trustee shall authenticate and shall deliver any Debt Securities which previously shall have been signed and delivered by the officers of the Company to the Trustee for authentication, and any Debt Securities which the Successor Company thereafter shall cause to be signed and delivered to the Trustee for that purpose.

 

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All the Debt Securities so issued shall in all respects have the same legal rank and benefit under this Indenture as the Debt Securities theretofore or thereafter issued in accordance with the terms of this Indenture as though all such Debt Securities had been issued at the date of the execution hereof.

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

ARTICLE XI

Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture; Defeasance; Unclaimed Moneys

Section 11.01.    Applicability of Article. If, pursuant to Section 2.03, provision is made for the defeasance of Debt Securities of a series, then the provisions of this Article XI relating to defeasance of Debt Securities shall be applicable except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 2.03 for Debt Securities of such series.

Section 11.02.    Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture; Defeasance.

(a)    If at any time (i) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee for cancellation all Debt Securities of any series theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than (1) any Debt Securities of such series which shall have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which shall have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 2.09 and (2) Debt Securities for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust and thereafter repaid to the Company as provided in Section 11.05) or (ii) all Debt Securities of such 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 shall deposit with the Trustee as trust funds the entire amount in the Currency in which such Debt Securities are denominated (except as otherwise provided pursuant to Section 2.03) sufficient to pay at maturity or upon redemption all such Debt Securities of such series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, including principal and premium, if any, and interest due or to become due on such date of maturity or redemption date, as the case may be, and if in either case the Company shall also pay or cause to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company, then this Indenture shall cease to be of further effect (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of such Debt Securities herein expressly provided for and rights to receive payments of principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, such Debt Securities with respect to the Debt Securities of such series) and the Trustee, on demand of the Company accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel and at the cost and expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction of and discharging this Indenture.

(b)    Subject to Sections 11.02(c), 11.03 and 11.07, the Company at any time may terminate, with respect to Debt Securities of a particular series, (i) all its obligations under the Debt

 

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Securities of such series and this Indenture with respect to the Debt Securities of such series (“legal defeasance option”) or (ii) its obligations with respect to the Debt Securities of such series under Section 10.01 and the related operation of Section 6.01(d) and the operation of Sections 4.05, 5.03 and 6.01(d) and (g) (and, if specified pursuant to Section 2.03, any other obligation of the Company or restrictive covenant added for the benefit of such series pursuant to Section 2.03) (“covenant defeasance option”). The Company may exercise its legal defeasance option notwithstanding its prior exercise of its covenant defeasance option.

If the Company exercises its legal defeasance option, payment of the Debt Securities of the defeased series may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default. If the Company exercises its covenant defeasance option, payment of the Debt Securities of the defeased series may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default specified in Sections 6.01(d) and (g) (and, if specified pursuant to Section 2.03, any other obligation of the Company or restrictive covenant added for the benefit of such series pursuant to Section 2.03) (except to the extent covenants or agreements referenced in such Sections remain applicable).

Upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth herein and upon request of the Company, accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel and at the cost and expense of the Company, the Trustee shall acknowledge in writing the discharge of those obligations that the Company terminates.

(c)    Notwithstanding clauses (a) and (b) above, the Company’s obligations in Sections 2.07, 2.09, 4.02, 4.04, 5.01, 7.06, 7.10, 11.05, 11.06 and 11.07 shall survive until the Debt Securities of the defeased series have been paid in full. Thereafter, the Company’s obligations in Sections 7.06, 11.05 and 11.06 shall survive.

