S-3ASR
Table of Contents

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 2, 2021

Registration No. 333-            

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

SUN COMMUNITIES, INC.

SUN COMMUNITIES OPERATING LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Maryland (Sun Communities, Inc.)

Michigan (Sun Communities Operating Limited Partnership)

 

38-2730780

38-3144240

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

27777 Franklin Road

Suite 200

Southfield, Michigan 48034

(248) 208-2500

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

 

 

Gary A. Shiffman

Chief Executive Officer

27777 Franklin Road

Suite 200

Southfield, Michigan 48034

(248) 208-2500

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

 

 

Copies of all correspondence to:

Matthew Murphy, Esq.

Jaffe, Raitt, Heuer & Weiss, P.C.

27777 Franklin Road

Suite 2500

Southfield, Michigan 48034

(248) 351-3000

 

 

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

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

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

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ☐

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ☐

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

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

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

Sun Communities, Inc.

 

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

Sun Communities Operating Limited Partnership

 

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.  ☐


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CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 

Title of Each Class of

Securities to be Registered

 

Amount to be

Registered (1)(2)

 

Proposed Maximum

Offering Price

Per Unit (1)(2)

 

Proposed Maximum
Aggregate Offering

Price (1)(2)

 

Amount of

Registration

Fee (3)

Sun Communities, Inc.:

               

Common Stock, $0.01 par value

               

Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value

               

Warrants

               

Debt Securities

               

Guarantees of Debt Securities (4)

               

Units

               

Sun Communities Operating Limited Partnership:

               

Debt Securities

               

Guarantees of Debt Securities (4)

               

Units

               

Total

               

 

 

(1)

Omitted pursuant to General Instruction II.E. of Form S-3 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).

(2)

An unspecified number or amount of the securities of each identified class of securities is being registered for possible issuance from time to time at indeterminate prices. Separate consideration may or may not be received for securities that are issuable on exercise, conversion or exchange of securities registered hereunder or that are issued as part of units.

(3)

In accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r) under the Securities Act, the registrants are deferring payment of the registration fee relating to securities that are registered and available for sale under this registration statement. Registration fees will be paid subsequently in advance or on a pay-as-you-go basis.

(4)

We are also registering an indeterminate amount of (i) guarantees by Sun Communities, Inc. of debt securities issued by Sun Communities Operating Limited Partnership and (ii) guarantees by Sun Communities Operating Limited Partnership of debt securities issued by Sun Communities, Inc. Pursuant to Rule 457(n) under the Securities Act, no separate registration fee will be paid in respect of any such guarantees.

 

 

 


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PROSPECTUS

 

LOGO

Common Stock

Preferred Stock

Warrants

Debt Securities

Guarantees Of Debt Securities Of Sun Communities Operating Limited Partnership

Units

SUN COMMUNITIES OPERATING LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

Debt Securities

Guarantees Of Debt Securities Of Sun Communities, Inc.

Units

Sun Communities, Inc. may from time to time offer, in one or more classes or series, separately or together, and in amounts, at prices and on terms to be set forth in one or more supplements to this prospectus, the following securities:

 

   

shares of common stock;

 

   

shares of preferred stock;

 

   

warrants to purchase preferred stock or common stock;

 

   

debt securities; or

 

   

guarantees of debt securities of Sun Communities Operating Limited Partnership.

Sun Communities, Inc. may also from time to time offer units consisting of two or more of the foregoing constituent securities.

Sun Communities Operating Limited Partnership, referred to herein as the Operating Partnership, may from time to time offer, in one or more series, separately or together, and in amounts, at prices and on terms to be set forth in one or more supplements to this prospectus, the following securities:

 

   

debt securities; or

 

   

guarantees of debt securities of Sun Communities, Inc.

Sun Communities, Inc. and the Operating Partnership may also from time to time offer units consisting of debt of the Operating Partnership and one or more of our shares of common stock, shares of preferred stock, debt securities of the Company and warrants.

References to the common stock, preferred stock, warrants, debt securities, guarantees and units registered hereunder are referred to collectively as the “securities” in this prospectus.

This prospectus describes some of the general terms that may apply to these securities and the general manner in which they may be offered. The specific terms of any securities to be offered, and the specific manner in which they may be offered, will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. The prospectus supplement will also contain information, where applicable, about certain federal income tax considerations relating to, and any listing on a securities exchange of, the securities covered by such prospectus supplement. It is important that you read both this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement before you invest in the securities.

To assist us in complying with certain federal income tax requirements applicable to real estate investment trusts, our charter contains certain restrictions relating to the ownership and transfer of our stock, including an ownership limit of 9.8% on our common stock. See “Description of Common Stock – Restrictions on Ownership ” beginning on page 8 of this prospectus.

The securities may be offered directly by us or by any selling security holder, through agents designated from time to time by us or to or through underwriters or dealers. If any agents, dealers or underwriters are involved in the sale of any of the securities, their names, and any applicable purchase price, fee, commission or discount arrangement between or among them will be set forth, or will be calculable from the information set forth, in the applicable prospectus supplement. See the sections entitled “About This Prospectus” and “Plan of Distribution” for more information. No securities may be sold without delivery of this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement describing the method and terms of the offering of such series of securities.

Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, or NYSE, under the symbol “SUI.” The last reported sale price of the common stock as reported on the NYSE on April 1, 2021 was $152.80 per share.

Investing in our securities involves risks. Before investing in our securities, you should read carefully the risk factors included in our periodic reports, in prospectus supplements relating to specific offerings and in other information that we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. See “Risk Factors” on page 3.

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

The date of this prospectus is April 2, 2021


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  

About this Prospectus

     1  

Information About Sun Communities, Inc.

     2  

Risk Factors

     3  

Guarantor Disclosures

     4  

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

     5  

Use of Proceeds

     7  

Description of Common Stock

     8  

Description of Preferred Stock

     11  

Description of Debt Securities

     15  

Description of Guarantees of Debt Securities

     27  

Description of Warrants

     28  

Description of Units

     30  

The Operating Partnership Agreement

     31  

Certain Provisions of Maryland Law and Our Charter and Bylaws

     35  

Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations

     42  

Selling Security Holders

     63  

Plan of Distribution

     64  

Legal Matters

     68  

Experts

     68  

Where You Can Find More Information

     68  

Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference

     69  

 

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of an automatic shelf registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, as a “well-known seasoned issuer” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, using a “shelf” registration process for the delayed offering and sale of securities pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act. Under this process, we may sell the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings. In addition, selling security holders to be named in a prospectus supplement may sell certain of our securities from time to time. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we or any selling security holder may offer. Each time we or any selling security holder sells securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement containing specific information about the terms of the applicable offering. Such prospectus supplement may add, update or change information contained in this prospectus.

We or any selling security holder may offer the securities directly, through agents, or to or through underwriters. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of the plan of distribution and set forth the names of any underwriters involved in the sale of the securities. See “Plan of Distribution” for more information on this topic. No securities may be sold without delivery of a prospectus supplement describing the method and terms of the offering of those securities.

This prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement do not contain all of the information included in the registration statement. We have omitted parts of the registration statement in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC. For further information, we refer you to the registration statement on Form S-3 of which this prospectus is a part, including its exhibits. Statements contained in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement about the provisions or contents of any agreement or other document are not necessarily complete. If the SEC’s rules and regulations require that an agreement or document be filed as an exhibit to the registration statement, please see that agreement or document for a complete description of such matters.

You should read this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement to make your investment decision. You should also read and carefully consider the information in the documents we have referred you to in the section labelled “Where You Can Find More Information” below. Information incorporated by reference after the date of this prospectus may add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. Any information in such subsequent filings that is inconsistent with this prospectus will supersede the information in this prospectus or any earlier prospectus supplement.

Unless otherwise mentioned or unless the context requires otherwise, all references in this prospectus to “Sun,” “we,” “us,” “our” or similar references mean Sun Communities, Inc., a Maryland corporation, and its subsidiaries, including Sun Communities Operating Limited Partnership, a Michigan limited partnership, or the Operating Partnership, Sun Home Services, Inc., a Michigan corporation, or SHS, and Safe Harbor Marinas, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, or Safe Harbor.

 

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INFORMATION ABOUT SUN COMMUNITIES, INC.

We are a self-administered and self-managed real estate investment trust, or REIT. We own, operate and develop manufactured housing, or MH, and recreational vehicle, or RV, communities concentrated in the midwestern, southern and southeastern United States. Through Safe Harbor, we own, operate, develop and manage marina properties in the northeastern, southern, mid-Atlantic, western and midwestern regions of the United States, with the majority of such marinas concentrated in coastal regions and others located in various inland regions. We are a fully-integrated real estate company which, together with our affiliates and predecessors, has been in the business of acquiring, operating, developing and expanding MH and RV communities since 1975 and marina properties since 2020. As of December 31, 2020, we owned and operated or had an interest in a portfolio of 552 properties, which we refer to as Properties, located in 39 states throughout the United States and one province in Canada, including 276 MH communities, 136 RV communities, 34 Properties containing both MH and RV sites, and 106 marinas. As of December 31, 2020, the Properties contained approximately 96,700 developed MH sites, approximately 27,600 annual RV sites (inclusive of both annual and seasonal usage rights), approximately 25,100 transient RV sites, and approximately 38,900 wet slips and dry rack storage spaces. We lease individual parcels of land, or sites, with utility access for placement of manufactured homes and RVs to our MH and RV customers. The MH and RV Properties are designed to offer affordable housing to individuals and families, while also providing certain amenities. Safe Harbor’s offerings to its members include wet slip rental, dry storage, end-to-end service (such as routine maintenance, repair and winterization), fuel sales and other high-end amenities. These services and amenities offer convenience and resort-quality experiences to Safe Harbor’s members.

We are engaged through SHS, a taxable REIT subsidiary, in the marketing, selling, and leasing of new and pre-owned homes to current and future residents in our communities. The operations of SHS support and enhance our occupancy levels, property performance and cash flows.

Structured as an umbrella partnership REIT, or UPREIT, the Operating Partnership is the entity through which we conduct substantially all of our operations, and which owns, either directly or indirectly through SHS, Safe Harbor and other subsidiaries, all of our assets. This UPREIT structure enables us to comply with certain complex requirements under the U.S. federal tax rules and regulations applicable to REITs, and to acquire MH and RV communities and marinas in transactions that defer some or all of the sellers’ tax consequences. We are the sole general partner of, and, as of December 31, 2020, held approximately 94% of the interests in, the Operating Partnership. The interests in the Operating Partnership held by the partners are referred to herein as OP Units.

Principal Executive Offices and Website

We were incorporated in Maryland on July 23, 1993 and completed the initial public offering of our common stock on December 9, 1993. Our executive and principal property management office is located at 27777 Franklin Road, Suite 200, Southfield, Michigan 48034 and our telephone number is (248) 208-2500. For our MH and RV business, we have regional property management offices located in Austin, Texas; Grand Rapids, Michigan; Denver, Colorado; Ft. Myers, Florida; and Orlando, Florida. Safe Harbor’s primary office is located in Dallas, Texas. We employed an aggregate of 4,872 full-time and part-time employees (including seasonal employees) as of December 31, 2020.

Our website address is www.suncommunities.com, which contains information concerning us and our subsidiaries. Information included or referred to on, or otherwise accessible through, our website is not incorporated by reference or otherwise a part of this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement.

 

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RISK FACTORS

Investment in any securities offered pursuant to this prospectus involves risks. In addition to the information presented in this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement and the risk factors in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, which has been filed with the SEC and incorporated by reference herein, and our other filings under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, that are incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, you should consider carefully any specific risks set forth under the caption “Risk Factors” in any applicable prospectus supplement before deciding to purchase any securities offered pursuant to this prospectus. Additional risks and uncertainties not known to us or that we deem immaterial at present or as of the date of any applicable prospectus supplement may also impair our business operations. If any of these risks actually occur, our business, financial condition and results of operations may suffer. In that event, the trading price of our common stock or the value of our other securities could decline, and you may lose all or part of your investment in our securities. Please also refer to the section below entitled “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward- Looking Statements.”

 

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GUARANTOR DISCLOSURES

Sun Communities, Inc. may guarantee debt securities of the Operating Partnership as described in “Description of Debt Securities” and “Description of Guarantees of Debt Securities.” Any such guarantees by Sun Communities, Inc. will be full, irrevocable, unconditional and absolute joint and several guarantees to the holders of each series of such outstanding guaranteed debt securities.

Effective as of January 4, 2021, the SEC amended Rule 3-10 of Regulation S-X and created Rule 13-01 of Regulation S-X to simplify disclosure requirements related to certain registered securities. As a result of the amendments to Rule 3-10 of Regulation S-X, subsidiary issuers of obligations guaranteed by the parent are not required to provide separate financial statements, provided that the subsidiary obligor is consolidated into the parent company’s consolidated financial statements, the parent guarantee is “full and unconditional” and, subject to certain exceptions, the alternative disclosure required by Rule 13-01 of Regulation S-X is provided, which includes narrative disclosure and summarized financial information. Accordingly, separate consolidated financial statements of the Operating Partnership have not been presented.

Furthermore, as permitted under Rule 13-01(a)(4)(vi)(A) of Regulation S-X, the Company has excluded the summarized financial information for the Operating Partnership because the assets, liabilities and results of operations of the Operating Partnership and Sun are not materially different than the corresponding amounts in Sun’s consolidated financial statements, and management believes such summarized financial information would be repetitive and would not provide incremental value to investors.

 

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CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein contain various “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, and the Exchange Act, and we intend that such forward-looking statements will be subject to the safe harbors created thereby. For this purpose, any statements contained in this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein that relate to expectations, beliefs, projections, future plans and strategies, trends or prospective events or developments and similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts are deemed to be forward-looking statements. Words such as “forecasts,” “intends,” “intend,” “intended,” “goal,” “estimate,” “estimates,” “expects,” “expect,” “expected,” “project,” “projected,” “projections,” “plans,” “predicts,” “potential,” “seeks,” “anticipates,” “anticipated,” “should,” “could,” “may,” “will,” “designed to,” “foreseeable future,” “believe,” “believes,” “scheduled,” “guidance” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. These forward-looking statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and financial performance, but involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, both general and specific to the matters discussed in this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein. These risks and uncertainties may cause our actual results to be materially different from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In addition to the risks described under “Risk Factors” above and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, and other filings we make with the SEC from time to time, such risks and uncertainties include:

 

   

outbreaks of disease, including the COVID-19 pandemic, and related stay-at-home orders, quarantine policies and restrictions on travel, trade and business operations;

 

   

changes in general economic conditions, the real estate industry and the markets in which we operate;

 

   

difficulties in our ability to evaluate, finance, complete and integrate acquisitions, developments and expansions successfully;

 

   

our liquidity and refinancing demands;

 

   

our ability to obtain or refinance maturing debt;

 

   

our ability to maintain compliance with covenants contained in our debt facilities;

 

   

availability of capital;

 

   

changes in foreign currency exchange rates, specifically between the U.S. dollar and each of the Canadian dollar and the Australian dollar;

 

   

our ability to maintain rental rates and occupancy levels;

 

   

our failure to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting and disclosure controls and procedures;

 

   

increases in interest rates and operating costs, including insurance premiums and real property taxes;

 

   

risks related to natural disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes, floods and wildfires;

 

   

general volatility of the capital markets and the market price of shares of our capital stock;

 

   

our ability to maintain our status as a REIT;

 

   

changes in real estate and zoning laws and regulations;

 

   

legislative or regulatory changes, including changes to laws governing the taxation of REITs;

 

   

litigation, judgments or settlements;

 

   

competitive market forces;

 

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the ability of purchasers of manufactured homes and boats to obtain financing; and

 

   

the level of repossessions by manufactured home lenders.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date the statement was made. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements included or incorporated by reference into this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in our expectations or otherwise, except as required by law.

Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. All written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

Unless we indicate otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, we intend to contribute the net proceeds from any sale of the securities pursuant to this prospectus to the Operating Partnership, which will use the net proceeds to fund possible future acquisitions of properties and for general corporate purposes, which may include the repayment of existing indebtedness and improvements to the properties in our portfolio. Pending application of cash proceeds, we will invest the net proceeds in interest-bearing accounts and short-term, interest-bearing securities which are consistent with our intention to continue to qualify as a REIT for federal income tax purposes. Further details regarding the use of the net proceeds from the sale of a specific series or class of the securities will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

If a prospectus supplement includes an offering by selling security holders, we will not receive any proceeds from such sales.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK

We have the authority to issue 200,000,000 shares of capital stock, of which 180,000,000 shares are common stock, par value $0.01 per share. As of December 31, 2020, we had 107,626,361 shares of common stock issued and outstanding.

The following description of the common stock sets forth certain general terms and provisions of the common stock to which any prospectus supplement may relate, including a prospectus supplement providing that common stock will be issuable upon conversion of our debt securities or preferred stock or upon the exercise of the warrants we issue. The statements below describing the common stock are in all respects subject to and qualified in their entirety by reference to the applicable provisions of our charter and bylaws.

General

Subject to the preferential rights of any other class or series of stock, holders of our common stock are entitled to receive distributions when, as and if declared by our board of directors, out of funds legally available therefor. Payment and declaration of distributions on the common stock and purchases of shares thereof by us may be subject to certain restrictions if we fail to pay distributions on outstanding shares of any class or series of our preferred stock and the rights and preferences of the common stock may be modified by or subordinated to the rights and preferences of classes or series of preferred stock designated in the future. See “Description of Preferred Stock.” Upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of Sun, holders of common stock would be entitled to share equally and ratably in any assets available for distribution to them, after payment or provision for payment of the debts and other liabilities of Sun and the preferential amounts owing with respect to any outstanding preferred stock or senior debt securities.

The common stock has ordinary voting rights for the election of directors and in respect of other corporate matters, each share entitling the holder thereof to one vote. Holders of common stock do not have cumulative voting rights in the election of directors. Upon receipt by us of lawful payment therefor, any shares of common stock offered and sold hereunder will, when issued, be fully paid and nonassessable, and will not be subject to redemption except (as described below and in our charter) as necessary to preserve our status as a REIT. A stockholder of Sun has no preemptive rights to subscribe for additional shares of common stock or other securities of Sun except as may be granted by the board of directors.

Under Maryland law, a Maryland corporation generally cannot dissolve, amend its charter, merge, sell all or substantially all of its assets, engage in a share exchange or consolidation unless advised by the board of directors and approved by the affirmative vote of stockholders holding at least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter unless a lesser percentage, but not less than a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on the matter, is set forth in the corporation’s charter. Our charter does not provide for a lesser percentage in such situations.

Restrictions on Ownership

For us to qualify as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code, our common stock must be beneficially owned by 100 or more persons during at least 335 days of a taxable year of 12 months (other than the first year) or during a proportionate part of a shorter taxable year. Also, not more than 50% of the value of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock may be owned, directly or indirectly, by five or fewer individuals (as defined in the Code to include certain entities such as qualified private pension plans) during the last half of a taxable year (other than the first year) or during a proportionate part of a shorter taxable year.

Because the board of directors believes it is essential for us to continue to qualify as a REIT, our charter, subject to certain exceptions, contains a provision, which we refer to as the Ownership Limit, providing that no holder may own, or be deemed to own by virtue of the attribution provisions of the Code, more than 9.8% in number of shares or value, of our outstanding common stock and preferred stock. The board of directors may

 

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exempt a person from the Ownership Limit if evidence satisfactory to the board of directors is presented that the proposed transfer of stock to the intended transferee will not then or in the future jeopardize our status as a REIT. As a condition of such exemption, the intended transferee must give written notice to us of the proposed transfer and must furnish to us a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service, an opinion of counsel or other evidence satisfactory to the board of directors and must comply with such other conditions as the board of directors may direct, which may include the provision of affidavits, undertakings, agreements, and other information as the board of directors may require, such notice to be provided no later than the fifteenth day prior to any transfer which, if consummated, would result in the intended transferee owning shares in excess of the Ownership Limit. The foregoing restrictions on transferability and ownership will not apply if the board of directors determines that it is no longer in the best interests of Sun to attempt to qualify or to continue to qualify as a REIT and revokes or otherwise terminates Sun’s REIT election. Any transfer of shares of common stock that would: (i) create a direct or indirect ownership of shares of capital stock in excess of the Ownership Limit; (ii) result in the shares of capital stock being owned by fewer than 100 persons; or (iii) result in Sun being “closely held” within the meaning of Section 856(h) of the Code, shall be null and void, and the intended transferee will acquire no rights to the shares.

Our charter excludes Milton M. Shiffman, Gary A. Shiffman and Robert B. Bayer; trustees, personal representatives, attorneys-in-fact and other representatives and agents to the extent acting for them or their respective estates and certain of their respective relatives from the Ownership Limit. These persons may acquire additional shares of capital stock through the redemption of OP Units, through our equity incentive plans, from other stockholders or otherwise, but in no event will they be entitled to acquire additional shares such that the five largest beneficial owners of our stock hold more than 50% of the total outstanding stock.

Shares of common and/or preferred stock purported to be transferred in excess of the Ownership Limit that are not otherwise permitted as provided above will constitute “Excess Stock,” which will be deemed to have been transferred to Sun as trustee of a trust for the exclusive benefit of the person or persons to whom the Excess Stock may later be transferred, until such time as the intended transferee retransfers the Excess Stock. Subject to the Ownership Limit, the shares of Excess Stock may be retransferred by the intended transferee to any person who may hold such shares of Excess Stock at a price not to exceed the price paid by the intended transferee (or the market price of the common stock as of the date of purported transfer, if the intended transferee received the shares of stock as a gift or otherwise did not give value for the shares of stock), at which point the shares of Excess Stock will automatically be exchanged for the shares of Sun capital stock to which the shares of Excess Stock are attributable. In addition, such shares of Excess Stock held in trust are subject to purchase by Sun. The purchase price of any shares of Excess Stock shall be equal to the lesser of the price paid for the shares by the intended transferee and the market value of Sun’s common or preferred stock, as applicable, in which shall be equal to the closing sales price for the common or preferred stock (as the case may be), if then traded on the NYSE, the last reported sales price for the stock on any exchange or quotation system over which our common stock may be traded, or, if the stock is not traded on any exchange or quotation system, the market value as determined by the board of directors in good faith, on the last trading day immediately preceding the day on which notice of such proposed purchase is sent by Sun. Holders of shares of Excess Stock are not entitled to distributions, voting rights, and other benefits with respect to such shares except the right to payment of the purchase price for the shares of stock or the transfer of the shares as provided above. Any dividend or distribution paid to a proposed transferee on shares of Excess Stock prior to our discovery that such shares have been transferred in violation of the provisions of our charter shall be repaid to us upon demand. If the foregoing transfer restrictions are determined to be void, invalid or unenforceable by any court, then the intended transferee of any Excess Stock may be deemed, at Sun’s option, to have acted as an agent of Sun in acquiring such Excess Stock and to hold such Excess Stock on behalf of Sun.

All certificates representing shares of stock will bear a legend referring to the restrictions described above.

All persons who own, directly or by virtue of the attribution provisions of the Code, more than 5% in number of shares or value of our outstanding common stock and preferred stock must give a written notice to us

 

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containing the information specified in our charter by January 31 of each year. In addition, each stockholder must also disclose to us such additional information as Sun may reasonably request in order to determine the effect, if any, of such persons’ ownership of our common stock or preferred stock on our status as a REIT, to comply with the requirements of any taxing authority or governmental agency or to determine any such compliance.

These ownership limitations could have the effect of discouraging a takeover or other transaction in which holders of some, or a majority of, shares of common stock might receive a premium for their shares over the then prevailing market price or which such holders might believe to be otherwise in their best interest.

The registrar and transfer agent for the common stock is Computershare Trust Company, N.A.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED STOCK

The following description of the terms of the preferred stock sets forth certain general terms and provisions of any new series of preferred stock to which any future prospectus supplement may relate. Certain other terms of any new series of the preferred stock offered by any prospectus supplement will be described in such prospectus supplement. The description of certain provisions of the preferred stock set forth below and in any future prospectus supplement does not purport to be complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to our charter (including any amendment or supplement relating to each series of the preferred stock) which will be filed with the SEC and incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus relates at or prior to the time of the issuance of such series of preferred stock.

General

We are authorized to issue 20,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share. As of December 31, 2020, no shares of preferred stock were issued and outstanding.

Under our charter, the board of directors (without any stockholder action) may from time to time establish and issue one or more series of preferred stock with such terms, preferences, conversion, other rights and voting powers of the shares of such series and the qualifications, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, or restrictions thereon, as the board of directors shall determine.

Any new series of preferred stock shall have the distribution, liquidation, redemption and voting rights set forth below unless otherwise provided in a prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of the preferred stock. Reference is made to the prospectus supplement relating to the particular series of the preferred stock offered thereby for specific terms, including: (i) the designation and stated value per share of such preferred stock and the number of shares offered; (ii) the amount of liquidation preference per share; (iii) the initial public offering price at which such preferred stock will be issued; (iv) the distribution rate (or method of calculation), the dates on which distributions shall be payable and the dates from which distributions shall commence to accumulate, if any; (v) any redemption or sinking fund provisions; (vi) any conversion rights; and (vii) any additional voting, distribution, liquidation, redemption, sinking fund and other rights, preferences, privileges, limitations and restrictions. Any shares of preferred stock offered and sold hereunder will, when issued for lawful consideration, be fully paid and nonassessable and, unless otherwise determined by the board of directors and set forth in a supplement to our charter, will have no preemptive rights.

Restrictions on Ownership

See “Description of Common Stock—Restrictions on Ownership” for a discussion of the restrictions on capital stock (common stock and preferred stock) ownership necessary for Sun to qualify as a REIT under the Code.

Issuances of New Series of Preferred Stock

Rank

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, any new series of preferred stock will, with respect to distribution rights and rights upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of Sun, rank: (i) senior to all classes or series of common stock and to all equity securities ranking junior to such series of preferred stock; (ii) on a parity with all equity securities issued by us the terms of which specifically provide that such equity securities rank on a parity with such series of preferred stock; and (iii) junior to all equity securities issued by us the terms of which specifically provide that such equity securities rank senior to such series of preferred stock. The rights of the holders of each series of the preferred stock will be subordinate to those of our general creditors.

 

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Distributions

Holders of shares of any new series of preferred stock will be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by our board of directors, out of our assets legally available for payment, cash distributions at such rates and on such dates as will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. Such rate may be fixed or variable or both. Each such distribution shall be payable to holders of record as they appear on our stock transfer books on such record dates as shall be fixed by the board of directors.

Distributions on any new series of preferred stock may be cumulative or non-cumulative, as provided in the applicable prospectus supplement. Distributions, if cumulative, will be cumulative from and after the date set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. If the board of directors fails to declare a distribution payable on a distribution payment date on any series of the preferred stock for which distributions are noncumulative, then the holders of such series of the preferred stock will have no right to receive a distribution in respect of the distribution period ending on such distribution payment date, and we will have no obligation to pay the distribution accrued for such period, whether or not distributions on such series are declared payable on any future distribution payment date. Distributions on shares of each series of preferred stock for which distributions are cumulative will accrue from the date on which we issue shares of such series.

Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, we expect that the terms of any new series of preferred stock will provide that, so long as shares of any such series of preferred stock shall be outstanding, we may not declare or pay any distributions, make a distribution, or purchase, acquire, redeem, pay monies to the holders of in respect of, or set aside or make funds available for a sinking or other analogous fund for the purchase or redemption of, any shares of our common stock or any other stock ranking as to distributions or distributions of assets junior to such series of preferred stock (the common stock and any such other stock being herein referred to as junior stock), unless (i) full distributions (including if such preferred stock is cumulative, distributions for prior distribution periods) shall have been paid or declared and set apart for payment on all outstanding shares of the preferred stock of such series and all other classes and series of our preferred stock (other than junior stock) and (ii) all sinking or other analogous fund payments and amounts for the repurchase or other mandatory retirement of any shares of preferred stock of such series or any shares of any other of our preferred stock of any class or series (other than junior stock) have been paid or duly provided for.

Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, we expect that any distribution payment made on shares of a new series of preferred stock will first be credited against the earliest accrued but unpaid distribution due with respect to shares of such series which remains payable.

Redemption

A new series of preferred stock may be redeemable, in whole or from time to time in part, at our option, and may be subject to mandatory redemption pursuant to a sinking fund or otherwise, in each case upon terms, at the times and at the redemption prices set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to such series. Shares of the preferred stock redeemed by us will be restored to the status of authorized but unissued shares of preferred stock.

The prospectus supplement relating to a new series of preferred stock that is subject to mandatory redemption will specify the number of shares of such preferred stock that shall be redeemed by us in each year commencing after a date to be specified, at a redemption price per share to be specified, together with an amount equal to all accrued and unpaid distributions thereon (which shall not, if such preferred stock does not have a cumulative distribution, include any accumulation in respect of unpaid distributions for prior distribution periods) to the date of redemption. The redemption price may be payable in cash or other property, as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. If the redemption price for preferred stock of any series is payable only from the net proceeds of the issuance of our capital stock, the terms of such preferred stock may provide that, if no such capital stock shall have been issued or to the extent the net proceeds from any issuance are insufficient to

 

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pay in full the aggregate redemption price then due, such preferred stock shall automatically and mandatorily be converted into shares of the applicable capital stock pursuant to conversion provisions specified in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, we expect that the terms of any new series of preferred stock will provide that, so long as any distributions on shares of such preferred stock are in arrears, no shares of any such series of the preferred stock or such other series of our preferred stock will be redeemed (whether by mandatory or optional redemption) unless all such shares are simultaneously redeemed, and we will not purchase or otherwise acquire any such shares; provided, however, that the foregoing will not prevent the purchase or acquisition of such shares pursuant to a purchase or exchange offer made on the same terms to holders of all such shares outstanding.

Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, we also expect that the terms of any new series of preferred stock will provide that (i) in the event that fewer than all of the outstanding shares of the new series of the preferred stock are to be redeemed, whether by mandatory or optional redemption, the number of shares to be redeemed will be determined by lot or pro rata (subject to rounding to avoid fractional shares) as may be determined by us or by any other method as may be determined by us in our sole discretion to be equitable and (ii) from and after the redemption date (unless default shall be made by us in providing for the payment of the redemption price plus accumulated and unpaid distributions, if any), distributions shall cease to accumulate on the shares of such preferred stock called for redemption and all rights of the holders thereof (except the right to receive the redemption price plus accumulated and unpaid distributions, if any) shall cease.

Liquidation Preference

Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, we expect that the terms of any new series of preferred stock will provide that upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of Sun, then, before any distribution or payment shall be made to the holders of any junior stock, the holders of such new series of preferred stock shall be entitled to receive out of our assets legally available for distribution to stockholders, subject to the liquidation preference rights of any series of preferred stock ranking senior to such new series of preferred stock, liquidating distributions in the amount of the liquidation preference per share (set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement), plus an amount equal to all distributions accrued and unpaid thereon (which shall not include any accumulation in respect of unpaid distributions for prior distribution periods if such preferred stock does not have a cumulative distribution). After payment of the full amount of the liquidating distributions to which they are entitled, we expect that, unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, the holders of any new series of preferred stock will have no right or claim to any of our remaining assets. In the event that upon any such voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up, our available assets are insufficient to pay the amount of the liquidating distributions on all outstanding shares of such series of preferred stock and the corresponding amounts payable on all shares of other classes or series of our capital stock ranking on a parity with such series of preferred stock in the distribution of assets, we expect the terms of such preferred stock will provide that the holders of such series of preferred stock and all other such classes or series of capital stock shall share ratably in any such distribution of assets in proportion to the full liquidating distributions to which they would otherwise be respectively entitled unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Subject to the liquidation preference rights of any series of preferred stock ranking senior to the applicable series of preferred stock upon liquidation, if liquidating distributions shall have been made in full to all holders of shares of a new series of preferred stock, we expect that our remaining assets will be distributed among the holders of junior stock according to their respective rights and preferences.

 

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Voting Rights

Except as indicated below or in a prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of the preferred stock, or except as required by applicable law, we expect that holders of a new series of preferred stock will not be entitled to vote for any purpose.

Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, we expect that the terms of any new series of preferred stock will provide that so long as any shares of a new series of preferred stock remain outstanding, the consent or the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66-2/3% of the votes entitled to be cast with respect to the then outstanding shares of such series of the preferred stock together with any Other Preferred Stock (as defined below), voting as one class, either expressed in writing or at a meeting called for that purpose, will be necessary: (i) to permit, effect or validate the authorization, or any increase in the authorized amount, of any class or series of shares ranking prior to the preferred stock of such series as to distributions, voting or upon distribution of assets; and (ii) to repeal, amend or otherwise change any of the provisions applicable to the preferred stock of such series in any manner which adversely affects the powers, preferences, voting power or other rights or privileges of such series of the preferred stock. We also expect that in case any series of the preferred stock would be so affected by any such action referred to in clause (ii) above in a different manner than one or more series of the Other Preferred Stock which will be similarly affected, the holders of such series of preferred stock will be entitled to vote as a class, and we will not take such action without the consent or affirmative vote, as above provided, of at least 66-2/3% of the total number of votes entitled to be cast with respect to each such series of the preferred stock and the Other Preferred Stock then outstanding, in lieu of the consent or affirmative vote hereinabove otherwise required unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, we also expect that with respect to any matter as to which any new series of preferred stock is entitled to vote, holders of the preferred stock of such series and any other series of our preferred stock ranking on a parity with such series of the preferred stock as to distributions and distributions of assets and which by its terms provides for similar voting rights, or the Other Preferred Stock, will be entitled to cast the number of votes set forth in the prospectus supplement with respect to that series of preferred stock. As a result of the provisions described in the preceding paragraph providing that the holders of shares of a series of the preferred stock may vote together as a class with the holders of shares of one or more series of Other Preferred Stock, it is possible that, in such a case, the holders of such shares of Other Preferred Stock could approve action that would adversely affect such series of preferred stock, including the creation of a class of capital stock ranking prior to such series of preferred stock as to distributions, voting or distribution of assets.

Conversion Rights

The terms and conditions, if any, upon which shares of any new series of preferred stock are convertible into common stock will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement relating thereto. Such terms will include the number of shares of common stock into which the preferred stock is convertible, the conversion price (or manner of calculation thereof), the conversion period, provisions as to whether conversion will be at the option of the holders of the preferred stock or our option, the events requiring an adjustment of the conversion price and provisions affecting conversion.

Transfer Agent and Registrar

The Transfer Agent and Registrar for any new series of preferred stock will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

As used in this description, the words “we,” “us” and “our” refer to the issuer of debt securities, which may be Sun Communities, Inc. or Sun Communities Operating Limited Partnership, and not to any of their respective subsidiaries or affiliates.

Any debt securities that we offer under a prospectus supplement will be direct, unsecured general obligations. The debt securities will be either senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities. The debt securities will be issued under one or more separate indentures between us and UMB Bank, N.A., as trustee. Senior debt securities will be issued under a senior indenture and subordinated debt securities will be issued under a subordinated indenture. Together, the senior indenture and the subordinated indenture are called “indentures.” The indentures will be supplemented by supplemental indentures, the material provisions of which will be described in a prospectus supplement.

Under each of the indentures, we may issue debt securities in one or more series.

We have summarized some of the material provisions of the indentures below. This summary does not restate those agreements in their entirety. A form of senior indenture and a form of subordinated indenture have been filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. We urge you to read each of the indentures because each one, and not this description, defines the rights of holders of debt securities.

Capitalized terms defined in the indentures have the same meanings when used in this prospectus.

General

The debt securities issued under the indentures will be our direct, unsecured general obligations. The senior debt securities will rank equally in right of payment with all of our other existing and future senior unsubordinated debt. The subordinated debt securities will have a junior position to all of our existing and future senior unsubordinated debt.

The following description sets forth the general terms and provisions that could apply to debt securities that we may offer to sell. A prospectus supplement relating to any series of debt securities being offered will include specific terms relating to the offering. These terms will include some or all of the following, among others:

 

   

the title, type and denominations of the debt securities;

 

   

whether the debt securities will be guaranteed:

 

   

whether the debt securities will be senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities, and, if applicable, the subordination provisions;

 

   

the total principal amount of the debt securities;

 

   

the percentage of the principal amount at which the debt securities will be issued and any payments due if the maturity of the debt securities is accelerated;

 

   

the dates on which the principal of the debt securities will be payable;

 

   

the interest rate which the debt securities will bear and the interest payment dates for the debt securities;

 

   

any conversion or exchange features;

 

   

any optional redemption periods and the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which the debt securities may be redeemed at the option of the Company;

 

   

any sinking fund or other provisions that would obligate us to repurchase or otherwise redeem some or all of the debt securities;

 

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any provisions granting special rights to holders when a specified event occurs;

 

   

any changes to or additional events of default or covenants;

 

   

any special tax implications of the debt securities, including provisions for original issue discount securities, if offered; and

 

   

any other terms of the debt securities.

Neither of the indentures will limit the amount of debt securities that may be issued. Each indenture will allow debt securities to be issued up to the principal amount that may be authorized by us and may be in any currency or currency unit designated by us.

Debt securities of a series may be issued in registered or global form.

Guarantees

If the applicable prospectus supplement relating to a series of our senior debt securities provides that those senior debt securities will have the benefit of a guarantee by any one or more guarantors, then payment of the principal, premium, if any, and interest on those senior debt securities will be unconditionally guaranteed on an unsecured, unsubordinated basis by such guarantor or guarantors. The guarantee of senior debt securities will rank equally in right of payment with all of the senior unsubordinated indebtedness of such guarantor or guarantors.

If the applicable prospectus supplement relating to a series of our subordinated debt securities provides that those subordinated debt securities will have the benefit of a guarantee by any one or more guarantors, payment of the principal, premium, if any, and interest on those subordinated debt securities will be unconditionally guaranteed on an unsecured, subordinated basis by such guarantor or guarantors. The guarantee by any guarantor of the subordinated debt securities will be subordinated in right of payment to all of such guarantor’s existing and future senior indebtedness (as defined in the related prospectus supplement), including any guarantee of the senior debt securities, to the same extent and in the same manner as the subordinated debt securities are subordinated to our senior indebtedness (as defined in the related prospectus supplement). See “— Subordination” below.

The obligations of any guarantor under any such guarantee will be limited as necessary to prevent the guarantee from constituting a fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer under applicable law.

Covenants

Under the indentures, we:

 

   

will pay the principal of, and interest and any premium on, the debt securities when due;

 

   

will maintain a place of payment;

 

   

will deliver a certificate to the trustee each fiscal year reviewing our compliance with our obligations under the indentures;

 

   

will preserve our corporate existence; and

 

   

will segregate or deposit with any paying agent sufficient funds for the payment of any principal, interest or premium on or before the due date of such payment.

Furthermore, to the extent material, we will set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to any series of debt securities any covenants applicable to such series of debt securities that are in addition to or supplement, modify or replace the covenants set forth in the applicable indenture.

 

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Mergers and Sale of Assets

Each of the indentures will provide that we may not convert into, or consolidate, amalgamate or merge with or into any other Person or sell, convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of our properties and assets (on a consolidated basis) to another Person, unless:

 

   

either: (a) we are the surviving Person; or (b) the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation, amalgamation or merger or resulting from such conversion (if other than us) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition has been made is a corporation, limited liability company or limited partnership organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia;

 

   

the Person formed by or surviving any such conversion, consolidation, amalgamation or merger (if other than us) or the Person to which such sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition has been made assumes all of our obligations under such indenture and the debt securities governed thereby pursuant to agreements reasonably satisfactory to the trustee, which may include a supplemental indenture;

 

   

immediately after giving effect to such transaction, we or the successor will not be in default under such indenture; and

 

   

we deliver an officer’s certificate and opinion of counsel to the trustee stating that such consolidation, amalgamation, merger, conveyance, sale, transfer or lease and any supplemental indenture comply with such indenture and that all conditions precedent set forth in such indenture have been complied with.

Upon the assumption of our obligations under each indenture by a successor, we will be discharged from all obligations under such indenture.

As used in the indentures and in this description, the word “Person” means any individual, corporation, company, limited liability company, partnership, limited partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, other entity, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

Events of Default

“Event of default,” when used in the indentures with respect to debt securities of any series, will mean any of the following:

(1) default in the payment of any interest upon any debt security of that series when it becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days;

(2) default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any debt security of that series at its maturity;

(3) default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant set forth in Article Ten of the applicable indenture (other than a covenant a default in the performance of which or the breach of which is elsewhere specifically dealt with as an event of default or which has expressly been included in such indenture solely for the benefit of one or more series of debt securities other than that series), and continuance of such default or breach for a period of 60 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to us by the trustee or to us and the trustee by the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then-outstanding debt securities of that series a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” thereunder;

(4) default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant in the applicable indenture (other than a covenant set forth in Article Ten of such indenture or any other covenant a default in the performance of which or the breach of which is elsewhere specifically dealt with as an event of default or which has

 

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expressly been included in such indenture solely for the benefit of one or more series of debt securities other than that series), and continuance of such default or breach for a period of 90 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to us by the trustee or to us and the trustee by the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then-outstanding debt securities of that series a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” thereunder;

(5) we, pursuant to or within the meaning of any bankruptcy law, (i) commence a voluntary case, (ii) consent to the entry of any order for relief against us in an involuntary case, (iii) consent to the appointment of a custodian of us or for all or substantially all of our property, or (iv) make a general assignment for the benefit of our creditors;

(6) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any bankruptcy law that (i) is for relief against us in an involuntary case, (ii) appoints a custodian of us or for all or substantially all of our property, or (iii) orders the liquidation of us, and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 consecutive days;

(7) default in the deposit of any sinking fund payment when due; or

(8) any other event of default provided with respect to debt securities of that series in accordance with provisions of the indenture related to the issuance of such debt securities.

An event of default for a particular series of debt securities does not necessarily constitute an event of default for any other series of debt securities issued under an indenture. The trustee may withhold notice to the holders of debt securities of any default (except in the payment of principal, interest or any premium) if it considers the withholding of notice to be in the interests of the holders.

If an event of default for any series of debt securities occurs and continues, the trustee or the holders of 25% in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of the series may declare the entire principal of all of the debt securities of that series to be due and payable immediately. If this happens, subject to certain conditions, the holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of that series can void the declaration.

Other than its duties in case of a default, a trustee is not obligated to exercise any of its rights or powers under any indenture at the request, order or direction of any holders, unless the holders offer the trustee reasonable indemnity. If they provide this reasonable indemnification, the holders of a majority in principal amount outstanding of any series of debt securities may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding or any remedy available to the trustee, or exercising any power conferred upon the trustee, for any series of debt securities.

Amendments and Waivers

Subject to certain exceptions, the indentures, the debt securities issued thereunder or the guarantees thereof, if any, may be amended or supplemented with the consent of the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then-outstanding debt securities of each series affected by such amendment or supplemental indenture, with each such series voting as a separate class (including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, debt securities) and, subject to certain exceptions, any past default or compliance with any provisions may be waived with respect to each series of debt securities with the consent of the holders of a majority in principal amount of the then-outstanding debt securities of such series voting as a separate class (including consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, debt securities).

 

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Without the consent of each holder of the outstanding debt securities affected, an amendment, supplement or waiver may not, among other things:

(1) change the stated maturity of the principal of, or any installment of principal of or interest on, any debt security, reduce the principal amount thereof or the rate of interest thereon or any premium payable upon the redemption thereof, reduce the amount of the principal of an original issue discount security that would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to the applicable indenture, change the coin or currency in which any debt security or any premium or the interest thereon is payable, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the stated maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the redemption date therefor);

(2) reduce the percentage in principal amount of the then-outstanding debt securities of any series, the consent of the holders of which is required for any such amendment or supplemental indenture, or the consent of the holders of which is required for any waiver of compliance with certain provisions of the applicable indenture or certain defaults thereunder and their consequences provided for in the applicable indenture;

(3) modify any of the provisions set forth in (i) the provisions of the applicable indenture related to the holder’s unconditional right to receive principal, premium, if any, and interest on the debt securities or (ii) the provisions of the applicable indenture related to the waiver of past defaults under such indenture;

(4) waive a redemption payment with respect to any debt security; provided, however, that any purchase or repurchase of debt securities shall not be deemed a redemption of the debt securities;

(5) release any guarantor from any of its obligations under its guarantee or the applicable indenture, except in accordance with the terms of such indenture (as amended or supplemented); or

(6) make any change in the foregoing amendment and waiver provisions, except to increase any percentage provided for therein or to provide that certain other provisions of the applicable indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the holder of each then-outstanding debt security affected thereby.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, without the consent of any holder of debt securities, we, the guarantors, if any, and the trustee may amend each of the indentures or the debt securities issued thereunder to:

(1) cure any ambiguity or defect or to correct or supplement any provision therein that may be inconsistent with any other provision therein;

(2) evidence the succession of another Person to us and the assumption by any such successor of our covenants therein and, to the extent applicable, of the debt securities;

(3) provide for uncertificated debt securities in addition to or in place of certificated debt securities; provided that the uncertificated debt securities are issued in registered form for purposes of Section 163(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Internal Revenue Code”), or in the manner such that the uncertificated debt securities are described in Section 163(f)(2)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code;

(4) add a guarantee and cause any Person to become a guarantor, and/or to evidence the succession of another Person to a guarantor and the assumption by any such successor of the guarantee of such guarantor therein and, to the extent applicable, endorsed upon any debt securities of any series, and/or to cause any of our corporate subsidiaries to become a co-issuer of the debt securities of any series;

(5) secure the debt securities of any series;

(6) add to the covenants such further covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions as we shall consider to be appropriate for the benefit of the holders of all or any series of debt securities (and if such covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions 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) or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon us, and to make the occurrence, or the occurrence and

 

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continuance, of a default in any such additional covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions an event of default permitting the enforcement of all or any of the several remedies provided in the applicable indenture as set forth therein; provided, that in respect of any such additional covenant, restriction, condition or provision, such amendment or 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 an event of default or may limit the remedies available to the trustee upon such an event of default or may limit the right of the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of such series to waive such an event of default;

(7) make any change to any provision of the applicable indenture that does not adversely affect the rights or interests of any holder of debt securities issued thereunder;

(8) provide for the issuance of additional debt securities in accordance with the provisions set forth in the applicable indenture;

(9) add any additional defaults or events of default in respect of all or any series of debt securities;

(10) add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of the applicable indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the issuance of debt securities in bearer form, registrable or not registrable as to principal, and with or without interest coupons;

(11) change or eliminate any of the provisions of the applicable indenture; provided that any such change or elimination shall become effective only when there is no debt security outstanding of any series created prior to the execution of such amendment or supplemental indenture that is entitled to the benefit of such provision;

(12) establish the form or terms of debt securities of any series as permitted thereunder, including to reopen any series of any debt securities as permitted thereunder;

(13) evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment thereunder by a successor trustee with respect to the debt securities of one or more series and to add to or change any of the provisions of the applicable indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts thereunder by more than one trustee, pursuant to the requirements of such indenture;

(14) conform the text of the applicable indenture (and/or any supplemental indenture) or any debt securities issued thereunder to any provision of a description of such debt securities appearing in a prospectus or prospectus supplement or an offering memorandum or offering circular to the extent that such provision appears on its face to have been intended to be a verbatim recitation of a provision of such indenture (and/or any supplemental indenture) or any debt securities or guarantee issued thereunder; or

(15) modify, eliminate or add to the provisions of the applicable indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to effect the qualification of such indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Trust Indenture Act”), or under any similar federal statute subsequently enacted, and to add to such indenture such other provisions as may be expressly required under the Trust Indenture Act.

The consent of the holders is not necessary under either indenture to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment. It is sufficient if such consent approves the substance of the proposed amendment. After an amendment with the consent of the holders under an indenture becomes effective, we are required to mail to the holders of debt securities thereunder a notice briefly describing such amendment. However, the failure to give such notice to all such holders, or any defect therein, will not impair or affect the validity of the amendment.

Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

Each indenture provides that we may, at our option and at any time, elect to have all of our obligations discharged with respect to the debt securities of any series outstanding thereunder and all obligations of any guarantors of such debt securities discharged with respect to their guarantees (“Legal Defeasance”), except for:

 

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(1) the rights of holders of outstanding debt securities of such series to receive payments in respect of the principal of, or interest or premium, if any, on, such debt securities when such payments are due from the trust referred to below;

(2) our obligations with respect to such debt securities concerning temporary debt securities, registration of debt securities, mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen debt securities, the maintenance of an office or agency for payment and money for security payments held in trust;

(3) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the trustee, and our and each guarantor’s obligations in connection therewith; and

(4) the Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance (as defined below) provisions of the applicable indenture.

In addition, we may, at our option and at any time, elect to have our obligations released with respect to certain provisions of each indenture with respect to the outstanding debt securities of any series, including certain provisions described in any prospectus supplement (such release and termination being referred to as “Covenant Defeasance”), and thereafter any failure to comply with such obligations or provisions will not constitute a default or event of default with respect to such debt securities. In addition, in the event Covenant Defeasance with respect to the debt securities of any series occurs in accordance with the applicable indenture, any defeasible event of default with respect to such debt securities will no longer constitute an event of default.

In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance with respect to any series of debt securities:

(1) we must irrevocably deposit with the trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the holders of the debt securities of such series, cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable U.S. government securities, or a combination of cash in U.S. dollars and non-callable U.S. government securities, in amounts as will be sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized investment bank, appraisal firm or firm of independent public accountants, to pay the principal of, and interest and premium, if any, on, the outstanding debt securities of such series on the stated date for payment thereof or on the applicable redemption date, as the case may be, and we must specify whether the debt securities are being defeased to such stated date for payment or to a particular redemption date;

(2) in the case of Legal Defeasance, we must deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel reasonably acceptable to the trustee confirming that (a) we have received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling or (b) since the issue date of the debt securities, there has been a change in the applicable federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion of counsel will confirm that, the holders of the outstanding debt securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such Legal Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same time as would have been the case if such Legal Defeasance had not occurred;

(3) in the case of Covenant Defeasance, we must deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel reasonably acceptable to the trustee confirming that the holders of the outstanding 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;

(4) no default or event of default with respect to such series of debt securities shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit (other than a default or event of default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit);

(5) the deposit must not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any other instrument to which we are, or any guarantor is, a party or by which we are, or any guarantor is, bound;

 

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(6) such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance must not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any material agreement or instrument (other than the applicable indenture) to which we are, or any of our subsidiaries is, a party or by which we are, or any of our subsidiaries is, bound;

(7) we must deliver to the trustee an officer’s certificate stating that the deposit was not made by us with the intent of preferring the holders of such debt securities over our other creditors with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding our creditors or the creditors of others;

(8) we must deliver to the trustee an officer’s certificate stating that all conditions precedent set forth in clauses (1) through (6) of this paragraph have been complied with; and

(9) we must deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel (which opinion of counsel may be subject to customary assumptions, qualifications, and exclusions) stating that all conditions precedent set forth in clauses (2), (3) and (6) of this paragraph have been complied with.

Satisfaction and Discharge

Each of the indentures will be discharged and will cease to be of further effect with respect to the debt securities of any series (except as to surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of debt securities and certain rights of the trustee, as expressly provided for in such indenture) and the trustee, upon our request and at our expense, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of such indenture with respect to such debt securities, when:

(1) either (a) all of such debt securities theretofore authenticated and delivered under such indenture (except lost, stolen or destroyed debt securities that have been replaced or paid and debt securities for the payment of which money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by us and thereafter repaid to us or discharged from such trust) have been delivered to the trustee for cancellation or (b) all such debt securities not theretofore delivered to the trustee for cancellation have become due and payable, will become due and payable at their stated maturity 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 by the trustee in the name, and at the expense, of us, and we have irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the trustee funds, in an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such debt securities not theretofore delivered to the trustee for cancellation, for principal of and premium, if any, and interest on such debt securities to the date of deposit (in the case of debt securities that have become due and payable) or to the stated maturity or redemption date, as the case may be, together with instructions from us irrevocably directing the trustee to apply such funds to the payment thereof at maturity or redemption, as the case may be;

(2) we have paid all other sums then due and payable under such indenture by us with respect to such debt securities; and

(3) we have delivered to the trustee an officer’s certificate and an opinion of counsel, which, taken together, state that all conditions precedent under such indenture relating to the satisfaction and discharge of such indenture have been complied with.

No Personal Liability of Incorporators, Unitholders, Stockholders, Partners, Members, Managers, Directors, Officers and Employees

No incorporator, unitholder, stockholder, partner, member, manager, director, officer or employee of us or any guarantor, as such, shall have any liability for any of our obligations or those of any guarantor under the debt securities, the indentures or the guarantees or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each holder of debt securities, upon our issuance of the debt securities and execution of the indentures, waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the debt securities. Such waiver may not be effective to waive liabilities under the federal securities laws and it is the view of the SEC that such a waiver is against public policy.

 

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Denominations

Unless stated otherwise in the prospectus supplement for each issuance of debt securities, the debt securities will be issued in denominations of $1,000 each or integral multiples of $1,000.

Paying Agent and Registrar

The trustee will initially act as paying agent and registrar for the debt securities. We may change the paying agent or registrar without prior notice to the holders of the debt securities, and we may act as paying agent or registrar.

Transfer and Exchange

A holder may transfer or exchange debt securities in accordance with the applicable indenture. The registrar and the trustee may require a holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents, and we may require a holder to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the applicable indenture. We are not required to transfer or exchange any debt security selected for redemption. In addition, we are not required to transfer or exchange any debt security for a period of 15 days before a selection of debt securities to be redeemed.

Subordination

The payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on subordinated debt securities and any of our other payment obligations in respect of subordinated debt securities (including any obligation to repurchase subordinated debt securities) is subordinated in certain circumstances in right of payment, as set forth in the subordinated indenture, to the prior payment in full in cash of all senior debt.

We also may not make any payment, whether by redemption, purchase, retirement, defeasance or otherwise, upon or in respect of subordinated debt securities, except from a trust described under “— Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance,” if

 

   

a default in the payment of all or any portion of the obligations on any designated senior debt (“payment default”) occurs that has not been cured or waived, or

 

   

any other default occurs and is continuing with respect to designated senior debt pursuant to which the maturity thereof may be accelerated (“non-payment default”) and, solely with respect to this clause, the trustee for the subordinated debt securities receives a notice of the default (a “payment blockage notice”) from the trustee or other representative for the holders of such designated senior debt.

Cash payments on subordinated debt securities will be resumed (a) in the case of a payment default, upon the date on which such default is cured or waived, and (b) in case of a nonpayment default, the earliest of the date on which such nonpayment default is cured or waived, the termination of the payment blockage period by written notice to the trustee for the subordinated debt securities from the trustee or other representative for the holders of such designated senior debt, the payment in full of such designated senior debt or 179 days after the date on which the applicable payment blockage notice is received. No new payment blockage period may be commenced unless and until 360 days have elapsed since the date of commencement of the payment blockage period resulting from the immediately prior payment blockage notice. No nonpayment default in respect of designated senior debt that existed or was continuing on the date of delivery of any payment blockage notice to the trustee for the subordinated debt securities will be, or be made, the basis for a subsequent payment blockage notice unless such default shall have been cured or waived for a period of no less than 90 consecutive days.

Upon any payment or distribution of our assets or securities (other than with the money, securities or proceeds held under any defeasance trust established in accordance with the subordinated indenture) in connection with any dissolution or winding up or total or partial liquidation or reorganization of us, whether

 

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voluntary or involuntary, or in bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other proceedings or other marshalling of assets for the benefit of creditors, all amounts due or to become due upon all senior debt shall first be paid in full, in cash or cash equivalents, before the holders of the subordinated debt securities or the trustee on their behalf shall be entitled to receive any payment by or on behalf of us on account of the subordinated debt securities, or any payment to acquire any of the subordinated debt securities for cash, property or securities, or any distribution with respect to the subordinated debt securities of any cash, property or securities. Before any payment may be made by, or on behalf of, us on any subordinated debt security (other than with the money, securities or proceeds held under any defeasance trust established in accordance with the subordinated indenture) in connection with any such dissolution, winding up, liquidation or reorganization, any payment or distribution of our assets or securities, to which the holders of subordinated debt securities or the trustee on their behalf would be entitled, shall be made by us or by any receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, agent or other similar Person making such payment or distribution, or by the holders or the trustee if received by them or it, directly to the holders of senior debt or their representatives or to any trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any such senior debt may have been issued, as their respective interests appear, to the extent necessary to pay all such senior debt in full, in cash or cash equivalents, after giving effect to any concurrent payment, distribution or provision therefor to or for the holders of such senior debt.

As a result of these subordination provisions, in the event of our liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, receivership or similar proceeding or an assignment for the benefit of our creditors or a marshalling of our assets or liabilities, holders of subordinated debt securities may receive ratably less than other creditors.

Payment and Transfer

Principal, interest and any premium on fully registered debt securities will be paid at designated places. Payment will be made by check mailed to the persons in whose names the debt securities are registered on days specified in the indentures or any prospectus supplement. Debt securities payments in other forms will be paid at a place designated by us and specified in a prospectus supplement.

Fully registered debt securities may be transferred or exchanged at the office of the trustee or at any other office or agency maintained by us for such purposes, without the payment of any service charge except for any tax or governmental charge.

Global Securities

The debt securities of a series may be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more global certificates that we will deposit with a depositary identified in the applicable prospectus supplement. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for the individual debt securities that it represents, a global security may not be transferred except as a whole:

 

   

by the applicable depositary to a nominee of the depositary;

 

   

by any nominee to the depositary itself or another nominee; or

 

   

by the depositary or any nominee to a successor depositary or any nominee of the successor.

We will describe the specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to a series of debt securities in the applicable prospectus supplement. We anticipate that the following provisions will generally apply to depositary arrangements.

When we issue a global security in registered form, the depositary for the global security or its nominee will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the respective principal amounts of the individual debt securities represented by that global security to the accounts of persons that have accounts with the depositary (“participants”). Those accounts will be designated by the dealers, underwriters or agents with respect to the

 

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underlying debt securities or by us if those debt securities are offered and sold directly by us. Ownership of beneficial interests in a global security will be limited to participants or persons that may hold interests through participants. For interests of participants, ownership of beneficial interests in the global security will be shown on records maintained by the applicable depositary or its nominee. For interests of persons other than participants, that ownership information will be shown on the records of participants. Transfer of that ownership will be effected only through those records. The laws of some states require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of securities in definitive form. These limits and laws may impair our ability to transfer beneficial interests in a global security.

As long as the depositary for a global security, or its nominee, is the registered owner of that global security, the depositary or nominee will be considered the sole owner or holder of the debt securities represented by the global security for all purposes under the applicable indenture. Except as provided below, owners of beneficial interests in a global security:

 

   

will not be entitled to have any of the underlying debt securities registered in their names;

 

   

will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of any of the underlying debt securities in definitive form; and

 

   

will not be considered the owners or holders under the indenture relating to those debt securities.

Payments of the principal of, any premium on and any interest on individual debt securities represented by a global security registered in the name of a depositary or its nominee will be made to the depositary or its nominee as the registered owner of the global security representing such debt securities. Neither we, the trustee for the debt securities, any paying agent nor the registrar for the debt securities will be responsible for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made by the depositary or any participants on account of beneficial interests in the global security.

We expect that the depositary or its nominee, upon receipt of any payment of principal, any premium or interest relating to a global security representing any series of debt securities, immediately will credit participants’ accounts with the payments. Those payments will be credited in amounts proportional to the respective beneficial interests of the participants in the principal amount of the global security as shown on the records of the depositary or its nominee. We also expect that payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in the global security held through those participants will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices. This is now the case with securities held for the accounts of customers registered in “street name.” Those payments will be the sole responsibility of those participants.

If the depositary for a series of debt securities is at any time unwilling, unable or ineligible to continue as depositary and we do not appoint a successor depositary within 90 days, we will issue individual debt securities of that series in exchange for the global security or securities representing that series. In addition, we may at any time in our sole discretion determine not to have any debt securities of a series represented by one or more global securities. In that event, we will issue individual debt securities of that series in exchange for the global security or securities. Furthermore, if we specify, an owner of a beneficial interest in a global security may, on terms acceptable to us, the trustee and the applicable depositary, receive individual debt securities of that series in exchange for those beneficial interests. The foregoing is subject to any limitations described in the applicable prospectus supplement. In any such instance, the owner of the beneficial interest will be entitled to physical delivery of individual debt securities equal in principal amount to the beneficial interest and to have the debt securities registered in its name. Those individual debt securities will be issued in any authorized denominations.

Governing Law

Each indenture and the debt securities will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

 

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Information Concerning the Trustee

UMB Bank, N.A. will be the trustee under the indentures. A successor trustee may be appointed in accordance with the terms of the indentures.

The indentures and the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act incorporated by reference therein will contain certain limitations on the rights of the trustee, should it become a creditor of us, to obtain payment of claims in certain cases, or to realize on certain property received in respect of any such claim as security or otherwise. The trustee will be permitted to engage in other transactions; however, if it acquires any conflicting interest (within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act), it must eliminate such conflicting interest or resign.

A single banking or financial institution may act as trustee with respect to both the subordinated indenture and the senior indenture. If this occurs, and should a default occur with respect to either the subordinated debt securities or the senior debt securities, such banking or financial institution would be required to resign as trustee under one of the indentures within 90 days of such default, pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act, unless such default were cured, duly waived or otherwise eliminated.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF GUARANTEES OF DEBT SECURITIES

Sun Communities Operating Limited Partnership may issue unconditional guarantees on an unsecured, unsubordinated basis with respect to debt securities offered by Sun Communities, Inc. in any prospectus supplement, and Sun Communities, Inc. may issue unconditional guarantees on an unsecured, unsubordinated basis with respect to debt securities offered by Sun Communities Operating Limited Partnership in any prospectus supplement.

Each guarantee by a guarantor of senior debt securities will rank equally in right of payment with all of the unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of such guarantor. Each guarantee by a guarantor of the subordinated debt securities will be subordinated in right of payment to all such guarantor’s existing and future senior indebtedness (as defined in the related prospectus supplement), including any guarantee of senior debt securities, to the same extent and in the same manner as the subordinated debt securities are subordinated to our senior indebtedness (as defined in the related prospectus supplement). Each guarantee will be issued under a supplement to an indenture. The prospectus supplement relating to a particular issue of guarantees will describe the terms of those guarantees, including the following:

 

   

the series of debt securities to which the guarantees apply;

 

   

whether the guarantees are secured or unsecured;

 

   

whether the guarantees are senior or subordinate to other guarantees or debt;

 

   

the terms under which the guarantees may be amended, modified, waived, released or otherwise terminated, if different from the provisions applicable to the guaranteed debt securities; and

 

   

any additional terms of the guarantees.

The obligations of any guarantor under any such guarantee will be limited as necessary to prevent the guarantee from constituting a fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer under applicable law.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

We may issue warrants for the purchase of common stock or preferred stock and may issue warrants independently or together with common stock, preferred stock or debt securities or attached to or separate from such securities. We will issue each series of warrants under a separate warrant agreement between us and a bank or trust company as warrant agent, as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement.

The warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants and will not act for or on behalf of warrant holders. The following sets forth certain general terms and provisions of the warrants that may be offered under this registration statement. Further terms of the warrants and the applicable warrant agreement will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. To the extent information contained in the applicable prospectus supplement differs from this summary description, you should rely on the information in the prospectus supplement.

The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of the warrants in respect of which this prospectus is being delivered, including, where applicable, the following:

 

   

the title of the warrants;

 

   

the aggregate number of the warrants;

 

   

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

 

   

the type and number of securities purchasable upon exercise of the warrants;

 

   

the designation and terms of the other securities, if any, with which the warrants are issued and the number of the warrants issued with each such offered security;

 

   

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

 

   

the price at which each security purchasable upon exercise of the warrants may be purchased;

 

   

the provisions, if any, for changes to or adjustments in the exercise price;

 

   

the date on which the right to exercise the warrants shall commence and the date on which such right shall expire;

 

   

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

 

   

information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any;

 

   

any anti-dilution protection;

 

   

a discussion of any material United States federal income tax considerations applicable to the warrants; and

 

   

any other terms of the warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the transferability, exercise and exchange of such warrants.

Warrant certificates will be exchangeable for new warrant certificates of different denominations and warrants may be exercised at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent or any other office indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement. Prior to the exercise of their warrants, holders of warrants will not have any of the rights of holders of the securities purchasable upon such exercise or to any distribution payments or voting rights as to which holders of the shares of common stock or shares of preferred stock purchasable upon such exercise may be entitled.

Exercise of Warrants

Each warrant will entitle the holder to purchase for cash such number of shares of common stock or shares of preferred stock, at such exercise price as shall, in each case, be set forth in, or be determinable as set

 

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forth in, the applicable prospectus supplement relating to the warrants offered thereby. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, warrants may be exercised at any time up to 5:00 p.m. New York City time on the expiration date set forth in applicable prospectus supplement. After 5:00 p.m. New York City time on the expiration date, unexercised warrants will be void.

Warrants may be exercised as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to the warrants. Upon receipt of payment and the warrant certificate properly completed and duly executed at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent or any other office indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will, as soon as practicable, forward the securities purchasable upon such exercise. If less than all of the warrants are presented by such warrant certificate of exercise, a new warrant certificate will be issued for the remaining amount of warrants.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF UNITS

As used in this description, the words “we,” “us” and “our” refer to the issuer(s) of the units, which may be Sun Communities, Inc. or both Sun Communities, Inc. and Sun Communities Operating Limited Partnership, and not to any of their respective subsidiaries or affiliates.

Sun Communities, Inc. may from time to time offer units consisting of any combination of its shares of common stock, shares of preferred stock, debt securities of the Company and warrants.

Sun Communities, Inc. and the Operating Limited Partnership may from time to time offer units consisting of debt securities of the Operating Partnership and one or more of Sun Communities, Inc.’s shares of common stock, shares of preferred stock, debt securities of the Company and warrants.

These units may be issuable, and for a specified period of time may be transferable, only as a single security, rather than as the separate constituent securities comprising such units. The statements made in this section relating to the units are summaries only. These summaries are not complete. Further terms of the units will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. To the extent information contained in the applicable prospectus supplement differs from this summary description, you should rely on the information in the prospectus supplement.

The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of the units in respect of which this prospectus is being delivered, including, where applicable, the following:

 

   

the title of any 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;

 

   

information with respect to any book-entry procedures;

 

   

a discussion of any material United States federal income tax considerations applicable to an investment in the units; and

 

   

any other terms of the units and their constituent securities.

 

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THE OPERATING PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

The following is a summary of our UPREIT structure and the material provisions in the partnership agreement of our Operating Partnership. For more detail, you should refer to the partnership agreement itself and its material amendments, copies of which are filed with the SEC and which we incorporate by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. See “Where You Can Find More Information.”

General

In 1993, the Operating Partnership was formed and we contributed our net assets to the Operating Partnership in exchange for the sole general partner interest in the Operating Partnership and the majority of all of the Operating Partnership’s initial capital. We substantially conduct our operations through the Operating Partnership. The Operating Partnership owns, either directly or indirectly through other subsidiaries, all of our assets. This UPREIT structure enables us to comply with certain complex requirements under the Federal tax rules and regulations applicable to REITs, and to acquire manufactured housing communities in transactions that defer some or all of the sellers’ tax consequences. The financial results of the Operating Partnership and our other subsidiaries are consolidated in our consolidated financial statements. The financial results include certain activities that do not necessarily qualify as REIT activities under the Code. We have formed taxable REIT subsidiaries, as defined in the Code, to engage in such activities. We use taxable REIT subsidiaries to offer certain services to our residents and engage in activities that would not otherwise be permitted under the REIT rules if provided directly by us or by the Operating Partnership. The taxable REIT subsidiaries include our home sales business, SHS, which provides manufactured home sales, leasing and other services to current and prospective tenants of our properties.

Under the partnership agreement, the Operating Partnership is structured to make distributions with respect to the OP Units. The Operating Partnership is structured to permit limited partners holding certain classes or series of OP Units to exchange those OP Units for shares of our common stock (in a taxable transaction) and achieve liquidity for their investment.

As the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership, we generally have the power to manage and have complete control over the conduct of the Operating Partnership’s affairs and all decisions or actions made or taken by us as the general partner pursuant to the partnership agreement are generally binding upon all of the partners and the Operating Partnership.

Classes and Series of OP Units

We do not own all of the OP Units. The following table sets forth:

 

   

the various series of OP Units and the number of units of each series outstanding as of December 31, 2020;

 

   

the relative ranking of the various series of OP Units with respect to rights to the payment of distributions and the distribution of assets in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Operating Partnership;

 

   

the number of shares of our common stock issuable upon the exchange of each OP Unit of the applicable series;

 

   

the annual distribution rate on each series of OP Units; and

 

   

information regarding the terms of redemption rights for each series of OP Units, as applicable.

 

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Ranking    Description   OP Units
Outstanding at
December 31, 2020
    Exchange
Rate(1)
    Annual
        Distribution        
Rate(2)
    Cash
Redemption(3)
  Redemption Period

1

   Preferred OP Units (or “Aspen preferred OP Units”)     1,283,819 (4)      Variable (5)      Variable (6)   

Mandatory

  Variable(7)

1

   Series A-1 preferred OP Units     294,734       2.4390       6.00  

N/A

  N/A

2

   Series C preferred OP Units     306,303       1.1100       Variable (8)   

N/A

  N/A

3

   Series D preferred OP Units     488,958       0.8000       Variable (9)   

Holder’s Option

  Any time after earlier of January 31, 2024 or
death of holder

4

   Series E preferred OP Units     90,000       0.6897       Variable (10)   

N/A

  N/A

5

   Series F preferred OP Units     90,000       0.6250       3.00  

Holder’s Option

  Any time after earlier of May 14, 2025 or
death of holder

6

   Series G preferred OP Units     240,710       0.6452       3.20  

Holder’s Option

  Any time after earlier of September 30, 2025 or death of holder

7

   Series H preferred OP Units     581,407       0.6098       3.00  

Holder’s Option

  Any time after earlier of October 30, 2025 or death of holder

8

   Series I preferred OP Units     922,000       0.6098       3.00  

Holder’s Option

  Any time after earlier of December 31, 2025 or death of holder

9

   Series A-3 preferred OP Units     40,268       1.8605       4.50  

N/A

  N/A

10

  

Common OP Units

    110,232,973 (11)      1.0000      



Same distribution
rate for common
stock and
common OP
Units
 
 
 
 
 
 

N/A

  N/A

 

  (1) 

Exchange rates are subject to adjustment upon stock splits, recapitalizations and similar events. The exchange rates of certain series of OP Units are approximated to four decimal places.

  (2)

Except for common OP Units, distributions are payable on the issue price of each OP Unit, which is $27.00 per unit for all Aspen preferred OP Units and $100.00 per unit for all other preferred OP Units.

  (3)

The redemption price for each OP Unit redeemed will be equal to its issue price plus all accrued but unpaid distributions.

  (4)

Of the outstanding Aspen preferred OP Units, 270,000 are designated as “Aspen 2034 Units.”

  (5)

At any time prior to January 1, 2024 (or prior to January 1, 2034 with respect to the Aspen 2034 Units), at the holder’s option, each Aspen preferred OP Unit may be exchanged into: (a) if the average closing price of our common stock for the preceding ten trading days is $68.00 per share or less, 0.397 common OP Units, or (b) if the average closing price of our common stock for the preceding ten trading days is greater than $68.00 per share, the number of common OP Units determined by dividing (i) the sum of (A) $27.00 plus (B) 25 percent of the amount by which the average closing price of our common stock for the preceding ten trading days exceeds $68.00 per share, by (ii) the average closing price of our common stock for the preceding ten trading days.

  (6)

The annual distribution rate for Aspen 2034 Units is 3.80%. The annual distribution rate on all other Aspen preferred OP Units is equal to the 10-year U.S. Treasury bond yield plus 239 basis points; provided, however, that such aggregate distribution rate shall not be less than 6.5% nor more than 9.0%.

  (7)

We are required to redeem all outstanding Aspen preferred OP Units other than the Aspen 2034 Units on January 2, 2024. We are required to redeem all outstanding Aspen 2034 Units on January 2, 2034. In addition, we are required to redeem the Aspen preferred OP Units (including Aspen 2034 Units) of any holder thereof within five days after receipt of a written demand during the existence of certain uncured Aspen preferred OP Unit defaults, including our failure to pay distributions on the Aspen preferred OP Units when due and our failure to provide certain security for the payment of distributions on the Aspen preferred OP Units.

  (8)

4.50% until April 1, 2020 and 5.00% thereafter.

  (9)

3.75% until January 31, 2021 and 4.00% thereafter.

  (10)

5.25% until January 9, 2022 and 5.50% thereafter.

  (11)

Of the 110,232,973 common OP Units, 107,626,361, or 97.6 percent were held by us, and 2,606,612, or 2.4 percent were owned by the limited partners.

 

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The holders of Aspen preferred OP Units, Series A-1 preferred OP Units, Series A-3 preferred OP Units, Series C preferred OP Units, Series D preferred OP Units, Series E preferred OP Units, Series F preferred OP Units, Series G preferred OP Units, Series H preferred OP Units and Series I preferred OP Units are entitled to receive distributions not less than quarterly. The holders of Series A-1 preferred OP Units, Series A-3 preferred OP Units, Series C preferred OP Units, Series D preferred OP Units, Series E preferred OP Units, Series F preferred OP Units, Series G preferred OP Units, Series H preferred OP Units and Series I preferred OP Units do not have any voting or consent rights on any matter requiring the consent or approval of the Operating Partnership’s limited partners.

Issuance of Additional OP Units

As the Operating Partnership’s sole general partner, we have the ability to cause the Operating Partnership to issue additional partnership interests in the form of OP Units. These additional OP Units may include any provisions and rights that are preferential to those of common OP Units or other preferred OP Units, subject to the consent rights of the holders of the various classes of the preferred OP Units.

Management Liability and Indemnification

In our capacity as the general partner of the Operating Partnership, we and our directors and officers shall have no liability to the Operating Partnership or its partners for any act or omission, except to the extent the same results from fraud, intentional breach of fiduciary duty or gross negligence. The partnership agreement provides for indemnification of us as general partner and for our directors or officers from and against any losses, judgments, liabilities, expenses and amounts paid in settlement of claims incurred or paid in connection with the Operating Partnership or its business or affairs, unless the same from fraud, intentional breach of fiduciary duty or gross negligence.

Transferability of Interests

The general partner may not transfer its interest in the Operating Partnership. The limited partners generally may not transfer their interests as partners without the written consent of the general partner.

Termination and Liquidating Distributions

The term of the Operating Partnership will continue until the earlier of (i) December 31, 2043, (ii) 120 days after the sale or other disposition of substantially all of the Operating Partnership’s operating assets and distribution of all of its property, or (iii) the general partner’s withdrawal, unless the remaining partners agree within 90 days to continue the Operating partnership with a successor general partner.

Upon the occurrence of any of the foregoing events, and subject to the terms of the partnership agreement, the capital accounts of the holders of the OP Units will be adjusted to reflect the manner in which any unrealized income, gain, loss and deduction inherent in the Operating Partnership’s property, which has not previously been reflected in the partners’ capital accounts, would be allocated among the partners if there were a taxable disposition of such property at fair market value on the date of distribution. Any resulting increase in the partners’ capital accounts will be allocated (i) first to the holders of the Aspen preferred OP Units and Series A-1 preferred OP Units in proportions and amounts sufficient to bring their respective capital account balances up to the amount of the original issue prices of their respective OP Units plus accrued and unpaid preferred distributions on such OP Units, (ii) then to the holders of the Series C preferred OP Units in proportions and amounts sufficient to bring their respective capital account balances up to the amount of the original issue price of their respective OP Units, plus any accrued and unpaid preferred distributions on such OP Units, (iii) then to the holders of the Series D preferred OP Units in proportions and amounts sufficient to bring their respective capital account balances up to the amount of the original issue price of their respective OP Units, plus any accrued and unpaid preferred distributions on such OP Units, (iv) then to the holders of Series E preferred OP

 

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Units in proportions and amounts sufficient to bring their respective capital account balances up to the amount of the original issue price of their respective OP Units, plus any accrued and unpaid preferred distributions on such OP Units; (v) then to the holders of Series F preferred OP Units in proportions and amounts sufficient to bring their respective capital account balances up to the amount of the original issue price of their respective OP Units, plus any accrued and unpaid preferred distributions on such OP Units; (vi) then to the holders of Series G preferred OP Units in proportions and amounts sufficient to bring their respective capital account balances up to the amount of the original issue price of their respective OP Units, plus any accrued and unpaid preferred distributions on such OP Units; (vii) then to the holders of Series H preferred OP Units in proportions and amounts sufficient to bring their respective capital account balances up to the amount of the original issue price of their respective OP Units, plus any accrued and unpaid preferred distributions on such OP Units; (viii) then to the holders of Series I preferred OP Units in proportions and amounts sufficient to bring their respective capital account balances up to the amount of the original issue price of their respective OP Units, plus any accrued and unpaid preferred distributions on such OP Units; (ix) then to the holders of Series A-3 preferred OP Units in proportions and amounts sufficient to bring their respective capital account balances up to the amount of the original issue price of their respective OP Units, plus any accrued and unpaid preferred distributions on such OP Units, and (x) lastly to the common OP Units.

Any resulting decrease in the partners’ capital accounts will be allocated (i) first to the holders of the common OP Units in proportions and amounts sufficient to reduce their respective capital account balances to zero, (ii) then to the holders of Series A-3 preferred OP Units in proportions and amounts sufficient to reduce their respective capital account balances to zero, (iii) then to the holders of Series I preferred OP Units in proportions and amounts sufficient to reduce their respective capital account balances to zero, (iv) then to the holders of Series H preferred OP Units in proportions and amounts sufficient to reduce their respective capital account balances to zero, (v) then to the holders of Series G preferred OP Units in proportions and amounts sufficient to reduce their respective capital account balances to zero, (vi) then to the holders of Series F preferred OP Units in proportions and amounts sufficient to reduce their respective capital account balances to zero, (vii) then to the holders of Series E preferred OP Units in proportions and amounts sufficient to reduce their respective capital account balances to zero, (viii) then to the holders of Series D preferred OP Units in proportions and amounts sufficient to reduce their respective capital account balances to zero, (ix) then to the holders of Series C preferred OP Units in proportions and amounts sufficient to reduce their respective capital account balances to zero, (x) then to the holders of the Aspen preferred OP Units and Series A-1 preferred OP Units in proportions and amounts sufficient to reduce their respective capital account balances to zero, and (xi) lastly to the General Partner. Liquidating distributions will be made in accordance with the positive capital account balances of the partners, after giving effect to such adjustment and other capital account adjustments for the current year, as provided in the applicable tax regulations.

 

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CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF MARYLAND LAW AND OUR CHARTER AND BYLAWS

The following summary of certain provisions of Maryland law, our charter and bylaws and certain indemnification agreements does not purport to be complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to Maryland law, our charter and bylaws, and the form of such indemnification agreements, copies of which are filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. See “Where You Can Find More Information.”

Our Board of Directors

Our charter and bylaws provide that the number of our directors may be increased or decreased only by a majority of our entire board of directors but may not be fewer than the minimum number required by the Maryland General Corporation Law (the “MGCL”) (currently one) nor more than 15. Each of our directors serves for a one-year term or until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified.

Our bylaws provide that at a meeting of stockholders duly called and at which a quorum is present, a majority of the votes cast for a nominee and votes cast against such nominee shall be required to elect that nominee as a director; provided, however, that directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast at any meeting of stockholders for which a stockholder has nominated a person for election to the board of directors in compliance with the advance notice requirements for stockholder nominees for director set forth in our bylaws and certain other requirements of our bylaws are satisfied (a “contested election”). Our board of directors or our stockholders could amend our bylaws to alter the vote required in contested elections to be the same as that required in uncontested elections.

If the election of a director nominee requires an approval other than a plurality of the votes cast, it is possible that no nominee would receive the required vote. In the case of a failure to elect one or more directors because the nominees receive votes constituting less than the required vote, the incumbent directors would hold over and continue to serve until the next election of directors and until their successors are duly elected and qualify.

The foregoing provisions are subject to the rights of the holders of one or more classes or series of our preferred stock to elect directors.

Removal of Directors and Vacancies

Our charter provides that a director may be removed only for cause and only by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast in the election of directors.

We have elected to be subject to a provision of Maryland law requiring that vacancies on our board of directors as a result of the death or resignation of a director or an increase in the size of the board of directors may be filled only by a majority of the remaining directors, whether or not sufficient to constitute a quorum, and that any individual elected to fill such a vacancy will serve for the remainder of the full term of the class of directorship in which the vacancy occurred and until his or her successor is duly elected and qualifies.

Vacancies on our board of directors arising as a result of any reason other than the death or resignation of a director or an increase in the size of the board of directors (e.g., removal of a director) may be filled by a majority of the remaining directors, whether or not sufficient to constitute a quorum. A director elected by the board of directors to fill any such vacancy will serve until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until his or her successor is elected and qualifies. In addition, our stockholders may elect a successor to fill a vacancy on the board of directors that results from the removal of a director, in which case such director will serve for the balance of the term of the removed director.

The foregoing provisions are subject to the rights of the holders of one or more classes or series of our preferred stock to remove directors and fill vacancies on our board of directors. Also, as long as our directors are

 

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elected annually, the provisions regarding directors serving for “the remainder of the full term” or the “balance of the term” means until the next annual meeting of stockholders.

Business Combinations

Under the MGCL, certain “business combinations” (including a merger, consolidation, share exchange or, in certain circumstances specified under the statute, an asset transfer or issuance or reclassification of equity securities) between a Maryland corporation and any interested stockholder, or an affiliate of such an interested stockholder, are prohibited for five years after the most recent date on which the interested stockholder becomes an interested stockholder. Maryland law defines an interested stockholder as:

 

   

any person who beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 10% or more of the voting power of the corporation’s outstanding voting stock; or

 

   

an affiliate or associate of the corporation who, at any time within the two-year period prior to the date in question, was the beneficial owner of 10% or more of the voting power of the then-outstanding voting stock of the corporation.

After such five-year period, any such business combination must be recommended by the board of directors of the corporation and approved by the affirmative vote of at least:

 

   

80% of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of outstanding shares of voting stock of the corporation; and

 

   

two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of voting stock of the corporation other than shares held by the interested stockholder with whom (or with whose affiliate) the business combination is to be effected or held by an affiliate or associate of the interested stockholder.

These supermajority approval requirements do not apply for mergers, consolidations or share exchanges if, among other conditions, the corporation’s common stockholders receive a minimum price (as defined in the MGCL) for their shares and the consideration is received in cash or in the same form as previously paid by the interested stockholder for its shares.

A person is not an interested stockholder under the statute if the board of directors approved in advance the transaction by which the person otherwise would have become an interested stockholder. The board of directors may provide that its approval is subject to compliance with any terms and conditions determined by it.

Pursuant to the statute, our board of directors has by resolution exempted Milton M. Shiffman, Robert B. Bayer, and Gary A. Shiffman, their affiliates and all persons acting in concert or as a group with the foregoing, from these provisions of the MGCL and, consequently, the five-year prohibition and the supermajority vote requirements will not apply to business combinations between us and these persons. As a result, these persons may be able to enter into business combinations with us that may not be in the best interests of our stockholders without compliance by us with the supermajority vote requirements and the other provisions of the statute.

Control Share Acquisitions

The MGCL provides that holders of “control shares” of a Maryland corporation acquired in a “control share acquisition” have no voting rights with respect to any control shares except to the extent approved by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast by stockholders in the election of directors generally but excluding shares of stock in respect of which any of the following persons is entitled to exercise or direct the exercise of the voting power of such shares in the election of directors: (1) the person who has made or proposes to make the control share acquisition, (2) any officer of the corporation or (3) any employee of the corporation who is also a director of the corporation. “Control shares” are voting shares of stock that, if aggregated with all other such shares of stock previously acquired by the acquirer or in respect of which the

 

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acquirer is able to exercise or direct the exercise of voting power (except solely by virtue of a revocable proxy), would entitle the acquirer to exercise voting power in electing directors within one of the following ranges of:

 

   

one-tenth or more but less than one-third;

 

   

one-third or more but less than a majority; or

 

   

a majority or more of all voting power.

Control shares do not include shares that the acquiring person is then entitled to vote as a result of having previously obtained stockholder approval. A “control share acquisition” means the acquisition, directly or indirectly, of ownership of, or the power to direct the exercise of voting power with respect to, issued and outstanding control shares, subject to certain exceptions.

A person who has made or proposes to make a control share acquisition, upon satisfaction of certain conditions (including an undertaking to pay expenses and making an “acquiring person statement” as described in the MGCL), may compel the corporation to call a special meeting of stockholders to be held within 50 days of demand to consider the voting rights of the control shares. If no request for a special meeting is made, the corporation may itself present the question at any stockholders’ meeting.

If voting rights of control shares are not approved at the meeting or if the acquiring person does not deliver an “acquiring person statement” as required by the statute, then, subject to certain conditions and limitations, the corporation may redeem any or all of the control shares (except those for which voting rights have previously been approved) for fair value determined, without regard to the absence of voting rights for the control shares, as of the date of the last control share acquisition by the acquirer or, if a stockholders’ meeting is held to consider the voting rights of the control shares (and the voting rights are not approved), as of the date of the meeting. If voting rights for control shares are approved at a stockholders’ meeting and the acquirer becomes entitled to vote a majority of the shares entitled to vote, all other stockholders may exercise appraisal rights. The fair value of the shares as determined for purposes of such appraisal rights may not be less than the highest price per share paid by the acquirer in the control share acquisition.

The control share acquisition statute does not apply (1) to shares acquired in a merger, consolidation or share exchange if the corporation is a party to the transaction or (2) to acquisitions approved or exempted by the charter or bylaws of the corporation.

Our bylaws contain a provision exempting from the control share acquisition statute any and all control share acquisitions by any person of shares of our stock. Our board of directors or stockholders may amend or eliminate this provision at any time in the future.

Subtitle 8

Subtitle 8 of Title 3 of the MGCL permits a Maryland corporation with a class of equity securities registered under the Exchange Act and at least three independent directors to elect to be subject, by provision in its charter or bylaws or a resolution of its board of directors and notwithstanding any contrary provision in the charter or bylaws, to any or all of the following five provisions:

 

   

a classified board;

 

   

a two-thirds vote requirement for removing a director;

 

   

a requirement that the number of directors be fixed only by vote of the directors;

 

   

a requirement that a vacancy on the board as a result of an increase in the size of the board of directors or the death, resignation or removal of a director be filled only by the remaining directors and for the remainder of the full term of the class of directors in which the vacancy occurred; and

 

   

a majority requirement for the calling by stockholders of a special meeting of stockholders.

 

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We have elected to be subject to the provisions of Subtitle 8 relating to the filling of vacancies on our board of directors as a result of an increase in the size of the board of directors or the death or resignation of a director. We have not elected to be subject to the provisions of Subtitle 8 relating to the filling of vacancies on our board of directors as a result of the removal of a director, although we may elect to do so in the future. Through provisions in our charter and bylaws unrelated to Subtitle 8, we already: (1) require a two-thirds vote for the removal of any director from the board, which removal must be for cause; and (2) vest in the board the exclusive power to fix the number of directorships, subject to limitations set forth in our charter and bylaws. We have not elected to have a classified board or a majority requirement for the calling of a special meeting of stockholders. In the future, our board of directors may elect, without stockholder approval, to adopt these requirements pursuant to Subtitle 8 or, unrelated to Subtitle 8, we could amend our bylaws to include a majority requirement for the calling by stockholders of a special meeting of stockholders.