Section 11.03.    Conditions of Defeasance. The Company may exercise its legal defeasance option or its covenant defeasance option with respect to Debt Securities of a particular series only if:

(1)    the Company irrevocably deposits or causes to be deposited in trust with the Trustee money, U.S. Government Obligations, or a combination thereof, for the payment of principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, the Debt Securities of such series to maturity or redemption, as the case may be;

(2)    the Company delivers to the Trustee a certificate from a nationally recognized firm of independent accountants expressing their opinion that the payments of principal and interest when due and without reinvestment on the deposited U.S. Government Obligations plus any deposited money without investment will provide cash at such times and in such amounts as will be sufficient to pay the principal, premium, if any, and interest when due on all the Debt Securities of such series to maturity or redemption, as the case may be;

(3)    91 days pass after the deposit is made and during the 91-day period no Default specified in Section 6.01(e) or (f) with respect to the Company occurs which is continuing at the end of the period;

(4)    no Default has occurred and is continuing on the date of such deposit and immediately after giving effect thereto;

 

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(5)    the Company delivers to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the trust resulting from the deposit does not constitute, or is qualified as, a regulated investment company required to register under the Investment Company Act of 1940;

(6)    in the event of the legal defeasance option, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that, as a result of such legal defeasance, the Holders of Debt Securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such legal defeasance had not occurred, which Opinion of Counsel shall be based on either (i) a statute that is enacted, a Treasury regulation that is promulgated and becomes effective or a revenue ruling that is published after, in each case, the date of this Indenture or (ii) a private letter ruling directed to the Trustee received from the Internal Revenue Service which, in the case of the authority described in clause (i) or (ii), provides that in circumstances comparable to such a legal defeasance no tax consequences will arise for the Holders as a result of such legal defeasance;

(7)    in the event of the covenant defeasance option, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the Holders of Debt Securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such covenant defeasance and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such covenant defeasance had not occurred; and

(8)    the Company delivers to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent to the defeasance and discharge of the Debt Securities of such series as contemplated by this Article XI have been complied with.

Before or after a deposit, the Company may make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the redemption of Debt Securities of such series at a future date in accordance with Article III.

Section 11.04.    Application of Trust Money. The Trustee shall hold in trust money or U.S. Government Obligations deposited with it pursuant to this Article XI. It shall apply the deposited money and the money from U.S. Government Obligations through any paying agent and in accordance with this Indenture to the payment of principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, the Debt Securities of the defeased series.

Section 11.05.    Repayment to Company. The Trustee and any paying agent shall promptly turn over to the Company upon request any excess money or securities held by them at any time, subject to compliance with applicable abandoned property law, and all liability of the Trustee or any Agent with respect to such money or securities shall thereupon cease.

Subject to any applicable abandoned property law, the Trustee and any paying agent shall pay to the Company upon request any money held by them for the payment of principal, premium or interest that remains unclaimed for two years and all liability of the Trustee or any Agent with respect to such money shall thereupon cease, and, thereafter, Holders entitled to such money must look to the Company for payment as general creditors.

 

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Section 11.06.    Indemnity for U.S. Government Obligations. The Company shall pay and shall indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against deposited U.S. Government Obligations or the principal and interest received on such U.S. Government Obligations other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of outstanding Debt Securities.

Section 11.07.    Reinstatement. If the Trustee or any paying agent is unable to apply any money or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with this Article XI by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or government authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the Company’s obligations under this Indenture and the Debt Securities of the defeased series shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to this Article XI until such time as the Trustee or any paying agent is permitted to apply all such money or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with this Article XI; provided, however, that if the Company has made any payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Debt Securities because of the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of those Debt Securities to receive such payment from the money or U.S. Government Obligations held by the Trustee or the paying agent.

ARTICLE XII

Miscellaneous Provisions

Section 12.01.    Successors and Assigns of Company Bound by Indenture. All the covenants, stipulations, promises and agreements in this Indenture contained by or in behalf of the Company or the Trustee shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.

Section 12.02.    Acts of Board, Committee or Officer of Successor Company Valid. 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 shall and may be done and performed with like force and effect by the like board, committee or officer of any Successor Company.

Section 12.03.    Required Notices or Demands. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Indenture, any notice or demand which by any provision of this Indenture is required or permitted to be given or served by the Trustee or by the Holders to or on the Company may be given if in writing and delivered in person or mailed by first-class mail (registered or certified, return receipt requested) or sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery addressed (until another address is filed by the Company with the Trustee) as follows:

Quanta Services, Inc.

2800 Post Oak Blvd., Suite 2600

Houston, Texas 77056-6175

Attention: General Counsel

 

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Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Indenture, any notice, direction, request or demand by the Company or by any Holder to or upon the Trustee may be given or made, for all purposes, if delivered in person or mailed by first-class mail (registered or certified, return receipt requested) or sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery addressed to the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee initially at:

U.S. Bank National Association

Global Corporate Trust

8 Greenway Plaza Suite 1100

Houston, Texas 77046-0892

Attention: Alejandro Hoyos

The Company or the Trustee by notice to the other may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.

Any notice required or permitted to a Registered Holder by the Company or the Trustee pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture shall be deemed to be properly mailed by being deposited postage prepaid in a post office letter box in the United States addressed to such Holder at the address of such Holder as shown on the Debt Security Register. Any report pursuant to Section 313 of the Trust Indenture Act shall be transmitted in compliance with subsection (c) therein.

In the event of suspension of regular mail service or by reason of any other cause it shall be impracticable to give notice by mail, then such notification as shall be given with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute sufficient notice for every purpose thereunder. The Trustee shall have the right to accept and act upon any notice, instruction, or other communication, including any funds transfer instruction (each, a “Notice”), received pursuant to this Indenture by electronic transmission (including by e-mail, facsimile transmission, web portal or other electronic methods) and reasonably believed by the Trustee to be valid and shall not have any duty to confirm that the person sending such Notice is, in fact, a person authorized to do so. Electronic signatures reasonably believed by the Trustee to comply with the ESIGN Act of 2000 or other applicable law (including electronic images of handwritten signatures and digital signatures provided by DocuSign, Orbit, Adobe Sign or any other digital signature provider identified by any other party hereto and acceptable to the Trustee) shall be deemed original signatures for all purposes. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Trustee may in any instance and in its sole discretion require that a Notice in the form of an original document bearing a manual signature be delivered to the Trustee in lieu of, or in addition to, any such electronic Notice.

In the event of suspension of publication of any Authorized Newspaper or by reason of any other cause it shall be impracticable to give notice by publication, then such notification as shall be given pursuant to an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Trustee shall constitute sufficient notice for every purpose hereunder.

Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it or any defect in any notice by publication as to a Holder shall not affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders. If a notice or communication is mailed or published in the manner provided above, it is conclusively presumed duly given.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or any Debt Security, where this Indenture or any Debt Security provides for notice of any event (including any notice of

 

55


redemption) to a Holder of a Global Security (whether by mail or otherwise), such notice shall be sufficiently given if given to the Depositary (or its designee) pursuant to the standing instructions from the Depositary or its designee, including by electronic mail in accordance with Applicable Procedures.

Section 12.04.    Indenture and Debt Securities to be Construed in Accordance with the Laws of the State of New York; Jury Trial Waiver. This Indenture and each Debt Security shall be deemed to be New York contracts, and for all purposes shall be construed in accordance with the laws of said State (without reference to principles of conflicts of law). EACH OF THE COMPANY, THE TRUSTEE, AND EACH HOLDER, BY ITS ACCEPTANCE THEREOF, HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE DEBT SECURITIES OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

Section 12.05.    Officers Certificate and Opinion of Counsel to be Furnished Upon Application or Demand by the Company. Upon any application or demand by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under any of the provisions of this Indenture, the Company 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 document is specifically required by any provision of this Indenture relating to such particular application or demand, no additional certificate or opinion need be furnished.

Each certificate or opinion provided for in this Indenture and delivered to the Trustee with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than a certificate delivered pursuant to Section 4.05) 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 or she has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him or her to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with and (4) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such Person, such condition or covenant has been complied with.

Section 12.06.    Payments Due on Legal Holidays. In any case where the date of maturity of interest on or principal of and premium, if any, on the Debt Securities of a series or the date fixed for redemption or repayment of any Debt Security or the making of any sinking fund payment shall not be a Business Day at any Place of Payment for the Debt Securities of such series, then payment of interest or principal and premium, if any, or the making of such sinking fund payment need not be made on such date at such Place of Payment, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day at such Place of Payment with the same force and effect as if made on the date of maturity or the date fixed for redemption, and no interest shall accrue for the period after such date. If a record date is not a Business Day, the record date shall not be affected.