Amendments to Our Charter and Bylaws

Other than amendments permitted to be made without stockholder approval under the MGCL, our charter generally may be amended only if such amendment is declared advisable by our board of directors and approved by the affirmative vote of stockholders entitled to cast two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter. Both our board of directors and our stockholders have the power to adopt, alter or repeal any provision of our bylaws or to make new bylaws.

Meetings of Stockholders

Under our bylaws, annual meetings of stockholders will be held each year at a date and time determined by our board of directors. Special meetings of stockholders may be called only by our board of directors, the chairman of our board of directors, our president or our chief executive officer. Additionally, subject to the provisions of our bylaws, special meetings of the stockholders to act on any matter that may properly be considered at a meeting of stockholders must be called by our secretary upon the written request of stockholders entitled to cast at least 10% of the votes entitled to be cast at such meeting who have requested the special meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in, and provided the information required by, our bylaws. Only matters set forth in the notice of the special meeting may be considered and acted upon at such a meeting.

Advance Notice of Director Nominations and New Business

Our bylaws provide that:

 

   

with respect to an annual meeting of stockholders, nominations of individuals for election to our board of directors and the proposal of business to be considered by stockholders at the annual meeting may be made only:

 

   

pursuant to our notice of the meeting;

 

   

by or at the direction of our board of directors; or

 

   

by a stockholder who was a stockholder of record both at the time the stockholder provides the notice required by our bylaws and at the time of the annual meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who has complied with the advance notice procedures set forth in, and provided the information required by, our bylaws; and

 

   

with respect to special meetings of stockholders, only the business specified in our company’s notice of meeting may be brought before the meeting of stockholders, and nominations of individuals for election to our board of directors may be made only:

 

   

pursuant to our notice of the meeting;

 

   

by or at the direction of our board of directors; or

 

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provided that our board of directors has determined that directors shall be elected at such special meeting, by a stockholder who is a stockholder of record both at the time the stockholder provides the notice required by our bylaws and at the time of the meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting, and who has complied with the advance notice provisions set forth in, and provided the information required by, our bylaws.

The purpose of requiring stockholders to give advance notice of nominations and other proposals is to afford our board of directors the opportunity to consider the qualifications of the proposed nominees or the advisability of the other proposals and, to the extent considered necessary by our board of directors, to inform stockholders and make recommendations regarding the nominations or other proposals.

Although our bylaws do not give our board of directors the power to disapprove stockholder nominations and proposals that comply with our bylaws, our bylaws may have the effect of precluding a contest for the election of directors or proposals for other action if the proper procedures are not followed, and of discouraging or deterring a third party from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect its own slate of directors to our board of directors or to approve its own proposal.

Anti-takeover Effect of Certain Provisions of Maryland Law and Our Charter and Bylaws

Our charter and bylaws and Maryland law contain provisions that may delay, defer or prevent a change of control or other transaction that might involve a premium price for our common stock or otherwise be in the best interests of our stockholders, including business combination provisions, supermajority vote and cause requirements for removal of directors, provisions that certain vacancies on our board of directors may be filled only by the remaining directors, for the full term of the class of directors in which the vacancy occurred, the power of our board to issue additional shares of stock of any class or series and to fix the terms of one or more classes or series of stock without stockholder approval, the restrictions on ownership and transfer of our stock and advance notice requirements for director nominations and stockholder proposals. Likewise, if the provision in the bylaws opting out of the control share acquisition provisions of the MGCL were rescinded, these provisions of the MGCL could have similar anti-takeover effects.

Indemnification and Limitation of Directors’ and Officers’ Liability

Maryland law permits a Maryland corporation to include in its charter a provision limiting the liability of its directors and officers to the corporation and its stockholders for money damages except for liability resulting from actual receipt of an improper benefit or profit in money, property or services or active and deliberate dishonesty that is established by a final judgment and is material to the cause of action. Our charter contains such a provision that eliminates such liability to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law.

The MGCL requires a Maryland corporation (unless its charter provides otherwise, which our charter does not) to indemnify a director or officer who has been successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of any proceeding to which he or she is made or threatened to be made a party by reason of his or her service in that capacity. The MGCL permits a Maryland corporation to indemnify its present and former directors and officers, among others, against judgments, penalties, fines, settlements and reasonable expenses actually incurred by them in connection with any proceeding to which they may be made or are threatened to be made a party by reason of their service in those or other capacities unless it is established that:

 

   

the act or omission of the director or officer was material to the matter giving rise to the proceeding and:

 

   

was committed in bad faith; or

 

   

was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty;

 

   

the director or officer actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services; or

 

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in the case of any criminal proceeding, the director or officer had reasonable cause to believe that the act or omission was unlawful.

However, under the MGCL, a Maryland corporation may not indemnify a director or officer in a suit by or in the right of the corporation if the officer or director was adjudged liable to the corporation, or in any other suit if the director or officer was adjudged liable on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received, unless in either case a court orders indemnification and then, in the latter instance, only for expenses.

In addition, the MGCL permits a Maryland corporation to advance reasonable expenses to a director or officer, without requiring a preliminary determination of the director’s or officer’s ultimate entitlement to indemnification, upon the corporation’s receipt of:

 

   

a written affirmation by the director or officer of his or her good faith belief that he or she has met the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification by the corporation; and

 

   

a written undertaking by the director or officer or on his or her behalf (which need not be secured) to repay the amount paid or reimbursed by the corporation if it is ultimately determined that he or she did not meet the standard of conduct.

Our charter authorizes us to obligate our company and our bylaws obligate us, to the fullest extent permitted by Maryland law in effect from time to time, to indemnify and to pay or reimburse reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition of a proceeding to:

 

   

any present or former director or officer who is made or threatened to be made a party to the proceeding by reason of his or her service in that capacity; or

 

   

any individual who, while a director or officer of our company and at our request, serves or has served as a director, officer, partner or trustee of another corporation, REIT, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or any other enterprise and who is made or threatened to be made a party to the proceeding by reason of his or her service in that capacity.

Our charter and bylaws also permit us, with the approval of our board of directors, to indemnify and advance expenses to any person who served a predecessor of ours in any of the capacities described above and to any employee or agent of our company or a predecessor of our company.

Insofar as the foregoing provisions permit indemnification of directors, officers or persons controlling us for liability arising under the Securities Act, we have been informed that in the opinion of the SEC, this indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.

Indemnification Agreements

We have entered into indemnification agreements with our executive officers and directors. Under the terms of these agreements, we have agreed (subject to certain exclusions) to hold harmless and indemnify the officer or director who has entered into such an indemnification agreement against any and all expenses, judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement, actually and reasonably incurred by such director or officer in connection with any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative to which such director or officer is, was or at any time becomes a party, or is threatened to be made a party, by reason of the fact that such director or officer is, was or at any time becomes a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee or agent of our company, or is or was serving or at any time serves at the request of our company as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise (including, without limitation, employee benefit plans), to the fullest extent authorized and permitted by applicable law on the date of such agreements and to such greater extent as applicable law may thereafter permit.

 

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In addition, the indemnification agreements provide that we will make an advance payment of expenses to the officers or directors who have entered into such indemnification agreements, in order to cover a claim relating to any fact or occurrence arising from or relating to events or occurrences specified in the prior paragraph, subject to receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such officer or director to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that he is not entitled to be indemnified by the company as authorized under these agreements.

The indemnification agreements also include provisions that specify the procedures and presumptions that are to be employed to determine whether such officer or director is entitled to indemnification thereunder.

Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer of our Stock

Because the board of directors believes it is essential for us to continue to qualify as a REIT, our charter, subject to certain exceptions, contains a provision, which we refer to as the Ownership Limit, providing that no holder may own, or be deemed to own by virtue of the attribution provisions of the Code, more than 9.8% in number of shares or value, of our outstanding common stock and preferred stock. For more information regarding these and other restrictions on the ownership and transfer of our stock, see “Description of Common Stock –Restrictions on Ownership” and “Description of Preferred Stock – Restrictions on Ownership.”

REIT Qualification

Our charter provides that our board of directors may revoke or otherwise terminate our REIT election, without approval of our stockholders, if it determines that it is no longer in our best interest to continue to be qualified as a REIT.

 

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MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

The following is a general summary of material U.S. federal income tax consequences regarding our company and the ownership and disposition of shares of our common stock, and, to a lesser extent, shares of our preferred stock, our debt securities and debt securities of the Operating Partnership.

The federal income tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of the securities, depend to a high degree on the specific rights and terms of the securities issued. If we offer such securities, we intend to describe in any prospectus supplement related to the offering of such securities the material U.S. federal income tax consequences relating to the ownership and disposition of such securities as will be sold by us pursuant to that prospectus supplement.

Because this is a summary that is intended to address only material United States federal income tax consequences relating to the ownership and disposition of our common stock and, to a lesser extent, shares of our preferred stock, our debt securities and debt securities of the Operating Partnership that will apply to all holders, it may not contain all the information that may be important to you. As you review this discussion, you should keep in mind that:

 

   

the tax consequences to you may vary depending on your particular tax situation;

 

   

special rules that are not discussed below may apply to you if, for example, you are a tax-exempt organization, a broker-dealer, a non-U.S. person, a trust, an estate, a regulated investment company, a financial institution, an insurance company, or otherwise subject to special tax treatment under the Code;

 

   

this summary does not address state, local or non-U.S. tax considerations;

 

   

this summary deals only with holders that hold our securities or debt securities of the Operating Partnership as a “capital asset” within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code; and

 

   

this discussion is not intended to be, and should not be construed as, tax advice.

You are urged both to review the following discussion and to consult with your own tax advisor to determine the effect of ownership and disposition of our securities or debt securities of the Operating Partnership on your individual tax situation, including any state, local or non-U.S. tax consequences.

The information in this section is based on the Code, final and temporary Treasury regulations, the legislative history of the Code, administrative interpretations and practices of the Internal Revenue Service, including its practices and policies as endorsed in private letter rulings, which are not binding on the Internal Revenue Service except in the case of the taxpayer to whom a private letter ruling is addressed, and existing court decisions all of which as currently in effect as of the date of this prospectus. Future legislation, regulations, administrative interpretations and court decisions could change current law or adversely affect existing interpretations of current law. Any change could apply retroactively. Neither we nor the Operating Partnership have obtained any rulings from the Internal Revenue Service concerning the tax treatment of the matters discussed below. Thus, it is possible that the Internal Revenue Service could challenge the statements in this discussion, which do not bind the Internal Revenue Service or the courts, and that a court could agree with the Internal Revenue Service.

Taxation of Sun as a REIT

We have elected to be taxed as a REIT under the Code. A REIT generally is not subject to federal income tax on the income that it distributes to stockholders if it meets the applicable REIT distribution requirements and other requirements for qualification.

 

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We believe that we are organized and have operated, and we intend to continue to operate, in a manner allowing us to qualify as a REIT, but there can be no assurance that we have qualified or will remain qualified as a REIT. Qualification and taxation as a REIT depend upon our ability to meet, through actual annual (or in some cases quarterly) operating results, requirements relating to income, asset ownership, distribution levels and diversity of share ownership, and the various other REIT qualification requirements imposed under the Code. Given the complex nature of the REIT qualification requirements, the ongoing importance of factual determinations and the possibility of future changes in our circumstances, we cannot provide any assurance that our actual operating results will satisfy the requirements for taxation as a REIT under the Code for any particular taxable year.

In the opinion of Jaffe, Raitt, Heuer & Weiss, Professional Corporation, commencing with our taxable year which ended December 31, 1994, we have been organized in conformity with the requirements for qualification as a REIT, and our method of operation enabled us to meet the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code. It must be emphasized that this opinion is based on various assumptions and is conditioned upon certain representations made by us as to factual matters. In addition, such qualification and taxation as a REIT depends upon our ability to meet, through actual annual operating results, distribution levels, diversity of stock ownership, and the various qualification tests imposed under the Code discussed below, the results of which have not been and will not be reviewed by Jaffe, Raitt, Heuer & Weiss, Professional Corporation. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that the actual results of our operations in any particular taxable year will satisfy such requirements.

So long as we qualify for taxation as a REIT, we generally will not be subject to federal corporate income tax on our net income that is distributed currently to our stockholders. This treatment substantially eliminates “double taxation” (that is, taxation at both the corporate and stockholder levels) that generally results from an investment in a corporation. However, we will be subject to federal income tax as follows:

 

   

We will be taxed at regular corporate rates on any undistributed “REIT taxable income.” REIT taxable income is the taxable income of the REIT subject to specified adjustments, including a deduction for dividends paid.

 

   

If we have net income from the sale or other disposition of “foreclosure property” that is held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business, or other non-qualifying income from foreclosure property, we will be subject to tax at the highest corporate rate on this income.

 

   

Our net income from “prohibited transactions” will be subject to a 100% tax. In general, prohibited transactions are sales or other dispositions of property held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business other than foreclosure property.

 

   

If we fail to satisfy either the 75% gross income test or the 95% gross income test discussed below, but nonetheless maintain our qualification as a REIT because other requirements are met, we will be subject to a tax equal to the greater of (1) the amount by which 75% of our gross income exceeds the amount of our income qualifying under the 75% test for the taxable year or (2) the amount by which 95% of our gross income exceeds the amount of our income qualifying for the 95% income test for the taxable year, multiplied by a fraction intended to reflect our profitability.

 

   

If we fail to satisfy any of the asset tests (other than a failure by a de minimis amount of the 5% or 10% asset tests) and we qualify for and satisfy certain cure provisions, then we will have to pay an excise tax equal to the greater of (1) $50,000 and (2) an amount determined by multiplying (x) the net income generated during a specified period by the assets that caused the failure by (y) the highest federal income tax applicable to corporations.

 

   

If we fail to satisfy any REIT requirements other than the income test or asset test requirements and we qualify for a reasonable cause exception, then we will have to pay a penalty equal to $50,000 for each such failure.

 

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We will be subject to a 4% excise tax on the excess of the required distribution over the sum of amounts actually distributed and amounts retained for which federal income tax was paid, if we fail to distribute during each calendar year at least the sum of:

 

  (1)

85% of our REIT ordinary income for the year;

 

  (2)

95% of our REIT capital gain net income for the year; and

 

  (3)

any undistributed taxable income from prior taxable years.

 

   

We will be subject to a 100% penalty tax on some payments we receive (or on certain expenses deducted by a taxable REIT subsidiary) if arrangements among us, our tenants and our taxable REIT subsidiaries are not comparable to similar arrangements among unrelated parties including “redetermined TRS service income.” Redetermined TRS service income generally represents income of a taxable REIT subsidiary that is understated as a result of services provided to us or on our behalf.

 

   

If we should acquire any asset from a “C” corporation in a carry-over basis transaction and we subsequently recognize gain on the disposition of such asset during the five-year recognition period beginning on the date on which we acquired the asset, then, to the extent of any built-in gain, such gain will be subject to tax at the highest regular corporate rate. Built-in gain means the excess of (a) the fair market value of the asset as of the beginning of the applicable recognition period over (b) the adjusted basis in such asset as of the beginning of such recognition period.

 

   

Income earned by our taxable REIT subsidiaries will be subject to tax at regular corporate rates.

 

   

We may be required to pay penalties to the Internal Revenue Service in certain circumstances, including if we fail to meet record-keeping requirements intended to monitor our compliance with rules relating to the composition of our stockholders or we elect to preserve REIT qualification in the case of certain inadvertent failures of the REIT rules.

Requirements for Qualification as a REIT

We elected to be taxable as a REIT for federal income tax purposes for our taxable year ended December 31, 1994 and for all subsequent taxable years. In order to have so qualified, we must have met and continue to meet the requirements discussed below, relating to our organization, sources of income, nature of assets and distributions of income to stockholders.

The Code defines a REIT as a corporation, trust or association:

 

  (1)

that is managed by one or more trustees or directors;

 

  (2)

the beneficial ownership of which is evidenced by transferable shares, or by transferable certificates of beneficial interest;

 

  (3)

that would be taxable as a domestic corporation, but for Sections 856 through 859 of the Code;

 

  (4)

that is neither a financial institution nor an insurance company subject to applicable provisions of the Code;

 

  (5)

the beneficial ownership of which is held by 100 or more persons;

 

  (6)

during the last half of each taxable year not more than 50% in value of the outstanding shares of which is owned directly or indirectly by five or fewer individuals, as defined in the Code to include specified entities;

 

  (7)

that makes an election to be taxable as a REIT, or has made this election for a previous taxable year which has not been revoked or terminated, and satisfies all relevant filing and other administrative requirements established by the Internal Revenue Service that must be met to elect and maintain REIT status;

 

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  (8)

that uses a calendar year for federal income tax purposes and complies with the recordkeeping requirements of the Code and regulations promulgated thereunder; and

 

  (9)

that meets other applicable tests, described below, regarding the nature of its income and assets and the amount of its distributions.

Conditions (1), (2), (3) and (4) above must be met during the entire taxable year and condition (5) above must be met during at least 335 days of a taxable year of 12 months, or during a proportionate part of a taxable year of less than 12 months. For purposes of determining stock ownership under condition (6) above, a supplemental unemployment compensation benefits plan, a private foundation and a portion of a trust permanently set aside or used exclusively for charitable purposes generally are each considered an individual. A trust that is a qualified trust under Code Section 401(a) generally is not considered an individual, and beneficiaries of a qualified trust are treated as holding shares of a REIT in proportion to their actuarial interests in the trust for purposes of condition (6) above.

We believe that we have issued sufficient shares of common stock with sufficient diversity of ownership to allow us to satisfy conditions (5) and (6) above. In addition, our charter contains restrictions regarding the transfer of shares of common stock that are intended to assist us in continuing to satisfy the share ownership requirements described in conditions (5) and (6) above. These restrictions, however, may not ensure that we will be able to satisfy these share ownership requirements.

To monitor its compliance with condition (6) above, a REIT is required to send annual letters to its stockholders requesting information regarding the actual ownership of its shares. If we comply with the annual letters requirement and we do not know or, exercising reasonable diligence, would not have known of our failure to meet condition (6) above, then we will be treated as having met condition (6) above.

To qualify as a REIT, we cannot have at the end of any taxable year any undistributed earnings and profits that are attributable to a non-REIT taxable year. We do not believe that we have any non-REIT earnings and profits and believe that we therefore satisfy this requirement.

Qualified REIT Subsidiaries

If a REIT owns a corporate subsidiary that is a “qualified REIT subsidiary,” the separate existence of that subsidiary will be disregarded for federal income tax purposes. Generally, a qualified REIT subsidiary is a corporation, other than a taxable REIT subsidiary (discussed below), all of the stock of which is owned by the REIT. All assets, liabilities and items of income, deduction and credit of the qualified REIT subsidiary will be treated as assets, liabilities and items of income, deduction and credit of the REIT itself. A qualified REIT subsidiary of Sun will not be subject to federal corporate income taxation, although it may be subject to state and local taxation in some states.

Taxable REIT Subsidiaries

A “taxable REIT subsidiary,” or “TRS,” of Sun is a corporation in which we directly or indirectly own stock and that elects, together with us, to be treated as a TRS under Section 856(l) of the Code. In addition, if one of our taxable REIT subsidiaries owns, directly or indirectly, securities representing 35% or more of the vote or value of a subsidiary corporation, that subsidiary will also be treated as our TRS. A taxable REIT subsidiary is a corporation subject to federal income tax, and state and local income tax where applicable, as a regular “C” corporation.

Generally, a TRS can perform some impermissible tenant services without causing us to receive impermissible tenant services income under the REIT income tests. A taxable REIT subsidiary also can recognize income that would be subject to the 100% prohibited transaction tax, or income that would be non-qualifying income under the gross income tests, if earned by a REIT.

 

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Restrictions imposed on REITs and their TRSs are intended to ensure that TRSs will be subject to appropriate levels of U.S. federal income taxation. These restrictions limit the deductibility of interest paid or accrued by a TRS to its parent REIT and impose a 100% excise tax on transactions between a TRS and its parent REIT or the REIT’s tenants that are not conducted on an arm’s-length basis, such as any redetermined rents, redetermined deductions, excess interest or redetermined TRS service income. In general, redetermined rents are rents from real property that are overstated as a result of any services furnished to any of our tenants by a TRS of ours, redetermined deductions and excess interest represent any amounts that are deducted by a TRS of ours for amounts paid to us that are in excess of the amounts that would have been deducted based on arm’s length negotiations, and redetermined TRS service income is income of a TRS that is understated as a result of services provided to us or on our behalf. Rents we receive will not constitute redetermined rents if they qualify for certain safe harbor provisions contained in the Code. Dividends paid to us from a TRS, if any, will be treated as dividend income received from a corporation. The foregoing treatment of TRSs may reduce the cash flow generated by us in the aggregate and our ability to make distributions to our stockholders and may affect our compliance with the gross income tests and asset tests.

Ownership of Partnership Interests by a REIT

A REIT that is a partner in a partnership (or a member in a limited liability company or other entity that is treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes) will be deemed to own its proportionate share of the assets of the partnership and will be deemed to earn its proportionate share of the partnership’s income. The assets and gross income of the partnership retain the same character in the hands of the REIT for purposes of the gross income and asset tests applicable to REITs as described below. Thus, our proportionate share of the assets and items of income of any entity taxable as a partnership for federal income tax purposes in which we hold an interest, such as the Operating Partnership, will be treated as our assets and liabilities and our items of income for purposes of applying the requirements described in this prospectus. The assets, liabilities and items of income of any partnership in which we own an interest include such entity’s share of the assets and liabilities and items of income with respect to any partnership in which it holds an interest.

Income Tests Applicable to REITs

To qualify as a REIT, we must satisfy two gross income tests. First, at least 75% of our gross income, excluding gross income from prohibited transactions, for each taxable year must be derived directly or indirectly from investments relating to real property or mortgages on real property, including: “rents from real property;” gains on the disposition of real estate other than gain from the sale of a nonqualified publicly offered REIT debt instrument as defined under Section 856(c)(5)(L)(ii) of the Code; distributions paid by another REIT; interest on obligations secured by mortgages on real property or on interests in real property; interest on debt secured by mortgages on both real and personal property if the fair market value of such personal property does not exceed 15% of the total fair market value of all such property; and some types of temporary investments. Second, at least 95% of our gross income, excluding gross income from prohibited transactions, for each taxable year must be derived from any combination of income qualifying under the 75% test; distributions, interest, and gain from the sale or disposition of stock or securities; and gain from the disposition of debt instruments of “publicly offered REITs.”

The term “real estate assets” also includes debt instruments of “publicly offered REITs,” personal property securing a mortgage secured by both real property and personal property if the fair market value of such personal property does not exceed 15% of the total fair market value of all such property, and personal property leased in connection with a lease of real property for which the rent attributable to personal property is not greater than 15% of the total rent received under the lease.

Rents received by us will qualify as rents from real property in satisfying the gross income requirements for a REIT described above only if several conditions are met. First, the amount of rent must not be based in whole or in part on the income or profits of any person. However, an amount received or accrued

 

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generally will not be excluded from the term “rents from real property” solely by reason of being based on a fixed percentage or percentages of receipts or sales. Second, rents received from a “related party tenant” will not qualify as rents from real property in satisfying the gross income tests unless the tenant is a taxable REIT subsidiary and at least 90% of the property is leased to unrelated tenants and the rent paid by the taxable REIT subsidiary is substantially comparable to the rent paid by the unrelated tenants for comparable space, or the property leased to the taxable REIT subsidiary is a hotel and certain other requirements are satisfied. A tenant is a related party tenant if the REIT, or an actual or constructive owner of 10% or more of the REIT, actually or constructively owns 10% or more of the tenant. Third, if rent attributable to personal property, leased in connection with a lease of real property, is greater than 15% of the total rent received under the lease, then the portion of rent attributable to the personal property will not qualify as rents from real property.

Generally, for rents to qualify as rents from real property for the purpose of satisfying the gross income tests, we may provide directly only an insignificant amount of services, unless those services are “usually or customarily rendered” in connection with the rental of real property and not otherwise considered “rendered to the occupant.”

Accordingly, we may not provide “impermissible services” to tenants (except through an independent contractor from whom we derive no revenue and that meets other requirements or through a taxable REIT subsidiary) without giving rise to “impermissible tenant service income.” Impermissible tenant service income is deemed to be at least 150% of our direct cost of providing the service. If the impermissible tenant service income exceeds 1% of our total income from a property, then all of the income from that property will fail to qualify as rents from real property. If the total amount of impermissible tenant service income from a property does not exceed 1% of our total income from the property, the services will not taint the other income from the property (that is, it will not cause the rent paid by tenants of that property to fail to qualify as rents from real property), but the impermissible tenant service income will not qualify as rents from real property.

We have provided and will provide services with respect to our Properties. We believe that the services with respect to our communities that have been and will be provided by us are usually or customarily rendered in connection with the rental of space for occupancy only and are not otherwise rendered to particular tenants, or, if considered impermissible services, income from the provision of such services with respect to a given property has not and will not exceed 1% of all amounts received by us from such property. Therefore, we believe that the provision of such services has not and will not cause rents received with respect to our communities to fail to qualify as rents from real property. We believe that services with respect to our communities that may not be provided by us directly without jeopardizing the qualification of rent as rents from real property have been and will be performed by independent contractors or taxable REIT subsidiaries.

We have not charged, and do not anticipate charging, rent that is based in whole or in part on the income or profits of any person. We have not derived, and do not anticipate deriving, rent attributable to personal property leased in connection with real property that exceeds 15% of the total rents.

We may in the future acquire equity stakes in additional taxable REIT subsidiaries, which do not constitute real estate assets. Gain from a sale or other taxable disposition of these interests will constitute income satisfying the 95% income test, but not the 75% income test. The need to satisfy the 75% income test may adversely affect the time at which we chose to sell or dispose of one or more of these investments, depending on the appreciation of these equity interests, if any.

We have earned and continue to earn amounts of non-qualifying income. For example, we earn fees related to the management of properties that are not wholly-owned by us. We believe that the amount of non-qualifying income generated from these activities has not affected and will not affect our ability to meet the gross income tests.

Any gain realized by us on the sale of any property held as inventory or other property held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business will be treated as income from a prohibited transaction

 

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that is subject to a 100% penalty tax, unless such property has been held by us for not less than two years and certain other requirements are satisfied or the gain is realized in a taxable REIT subsidiary. Under existing law, whether property is held as inventory or primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of a trade or business is a question of fact that depends on all the facts and circumstances of a particular transaction. We generally intend to hold our properties for investment with a view to long-term appreciation, to engage in the business of acquiring, developing, owning and operating properties, and to make occasional sales of properties as are consistent with our investment objectives.

A safe harbor to the characterization of the sale of property by a REIT as a prohibited transaction is available if the following requirements are met:

 

   

the REIT has held the property for not less than two years;

 

   

the aggregate capital expenditures made by the REIT, or any partner of the REIT, during the two-year period preceding the date of the sale do not exceed 30% of the selling price of the property;

 

   

either (1) during the year in question, the REIT did not make more than seven property sales other than sales of foreclosure property or sales to which Section 1033 of the Code applies, (2) the aggregate adjusted bases of all such properties sold by the REIT during the year did not exceed 10% of the aggregate bases of all of the assets of the REIT at the beginning of the year (3) the aggregate fair market value of all such properties sold by the REIT during the year did not exceed 10% of the aggregate fair market value of all of the assets of the REIT at the beginning of the year or, for taxable years beginning after December 18, 2015, (4) the REIT satisfies the requirements of clause (2) applied by substituting “20%” for “10%” and the 3-year average adjusted bases percentage for the taxable year does not exceed 10% or (5) the REIT satisfies the requirements of clause (3) applied by substituting “20%” for “10%” and the 3-year average fair market value percentage for the taxable year does not exceed 10%;

 

   

in the case of property not acquired through foreclosure or lease termination, the REIT has held the property for at least two years for the production of rental income; and

 

   

if the REIT has made more than seven property sales (excluding sales of foreclosure property) during the taxable year, substantially all of the marketing and development expenditures with respect to the property were made through an independent contractor from whom the REIT or, a TRS derives no income.

We will attempt to comply with the terms of the foregoing safe-harbor in connection with our property sales. We cannot provide any assurance, however, that the Internal Revenue Service might not contend that one or more of these sales are subject to the 100% penalty tax. We intend to hold assets developed or held for sale in taxable REIT subsidiaries. Although a taxable REIT subsidiary is not subject to the 100% penalty tax, it does pay tax on its taxable income and gains at regular corporate rates.

If we fail to satisfy one or both of the 75% or 95% gross income tests for any taxable year, we may nevertheless qualify as a REIT for that year if we are entitled to relief under the Code. These relief provisions generally will be available if our failure to meet the tests is due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect and, following our identification of such failure for any taxable year, we file a schedule describing each item of our gross income described in the gross income tests in accordance with the applicable Treasury Regulations. It is not possible, however, to state whether in all circumstances we would be entitled to the benefit of these relief provisions. For example, if we fail to satisfy the gross income tests because non-qualifying income that we intentionally incur exceeds the limits on non-qualifying income, the Internal Revenue Service could conclude that the failure to satisfy the tests was not due to reasonable cause. If these relief provisions are inapplicable to a particular set of circumstances involving us, we will fail to qualify as a REIT. As discussed under “—Taxation of Sun as a REIT,” even if these relief provisions apply, a tax would be imposed based on the amount of non-qualifying income.

 

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Asset Tests Applicable to REITs

At the close of each quarter of our taxable year, we must satisfy several tests relating to the nature of our assets:

 

  (1)

at least 75% of the value of our total assets must be represented by real estate assets, cash, cash items (including receivables) and government securities;

 

  (2)

not more than 25% of our total assets may be represented by securities other than those in the 75% asset class;

 

  (3)

except for investments in qualified REIT subsidiaries, taxable REIT subsidiaries, equity interests in REITS (for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2015) debt instruments issued by “publicly offered REITS” or other securities that qualify as “real estate assets” for purposes of the test described in clause (1): the value of any one issuer’s securities owned by us may not exceed 5% of the value of our total assets; we may not own more than 10% of any one issuer’s outstanding voting securities; and we may not own more than 10% of the value of the outstanding securities of any one issuer;

 

  (4)

not more than 20% (for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017) of our total assets may be represented by securities of one or more taxable REIT subsidiaries; and

 

  (5)

not more than 25% of our total assets may be represented by debt instruments of “publicly offered REITs” to the extent those debt instruments would not be real estate assets but for the inclusion of debt instruments of “publicly offered REITS” in the meaning of real estate assets for the taxable years beginning after December 31, 2015.

Securities for purposes of the asset tests may include debt securities. However, certain debt of an issuer will not count as a security for purposes of the 10% value test, including: (1) debt securities that are “straight debt” as defined in Section 1361 of the Code, as modified by Section 856(m); (2) debt from an issuer who is an individual; or (3) non-straight debt, but only if the REIT possesses an aggregate value of not more than one percent of the value of the issuer’s outstanding securities.

We believe that the aggregate value of our taxable REIT subsidiaries does not exceed 20% of the aggregate value of our gross assets. With respect to each issuer in which we currently own an interest that does not qualify as a REIT, a qualified REIT subsidiary or a taxable REIT subsidiary, we believe that our pro rata share of the value of the securities, including debt, of any such issuer does not exceed 5% of the total value of our assets and that we comply with the 10% voting securities limitation and 10% value limitation with respect to each such issuer. In this regard, however, we cannot provide any assurance that the Internal Revenue Service might not disagree with our determinations.

After initially meeting the asset tests at the close of any quarter, we will not lose our status as a REIT if we fail to satisfy the 25%, 20%, 5% and 10% value limitations at the end of a later quarter solely by reason of changes in the relative values of our assets. If the failure to satisfy the 25%, 20%, 5% or 10% value limitations results from an acquisition of securities or other property during a quarter, the failure can be cured by disposition of sufficient non-qualifying assets within 30 days after the close of that quarter. We intend to maintain adequate records of the value of our assets to ensure compliance with the asset tests and to take any available actions within 30 days after the close of any quarter as may be required to cure any noncompliance with the 25%, 20%, 5% or 10% value limitations.

Moreover, if we fail to satisfy any of the asset tests at the end of a calendar quarter during a taxable year and such failure is not cured within 30 days as described above, we will not lose our REIT status if one of the following additional exceptions applies: (A) the failure is due to a violation of the 5% or 10% asset tests and is “de minimis” (for this purpose, a “de minimis” failure is one that arises from our ownership of assets the total value of which does not exceed the lesser of 1% of the total value of our assets at the end of the quarter in which the failure occurred and $10 million) and we either dispose of the assets that caused the failure or otherwise

 

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satisfy any of the asset tests within 6 months after the last day of the quarter in which our identification of the failure occurred; or (B) the failure is due to a violation of any of the asset tests (other than a “de minimis” violations of the 5% or 10% asset tests) and all of the following requirements are satisfied: (i) the failure is due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect, (ii) we file a schedule in accordance with Treasury Regulations providing a description of each asset that caused the failure, (iii) we either dispose of the assets that caused the failure or otherwise satisfy the asset tests within 6 months after the last day of the quarter in which our identification of the failure occurred, and (iv) we pay an excise tax equal to the greater of (x) $50,000 and (y) an amount determined by multiplying the net income generated during a specified period by the assets that caused the failure by the highest federal income tax applicable to corporations.

Annual Distribution Requirements Applicable to REITs

To qualify as a REIT, we are required to distribute dividends, other than capital gain dividends, to our stockholders each year in an amount at least equal to (1) the sum of (a) 90% of our REIT taxable income, computed without regard to the dividends paid deduction and our net capital gain, and (b) 90% of the net income, after tax, from foreclosure property, minus (2) the sum of certain specified items of noncash income. In addition, if we recognize any built-in gain, we will be required, under Treasury regulations, to distribute at least 90% of the built-in gain, after tax, recognized on the disposition of the applicable asset. See “—Taxation of Sun as a REIT” for a discussion of the possible recognition of built-in gain. These distributions must be paid either in the taxable year to which they relate, or in the following taxable year if declared before we timely file our tax return for the prior year and if paid with or before the first regular dividend payment date after the declaration is made.

We believe that we have made and intend to continue to make timely distributions sufficient to satisfy the annual distribution requirements.

We anticipate having sufficient cash or liquid assets to enable us to satisfy the 90% distribution requirement. It is possible, however, that we, from time to time, may not have sufficient cash or other liquid assets to meet this distribution requirement or to distribute such greater amount as may be necessary to avoid income and excise taxation, due to timing differences between (a) the actual receipt of income and the actual payment of deductible expenses and (b) the inclusion of such income and the deduction of such expenses in arriving at our taxable income, or as a result of nondeductible expenses such as principal amortization or capital expenditures in excess of noncash deductions. In the event that such timing differences occur, we may find it necessary to arrange for borrowings or, if possible, pay taxable stock dividends in order to meet the dividend requirement.

To the extent that we do not distribute all of our net capital gain or distribute at least 90%, but less than 100%, of our REIT taxable income, as adjusted, we are subject to tax on these amounts at regular corporate tax rates.

We will be subject to a 4% excise tax on the excess of the required distribution over the sum of amounts actually distributed and amounts retained for which federal income tax was paid, if we fail to distribute during each calendar year at least the sum of:

 

  (1)

85% of our REIT ordinary income for the year;

 

  (2)

95% of our REIT capital gain net income for the year; and

 

  (3)

any undistributed taxable income from prior taxable years.

A REIT may elect to retain rather than distribute all or a portion of its net capital gains and pay the tax on the gains. In that case, a REIT may elect to have its stockholders include their proportionate share of the undistributed net capital gains in income as long-term capital gains and receive a credit for their share of the tax paid by the REIT. For purposes of the 4% excise tax described above, any retained amounts would be treated as having been distributed.

 

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In order for distributions to be counted as satisfying the annual distribution requirement applicable to REITs and to provide us with a REIT-level tax deduction, the distributions must not be “preferential dividends,” unless we qualify as a “publicly offered REIT.” A distribution is not a preferential dividend if the distribution is (1) pro rata among all outstanding shares within a particular class, and (2) in accordance with the preferences among different classes of stock as set forth in our organizational documents. We believe that we are, and expect we will continue to be, a “publicly offered REIT.”

Under some circumstances, we may be able to rectify a failure to meet the distribution requirement for a year by paying dividends to stockholders in a later year, which may be included in our deduction for dividends paid for the earlier year. We will refer to such dividends as “deficiency dividends.” Thus, we may be able to avoid being taxed on amounts distributed as deficiency dividends. We will, however, be required to pay interest based upon the amount of any deduction taken for deficiency dividends.

Record-Keeping Requirements

We must maintain certain records in order to maintain our qualification as a REIT. To avoid paying monetary penalties, we must demand, on an annual basis, information from certain of our stockholders designed to disclose the actual ownership of our outstanding stock, and we must maintain a list of those persons failing or refusing to comply with such demand as part of our records. A stockholder that fails or refuses to comply with such demand is required by the Treasury Regulations to submit a statement with its tax return disclosing the actual ownership of our stock and other information. We intend to comply with these recordkeeping requirements.

Failure of Sun to Qualify as a REIT

If we fail to satisfy any REIT requirements (other than the income test or asset test requirements, to which specific cure provisions apply), we generally will be eligible for relief from REIT disqualification if the failure is due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect and we pay a penalty of $50,000 with respect to such failure. It is not possible to state whether in all circumstances we would be entitled to such statutory relief.

If we fail to qualify for taxation as a REIT in any taxable year and the relief provisions do not apply, we will be subject to tax on our taxable income at regular corporate rates. On December 22, 2017, H.R. 1, informally titled the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “2018 Tax Act”) was signed into law. The 2018 Tax Act reduced the 35% maximum federal corporate income tax rate to a maximum 21% corporate rate, and reduces the dividends-received deduction for certain corporate subsidiaries. The 2018 Tax Act also permanently eliminates the corporate alternative minimum tax. These provisions are effective beginning in 2018.

Distributions to stockholders in any year in which we fail to qualify will not be deductible by us nor will they be required to be made. In such event, to the extent of current or accumulated earnings and profits, all distributions to stockholders will be taxable as dividend income. Subject to limitations of the Code, corporate stockholders may be eligible for the dividends-received deduction and non-corporate stockholders may be eligible to treat the dividends received from us as qualified dividend income taxable as net capital gains under the provisions of Section 1(h)(11) of the Code. Unless we are entitled to relief under specific statutory provisions, we also will be disqualified from electing to be taxed as a REIT for the four taxable years following the year during which qualification was lost.

Taxation of U.S. Stockholders

When we refer to a United States stockholder, we mean a beneficial owner of a share of our common stock that is, for United States federal income tax purposes:

 

  (1)

a citizen or resident, as defined in Section 7701(b) of the Code, of the United States;

 

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  (2)

a corporation, or other entity treated as a corporation for federal income tax purposes, created or organized under the laws of the United States, any state or the District of Columbia;

 

  (3)

an estate the income of which is subject to federal income taxation regardless of its source; or

 

  (4)

in general, a trust subject to the primary supervision of a United States court and the control of one or more United States persons.

Generally, in the case of a partnership that holds our common stock, any partner that would be a U.S. stockholder if it held the common stock directly is also a U.S. stockholder. A “non-U.S. stockholder” is a holder that is neither a U.S. stockholder nor a partnership.

Distributions by Sun

So long as we qualify as a REIT, distributions to U.S. stockholders out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits that are not designated as capital gain distributions will be taxable as dividend income and will not be eligible for the dividends received deduction generally available for corporations and generally will not be eligible for treatment as qualified dividend income by non-corporate stockholders. However, for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017 and before January 1, 2026, pursuant to Section 199A of the Code, non-corporate taxpayers may deduct up to 20% of certain qualified business income, including “qualified REIT dividends” (generally, dividends received by a REIT stockholder that are not designated as capital gain dividends or qualified dividend income), subject to certain limitations, resulting in an effective maximum U.S. federal income tax rate of 29.6% on such income. Pursuant to recently finalized Treasury regulations, in order for a dividend paid by a REIT to be eligible to be treated as a “qualified REIT dividend,” the U.S. stockholder must meet two holding period-related requirements. First, the U.S. stockholder must hold the REIT stock for a minimum of 46 days during the 91-day period that begins 45 days before the date on which the REIT stock becomes ex-dividend with respect to the dividend. Second, the qualifying portion of the REIT dividend is reduced to the extent that the U.S. stockholder is under an obligation (whether pursuant to a short sale or otherwise) to make related payments with respect to positions in substantially similar or related property. In addition, shareholders of RICs may also be entitled to the 20% deduction with respect to certain “Section 199A dividends” that are attributable to qualified REIT dividends received by such RICs. Prospective investors should consult their tax advisors concerning the applicability of these rules and any limitations on the ability to deduct all or a portion of dividends received on our securities.

Distributions in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits will not be taxable to a U.S. stockholder to the extent that the distributions do not exceed the adjusted tax basis of the stockholder’s shares. Rather, such distributions will reduce the adjusted basis of such shares. Distributions in excess of current and accumulated earnings and profits that exceed the U.S. stockholder’s adjusted basis in its shares will be treated as gain from the sale or exchange of such shares taxable as capital gains in the amount of such excess if the shares are held as a capital asset. If we declare a distribution in October, November or December of any year with a record date in one of these months and pay the distribution on or before January 31 of the following year, we will be treated as having paid the distribution, and the stockholder will be treated as having received the distribution, on December 31 of the year in which the distribution was declared.

Distributions to a U.S. stockholder that we designate as capital gain dividends generally will be treated as long-term capital gain, without regard to the period for which the U.S. stockholder has held our stock to the extent that such gain does not exceed our actual net capital gain for the taxable year. Dividends designated as capital gain dividends may not exceed our dividends paid for the taxable year, including dividends paid the following year that are treated as paid in the current year. If we designate any portion of a distribution as a capital gain dividend, a U.S. stockholder will receive an Internal Revenue Service Form 1099-DIV indicating the amount that will be taxable to the stockholder as capital gain. Corporate stockholders, however, may be required to treat up to 20% of capital gain dividends as ordinary income.

 

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Instead of paying capital gain dividends, we may choose to retain all or part of our net capital gain and designate such amount as “undistributed capital gain.” We will be subject to tax at regular corporate rates on any undistributed capital gain.

A U.S. stockholder:

 

  (1)

will include in its income as long-term capital gains its proportionate share of such undistributed capital gains; and

 

  (2)

will be deemed to have paid its proportionate share of the tax paid by us on such undistributed capital gains and receive a credit or a refund to the extent that the tax paid by us exceeds the U.S. stockholder’s tax liability on the undistributed capital gain.

A U.S. stockholder will increase the basis in its common stock by the difference between the amount of capital gain included in its income and the amount of tax it is deemed to have paid. Our earnings and profits will be adjusted appropriately.

We will classify portions of any designated capital gain dividend or undistributed capital gain as either:

 

  (1)

a 15% rate gain distribution, which would be taxable to non-corporate U.S. stockholders at a maximum rate of 20%; or

 

  (2)

an “unrecaptured Section 1250 gain” distribution, which would be taxable to non-corporate U.S. stockholders at a maximum rate of 25%.

We must determine the maximum amounts that we may designate as 15% and 25% rate capital gain dividends by performing the computation required by the Code as if the REIT were an individual whose ordinary income were subject to a marginal tax rate in excess of 25%.

Distributions made by us and gain arising from the sale or exchange by a U.S. stockholder of shares will not be treated as passive activity income, and as a result, U.S. stockholders generally will not be able to apply any “passive losses” against this income or gain. In addition, taxable distributions from our company generally will be treated as investment income for purposes of the investment interest limitation and the 3.8% tax on “net investment income.” A U.S. stockholder may elect to treat capital gain dividends and capital gains from the disposition of shares as investment income for purposes of the investment interest limitation, in which case the applicable capital gains will be taxed at ordinary income rates. We will notify stockholders regarding the portions of distributions for each year that constitute ordinary income, return of capital and capital gain. U.S. stockholders may not include in their individual income tax returns any net operating losses or capital losses of our company. Our operating or capital losses would be carried over for potential offset against our future income, subject to applicable limitations. To the extent that we have available net operating losses carried forward from prior tax years, such losses may reduce the amount of distributions that we must make in order to comply with the REIT distribution requirements. Under amendments made by the 2018 Tax Act, a REIT’s deduction for any net operating loss carryforwards arising from losses it sustains in taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017 is limited to 80% of a REIT’s taxable income (determined without regard to the deduction for dividends paid), and any unused portion of losses arising in taxable years ending after December 31, 2017 may not be carried back, but may be carried forward indefinitely. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, signed into law on March 27, 2019 (the “Cares Act”) temporarily repealed the annual limit of 80% on the amount of taxable income that such net operating losses can offset for taxable years beginning before January 1, 2021. Such losses, however, will generally not affect the character, in the hands of our stockholders, of any distributions that are actually made as ordinary dividends or capital gains.

The 2018 Tax Act limits a taxpayer’s net interest expense deduction to 30% of the sum of adjusted taxable income, business interest, and certain other amounts. For 2019 and 2020, the Cares Act increases this limit on a taxpayer’s net interest expense deduction to 50% of the sum of adjusted taxable income, business

 

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interest, and certain other amounts. Adjusted taxable income does not include items of income or expense not allocable to a trade or business, business interest or expense, the new deduction for qualified business income, net operating losses, and for years prior to 2022, deductions for depreciation, amortization, or depletion. For partnerships, the interest deduction limit is applied at the partnership level, subject to certain adjustments to the partners for unused deduction limitation at the partnership level. The 2018 Tax Act allows a real property trade or business (which would include our operations) to elect out of this interest limit so long as it uses a 40-year recovery period for nonresidential real property, a 30-year recovery period for residential rental property, and a 20-year recovery period for related improvements described below. Disallowed interest expense is carried forward indefinitely (subject to special rules for partnerships). The interest deduction limit applies beginning in 2018.

Sales of Shares

Upon any taxable sale or other disposition of shares, a U.S. stockholder will recognize gain or loss for federal income tax purposes in an amount equal to the difference between:

 

  (1)

the amount of cash and the fair market value of any property received on the sale or other disposition; and

 

  (2)

the holder’s adjusted basis in the shares for tax purposes.

This gain or loss will be a capital gain or loss if the shares have been held by the U.S. stockholder as a capital asset. The applicable tax rate will depend on the stockholder’s holding period in the asset (generally, if an asset has been held for more than one year it will produce long-term capital gain) and the stockholder’s tax bracket. The Internal Revenue Service has the authority to prescribe, but has not yet prescribed, regulations that would apply a capital gain tax rate of 25% (which is generally higher than the long-term capital gain tax rates for noncorporate stockholders) to a portion of capital gain realized by a noncorporate stockholder on the sale of REIT shares that would correspond to the REIT’s “unrecaptured Section 1250 gain.” Stockholders are urged to consult with their own tax advisors with respect to their capital gain tax liability. A corporate U.S. stockholder will be subject to tax at a maximum rate of 21% on capital gain from the sale of our company’s shares. In general, any loss recognized by a U.S. stockholder upon the sale or other disposition of shares that have been held for six months or less, after applying the holding period rules, will be treated as a long-term capital loss, to the extent of distributions received by the U.S. stockholder from us that were required to be treated as long-term capital gains. All or a portion of any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of shares may be disallowed if other shares are purchased within 30 days before or after the date of disposition. Certain non-corporate U.S. stockholders may also have to pay a 3.8% “net investment tax” on any gain recognized upon the taxable sale of shares, subject to certain adjusted gross income limitations.

Taxation of Tax-Exempt Stockholders

Provided that a tax-exempt stockholder has not held its common stock as “debt financed property” within the meaning of the Code, the dividend income from our company will not be unrelated business taxable income, referred to as UBTI, to a tax-exempt stockholder. Similarly, gain from the sale of shares will not constitute UBTI unless the tax-exempt stockholder has held its shares as debt financed property within the meaning of the Code or is a dealer in the shares.

However, for tax-exempt stockholders that are social clubs, voluntary employee benefit associations, supplemental unemployment benefit trusts and qualified group legal services plans exempt from federal income taxation under Sections 501(c)(7), (c)(9), (c)(17) and (c)(20) of the Code, respectively, income from an investment in our company will constitute UBTI unless the organization properly sets aside or reserves such amounts for purposes specified in the Code. These tax-exempt stockholders should consult their own tax advisors concerning these “set aside” and reserve requirements.

 

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Notwithstanding the above, however, a portion of the dividends paid by a “pension held REIT” are treated as UBTI if received by any trust which is described in Section 401(a) of the Code, is tax-exempt under Section 501(a) of the Code and holds more than 10%, by value, of the interests in the REIT.

Tax-exempt pension funds that are described in Section 401(a) of the Code are referred to below as “pension trusts.”

A REIT is a pension held REIT if it meets the following two tests:

 

  (1)

it qualified as a REIT only by reason of Section 856(h)(3) of the Code, which provides that stock owned by pension trusts will be treated, for purposes of determining if the REIT is closely held, as owned by the beneficiaries of the trust rather than by the trust itself; and

 

  (2)

either (a) at least one pension trust holds more than 25% of the value of the REIT’s stock, or (b) a group of pension trusts each individually holding more than 10% of the value of the REIT’s shares, collectively owns more than 50% of the value of the REIT’s shares.

The percentage of any REIT dividend treated as UBTI is equal to the ratio of the UBTI earned by the REIT, treating the REIT as if it were a pension trust and therefore subject to tax on UBTI, to the total gross income of the REIT. An exception applies where the percentage is less than 5% for any taxable year.

U.S. Taxation of Non-U.S. Stockholders

Distributions by Sun

Distributions by us to a non-U.S. stockholder that are neither attributable to gain from sales or exchanges by us of “U.S. real property interests” nor designated by us as capital gains dividends will be treated as dividends of ordinary income to the extent that they are made out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits. These distributions ordinarily will be subject to withholding of U.S. federal income tax on a gross basis at a rate of 30% (or a lower rate as permitted under an applicable income tax treaty), unless the dividends are treated as effectively connected with the conduct of a U.S. trade or business (and as attributable to a U.S. permanent establishment of the non-U.S. stockholder, if an income tax treaty applies to such non-U.S. stockholder). Under some treaties, however, lower withholding rates generally applicable to dividends do not apply to dividends from REITs. Dividends that are effectively connected with a trade or business will be subject to tax on a net basis, that is, after allowance for deductions, at graduated rates, in the same manner as U.S. stockholders are taxed with respect to these dividends, and generally will not be subject to withholding. Applicable certification and disclosure requirements must be satisfied to be exempt from withholding under the effectively connected income exemption. Any dividends received by a corporate non-U.S. stockholder that is engaged in a U.S. trade or business also may be subject to an additional branch profits tax at a 30% rate (applicable after deducting U.S. federal income taxes paid on such effectively connected income), or lower applicable treaty rate.

Distributions in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits that exceed the non-U.S. stockholder’s adjusted tax basis in its common stock will be taxable to a non-U.S. stockholder as gain from the sale of common stock, which is discussed below. Distributions in excess of our current or accumulated earnings and profits that do not exceed the adjusted tax basis of the non-U.S. stockholder in its common stock will reduce the non-U.S. stockholder’s adjusted tax basis in its common stock and will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax, but will be subject to U.S. withholding tax as described below.

We expect to withhold U.S. income tax at the rate of 30% on any dividend distributions (including distributions that later may be determined to have been in excess of current and accumulated earnings and profits) made to a non-U.S. stockholder unless:

 

  (1)

a lower treaty rate applies and the non-U.S. stockholder furnishes us with an Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN evidencing eligibility for that reduced treaty rate with us; or

 

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  (2)

the non-U.S. stockholder furnishes us with an Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI claiming that the distribution is income effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business within the U.S.

Under the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act, which is referred to as “FIRPTA,” we may be required to withhold at least 15% of any distribution in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits, even if a lower treaty rate applies and the non-U.S. stockholder is not liable for tax on the receipt of that distribution. However, a non-U.S. stockholder may seek a refund of these amounts from the Internal Revenue Service if the non-U.S. stockholder’s U.S. tax liability with respect to the distribution is less than the amount withheld.

Distributions to a non-U.S. stockholder that are designated by us at the time of the distribution as capital gain dividends, other than those arising from the disposition of a U.S. real property interest, generally should not be subject to U.S. federal income taxation unless:

 

  (1)

the investment in the common stock is effectively connected with the non-U.S. stockholder’s U.S. trade or business (and attributable to a U.S. permanent establishment of the non-U.S. stockholder, if an income tax treaty applies to such non-U.S. stockholder) in which case the non-U.S. stockholder will be subject to the same treatment as U.S. stockholders with respect to any gain, except that a stockholder that is a foreign corporation also may be subject to the 30% branch profits tax, as discussed above, or

 

  (2)

the non-U.S. stockholder is a nonresident alien individual who is present in the U.S. for 183 days or more during the taxable year, in which case the nonresident alien individual generally will be subject to a 30% tax on the individual’s capital gains (or such lower rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty), which may be offset by U.S. source capital losses of such non-U.S. stockholder (even though the individual is not considered a resident of the United States), provided the non-U.S. stockholder has timely filed U.S. federal income tax returns with respect to such losses.

Under FIRPTA, subject to the exception discussed below for 10% or smaller holders of regularly traded classes of stock, distributions to a non-U.S. stockholder that are attributable to gain from sales or exchanges by us of U.S. real property interests, whether or not designated as a capital gain dividend, will cause the non-U.S. stockholder to be treated as recognizing gain that is income effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business. Non-U.S. stockholders will be taxed on this gain at the same rates applicable to U.S. stockholders, subject to a special alternative minimum tax in the case of nonresident alien individuals. Also, this gain may be subject to a 30% branch profits tax in the hands of a non-U.S. stockholder that is a corporation.

Unless you are a qualified shareholder or a qualified foreign pension fund (both as defined below), we will be required to withhold and remit to the Internal Revenue Service 21% of any distributions to you that are attributable to gain from sales or exchanges by us of U.S. real property interest, if you own more than 10% of our common stock. The amount withheld is creditable against the non-U.S. stockholder’s United States federal income tax liability. A non-U.S. stockholder whose U.S. federal income tax liability under FIRPTA exceeds amounts withheld by us will be required to file a U.S. federal income tax return for the taxable year.

A non-U.S. stockholder that owns no more than 10% of our common stock at all times during the one-year period ending on the date of the distribution will not be subject to federal income tax under FIRPTA with respect to distributions that are attributable to gain from our sale or exchange of U.S. real property interests, provided that our common stock is regularly traded on an established securities market.

In addition, distributions to certain non-U.S. publicly traded shareholders that meet certain record-keeping and other requirements (“qualified shareholders”) are exempt from FIRPTA, except to the extent owners of such qualified shareholders that are not also qualified shareholders own, actually or constructively, more than

 

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10% of our capital stock. Furthermore, distributions to “qualified foreign pension funds” or entities all of the interests of which are held by “qualified foreign pension funds” are exempt from FIRPTA. Non-U.S. stockholders should consult their tax advisors regarding the application of these rules.

Although the law is not clear on the matter, it appears that amounts designated by us as undistributed capital gains in respect of the common stock held by U.S. stockholders generally should be treated with respect to non-U.S. stockholders in the same manner as actual distributions by us of capital gain dividends. Under that approach, the non-U.S. stockholders would be able to offset as a credit against their United States federal income tax liability resulting therefrom an amount equal to their proportionate share of the tax paid by us on the undistributed capital gains, and to receive from the Internal Revenue Service a refund to the extent their proportionate share of this tax paid by us exceeds their actual United States federal income tax liability.

Federal legislation may impose withholding taxes on certain types of payments made to “foreign financial institutions” and certain other non-U.S. entities. Under this legislation, the failure to comply with additional certification, information reporting and other specified requirements could result in withholding tax being imposed on payments of dividends to U.S. shareholders who own shares of our common stock through foreign accounts or foreign intermediaries and certain non-U.S. shareholders. Under Treasury regulations, a 30% withholding tax is imposed on payments made with respect to dividends on our common stock paid to a foreign financial institution or to a foreign entity other than a financial institution, unless (i) the foreign financial institution undertakes certain diligence and reporting obligations or (ii) the foreign entity that is not a financial institution either certifies it does not have any substantial United States owners or furnishes identifying information regarding each substantial United States owner. If the payee is a foreign financial institution (that is not otherwise exempt), it must either enter into an agreement with the U.S. Treasury Department requiring, among other things, that it undertake to identify accounts held by certain United States persons or United States-owned foreign entities, annually report certain information about such accounts, and withhold 30% on payments to account holders whose actions prevent it from complying with these reporting and other requirements, or in the case of a foreign financial institution that is resident in a jurisdiction that has entered into an intergovernmental agreement to implement this legislation comply with the revised diligence and reporting obligations of such intergovernmental agreement. Prospective investors should consult their tax advisors regarding this legislation.

Sale of Common Stock

Gain recognized by a non-U.S. stockholder upon the sale or exchange of our common stock generally would not be subject to United States taxation unless:

 

  (1)

the gain is effectively connected with the conduct of a U.S. trade or business, in which case the non-U.S. stockholder will be subject to the same treatment as domestic stockholders with respect to any gain;

 

  (2)

the non-U.S. stockholder is a nonresident alien individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more during the taxable year, in which case the nonresident alien individual will be subject to a 30% tax on the individual’s net capital gains for the taxable year; or

 

  (3)

our common stock constitutes a U.S. real property interest within the meaning of FIRPTA, as described below.

Our common stock will not constitute a U.S. real property interest if we are a domestically controlled qualified investment entity. We will be a domestically controlled qualified investment entity if, at all times during a specified testing period, less than 50% in value of our stock is held directly or indirectly by non-U.S. stockholders. For purposes of determining whether a REIT is a “domestically controlled qualified investment entity,” a person who at all applicable times holds less than 5% of a class of stock that is “regularly traded” is treated as a U.S. person unless the REIT has actual knowledge that such person is not a U.S. person.

 

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Because our common stock is publicly traded, we cannot guarantee that we are or will continue to be a domestically controlled qualified investment entity.

Even if we are a domestically controlled qualified investment entity, upon disposition of our stock, a non-U.S. stockholder may be treated as having gain from the sale or exchange of a U.S. real property interest if the non-U.S. stockholder (1) disposes of an interest in our stock during the 30-day period preceding the ex-dividend date of a distribution, any portion of which, but for the disposition, would have been treated as gain from sale or exchange of a U.S. real property interest and (2) acquires, enters into a contract or option to acquire, or is deemed to acquire, other shares of our stock during the 61-day period that begins on the same day as the 30-day period described in clause (1) of this sentence. This rule does not apply if the non-U.S. stockholder did not hold more than 5% of our common stock at any time during the one-year period ending on the date of the distribution described above.

Even if we do not qualify as a domestically controlled qualified investment entity at the time a non-U.S. stockholder sells its common stock, our stock sold by such stockholder would not be considered a U.S. real property interest if:

 

  (1)

the class or series of stock sold is considered regularly traded under applicable Treasury regulations on an established securities market, such as the NYSE; and

 

  (2)

the selling non-U.S. stockholder owned, actually or constructively, 10% or less in value of the outstanding class or series of stock being sold throughout the five-year period ending on the date of the sale or exchange.

In addition, dispositions of our capital stock by qualified shareholders are exempt from FIRPTA, except to the extent owners of such qualified shareholders that are not also qualified shareholders own, actually or constructively, more than 10% of our capital stock. Furthermore, dispositions of our capital stock by “qualified foreign pension funds” or entities all of the interests of which are held by “qualified foreign pension funds” are exempt from FIRPTA. Non-U.S. holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the application of these rules.

If gain on the sale or exchange of our common stock were subject to taxation under FIRPTA, the non-U.S. stockholder would be subject to regular U.S. income tax with respect to any gain in the same manner as a taxable U.S. stockholder, subject to any applicable alternative minimum tax and special alternative minimum tax in the case of nonresident alien individuals.

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding Tax Applicable to Stockholders

U.S. Stockholders

In general, information reporting requirements will apply to payments of distributions on our common stock and payments of the proceeds of the sale of our common stock to some stockholders, unless an exception applies. Further, the payer will be required to withhold backup withholding tax at the rate of 24% if:

 

  (1)

the payee fails to furnish a taxpayer identification number, or TIN, to the payer or to establish an exemption from backup withholding;

 

  (2)

the Internal Revenue Service notifies the payer that the TIN furnished by the payee is incorrect; or

 

  (3)

the payee fails to certify under the penalty of perjury that the payee is not subject to backup withholding under the Code.

Some stockholders, including corporations, will be exempt from backup withholding. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules from a payment to a stockholder will be allowed as a credit against the stockholder’s United States federal income tax and may entitle the stockholder to a refund, provided that the required information is furnished to the Internal Revenue Service.

 

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Non-U.S. Stockholders

Generally, information reporting will apply to payments of distributions on our common stock, and backup withholding at a rate of 24% may apply, unless the payee certifies that it is not a U.S. person or otherwise establishes an exemption.

The payment of the proceeds from the disposition of Sun common stock to or through the U.S. office of a U.S. or foreign broker will be subject to information reporting and, possibly, backup withholding unless the non-U.S. stockholder certifies as to its non-U.S. status or otherwise establishes an exemption, provided that the broker does not have actual knowledge that the stockholder is a U.S. person or that the conditions of any other exemption are not, in fact, satisfied. The proceeds of the disposition by a non-U.S. stockholder of our common stock to or through a foreign office of a broker generally will not be subject to information reporting or backup withholding. However, if the broker is a U.S. person, a controlled foreign corporation for U.S. tax purposes or a foreign person 50% or more of whose gross income from all sources for specified periods is from activities that are effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business, information reporting generally will apply unless the broker has documentary evidence as to the non-U.S. stockholder’s foreign status and has no actual knowledge to the contrary.

Applicable Treasury regulations provide presumptions regarding the status of stockholders when payments to the stockholders cannot be reliably associated with appropriate documentation provided to the payer. Because the application of these Treasury regulations varies depending on the stockholder’s particular circumstances, you are urged to consult your tax advisor regarding the information reporting requirements applicable to you.

Other Tax Consequences for Sun and Its Stockholders

We and our stockholders may be subject to state and local taxation in various state or local jurisdictions, including those in which we or they transact business or reside. The state and local tax treatment of us and our stockholders may not conform to the federal income tax consequences discussed above. Consequently, prospective investors should consult their own tax advisors regarding the effect of state and local tax laws on an investment in our securities.

To the extent that we and the taxable REIT subsidiaries are required to pay federal, state or local taxes, we will have less cash available for distribution to stockholders.

Legislative or Other Actions Affecting REITs and Stockholders

The present federal income tax treatment of REITs may be modified, possibly with retroactive effect, by legislative, judicial or administrative action at any time. The REIT rules are constantly under review by persons involved in the legislative process and by the Internal Revenue Service and the U.S. Treasury Department, which may result in statutory changes as well as revisions to regulations and interpretations.

Taxation of Holders of Our Debt Securities or the Operating Partnership’s Debt Securities

The following summary describes the material United States federal income tax consequences of acquiring, owning and disposing of our debt securities or the Operating Partnership’s debt securities. This discussion assumes the debt securities will be issued with no more than a de minimis amount of original issue discount for United States federal income tax purposes. In addition, this discussion is limited to persons purchasing the debt securities for cash at original issue and at their original “issue price” within the meaning of Section 1273 of the Code (i.e., the first price at which a substantial amount of the debt securities is sold to the public for cash). If we or the Operating Partnership issues any debt securities pursuant to this prospectus, we intend to describe in the related prospectus supplement the material United States federal income tax

 

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considerations relating to the ownership and disposition of such debt securities, including, if applicable, the taxation of any debt securities that will be sold with original issue discount or acquired with market discount or amortizable bond premium.

Taxable U.S. Holders of Our Debt Securities or the Operating Partnership’s Debt Securities

Generally, this subsection describes the tax consequences to a U.S. debt security holder. You are a U.S. debt security holder if you are a beneficial owner of a fixed rate debt security to which this section applies and you are:

 

   

a citizen or resident of the United States,

 

   

a domestic corporation,

 

   

an estate whose income is subject to United States Federal income tax regardless of its source, or

 

   

a trust if a United States court can exercise primary supervision over the trust’s administration and one or more United States persons are authorized to control all substantial decisions of the trust.

Interest. A U.S. holder generally will be required to recognize and include in gross income any stated interest as ordinary income at the time it is paid or accrued on the debt securities in accordance with such U.S. holder’s method of accounting for United States federal income tax purposes.

Sale or Other Taxable Disposition of the Debt Securities. A U.S. holder will recognize gain or loss on the sale, exchange, redemption (including a partial redemption), retirement or other taxable disposition of a debt security equal to the difference between the sum of the cash and the fair market value of any property received in exchange therefor (less a portion allocable to any accrued and unpaid stated interest, which generally will be taxable as ordinary income if not previously included in such U.S. holder’s income) and the U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in the debt security. A U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in a debt security (or a portion thereof) generally will be the U.S. holder’s cost therefor decreased by any payment on the debt security other than a payment of qualified stated interest. This gain or loss generally will be capital gain or loss, and will be long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. holder has held the debt securities for more than one year at the time of such disposition. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitation.

Backup Withholding and Information Reporting. A U.S. holder may be subject to information reporting and backup withholding when such U.S. holder receives interest and principal payments on the debt securities or proceeds upon the sale or other disposition of such debt securities (including a redemption or retirement of the debt securities). Certain holders (including, among others, corporations and certain tax-exempt organizations) are generally not subject to information reporting or backup withholding. A U.S. holder will be subject to backup withholding if such holder is not otherwise exempt and:

 

   

such U.S. holder fails to furnish its taxpayer identification number, or “TIN,” which, for an individual is ordinarily his or her social security number;

 

   

the IRS notifies the payor that such holder furnished an incorrect TIN;

 

   

in the case of interest payments, such U.S. holder is notified by the IRS of a failure to properly report payments of interest or dividends; or

 

   

in the case of interest payments, such U.S. holder fails to certify, under penalties of perjury, that such U.S. holder has furnished a correct TIN and that the IRS has not notified such U.S. holder that it is subject to backup withholding.

A U.S. holder should consult its tax advisor regarding its qualification for an exemption from backup withholding and the procedures for obtaining such an exemption, if applicable. Backup withholding is not an

 

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additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules from a payment to a U.S. holder will be allowed as a credit against the holder’s United States federal income tax liability or may be refunded, provided the required information is furnished in a timely manner to the IRS.

Non-U.S. Holders of Our Debt Securities or the Operating Partnership’s Debt Securities

This section applies to you if you are a non-U.S. holder of the debt securities. A “non-U.S. holder” is a holder that is neither a U.S. holder nor a partnership. Special rules may apply to certain non-U.S. holders such as “controlled foreign corporations” and “passive foreign investment companies.” Such entities are encouraged to consult their tax advisors to determine the United States federal, state, local and other tax consequences that may be relevant to them.

Interest. Interest paid to a non-U.S. holder on its debt securities that is not effectively connected with such non-U.S. holder’s conduct of a United States trade or business will not be subject to United States federal withholding tax, provided that:

 

   

such non-U.S. holder does not actually or constructively own a 10% or greater interest in the total combined voting power of all classes of our voting stock (in the case of our debt securities) or 10% or more of the Operating Partnership’s capital or profits (in the case of the Operating Partnership’s debt securities);

 

   

such non-U.S. holder is not a controlled foreign corporation related to us or the Operating Partnership, as the case may be, through actual or constructive ownership;

 

   

such non-U.S. holder is not a bank that received such interest on an extension of credit made pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of its trade or business; and

 

   

either (a) the non-U.S. holder certifies in a statement provided to the applicable withholding agent (i.e., us, the Operating Partnership or a paying agent thereof), under penalties of perjury, that it is not a United States person within the meaning of the Code and provides its name and address, (b) a securities clearing organization, bank or other financial institution that holds customers’ securities in the ordinary course of its trade or business and holds the debt securities on behalf of the non-U.S. holder certifies to the withholding agent under penalties of perjury that it, or the financial institution between it and the non-U.S. holder, has received from the non-U.S. holder a statement, under penalties of perjury, that such non-U.S. holder is not a United States person and provides the withholding agent with a copy of such statement, or (c) the non-U.S. holder holds its debt securities directly through a “qualified intermediary” and certain conditions are satisfied.

A non-U.S. holder generally will also be exempt from withholding tax on interest if such amount is effectively connected with such non-U.S. holder’s conduct of a United States trade or business and the non-U.S. holder provides the withholding agent with appropriate certification (as discussed below under “– United States Trade or Business”).

If a non-U.S. holder does not satisfy the requirements above, interest paid to such non-U.S. holder generally will be subject to a 30% United States federal withholding tax. Such rate may be reduced or eliminated under a tax treaty between the United States and the non-U.S. holder’s country of residence. To claim a reduction or exemption under a tax treaty, a non-U.S. holder must generally complete an IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E (or applicable successor forms) and claim the reduction or exemption on the form.

Sale or Other Taxable Disposition of the Debt Securities. A non-U.S. holder generally will not be subject to United States federal income tax or withholding tax on gain recognized on the sale, exchange, redemption, retirement or other taxable disposition of a debt security (such amount excludes any amount allocable to accrued and unpaid interest, which generally will be treated as interest and may be subject to the rules discussed above in “—Non-U.S. Holders of Our Debt Securities or the Operating Partnership’s Debt

 

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Securities—Interest”) unless (1) the gain is effectively connected with the conduct by the non-U.S. holder of a United States trade or business (and, if a tax treaty applies, the gain is attributable to a United States permanent establishment maintained by such non-U.S. holder) and (2) in the case of a non-U.S. holder who is an individual, such non-U.S. holder is present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of disposition and certain other requirements are met. Gain described in (1) above will be subject to tax in the manner described below under “– United States Trade or Business.” A Non-U.S. holder described in (2) above will be subject to a 30% tax on the individual’s capital gains (reduced by certain capital losses).

United States Trade or Business. If interest paid on a debt security or gain from a disposition of a debt security is effectively connected with a non-U.S. holder’s conduct of a United States trade or business (and, if an income tax treaty applies, the non-U.S. holder maintains a United States permanent establishment to which such amounts are generally attributable), the non-U.S. holder generally will be subject to United States federal income tax on the interest or gain on a net basis in the same manner as if it were a U.S. holder. If a non-U.S. holder is subject to United States federal income tax on the interest on a net basis, the 30% withholding tax described above will not apply (assuming an appropriate certification is provided, generally on IRS Form W-8ECI). A non-U.S. holder that is a corporation may be subject to a branch profits tax equal to 30% of its effectively connected earnings and profits for the taxable year, subject to certain adjustments, unless it qualifies for a lower rate under an applicable income tax treaty. For this purpose, interest on a debt security or gain from a disposition of a debt security will be included in earnings and profits if the interest or gain is effectively connected with the conduct by the corporation of a United States trade or business.

Backup Withholding and Information Reporting. A non-U.S. holder generally will not be subject to backup withholding and information reporting with respect to payments that we or the Operating Partnership, as the case may be, makes to the non-U.S. holder, provided that we or the Operating Partnership, respectively, does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that such non-U.S. holder is a “United States person,” within the meaning of the Code, and the non-U.S. holder has given us or the Operating Partnership, respectively, the statement described above under “– Interest.” In addition, a non-U.S. holder will not be subject to backup withholding or information reporting with respect to the proceeds of the sale or other disposition of our or the Operating Partnership’s, respectively, debt securities (including a retirement or redemption of such debt securities) within the United States or conducted through certain U.S.-related brokers, if the payor receives the statement described above and does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that such non-U.S. holder is a United States person or the non-U.S. holder otherwise establishes an exemption. However, we or the Operating Partnership may be required to report annually to the IRS and to the non-U.S. holder the amount of, and the tax withheld with respect to, any interest paid to the non-U.S. holder, regardless of whether any tax was actually withheld. Copies of these information returns may also be made available under the provisions of a specific treaty or agreement to the tax authorities of the country in which the non-U.S. holder resides.

A non-U.S. holder generally will be entitled to credit any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules against the non-U.S. holder’s United States federal income tax liability or may claim a refund provided that the required information is furnished to the IRS in a timely manner.

 

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SELLING SECURITY HOLDERS

Information about selling security holders, where applicable, will be set forth in a prospectus supplement, in a post-effective amendment or in filings we make with the SEC under the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference.

 

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

Sales by Us

We may sell the securities domestically or abroad to one or more underwriters for public offering and sale by them or may sell the securities to investors directly or through dealers or agents, on a continuous or delayed basis, or through a combination of methods. Any underwriter, dealer or agent involved in the offer and sale of the securities, including but not limited to at-the-market equity offerings, will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement.

In addition to the foregoing, we may issue shares of our common stock to holders of OP Units, and any of their pledgees, donees, transferees or other successors in interest, in exchange for their OP Units. And as a result, we will acquire additional OP Units in exchange for any such issuances.

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 the applicable prospectus supplement so 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. If so, 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 stock, and may use securities received from us in settlement of those derivatives to close out any related open borrowings of stock. The third parties in such sale transactions will be underwriters and, if not identified in this prospectus, will be identified in the applicable prospectus supplement (or a post-effective amendment).

Underwriters may offer and sell the securities at: (1) a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, (2) market prices prevailing at the time of sale, (3) prices related to the prevailing market prices at the time of sale or (4) negotiated prices. Underwriters could make sales in privately negotiated transactions and/or any other method permitted by law, including sales deemed to be an “at the market” offering as defined in Rule 415 promulgated under the Securities Act, which includes sales made directly on the NYSE, the existing trading market for our common stock, or sales made to or through a market maker other than on an exchange. We also may, from time to time, authorize underwriters acting as their agents to offer and sell the securities upon the terms and conditions as are set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. In connection with the sale of securities, underwriters may be deemed to have received compensation from us in the form of underwriting discounts or commissions and may also receive commissions from purchasers of securities for whom they may act as agent. Underwriters may sell securities to or through dealers, and the dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriters and/or commissions from the purchasers for whom they may act as agent.

Any underwriting compensation paid by us to underwriters, dealers or agents in connection with the offering of securities, and any discounts, concessions or commissions allowed by underwriters to participating dealers, will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. In compliance with the guidelines of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, or FINRA, the aggregate maximum discount, commission or agency fees or other items constituting underwriting compensation to be received by any FINRA member or independent broker-dealer will not exceed 8% of the offering proceeds from any offering pursuant to this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement. Dealers and agents participating in the distribution of the securities may be deemed to be underwriters, 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. Underwriters, dealers and agents may be entitled, under agreements entered into with us and the Operating Partnership, to indemnification against and contribution toward civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. We will describe any indemnification agreement in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, any series of securities issued hereunder will be a new issue with no established trading market (other than our common stock, which is listed

 

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on the NYSE under the symbol “SUI”). If we sell any shares of our common stock pursuant to a prospectus supplement, such shares will be listed on the NYSE, subject to official notice of issuance. We may elect to list any other securities issued hereunder on any exchange, but we are not obligated to do so. Any underwriters or agents to or through whom such securities are sold by us or the Operating Partnership for public offering and sale may make a market in such securities, but such underwriters or agents will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. We cannot assure you as to the liquidity of the trading market for any such securities.

If indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may authorize underwriters, dealers or other persons acting as our agents to solicit offers by certain institutions or other suitable persons to purchase the securities from us at the public offering price set forth in the prospectus supplement pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on the date or dates stated in the prospectus supplement. We may make delayed delivery with various institutions, including commercial and savings banks, insurance companies, pension funds, investment companies and educational and charitable institutions. Delayed delivery contracts will be subject to the condition that the purchase of the securities covered by the delayed delivery contracts will not at the time of delivery be prohibited under the laws of any jurisdiction in the United States to which the purchaser is subject. The underwriters and agents will not have any responsibility with respect to the validity or performance of these contracts.

If indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may authorize underwriters or other persons acting as our agents to solicit offers by institutions or other suitable purchasers to purchase the securities from us at the public offering price set forth in the prospectus supplement, pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on the date or dates stated in the prospectus supplement. These purchasers may include, among others, commercial and savings banks, insurance companies, pension funds, investment companies and educational and charitable institutions. Delayed delivery contracts will be subject to the condition that the purchase of the securities covered by the delayed delivery contracts will not at the time of delivery be prohibited under the laws of any jurisdiction in the United States to which the purchaser is subject. The underwriters and agents will not have any responsibility with respect to the validity or performance of these contracts.

To comply with applicable state securities laws, the securities offered by this prospectus will be sold, if necessary, in such jurisdictions only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, securities may not be sold in some states unless they have been registered or qualified for sale in the applicable state or an exemption from the registration or qualification requirement is available and is complied with.

To facilitate the offering of the securities, certain persons participating in the offering may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain, or otherwise affect the price of the securities. This may include over-allotments or short sales of the securities, which involves the sale by persons participating in the offering of more securities than we sold to them. In these circumstances, these persons would cover the over-allotments or short positions by making purchases in the open market or by exercising their over-allotment option. In addition, these persons may stabilize or maintain the price of the securities by bidding for or purchasing securities in the open market or by imposing penalty bids, whereby selling concessions allowed to dealers participating in the offering may be reclaimed if securities sold by them are repurchased in connection with stabilization transactions. The effect of these transactions may be to stabilize or maintain the market price of the securities at a level above that which might otherwise prevail in the open market. These transactions may be discontinued at any time.

The underwriters, dealers and agents and their affiliates may be customers of, engage in transactions with and perform services for us and the Operating Partnership in the ordinary course of business.

Sales by Selling Security Holder

The selling security holders, which as used herein includes donees, pledgees, transferees or other successors-in-interest may, from time to time, sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any or all of their securities

 

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on any stock exchange, market or trading facility on which the securities are traded or in private transactions. These dispositions may be at fixed prices, at prevailing market prices at the time of sale, at prices related to the prevailing market price, at varying prices determined at the time of sale, or at negotiated prices.

The selling security holders may use any one or more of the following methods when disposing of shares or interests therein:

 

   

ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker-dealer solicits purchasers;

 

   

block trades in which the broker-dealer will attempt to sell the shares as agent, but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction;

 

   

purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer for its account;

 

   

an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable exchange;

 

   

privately-negotiated transactions;

 

   

an underwritten offering;

 

   

short sales effected after the date of this prospectus;

 

   

through the writing or settlement of options or other hedging transactions, whether through an options exchange or otherwise;

 

   

agreements with broker-dealers to sell a specified number of such shares at a stipulated price per share;

 

   

a combination of any such methods of sale; and

 

   

any other method permitted by applicable law.

The selling security holders may effect such transactions by selling their securities directly to purchasers, to or through broker-dealers, which may act as agents for the seller and buyer or principals, or to underwriters who acquire securities for their own account and resell them in one or more transactions. Such broker-dealers or underwriters may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions, or commissions from the selling security holders and/or the purchasers of the securities for whom such broker-dealers may act as agents or to whom they sell as principal, or both (which compensation as to a particular broker-dealer might be in excess of customary commissions) and such discounts, concessions, or commissions may be allowed or re-allowed or paid to dealers. Any public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or paid to dealers may be changed at different times.

In connection with the sale of the securities, the selling security holders may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions, which may in turn engage in short sales of the securities in the course of hedging the positions they assume. The selling security holders may also sell securities short and deliver these securities to close out their short positions, or loan or pledge the securities to broker-dealers that in turn may sell these securities. The selling security holders may also enter into option or other transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions or the creation of one or more derivative securities which require the delivery to such broker-dealer or other financial institution of securities offered by this prospectus or an accompanying prospectus, which securities such broker-dealer or other financial institution may resell pursuant to this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus (as supplemented or amended to reflect such transaction).

The aggregate proceeds to the selling security holders from the sale of the securities offered by them will be the purchase price of the securities less discounts or commissions, if any. Each of the selling security holders reserves the right to accept and, together with their agents from time to time, to reject, in whole or in part, any proposed purchase of securities to be made directly or through agents. We will not receive any of the proceeds from this offering.

 

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The selling security holders also may resell all or a portion of the securities in open market transactions in reliance upon Rule 144 under the Securities Act, provided that they meet the criteria and conform to the requirements of that rule.

The selling security holders and any underwriters, broker-dealers or agents that participate in the sale of the securities may be “underwriters” within the meaning of Section 2(11) of the Securities Act. Any discounts, commissions, concessions or profit they earn on any resale of the securities may be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. Selling security holders who are “underwriters” within the meaning of Section 2(11) of the Securities Act will be subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act.

To the extent required, the securities to be sold, the names of the selling security holders, the respective purchase prices and public offering prices, the names of any agents, dealer or underwriter, any applicable commissions or discounts with respect to a particular offer will be set forth in an accompanying prospectus supplement or, if appropriate, a post-effective amendment to the registration statement that includes the accompanying prospectus.

In order to comply with the securities laws of some states, if applicable, the securities may be sold in these jurisdictions only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, in some states the securities may not be sold unless they have been registered or qualified for sale or an exemption from registration or qualification requirements is available and is complied with.

Selling security holders and other persons participating in the sale or distribution of the securities will be subject to applicable provisions of the Exchange Act and the related rules and regulations adopted by the SEC, including Regulation M. This regulation may limit the timing of purchases and sales of any of the securities by selling security holders and any other person. The anti-manipulation rules under the Exchange Act may apply to sales of securities in the market and to the activities of selling security holders and their affiliates. Furthermore, Regulation M may restrict the ability of any person engaged in the distribution of the securities to engage in market-making activities with respect to the particular securities being distributed for a period of up to five business days before the distribution. These restrictions may affect the marketability of the securities and the ability of any person or entity to engage in market-making activities with respect to the securities. In addition, to the extent applicable, we will make copies of this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus (as it may be supplemented or amended from time to time) available to the selling security holders for the purpose of satisfying the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act. The selling security holders may indemnify any broker-dealer that participates in transactions involving the sale of the securities against certain liabilities, including liabilities arising under the Securities Act.

We may agree to indemnify in certain circumstances the selling security holders against certain liabilities relating to the registration of the shares offered by this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus.

 

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LEGAL MATTERS

Certain legal matters will be passed upon for us by Jaffe, Raitt, Heuer & Weiss, Professional Corporation, Southfield, Michigan. Arthur A. Weiss is a member of our board of directors and a shareholder of Jaffe, Raitt, Heuer & Weiss, Professional Corporation. Certain legal matters with respect to the validity of shares of our capital stock and certain other legal matters relating to Maryland law will be passed upon for us by Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, a Professional Corporation, Baltimore, Maryland. Certain legal matters with respect to the validity of the debt securities and any guarantees of such debt securities will be passed upon for us by Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP, Houston, Texas. Additional legal matters may be passed upon for us, the selling security holders or any underwriters, dealers or agents, by counsel that we will name in the applicable prospectus supplement.

EXPERTS

The audited consolidated financial statements and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of Sun Communities, Inc. incorporated by reference in this prospectus and elsewhere in the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part have been so incorporated by reference in reliance upon the reports of Grant Thornton LLP, independent registered public accountants, upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We are subject to the informational requirements of the Exchange Act, and, in accordance therewith, we file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. The SEC maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC. The address of that site is http://www.sec.gov. Additionally, we make these filings available, free of charge, through the “Investors” section of our website at www.suncommunities.com as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such materials with, or furnish them to, the SEC. The information on the website listed above, except as described in the section titled “Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference” below, is not, and should not be, considered part of this prospectus and is not incorporated by reference into this document.

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act with respect to the securities offered in connection with this prospectus. This prospectus, which is part of the registration statement, does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement, certain parts of which are omitted in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC. For further information regarding us and the securities, please refer to the registration statement and the documents filed or incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement. Statements contained in this prospectus as to the contents of any contract or other document are not necessarily complete and, in each instance, you should refer to the copy of such contract or document filed as an exhibit to or incorporated by reference in the registration statement. Each statement as to the contents of such contract or document is qualified in all respects by such reference. You may obtain copies of the r0egistration statement and its exhibits from the SEC as indicated above or from us.

 

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INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information we file with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus, and information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any future filings we will make with the SEC prior to the termination of the offering under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (solely to the extent that such information set forth in any such document is filed with, as opposed to furnished to, the SEC under the Exchange Act):

 

   

Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, filed with the SEC on February 18, 2021;

 

   

The description of our securities contained in Exhibit 4.1 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 filed with the SEC on February 18, 2021;

 

   

Our definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A filed with the SEC on April 6, 2020 (solely to the extent incorporated by reference into Part III of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019);

 

   

Our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 4, 2021, February  11, 2021, March  9, 2021 and March 31, 2021; and

 

   

The description of our common stock contained in the Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the SEC on November 23, 1993 (File No. 1-12616), including any amendment or report filed to update such description.

All documents subsequently filed by us with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this prospectus and prior to the termination of this offering shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus and a part hereof from the date of filing of these documents, and will update, supplement and, where applicable, supersede the information in this prospectus. Notwithstanding the foregoing, information furnished under Items 2.02 and 7.01 of our Current Reports on Form 8-K, including the related exhibits, is not incorporated by reference in this prospectus. We will provide to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom this prospectus is delivered, a copy of any or all of the information that has been incorporated by reference in the prospectus but not delivered with this prospectus. We will provide this information upon written or oral request at no cost to the requester. You may request a copy of any of this information by writing us at the following address: Sun Communities, Inc., 27777 Franklin Road, Suite 200, Southfield, Michigan, 48034, Attention: Investor Relations; or by calling our Investor Relations Department at telephone number (248) 208-2500.

 

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LOGO

Common Stock

Preferred Stock

Warrants

Guarantees Of Debt Securities Of Sun Communities

Operating Limited Partnership

Units

SUN COMMUNITIES OPERATING LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

Debt Securities

Guarantees Of Debt Securities Of Sun Communities, Inc.

Units

Prospectus

April 2, 2021

 

 

 


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Part II

Information Not Required in Prospectus

Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution

The following table sets forth an estimate of the expenses, other than underwriting discounts and commissions, payable in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities being registered, all of which will be borne by the registrants.

 

SEC Registration Fee (1)

   $ —    

Legal Fees and Expenses (2)

   $  —  

Accounting Fees and Expenses (2)

   $ —  

Trustee Fees (2)

   $ —  

Transfer Agent Fees and Expenses (2)

   $ —  

Printing and Other Miscellaneous Fees and Expenses (2)

   $ —  

Rating Agency Fees (2)

   $ —  

Miscellaneous (2)

   $ —    

Total (2)

   $ —  

 

(1)

Deferred in accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r) under the Securities Act of 1933. SEC registration fees are determined based upon the aggregate initial offering price of the securities being offered from time to time.

(2)

The estimated amounts of fees and expenses to be incurred in connection with any offering of securities pursuant to this registration statement will be determined from time to time and reflected in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers

Sun Communities, Inc.