 

56


Section 12.07.    Provisions Required by Trust Indenture Act to Control. If and to the extent that any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with another provision included in this Indenture which is required to be included in this Indenture by any of Sections 310 to 318, inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act, such required provision shall control.

Section 12.08.    Computation of Interest on Debt Securities. Interest, if any, on the Debt Securities shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months, except as may otherwise be provided pursuant to Section 2.03.

Section 12.09.    Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent and Registrar. The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or a meeting of Holders. The Registrar and any paying agent may make reasonable rules for their functions.

Section 12.10.    No Recourse Against Others. An incorporator or any past, present or future director, officer, employee, controlling Person or stockholder, as such, of the Company or any successor shall not have any liability for any obligations of the Company under the Debt Securities or this Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their creation. By accepting a Debt Security, each Holder shall waive and release all such liability. The waiver and release shall be part of the consideration for the issue of the Debt Securities.

Section 12.11.    Severability. In case any provision in this Indenture or the Debt Securities shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

Section 12.12.    Effect of Headings. The article and section headings herein and in the Table of Contents and the Trust Indenture Act Cross Reference Sheet are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

Section 12.13.    Indenture may be Executed in 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. The exchange of copies of this Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or PDF transmission (including any electronic signature covered by the ESIGN Act of 2000, Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, the Electronic Signatures and Records Act or other applicable law) shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile, PDF or electronic signature shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.

Section 12.14.    U.S.A. Patriot Act. The parties hereto acknowledge that in accordance with the Customer Identification Program (CIP) requirements under the USA PATRIOT Act and its implementing regulations, the Trustee in order to help fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering, is required to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person or legal entity that establishes a relationship or opens an account with the Trustee. The parties hereby agree that they shall provide the Trustee with such information as it may request in order for the Trustee to satisfy the requirements of the USA Patriot Act.

[Signature page to immediately follow.]

 

57


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly signed as of the date first written.

 

QUANTA SERVICES, INC.

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

Exhibit 5.1

 

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910 LOUISIANA

HOUSTON, TEXAS

77002-4995

 

TEL  +1 713.229.1234

FAX +1 713.229.1522

BakerBotts.com

  

AUSTIN

BEIJING

BRUSSELS

DALLAS

DUBAI

HONG KONG

HOUSTON

  

LONDON

MOSCOW

NEW YORK

PALO ALTO

RIYADH

SAN FRANCISCO

WASHINGTON

September 14, 2020

Quanta Services, Inc.

2800 Post Oak Boulevard, Suite 2600

Houston, Texas 77056

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel to Quanta Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), with respect to the preparation of the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement”) to be filed by the Company on or about the date hereof with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”). The Registration Statement relates to the Company’s proposed offer and sale, from time to time, pursuant to Rule 415 under the Act, of an indeterminate amount of (i) shares of common stock, par value $.00001 per share, of the Company (the “Common Stock”); (ii) shares of preferred stock, par value $.00001 per share, of the Company (the “Preferred Stock”); (iii) debt securities of the Company (the “Debt Securities”); (iv) warrants to purchase any combination of Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Debt Securities, Depositary Shares (as defined below) and Purchase Contracts (as defined below) (the “Warrants”); (v) depositary shares of the Company representing Preferred Stock (the “Depositary Shares”); (vi) purchase contracts of the Company with regard to Common Stock, Preferred Stock or other securities of the Company (the “Purchase Contracts”); (vii) purchase units of the Company (the “Purchase Units”), each consisting of a Purchase Contract and other securities or obligations issued by the Company or third parties, or any other securities described in the applicable prospectus supplement or any combination of the foregoing; and (viii) units consisting of any combination of the Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Debt Securities, Warrants, Depositary Shares or Purchase Contracts (the “Units”). The Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Debt Securities, Warrants, Depositary Shares, Purchase Contracts, Purchase Units and Units are collectively referred to herein as the “Securities.” At your request, this opinion is being furnished to you for filing as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement.

Each series of Debt Securities is to be issued pursuant to an indenture, in the form filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Registration Statement, to be entered into between the Company and the trustee thereunder (as may be amended or supplemented from time to time, the “Indenture”). The Indenture will be supplemented, in connection with the issuance of each such series of Debt Securities, by a supplemental indenture, officers’ certificate or other writing (each, a “Supplemental Indenture Document”) thereunder establishing the form and terms of such series of Debt Securities.


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Quanta Services, Inc.    - 2 -    September 14, 2020

 

In our capacity as your counsel in the connection referred to above, we have examined originals, or copies certified or otherwise identified, of (i) the Company’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, each as amended to date (together, the “Charter Documents”), (ii) corporate records of the Company, (iii) the Registration Statement, including the prospectus contained therein relating to the Securities, (iv) certificates of public officials and of officers and other representatives of the Company and (v) statutes and such other records, certificates, documents and instruments as we have deemed necessary or advisable as a basis for giving the opinion set forth below.

In connection with this opinion, we have relied, to the extent we deemed proper, without independent investigation, upon certificates, statements and other representations of officers and other representatives of the Company and of governmental and public officials with respect to the accuracy and completeness of the material factual matters contained therein or covered thereby.

In connection with this opinion, we have assumed, without independent investigation, that the signatures on all documents examined by us are genuine, that all documents submitted to us as originals are accurate and complete, that all documents submitted to us as certified or photostatic copies are true and correct copies of the originals thereof, that such original copies are accurate and complete and that all information submitted to us was accurate and complete.

In connection with this opinion, we also have assumed that:

(i) the Registration Statement and any amendments thereto (including post-effective amendments) will have become effective under the Act;

(ii) a prospectus supplement will have been prepared and filed with the Commission describing the Securities offered thereby;

(iii) all Securities will be offered, issued and sold in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws and in the manner stated in the Registration Statement (including post-effective amendments thereto) and the applicable prospectus supplement;

(iv) the Board of Directors of the Company (or, to the extent permitted by applicable law and the Charter Documents, a duly constituted and acting committee thereof) (the “Board”) and the shareholders of the Company will have taken all necessary corporate action to authorize the issuance of the Securities and any other Securities issuable on the conversion, exchange, redemption or exercise thereof, and to authorize the terms of the offering and the issuance and sale of such Securities and related matters;

(v) a definitive purchase agreement, underwriting agreement, warrant agreement, unit agreement or similar agreement with respect to any Securities offered will have been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by the Company and the other parties thereto (each, a “Purchase Agreement”);


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Quanta Services, Inc.    - 3 -    September 14, 2020

 

(vi) any securities issuable upon conversion, exchange, redemption or exercise of any Securities being offered will have been duly authorized, created and, if appropriate, reserved for issuance upon such conversion, exchange, redemption or exercise;

(vii) all Securities, and any certificates in respect thereof, will be delivered either (a) in accordance with the provisions of the applicable Purchase Agreement approved by the Board upon payment of the consideration therefor provided for therein or (b) upon conversion, exchange, redemption or exercise of any other Security, in accordance with the terms of such Security or the instrument governing such Security providing for such conversion, exchange, redemption or exercise as approved by the Board, for the consideration approved by the Board;

(viii) in the case of shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock, (a) certificates representing such shares will have been duly executed and will have been duly countersigned by a transfer agent and duly registered by a registrar of such stock, or, if uncertificated, valid book-entry notations will have been made in the share register of the Company in accordance with the provisions of the Charter Documents, (b) there will be sufficient shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock, as applicable, authorized under the Company’s Charter Documents and not otherwise issued or reserved for issuance and (c) the purchase price therefor payable to the Company, or if such shares are issuable on the conversion, exchange, redemption or exercise of another Security, the consideration payable to the Company for such conversion, exchange, redemption or exercise, will not be less than the par value of such shares, in the case of shares of Common Stock, or the purchase price or consideration, as the case may be, as approved by the Board with respect to such issuance, in the case of shares of Preferred Stock;

(ix) in the case of shares of Preferred Stock of any series, the Board will have taken all necessary corporate action to designate and establish the terms of such series and will have caused a certificate of designations respecting such series to be prepared and filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware;