Our charter authorizes us to obligate the company to indemnify our present and former directors and officers and to pay or reimburse expenses for such individuals in advance of the final disposition of a proceeding to the maximum extent permitted from time to time by Maryland law. Our bylaws obligate us to indemnify and advance expenses to present and former directors and officers to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law. The Maryland General Corporation Law (“MGCL”) permits a corporation to indemnify its present and former directors and officers, among others, against judgments, penalties, fines, settlements, and reasonable expenses actually incurred by them in connection with any proceeding to which they may be made a party by reason of their service to the company in those capacities unless it is established that: (i) the act or omission of the director or officer was material to the matter giving rise to the proceeding; and (a) was committed in bad faith or, (b) was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty; (ii) the director or officer actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property, or services; or (iii) in the case of any criminal proceeding, the director or officer had reasonable cause to believe that the act or omission was unlawful.

The MGCL permits the charter of a Maryland corporation to include a provision limiting the liability of its directors and officers to the corporation and its stockholders for money damages, except to the extent that: (i) it is proved that the person actually received an improper benefit or profit in money, property or services; or (ii) a judgment or other final adjudication is entered in a proceeding based on a finding that the person’s action, or failure to act, was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty and was material to the cause of action adjudicated in the proceeding. Our charter contains a provision providing for elimination of the liability of our directors or officers to us or our stockholders for money damages to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law.

Sun Communities Operating Limited Partnership

The partnership agreement of the Operating Partnership also provides for indemnification of Sun Communities, Inc. and its officers and directors to the same extent indemnification is provided to the officers and directors in Sun’s charter, and limits Sun’s liability and the liability of our officers and directors to the Operating Partnership and its respective partners to the same extent the liability of our officers and directors to us and our stockholders is limited under our charter.


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Item 16. Exhibits

 

Exhibit
Number

  

Description

  

Method of Filing

  1.1    Form of Underwriting Agreement    To be filed by amendment or incorporated by reference in connection with the offering of securities
  4.1    Sun Communities, Inc. Articles of Restatement    Incorporated by reference to Sun Communities, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on February 22, 2018
  4.2    Third Amended and Restated Bylaws    Incorporated by reference to Sun Communities, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 12, 2017
  4.3    Restated Certificate of Limited Partnership of Sun Communities Operating Limited Partnership    Filed herewith
  4.4    Fourth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Sun Communities Operating Limited Partnership, dated January  31, 2019.    Incorporated by reference to Sun Communities, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed February 5, 2019
  4.5    First Amendment to the Fourth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Sun Communities Operating Limited Partnership, dated January 9, 2020.    Incorporated by reference to Sun Communities, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed January  13, 2020
  4.6    Second Amendment to the Fourth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Sun Communities Operating Limited Partnership, dated January 13, 2020.    Incorporated by reference to Sun Communities, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed January  14, 2020
  4.7    Fourth Amendment to the Fourth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Sun Communities Operating Limited Partnership, dated May 14, 2020.    Incorporated by reference to Sun Communities, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed May  18, 2020
  4.8    Sixth Amendment to the Fourth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Sun Communities Operating Limited Partnership, dated September 30, 2020.    Incorporated by reference to Sun Communities, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed October  6, 2020
  4.9    Seventh Amendment to Agreement of Limited Partnership Agreement of Sun Communities Operating Limited Partnership, dated October,  30, 2020    Incorporated by reference to Sun Communities, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed November  5, 2020
  4.10    Eighth Amendment to Agreement of Limited Partnership of Sun Communities Operating Limited Partnership, dated December  31, 2020    Incorporated by reference to Sun Communities, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed January 4, 2021
  4.11    Form of certificate evidencing shares of common stock    Incorporated by reference to Sun Communities, Inc.’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A dated November 9, 2012
  4.12    Form of certificate evidencing shares of preferred stock    To be filed by amendment or incorporated by reference in connection with the offering of securities


Table of Contents

Exhibit
Number

  

Description

  

Method of Filing

  4.13    Form of Warrant Agreement and Form of Warrant    To be filed by amendment or incorporated by reference in connection with the offering of securities
  4.14    Form of Unit    To be filed by amendment or incorporated by reference in connection with the offering of securities
  4.15    Form of Senior Indenture for Debt Securities of Sun Communities, Inc. (including form of senior debt security and form of guaranty agreement)    Filed herewith
  4.16    Form of Subordinated Indenture for Debt Securities of Sun Communities, Inc. (including form of senior debt security and form of guaranty agreement)    Filed herewith
  4.17    Form of Senior Indenture for Debt Securities of Sun Communities Operating Limited Partnership (including form of senior debt security and form of guaranty agreement)    Filed herewith
  4.18    Form of Subordinated Indenture for Debt Securities of Sun Communities Operating Limited Partnership (including form of senior debt security and form of guaranty agreement)    Filed herewith
  5.1    Opinion of Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, a professional corporation    Filed herewith
  5.2    Opinion of Jaffe, Raitt, Heuer & Weiss, Professional Corporation    Filed herewith
  5.3    Opinion of Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP    Filed herewith
  8.1    Opinion of Jaffe, Raitt, Heuer & Weiss, Professional Corporation, as to certain tax matters    Filed herewith
23.1    Consent of Grant Thornton LLP    Filed herewith
23.2    Consent of Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, a Professional Corporation    Included in Exhibit 5.1
23.3    Consent of Jaffe, Raitt, Heuer & Weiss, Professional Corporation    Included in Exhibits 5.2 and 8.1
23.4    Consent of Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP    Included in Exhibit 5.3
24.1    Powers of Attorney for Sun Communities, Inc.    Incorporated by reference to the signature page hereto
24.2    Powers of Attorney for Sun Communities Operating Limited Partnership    Incorporated by reference to the signature page hereto
25.1    Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939    Filed herewith


Table of Contents

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 of 1933;

 

  (ii)

To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in this registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table set forth in this registration statement.

 

  (iii)

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

provided however, that:

 

  (A)

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

 

  (2)

That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered herein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

  (3)

To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

 

  (4)

That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:

 

  (i)

If the registrant is relying on Rule 430B:

 

  (A)

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

 

  (B)

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 of 1933 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


Table of Contents
  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 of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities:

The undersigned registrant undertakes that 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 of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

  (c)

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 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 Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the 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 Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

  (d)

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission under section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act.


Table of Contents

SUN COMMUNITIES, INC. 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 Southfield, State of Michigan, on April 2, 2021.

 

SUN COMMUNITIES, INC.,

a Maryland corporation

By:  

/s/ Karen J. Dearing

  Karen J. Dearing, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer, Secretary and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each of the undersigned officers and directors of Sun Communities, Inc. hereby constitutes and appoints Gary A. Shiffman and Karen J. Dearing, or either of them, such undersigned’s attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution for the undersigned in any and all capacities, to sign any or all amendments or post-effective amendments to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith or in connection with the registration of the shares of common stock under the Securities Act of 1933, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto each of such attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary in connection with such matters as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that each of such attorneys-in-fact and agents or their substitute or substitutes may 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 and on the dates indicated.

 

Name

  

Title

 

Date

/s/ Gary A. Shiffman

Gary A. Shiffman

   Chief Executive Officer, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Principal Executive Officer   April 2, 2021

/s/ Karen J. Dearing

Karen J. Dearing

   Executive Vice President, Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer   April 2, 2021

/s/ Tonya Allen

Tonya Allen

   Director   April 2, 2021

/s/ Meghan G. Baivier

   Director   April 2, 2021
Meghan G. Baivier     

/s/ Stephanie W. Bergeron

Stephanie W. Bergeron

   Director   April 2, 2021

/s/ Brian Hermelin

Brian Hermelin

   Director   April 2, 2021

/s/ Ronald A. Klein

Ronald A. Klein

   Director   April 2, 2021

/s/ Clunet R. Lewis

Clunet R. Lewis

   Director   April 2, 2021

/s/ Arthur A. Weiss

Arthur A. Weiss

   Director   April 2, 2021


Table of Contents

SUN COMMUNITIES OPERATING LIMITED PARTNERSHIP 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 Southfield, State of Michigan, on April 2, 2021.

 

SUN COMMUNITIES OPERATING LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
By: SUN COMMUNITIES, INC., its General Partner
By:  

/s/ Karen J. Dearing

  Karen J. Dearing, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer, Secretary and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each of the undersigned officers and directors of Sun Communities, Inc., the general partner of Sun Communities Operating Limited Partnership, hereby constitutes and appoints Gary A. Shiffman and Karen J. Dearing, or either of them, such undersigned’s attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution for the undersigned in any and all capacities, to sign any or all amendments or post-effective amendments to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith or in connection with the registration of the shares of common stock under the Securities Act of 1933, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto each of such attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary in connection with such matters as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that each of such attorneys-in-fact and agents or their substitute or substitutes may 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 and on the dates indicated.

 

Name

  

Title

 

Date

/s/ Gary A. Shiffman

Gary A. Shiffman

   Chief Executive Officer, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Principal Executive Officer of the General Partner   April 2, 2021

/s/ Karen J. Dearing

Karen J. Dearing

   Executive Vice President, Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer of the General Partner   April 2, 2021

/s/ Tonya Allen

Tonya Allen

   Director of the General Partner   April 2, 2021

/s/ Meghan G. Baivier

   Director of the General Partner   April 2, 2021
Meghan G. Baivier     

/s/ Stephanie W. Bergeron

Stephanie W. Bergeron

   Director of the General Partner   April 2, 2021

/s/ Brian Hermelin

Brian Hermelin

   Director of the General Partner   April 2, 2021

/s/ Ronald A. Klein

Ronald A. Klein

   Director of the General Partner   April 2, 2021

/s/ Clunet R. Lewis

Clunet R. Lewis

   Director of the General Partner   April 2, 2021

/s/ Arthur A. Weiss

Arthur A. Weiss

   Director of the General Partner   April 2, 2021
EX-4.3

Exhibit 4.3

State of Michigan

RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

For use by Domestic Limited Partnerships

The following Restated Certificate of Limited Partnership supersedes the original Certificate of Limited

Partnership as amended, and shall be the Certificate of Limited Partnership for the Limited Partnership:

Section 1

The name of the limited partnership is:

Sun Communities Operating Limited Partnership

Section 2

The general character of its business is:

The Partnership is organized for the purpose of investing in real property by acquiring, owning and operating manufactured housing and/or recreational vehicle communities and related properties and assets; acquiring interests in other entities which own and operate such properties; conducting businesses related to, associated with or augmenting the Partnership’s business of operating manufactured housing and/or recreational vehicle communities, and owning an interest in other entities which conduct such businesses; holding its assets for investment, income and appreciation and selling or otherwise disposing of the same; and doing all things incidental thereto. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Partnership may only engage in those activities which could be conducted by a REIT, within the meaning of Section 856 of the Code.

Section 3

 

a.

The address of the office at Which the limited partnership records are kept is:

27777 Franklin Road, Suite 200, Southfield, Michigan 48034 .

 

b.

The name of the agent for service of process is:

Gary A. Shiffman

 

c.

The address of the agent for service of process is:

27777 Franklin Road, Suite 200, Southfield, Michigan 48034

Section 4

The power of a limited partner to grant the right to become a limited partner to an assignee of any part of the partnership interest, and the terms and conditions of the power, are as follows:

A limited partner has no power to grant the right to become a limited partner to an assignee of any part of the partnership interest.


Section 5

 

a.

Describe the times or events when a general partner may terminate membership in the limited partnership, and the terms and conditions of the termination.

The general partner has no right to terminate its membership in the limited partnership.

 

b.

Describe the times or events when a limited partner may terminate membership in the limited partnership. Include the amount or method of determining any distribution the limited partner is entitled to receive upon termination of their membership.

A limited partner has no right to terminate his membership in the limited partnership. It may however, assign its partnership interest, as provided in, Section 4 above. A limited partner may also exchange any part or all of its Common OP Units for shares of the general partner’s common stock, which will be traded in the New York Stock Exchange. The limited partners’ Interests in the Partnership are expressed in terms of Common OP Units and various Series Preferred OP Units. Common OP Units may be exchanged on a one-for-one basis with shares of the general partner’s common stock. In the event of such-exchange, the general partner has the right to issue cash in lieu of shares of its common stock in those certain situations, and subject to those conditions, identified in the Fourth Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement.

Section 6

The right of the limited partner to receive distributions of property, including cash, from the limited partnership, other than that indicated in 5(b), is:

A limited partner has no right to receive periodic distributions from the partnership, but periodic distributions may be made as the general partner determines such sums to be available for distribution and not to be required to provide for the Partnership’s cash needs. Distributions may be made from any source and regardless of whether the same constitutes a return of part or all of the partner’s capital contributions. The general: partner shall make such determination in the exercise of its reasonable business judgment and shall distribute available cash at periodic intervals (at least Annually within 90 days after the end of each year.

Section 7

The right of the limited partner to receive, or a general partner to make to a limited partner, distributions of property, which include a-return of all or any part of the limited partner’s contribution, other than indicated in 5(b), is:

Distributions indicated in Section 6 above may include a return of a limited partner’s capital contribution.

Section 8

The times or events at which the limited partnership is to be dissolved and its affairs wound up are:

The term of the Limited Partnership shall end, and the Partnership shall be terminated, solely on the first to occur of the following: December 31, 2043; 120 days after the sale or other disposition of substantially all of the Partnership’s Operating assets and the distribution by the Partnership of the net proceeds thereof and all remaining Partnership Property; or An event of withdrawal of the General Partner unless within 90 days thereafter all the Partners elect to Reconstitute and continue the Partnership with a successor General Partner.


Section 9

The right of the remaining general partner(s) to continue the business upon the event of withdrawal of a general partner is:

There is only one general partner. In the event of withdrawal of the general partner, the Partnership may be reconstituted if within ninety (90) days of such withdrawal, all of the remaining partners elect to reconstitute and continue the Partnership with a successor general partner.

Section 10

Enter any other matters the partners may desire to include. If additional space is required attach a supplement. Attached are 1 page(s):


Section 10 continued:

This Certificate summarizes certain provisions of the limited partnership’s Fourth Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement (the “Partnership Agreement”), which governs the mutual rights and obligations of the partners and contains provisions in addition to those summarized herein. Capitalized terms are not defined herein have the meaning set forth in the. Partnership Agreement.

The partners’ interests in the Partnership are expressed in terms of “OP Units”. Each partner is issued that number of OP Units which corresponds to the agreed value of its capital contribution, with each OP Unit being issued at an “Issue Price” determined with reference to the market value of the general partner’s common stock, which will be traded on the New York Stock Exchange. The manner in which the Issue Price is determined is more fully explained in The Fourth Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement. The Partnership will maintain a copy of the Fourth Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement, as it may be amended, at its office, which document may be reviewed by any partner during ordinary business hours at the reasonable request and expense of such partner.

Each partner is issued that number of OP Units corresponding to the agreed value of its capital contribution, with each OP Unit being issued at an Issue Price. If the Issue Price of an OP Unit is specified in a Contribution Agreement, the Issue Price shall be so specified. If the Issue Price of an OP Unit is not specified in a Contribution Agreement, then the Issue Price shall be the market value of one share of the general partner’s common stock which shall be traded on the New York Stock Exchange. The manner in which the Issue Price is determined is more fully explained in Section 4.5 of the Partnership Agreement.

The general partner is a Real Estate Investment Trust1 and as such, is required to distribute to its shareholders a specified percentage of its share of the Partnership’s taxable income for federal income tax purposes. If the Partnership does not have sufficient funds on hand to fund a distribution to the partners which would provide the general partner with sufficient funds to make a required distribution to its shareholders, as estimated by the general partner, the general partner may cause the Partnership to take such action as its deems appropriate in order to raise the necessary funds, including, but not limited to, borrowing money or disposing of assets.

The general partner shall have the power to act for and to bind the Partnership to the fullest extent provided by applicable law, shall manage and shall have complete control over the conduct of the Partnership’s affairs, and shall have the authority, on behalf of the Partnership, to do all things appropriate to the accomplishment of the purposes of the Partnership, including, but not necessarily limited to, acquiring, holding and selling or otherwise disposing of real and personal property and managing, operating and leasing the manufactured housing properties owned by the Partnership and conducting any business activities associated therewith.


CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT

For use by Domestic Limited Partnerships

 

1.

The name of the limited partnership is:

Sun Communities Operating Limited Partnership

 

2.

The limited partnership number assigned by the Bureau is: 801919460

 

3.

The date the original Certificate of Limited Partnership was filed is: 09/14/1993

 

4.

The name and address of the office or agency with which the original Certificate of Limited Partnership was filed is:

Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Lansing, Michigan

 

5.

The Certificate of Limited Partnership is hereby amended by the changes set forth below, in Section 6, or on an attached supplement. The following is a general description of the amendment(s) made by this Certificate:

Section 2 and Section 10 are hereby deleted and replaced with the language on the attached pages.

Attached are 2 page(s):


Section 2:

The Partnership is organized for the purpose of investing in real property by acquiring, owning and operating manufactured housing communities, recreational vehicle communities and/or marinas and related properties and assets; acquiring interests in other entities which own and operate such properties; conducting businesses related to, associated with or augmenting the Partnership’s business of operating manufactured housing communities, recreational vehicle communities and/or marinas, and owning an interest in other entities which conduct such businesses; holding its assets for investment, income and appreciation and selling or otherwise disposing of the same; and doing all things incidental thereto. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this certificate, the Partnership may only engage in those activities which could be conducted by a REIT, within the meaning of Section 856 of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

Section 10 continued:

This Certificate summarizes certain provisions of the limited partnership’s Fourth Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement (the “Partnership Agreement”), which governs the mutual rights and obligations of the partners and contains provisions in addition to those summarized herein. Capitalized terms are not defined herein have the meaning set forth in the Partnership Agreement.

The partners’ interests in the Partnership are expressed in terms of “OP Units”. Each partner is issued that number of OP Units which corresponds to the agreed value of its capital contribution, with each OP Unit being issued at an “Issue Price” determined with reference to the market value of the general partner’s common stock, which will be traded on the New York Stock Exchange. The manner in which the Issue Price is determined is more fully explained in The Fourth Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement. The Partnership will maintain a copy of the Fourth Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement, as it may be amended, at its office, which document may be reviewed by any partner during ordinary business hours at the reasonable request and expense of such partner.

Each partner is issued that number of OP Units corresponding to the agreed value of its capital contribution, with each OP Unit being issued at an Issue Price. If the Issue Price of an OP Unit is specified in a Contribution Agreement, the Issue Price shall be so specified. If the Issue Price of an OP Unit is not specified in a Contribution Agreement, then the Issue Price shall be the market value of one share of the general partner’s common stock which shall be traded on the New York Stock Exchange. The manner in which the Issue Price is determined is more fully explained in Section 4.5 of the Partnership Agreement.

The general partner is a Real Estate Investment Trust, and as such, is required to distribute to its shareholders a specified percentage of its share of the Partnership’s taxable income for federal income tax purposes. If the Partnership does not have sufficient funds on hand to fund a distribution to the partners which would provide the general partner with sufficient funds to make a required distribution to its shareholders, as estimated by the general partner, the general partner may cause the Partnership to take such action as its deems appropriate in order to raise the necessary funds, including, but not limited to, borrowing money or disposing of assets.


The general partner shall have the power to act for and to bind the Partnership to the fullest extent provided by applicable law, shall manage and shall have complete control over the conduct of the Partnership’s affairs, and shall have the authority, on behalf of the Partnership, to do all things appropriate to the accomplishment of the purposes of the Partnership, including, but not necessarily limited to, acquiring, holding and selling or otherwise disposing of real and personal property and managing, operating and leasing the manufactured housing, recreational vehicle and/or marina properties owned by the Partnership and conducting any business activities associated therewith.

EX-4.15

EXHIBIT 4.15

 

 

 

SUN COMMUNITIES, INC.

AND

UMB BANK, N.A.

Trustee

 

 

INDENTURE

DATED AS OF ________ __, 20__

 

 

SENIOR DEBT SECURITIES

 

 

 


SUN COMMUNITIES, INC.

RECONCILIATION AND TIE BETWEEN TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939, AS AMENDED, AND INDENTURE, DATED AS OF ________ __, 20__

 

TRUST INDENTURE ACT SECTION

   INDENTURE SECTION  

Section 310(a)(1)

     6.9  

(a)(2)

     6.9  

(a)(3)

     Not Applicable  

(a)(4)

     Not Applicable  

(a)(5)

     6.9  

(b)

     6.8  

Section 311

     6.13  

Section 312(a)

     7.1, 7.2(a)  

(b)

     7.2(b)  

(c)

     7.2(c)  

Section 313(a)

     7.3  

(b)

     *  

(c)

     *  

(d)

     7.3  

Section 314(a)

     7.4  

(a)(4)

     10.5  

(b)

     Not Applicable  

(c)(1)

     1.3  

(c)(2)

     1.3  

(c)(3)

     Not Applicable  

(d)

     Not Applicable  

(e)

     1.3  

Section 315(a)

     6.1(a)  

(b)

     6.2  

(c)

     6.1(b)  

(d)

     6.1(c)  

(d)(1)

     6.1(a)(1)  

(d)(2)

     6.1(c)(2)  

(d)(3)

     6.1(c)(3)  

(e)

     5.14  

Section 316(a)

     1.1, 1.2  

(a)(1)(A)

     5.2, 5.12  

(a)(1)(B)

     5.13  

(a)(2)

     Not Applicable  

(b)

     5.8  

(c)

     1.5(f)  


TRUST INDENTURE ACT SECTION

   INDENTURE SECTION  

Section 317(a)(1)

     5.3  

(a)(2)

     5.4  

(b)

     10.3  

Section 318(a)

     1.8  

NOTE: This reconciliation and tie shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a part of the Indenture.

 

*

Deemed included pursuant to Section 318(c) of the Trust Indenture Act


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  

ARTICLE ONE DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

     1  

Section 1.1.

  Definitions      1  

Section 1.2.

  Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act      8  

Section 1.3.

  Compliance Certificates and Opinions      8  

Section 1.4.

  Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee      9  

Section 1.5.

  Acts of Holders; Record Dates      9  

Section 1.6.

  Notices, Etc., to Trustee, Company and Guarantors      10  

Section 1.7.

  Notice to Holders; Waiver      11  

Section 1.8.

  Conflict with Trust Indenture Act      11  

Section 1.9.

  Effect of Headings and Table of Contents      11  

Section 1.10.

  Successors and Assigns      11  

Section 1.11.

  Duplicate Originals; Signatures      11  

Section 1.12.

  Separability      12  

Section 1.13.

  Benefits of Indenture      12  

Section 1.14.

  Force Majeure      12  

Section 1.15.

  Waiver of Jury Trial      12  

Section 1.16.

  Governing Law      12  

Section 1.17.

  Legal Holidays      12  

Section 1.18.

  Securities in a Composite Currency, Currency Unit or Foreign Currency      13  

Section 1.19.

  Payment in Required Currency; Judgment Currency      13  

Section 1.20.

  Language of Notices, Etc.      14  

Section 1.21.

  Incorporators, Unitholders, Stockholders, Partners, Members, Managers, Directors, Officers and Employees of the Company and the Guarantors Exempt from Individual Liability      14  

Section 1.22.

  USA Patriot Act      14  

ARTICLE TWO SECURITY FORMS

     14  

Section 2.1.

  Forms Generally      14  

Section 2.2.

  Form of Face of Security      15  

Section 2.3.

  Form of Reverse of Security      17  

Section 2.4.

  Global Securities      21  

Section 2.5.

  Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication      22  

ARTICLE THREE THE SECURITIES

     23  

Section 3.1.

  Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series      23  

Section 3.2.

  Denominations      25  

Section 3.3.

  Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating      25  

Section 3.4.

  Temporary Securities      27  

Section 3.5.

  Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange      27  

Section 3.6.

  Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities      29  

Section 3.7.

  Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved      30  

Section 3.8.

  Persons Deemed Owners      31  

Section 3.9.

  Cancellation      31  

Section 3.10.

  Computation of Interest      31  

Section 3.11.

  CUSIP or CINS Numbers      32  

 

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ARTICLE FOUR SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

     32  

Section 4.1.

  Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture      32  

Section 4.2.

  Application of Trust Money      33  

ARTICLE FIVE REMEDIES

     33  

Section 5.1.

  Events of Default      33  

Section 5.2.

  Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment      34  

Section 5.3.

  Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee      35  

Section 5.4.

  Trustee May File Proofs of Claim      36  

Section 5.5.

  Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities      36  

Section 5.6.

  Application of Money Collected      36  

Section 5.7.

  Limitation on Suits      37  

Section 5.8.

  Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest      37  

Section 5.9.

  Restoration of Rights and Remedies      38  

Section 5.10.

  Rights and Remedies Cumulative      38  

Section 5.11.

  Delay or Omission Not Waiver      38  

Section 5.12.

  Control by Holders      38  

Section 5.13.

  Waiver of Past Defaults      38  

Section 5.14.

  Undertaking for Costs      39  

Section 5.15.

  Waiver of Stay, Extension or Usury Laws      39  

ARTICLE SIX THE TRUSTEE

     39  

Section 6.1.

  Certain Duties and Responsibilities      39  

Section 6.2.

  Notice of Defaults      40  

Section 6.3.

  Certain Rights of Trustee      41  

Section 6.4.

  Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities      42  

Section 6.5.

  May Hold Securities      42  

Section 6.6.

  Money Held in Trust      42  

Section 6.7.

  Compensation and Reimbursement      43  

Section 6.8.

  Disqualification; Conflicting Interests      43  

Section 6.9.

  Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility      43  

Section 6.10.

  Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor      44  

Section 6.11.

  Acceptance of Appointment by Successor      45  

Section 6.12.

  Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business      46  

Section 6.13.

  Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company      46  

Section 6.14.

  Appointment of Authenticating Agent      47  

ARTICLE SEVEN HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY

     48  

Section 7.1.

  Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders      48  

Section 7.2.

  Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders      48  

Section 7.3.

  Reports by Trustee      49  

Section 7.4.

  Reports by Company      50  

ARTICLE EIGHT CONSOLIDATION, AMALGAMATION, MERGER AND SALE

     50  

Section 8.1.

  Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms      50  

Section 8.2.

  Successor Substituted      51  

ARTICLE NINE AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER

     51  

Section 9.1.

  Without Consent of Holders      51  

Section 9.2.

  With Consent of Holders      52  

Section 9.3.

  Execution of Amendments and Supplemental Indentures      54  

 

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Section 9.4.

  Effect of Amendments and Supplemental Indentures      54  

Section 9.5.

  Conformity with Trust Indenture Act      54  

Section 9.6.

  Reference in Securities to Amendments or Supplemental Indentures      54  

Section 9.7.

  Effect of Consents      54  

ARTICLE TEN COVENANTS

     55  

Section 10.1.

  Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest      55  

Section 10.2.

  Maintenance of Office or Agency      55  

Section 10.3.

  Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust      55  

Section 10.4.

  Existence      56  

Section 10.5.

  Statement by Officers as to Default      57  

ARTICLE ELEVEN REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

     57  

Section 11.1.

  Applicability of Article      57  

Section 11.2.

  Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee      57  

Section 11.3.

  Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed      57  

Section 11.4.

  Notice of Redemption      58  

Section 11.5.

  Deposit of Redemption Price      58  

Section 11.6.

  Securities Payable on Redemption Date      59  

Section 11.7.

  Securities Redeemed in Part      59  

ARTICLE TWELVE SINKING FUNDS

     59  

Section 12.1.

  Applicability of Article      59  

Section 12.2.

  Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities      60  

Section 12.3.

  Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund      60  

ARTICLE THIRTEEN DEFEASANCE

     60  

Section 13.1.

  Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance      60  

Section 13.2.

  Legal Defeasance and Discharge      60  

Section 13.3.

  Covenant Defeasance      61  

Section 13.4.

  Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance      61  

Section 13.5.

  Deposited Money and U.S. Government Obligations to be Held in Trust, Other Miscellaneous Provisions      63  

Section 13.6.

  Reinstatement      63  

ARTICLE FOURTEEN GUARANTEE OF SECURITIES

     63  

Section 14.1.

  Securities Guarantee      63  

Section 14.2.

  Limitation on Guarantor Liability      65  

Section 14.3.

  Execution and Delivery of Securities Guarantee Notation      65  

NOTE: This table of contents shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a part of the Indenture.

 

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PARTIES

INDENTURE, dated as of _________ __, 20__, among SUN COMMUNITIES, INC., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Maryland (herein called the “Company”), the Guarantors (as defined hereinafter) and UMB BANK, N.A., a national banking association, as trustee (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 unsecured senior debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness (herein called the “Securities”), which may be guaranteed by the Guarantors, to be issued in one or more series as provided in this Indenture.

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

This Indenture is subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act (as defined herein) that are required to be a part of this Indenture and, to the extent applicable, shall be governed by such provisions.

NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

For and in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Securities by the Holders (as defined herein) thereof, it is mutually covenanted and agreed, for the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders of the Securities or of series thereof, as follows:

ARTICLE ONE

DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

Section 1.1. Definitions.

For all purposes of this Indenture, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires:

(a) the terms defined in this Article have the meanings assigned to them in this Article and include the plural as well as the singular;

(b) all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in accordance with GAAP;

(c) the words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder” and other words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision;

(d) the words “Article” and “Section” refer to an Article and Section, respectively, of this Indenture;

(e) the word “includes” and its derivatives means “includes, but is not limited to” and corresponding derivative definitions; and

(f) references to any officer of any partnership or limited liability company that does not have officers but is managed or controlled, directly or indirectly, by an entity that does have officers, shall be deemed to be references to the officers of such managing or controlling entity.


Certain terms, used principally in Article Six, are defined in that Article.

“Act,” when used with respect to any Holder, has the meaning specified in Section 1.5.

“Additional Defeasible Provision” means a covenant or other provision that is (a) made part of this Indenture pursuant to an indenture supplemental hereto, a Board Resolution or an Officer’s Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 3.1, and (b) pursuant to the terms set forth in such supplemental indenture, Board Resolution or Officer’s Certificate, made subject to the provisions of Article Thirteen.

“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 purposes of this definition, “control,” as used with respect to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise. For purposes of this definition, the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with” have correlative meanings.

“Authenticating Agent” means any Person authorized by the Trustee to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities.

“Banking Day” means, in respect of any city, any date on which commercial banks are open for business in that city.

“Bankruptcy Law” means any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law.

“Board of Directors” means:

(a) with respect to a corporation, the board of directors of the corporation or any committee thereof duly authorized to act on behalf of such board;

(b) with respect to a partnership, the Board of Directors of the general partner of the partnership;

(c) with respect to a limited liability company, the managing member or members or any controlling committee of managers or members thereof or any board or committee serving a similar management function; and

(d) with respect to any other Person, the individual or board or committee of such Person serving a management function similar to those described in clauses (a), (b) or (c) of this definition.

“Board Resolution” means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company or a Guarantor, the principal financial officer of the Company or a Guarantor, any other authorized officer of the Company or a Guarantor, or a person duly authorized by any of them, in each case as applicable, to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the Trustee. Where any provision of this Indenture refers to action to be taken pursuant to a Board Resolution (including the establishment of any series of the Securities and the forms and terms thereof), such action may be taken by any committee, officer or employee of the Company or a Guarantor, as applicable, authorized to take such action by the Board of Directors, as evidenced by a Board Resolution.

 

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“Business Day,” when used with respect to any Place of Payment or other location, means, except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 3.1 with respect to any series of Securities, each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday that is not a day on which banking institutions and trust companies in that Place of Payment or other location are authorized or obligated by law, executive order or regulation to close.

“CINS” means CUSIP International Numbering System.

“Code” means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

“Company” means the Person named as the “Company” in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor or resulting Person shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Company” shall mean such successor or resulting Person.

“Company Request” or “Company Order” means, in the case of the Company, a written request or order signed in the name of the Company by its Chairman of the Board, its Chief Executive Officer, its Chief Financial Officer, its President, any of its Vice Presidents or any other duly authorized officer of the Company or any person duly authorized by any of them, and delivered to the Trustee and, in the case of a Guarantor, a written request or order signed in the name of such Guarantor by its Chairman of the Board, its Chief Executive Officer, its President, any of its Vice Presidents or any other duly authorized officer of such Guarantor or any person duly authorized by any of them, and delivered to the Trustee.

“Corporate Trust Office” means the office of the Trustee at the address specified in Section 3.5 or such other address as to which the Trustee may give notice to the Company.

“corporation,” when used in reference to the Trustee or any prospective Trustee, shall include any corporation, company, association, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, joint-stock company, trust or other entity, in each case, satisfying the requirements of Section 310(a)(1) of the Trust Indenture Act.

“Covenant Defeasance” has the meaning specified in Section 13.3.

“CUSIP” means the Committee on Uniform Securities Identification Procedures.

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

“Debt” means any obligation created or assumed by any Person for the repayment of money borrowed and any purchase money obligation created or assumed by such Person and any guarantee of the foregoing.

“Default” means, with respect to a series of Securities, any event that is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would be, an Event of Default.

“Defaulted Interest” has the meaning specified in Section 3.7.

“Definitive Security” means a security other than a Global Security or a temporary Security.

“Depositary” means, with respect to the Securities of any series issuable or issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act that is designated to act as Depositary for such Securities as contemplated by Section 3.1, until a successor Depositary shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter shall mean or include each Person which is a Depositary hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such Person, shall be a collective reference to such Persons.

 

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“Dollar” or “$” means the coin or currency of the United States of America, which at the time of payment is legal tender for the payment of public and private debts.

“Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 5.1.

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

“Foreign Currency” means a currency used by the government of a country other than the United States of America.

“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America as in effect from time to time, including those set forth in (1) the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification and any related Accounting Standards Updates by the Financial Accounting Standards Board, (2) such other statements by such other entity as are approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession and (3) the rules and regulations of the SEC governing the inclusion of financial statements in periodic reports required to be filed pursuant to Section 13 of the Exchange Act, including opinions and pronouncements in staff accounting bulletins and similar written statements from the accounting staff of the SEC. All computations based on GAAP contained in the Indenture shall be computed in conformity with GAAP.

“Global Security” means a Security in global form that evidences all or part of a series of Securities and is authenticated and delivered to, and registered in the name of, the Depositary for the Securities of such series or its nominee.

“Guaranteed Securities” has the meaning specified in Section 14.1.

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

“Holder” means a Person in whose name a Security is registered in the Security Register.

“Indenture” means this instrument as originally executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more amendments or indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof, including, for all purposes of this instrument, and any such amendment or supplemental indenture, the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are deemed to be part of and govern this instrument and any such amendment or supplemental indenture, respectively. The term “Indenture” also shall include the terms of particular series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 3.1.

“interest,” when used with respect to an Original Issue Discount Security which by its terms bears interest only after Maturity, means interest payable after Maturity.

“Interest Payment Date,” when used with respect to any Security, means the Stated Maturity of an installment of interest on such Security.

“Judgment Currency” has the meaning specified in Section 1.19.

“Legal Defeasance” has the meaning specified in Section 13.2.

 

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“mandatory sinking fund payment” has the meaning specified in Section 12.1.

“Market Exchange Rate” has the meaning specified in Section 1.18.

“Maturity,” when used with respect to any Security, means the date on which the principal of such Security or an installment of principal becomes due and payable as therein or herein provided, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise.

“Notice of Default” means a written notice of the kind specified in Section 5.1(c) or Section 5.1(d).

“Officer’s Certificate” means, in the case of the Company, a certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the President, any Vice President or any other duly authorized officer of the Company, or a person duly authorized by any of them, and delivered to the Trustee and, in the case of a Guarantor, a certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Vice President or any other duly authorized officer of such Guarantor, or a person duly authorized by any of them, and delivered to the Trustee.

“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion of counsel, who may be an employee of or counsel for the Company or a Guarantor, as the case may be, and who shall be reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.

“optional sinking fund payment” has the meaning specified in Section 12.1.

“Original Issue Discount Security” means any Security which provides for an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.2.

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

(a) Securities theretofore canceled by the Trustee or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;

(b) Securities 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 Securities; provided, however, that, if such 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

(c) Securities that have been paid pursuant to Section 3.6 or in exchange for or in lieu of which other Securities have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture, other than any such Securities in respect of which there shall have been presented to the Trustee proof satisfactory to it that such Securities are held by a protected purchaser in whose hands such Securities are valid obligations of the Company;

provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Outstanding Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, (i) the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security that shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the amount of the principal thereof that would be due and payable as of the date of such determination upon acceleration of the Maturity thereof on such date pursuant to Section 5.2, (ii) the principal amount of a Security denominated in one or more currencies or currency units other than U.S.

 

5


dollars shall be the U.S. dollar equivalent of such currencies or currency units, determined in the manner provided as contemplated by Section 3.1 on the date of original issuance of such Security or by Section 1.18, if not otherwise so provided pursuant to Section 3.1, of the principal amount (or, in the case of an Original Issue Discount Security, the U.S. dollar equivalent (as so determined) on the date of original issuance of such Security of the amount determined as provided in clause (i) above) of such Security, and (iii) Securities owned by the Company, any Guarantor or any other obligor upon the 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 Securities which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Securities so owned as described in clause (iii) of the immediately preceding sentence 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 to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company, a Guarantor or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor.

“Paying Agent” means any Person authorized by the Company to pay the principal of and any premium or interest on any Securities on behalf of the Company.

“Periodic Offering” means an offering of Securities of a series from time to time, the specific terms of which Securities, including, without limitation, the rate or rates of interest or formula for determining the rate or rates of interest thereon, if any, the Stated Maturity or Stated Maturities thereof, the original issue date or dates thereof, the redemption provisions, if any, with respect thereto, and any other terms specified as contemplated by Section 3.1 with respect thereto, are to be determined by the Company upon the issuance of such Securities.

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

“Place of Payment,” when used with respect to the Securities of any series, means, unless otherwise specifically provided for with respect to such series as contemplated by Section 3.1, the office or agency of the Company and such other place or places where, subject to the provisions of Section 10.2, the principal of and any premium and interest on the Securities of that series are payable as contemplated by Section 3.1.

“Predecessor Security” of any particular Security means every previous Security evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular Security; and, for the purposes of this definition, any Security authenticated and delivered under Section 3.6 in exchange for or in lieu of a mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security.

“Redemption Date,” when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, means the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this Indenture.

“Redemption Price,” when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, means the price at which it is to be redeemed pursuant to this Indenture.

“Regular Record Date” for the interest payable on any Interest Payment Date on the Securities of any series means the date specified for that purpose as contemplated by Section 3.1.

“Required Currency” has the meaning specified in Section 1.19.

 

6


“Responsible Officer,” when used with respect to the Trustee, means any officer within the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee (or any successor group of the Trustee) or any other officer of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of his knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.

“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from time to time constituted, created under the Exchange Act, or, if at any time after the execution of this instrument such commission is not existing and performing the duties now assigned to it under the Trust Indenture Act, then the body performing such duties at such time.

“Securities” has the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture and more particularly means any Securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.

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

“Security Register” and “Security Registrar” have the respective meanings specified in Section 3.5.

“Special Record Date” for the payment of any Defaulted Interest means a date fixed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 3.7.

“Stated Maturity,” when used with respect to any Security or any installment of principal thereof or interest thereon, means the date specified in such Security as the fixed date on which the principal of such Security or such installment of principal or interest is due and payable.

“Trust Indenture Act” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, as in force at the date as of which this instrument was executed, except as provided in Section 9.5; provided, however, that if the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is amended after such date, “Trust Indenture Act” means, to the extent required by any such amendment, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as so amended.

“Trustee” means the Person named as the “Trustee” in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor Trustee shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Trustee” shall mean or include each Person who is then a Trustee hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such Person, “Trustee” as used with respect to the Securities of any series shall mean the Trustee with respect to Securities of that series.

“U.S. Government Obligations” means securities which are (a) direct obligations of the United States for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged, or (b) 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, and which are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof.

“U.S. Person” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.

“USA Patriot Act” has the meaning specified in Section 1.22.

“Vice President,” when used with respect to the Company, any Guarantor or the Trustee, means any vice president, regardless of whether designated by a number or a word or words added before or after the title “vice president.”

 

7


Section 1.2. Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act.

Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the Trust Indenture Act, the provision is incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture. The following Trust Indenture Act terms used in this Indenture have the following meanings:

“commission” means the SEC.

“indenture securities” means the Securities.

“indenture security holder” means a Holder.

“indenture to be qualified” means this Indenture.

“indenture trustee” or “institutional trustee” means the Trustee.

“obligor” on the indenture securities means the Company, each Guarantor (if applicable) or any other obligor on the indenture securities.

All other terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the Trust Indenture Act, defined by a Trust Indenture Act reference to another statute or defined by an SEC rule under the Trust Indenture Act have the meanings so assigned to them.

Section 1.3. Compliance Certificates and Opinions.

Upon any application or request by the Company or a Guarantor to the Trustee to take any action under any provision of this Indenture, the Company or such Guarantor, as the case may be, shall furnish to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating that all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel stating that in the opinion of such counsel all such conditions precedent, if any, have been complied with, except that in the case of any such application or request as to which the furnishing of such documents is specifically required by any provision of this Indenture relating to such particular application or request, no additional certificate or opinion need be furnished except as required under Section 314(c) of the Trust Indenture Act.

Every certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (except for certificates provided for in Section 10.5) shall include:

(a) a statement that each individual signing such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition and the definitions herein relating thereto;

(b) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;

(c) a statement that, in the opinion of each such individual, he has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether such covenant or condition has been complied with; and

(d) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such individual, such condition or covenant has been complied with.

 

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Section 1.4. Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee.

In any case where several matters are required to be certified by, or covered by an opinion of, any specified Person, it is not necessary that all such matters be certified by, or covered by the opinion of, only one such Person, or that they be so certified or covered by only one document, but one such Person may certify or give an opinion with respect to some matters and one or more other such Persons as to other matters, and any such Person may certify or give an opinion as to such matters in one or several documents.

Any certificate or opinion of an officer of the Company or a Guarantor may be based, insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, counsel, unless such officer knows or, in the exercise of reasonable care, should know that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to the matters upon which his certificate or opinion is based are erroneous. Any such certificate or Opinion of Counsel may be based, insofar as it relates to factual matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, an officer or officers of the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, stating that the information with respect to such factual matters is in the possession of the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, unless such counsel knows that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to such matters are erroneous.

Where any Person is required to make, give or execute two or more applications, requests, consents, certificates, statements, opinions or other instruments under this Indenture, they may, but need not, be consolidated and form one instrument.

Section 1.5. Acts of Holders; Record Dates.

(a) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed (either physically or by means of a facsimile or an electronic transmission, provided that such electronic transmission is transmitted through the facilities of a Depositary) by such Holders in person or by agent duly appointed in writing; and, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company or the Guarantors. Such instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the “Act” of the Holders signing such instrument or instruments. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Section 315 of the Trust Indenture Act) conclusive in favor of the Trustee, the Company and, if applicable, the Guarantors, if made in the manner provided in this Section.

(b) The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness of such execution or by a certificate of a notary public or other officer authorized by law to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual signing such instrument or writing acknowledged to him the execution thereof. Where such execution is by a signer acting in a capacity other than his individual capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of his authority. The fact and date of the execution of any such instrument or writing, or the authority of the Person executing the same, may also be proved in any other manner which the Trustee deems sufficient.

(c) The ownership, principal amount and serial numbers of Securities held by any Person, and the date of commencement of such Person’s holding of same, shall be proved by the Security Register.

 

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(d) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act of the Holder of any Security shall bind every future Holder of the same Security and the Holder of every Security issued upon the registration of transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof in respect of anything done, omitted or suffered to be done by the Trustee, the Company or, if applicable, the Guarantors in reliance thereon, regardless of whether notation of such action is made upon such Security.

(e) Without limiting the foregoing, a Holder entitled to give or take any action hereunder with regard to any particular Security may do so with regard to all or any part of the principal amount of such Security or by one or more duly appointed agents each of which may do so pursuant to such appointment with regard to all or any different part of such principal amount.

(f) The Company may set any day as the record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of Outstanding Securities of any series entitled to give or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act provided or permitted by this Indenture to be given or taken by Holders of Securities of such series, but the Company shall have no obligation to do so. With regard to any record date set pursuant to this paragraph, the Holders of Outstanding Securities of the relevant series on such record date (or their duly appointed agents), and only such Persons, shall be entitled to give or take the relevant action, regardless of whether such Holders remain Holders after such record date.

Section 1.6. Notices, Etc., to Trustee, Company and Guarantors.

(a) Any notice, request, demand, authorization, direction, consent, waiver or other communication by the Company, any of the Guarantors or the Trustee to the others is duly given if in writing and delivered in person or mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, facsimile or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to the others’ address:

If to the Company and/or any Guarantor:

Sun Communities, Inc.

27777 Franklin Road, Suite 200

Southfield, Michigan 48034

Telephone: (248) 208-2560

Facsimile: (248) 864-0162

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

If to the Trustee:

UMB Bank, N.A.

5555 San Felipe Street, Suite 810

Houston, Texas 77056

Telephone: (713) 300-0586

Attention: Corporate Trust Department

(b) The Company, the Guarantors or the Trustee, by notice to the others, may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.

(c) All notices and communications (other than those sent to Holders) shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; three Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when receipt acknowledged, if telecopied; and the next Business Day after timely delivery to the courier, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery.

 

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Section 1.7. Notice to Holders; Waiver.

Where this Indenture provides for notice to Holders of any event, such notice shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder affected by such event, at such Holder’s address as it appears in the Security Register, not later than the latest date, and not earlier than the earliest date, prescribed for the giving of such notice. In any case where notice to Holders is given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed, to any particular Holder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders. Any notice mailed to a Holder in the manner herein prescribed shall be conclusively deemed to have been received by such Holder, regardless of whether such Holder actually receives such notice.

Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice, either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such notice. Waivers of notice by Holders shall be filed with the Trustee, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance upon such waiver.

In case it shall be impracticable to give such notice by mail by reason of the suspension of regular mail service or by reason of any other cause, then such notification as shall be made with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute a sufficient notification for every purpose hereunder.

Section 1.8. Conflict with Trust Indenture Act.

If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with a provision of the Trust Indenture Act that is required under such Act to be a part of and govern this Indenture, the provision of the Trust Indenture Act shall control. If any provision of this Indenture modifies or excludes any provision of the Trust Indenture Act that may be so modified or excluded, the provision of the Trust Indenture Act shall be deemed to apply to this Indenture as so modified or excluded, as the case may be.

Section 1.9. Effect of Headings and Table of Contents.

The Article and Section headings herein and the Table of Contents are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

Section 1.10. Successors and Assigns.

All covenants and agreements in this Indenture by each of the Company and the Guarantors shall bind their respective successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.

Section 1.11. Duplicate Originals; Signatures.

All parties hereto may sign any number of copies of this Indenture. This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. The exchange of copies of this Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile, including portable document format (pdf), transmission 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, including portable document format (pdf), transmission shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes under this Indenture, other than with respect to the authentication of the Securities by the Trustee.

 

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Section 1.12. Separability.

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

Section 1.13. Benefits of Indenture.

Nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities or, if applicable, the Securities Guarantee, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto and their successors hereunder and the Holders any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture.

Section 1.14. Force Majeure.

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 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; it being understood that the Trustee shall use reasonable efforts that are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.

Section 1.15. Waiver of Jury Trial.

EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS INDENTURE.

Section 1.16. Governing Law.

THIS INDENTURE, THE SECURITIES AND THE SECURITIES GUARANTEE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

Section 1.17. Legal Holidays.

In any case where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated Maturity of any Security shall not be a Business Day at any Place of Payment, then (notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or of the Securities or, if applicable, the Securities Guarantee (other than a provision of the Securities of any series or, if applicable, the Securities Guarantee that specifically states that such provision shall apply in lieu of this Section 1.17)) payment of interest or principal and any premium need not be made at such Place of Payment on such date, 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 Interest Payment Date or Redemption Date, or at the Stated Maturity, and if payment is so made, no interest shall accrue for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated Maturity, as the case may be.

 

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Section 1.18. Securities in a Composite Currency, Currency Unit or Foreign Currency.

Unless otherwise specified in a Board Resolution, Officer’s Certificate or indenture supplemental hereto delivered pursuant to Section 3.1 of this Indenture with respect to a particular series of Securities, whenever for purposes of this Indenture any action may be taken by the Holders of a specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of Securities of all series or all series affected by a particular action at the time Outstanding and, at such time, there are Outstanding Securities of any affected series which are denominated in a coin, currency or currencies other than Dollars (including, but not limited to, any composite currency, currency units or Foreign Currency), then the principal amount of Securities of such series that shall be deemed to be Outstanding for the purpose of taking such action shall be that amount of Dollars that could be obtained for such amount at the Market Exchange Rate. For purposes of this Section 1.18, the term “Market Exchange Rate” shall mean the noon Dollar buying rate in The City of New York for cable transfers of such currency or currencies as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, as of the most recent available date. If such Market Exchange Rate is not so available for any reason with respect to such currency, such quotation of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York as of the most recent available date, or quotations or rates of exchange from one or more major banks in The City of New York or in the country of issue of the currency in question, which for purposes of Euros shall be Brussels, Belgium, or such other quotations or rates of exchange as appropriate shall be used. The provisions of this paragraph shall apply in determining the equivalent principal amount in respect of Securities of a series denominated in a currency other than Dollars in connection with any action taken by Holders of Securities pursuant to the terms of this Indenture.

In no event will the Trustee have any duty or liability regarding the Market Exchange Rate or any alternative determination provided for in the preceding paragraph.

Section 1.19. Payment in Required Currency; Judgment Currency.

Each of the Company and the Guarantors agrees, to the fullest extent that it may effectively do so under applicable law, that (a) if for the purpose of obtaining judgment in any court it is necessary to convert the sum due in respect of the principal of or interest on the Securities of any series (the “Required Currency”) into a currency in which a judgment will be rendered (the “Judgment Currency”), the rate of exchange used shall be the rate at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Required Currency could be purchased in The City of New York with the Judgment Currency on the day on which final unappealable judgment is entered, unless such day is not a Banking Day, then, to the extent permitted by applicable law, the rate of exchange used shall be the rate at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Required Currency could be purchased in The City of New York with the Judgment Currency on the Banking Day next preceding the day on which final unappealable judgment is entered and (b) its obligations under this Indenture to make payments in the Required Currency (i) shall not be discharged or satisfied by any tender, or any recovery pursuant to any judgment (regardless of whether entered in accordance with subclause (a)), in any currency other than the Required Currency, except to the extent that such tender or recovery shall result in the actual receipt, by the payee, of the full amount of the Required Currency expressed to be payable in respect of such payments, (ii) shall be enforceable as an alternative or additional cause of action for the purpose of recovering in the Required Currency the amount, if any, by which such actual receipt shall fall short of the full amount of the Required Currency so expressed to be payable and (iii) shall not be affected by judgment being obtained for any other sum due under this Indenture.

 

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Section 1.20. Language of Notices, Etc.

Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or Act required or permitted under this Indenture shall be in the English language, except that any published notice may be in an official language of the country of publication.

Section 1.21. Incorporators, Unitholders, Stockholders, Partners, Members, Managers, Directors, Officers and Employees of the Company and the Guarantors Exempt from Individual Liability.

No recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of or contained in this Indenture or of or contained in any Security or, if applicable, the Securities Guarantee, or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, or because of the creation of any indebtedness represented thereby, shall be had against any incorporator, unitholder, stockholder, partner, member, manager, director, officer or employee, as such, past, present or future, of the Company, any Guarantor or any successor Person, either directly or through the Company, any Guarantor or any successor Person, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise, it being expressly understood that all such liability is hereby expressly waived and released as a condition of, and as a part of the consideration for, the execution of this Indenture and the issue of the Securities.

Section 1.22. USA Patriot Act.

The parties hereto acknowledge that, in accordance with Section 326 of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, the “USA Patriot Act”), the Trustee, like all financial institutions, is required to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each Person or legal entity that opens an account. The parties hereto agree that they will provide the Trustee with such information as the Trustee may request in order for the Trustee to satisfy the requirements of the USA Patriot Act.

ARTICLE TWO

SECURITY FORMS

Section 2.1. Forms Generally.

The Securities of each series and, if applicable, the notation thereon relating to the Securities Guarantee, shall be in substantially the form set forth in this Article Two, or in such other form or forms as shall be established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in each case with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture, and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as may be required to comply with the rules of any securities exchange or as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the officers executing such Securities and, if applicable, any notation of the Securities Guarantee, as evidenced by their execution thereof.

The definitive Securities 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 Securities, as evidenced by their execution thereof. If the form of Securities of any series is established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by an authorized officer or other authorized person on behalf of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Company Order contemplated by Section 3.3 for the authentication and delivery of such Securities.

 

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The forms of Global Securities of any series shall have such provisions and legends as are customary for Securities of such series in global form, including without limitation any legend required by the Depositary for the Securities of such series.

Section 2.2. Form of Face of Security.

[If the Security is an Original Issue Discount Security and is not “publicly offered” within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.1275-1(h), insert—FOR PURPOSES OF SECTION 1275 OF THE UNITED STATES INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED, THIS SECURITY WAS ISSUED WITH ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT, THE AMOUNT OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT IS [. . . . . . . .% OF ITS PRINCIPAL AMOUNT] [$. . . . PER $1,000 OF PRINCIPAL AMOUNT], THE ISSUE DATE IS . . . . . ., 20. . . AND, THE YIELD TO MATURITY IS . . . . . . . . , COMPOUNDED [SEMIANNUALLY OR OTHER PROPER PERIOD].

[In the alternative instead of providing such legend, insert the following legend—FOR PURPOSES OF SECTION 1275 OF THE UNITED STATES INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED THIS SECURITY WAS ISSUED WITH ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT, AND. . . . . . . [THE NAME OR TITLE AND ADDRESS OR TELEPHONE NUMBER OF A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COMPANY] WILL, BEGINNING NO LATER THAN 10 DAYS AFTER THE ISSUE DATE, PROMPTLY MAKE AVAILABLE TO HOLDERS THE AMOUNT OF ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT, THE ISSUE DATE, THE YIELD TO MATURITY AND ANY OTHER INFORMATION REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE TREASURY REGULATIONS.]

[Insert any other legend required by the Code or the regulations thereunder.]

[If a Global Security,—insert legend required by Section 2.4 of the Indenture] [If applicable, insert UNLESS THIS SECURITY IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION, TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY SECURITY ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL SINCE THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.]

SUN COMMUNITIES, INC.

[TITLE OF SECURITY]

 

No . . . . . . .    U.S. $. . . . . .

[CUSIP No. ]

SUN COMMUNITIES, INC., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Maryland (herein called the “Company,” which term includes any successor or resulting Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to .......... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ., or registered assigns, the principal sum of . . . . ................................................ United States Dollars on ........................................ [If the Security is to bear interest prior to Maturity, insert—, and to pay interest thereon from . . . . . . . . . . or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or

 

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duly provided for, semi-annually on . . . . . . and . . . . . . in each year, commencing . . . . . ., at the rate of . . . . % per annum, until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment [if applicable, insert—, and at the rate of ___% per annum on any overdue principal and premium and on any installment of interest (to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable)]. The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in such Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be the . . . . or . . . . (regardless of whether a Business Day), as the case may be, next preceding such Interest Payment Date. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for will forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Securities of this series not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Securities of this series may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided in said Indenture].

[If the Security is not to bear interest prior to Maturity, insert—The principal of this Security shall not bear interest except in the case of a default in payment of principal upon acceleration, upon redemption or at Stated Maturity and in such case the overdue principal of this Security shall bear interest at the rate of . . . .% per annum (to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable), which shall accrue from the date of such default in payment to the date payment of such principal has been made or duly provided for. Interest on any overdue principal shall be payable on demand. Any such interest on any overdue principal that is not so paid on demand shall bear interest at the rate of . . . . % per annum (to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable), which shall accrue from the date of such demand for payment to the date payment of such interest has been made or duly provided for, and such interest shall also be payable on demand.]

[If a Global Security, insert—Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and [if applicable, insert—any such] interest on this Security will be made by transfer of immediately available funds to a bank account in ___________ designated by the Holder in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts [state other currency].]

[If a Definitive Security, insert—Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and [if applicable, insert—any such] interest on this Security will be made at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in _______________, in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts] [state other currency] [or subject to any laws or regulations applicable thereto and to the right of the Company (as provided in the Indenture) to rescind the designation of any such Paying Agent, at the [main] offices of ________________ in _____________, or at such other offices or agencies as the Company may designate, by [United States Dollar] [state other currency] check drawn on, or transfer to a [United States Dollar] account maintained by the payee with, a bank in The City of New York (so long as the applicable Paying Agency has received proper transfer instructions in writing at least ___ days prior to the payment date)] [if applicable, insert—; provided, however, that payment of interest may be made at the option of the Company by [United States Dollar] [state other currency] check mailed to the addresses of the Persons entitled thereto as such addresses shall appear in the Security Register] [or by transfer to a [United States Dollar] [state other currency] account maintained by the payee with a bank in The City of New York [state other Place of Payment] (so long as the applicable Paying Agent has received proper transfer instructions in writing by the record date prior to the applicable Interest Payment Date)].]

 

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Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Security set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof by manual signature, this Security shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed.

Dated:

 

SUN COMMUNITIES, INC.
By:  

                          

Section 2.3. Form of Reverse of Security.

This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of senior securities of the Company (herein called the “Securities”), issued and to be issued in one or more series under an Indenture, dated as of ______, 20__ (herein called the “Indenture”), between the Company, the Guarantors, if any, and UMB Bank, N.A., as trustee (herein called the “Trustee,” which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Guarantors, if any, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. As provided in the Indenture, the Securities may be issued in one or more series, which different series may be issued in various aggregate principal amounts, may mature at different times, may bear interest, if any, at different rates, may be subject to different redemption provisions, if any, may be subject to different sinking, purchase or analogous funds, if any, may be subject to different covenants and Events of Default and may otherwise vary as in the Indenture provided or permitted. This Security is one of the series designated on the face hereof [, limited in aggregate principal amount to $ . . . . . . . . . . ].

This security is the general, unsecured, senior obligation of the Company [if applicable, insert—and is guaranteed pursuant to a guarantee (the “Securities Guarantee”) by [insert name of each Guarantor] (the “Guarantors”). The Securities Guarantee is the general, unsecured, senior obligation of each Guarantor.]

[If applicable, insert—The Securities of this series are subject to redemption upon not less than ... days’ notice by mail (or electronic transmission in the case of Global Securities), [if applicable, insert—(1) on . . . . . . . . . . . . . . in any year commencing with the year . . . . and ending with the year . . . . through operation of the sinking fund for this series at a Redemption Price equal to 100% of the principal amount, and (2) ] at any time [on or after . . . . . . . . . ., 20. . . ], as a whole or in part, at the election of the Company, at the following Redemption Prices (expressed as percentages of the principal amount): If redeemed [on or before . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . %, and if redeemed] during the 12-month period beginning . . . . . . . . of the years indicated,

 

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Year   Redemption Price   Year    Redemption Price

and thereafter at a Redemption Price equal to . . . . . % of the principal amount, together in the case of any such redemption [if applicable, insert—(whether through operation of the sinking fund or otherwise)] with accrued interest to the Redemption Date, but interest installments the Stated Maturity of which is on or prior to such Redemption Date will be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, of record at the close of business on the relevant record dates referred to on the face hereof, all as provided in the Indenture.]

[If applicable, insert—The Securities of this series are subject to redemption upon not less than... nor more than ... days’ notice by mail (or electronic transmission in the case of Global Securities), (1) on . . . . . . . . in any year commencing with the year . . . . and ending with the year . . . . through operation of the sinking fund for this series at the Redemption Prices for redemption through operation of the sinking fund (expressed as percentages of the principal amount) set forth in the table below, and (2) at any time [on or after . . . . . . . . . . ], as a whole or in part, at the election of the Company, at the Redemption Prices for redemption otherwise than through operation of the sinking fund (expressed as percentages of the principal amount) set forth in the table below: If redeemed during the 12-month period beginning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . of the years indicated,

 

Year  

Redemption Price For

Redemption Through

Operation of the Sinking Fund

 

Redemption Price for

Redemption Otherwise Than

Through Operation of the

Sinking Fund

and thereafter at a Redemption Price equal to . . . . % of the principal amount, together in the case of any such redemption (whether through operation of the sinking fund or otherwise) with accrued interest to the Redemption Date, but interest installments the Stated Maturity of which is on or prior to such Redemption Date will be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, of record at the close of business on the relevant record dates referred to on the face hereof, all as provided in the Indenture.]

[If applicable, insert—Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may not, prior to . . . .. . . . . . ., redeem any Securities of this series as contemplated by [clause (2) of] the preceding paragraph as a part of, or in anticipation of, any refunding operation by the application, directly or indirectly, of moneys borrowed having an interest cost to the Company (calculated in accordance with generally accepted financial practice) of less than . . . .% per annum.]

 

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[If applicable, insert—The sinking fund for this series provides for the redemption on . . . . . .. . . . . . . in each year beginning with the year . . . . and ending with the year . . . . of [not less than] $ . . . . . . . . . . . . [(“mandatory sinking fund”) and not more than $ . . . . . . . . . . . . ] aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series. [Securities of this series acquired or redeemed by the Company otherwise than through [mandatory] sinking fund payments may be credited against subsequent [mandatory] sinking fund payments otherwise required to be made [If applicable, insert— in the inverse order in which they become due].]

[If the Securities are subject to redemption in part of any kind, insert—In the event of redemption of this Security in part only, a new Security or Securities of this series and of like tenor for the unredeemed portion hereof will be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof.]

[If applicable, insert—The Securities of this series are not redeemable prior to Stated Maturity.]

[If the Security is not an Original Issue Discount Security,If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Securities of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.]

[If the Security is an Original Issue Discount Security,If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and be continuing, an amount of principal of the Securities of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture. Such amount shall be equal to —insert formula for determining the amount. Upon payment (i) of the amount of principal so declared due and payable and (ii) of interest on any overdue principal and overdue interest (in each case to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable), all of the Company’s obligations in respect of the payment of the principal of and interest, if any, on the Securities of this series shall terminate.]

The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company [If applicable, insert—and the Guarantors] and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each series to be affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company [If applicable, insert—and the Guarantors] and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding of each series to be affected. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of specified percentages in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of each series at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive compliance by the Company [If applicable, insert—and the Guarantors] with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Security and of any Security issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, regardless of whether notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security.

No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Security or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on this Security at the times, place(s) and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.

[If a Global Security, insert—This Global Security or portion hereof may not be exchanged for Definitive Securities of this series except in the limited circumstances provided in the Indenture. The holders of beneficial interests in this Global Security will not be entitled to receive physical delivery of Definitive Securities except as described in the Indenture and will not be considered the Holders thereof for any purpose under the Indenture.]

 

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[If a Definitive Security, insert—As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Security is registerable in the Security Register, upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Company in [if applicable, insert—any place where the principal of and any premium and interest on this Security are payable] [if applicable, insert—The City of New York [, or, subject to any laws or regulations applicable thereto and to the right of the Company (limited as provided in the Indenture) to rescind the designation of any such transfer agent, at the [main] offices of _______________ in ________________ or at such other offices or agencies as the Company may designate]], duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or such Holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities of this series and of like tenor, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.]

The Securities of this series are issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of U.S. $ . . . . . . . . and any integral multiple thereof. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, Securities of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series and of like tenor of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.

No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

Prior to due presentment of this Security for registration of transfer, the Company, [If applicable, insert—any Guarantor,] the Trustee and any agent of the Company [If applicable, insert—, a Guarantor] or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Security is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, regardless of whether this Security be overdue, and none of the Company, [If applicable, insert—the Guarantors,] the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

No recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of or contained in the Indenture or of or contained in any Security, [If applicable, insert—, or the Securities Guarantee endorsed thereon,] or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, or because of the creation of any indebtedness represented thereby, shall be had against any incorporator, unitholder, stockholder, partner, member, manager, director, officer or employee, as such, past, present or future, of the Company [If applicable, insert—or any Guarantor] or of any successor Person, either directly or through the Company [If applicable, insert—or any Guarantor] or any successor Person, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment, penalty or otherwise; it being expressly understood that all such liability is hereby expressly waived and released by the acceptance hereof and as a condition of, and as part of the consideration for, the Securities and the execution of the Indenture.

The Indenture provides that the Company [If applicable, insert—and the Guarantors] (a) will be discharged from any and all obligations in respect of the Securities (except for certain obligations described in the Indenture), or (b) need not comply with certain restrictive covenants of the Indenture, in each case if the Company [If applicable, insert—or a Guarantor] deposits, in trust, with the Trustee money or U.S. Government Obligations (or a combination thereof) which through the payment of interest thereon and principal thereof in accordance with their terms will provide money, in an amount sufficient to pay all the principal of and interest on the Securities, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

Except as otherwise defined herein, all terms used in this Security that are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

 

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[If a Definitive Security, insert as a separate page

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto

_______________________________________________________________

(Please Print or Type Name and Address of Assignee)

the within instrument of Sun Communities, Inc. and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint ___________________ Attorney to transfer said instrument on the books of the within-named Company, with full power of substitution in the premises.

Please Insert Social Security or Other Identifying Number of Assignee:

 

                          

    

                          

Dated:  

 

                 

                          

       (Signature)

NOTICE: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the within instrument in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.]

[If a Security to which Article Fourteen has been made applicable, insert the following Form of Notation on such Security relating to the Securities Guarantee

Each of the Guarantors (which term includes any successor Person in such capacity under the Indenture), has fully, unconditionally and absolutely guaranteed, to the extent set forth in the Indenture and subject to the provisions in the Indenture, the due and punctual payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on the Securities of this series and all other amounts due and payable under the Indenture and the Securities of this series by the Company.

The obligations of the Guarantors to the Holders of Securities of this series and to the Trustee pursuant to the Securities Guarantee and the Indenture are expressly set forth in Article Fourteen of the Indenture and reference is hereby made to the Indenture for the precise terms of the Securities Guarantee.

 

Guarantors:
[NAME OF EACH GUARANTOR]
By:                                                                                  
                                                                                ]

Section 2.4. Global Securities.

Every Global Security authenticated and delivered hereunder shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF. THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED TO, OR REGISTERED OR EXCHANGED FOR SECURITIES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF, ANY PERSON OTHER THAN THE DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF AND NO SUCH TRANSFER MAY BE REGISTERED, EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE.

 

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EVERY SECURITY AUTHENTICATED AND DELIVERED UPON REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER OF, OR IN EXCHANGE FOR OR IN LIEU OF, THIS SECURITY SHALL BE A GLOBAL SECURITY SUBJECT TO THE FOREGOING, EXCEPT IN SUCH LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES.

If Securities of a series are issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, as specified as contemplated by Section 3.1, then, notwithstanding clause (i) of Section 3.1 and the provisions of Section 3.2, any Global Security shall represent such of the Outstanding Securities of such series as shall be specified therein and may provide that it shall represent the aggregate amount of Outstanding Securities from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate amount of Outstanding Securities represented thereby may from time to time be reduced or increased, as the case may be, to reflect exchanges. Any endorsement of a Global Security to reflect the amount, or any reduction or increase in the amount, of Outstanding Securities represented thereby shall be made in such manner and upon instructions given by such Person or Persons as shall be specified therein or in a Company Order. Subject to the provisions of Section 3.3, Section 3.4 and Section 3.5, the Trustee shall deliver and redeliver any Global Security in the manner and upon instructions given by the Person or Persons specified therein or in the applicable Company Order. Any instructions by the Company with respect to endorsement or delivery or redelivery of a Global Security shall be in a Company Order (which need not comply with Section 1.3 and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel).

The provisions of the last sentence of Section 3.3 shall apply to any Security represented by a Global Security if such Security was never issued and sold by the Company and the Company delivers to the Trustee the Global Security together with a Company Order (which need not comply with Section 1.3 and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel) with regard to the reduction or increase, as the case may be, in the principal amount of Securities represented thereby, together with the written statement contemplated by the last sentence of Section 3.3.

Section 2.5. Form of Trustees Certificate of Authentication.

The Trustee’s certificate(s) of authentication shall be in substantially the following form:

This is one of the Securities of the series designated [insert title of applicable series] referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

UMB Bank, N.A., as Trustee
By:  

                          

  Authorized Officer

 

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ARTICLE THREE

THE SECURITIES

Section 3.1. Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series.

The aggregate principal amount of Securities that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited.

The Securities may be issued in one or more series. There shall be established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and set forth, or determined in the manner provided, in an Officer’s Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of Securities of any series:

(a) the title of the Securities of the series (which shall distinguish the Securities of the series from all other Securities and which may be part of a series of Securities previously issued);

(b) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of the series which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of the series pursuant to Section 3.4, Section 3.5, Section 3.6, Section 9.6 or Section 11.7 and except for any Securities which, pursuant to Section 3.3, are deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder);

(c) the Person to whom any interest on a Security of the series shall be payable, if other than the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest;

(d) the date or dates on which the principal of the Securities of the series is payable or the method of determination thereof;

(e) the rate or rates at which the Securities of the series shall bear interest, if any, or the formula, method or provision pursuant to which such rate or rates are determined, the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue or the method of determination thereof, the Interest Payment Dates on which such interest shall be payable and the Regular Record Date for the interest payable on any Interest Payment Date;

(f) the place or places where, subject to the provisions of Section 10.2, the principal of and any premium and interest on Securities of the series shall be payable, Securities of the series may be surrendered for registration of transfer, Securities of the series may be surrendered for exchange, and notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of the series and this Indenture may be served;

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

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

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

(j) whether payment of principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the Securities of the series shall be without deduction for taxes, assessments or governmental charges paid by Holders of the series;

 

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(k) if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of Securities of the series that shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.2;

(l) if the amount of payments of principal of and any premium or interest on the Securities of the series may be determined with reference to an index, the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;

(m) if and as applicable, that the Securities of the series shall be issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities and, in such case, the Depositary or Depositaries for such Global Security or Global Securities and any circumstances other than those set forth in Section 3.5 in which any such Global Security may be transferred to, and registered and exchanged for Securities registered in the name of, a Person other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof and in which any such transfer may be registered;

(n) any deletions from, modifications of or additions to the Events of Default set forth in Section 5.1 or the covenants of the Company set forth in Article Ten with respect to the Securities of such series;

(o) whether and under what circumstances the Company will pay additional amounts on the Securities of the series held by a Person who is not a U.S. Person in respect of any tax, assessment or governmental charge withheld or deducted and, if so, whether the Company will have the option to redeem the Securities of the series rather than pay such additional amounts;

(p) if the Securities of the series are to be issuable in definitive form (whether upon original issue or upon exchange of a temporary Security of such series) only upon receipt of certain certificates or other documents or satisfaction of other conditions, the form and terms of such certificates, documents or conditions;

(q) if the Securities of the series are to be convertible into or exchangeable for any other security or property of the Company, including, without limitation, securities of another Person held by the Company or its Affiliates and, if so, the terms thereof;

(r) if other than as provided in Section 13.2 and Section 13.3, the means of Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance as may be specified for the Securities of the series;

(s) if other than the Trustee, the identity of the initial Security Registrar and any initial Paying Agent;

(t) whether the Securities of the series will be guaranteed pursuant to the Securities Guarantee set forth in Article Fourteen, any modifications to the terms of Article Fourteen applicable to the Securities of such series and the applicability of any other guarantees; and

(u) any other terms of the series (which terms shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture).

All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical except as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to the Board Resolution referred to above and (subject to Section 3.3) set forth, or determined in the manner provided, in the Officer’s Certificate referred to above or in any such indenture supplemental hereto.

 

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All Securities of any one series need not be issued at the same time and, unless otherwise provided, a series may be reopened, without the consent of the Holders, for increases in the aggregate principal amount of such series of Securities and issuances of additional Securities of such series or for the establishment of additional terms with respect to the Securities of such series.

If any of the terms of the series are established by action taken by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by an authorized officer or other authorized person on behalf of the Company and, if applicable, the Guarantors and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Officer’s Certificate setting forth, or providing the manner for determining, the terms of the series.

With respect to Securities of a series subject to a Periodic Offering, such Board Resolution or Officer’s Certificate may provide general terms for Securities of such series and provide either that the specific terms of particular Securities of such series shall be specified in a Company Order or that such terms shall be determined by the Company and, if applicable, the Guarantors or one or more agents thereof designated in an Officer’s Certificate, in accordance with a Company Order.

Section 3.2. Denominations.

The Securities of each series shall be issuable in registered form without coupons in such denominations as shall be specified as contemplated by Section 3.1. In the absence of any such provisions with respect to the Securities of any series, the Securities of such series shall be issuable in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof.

Section 3.3. Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating.

The Securities shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its Chairman of the Board, its Chief Executive Officer, its President, its Chief Financial Officer or any of its Vice Presidents and need not be attested. The signature of any of these officers on the Securities may be manual or facsimile, including portable document format (pdf). Any notation of Securities Guarantee endorsed on the Securities shall be executed on behalf of the applicable Guarantor by its Chairman of the Board, its Chief Executive Officer, its President, its Chief Financial Officer or any of its Vice Presidents and need not be attested. The signature of any of these officers on any notation of the Securities Guarantee may be manual or facsimile, including portable document format (pdf).

Securities and any notation of a Securities Guarantee bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of individuals who were at any time the proper officers of the Company or a Guarantor, as the case may be, shall bind the Company or such Guarantor, as the case may be, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased to hold such offices prior to the authentication and delivery of such Securities or did not hold such offices at the date of such Securities.

At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities of any series executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, together with a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of such Securities, and the Trustee in accordance with the Company Order shall authenticate and deliver such Securities; provided, however, that in the case of Securities offered in a Periodic Offering, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver such Securities from time to time in accordance with such other procedures (including, without limitation, the receipt by the Trustee of written instructions from the Company) acceptable to the Trustee as may be specified by or pursuant to a Company Order delivered to the Trustee prior to the time of the first authentication of Securities of such series. If the forms or terms of the Securities of the series have been established in or pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions as permitted by Section 2.1 and Section 3.1, in authenticating

 

25


such Securities, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall be fully protected in relying on such Board Resolution and shall be entitled to receive such documents as it may reasonably request. The Trustee shall also be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 6.1) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Officer’s Certificate pursuant to Section 3.1 and complying with Section 1.3 and an Opinion of Counsel complying with Section 1.3 stating:

(a) if the form or forms of such Securities has been established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution as permitted by Section 2.1, that each such form has been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;

(b) if the terms of such Securities have been, or in the case of Securities of a series offered in a Periodic Offering will be, established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution as permitted by Section 3.1, that such terms have been, or in the case of Securities of a series offered in a Periodic Offering will be, established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture, subject, in the case of Securities of a series offered in a Periodic Offering, to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel; and

(c) that such Securities, when authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and issued by the Company in the manner and subject to any conditions and assumptions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company and, if applicable, the Securities Guarantees thereof will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Guarantors, enforceable in accordance with their respective terms, subject to the following limitations: (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, reorganization, liquidation, fraudulent conveyance or transfer and other similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights, or to general equity principles, (ii) the availability of equitable remedies being subject to the discretion of the court to which application therefor is made; and (iii) such other usual and customary matters as shall be specified in such Opinion of Counsel.

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

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3.1 and of the preceding paragraph, if all Securities of a series are not to be originally issued at one time, it shall not be necessary to deliver the Officer’s Certificate otherwise required pursuant to Section 3.1 or the Company Order and Opinion of Counsel otherwise required pursuant to such preceding paragraph at or prior to the time of authentication of each Security of such series if such documents are delivered at or prior to the authentication upon original issuance of the first Security of such series to be issued.

With respect to Securities of a series offered in a Periodic Offering, the Trustee may rely, as to the authorization by the Company of any of such Securities, on the form or forms and terms thereof and the legality, validity, binding effect and enforceability thereof, upon the Opinion of Counsel and the other documents delivered pursuant to Section 2.1 and Section 3.1 and this Section, as applicable, in connection with the first authentication of Securities of such series.

Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.

No Security nor any related Securities Guarantee shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose unless there appears on such Security a certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for herein executed by the Trustee or an Authenticating Agent by manual signature of an authorized officer, and such certificate upon any Security shall be

 

26


conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Security has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder and is entitled to the benefits of this Indenture. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Security shall have been authenticated and delivered hereunder but never issued and sold by the Company, and the Company shall deliver such Security to the Trustee for cancellation as provided in Section 3.9, for all purposes of this Indenture such Security shall be deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder and shall never be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.

Section 3.4. Temporary Securities.

Pending the preparation of Definitive Securities of any series, the Company may execute, and upon Company Order the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, temporary Securities that are printed, lithographed, typewritten, mimeographed or otherwise produced, in any authorized denomination, substantially of the tenor of the Definitive Securities in lieu of which they are issued and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as the officers executing such Securities may determine, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities.

If temporary Securities of any series are issued, the Company will cause Definitive Securities of that series to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the preparation of Definitive Securities of such series, the temporary Securities of such series shall be exchangeable for Definitive Securities of such series upon surrender of the temporary Securities of such series at the office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment for that series, without charge to the Holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Securities of any series the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a like principal amount of Definitive Securities of the same series and tenor of authorized denominations. Until so exchanged the temporary Securities of any series shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as Definitive Securities of such series.

Section 3.5. Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange.

The Company shall cause to be kept at the office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment required by Section 10.2 a register (the register maintained in such office being herein sometimes referred to as the “Security Register”) in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration of Securities and of transfers of Securities. The Trustee is hereby appointed as the initial “Security Registrar” for the purpose of registering Securities and transfers of Securities as herein provided, and its Corporate Trust Office, which, at the date hereof, is located at 5555 San Felipe Street, Suite 810, Houston, Texas 77056, is the initial office or agency where the Securities Register will be maintained. The Company may at any time replace such Security Registrar, change such office or agency or act as its own Security Registrar. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any change of the Security Registrar or of the location of such office or agency.

Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Security of any series at the office or agency maintained pursuant to Section 10.2 for such purpose, the Company and, if applicable, the Guarantors shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Securities, with a notation of the Securities Guarantee, if applicable, executed by the Guarantors, of the same series and tenor, of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount.

At the option of the Holder, Securities of any series (except a Global Security) may be exchanged for other Securities of the same series and tenor, of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount, upon surrender of the Securities to be exchanged at such office or agency. Whenever any Securities are so surrendered for exchange, the Company and, if applicable, the Guarantors shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Securities, with a notation of the Securities Guarantee, if applicable, executed by the Guarantors, which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.

 

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All Securities issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities shall be the valid obligations of the Company and, if applicable, the Guarantors evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Securities surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.

Every Security presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange shall (if so required by the Company or the Trustee) be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed, by the Holder thereof or such Holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing.

No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 3.4, Section 9.6 or Section 11.7 not involving any transfer.

The Company shall not be required (a) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange Securities of any series during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the notice of redemption of Securities of that series selected for redemption under Section 11.3 is sent and ending at the close of business on the day of the delivery thereof, or (b) to register the transfer of or exchange any Security so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Security being redeemed in part.

Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture and except as otherwise specified with respect to any particular series of Securities as contemplated by Section 3.1, a Global Security representing all or a portion of the Securities of a series may not be transferred, except as a whole by the Depositary for such series to a nominee of such Depositary or by a nominee of such Depositary to such Depositary or another nominee of such Depositary or by such Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary for such series or a nominee of such successor Depositary. Every Security authenticated and delivered upon registration of, transfer of, or in exchange for or in lieu of, a Global Security shall be a Global Security except as provided in the two paragraphs immediately following.

If at any time the Depositary for any Securities of a series represented by one or more Global Securities notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Securities or if at any time the Depositary for such Securities shall no longer be eligible to continue as Depositary under Section 3.1 or ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, the Company shall appoint a successor Depositary with respect to such Securities. If a successor Depositary for such Securities is not appointed by the Company within 90 days after the Company receives such notice or becomes aware of such ineligibility, the Company’s election pursuant to Section 3.1 that such Securities be represented by one or more Global Securities shall no longer be effective and the Company and, if applicable, the Guarantors will execute and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of Definitive Securities of such series, will authenticate and deliver, Securities, with a notation of the Securities Guarantee, if applicable, executed by the Guarantors, of such series in definitive registered form without coupons, in any authorized denominations, in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security or Securities representing such Securities in exchange for such Global Security or Securities registered in the names of such Persons as the Depositary shall direct.

 

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If specified by the Company pursuant to Section 3.1 with respect to Securities represented by a Global Security, the Depositary for such Global Security may surrender such Global Security in exchange in whole or in part for Securities of the same series and tenor in definitive registered form on such terms as are acceptable to the Company, the Trustee and such Depositary. Thereupon, the Company and, if applicable, the Guarantors shall execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of Securities in definitive registered form, shall authenticate and deliver, without service charge:

(a) to the Person specified by such Depositary a new Security or Securities, with a notation of the Securities Guarantee, if applicable, executed by the Guarantors, of the same series and tenor, of any authorized denominations as requested by such Person, in an aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for such Person’s beneficial interest in the Global Security; and

(b) to such Depositary a new Global Security, with a notation of the Securities Guarantee, if applicable, executed by the Guarantors, in a denomination equal to the difference, if any, between the principal amount of the surrendered Global Security and the aggregate principal amount of Securities authenticated and delivered pursuant to clause (a) above.

Every Person who takes or holds any beneficial interest in a Global Security agrees that:

(i) the Company, the Guarantors (if applicable) and the Trustee may deal with the Depositary as sole owner of the Global Security and as the authorized representative of such Person;

(ii) such Person’s rights in the Global Security shall be exercised only through the Depositary and shall be limited to those rights established by law and agreement between such Person and the Depositary and/or direct and indirect participants of the Depositary;

(iii) the Depositary and its participants make book-entry transfers of beneficial ownership among, and receive and transmit distributions of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Global Securities to, such Persons in accordance with their own procedures; and

(iv) none of the Company, the Guarantors (if applicable), the Trustee, nor any agent of any of them 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.

Section 3.6. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities.

If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee, together with such security or indemnity as may be required by the Company, the Guarantors (if applicable) or the Trustee to save each of them and any agent of any of them harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Company or the Trustee that such Security has been acquired by a protected purchaser, the Company and, if applicable, the Guarantors shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a new Security, with a notation of the Securities Guarantee, if applicable, executed by the Guarantors, of the same series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

If there shall be delivered to the Company, the Guarantors (if applicable) and the Trustee (a) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security and (b) such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and any agent of any of them harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Company or the Trustee that such Security has been acquired by a protected purchaser, the Company and, if applicable, the Guarantors shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Security, a new Security, with a notation of the Securities Guarantee, if applicable, executed by the Guarantors, of the same series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

 

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In case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security has become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Security, pay such Security.

Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith.

Every new Security of any series issued pursuant to this Section in lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Company and, if applicable, the Guarantors, regardless of whether the destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of that series duly issued hereunder.

The provisions of this Section are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities.

Section 3.7. Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved.

Except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 3.1 with respect to any series of Securities, interest on any Security that is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest.

Any interest on any Security of any series that is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date (herein called “Defaulted Interest”) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on the relevant Regular Record Date by virtue of having been such Holder, and such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Company, at its election in each case, as provided in clause (a) or (b) below:

(a) The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the Persons in whose names the Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each 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 that 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, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be mailed, first-class postage prepaid (or sent by electronic transmission in the case of Global Securities), to each Holder of Securities of such series at such Holder’s 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 Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on such Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the following clause (b).

 

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

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

Section 3.8. Persons Deemed Owners.

Except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 3.1 with respect to any series of Securities, prior to due presentment of a Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and, if applicable, the Guarantors and any agent thereof may treat the Person in whose name such Security is registered as the owner of such Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and any premium and (subject to Section 3.5 and Section 3.7) any interest on such Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, regardless of whether such Security be overdue, and none of the Company, the Trustee nor, if applicable, the Guarantors nor any agent of any of them shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

No holder of any beneficial interest in any Global Security held on its behalf by a Depositary shall have any rights under this Indenture with respect to such Global Security, and such Depositary may be treated by the Company, the Trustee, and, if applicable, the Guarantors and any agent of any thereof as the owner of such Global Security for all purposes whatsoever.

Section 3.9. Cancellation.

All Securities surrendered for payment, redemption, registration of transfer or exchange or for credit against any sinking fund payment shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee and shall be promptly canceled by it. The Company may at any time deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated and delivered hereunder that the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and may deliver to the Trustee (or to any other Person for delivery to the Trustee) for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated hereunder that the Company has not issued and sold, and all Securities so delivered shall be promptly canceled by the Trustee. No Securities shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Securities canceled as provided in this Section, except as expressly permitted by this Indenture. All canceled Securities held by the Trustee shall be disposed of in accordance with its customary practices, and the Trustee shall thereafter deliver to the Company a certificate with respect to such disposition from time to time upon written request.

Section 3.10. Computation of Interest.

Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1 for Securities of any series, interest on the Securities of each series shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months.

 

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Section 3.11. CUSIP or CINS Numbers.

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

ARTICLE FOUR

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

Section 4.1. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.

This Indenture shall cease to be of further effect and will be discharged with respect to the Securities of any series (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of Securities and certain rights of the Trustee, in each case, herein expressly provided for), and the Trustee, upon Company Request and at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to such Securities, when:

(a) either:

(i) all such Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than (A) such Securities which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 3.6, and (B) such Securities for the payment of which money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 10.3) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

(ii) all such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation:

(A) have become due and payable; or

(B) will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year; or

(C) are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company,

and the Company, in the case of (ii)(A), (B) or (C) above, has deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for such purpose an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal (and premium, if any) and interest to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities which have become due and payable) or to the Stated Maturity or Redemption Date, as the case may be, together with instructions from the Company irrevocably directing the Trustee to apply such funds to the payment thereof at maturity or redemption, as the case may be;

 

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(b) the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company with respect to such Securities; and

(c) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, which, taken together, state that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to such Securities have been complied with.

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to the Securities of any series, (x) the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 6.7, the obligations of the Trustee to any Authenticating Agent under Section 6.14 and the right of the Trustee to resign under Section 6.10 shall survive, and (y) if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to clause (a) of this Section, the obligations of the Company and the Trustee under Section 3.5, Section 3.6, Section 4.2, Section 6.6, Section 10.2, the last paragraph of Section 10.3 and Section 13.6 shall survive.

Section 4.2. Application of Trust Money.

Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 10.3, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 4.1 shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal and any premium and interest for the payment of which such money has been deposited with the Trustee.

ARTICLE FIVE

REMEDIES

Section 5.1. Events of Default.

“Event of Default,” wherever used herein with respect to Securities of any series, means any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body):

(a) default in the payment of any interest upon any Security of that series when it becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days; or

(b) default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any Security of that series at its Maturity; or

(c) default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant set forth in Article Ten in this Indenture (other than a covenant a default in the performance of which or the breach of which is elsewhere in this Section specifically dealt with or which has expressly been included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of series of Securities other than that series), and continuance of such default or breach for a period of 60 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, 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 Outstanding Securities of that series a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder; or

 

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(d) default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant in this Indenture (other than a covenant in Article Ten or any other covenant a default in the performance of which or the breach of which is elsewhere in this Section specifically dealt with or which has expressly been included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of series of Securities other than that series), and continuance of such default or breach for a period of 90 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, 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 Outstanding Securities of that series a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder; or

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

(f) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that (i) is for relief against the Company in an involuntary case, (ii) appoints a Custodian of the Company or for all or substantially all of the property of the Company, or (iii) orders the liquidation of the Company; and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 consecutive days; or

(g) default in the deposit of any sinking fund payment when due; or

(h) any other Event of Default provided with respect to Securities of that series in accordance with Section 3.1.

Section 5.2. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.

If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series at the time Outstanding occurs and is continuing, then in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series may declare the principal amount (or, if the Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of that series) and all accrued and unpaid interest of all of the Securities of that series to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Holders), and upon any such declaration such principal amount (or specified amount) shall become immediately due and payable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Event of Default specified in clause (e) or (f) of Section 5.1 occurs, the Securities of any series at the time Outstanding shall be due and payable immediately without further action or notice.

At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to Securities of any series has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as hereinafter in this Article Five provided, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series, by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if:

(a) the Company or, if applicable, one or more of the Guarantors has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay:

 

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(i) all overdue interest on all Securities of that series;

(ii) the principal of (and premium, if any, on) any Securities of that series that has become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration and any interest thereon at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities;

(iii) to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful, interest upon overdue interest at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities; and

(iv) all sums paid or advanced by the Trustee hereunder and the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel; and

(b) all Events of Default with respect to Securities of that series, other than the non-payment of the principal of Securities of that series that has become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 5.13.

No such rescission shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right consequent thereon.

Section 5.3. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee.

The Company covenants that if:

(a) default is made in the payment of any installment of interest on any Security when such interest becomes due and payable and such default continues for a period of 30 days; or

(b) default is made in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any Security at the Maturity thereof;

the Company will, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to it, for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities, the whole amount then due and payable on such Securities for principal and any premium and interest and, to the extent that payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable, interest on any overdue principal and any premium and on any overdue interest, at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities, and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.

If the Company fails to pay such amounts forthwith upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, may institute a judicial proceeding for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, may prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree and may enforce the same against the Company or, if applicable, the Guarantors or any other obligor upon such Securities and collect the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or, if applicable, the Guarantors or any other obligor upon such Securities, wherever situated.

If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any such rights, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted herein, or to enforce any other proper remedy.

 

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Section 5.4. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.

In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding relative to the Company or, if applicable, any Guarantor or any other obligor upon the Securities, their property or their creditors, the Trustee (irrespective of whether the principal of the Securities shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand on the Company or, if applicable, the Guarantors for the payment of overdue principal or interest) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:

(a) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of principal (and premium, if any) and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Securities 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 the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and of the Holders allowed in such judicial proceeding; and

(b) to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same;

and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee and, if the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 6.7.

No provision of this Indenture 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, compromise, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities or, if applicable, the Securities Guarantee or the rights of any Holder thereof or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding; provided, however, that the Trustee may, on behalf of the Holders, vote for the election of a trustee in bankruptcy or similar official and be a member of a creditors’ or other similar committee.

Section 5.5. Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities.

All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or the Securities may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Securities or the production thereof in any proceeding relating thereto, and any such proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall, after provision for the payment of the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.

Section 5.6. Application of Money Collected.

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

 

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FIRST: To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee under Section 6.7;

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

THIRD: The balance, if any, to the Company.

Section 5.7. Limitation on Suits.

No Holder of any Security of any series shall have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to this Indenture (including, if applicable, the Securities Guarantee), or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless:

(a) such Holder has previously given written notice to the Trustee of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of that series;

(b) the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in its own name as Trustee hereunder;

(c) such Holder or Holders have offered to the Trustee indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request;

(d) the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity has failed to institute any such proceeding; and

(e) no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the Trustee during such 60-day period by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series;

it being understood and intended that no one or more of such Holders shall have any right in any manner whatsoever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other Holder of the same series of Security, or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other Holder of the same series of Security or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of all Holders of the same series of Security.

Section 5.8. Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest.

Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of any Security shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of and any premium and interest on such Security on the Stated Maturity or Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the Redemption Date) and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, and such rights shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.

 

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Section 5.9. Restoration of Rights and Remedies.

If the Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case, subject to any determination in such proceeding, the Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee and the Holders shall be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and the Holders shall continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted.

Section 5.10. Rights and Remedies Cumulative.

Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities in the last paragraph of Section 3.6, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.

Section 5.11. Delay or Omission Not Waiver.

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, no delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Securities to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article Five or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders, as the case may be.

Section 5.12. Control by Holders.

The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee, with respect to the Securities of such series; provided, however, that:

(a) such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture;

(b) the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee that is not inconsistent with such direction; and

(c) subject to the provisions of Section 6.1, the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee in good faith shall determine that the direction would expose the Trustee to personal liability.

Section 5.13. Waiver of Past Defaults.

By written notice to the Company and the Trustee, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series may on behalf of the Holders of all the Securities of such series waive any past default hereunder with respect to such series and its consequences, except:

(a) a continuing default in the payment of the principal of or any premium, if any, or interest on any Security of such series; or

 

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(b) a default in respect of a covenant or provision hereof that under Article Nine cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security of such series affected.

Upon any such waiver, such default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Indenture, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or impair any right consequent thereon.

Section 5.14. Undertaking for Costs.

All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Security by such Holder’s acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant, other than the Trustee, in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; but the provisions of this Section 5.14 shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Company, to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Holder, or group of Holders, holding in the aggregate more than 10% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, or to any suit instituted by any Holder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Security on or after the Stated Maturity or Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the Redemption Date).

Section 5.15. Waiver of Stay, Extension or Usury Laws.

Each of the Company and the Guarantors covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it will not at any time insist upon, or plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension or usury law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and each of the Company and the Guarantors (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law and covenants that it will not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.

ARTICLE SIX

THE TRUSTEE

Section 6.1. Certain Duties and Responsibilities.

(a) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of a particular series:

(i) the Trustee undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture and as are provided by the Trust Indenture Act with respect to the Securities of such series, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and

(ii) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; but in the case of any such certificates or opinions that by any 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 they conform to the requirements of this Indenture.

 

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(b) In case an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to the Securities of a particular series, the Trustee shall exercise with respect to the Securities of such series 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.

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

(i) this Subsection shall not be construed to limit the effect of Subsection (a) of this Section;

(ii) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer, unless it shall be proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts;

(iii) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, given pursuant to Section 5.12, relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series; and

(iv) no provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.

(d) Regardless of whether therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section.

Section 6.2. Notice of Defaults.

Within 90 days after the occurrence of any Default hereunder with respect to the Securities of any series, the Trustee shall transmit by mail (or electronic transmission in the case of Global Securities) to all Holders of Securities of such series, as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register, notice of such Default hereunder known to the Trustee, unless such Default shall have been cured or waived; provided, however, that, except in the case of a Default in the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Security of such series or in the payment of any sinking fund installment with respect to Securities of such series, the Trustee may withhold from Holders of Securities notice of any continuing Default or Event of Default if a Responsible Officer of the Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interest of the Holders of Securities of such series; and, provided, further, that in the case of any Default of the character specified in Section 5.1(c) with respect to Securities of such series, no such notice to Holders shall be given until at least 60 days after the occurrence thereof and that in the case of any Default of the character specified in Section 5.1(d) with respect to Securities of such series, no such notice to Holders shall be given until at least 90 days after the occurrence thereof.

 

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Section 6.3. Certain Rights of Trustee.

Subject to the provisions of Section 6.1:

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

(b) any request or direction of the Company or a Guarantor mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Company Request or Company Order and any resolution of the Board of Directors may be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution;

(c) whenever in the administration of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Trustee (unless other evidence be herein specifically prescribed) shall be entitled to receive and may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, rely upon an Officer’s Certificate;

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

(e) the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders pursuant to this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities that might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction;

(f) the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Company, personally or by agent or attorney;

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

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

 

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(i) the Trustee shall be entitled to the rights and protections afforded to the Trustee pursuant to this Article Six in acting as a Paying Agent or Security Registrar hereunder;

(j) the Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any Default or Event of Default unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge thereof or unless written notice of any event that is in fact such a Default is received by the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and such notice references the Securities and this Indenture;

(k) the Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take that it believes in good faith to be authorized or within its powers conferred upon it by this Indenture or pursuant to applicable law;

(l) the Trustee shall not be required to provide any bond or surety in respect of the execution of the trusts and powers in respect of this Indenture or otherwise;

(m) under no circumstances shall the Trustee be liable in its individual or any other capacity for the obligations evidenced by any Securities; and

(n) anything in this Indenture notwithstanding, in no event shall the Trustee be liable for any special, indirect, punitive, incidental or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including but not limited to loss of profit), even if the Company has been advised as to the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action.

Section 6.4. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities.

The recitals contained herein and in the Securities, except the Trustee’s certificates of authentication, shall be taken as the statements of the Company or, if applicable, the Guarantors, and neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent assumes any responsibility for their correctness. Neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent makes any representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities. The Trustee or any Authenticating Agent shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of Securities or the proceeds thereof.

Section 6.5. May Hold Securities.

The Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any Paying Agent, any Security Registrar or any other agent of the Company or, if applicable, any Guarantor, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and, subject to Sections 310(b) and 311 of the Trust Indenture Act and Section 6.8, Section 6.9 and Section 6.13, may otherwise deal with the Company or, if applicable, the Guarantors with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent, Security Registrar or such other agent.

Section 6.6. Money Held in Trust.

 

Money held by the Trustee in trust hereunder need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustee shall be under no liability for interest on any money received by it hereunder except as otherwise agreed in writing with the Company or, if applicable, one or more of the Guarantors.

 

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Section 6.7. Compensation and Reimbursement.

The Company agrees:

(a) to pay to the Trustee from time to time reasonable compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust);

(b) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any provision of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as has been adjudicated to have resulted from its own negligence or willful misconduct; and

(c) to indemnify each of the Trustee and its officers, directors, agents and employees for, and to hold it and them harmless against, any loss, liability or expense arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts hereunder, including the costs and expenses of defending itself or themselves against any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its or their powers or duties hereunder, except any such loss, liability or expense as has been adjudicated to have resulted from any of its or their own negligence or willful misconduct.

As security for the performance of the obligations of the Company under this Section, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such, except funds held in trust for the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on particular Securities.

Without limiting any rights available to the Trustee under applicable law, when the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection with an Event of Default specified in Section 5.1(e) or Section 5.1(f), the expenses (including the reasonable charges and expenses of its counsel) and the compensation for the services of the Trustee are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any applicable Bankruptcy Law.

The provisions of this Section 6.7 shall survive the resignation or removal of the Trustee and the termination or satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture and the Legal Defeasance of the Securities.

Section 6.8. Disqualification; Conflicting Interests.

Reference is made to Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act. There shall be excluded from the operation of Section 310(b)(1) of the Trust Indenture Act this Indenture with respect to the Securities of more than one series.

Section 6.9. Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility.

There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder that shall be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers, having a combined capital and surplus required by the Trust Indenture Act, subject to supervision or examination by Federal or State authority. If such corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of said supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and

 

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surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. The Trustee shall not be an obligor upon the Securities or an Affiliate thereof. If at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, then it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article Six.

Section 6.10. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.

(a) No resignation or removal of the Trustee and no appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to this Article shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 6.11.

(b) The Trustee may resign at any time with respect to the Securities of one or more series by giving written notice thereof to the Company. If the instrument of acceptance of appointment by a successor Trustee required by Section 6.11 shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

(c) The Trustee may be removed at any time with respect to the Securities of any series by Act of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series, delivered to the Trustee and to the Company.

(d) If at any time:

(i) the Trustee shall fail to comply with Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act after written request therefor by the Company or by any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months; or

(ii) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible under Section 6.9 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any such Holder; or

(iii) the Trustee shall become incapable of acting or shall be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent or a Custodian of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed or any public officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation,

then, in any such case, (A) the Company by a Board Resolution may remove the Trustee with respect to all Securities, or (B) subject to Section 5.14, any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee with respect to all Securities and the appointment of a successor Trustee or Trustees.

(e) If the Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of Trustee for any cause, with respect to the Securities of one or more series, the Company, by a Board Resolution, shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or Trustees with respect to the Securities of that or those series (it being understood that any such successor Trustee may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more or all of such series and that at any time there shall be only one Trustee with respect to the Securities of any particular series), and the Company and the successor Trustee shall comply with the applicable requirements of Section 6.11. If, within one year after such resignation, removal or incapability, or the occurrence

 

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of such vacancy, a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall be appointed by Act of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series delivered to the Company and the retiring Trustee, the successor Trustee so appointed shall, forthwith upon its acceptance of such appointment in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 6.11, become the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and to that extent supersede the successor Trustee appointed by the Company. If no successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall have been so appointed by the Company or the Holders and accepted appointment in the manner required by Section 6.11, any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security of such series for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

(f) The Company shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series and each appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series to all Holders of Securities of such series in the manner provided in Section 1.7. Each notice shall include the name of the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and the address of its Corporate Trust Office.

Section 6.11. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.

(a) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to all Securities, the successor Trustee so appointed shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company, the Guarantors (if applicable) and to the retiring Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective and such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee; but, on the request of the Company, any Guarantor (if applicable) or the successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall, upon payment of its charges, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights, powers and trusts of the retiring Trustee and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder, subject nevertheless to its lien under Section 6.7.

(b) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Company, the Guarantors (if applicable), the retiring Trustee and each successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto wherein each successor Trustee shall accept such appointment and which (i) shall contain such provisions as shall be necessary or desirable to transfer and confirm to, and to vest in, each successor Trustee all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates, (ii) if the retiring Trustee is not retiring with respect to all Securities, shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series as to which the retiring Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the retiring Trustee, and (iii) shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust and that each such Trustee shall be trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee; and upon the execution and delivery of such supplemental indenture the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective to the extent provided therein and each such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all

 

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the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates; but, on request of the Company, any Guarantor (if applicable) or any successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee, upon payment of its charges, shall execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights, powers and trusts of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of the series to which the appointment of such successor relates and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of such series, subject nevertheless to its lien under Section 6.7.

(c) Upon request of any such successor Trustee, the Company and, if applicable, the Guarantors shall execute any and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor Trustee all such rights, powers and trusts referred to in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section, as the case may be.

(d) No successor Trustee shall accept its appointment unless at the time of such acceptance such successor Trustee shall be qualified and eligible under this Article and the Trust Indenture Act.

Section 6.12. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business.

Any corporation into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder, provided such corporation shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article Six, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto. As soon as practicable, the successor Trustee shall mail (or send by electronic transmission in the case of Global Securities) a notice of its succession to the Company and the Holders of the Securities then Outstanding. In case any Securities shall have been authenticated, but not delivered, by the Trustee then in office, any successor by merger, conversion or consolidation to such authenticating Trustee may adopt such authentication and deliver the Securities so authenticated with the same effect as if such successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Securities.

Section 6.13. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.

Reference is made to Section 311 of the Trust Indenture Act. For purposes of Section 311(b) of the Trust Indenture Act:

(a) the term “cash transaction” means any transaction in which full payment for goods or securities sold is made within seven days after delivery of the goods or securities in currency or in checks or other orders drawn upon banks or bankers and payable upon demand;

(b) the term “self-liquidating paper” means any draft, bill of exchange, acceptance or obligation which is made, drawn, negotiated or incurred by the Company or, if applicable, any Guarantor for the purpose of financing the purchase, processing, manufacturing, shipment, storage or sale of goods, wares or merchandise and which is secured by documents evidencing title to, possession of, or a lien upon, the goods, wares or merchandise or the receivables or proceeds arising from the sale of the goods, wares or merchandise previously constituting the security, provided the security is received by the Trustee simultaneously with the creation of the creditor relationship with the Company or, if applicable, such Guarantor arising from the making, drawing, negotiating or incurring of the draft, bill of exchange, acceptance or obligation.

 

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Section 6.14. Appointment of Authenticating Agent.

The Trustee may appoint an Authenticating Agent or Agents with respect to one or more series of Securities, which shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of such series issued upon exchange, registration of transfer or partial redemption thereof or pursuant to Section 3.6, and Securities so authenticated shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee hereunder. Wherever reference is made in this Indenture to the authentication and delivery of Securities by the Trustee or the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, such reference shall be deemed to include authentication and delivery on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent and a certificate of authentication executed on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent. Each Authenticating Agent shall be acceptable to the Company and shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, authorized under such laws to act as Authenticating Agent, having a combined capital and surplus of not less than $50,000,000 and subject to supervision or examination by Federal or State authority. If such Authenticating Agent publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of said supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such Authenticating Agent shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, such Authenticating Agent shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in this Section.

Any corporation into which an Authenticating Agent may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which such Authenticating Agent shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate agency or corporate trust business of an Authenticating Agent, shall continue to be an Authenticating Agent, provided such corporation shall be otherwise eligible under this Section, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent.

An Authenticating Agent may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Trustee and to the Company and, if applicable, the Guarantors. The Trustee for any series of Securities may at any time terminate the agency of an Authenticating Agent by giving written notice thereof to such Authenticating Agent and to the Company and, if applicable, the Guarantors. Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time such Authenticating Agent shall cease to be qualified and eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, the Trustee for such series may appoint a successor Authenticating Agent that shall be acceptable to the Company and, if applicable, the Guarantors and shall mail (or send by electronic transmission in the case of Global Securities) written notice of such appointment by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to all Holders of Securities of the series with respect to which such Authenticating Agent will serve, as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register. Any successor Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder shall become vested with all the rights, powers and duties of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as an Authenticating Agent. No successor Authenticating Agent shall be appointed unless eligible under the provisions of this Section.

Except with respect to an Authenticating Agent appointed at the request of the Company or, if applicable, the Guarantors, the Trustee agrees to pay to each Authenticating Agent from time to time reasonable compensation for its services under this Section 6.14, and the Trustee shall be entitled to be reimbursed by the Company or, if applicable, the Guarantors for such payments, subject to the provisions of Section 6.7.

 

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If an appointment with respect to one or more series is made pursuant to this Section 6.14, the Securities of such series may have endorsed thereon, in addition to the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, an alternate certificate of authentication in the following form:

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

 

UMB Bank, N.A., as Trustee
By:  

                          

  As Authenticating Agent
By:  

 

  Authorized Officer

ARTICLE SEVEN

HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY

Section 7.1. Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders.

The Company will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee:

(a) semi-annually, not more than 5 days after each Regular Record Date for a series of Securities, a list for such series of Securities, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Holders of Securities of such series as of such Regular 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 of similar form and content as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list is furnished;

provided, however, that if and so long as the Trustee shall be the Security Registrar, no such list need be furnished with respect to such series of Securities.

Section 7.2. Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders.

(a) The Trustee shall preserve, with respect to each series of Securities, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, the names and addresses of Holders contained in the most recent list furnished to the Trustee as provided in Section 7.1 and the names and addresses of Holders received by the Trustee in its capacity as Security Registrar. The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 7.1 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.

(b) If three or more Holders (herein referred to as “applicants”) apply in writing to the Trustee, and furnish to the Trustee reasonable proof that each such applicant has owned a Security for a period of at least six months preceding the date of such application, and such application states that the applicants desire to communicate with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under the Securities and is accompanied by a copy of the form of proxy or other communication which such applicants propose to transmit, then the Trustee shall, within five Business Days after the receipt of such application, at its election, either:

 

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(i) afford such applicants access to the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with Section 7.2(a); or

(ii) inform such applicants as to the approximate number of Holders whose names and addresses appear in the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with Section 7.2(a), and as to the approximate cost of mailing to such Holders the form of proxy or other communication, if any, specified in such application.

If the Trustee shall elect not to afford such applicants access to such information, the Trustee shall, upon the written request of such applicants, mail to each Holder whose name and address appear in the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with Section 7.2(a) a copy of the form of proxy or other communication that is specified in such request, with reasonable promptness after a tender to the Trustee of the material to be mailed and of payment, or provision for the payment, of the reasonable expenses of mailing, unless within five days after such tender the Trustee shall mail to such applicants and file with the SEC, together with a copy of the material to be mailed, a written statement to the effect that, in the opinion of the Trustee, such mailing would be contrary to the best interest of the Holders or would be in violation of applicable law. Such written statement shall specify the basis of such opinion. If the SEC, after opportunity for a hearing upon the objections specified in the written statement so filed, shall enter an order refusing to sustain any of such objections or if, after the entry of an order sustaining one or more of such objections, the SEC shall find, after notice and opportunity for hearing, that all the objections so sustained have been met and shall enter an order so declaring, the Trustee shall mail copies of such material to all such Holders with reasonable promptness after the entry of such order and the renewal of such tender; otherwise the Trustee shall be relieved of any obligation or duty to such applicants respecting their application.

(c) Every Holder of Securities, by receiving and holding the same, agrees with the Company, the Guarantors (if applicable) and the Trustee that none of the Company, the Guarantors (if applicable) nor the Trustee nor any agent of any of them shall be held accountable by reason of the disclosure of any such information as to the names and addresses of the Holders in accordance with Section 7.2(b), regardless of the source from which such information was derived, and that the Trustee shall not be held accountable by reason of mailing any material pursuant to a request made under Section 7.2(b).

Section 7.3. Reports by Trustee.

Any Trustee’s report required pursuant to Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act shall be dated as of May 15, and shall be transmitted within 60 days after May 15 of each year (but in all events at intervals of not more than 12 months), commencing with the year 20__, by mail (or electronic transmission in the case of Global Securities) to all Holders, as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register. A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission to Holders, be filed by the Trustee with each stock exchange upon which any Securities are listed, and with the SEC. The Company will notify the Trustee when any Securities are listed on any stock exchange.

 

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Section 7.4. Reports by Company.

The Company shall:

(a) file with the Trustee, within 15 days after the Company files the same with the SEC, copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the SEC may from time to time by rules and regulations prescribe) which the Company may be required to file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act; or, if the Company is not required to file information, documents or reports pursuant to either of said Sections, then it shall file with the Trustee and the SEC, in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the SEC, 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;

(b) file with the Trustee and the SEC, in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the SEC, such additional information, documents and reports with respect to compliance by the Company with the conditions and covenants of this Indenture as may be required from time to time by such rules and regulations; and

(c) transmit by mail (or electronic transmission in the case of Global Securities) to all Holders, as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register, within 30 days after the filing thereof with the Trustee, such summaries of any information, documents and reports required to be filed by the Company pursuant to clauses (a) and (b) of this Section as may be required by rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the SEC.

ARTICLE EIGHT

CONSOLIDATION, AMALGAMATION, MERGER AND SALE

Section 8.1. Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms.

The Company shall not convert into, or consolidate, amalgamate or merge with or into any other Person or sell, convey, assign, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company on a consolidated basis to any other Person unless:

(a) either: (i) the Company is the surviving Person; or (ii) the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation, amalgamation or merger or resulting from such conversion (if other than the Company) or to which such sale, conveyance, assignment, transfer, lease or other disposition has been made is a corporation, limited liability company or limited partnership organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia;

(b) the Person formed by or surviving any such conversion, consolidation, amalgamation or merger (if other than the Company) or the Person to which such sale, conveyance, assignment, transfer, lease or other disposition has been made assumes by an indenture supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to the Trustee, the due and punctual payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on all the Securities and the performance of every covenant of this Indenture on the part of the Company to be performed or observed;

(c) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Event of Default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an Event of Default, shall have occurred and be continuing; and

(d) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such conversion, consolidation, amalgamation, merger, sale, conveyance, assignment, transfer, lease or other disposition and such supplemental indenture comply with this Article Eight and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with.

 

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Section 8.2. Successor Substituted.

Upon any consolidation, amalgamation or merger of the Company with or into any other Person or any sale, conveyance, assignment, transfer, lease or other disposition of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company and, if applicable, the Guarantors on a consolidated basis in accordance with Section 8.1, the successor or resulting Person formed by or resulting upon such consolidation, amalgamation or merger (if other than the Company) or to which such sale, conveyance, assignment, transfer, lease or other disposition is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as the Company herein, and thereafter, except in the case of a lease, the predecessor Company and, if applicable, each of the Guarantors shall be relieved of all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities.

ARTICLE NINE

AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER

Section 9.1. Without Consent of Holders.

The Company, the Guarantors (if any) and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture, the Securities Guarantee or the Securities without the consent of any holder of a Security:

(a) to cure any ambiguity or defect or to correct or supplement any provision herein that may be inconsistent with any other provision herein; or

(b) to evidence the succession of another Person to the Company and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants of the Company herein and, to the extent applicable, of the Securities; or

(c) to provide for uncertificated Securities in addition to or in place of certificated Securities; provided that the uncertificated Securities are issued in registered form for purposes of Section 163(f) of the Code, or in the manner such that the uncertificated Securities are described in Section 163(f)(2)(B) of the Code; or

(d) to add a Securities Guarantee and cause any Person to become a Guarantor, and/or to evidence the succession of another Person to a Guarantor and the assumption by any such successor of the Securities Guarantee of such Guarantor herein and, to the extent applicable, endorsed upon any Securities of any series, and/or to cause any corporate subsidiary of the Company to become a co-issuer of the Securities of any series; or

(e) to secure the Securities of any series; or

(f) to add to the covenants of the Company such further covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions as the Company shall consider to be appropriate for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such covenants are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series) or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company, and to make the occurrence, or the occurrence and continuance, of a Default in any such additional covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions an Event of Default permitting the enforcement of all or any of the several remedies provided in this Indenture as herein set forth; provided, that in respect of any such additional covenant, restriction, condition or provision such amendment or supplemental indenture may provide for a particular period of grace after Default

 

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(which period may be shorter or longer than that allowed in the case of other Defaults), may provide for an immediate enforcement upon such an Event of Default, may limit the remedies available to the Trustee upon such an Event of Default or may limit the right of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series to waive such an Event of Default; or

(g) to make any change to any provision of this Indenture that does not adversely affect the rights or interests of any Holder of Securities; or

(h) to provide for the issuance of additional Securities in accordance with the provisions set forth in this Indenture; or

(i) to add any additional Defaults or Events of Default in respect of all or any series of Securities; or

(j) to add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the issuance of Securities in bearer form, registrable or not registrable as to principal, and with or without interest coupons; or

(k) to change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture; provided that any such change or elimination shall become effective only when there is no Security Outstanding of any series created prior to the execution of such amendment or supplemental indenture that is entitled to the benefit of such provision; or

(l) to establish the form or terms of Securities of any series as permitted by Section 2.1 and Section 3.1, including to reopen any series of any Securities as permitted under Section 3.1; or

(m) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, pursuant to the requirements of Section 6.11(b); or

(n) to conform the text of this Indenture (and/or any supplemental indenture) or any Securities issued hereunder to any provision of a description of such text or Securities appearing in a prospectus, prospectus supplement, offering memorandum or offering circular pursuant to which such Securities were offered to the extent that such provision was intended by the Company to be a verbatim recitation of a provision of this Indenture (and/or any supplemental indenture) or any Securities or Securities Guarantee issued hereunder, with such intention being evidenced by an Officer’s Certificate; or

(o) to modify, eliminate or add to the provisions of this Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to effect the qualification of this Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act or under any similar federal statute subsequently enacted, and to add to this Indenture such other provisions as may be expressly required under the Trust Indenture Act.

Section 9.2. With Consent of Holders.

The Company, the Guarantors (if any) and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture, the Securities Guarantee and the Securities with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of each series of Securities affected by such amendment or supplemental indenture, with each such series voting as a separate class (including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Securities) and,

 

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subject to Section 5.8 and Section 5.13 hereof, any existing Default or Event of Default or compliance with any provision of this Indenture, the Securities Guarantee or the Securities may be waived with respect to each series of Securities with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series voting as a separate class (including consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Securities).

It is not necessary for the consent of the Holders of Securities under this Section 9.2 to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment, supplement or waiver, but it is sufficient if such consent approves the substance of the proposed amendment, supplement or waiver.

After an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section 9.2 becomes effective, the Company will mail to the Holders of Securities affected thereby a notice briefly describing the amendment, supplement or waiver. Any failure of the Company to mail such notice, or any defect therein, will not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such amendment, supplemental indenture or waiver. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, without the consent of each Holder affected, an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section 9.2 may not (with respect to any Securities held by a non-consenting Holder):

(a) change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any installment of principal of or interest on, any Security, or reduce the principal amount thereof or the rate of interest thereon or any premium payable upon the redemption thereof, or reduce the amount of the principal of an Original Issue Discount Security that would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.2, or change the coin or currency in which any Security or any premium or the interest thereon is payable, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the Stated Maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the Redemption Date therefor); or

(b) reduce the percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, the consent of whose Holders is required for any such amendment or supplemental indenture, or the consent of whose Holders is required for any waiver of compliance with certain provisions of this Indenture or certain defaults hereunder and their consequences provided for in this Indenture; or

(c) modify any of the provisions of Section 5.8 or Section 5.13; or

(d) waive a redemption payment with respect to any Security; provided, however, that any purchase or repurchase of Securities shall not be deemed a redemption of the Securities; or

(e) release any Guarantor from any of its obligations under its Securities Guarantee or this Indenture, except in accordance with the terms of this Indenture (as amended or supplemented); or

(f) make any change in the foregoing amendment and waiver provisions, except to increase any percentage provided for therein or to provide that certain other provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby.

An amendment or supplemental indenture that changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of this Indenture that has expressly been included solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of Securities, or that modifies the rights of the Holders of 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 Securities of any other series.

 

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Section 9.3. Execution of Amendments and Supplemental Indentures.

In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any amendment or supplemental indenture permitted by this Article Nine or the modifications thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 6.1) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such amendment or supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture.

Upon the request of the Company accompanied by a Board Resolution authorizing the execution of any such amendment or supplemental indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence satisfactory to the Trustee of the consent of the Holders of Securities as aforesaid, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 6.3 hereof, the Trustee will join with the Company and the Guarantors in the execution of such amendment or supplemental indenture unless such amendment or supplemental indenture directly affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion, but will not be obligated to, enter into such amendment or supplemental Indenture.

Section 9.4. Effect of Amendments and Supplemental Indentures.

Upon the execution of any amendment or supplemental indenture under this Article Nine, this Indenture shall be modified in accordance therewith, and such amendment or supplemental indenture shall form a part of this Indenture for all purposes; and every Holder of Securities theretofore or thereafter authenticated and delivered hereunder shall be bound thereby.

Section 9.5. Conformity with Trust Indenture Act.

Every amendment or supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article Nine shall conform to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect.

Section 9.6. Reference in Securities to Amendments or Supplemental Indentures.

Securities of any series authenticated and delivered after the execution of any amendment or supplemental indenture pursuant to this Article Nine 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 amendment or supplemental indenture. If the Company shall so determine, new Securities of any series so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Trustee and the Company, to any such amendment or supplemental indenture may be prepared and executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in exchange for Outstanding Securities of such series.

Section 9.7. Effect of Consents.

Until an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder of a Security of a series is a continuing consent by the Holder of a Security of such series and every subsequent Holder of a Security of such series or portion of a Security of such series that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Security of such series, even if the notation of the consent is not made on any Security. An amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective in accordance with its terms and thereafter binds every Holder of the Securities of such series.

 

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ARTICLE TEN

COVENANTS

Section 10.1. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest.

The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of each series of Securities that it will duly and punctually pay the principal of and any premium and interest on the Securities of that series in accordance with the terms of the Securities and this Indenture.

Section 10.2. Maintenance of Office or Agency.

The Company will maintain in the United States an office or agency (which may be an office of the Trustee or Security Registrar or agent of the Trustee or Security Registrar) where Securities of each series may be presented or surrendered for payment and surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of that 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.

The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Securities of one or more series may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency.

Except as otherwise specified with respect to a series of Securities as contemplated by Section 3.1, the Company hereby initially designates the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee as the Company’s office or agency for each such purpose for each series of Securities. The Trustee shall initially serve as Paying Agent. In the event the Company makes any payment in any currency in which the Trustee is unable to pay, and notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Company will appoint a Paying Agent other than the Trustee to make such payment and the Trustee will have no obligations with respect to such payment and will incur no liability with respect to the failure by the Company or such other Paying Agent to make, or cause to be made, such payment.

Section 10.3. Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust.

If the Company shall at any time act as its own Paying Agent, with respect to any series of Securities, it will, on or before each due date of the principal of or any premium or interest on any of the Securities of that series, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto a sum sufficient to pay the principal and any premium and interest so becoming due until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided and will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.

Whenever the Company shall have one or more Paying Agents for any series of Securities, it will, prior to each due date of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities of that series, deposit with a Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay the principal and any premium or interest so becoming due, such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such principal, premium or interest, and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act. For purposes of this Section 10.3, should a due date for principal of or any premium or interest on, or sinking fund payment with respect to, any series of Securities not be on a Business Day, such payment shall be due on the next Business Day without any interest for the period from the due date until such Business Day.

 

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The Company will cause each Paying Agent for any series of Securities other than the Trustee to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such Paying Agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section, that such Paying Agent will:

(a) hold all sums held by it for the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on Securities of that series in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided;

(b) give the Trustee notice of any Default by the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities of that series) in the making of any payment of principal or any premium or interest on the Securities of that series; and

(c) at any time during the continuance of any such Default, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so held in trust by such Paying Agent.

The Company and, if applicable, the Guarantors may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or for any other purpose, pay, or by Company Order direct any Paying Agent to pay, to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Company or such Paying Agent, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the same trusts as those upon which such sums were held by the Company or such Paying Agent; and, upon such payment by any Paying Agent to the Trustee, such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such money.

Subject to any applicable escheat or abandoned property laws, any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Security of any series and remaining unclaimed for one year after such principal, premium or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on Company Request, or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Security shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Company cause to be published once, in The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal (national edition), notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company.

Section 10.4. Existence.

Subject to Article Eight, the Company and, if any Securities of a series to which Article Fourteen has been made applicable are Outstanding, each Guarantor will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its existence, rights (charter and statutory) and franchises; provided, however, that the Company and, if applicable, each Guarantor shall not be required to preserve any such right or franchise if the Board of Directors shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company or such Guarantor, as the case may be.

 

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Section 10.5. Statement by Officers as to Default.

Annually, within 120 days after the close of each fiscal year beginning with the first fiscal year during which one or more series of Securities are Outstanding, the Company and, if any Securities of a series to which Article Fourteen has been made applicable are Outstanding, each Guarantor will deliver to the Trustee a brief certificate (which need not include the statements set forth in Section 1.3) from the principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer of the Company and, if applicable, such Guarantor, stating that a review of the activities of the Company during such year and of performance under this Indenture has been made, and as to his or her knowledge of the Company’s or such Guarantor’s, as the case may be, compliance (without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice provided herein) with all conditions and covenants under this Indenture and, if the Company or such Guarantor, as the case may be, shall be in Default, specifying all such Defaults and the nature and status thereof of which such officer has knowledge.

ARTICLE ELEVEN

REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

Section 11.1. Applicability of Article.

Securities of any series that are redeemable before their Stated Maturity shall be redeemable in accordance with their terms and (except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1 for Securities of any series) in accordance with this Article Eleven.

Section 11.2. Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee.

The election of the Company to redeem any Securities shall be evidenced by a Board Resolution. In case of any redemption at the election of the Company of less than all the Securities of any series, the Company shall, at least 15 days prior to the last date for the giving of notice of such redemption (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), notify the Trustee of such Redemption Date and of the principal amount of Securities of such series to be redeemed and, if applicable, of the tenor of the Securities to be redeemed. In the case of any redemption of Securities (a) prior to the expiration of any restriction on such redemption provided in the terms of such Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture or (b) pursuant to an election of the Company that is subject to a condition specified in the terms of the Securities of the series to be redeemed, the Company shall furnish the Trustee with an Officer’s Certificate evidencing compliance with such restriction or condition.

Section 11.3. Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed.

If less than all the Securities of any series are to be redeemed (unless all of the Securities of such series and of a specified tenor are to be redeemed), the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 45 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee, from the Outstanding Securities of such series not previously called for redemption, by such method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate (and in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Depositary in the case of Global Securities) and which may provide for the selection for redemption of portions (equal to the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of that series or any integral multiple thereof) of the principal amount of Securities of such series of a denomination larger than the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of that series.

 

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The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the Securities selected for redemption and, in the case of any Securities selected for partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed. If the Securities of any series to be redeemed consist of Securities having different dates on which the principal is payable or different rates of interest, or different methods by which interest may be determined or have any other different tenor or terms, then the Company may, by written notice to the Trustee, direct that the Securities of such series to be redeemed shall be selected from among the groups of such Securities having specified tenor or terms and the Trustee shall thereafter select the particular Securities to be redeemed in the manner set forth in the preceding paragraph from among the group of such Securities so specified.

For all purposes of this Indenture, unless the context otherwise requires, all provisions relating to the redemption of Securities shall relate, in the case of any Securities redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the principal amount of such Securities which has been or is to be redeemed.

Section 11.4. Notice of Redemption.

Notice of redemption shall be given by first-class mail, postage prepaid, or sent electronically in the case of Global Securities, in each case, not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date, to each Holder of Securities of a series that are to be redeemed, at such Holder’s address appearing in the Security Register, except that redemption notices may be given more than 60 days prior to a Redemption Date if the notice is issued in connection with defeasance of the Securities of such series pursuant to Article Thirteen or a satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture pursuant to Article Four with respect to the Securities of such series.

All notices of redemption shall state:

(a) the Redemption Date;

(b) the Redemption Price, or if not then ascertainable, the manner of calculation thereof;

(c) if less than all the Outstanding Securities of any series are to be redeemed, the identification (and, in the case of partial redemption, the principal amounts) of the particular Securities to be redeemed;

(d) that on the Redemption Date the Redemption Price will become due and payable upon each such Security to be redeemed and, if applicable, that interest thereon will cease to accrue on and after said date;

(e) the place or places where such Securities are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price;

(f) that the redemption is for a sinking fund, if such is the case; and

(g) the conditions, if any, to which such redemption shall be subject.

Notice of redemption of Securities to be redeemed at the election of the Company shall be given by the Company or, at the Company’s request, by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company.

Section 11.5. Deposit of Redemption Price.

Prior to any Redemption Date, 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 as provided in Section 10.3) an amount of money sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of, and (except if the Redemption Date shall be an Interest Payment Date) accrued interest on, all the Securities which are to be redeemed on that date.

 

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Section 11.6. Securities Payable on Redemption Date.

Notice of redemption having been given as aforesaid, the Securities so to be redeemed shall, on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at the Redemption Price therein specified, and from and after such date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest, or fail to pay the Redemption Price and accrued interest as a result of any failure of any condition to which such redemption is subject to be satisfied or waived) such Securities shall cease to bear interest. Upon surrender of any such Security for redemption in accordance with said notice, such Security shall be paid by the Company at the Redemption Price, together with accrued interest to the Redemption Date; provided, however, that unless otherwise specified with respect to Securities of any series as contemplated in Section 3.1, installments of interest the Stated Maturity of which is on or prior to the Redemption Date shall be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as such at the close of business on the relevant record dates according to their terms and the provisions of Section 3.7.

If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof for redemption, the principal (and premium, if any) shall, until paid, bear interest from the Redemption Date at the rate prescribed therefor in the Security.

Section 11.7. Securities Redeemed in Part.

Any Security which is to be redeemed only in part shall be surrendered at a Place of Payment therefor (with, if the Company or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder thereof or such Holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing), and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security without service charge, a new Security or Securities of the same series and tenor, 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 Security so surrendered.

ARTICLE TWELVE

SINKING FUNDS

Section 12.1. Applicability of Article.

The provisions of this Article Twelve shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of Securities of a series except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1 for Securities of such series.

The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as a “mandatory sinking fund payment,” and any payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as an “optional sinking fund payment.” If provided for by the terms of Securities of any series, the cash amount of any sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 12.2. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities of any series as provided for by the terms of Securities of such series.

 

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Section 12.2. Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities.

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

Section 12.3. Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund.

Not less than 45 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for any series of Securities (unless a shorter period shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing sinking fund payment for that series pursuant to the terms of that series, the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash and the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting Securities of that series pursuant to Section 12.2 and stating the basis for such credit and that such Securities have not been previously so credited, and will also deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so delivered. Not less than 30 days before each such sinking fund payment date the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 11.3 and cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the Company in the manner provided in Section 11.4. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Section 11.6 and Section 11.7.

ARTICLE THIRTEEN

DEFEASANCE

Section 13.1. Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

The Company may, at the option of its Board of Directors evidenced by a Board Resolution, and at any time, elect to have either Section 13.2 or Section 13.3 hereof be applied to all Outstanding Securities of any series upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article Thirteen.

Section 13.2. Legal Defeasance and Discharge.

Upon the Company’s exercise under Section 13.1 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 13.2, the Company and each of the Guarantors will, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 13.4 hereof, be deemed to have been discharged from their obligations with respect to all Outstanding Securities of such series (including the Securities Guarantee) on the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, “Legal Defeasance”). For this purpose, Legal Defeasance means that the Company and the Guarantors will be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Debt represented by the Outstanding Securities of such series (including the Securities Guarantee), which will thereafter be deemed to be “outstanding” only for the purposes of Section 13.5 hereof and the other sections of this Indenture referred to in clauses (a) and (b) below, and to have satisfied all their other obligations under such Securities, the Securities Guarantee and this Indenture (and the Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following provisions, which will survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder:

 

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(a) the rights of Holders of Outstanding Securities of such series to receive payments in respect of the principal of, or interest or premium, if any, on, such Securities when such payments are due from the trust referred to in Section 13.4 hereof;

(b) the Company’s obligations with respect to such Securities under Section 3.4, Section 3.5, Section 3.6, Section 10.2 and Section 10.3 hereof;

(c) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and the Company’s and the Guarantors’ obligations in connection therewith; and

(d) this Article Thirteen.

Subject to compliance with this Article Thirteen, the Company may exercise its option under this Section 13.2 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 13.3 hereof with respect to the same series of Securities.

Section 13.3. Covenant Defeasance.

Upon the Company’s exercise under Section 13.1 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 13.3, the Company and each of the Guarantors will, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 13.4 hereof, be released from each of their obligations with respect to the Securities of such series under the covenants contained in Section 7.4, Section 8.1 and Section 10.4 hereof as well as any Additional Defeasible Provisions (such release and termination hereinafter referred to as “Covenant Defeasance”), and the Securities of such series will thereafter be deemed not “outstanding” for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or act of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with such covenants, but will continue to be deemed “outstanding” for all other purposes hereunder (it being understood that such Securities will not be deemed outstanding for accounting purposes). For this purpose, Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to the Outstanding Securities of such series and the Securities Guarantee, the Company and the Guarantors may fail to comply with and will have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such covenant or by reason of any reference in any such covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document and such failure to comply will not constitute a Default or an Event of Default under Section 5.1 hereof, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Securities and Securities Guarantees will be unaffected thereby. In addition, upon the Company’s exercise under Section 13.1 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 13.3 hereof, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 13.4 hereof, any Event of Default that constitutes an Additional Defeasible Provision will no longer constitute an Event of Default.

Section 13.4. Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance.

In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance with respect to any series of Securities under either Section 13.2 or Section 13.3 hereof:

(a) the Company must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders of the Securities of such series, cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable U.S. Government Obligations, or a combination of cash in U.S. dollars and non-callable U.S. Government Obligations, in such amounts as will be sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized investment bank, appraisal firm, or firm of independent public accountants, to pay the principal of, and interest and premium, if any, on, the Outstanding Securities of such series on the stated date for payment thereof or on the applicable Redemption Date, as the case may be, and the Company must specify whether the Securities are being defeased to such stated date for payment or to a particular Redemption Date;

 

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(b) in the case of an election under Section 13.2 hereof, the Company must deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that:

(i) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling; or

(ii) since the Issue Date, there has been a change in the applicable U.S. federal income tax law,

in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel will state that, the Holders of the Outstanding Securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such Legal Defeasance and will be subject to U.S. 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;

(c) in the case of an election under Section 13.3 hereof, the Company must deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that the Holders of the Outstanding Securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to U.S. 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;

(d) no Default or Event of Default with respect to such series of Securities shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit (other than a Default or Event of Default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit);

(e) the deposit must not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any other instrument to which the Company or any Guarantor is a party or by which the Company or any Guarantor is bound;

(f) such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance must not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any material agreement or instrument (other than this Indenture) to which the Company or any Guarantor is a party or by which the Company or any Guarantor is bound;

(g) the Company must deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent of preferring the Holders of such Securities over the other creditors of the Company with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any creditors of the Company or others;

(h) the Company must deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating that all conditions precedent set forth in clauses (a) through (f) of this Section 13.4 have been complied with; and

(i) the Company must deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel (which Opinion of Counsel may be subject to customary assumptions, qualifications and exclusions) stating that all conditions precedent set forth in clauses (b), (c) and (f) of this Section 13.4 have been complied with.

 

62


Section 13.5. Deposited Money and U.S. Government Obligations to be Held in Trust, Other Miscellaneous Provisions.

Subject to the last paragraph of Section 10.3 hereof, all money and non-callable U.S. Government Obligations (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee, collectively for purposes of this Section 13.5, the “Trustee”) pursuant to Section 13.4 hereof in respect of the Outstanding Securities of any series will be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Securities of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal, premium, if any, and interest, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

The Company will pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the cash or non-callable U.S. Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 13.4 hereof or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge that by law is for the account of the Holders of the Outstanding Securities.

Notwithstanding anything in this Article Thirteen to the contrary, the Trustee will deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon the request of the Company any money or non-callable U.S. Government Obligations held by it as provided in Section 13.4 hereof which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized investment bank, appraisal firm or firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee (which may be the opinion delivered under Section 13.4(a) hereof), are in excess of the amount thereof that would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

Section 13.6. Reinstatement.

If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any United States dollars or non-callable U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with Section 4.1, Section 13.2 or Section 13.3 hereof with respect to the Securities of any series, as the case may be, by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the Company’s and the Guarantors’ obligations under this Indenture and such Securities and the Securities Guarantee will be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 4.1, Section 13.2 or Section 13.3 hereof until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money or non-callable U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with Section 4.1, Section 13.2 or Section 13.3 hereof, as the case may be; provided, however, that, if the Company makes any payment of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any such Security following the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company will be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Securities to receive such payment from the money or non-callable U.S. Government Obligations held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

ARTICLE FOURTEEN

GUARANTEE OF SECURITIES

Section 14.1. Securities Guarantee.

(a) Subject to the other provisions of this Article Fourteen, each of the Guarantors hereby fully and unconditionally and jointly and severally guarantees to each Holder of a Security of each series to which this Article Fourteen has been made applicable as provided in Section 3.1(t) (the Securities of such series being referred to herein as the “Guaranteed Securities”) (which Security has been authenticated and delivered by the Trustee), and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns, irrespective of the validity and enforceability of this Indenture, the Guaranteed Securities, or the obligations of the Company hereunder or thereunder, that:

 

63


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

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

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

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

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

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

 

64


Section 14.2. Limitation on Guarantor Liability.

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

Section 14.3. Execution and Delivery of Securities Guarantee Notation.

To evidence its Securities Guarantee set forth in Section 14.1 hereof, each Guarantor hereby agrees that a notation of such Securities Guarantee substantially in the form set forth in Section 2.3 or established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution or in an indenture supplemental hereto, in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.1, will be endorsed by an officer of such Guarantor on each Guaranteed Security authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and that this Indenture or a supplement to this Indenture will be executed on behalf of such Guarantor by one of its officers.

Each Guarantor hereby agrees that its Securities Guarantee set forth in Section 14.1 hereof will remain in full force and effect notwithstanding any failure to endorse on each Guaranteed Security a notation of such Securities Guarantee.

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

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

* * *

 

65


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

 

SUN COMMUNITIES, INC.
By:  

                              

Name:  

 

Title:  

 

UMB BANK, N.A.
By:  

                              

Name:  

 

Title:  

 

EX-4.16

EXHIBIT 4.16

 

 

 

SUN COMMUNITIES, INC.

AND

UMB BANK, N.A.

Trustee

 

 

INDENTURE

DATED AS OF ________ __, 20__

 

 

SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES

 

 

 

 


SUN COMMUNITIES, INC.

RECONCILIATION AND TIE BETWEEN TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939, AS AMENDED,

AND INDENTURE, DATED AS OF ________ __, 20__

 

TRUST INDENTURE ACT SECTION

   INDENTURE SECTION  

Section 310(a)(1)

     6.9  

(a)(2)

     6.9  

(a)(3)

     Not Applicable  

(a)(4)

     Not Applicable  

(a)(5)

     6.9  

(b)

     6.8  

Section 311

     6.13  

Section 312(a)

     7.1, 7.2 (a) 

(b)

     7.2 (b) 

(c)

     7.2 (c) 

Section 313(a)

     7.3  

(b)

     *  

(c)

     *  

(d)

     7.3  

Section 314(a)

     7.4  

(a)(4)

     10.5  

(b)

     Not Applicable  

(c)(1)

     1.3  

(c)(2)

     1.3  

(c)(3)

     Not Applicable  

(d)

     Not Applicable  

(e)

     1.3  

Section 315(a)

     6.1 (a) 

(b)

     6.2  

(c)

     6.1 (b) 

(d)

     6.1 (c) 

(d)(1)

     6.1 (a)(1) 

(d)(2)

     6.1 (c)(2) 

(d)(3)

     6.1 (c)(3) 

(e)

     5.14  

Section 316(a)

     1.1, 1.2  

(a)(1)(A)

     5.2, 5.12  

(a)(1)(B)

     5.13  

(a)(2)

     Not Applicable  

(b)

     5.8  

(c)

     1.5 (f) 


TRUST INDENTURE ACT SECTION

   INDENTURE SECTION  

Section 317(a)(1)

     5.3  

(a)(2)

     5.4  

(b)

     10.3  

Section 318(a)

     1.8  

NOTE: This reconciliation and tie shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a part of the Indenture.

 

*

Deemed included pursuant to Section 318(c) of the Trust Indenture Act


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  

ARTICLE ONE DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

     1  

Section 1.1.

  Definitions      1  

Section 1.2.

  Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act      8  

Section 1.3.

  Compliance Certificates and Opinions      9  

Section 1.4.

  Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee      9  

Section 1.5.

  Acts of Holders; Record Dates      10  

Section 1.6.

  Notices, Etc., to Trustee, Company and Guarantors      11  

Section 1.7.

  Notice to Holders; Waiver      12  

Section 1.8.

  Conflict with Trust Indenture Act      12  

Section 1.9.

  Effect of Headings and Table of Contents      12  

Section 1.10.

  Successors and Assigns      12  

Section 1.11.

  Duplicate Originals; Signatures      12  

Section 1.12.

  Separability      12  

Section 1.13.

  Benefits of Indenture      13  

Section 1.14.

  Force Majeure      13  

Section 1.15.

  Waiver of Jury Trial      13  

Section 1.16.

  Governing Law      13  

Section 1.17.

  Legal Holidays      13  

Section 1.18.

  Securities in a Composite Currency, Currency Unit or Foreign Currency      13  

Section 1.19.

  Payment in Required Currency; Judgment Currency      14  

Section 1.20.

  Language of Notices, Etc.      14  

Section 1.21.

  Incorporators, Unitholders, Stockholders, Partners, Members, Managers, Directors, Officers and Employees of the Company and the Guarantors Exempt from Individual Liability      14  

Section 1.22.

  USA Patriot Act      15  

ARTICLE TWO SECURITY FORMS

     15  

Section 2.1.

  Forms Generally      15  

Section 2.2.

  Form of Face of Security      15  

Section 2.3.

  Form of Reverse of Security      18  

Section 2.4.

  Global Securities      22  

Section 2.5.

  Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication      23  

ARTICLE THREE THE SECURITIES

     23  

Section 3.1.

  Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series      23  

Section 3.2.

  Denominations      26  

Section 3.3.

  Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating      26  

Section 3.4.

  Temporary Securities      28  

Section 3.5.

  Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange      28  

Section 3.6.

  Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities      30  

Section 3.7.

  Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved      31  

Section 3.8.

  Persons Deemed Owners      32  

Section 3.9.

  Cancellation      32  

Section 3.10.

  Computation of Interest      32  

Section 3.11.

  CUSIP or CINS Numbers      32  

 

i


ARTICLE FOUR SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

     33  

Section 4.1.

  Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture      33  

Section 4.2.

  Application of Trust Money      34  

ARTICLE FIVE REMEDIES

     34  

Section 5.1.

  Events of Default      34  

Section 5.2.

  Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment      35  

Section 5.3.

  Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee      36  

Section 5.4.

  Trustee May File Proofs of Claim      36  

Section 5.5.

  Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities      37  

Section 5.6.

  Application of Money Collected      37  

Section 5.7.

  Limitation on Suits      38  

Section 5.8.

  Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest      38  

Section 5.9.

  Restoration of Rights and Remedies      38  

Section 5.10.

  Rights and Remedies Cumulative      39  

Section 5.11.

  Delay or Omission Not Waiver      39  

Section 5.12.

  Control by Holders      39  

Section 5.13.

  Waiver of Past Defaults      39  

Section 5.14.

  Undertaking for Costs      40  

Section 5.15.

  Waiver of Stay, Extension or Usury Laws      40  

ARTICLE SIX THE TRUSTEE

     40  

Section 6.1.

  Certain Duties and Responsibilities      40  

Section 6.2.

  Notice of Defaults      41  

Section 6.3.

  Certain Rights of Trustee      42  

Section 6.4.

  Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities      43  

Section 6.5.

  May Hold Securities      43  

Section 6.6.

  Money Held in Trust      43  

Section 6.7.

  Compensation and Reimbursement      44  

Section 6.8.

  Disqualification; Conflicting Interests      44  

Section 6.9.

  Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility      44  

Section 6.10.

  Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor      45  

Section 6.11.

  Acceptance of Appointment by Successor      46  

Section 6.12.

  Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business      47  

Section 6.13.

  Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company      47  

Section 6.14.

  Appointment of Authenticating Agent      48  

ARTICLE SEVEN HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY

     49  

Section 7.1.

  Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders      49  

Section 7.2.

  Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders      49  

Section 7.3.

  Reports by Trustee      50  

Section 7.4.

  Reports by Company      51  

ARTICLE EIGHT CONSOLIDATION, AMALGAMATION, MERGER AND SALE

     51  

Section 8.1.

  Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms      51  

Section 8.2.

  Successor Substituted      52  

ARTICLE NINE AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER

     52  

Section 9.1.

  Without Consent of Holders      52  

Section 9.2.

  With Consent of Holders      54  

Section 9.3.

  Execution of Amendments and Supplemental Indentures      55  

 

ii


Section 9.4.

  Effect of Amendments and Supplemental Indentures      55  

Section 9.5.

  Conformity with Trust Indenture Act      55  

Section 9.6.

  Reference in Securities to Amendments or Supplemental Indentures      55  

Section 9.7.

  Effect of Consents      55  

ARTICLE TEN COVENANTS

     56  

Section 10.1.

  Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest      56  

Section 10.2.

  Maintenance of Office or Agency      56  

Section 10.3.

  Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust      56  

Section 10.4.

  Existence      57  

Section 10.5.

  Statement by Officers as to Default      58  

ARTICLE ELEVEN REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

     58  

Section 11.1.

  Applicability of Article      58  

Section 11.2.

  Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee      58  

Section 11.3.

  Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed      58  

Section 11.4.

  Notice of Redemption      59  

Section 11.5.

  Deposit of Redemption Price      59  

Section 11.6.

  Securities Payable on Redemption Date      60  

Section 11.7.

  Securities Redeemed in Part      60  

ARTICLE TWELVE SINKING FUNDS

     60  

Section 12.1.

  Applicability of Article      60  

Section 12.2.

  Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities      61  

Section 12.3.

  Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund      61  

ARTICLE THIRTEEN DEFEASANCE

     61  

Section 13.1.

  Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance      61  

Section 13.2.

  Legal Defeasance and Discharge      61  

Section 13.3.

  Covenant Defeasance      62  

Section 13.4.

  Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance      62  

Section 13.5.

  Deposited Money and U.S. Government Obligations to be Held in Trust, Other Miscellaneous Provisions      64  

Section 13.6.

  Reinstatement      64  

ARTICLE FOURTEEN GUARANTEE OF SECURITIES

     64  

Section 14.1.

  Securities Guarantee      64  

Section 14.2.

  Limitation on Guarantor Liability      66  

Section 14.3.

  Execution and Delivery of Securities Guarantee Notation      66  

ARTICLE FIFTEEN SUBORDINATION OF SECURITIES

     66  

Section 15.1.

  Securities Subordinated to Senior Debt      66  

Section 15.2.

  No Payment on Securities in Certain Circumstances      67  

Section 15.3.

  Payment over of Proceeds upon Dissolution, Etc.      67  

Section 15.4.

  Subrogation      69  

Section 15.5.

  Obligations of Company Unconditional      69  

Section 15.6.

  Notice to Trustee      70  

Section 15.7.

  Reliance on Judicial Order or Certificate of Liquidating Agent      70  

Section 15.8.

  Trustee’s Relation to Senior Debt      71  

Section 15.9.

  Subordination Rights Not Impaired by Acts or Omissions of the Company or Holders of Senior Debt      71  

 

iii


Section 15.10.

  Holders Authorize Trustee to Effectuate Subordination of Securities      71  

Section 15.11.

  Not to Prevent Events of Default      71  

Section 15.12.

  Trustee’s Compensation Not Prejudiced      71  

Section 15.13.

  No Waiver of Subordination Provisions      72  

Section 15.14.

  Payments May Be Paid Prior to Dissolution      72  

Section 15.15.

  Trust Moneys Not Subordinated      72  

ARTICLE SIXTEEN SUBORDINATION OF SECURITIES GUARANTEES

     72  

Section 16.1.

  Securities Guarantees Subordinated to Guarantor Senior Debt      72  

Section 16.2.

  No Payment on Securities Guarantees in Certain Circumstances      73  

Section 16.3.

  Payment over of Proceeds upon Dissolution, Etc.      73  

Section 16.4.

  Subrogation      75  

Section 16.5.

  Obligations of Guarantor Unconditional      75  

Section 16.6.

  Notice to Trustee      76  

Section 16.7.

  Reliance on Judicial Order or Certificate of Liquidating Agent      76  

Section 16.8.

  Trustee’s Relation to Guarantor Senior Debt      77  

Section 16.9.

  Subordination Rights Not Impaired by Acts or Omissions of a Guarantor or Holders of Guarantor Senior Debt      77  

Section 16.10.

  Holders Authorize Trustee to Effectuate Subordination of Securities Guarantees      77  

Section 16.11.

  Not to Prevent Events of Default      77  

Section 16.12.

  Trustee’s Compensation Not Prejudiced      78  

Section 16.13.

  No Waiver of Subordination Provisions      78  

Section 16.14.

  Payments May Be Paid Prior to Dissolution      78  

NOTE: This table of contents shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a part of the Indenture.

 

iv


PARTIES

INDENTURE, dated as of _________ __, 20__, among SUN COMMUNITIES, INC., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Maryland (herein called the “Company”), the Guarantors (as defined hereinafter) and UMB BANK, N.A., a national banking association, as trustee (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 unsecured subordinated debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness (herein called the “Securities”), which may be guaranteed by the Guarantors, to be issued in one or more series as provided in this Indenture.

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

This Indenture is subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act (as defined herein) that are required to be a part of this Indenture and, to the extent applicable, shall be governed by such provisions.

NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

For and in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Securities by the Holders (as defined herein) thereof, it is mutually covenanted and agreed, for the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders of the Securities or of series thereof, as follows:

ARTICLE ONE

DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

Section 1.1. Definitions.

For all purposes of this Indenture, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires:

(a) the terms defined in this Article have the meanings assigned to them in this Article and include the plural as well as the singular;

(b) all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in accordance with GAAP;

(c) the words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder” and other words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision;

(d) the words “Article” and “Section” refer to an Article and Section, respectively, of this Indenture;

(e) the word “includes” and its derivatives means “includes, but is not limited to” and corresponding derivative definitions; and

(f) references to any officer of any partnership or limited liability company that does not have officers but is managed or controlled, directly or indirectly, by an entity that does have officers, shall be deemed to be references to the officers of such managing or controlling entity.


Certain terms, used principally in Article Six, are defined in that Article.

“Act,” when used with respect to any Holder, has the meaning specified in Section 1.5.

“Additional Defeasible Provision” means a covenant or other provision that is (a) made part of this Indenture pursuant to an indenture supplemental hereto, a Board Resolution or an Officer’s Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 3.1, and (b) pursuant to the terms set forth in such supplemental indenture, Board Resolution or Officer’s Certificate, made subject to the provisions of Article Thirteen.

“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 purposes of this definition, “control,” as used with respect to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise. For purposes of this definition, the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with” have correlative meanings.

“Authenticating Agent” means any Person authorized by the Trustee to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities.

“Banking Day” means, in respect of any city, any date on which commercial banks are open for business in that city.

“Bankruptcy Law” means any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law.

“Board of Directors” means:

(a) with respect to a corporation, the board of directors of the corporation or any committee thereof duly authorized to act on behalf of such board;

(b) with respect to a partnership, the Board of Directors of the general partner of the partnership;

(c) with respect to a limited liability company, the managing member or members or any controlling committee of managers or members thereof or any board or committee serving a similar management function; and

(d) with respect to any other Person, the individual or board or committee of such Person serving a management function similar to those described in clauses (a), (b) or (c) of this definition.

“Board Resolution” means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company or a Guarantor, the principal financial officer of the Company or a Guarantor, any other authorized officer of the Company or a Guarantor, or a person duly authorized by any of them, in each case as applicable, to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the Trustee. Where any provision of this Indenture refers to action to be taken pursuant to a Board Resolution (including the establishment of any series of the Securities and the forms and terms thereof), such action may be taken by any committee, officer or employee of the Company or a Guarantor, as applicable, authorized to take such action by the Board of Directors, as evidenced by a Board Resolution.

 

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“Business Day,” when used with respect to any Place of Payment or other location, means, except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 3.1 with respect to any series of Securities, each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday that is not a day on which banking institutions and trust companies in that Place of Payment or other location are authorized or obligated by law, executive order or regulation to close.

“CINS” means CUSIP International Numbering System.

“Code” means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

“Company” means the Person named as the “Company” in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor or resulting Person shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Company” shall mean such successor or resulting Person.

“Company Request” or “Company Order” means, in the case of the Company, a written request or order signed in the name of the Company by its Chairman of the Board, its Chief Executive Officer, its Chief Financial Officer, its President, any of its Vice Presidents or any other duly authorized officer of the Company or any person duly authorized by any of them, and delivered to the Trustee and, in the case of a Guarantor, a written request or order signed in the name of such Guarantor by its Chairman of the Board, its Chief Executive Officer, its President, any of its Vice Presidents or any other duly authorized officer of such Guarantor or any person duly authorized by any of them, and delivered to the Trustee.

“Corporate Trust Office” means the office of the Trustee at the address specified in Section 3.5 or such other address as to which the Trustee may give notice to the Company.

“corporation,” when used in reference to the Trustee or any prospective Trustee, shall include any corporation, company, association, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, joint-stock company, trust or other entity, in each case, satisfying the requirements of Section 310(a)(1) of the Trust Indenture Act.

“Covenant Defeasance” has the meaning specified in Section 13.3.

“CUSIP” means the Committee on Uniform Securities Identification Procedures.

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

“Debt” means any obligation created or assumed by any Person for the repayment of money borrowed and any purchase money obligation created or assumed by such Person and any guarantee of the foregoing.

“Default” means, with respect to a series of Securities, any event that is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would be, an Event of Default.

“Defaulted Interest” has the meaning specified in Section 3.7.

“Definitive Security” means a security other than a Global Security or a temporary Security.

“Depositary” means, with respect to the Securities of any series issuable or issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act that is designated to act as Depositary for such Securities as contemplated by Section 3.1, until a successor Depositary shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter shall mean or include each Person which is a Depositary hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such Person, shall be a collective reference to such Persons.

 

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“Designated Guarantor Senior Debt” shall have the meaning given to such term in a Board Resolution, Officer’s Certificate or indenture supplemental hereto delivered pursuant to Section 3.1.

“Designated Senior Debt” shall have the meaning given to such term in a Board Resolution, Officer’s Certificate or indenture supplemental hereto delivered pursuant to Section 3.1.

“Dollar” or “$” means the coin or currency of the United States of America, which at the time of payment is legal tender for the payment of public and private debts.

“Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 5.1.

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

“Foreign Currency” means a currency used by the government of a country other than the United States of America.

“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America as in effect from time to time, including those set forth in (1) the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification and any related Accounting Standards Updates by the Financial Accounting Standards Board, (2) such other statements by such other entity as are approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession and (3) the rules and regulations of the SEC governing the inclusion of financial statements in periodic reports required to be filed pursuant to Section 13 of the Exchange Act, including opinions and pronouncements in staff accounting bulletins and similar written statements from the accounting staff of the SEC. All computations based on GAAP contained in the Indenture shall be computed in conformity with GAAP.

“Global Security” means a Security in global form that evidences all or part of a series of Securities and is authenticated and delivered to, and registered in the name of, the Depositary for the Securities of such series or its nominee.

“Guaranteed Securities” has the meaning specified in Section 14.1.

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

“Guarantor Senior Debt” means, unless otherwise provided with respect to the Securities of a series as contemplated by Section 3.1, (a) all Debt of a Guarantor, whether currently outstanding or hereafter issued, unless, by the terms of the instrument creating or evidencing such Debt, it is provided that such Debt is not superior in right of payment to the Securities Guarantee or to other Debt which is pari passu with or subordinated to the Securities Guarantee, and (b) any modifications, refunding, deferrals, renewals or extensions of any such Debt or securities, notes or other evidence of Debt issued in exchange for such Debt; provided that in no event shall “Guarantor Senior Debt” include (i) Debt of a Guarantor owed or owing to any Subsidiary of such Guarantor or any officer, director or employee of such Guarantor or any Subsidiary of such Guarantor, (ii) Debt to trade creditors or (iii) any liability for taxes owed or owing by a Guarantor.

“Holder” means a Person in whose name a Security is registered in the Security Register.

 

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“Indenture” means this instrument as originally executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more amendments or indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof, including, for all purposes of this instrument, and any such amendment or supplemental indenture, the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are deemed to be part of and govern this instrument and any such amendment or supplemental indenture, respectively. The term “Indenture” also shall include the terms of particular series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 3.1.

“interest,” when used with respect to an Original Issue Discount Security which by its terms bears interest only after Maturity, means interest payable after Maturity.

“Interest Payment Date,” when used with respect to any Security, means the Stated Maturity of an installment of interest on such Security.

“Judgment Currency” has the meaning specified in Section 1.19.

“Legal Defeasance” has the meaning specified in Section 13.2.

“mandatory sinking fund payment” has the meaning specified in Section 12.1.

“Market Exchange Rate” has the meaning specified in Section 1.18.

“Maturity,” when used with respect to any Security, means the date on which the principal of such Security or an installment of principal becomes due and payable as therein or herein provided, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise.

“Notice of Default” means a written notice of the kind specified in Section 5.1(c) or Section 5.1(d).

“Officer’s Certificate” means, in the case of the Company, a certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the President, any Vice President or any other duly authorized officer of the Company, or a person duly authorized by any of them, and delivered to the Trustee and, in the case of a Guarantor, a certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Vice President or any other duly authorized officer of such Guarantor, or a person duly authorized by any of them, and delivered to the Trustee.

“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion of counsel, who may be an employee of or counsel for the Company or a Guarantor, as the case may be, and who shall be reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.

“optional sinking fund payment” has the meaning specified in Section 12.1.

“Original Issue Discount Security” means any Security which provides for an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.2.

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

(a) Securities theretofore canceled by the Trustee or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;

 

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(b) Securities 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 Securities; provided, however, that, if such 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

(c) Securities that have been paid pursuant to Section 3.6 or in exchange for or in lieu of which other Securities have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture, other than any such Securities in respect of which there shall have been presented to the Trustee proof satisfactory to it that such Securities are held by a protected purchaser in whose hands such Securities are valid obligations of the Company;

provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Outstanding Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, (i) the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security that shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the amount of the principal thereof that would be due and payable as of the date of such determination upon acceleration of the Maturity thereof on such date pursuant to Section 5.2, (ii) the principal amount of a Security denominated in one or more currencies or currency units other than U.S. dollars shall be the U.S. dollar equivalent of such currencies or currency units, determined in the manner provided as contemplated by Section 3.1 on the date of original issuance of such Security or by Section 1.18, if not otherwise so provided pursuant to Section 3.1, of the principal amount (or, in the case of an Original Issue Discount Security, the U.S. dollar equivalent (as so determined) on the date of original issuance of such Security of the amount determined as provided in clause (i) above) of such Security, and (iii) Securities owned by the Company, any Guarantor or any other obligor upon the 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 Securities which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Securities so owned as described in clause (iii) of the immediately preceding sentence 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 to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company, a Guarantor or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor.

“Paying Agent” means any Person authorized by the Company to pay the principal of and any premium or interest on any Securities on behalf of the Company.

“Payment Blockage Period” has the meaning specified in Section 15.2.

“Periodic Offering” means an offering of Securities of a series from time to time, the specific terms of which Securities, including, without limitation, the rate or rates of interest or formula for determining the rate or rates of interest thereon, if any, the Stated Maturity or Stated Maturities thereof, the original issue date or dates thereof, the redemption provisions, if any, with respect thereto, and any other terms specified as contemplated by Section 3.1 with respect thereto, are to be determined by the Company upon the issuance of such Securities.

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

 

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“Place of Payment,” when used with respect to the Securities of any series, means, unless otherwise specifically provided for with respect to such series as contemplated by Section 3.1, the office or agency of the Company and such other place or places where, subject to the provisions of Section 10.2, the principal of and any premium and interest on the Securities of that series are payable as contemplated by Section 3.1.

“Predecessor Security” of any particular Security means every previous Security evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular Security; and, for the purposes of this definition, any Security authenticated and delivered under Section 3.6 in exchange for or in lieu of a mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security.

“Redemption Date,” when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, means the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this Indenture.

“Redemption Price,” when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, means the price at which it is to be redeemed pursuant to this Indenture.

“Regular Record Date” for the interest payable on any Interest Payment Date on the Securities of any series means the date specified for that purpose as contemplated by Section 3.1.

“Required Currency” has the meaning specified in Section 1.19.

“Responsible Officer,” when used with respect to the Trustee, means any officer within the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee (or any successor group of the Trustee) or any other officer of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of his knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.

“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from time to time constituted, created under the Exchange Act, or, if at any time after the execution of this instrument such commission is not existing and performing the duties now assigned to it under the Trust Indenture Act, then the body performing such duties at such time.

“Securities” has the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture and more particularly means any Securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.

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

“Securities Guarantee Payment Blockage Period” has the meaning specified in Section 16.2.

“Security Register” and “Security Registrar” have the respective meanings specified in Section 3.5.

“Senior Debt” means, unless otherwise provided with respect to the Securities of a series as contemplated by Section 3.1, (a) all Debt of the Company, whether currently outstanding or hereafter issued, unless, by the terms of the instrument creating or evidencing such Debt, it is provided that such Debt is not superior in right of payment to the Securities or to other Debt which is pari passu with or subordinated to the Securities, and (b) any modifications, refunding, deferrals, renewals or extensions of any such Debt or securities, notes or other evidence of Debt issued in exchange for such Debt; provided that in no event shall “Senior Debt” include (i) Debt of the Company owed or owing to any Subsidiary of the Company or any officer, director or employee of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, (ii) Debt to trade creditors or (iii) any liability for taxes owed or owing by the Company.

 

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“Special Record Date” for the payment of any Defaulted Interest means a date fixed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 3.7.

“Stated Maturity,” when used with respect to any Security or any installment of principal thereof or interest thereon, means the date specified in such Security as the fixed date on which the principal of such Security or such installment of principal or interest is due and payable.

“Subsidiary” means (a) a corporation more than 50% of the outstanding voting stock of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company or by one or more other Subsidiaries, or by the Company and one or more other Subsidiaries or (b) any partnership or other business organization more than 50% of the ownership interests having ordinary voting power of which is so owned. For the purposes of this definition, “voting stock” means capital stock or equity interests which ordinarily have voting power for the election of directors, whether at all times or only so long as no senior class of stock has such voting power by reason of any contingency.

“Trust Indenture Act” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, as in force at the date as of which this instrument was executed, except as provided in Section 9.5; provided, however, that if the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is amended after such date, “Trust Indenture Act” means, to the extent required by any such amendment, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as so amended.

“Trustee” means the Person named as the “Trustee” in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor Trustee shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Trustee” shall mean or include each Person who is then a Trustee hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such Person, “Trustee” as used with respect to the Securities of any series shall mean the Trustee with respect to Securities of that series.

“U.S. Government Obligations” means securities which are (a) direct obligations of the United States for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged, or (b) 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, and which are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof.

“U.S. Person” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.

“USA Patriot Act” has the meaning specified in Section 1.22.

“Vice President,” when used with respect to the Company, any Guarantor or the Trustee, means any vice president, regardless of whether designated by a number or a word or words added before or after the title “vice president.”

Section 1.2. Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act.

Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the Trust Indenture Act, the provision is incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture. The following Trust Indenture Act terms used in this Indenture have the following meanings:

 

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“commission” means the SEC.

“indenture securities” means the Securities.

“indenture security holder” means a Holder.

“indenture to be qualified” means this Indenture.

“indenture trustee” or “institutional trustee” means the Trustee.

“obligor” on the indenture securities means the Company, each Guarantor (if applicable) or any other obligor on the indenture securities.

All other terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the Trust Indenture Act, defined by a Trust Indenture Act reference to another statute or defined by an SEC rule under the Trust Indenture Act have the meanings so assigned to them.

Section 1.3. Compliance Certificates and Opinions.

Upon any application or request by the Company or a Guarantor to the Trustee to take any action under any provision of this Indenture, the Company or such Guarantor, as the case may be, shall furnish to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating that all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel stating that in the opinion of such counsel all such conditions precedent, if any, have been complied with, except that in the case of any such application or request as to which the furnishing of such documents is specifically required by any provision of this Indenture relating to such particular application or request, no additional certificate or opinion need be furnished except as required under Section 314(c) of the Trust Indenture Act.

Every certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (except for certificates provided for in Section 10.5) shall include:

(a) a statement that each individual signing such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition and the definitions herein relating thereto;

(b) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;

(c) a statement that, in the opinion of each such individual, he has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether such covenant or condition has been complied with; and

(d) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such individual, such condition or covenant has been complied with.

Section 1.4. Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee.

In any case where several matters are required to be certified by, or covered by an opinion of, any specified Person, it is not necessary that all such matters be certified by, or covered by the opinion of, only one such Person, or that they be so certified or covered by only one document, but one such Person may certify or give an opinion with respect to some matters and one or more other such Persons as to other matters, and any such Person may certify or give an opinion as to such matters in one or several documents.

 

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Any certificate or opinion of an officer of the Company or a Guarantor may be based, insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, counsel, unless such officer knows or, in the exercise of reasonable care, should know that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to the matters upon which his certificate or opinion is based are erroneous. Any such certificate or Opinion of Counsel may be based, insofar as it relates to factual matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, an officer or officers of the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, stating that the information with respect to such factual matters is in the possession of the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, unless such counsel knows that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to such matters are erroneous.

Where any Person is required to make, give or execute two or more applications, requests, consents, certificates, statements, opinions or other instruments under this Indenture, they may, but need not, be consolidated and form one instrument.

Section 1.5. Acts of Holders; Record Dates.

(a) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed (either physically or by means of a facsimile or an electronic transmission, provided that such electronic transmission is transmitted through the facilities of a Depositary) by such Holders in person or by agent duly appointed in writing; and, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company or the Guarantors. Such instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the “Act” of the Holders signing such instrument or instruments. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Section 315 of the Trust Indenture Act) conclusive in favor of the Trustee, the Company and, if applicable, the Guarantors, if made in the manner provided in this Section.

(b) The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness of such execution or by a certificate of a notary public or other officer authorized by law to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual signing such instrument or writing acknowledged to him the execution thereof. Where such execution is by a signer acting in a capacity other than his individual capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of his authority. The fact and date of the execution of any such instrument or writing, or the authority of the Person executing the same, may also be proved in any other manner which the Trustee deems sufficient.

(c) The ownership, principal amount and serial numbers of Securities held by any Person, and the date of commencement of such Person’s holding of same, shall be proved by the Security Register.

(d) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act of the Holder of any Security shall bind every future Holder of the same Security and the Holder of every Security issued upon the registration of transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof in respect of anything done, omitted or suffered to be done by the Trustee, the Company or, if applicable, the Guarantors in reliance thereon, regardless of whether notation of such action is made upon such Security.

 

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(e) Without limiting the foregoing, a Holder entitled to give or take any action hereunder with regard to any particular Security may do so with regard to all or any part of the principal amount of such Security or by one or more duly appointed agents each of which may do so pursuant to such appointment with regard to all or any different part of such principal amount.

(f) The Company may set any day as the record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of Outstanding Securities of any series entitled to give or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act provided or permitted by this Indenture to be given or taken by Holders of Securities of such series, but the Company shall have no obligation to do so. With regard to any record date set pursuant to this paragraph, the Holders of Outstanding Securities of the relevant series on such record date (or their duly appointed agents), and only such Persons, shall be entitled to give or take the relevant action, regardless of whether such Holders remain Holders after such record date.

Section 1.6. Notices, Etc., to Trustee, Company and Guarantors.

(a) Any notice, request, demand, authorization, direction, consent, waiver or other communication by the Company, any of the Guarantors or the Trustee to the others is duly given if in writing and delivered in person or mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, facsimile or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to the others’ address:

If to the Company and/or any Guarantor:

Sun Communities, Inc.

27777 Franklin Road, Suite 200

Southfield, Michigan 48034

Telephone: (248) 208-2560

Facsimile: (248) 864-0162

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

If to the Trustee:

UMB Bank, N.A.

5555 San Felipe Street, Suite 810

Houston, Texas 77056

Telephone: (713) 300-0586

Attention: Corporate Trust Department

(b) The Company, the Guarantors or the Trustee, by notice to the others, may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.

(c) All notices and communications (other than those sent to Holders) shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; three Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when receipt acknowledged, if telecopied; and the next Business Day after timely delivery to the courier, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery.

 

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Section 1.7. Notice to Holders; Waiver.

Where this Indenture provides for notice to Holders of any event, such notice shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder affected by such event, at such Holder’s address as it appears in the Security Register, not later than the latest date, and not earlier than the earliest date, prescribed for the giving of such notice. In any case where notice to Holders is given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed, to any particular Holder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders. Any notice mailed to a Holder in the manner herein prescribed shall be conclusively deemed to have been received by such Holder, regardless of whether such Holder actually receives such notice.

Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice, either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such notice. Waivers of notice by Holders shall be filed with the Trustee, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance upon such waiver.

In case it shall be impracticable to give such notice by mail by reason of the suspension of regular mail service or by reason of any other cause, then such notification as shall be made with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute a sufficient notification for every purpose hereunder.

Section 1.8. Conflict with Trust Indenture Act.

If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with a provision of the Trust Indenture Act that is required under such Act to be a part of and govern this Indenture, the provision of the Trust Indenture Act shall control. If any provision of this Indenture modifies or excludes any provision of the Trust Indenture Act that may be so modified or excluded, the provision of the Trust Indenture Act shall be deemed to apply to this Indenture as so modified or excluded, as the case may be.

Section 1.9. Effect of Headings and Table of Contents.

The Article and Section headings herein and the Table of Contents are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

Section 1.10. Successors and Assigns.

All covenants and agreements in this Indenture by each of the Company and the Guarantors shall bind their respective successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.

Section 1.11. Duplicate Originals; Signatures.

All parties hereto may sign any number of copies of this Indenture. This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. The exchange of copies of this Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile, including portable document format (pdf), transmission 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, including portable document format (pdf), transmission shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes under this Indenture, other than with respect to the authentication of the Securities by the Trustee.

Section 1.12. Separability.

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

 

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Section 1.13. Benefits of Indenture.

Nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities or, if applicable, the Securities Guarantee, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto and their successors hereunder, the holders of Senior Debt and the Holders any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture.

Section 1.14. Force Majeure.

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 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; it being understood that the Trustee shall use reasonable efforts that are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.

Section 1.15. Waiver of Jury Trial.

EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS INDENTURE.

Section 1.16. Governing Law.

THIS INDENTURE, THE SECURITIES AND THE SECURITIES GUARANTEE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

Section 1.17. Legal Holidays.

In any case where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated Maturity of any Security shall not be a Business Day at any Place of Payment, then (notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or of the Securities or, if applicable, the Securities Guarantee (other than a provision of the Securities of any series or, if applicable, the Securities Guarantee that specifically states that such provision shall apply in lieu of this Section 1.17)) payment of interest or principal and any premium need not be made at such Place of Payment on such date, 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 Interest Payment Date or Redemption Date, or at the Stated Maturity, and if payment is so made, no interest shall accrue for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated Maturity, as the case may be.

Section 1.18. Securities in a Composite Currency, Currency Unit or Foreign Currency.

Unless otherwise specified in a Board Resolution, Officer’s Certificate or indenture supplemental hereto delivered pursuant to Section 3.1 of this Indenture with respect to a particular series of Securities, whenever for purposes of this Indenture any action may be taken by the Holders of a specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of Securities of all series or all series affected by a particular action at the time Outstanding and, at such time, there are Outstanding Securities of any affected series which are denominated in a coin, currency or currencies other than Dollars (including, but not limited to, any composite currency, currency units or Foreign Currency), then the principal amount of Securities of such

 

13


series that shall be deemed to be Outstanding for the purpose of taking such action shall be that amount of Dollars that could be obtained for such amount at the Market Exchange Rate. For purposes of this Section 1.18, the term “Market Exchange Rate” shall mean the noon Dollar buying rate in The City of New York for cable transfers of such currency or currencies as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, as of the most recent available date. If such Market Exchange Rate is not so available for any reason with respect to such currency, such quotation of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York as of the most recent available date, or quotations or rates of exchange from one or more major banks in The City of New York or in the country of issue of the currency in question, which for purposes of Euros shall be Brussels, Belgium, or such other quotations or rates of exchange as appropriate shall be used. The provisions of this paragraph shall apply in determining the equivalent principal amount in respect of Securities of a series denominated in a currency other than Dollars in connection with any action taken by Holders of Securities pursuant to the terms of this Indenture.

In no event will the Trustee have any duty or liability regarding the Market Exchange Rate or any alternative determination provided for in the preceding paragraph.

Section 1.19. Payment in Required Currency; Judgment Currency.

Each of the Company and the Guarantors agrees, to the fullest extent that it may effectively do so under applicable law, that (a) if for the purpose of obtaining judgment in any court it is necessary to convert the sum due in respect of the principal of or interest on the Securities of any series (the “Required Currency”) into a currency in which a judgment will be rendered (the “Judgment Currency”), the rate of exchange used shall be the rate at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Required Currency could be purchased in The City of New York with the Judgment Currency on the day on which final unappealable judgment is entered, unless such day is not a Banking Day, then, to the extent permitted by applicable law, the rate of exchange used shall be the rate at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Required Currency could be purchased in The City of New York with the Judgment Currency on the Banking Day next preceding the day on which final unappealable judgment is entered and (b) its obligations under this Indenture to make payments in the Required Currency (i) shall not be discharged or satisfied by any tender, or any recovery pursuant to any judgment (regardless of whether entered in accordance with subclause (a)), in any currency other than the Required Currency, except to the extent that such tender or recovery shall result in the actual receipt, by the payee, of the full amount of the Required Currency expressed to be payable in respect of such payments, (ii) shall be enforceable as an alternative or additional cause of action for the purpose of recovering in the Required Currency the amount, if any, by which such actual receipt shall fall short of the full amount of the Required Currency so expressed to be payable and (iii) shall not be affected by judgment being obtained for any other sum due under this Indenture.

Section 1.20. Language of Notices, Etc.

Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or Act required or permitted under this Indenture shall be in the English language, except that any published notice may be in an official language of the country of publication.

Section 1.21. Incorporators, Unitholders, Stockholders, Partners, Members, Managers, Directors, Officers and Employees of the Company and the Guarantors Exempt from Individual Liability.

No recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of or contained in this Indenture or of or contained in any Security or, if applicable, the Securities Guarantee, or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, or because of the creation of any indebtedness represented thereby, shall be had against any incorporator, unitholder, stockholder, partner, member, manager, director, officer or

 

14


employee, as such, past, present or future, of the Company, any Guarantor or any successor Person, either directly or through the Company, any Guarantor or any successor Person, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise, it being expressly understood that all such liability is hereby expressly waived and released as a condition of, and as a part of the consideration for, the execution of this Indenture and the issue of the Securities.

Section 1.22. USA Patriot Act.

The parties hereto acknowledge that, in accordance with Section 326 of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, the “USA Patriot Act”), the Trustee, like all financial institutions, is required to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each Person or legal entity that opens an account. The parties hereto agree that they will provide the Trustee with such information as the Trustee may request in order for the Trustee to satisfy the requirements of the USA Patriot Act.

ARTICLE TWO

SECURITY FORMS

Section 2.1. Forms Generally.

The Securities of each series and, if applicable, the notation thereon relating to the Securities Guarantee, shall be in substantially the form set forth in this Article Two, or in such other form or forms as shall be established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in each case with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture, and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as may be required to comply with the rules of any securities exchange or as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the officers executing such Securities and, if applicable, any notation of the Securities Guarantee, as evidenced by their execution thereof.

The definitive Securities 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 Securities, as evidenced by their execution thereof. If the form of Securities of any series is established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by an authorized officer or other authorized person on behalf of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Company Order contemplated by Section 3.3 for the authentication and delivery of such Securities.

The forms of Global Securities of any series shall have such provisions and legends as are customary for Securities of such series in global form, including without limitation any legend required by the Depositary for the Securities of such series.

Section 2.2. Form of Face of Security.

[If the Security is an Original Issue Discount Security and is not “publicly offered” within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.1275-1(h), insert—FOR PURPOSES OF SECTION 1275 OF THE UNITED STATES INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED, THIS SECURITY WAS ISSUED WITH ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT, THE AMOUNT OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT IS [. . . . . . . .% OF ITS PRINCIPAL AMOUNT] [$. . . . PER $1,000 OF PRINCIPAL AMOUNT], THE ISSUE DATE IS . . . . . ., 20. . . AND, THE YIELD TO MATURITY IS . . . . . . . . , COMPOUNDED [SEMIANNUALLY OR OTHER PROPER PERIOD].

 

15


[In the alternative instead of providing such legend, insert the following legend—FOR PURPOSES OF SECTION 1275 OF THE UNITED STATES INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED THIS SECURITY WAS ISSUED WITH ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT, AND. . . . . . . [THE NAME OR TITLE AND ADDRESS OR TELEPHONE NUMBER OF A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COMPANY] WILL, BEGINNING NO LATER THAN 10 DAYS AFTER THE ISSUE DATE, PROMPTLY MAKE AVAILABLE TO HOLDERS THE AMOUNT OF ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT, THE ISSUE DATE, THE YIELD TO MATURITY AND ANY OTHER INFORMATION REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE TREASURY REGULATIONS.]

[Insert any other legend required by the Code or the regulations thereunder.]