(x) in the case of Debt Securities, (a) an indenture substantially in the form of the Indenture will have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the trustee thereunder, and will not include any provision that is unenforceable; (b) the Board will have taken all necessary corporate action to designate and establish the terms of such series of Debt Securities in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, including, if applicable, the execution and delivery of a Supplemental Indenture Document by the Company and the trustee thereunder, and such Debt Securities will be governed by New York law and will not include any provision that is unenforceable; (c) a Supplemental Indenture Document will have been duly executed and delivered by the Company and, as applicable, the trustee thereunder; (d) the Indenture will have become qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended; and (e) forms of Debt Securities complying with the terms of the Indenture will be issued and evidencing such Debt Securities will have been duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered in accordance with the provisions of such Indenture;


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Quanta Services, Inc.    - 4 -    September 14, 2020

 

(xi) in the case of Warrants, (a) the Board will have taken all necessary corporate action to authorize the creation of and the terms of such Warrants and the issuance of the Securities to be issued pursuant thereto and to approve the warrant agreement relating thereto; (b) such warrant agreement will have been duly executed and delivered by the Company and the warrant agent thereunder appointed by the Company; (c) such Warrants and such warrant agreement will be governed by New York law and will not include any provision that is unenforceable; and (d) such Warrants or certificates representing such Warrants will have been duly executed, countersigned, registered and delivered in accordance with the provisions of such warrant agreement and the applicable Purchase Agreement to the purchasers thereof upon payment of the agreed-upon consideration therefor;

(xii) in the case of Depositary Shares, (a) the Board will have taken all necessary corporate action to establish the terms of the Depositary Shares, including any action with respect to the Preferred Stock underlying such Depositary Shares; (b) the applicable deposit agreement (the “Deposit Agreement”) will have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the depositary thereunder appointed by the Company; (c) the terms of such Depositary Shares and of their issuance and sale will have been duly established in conformity with the Deposit Agreement; (d) such Depositary Shares will have been authorized, offered and sold in accordance with the Deposit Agreement; (e) the Preferred Stock underlying such Depositary Shares will have been duly issued and deposited with the depositary; (f) the receipts evidencing such Depositary Shares (“Receipts”) will have been duly issued against the deposit of such Preferred Stock in accordance with the Deposit Agreement; (g) the Deposit Agreement and such Receipts will be governed by New York law and will not include any provision that is unenforceable; and (h) the Receipts will have been duly executed, countersigned, registered and delivered in accordance with the provisions of the applicable Deposit Agreement to the purchasers thereof upon payment of the agreed-upon consideration therefor;

(xiii) in the case of Purchase Contracts, (a) the Board will have taken all necessary corporate action to establish the terms thereof and approve the purchase contract agreement and to authorize the form, terms, execution and delivery of the Purchase Contracts; (b) the Purchase Contracts will have been duly executed and delivered by the Company and the other parties thereto; (c) the Common Stock, Preferred Stock or other securities of the Company relating to such Purchase Contracts will have been duly authorized for issuance by the Company; and (d) such Purchase Contracts will be governed by New York law and will not include any provision that is unenforceable;


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Quanta Services, Inc.    - 5 -    September 14, 2020

 

(xiv) in the case of Purchase Units, (a) the Board will have taken all necessary corporate action to establish the terms thereof and approve the unit agreement and to authorize the form, terms, execution and delivery of the Purchase Units; (b) the Purchase Units will have been duly executed and delivered by the Company and the other parties thereto; (c) the Purchase Contracts and the other securities or obligations issued by the Company or third parties that are included in such Purchase Units will have been duly authorized for issuance by the Company or by such third parties, as applicable; and (d) such Purchase Units will be governed by New York law and will not include any provision that is unenforceable; and

(xv) in the case of Units, (a) the Board will have taken all necessary corporate action to establish the terms of such Units and the terms of the Securities included in such Units, and to approve the unit agreement relating thereto; (b) such Units, or certificates representing such Units, if any, and such unit agreement will have been duly executed and delivered by the parties thereto; (c) the actions referred to in paragraphs (i) through (xiv) above, as the case may be, will have been taken with respect to the Securities included in such Units; (d) any agreement or other instrument establishing such Units or defining the rights of the holders of such Units will be governed by New York law and will not contain any provision that is unenforceable; and (e) the terms of the Units and the related Securities and their issuance and sale will have been duly established in conformity with the applicable contracts, agreements or indentures that are a component of the offered Units (including authorization of the issuance of any Securities to be issued pursuant to such Units).