[If a Global Security,—insert legend required by Section 2.4 of the Indenture] [If applicable, insert UNLESS THIS SECURITY IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION, TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY SECURITY ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL SINCE THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.]

SUN COMMUNITIES, INC.

[TITLE OF SECURITY]

No . . . . . . .                                                                                                                                                                                                                 U.S. $. . .. . . .

[CUSIP No. ]

SUN COMMUNITIES, INC., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Maryland (herein called the “Company,” which term includes any successor or resulting Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to .......... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ., or registered assigns, the principal sum of . . . . ................................................ United States Dollars on ........................................ [If the Security is to bear interest prior to Maturity, insert—, and to pay interest thereon from . . . . . . . . . . or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, semi-annually on . . . . . . and . . . .. . . in each year, commencing . . . . . ., at the rate of . . . . % per annum, until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment [if applicable, insert—, and at the rate of ___% per annum on any overdue principal and premium and on any installment of interest (to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable)]. The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in such Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be the . . . . or . . . . (regardless of whether a Business Day), as the case may be, next preceding such Interest Payment Date. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for will forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Securities of this series not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Securities of this series may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided in said Indenture].

 

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[If the Security is not to bear interest prior to Maturity, insert—The principal of this Security shall not bear interest except in the case of a default in payment of principal upon acceleration, upon redemption or at Stated Maturity and in such case the overdue principal of this Security shall bear interest at the rate of . . . .% per annum (to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable), which shall accrue from the date of such default in payment to the date payment of such principal has been made or duly provided for. Interest on any overdue principal shall be payable on demand. Any such interest on any overdue principal that is not so paid on demand shall bear interest at the rate of . . . . % per annum (to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable), which shall accrue from the date of such demand for payment to the date payment of such interest has been made or duly provided for, and such interest shall also be payable on demand.]

[If a Global Security, insert—Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and [if applicable, insert—any such] interest on this Security will be made by transfer of immediately available funds to a bank account in ___________ designated by the Holder in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts [state other currency].]

[If a Definitive Security, insert—Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and [if applicable, insert—any such] interest on this Security will be made at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in _______________, in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts] [state other currency] [or subject to any laws or regulations applicable thereto and to the right of the Company (as provided in the Indenture) to rescind the designation of any such Paying Agent, at the [main] offices of ________________ in _____________, or at such other offices or agencies as the Company may designate, by [United States Dollar] [state other currency] check drawn on, or transfer to a [United States Dollar] account maintained by the payee with, a bank in The City of New York (so long as the applicable Paying Agency has received proper transfer instructions in writing at least ___ days prior to the payment date)] [if applicable, insert—; provided, however, that payment of interest may be made at the option of the Company by [United States Dollar] [state other currency] check mailed to the addresses of the Persons entitled thereto as such addresses shall appear in the Security Register] [or by transfer to a [United States Dollar] [state other currency] account maintained by the payee with a bank in The City of New York [state other Place of Payment] (so long as the applicable Paying Agent has received proper transfer instructions in writing by the record date prior to the applicable Interest Payment Date)].]

Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Security set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof by manual signature, this Security shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed.

Dated:

 

SUN COMMUNITIES, INC.
By:  

                                                      

Section 2.3. Form of Reverse of Security.

This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of subordinated securities of the Company (herein called the “Securities”), issued and to be issued in one or more series under an Indenture, dated as of ______, 20__ (herein called the “Indenture”), between the Company, the Guarantors, if any, and UMB Bank, N.A., as trustee (herein called the “Trustee,” which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Guarantors, if any, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. As provided in the Indenture, the Securities may be issued in one or more series, which different series may be issued in various aggregate principal amounts, may mature at different times, may bear interest, if any, at different rates, may be subject to different redemption provisions, if any, may be subject to different sinking, purchase or analogous funds, if any, may be subject to different covenants and Events of Default and may otherwise vary as in the Indenture provided or permitted. This Security is one of the series designated on the face hereof [, limited in aggregate principal amount to $ . . . . . . . . . . ].

This security is the general, unsecured, subordinated obligation of the Company [if applicable, insert—and is guaranteed pursuant to a guarantee (the “Securities Guarantee”) by [insert name of each Guarantor] (the “Guarantors”). The Securities Guarantee is the general, unsecured, subordinated obligation of each Guarantor.]

[If applicable, insert—The Securities of this series are subject to redemption upon not less than ... days’ notice by mail (or electronic transmission in the case of Global Securities), [if applicable, insert—(1) on . . . . . . . . . . . . . . in any year commencing with the year . . . . and ending with the year . . . . through operation of the sinking fund for this series at a Redemption Price equal to 100% of the principal amount, and (2) ] at any time [on or after . . . . . . . . . ., 20. . . ], as a whole or in part, at the election of the Company, at the following Redemption Prices (expressed as percentages of the principal amount): If redeemed [on or before . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . %, and if redeemed] during the 12-month period beginning . . . . . . . . of the years indicated,

 

        Year   Redemption Price   Year    Redemption Price

and thereafter at a Redemption Price equal to . . . . . % of the principal amount, together in the case of any such redemption [if applicable, insert—(whether through operation of the sinking fund or otherwise)] with accrued interest to the Redemption Date, but interest installments the Stated Maturity of which is on or prior to such Redemption Date will be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, of record at the close of business on the relevant record dates referred to on the face hereof, all as provided in the Indenture.]

 

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[If applicable, insert—The Securities of this series are subject to redemption upon not less than... nor more than ... days’ notice by mail (or electronic transmission in the case of Global Securities), (1) on . . . . . . . . in any year commencing with the year . . . . and ending with the year . . . . through operation of the sinking fund for this series at the Redemption Prices for redemption through operation of the sinking fund (expressed as percentages of the principal amount) set forth in the table below, and (2) at any time [on or after . . . . . . . . . . ], as a whole or in part, at the election of the Company, at the Redemption Prices for redemption otherwise than through operation of the sinking fund (expressed as percentages of the principal amount) set forth in the table below: If redeemed during the 12-month period beginning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . of the years indicated,

 

Year    Redemption Price For
Redemption Through
Operation of the Sinking Fund
   Redemption Price for
Redemption Otherwise Than
Through Operation of the
Sinking Fund

and thereafter at a Redemption Price equal to . . . . % of the principal amount, together in the case of any such redemption (whether through operation of the sinking fund or otherwise) with accrued interest to the Redemption Date, but interest installments the Stated Maturity of which is on or prior to such Redemption Date will be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, of record at the close of business on the relevant record dates referred to on the face hereof, all as provided in the Indenture.]

[If applicable, insert—Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may not, prior to . . . . . . . . . ., redeem any Securities of this series as contemplated by [clause (2) of] the preceding paragraph as a part of, or in anticipation of, any refunding operation by the application, directly or indirectly, of moneys borrowed having an interest cost to the Company (calculated in accordance with generally accepted financial practice) of less than . . . .% per annum.]

[If applicable, insert—The sinking fund for this series provides for the redemption on . . . . . . . . . . . . in each year beginning with the year . . . . and ending with the year . . . . of [not less than] $ . . . . . . . . . . . . [ (“mandatory sinking fund”) and not more than $ . . . . . . . . . . . . ] aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series. [Securities of this series acquired or redeemed by the Company otherwise than through [mandatory] sinking fund payments may be credited against subsequent [mandatory] sinking fund payments otherwise required to be made [If applicable, insert— in the inverse order in which they become due].]

[If the Securities are subject to redemption in part of any kind, insert—In the event of redemption of this Security in part only, a new Security or Securities of this series and of like tenor for the unredeemed portion hereof will be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof.]

 

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[If applicable, insert—The Securities of this series are not redeemable prior to Stated Maturity.]

[If the Security is not an Original Issue Discount Security,If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Securities of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.]

[If the Security is an Original Issue Discount Security,If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and be continuing, an amount of principal of the Securities of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture. Such amount shall be equal to —insert formula for determining the amount. Upon payment (i) of the amount of principal so declared due and payable and (ii) of interest on any overdue principal and overdue interest (in each case to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable), all of the Company’s obligations in respect of the payment of the principal of and interest, if any, on the Securities of this series shall terminate.]

The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company [If applicable, insert—and the Guarantors] and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each series to be affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company [If applicable, insert—and the Guarantors] and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding of each series to be affected. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of specified percentages in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of each series at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive compliance by the Company [If applicable, insert—and the Guarantors] with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Security and of any Security issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, regardless of whether notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security.

No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Security or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on this Security at the times, place(s) and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.

[If a Global Security, insert—This Global Security or portion hereof may not be exchanged for Definitive Securities of this series except in the limited circumstances provided in the Indenture. The holders of beneficial interests in this Global Security will not be entitled to receive physical delivery of Definitive Securities except as described in the Indenture and will not be considered the Holders thereof for any purpose under the Indenture.]

[If a Definitive Security, insert—As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Security is registerable in the Security Register, upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Company in [if applicable, insert—any place where the principal of and any premium and interest on this Security are payable] [if applicable, insert—The City of New York [, or, subject to any laws or regulations applicable thereto and to the right of the Company (limited as provided in the Indenture) to rescind the designation of any such transfer agent, at the [main] offices of _______________ in ________________ or at such other offices or agencies as the Company may designate]], duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or such Holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities of this series and of like tenor, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.]

 

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The Securities of this series are issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of U.S. $ . . . . . . . . and any integral multiple thereof. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, Securities of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series and of like tenor of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.

No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

Prior to due presentment of this Security for registration of transfer, the Company, [If applicable, insert—any Guarantor,] the Trustee and any agent of the Company [If applicable, insert—, a Guarantor] or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Security is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, regardless of whether this Security be overdue, and none of the Company, [If applicable, insert—the Guarantors,] the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

This Security is subordinated in right of payment to Senior Debt [If applicable, insert-and the Securities Guarantee is subordinated in right of payment to Guarantor Senior Debt], to the extent and in the manner provided in the Indenture.

No recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of or contained in the Indenture or of or contained in any Security, [If applicable, insert—, or the Securities Guarantee endorsed thereon,] or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, or because of the creation of any indebtedness represented thereby, shall be had against any incorporator, unitholder, stockholder, partner, member, manager, director, officer or employee, as such, past, present or future, of the Company [If applicable, insert—or any Guarantor] or of any successor Person, either directly or through the Company [If applicable, insert—or any Guarantor] or any successor Person, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment, penalty or otherwise; it being expressly understood that all such liability is hereby expressly waived and released by the acceptance hereof and as a condition of, and as part of the consideration for, the Securities and the execution of the Indenture.

The Indenture provides that the Company [If applicable, insert—and the Guarantors] (a) will be discharged from any and all obligations in respect of the Securities (except for certain obligations described in the Indenture), or (b) need not comply with certain restrictive covenants of the Indenture, in each case if the Company [If applicable, insert—or a Guarantor] deposits, in trust, with the Trustee money or U.S. Government Obligations (or a combination thereof) which through the payment of interest thereon and principal thereof in accordance with their terms will provide money, in an amount sufficient to pay all the principal of and interest on the Securities, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

Except as otherwise defined herein, all terms used in this Security that are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

[If a Definitive Security, insert as a separate page

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto _______________________________________________________________

(Please Print or Type Name and Address of Assignee)

 

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the within instrument of Sun Communities, Inc. and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint ___________________ Attorney to transfer said instrument on the books of the within-named Company, with full power of substitution in the premises.

Please Insert Social Security or Other Identifying Number of Assignee:

 

                                                                       

    

 

Dated:  

                                                                   

             

 

       (Signature)

NOTICE: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the within instrument in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.]

[If a Security to which Article Fourteen has been made applicable, insert the following Form of Notation on such Security relating to the Securities Guarantee

Each of the Guarantors (which term includes any successor Person in such capacity under the Indenture), has fully, unconditionally and absolutely guaranteed, to the extent set forth in the Indenture and subject to the provisions in the Indenture, the due and punctual payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on the Securities of this series and all other amounts due and payable under the Indenture and the Securities of this series by the Company.

The obligations of the Guarantors to the Holders of Securities of this series and to the Trustee pursuant to the Securities Guarantee and the Indenture are expressly set forth in Article Fourteen of the Indenture and reference is hereby made to the Indenture for the precise terms of the Securities Guarantee.

 

Guarantors:
[NAME OF EACH GUARANTOR]
By:  

                                                              

 

]

Section 2.4. Global Securities.

Every Global Security authenticated and delivered hereunder shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF. THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED TO, OR REGISTERED OR EXCHANGED FOR SECURITIES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF, ANY PERSON OTHER THAN THE DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF AND NO SUCH TRANSFER MAY BE REGISTERED, EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE.

EVERY SECURITY AUTHENTICATED AND DELIVERED UPON REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER OF, OR IN EXCHANGE FOR OR IN LIEU OF, THIS SECURITY SHALL BE A GLOBAL SECURITY SUBJECT TO THE FOREGOING, EXCEPT IN SUCH LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES.

 

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If Securities of a series are issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, as specified as contemplated by Section 3.1, then, notwithstanding clause (i) of Section 3.1 and the provisions of Section 3.2, any Global Security shall represent such of the Outstanding Securities of such series as shall be specified therein and may provide that it shall represent the aggregate amount of Outstanding Securities from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate amount of Outstanding Securities represented thereby may from time to time be reduced or increased, as the case may be, to reflect exchanges. Any endorsement of a Global Security to reflect the amount, or any reduction or increase in the amount, of Outstanding Securities represented thereby shall be made in such manner and upon instructions given by such Person or Persons as shall be specified therein or in a Company Order. Subject to the provisions of Section 3.3, Section 3.4 and Section 3.5, the Trustee shall deliver and redeliver any Global Security in the manner and upon instructions given by the Person or Persons specified therein or in the applicable Company Order. Any instructions by the Company with respect to endorsement or delivery or redelivery of a Global Security shall be in a Company Order (which need not comply with Section 1.3 and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel).

The provisions of the last sentence of Section 3.3 shall apply to any Security represented by a Global Security if such Security was never issued and sold by the Company and the Company delivers to the Trustee the Global Security together with a Company Order (which need not comply with Section 1.3 and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel) with regard to the reduction or increase, as the case may be, in the principal amount of Securities represented thereby, together with the written statement contemplated by the last sentence of Section 3.3.

Section 2.5. Form of Trustees Certificate of Authentication.

The Trustee’s certificate(s) of authentication shall be in substantially the following form:

This is one of the Securities of the series designated [insert title of applicable series] referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

UMB Bank, N.A., as Trustee
By:  

                                                              

  Authorized Officer

ARTICLE THREE

THE SECURITIES

Section 3.1. Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series.

The aggregate principal amount of Securities that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited.

The Securities may be issued in one or more series. There shall be established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and set forth, or determined in the manner provided, in an Officer’s Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of Securities of any series:

 

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(a) the title of the Securities of the series (which shall distinguish the Securities of the series from all other Securities and which may be part of a series of Securities previously issued);

(b) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of the series which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of the series pursuant to Section 3.4, Section 3.5, Section 3.6, Section 9.6 or Section 11.7 and except for any Securities which, pursuant to Section 3.3, are deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder);

(c) the Person to whom any interest on a Security of the series shall be payable, if other than the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest;

(d) the date or dates on which the principal of the Securities of the series is payable or the method of determination thereof;

(e) the rate or rates at which the Securities of the series shall bear interest, if any, or the formula, method or provision pursuant to which such rate or rates are determined, the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue or the method of determination thereof, the Interest Payment Dates on which such interest shall be payable and the Regular Record Date for the interest payable on any Interest Payment Date;

(f) the place or places where, subject to the provisions of Section 10.2, the principal of and any premium and interest on Securities of the series shall be payable, Securities of the series may be surrendered for registration of transfer, Securities of the series may be surrendered for exchange, and notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of the series and this Indenture may be served;

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

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

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

(j) whether payment of principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the Securities of the series shall be without deduction for taxes, assessments or governmental charges paid by Holders of the series;

(k) if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of Securities of the series that shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.2;

 

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(l) if the amount of payments of principal of and any premium or interest on the Securities of the series may be determined with reference to an index, the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;

(m) if and as applicable, that the Securities of the series shall be issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities and, in such case, the Depositary or Depositaries for such Global Security or Global Securities and any circumstances other than those set forth in Section 3.5 in which any such Global Security may be transferred to, and registered and exchanged for Securities registered in the name of, a Person other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof and in which any such transfer may be registered;

(n) any deletions from, modifications of or additions to the Events of Default set forth in Section 5.1 or the covenants of the Company set forth in Article Ten with respect to the Securities of such series;

(o) whether and under what circumstances the Company will pay additional amounts on the Securities of the series held by a Person who is not a U.S. Person in respect of any tax, assessment or governmental charge withheld or deducted and, if so, whether the Company will have the option to redeem the Securities of the series rather than pay such additional amounts;

(p) if the Securities of the series are to be issuable in definitive form (whether upon original issue or upon exchange of a temporary Security of such series) only upon receipt of certain certificates or other documents or satisfaction of other conditions, the form and terms of such certificates, documents or conditions;

(q) if the Securities of the series are to be convertible into or exchangeable for any other security or property of the Company, including, without limitation, securities of another Person held by the Company or its Affiliates and, if so, the terms thereof;

(r) if other than as provided in Section 13.2 and Section 13.3, the means of Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance as may be specified for the Securities of the series;

(s) if other than the Trustee, the identity of the initial Security Registrar and any initial Paying Agent;

(t) whether the Securities of the series will be guaranteed pursuant to the Securities Guarantee set forth in Article Fourteen, any modifications to the terms of Article Fourteen applicable to the Securities of such series and the applicability of any other guarantees; and

(u) any other terms of the series (which terms shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture).

All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical except as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to the Board Resolution referred to above and (subject to Section 3.3) set forth, or determined in the manner provided, in the Officer’s Certificate referred to above or in any such indenture supplemental hereto.

All Securities of any one series need not be issued at the same time and, unless otherwise provided, a series may be reopened, without the consent of the Holders, for increases in the aggregate principal amount of such series of Securities and issuances of additional Securities of such series or for the establishment of additional terms with respect to the Securities of such series.

 

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If any of the terms of the series are established by action taken by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by an authorized officer or other authorized person on behalf of the Company and, if applicable, the Guarantors and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Officer’s Certificate setting forth, or providing the manner for determining, the terms of the series.

With respect to Securities of a series subject to a Periodic Offering, such Board Resolution or Officer’s Certificate may provide general terms for Securities of such series and provide either that the specific terms of particular Securities of such series shall be specified in a Company Order or that such terms shall be determined by the Company and, if applicable, the Guarantors or one or more agents thereof designated in an Officer’s Certificate, in accordance with a Company Order.

Section 3.2. Denominations.

The Securities of each series shall be issuable in registered form without coupons in such denominations as shall be specified as contemplated by Section 3.1. In the absence of any such provisions with respect to the Securities of any series, the Securities of such series shall be issuable in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof.

Section 3.3. Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating.

The Securities shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its Chairman of the Board, its Chief Executive Officer, its President, its Chief Financial Officer or any of its Vice Presidents and need not be attested. The signature of any of these officers on the Securities may be manual or facsimile, including portable document format (pdf). Any notation of Securities Guarantee endorsed on the Securities shall be executed on behalf of the applicable Guarantor by its Chairman of the Board, its Chief Executive Officer, its President, its Chief Financial Officer or any of its Vice Presidents and need not be attested. The signature of any of these officers on any notation of the Securities Guarantee may be manual or facsimile, including portable document format (pdf).

Securities and any notation of a Securities Guarantee bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of individuals who were at any time the proper officers of the Company or a Guarantor, as the case may be, shall bind the Company or such Guarantor, as the case may be, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased to hold such offices prior to the authentication and delivery of such Securities or did not hold such offices at the date of such Securities.

At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities of any series executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, together with a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of such Securities, and the Trustee in accordance with the Company Order shall authenticate and deliver such Securities; provided, however, that in the case of Securities offered in a Periodic Offering, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver such Securities from time to time in accordance with such other procedures (including, without limitation, the receipt by the Trustee of written instructions from the Company) acceptable to the Trustee as may be specified by or pursuant to a Company Order delivered to the Trustee prior to the time of the first authentication of Securities of such series. If the forms or terms of the Securities of the series have been established in or pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions as permitted by Section 2.1 and Section 3.1, in authenticating such Securities, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall be fully protected in relying on such Board Resolution and shall be entitled to receive such documents as it may reasonably request. The Trustee shall also be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 6.1) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Officer’s Certificate pursuant to Section 3.1 and complying with Section 1.3 and an Opinion of Counsel complying with Section 1.3 stating:

 

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(a) if the form or forms of such Securities has been established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution as permitted by Section 2.1, that each such form has been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;

(b) if the terms of such Securities have been, or in the case of Securities of a series offered in a Periodic Offering will be, established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution as permitted by Section 3.1, that such terms have been, or in the case of Securities of a series offered in a Periodic Offering will be, established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture, subject, in the case of Securities of a series offered in a Periodic Offering, to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel; and

(c) that such Securities, when authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and issued by the Company in the manner and subject to any conditions and assumptions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company and, if applicable, the Securities Guarantees thereof will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Guarantors, enforceable in accordance with their respective terms, subject to the following limitations: (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, reorganization, liquidation, fraudulent conveyance or transfer and other similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights, or to general equity principles, (ii) the availability of equitable remedies being subject to the discretion of the court to which application therefor is made; and (iii) such other usual and customary matters as shall be specified in such Opinion of Counsel.

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

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3.1 and of the preceding paragraph, if all Securities of a series are not to be originally issued at one time, it shall not be necessary to deliver the Officer’s Certificate otherwise required pursuant to Section 3.1 or the Company Order and Opinion of Counsel otherwise required pursuant to such preceding paragraph at or prior to the time of authentication of each Security of such series if such documents are delivered at or prior to the authentication upon original issuance of the first Security of such series to be issued.

With respect to Securities of a series offered in a Periodic Offering, the Trustee may rely, as to the authorization by the Company of any of such Securities, on the form or forms and terms thereof and the legality, validity, binding effect and enforceability thereof, upon the Opinion of Counsel and the other documents delivered pursuant to Section 2.1 and Section 3.1 and this Section, as applicable, in connection with the first authentication of Securities of such series.

Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.

No Security nor any related Securities Guarantee shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose unless there appears on such Security a certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for herein executed by the Trustee or an Authenticating Agent by manual signature of an authorized officer, and such certificate upon any Security shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Security has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder and is entitled to the benefits of this Indenture. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Security shall have been authenticated and delivered hereunder but never issued and sold by the Company, and the Company shall deliver such Security to the Trustee for cancellation as provided in Section 3.9, for all purposes of this Indenture such Security shall be deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder and shall never be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.

 

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Section 3.4. Temporary Securities.

Pending the preparation of Definitive Securities of any series, the Company may execute, and upon Company Order the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, temporary Securities that are printed, lithographed, typewritten, mimeographed or otherwise produced, in any authorized denomination, substantially of the tenor of the Definitive Securities in lieu of which they are issued and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as the officers executing such Securities may determine, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities.

If temporary Securities of any series are issued, the Company will cause Definitive Securities of that series to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the preparation of Definitive Securities of such series, the temporary Securities of such series shall be exchangeable for Definitive Securities of such series upon surrender of the temporary Securities of such series at the office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment for that series, without charge to the Holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Securities of any series the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a like principal amount of Definitive Securities of the same series and tenor of authorized denominations. Until so exchanged the temporary Securities of any series shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as Definitive Securities of such series.

Section 3.5. Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange.

The Company shall cause to be kept at the office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment required by Section 10.2 a register (the register maintained in such office being herein sometimes referred to as the “Security Register”) in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration of Securities and of transfers of Securities. The Trustee is hereby appointed as the initial “Security Registrar” for the purpose of registering Securities and transfers of Securities as herein provided, and its Corporate Trust Office, which, at the date hereof, is located at 5555 San Felipe Street, Suite 810, Houston, Texas 77056, is the initial office or agency where the Securities Register will be maintained. The Company may at any time replace such Security Registrar, change such office or agency or act as its own Security Registrar. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any change of the Security Registrar or of the location of such office or agency.

Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Security of any series at the office or agency maintained pursuant to Section 10.2 for such purpose, the Company and, if applicable, the Guarantors shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Securities, with a notation of the Securities Guarantee, if applicable, executed by the Guarantors, of the same series and tenor, of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount.

At the option of the Holder, Securities of any series (except a Global Security) may be exchanged for other Securities of the same series and tenor, of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount, upon surrender of the Securities to be exchanged at such office or agency. Whenever any Securities are so surrendered for exchange, the Company and, if applicable, the Guarantors shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Securities, with a notation of the Securities Guarantee, if applicable, executed by the Guarantors, which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.

All Securities issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities shall be the valid obligations of the Company and, if applicable, the Guarantors evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Securities surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.

 

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Every Security presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange shall (if so required by the Company or the Trustee) be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed, by the Holder thereof or such Holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing.

No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 3.4, Section 9.6 or Section 11.7 not involving any transfer.

The Company shall not be required (a) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange Securities of any series during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the notice of redemption of Securities of that series selected for redemption under Section 11.3 is sent and ending at the close of business on the day of the delivery thereof, or (b) to register the transfer of or exchange any Security so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Security being redeemed in part.

Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture and except as otherwise specified with respect to any particular series of Securities as contemplated by Section 3.1, a Global Security representing all or a portion of the Securities of a series may not be transferred, except as a whole by the Depositary for such series to a nominee of such Depositary or by a nominee of such Depositary to such Depositary or another nominee of such Depositary or by such Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary for such series or a nominee of such successor Depositary. Every Security authenticated and delivered upon registration of, transfer of, or in exchange for or in lieu of, a Global Security shall be a Global Security except as provided in the two paragraphs immediately following.

If at any time the Depositary for any Securities of a series represented by one or more Global Securities notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Securities or if at any time the Depositary for such Securities shall no longer be eligible to continue as Depositary under Section 3.1 or ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, the Company shall appoint a successor Depositary with respect to such Securities. If a successor Depositary for such Securities is not appointed by the Company within 90 days after the Company receives such notice or becomes aware of such ineligibility, the Company’s election pursuant to Section 3.1 that such Securities be represented by one or more Global Securities shall no longer be effective and the Company and, if applicable, the Guarantors will execute and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of Definitive Securities of such series, will authenticate and deliver, Securities, with a notation of the Securities Guarantee, if applicable, executed by the Guarantors, of such series in definitive registered form without coupons, in any authorized denominations, in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security or Securities representing such Securities in exchange for such Global Security or Securities registered in the names of such Persons as the Depositary shall direct.

If specified by the Company pursuant to Section 3.1 with respect to Securities represented by a Global Security, the Depositary for such Global Security may surrender such Global Security in exchange in whole or in part for Securities of the same series and tenor in definitive registered form on such terms as are acceptable to the Company, the Trustee and such Depositary. Thereupon, the Company and, if applicable, the Guarantors shall execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of Securities in definitive registered form, shall authenticate and deliver, without service charge:

 

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(a) to the Person specified by such Depositary a new Security or Securities, with a notation of the Securities Guarantee, if applicable, executed by the Guarantors, of the same series and tenor, of any authorized denominations as requested by such Person, in an aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for such Person’s beneficial interest in the Global Security; and

(b) to such Depositary a new Global Security, with a notation of the Securities Guarantee, if applicable, executed by the Guarantors, in a denomination equal to the difference, if any, between the principal amount of the surrendered Global Security and the aggregate principal amount of Securities authenticated and delivered pursuant to clause (a) above.

Every Person who takes or holds any beneficial interest in a Global Security agrees that:

(i) the Company, the Guarantors (if applicable) and the Trustee may deal with the Depositary as sole owner of the Global Security and as the authorized representative of such Person;

(ii) such Person’s rights in the Global Security shall be exercised only through the Depositary and shall be limited to those rights established by law and agreement between such Person and the Depositary and/or direct and indirect participants of the Depositary;

(iii) the Depositary and its participants make book-entry transfers of beneficial ownership among, and receive and transmit distributions of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Global Securities to, such Persons in accordance with their own procedures; and

(iv) none of the Company, the Guarantors (if applicable), the Trustee, nor any agent of any of them 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.

Section 3.6. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities.

If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee, together with such security or indemnity as may be required by the Company, the Guarantors (if applicable) or the Trustee to save each of them and any agent of any of them harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Company or the Trustee that such Security has been acquired by a protected purchaser, the Company and, if applicable, the Guarantors shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a new Security, with a notation of the Securities Guarantee, if applicable, executed by the Guarantors, of the same series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

If there shall be delivered to the Company, the Guarantors (if applicable) and the Trustee (a) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security and (b) such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and any agent of any of them harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Company or the Trustee that such Security has been acquired by a protected purchaser, the Company and, if applicable, the Guarantors shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Security, a new Security, with a notation of the Securities Guarantee, if applicable, executed by the Guarantors, of the same series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

In case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security has become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Security, pay such Security.

 

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Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith.

Every new Security of any series issued pursuant to this Section in lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Company and, if applicable, the Guarantors, regardless of whether the destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of that series duly issued hereunder.

The provisions of this Section are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities.

Section 3.7. Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved.

Except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 3.1 with respect to any series of Securities, interest on any Security that is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest.

Any interest on any Security of any series that is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date (herein called “Defaulted Interest”) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on the relevant Regular Record Date by virtue of having been such Holder, and such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Company, at its election in each case, as provided in clause (a) or (b) below:

(a) The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the Persons in whose names the Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each 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 that 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, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be mailed, first-class postage prepaid (or sent by electronic transmission in the case of Global Securities), to each Holder of Securities of such series at such Holder’s 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 Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on such Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the following clause (b).

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

 

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

Section 3.8. Persons Deemed Owners.

Except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 3.1 with respect to any series of Securities, prior to due presentment of a Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and, if applicable, the Guarantors and any agent thereof may treat the Person in whose name such Security is registered as the owner of such Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and any premium and (subject to Section 3.5 and Section 3.7) any interest on such Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, regardless of whether such Security be overdue, and none of the Company, the Trustee nor, if applicable, the Guarantors nor any agent of any of them shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

No holder of any beneficial interest in any Global Security held on its behalf by a Depositary shall have any rights under this Indenture with respect to such Global Security, and such Depositary may be treated by the Company, the Trustee, and, if applicable, the Guarantors and any agent of any thereof as the owner of such Global Security for all purposes whatsoever.

Section 3.9. Cancellation.

All Securities surrendered for payment, redemption, registration of transfer or exchange or for credit against any sinking fund payment shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee and shall be promptly canceled by it. The Company may at any time deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated and delivered hereunder that the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and may deliver to the Trustee (or to any other Person for delivery to the Trustee) for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated hereunder that the Company has not issued and sold, and all Securities so delivered shall be promptly canceled by the Trustee. No Securities shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Securities canceled as provided in this Section, except as expressly permitted by this Indenture. All canceled Securities held by the Trustee shall be disposed of in accordance with its customary practices, and the Trustee shall thereafter deliver to the Company a certificate with respect to such disposition from time to time upon written request.

Section 3.10. Computation of Interest.

Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1 for Securities of any series, interest on the Securities of each series shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months.

Section 3.11. CUSIP or CINS Numbers.

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

 

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ARTICLE FOUR

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

Section 4.1. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.

This Indenture shall cease to be of further effect and will be discharged with respect to the Securities of any series (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of Securities and certain rights of the Trustee, in each case, herein expressly provided for), and the Trustee, upon Company Request and at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to such Securities, when:

(a) either:

(i) all such Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than (A) such Securities which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 3.6, and (B) such Securities for the payment of which money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 10.3) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

(ii) all such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation:

(A) have become due and payable; or

(B) will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year; or

(C) are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company,

and the Company, in the case of (ii)(A), (B) or (C) above, has deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for such purpose an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal (and premium, if any) and interest to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities which have become due and payable) or to the Stated Maturity or Redemption Date, as the case may be, together with instructions from the Company irrevocably directing the Trustee to apply such funds to the payment thereof at maturity or redemption, as the case may be;

(b) the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company with respect to such Securities; and

(c) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, which, taken together, state that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to such Securities have been complied with.

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to the Securities of any series, (x) the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 6.7, the obligations of the Trustee to any Authenticating Agent under Section 6.14 and the right of the Trustee to resign under Section 6.10 shall survive, and (y) if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to clause (a) of this Section, the obligations of the Company and the Trustee under Section 3.5, Section 3.6, Section 4.2, Section 6.6, Section 10.2, the last paragraph of Section 10.3 and Section 13.6 shall survive.

 

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Section 4.2. Application of Trust Money.

Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 10.3, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 4.1 shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal and any premium and interest for the payment of which such money has been deposited with the Trustee.

ARTICLE FIVE

REMEDIES

Section 5.1. Events of Default.

“Event of Default,” wherever used herein with respect to Securities of any series, means any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body):

(a) default in the payment of any interest upon any Security of that series when it becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days (regardless of whether such payment is prohibited by the provisions of Article Fifteen hereof); or

(b) default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any Security of that series at its Maturity (regardless of whether such payment is prohibited by the provisions of Article Fifteen hereof); or

(c) default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant set forth in Article Ten in this Indenture (other than a covenant a default in the performance of which or the breach of which is elsewhere in this Section specifically dealt with or which has expressly been included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of series of Securities other than that series), and continuance of such default or breach for a period of 60 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, 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 Outstanding Securities of that series a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder; or

(d) default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant in this Indenture (other than a covenant in Article Ten or any other covenant a default in the performance of which or the breach of which is elsewhere in this Section specifically dealt with or which has expressly been included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of series of Securities other than that series), and continuance of such default or breach for a period of 90 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, 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 Outstanding Securities of that series a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder; or

 

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

(f) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that (i) is for relief against the Company in an involuntary case, (ii) appoints a Custodian of the Company or for all or substantially all of the property of the Company, or (iii) orders the liquidation of the Company; and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 consecutive days; or

(g) default in the deposit of any sinking fund payment when due; or

(h) any other Event of Default provided with respect to Securities of that series in accordance with Section 3.1.

Section 5.2. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.

If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series at the time Outstanding occurs and is continuing, then in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series may declare the principal amount (or, if the Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of that series) and all accrued and unpaid interest of all of the Securities of that series to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Holders), and upon any such declaration such principal amount (or specified amount) shall become immediately due and payable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Event of Default specified in clause (e) or (f) of Section 5.1 occurs, the Securities of any series at the time Outstanding shall be due and payable immediately without further action or notice.

At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to Securities of any series has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as hereinafter in this Article Five provided, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series, by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if:

(a) the Company or, if applicable, one or more of the Guarantors has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay:

(i) all overdue interest on all Securities of that series;

(ii) the principal of (and premium, if any, on) any Securities of that series that has become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration and any interest thereon at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities;

(iii) to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful, interest upon overdue interest at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities; and

(iv) all sums paid or advanced by the Trustee hereunder and the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel; and

 

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(b) all Events of Default with respect to Securities of that series, other than the non-payment of the principal of Securities of that series that has become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 5.13.

No such rescission shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right consequent thereon.

Section 5.3. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee.

The Company covenants that if:

(a) default is made in the payment of any installment of interest on any Security when such interest becomes due and payable and such default continues for a period of 30 days (regardless of whether such payment is prohibited by the provisions of Article Fifteen hereof); or

(b) default is made in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any Security at the Maturity thereof (regardless of whether such payment is prohibited by the provisions of Article Fifteen hereof);

the Company will, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to it, for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities, the whole amount then due and payable on such Securities for principal and any premium and interest and, to the extent that payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable, interest on any overdue principal and any premium and on any overdue interest, at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities, and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.

If the Company fails to pay such amounts forthwith upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, may institute a judicial proceeding for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, may prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree and may enforce the same against the Company or, if applicable, the Guarantors or any other obligor upon such Securities and collect the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or, if applicable, the Guarantors or any other obligor upon such Securities, wherever situated.

If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any such rights, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted herein, or to enforce any other proper remedy.

Section 5.4. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.

In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding relative to the Company or, if applicable, any Guarantor or any other obligor upon the Securities, their property or their creditors, the Trustee (irrespective of whether the principal of the Securities shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand on the Company or, if applicable, the Guarantors for the payment of overdue principal or interest) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:

 

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(a) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of principal (and premium, if any) and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Securities 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 the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and of the Holders allowed in such judicial proceeding; and

(b) to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same;

and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee and, if the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 6.7.

No provision of this Indenture 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, compromise, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities or, if applicable, the Securities Guarantee or the rights of any Holder thereof or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding; provided, however, that the Trustee may, on behalf of the Holders, vote for the election of a trustee in bankruptcy or similar official and be a member of a creditors’ or other similar committee.

Section 5.5. Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities.

All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or the Securities may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Securities or the production thereof in any proceeding relating thereto, and any such proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall, after provision for the payment of the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.

Section 5.6. Application of Money Collected.

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

FIRST: To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee under Section 6.7;

SECOND: Subject to Article Fifteen, to the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid for principal of and any premium and interest on the Securities in respect of which or for the benefit of which such money has been collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on such Securities for principal and any premium and interest, respectively; and

THIRD: The balance, if any, to the Company.

 

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Section 5.7. Limitation on Suits.

No Holder of any Security of any series shall have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to this Indenture (including, if applicable, the Securities Guarantee), or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless:

(a) such Holder has previously given written notice to the Trustee of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of that series;

(b) the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in its own name as Trustee hereunder;

(c) such Holder or Holders have offered to the Trustee indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request;

(d) the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity has failed to institute any such proceeding; and

(e) no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the Trustee during such 60-day period by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series;

it being understood and intended that no one or more of such Holders shall have any right in any manner whatsoever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other Holder of the same series of Security, or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other Holder of the same series of Security or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of all Holders of the same series of Security.

Section 5.8. Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest.

Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of any Security shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional (subject to Article Fifteen and Article Sixteen), to receive payment of the principal of and any premium and interest on such Security on the Stated Maturity or Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the Redemption Date) and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, and such rights shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.

Section 5.9. Restoration of Rights and Remedies.

If the Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case, subject to any determination in such proceeding, the Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee and the Holders shall be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and the Holders shall continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted.

 

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Section 5.10. Rights and Remedies Cumulative.

Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities in the last paragraph of Section 3.6, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.

Section 5.11. Delay or Omission Not Waiver.

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, no delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Securities to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article Five or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders, as the case may be.

Section 5.12. Control by Holders.

The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee, with respect to the Securities of such series; provided, however, that:

(a) such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture;

(b) the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee that is not inconsistent with such direction; and

(c) subject to the provisions of Section 6.1, the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee in good faith shall determine that the direction would expose the Trustee to personal liability.

Section 5.13. Waiver of Past Defaults.

By written notice to the Company and the Trustee, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series may on behalf of the Holders of all the Securities of such series waive any past default hereunder with respect to such series and its consequences, except:

(a) a continuing default in the payment of the principal of or any premium, if any, or interest on any Security of such series; or

(b) a default in respect of a covenant or provision hereof that under Article Nine cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security of such series affected.

Upon any such waiver, such default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Indenture, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or impair any right consequent thereon.

 

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Section 5.14. Undertaking for Costs.

All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Security by such Holder’s acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant, other than the Trustee, in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; but the provisions of this Section 5.14 shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Company, to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Holder, or group of Holders, holding in the aggregate more than 10% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, or to any suit instituted by any Holder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Security on or after the Stated Maturity or Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the Redemption Date).

Section 5.15. Waiver of Stay, Extension or Usury Laws.

Each of the Company and the Guarantors covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it will not at any time insist upon, or plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension or usury law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and each of the Company and the Guarantors (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law and covenants that it will not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.

ARTICLE SIX

THE TRUSTEE

Section 6.1. Certain Duties and Responsibilities.

(a) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of a particular series:

(i) the Trustee undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture and as are provided by the Trust Indenture Act with respect to the Securities of such series, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and

(ii) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; but in the case of any such certificates or opinions that by any 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 they conform to the requirements of this Indenture.

(b) In case an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to the Securities of a particular series, the Trustee shall exercise with respect to the Securities of such series 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.

 

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

(i) this Subsection shall not be construed to limit the effect of Subsection (a) of this Section;

(ii) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer, unless it shall be proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts;

(iii) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, given pursuant to Section 5.12, relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series; and

(iv) no provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.

(d) Regardless of whether therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section.

Section 6.2. Notice of Defaults.

Within 90 days after the occurrence of any Default hereunder with respect to the Securities of any series, the Trustee shall transmit by mail (or electronic transmission in the case of Global Securities) to all Holders of Securities of such series, as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register, notice of such Default hereunder known to the Trustee, unless such Default shall have been cured or waived; provided, however, that, except in the case of a Default in the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Security of such series or in the payment of any sinking fund installment with respect to Securities of such series, the Trustee may withhold from Holders of Securities notice of any continuing Default or Event of Default if a Responsible Officer of the Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interest of the Holders of Securities of such series; and, provided, further, that in the case of any Default of the character specified in Section 5.1(c) with respect to Securities of such series, no such notice to Holders shall be given until at least 60 days after the occurrence thereof and that in the case of any Default of the character specified in Section 5.1(d) with respect to Securities of such series, no such notice to Holders shall be given until at least 90 days after the occurrence thereof.

 

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Section 6.3. Certain Rights of Trustee.

Subject to the provisions of Section 6.1:

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

(b) any request or direction of the Company or a Guarantor mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Company Request or Company Order and any resolution of the Board of Directors may be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution;

(c) whenever in the administration of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Trustee (unless other evidence be herein specifically prescribed) shall be entitled to receive and may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, rely upon an Officer’s Certificate;

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

(e) the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders pursuant to this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities that might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction;

(f) the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Company, personally or by agent or attorney;

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

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

(i) the Trustee shall be entitled to the rights and protections afforded to the Trustee pursuant to this Article Six in acting as a Paying Agent or Security Registrar hereunder;

 

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(j) the Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any Default or Event of Default unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge thereof or unless written notice of any event that is in fact such a Default is received by the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and such notice references the Securities and this Indenture;

(k) the Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take that it believes in good faith to be authorized or within its powers conferred upon it by this Indenture or pursuant to applicable law;

(l) the Trustee shall not be required to provide any bond or surety in respect of the execution of the trusts and powers in respect of this Indenture or otherwise;

(m) under no circumstances shall the Trustee be liable in its individual or any other capacity for the obligations evidenced by any Securities; and

(n) anything in this Indenture notwithstanding, in no event shall the Trustee be liable for any special, indirect, punitive, incidental or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including but not limited to loss of profit), even if the Company has been advised as to the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action.

Section 6.4. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities.

The recitals contained herein and in the Securities, except the Trustee’s certificates of authentication, shall be taken as the statements of the Company or, if applicable, the Guarantors, and neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent assumes any responsibility for their correctness. Neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent makes any representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities. The Trustee or any Authenticating Agent shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of Securities or the proceeds thereof.

Section 6.5. May Hold Securities.

The Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any Paying Agent, any Security Registrar or any other agent of the Company or, if applicable, any Guarantor, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and, subject to Sections 310(b) and 311 of the Trust Indenture Act and Section 6.8, Section 6.9 and Section 6.13, may otherwise deal with the Company or, if applicable, the Guarantors with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent, Security Registrar or such other agent.

Section 6.6. Money Held in Trust.

Money held by the Trustee in trust hereunder need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustee shall be under no liability for interest on any money received by it hereunder except as otherwise agreed in writing with the Company or, if applicable, one or more of the Guarantors.

 

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Section 6.7. Compensation and Reimbursement.

The Company agrees:

(a) to pay to the Trustee from time to time reasonable compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust);

(b) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any provision of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as has been adjudicated to have resulted from its own negligence or willful misconduct; and

(c) to indemnify each of the Trustee and its officers, directors, agents and employees for, and to hold it and them harmless against, any loss, liability or expense arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts hereunder, including the costs and expenses of defending itself or themselves against any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its or their powers or duties hereunder, except any such loss, liability or expense as has been adjudicated to have resulted from any of its or their own negligence or willful misconduct.

As security for the performance of the obligations of the Company under this Section, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such, except funds held in trust for the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on particular Securities. Such obligations of the Company under this Section shall not be subordinated to the payment of Senior Debt pursuant to Article Fifteen.

Without limiting any rights available to the Trustee under applicable law, when the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection with an Event of Default specified in Section 5.1(e) or Section 5.1(f), the expenses (including the reasonable charges and expenses of its counsel) and the compensation for the services of the Trustee are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any applicable Bankruptcy Law.

The provisions of this Section 6.7 shall survive the resignation or removal of the Trustee and the termination or satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture and the Legal Defeasance of the Securities.

Section 6.8. Disqualification; Conflicting Interests.

Reference is made to Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act. There shall be excluded from the operation of Section 310(b)(1) of the Trust Indenture Act this Indenture with respect to the Securities of more than one series.

Section 6.9. Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility.

There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder that shall be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers, having a combined capital and surplus required by the Trust Indenture Act, subject to supervision or examination by Federal or State authority. If such corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of

 

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said supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. The Trustee shall not be an obligor upon the Securities or an Affiliate thereof. If at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, then it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article Six.

Section 6.10. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.

(a) No resignation or removal of the Trustee and no appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to this Article shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 6.11.

(b) The Trustee may resign at any time with respect to the Securities of one or more series by giving written notice thereof to the Company. If the instrument of acceptance of appointment by a successor Trustee required by Section 6.11 shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

(c) The Trustee may be removed at any time with respect to the Securities of any series by Act of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series, delivered to the Trustee and to the Company.

(d) If at any time:

(i) the Trustee shall fail to comply with Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act after written request therefor by the Company or by any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months; or

(ii) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible under Section 6.9 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any such Holder; or

(iii) the Trustee shall become incapable of acting or shall be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent or a Custodian of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed or any public officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation,

then, in any such case, (A) the Company by a Board Resolution may remove the Trustee with respect to all Securities, or (B) subject to Section 5.14, any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee with respect to all Securities and the appointment of a successor Trustee or Trustees.

(e) If the Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of Trustee for any cause, with respect to the Securities of one or more series, the Company, by a Board Resolution, shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or Trustees with respect to the Securities of that or those series (it being understood that any such successor Trustee may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more or all of such series and that at any time there shall be only one Trustee with respect to the Securities of any particular series), and the Company and the successor Trustee shall comply with the applicable

 

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requirements of Section 6.11. If, within one year after such resignation, removal or incapability, or the occurrence of such vacancy, a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall be appointed by Act of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series delivered to the Company and the retiring Trustee, the successor Trustee so appointed shall, forthwith upon its acceptance of such appointment in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 6.11, become the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and to that extent supersede the successor Trustee appointed by the Company. If no successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall have been so appointed by the Company or the Holders and accepted appointment in the manner required by Section 6.11, any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security of such series for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

(f) The Company shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series and each appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series to all Holders of Securities of such series in the manner provided in Section 1.7. Each notice shall include the name of the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and the address of its Corporate Trust Office.

Section 6.11. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.

(a) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to all Securities, the successor Trustee so appointed shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company, the Guarantors (if applicable) and to the retiring Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective and such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee; but, on the request of the Company, any Guarantor (if applicable) or the successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall, upon payment of its charges, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights, powers and trusts of the retiring Trustee and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder, subject nevertheless to its lien under Section 6.7.

(b) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Company, the Guarantors (if applicable), the retiring Trustee and each successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto wherein each successor Trustee shall accept such appointment and which (i) shall contain such provisions as shall be necessary or desirable to transfer and confirm to, and to vest in, each successor Trustee all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates, (ii) if the retiring Trustee is not retiring with respect to all Securities, shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series as to which the retiring Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the retiring Trustee, and (iii) shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust and that each such Trustee shall be trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee; and upon the execution and delivery of such supplemental indenture the resignation

 

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or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective to the extent provided therein and each such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates; but, on request of the Company, any Guarantor (if applicable) or any successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee, upon payment of its charges, shall execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights, powers and trusts of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of the series to which the appointment of such successor relates and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of such series, subject nevertheless to its lien under Section 6.7.

(c) Upon request of any such successor Trustee, the Company and, if applicable, the Guarantors shall execute any and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor Trustee all such rights, powers and trusts referred to in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section, as the case may be.

(d) No successor Trustee shall accept its appointment unless at the time of such acceptance such successor Trustee shall be qualified and eligible under this Article and the Trust Indenture Act.

Section 6.12. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business.

Any corporation into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder, provided such corporation shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article Six, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto. As soon as practicable, the successor Trustee shall mail (or send by electronic transmission in the case of Global Securities) a notice of its succession to the Company and the Holders of the Securities then Outstanding. In case any Securities shall have been authenticated, but not delivered, by the Trustee then in office, any successor by merger, conversion or consolidation to such authenticating Trustee may adopt such authentication and deliver the Securities so authenticated with the same effect as if such successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Securities.

Section 6.13. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.

Reference is made to Section 311 of the Trust Indenture Act. For purposes of Section 311(b) of the Trust Indenture Act:

(a) the term “cash transaction” means any transaction in which full payment for goods or securities sold is made within seven days after delivery of the goods or securities in currency or in checks or other orders drawn upon banks or bankers and payable upon demand;

(b) the term “self-liquidating paper” means any draft, bill of exchange, acceptance or obligation which is made, drawn, negotiated or incurred by the Company or, if applicable, any Guarantor for the purpose of financing the purchase, processing, manufacturing, shipment, storage or sale of goods, wares or merchandise and which is secured by documents evidencing title to, possession of, or a lien upon, the goods, wares or merchandise or the receivables or proceeds arising from the sale of the goods, wares or merchandise previously constituting the security, provided the security is received by the Trustee simultaneously with the creation of the creditor relationship with the Company or, if applicable, such Guarantor arising from the making, drawing, negotiating or incurring of the draft, bill of exchange, acceptance or obligation.

 

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Section 6.14. Appointment of Authenticating Agent.

The Trustee may appoint an Authenticating Agent or Agents with respect to one or more series of Securities, which shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of such series issued upon exchange, registration of transfer or partial redemption thereof or pursuant to Section 3.6, and Securities so authenticated shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee hereunder. Wherever reference is made in this Indenture to the authentication and delivery of Securities by the Trustee or the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, such reference shall be deemed to include authentication and delivery on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent and a certificate of authentication executed on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent. Each Authenticating Agent shall be acceptable to the Company and shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, authorized under such laws to act as Authenticating Agent, having a combined capital and surplus of not less than $50,000,000 and subject to supervision or examination by Federal or State authority. If such Authenticating Agent publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of said supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such Authenticating Agent shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, such Authenticating Agent shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in this Section.

Any corporation into which an Authenticating Agent may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which such Authenticating Agent shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate agency or corporate trust business of an Authenticating Agent, shall continue to be an Authenticating Agent, provided such corporation shall be otherwise eligible under this Section, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent.

An Authenticating Agent may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Trustee and to the Company and, if applicable, the Guarantors. The Trustee for any series of Securities may at any time terminate the agency of an Authenticating Agent by giving written notice thereof to such Authenticating Agent and to the Company and, if applicable, the Guarantors. Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time such Authenticating Agent shall cease to be qualified and eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, the Trustee for such series may appoint a successor Authenticating Agent that shall be acceptable to the Company and, if applicable, the Guarantors and shall mail (or send by electronic transmission in the case of Global Securities) written notice of such appointment by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to all Holders of Securities of the series with respect to which such Authenticating Agent will serve, as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register. Any successor Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder shall become vested with all the rights, powers and duties of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as an Authenticating Agent. No successor Authenticating Agent shall be appointed unless eligible under the provisions of this Section.

Except with respect to an Authenticating Agent appointed at the request of the Company or, if applicable, the Guarantors, the Trustee agrees to pay to each Authenticating Agent from time to time reasonable compensation for its services under this Section 6.14, and the Trustee shall be entitled to be reimbursed by the Company or, if applicable, the Guarantors for such payments, subject to the provisions of Section 6.7.

 

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If an appointment with respect to one or more series is made pursuant to this Section 6.14, the Securities of such series may have endorsed thereon, in addition to the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, an alternate certificate of authentication in the following form:

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

 

UMB Bank, N.A., as Trustee
By:  

                                          

  As Authenticating Agent
By:  

 

  Authorized Officer

ARTICLE SEVEN

HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY

Section 7.1. Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders.

The Company will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee:

(a) semi-annually, not more than 5 days after each Regular Record Date for a series of Securities, a list for such series of Securities, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Holders of Securities of such series as of such Regular 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 of similar form and content as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list is furnished;

provided, however, that if and so long as the Trustee shall be the Security Registrar, no such list need be furnished with respect to such series of Securities.

Section 7.2. Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders.

(a) The Trustee shall preserve, with respect to each series of Securities, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, the names and addresses of Holders contained in the most recent list furnished to the Trustee as provided in Section 7.1 and the names and addresses of Holders received by the Trustee in its capacity as Security Registrar. The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 7.1 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.

(b) If three or more Holders (herein referred to as “applicants”) apply in writing to the Trustee, and furnish to the Trustee reasonable proof that each such applicant has owned a Security for a period of at least six months preceding the date of such application, and such application states that the applicants desire to communicate with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under the Securities and is accompanied by a copy of the form of proxy or other communication which such applicants propose to transmit, then the Trustee shall, within five Business Days after the receipt of such application, at its election, either:

 

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(i) afford such applicants access to the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with Section 7.2(a); or

(ii) inform such applicants as to the approximate number of Holders whose names and addresses appear in the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with Section 7.2(a), and as to the approximate cost of mailing to such Holders the form of proxy or other communication, if any, specified in such application.

If the Trustee shall elect not to afford such applicants access to such information, the Trustee shall, upon the written request of such applicants, mail to each Holder whose name and address appear in the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with Section 7.2(a) a copy of the form of proxy or other communication that is specified in such request, with reasonable promptness after a tender to the Trustee of the material to be mailed and of payment, or provision for the payment, of the reasonable expenses of mailing, unless within five days after such tender the Trustee shall mail to such applicants and file with the SEC, together with a copy of the material to be mailed, a written statement to the effect that, in the opinion of the Trustee, such mailing would be contrary to the best interest of the Holders or would be in violation of applicable law. Such written statement shall specify the basis of such opinion. If the SEC, after opportunity for a hearing upon the objections specified in the written statement so filed, shall enter an order refusing to sustain any of such objections or if, after the entry of an order sustaining one or more of such objections, the SEC shall find, after notice and opportunity for hearing, that all the objections so sustained have been met and shall enter an order so declaring, the Trustee shall mail copies of such material to all such Holders with reasonable promptness after the entry of such order and the renewal of such tender; otherwise the Trustee shall be relieved of any obligation or duty to such applicants respecting their application.

(c) Every Holder of Securities, by receiving and holding the same, agrees with the Company, the Guarantors (if applicable) and the Trustee that none of the Company, the Guarantors (if applicable) nor the Trustee nor any agent of any of them shall be held accountable by reason of the disclosure of any such information as to the names and addresses of the Holders in accordance with Section 7.2(b), regardless of the source from which such information was derived, and that the Trustee shall not be held accountable by reason of mailing any material pursuant to a request made under Section 7.2(b).

Section 7.3. Reports by Trustee.

Any Trustee’s report required pursuant to Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act shall be dated as of May 15, and shall be transmitted within 60 days after May 15 of each year (but in all events at intervals of not more than 12 months), commencing with the year 20__, by mail (or electronic transmission in the case of Global Securities) to all Holders, as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register. A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission to Holders, be filed by the Trustee with each stock exchange upon which any Securities are listed, and with the SEC. The Company will notify the Trustee when any Securities are listed on any stock exchange.

 

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Section 7.4. Reports by Company.

The Company shall:

(a) file with the Trustee, within 15 days after the Company files the same with the SEC, copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the SEC may from time to time by rules and regulations prescribe) which the Company may be required to file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act; or, if the Company is not required to file information, documents or reports pursuant to either of said Sections, then it shall file with the Trustee and the SEC, in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the SEC, 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;

(b) file with the Trustee and the SEC, in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the SEC, such additional information, documents and reports with respect to compliance by the Company with the conditions and covenants of this Indenture as may be required from time to time by such rules and regulations; and

(c) transmit by mail (or electronic transmission in the case of Global Securities) to all Holders, as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register, within 30 days after the filing thereof with the Trustee, such summaries of any information, documents and reports required to be filed by the Company pursuant to clauses (a) and (b) of this Section as may be required by rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the SEC.

ARTICLE EIGHT

CONSOLIDATION, AMALGAMATION, MERGER AND SALE

Section 8.1. Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms.

The Company shall not convert into, or consolidate, amalgamate or merge with or into any other Person or sell, convey, assign, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company on a consolidated basis to any other Person unless:

(a) either: (i) the Company is the surviving Person; or (ii) the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation, amalgamation or merger or resulting from such conversion (if other than the Company) or to which such sale, conveyance, assignment, transfer, lease or other disposition has been made is a corporation, limited liability company or limited partnership organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia;

(b) the Person formed by or surviving any such conversion, consolidation, amalgamation or merger (if other than the Company) or the Person to which such sale, conveyance, assignment, transfer, lease or other disposition has been made assumes by an indenture supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to the Trustee, the due and punctual payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on all the Securities and the performance of every covenant of this Indenture on the part of the Company to be performed or observed;

(c) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Event of Default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an Event of Default, shall have occurred and be continuing; and

(d) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such conversion, consolidation, amalgamation, merger, sale, conveyance, assignment, transfer, lease or other disposition and such supplemental indenture comply with this Article Eight and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with.

 

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Section 8.2. Successor Substituted.

Upon any consolidation, amalgamation or merger of the Company with or into any other Person or any sale, conveyance, assignment, transfer, lease or other disposition of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company and, if applicable, the Guarantors on a consolidated basis in accordance with Section 8.1, the successor or resulting Person formed by or resulting upon such consolidation, amalgamation or merger (if other than the Company) or to which such sale, conveyance, assignment, transfer, lease or other disposition is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as the Company herein, and thereafter, except in the case of a lease, the predecessor Company and, if applicable, each of the Guarantors shall be relieved of all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities.

ARTICLE NINE

AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER

Section 9.1. Without Consent of Holders.

The Company, the Guarantors (if any) and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture, the Securities Guarantee or the Securities without the consent of any holder of a Security:

(a) to cure any ambiguity or defect or to correct or supplement any provision herein that may be inconsistent with any other provision herein; or

(b) to evidence the succession of another Person to the Company and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants of the Company herein and, to the extent applicable, of the Securities; or

(c) to provide for uncertificated Securities in addition to or in place of certificated Securities; provided that the uncertificated Securities are issued in registered form for purposes of Section 163(f) of the Code, or in the manner such that the uncertificated Securities are described in Section 163(f)(2)(B) of the Code; or

(d) to add a Securities Guarantee and cause any Person to become a Guarantor, and/or to evidence the succession of another Person to a Guarantor and the assumption by any such successor of the Securities Guarantee of such Guarantor herein and, to the extent applicable, endorsed upon any Securities of any series, and/or to cause any corporate subsidiary of the Company to become a co-issuer of the Securities of any series; or

(e) to secure the Securities of any series; or

(f) to add to the covenants of the Company such further covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions as the Company shall consider to be appropriate for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such covenants are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series) or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company, and to make the occurrence, or the occurrence and continuance, of a Default in any such additional covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions an Event of Default permitting the enforcement of all or any of the several remedies provided in this Indenture as herein set forth; provided, that in respect of any such additional covenant, restriction, condition or provision such amendment or supplemental indenture may provide for a

 

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particular period of grace after Default (which period may be shorter or longer than that allowed in the case of other Defaults), may provide for an immediate enforcement upon such an Event of Default, may limit the remedies available to the Trustee upon such an Event of Default or may limit the right of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series to waive such an Event of Default; or

(g) to make any change to any provision of this Indenture that does not adversely affect the rights or interests of any Holder of Securities; or

(h) to provide for the issuance of additional Securities in accordance with the provisions set forth in this Indenture; or

(i) to add any additional Defaults or Events of Default in respect of all or any series of Securities; or

(j) to add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the issuance of Securities in bearer form, registrable or not registrable as to principal, and with or without interest coupons; or

(k) to change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture; provided that any such change or elimination shall become effective only when there is no Security Outstanding of any series created prior to the execution of such amendment or supplemental indenture that is entitled to the benefit of such provision; or

(l) to establish the form or terms of Securities of any series as permitted by Section 2.1 and Section 3.1, including to reopen any series of any Securities as permitted under Section 3.1; or

(m) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, pursuant to the requirements of Section 6.11(b); or

(n) to conform the text of this Indenture (and/or any supplemental indenture) or any Securities issued hereunder to any provision of a description of such text or Securities appearing in a prospectus, prospectus supplement, offering memorandum or offering circular pursuant to which such Securities were offered to the extent that such provision was intended by the Company to be a verbatim recitation of a provision of this Indenture (and/or any supplemental indenture) or any Securities or Securities Guarantee issued hereunder, with such intention being evidenced by an Officer’s Certificate; or

(o) to modify, eliminate or add to the provisions of this Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to effect the qualification of this Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act or under any similar federal statute subsequently enacted, and to add to this Indenture such other provisions as may be expressly required under the Trust Indenture Act.

 

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Section 9.2. With Consent of Holders.

The Company, the Guarantors (if any) and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture, the Securities Guarantee and the Securities with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of each series of Securities affected by such amendment or supplemental indenture, with each such series voting as a separate class (including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Securities) and, subject to Section 5.8 and Section 5.13 hereof, any existing Default or Event of Default or compliance with any provision of this Indenture, the Securities Guarantee or the Securities may be waived with respect to each series of Securities with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series voting as a separate class (including consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Securities).

It is not necessary for the consent of the Holders of Securities under this Section 9.2 to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment, supplement or waiver, but it is sufficient if such consent approves the substance of the proposed amendment, supplement or waiver.

After an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section 9.2 becomes effective, the Company will mail to the Holders of Securities affected thereby a notice briefly describing the amendment, supplement or waiver. Any failure of the Company to mail such notice, or any defect therein, will not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such amendment, supplemental indenture or waiver. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, without the consent of each Holder affected, an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section 9.2 may not (with respect to any Securities held by a non-consenting Holder):

(a) change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any installment of principal of or interest on, any Security, or reduce the principal amount thereof or the rate of interest thereon or any premium payable upon the redemption thereof, or reduce the amount of the principal of an Original Issue Discount Security that would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.2, or change the coin or currency in which any Security or any premium or the interest thereon is payable, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the Stated Maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the Redemption Date therefor); or

(b) reduce the percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, the consent of whose Holders is required for any such amendment or supplemental indenture, or the consent of whose Holders is required for any waiver of compliance with certain provisions of this Indenture or certain defaults hereunder and their consequences provided for in this Indenture; or

(c) modify any of the provisions of Section 5.8 or Section 5.13; or

(d) waive a redemption payment with respect to any Security; provided, however, that any purchase or repurchase of Securities shall not be deemed a redemption of the Securities; or

(e) release any Guarantor from any of its obligations under its Securities Guarantee or this Indenture, except in accordance with the terms of this Indenture (as amended or supplemented); or

(f) make any change in the foregoing amendment and waiver provisions, except to increase any percentage provided for therein or to provide that certain other provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby.

 

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An amendment or supplemental indenture that changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of this Indenture that has expressly been included solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of Securities, or that modifies the rights of the Holders of 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 Securities of any other series.

Section 9.3. Execution of Amendments and Supplemental Indentures.

In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any amendment or supplemental indenture permitted by this Article Nine or the modifications thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 6.1) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such amendment or supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture.

Upon the request of the Company accompanied by a Board Resolution authorizing the execution of any such amendment or supplemental indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence satisfactory to the Trustee of the consent of the Holders of Securities as aforesaid, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 6.3 hereof, the Trustee will join with the Company and the Guarantors in the execution of such amendment or supplemental indenture unless such amendment or supplemental indenture directly affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion, but will not be obligated to, enter into such amendment or supplemental Indenture.

Section 9.4. Effect of Amendments and Supplemental Indentures.

Upon the execution of any amendment or supplemental indenture under this Article Nine, this Indenture shall be modified in accordance therewith, and such amendment or supplemental indenture shall form a part of this Indenture for all purposes; and every Holder of Securities theretofore or thereafter authenticated and delivered hereunder shall be bound thereby.

Section 9.5. Conformity with Trust Indenture Act.

Every amendment or supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article Nine shall conform to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect.

Section 9.6. Reference in Securities to Amendments or Supplemental Indentures.

Securities of any series authenticated and delivered after the execution of any amendment or supplemental indenture pursuant to this Article Nine 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 amendment or supplemental indenture. If the Company shall so determine, new Securities of any series so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Trustee and the Company, to any such amendment or supplemental indenture may be prepared and executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in exchange for Outstanding Securities of such series.

Section 9.7. Effect of Consents.

Until an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder of a Security of a series is a continuing consent by the Holder of a Security of such series and every subsequent Holder of a Security of such series or portion of a Security of such series that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Security of such series, even if the notation of the consent is not made on any Security. An amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective in accordance with its terms and thereafter binds every Holder of the Securities of such series.

 

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ARTICLE TEN

COVENANTS

Section 10.1. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest.

The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of each series of Securities that it will duly and punctually pay the principal of and any premium and interest on the Securities of that series in accordance with the terms of the Securities and this Indenture.

Section 10.2. Maintenance of Office or Agency.

The Company will maintain in the United States an office or agency (which may be an office of the Trustee or Security Registrar or agent of the Trustee or Security Registrar) where Securities of each series may be presented or surrendered for payment and surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of that 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.

The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Securities of one or more series may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency.

Except as otherwise specified with respect to a series of Securities as contemplated by Section 3.1, the Company hereby initially designates the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee as the Company’s office or agency for each such purpose for each series of Securities. The Trustee shall initially serve as Paying Agent. In the event the Company makes any payment in any currency in which the Trustee is unable to pay, and notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Company will appoint a Paying Agent other than the Trustee to make such payment and the Trustee will have no obligations with respect to such payment and will incur no liability with respect to the failure by the Company or such other Paying Agent to make, or cause to be made, such payment.

Section 10.3. Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust.

If the Company shall at any time act as its own Paying Agent, with respect to any series of Securities, it will, on or before each due date of the principal of or any premium or interest on any of the Securities of that series, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto a sum sufficient to pay the principal and any premium and interest so becoming due until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided and will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.

Whenever the Company shall have one or more Paying Agents for any series of Securities, it will, prior to each due date of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities of that series, deposit with a Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay the principal and any premium or interest so becoming due, such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such principal, premium or interest, and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act. For purposes of this Section 10.3, should a due date for principal of or any premium or interest on, or sinking fund payment with respect to, any series of Securities not be on a Business Day, such payment shall be due on the next Business Day without any interest for the period from the due date until such Business Day.

 

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The Company will cause each Paying Agent for any series of Securities other than the Trustee to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such Paying Agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section, that such Paying Agent will:

(a) hold all sums held by it for the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on Securities of that series in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided;

(b) give the Trustee notice of any Default by the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities of that series) in the making of any payment of principal or any premium or interest on the Securities of that series; and

(c) at any time during the continuance of any such Default, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so held in trust by such Paying Agent.

The Company and, if applicable, the Guarantors may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or for any other purpose, pay, or by Company Order direct any Paying Agent to pay, to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Company or such Paying Agent, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the same trusts as those upon which such sums were held by the Company or such Paying Agent; and, upon such payment by any Paying Agent to the Trustee, such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such money.

Subject to any applicable escheat or abandoned property laws, any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Security of any series and remaining unclaimed for one year after such principal, premium or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on Company Request, or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Security shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Company cause to be published once, in The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal (national edition), notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company.

Section 10.4. Existence.

Subject to Article Eight, the Company and, if any Securities of a series to which Article Fourteen has been made applicable are Outstanding, each Guarantor will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its existence, rights (charter and statutory) and franchises; provided, however, that the Company and, if applicable, each Guarantor shall not be required to preserve any such right or franchise if the Board of Directors shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company or such Guarantor, as the case may be.

 

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Section 10.5. Statement by Officers as to Default.

Annually, within 120 days after the close of each fiscal year beginning with the first fiscal year during which one or more series of Securities are Outstanding, the Company and, if any Securities of a series to which Article Fourteen has been made applicable are Outstanding, each Guarantor will deliver to the Trustee a brief certificate (which need not include the statements set forth in Section 1.3) from the principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer of the Company and, if applicable, such Guarantor, stating that a review of the activities of the Company during such year and of performance under this Indenture has been made, and as to his or her knowledge of the Company’s or such Guarantor’s, as the case may be, compliance (without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice provided herein) with all conditions and covenants under this Indenture and, if the Company or such Guarantor, as the case may be, shall be in Default, specifying all such Defaults and the nature and status thereof of which such officer has knowledge.

ARTICLE ELEVEN

REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

Section 11.1. Applicability of Article.

Securities of any series that are redeemable before their Stated Maturity shall be redeemable in accordance with their terms and (except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1 for Securities of any series) in accordance with this Article Eleven.

Section 11.2. Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee.

The election of the Company to redeem any Securities shall be evidenced by a Board Resolution. In case of any redemption at the election of the Company of less than all the Securities of any series, the Company shall, at least 15 days prior to the last date for the giving of notice of such redemption (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), notify the Trustee of such Redemption Date and of the principal amount of Securities of such series to be redeemed and, if applicable, of the tenor of the Securities to be redeemed. In the case of any redemption of Securities (a) prior to the expiration of any restriction on such redemption provided in the terms of such Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture or (b) pursuant to an election of the Company that is subject to a condition specified in the terms of the Securities of the series to be redeemed, the Company shall furnish the Trustee with an Officer’s Certificate evidencing compliance with such restriction or condition.

Section 11.3. Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed.

If less than all the Securities of any series are to be redeemed (unless all of the Securities of such series and of a specified tenor are to be redeemed), the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 45 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee, from the Outstanding Securities of such series not previously called for redemption, by such method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate (and in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Depositary in the case of Global Securities) and which may provide for the selection for redemption of portions (equal to the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of that series or any integral multiple thereof) of the principal amount of Securities of such series of a denomination larger than the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of that series.

 

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The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the Securities selected for redemption and, in the case of any Securities selected for partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed. If the Securities of any series to be redeemed consist of Securities having different dates on which the principal is payable or different rates of interest, or different methods by which interest may be determined or have any other different tenor or terms, then the Company may, by written notice to the Trustee, direct that the Securities of such series to be redeemed shall be selected from among the groups of such Securities having specified tenor or terms and the Trustee shall thereafter select the particular Securities to be redeemed in the manner set forth in the preceding paragraph from among the group of such Securities so specified.

For all purposes of this Indenture, unless the context otherwise requires, all provisions relating to the redemption of Securities shall relate, in the case of any Securities redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the principal amount of such Securities which has been or is to be redeemed.

Section 11.4. Notice of Redemption.

Notice of redemption shall be given by first-class mail, postage prepaid, or sent electronically in the case of Global Securities, in each case, not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date, to each Holder of Securities of a series that are to be redeemed, at such Holder’s address appearing in the Security Register, except that redemption notices may be given more than 60 days prior to a Redemption Date if the notice is issued in connection with defeasance of the Securities of such series pursuant to Article Thirteen or a satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture pursuant to Article Four with respect to the Securities of such series.

All notices of redemption shall state:

(a) the Redemption Date;

(b) the Redemption Price, or if not then ascertainable, the manner of calculation thereof;

(c) if less than all the Outstanding Securities of any series are to be redeemed, the identification (and, in the case of partial redemption, the principal amounts) of the particular Securities to be redeemed;

(d) that on the Redemption Date the Redemption Price will become due and payable upon each such Security to be redeemed and, if applicable, that interest thereon will cease to accrue on and after said date;

(e) the place or places where such Securities are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price;

(f) that the redemption is for a sinking fund, if such is the case; and

(g) the conditions, if any, to which such redemption shall be subject.

Notice of redemption of Securities to be redeemed at the election of the Company shall be given by the Company or, at the Company’s request, by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company.

Section 11.5. Deposit of Redemption Price.

Prior to any Redemption Date, 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 as provided in Section 10.3) an amount of money sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of, and (except if the Redemption Date shall be an Interest Payment Date) accrued interest on, all the Securities which are to be redeemed on that date.

 

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Section 11.6. Securities Payable on Redemption Date.

Notice of redemption having been given as aforesaid, the Securities so to be redeemed shall, on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at the Redemption Price therein specified, and from and after such date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest, or fail to pay the Redemption Price and accrued interest as a result of any failure of any condition to which such redemption is subject to be satisfied or waived) such Securities shall cease to bear interest. Upon surrender of any such Security for redemption in accordance with said notice, such Security shall be paid by the Company at the Redemption Price, together with accrued interest to the Redemption Date; provided, however, that unless otherwise specified with respect to Securities of any series as contemplated in Section 3.1, installments of interest the Stated Maturity of which is on or prior to the Redemption Date shall be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as such at the close of business on the relevant record dates according to their terms and the provisions of Section 3.7.

If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof for redemption, the principal (and premium, if any) shall, until paid, bear interest from the Redemption Date at the rate prescribed therefor in the Security.

Section 11.7. Securities Redeemed in Part.

Any Security which is to be redeemed only in part shall be surrendered at a Place of Payment therefor (with, if the Company or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder thereof or such Holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing), and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security without service charge, a new Security or Securities of the same series and tenor, 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 Security so surrendered.

ARTICLE TWELVE

SINKING FUNDS

Section 12.1. Applicability of Article.

The provisions of this Article Twelve shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of Securities of a series except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1 for Securities of such series.

The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as a “mandatory sinking fund payment,” and any payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as an “optional sinking fund payment.” If provided for by the terms of Securities of any series, the cash amount of any sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 12.2. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities of any series as provided for by the terms of Securities of such series.

 

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Section 12.2. Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities.

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

Section 12.3. Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund.

Not less than 45 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for any series of Securities (unless a shorter period shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing sinking fund payment for that series pursuant to the terms of that series, the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash and the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting Securities of that series pursuant to Section 12.2 and stating the basis for such credit and that such Securities have not been previously so credited, and will also deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so delivered. Not less than 30 days before each such sinking fund payment date the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 11.3 and cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the Company in the manner provided in Section 11.4. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Section 11.6 and Section 11.7.

ARTICLE THIRTEEN

DEFEASANCE

Section 13.1. Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

The Company may, at the option of its Board of Directors evidenced by a Board Resolution, and at any time, elect to have either Section 13.2 or Section 13.3 hereof be applied to all Outstanding Securities of any series upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article Thirteen.

Section 13.2. Legal Defeasance and Discharge.

Upon the Company’s exercise under Section 13.1 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 13.2, the Company and each of the Guarantors will, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 13.4 hereof, be deemed to have been discharged from their obligations with respect to all Outstanding Securities of such series (including the Securities Guarantee) on the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, “Legal Defeasance”). For this purpose, Legal Defeasance means that the Company and the Guarantors will be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Debt represented by the Outstanding Securities of such series (including the Securities Guarantee), which will thereafter be deemed to be “outstanding” only for the purposes of Section 13.5 hereof and the other sections of this Indenture referred to in clauses (a) and (b) below, and to have satisfied all their other obligations under such Securities, the Securities Guarantee and this Indenture (and the Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following provisions, which will survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder:

 

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(a) the rights of Holders of Outstanding Securities of such series to receive payments in respect of the principal of, or interest or premium, if any, on, such Securities when such payments are due from the trust referred to in Section 13.4 hereof;

(b) the Company’s obligations with respect to such Securities under Section 3.4, Section 3.5, Section 3.6, Section 10.2 and Section 10.3 hereof;

(c) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and the Company’s and the Guarantors’ obligations in connection therewith; and

(d) this Article Thirteen.

Subject to compliance with this Article Thirteen, the Company may exercise its option under this Section 13.2 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 13.3 hereof with respect to the same series of Securities.

Section 13.3. Covenant Defeasance.

Upon the Company’s exercise under Section 13.1 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 13.3, the Company and each of the Guarantors will, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 13.4 hereof, be released from each of their obligations with respect to the Securities of such series under the covenants contained in Section 7.4, Section 8.1 and Section 10.4 hereof as well as any Additional Defeasible Provisions (such release and termination hereinafter referred to as “Covenant Defeasance”), and the Securities of such series will thereafter be deemed not “outstanding” for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or act of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with such covenants, but will continue to be deemed “outstanding” for all other purposes hereunder (it being understood that such Securities will not be deemed outstanding for accounting purposes). For this purpose, Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to the Outstanding Securities of such series and the Securities Guarantee, the Company and the Guarantors may fail to comply with and will have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such covenant or by reason of any reference in any such covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document and such failure to comply will not constitute a Default or an Event of Default under Section 5.1 hereof, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Securities and Securities Guarantees will be unaffected thereby. In addition, upon the Company’s exercise under Section 13.1 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 13.3 hereof, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 13.4 hereof, any Event of Default that constitutes an Additional Defeasible Provision will no longer constitute an Event of Default.

Section 13.4. Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance.

In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance with respect to any series of Securities under either Section 13.2 or Section 13.3 hereof:

(a) the Company must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders of the Securities of such series, cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable U.S. Government Obligations, or a combination of cash in U.S. dollars and non-callable U.S. Government Obligations, in such amounts as will be sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized investment bank, appraisal firm, or firm of independent public accountants, to pay the principal of, and interest and premium, if any, on, the Outstanding Securities of such series on the stated date for payment thereof or on the applicable Redemption Date, as the case may be, and the Company must specify whether the Securities are being defeased to such stated date for payment or to a particular Redemption Date;

 

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(b) in the case of an election under Section 13.2 hereof, the Company must deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that:

(i) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling; or

(ii) since the Issue Date, there has been a change in the applicable U.S. federal income tax law,

in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel will state that, the Holders of the Outstanding Securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such Legal Defeasance and will be subject to U.S. 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;

(c) in the case of an election under Section 13.3 hereof, the Company must deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that the Holders of the Outstanding Securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to U.S. 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;

(d) no Default or Event of Default with respect to such series of Securities shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit (other than a Default or Event of Default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit);

(e) the deposit must not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any other instrument to which the Company or any Guarantor is a party or by which the Company or any Guarantor is bound;

(f) such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance must not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any material agreement or instrument (other than this Indenture) to which the Company or any Guarantor is a party or by which the Company or any Guarantor is bound;

(g) the Company must deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent of preferring the Holders of such Securities over the other creditors of the Company with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any creditors of the Company or others;

(h) the Company must deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating that all conditions precedent set forth in clauses (a) through (f) of this Section 13.4 have been complied with; and

(i) the Company must deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel (which Opinion of Counsel may be subject to customary assumptions, qualifications and exclusions) stating that all conditions precedent set forth in clauses (b), (c) and (f) of this Section 13.4 have been complied with.

 

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Section 13.5. Deposited Money and U.S. Government Obligations to be Held in Trust, Other Miscellaneous Provisions.

Subject to the last paragraph of Section 10.3 hereof, all money and non-callable U.S. Government Obligations (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee, collectively for purposes of this Section 13.5, the “Trustee”) pursuant to Section 13.4 hereof in respect of the Outstanding Securities of any series will be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Securities of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal, premium, if any, and interest, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

The Company will pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the cash or non-callable U.S. Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 13.4 hereof or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge that by law is for the account of the Holders of the Outstanding Securities.

Notwithstanding anything in this Article Thirteen to the contrary, the Trustee will deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon the request of the Company any money or non-callable U.S. Government Obligations held by it as provided in Section 13.4 hereof which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized investment bank, appraisal firm or firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee (which may be the opinion delivered under Section 13.4(a) hereof), are in excess of the amount thereof that would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

Section 13.6. Reinstatement.

If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any United States dollars or non-callable U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with Section 4.1, Section 13.2 or Section 13.3 hereof with respect to the Securities of any series, as the case may be, by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the Company’s and the Guarantors’ obligations under this Indenture and such Securities and the Securities Guarantee will be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 4.1, Section 13.2 or Section 13.3 hereof until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money or non-callable U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with Section 4.1, Section 13.2 or Section 13.3 hereof, as the case may be; provided, however, that, if the Company makes any payment of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any such Security following the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company will be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Securities to receive such payment from the money or non-callable U.S. Government Obligations held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

ARTICLE FOURTEEN

GUARANTEE OF SECURITIES

Section 14.1. Securities Guarantee.

(a) Subject to the other provisions of this Article Fourteen, each of the Guarantors hereby fully and unconditionally and jointly and severally guarantees to each Holder of a Security of each series to which this Article Fourteen has been made applicable as provided in Section 3.1(t) (the Securities of such series being referred to herein as the “Guaranteed Securities”) (which Security has been authenticated and delivered by the Trustee), and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns, irrespective of the validity and enforceability of this Indenture, the Guaranteed Securities, or the obligations of the Company hereunder or thereunder, that:

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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Section 14.2. Limitation on Guarantor Liability.

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

Section 14.3. Execution and Delivery of Securities Guarantee Notation.

To evidence its Securities Guarantee set forth in Section 14.1 hereof, each Guarantor hereby agrees that a notation of such Securities Guarantee substantially in the form set forth in Section 2.3 or established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution or in an indenture supplemental hereto, in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.1, will be endorsed by an officer of such Guarantor on each Guaranteed Security authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and that this Indenture or a supplement to this Indenture will be executed on behalf of such Guarantor by one of its officers.

Each Guarantor hereby agrees that its Securities Guarantee set forth in Section 14.1 hereof will remain in full force and effect notwithstanding any failure to endorse on each Guaranteed Security a notation of such Securities Guarantee.

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

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

ARTICLE FIFTEEN

SUBORDINATION OF SECURITIES

Section 15.1. Securities Subordinated to Senior Debt.

The Company covenants and agrees, and each Holder, by its acceptance of a Security, likewise covenants and agrees, that all Securities shall be issued subject to the provisions of this Article Fifteen; and each Person holding any Security, whether upon original issue or upon transfer, assignment or exchange thereof, accepts and agrees that the payment of the principal of and interest and premium, if any, on each and all of the Securities shall, to the extent and in the manner set forth in this Article Fifteen, be subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment in full, in cash or cash equivalents, of all existing and future Senior Debt.

 

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Section 15.2. No Payment on Securities in Certain Circumstances.

(a) No direct or indirect payment by or on behalf of the Company of the principal of or interest or premium, if any, on each and all of the Securities (other than with the money, securities or proceeds held under any defeasance trust established in accordance with this Indenture), whether pursuant to the terms of the Securities or upon acceleration or otherwise, shall be made if, at the time of such payment, there exists a default in the payment of all or any portion of the obligations on any Designated Senior Debt and such default shall not have been cured or waived or the benefits of this sentence waived by or on behalf of the holders of such Senior Debt.

(b) During the continuance of any other event of default with respect to any Designated Senior Debt pursuant to which the maturity thereof may be accelerated, upon receipt by the Trustee of written notice from the trustee or other representative for the holders of such Designated Senior Debt (or the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of such Designated Senior Debt then outstanding), no payment of the principal of or interest or premium, if any, on each and all of the Securities (other than with the money, securities or proceeds held under any defeasance trust established in accordance with this Indenture) may be made by or on behalf of the Company upon or in respect of the Securities for a period (a “Payment Blockage Period”) commencing on the date of receipt of such notice and ending 179 days thereafter (unless, in each case, such Payment Blockage Period has been terminated by written notice to the Trustee from such trustee of, or other representatives for, such holders or by payment in full in cash or cash equivalents of such Designated Senior Debt or such event of default has been cured or waived). Not more than one Payment Blockage Period may be commenced with respect to the Securities during any period of 360 consecutive days. Notwithstanding anything in this Indenture to the contrary, there must be 180 consecutive days in any 360-day period in which no Payment Blockage Period is in effect. No event of default that existed or was continuing (it being acknowledged that any subsequent action that would give rise to an event of default pursuant to any provision under which an event of default previously existed or was continuing shall constitute a new event of default for this purpose) on the date of the commencement of any Payment Blockage Period with respect to the Designated Senior Debt initiating such Payment Blockage Period shall be, or shall be made, the basis for the commencement of a second Payment Blockage Period by the trustee or other representative for the holders of such Designated Senior Debt, whether or not within a period of 360 consecutive days, unless such event of default shall have been cured or waived for a period of not less than 90 consecutive days.

(c) In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment shall be received by the Trustee or any Holder when such payment is prohibited by clause (a) or (b) above, such payment shall be held in trust for the benefit of, and shall be paid over or delivered to, the trustee in bankruptcy, receiver, liquidating trustee, custodian, assignee, agent or other Persons making payment or distribution of the assets of the Company for application to the payment of all Senior Debt remaining unpaid, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any of such Senior Debt may have been issued, and any excess above such amounts due and owing on Senior Debt shall be paid to the Company.

Section 15.3. Payment over of Proceeds upon Dissolution, Etc.

(a) Upon any payment or distribution of assets or securities of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities (other than with the money, securities or proceeds held under any defeasance trust established in accordance with this Indenture), in connection with any dissolution or winding up or total or partial liquidation or reorganization of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary, or in bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other

 

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proceedings, assignment of assets for the benefit of creditors or other marshalling of assets and liabilities of the Company, all amounts due or to become due upon all Senior Debt shall first be paid in full, in cash or cash equivalents, before the Holders or the Trustee on their behalf shall be entitled to receive any payment by (or on behalf of) the Company on account of the Securities, or any payment to acquire any of the Securities for cash, property or securities, or any distribution with respect to the Securities of any cash, property or securities. Before any payment may be made by, or on behalf of, the Company on any Security (other than with the money, securities or proceeds held under any defeasance trust established in accordance with this Indenture) in connection with any such dissolution, winding up, liquidation or reorganization, any payment or distribution of assets or securities of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, to which the Holders or the Trustee on their behalf would be entitled, but for the provisions of this Article Fifteen, shall be made by the Company or by any receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, agent or other similar Person making such payment or distribution, or by the Holders or the Trustee if received by them or it, to the trustee in bankruptcy, receiver, liquidating trustee, custodian, assignee, agent, or other Persons making payment or distribution of the assets of the Company for application to the payment of all Senior Debt remaining unpaid, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any such Senior Debt may have been issued, to the extent necessary to pay all such Senior Debt in full, in cash or cash equivalents, after giving effect to any concurrent payment, distribution or provision therefor to or for the holders of such Senior Debt.

(b) To the extent any payment of Senior Debt (whether by or on behalf of the Company, as proceeds of security or enforcement of any right of setoff or otherwise) is declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required to be paid to any receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, agent or other similar Person under any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership, fraudulent conveyance or similar law, then if such payment is recovered by, or paid over to, such receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee or other similar Person, the Senior Debt or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be deemed to be reinstated and outstanding as if such payment had not occurred. To the extent the obligation to repay any Senior Debt is declared to be fraudulent or invalid or otherwise set aside under any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership, fraudulent conveyance or similar law, then the obligation so declared fraudulent or invalid or otherwise set aside (and all other amounts that would come due with respect thereto had such obligation not been so affected) shall be deemed to be reinstated and outstanding as Senior Debt for all purposes hereof as if such declaration or setting aside had not occurred.

(c) In the event that, notwithstanding the provision in clause (a) above prohibiting such payment or distribution, any payment or distribution of assets or securities of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, shall be received by the Trustee or any Holder at a time when such payment or distribution is prohibited by clause (a) above and before all obligations in respect of Senior Debt are paid in full, in cash or cash equivalents, such payment or distribution shall be received and held in trust for the benefit of, and shall be paid over or delivered to, the trustee in bankruptcy, receiver, liquidating trustee, custodian, assignee, agent, or other Persons making payment or distribution of the assets of the Company for application to the payment of all Senior Debt remaining unpaid, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any such Senior Debt may have been issued, after giving effect to any concurrent payment, distribution or provision therefor to or for the holders of such Senior Debt.

(d) For purposes of this Section 15.3, the words “cash, property or securities” shall not be deemed to include, so long as the effect of this clause is not to cause the Securities to be treated in any case or proceeding or similar event described in this Section 15.3 as part of the same class of claims as the Senior Debt or any class of claims pari passu with, or senior to, the Senior Debt

 

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for any payment or distribution, securities of the Company or any other Person provided for by a plan of reorganization or readjustment that are subordinated, at least to the extent that the Securities are subordinated, to the payment of all Senior Debt then outstanding; provided that (i) if a new Person results from such reorganization or readjustment, such Person assumes the Senior Debt and (ii) the rights of the holders of the Senior Debt are not, without the consent of such holders, altered by such reorganization or readjustment. The consolidation of the Company with, or the merger of the Company with or into, another Person or the liquidation or dissolution of the Company following the sale, conveyance, transfer, lease or other disposition of all or substantially all of its property and assets to another Person upon the terms and conditions provided in Section 8.1 of this Indenture shall not be deemed a dissolution, winding up, liquidation or reorganization for the purposes of this Section 15.3 if such other Person shall, as a part of such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer, lease or other disposition, comply (to the extent required) with the conditions stated in Section 8.1 of this Indenture.

Section 15.4. Subrogation.

(a) Upon the payment in full of all Senior Debt in cash or cash equivalents, the Holders shall be subrogated to the rights of the holders of Senior Debt to receive payments or distributions to the holders of Senior Debt of cash, property or securities of the Company made on such Senior Debt until the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Securities shall be paid in full; and, for the purposes of such subrogation, no payments or distributions of any cash, property or securities to which the Holders or the Trustee on their behalf would be entitled except for the provisions of this Article Fifteen, and no payment pursuant to the provisions of this Article Fifteen to the holders of Senior Debt by the Holders or the Trustee on their behalf shall, as between the Company, its creditors other than holders of Senior Debt, and the Holders, be deemed to be a payment by the Company to or on account of the Senior Debt. It is understood that the provisions of this Article Fifteen are intended solely for the purpose of defining the relative rights of the Holders, on the one hand, and the holders of the Senior Debt, on the other hand.

(b) If any payment or distribution to which the Holders would otherwise have been entitled but for the provisions of this Article Fifteen shall have been applied, pursuant to the provisions of this Article Fifteen, to the payment of all amounts payable under Senior Debt, then, and in such case, the Holders shall be entitled to receive from the holders of such Senior Debt any payments or distributions received by such holders of Senior Debt in excess of the amount required to make payment in full, in cash or cash equivalents, of such Senior Debt of such holders.

Section 15.5. Obligations of Company Unconditional.

(a) Nothing contained in this Article Fifteen or elsewhere in this Indenture or in the Securities is intended to or shall impair, as among the Company and the Holders, the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay to the Holders the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Securities as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with their terms, or is intended to or shall affect the relative rights of the Holders and creditors of the Company other than the holders of the Senior Debt, nor shall anything herein or therein prevent the Holders or the Trustee on their behalf from exercising all remedies otherwise permitted by applicable law upon default under this Indenture, subject to the rights, if any, under this Article Fifteen of the holders of the Senior Debt.

(b) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, nothing contained in this Article Fifteen will restrict the right of the Trustee or the Holders to take any action to declare the Securities to be due and payable prior to their Stated Maturity pursuant to Section 5.2 of this Indenture or to pursue any rights or remedies hereunder; provided, however, that all Senior Debt then due and payable or thereafter declared to be due and payable shall first be paid in full, in cash or cash equivalents, before the Holders or the Trustee are entitled to receive any direct or indirect payment from the Company with respect to any Security.

 

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Section 15.6. Notice to Trustee.

(a) The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any fact known to the Company that would prohibit the making of any payment to or by the Trustee in respect of the Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Article Fifteen. The Trustee shall not be charged with the knowledge of the existence of any default or event of default with respect to any Senior Debt or of any other facts that would prohibit the making of any payment to or by the Trustee unless and until the Trustee shall have received notice in writing at its Corporate Trust Office to that effect signed by an officer of the Company, or by a holder of Senior Debt or trustee or agent thereof; and prior to the receipt of any such written notice, the Trustee shall, subject to Article Six, be entitled to assume that no such facts exist; provided that, if the Trustee shall not have received the notice provided for in this Section 15.6 at least three Business Days prior to the date upon which, by the terms of this Indenture, any monies shall become payable for any purpose (including, without limitation, the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any Security), then, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Trustee shall have full power and authority to receive any monies from the Company and to apply the same to the purpose for which they were received, and shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary that may be received by it on or after such three Business Day period except for an acceleration of the Securities prior to such application. Nothing contained in this Section 15.6 shall limit the right of the holders of Senior Debt to recover payments as contemplated by this Article Fifteen. The foregoing shall not apply if the Paying Agent is the Company. The Trustee shall be entitled to rely on the delivery to it of a written notice by a Person representing himself or itself to be a holder of any Senior Debt (or a trustee on behalf of, or other representative of, such holder) to establish that such notice has been given by a holder of such Senior Debt or a trustee or representative on behalf of any such holder.

(b) In the event that the Trustee determines in good faith that any evidence is required with respect to the right of any Person as a holder of Senior Debt to participate in any payment or distribution pursuant to this Article Fifteen, the Trustee may request such Person to furnish evidence to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee as to the amount of Senior Debt held by such Person, the extent to which such Person is entitled to participate in such payment or distribution and any other facts pertinent to the rights of such Person under this Article Fifteen and, if such evidence is not furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee may defer any payment to such Person pending judicial determination as to the right of such Person to receive such payment.

Section 15.7. Reliance on Judicial Order or Certificate of Liquidating Agent.

Upon any payment or distribution of assets or securities referred to in this Article Fifteen, the Trustee and the Holders shall be entitled to rely upon any order or decree made by any court of competent jurisdiction in which bankruptcy, dissolution, winding up, liquidation or reorganization proceedings are pending, or upon a certificate of the receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, agent or other similar Person making such payment or distribution, delivered to the Trustee or to the Holders for the purpose of ascertaining the persons entitled to participate in such distribution, the holders of the Senior Debt and other Debt of the Company, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Article Fifteen.

 

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Section 15.8. Trustees Relation to Senior Debt.

(a) Each of the Trustee and any Paying Agent shall be entitled to all the rights set forth in this Article Fifteen with respect to any Senior Debt that may at any time be held by it in its individual or any other capacity to the same extent as any other holder of Senior Debt and nothing in this Indenture shall deprive the Trustee or any Paying Agent of any of its rights as such holder.

(b) With respect to the holders of Senior Debt, the Trustee undertakes to perform or to observe only such of its covenants and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Article Fifteen, and no implied covenants or obligations with respect to the holders of Senior Debt shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee. The Trustee shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the holders of Senior Debt and shall not be liable to any such holders if the Trustee shall in good faith mistakenly pay over or distribute to Holders of Securities or to the Company or to any other person cash, property or securities to which any holders of Senior Debt shall be entitled by virtue of this Article Fifteen or otherwise.

Section 15.9. Subordination Rights Not Impaired by Acts or Omissions of the Company or Holders of Senior Debt.

No right of any present or future holders of any Senior Debt to enforce subordination as provided in this Article Fifteen will at any time in any way be prejudiced or impaired by any act or failure to act on the part of the Company or by any act or failure to act, in good faith, by any such holder, or by any noncompliance by the Company with the terms of this Indenture, regardless of any knowledge thereof that any such holder may have or otherwise be charged with. The provisions of this Article Fifteen are intended to be for the benefit of, and shall be enforceable directly by, the holders of Senior Debt.

Section 15.10. Holders Authorize Trustee to Effectuate Subordination of Securities.

Each Holder by such Holder’s acceptance of any Securities authorizes and expressly directs the Trustee on his behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination provided in this Article Fifteen, and appoints the Trustee such Holder’s attorney-in-fact for such purposes, including, in the event of any dissolution, winding up, liquidation or reorganization of the Company (whether in bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership, reorganization or similar proceedings or upon an assignment for the benefit of creditors or otherwise) tending towards liquidation of the property and assets of the Company, the filing of a claim for the unpaid balance of its Securities in the form required in those proceedings.

Section 15.11. Not to Prevent Events of Default.

The failure to make a payment on account of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Securities by reason of any provision of this Article Fifteen will not be construed as preventing the occurrence of an Event of Default.

Section 15.12. Trustees Compensation Not Prejudiced.

Nothing in this Article Fifteen will apply to amounts due to the Trustee pursuant to other sections of this Indenture, including Section 6.7.

 

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Section 15.13. No Waiver of Subordination Provisions.

Without in any way limiting the generality of Section 15.9, the holders of Senior Debt may, at any time and from time to time, without the consent of or notice to the Trustee or the Holders, without incurring responsibility to the Holders and without impairing or releasing the subordination provided in this Article Fifteen or the obligations hereunder of the Holders to the holders of Senior Debt, do any one or more of the following: (a) change the manner, place or terms of payment or extend the time of payment of, or renew or alter, Senior Debt or any instrument evidencing the same or any agreement under which Senior Debt is outstanding or secured; (b) sell, exchange, release or otherwise deal with any property pledged, mortgaged or otherwise securing Senior Debt; (c) release any Person liable in any manner for the collection of Senior Debt; and (d) exercise or refrain from exercising any rights against the Company and any other Person.

Section 15.14. Payments May Be Paid Prior to Dissolution.

Nothing contained in this Article Fifteen or elsewhere in this Indenture shall prevent (a) the Company, except under the conditions described in Section 15.2 or Section 15.3, from making payments of principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Securities, or from depositing with the Trustee any money for such payments, or (b) the application by the Trustee of any money deposited with it for the purpose of making such payments of principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Securities to the holders entitled thereto unless, at least two Business Days prior to the date upon which such payment becomes due and payable, the Trustee shall have received the written notice provided for in Section 15.2(b) of this Indenture (or there shall have been an acceleration of the Securities prior to such application) or in Section 15.6 of this Indenture. The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any dissolution, winding up, liquidation or reorganization of the Company.

Section 15.15. Trust Moneys Not Subordinated.

Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, payments from money or the proceeds of U.S. Government Obligations held in trust under Article Four by the Trustee for the payment of principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Securities shall not be subordinated to the prior payment of any Senior Debt (provided that, at the time deposited, such deposit did not violate any then outstanding Senior Debt), and none of the Holders shall be obligated to pay over any such amount to any holder of Senior Debt.

ARTICLE SIXTEEN

SUBORDINATION OF SECURITIES GUARANTEES

Section 16.1. Securities Guarantees Subordinated to Guarantor Senior Debt.

Each Guarantor covenants and agrees, and each Holder, by its acceptance of a Securities Guarantee, likewise covenants and agrees, that all Securities Guarantees shall be issued subject to the provisions of this Article Sixteen; and each Person holding any Security, whether upon original issue or upon transfer, assignment or exchange thereof, accepts and agrees that the payment of all obligations on each and all of the Securities Guarantees shall, to the extent and in the manner set forth in this Article Sixteen, be subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment in full, in cash or cash equivalents, of all existing and future Guarantor Senior Debt of such Guarantor.

 

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Section 16.2. No Payment on Securities Guarantees in Certain Circumstances.

(a) No direct or indirect payment by or on behalf of any Guarantor of any obligations on each and all of the Securities Guarantees (other than with the money, securities or proceeds held under any defeasance trust established in accordance with this Indenture), whether pursuant to the terms of the Securities Guarantees or upon acceleration or otherwise, shall be made if, at the time of such payment, there exists a default in the payment of all or any portion of the obligations on any Designated Guarantor Senior Debt of such Guarantor and such default shall not have been cured or waived or the benefits of this sentence waived by or on behalf of the holders of such Guarantor Senior Debt.

(b) During the continuance of any other event of default with respect to any Designated Guarantor Senior Debt pursuant to which the maturity thereof may be accelerated, upon receipt by the Trustee of written notice from the trustee or other representative for the holders of such Designated Guarantor Senior Debt (or the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of such Designated Guarantor Senior Debt then outstanding), no payment of any obligations on each and all of the Securities Guarantees (other than with the money, securities or proceeds held under any defeasance trust established in accordance with this Indenture) may be made by or on behalf of any Guarantor upon or in respect of the Securities Guarantees for a period (a “Securities Guarantee Payment Blockage Period”) commencing on the date of receipt of such notice and ending 179 days thereafter (unless, in each case, such Securities Guarantee Payment Blockage Period has been terminated by written notice to the Trustee from such trustee of, or other representatives for, such holders or by payment in full in cash or cash equivalents of such Designated Guarantor Senior Debt or such event of default has been cured or waived). Not more than one Securities Guarantee Payment Blockage Period may be commenced with respect to the Securities Guarantees during any period of 360 consecutive days. Notwithstanding anything in this Indenture to the contrary, there must be 180 consecutive days in any 360-day period in which no Securities Guarantee Payment Blockage Period is in effect. No event of default that existed or was continuing (it being acknowledged that any subsequent action that would give rise to an event of default pursuant to any provision under which an event of default previously existed or was continuing shall constitute a new event of default for this purpose) on the date of the commencement of any Securities Guarantee Payment Blockage Period with respect to the Designated Guarantor Senior Debt initiating such Securities Guarantee Payment Blockage Period shall be, or shall be made, the basis for the commencement of a second Securities Guarantee Payment Blockage Period by the trustee or other representative for the holders of such Designated Guarantor Senior Debt, whether or not within a period of 360 consecutive days, unless such event of default shall have been cured or waived for a period of not less than 90 consecutive days.

(c) In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment shall be received by the Trustee or any Holder when such payment is prohibited by clause (a) or (b) above, such payment shall be held in trust for the benefit of, and shall be paid over or delivered to, the trustee in bankruptcy, receiver, liquidating trustee, custodian, assignee, agent or other Persons making payment or distribution of the assets of the Company for application to the payment of all Guarantor Senior Debt remaining unpaid, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any of such Guarantor Senior Debt may have been issued, and any excess above such amounts due and owing on Guarantor Senior Debt shall be paid to such Guarantor.

Section 16.3. Payment over of Proceeds upon Dissolution, Etc.

(a) Upon any payment or distribution of assets or securities of a Guarantor of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities (other than with the money, securities or proceeds held under any defeasance trust established in accordance with this Indenture), in connection with any dissolution or winding up or total or partial liquidation or reorganization of such Guarantor, whether voluntary or involuntary, or in bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other proceedings, assignment of assets for the benefit of creditors or other marshalling of assets

 

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and liabilities of such Guarantor, all amounts due or to become due upon all Guarantor Senior Debt shall first be paid in full, in cash or cash equivalents, before the Holders or the Trustee on their behalf shall be entitled to receive any payment by (or on behalf of) such Guarantor on account of the Securities Guarantees, or any payment to acquire any of the Securities Guarantees for cash, property or securities, or any distribution with respect to the Securities Guarantees of any cash, property or securities. Before any payment may be made by, or on behalf of, any Guarantor on any Securities Guarantee (other than with the money, securities or proceeds held under any defeasance trust established in accordance with this Indenture) in connection with any such dissolution, winding up, liquidation or reorganization, any payment or distribution of assets or securities of such Guarantor of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, to which the Holders or the Trustee on their behalf would be entitled, but for the provisions of this Article Sixteen, shall be made by such Guarantor or by any receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, agent or other similar Person making such payment or distribution, or by the Holders or the Trustee if received by them or it, to the trustee in bankruptcy, receiver, liquidating trustee, custodian, assignee, agent, or other Persons making payment or distribution of the assets of such Guarantor for application to the payment of all Guarantor Senior Debt remaining unpaid, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any such Guarantor Senior Debt may have been issued, to the extent necessary to pay all such Guarantor Senior Debt in full, in cash or cash equivalents, after giving effect to any concurrent payment, distribution or provision therefor to or for the holders of such Guarantor Senior Debt.

(b) To the extent any payment of Guarantor Senior Debt (whether by or on behalf of any Guarantor, as proceeds of security or enforcement of any right of setoff or otherwise) is declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required to be paid to any receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, agent or other similar Person under any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership, fraudulent conveyance or similar law, then if such payment is recovered by, or paid over to, such receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee or other similar Person, the Guarantor Senior Debt or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be deemed to be reinstated and outstanding as if such payment had not occurred. To the extent the obligation to repay any Guarantor Senior Debt is declared to be fraudulent or invalid or otherwise set aside under any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership, fraudulent conveyance or similar law, then the obligation so declared fraudulent or invalid or otherwise set aside (and all other amounts that would come due with respect thereto had such obligation not been so affected) shall be deemed to be reinstated and outstanding as Guarantor Senior Debt for all purposes hereof as if such declaration or setting aside had not occurred.

(c) In the event that, notwithstanding the provision in clause (a) above prohibiting such payment or distribution, any payment or distribution of assets or securities of any Guarantor of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, shall be received by the Trustee or any Holder at a time when such payment or distribution is prohibited by clause (a) above and before all obligations in respect of Guarantor Senior Debt are paid in full, in cash or cash equivalents, such payment or distribution shall be received and held in trust for the benefit of, and shall be paid over or delivered to, the trustee in bankruptcy, receiver, liquidating trustee, custodian, assignee, agent, or other Persons making payment or distribution of the assets of such Guarantor for application to the payment of all Guarantor Senior Debt remaining unpaid, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any such Guarantor Senior Debt may have been issued, after giving effect to any concurrent payment, distribution or provision therefor to or for the holders of such Guarantor Senior Debt.

 

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(d) For purposes of this Section 16.3, the words “cash, property or securities” shall not be deemed to include, so long as the effect of this clause is not to cause the Securities Guarantees to be treated in any case or proceeding or similar event described in this Section 16.3 as part of the same class of claims as the Guarantor Senior Debt or any class of claims pari passu with, or senior to, the Guarantor Senior Debt for any payment or distribution, securities of any Guarantor or any other Person provided for by a plan of reorganization or readjustment that are subordinated, at least to the extent that the Securities Guarantees are subordinated, to the payment of all Guarantor Senior Debt then outstanding; provided that (i) if a new Person results from such reorganization or readjustment, such Person assumes the Guarantor Senior Debt and (ii) the rights of the holders of the Guarantor Senior Debt are not, without the consent of such holders, altered by such reorganization or readjustment. The consolidation of a Guarantor with, or the merger of a Guarantor with or into, another Person or the liquidation or dissolution of a Guarantor following the sale, conveyance, transfer, lease or other disposition of all or substantially all of its property and assets to another Person without violation of the terms and conditions provided in this Indenture shall not be deemed a dissolution, winding up, liquidation or reorganization for the purposes of this Section 16.3.

Section 16.4. Subrogation.

(a) Upon the payment in full of all Guarantor Senior Debt in cash or cash equivalents, the Holders shall be subrogated to the rights of the holders of Guarantor Senior Debt to receive payments or distributions of cash, property or securities of the Guarantors made on such Guarantor Senior Debt until all obligations arising under the Securities Guarantees shall be paid in full; and, for the purposes of such subrogation, no payments or distributions to the holders of the Guarantor Senior Debt of any cash, property or securities to which the Holders or the Trustee on their behalf would be entitled except for the provisions of this Article Sixteen, and no payment pursuant to the provisions of this Article Sixteen to the holders of Guarantor Senior Debt by the Holders or the Trustee on their behalf shall, as between each Guarantor, its creditors other than holders of Guarantor Senior Debt, and the Holders, be deemed to be a payment by such Guarantor to or on account of the Guarantor Senior Debt. It is understood that the provisions of this Article Sixteen are intended solely for the purpose of defining the relative rights of the Holders, on the one hand, and the holders of the Guarantor Senior Debt, on the other hand.

(b) If any payment or distribution to which the Holders would otherwise have been entitled but for the provisions of this Article Sixteen shall have been applied, pursuant to the provisions of this Article Sixteen, to the payment of all amounts payable under Guarantor Senior Debt, then, and in such case, the Holders shall be entitled to receive from the holders of such Guarantor Senior Debt any payments or distributions received by such holders of Guarantor Senior Debt in excess of the amount required to make payment in full, in cash or cash equivalents, of such Guarantor Senior Debt of such holders.

Section 16.5. Obligations of Guarantor Unconditional.

(a) Nothing contained in this Article Sixteen or elsewhere in this Indenture or in the Securities is intended to or shall impair, as among the Guarantors and the Holders, the obligation of such Guarantors, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay to the Holders all obligations arising under the Securities Guarantees as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with their terms, or is intended to or shall affect the relative rights of the Holders and creditors of the Guarantors other than the holders of the Guarantor Senior Debt, nor shall anything herein or therein prevent the Holders or the Trustee on their behalf from exercising all remedies otherwise permitted by applicable law upon default under this Indenture, subject to the rights, if any, under this Article Sixteen of the holders of the Guarantor Senior Debt.

 

75


(b) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, nothing contained in this Article Sixteen will restrict the right of the Trustee or the Holders to take any action to declare the Securities to be due and payable prior to their Stated Maturity pursuant to Section 5.2 of this Indenture or to pursue any rights or remedies hereunder; provided, however, that all Guarantor Senior Debt then due and payable or thereafter declared to be due and payable shall first be paid in full, in cash or cash equivalents, before the Holders or the Trustee are entitled to receive any direct or indirect payment from any Guarantor with respect to its Securities Guarantee.

Section 16.6. Notice to Trustee.

(a) Each Guarantor shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any fact known to such Guarantor that would prohibit the making of any payment to or by the Trustee in respect of the Securities Guarantees pursuant to the provisions of this Article Sixteen. The Trustee shall not be charged with the knowledge of the existence of any default or event of default with respect to any Guarantor Senior Debt of any Guarantor or of any other facts that would prohibit the making of any payment to or by the Trustee unless and until the Trustee shall have received notice in writing at its Corporate Trust Office to that effect signed by an Officer of such Guarantor, or by a holder of such Guarantor Senior Debt or trustee or agent thereof; and prior to the receipt of any such written notice, the Trustee shall, subject to Article Six, be entitled to assume that no such facts exist; provided that, if the Trustee shall not have received the notice provided for in this Section 16.6 at least three Business Days prior to the date upon which, by the terms of this Indenture, any monies shall become payable for any purpose (including, without limitation, the payment of all obligations arising under any Securities Guarantee), then, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Trustee shall have full power and authority to receive any monies from such Guarantor and to apply the same to the purpose for which they were received, and shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary that may be received by it on or after such three Business Day period except for an acceleration of the Securities prior to such application. Nothing contained in this Section 16.6 shall limit the right of the holders of Guarantor Senior Debt to recover payments as contemplated by this Article Sixteen. The foregoing shall not apply if the Paying Agent is the Company. The Trustee shall be entitled to rely on the delivery to it of a written notice by a Person representing himself or itself to be a holder of any Guarantor Senior Debt (or a trustee on behalf of, or other representative of, such holder) to establish that such notice has been given by a holder of such Guarantor Senior Debt or a trustee or representative on behalf of any such holder.

(b) In the event that the Trustee determines in good faith that any evidence is required with respect to the right of any Person as a holder of Guarantor Senior Debt to participate in any payment or distribution pursuant to this Article Sixteen, the Trustee may request such Person to furnish evidence to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee as to the amount of Guarantor Senior Debt held by such Person, the extent to which such Person is entitled to participate in such payment or distribution and any other facts pertinent to the rights of such Person under this Article Sixteen and, if such evidence is not furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee may defer any payment to such Person pending judicial determination as to the right of such Person to receive such payment.

Section 16.7. Reliance on Judicial Order or Certificate of Liquidating Agent.

Upon any payment or distribution of assets or securities referred to in this Article Sixteen, the Trustee and the Holders shall be entitled to rely upon any order or decree made by any court of competent jurisdiction in which bankruptcy, dissolution, winding up, liquidation or reorganization proceedings are pending, or upon a certificate of the receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, agent or other similar Person making such payment or distribution, delivered to the Trustee or to the Holders for the purpose of ascertaining the persons entitled to participate in such distribution, the holders of the Guarantor Senior Debt and other Debt of a Guarantor, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Article Sixteen.

 

76


Section 16.8. Trustee’s Relation to Guarantor Senior Debt.

(a) Each of the Trustee and any Paying Agent shall be entitled to all the rights set forth in this Article Sixteen with respect to any Guarantor Senior Debt that may at any time be held by it in its individual or any other capacity to the same extent as any other holder of Guarantor Senior Debt and nothing in this Indenture shall deprive the Trustee or any Paying Agent of any of its rights as such holder.

(b) With respect to the holders of Guarantor Senior Debt, the Trustee undertakes to perform or to observe only such of its covenants and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Article Sixteen, and no implied covenants or obligations with respect to the holders of Guarantor Senior Debt shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee. The Trustee shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the holders of Guarantor Senior Debt and shall not be liable to any such holders if the Trustee shall in good faith mistakenly pay over or distribute to Holders of Securities Guarantees or to a Guarantor or to any other person cash, property or securities to which any holders of Guarantor Senior Debt shall be entitled by virtue of this Article Sixteen or otherwise.

Section 16.9. Subordination Rights Not Impaired by Acts or Omissions of a Guarantor or Holders of Guarantor Senior Debt.

No right of any present or future holders of any Guarantor Senior Debt to enforce subordination as provided in this Article Sixteen will at any time in any way be prejudiced or impaired by any act or failure to act on the part of a Guarantor or by any act or failure to act, in good faith, by any such holder, or by any noncompliance by such Guarantor with the terms of this Indenture, regardless of any knowledge thereof that any such holder may have or otherwise be charged with. The provisions of this Article Sixteen are intended to be for the benefit of, and shall be enforceable directly by, the holders of Guarantor Senior Debt.

Section 16.10. Holders Authorize Trustee to Effectuate Subordination of Securities Guarantees.

Each Holder by such Holder’s acceptance of any Securities Guarantees authorizes and expressly directs the Trustee on such Holder’s behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination provided in this Article Sixteen, and appoints the Trustee such Holder’s attorney-in-fact for such purposes, including, in the event of any dissolution, winding up, liquidation or reorganization of a Guarantor (whether in bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership, reorganization or similar proceedings or upon an assignment for the benefit of creditors or otherwise) tending towards liquidation of the property and assets of such Guarantor, the filing of a claim for the unpaid balance of its Securities Guarantees in the form required in those proceedings. If the Trustee does not file a proper claim or proof of indebtedness in the form required in such proceeding at least 30 days before the expiration of the time to file such claim or proof, each holder of Guarantor Senior Debt is hereby authorized to file an appropriate claim for and on behalf of the Holders.

Section 16.11. Not to Prevent Events of Default.

The failure to fulfill any obligation arising under the Securities Guarantees by reason of any provision of this Article Sixteen will not be construed as preventing the occurrence of an Event of Default.

 

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Section 16.12. Trustee’s Compensation Not Prejudiced.

Nothing in this Article Sixteen will apply to amounts due to the Trustee pursuant to other sections of this Indenture, including Section 6.7.

Section 16.13. No Waiver of Subordination Provisions.

Without in any way limiting the generality of Section 16.9, the holders of Guarantor Senior Debt may, at any time and from time to time, without the consent of or notice to the Trustee or the Holders, without incurring responsibility to the Holders and without impairing or releasing the subordination provided in this Article Sixteen or the obligations hereunder of the Holders to the holders of Guarantor Senior Debt, do any one or more of the following: (a) change the manner, place or terms of payment or extend the time of payment of, or renew or alter, Guarantor Senior Debt or any instrument evidencing the same or any agreement under which Guarantor Senior Debt is outstanding or secured; (b) sell, exchange, release or otherwise deal with any property pledged, mortgaged or otherwise securing Senior Debt; (c) release any Person liable in any manner for the collection of Guarantor Senior Debt; and (d) exercise or refrain from exercising any rights against the Company and any other Person.

Section 16.14. Payments May Be Paid Prior to Dissolution.

Nothing contained in this Article Sixteen or elsewhere in this Indenture shall prevent (a) a Guarantor, except under the conditions described in Section 16.2 or Section 16.3, from fulfilling any obligation arising under the Securities Guarantees, or from depositing with the Trustee any money for such payments, or (b) the application by the Trustee of any money deposited with it for the purpose of fulfilling any obligation arising under the Securities Guarantees to the holders entitled thereto unless, at least two Business Days prior to the date upon which such payment becomes due and payable, the Trustee shall have received the written notice provided for in Section 16.2(b) of this Indenture (or there shall have been an acceleration of the Securities Guarantees prior to such application) or in Section 16.6 of this Indenture. The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any dissolution, winding up, liquidation or reorganization of such Guarantor.

* * *

 

78


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

 

SUN COMMUNITIES, INC.
By:  

                                                          

Name:  

 

Title:  

 

UMB BANK, N.A.
By:  

 

Name:  

 

Title:  

 

EX-4.17

EXHIBIT 4.17

 

 

 

SUN COMMUNITIES OPERATING LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

AND

UMB BANK, N.A.

Trustee

 

 

INDENTURE

DATED AS OF ________ __, 20__

 

 

SENIOR DEBT SECURITIES

 

 

 


SUN COMMUNITIES OPERATING LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

RECONCILIATION AND TIE BETWEEN TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939, AS AMENDED,

AND INDENTURE, DATED AS OF ________ __, 20__

 

TRUST INDENTURE ACT SECTION

   INDENTURE SECTION  

Section 310(a)(1)

     6.9  

(a)(2)

     6.9  

(a)(3)

     Not Applicable  

(a)(4)

     Not Applicable  

(a)(5)

     6.9  

(b)

     6.8  

Section 311

     6.13  

Section 312(a)

     7.1, 7.2 (a) 

(b)

     7.2 (b) 

(c)

     7.2 (c) 

Section 313(a)

     7.3  

(b)

     *  

(c)

     *  

(d)

     7.3  

Section 314(a)

     7.4  

(a)(4)

     10.5  

(b)

     Not Applicable  

(c)(1)

     1.3  

(c)(2)

     1.3  

(c)(3)

     Not Applicable  

(d)

     Not Applicable  

(e)

     1.3  

Section 315(a)

     6.1 (a) 

(b)

     6.2  

(c)

     6.1 (b) 

(d)

     6.1 (c) 

(d)(1)

     6.1 (a)(1) 

(d)(2)

     6.1 (c)(2) 

(d)(3)

     6.1 (c)(3) 

(e)

     5.14  

Section 316(a)

     1.1, 1.2  

(a)(1)(A)

     5.2, 5.12  

(a)(1)(B)

     5.13  

(a)(2)

     Not Applicable  

(b)

     5.8  

(c)

     1.5 (f) 


TRUST INDENTURE ACT SECTION

   INDENTURE SECTION  

Section 317(a)(1)

     5.3  

(a)(2)

     5.4  

(b)

     10.3  

Section 318(a)

     1.8  

NOTE: This reconciliation and tie shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a part of the Indenture.

 

*

Deemed included pursuant to Section 318(c) of the Trust Indenture Act


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  

ARTICLE ONE DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

     1  

Section 1.1.

  Definitions      1  

Section 1.2.

  Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act      8  

Section 1.3.

  Compliance Certificates and Opinions      8  

Section 1.4.

  Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee      9  

Section 1.5.

  Acts of Holders; Record Dates      9  

Section 1.6.

  Notices, Etc., to Trustee, Company and Guarantors      10  

Section 1.7.

  Notice to Holders; Waiver      11  

Section 1.8.

  Conflict with Trust Indenture Act      11  

Section 1.9.

  Effect of Headings and Table of Contents      11  

Section 1.10.

  Successors and Assigns      11  

Section 1.11.

  Duplicate Originals; Signatures      11  

Section 1.12.

  Separability      12  

Section 1.13.

  Benefits of Indenture      12  

Section 1.14.

  Force Majeure      12  

Section 1.15.

  Waiver of Jury Trial      12  

Section 1.16.

  Governing Law      12  

Section 1.17.

  Legal Holidays      12  

Section 1.18.

  Securities in a Composite Currency, Currency Unit or Foreign Currency      13  

Section 1.19.

  Payment in Required Currency; Judgment Currency      13  

Section 1.20.

  Language of Notices, Etc.      14  

Section 1.21.

  Incorporators, Unitholders, Stockholders, Partners, Members, Managers, Directors, Officers and Employees of the Company and the Guarantors Exempt from Individual Liability      14  

Section 1.22.

  USA Patriot Act      14  

ARTICLE TWO SECURITY FORMS

     14  

Section 2.1.

  Forms Generally      14  

Section 2.2.

  Form of Face of Security      15  

Section 2.3.

  Form of Reverse of Security      17  

Section 2.4.

  Global Securities      21  

Section 2.5.

  Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication      22  

ARTICLE THREE THE SECURITIES

     22  

Section 3.1.

  Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series      22  

Section 3.2.

  Denominations      25  

Section 3.3.

  Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating      25  

Section 3.4.

  Temporary Securities      27  

Section 3.5.

  Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange      27  

Section 3.6.

  Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities      29  

Section 3.7.

  Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved      30  

Section 3.8.

  Persons Deemed Owners      31  

Section 3.9.

  Cancellation      31  

Section 3.10.

  Computation of Interest      31  

Section 3.11.

  CUSIP or CINS Numbers      32  

 

i


ARTICLE FOUR SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

     32  

Section 4.1.

  Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture      32  

Section 4.2.

  Application of Trust Money      33  

ARTICLE FIVE REMEDIES

     33  

Section 5.1.

  Events of Default      33  

Section 5.2.

  Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment      34  

Section 5.3.

  Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee      35  

Section 5.4.

  Trustee May File Proofs of Claim      36  

Section 5.5.

  Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities      36  

Section 5.6.

  Application of Money Collected      36  

Section 5.7.

  Limitation on Suits      37  

Section 5.8.

  Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest      37  

Section 5.9.

  Restoration of Rights and Remedies      38  

Section 5.10.

  Rights and Remedies Cumulative      38  

Section 5.11.

  Delay or Omission Not Waiver      38  

Section 5.12.

  Control by Holders      38  

Section 5.13.

  Waiver of Past Defaults      38  

Section 5.14.

  Undertaking for Costs      39  

Section 5.15.

  Waiver of Stay, Extension or Usury Laws      39  

ARTICLE SIX THE TRUSTEE

     39  

Section 6.1.

  Certain Duties and Responsibilities      39  

Section 6.2.

  Notice of Defaults      40  

Section 6.3.

  Certain Rights of Trustee      41  

Section 6.4.

  Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities      42  

Section 6.5.

  May Hold Securities      42  

Section 6.6.

  Money Held in Trust      42  

Section 6.7.

  Compensation and Reimbursement      43  

Section 6.8.

  Disqualification; Conflicting Interests      43  

Section 6.9.

  Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility      43  

Section 6.10.

  Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor      44  

Section 6.11.

  Acceptance of Appointment by Successor      45  

Section 6.12.

  Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business      46  

Section 6.13.

  Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company      46  

Section 6.14.

  Appointment of Authenticating Agent      47  

ARTICLE SEVEN HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY

     48  

Section 7.1.

  Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders      48  

Section 7.2.

  Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders      48  

Section 7.3.

  Reports by Trustee      49  

Section 7.4.

  Reports by Company      50  

ARTICLE EIGHT CONSOLIDATION, AMALGAMATION, MERGER AND SALE

     50  

Section 8.1.

  Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms      50  

Section 8.2.

  Successor Substituted      51  

ARTICLE NINE AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER

     51  

Section 9.1.

  Without Consent of Holders      51  

Section 9.2.

  With Consent of Holders      52  

Section 9.3.

  Execution of Amendments and Supplemental Indentures      54  

 

ii


Section 9.4.

  Effect of Amendments and Supplemental Indentures      54  

Section 9.5.

  Conformity with Trust Indenture Act      54  

Section 9.6.

  Reference in Securities to Amendments or Supplemental Indentures      54  

Section 9.7.

  Effect of Consents      54  

ARTICLE TEN COVENANTS

     55  

Section 10.1.

  Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest      55  

Section 10.2.

  Maintenance of Office or Agency      55  

Section 10.3.

  Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust      55  

Section 10.4.

  Existence      56  

Section 10.5.

  Statement by Officers as to Default      57  

ARTICLE ELEVEN REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

     57  

Section 11.1.

  Applicability of Article      57  

Section 11.2.

  Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee      57  

Section 11.3.

  Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed      57  

Section 11.4.

  Notice of Redemption      58  

Section 11.5.

  Deposit of Redemption Price      58  

Section 11.6.

  Securities Payable on Redemption Date      59  

Section 11.7.

  Securities Redeemed in Part      59  

ARTICLE TWELVE SINKING FUNDS

     59  

Section 12.1.

  Applicability of Article      59  

Section 12.2.

  Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities      60  

Section 12.3.

  Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund      60  

ARTICLE THIRTEEN DEFEASANCE

     60  

Section 13.1.

  Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance      60  

Section 13.2.

  Legal Defeasance and Discharge      60  

Section 13.3.

  Covenant Defeasance      61  

Section 13.4.

  Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance      61  

Section 13.5.

  Deposited Money and U.S. Government Obligations to be Held in Trust, Other Miscellaneous Provisions      63  

Section 13.6.

  Reinstatement      63  

ARTICLE FOURTEEN GUARANTEE OF SECURITIES

     63  

Section 14.1.

  Securities Guarantee      63  

Section 14.2.

  Limitation on Guarantor Liability      65  

Section 14.3.

  Execution and Delivery of Securities Guarantee Notation      65  

NOTE: This table of contents shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a part of the Indenture.

 

iii


PARTIES

INDENTURE, dated as of _________ __, 20__, among SUN COMMUNITIES OPERATING LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, a limited partnership duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Michigan (herein called the “Company”), the Guarantors (as defined hereinafter) and UMB BANK, N.A., a national banking association, as trustee (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 unsecured senior debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness (herein called the “Securities”), which may be guaranteed by the Guarantors, to be issued in one or more series as provided in this Indenture.

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

This Indenture is subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act (as defined herein) that are required to be a part of this Indenture and, to the extent applicable, shall be governed by such provisions.

NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

For and in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Securities by the Holders (as defined herein) thereof, it is mutually covenanted and agreed, for the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders of the Securities or of series thereof, as follows:

ARTICLE ONE

DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

Section 1.1. Definitions.

For all purposes of this Indenture, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires:

(a) the terms defined in this Article have the meanings assigned to them in this Article and include the plural as well as the singular;

(b) all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in accordance with GAAP;

(c) the words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder” and other words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision;

(d) the words “Article” and “Section” refer to an Article and Section, respectively, of this Indenture;

(e) the word “includes” and its derivatives means “includes, but is not limited to” and corresponding derivative definitions; and

(f) references to any officer of any partnership or limited liability company that does not have officers but is managed or controlled, directly or indirectly, by an entity that does have officers, shall be deemed to be references to the officers of such managing or controlling entity.


Certain terms, used principally in Article Six, are defined in that Article.

“Act,” when used with respect to any Holder, has the meaning specified in Section 1.5.

“Additional Defeasible Provision” means a covenant or other provision that is (a) made part of this Indenture pursuant to an indenture supplemental hereto, a Board Resolution or an Officer’s Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 3.1, and (b) pursuant to the terms set forth in such supplemental indenture, Board Resolution or Officer’s Certificate, made subject to the provisions of Article Thirteen.

“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 purposes of this definition, “control,” as used with respect to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise. For purposes of this definition, the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with” have correlative meanings.

“Authenticating Agent” means any Person authorized by the Trustee to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities.

“Banking Day” means, in respect of any city, any date on which commercial banks are open for business in that city.

“Bankruptcy Law” means any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law.

“Board of Directors” means:

(a) with respect to a corporation, the board of directors of the corporation or any committee thereof duly authorized to act on behalf of such board;

(b) with respect to a partnership, the Board of Directors of the general partner of the partnership;

(c) with respect to a limited liability company, the managing member or members or any controlling committee of managers or members thereof or any board or committee serving a similar management function; and

(d) with respect to any other Person, the individual or board or committee of such Person serving a management function similar to those described in clauses (a), (b) or (c) of this definition.

“Board Resolution” means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company or a Guarantor, the principal financial officer of the Company or a Guarantor, any other authorized officer of the Company or a Guarantor, or a person duly authorized by any of them, in each case as applicable, to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the Trustee. Where any provision of this Indenture refers to action to be taken pursuant to a Board Resolution (including the establishment of any series of the Securities and the forms and terms thereof), such action may be taken by any committee, officer or employee of the Company or a Guarantor, as applicable, authorized to take such action by the Board of Directors, as evidenced by a Board Resolution.

 

2


“Business Day,” when used with respect to any Place of Payment or other location, means, except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 3.1 with respect to any series of Securities, each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday that is not a day on which banking institutions and trust companies in that Place of Payment or other location are authorized or obligated by law, executive order or regulation to close.

“CINS” means CUSIP International Numbering System.

“Code” means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

“Company” means the Person named as the “Company” in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor or resulting Person shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Company” shall mean such successor or resulting Person.

“Company Request” or “Company Order” means, in the case of the Company, a written request or order signed in the name of the Company by its Chairman of the Board, its Chief Executive Officer, its Chief Financial Officer, its President, any of its Vice Presidents or any other duly authorized officer of the Company or any person duly authorized by any of them, and delivered to the Trustee and, in the case of a Guarantor, a written request or order signed in the name of such Guarantor by its Chairman of the Board, its Chief Executive Officer, its President, any of its Vice Presidents or any other duly authorized officer of such Guarantor or any person duly authorized by any of them, and delivered to the Trustee.

“Corporate Trust Office” means the office of the Trustee at the address specified in Section 3.5 or such other address as to which the Trustee may give notice to the Company.

“corporation,” when used in reference to the Trustee or any prospective Trustee, shall include any corporation, company, association, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, joint-stock company, trust or other entity, in each case, satisfying the requirements of Section 310(a)(1) of the Trust Indenture Act.

“Covenant Defeasance” has the meaning specified in Section 13.3.

“CUSIP” means the Committee on Uniform Securities Identification Procedures.

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

“Debt” means any obligation created or assumed by any Person for the repayment of money borrowed and any purchase money obligation created or assumed by such Person and any guarantee of the foregoing.

“Default” means, with respect to a series of Securities, any event that is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would be, an Event of Default.

“Defaulted Interest” has the meaning specified in Section 3.7.

“Definitive Security” means a security other than a Global Security or a temporary Security.

“Depositary” means, with respect to the Securities of any series issuable or issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act that is designated to act as Depositary for such Securities as contemplated by Section 3.1, until a successor Depositary shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter shall mean or include each Person which is a Depositary hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such Person, shall be a collective reference to such Persons.

 

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“Dollar” or “$” means the coin or currency of the United States of America, which at the time of payment is legal tender for the payment of public and private debts.

“Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 5.1.

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

“Foreign Currency” means a currency used by the government of a country other than the United States of America.

“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America as in effect from time to time, including those set forth in (1) the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification and any related Accounting Standards Updates by the Financial Accounting Standards Board, (2) such other statements by such other entity as are approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession and (3) the rules and regulations of the SEC governing the inclusion of financial statements in periodic reports required to be filed pursuant to Section 13 of the Exchange Act, including opinions and pronouncements in staff accounting bulletins and similar written statements from the accounting staff of the SEC. All computations based on GAAP contained in the Indenture shall be computed in conformity with GAAP.

“Global Security” means a Security in global form that evidences all or part of a series of Securities and is authenticated and delivered to, and registered in the name of, the Depositary for the Securities of such series or its nominee.

“Guaranteed Securities” has the meaning specified in Section 14.1.

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

“Holder” means a Person in whose name a Security is registered in the Security Register.

“Indenture” means this instrument as originally executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more amendments or indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof, including, for all purposes of this instrument, and any such amendment or supplemental indenture, the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are deemed to be part of and govern this instrument and any such amendment or supplemental indenture, respectively. The term “Indenture” also shall include the terms of particular series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 3.1.

“interest,” when used with respect to an Original Issue Discount Security which by its terms bears interest only after Maturity, means interest payable after Maturity.

“Interest Payment Date,” when used with respect to any Security, means the Stated Maturity of an installment of interest on such Security.

“Judgment Currency” has the meaning specified in Section 1.19.

“Legal Defeasance” has the meaning specified in Section 13.2.

 

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“mandatory sinking fund payment” has the meaning specified in Section 12.1.

“Market Exchange Rate” has the meaning specified in Section 1.18.

“Maturity,” when used with respect to any Security, means the date on which the principal of such Security or an installment of principal becomes due and payable as therein or herein provided, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise.

“Notice of Default” means a written notice of the kind specified in Section 5.1(c) or Section 5.1(d).

“Officer’s Certificate” means, in the case of the Company, a certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the President, any Vice President or any other duly authorized officer of the Company, or a person duly authorized by any of them, and delivered to the Trustee and, in the case of a Guarantor, a certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Vice President or any other duly authorized officer of such Guarantor, or a person duly authorized by any of them, and delivered to the Trustee.

“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion of counsel, who may be an employee of or counsel for the Company or a Guarantor, as the case may be, and who shall be reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.

“optional sinking fund payment” has the meaning specified in Section 12.1.

“Original Issue Discount Security” means any Security which provides for an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.2.

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

(a) Securities theretofore canceled by the Trustee or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;

(b) Securities 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 Securities; provided, however, that, if such 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

(c) Securities that have been paid pursuant to Section 3.6 or in exchange for or in lieu of which other Securities have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture, other than any such Securities in respect of which there shall have been presented to the Trustee proof satisfactory to it that such Securities are held by a protected purchaser in whose hands such Securities are valid obligations of the Company;

provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Outstanding Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, (i) the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security that shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the amount of the principal thereof that would be due and payable as of the date of such determination upon acceleration of the Maturity thereof on such date pursuant to Section 5.2, (ii) the principal amount of a Security denominated in one or more currencies or currency units other than U.S.

 

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dollars shall be the U.S. dollar equivalent of such currencies or currency units, determined in the manner provided as contemplated by Section 3.1 on the date of original issuance of such Security or by Section 1.18, if not otherwise so provided pursuant to Section 3.1, of the principal amount (or, in the case of an Original Issue Discount Security, the U.S. dollar equivalent (as so determined) on the date of original issuance of such Security of the amount determined as provided in clause (i) above) of such Security, and (iii) Securities owned by the Company, any Guarantor or any other obligor upon the 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 Securities which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Securities so owned as described in clause (iii) of the immediately preceding sentence 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 to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company, a Guarantor or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor.

“Paying Agent” means any Person authorized by the Company to pay the principal of and any premium or interest on any Securities on behalf of the Company.

“Periodic Offering” means an offering of Securities of a series from time to time, the specific terms of which Securities, including, without limitation, the rate or rates of interest or formula for determining the rate or rates of interest thereon, if any, the Stated Maturity or Stated Maturities thereof, the original issue date or dates thereof, the redemption provisions, if any, with respect thereto, and any other terms specified as contemplated by Section 3.1 with respect thereto, are to be determined by the Company upon the issuance of such Securities.

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

“Place of Payment,” when used with respect to the Securities of any series, means, unless otherwise specifically provided for with respect to such series as contemplated by Section 3.1, the office or agency of the Company and such other place or places where, subject to the provisions of Section 10.2, the principal of and any premium and interest on the Securities of that series are payable as contemplated by Section 3.1.

“Predecessor Security” of any particular Security means every previous Security evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular Security; and, for the purposes of this definition, any Security authenticated and delivered under Section 3.6 in exchange for or in lieu of a mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security.

“Redemption Date,” when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, means the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this Indenture.

“Redemption Price,” when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, means the price at which it is to be redeemed pursuant to this Indenture.

“Regular Record Date” for the interest payable on any Interest Payment Date on the Securities of any series means the date specified for that purpose as contemplated by Section 3.1.

“Required Currency” has the meaning specified in Section 1.19.

 

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“Responsible Officer,” when used with respect to the Trustee, means any officer within the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee (or any successor group of the Trustee) or any other officer of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of his knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.

“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from time to time constituted, created under the Exchange Act, or, if at any time after the execution of this instrument such commission is not existing and performing the duties now assigned to it under the Trust Indenture Act, then the body performing such duties at such time.

“Securities” has the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture and more particularly means any Securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.

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

“Security Register” and “Security Registrar” have the respective meanings specified in Section 3.5.

“Special Record Date” for the payment of any Defaulted Interest means a date fixed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 3.7.

“Stated Maturity,” when used with respect to any Security or any installment of principal thereof or interest thereon, means the date specified in such Security as the fixed date on which the principal of such Security or such installment of principal or interest is due and payable.

“Trust Indenture Act” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, as in force at the date as of which this instrument was executed, except as provided in Section 9.5; provided, however, that if the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is amended after such date, “Trust Indenture Act” means, to the extent required by any such amendment, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as so amended.

“Trustee” means the Person named as the “Trustee” in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor Trustee shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Trustee” shall mean or include each Person who is then a Trustee hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such Person, “Trustee” as used with respect to the Securities of any series shall mean the Trustee with respect to Securities of that series.

“U.S. Government Obligations” means securities which are (a) direct obligations of the United States for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged, or (b) 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, and which are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof.

“U.S. Person” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.

“USA Patriot Act” has the meaning specified in Section 1.22.

“Vice President,” when used with respect to the Company, any Guarantor or the Trustee, means any vice president, regardless of whether designated by a number or a word or words added before or after the title “vice president.”

 

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Section 1.2. Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act.

Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the Trust Indenture Act, the provision is incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture. The following Trust Indenture Act terms used in this Indenture have the following meanings:

“commission” means the SEC.

“indenture securities” means the Securities.

“indenture security holder” means a Holder.

“indenture to be qualified” means this Indenture.

“indenture trustee” or “institutional trustee” means the Trustee.

“obligor” on the indenture securities means the Company, each Guarantor (if applicable) or any other obligor on the indenture securities.

All other terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the Trust Indenture Act, defined by a Trust Indenture Act reference to another statute or defined by an SEC rule under the Trust Indenture Act have the meanings so assigned to them.

Section 1.3. Compliance Certificates and Opinions.

Upon any application or request by the Company or a Guarantor to the Trustee to take any action under any provision of this Indenture, the Company or such Guarantor, as the case may be, shall furnish to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating that all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel stating that in the opinion of such counsel all such conditions precedent, if any, have been complied with, except that in the case of any such application or request as to which the furnishing of such documents is specifically required by any provision of this Indenture relating to such particular application or request, no additional certificate or opinion need be furnished except as required under Section 314(c) of the Trust Indenture Act.

Every certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (except for certificates provided for in Section 10.5) shall include:

(a) a statement that each individual signing such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition and the definitions herein relating thereto;

(b) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;

(c) a statement that, in the opinion of each such individual, he has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether such covenant or condition has been complied with; and

(d) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such individual, such condition or covenant has been complied with.

 

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Section 1.4. Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee.

In any case where several matters are required to be certified by, or covered by an opinion of, any specified Person, it is not necessary that all such matters be certified by, or covered by the opinion of, only one such Person, or that they be so certified or covered by only one document, but one such Person may certify or give an opinion with respect to some matters and one or more other such Persons as to other matters, and any such Person may certify or give an opinion as to such matters in one or several documents.

Any certificate or opinion of an officer of the Company or a Guarantor may be based, insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, counsel, unless such officer knows or, in the exercise of reasonable care, should know that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to the matters upon which his certificate or opinion is based are erroneous. Any such certificate or Opinion of Counsel may be based, insofar as it relates to factual matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, an officer or officers of the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, stating that the information with respect to such factual matters is in the possession of the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, unless such counsel knows that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to such matters are erroneous.

Where any Person is required to make, give or execute two or more applications, requests, consents, certificates, statements, opinions or other instruments under this Indenture, they may, but need not, be consolidated and form one instrument.

Section 1.5. Acts of Holders; Record Dates.

(a) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed (either physically or by means of a facsimile or an electronic transmission, provided that such electronic transmission is transmitted through the facilities of a Depositary) by such Holders in person or by agent duly appointed in writing; and, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company or the Guarantors. Such instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the “Act” of the Holders signing such instrument or instruments. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Section 315 of the Trust Indenture Act) conclusive in favor of the Trustee, the Company and, if applicable, the Guarantors, if made in the manner provided in this Section.

(b) The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness of such execution or by a certificate of a notary public or other officer authorized by law to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual signing such instrument or writing acknowledged to him the execution thereof. Where such execution is by a signer acting in a capacity other than his individual capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of his authority. The fact and date of the execution of any such instrument or writing, or the authority of the Person executing the same, may also be proved in any other manner which the Trustee deems sufficient.

(c) The ownership, principal amount and serial numbers of Securities held by any Person, and the date of commencement of such Person’s holding of same, shall be proved by the Security Register.

 

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(d) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act of the Holder of any Security shall bind every future Holder of the same Security and the Holder of every Security issued upon the registration of transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof in respect of anything done, omitted or suffered to be done by the Trustee, the Company or, if applicable, the Guarantors in reliance thereon, regardless of whether notation of such action is made upon such Security.

(e) Without limiting the foregoing, a Holder entitled to give or take any action hereunder with regard to any particular Security may do so with regard to all or any part of the principal amount of such Security or by one or more duly appointed agents each of which may do so pursuant to such appointment with regard to all or any different part of such principal amount.

(f) The Company may set any day as the record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of Outstanding Securities of any series entitled to give or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act provided or permitted by this Indenture to be given or taken by Holders of Securities of such series, but the Company shall have no obligation to do so. With regard to any record date set pursuant to this paragraph, the Holders of Outstanding Securities of the relevant series on such record date (or their duly appointed agents), and only such Persons, shall be entitled to give or take the relevant action, regardless of whether such Holders remain Holders after such record date.

Section 1.6. Notices, Etc., to Trustee, Company and Guarantors.

(a) Any notice, request, demand, authorization, direction, consent, waiver or other communication by the Company, any of the Guarantors or the Trustee to the others is duly given if in writing and delivered in person or mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, facsimile or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to the others’ address:

If to the Company and/or any Guarantor:

Sun Communities Operating Limited Partnership

c/o Sun Communities, Inc.

27777 Franklin Road, Suite 200

Southfield, Michigan 48034

Telephone: (248) 208-2560

Facsimile: (248) 864-0162

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

If to the Trustee:

UMB Bank, N.A.

5555 San Felipe Street, Suite 810

Houston, Texas 77056

Telephone: (713) 300-0586

Attention: Corporate Trust Department

(b) The Company, the Guarantors or the Trustee, by notice to the others, may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.

(c) All notices and communications (other than those sent to Holders) shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; three Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when receipt acknowledged, if telecopied; and the next Business Day after timely delivery to the courier, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery.

 

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Section 1.7. Notice to Holders; Waiver.

Where this Indenture provides for notice to Holders of any event, such notice shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder affected by such event, at such Holder’s address as it appears in the Security Register, not later than the latest date, and not earlier than the earliest date, prescribed for the giving of such notice. In any case where notice to Holders is given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed, to any particular Holder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders. Any notice mailed to a Holder in the manner herein prescribed shall be conclusively deemed to have been received by such Holder, regardless of whether such Holder actually receives such notice.

Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice, either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such notice. Waivers of notice by Holders shall be filed with the Trustee, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance upon such waiver.

In case it shall be impracticable to give such notice by mail by reason of the suspension of regular mail service or by reason of any other cause, then such notification as shall be made with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute a sufficient notification for every purpose hereunder.

Section 1.8. Conflict with Trust Indenture Act.

If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with a provision of the Trust Indenture Act that is required under such Act to be a part of and govern this Indenture, the provision of the Trust Indenture Act shall control. If any provision of this Indenture modifies or excludes any provision of the Trust Indenture Act that may be so modified or excluded, the provision of the Trust Indenture Act shall be deemed to apply to this Indenture as so modified or excluded, as the case may be.

Section 1.9. Effect of Headings and Table of Contents.

The Article and Section headings herein and the Table of Contents are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

Section 1.10. Successors and Assigns.

All covenants and agreements in this Indenture by each of the Company and the Guarantors shall bind their respective successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.

Section 1.11. Duplicate Originals; Signatures.

All parties hereto may sign any number of copies of this Indenture. This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. The exchange of copies of this Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile, including portable document format (pdf), transmission 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, including portable document format (pdf), transmission shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes under this Indenture, other than with respect to the authentication of the Securities by the Trustee.

 

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Section 1.12. Separability.

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

Section 1.13. Benefits of Indenture.

Nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities or, if applicable, the Securities Guarantee, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto and their successors hereunder and the Holders any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture.

Section 1.14. Force Majeure.

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 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; it being understood that the Trustee shall use reasonable efforts that are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.

Section 1.15. Waiver of Jury Trial.

EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS INDENTURE.

Section 1.16. Governing Law.

THIS INDENTURE, THE SECURITIES AND THE SECURITIES GUARANTEE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

Section 1.17. Legal Holidays.

In any case where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated Maturity of any Security shall not be a Business Day at any Place of Payment, then (notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or of the Securities or, if applicable, the Securities Guarantee (other than a provision of the Securities of any series or, if applicable, the Securities Guarantee that specifically states that such provision shall apply in lieu of this Section 1.17)) payment of interest or principal and any premium need not be made at such Place of Payment on such date, 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 Interest Payment Date or Redemption Date, or at the Stated Maturity, and if payment is so made, no interest shall accrue for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated Maturity, as the case may be.

 

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Section 1.18. Securities in a Composite Currency, Currency Unit or Foreign Currency.

Unless otherwise specified in a Board Resolution, Officer’s Certificate or indenture supplemental hereto delivered pursuant to Section 3.1 of this Indenture with respect to a particular series of Securities, whenever for purposes of this Indenture any action may be taken by the Holders of a specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of Securities of all series or all series affected by a particular action at the time Outstanding and, at such time, there are Outstanding Securities of any affected series which are denominated in a coin, currency or currencies other than Dollars (including, but not limited to, any composite currency, currency units or Foreign Currency), then the principal amount of Securities of such series that shall be deemed to be Outstanding for the purpose of taking such action shall be that amount of Dollars that could be obtained for such amount at the Market Exchange Rate. For purposes of this Section 1.18, the term “Market Exchange Rate” shall mean the noon Dollar buying rate in The City of New York for cable transfers of such currency or currencies as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, as of the most recent available date. If such Market Exchange Rate is not so available for any reason with respect to such currency, such quotation of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York as of the most recent available date, or quotations or rates of exchange from one or more major banks in The City of New York or in the country of issue of the currency in question, which for purposes of Euros shall be Brussels, Belgium, or such other quotations or rates of exchange as appropriate shall be used. The provisions of this paragraph shall apply in determining the equivalent principal amount in respect of Securities of a series denominated in a currency other than Dollars in connection with any action taken by Holders of Securities pursuant to the terms of this Indenture.

In no event will the Trustee have any duty or liability regarding the Market Exchange Rate or any alternative determination provided for in the preceding paragraph.

Section 1.19. Payment in Required Currency; Judgment Currency.

Each of the Company and the Guarantors agrees, to the fullest extent that it may effectively do so under applicable law, that (a) if for the purpose of obtaining judgment in any court it is necessary to convert the sum due in respect of the principal of or interest on the Securities of any series (the “Required Currency”) into a currency in which a judgment will be rendered (the “Judgment Currency”), the rate of exchange used shall be the rate at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Required Currency could be purchased in The City of New York with the Judgment Currency on the day on which final unappealable judgment is entered, unless such day is not a Banking Day, then, to the extent permitted by applicable law, the rate of exchange used shall be the rate at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Required Currency could be purchased in The City of New York with the Judgment Currency on the Banking Day next preceding the day on which final unappealable judgment is entered and (b) its obligations under this Indenture to make payments in the Required Currency (i) shall not be discharged or satisfied by any tender, or any recovery pursuant to any judgment (regardless of whether entered in accordance with subclause (a)), in any currency other than the Required Currency, except to the extent that such tender or recovery shall result in the actual receipt, by the payee, of the full amount of the Required Currency expressed to be payable in respect of such payments, (ii) shall be enforceable as an alternative or additional cause of action for the purpose of recovering in the Required Currency the amount, if any, by which such actual receipt shall fall short of the full amount of the Required Currency so expressed to be payable and (iii) shall not be affected by judgment being obtained for any other sum due under this Indenture.

 

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Section 1.20. Language of Notices, Etc.

Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or Act required or permitted under this Indenture shall be in the English language, except that any published notice may be in an official language of the country of publication.

Section 1.21. Incorporators, Unitholders, Stockholders, Partners, Members, Managers, Directors, Officers and Employees of the Company and the Guarantors Exempt from Individual Liability.

No recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of or contained in this Indenture or of or contained in any Security or, if applicable, the Securities Guarantee, or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, or because of the creation of any indebtedness represented thereby, shall be had against any incorporator, unitholder, stockholder, partner, member, manager, director, officer or employee, as such, past, present or future, of the Company, any Guarantor or any successor Person, either directly or through the Company, any Guarantor or any successor Person, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise, it being expressly understood that all such liability is hereby expressly waived and released as a condition of, and as a part of the consideration for, the execution of this Indenture and the issue of the Securities.

Section 1.22. USA Patriot Act.

The parties hereto acknowledge that, in accordance with Section 326 of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, the “USA Patriot Act”), the Trustee, like all financial institutions, is required to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each Person or legal entity that opens an account. The parties hereto agree that they will provide the Trustee with such information as the Trustee may request in order for the Trustee to satisfy the requirements of the USA Patriot Act.

ARTICLE TWO

SECURITY FORMS

Section 2.1. Forms Generally.

The Securities of each series and, if applicable, the notation thereon relating to the Securities Guarantee, shall be in substantially the form set forth in this Article Two, or in such other form or forms as shall be established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in each case with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture, and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as may be required to comply with the rules of any securities exchange or as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the officers executing such Securities and, if applicable, any notation of the Securities Guarantee, as evidenced by their execution thereof.

The definitive Securities 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 Securities, as evidenced by their execution thereof. If the form of Securities of any series is established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by an authorized officer or other authorized person on behalf of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Company Order contemplated by Section 3.3 for the authentication and delivery of such Securities.

 

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The forms of Global Securities of any series shall have such provisions and legends as are customary for Securities of such series in global form, including without limitation any legend required by the Depositary for the Securities of such series.

Section 2.2. Form of Face of Security.

[If the Security is an Original Issue Discount Security and is not “publicly offered” within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.1275-1(h), insert—FOR PURPOSES OF SECTION 1275 OF THE UNITED STATES INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED, THIS SECURITY WAS ISSUED WITH ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT, THE AMOUNT OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT IS [. . . . . . . .% OF ITS PRINCIPAL AMOUNT] [$. . . . PER $1,000 OF PRINCIPAL AMOUNT], THE ISSUE DATE IS . . . . . ., 20. . . AND, THE YIELD TO MATURITY IS . . . . . . . . , COMPOUNDED [SEMIANNUALLY OR OTHER PROPER PERIOD].

[In the alternative instead of providing such legend, insert the following legend—FOR PURPOSES OF SECTION 1275 OF THE UNITED STATES INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED THIS SECURITY WAS ISSUED WITH ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT, AND. . . . . . . [THE NAME OR TITLE AND ADDRESS OR TELEPHONE NUMBER OF A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COMPANY] WILL, BEGINNING NO LATER THAN 10 DAYS AFTER THE ISSUE DATE, PROMPTLY MAKE AVAILABLE TO HOLDERS THE AMOUNT OF ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT, THE ISSUE DATE, THE YIELD TO MATURITY AND ANY OTHER INFORMATION REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE TREASURY REGULATIONS.]

[Insert any other legend required by the Code or the regulations thereunder.]

[If a Global Security,—insert legend required by Section 2.4 of the Indenture] [If applicable, insert UNLESS THIS SECURITY IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION, TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY SECURITY ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL SINCE THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.]

SUN COMMUNITIES OPERATING LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

[TITLE OF SECURITY]

 

No . . . . . . .    U.S. $. . . . . .

[CUSIP No. ]

SUN COMMUNITIES OPERATING LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, a limited partnership duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Michigan (herein called the “Company,” which term includes any successor or resulting Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to .......... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ., or registered assigns, the principal sum of . . . . ................................................ United States Dollars on ......................................... [If the Security is to bear interest prior to Maturity, insert—, and to pay interest thereon from . . . . . . . . . . or from the most recent

 

15


Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, semi-annually on . . . . . . and . . . . . . in each year, commencing . . . . . ., at the rate of . . . . % per annum, until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment [if applicable, insert—, and at the rate of ___% per annum on any overdue principal and premium and on any installment of interest (to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable)]. The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in such Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be the . . . . or . . . . (regardless of whether a Business Day), as the case may be, next preceding such Interest Payment Date. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for will forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Securities of this series not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Securities of this series may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided in said Indenture].

[If the Security is not to bear interest prior to Maturity, insert—The principal of this Security shall not bear interest except in the case of a default in payment of principal upon acceleration, upon redemption or at Stated Maturity and in such case the overdue principal of this Security shall bear interest at the rate of . . . .% per annum (to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable), which shall accrue from the date of such default in payment to the date payment of such principal has been made or duly provided for. Interest on any overdue principal shall be payable on demand. Any such interest on any overdue principal that is not so paid on demand shall bear interest at the rate of . . . . % per annum (to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable), which shall accrue from the date of such demand for payment to the date payment of such interest has been made or duly provided for, and such interest shall also be payable on demand.]

[If a Global Security, insert—Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and [if applicable, insert—any such] interest on this Security will be made by transfer of immediately available funds to a bank account in ___________ designated by the Holder in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts [state other currency].]

[If a Definitive Security, insert—Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and [if applicable, insert—any such] interest on this Security will be made at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in _______________, in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts] [state other currency] [or subject to any laws or regulations applicable thereto and to the right of the Company (as provided in the Indenture) to rescind the designation of any such Paying Agent, at the [main] offices of ________________ in _____________, or at such other offices or agencies as the Company may designate, by [United States Dollar] [state other currency] check drawn on, or transfer to a [United States Dollar] account maintained by the payee with, a bank in The City of New York (so long as the applicable Paying Agency has received proper transfer instructions in writing at least ___ days prior to the payment date)] [if applicable, insert—; provided, however, that payment of interest may be made at the option of the Company by [United States Dollar] [state other currency] check mailed to the addresses of the Persons entitled thereto as such addresses shall appear in the Security Register] [or by transfer to a [United States Dollar] [state other currency] account maintained by the payee with a bank in The City of New York [state other Place of Payment] (so long as the applicable Paying Agent has received proper transfer instructions in writing by the record date prior to the applicable Interest Payment Date)].]

 

16


Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Security set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof by manual signature, this Security shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed.

Dated:

 

SUN COMMUNITIES OPERATING LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
By:   Sun Communities, Inc.,
  its general partner
By:  

                     

Section 2.3. Form of Reverse of Security.

This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of senior securities of the Company (herein called the “Securities”), issued and to be issued in one or more series under an Indenture, dated as of ______, 20__ (herein called the “Indenture”), between the Company, the Guarantors, if any, and UMB Bank, N.A., as trustee (herein called the “Trustee,” which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Guarantors, if any, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. As provided in the Indenture, the Securities may be issued in one or more series, which different series may be issued in various aggregate principal amounts, may mature at different times, may bear interest, if any, at different rates, may be subject to different redemption provisions, if any, may be subject to different sinking, purchase or analogous funds, if any, may be subject to different covenants and Events of Default and may otherwise vary as in the Indenture provided or permitted. This Security is one of the series designated on the face hereof [, limited in aggregate principal amount to $ . . . . . . . . . . ].

This security is the general, unsecured, senior obligation of the Company [if applicable, insert—and is guaranteed pursuant to a guarantee (the “Securities Guarantee”) by [insert name of each Guarantor] (the “Guarantors”). The Securities Guarantee is the general, unsecured, senior obligation of each Guarantor.]

[If applicable, insert—The Securities of this series are subject to redemption upon not less than ... days’ notice by mail (or electronic transmission in the case of Global Securities), [if applicable, insert—(1) on . . . . . . . . . . . . . . in any year commencing with the year . . . . and ending with the year . . . . through operation of the sinking fund for this series at a Redemption Price equal to 100% of the principal amount, and (2) ] at any time [on or after . . . . . . . . . ., 20. . . ], as a whole or in part, at the election of the Company, at the following Redemption Prices (expressed as percentages of the principal amount): If redeemed [on or before . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . %, and if redeemed] during the 12-month period beginning . . . . . . . . of the years indicated,

 

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Year   Redemption Price   Year    Redemption Price

and thereafter at a Redemption Price equal to . . . . . % of the principal amount, together in the case of any such redemption [if applicable, insert—(whether through operation of the sinking fund or otherwise)] with accrued interest to the Redemption Date, but interest installments the Stated Maturity of which is on or prior to such Redemption Date will be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, of record at the close of business on the relevant record dates referred to on the face hereof, all as provided in the Indenture.]

[If applicable, insert—The Securities of this series are subject to redemption upon not less than... nor more than ... days’ notice by mail (or electronic transmission in the case of Global Securities), (1) on . . . . . . . . in any year commencing with the year . . . . and ending with the year . . . . through operation of the sinking fund for this series at the Redemption Prices for redemption through operation of the sinking fund (expressed as percentages of the principal amount) set forth in the table below, and (2) at any time [on or after . . . . . . . . . . ], as a whole or in part, at the election of the Company, at the Redemption Prices for redemption otherwise than through operation of the sinking fund (expressed as percentages of the principal amount) set forth in the table below: If redeemed during the 12-month period beginning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . of the years indicated,

 

Year  

Redemption Price For

Redemption Through

Operation of the Sinking Fund

 

Redemption Price for

Redemption Otherwise Than

Through Operation of the

Sinking Fund

and thereafter at a Redemption Price equal to . . . . % of the principal amount, together in the case of any such redemption (whether through operation of the sinking fund or otherwise) with accrued interest to the Redemption Date, but interest installments the Stated Maturity of which is on or prior to such Redemption Date will be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, of record at the close of business on the relevant record dates referred to on the face hereof, all as provided in the Indenture.]

[If applicable, insert—Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may not, prior to . . . .. . . . . . ., redeem any Securities of this series as contemplated by [clause (2) of] the preceding paragraph as a part of, or in anticipation of, any refunding operation by the application, directly or indirectly, of moneys borrowed having an interest cost to the Company (calculated in accordance with generally accepted financial practice) of less than . . . .% per annum.]

 

18


[If applicable, insert—The sinking fund for this series provides for the redemption on . . . . . .. . . . . . . in each year beginning with the year . . . . and ending with the year . . . . of [not less than] $ . . . . . . . . . . . . [(“mandatory sinking fund”) and not more than $ . . . . . . . . . . . . ] aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series. [Securities of this series acquired or redeemed by the Company otherwise than through [mandatory] sinking fund payments may be credited against subsequent [mandatory] sinking fund payments otherwise required to be made [If applicable, insert— in the inverse order in which they become due].]

[If the Securities are subject to redemption in part of any kind, insert—In the event of redemption of this Security in part only, a new Security or Securities of this series and of like tenor for the unredeemed portion hereof will be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof.]

[If applicable, insert—The Securities of this series are not redeemable prior to Stated Maturity.]

[If the Security is not an Original Issue Discount Security,If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Securities of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.]

[If the Security is an Original Issue Discount Security,If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and be continuing, an amount of principal of the Securities of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture. Such amount shall be equal to —insert formula for determining the amount. Upon payment (i) of the amount of principal so declared due and payable and (ii) of interest on any overdue principal and overdue interest (in each case to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable), all of the Company’s obligations in respect of the payment of the principal of and interest, if any, on the Securities of this series shall terminate.]

The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company [If applicable, insert—and the Guarantors] and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each series to be affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company [If applicable, insert—and the Guarantors] and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding of each series to be affected. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of specified percentages in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of each series at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive compliance by the Company [If applicable, insert—and the Guarantors] with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Security and of any Security issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, regardless of whether notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security.

No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Security or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on this Security at the times, place(s) and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.

[If a Global Security, insert—This Global Security or portion hereof may not be exchanged for Definitive Securities of this series except in the limited circumstances provided in the Indenture. The holders of beneficial interests in this Global Security will not be entitled to receive physical delivery of Definitive Securities except as described in the Indenture and will not be considered the Holders thereof for any purpose under the Indenture.]

 

19


[If a Definitive Security, insert—As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Security is registerable in the Security Register, upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Company in [if applicable, insert—any place where the principal of and any premium and interest on this Security are payable] [if applicable, insert—The City of New York [, or, subject to any laws or regulations applicable thereto and to the right of the Company (limited as provided in the Indenture) to rescind the designation of any such transfer agent, at the [main] offices of _______________ in ________________ or at such other offices or agencies as the Company may designate]], duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or such Holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities of this series and of like tenor, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.]

The Securities of this series are issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of U.S. $ . . . . . . . . and any integral multiple thereof. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, Securities of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series and of like tenor of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.

No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

Prior to due presentment of this Security for registration of transfer, the Company, [If applicable, insert—any Guarantor,] the Trustee and any agent of the Company [If applicable, insert—, a Guarantor] or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Security is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, regardless of whether this Security be overdue, and none of the Company, [If applicable, insert—the Guarantors,] the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

No recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of or contained in the Indenture or of or contained in any Security, [If applicable, insert—, or the Securities Guarantee endorsed thereon,] or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, or because of the creation of any indebtedness represented thereby, shall be had against any incorporator, unitholder, stockholder, partner, member, manager, director, officer or employee, as such, past, present or future, of the Company [If applicable, insert—or any Guarantor] or of any successor Person, either directly or through the Company [If applicable, insert—or any Guarantor] or any successor Person, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment, penalty or otherwise; it being expressly understood that all such liability is hereby expressly waived and released by the acceptance hereof and as a condition of, and as part of the consideration for, the Securities and the execution of the Indenture.

The Indenture provides that the Company [If applicable, insert—and the Guarantors] (a) will be discharged from any and all obligations in respect of the Securities (except for certain obligations described in the Indenture), or (b) need not comply with certain restrictive covenants of the Indenture, in each case if the Company [If applicable, insert—or a Guarantor] deposits, in trust, with the Trustee money or U.S. Government Obligations (or a combination thereof) which through the payment of interest thereon and principal thereof in accordance with their terms will provide money, in an amount sufficient to pay all the principal of and interest on the Securities, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

Except as otherwise defined herein, all terms used in this Security that are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

 

20


[If a Definitive Security, insert as a separate page

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto

_______________________________________________________________

(Please Print or Type Name and Address of Assignee)

the within instrument of Sun Communities Operating Limited Partnership and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint ___________________ Attorney to transfer said instrument on the books of the within-named Company, with full power of substitution in the premises.

Please Insert Social Security or Other Identifying Number of Assignee:

 

                     

    

                          

Dated:  

                          

    

                     

                    (Signature)

NOTICE: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the within instrument in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.]

[If a Security to which Article Fourteen has been made applicable, insert the following Form of Notation on such Security relating to the Securities Guarantee

Each of the Guarantors (which term includes any successor Person in such capacity under the Indenture), has fully, unconditionally and absolutely guaranteed, to the extent set forth in the Indenture and subject to the provisions in the Indenture, the due and punctual payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on the Securities of this series and all other amounts due and payable under the Indenture and the Securities of this series by the Company.

The obligations of the Guarantors to the Holders of Securities of this series and to the Trustee pursuant to the Securities Guarantee and the Indenture are expressly set forth in Article Fourteen of the Indenture and reference is hereby made to the Indenture for the precise terms of the Securities Guarantee.

 

Guarantors:
[NAME OF EACH GUARANTOR]
By:                                                                                  
                                                                                ]

Section 2.4. Global Securities.

Every Global Security authenticated and delivered hereunder shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF. THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED TO, OR REGISTERED OR EXCHANGED FOR SECURITIES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF, ANY PERSON OTHER THAN THE DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF AND NO SUCH TRANSFER MAY BE REGISTERED, EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE.

 

21


EVERY SECURITY AUTHENTICATED AND DELIVERED UPON REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER OF, OR IN EXCHANGE FOR OR IN LIEU OF, THIS SECURITY SHALL BE A GLOBAL SECURITY SUBJECT TO THE FOREGOING, EXCEPT IN SUCH LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES.

If Securities of a series are issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, as specified as contemplated by Section 3.1, then, notwithstanding clause (i) of Section 3.1 and the provisions of Section 3.2, any Global Security shall represent such of the Outstanding Securities of such series as shall be specified therein and may provide that it shall represent the aggregate amount of Outstanding Securities from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate amount of Outstanding Securities represented thereby may from time to time be reduced or increased, as the case may be, to reflect exchanges. Any endorsement of a Global Security to reflect the amount, or any reduction or increase in the amount, of Outstanding Securities represented thereby shall be made in such manner and upon instructions given by such Person or Persons as shall be specified therein or in a Company Order. Subject to the provisions of Section 3.3, Section 3.4 and Section 3.5, the Trustee shall deliver and redeliver any Global Security in the manner and upon instructions given by the Person or Persons specified therein or in the applicable Company Order. Any instructions by the Company with respect to endorsement or delivery or redelivery of a Global Security shall be in a Company Order (which need not comply with Section 1.3 and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel).

The provisions of the last sentence of Section 3.3 shall apply to any Security represented by a Global Security if such Security was never issued and sold by the Company and the Company delivers to the Trustee the Global Security together with a Company Order (which need not comply with Section 1.3 and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel) with regard to the reduction or increase, as the case may be, in the principal amount of Securities represented thereby, together with the written statement contemplated by the last sentence of Section 3.3.

Section 2.5. Form of Trustees Certificate of Authentication.

The Trustee’s certificate(s) of authentication shall be in substantially the following form:

This is one of the Securities of the series designated [insert title of applicable series] referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

UMB Bank, N.A., as Trustee
By:  

                          

  Authorized Officer

ARTICLE THREE

THE SECURITIES

Section 3.1. Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series.

The aggregate principal amount of Securities that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited.

 

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The Securities may be issued in one or more series. There shall be established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and set forth, or determined in the manner provided, in an Officer’s Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of Securities of any series:

(a) the title of the Securities of the series (which shall distinguish the Securities of the series from all other Securities and which may be part of a series of Securities previously issued);

(b) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of the series which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of the series pursuant to Section 3.4, Section 3.5, Section 3.6, Section 9.6 or Section 11.7 and except for any Securities which, pursuant to Section 3.3, are deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder);

(c) the Person to whom any interest on a Security of the series shall be payable, if other than the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest;

(d) the date or dates on which the principal of the Securities of the series is payable or the method of determination thereof;

(e) the rate or rates at which the Securities of the series shall bear interest, if any, or the formula, method or provision pursuant to which such rate or rates are determined, the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue or the method of determination thereof, the Interest Payment Dates on which such interest shall be payable and the Regular Record Date for the interest payable on any Interest Payment Date;

(f) the place or places where, subject to the provisions of Section 10.2, the principal of and any premium and interest on Securities of the series shall be payable, Securities of the series may be surrendered for registration of transfer, Securities of the series may be surrendered for exchange, and notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of the series and this Indenture may be served;

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

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

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

(j) whether payment of principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the Securities of the series shall be without deduction for taxes, assessments or governmental charges paid by Holders of the series;

 

23


(k) if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of Securities of the series that shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.2;

(l) if the amount of payments of principal of and any premium or interest on the Securities of the series may be determined with reference to an index, the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;

(m) if and as applicable, that the Securities of the series shall be issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities and, in such case, the Depositary or Depositaries for such Global Security or Global Securities and any circumstances other than those set forth in Section 3.5 in which any such Global Security may be transferred to, and registered and exchanged for Securities registered in the name of, a Person other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof and in which any such transfer may be registered;

(n) any deletions from, modifications of or additions to the Events of Default set forth in Section 5.1 or the covenants of the Company set forth in Article Ten with respect to the Securities of such series;

(o) whether and under what circumstances the Company will pay additional amounts on the Securities of the series held by a Person who is not a U.S. Person in respect of any tax, assessment or governmental charge withheld or deducted and, if so, whether the Company will have the option to redeem the Securities of the series rather than pay such additional amounts;

(p) if the Securities of the series are to be issuable in definitive form (whether upon original issue or upon exchange of a temporary Security of such series) only upon receipt of certain certificates or other documents or satisfaction of other conditions, the form and terms of such certificates, documents or conditions;

(q) if the Securities of the series are to be convertible into or exchangeable for any other security or property of the Company, including, without limitation, securities of another Person held by the Company or its Affiliates and, if so, the terms thereof;

(r) if other than as provided in Section 13.2 and Section 13.3, the means of Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance as may be specified for the Securities of the series;

(s) if other than the Trustee, the identity of the initial Security Registrar and any initial Paying Agent;

(t) whether the Securities of the series will be guaranteed pursuant to the Securities Guarantee set forth in Article Fourteen, any modifications to the terms of Article Fourteen applicable to the Securities of such series and the applicability of any other guarantees; and

(u) any other terms of the series (which terms shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture).

All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical except as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to the Board Resolution referred to above and (subject to Section 3.3) set forth, or determined in the manner provided, in the Officer’s Certificate referred to above or in any such indenture supplemental hereto.

 

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All Securities of any one series need not be issued at the same time and, unless otherwise provided, a series may be reopened, without the consent of the Holders, for increases in the aggregate principal amount of such series of Securities and issuances of additional Securities of such series or for the establishment of additional terms with respect to the Securities of such series.

If any of the terms of the series are established by action taken by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by an authorized officer or other authorized person on behalf of the Company and, if applicable, the Guarantors and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Officer’s Certificate setting forth, or providing the manner for determining, the terms of the series.

With respect to Securities of a series subject to a Periodic Offering, such Board Resolution or Officer’s Certificate may provide general terms for Securities of such series and provide either that the specific terms of particular Securities of such series shall be specified in a Company Order or that such terms shall be determined by the Company and, if applicable, the Guarantors or one or more agents thereof designated in an Officer’s Certificate, in accordance with a Company Order.

Section 3.2. Denominations.

The Securities of each series shall be issuable in registered form without coupons in such denominations as shall be specified as contemplated by Section 3.1. In the absence of any such provisions with respect to the Securities of any series, the Securities of such series shall be issuable in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof.

Section 3.3. Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating.

The Securities shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its Chairman of the Board, its Chief Executive Officer, its President, its Chief Financial Officer or any of its Vice Presidents and need not be attested. The signature of any of these officers on the Securities may be manual or facsimile, including portable document format (pdf). Any notation of Securities Guarantee endorsed on the Securities shall be executed on behalf of the applicable Guarantor by its Chairman of the Board, its Chief Executive Officer, its President, its Chief Financial Officer or any of its Vice Presidents and need not be attested. The signature of any of these officers on any notation of the Securities Guarantee may be manual or facsimile, including portable document format (pdf).

Securities and any notation of a Securities Guarantee bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of individuals who were at any time the proper officers of the Company or a Guarantor, as the case may be, shall bind the Company or such Guarantor, as the case may be, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased to hold such offices prior to the authentication and delivery of such Securities or did not hold such offices at the date of such Securities.

At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities of any series executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, together with a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of such Securities, and the Trustee in accordance with the Company Order shall authenticate and deliver such Securities; provided, however, that in the case of Securities offered in a Periodic Offering, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver such Securities from time to time in accordance with such other procedures (including, without limitation, the receipt by the Trustee of written instructions from the Company) acceptable to the Trustee as may be specified by or pursuant to a Company Order delivered to the Trustee prior to the time of the first authentication of Securities of such series. If the forms or terms of the Securities of the series have been established in or pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions as permitted by Section 2.1 and Section 3.1, in authenticating

 

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such Securities, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall be fully protected in relying on such Board Resolution and shall be entitled to receive such documents as it may reasonably request. The Trustee shall also be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 6.1) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Officer’s Certificate pursuant to Section 3.1 and complying with Section 1.3 and an Opinion of Counsel complying with Section 1.3 stating:

(a) if the form or forms of such Securities has been established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution as permitted by Section 2.1, that each such form has been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;

(b) if the terms of such Securities have been, or in the case of Securities of a series offered in a Periodic Offering will be, established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution as permitted by Section 3.1, that such terms have been, or in the case of Securities of a series offered in a Periodic Offering will be, established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture, subject, in the case of Securities of a series offered in a Periodic Offering, to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel; and

(c) that such Securities, when authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and issued by the Company in the manner and subject to any conditions and assumptions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company and, if applicable, the Securities Guarantees thereof will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Guarantors, enforceable in accordance with their respective terms, subject to the following limitations: (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, reorganization, liquidation, fraudulent conveyance or transfer and other similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights, or to general equity principles, (ii) the availability of equitable remedies being subject to the discretion of the court to which application therefor is made; and (iii) such other usual and customary matters as shall be specified in such Opinion of Counsel.

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

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3.1 and of the preceding paragraph, if all Securities of a series are not to be originally issued at one time, it shall not be necessary to deliver the Officer’s Certificate otherwise required pursuant to Section 3.1 or the Company Order and Opinion of Counsel otherwise required pursuant to such preceding paragraph at or prior to the time of authentication of each Security of such series if such documents are delivered at or prior to the authentication upon original issuance of the first Security of such series to be issued.

With respect to Securities of a series offered in a Periodic Offering, the Trustee may rely, as to the authorization by the Company of any of such Securities, on the form or forms and terms thereof and the legality, validity, binding effect and enforceability thereof, upon the Opinion of Counsel and the other documents delivered pursuant to Section 2.1 and Section 3.1 and this Section, as applicable, in connection with the first authentication of Securities of such series.

Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.

No Security nor any related Securities Guarantee shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose unless there appears on such Security a certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for herein executed by the Trustee or an Authenticating Agent by manual signature of an authorized officer, and such certificate upon any Security shall be

 

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conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Security has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder and is entitled to the benefits of this Indenture. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Security shall have been authenticated and delivered hereunder but never issued and sold by the Company, and the Company shall deliver such Security to the Trustee for cancellation as provided in Section 3.9, for all purposes of this Indenture such Security shall be deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder and shall never be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.

Section 3.4. Temporary Securities.

Pending the preparation of Definitive Securities of any series, the Company may execute, and upon Company Order the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, temporary Securities that are printed, lithographed, typewritten, mimeographed or otherwise produced, in any authorized denomination, substantially of the tenor of the Definitive Securities in lieu of which they are issued and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as the officers executing such Securities may determine, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities.

If temporary Securities of any series are issued, the Company will cause Definitive Securities of that series to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the preparation of Definitive Securities of such series, the temporary Securities of such series shall be exchangeable for Definitive Securities of such series upon surrender of the temporary Securities of such series at the office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment for that series, without charge to the Holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Securities of any series the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a like principal amount of Definitive Securities of the same series and tenor of authorized denominations. Until so exchanged the temporary Securities of any series shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as Definitive Securities of such series.