On the basis of the foregoing, and subject to the assumptions, limitations, qualifications and exceptions set forth herein, we are of the opinion that:

1. The shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock included in the Securities, when issued, will have been duly authorized and validly issued and will be fully paid and nonassessable.

2. The Debt Securities included in the Securities, when issued, will have been duly authorized and will constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except to the extent that the enforceability thereof may be limited by (i) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer or conveyance or other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and remedies generally, (ii) general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and comity, (iii) public policy and applicable law relating to fiduciary duties and indemnification or (iv) any implied covenants of good faith and fair dealing.

3. The Depositary Shares included in the Securities, when issued, will have been duly authorized and validly issued, and the Receipts representing the Depositary Shares will entitle the holders thereof to the rights specified therein and in the Deposit Agreement pursuant to which they are issued, except to the extent that the enforceability


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thereof may be limited by (i) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer or conveyance or other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and remedies generally, (ii) general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and comity, (iii) public policy and applicable law relating to fiduciary duties and indemnification or (iv) any implied covenants of good faith and fair dealing.

4. The Warrants, Purchase Contracts, Purchase Units and Units included in the Securities, when issued, will have been duly authorized and will constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms, except to the extent that the enforceability thereof may be limited by (i) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer or conveyance or other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and remedies generally, (ii) general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and comity, (iii) public policy and applicable law relating to fiduciary duties and indemnification or (iv) any implied covenants of good faith and fair dealing.

The opinions set forth above are limited in all respects to matters of the contract law of the State of New York, the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and applicable federal law of the United States of America, in each case, as in effect on the date hereof.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion of counsel with the Commission as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement. We also consent to the reference to our Firm under the heading “Legal Matters” in the prospectus forming a part of 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 Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

 

Very truly yours,
/s/ Baker Botts L.L.P.

Exhibit 23.1

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of Quanta Services, Inc. of our report dated February 28, 2020 relating to the financial statements, and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, which appears in Quanta Services, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in such Registration Statement.

 

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Houston, Texas
September 14, 2020

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)  ☐

 

 

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

(Exact name of Trustee as specified in its charter)

 

 

31-0841368

I.R.S. Employer Identification No.

 

800 Nicollet Mall

Minneapolis, Minnesota

  55402
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

Alejandro Hoyos

U.S. Bank National Association

8 Greenway Plz Ste 1100, Houston, Texas 77046-0892

(713) 212-7576

(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)

 

 

Quanta Services, Inc.

(Issuer with respect to the Securities)

 

 

 

Delaware   74-2851603

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

2800 Post Oak Boulevard, Suite 2600

Houston, Texas

  77056
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

 

 

Debt Securities

(Title of the Indenture Securities)

 

 

 


FORM T-1

 

Item 1.

GENERAL INFORMATION. Furnish the following information as to the Trustee.

 

  a)

Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject.

Comptroller of the Currency

Washington, D.C.

 

  b)

Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

Yes

 

Item 2.

AFFILIATIONS WITH THE OBLIGOR. If the obligor is an affiliate of the Trustee, describe each such affiliation.

None

 

Items 3-15

Items 3-15 are not applicable because to the best of the Trustee’s knowledge, the obligor is not in default under any Indenture for which the Trustee acts as Trustee.

 

Item 16.

LIST OF EXHIBITS: List below all exhibits filed as a part of this statement of eligibility and qualification.

 

  1.

A copy of the Articles of Association of the Trustee.*

 

  2.

A copy of the certificate of authority of the Trustee to commence business, attached as Exhibit 2.

 

  3.

A copy of the certificate of authority of the Trustee to exercise corporate trust powers, attached as Exhibit 3.

 

  4.

A copy of the existing bylaws of the Trustee.**

 

  5.

A copy of each Indenture referred to in Item 4. Not applicable.

 

  6.

The consent of the Trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, attached as Exhibit 6.

 

  7.