Section 3.5. Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange.

The Company shall cause to be kept at the office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment required by Section 10.2 a register (the register maintained in such office being herein sometimes referred to as the “Security Register”) in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration of Securities and of transfers of Securities. The Trustee is hereby appointed as the initial “Security Registrar” for the purpose of registering Securities and transfers of Securities as herein provided, and its Corporate Trust Office, which, at the date hereof, is located at 5555 San Felipe Street, Suite 810, Houston, Texas 77056, is the initial office or agency where the Securities Register will be maintained. The Company may at any time replace such Security Registrar, change such office or agency or act as its own Security Registrar. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any change of the Security Registrar or of the location of such office or agency.

Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Security of any series at the office or agency maintained pursuant to Section 10.2 for such purpose, the Company and, if applicable, the Guarantors shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Securities, with a notation of the Securities Guarantee, if applicable, executed by the Guarantors, of the same series and tenor, of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount.

At the option of the Holder, Securities of any series (except a Global Security) may be exchanged for other Securities of the same series and tenor, of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount, upon surrender of the Securities to be exchanged at such office or agency. Whenever any Securities are so surrendered for exchange, the Company and, if applicable, the Guarantors shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Securities, with a notation of the Securities Guarantee, if applicable, executed by the Guarantors, which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.

 

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All Securities issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities shall be the valid obligations of the Company and, if applicable, the Guarantors evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Securities surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.

Every Security presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange shall (if so required by the Company or the Trustee) be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed, by the Holder thereof or such Holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing.

No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 3.4, Section 9.6 or Section 11.7 not involving any transfer.

The Company shall not be required (a) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange Securities of any series during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the notice of redemption of Securities of that series selected for redemption under Section 11.3 is sent and ending at the close of business on the day of the delivery thereof, or (b) to register the transfer of or exchange any Security so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Security being redeemed in part.

Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture and except as otherwise specified with respect to any particular series of Securities as contemplated by Section 3.1, a Global Security representing all or a portion of the Securities of a series may not be transferred, except as a whole by the Depositary for such series to a nominee of such Depositary or by a nominee of such Depositary to such Depositary or another nominee of such Depositary or by such Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary for such series or a nominee of such successor Depositary. Every Security authenticated and delivered upon registration of, transfer of, or in exchange for or in lieu of, a Global Security shall be a Global Security except as provided in the two paragraphs immediately following.

If at any time the Depositary for any Securities of a series represented by one or more Global Securities notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Securities or if at any time the Depositary for such Securities shall no longer be eligible to continue as Depositary under Section 3.1 or ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, the Company shall appoint a successor Depositary with respect to such Securities. If a successor Depositary for such Securities is not appointed by the Company within 90 days after the Company receives such notice or becomes aware of such ineligibility, the Company’s election pursuant to Section 3.1 that such Securities be represented by one or more Global Securities shall no longer be effective and the Company and, if applicable, the Guarantors will execute and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of Definitive Securities of such series, will authenticate and deliver, Securities, with a notation of the Securities Guarantee, if applicable, executed by the Guarantors, of such series in definitive registered form without coupons, in any authorized denominations, in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security or Securities representing such Securities in exchange for such Global Security or Securities registered in the names of such Persons as the Depositary shall direct.

 

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If specified by the Company pursuant to Section 3.1 with respect to Securities represented by a Global Security, the Depositary for such Global Security may surrender such Global Security in exchange in whole or in part for Securities of the same series and tenor in definitive registered form on such terms as are acceptable to the Company, the Trustee and such Depositary. Thereupon, the Company and, if applicable, the Guarantors shall execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of Securities in definitive registered form, shall authenticate and deliver, without service charge:

(a) to the Person specified by such Depositary a new Security or Securities, with a notation of the Securities Guarantee, if applicable, executed by the Guarantors, of the same series and tenor, of any authorized denominations as requested by such Person, in an aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for such Person’s beneficial interest in the Global Security; and

(b) to such Depositary a new Global Security, with a notation of the Securities Guarantee, if applicable, executed by the Guarantors, in a denomination equal to the difference, if any, between the principal amount of the surrendered Global Security and the aggregate principal amount of Securities authenticated and delivered pursuant to clause (a) above.

Every Person who takes or holds any beneficial interest in a Global Security agrees that:

(i) the Company, the Guarantors (if applicable) and the Trustee may deal with the Depositary as sole owner of the Global Security and as the authorized representative of such Person;

(ii) such Person’s rights in the Global Security shall be exercised only through the Depositary and shall be limited to those rights established by law and agreement between such Person and the Depositary and/or direct and indirect participants of the Depositary;

(iii) the Depositary and its participants make book-entry transfers of beneficial ownership among, and receive and transmit distributions of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Global Securities to, such Persons in accordance with their own procedures; and

(iv) none of the Company, the Guarantors (if applicable), the Trustee, nor any agent of any of them 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.

Section 3.6. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities.

If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee, together with such security or indemnity as may be required by the Company, the Guarantors (if applicable) or the Trustee to save each of them and any agent of any of them harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Company or the Trustee that such Security has been acquired by a protected purchaser, the Company and, if applicable, the Guarantors shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a new Security, with a notation of the Securities Guarantee, if applicable, executed by the Guarantors, of the same series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

If there shall be delivered to the Company, the Guarantors (if applicable) and the Trustee (a) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security and (b) such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and any agent of any of them harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Company or the Trustee that such Security has been acquired by a protected purchaser, the Company and, if applicable, the Guarantors shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Security, a new Security, with a notation of the Securities Guarantee, if applicable, executed by the Guarantors, of the same series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

 

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In case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security has become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Security, pay such Security.

Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith.

Every new Security of any series issued pursuant to this Section in lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Company and, if applicable, the Guarantors, regardless of whether the destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of that series duly issued hereunder.

The provisions of this Section are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities.

Section 3.7. Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved.

Except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 3.1 with respect to any series of Securities, interest on any Security that is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest.

Any interest on any Security of any series that is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date (herein called “Defaulted Interest”) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on the relevant Regular Record Date by virtue of having been such Holder, and such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Company, at its election in each case, as provided in clause (a) or (b) below:

(a) The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the Persons in whose names the Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each 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 that 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, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be mailed, first-class postage prepaid (or sent by electronic transmission in the case of Global Securities), to each Holder of Securities of such series at such Holder’s 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 Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on such Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the following clause (b).

 

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

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

Section 3.8. Persons Deemed Owners.

Except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 3.1 with respect to any series of Securities, prior to due presentment of a Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and, if applicable, the Guarantors and any agent thereof may treat the Person in whose name such Security is registered as the owner of such Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and any premium and (subject to Section 3.5 and Section 3.7) any interest on such Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, regardless of whether such Security be overdue, and none of the Company, the Trustee nor, if applicable, the Guarantors nor any agent of any of them shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

No holder of any beneficial interest in any Global Security held on its behalf by a Depositary shall have any rights under this Indenture with respect to such Global Security, and such Depositary may be treated by the Company, the Trustee, and, if applicable, the Guarantors and any agent of any thereof as the owner of such Global Security for all purposes whatsoever.

Section 3.9. Cancellation.

All Securities surrendered for payment, redemption, registration of transfer or exchange or for credit against any sinking fund payment shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee and shall be promptly canceled by it. The Company may at any time deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated and delivered hereunder that the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and may deliver to the Trustee (or to any other Person for delivery to the Trustee) for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated hereunder that the Company has not issued and sold, and all Securities so delivered shall be promptly canceled by the Trustee. No Securities shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Securities canceled as provided in this Section, except as expressly permitted by this Indenture. All canceled Securities held by the Trustee shall be disposed of in accordance with its customary practices, and the Trustee shall thereafter deliver to the Company a certificate with respect to such disposition from time to time upon written request.

Section 3.10. Computation of Interest.

Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1 for Securities of any series, interest on the Securities of each series shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months.

 

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Section 3.11. CUSIP or CINS Numbers.

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

ARTICLE FOUR

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

Section 4.1. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.

This Indenture shall cease to be of further effect and will be discharged with respect to the Securities of any series (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of Securities and certain rights of the Trustee, in each case, herein expressly provided for), and the Trustee, upon Company Request and at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to such Securities, when:

(a) either:

(i) all such Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than (A) such Securities which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 3.6, and (B) such Securities for the payment of which money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 10.3) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

(ii) all such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation:

(A) have become due and payable; or

(B) will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year; or

(C) are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company,

and the Company, in the case of (ii)(A), (B) or (C) above, has deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for such purpose an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal (and premium, if any) and interest to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities which have become due and payable) or to the Stated Maturity or Redemption Date, as the case may be, together with instructions from the Company irrevocably directing the Trustee to apply such funds to the payment thereof at maturity or redemption, as the case may be;

 

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(b) the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company with respect to such Securities; and

(c) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, which, taken together, state that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to such Securities have been complied with.

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to the Securities of any series, (x) the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 6.7, the obligations of the Trustee to any Authenticating Agent under Section 6.14 and the right of the Trustee to resign under Section 6.10 shall survive, and (y) if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to clause (a) of this Section, the obligations of the Company and the Trustee under Section 3.5, Section 3.6, Section 4.2, Section 6.6, Section 10.2, the last paragraph of Section 10.3 and Section 13.6 shall survive.

Section 4.2. Application of Trust Money.

Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 10.3, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 4.1 shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal and any premium and interest for the payment of which such money has been deposited with the Trustee.

ARTICLE FIVE

REMEDIES

Section 5.1. Events of Default.

“Event of Default,” wherever used herein with respect to Securities of any series, means any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body):

(a) default in the payment of any interest upon any Security of that series when it becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days; or

(b) default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any Security of that series at its Maturity; or

(c) default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant set forth in Article Ten in this Indenture (other than a covenant a default in the performance of which or the breach of which is elsewhere in this Section specifically dealt with or which has expressly been included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of series of Securities other than that series), and continuance of such default or breach for a period of 60 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, 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 Outstanding Securities of that series a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder; or

 

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(d) default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant in this Indenture (other than a covenant in Article Ten or any other covenant a default in the performance of which or the breach of which is elsewhere in this Section specifically dealt with or which has expressly been included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of series of Securities other than that series), and continuance of such default or breach for a period of 90 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, 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 Outstanding Securities of that series a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder; or

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

(f) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that (i) is for relief against the Company in an involuntary case, (ii) appoints a Custodian of the Company or for all or substantially all of the property of the Company, or (iii) orders the liquidation of the Company; and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 consecutive days; or

(g) default in the deposit of any sinking fund payment when due; or

(h) any other Event of Default provided with respect to Securities of that series in accordance with Section 3.1.

Section 5.2. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.

If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series at the time Outstanding occurs and is continuing, then in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series may declare the principal amount (or, if the Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of that series) and all accrued and unpaid interest of all of the Securities of that series to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Holders), and upon any such declaration such principal amount (or specified amount) shall become immediately due and payable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Event of Default specified in clause (e) or (f) of Section 5.1 occurs, the Securities of any series at the time Outstanding shall be due and payable immediately without further action or notice.

At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to Securities of any series has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as hereinafter in this Article Five provided, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series, by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if:

(a) the Company or, if applicable, one or more of the Guarantors has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay:

 

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(i) all overdue interest on all Securities of that series;

(ii) the principal of (and premium, if any, on) any Securities of that series that has become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration and any interest thereon at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities;

(iii) to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful, interest upon overdue interest at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities; and

(iv) all sums paid or advanced by the Trustee hereunder and the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel; and

(b) all Events of Default with respect to Securities of that series, other than the non-payment of the principal of Securities of that series that has become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 5.13.

No such rescission shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right consequent thereon.

Section 5.3. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee.

The Company covenants that if:

(a) default is made in the payment of any installment of interest on any Security when such interest becomes due and payable and such default continues for a period of 30 days; or

(b) default is made in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any Security at the Maturity thereof;

the Company will, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to it, for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities, the whole amount then due and payable on such Securities for principal and any premium and interest and, to the extent that payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable, interest on any overdue principal and any premium and on any overdue interest, at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities, and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.

If the Company fails to pay such amounts forthwith upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, may institute a judicial proceeding for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, may prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree and may enforce the same against the Company or, if applicable, the Guarantors or any other obligor upon such Securities and collect the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or, if applicable, the Guarantors or any other obligor upon such Securities, wherever situated.

If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any such rights, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted herein, or to enforce any other proper remedy.

 

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Section 5.4. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.

In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding relative to the Company or, if applicable, any Guarantor or any other obligor upon the Securities, their property or their creditors, the Trustee (irrespective of whether the principal of the Securities shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand on the Company or, if applicable, the Guarantors for the payment of overdue principal or interest) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:

(a) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of principal (and premium, if any) and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Securities 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 the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and of the Holders allowed in such judicial proceeding; and

(b) to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same;

and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee and, if the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 6.7.

No provision of this Indenture 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, compromise, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities or, if applicable, the Securities Guarantee or the rights of any Holder thereof or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding; provided, however, that the Trustee may, on behalf of the Holders, vote for the election of a trustee in bankruptcy or similar official and be a member of a creditors’ or other similar committee.

Section 5.5. Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities.

All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or the Securities may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Securities or the production thereof in any proceeding relating thereto, and any such proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall, after provision for the payment of the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.

Section 5.6. Application of Money Collected.

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

 

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FIRST: To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee under Section 6.7;

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

THIRD: The balance, if any, to the Company.

Section 5.7. Limitation on Suits.

No Holder of any Security of any series shall have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to this Indenture (including, if applicable, the Securities Guarantee), or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless:

(a) such Holder has previously given written notice to the Trustee of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of that series;

(b) the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in its own name as Trustee hereunder;

(c) such Holder or Holders have offered to the Trustee indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request;

(d) the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity has failed to institute any such proceeding; and

(e) no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the Trustee during such 60-day period by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series;

it being understood and intended that no one or more of such Holders shall have any right in any manner whatsoever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other Holder of the same series of Security, or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other Holder of the same series of Security or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of all Holders of the same series of Security.

Section 5.8. Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest.

Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of any Security shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of and any premium and interest on such Security on the Stated Maturity or Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the Redemption Date) and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, and such rights shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.

 

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Section 5.9. Restoration of Rights and Remedies.

If the Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case, subject to any determination in such proceeding, the Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee and the Holders shall be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and the Holders shall continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted.

Section 5.10. Rights and Remedies Cumulative.

Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities in the last paragraph of Section 3.6, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.

Section 5.11. Delay or Omission Not Waiver.

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, no delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Securities to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article Five or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders, as the case may be.

Section 5.12. Control by Holders.

The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee, with respect to the Securities of such series; provided, however, that:

(a) such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture;

(b) the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee that is not inconsistent with such direction; and

(c) subject to the provisions of Section 6.1, the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee in good faith shall determine that the direction would expose the Trustee to personal liability.

Section 5.13. Waiver of Past Defaults.

By written notice to the Company and the Trustee, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series may on behalf of the Holders of all the Securities of such series waive any past default hereunder with respect to such series and its consequences, except:

(a) a continuing default in the payment of the principal of or any premium, if any, or interest on any Security of such series; or

 

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(b) a default in respect of a covenant or provision hereof that under Article Nine cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security of such series affected.

Upon any such waiver, such default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Indenture, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or impair any right consequent thereon.

Section 5.14. Undertaking for Costs.

All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Security by such Holder’s acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant, other than the Trustee, in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; but the provisions of this Section 5.14 shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Company, to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Holder, or group of Holders, holding in the aggregate more than 10% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, or to any suit instituted by any Holder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Security on or after the Stated Maturity or Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the Redemption Date).

Section 5.15. Waiver of Stay, Extension or Usury Laws.

Each of the Company and the Guarantors covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it will not at any time insist upon, or plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension or usury law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and each of the Company and the Guarantors (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law and covenants that it will not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.

ARTICLE SIX

THE TRUSTEE

Section 6.1. Certain Duties and Responsibilities.

(a) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of a particular series:

(i) the Trustee undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture and as are provided by the Trust Indenture Act with respect to the Securities of such series, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and

(ii) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; but in the case of any such certificates or opinions that by any 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 they conform to the requirements of this Indenture.

 

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(b) In case an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to the Securities of a particular series, the Trustee shall exercise with respect to the Securities of such series 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.

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

(i) this Subsection shall not be construed to limit the effect of Subsection (a) of this Section;

(ii) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer, unless it shall be proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts;

(iii) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, given pursuant to Section 5.12, relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series; and

(iv) no provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.

(d) Regardless of whether therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section.

Section 6.2. Notice of Defaults.

Within 90 days after the occurrence of any Default hereunder with respect to the Securities of any series, the Trustee shall transmit by mail (or electronic transmission in the case of Global Securities) to all Holders of Securities of such series, as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register, notice of such Default hereunder known to the Trustee, unless such Default shall have been cured or waived; provided, however, that, except in the case of a Default in the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Security of such series or in the payment of any sinking fund installment with respect to Securities of such series, the Trustee may withhold from Holders of Securities notice of any continuing Default or Event of Default if a Responsible Officer of the Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interest of the Holders of Securities of such series; and, provided, further, that in the case of any Default of the character specified in Section 5.1(c) with respect to Securities of such series, no such notice to Holders shall be given until at least 60 days after the occurrence thereof and that in the case of any Default of the character specified in Section 5.1(d) with respect to Securities of such series, no such notice to Holders shall be given until at least 90 days after the occurrence thereof.

 

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Section 6.3. Certain Rights of Trustee.

Subject to the provisions of Section 6.1:

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

(b) any request or direction of the Company or a Guarantor mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Company Request or Company Order and any resolution of the Board of Directors may be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution;

(c) whenever in the administration of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Trustee (unless other evidence be herein specifically prescribed) shall be entitled to receive and may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, rely upon an Officer’s Certificate;

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

(e) the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders pursuant to this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities that might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction;

(f) the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Company, personally or by agent or attorney;

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

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

 

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(i) the Trustee shall be entitled to the rights and protections afforded to the Trustee pursuant to this Article Six in acting as a Paying Agent or Security Registrar hereunder;

(j) the Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any Default or Event of Default unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge thereof or unless written notice of any event that is in fact such a Default is received by the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and such notice references the Securities and this Indenture;

(k) the Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take that it believes in good faith to be authorized or within its powers conferred upon it by this Indenture or pursuant to applicable law;

(l) the Trustee shall not be required to provide any bond or surety in respect of the execution of the trusts and powers in respect of this Indenture or otherwise;

(m) under no circumstances shall the Trustee be liable in its individual or any other capacity for the obligations evidenced by any Securities; and

(n) anything in this Indenture notwithstanding, in no event shall the Trustee be liable for any special, indirect, punitive, incidental or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including but not limited to loss of profit), even if the Company has been advised as to the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action.

Section 6.4. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities.

The recitals contained herein and in the Securities, except the Trustee’s certificates of authentication, shall be taken as the statements of the Company or, if applicable, the Guarantors, and neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent assumes any responsibility for their correctness. Neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent makes any representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities. The Trustee or any Authenticating Agent shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of Securities or the proceeds thereof.

Section 6.5. May Hold Securities.

The Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any Paying Agent, any Security Registrar or any other agent of the Company or, if applicable, any Guarantor, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and, subject to Sections 310(b) and 311 of the Trust Indenture Act and Section 6.8, Section 6.9 and Section 6.13, may otherwise deal with the Company or, if applicable, the Guarantors with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent, Security Registrar or such other agent.

Section 6.6. Money Held in Trust.

Money held by the Trustee in trust hereunder need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustee shall be under no liability for interest on any money received by it hereunder except as otherwise agreed in writing with the Company or, if applicable, one or more of the Guarantors.

 

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Section 6.7. Compensation and Reimbursement.

The Company agrees:

(a) to pay to the Trustee from time to time reasonable compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust);

(b) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any provision of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as has been adjudicated to have resulted from its own negligence or willful misconduct; and

(c) to indemnify each of the Trustee and its officers, directors, agents and employees for, and to hold it and them harmless against, any loss, liability or expense arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts hereunder, including the costs and expenses of defending itself or themselves against any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its or their powers or duties hereunder, except any such loss, liability or expense as has been adjudicated to have resulted from any of its or their own negligence or willful misconduct.

As security for the performance of the obligations of the Company under this Section, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such, except funds held in trust for the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on particular Securities.

Without limiting any rights available to the Trustee under applicable law, when the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection with an Event of Default specified in Section 5.1(e) or Section 5.1(f), the expenses (including the reasonable charges and expenses of its counsel) and the compensation for the services of the Trustee are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any applicable Bankruptcy Law.

The provisions of this Section 6.7 shall survive the resignation or removal of the Trustee and the termination or satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture and the Legal Defeasance of the Securities.

Section 6.8. Disqualification; Conflicting Interests.

Reference is made to Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act. There shall be excluded from the operation of Section 310(b)(1) of the Trust Indenture Act this Indenture with respect to the Securities of more than one series.

Section 6.9. Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility.

There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder that shall be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers, having a combined capital and surplus required by the Trust Indenture Act, subject to supervision or examination by Federal or State authority. If such corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of said supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and

 

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surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. The Trustee shall not be an obligor upon the Securities or an Affiliate thereof. If at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, then it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article Six.

Section 6.10. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.

(a) No resignation or removal of the Trustee and no appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to this Article shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 6.11.

(b) The Trustee may resign at any time with respect to the Securities of one or more series by giving written notice thereof to the Company. If the instrument of acceptance of appointment by a successor Trustee required by Section 6.11 shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

(c) The Trustee may be removed at any time with respect to the Securities of any series by Act of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series, delivered to the Trustee and to the Company.

(d) If at any time:

(i) the Trustee shall fail to comply with Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act after written request therefor by the Company or by any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months; or

(ii) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible under Section 6.9 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any such Holder; or

(iii) the Trustee shall become incapable of acting or shall be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent or a Custodian of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed or any public officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation,

then, in any such case, (A) the Company by a Board Resolution may remove the Trustee with respect to all Securities, or (B) subject to Section 5.14, any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee with respect to all Securities and the appointment of a successor Trustee or Trustees.

(e) If the Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of Trustee for any cause, with respect to the Securities of one or more series, the Company, by a Board Resolution, shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or Trustees with respect to the Securities of that or those series (it being understood that any such successor Trustee may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more or all of such series and that at any time there shall be only one Trustee with respect to the Securities of any particular series), and the Company and the successor Trustee shall comply with the applicable requirements of Section 6.11. If, within one year after such resignation, removal or incapability, or the occurrence

 

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of such vacancy, a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall be appointed by Act of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series delivered to the Company and the retiring Trustee, the successor Trustee so appointed shall, forthwith upon its acceptance of such appointment in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 6.11, become the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and to that extent supersede the successor Trustee appointed by the Company. If no successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall have been so appointed by the Company or the Holders and accepted appointment in the manner required by Section 6.11, any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security of such series for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

(f) The Company shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series and each appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series to all Holders of Securities of such series in the manner provided in Section 1.7. Each notice shall include the name of the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and the address of its Corporate Trust Office.

Section 6.11. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.

(a) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to all Securities, the successor Trustee so appointed shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company, the Guarantors (if applicable) and to the retiring Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective and such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee; but, on the request of the Company, any Guarantor (if applicable) or the successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall, upon payment of its charges, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights, powers and trusts of the retiring Trustee and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder, subject nevertheless to its lien under Section 6.7.

(b) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Company, the Guarantors (if applicable), the retiring Trustee and each successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto wherein each successor Trustee shall accept such appointment and which (i) shall contain such provisions as shall be necessary or desirable to transfer and confirm to, and to vest in, each successor Trustee all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates, (ii) if the retiring Trustee is not retiring with respect to all Securities, shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series as to which the retiring Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the retiring Trustee, and (iii) shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust and that each such Trustee shall be trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee; and upon the execution and delivery of such supplemental indenture the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective to the extent provided therein and each such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all

 

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the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates; but, on request of the Company, any Guarantor (if applicable) or any successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee, upon payment of its charges, shall execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights, powers and trusts of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of the series to which the appointment of such successor relates and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of such series, subject nevertheless to its lien under Section 6.7.

(c) Upon request of any such successor Trustee, the Company and, if applicable, the Guarantors shall execute any and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor Trustee all such rights, powers and trusts referred to in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section, as the case may be.

(d) No successor Trustee shall accept its appointment unless at the time of such acceptance such successor Trustee shall be qualified and eligible under this Article and the Trust Indenture Act.

Section 6.12. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business.

Any corporation into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder, provided such corporation shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article Six, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto. As soon as practicable, the successor Trustee shall mail (or send by electronic transmission in the case of Global Securities) a notice of its succession to the Company and the Holders of the Securities then Outstanding. In case any Securities shall have been authenticated, but not delivered, by the Trustee then in office, any successor by merger, conversion or consolidation to such authenticating Trustee may adopt such authentication and deliver the Securities so authenticated with the same effect as if such successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Securities.

Section 6.13. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.

Reference is made to Section 311 of the Trust Indenture Act. For purposes of Section 311(b) of the Trust Indenture Act:

(a) the term “cash transaction” means any transaction in which full payment for goods or securities sold is made within seven days after delivery of the goods or securities in currency or in checks or other orders drawn upon banks or bankers and payable upon demand;

(b) the term “self-liquidating paper” means any draft, bill of exchange, acceptance or obligation which is made, drawn, negotiated or incurred by the Company or, if applicable, any Guarantor for the purpose of financing the purchase, processing, manufacturing, shipment, storage or sale of goods, wares or merchandise and which is secured by documents evidencing title to, possession of, or a lien upon, the goods, wares or merchandise or the receivables or proceeds arising from the sale of the goods, wares or merchandise previously constituting the security, provided the security is received by the Trustee simultaneously with the creation of the creditor relationship with the Company or, if applicable, such Guarantor arising from the making, drawing, negotiating or incurring of the draft, bill of exchange, acceptance or obligation.

 

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Section 6.14. Appointment of Authenticating Agent.

The Trustee may appoint an Authenticating Agent or Agents with respect to one or more series of Securities, which shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of such series issued upon exchange, registration of transfer or partial redemption thereof or pursuant to Section 3.6, and Securities so authenticated shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee hereunder. Wherever reference is made in this Indenture to the authentication and delivery of Securities by the Trustee or the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, such reference shall be deemed to include authentication and delivery on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent and a certificate of authentication executed on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent. Each Authenticating Agent shall be acceptable to the Company and shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, authorized under such laws to act as Authenticating Agent, having a combined capital and surplus of not less than $50,000,000 and subject to supervision or examination by Federal or State authority. If such Authenticating Agent publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of said supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such Authenticating Agent shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, such Authenticating Agent shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in this Section.

Any corporation into which an Authenticating Agent may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which such Authenticating Agent shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate agency or corporate trust business of an Authenticating Agent, shall continue to be an Authenticating Agent, provided such corporation shall be otherwise eligible under this Section, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent.

An Authenticating Agent may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Trustee and to the Company and, if applicable, the Guarantors. The Trustee for any series of Securities may at any time terminate the agency of an Authenticating Agent by giving written notice thereof to such Authenticating Agent and to the Company and, if applicable, the Guarantors. Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time such Authenticating Agent shall cease to be qualified and eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, the Trustee for such series may appoint a successor Authenticating Agent that shall be acceptable to the Company and, if applicable, the Guarantors and shall mail (or send by electronic transmission in the case of Global Securities) written notice of such appointment by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to all Holders of Securities of the series with respect to which such Authenticating Agent will serve, as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register. Any successor Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder shall become vested with all the rights, powers and duties of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as an Authenticating Agent. No successor Authenticating Agent shall be appointed unless eligible under the provisions of this Section.

Except with respect to an Authenticating Agent appointed at the request of the Company or, if applicable, the Guarantors, the Trustee agrees to pay to each Authenticating Agent from time to time reasonable compensation for its services under this Section 6.14, and the Trustee shall be entitled to be reimbursed by the Company or, if applicable, the Guarantors for such payments, subject to the provisions of Section 6.7.

 

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If an appointment with respect to one or more series is made pursuant to this Section 6.14, the Securities of such series may have endorsed thereon, in addition to the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, an alternate certificate of authentication in the following form:

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

 

UMB Bank, N.A., as Trustee
By:  

                          

  As Authenticating Agent
By:  

                          

  Authorized Officer

ARTICLE SEVEN

HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY

Section 7.1. Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders.

The Company will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee:

(a) semi-annually, not more than 5 days after each Regular Record Date for a series of Securities, a list for such series of Securities, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Holders of Securities of such series as of such Regular 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 of similar form and content as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list is furnished;

provided, however, that if and so long as the Trustee shall be the Security Registrar, no such list need be furnished with respect to such series of Securities.

Section 7.2. Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders.

(a) The Trustee shall preserve, with respect to each series of Securities, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, the names and addresses of Holders contained in the most recent list furnished to the Trustee as provided in Section 7.1 and the names and addresses of Holders received by the Trustee in its capacity as Security Registrar. The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 7.1 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.

(b) If three or more Holders (herein referred to as “applicants”) apply in writing to the Trustee, and furnish to the Trustee reasonable proof that each such applicant has owned a Security for a period of at least six months preceding the date of such application, and such application states that the applicants desire to communicate with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under the Securities and is accompanied by a copy of the form of proxy or other communication which such applicants propose to transmit, then the Trustee shall, within five Business Days after the receipt of such application, at its election, either:

 

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(i) afford such applicants access to the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with Section 7.2(a); or

(ii) inform such applicants as to the approximate number of Holders whose names and addresses appear in the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with Section 7.2(a), and as to the approximate cost of mailing to such Holders the form of proxy or other communication, if any, specified in such application.

If the Trustee shall elect not to afford such applicants access to such information, the Trustee shall, upon the written request of such applicants, mail to each Holder whose name and address appear in the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with Section 7.2(a) a copy of the form of proxy or other communication that is specified in such request, with reasonable promptness after a tender to the Trustee of the material to be mailed and of payment, or provision for the payment, of the reasonable expenses of mailing, unless within five days after such tender the Trustee shall mail to such applicants and file with the SEC, together with a copy of the material to be mailed, a written statement to the effect that, in the opinion of the Trustee, such mailing would be contrary to the best interest of the Holders or would be in violation of applicable law. Such written statement shall specify the basis of such opinion. If the SEC, after opportunity for a hearing upon the objections specified in the written statement so filed, shall enter an order refusing to sustain any of such objections or if, after the entry of an order sustaining one or more of such objections, the SEC shall find, after notice and opportunity for hearing, that all the objections so sustained have been met and shall enter an order so declaring, the Trustee shall mail copies of such material to all such Holders with reasonable promptness after the entry of such order and the renewal of such tender; otherwise the Trustee shall be relieved of any obligation or duty to such applicants respecting their application.

(c) Every Holder of Securities, by receiving and holding the same, agrees with the Company, the Guarantors (if applicable) and the Trustee that none of the Company, the Guarantors (if applicable) nor the Trustee nor any agent of any of them shall be held accountable by reason of the disclosure of any such information as to the names and addresses of the Holders in accordance with Section 7.2(b), regardless of the source from which such information was derived, and that the Trustee shall not be held accountable by reason of mailing any material pursuant to a request made under Section 7.2(b).

Section 7.3. Reports by Trustee.

Any Trustee’s report required pursuant to Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act shall be dated as of May 15, and shall be transmitted within 60 days after May 15 of each year (but in all events at intervals of not more than 12 months), commencing with the year 20__, by mail (or electronic transmission in the case of Global Securities) to all Holders, as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register. A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission to Holders, be filed by the Trustee with each stock exchange upon which any Securities are listed, and with the SEC. The Company will notify the Trustee when any Securities are listed on any stock exchange.

 

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Section 7.4. Reports by Company.

The Company shall:

(a) file with the Trustee, within 15 days after the Company files the same with the SEC, copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the SEC may from time to time by rules and regulations prescribe) which the Company may be required to file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act; or, if the Company is not required to file information, documents or reports pursuant to either of said Sections, then it shall file with the Trustee and the SEC, in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the SEC, 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;

(b) file with the Trustee and the SEC, in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the SEC, such additional information, documents and reports with respect to compliance by the Company with the conditions and covenants of this Indenture as may be required from time to time by such rules and regulations; and

(c) transmit by mail (or electronic transmission in the case of Global Securities) to all Holders, as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register, within 30 days after the filing thereof with the Trustee, such summaries of any information, documents and reports required to be filed by the Company pursuant to clauses (a) and (b) of this Section as may be required by rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the SEC.

ARTICLE EIGHT

CONSOLIDATION, AMALGAMATION, MERGER AND SALE

Section 8.1. Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms.

The Company shall not convert into, or consolidate, amalgamate or merge with or into any other Person or sell, convey, assign, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company on a consolidated basis to any other Person unless:

(a) either: (i) the Company is the surviving Person; or (ii) the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation, amalgamation or merger or resulting from such conversion (if other than the Company) or to which such sale, conveyance, assignment, transfer, lease or other disposition has been made is a corporation, limited liability company or limited partnership organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia;

(b) the Person formed by or surviving any such conversion, consolidation, amalgamation or merger (if other than the Company) or the Person to which such sale, conveyance, assignment, transfer, lease or other disposition has been made assumes by an indenture supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to the Trustee, the due and punctual payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on all the Securities and the performance of every covenant of this Indenture on the part of the Company to be performed or observed;

(c) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Event of Default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an Event of Default, shall have occurred and be continuing; and

(d) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such conversion, consolidation, amalgamation, merger, sale, conveyance, assignment, transfer, lease or other disposition and such supplemental indenture comply with this Article Eight and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with.

 

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Section 8.2. Successor Substituted.

Upon any consolidation, amalgamation or merger of the Company with or into any other Person or any sale, conveyance, assignment, transfer, lease or other disposition of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company and, if applicable, the Guarantors on a consolidated basis in accordance with Section 8.1, the successor or resulting Person formed by or resulting upon such consolidation, amalgamation or merger (if other than the Company) or to which such sale, conveyance, assignment, transfer, lease or other disposition is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as the Company herein, and thereafter, except in the case of a lease, the predecessor Company and, if applicable, each of the Guarantors shall be relieved of all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities.

ARTICLE NINE

AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER

Section 9.1. Without Consent of Holders.

The Company, the Guarantors (if any) and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture, the Securities Guarantee or the Securities without the consent of any holder of a Security:

(a) to cure any ambiguity or defect or to correct or supplement any provision herein that may be inconsistent with any other provision herein; or

(b) to evidence the succession of another Person to the Company and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants of the Company herein and, to the extent applicable, of the Securities; or

(c) to provide for uncertificated Securities in addition to or in place of certificated Securities; provided that the uncertificated Securities are issued in registered form for purposes of Section 163(f) of the Code, or in the manner such that the uncertificated Securities are described in Section 163(f)(2)(B) of the Code; or

(d) to add a Securities Guarantee and cause any Person to become a Guarantor, and/or to evidence the succession of another Person to a Guarantor and the assumption by any such successor of the Securities Guarantee of such Guarantor herein and, to the extent applicable, endorsed upon any Securities of any series, and/or to cause any corporate subsidiary of the Company to become a co-issuer of the Securities of any series; or

(e) to secure the Securities of any series; or

(f) to add to the covenants of the Company such further covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions as the Company shall consider to be appropriate for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such covenants are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series) or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company, and to make the occurrence, or the occurrence and continuance, of a Default in any such additional covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions an Event of Default permitting the enforcement of all or any of the several remedies provided in this Indenture as herein set forth; provided, that in respect of any such additional covenant, restriction, condition or provision such amendment or supplemental indenture may provide for a particular period of grace after Default

 

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(which period may be shorter or longer than that allowed in the case of other Defaults), may provide for an immediate enforcement upon such an Event of Default, may limit the remedies available to the Trustee upon such an Event of Default or may limit the right of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series to waive such an Event of Default; or

(g) to make any change to any provision of this Indenture that does not adversely affect the rights or interests of any Holder of Securities; or

(h) to provide for the issuance of additional Securities in accordance with the provisions set forth in this Indenture; or

(i) to add any additional Defaults or Events of Default in respect of all or any series of Securities; or

(j) to add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the issuance of Securities in bearer form, registrable or not registrable as to principal, and with or without interest coupons; or

(k) to change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture; provided that any such change or elimination shall become effective only when there is no Security Outstanding of any series created prior to the execution of such amendment or supplemental indenture that is entitled to the benefit of such provision; or

(l) to establish the form or terms of Securities of any series as permitted by Section 2.1 and Section 3.1, including to reopen any series of any Securities as permitted under Section 3.1; or

(m) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, pursuant to the requirements of Section 6.11(b); or

(n) to conform the text of this Indenture (and/or any supplemental indenture) or any Securities issued hereunder to any provision of a description of such text or Securities appearing in a prospectus, prospectus supplement, offering memorandum or offering circular pursuant to which such Securities were offered to the extent that such provision was intended by the Company to be a verbatim recitation of a provision of this Indenture (and/or any supplemental indenture) or any Securities or Securities Guarantee issued hereunder, with such intention being evidenced by an Officer’s Certificate; or

(o) to modify, eliminate or add to the provisions of this Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to effect the qualification of this Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act or under any similar federal statute subsequently enacted, and to add to this Indenture such other provisions as may be expressly required under the Trust Indenture Act.

Section 9.2. With Consent of Holders.

The Company, the Guarantors (if any) and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture, the Securities Guarantee and the Securities with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of each series of Securities affected by such amendment or supplemental indenture, with each such series voting as a separate class (including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Securities) and,

 

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subject to Section 5.8 and Section 5.13 hereof, any existing Default or Event of Default or compliance with any provision of this Indenture, the Securities Guarantee or the Securities may be waived with respect to each series of Securities with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series voting as a separate class (including consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Securities).

It is not necessary for the consent of the Holders of Securities under this Section 9.2 to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment, supplement or waiver, but it is sufficient if such consent approves the substance of the proposed amendment, supplement or waiver.

After an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section 9.2 becomes effective, the Company will mail to the Holders of Securities affected thereby a notice briefly describing the amendment, supplement or waiver. Any failure of the Company to mail such notice, or any defect therein, will not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such amendment, supplemental indenture or waiver. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, without the consent of each Holder affected, an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section 9.2 may not (with respect to any Securities held by a non-consenting Holder):

(a) change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any installment of principal of or interest on, any Security, or reduce the principal amount thereof or the rate of interest thereon or any premium payable upon the redemption thereof, or reduce the amount of the principal of an Original Issue Discount Security that would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.2, or change the coin or currency in which any Security or any premium or the interest thereon is payable, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the Stated Maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the Redemption Date therefor); or

(b) reduce the percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, the consent of whose Holders is required for any such amendment or supplemental indenture, or the consent of whose Holders is required for any waiver of compliance with certain provisions of this Indenture or certain defaults hereunder and their consequences provided for in this Indenture; or

(c) modify any of the provisions of Section 5.8 or Section 5.13; or

(d) waive a redemption payment with respect to any Security; provided, however, that any purchase or repurchase of Securities shall not be deemed a redemption of the Securities; or

(e) release any Guarantor from any of its obligations under its Securities Guarantee or this Indenture, except in accordance with the terms of this Indenture (as amended or supplemented); or

(f) make any change in the foregoing amendment and waiver provisions, except to increase any percentage provided for therein or to provide that certain other provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby.

An amendment or supplemental indenture that changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of this Indenture that has expressly been included solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of Securities, or that modifies the rights of the Holders of 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 Securities of any other series.

 

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Section 9.3. Execution of Amendments and Supplemental Indentures.

In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any amendment or supplemental indenture permitted by this Article Nine or the modifications thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 6.1) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such amendment or supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture.

Upon the request of the Company accompanied by a Board Resolution authorizing the execution of any such amendment or supplemental indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence satisfactory to the Trustee of the consent of the Holders of Securities as aforesaid, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 6.3 hereof, the Trustee will join with the Company and the Guarantors in the execution of such amendment or supplemental indenture unless such amendment or supplemental indenture directly affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion, but will not be obligated to, enter into such amendment or supplemental Indenture.

Section 9.4. Effect of Amendments and Supplemental Indentures.

Upon the execution of any amendment or supplemental indenture under this Article Nine, this Indenture shall be modified in accordance therewith, and such amendment or supplemental indenture shall form a part of this Indenture for all purposes; and every Holder of Securities theretofore or thereafter authenticated and delivered hereunder shall be bound thereby.

Section 9.5. Conformity with Trust Indenture Act.

Every amendment or supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article Nine shall conform to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect.

Section 9.6. Reference in Securities to Amendments or Supplemental Indentures.

Securities of any series authenticated and delivered after the execution of any amendment or supplemental indenture pursuant to this Article Nine 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 amendment or supplemental indenture. If the Company shall so determine, new Securities of any series so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Trustee and the Company, to any such amendment or supplemental indenture may be prepared and executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in exchange for Outstanding Securities of such series.

Section 9.7. Effect of Consents.

Until an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder of a Security of a series is a continuing consent by the Holder of a Security of such series and every subsequent Holder of a Security of such series or portion of a Security of such series that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Security of such series, even if the notation of the consent is not made on any Security. An amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective in accordance with its terms and thereafter binds every Holder of the Securities of such series.

 

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ARTICLE TEN

COVENANTS

Section 10.1. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest.

The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of each series of Securities that it will duly and punctually pay the principal of and any premium and interest on the Securities of that series in accordance with the terms of the Securities and this Indenture.

Section 10.2. Maintenance of Office or Agency.

The Company will maintain in the United States an office or agency (which may be an office of the Trustee or Security Registrar or agent of the Trustee or Security Registrar) where Securities of each series may be presented or surrendered for payment and surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of that 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.

The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Securities of one or more series may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency.

Except as otherwise specified with respect to a series of Securities as contemplated by Section 3.1, the Company hereby initially designates the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee as the Company’s office or agency for each such purpose for each series of Securities. The Trustee shall initially serve as Paying Agent. In the event the Company makes any payment in any currency in which the Trustee is unable to pay, and notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Company will appoint a Paying Agent other than the Trustee to make such payment and the Trustee will have no obligations with respect to such payment and will incur no liability with respect to the failure by the Company or such other Paying Agent to make, or cause to be made, such payment.

Section 10.3. Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust.

If the Company shall at any time act as its own Paying Agent, with respect to any series of Securities, it will, on or before each due date of the principal of or any premium or interest on any of the Securities of that series, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto a sum sufficient to pay the principal and any premium and interest so becoming due until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided and will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.

Whenever the Company shall have one or more Paying Agents for any series of Securities, it will, prior to each due date of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities of that series, deposit with a Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay the principal and any premium or interest so becoming due, such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such principal, premium or interest, and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act. For purposes of this Section 10.3, should a due date for principal of or any premium or interest on, or sinking fund payment with respect to, any series of Securities not be on a Business Day, such payment shall be due on the next Business Day without any interest for the period from the due date until such Business Day.

 

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The Company will cause each Paying Agent for any series of Securities other than the Trustee to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such Paying Agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section, that such Paying Agent will:

(a) hold all sums held by it for the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on Securities of that series in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided;

(b) give the Trustee notice of any Default by the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities of that series) in the making of any payment of principal or any premium or interest on the Securities of that series; and

(c) at any time during the continuance of any such Default, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so held in trust by such Paying Agent.

The Company and, if applicable, the Guarantors may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or for any other purpose, pay, or by Company Order direct any Paying Agent to pay, to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Company or such Paying Agent, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the same trusts as those upon which such sums were held by the Company or such Paying Agent; and, upon such payment by any Paying Agent to the Trustee, such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such money.

Subject to any applicable escheat or abandoned property laws, any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Security of any series and remaining unclaimed for one year after such principal, premium or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on Company Request, or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Security shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Company cause to be published once, in The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal (national edition), notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company.

Section 10.4. Existence.

Subject to Article Eight, the Company and, if any Securities of a series to which Article Fourteen has been made applicable are Outstanding, each Guarantor will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its existence, rights (charter and statutory) and franchises; provided, however, that the Company and, if applicable, each Guarantor shall not be required to preserve any such right or franchise if the Board of Directors shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company or such Guarantor, as the case may be.

 

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Section 10.5. Statement by Officers as to Default.

Annually, within 120 days after the close of each fiscal year beginning with the first fiscal year during which one or more series of Securities are Outstanding, the Company and, if any Securities of a series to which Article Fourteen has been made applicable are Outstanding, each Guarantor will deliver to the Trustee a brief certificate (which need not include the statements set forth in Section 1.3) from the principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer of the Company and, if applicable, such Guarantor, stating that a review of the activities of the Company during such year and of performance under this Indenture has been made, and as to his or her knowledge of the Company’s or such Guarantor’s, as the case may be, compliance (without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice provided herein) with all conditions and covenants under this Indenture and, if the Company or such Guarantor, as the case may be, shall be in Default, specifying all such Defaults and the nature and status thereof of which such officer has knowledge.

ARTICLE ELEVEN

REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

Section 11.1. Applicability of Article.

Securities of any series that are redeemable before their Stated Maturity shall be redeemable in accordance with their terms and (except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1 for Securities of any series) in accordance with this Article Eleven.

Section 11.2. Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee.

The election of the Company to redeem any Securities shall be evidenced by a Board Resolution. In case of any redemption at the election of the Company of less than all the Securities of any series, the Company shall, at least 15 days prior to the last date for the giving of notice of such redemption (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), notify the Trustee of such Redemption Date and of the principal amount of Securities of such series to be redeemed and, if applicable, of the tenor of the Securities to be redeemed. In the case of any redemption of Securities (a) prior to the expiration of any restriction on such redemption provided in the terms of such Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture or (b) pursuant to an election of the Company that is subject to a condition specified in the terms of the Securities of the series to be redeemed, the Company shall furnish the Trustee with an Officer’s Certificate evidencing compliance with such restriction or condition.

Section 11.3. Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed.

If less than all the Securities of any series are to be redeemed (unless all of the Securities of such series and of a specified tenor are to be redeemed), the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 45 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee, from the Outstanding Securities of such series not previously called for redemption, by such method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate (and in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Depositary in the case of Global Securities) and which may provide for the selection for redemption of portions (equal to the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of that series or any integral multiple thereof) of the principal amount of Securities of such series of a denomination larger than the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of that series.

 

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The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the Securities selected for redemption and, in the case of any Securities selected for partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed. If the Securities of any series to be redeemed consist of Securities having different dates on which the principal is payable or different rates of interest, or different methods by which interest may be determined or have any other different tenor or terms, then the Company may, by written notice to the Trustee, direct that the Securities of such series to be redeemed shall be selected from among the groups of such Securities having specified tenor or terms and the Trustee shall thereafter select the particular Securities to be redeemed in the manner set forth in the preceding paragraph from among the group of such Securities so specified.

For all purposes of this Indenture, unless the context otherwise requires, all provisions relating to the redemption of Securities shall relate, in the case of any Securities redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the principal amount of such Securities which has been or is to be redeemed.

Section 11.4. Notice of Redemption.

Notice of redemption shall be given by first-class mail, postage prepaid, or sent electronically in the case of Global Securities, in each case, not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date, to each Holder of Securities of a series that are to be redeemed, at such Holder’s address appearing in the Security Register, except that redemption notices may be given more than 60 days prior to a Redemption Date if the notice is issued in connection with defeasance of the Securities of such series pursuant to Article Thirteen or a satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture pursuant to Article Four with respect to the Securities of such series.

All notices of redemption shall state:

(a) the Redemption Date;

(b) the Redemption Price, or if not then ascertainable, the manner of calculation thereof;

(c) if less than all the Outstanding Securities of any series are to be redeemed, the identification (and, in the case of partial redemption, the principal amounts) of the particular Securities to be redeemed;

(d) that on the Redemption Date the Redemption Price will become due and payable upon each such Security to be redeemed and, if applicable, that interest thereon will cease to accrue on and after said date;

(e) the place or places where such Securities are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price;

(f) that the redemption is for a sinking fund, if such is the case; and

(g) the conditions, if any, to which such redemption shall be subject.

Notice of redemption of Securities to be redeemed at the election of the Company shall be given by the Company or, at the Company’s request, by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company.

Section 11.5. Deposit of Redemption Price.

Prior to any Redemption Date, 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 as provided in Section 10.3) an amount of money sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of, and (except if the Redemption Date shall be an Interest Payment Date) accrued interest on, all the Securities which are to be redeemed on that date.

 

58


Section 11.6. Securities Payable on Redemption Date.

Notice of redemption having been given as aforesaid, the Securities so to be redeemed shall, on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at the Redemption Price therein specified, and from and after such date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest, or fail to pay the Redemption Price and accrued interest as a result of any failure of any condition to which such redemption is subject to be satisfied or waived) such Securities shall cease to bear interest. Upon surrender of any such Security for redemption in accordance with said notice, such Security shall be paid by the Company at the Redemption Price, together with accrued interest to the Redemption Date; provided, however, that unless otherwise specified with respect to Securities of any series as contemplated in Section 3.1, installments of interest the Stated Maturity of which is on or prior to the Redemption Date shall be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as such at the close of business on the relevant record dates according to their terms and the provisions of Section 3.7.

If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof for redemption, the principal (and premium, if any) shall, until paid, bear interest from the Redemption Date at the rate prescribed therefor in the Security.

Section 11.7. Securities Redeemed in Part.

Any Security which is to be redeemed only in part shall be surrendered at a Place of Payment therefor (with, if the Company or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder thereof or such Holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing), and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security without service charge, a new Security or Securities of the same series and tenor, 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 Security so surrendered.

ARTICLE TWELVE

SINKING FUNDS

Section 12.1. Applicability of Article.

The provisions of this Article Twelve shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of Securities of a series except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1 for Securities of such series.

The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as a “mandatory sinking fund payment,” and any payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as an “optional sinking fund payment.” If provided for by the terms of Securities of any series, the cash amount of any sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 12.2. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities of any series as provided for by the terms of Securities of such series.

 

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Section 12.2. Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities.

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

Section 12.3. Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund.

Not less than 45 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for any series of Securities (unless a shorter period shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing sinking fund payment for that series pursuant to the terms of that series, the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash and the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting Securities of that series pursuant to Section 12.2 and stating the basis for such credit and that such Securities have not been previously so credited, and will also deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so delivered. Not less than 30 days before each such sinking fund payment date the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 11.3 and cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the Company in the manner provided in Section 11.4. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Section 11.6 and Section 11.7.

ARTICLE THIRTEEN

DEFEASANCE

Section 13.1. Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

The Company may, at the option of its Board of Directors evidenced by a Board Resolution, and at any time, elect to have either Section 13.2 or Section 13.3 hereof be applied to all Outstanding Securities of any series upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article Thirteen.

Section 13.2. Legal Defeasance and Discharge.

Upon the Company’s exercise under Section 13.1 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 13.2, the Company and each of the Guarantors will, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 13.4 hereof, be deemed to have been discharged from their obligations with respect to all Outstanding Securities of such series (including the Securities Guarantee) on the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, “Legal Defeasance”). For this purpose, Legal Defeasance means that the Company and the Guarantors will be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Debt represented by the Outstanding Securities of such series (including the Securities Guarantee), which will thereafter be deemed to be “outstanding” only for the purposes of Section 13.5 hereof and the other sections of this Indenture referred to in clauses (a) and (b) below, and to have satisfied all their other obligations under such Securities, the Securities Guarantee and this Indenture (and the Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following provisions, which will survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder:

 

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(a) the rights of Holders of Outstanding Securities of such series to receive payments in respect of the principal of, or interest or premium, if any, on, such Securities when such payments are due from the trust referred to in Section 13.4 hereof;

(b) the Company’s obligations with respect to such Securities under Section 3.4, Section 3.5, Section 3.6, Section 10.2 and Section 10.3 hereof;

(c) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and the Company’s and the Guarantors’ obligations in connection therewith; and

(d) this Article Thirteen.

Subject to compliance with this Article Thirteen, the Company may exercise its option under this Section 13.2 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 13.3 hereof with respect to the same series of Securities.

Section 13.3. Covenant Defeasance.

Upon the Company’s exercise under Section 13.1 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 13.3, the Company and each of the Guarantors will, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 13.4 hereof, be released from each of their obligations with respect to the Securities of such series under the covenants contained in Section 7.4, Section 8.1 and Section 10.4 hereof as well as any Additional Defeasible Provisions (such release and termination hereinafter referred to as “Covenant Defeasance”), and the Securities of such series will thereafter be deemed not “outstanding” for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or act of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with such covenants, but will continue to be deemed “outstanding” for all other purposes hereunder (it being understood that such Securities will not be deemed outstanding for accounting purposes). For this purpose, Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to the Outstanding Securities of such series and the Securities Guarantee, the Company and the Guarantors may fail to comply with and will have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such covenant or by reason of any reference in any such covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document and such failure to comply will not constitute a Default or an Event of Default under Section 5.1 hereof, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Securities and Securities Guarantees will be unaffected thereby. In addition, upon the Company’s exercise under Section 13.1 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 13.3 hereof, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 13.4 hereof, any Event of Default that constitutes an Additional Defeasible Provision will no longer constitute an Event of Default.

Section 13.4. Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance.

In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance with respect to any series of Securities under either Section 13.2 or Section 13.3 hereof:

(a) the Company must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders of the Securities of such series, cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable U.S. Government Obligations, or a combination of cash in U.S. dollars and non-callable U.S. Government Obligations, in such amounts as will be sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized investment bank, appraisal firm, or firm of independent public accountants, to pay the principal of, and interest and premium, if any, on, the Outstanding Securities of such series on the stated date for payment thereof or on the applicable Redemption Date, as the case may be, and the Company must specify whether the Securities are being defeased to such stated date for payment or to a particular Redemption Date;

 

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(b) in the case of an election under Section 13.2 hereof, the Company must deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that:

(i) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling; or

(ii) since the Issue Date, there has been a change in the applicable U.S. federal income tax law,

in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel will state that, the Holders of the Outstanding Securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such Legal Defeasance and will be subject to U.S. 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;

(c) in the case of an election under Section 13.3 hereof, the Company must deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that the Holders of the Outstanding Securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to U.S. 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;

(d) no Default or Event of Default with respect to such series of Securities shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit (other than a Default or Event of Default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit);

(e) the deposit must not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any other instrument to which the Company or any Guarantor is a party or by which the Company or any Guarantor is bound;

(f) such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance must not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any material agreement or instrument (other than this Indenture) to which the Company or any Guarantor is a party or by which the Company or any Guarantor is bound;

(g) the Company must deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent of preferring the Holders of such Securities over the other creditors of the Company with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any creditors of the Company or others;

(h) the Company must deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating that all conditions precedent set forth in clauses (a) through (f) of this Section 13.4 have been complied with; and

(i) the Company must deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel (which Opinion of Counsel may be subject to customary assumptions, qualifications and exclusions) stating that all conditions precedent set forth in clauses (b), (c) and (f) of this Section 13.4 have been complied with.

 

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Section 13.5. Deposited Money and U.S. Government Obligations to be Held in Trust, Other Miscellaneous Provisions.

Subject to the last paragraph of Section 10.3 hereof, all money and non-callable U.S. Government Obligations (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee, collectively for purposes of this Section 13.5, the “Trustee”) pursuant to Section 13.4 hereof in respect of the Outstanding Securities of any series will be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Securities of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal, premium, if any, and interest, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

The Company will pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the cash or non-callable U.S. Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 13.4 hereof or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge that by law is for the account of the Holders of the Outstanding Securities.

Notwithstanding anything in this Article Thirteen to the contrary, the Trustee will deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon the request of the Company any money or non-callable U.S. Government Obligations held by it as provided in Section 13.4 hereof which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized investment bank, appraisal firm or firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee (which may be the opinion delivered under Section 13.4(a) hereof), are in excess of the amount thereof that would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

Section 13.6. Reinstatement.

If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any United States dollars or non-callable U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with Section 4.1, Section 13.2 or Section 13.3 hereof with respect to the Securities of any series, as the case may be, by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the Company’s and the Guarantors’ obligations under this Indenture and such Securities and the Securities Guarantee will be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 4.1, Section 13.2 or Section 13.3 hereof until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money or non-callable U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with Section 4.1, Section 13.2 or Section 13.3 hereof, as the case may be; provided, however, that, if the Company makes any payment of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any such Security following the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company will be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Securities to receive such payment from the money or non-callable U.S. Government Obligations held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

ARTICLE FOURTEEN

GUARANTEE OF SECURITIES

Section 14.1. Securities Guarantee.

(a) Subject to the other provisions of this Article Fourteen, each of the Guarantors hereby fully and unconditionally and jointly and severally guarantees to each Holder of a Security of each series to which this Article Fourteen has been made applicable as provided in Section 3.1(t) (the Securities of such series being referred to herein as the “Guaranteed Securities”) (which Security has been authenticated and delivered by the Trustee), and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns, irrespective of the validity and enforceability of this Indenture, the Guaranteed Securities, or the obligations of the Company hereunder or thereunder, that:

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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Section 14.2. Limitation on Guarantor Liability.

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

Section 14.3. Execution and Delivery of Securities Guarantee Notation.

To evidence its Securities Guarantee set forth in Section 14.1 hereof, each Guarantor hereby agrees that a notation of such Securities Guarantee substantially in the form set forth in Section 2.3 or established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution or in an indenture supplemental hereto, in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.1, will be endorsed by an officer of such Guarantor on each Guaranteed Security authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and that this Indenture or a supplement to this Indenture will be executed on behalf of such Guarantor by one of its officers.

Each Guarantor hereby agrees that its Securities Guarantee set forth in Section 14.1 hereof will remain in full force and effect notwithstanding any failure to endorse on each Guaranteed Security a notation of such Securities Guarantee.

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

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

* * *

 

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

 

SUN COMMUNITIES OPERATING LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
By:   Sun Communities, Inc.,
  its general partner
By:  

                              

Name:  

 

Title:  

 

UMB BANK, N.A.
By:  

                              

Name:  

 

Title:  

 

EX-4.18

EXHIBIT 4.18

 

 

 

SUN COMMUNITIES OPERATING LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

AND

UMB BANK, N.A.

Trustee

 

 

INDENTURE

DATED AS OF ________ __, 20__

 

 

SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES

 

 

 


SUN COMMUNITIES OPERATING LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

RECONCILIATION AND TIE BETWEEN TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939, AS AMENDED,

AND INDENTURE, DATED AS OF ________ __, 20__

 

TRUST INDENTURE ACT SECTION

   INDENTURE SECTION  

Section 310(a)(1)

     6.9  

(a)(2)

     6.9  

(a)(3)

     Not Applicable  

(a)(4)

     Not Applicable  

(a)(5)

     6.9  

(b)

     6.8  

Section 311

     6.13  

Section 312(a)

     7.1, 7.2 (a) 

(b)

     7.2 (b) 

(c)

     7.2 (c) 

Section 313(a)

     7.3  

(b)

     *  

(c)

     *  

(d)

     7.3  

Section 314(a)

     7.4  

(a)(4)

     10.5  

(b)

     Not Applicable  

(c)(1)

     1.3  

(c)(2)

     1.3  

(c)(3)

     Not Applicable  

(d)

     Not Applicable  

(e)

     1.3  

Section 315(a)

     6.1 (a) 

(b)

     6.2  

(c)

     6.1 (b) 

(d)

     6.1 (c) 

(d)(1)

     6.1 (a)(1) 

(d)(2)

     6.1 (c)(2) 

(d)(3)

     6.1 (c)(3) 

(e)

     5.14  

Section 316(a)

     1.1, 1.2  

(a)(1)(A)

     5.2, 5.12  

(a)(1)(B)

     5.13  

(a)(2)

     Not Applicable  

(b)

     5.8  

(c)

     1.5 (f) 


TRUST INDENTURE ACT SECTION

   INDENTURE SECTION  

Section 317(a)(1)

     5.3  

(a)(2)

     5.4  

(b)

     10.3  

Section 318(a)

     1.8  

NOTE: This reconciliation and tie shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a part of the Indenture.

 

*

Deemed included pursuant to Section 318(c) of the Trust Indenture Act


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  

ARTICLE ONE DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

     1  

Section 1.1.

  Definitions      1  

Section 1.2.

  Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act      9  

Section 1.3.

  Compliance Certificates and Opinions      9  

Section 1.4.

  Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee      9  

Section 1.5.

  Acts of Holders; Record Dates      10  

Section 1.6.

  Notices, Etc., to Trustee, Company and Guarantors      11  

Section 1.7.

  Notice to Holders; Waiver      12  

Section 1.8.

  Conflict with Trust Indenture Act      12  

Section 1.9.

  Effect of Headings and Table of Contents      12  

Section 1.10.

  Successors and Assigns      12  

Section 1.11.

  Duplicate Originals; Signatures      12  

Section 1.12.

  Separability      13  

Section 1.13.

  Benefits of Indenture      13  

Section 1.14.

  Force Majeure      13  

Section 1.15.

  Waiver of Jury Trial      13  

Section 1.16.

  Governing Law      13  

Section 1.17.

  Legal Holidays      13  

Section 1.18.

  Securities in a Composite Currency, Currency Unit or Foreign Currency      14  

Section 1.19.

  Payment in Required Currency; Judgment Currency      14  

Section 1.20.

  Language of Notices, Etc.      15  

Section 1.21.

  Incorporators, Unitholders, Stockholders, Partners, Members, Managers, Directors, Officers and Employees of the Company and the Guarantors Exempt from Individual Liability      15  

Section 1.22.

  USA Patriot Act      15  

ARTICLE TWO SECURITY FORMS

     15  

Section 2.1.

  Forms Generally      15  

Section 2.2.

  Form of Face of Security      16  

Section 2.3.

  Form of Reverse of Security      18  

Section 2.4.

  Global Securities      23  

Section 2.5.

  Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication      23  

ARTICLE THREE THE SECURITIES

     24  

Section 3.1.

  Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series      24  

Section 3.2.

  Denominations      26  

Section 3.3.

  Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating      26  

Section 3.4.

  Temporary Securities      28  

Section 3.5.

  Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange      28  

Section 3.6.

  Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities      30  

Section 3.7.

  Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved      31  

Section 3.8.

  Persons Deemed Owners      32  

Section 3.9.

  Cancellation      32  

Section 3.10.

  Computation of Interest      33  

Section 3.11.

  CUSIP or CINS Numbers      33  

 

i


ARTICLE FOUR SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

     33  

Section 4.1.

  Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture      33  

Section 4.2.

  Application of Trust Money      34  

ARTICLE FIVE REMEDIES

     34  

Section 5.1.

  Events of Default      34  

Section 5.2.

  Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment      35  

Section 5.3.

  Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee      36  

Section 5.4.

  Trustee May File Proofs of Claim      37  

Section 5.5.

  Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities      37  

Section 5.6.

  Application of Money Collected      38  

Section 5.7.

  Limitation on Suits      38  

Section 5.8.

  Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest      38  

Section 5.9.

  Restoration of Rights and Remedies      39  

Section 5.10.

  Rights and Remedies Cumulative      39  

Section 5.11.

  Delay or Omission Not Waiver      39  

Section 5.12.

  Control by Holders      39  

Section 5.13.

  Waiver of Past Defaults      39  

Section 5.14.

  Undertaking for Costs      40  

Section 5.15.

  Waiver of Stay, Extension or Usury Laws      40  

ARTICLE SIX THE TRUSTEE

     40  

Section 6.1.

  Certain Duties and Responsibilities      40  

Section 6.2.

  Notice of Defaults      41  

Section 6.3.

  Certain Rights of Trustee      42  

Section 6.4.

  Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities      43  

Section 6.5.

  May Hold Securities      43  

Section 6.6.

  Money Held in Trust      43  

Section 6.7.

  Compensation and Reimbursement      44  

Section 6.8.

  Disqualification; Conflicting Interests      44  

Section 6.9.

  Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility      44  

Section 6.10.

  Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor      45  

Section 6.11.

  Acceptance of Appointment by Successor      46  

Section 6.12.

  Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business      47  

Section 6.13.

  Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company      47  

Section 6.14.

  Appointment of Authenticating Agent      48  

ARTICLE SEVEN HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY

     49  

Section 7.1.

  Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders      49  

Section 7.2.

  Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders      49  

Section 7.3.

  Reports by Trustee      50  

Section 7.4.

  Reports by Company      51  

ARTICLE EIGHT CONSOLIDATION, AMALGAMATION, MERGER AND SALE

     51  

Section 8.1.

  Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms      51  

Section 8.2.

  Successor Substituted      52  

ARTICLE NINE AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER

     52  

Section 9.1.

  Without Consent of Holders      52  

Section 9.2.

  With Consent of Holders      53  

Section 9.3.

  Execution of Amendments and Supplemental Indentures      55  

 

ii


Section 9.4.

  Effect of Amendments and Supplemental Indentures      55  

Section 9.5.

  Conformity with Trust Indenture Act      55  

Section 9.6.

  Reference in Securities to Amendments or Supplemental Indentures      55  

Section 9.7.

  Effect of Consents      55  

ARTICLE TEN COVENANTS

     56  

Section 10.1.

  Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest      56  

Section 10.2.

  Maintenance of Office or Agency      56  

Section 10.3.

  Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust      56  

Section 10.4.

  Existence      57  

Section 10.5.

  Statement by Officers as to Default      58  

ARTICLE ELEVEN REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

     58  

Section 11.1.

  Applicability of Article      58  

Section 11.2.

  Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee      58  

Section 11.3.

  Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed      58  

Section 11.4.

  Notice of Redemption      59  

Section 11.5.

  Deposit of Redemption Price      59  

Section 11.6.

  Securities Payable on Redemption Date      60  

Section 11.7.

  Securities Redeemed in Part      60  

ARTICLE TWELVE SINKING FUNDS

     60  

Section 12.1.

  Applicability of Article      60  

Section 12.2.

  Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities      61  

Section 12.3.

  Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund      61  

ARTICLE THIRTEEN DEFEASANCE

     61  

Section 13.1.

  Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance      61  

Section 13.2.

  Legal Defeasance and Discharge      61  

Section 13.3.

  Covenant Defeasance      62  

Section 13.4.

  Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance      62  

Section 13.5.

  Deposited Money and U.S. Government Obligations to be Held in Trust, Other Miscellaneous Provisions      64  

Section 13.6.

  Reinstatement      64  

ARTICLE FOURTEEN GUARANTEE OF SECURITIES

     64  

Section 14.1.

  Securities Guarantee      64  

Section 14.2.

  Limitation on Guarantor Liability      66  

Section 14.3.

  Execution and Delivery of Securities Guarantee Notation      66  

ARTICLE FIFTEEN SUBORDINATION OF SECURITIES

     66  

Section 15.1.

  Securities Subordinated to Senior Debt      66  

Section 15.2.

  No Payment on Securities in Certain Circumstances      67  

Section 15.3.

  Payment over of Proceeds upon Dissolution, Etc      67  

Section 15.4.

  Subrogation      69  

Section 15.5.

  Obligations of Company Unconditional      69  

Section 15.6.

  Notice to Trustee      70  

Section 15.7.

  Reliance on Judicial Order or Certificate of Liquidating Agent      70  

Section 15.8.

  Trustee’s Relation to Senior Debt      71  

Section 15.9.

  Subordination Rights Not Impaired by Acts or Omissions of the Company or Holders of Senior Debt      71  

 

iii


Section 15.10.

  Holders Authorize Trustee to Effectuate Subordination of Securities      71  

Section 15.11.

  Not to Prevent Events of Default      71  

Section 15.12.

  Trustee’s Compensation Not Prejudiced      71  

Section 15.13.

  No Waiver of Subordination Provisions      72  

Section 15.14.

  Payments May Be Paid Prior to Dissolution      72  

Section 15.15.

  Trust Moneys Not Subordinated      72  

ARTICLE SIXTEEN SUBORDINATION OF SECURITIES GUARANTEES

     72  

Section 16.1.

  Securities Guarantees Subordinated to Guarantor Senior Debt      72  

Section 16.2.

  No Payment on Securities Guarantees in Certain Circumstances      73  

Section 16.3.

  Payment over of Proceeds upon Dissolution, Etc      73  

Section 16.4.

  Subrogation      75  

Section 16.5.

  Obligations of Guarantor Unconditional      75  

Section 16.6.

  Notice to Trustee      76  

Section 16.7.

  Reliance on Judicial Order or Certificate of Liquidating Agent      76  

Section 16.8.

  Trustee’s Relation to Guarantor Senior Debt      77  

Section 16.9.

  Subordination Rights Not Impaired by Acts or Omissions of a Guarantor or Holders of Guarantor Senior Debt      77  

Section 16.10.

  Holders Authorize Trustee to Effectuate Subordination of Securities Guarantees      77  

Section 16.11.

  Not to Prevent Events of Default      77  

Section 16.12.

  Trustee’s Compensation Not Prejudiced      78  

Section 16.13.

  No Waiver of Subordination Provisions      78  

Section 16.14.

  Payments May Be Paid Prior to Dissolution      78  

NOTE: This table of contents shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a part of the Indenture.

 

 

iv


PARTIES

INDENTURE, dated as of _________ __, 20__, among SUN COMMUNITIES OPERATING LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, a limited partnership duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Michigan (herein called the “Company”), the Guarantors (as defined hereinafter) and UMB BANK, N.A., a national banking association, as trustee (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 unsecured subordinated debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness (herein called the “Securities”), which may be guaranteed by the Guarantors, to be issued in one or more series as provided in this Indenture.

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

This Indenture is subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act (as defined herein) that are required to be a part of this Indenture and, to the extent applicable, shall be governed by such provisions.

NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

For and in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Securities by the Holders (as defined herein) thereof, it is mutually covenanted and agreed, for the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders of the Securities or of series thereof, as follows:

ARTICLE ONE

DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

Section 1.1. Definitions.

For all purposes of this Indenture, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires:

(a) the terms defined in this Article have the meanings assigned to them in this Article and include the plural as well as the singular;

(b) all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in accordance with GAAP;

(c) the words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder” and other words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision;

(d) the words “Article” and “Section” refer to an Article and Section, respectively, of this Indenture;

(e) the word “includes” and its derivatives means “includes, but is not limited to” and corresponding derivative definitions; and

(f) references to any officer of any partnership or limited liability company that does not have officers but is managed or controlled, directly or indirectly, by an entity that does have officers, shall be deemed to be references to the officers of such managing or controlling entity.


Certain terms, used principally in Article Six, are defined in that Article.

“Act,” when used with respect to any Holder, has the meaning specified in Section 1.5.

“Additional Defeasible Provision” means a covenant or other provision that is (a) made part of this Indenture pursuant to an indenture supplemental hereto, a Board Resolution or an Officer’s Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 3.1, and (b) pursuant to the terms set forth in such supplemental indenture, Board Resolution or Officer’s Certificate, made subject to the provisions of Article Thirteen.

“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 purposes of this definition, “control,” as used with respect to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise. For purposes of this definition, the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with” have correlative meanings.

“Authenticating Agent” means any Person authorized by the Trustee to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities.

“Banking Day” means, in respect of any city, any date on which commercial banks are open for business in that city.

“Bankruptcy Law” means any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law.

“Board of Directors” means:

(a) with respect to a corporation, the board of directors of the corporation or any committee thereof duly authorized to act on behalf of such board;

(b) with respect to a partnership, the Board of Directors of the general partner of the partnership;

(c) with respect to a limited liability company, the managing member or members or any controlling committee of managers or members thereof or any board or committee serving a similar management function; and

(d) with respect to any other Person, the individual or board or committee of such Person serving a management function similar to those described in clauses (a), (b) or (c) of this definition.

“Board Resolution” means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company or a Guarantor, the principal financial officer of the Company or a Guarantor, any other authorized officer of the Company or a Guarantor, or a person duly authorized by any of them, in each case as applicable, to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the Trustee. Where any provision of this Indenture refers to action to be taken pursuant to a Board Resolution (including the establishment of any series of the Securities and the forms and terms thereof), such action may be taken by any committee, officer or employee of the Company or a Guarantor, as applicable, authorized to take such action by the Board of Directors, as evidenced by a Board Resolution.

 

2


“Business Day,” when used with respect to any Place of Payment or other location, means, except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 3.1 with respect to any series of Securities, each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday that is not a day on which banking institutions and trust companies in that Place of Payment or other location are authorized or obligated by law, executive order or regulation to close.

“CINS” means CUSIP International Numbering System.

“Code” means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

“Company” means the Person named as the “Company” in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor or resulting Person shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Company” shall mean such successor or resulting Person.

“Company Request” or “Company Order” means, in the case of the Company, a written request or order signed in the name of the Company by its Chairman of the Board, its Chief Executive Officer, its Chief Financial Officer, its President, any of its Vice Presidents or any other duly authorized officer of the Company or any person duly authorized by any of them, and delivered to the Trustee and, in the case of a Guarantor, a written request or order signed in the name of such Guarantor by its Chairman of the Board, its Chief Executive Officer, its President, any of its Vice Presidents or any other duly authorized officer of such Guarantor or any person duly authorized by any of them, and delivered to the Trustee.

“Corporate Trust Office” means the office of the Trustee at the address specified in Section 3.5 or such other address as to which the Trustee may give notice to the Company.

“corporation,” when used in reference to the Trustee or any prospective Trustee, shall include any corporation, company, association, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, joint-stock company, trust or other entity, in each case, satisfying the requirements of Section 310(a)(1) of the Trust Indenture Act.

“Covenant Defeasance” has the meaning specified in Section 13.3.

“CUSIP” means the Committee on Uniform Securities Identification Procedures.

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

“Debt” means any obligation created or assumed by any Person for the repayment of money borrowed and any purchase money obligation created or assumed by such Person and any guarantee of the foregoing.

“Default” means, with respect to a series of Securities, any event that is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would be, an Event of Default.

“Defaulted Interest” has the meaning specified in Section 3.7.

“Definitive Security” means a security other than a Global Security or a temporary Security.

“Depositary” means, with respect to the Securities of any series issuable or issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act that is designated to act as Depositary for such Securities as contemplated by Section 3.1, until a successor Depositary shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter shall mean or include each Person which is a Depositary hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such Person, shall be a collective reference to such Persons.

 

3


“Designated Guarantor Senior Debt” shall have the meaning given to such term in a Board Resolution, Officer’s Certificate or indenture supplemental hereto delivered pursuant to Section 3.1.

“Designated Senior Debt” shall have the meaning given to such term in a Board Resolution, Officer’s Certificate or indenture supplemental hereto delivered pursuant to Section 3.1.

“Dollar” or “$” means the coin or currency of the United States of America, which at the time of payment is legal tender for the payment of public and private debts.

“Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 5.1.

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

“Foreign Currency” means a currency used by the government of a country other than the United States of America.

“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America as in effect from time to time, including those set forth in (1) the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification and any related Accounting Standards Updates by the Financial Accounting Standards Board, (2) such other statements by such other entity as are approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession and (3) the rules and regulations of the SEC governing the inclusion of financial statements in periodic reports required to be filed pursuant to Section 13 of the Exchange Act, including opinions and pronouncements in staff accounting bulletins and similar written statements from the accounting staff of the SEC. All computations based on GAAP contained in the Indenture shall be computed in conformity with GAAP.

“Global Security” means a Security in global form that evidences all or part of a series of Securities and is authenticated and delivered to, and registered in the name of, the Depositary for the Securities of such series or its nominee.

“Guaranteed Securities” has the meaning specified in Section 14.1.

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

“Guarantor Senior Debt” means, unless otherwise provided with respect to the Securities of a series as contemplated by Section 3.1, (a) all Debt of a Guarantor, whether currently outstanding or hereafter issued, unless, by the terms of the instrument creating or evidencing such Debt, it is provided that such Debt is not superior in right of payment to the Securities Guarantee or to other Debt which is pari passu with or subordinated to the Securities Guarantee, and (b) any modifications, refunding, deferrals, renewals or extensions of any such Debt or securities, notes or other evidence of Debt issued in exchange for such Debt; provided that in no event shall “Guarantor Senior Debt” include (i) Debt of a Guarantor owed or owing to any Subsidiary of such Guarantor or any officer, director or employee of such Guarantor or any Subsidiary of such Guarantor, (ii) Debt to trade creditors or (iii) any liability for taxes owed or owing by a Guarantor.

“Holder” means a Person in whose name a Security is registered in the Security Register.

 

4


“Indenture” means this instrument as originally executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more amendments or indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof, including, for all purposes of this instrument, and any such amendment or supplemental indenture, the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are deemed to be part of and govern this instrument and any such amendment or supplemental indenture, respectively. The term “Indenture” also shall include the terms of particular series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 3.1.

“interest,” when used with respect to an Original Issue Discount Security which by its terms bears interest only after Maturity, means interest payable after Maturity.

“Interest Payment Date,” when used with respect to any Security, means the Stated Maturity of an installment of interest on such Security.

“Judgment Currency” has the meaning specified in Section 1.19.

“Legal Defeasance” has the meaning specified in Section 13.2.

“mandatory sinking fund payment” has the meaning specified in Section 12.1.

“Market Exchange Rate” has the meaning specified in Section 1.18.

“Maturity,” when used with respect to any Security, means the date on which the principal of such Security or an installment of principal becomes due and payable as therein or herein provided, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise.

“Notice of Default” means a written notice of the kind specified in Section 5.1(c) or Section 5.1(d).

“Officer’s Certificate” means, in the case of the Company, a certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the President, any Vice President or any other duly authorized officer of the Company, or a person duly authorized by any of them, and delivered to the Trustee and, in the case of a Guarantor, a certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Vice President or any other duly authorized officer of such Guarantor, or a person duly authorized by any of them, and delivered to the Trustee.

“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion of counsel, who may be an employee of or counsel for the Company or a Guarantor, as the case may be, and who shall be reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.

“optional sinking fund payment” has the meaning specified in Section 12.1.

“Original Issue Discount Security” means any Security which provides for an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.2.

 

5


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

(a) Securities theretofore canceled by the Trustee or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;

(b) Securities 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 Securities; provided, however, that, if such 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

(c) Securities that have been paid pursuant to Section 3.6 or in exchange for or in lieu of which other Securities have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture, other than any such Securities in respect of which there shall have been presented to the Trustee proof satisfactory to it that such Securities are held by a protected purchaser in whose hands such Securities are valid obligations of the Company;

provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Outstanding Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, (i) the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security that shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the amount of the principal thereof that would be due and payable as of the date of such determination upon acceleration of the Maturity thereof on such date pursuant to Section 5.2, (ii) the principal amount of a Security denominated in one or more currencies or currency units other than U.S. dollars shall be the U.S. dollar equivalent of such currencies or currency units, determined in the manner provided as contemplated by Section 3.1 on the date of original issuance of such Security or by Section 1.18, if not otherwise so provided pursuant to Section 3.1, of the principal amount (or, in the case of an Original Issue Discount Security, the U.S. dollar equivalent (as so determined) on the date of original issuance of such Security of the amount determined as provided in clause (i) above) of such Security, and (iii) Securities owned by the Company, any Guarantor or any other obligor upon the 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 Securities which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Securities so owned as described in clause (iii) of the immediately preceding sentence 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 to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company, a Guarantor or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor.

“Paying Agent” means any Person authorized by the Company to pay the principal of and any premium or interest on any Securities on behalf of the Company.

“Payment Blockage Period” has the meaning specified in Section 15.2.

“Periodic Offering” means an offering of Securities of a series from time to time, the specific terms of which Securities, including, without limitation, the rate or rates of interest or formula for determining the rate or rates of interest thereon, if any, the Stated Maturity or Stated Maturities thereof, the original issue date or dates thereof, the redemption provisions, if any, with respect thereto, and any other terms specified as contemplated by Section 3.1 with respect thereto, are to be determined by the Company upon the issuance of such Securities.

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

 

6


“Place of Payment,” when used with respect to the Securities of any series, means, unless otherwise specifically provided for with respect to such series as contemplated by Section 3.1, the office or agency of the Company and such other place or places where, subject to the provisions of Section 10.2, the principal of and any premium and interest on the Securities of that series are payable as contemplated by Section 3.1.

“Predecessor Security” of any particular Security means every previous Security evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular Security; and, for the purposes of this definition, any Security authenticated and delivered under Section 3.6 in exchange for or in lieu of a mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security.

“Redemption Date,” when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, means the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this Indenture.

“Redemption Price,” when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, means the price at which it is to be redeemed pursuant to this Indenture.

“Regular Record Date” for the interest payable on any Interest Payment Date on the Securities of any series means the date specified for that purpose as contemplated by Section 3.1.

“Required Currency” has the meaning specified in Section 1.19.

“Responsible Officer,” when used with respect to the Trustee, means any officer within the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee (or any successor group of the Trustee) or any other officer of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of his knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.

“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from time to time constituted, created under the Exchange Act, or, if at any time after the execution of this instrument such commission is not existing and performing the duties now assigned to it under the Trust Indenture Act, then the body performing such duties at such time.

“Securities” has the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture and more particularly means any Securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.

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

“Securities Guarantee Payment Blockage Period” has the meaning specified in Section 16.2.

“Security Register” and “Security Registrar” have the respective meanings specified in Section 3.5.

“Senior Debt” means, unless otherwise provided with respect to the Securities of a series as contemplated by Section 3.1, (a) all Debt of the Company, whether currently outstanding or hereafter issued, unless, by the terms of the instrument creating or evidencing such Debt, it is provided that such Debt is not superior in right of payment to the Securities or to other Debt which is pari passu with or subordinated to the Securities, and (b) any modifications, refunding, deferrals, renewals or extensions of any such Debt or securities, notes or other evidence of Debt issued in exchange for such Debt; provided that in no event shall “Senior Debt” include (i) Debt of the Company owed or owing to any Subsidiary of the Company or any officer, director or employee of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, (ii) Debt to trade creditors or (iii) any liability for taxes owed or owing by the Company.

 

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“Special Record Date” for the payment of any Defaulted Interest means a date fixed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 3.7.

“Stated Maturity,” when used with respect to any Security or any installment of principal thereof or interest thereon, means the date specified in such Security as the fixed date on which the principal of such Security or such installment of principal or interest is due and payable.

“Subsidiary” means (a) a corporation more than 50% of the outstanding voting stock of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company or by one or more other Subsidiaries, or by the Company and one or more other Subsidiaries or (b) any partnership or other business organization more than 50% of the ownership interests having ordinary voting power of which is so owned. For the purposes of this definition, “voting stock” means capital stock or equity interests which ordinarily have voting power for the election of directors, whether at all times or only so long as no senior class of stock has such voting power by reason of any contingency.

“Trust Indenture Act” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, as in force at the date as of which this instrument was executed, except as provided in Section 9.5; provided, however, that if the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is amended after such date, “Trust Indenture Act” means, to the extent required by any such amendment, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as so amended.

“Trustee” means the Person named as the “Trustee” in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor Trustee shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Trustee” shall mean or include each Person who is then a Trustee hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such Person, “Trustee” as used with respect to the Securities of any series shall mean the Trustee with respect to Securities of that series.

“U.S. Government Obligations” means securities which are (a) direct obligations of the United States for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged, or (b) 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, and which are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof.

“U.S. Person” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.

“USA Patriot Act” has the meaning specified in Section 1.22.

“Vice President,” when used with respect to the Company, any Guarantor or the Trustee, means any vice president, regardless of whether designated by a number or a word or words added before or after the title “vice president.”

 

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Section 1.2. Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act.

Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the Trust Indenture Act, the provision is incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture. The following Trust Indenture Act terms used in this Indenture have the following meanings:

“commission” means the SEC.

“indenture securities” means the Securities.

“indenture security holder” means a Holder.

“indenture to be qualified” means this Indenture.

“indenture trustee” or “institutional trustee” means the Trustee.

“obligor” on the indenture securities means the Company, each Guarantor (if applicable) or any other obligor on the indenture securities.

All other terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the Trust Indenture Act, defined by a Trust Indenture Act reference to another statute or defined by an SEC rule under the Trust Indenture Act have the meanings so assigned to them.

Section 1.3. Compliance Certificates and Opinions.

Upon any application or request by the Company or a Guarantor to the Trustee to take any action under any provision of this Indenture, the Company or such Guarantor, as the case may be, shall furnish to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating that all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel stating that in the opinion of such counsel all such conditions precedent, if any, have been complied with, except that in the case of any such application or request as to which the furnishing of such documents is specifically required by any provision of this Indenture relating to such particular application or request, no additional certificate or opinion need be furnished except as required under Section 314(c) of the Trust Indenture Act.

Every certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (except for certificates provided for in Section 10.5) shall include:

(a) a statement that each individual signing such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition and the definitions herein relating thereto;

(b) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;

(c) a statement that, in the opinion of each such individual, he has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether such covenant or condition has been complied with; and

(d) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such individual, such condition or covenant has been complied with.

Section 1.4. Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee.

In any case where several matters are required to be certified by, or covered by an opinion of, any specified Person, it is not necessary that all such matters be certified by, or covered by the opinion of, only one such Person, or that they be so certified or covered by only one document, but one such Person may certify or give an opinion with respect to some matters and one or more other such Persons as to other matters, and any such Person may certify or give an opinion as to such matters in one or several documents.

 

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Any certificate or opinion of an officer of the Company or a Guarantor may be based, insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, counsel, unless such officer knows or, in the exercise of reasonable care, should know that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to the matters upon which his certificate or opinion is based are erroneous. Any such certificate or Opinion of Counsel may be based, insofar as it relates to factual matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, an officer or officers of the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, stating that the information with respect to such factual matters is in the possession of the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, unless such counsel knows that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to such matters are erroneous.

Where any Person is required to make, give or execute two or more applications, requests, consents, certificates, statements, opinions or other instruments under this Indenture, they may, but need not, be consolidated and form one instrument.

Section 1.5. Acts of Holders; Record Dates.

(a) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed (either physically or by means of a facsimile or an electronic transmission, provided that such electronic transmission is transmitted through the facilities of a Depositary) by such Holders in person or by agent duly appointed in writing; and, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company or the Guarantors. Such instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the “Act” of the Holders signing such instrument or instruments. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Section 315 of the Trust Indenture Act) conclusive in favor of the Trustee, the Company and, if applicable, the Guarantors, if made in the manner provided in this Section.

(b) The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness of such execution or by a certificate of a notary public or other officer authorized by law to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual signing such instrument or writing acknowledged to him the execution thereof. Where such execution is by a signer acting in a capacity other than his individual capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of his authority. The fact and date of the execution of any such instrument or writing, or the authority of the Person executing the same, may also be proved in any other manner which the Trustee deems sufficient.

(c) The ownership, principal amount and serial numbers of Securities held by any Person, and the date of commencement of such Person’s holding of same, shall be proved by the Security Register.

(d) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act of the Holder of any Security shall bind every future Holder of the same Security and the Holder of every Security issued upon the registration of transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof in respect of anything done, omitted or suffered to be done by the Trustee, the Company or, if applicable, the Guarantors in reliance thereon, regardless of whether notation of such action is made upon such Security.

 

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(e) Without limiting the foregoing, a Holder entitled to give or take any action hereunder with regard to any particular Security may do so with regard to all or any part of the principal amount of such Security or by one or more duly appointed agents each of which may do so pursuant to such appointment with regard to all or any different part of such principal amount.