Report of Condition of the Trustee as of June 30, 2020 published pursuant to law or the requirements of its supervising or examining authority, attached as Exhibit 7.

 

*

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 25.1 to Amendment No. 2 to registration statement on S-4, Registration Number 333-128217 filed on November 15, 2005.

**

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 25.1 to registration statement on form S-3ASR, Registration Number 333-199863 filed on November 5, 2014.

 

2


SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, the Trustee, U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, has duly caused this statement of eligibility and qualification to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of Houston, State of Texas on the 14th of September, 2020.

 

By:

  /s/ Alejandro Hoyos
 

Alejandro Hoyos

Vice President

 

3


Exhibit 2

 

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Office of the Comptroller of the Currency

  Washington, DC 20219

CERTIFICATE OF CORPORATE EXISTENCE

I, Brian Brooks, Acting Comptroller of the Currency, do hereby certify that:

1. The Comptroller of the Currency, pursuant to Revised Statutes 324, et seq, as amended, and 12 USC 1, et seq, as amended, has possession, custody, and control of all records pertaining to the chartering, regulation, and supervision of all national banking associations.

2. “U.S. Bank National Association,” Cincinnati, Ohio (Charter No. 24), is a national banking association formed under the laws of the United States and is authorized thereunder to transact the business of banking on the date of this certificate.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, today, June 1, 2020, I have hereunto subscribed my name and caused my seal of office to be affixed to these presents at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, in the City of Washington, District of Columbia

 

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Acting Comptroller of the Currency

 

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2020-00621-C

 

4


Exhibit 3

 

LOGO  
 

Office of the Comptroller of the Currency

  Washington, DC 20219

CERTIFICATE OF FIDUCIARY POWERS

I, Brian Brooks, Acting Comptroller of the Currency, do hereby certify that:

1. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, pursuant to Revised Statutes 324, et seq, as amended, and 12 USC 1, et seq, as amended, has possession, custody, and control of all records pertaining to the chartering, regulation, and supervision of all national banking associations.

2. “U.S. Bank National Association,” Cincinnati, Ohio (Charter No. 24), was granted, under the hand and seal of the Comptroller, the right to act in all fiduciary capacities authorized under the provisions of the Act of Congress approved September 28, 1962, 76 Stat. 12 USC 92a, and that the authority so granted remains in full force and effect on the date of this certificate.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, today, June 1, 2020, I have hereunto subscribed my name and caused my seal of office to be affixed to these presents at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, in the City of Washington, District of Columbia.

 

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Acting Comptroller of the Currency

 

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2020-00621-C

 

5


Exhibit 6

CONSENT

In accordance with Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, the undersigned, U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION hereby consents that reports of examination of the undersigned by Federal, State, Territorial or District authorities may be furnished by such authorities to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon its request therefor.

Dated: September 14, 2020

 

By:  

/s/ Alejandro Hoyos

  Alejandro Hoyos
  Vice President

 

6


Exhibit 7

U.S. Bank National Association

Statement of Financial Condition

As of 6/30/2020

($000’s)

 

     6/30/2020  

Assets

  

Cash and Balances Due From Depository Institutions

   $ 52,265,124  

Securities

     126,598,837  

Federal Funds

     806  

Loans & Lease Financing Receivables

     311,129,409  

Fixed Assets

     7,834,494  

Intangible Assets

     12,365,020  

Other Assets

     26,097,656  
  

 

 

 

Total Assets

   $ 536,291,346  

Liabilities

  

Deposits

   $ 425,279,286  

Fed Funds

     2,453,923  

Treasury Demand Notes

     0  

Trading Liabilities

     1,018,213  

Other Borrowed Money

     36,976,115  

Acceptances

     0  

Subordinated Notes and Debentures

     3,850,000  

Other Liabilities

     14,538,821  
  

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

   $ 484,116,358  

Equity

  

Common and Preferred Stock

     18,200  

Surplus

     14,266,915  

Undivided Profits

     37,089,306  

Minority Interest in Subsidiaries

     800,567  
  

 

 

 

Total Equity Capital

   $ 52,174,988  

Total Liabilities and Equity Capital

   $ 536,291,346  

 

7



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