(f) The Company may set any day as the record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of Outstanding Securities of any series entitled to give or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act provided or permitted by this Indenture to be given or taken by Holders of Securities of such series, but the Company shall have no obligation to do so. With regard to any record date set pursuant to this paragraph, the Holders of Outstanding Securities of the relevant series on such record date (or their duly appointed agents), and only such Persons, shall be entitled to give or take the relevant action, regardless of whether such Holders remain Holders after such record date.

Section 1.6. Notices, Etc., to Trustee, Company and Guarantors.

(a) Any notice, request, demand, authorization, direction, consent, waiver or other communication by the Company, any of the Guarantors or the Trustee to the others is duly given if in writing and delivered in person or mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, facsimile or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to the others’ address:

If to the Company and/or any Guarantor:

Sun Communities Operating Limited Partnership

c/o Sun Communities, Inc.

27777 Franklin Road, Suite 200

Southfield, Michigan 48034

Telephone: (248) 208-2560

Facsimile: (248) 864-0162

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

If to the Trustee:

UMB Bank, N.A.

5555 San Felipe Street, Suite 810

Houston, Texas 77056

Telephone: (713) 300-0586

Attention: Corporate Trust Department

(b) The Company, the Guarantors or the Trustee, by notice to the others, may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.

(c) All notices and communications (other than those sent to Holders) shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; three Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when receipt acknowledged, if telecopied; and the next Business Day after timely delivery to the courier, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery.

 

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Section 1.7. Notice to Holders; Waiver.

Where this Indenture provides for notice to Holders of any event, such notice shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder affected by such event, at such Holder’s address as it appears in the Security Register, not later than the latest date, and not earlier than the earliest date, prescribed for the giving of such notice. In any case where notice to Holders is given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed, to any particular Holder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders. Any notice mailed to a Holder in the manner herein prescribed shall be conclusively deemed to have been received by such Holder, regardless of whether such Holder actually receives such notice.

Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice, either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such notice. Waivers of notice by Holders shall be filed with the Trustee, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance upon such waiver.

In case it shall be impracticable to give such notice by mail by reason of the suspension of regular mail service or by reason of any other cause, then such notification as shall be made with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute a sufficient notification for every purpose hereunder.

Section 1.8. Conflict with Trust Indenture Act.

If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with a provision of the Trust Indenture Act that is required under such Act to be a part of and govern this Indenture, the provision of the Trust Indenture Act shall control. If any provision of this Indenture modifies or excludes any provision of the Trust Indenture Act that may be so modified or excluded, the provision of the Trust Indenture Act shall be deemed to apply to this Indenture as so modified or excluded, as the case may be.

Section 1.9. Effect of Headings and Table of Contents.

The Article and Section headings herein and the Table of Contents are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

Section 1.10. Successors and Assigns.

All covenants and agreements in this Indenture by each of the Company and the Guarantors shall bind their respective successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.

Section 1.11. Duplicate Originals; Signatures.

All parties hereto may sign any number of copies of this Indenture. This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. The exchange of copies of this Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile, including portable document format (pdf), transmission 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, including portable document format (pdf), transmission shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes under this Indenture, other than with respect to the authentication of the Securities by the Trustee.

 

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Section 1.12. Separability.

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

Section 1.13. Benefits of Indenture.

Nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities or, if applicable, the Securities Guarantee, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto and their successors hereunder, the holders of Senior Debt and the Holders any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture.

Section 1.14. Force Majeure.

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 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; it being understood that the Trustee shall use reasonable efforts that are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.

Section 1.15. Waiver of Jury Trial.

EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS INDENTURE.

Section 1.16. Governing Law.

THIS INDENTURE, THE SECURITIES AND THE SECURITIES GUARANTEE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

Section 1.17. Legal Holidays.

In any case where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated Maturity of any Security shall not be a Business Day at any Place of Payment, then (notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or of the Securities or, if applicable, the Securities Guarantee (other than a provision of the Securities of any series or, if applicable, the Securities Guarantee that specifically states that such provision shall apply in lieu of this Section 1.17)) payment of interest or principal and any premium need not be made at such Place of Payment on such date, 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 Interest Payment Date or Redemption Date, or at the Stated Maturity, and if payment is so made, no interest shall accrue for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated Maturity, as the case may be.

 

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Section 1.18. Securities in a Composite Currency, Currency Unit or Foreign Currency.

Unless otherwise specified in a Board Resolution, Officer’s Certificate or indenture supplemental hereto delivered pursuant to Section 3.1 of this Indenture with respect to a particular series of Securities, whenever for purposes of this Indenture any action may be taken by the Holders of a specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of Securities of all series or all series affected by a particular action at the time Outstanding and, at such time, there are Outstanding Securities of any affected series which are denominated in a coin, currency or currencies other than Dollars (including, but not limited to, any composite currency, currency units or Foreign Currency), then the principal amount of Securities of such series that shall be deemed to be Outstanding for the purpose of taking such action shall be that amount of Dollars that could be obtained for such amount at the Market Exchange Rate. For purposes of this Section 1.18, the term “Market Exchange Rate” shall mean the noon Dollar buying rate in The City of New York for cable transfers of such currency or currencies as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, as of the most recent available date. If such Market Exchange Rate is not so available for any reason with respect to such currency, such quotation of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York as of the most recent available date, or quotations or rates of exchange from one or more major banks in The City of New York or in the country of issue of the currency in question, which for purposes of Euros shall be Brussels, Belgium, or such other quotations or rates of exchange as appropriate shall be used. The provisions of this paragraph shall apply in determining the equivalent principal amount in respect of Securities of a series denominated in a currency other than Dollars in connection with any action taken by Holders of Securities pursuant to the terms of this Indenture.

In no event will the Trustee have any duty or liability regarding the Market Exchange Rate or any alternative determination provided for in the preceding paragraph.

Section 1.19. Payment in Required Currency; Judgment Currency.

Each of the Company and the Guarantors agrees, to the fullest extent that it may effectively do so under applicable law, that (a) if for the purpose of obtaining judgment in any court it is necessary to convert the sum due in respect of the principal of or interest on the Securities of any series (the “Required Currency”) into a currency in which a judgment will be rendered (the “Judgment Currency”), the rate of exchange used shall be the rate at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Required Currency could be purchased in The City of New York with the Judgment Currency on the day on which final unappealable judgment is entered, unless such day is not a Banking Day, then, to the extent permitted by applicable law, the rate of exchange used shall be the rate at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Required Currency could be purchased in The City of New York with the Judgment Currency on the Banking Day next preceding the day on which final unappealable judgment is entered and (b) its obligations under this Indenture to make payments in the Required Currency (i) shall not be discharged or satisfied by any tender, or any recovery pursuant to any judgment (regardless of whether entered in accordance with subclause (a)), in any currency other than the Required Currency, except to the extent that such tender or recovery shall result in the actual receipt, by the payee, of the full amount of the Required Currency expressed to be payable in respect of such payments, (ii) shall be enforceable as an alternative or additional cause of action for the purpose of recovering in the Required Currency the amount, if any, by which such actual receipt shall fall short of the full amount of the Required Currency so expressed to be payable and (iii) shall not be affected by judgment being obtained for any other sum due under this Indenture.

 

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Section 1.20. Language of Notices, Etc.

Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or Act required or permitted under this Indenture shall be in the English language, except that any published notice may be in an official language of the country of publication.

Section 1.21. Incorporators, Unitholders, Stockholders, Partners, Members, Managers, Directors, Officers and Employees of the Company and the Guarantors Exempt from Individual Liability.

No recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of or contained in this Indenture or of or contained in any Security or, if applicable, the Securities Guarantee, or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, or because of the creation of any indebtedness represented thereby, shall be had against any incorporator, unitholder, stockholder, partner, member, manager, director, officer or employee, as such, past, present or future, of the Company, any Guarantor or any successor Person, either directly or through the Company, any Guarantor or any successor Person, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise, it being expressly understood that all such liability is hereby expressly waived and released as a condition of, and as a part of the consideration for, the execution of this Indenture and the issue of the Securities.

Section 1.22. USA Patriot Act.

The parties hereto acknowledge that, in accordance with Section 326 of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, the “USA Patriot Act”), the Trustee, like all financial institutions, is required to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each Person or legal entity that opens an account. The parties hereto agree that they will provide the Trustee with such information as the Trustee may request in order for the Trustee to satisfy the requirements of the USA Patriot Act.

ARTICLE TWO

SECURITY FORMS

Section 2.1. Forms Generally.

The Securities of each series and, if applicable, the notation thereon relating to the Securities Guarantee, shall be in substantially the form set forth in this Article Two, or in such other form or forms as shall be established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in each case with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture, and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as may be required to comply with the rules of any securities exchange or as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the officers executing such Securities and, if applicable, any notation of the Securities Guarantee, as evidenced by their execution thereof.

The definitive Securities 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 Securities, as evidenced by their execution thereof. If the form of Securities of any series is established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by an authorized officer or other authorized person on behalf of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Company Order contemplated by Section 3.3 for the authentication and delivery of such Securities.

 

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The forms of Global Securities of any series shall have such provisions and legends as are customary for Securities of such series in global form, including without limitation any legend required by the Depositary for the Securities of such series.

Section 2.2. Form of Face of Security.

[If the Security is an Original Issue Discount Security and is not “publicly offered” within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.1275-1(h), insert—FOR PURPOSES OF SECTION 1275 OF THE UNITED STATES INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED, THIS SECURITY WAS ISSUED WITH ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT, THE AMOUNT OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT IS [. . . . . . . .% OF ITS PRINCIPAL AMOUNT] [$. . . . PER $1,000 OF PRINCIPAL AMOUNT], THE ISSUE DATE IS . . . . . ., 20. . . AND, THE YIELD TO MATURITY IS . . . . . . . . , COMPOUNDED [SEMIANNUALLY OR OTHER PROPER PERIOD].

[In the alternative instead of providing such legend, insert the following legend—FOR PURPOSES OF SECTION 1275 OF THE UNITED STATES INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED THIS SECURITY WAS ISSUED WITH ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT, AND. . . . . . . [THE NAME OR TITLE AND ADDRESS OR TELEPHONE NUMBER OF A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COMPANY] WILL, BEGINNING NO LATER THAN 10 DAYS AFTER THE ISSUE DATE, PROMPTLY MAKE AVAILABLE TO HOLDERS THE AMOUNT OF ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT, THE ISSUE DATE, THE YIELD TO MATURITY AND ANY OTHER INFORMATION REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE TREASURY REGULATIONS.]

[Insert any other legend required by the Code or the regulations thereunder.]

[If a Global Security,—insert legend required by Section 2.4 of the Indenture] [If applicable, insert UNLESS THIS SECURITY IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION, TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY SECURITY ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL SINCE THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.]

SUN COMMUNITIES OPERATING LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

[TITLE OF SECURITY]

 

No . . . . . . .    U.S. $. . . . . .

[CUSIP No. ]

SUN COMMUNITIES OPERATING LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, a limited partnership duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Michigan (herein called the “Company,” which term includes any successor or resulting Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to .......... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ., or registered assigns, the principal sum of . . . . ................................................ United States Dollars on ......................................... [If the Security is to bear interest prior to Maturity, insert—, and to pay interest thereon from . . . . . . . . . . or from the most recent

 

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Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, semi-annually on . . . . . . and . . . . . . in each year, commencing . . . . . ., at the rate of . . . . % per annum, until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment [if applicable, insert—, and at the rate of ___% per annum on any overdue principal and premium and on any installment of interest (to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable)]. The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in such Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be the . . . . or . . . . (regardless of whether a Business Day), as the case may be, next preceding such Interest Payment Date. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for will forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Securities of this series not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Securities of this series may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided in said Indenture].

[If the Security is not to bear interest prior to Maturity, insert—The principal of this Security shall not bear interest except in the case of a default in payment of principal upon acceleration, upon redemption or at Stated Maturity and in such case the overdue principal of this Security shall bear interest at the rate of . . . .% per annum (to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable), which shall accrue from the date of such default in payment to the date payment of such principal has been made or duly provided for. Interest on any overdue principal shall be payable on demand. Any such interest on any overdue principal that is not so paid on demand shall bear interest at the rate of . . . . % per annum (to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable), which shall accrue from the date of such demand for payment to the date payment of such interest has been made or duly provided for, and such interest shall also be payable on demand.]

[If a Global Security, insert—Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and [if applicable, insert—any such] interest on this Security will be made by transfer of immediately available funds to a bank account in ___________ designated by the Holder in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts [state other currency].]

[If a Definitive Security, insert—Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and [if applicable, insert—any such] interest on this Security will be made at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in _______________, in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts] [state other currency] [or subject to any laws or regulations applicable thereto and to the right of the Company (as provided in the Indenture) to rescind the designation of any such Paying Agent, at the [main] offices of ________________ in _____________, or at such other offices or agencies as the Company may designate, by [United States Dollar] [state other currency] check drawn on, or transfer to a [United States Dollar] account maintained by the payee with, a bank in The City of New York (so long as the applicable Paying Agency has received proper transfer instructions in writing at least ___ days prior to the payment date)] [if applicable, insert—; provided, however, that payment of interest may be made at the option of the Company by [United States Dollar] [state other currency] check mailed to the addresses of the Persons entitled thereto as such addresses shall appear in the Security Register] [or by transfer to a [United States Dollar] [state other currency] account maintained by the payee with a bank in The City of New York [state other Place of Payment] (so long as the applicable Paying Agent has received proper transfer instructions in writing by the record date prior to the applicable Interest Payment Date)].]

 

17


Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Security set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof by manual signature, this Security shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed.

Dated:

 

SUN COMMUNITIES OPERATING LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
By:   Sun Communities, Inc.,
  its general partner
By:    

Section 2.3. Form of Reverse of Security.

This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of subordinated securities of the Company (herein called the “Securities”), issued and to be issued in one or more series under an Indenture, dated as of ______, 20__ (herein called the “Indenture”), between the Company, the Guarantors, if any, and UMB Bank, N.A., as trustee (herein called the “Trustee,” which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Guarantors, if any, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. As provided in the Indenture, the Securities may be issued in one or more series, which different series may be issued in various aggregate principal amounts, may mature at different times, may bear interest, if any, at different rates, may be subject to different redemption provisions, if any, may be subject to different sinking, purchase or analogous funds, if any, may be subject to different covenants and Events of Default and may otherwise vary as in the Indenture provided or permitted. This Security is one of the series designated on the face hereof [, limited in aggregate principal amount to $ . . . . . . . . . . ].

This security is the general, unsecured, subordinated obligation of the Company [if applicable, insert—and is guaranteed pursuant to a guarantee (the “Securities Guarantee”) by [insert name of each Guarantor] (the “Guarantors”). The Securities Guarantee is the general, unsecured, subordinated obligation of each Guarantor.]

[If applicable, insert—The Securities of this series are subject to redemption upon not less than ... days’ notice by mail (or electronic transmission in the case of Global Securities), [if applicable, insert—(1) on . . . . . . . . . . . . . . in any year commencing with the year . . . . and ending with the year . . . . through operation of the sinking fund for this series at a Redemption Price equal to 100% of the principal amount, and (2) ] at any time [on or after . . . . . . . . . ., 20. . . ], as a whole or in part, at the election of the Company, at the following Redemption Prices (expressed as percentages of the principal amount): If redeemed [on or before . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . %, and if redeemed] during the 12-month period beginning . . . . . . . . of the years indicated,

 

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Year   Redemption Price   Year    Redemption Price

and thereafter at a Redemption Price equal to . . . . . % of the principal amount, together in the case of any such redemption [if applicable, insert—(whether through operation of the sinking fund or otherwise)] with accrued interest to the Redemption Date, but interest installments the Stated Maturity of which is on or prior to such Redemption Date will be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, of record at the close of business on the relevant record dates referred to on the face hereof, all as provided in the Indenture.]

[If applicable, insert—The Securities of this series are subject to redemption upon not less than... nor more than ... days’ notice by mail (or electronic transmission in the case of Global Securities), (1) on . . . . . . . . in any year commencing with the year . . . . and ending with the year . . . . through operation of the sinking fund for this series at the Redemption Prices for redemption through operation of the sinking fund (expressed as percentages of the principal amount) set forth in the table below, and (2) at any time [on or after . . . . . . . . . . ], as a whole or in part, at the election of the Company, at the Redemption Prices for redemption otherwise than through operation of the sinking fund (expressed as percentages of the principal amount) set forth in the table below: If redeemed during the 12-month period beginning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . of the years indicated,

 

Year   Redemption Price For Redemption Through
Operation of the Sinking Fund
  Redemption Price for Redemption Otherwise Than
Through Operation of the Sinking Fund

and thereafter at a Redemption Price equal to . . . . % of the principal amount, together in the case of any such redemption (whether through operation of the sinking fund or otherwise) with accrued interest to the Redemption Date, but interest installments the Stated Maturity of which is on or prior to such Redemption Date will be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, of record at the close of business on the relevant record dates referred to on the face hereof, all as provided in the Indenture.]

[If applicable, insert—Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may not, prior to . . . .. . . . . . ., redeem any Securities of this series as contemplated by [clause (2) of] the preceding paragraph as a part of, or in anticipation of, any refunding operation by the application, directly or indirectly, of moneys borrowed having an interest cost to the Company (calculated in accordance with generally accepted financial practice) of less than . . . .% per annum.]

 

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[If applicable, insert—The sinking fund for this series provides for the redemption on . . . . . .. . . . . . . in each year beginning with the year . . . . and ending with the year . . . . of [not less than] $ . . . . . . . . . . . . [ (“mandatory sinking fund”) and not more than $ . . . . . . . . . . . . ] aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series. [Securities of this series acquired or redeemed by the Company otherwise than through [mandatory] sinking fund payments may be credited against subsequent [mandatory] sinking fund payments otherwise required to be made [If applicable, insert— in the inverse order in which they become due].]

[If the Securities are subject to redemption in part of any kind, insert—In the event of redemption of this Security in part only, a new Security or Securities of this series and of like tenor for the unredeemed portion hereof will be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof.]

[If applicable, insert—The Securities of this series are not redeemable prior to Stated Maturity.]

[If the Security is not an Original Issue Discount Security,If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Securities of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.]

[If the Security is an Original Issue Discount Security,If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and be continuing, an amount of principal of the Securities of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture. Such amount shall be equal to —insert formula for determining the amount. Upon payment (i) of the amount of principal so declared due and payable and (ii) of interest on any overdue principal and overdue interest (in each case to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable), all of the Company’s obligations in respect of the payment of the principal of and interest, if any, on the Securities of this series shall terminate.]

The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company [If applicable, insert—and the Guarantors] and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each series to be affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company [If applicable, insert—and the Guarantors] and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding of each series to be affected. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of specified percentages in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of each series at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive compliance by the Company [If applicable, insert—and the Guarantors] with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Security and of any Security issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, regardless of whether notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security.

No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Security or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on this Security at the times, place(s) and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.

[If a Global Security, insert—This Global Security or portion hereof may not be exchanged for Definitive Securities of this series except in the limited circumstances provided in the Indenture. The holders of beneficial interests in this Global Security will not be entitled to receive physical delivery of Definitive Securities except as described in the Indenture and will not be considered the Holders thereof for any purpose under the Indenture.]

 

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[If a Definitive Security, insert—As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Security is registerable in the Security Register, upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Company in [if applicable, insert—any place where the principal of and any premium and interest on this Security are payable] [if applicable, insert—The City of New York [, or, subject to any laws or regulations applicable thereto and to the right of the Company (limited as provided in the Indenture) to rescind the designation of any such transfer agent, at the [main] offices of _______________ in ________________ or at such other offices or agencies as the Company may designate]], duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or such Holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities of this series and of like tenor, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.]

The Securities of this series are issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of U.S. $ . . . . . . . . and any integral multiple thereof. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, Securities of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series and of like tenor of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.

No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

Prior to due presentment of this Security for registration of transfer, the Company, [If applicable, insert—any Guarantor,] the Trustee and any agent of the Company [If applicable, insert—, a Guarantor] or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Security is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, regardless of whether this Security be overdue, and none of the Company, [If applicable, insert—the Guarantors,] the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

This Security is subordinated in right of payment to Senior Debt [If applicable, insert-and the Securities Guarantee is subordinated in right of payment to Guarantor Senior Debt], to the extent and in the manner provided in the Indenture.

No recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of or contained in the Indenture or of or contained in any Security, [If applicable, insert—, or the Securities Guarantee endorsed thereon,] or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, or because of the creation of any indebtedness represented thereby, shall be had against any incorporator, unitholder, stockholder, partner, member, manager, director, officer or employee, as such, past, present or future, of the Company [If applicable, insert—or any Guarantor] or of any successor Person, either directly or through the Company [If applicable, insert—or any Guarantor] or any successor Person, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment, penalty or otherwise; it being expressly understood that all such liability is hereby expressly waived and released by the acceptance hereof and as a condition of, and as part of the consideration for, the Securities and the execution of the Indenture.

The Indenture provides that the Company [If applicable, insert—and the Guarantors] (a) will be discharged from any and all obligations in respect of the Securities (except for certain obligations described in the Indenture), or (b) need not comply with certain restrictive covenants of the Indenture, in each case if the Company [If applicable, insert—or a Guarantor] deposits, in trust, with the Trustee money or U.S. Government Obligations (or a combination thereof) which through the payment of interest thereon and principal thereof in accordance with their terms will provide money, in an amount sufficient to pay all the principal of and interest on the Securities, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

 

21


Except as otherwise defined herein, all terms used in this Security that are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

[If a Definitive Security, insert as a separate page

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto _______________________________________________________________

(Please Print or Type Name and Address of Assignee)

the within instrument of Sun Communities Operating Limited Partnership and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint ___________________ Attorney to transfer said instrument on the books of the within-named Company, with full power of substitution in the premises.

Please Insert Social Security or Other Identifying Number of Assignee:

 

 

 

Dated:                                                              

    

 

 

    

 

         (Signature)

NOTICE: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the within instrument in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.]

[If a Security to which Article Fourteen has been made applicable, insert the following Form of Notation on such Security relating to the Securities Guarantee

Each of the Guarantors (which term includes any successor Person in such capacity under the Indenture), has fully, unconditionally and absolutely guaranteed, to the extent set forth in the Indenture and subject to the provisions in the Indenture, the due and punctual payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on the Securities of this series and all other amounts due and payable under the Indenture and the Securities of this series by the Company.

The obligations of the Guarantors to the Holders of Securities of this series and to the Trustee pursuant to the Securities Guarantee and the Indenture are expressly set forth in Article Fourteen of the Indenture and reference is hereby made to the Indenture for the precise terms of the Securities Guarantee.

 

Guarantors:
[NAME OF EACH GUARANTOR]
  By:                                                              
                                                                     ]

 

22


Section 2.4. Global Securities.

Every Global Security authenticated and delivered hereunder shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF. THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED TO, OR REGISTERED OR EXCHANGED FOR SECURITIES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF, ANY PERSON OTHER THAN THE DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF AND NO SUCH TRANSFER MAY BE REGISTERED, EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE.

EVERY SECURITY AUTHENTICATED AND DELIVERED UPON REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER OF, OR IN EXCHANGE FOR OR IN LIEU OF, THIS SECURITY SHALL BE A GLOBAL SECURITY SUBJECT TO THE FOREGOING, EXCEPT IN SUCH LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES.

If Securities of a series are issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, as specified as contemplated by Section 3.1, then, notwithstanding clause (i) of Section 3.1 and the provisions of Section 3.2, any Global Security shall represent such of the Outstanding Securities of such series as shall be specified therein and may provide that it shall represent the aggregate amount of Outstanding Securities from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate amount of Outstanding Securities represented thereby may from time to time be reduced or increased, as the case may be, to reflect exchanges. Any endorsement of a Global Security to reflect the amount, or any reduction or increase in the amount, of Outstanding Securities represented thereby shall be made in such manner and upon instructions given by such Person or Persons as shall be specified therein or in a Company Order. Subject to the provisions of Section 3.3, Section 3.4 and Section 3.5, the Trustee shall deliver and redeliver any Global Security in the manner and upon instructions given by the Person or Persons specified therein or in the applicable Company Order. Any instructions by the Company with respect to endorsement or delivery or redelivery of a Global Security shall be in a Company Order (which need not comply with Section 1.3 and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel).

The provisions of the last sentence of Section 3.3 shall apply to any Security represented by a Global Security if such Security was never issued and sold by the Company and the Company delivers to the Trustee the Global Security together with a Company Order (which need not comply with Section 1.3 and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel) with regard to the reduction or increase, as the case may be, in the principal amount of Securities represented thereby, together with the written statement contemplated by the last sentence of Section 3.3.

Section 2.5. Form of Trustees Certificate of Authentication.

The Trustee’s certificate(s) of authentication shall be in substantially the following form:

This is one of the Securities of the series designated [insert title of applicable series] referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

UMB Bank, N.A., as Trustee
By:    
  Authorized Officer

 

23


ARTICLE THREE

THE SECURITIES

Section 3.1. Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series.

The aggregate principal amount of Securities that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited.

The Securities may be issued in one or more series. There shall be established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and set forth, or determined in the manner provided, in an Officer’s Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of Securities of any series:

(a) the title of the Securities of the series (which shall distinguish the Securities of the series from all other Securities and which may be part of a series of Securities previously issued);

(b) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of the series which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of the series pursuant to Section 3.4, Section 3.5, Section 3.6, Section 9.6 or Section 11.7 and except for any Securities which, pursuant to Section 3.3, are deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder);

(c) the Person to whom any interest on a Security of the series shall be payable, if other than the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest;

(d) the date or dates on which the principal of the Securities of the series is payable or the method of determination thereof;

(e) the rate or rates at which the Securities of the series shall bear interest, if any, or the formula, method or provision pursuant to which such rate or rates are determined, the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue or the method of determination thereof, the Interest Payment Dates on which such interest shall be payable and the Regular Record Date for the interest payable on any Interest Payment Date;

(f) the place or places where, subject to the provisions of Section 10.2, the principal of and any premium and interest on Securities of the series shall be payable, Securities of the series may be surrendered for registration of transfer, Securities of the series may be surrendered for exchange, and notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of the series and this Indenture may be served;

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

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

 

24


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

(j) whether payment of principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the Securities of the series shall be without deduction for taxes, assessments or governmental charges paid by Holders of the series;

(k) if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of Securities of the series that shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.2;

(l) if the amount of payments of principal of and any premium or interest on the Securities of the series may be determined with reference to an index, the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;

(m) if and as applicable, that the Securities of the series shall be issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities and, in such case, the Depositary or Depositaries for such Global Security or Global Securities and any circumstances other than those set forth in Section 3.5 in which any such Global Security may be transferred to, and registered and exchanged for Securities registered in the name of, a Person other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof and in which any such transfer may be registered;

(n) any deletions from, modifications of or additions to the Events of Default set forth in Section 5.1 or the covenants of the Company set forth in Article Ten with respect to the Securities of such series;

(o) whether and under what circumstances the Company will pay additional amounts on the Securities of the series held by a Person who is not a U.S. Person in respect of any tax, assessment or governmental charge withheld or deducted and, if so, whether the Company will have the option to redeem the Securities of the series rather than pay such additional amounts;

(p) if the Securities of the series are to be issuable in definitive form (whether upon original issue or upon exchange of a temporary Security of such series) only upon receipt of certain certificates or other documents or satisfaction of other conditions, the form and terms of such certificates, documents or conditions;

(q) if the Securities of the series are to be convertible into or exchangeable for any other security or property of the Company, including, without limitation, securities of another Person held by the Company or its Affiliates and, if so, the terms thereof;

(r) if other than as provided in Section 13.2 and Section 13.3, the means of Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance as may be specified for the Securities of the series;

(s) if other than the Trustee, the identity of the initial Security Registrar and any initial Paying Agent;

(t) whether the Securities of the series will be guaranteed pursuant to the Securities Guarantee set forth in Article Fourteen, any modifications to the terms of Article Fourteen applicable to the Securities of such series and the applicability of any other guarantees; and

(u) any other terms of the series (which terms shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture).

 

25


All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical except as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to the Board Resolution referred to above and (subject to Section 3.3) set forth, or determined in the manner provided, in the Officer’s Certificate referred to above or in any such indenture supplemental hereto.

All Securities of any one series need not be issued at the same time and, unless otherwise provided, a series may be reopened, without the consent of the Holders, for increases in the aggregate principal amount of such series of Securities and issuances of additional Securities of such series or for the establishment of additional terms with respect to the Securities of such series.

If any of the terms of the series are established by action taken by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by an authorized officer or other authorized person on behalf of the Company and, if applicable, the Guarantors and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Officer’s Certificate setting forth, or providing the manner for determining, the terms of the series.

With respect to Securities of a series subject to a Periodic Offering, such Board Resolution or Officer’s Certificate may provide general terms for Securities of such series and provide either that the specific terms of particular Securities of such series shall be specified in a Company Order or that such terms shall be determined by the Company and, if applicable, the Guarantors or one or more agents thereof designated in an Officer’s Certificate, in accordance with a Company Order.

Section 3.2. Denominations.

The Securities of each series shall be issuable in registered form without coupons in such denominations as shall be specified as contemplated by Section 3.1. In the absence of any such provisions with respect to the Securities of any series, the Securities of such series shall be issuable in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof.

Section 3.3. Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating.

The Securities shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its Chairman of the Board, its Chief Executive Officer, its President, its Chief Financial Officer or any of its Vice Presidents and need not be attested. The signature of any of these officers on the Securities may be manual or facsimile, including portable document format (pdf). Any notation of Securities Guarantee endorsed on the Securities shall be executed on behalf of the applicable Guarantor by its Chairman of the Board, its Chief Executive Officer, its President, its Chief Financial Officer or any of its Vice Presidents and need not be attested. The signature of any of these officers on any notation of the Securities Guarantee may be manual or facsimile, including portable document format (pdf).

Securities and any notation of a Securities Guarantee bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of individuals who were at any time the proper officers of the Company or a Guarantor, as the case may be, shall bind the Company or such Guarantor, as the case may be, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased to hold such offices prior to the authentication and delivery of such Securities or did not hold such offices at the date of such Securities.

 

26


At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities of any series executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, together with a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of such Securities, and the Trustee in accordance with the Company Order shall authenticate and deliver such Securities; provided, however, that in the case of Securities offered in a Periodic Offering, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver such Securities from time to time in accordance with such other procedures (including, without limitation, the receipt by the Trustee of written instructions from the Company) acceptable to the Trustee as may be specified by or pursuant to a Company Order delivered to the Trustee prior to the time of the first authentication of Securities of such series. If the forms or terms of the Securities of the series have been established in or pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions as permitted by Section 2.1 and Section 3.1, in authenticating such Securities, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall be fully protected in relying on such Board Resolution and shall be entitled to receive such documents as it may reasonably request. The Trustee shall also be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 6.1) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Officer’s Certificate pursuant to Section 3.1 and complying with Section 1.3 and an Opinion of Counsel complying with Section 1.3 stating:

(a) if the form or forms of such Securities has been established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution as permitted by Section 2.1, that each such form has been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;

(b) if the terms of such Securities have been, or in the case of Securities of a series offered in a Periodic Offering will be, established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution as permitted by Section 3.1, that such terms have been, or in the case of Securities of a series offered in a Periodic Offering will be, established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture, subject, in the case of Securities of a series offered in a Periodic Offering, to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel; and

(c) that such Securities, when authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and issued by the Company in the manner and subject to any conditions and assumptions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company and, if applicable, the Securities Guarantees thereof will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Guarantors, enforceable in accordance with their respective terms, subject to the following limitations: (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, reorganization, liquidation, fraudulent conveyance or transfer and other similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights, or to general equity principles, (ii) the availability of equitable remedies being subject to the discretion of the court to which application therefor is made; and (iii) such other usual and customary matters as shall be specified in such Opinion of Counsel.

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

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3.1 and of the preceding paragraph, if all Securities of a series are not to be originally issued at one time, it shall not be necessary to deliver the Officer’s Certificate otherwise required pursuant to Section 3.1 or the Company Order and Opinion of Counsel otherwise required pursuant to such preceding paragraph at or prior to the time of authentication of each Security of such series if such documents are delivered at or prior to the authentication upon original issuance of the first Security of such series to be issued.

With respect to Securities of a series offered in a Periodic Offering, the Trustee may rely, as to the authorization by the Company of any of such Securities, on the form or forms and terms thereof and the legality, validity, binding effect and enforceability thereof, upon the Opinion of Counsel and the other documents delivered pursuant to Section 2.1 and Section 3.1 and this Section, as applicable, in connection with the first authentication of Securities of such series.

 

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Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.

No Security nor any related Securities Guarantee shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose unless there appears on such Security a certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for herein executed by the Trustee or an Authenticating Agent by manual signature of an authorized officer, and such certificate upon any Security shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Security has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder and is entitled to the benefits of this Indenture. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Security shall have been authenticated and delivered hereunder but never issued and sold by the Company, and the Company shall deliver such Security to the Trustee for cancellation as provided in Section 3.9, for all purposes of this Indenture such Security shall be deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder and shall never be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.

Section 3.4. Temporary Securities.

Pending the preparation of Definitive Securities of any series, the Company may execute, and upon Company Order the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, temporary Securities that are printed, lithographed, typewritten, mimeographed or otherwise produced, in any authorized denomination, substantially of the tenor of the Definitive Securities in lieu of which they are issued and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as the officers executing such Securities may determine, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities.

If temporary Securities of any series are issued, the Company will cause Definitive Securities of that series to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the preparation of Definitive Securities of such series, the temporary Securities of such series shall be exchangeable for Definitive Securities of such series upon surrender of the temporary Securities of such series at the office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment for that series, without charge to the Holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Securities of any series the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a like principal amount of Definitive Securities of the same series and tenor of authorized denominations. Until so exchanged the temporary Securities of any series shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as Definitive Securities of such series.

Section 3.5. Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange.

The Company shall cause to be kept at the office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment required by Section 10.2 a register (the register maintained in such office being herein sometimes referred to as the “Security Register”) in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration of Securities and of transfers of Securities. The Trustee is hereby appointed as the initial “Security Registrar” for the purpose of registering Securities and transfers of Securities as herein provided, and its Corporate Trust Office, which, at the date hereof, is located at 5555 San Felipe Street, Suite 810, Houston, Texas 77056, is the initial office or agency where the Securities Register will be maintained. The Company may at any time replace such Security Registrar, change such office or agency or act as its own Security Registrar. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any change of the Security Registrar or of the location of such office or agency.

Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Security of any series at the office or agency maintained pursuant to Section 10.2 for such purpose, the Company and, if applicable, the Guarantors shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Securities, with a notation of the Securities Guarantee, if applicable, executed by the Guarantors, of the same series and tenor, of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount.

 

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At the option of the Holder, Securities of any series (except a Global Security) may be exchanged for other Securities of the same series and tenor, of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount, upon surrender of the Securities to be exchanged at such office or agency. Whenever any Securities are so surrendered for exchange, the Company and, if applicable, the Guarantors shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Securities, with a notation of the Securities Guarantee, if applicable, executed by the Guarantors, which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.

All Securities issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities shall be the valid obligations of the Company and, if applicable, the Guarantors evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Securities surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.

Every Security presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange shall (if so required by the Company or the Trustee) be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed, by the Holder thereof or such Holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing.

No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 3.4, Section 9.6 or Section 11.7 not involving any transfer.

The Company shall not be required (a) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange Securities of any series during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the notice of redemption of Securities of that series selected for redemption under Section 11.3 is sent and ending at the close of business on the day of the delivery thereof, or (b) to register the transfer of or exchange any Security so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Security being redeemed in part.

Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture and except as otherwise specified with respect to any particular series of Securities as contemplated by Section 3.1, a Global Security representing all or a portion of the Securities of a series may not be transferred, except as a whole by the Depositary for such series to a nominee of such Depositary or by a nominee of such Depositary to such Depositary or another nominee of such Depositary or by such Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary for such series or a nominee of such successor Depositary. Every Security authenticated and delivered upon registration of, transfer of, or in exchange for or in lieu of, a Global Security shall be a Global Security except as provided in the two paragraphs immediately following.

If at any time the Depositary for any Securities of a series represented by one or more Global Securities notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Securities or if at any time the Depositary for such Securities shall no longer be eligible to continue as Depositary under Section 3.1 or ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, the Company shall appoint a successor Depositary with respect to such Securities. If a successor Depositary for such Securities is not appointed by the Company within 90 days after the Company receives such notice or becomes aware of such ineligibility, the Company’s election pursuant to Section 3.1 that such Securities be represented by one or more Global Securities shall no longer be effective and the Company and, if applicable, the

 

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Guarantors will execute and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of Definitive Securities of such series, will authenticate and deliver, Securities, with a notation of the Securities Guarantee, if applicable, executed by the Guarantors, of such series in definitive registered form without coupons, in any authorized denominations, in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security or Securities representing such Securities in exchange for such Global Security or Securities registered in the names of such Persons as the Depositary shall direct.

If specified by the Company pursuant to Section 3.1 with respect to Securities represented by a Global Security, the Depositary for such Global Security may surrender such Global Security in exchange in whole or in part for Securities of the same series and tenor in definitive registered form on such terms as are acceptable to the Company, the Trustee and such Depositary. Thereupon, the Company and, if applicable, the Guarantors shall execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of Securities in definitive registered form, shall authenticate and deliver, without service charge:

(a) to the Person specified by such Depositary a new Security or Securities, with a notation of the Securities Guarantee, if applicable, executed by the Guarantors, of the same series and tenor, of any authorized denominations as requested by such Person, in an aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for such Person’s beneficial interest in the Global Security; and

(b) to such Depositary a new Global Security, with a notation of the Securities Guarantee, if applicable, executed by the Guarantors, in a denomination equal to the difference, if any, between the principal amount of the surrendered Global Security and the aggregate principal amount of Securities authenticated and delivered pursuant to clause (a) above.

Every Person who takes or holds any beneficial interest in a Global Security agrees that:

(i) the Company, the Guarantors (if applicable) and the Trustee may deal with the Depositary as sole owner of the Global Security and as the authorized representative of such Person;

(ii) such Person’s rights in the Global Security shall be exercised only through the Depositary and shall be limited to those rights established by law and agreement between such Person and the Depositary and/or direct and indirect participants of the Depositary;

(iii) the Depositary and its participants make book-entry transfers of beneficial ownership among, and receive and transmit distributions of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Global Securities to, such Persons in accordance with their own procedures; and

(iv) none of the Company, the Guarantors (if applicable), the Trustee, nor any agent of any of them 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.

Section 3.6. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities.

If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee, together with such security or indemnity as may be required by the Company, the Guarantors (if applicable) or the Trustee to save each of them and any agent of any of them harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Company or the Trustee that such Security has been acquired by a protected purchaser, the Company and, if applicable, the Guarantors shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a new Security, with a notation of the Securities Guarantee, if applicable, executed by the Guarantors, of the same series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

 

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If there shall be delivered to the Company, the Guarantors (if applicable) and the Trustee (a) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security and (b) such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and any agent of any of them harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Company or the Trustee that such Security has been acquired by a protected purchaser, the Company and, if applicable, the Guarantors shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Security, a new Security, with a notation of the Securities Guarantee, if applicable, executed by the Guarantors, of the same series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

In case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security has become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Security, pay such Security.

Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith.

Every new Security of any series issued pursuant to this Section in lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Company and, if applicable, the Guarantors, regardless of whether the destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of that series duly issued hereunder.

The provisions of this Section are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities.

Section 3.7. Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved.

Except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 3.1 with respect to any series of Securities, interest on any Security that is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest.

Any interest on any Security of any series that is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date (herein called “Defaulted Interest”) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on the relevant Regular Record Date by virtue of having been such Holder, and such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Company, at its election in each case, as provided in clause (a) or (b) below:

(a) The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the Persons in whose names the Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each 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

 

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Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest that 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, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be mailed, first-class postage prepaid (or sent by electronic transmission in the case of Global Securities), to each Holder of Securities of such series at such Holder’s 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 Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on such Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the following clause (b).

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

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

Section 3.8. Persons Deemed Owners.

Except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 3.1 with respect to any series of Securities, prior to due presentment of a Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and, if applicable, the Guarantors and any agent thereof may treat the Person in whose name such Security is registered as the owner of such Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and any premium and (subject to Section 3.5 and Section 3.7) any interest on such Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, regardless of whether such Security be overdue, and none of the Company, the Trustee nor, if applicable, the Guarantors nor any agent of any of them shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

No holder of any beneficial interest in any Global Security held on its behalf by a Depositary shall have any rights under this Indenture with respect to such Global Security, and such Depositary may be treated by the Company, the Trustee, and, if applicable, the Guarantors and any agent of any thereof as the owner of such Global Security for all purposes whatsoever.

Section 3.9. Cancellation.

All Securities surrendered for payment, redemption, registration of transfer or exchange or for credit against any sinking fund payment shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee and shall be promptly canceled by it. The Company may at any time deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated and delivered hereunder that the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and may deliver to the Trustee (or to any other Person for delivery to the Trustee) for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated hereunder that the Company has not issued and sold, and all Securities so delivered shall be promptly canceled by the Trustee. No Securities shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Securities canceled as provided in this Section, except as expressly permitted by this Indenture. All canceled Securities held by the Trustee shall be disposed of in accordance with its customary practices, and the Trustee shall thereafter deliver to the Company a certificate with respect to such disposition from time to time upon written request.

 

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Section 3.10. Computation of Interest.

Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1 for Securities of any series, interest on the Securities of each series shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months.

Section 3.11. CUSIP or CINS Numbers.

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

ARTICLE FOUR

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

Section 4.1. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.

This Indenture shall cease to be of further effect and will be discharged with respect to the Securities of any series (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of Securities and certain rights of the Trustee, in each case, herein expressly provided for), and the Trustee, upon Company Request and at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to such Securities, when:

(a) either:

(i) all such Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than (A) such Securities which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 3.6, and (B) such Securities for the payment of which money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 10.3) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

(ii) all such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation:

(A) have become due and payable; or

(B) will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year; or

(C) are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company,

and the Company, in the case of (ii)(A), (B) or (C) above, has deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for such purpose an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal (and premium, if any) and interest to the date of

 

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such deposit (in the case of Securities which have become due and payable) or to the Stated Maturity or Redemption Date, as the case may be, together with instructions from the Company irrevocably directing the Trustee to apply such funds to the payment thereof at maturity or redemption, as the case may be;

(b) the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company with respect to such Securities; and

(c) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, which, taken together, state that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to such Securities have been complied with.

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to the Securities of any series, (x) the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 6.7, the obligations of the Trustee to any Authenticating Agent under Section 6.14 and the right of the Trustee to resign under Section 6.10 shall survive, and (y) if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to clause (a) of this Section, the obligations of the Company and the Trustee under Section 3.5, Section 3.6, Section 4.2, Section 6.6, Section 10.2, the last paragraph of Section 10.3 and Section 13.6 shall survive.

Section 4.2. Application of Trust Money.

Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 10.3, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 4.1 shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal and any premium and interest for the payment of which such money has been deposited with the Trustee.

ARTICLE FIVE

REMEDIES

Section 5.1. Events of Default.

“Event of Default,” wherever used herein with respect to Securities of any series, means any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body):

(a) default in the payment of any interest upon any Security of that series when it becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days (regardless of whether such payment is prohibited by the provisions of Article Fifteen hereof); or

(b) default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any Security of that series at its Maturity (regardless of whether such payment is prohibited by the provisions of Article Fifteen hereof); or

(c) default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant set forth in Article Ten in this Indenture (other than a covenant a default in the performance of which or the breach of which is elsewhere in this Section specifically dealt with or which has expressly been included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of series of Securities other than that series), and continuance of

 

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such default or breach for a period of 60 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, 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 Outstanding Securities of that series a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder; or

(d) default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant in this Indenture (other than a covenant in Article Ten or any other covenant a default in the performance of which or the breach of which is elsewhere in this Section specifically dealt with or which has expressly been included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of series of Securities other than that series), and continuance of such default or breach for a period of 90 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, 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 Outstanding Securities of that series a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder; or

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

(f) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that (i) is for relief against the Company in an involuntary case, (ii) appoints a Custodian of the Company or for all or substantially all of the property of the Company, or (iii) orders the liquidation of the Company; and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 consecutive days; or

(g) default in the deposit of any sinking fund payment when due; or

(h) any other Event of Default provided with respect to Securities of that series in accordance with Section 3.1.

Section 5.2. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.

If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series at the time Outstanding occurs and is continuing, then in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series may declare the principal amount (or, if the Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of that series) and all accrued and unpaid interest of all of the Securities of that series to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Holders), and upon any such declaration such principal amount (or specified amount) shall become immediately due and payable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Event of Default specified in clause (e) or (f) of Section 5.1 occurs, the Securities of any series at the time Outstanding shall be due and payable immediately without further action or notice.

 

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At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to Securities of any series has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as hereinafter in this Article Five provided, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series, by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if:

(a) the Company or, if applicable, one or more of the Guarantors has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay:

(i) all overdue interest on all Securities of that series;

(ii) the principal of (and premium, if any, on) any Securities of that series that has become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration and any interest thereon at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities;

(iii) to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful, interest upon overdue interest at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities; and

(iv) all sums paid or advanced by the Trustee hereunder and the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel; and

(b) all Events of Default with respect to Securities of that series, other than the non-payment of the principal of Securities of that series that has become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 5.13.

No such rescission shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right consequent thereon.

Section 5.3. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee.

The Company covenants that if:

(a) default is made in the payment of any installment of interest on any Security when such interest becomes due and payable and such default continues for a period of 30 days (regardless of whether such payment is prohibited by the provisions of Article Fifteen hereof); or

(b) default is made in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any Security at the Maturity thereof (regardless of whether such payment is prohibited by the provisions of Article Fifteen hereof);

the Company will, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to it, for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities, the whole amount then due and payable on such Securities for principal and any premium and interest and, to the extent that payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable, interest on any overdue principal and any premium and on any overdue interest, at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities, and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.

If the Company fails to pay such amounts forthwith upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, may institute a judicial proceeding for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, may prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree and may enforce the same against the Company or, if applicable, the Guarantors or any other obligor upon such Securities and collect the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or, if applicable, the Guarantors or any other obligor upon such Securities, wherever situated.

If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any such rights, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted herein, or to enforce any other proper remedy.

 

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Section 5.4. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.

In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding relative to the Company or, if applicable, any Guarantor or any other obligor upon the Securities, their property or their creditors, the Trustee (irrespective of whether the principal of the Securities shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand on the Company or, if applicable, the Guarantors for the payment of overdue principal or interest) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:

(a) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of principal (and premium, if any) and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Securities 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 the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and of the Holders allowed in such judicial proceeding; and

(b) to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same;

and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee and, if the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 6.7.

No provision of this Indenture 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, compromise, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities or, if applicable, the Securities Guarantee or the rights of any Holder thereof or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding; provided, however, that the Trustee may, on behalf of the Holders, vote for the election of a trustee in bankruptcy or similar official and be a member of a creditors’ or other similar committee.

Section 5.5. Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities.

All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or the Securities may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Securities or the production thereof in any proceeding relating thereto, and any such proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall, after provision for the payment of the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.

 

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Section 5.6. Application of Money Collected.

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

FIRST: To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee under Section 6.7;

SECOND: Subject to Article Fifteen, to the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid for principal of and any premium and interest on the Securities in respect of which or for the benefit of which such money has been collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on such Securities for principal and any premium and interest, respectively; and

THIRD: The balance, if any, to the Company.

Section 5.7. Limitation on Suits.

No Holder of any Security of any series shall have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to this Indenture (including, if applicable, the Securities Guarantee), or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless:

(a) such Holder has previously given written notice to the Trustee of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of that series;

(b) the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in its own name as Trustee hereunder;

(c) such Holder or Holders have offered to the Trustee indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request;

(d) the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity has failed to institute any such proceeding; and

(e) no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the Trustee during such 60-day period by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series;

it being understood and intended that no one or more of such Holders shall have any right in any manner whatsoever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other Holder of the same series of Security, or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other Holder of the same series of Security or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of all Holders of the same series of Security.

Section 5.8. Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest.

Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of any Security shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional (subject to Article Fifteen and Article Sixteen), to receive payment of the principal of and any premium and interest on such Security on the Stated Maturity or Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the Redemption Date) and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, and such rights shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.

 

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Section 5.9. Restoration of Rights and Remedies.

If the Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case, subject to any determination in such proceeding, the Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee and the Holders shall be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and the Holders shall continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted.

Section 5.10. Rights and Remedies Cumulative.

Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities in the last paragraph of Section 3.6, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.

Section 5.11. Delay or Omission Not Waiver.

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, no delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Securities to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article Five or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders, as the case may be.

Section 5.12. Control by Holders.

The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee, with respect to the Securities of such series; provided, however, that:

(a) such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture;

(b) the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee that is not inconsistent with such direction; and

(c) subject to the provisions of Section 6.1, the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee in good faith shall determine that the direction would expose the Trustee to personal liability.

Section 5.13. Waiver of Past Defaults.

By written notice to the Company and the Trustee, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series may on behalf of the Holders of all the Securities of such series waive any past default hereunder with respect to such series and its consequences, except:

(a) a continuing default in the payment of the principal of or any premium, if any, or interest on any Security of such series; or

 

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(b) a default in respect of a covenant or provision hereof that under Article Nine cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security of such series affected.

Upon any such waiver, such default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Indenture, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or impair any right consequent thereon.

Section 5.14. Undertaking for Costs.

All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Security by such Holder’s acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant, other than the Trustee, in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; but the provisions of this Section 5.14 shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Company, to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Holder, or group of Holders, holding in the aggregate more than 10% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, or to any suit instituted by any Holder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Security on or after the Stated Maturity or Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the Redemption Date).

Section 5.15. Waiver of Stay, Extension or Usury Laws.

Each of the Company and the Guarantors covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it will not at any time insist upon, or plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension or usury law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and each of the Company and the Guarantors (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law and covenants that it will not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.

ARTICLE SIX

THE TRUSTEE

Section 6.1. Certain Duties and Responsibilities.

(a) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of a particular series:

(i) the Trustee undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture and as are provided by the Trust Indenture Act with respect to the Securities of such series, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and

 

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(ii) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; but in the case of any such certificates or opinions that by any 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 they conform to the requirements of this Indenture.

(b) In case an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to the Securities of a particular series, the Trustee shall exercise with respect to the Securities of such series 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.

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

(i) this Subsection shall not be construed to limit the effect of Subsection (a) of this Section;

(ii) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer, unless it shall be proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts;

(iii) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, given pursuant to Section 5.12, relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series; and

(iv) no provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.

(d) Regardless of whether therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section.

Section 6.2. Notice of Defaults.

Within 90 days after the occurrence of any Default hereunder with respect to the Securities of any series, the Trustee shall transmit by mail (or electronic transmission in the case of Global Securities) to all Holders of Securities of such series, as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register, notice of such Default hereunder known to the Trustee, unless such Default shall have been cured or waived; provided, however, that, except in the case of a Default in the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Security of such series or in the payment of any sinking fund installment with respect to Securities of such series, the Trustee may withhold from Holders of Securities notice of any continuing Default or Event of Default if a Responsible Officer of the Trustee in good faith determines that the

 

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withholding of such notice is in the interest of the Holders of Securities of such series; and, provided, further, that in the case of any Default of the character specified in Section 5.1(c) with respect to Securities of such series, no such notice to Holders shall be given until at least 60 days after the occurrence thereof and that in the case of any Default of the character specified in Section 5.1(d) with respect to Securities of such series, no such notice to Holders shall be given until at least 90 days after the occurrence thereof.

Section 6.3. Certain Rights of Trustee.

Subject to the provisions of Section 6.1:

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

(b) any request or direction of the Company or a Guarantor mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Company Request or Company Order and any resolution of the Board of Directors may be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution;

(c) whenever in the administration of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Trustee (unless other evidence be herein specifically prescribed) shall be entitled to receive and may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, rely upon an Officer’s Certificate;

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

(e) the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders pursuant to this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities that might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction;

(f) the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Company, personally or by agent or attorney;

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

 

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

(i) the Trustee shall be entitled to the rights and protections afforded to the Trustee pursuant to this Article Six in acting as a Paying Agent or Security Registrar hereunder;

(j) the Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any Default or Event of Default unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge thereof or unless written notice of any event that is in fact such a Default is received by the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and such notice references the Securities and this Indenture;

(k) the Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take that it believes in good faith to be authorized or within its powers conferred upon it by this Indenture or pursuant to applicable law;

(l) the Trustee shall not be required to provide any bond or surety in respect of the execution of the trusts and powers in respect of this Indenture or otherwise;

(m) under no circumstances shall the Trustee be liable in its individual or any other capacity for the obligations evidenced by any Securities; and

(n) anything in this Indenture notwithstanding, in no event shall the Trustee be liable for any special, indirect, punitive, incidental or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including but not limited to loss of profit), even if the Company has been advised as to the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action.

Section 6.4. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities.

The recitals contained herein and in the Securities, except the Trustee’s certificates of authentication, shall be taken as the statements of the Company or, if applicable, the Guarantors, and neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent assumes any responsibility for their correctness. Neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent makes any representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities. The Trustee or any Authenticating Agent shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of Securities or the proceeds thereof.

Section 6.5. May Hold Securities.

The Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any Paying Agent, any Security Registrar or any other agent of the Company or, if applicable, any Guarantor, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and, subject to Sections 310(b) and 311 of the Trust Indenture Act and Section 6.8, Section 6.9 and Section 6.13, may otherwise deal with the Company or, if applicable, the Guarantors with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent, Security Registrar or such other agent.

Section 6.6. Money Held in Trust.

Money held by the Trustee in trust hereunder need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustee shall be under no liability for interest on any money received by it hereunder except as otherwise agreed in writing with the Company or, if applicable, one or more of the Guarantors.

 

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Section 6.7. Compensation and Reimbursement.

The Company agrees:

(a) to pay to the Trustee from time to time reasonable compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust);

(b) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any provision of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as has been adjudicated to have resulted from its own negligence or willful misconduct; and

(c) to indemnify each of the Trustee and its officers, directors, agents and employees for, and to hold it and them harmless against, any loss, liability or expense arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts hereunder, including the costs and expenses of defending itself or themselves against any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its or their powers or duties hereunder, except any such loss, liability or expense as has been adjudicated to have resulted from any of its or their own negligence or willful misconduct.

As security for the performance of the obligations of the Company under this Section, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such, except funds held in trust for the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on particular Securities. Such obligations of the Company under this Section shall not be subordinated to the payment of Senior Debt pursuant to Article Fifteen.

Without limiting any rights available to the Trustee under applicable law, when the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection with an Event of Default specified in Section 5.1(e) or Section 5.1(f), the expenses (including the reasonable charges and expenses of its counsel) and the compensation for the services of the Trustee are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any applicable Bankruptcy Law.

The provisions of this Section 6.7 shall survive the resignation or removal of the Trustee and the termination or satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture and the Legal Defeasance of the Securities.

Section 6.8. Disqualification; Conflicting Interests.

Reference is made to Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act. There shall be excluded from the operation of Section 310(b)(1) of the Trust Indenture Act this Indenture with respect to the Securities of more than one series.

Section 6.9. Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility .

There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder that shall be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers, having a combined capital and surplus required by the Trust Indenture Act, subject to supervision or examination by Federal or State authority. If such corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of

 

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said supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. The Trustee shall not be an obligor upon the Securities or an Affiliate thereof. If at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, then it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article Six.

Section 6.10. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.

(a) No resignation or removal of the Trustee and no appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to this Article shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 6.11.

(b) The Trustee may resign at any time with respect to the Securities of one or more series by giving written notice thereof to the Company. If the instrument of acceptance of appointment by a successor Trustee required by Section 6.11 shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

(c) The Trustee may be removed at any time with respect to the Securities of any series by Act of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series, delivered to the Trustee and to the Company.

(d) If at any time:

(i) the Trustee shall fail to comply with Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act after written request therefor by the Company or by any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months; or

(ii) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible under Section 6.9 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any such Holder; or

(iii) the Trustee shall become incapable of acting or shall be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent or a Custodian of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed or any public officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation,

then, in any such case, (A) the Company by a Board Resolution may remove the Trustee with respect to all Securities, or (B) subject to Section 5.14, any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee with respect to all Securities and the appointment of a successor Trustee or Trustees.

(e) If the Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of Trustee for any cause, with respect to the Securities of one or more series, the Company, by a Board Resolution, shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or Trustees with respect to the Securities of that or those series (it being understood that any such successor Trustee may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more or all of such series and that at any time there shall be only one Trustee with respect to the Securities of any particular series), and the Company and the successor Trustee shall comply with the applicable

 

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requirements of Section 6.11. If, within one year after such resignation, removal or incapability, or the occurrence of such vacancy, a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall be appointed by Act of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series delivered to the Company and the retiring Trustee, the successor Trustee so appointed shall, forthwith upon its acceptance of such appointment in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 6.11, become the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and to that extent supersede the successor Trustee appointed by the Company. If no successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall have been so appointed by the Company or the Holders and accepted appointment in the manner required by Section 6.11, any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security of such series for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

(f) The Company shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series and each appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series to all Holders of Securities of such series in the manner provided in Section 1.7. Each notice shall include the name of the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and the address of its Corporate Trust Office.

Section 6.11. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.

(a) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to all Securities, the successor Trustee so appointed shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company, the Guarantors (if applicable) and to the retiring Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective and such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee; but, on the request of the Company, any Guarantor (if applicable) or the successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall, upon payment of its charges, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights, powers and trusts of the retiring Trustee and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder, subject nevertheless to its lien under Section 6.7.

(b) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Company, the Guarantors (if applicable), the retiring Trustee and each successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto wherein each successor Trustee shall accept such appointment and which (i) shall contain such provisions as shall be necessary or desirable to transfer and confirm to, and to vest in, each successor Trustee all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates, (ii) if the retiring Trustee is not retiring with respect to all Securities, shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series as to which the retiring Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the retiring Trustee, and (iii) shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust and that each such Trustee shall be trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee; and upon the execution and delivery of such supplemental indenture the resignation

 

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or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective to the extent provided therein and each such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates; but, on request of the Company, any Guarantor (if applicable) or any successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee, upon payment of its charges, shall execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights, powers and trusts of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of the series to which the appointment of such successor relates and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of such series, subject nevertheless to its lien under Section 6.7.

(c) Upon request of any such successor Trustee, the Company and, if applicable, the Guarantors shall execute any and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor Trustee all such rights, powers and trusts referred to in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section, as the case may be.

(d) No successor Trustee shall accept its appointment unless at the time of such acceptance such successor Trustee shall be qualified and eligible under this Article and the Trust Indenture Act.

Section 6.12. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business.

Any corporation into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder, provided such corporation shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article Six, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto. As soon as practicable, the successor Trustee shall mail (or send by electronic transmission in the case of Global Securities) a notice of its succession to the Company and the Holders of the Securities then Outstanding. In case any Securities shall have been authenticated, but not delivered, by the Trustee then in office, any successor by merger, conversion or consolidation to such authenticating Trustee may adopt such authentication and deliver the Securities so authenticated with the same effect as if such successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Securities.

Section 6.13. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.

Reference is made to Section 311 of the Trust Indenture Act. For purposes of Section 311(b) of the Trust Indenture Act:

(a) the term “cash transaction” means any transaction in which full payment for goods or securities sold is made within seven days after delivery of the goods or securities in currency or in checks or other orders drawn upon banks or bankers and payable upon demand;

(b) the term “self-liquidating paper” means any draft, bill of exchange, acceptance or obligation which is made, drawn, negotiated or incurred by the Company or, if applicable, any Guarantor for the purpose of financing the purchase, processing, manufacturing, shipment, storage or sale of goods, wares or merchandise and which is secured by documents evidencing title to, possession of, or a lien upon, the goods, wares or merchandise or the receivables or proceeds arising from the sale of the goods, wares or merchandise previously constituting the security, provided the security is received by the Trustee simultaneously with the creation of the creditor relationship with the Company or, if applicable, such Guarantor arising from the making, drawing, negotiating or incurring of the draft, bill of exchange, acceptance or obligation.

 

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Section 6.14. Appointment of Authenticating Agent .

The Trustee may appoint an Authenticating Agent or Agents with respect to one or more series of Securities, which shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of such series issued upon exchange, registration of transfer or partial redemption thereof or pursuant to Section 3.6, and Securities so authenticated shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee hereunder. Wherever reference is made in this Indenture to the authentication and delivery of Securities by the Trustee or the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, such reference shall be deemed to include authentication and delivery on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent and a certificate of authentication executed on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent. Each Authenticating Agent shall be acceptable to the Company and shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, authorized under such laws to act as Authenticating Agent, having a combined capital and surplus of not less than $50,000,000 and subject to supervision or examination by Federal or State authority. If such Authenticating Agent publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of said supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such Authenticating Agent shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, such Authenticating Agent shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in this Section.

Any corporation into which an Authenticating Agent may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which such Authenticating Agent shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate agency or corporate trust business of an Authenticating Agent, shall continue to be an Authenticating Agent, provided such corporation shall be otherwise eligible under this Section, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent.

An Authenticating Agent may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Trustee and to the Company and, if applicable, the Guarantors. The Trustee for any series of Securities may at any time terminate the agency of an Authenticating Agent by giving written notice thereof to such Authenticating Agent and to the Company and, if applicable, the Guarantors. Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time such Authenticating Agent shall cease to be qualified and eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, the Trustee for such series may appoint a successor Authenticating Agent that shall be acceptable to the Company and, if applicable, the Guarantors and shall mail (or send by electronic transmission in the case of Global Securities) written notice of such appointment by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to all Holders of Securities of the series with respect to which such Authenticating Agent will serve, as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register. Any successor Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder shall become vested with all the rights, powers and duties of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as an Authenticating Agent. No successor Authenticating Agent shall be appointed unless eligible under the provisions of this Section.

Except with respect to an Authenticating Agent appointed at the request of the Company or, if applicable, the Guarantors, the Trustee agrees to pay to each Authenticating Agent from time to time reasonable compensation for its services under this Section 6.14, and the Trustee shall be entitled to be reimbursed by the Company or, if applicable, the Guarantors for such payments, subject to the provisions of Section 6.7.

 

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If an appointment with respect to one or more series is made pursuant to this Section 6.14, the Securities of such series may have endorsed thereon, in addition to the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, an alternate certificate of authentication in the following form:

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

 

UMB Bank, N.A., as Trustee
By:  

 

  As Authenticating Agent
By:  

 

  Authorized Officer

ARTICLE SEVEN

HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY

Section 7.1. Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders.

The Company will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee:

(a) semi-annually, not more than 5 days after each Regular Record Date for a series of Securities, a list for such series of Securities, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Holders of Securities of such series as of such Regular 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 of similar form and content as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list is furnished;

provided, however, that if and so long as the Trustee shall be the Security Registrar, no such list need be furnished with respect to such series of Securities.

Section 7.2. Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders.

(a) The Trustee shall preserve, with respect to each series of Securities, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, the names and addresses of Holders contained in the most recent list furnished to the Trustee as provided in Section 7.1 and the names and addresses of Holders received by the Trustee in its capacity as Security Registrar. The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 7.1 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.

(b) If three or more Holders (herein referred to as “applicants”) apply in writing to the Trustee, and furnish to the Trustee reasonable proof that each such applicant has owned a Security for a period of at least six months preceding the date of such application, and such application states that the applicants desire to communicate with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under the Securities and is accompanied by a copy of the form of proxy or other communication which such applicants propose to transmit, then the Trustee shall, within five Business Days after the receipt of such application, at its election, either:

 

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(i) afford such applicants access to the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with Section 7.2(a); or

(ii) inform such applicants as to the approximate number of Holders whose names and addresses appear in the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with Section 7.2(a), and as to the approximate cost of mailing to such Holders the form of proxy or other communication, if any, specified in such application.

If the Trustee shall elect not to afford such applicants access to such information, the Trustee shall, upon the written request of such applicants, mail to each Holder whose name and address appear in the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with Section 7.2(a) a copy of the form of proxy or other communication that is specified in such request, with reasonable promptness after a tender to the Trustee of the material to be mailed and of payment, or provision for the payment, of the reasonable expenses of mailing, unless within five days after such tender the Trustee shall mail to such applicants and file with the SEC, together with a copy of the material to be mailed, a written statement to the effect that, in the opinion of the Trustee, such mailing would be contrary to the best interest of the Holders or would be in violation of applicable law. Such written statement shall specify the basis of such opinion. If the SEC, after opportunity for a hearing upon the objections specified in the written statement so filed, shall enter an order refusing to sustain any of such objections or if, after the entry of an order sustaining one or more of such objections, the SEC shall find, after notice and opportunity for hearing, that all the objections so sustained have been met and shall enter an order so declaring, the Trustee shall mail copies of such material to all such Holders with reasonable promptness after the entry of such order and the renewal of such tender; otherwise the Trustee shall be relieved of any obligation or duty to such applicants respecting their application.

(c) Every Holder of Securities, by receiving and holding the same, agrees with the Company, the Guarantors (if applicable) and the Trustee that none of the Company, the Guarantors (if applicable) nor the Trustee nor any agent of any of them shall be held accountable by reason of the disclosure of any such information as to the names and addresses of the Holders in accordance with Section 7.2(b), regardless of the source from which such information was derived, and that the Trustee shall not be held accountable by reason of mailing any material pursuant to a request made under Section 7.2(b).

Section 7.3. Reports by Trustee.

Any Trustee’s report required pursuant to Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act shall be dated as of May 15, and shall be transmitted within 60 days after May 15 of each year (but in all events at intervals of not more than 12 months), commencing with the year 20__, by mail (or electronic transmission in the case of Global Securities) to all Holders, as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register. A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission to Holders, be filed by the Trustee with each stock exchange upon which any Securities are listed, and with the SEC. The Company will notify the Trustee when any Securities are listed on any stock exchange.

 

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Section 7.4. Reports by Company.

The Company shall:

(a) file with the Trustee, within 15 days after the Company files the same with the SEC, copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the SEC may from time to time by rules and regulations prescribe) which the Company may be required to file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act; or, if the Company is not required to file information, documents or reports pursuant to either of said Sections, then it shall file with the Trustee and the SEC, in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the SEC, 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;

(b) file with the Trustee and the SEC, in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the SEC, such additional information, documents and reports with respect to compliance by the Company with the conditions and covenants of this Indenture as may be required from time to time by such rules and regulations; and

(c) transmit by mail (or electronic transmission in the case of Global Securities) to all Holders, as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register, within 30 days after the filing thereof with the Trustee, such summaries of any information, documents and reports required to be filed by the Company pursuant to clauses (a) and (b) of this Section as may be required by rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the SEC.

ARTICLE EIGHT

CONSOLIDATION, AMALGAMATION, MERGER AND SALE

Section 8.1. Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms.

The Company shall not convert into, or consolidate, amalgamate or merge with or into any other Person or sell, convey, assign, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company on a consolidated basis to any other Person unless:

(a) either: (i) the Company is the surviving Person; or (ii) the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation, amalgamation or merger or resulting from such conversion (if other than the Company) or to which such sale, conveyance, assignment, transfer, lease or other disposition has been made is a corporation, limited liability company or limited partnership organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia;

(b) the Person formed by or surviving any such conversion, consolidation, amalgamation or merger (if other than the Company) or the Person to which such sale, conveyance, assignment, transfer, lease or other disposition has been made assumes by an indenture supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to the Trustee, the due and punctual payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on all the Securities and the performance of every covenant of this Indenture on the part of the Company to be performed or observed;

(c) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Event of Default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an Event of Default, shall have occurred and be continuing; and

(d) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such conversion, consolidation, amalgamation, merger, sale, conveyance, assignment, transfer, lease or other disposition and such supplemental indenture comply with this Article Eight and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with.

 

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Section 8.2. Successor Substituted.

Upon any consolidation, amalgamation or merger of the Company with or into any other Person or any sale, conveyance, assignment, transfer, lease or other disposition of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company and, if applicable, the Guarantors on a consolidated basis in accordance with Section 8.1, the successor or resulting Person formed by or resulting upon such consolidation, amalgamation or merger (if other than the Company) or to which such sale, conveyance, assignment, transfer, lease or other disposition is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as the Company herein, and thereafter, except in the case of a lease, the predecessor Company and, if applicable, each of the Guarantors shall be relieved of all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities.

ARTICLE NINE

AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER

Section 9.1. Without Consent of Holders .

The Company, the Guarantors (if any) and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture, the Securities Guarantee or the Securities without the consent of any holder of a Security:

(a) to cure any ambiguity or defect or to correct or supplement any provision herein that may be inconsistent with any other provision herein; or

(b) to evidence the succession of another Person to the Company and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants of the Company herein and, to the extent applicable, of the Securities; or

(c) to provide for uncertificated Securities in addition to or in place of certificated Securities; provided that the uncertificated Securities are issued in registered form for purposes of Section 163(f) of the Code, or in the manner such that the uncertificated Securities are described in Section 163(f)(2)(B) of the Code; or

(d) to add a Securities Guarantee and cause any Person to become a Guarantor, and/or to evidence the succession of another Person to a Guarantor and the assumption by any such successor of the Securities Guarantee of such Guarantor herein and, to the extent applicable, endorsed upon any Securities of any series, and/or to cause any corporate subsidiary of the Company to become a co-issuer of the Securities of any series; or

(e) to secure the Securities of any series; or

(f) to add to the covenants of the Company such further covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions as the Company shall consider to be appropriate for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such covenants are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series) or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company, and to make the occurrence, or the occurrence and continuance, of a Default in any such additional covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions an Event of Default permitting the enforcement of all or any of the several remedies provided in this Indenture as herein set forth; provided, that in respect of any such additional covenant, restriction, condition or provision such amendment or supplemental indenture may provide for a

 

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particular period of grace after Default (which period may be shorter or longer than that allowed in the case of other Defaults), may provide for an immediate enforcement upon such an Event of Default, may limit the remedies available to the Trustee upon such an Event of Default or may limit the right of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series to waive such an Event of Default; or

(g) to make any change to any provision of this Indenture that does not adversely affect the rights or interests of any Holder of Securities; or

(h) to provide for the issuance of additional Securities in accordance with the provisions set forth in this Indenture; or

(i) to add any additional Defaults or Events of Default in respect of all or any series of Securities; or

(j) to add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the issuance of Securities in bearer form, registrable or not registrable as to principal, and with or without interest coupons; or

(k) to change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture; provided that any such change or elimination shall become effective only when there is no Security Outstanding of any series created prior to the execution of such amendment or supplemental indenture that is entitled to the benefit of such provision; or

(l) to establish the form or terms of Securities of any series as permitted by Section 2.1 and Section 3.1, including to reopen any series of any Securities as permitted under Section 3.1; or

(m) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, pursuant to the requirements of Section 6.11(b); or

(n) to conform the text of this Indenture (and/or any supplemental indenture) or any Securities issued hereunder to any provision of a description of such text or Securities appearing in a prospectus, prospectus supplement, offering memorandum or offering circular pursuant to which such Securities were offered to the extent that such provision was intended by the Company to be a verbatim recitation of a provision of this Indenture (and/or any supplemental indenture) or any Securities or Securities Guarantee issued hereunder, with such intention being evidenced by an Officer’s Certificate; or

(o) to modify, eliminate or add to the provisions of this Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to effect the qualification of this Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act or under any similar federal statute subsequently enacted, and to add to this Indenture such other provisions as may be expressly required under the Trust Indenture Act.

Section 9.2. With Consent of Holders.

The Company, the Guarantors (if any) and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture, the Securities Guarantee and the Securities with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of each series of Securities affected by such amendment or

 

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supplemental indenture, with each such series voting as a separate class (including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Securities) and, subject to Section 5.8 and Section 5.13 hereof, any existing Default or Event of Default or compliance with any provision of this Indenture, the Securities Guarantee or the Securities may be waived with respect to each series of Securities with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series voting as a separate class (including consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Securities).

It is not necessary for the consent of the Holders of Securities under this Section 9.2 to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment, supplement or waiver, but it is sufficient if such consent approves the substance of the proposed amendment, supplement or waiver.

After an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section 9.2 becomes effective, the Company will mail to the Holders of Securities affected thereby a notice briefly describing the amendment, supplement or waiver. Any failure of the Company to mail such notice, or any defect therein, will not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such amendment, supplemental indenture or waiver. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, without the consent of each Holder affected, an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section 9.2 may not (with respect to any Securities held by a non-consenting Holder):

(a) change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any installment of principal of or interest on, any Security, or reduce the principal amount thereof or the rate of interest thereon or any premium payable upon the redemption thereof, or reduce the amount of the principal of an Original Issue Discount Security that would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.2, or change the coin or currency in which any Security or any premium or the interest thereon is payable, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the Stated Maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the Redemption Date therefor); or

(b) reduce the percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, the consent of whose Holders is required for any such amendment or supplemental indenture, or the consent of whose Holders is required for any waiver of compliance with certain provisions of this Indenture or certain defaults hereunder and their consequences provided for in this Indenture; or

(c) modify any of the provisions of Section 5.8 or Section 5.13; or

(d) waive a redemption payment with respect to any Security; provided, however, that any purchase or repurchase of Securities shall not be deemed a redemption of the Securities; or

(e) release any Guarantor from any of its obligations under its Securities Guarantee or this Indenture, except in accordance with the terms of this Indenture (as amended or supplemented); or

(f) make any change in the foregoing amendment and waiver provisions, except to increase any percentage provided for therein or to provide that certain other provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby.

An amendment or supplemental indenture that changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of this Indenture that has expressly been included solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of Securities, or that modifies the rights of the Holders of 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 Securities of any other series.

 

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Section 9.3. Execution of Amendments and Supplemental Indentures .

In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any amendment or supplemental indenture permitted by this Article Nine or the modifications thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 6.1) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such amendment or supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture.

Upon the request of the Company accompanied by a Board Resolution authorizing the execution of any such amendment or supplemental indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence satisfactory to the Trustee of the consent of the Holders of Securities as aforesaid, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 6.3 hereof, the Trustee will join with the Company and the Guarantors in the execution of such amendment or supplemental indenture unless such amendment or supplemental indenture directly affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion, but will not be obligated to, enter into such amendment or supplemental Indenture.

Section 9.4. Effect of Amendments and Supplemental Indentures.

Upon the execution of any amendment or supplemental indenture under this Article Nine, this Indenture shall be modified in accordance therewith, and such amendment or supplemental indenture shall form a part of this Indenture for all purposes; and every Holder of Securities theretofore or thereafter authenticated and delivered hereunder shall be bound thereby.

Section 9.5. Conformity with Trust Indenture Act.

Every amendment or supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article Nine shall conform to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect.

Section 9.6. Reference in Securities to Amendments or Supplemental Indentures.

Securities of any series authenticated and delivered after the execution of any amendment or supplemental indenture pursuant to this Article Nine 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 amendment or supplemental indenture. If the Company shall so determine, new Securities of any series so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Trustee and the Company, to any such amendment or supplemental indenture may be prepared and executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in exchange for Outstanding Securities of such series.

Section 9.7. Effect of Consents.

Until an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder of a Security of a series is a continuing consent by the Holder of a Security of such series and every subsequent Holder of a Security of such series or portion of a Security of such series that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Security of such series, even if the notation of the consent is not made on any Security. An amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective in accordance with its terms and thereafter binds every Holder of the Securities of such series.

 

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ARTICLE TEN

COVENANTS

Section 10.1. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest.

The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of each series of Securities that it will duly and punctually pay the principal of and any premium and interest on the Securities of that series in accordance with the terms of the Securities and this Indenture.

Section 10.2. Maintenance of Office or Agency.

The Company will maintain in the United States an office or agency (which may be an office of the Trustee or Security Registrar or agent of the Trustee or Security Registrar) where Securities of each series may be presented or surrendered for payment and surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of that 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.

The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Securities of one or more series may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency.

Except as otherwise specified with respect to a series of Securities as contemplated by Section 3.1, the Company hereby initially designates the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee as the Company’s office or agency for each such purpose for each series of Securities. The Trustee shall initially serve as Paying Agent. In the event the Company makes any payment in any currency in which the Trustee is unable to pay, and notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Company will appoint a Paying Agent other than the Trustee to make such payment and the Trustee will have no obligations with respect to such payment and will incur no liability with respect to the failure by the Company or such other Paying Agent to make, or cause to be made, such payment.

Section 10.3. Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust.

If the Company shall at any time act as its own Paying Agent, with respect to any series of Securities, it will, on or before each due date of the principal of or any premium or interest on any of the Securities of that series, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto a sum sufficient to pay the principal and any premium and interest so becoming due until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided and will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.

Whenever the Company shall have one or more Paying Agents for any series of Securities, it will, prior to each due date of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities of that series, deposit with a Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay the principal and any premium or interest so becoming due, such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such principal, premium or interest, and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act. For purposes of this Section 10.3, should a due date for principal of or any premium or interest on, or sinking fund payment with respect to, any series of Securities not be on a Business Day, such payment shall be due on the next Business Day without any interest for the period from the due date until such Business Day.

 

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The Company will cause each Paying Agent for any series of Securities other than the Trustee to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such Paying Agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section, that such Paying Agent will:

(a) hold all sums held by it for the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on Securities of that series in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided;

(b) give the Trustee notice of any Default by the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities of that series) in the making of any payment of principal or any premium or interest on the Securities of that series; and

(c) at any time during the continuance of any such Default, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so held in trust by such Paying Agent.

The Company and, if applicable, the Guarantors may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or for any other purpose, pay, or by Company Order direct any Paying Agent to pay, to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Company or such Paying Agent, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the same trusts as those upon which such sums were held by the Company or such Paying Agent; and, upon such payment by any Paying Agent to the Trustee, such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such money.

Subject to any applicable escheat or abandoned property laws, any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Security of any series and remaining unclaimed for one year after such principal, premium or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on Company Request, or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Security shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Company cause to be published once, in The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal (national edition), notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company.

Section 10.4. Existence.

Subject to Article Eight, the Company and, if any Securities of a series to which Article Fourteen has been made applicable are Outstanding, each Guarantor will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its existence, rights (charter and statutory) and franchises; provided, however, that the Company and, if applicable, each Guarantor shall not be required to preserve any such right or franchise if the Board of Directors shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company or such Guarantor, as the case may be.

 

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Section 10.5. Statement by Officers as to Default.

Annually, within 120 days after the close of each fiscal year beginning with the first fiscal year during which one or more series of Securities are Outstanding, the Company and, if any Securities of a series to which Article Fourteen has been made applicable are Outstanding, each Guarantor will deliver to the Trustee a brief certificate (which need not include the statements set forth in Section 1.3) from the principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer of the Company and, if applicable, such Guarantor, stating that a review of the activities of the Company during such year and of performance under this Indenture has been made, and as to his or her knowledge of the Company’s or such Guarantor’s, as the case may be, compliance (without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice provided herein) with all conditions and covenants under this Indenture and, if the Company or such Guarantor, as the case may be, shall be in Default, specifying all such Defaults and the nature and status thereof of which such officer has knowledge.

ARTICLE ELEVEN

REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

Section 11.1. Applicability of Article.

Securities of any series that are redeemable before their Stated Maturity shall be redeemable in accordance with their terms and (except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1 for Securities of any series) in accordance with this Article Eleven.

Section 11.2. Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee.

The election of the Company to redeem any Securities shall be evidenced by a Board Resolution. In case of any redemption at the election of the Company of less than all the Securities of any series, the Company shall, at least 15 days prior to the last date for the giving of notice of such redemption (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), notify the Trustee of such Redemption Date and of the principal amount of Securities of such series to be redeemed and, if applicable, of the tenor of the Securities to be redeemed. In the case of any redemption of Securities (a) prior to the expiration of any restriction on such redemption provided in the terms of such Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture or (b) pursuant to an election of the Company that is subject to a condition specified in the terms of the Securities of the series to be redeemed, the Company shall furnish the Trustee with an Officer’s Certificate evidencing compliance with such restriction or condition.

Section 11.3. Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed.

If less than all the Securities of any series are to be redeemed (unless all of the Securities of such series and of a specified tenor are to be redeemed), the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 45 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee, from the Outstanding Securities of such series not previously called for redemption, by such method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate (and in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Depositary in the case of Global Securities) and which may provide for the selection for redemption of portions (equal to the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of that series or any integral multiple thereof) of the principal amount of Securities of such series of a denomination larger than the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of that series.

 

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The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the Securities selected for redemption and, in the case of any Securities selected for partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed. If the Securities of any series to be redeemed consist of Securities having different dates on which the principal is payable or different rates of interest, or different methods by which interest may be determined or have any other different tenor or terms, then the Company may, by written notice to the Trustee, direct that the Securities of such series to be redeemed shall be selected from among the groups of such Securities having specified tenor or terms and the Trustee shall thereafter select the particular Securities to be redeemed in the manner set forth in the preceding paragraph from among the group of such Securities so specified.

For all purposes of this Indenture, unless the context otherwise requires, all provisions relating to the redemption of Securities shall relate, in the case of any Securities redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the principal amount of such Securities which has been or is to be redeemed.

Section 11.4. Notice of Redemption.

Notice of redemption shall be given by first-class mail, postage prepaid, or sent electronically in the case of Global Securities, in each case, not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date, to each Holder of Securities of a series that are to be redeemed, at such Holder’s address appearing in the Security Register, except that redemption notices may be given more than 60 days prior to a Redemption Date if the notice is issued in connection with defeasance of the Securities of such series pursuant to Article Thirteen or a satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture pursuant to Article Four with respect to the Securities of such series.

All notices of redemption shall state:

(a) the Redemption Date;

(b) the Redemption Price, or if not then ascertainable, the manner of calculation thereof;

(c) if less than all the Outstanding Securities of any series are to be redeemed, the identification (and, in the case of partial redemption, the principal amounts) of the particular Securities to be redeemed;

(d) that on the Redemption Date the Redemption Price will become due and payable upon each such Security to be redeemed and, if applicable, that interest thereon will cease to accrue on and after said date;

(e) the place or places where such Securities are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price;

(f) that the redemption is for a sinking fund, if such is the case; and

(g) the conditions, if any, to which such redemption shall be subject.

Notice of redemption of Securities to be redeemed at the election of the Company shall be given by the Company or, at the Company’s request, by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company.

Section 11.5. Deposit of Redemption Price.

Prior to any Redemption Date, 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 as provided in Section 10.3) an amount of money sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of, and (except if the Redemption Date shall be an Interest Payment Date) accrued interest on, all the Securities which are to be redeemed on that date.

 

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Section 11.6. Securities Payable on Redemption Date.

Notice of redemption having been given as aforesaid, the Securities so to be redeemed shall, on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at the Redemption Price therein specified, and from and after such date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest, or fail to pay the Redemption Price and accrued interest as a result of any failure of any condition to which such redemption is subject to be satisfied or waived) such Securities shall cease to bear interest. Upon surrender of any such Security for redemption in accordance with said notice, such Security shall be paid by the Company at the Redemption Price, together with accrued interest to the Redemption Date; provided, however, that unless otherwise specified with respect to Securities of any series as contemplated in Section 3.1, installments of interest the Stated Maturity of which is on or prior to the Redemption Date shall be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as such at the close of business on the relevant record dates according to their terms and the provisions of Section 3.7.

If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof for redemption, the principal (and premium, if any) shall, until paid, bear interest from the Redemption Date at the rate prescribed therefor in the Security.

Section 11.7. Securities Redeemed in Part.

Any Security which is to be redeemed only in part shall be surrendered at a Place of Payment therefor (with, if the Company or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder thereof or such Holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing), and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security without service charge, a new Security or Securities of the same series and tenor, 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 Security so surrendered.

ARTICLE TWELVE

SINKING FUNDS

Section 12.1. Applicability of Article.

The provisions of this Article Twelve shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of Securities of a series except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1 for Securities of such series.

The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as a “mandatory sinking fund payment,” and any payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as an “optional sinking fund payment.” If provided for by the terms of Securities of any series, the cash amount of any sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 12.2. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities of any series as provided for by the terms of Securities of such series.

 

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Section 12.2. Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities.

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

Section 12.3. Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund.

Not less than 45 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for any series of Securities (unless a shorter period shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing sinking fund payment for that series pursuant to the terms of that series, the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash and the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting Securities of that series pursuant to Section 12.2 and stating the basis for such credit and that such Securities have not been previously so credited, and will also deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so delivered. Not less than 30 days before each such sinking fund payment date the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 11.3 and cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the Company in the manner provided in Section 11.4. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Section 11.6 and Section 11.7.

ARTICLE THIRTEEN

DEFEASANCE

Section 13.1. Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

The Company may, at the option of its Board of Directors evidenced by a Board Resolution, and at any time, elect to have either Section 13.2 or Section 13.3 hereof be applied to all Outstanding Securities of any series upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article Thirteen.

Section 13.2. Legal Defeasance and Discharge.

Upon the Company’s exercise under Section 13.1 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 13.2, the Company and each of the Guarantors will, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 13.4 hereof, be deemed to have been discharged from their obligations with respect to all Outstanding Securities of such series (including the Securities Guarantee) on the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, “Legal Defeasance”). For this purpose, Legal Defeasance means that the Company and the Guarantors will be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Debt represented by the Outstanding Securities of such series (including the Securities Guarantee), which will thereafter be deemed to be “outstanding” only for the purposes of Section 13.5 hereof and the other sections of this Indenture referred to in clauses (a) and (b) below, and to have satisfied all their other obligations under such Securities, the Securities Guarantee and this Indenture (and the Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following provisions, which will survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder:

 

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(a) the rights of Holders of Outstanding Securities of such series to receive payments in respect of the principal of, or interest or premium, if any, on, such Securities when such payments are due from the trust referred to in Section 13.4 hereof;

(b) the Company’s obligations with respect to such Securities under Section 3.4, Section 3.5, Section 3.6, Section 10.2 and Section 10.3 hereof;

(c) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and the Company’s and the Guarantors’ obligations in connection therewith; and

(d) this Article Thirteen.

Subject to compliance with this Article Thirteen, the Company may exercise its option under this Section 13.2 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 13.3 hereof with respect to the same series of Securities.

Section 13.3. Covenant Defeasance.

Upon the Company’s exercise under Section 13.1 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 13.3, the Company and each of the Guarantors will, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 13.4 hereof, be released from each of their obligations with respect to the Securities of such series under the covenants contained in Section 7.4, Section 8.1 and Section 10.4 hereof as well as any Additional Defeasible Provisions (such release and termination hereinafter referred to as “Covenant Defeasance”), and the Securities of such series will thereafter be deemed not “outstanding” for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or act of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with such covenants, but will continue to be deemed “outstanding” for all other purposes hereunder (it being understood that such Securities will not be deemed outstanding for accounting purposes). For this purpose, Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to the Outstanding Securities of such series and the Securities Guarantee, the Company and the Guarantors may fail to comply with and will have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such covenant or by reason of any reference in any such covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document and such failure to comply will not constitute a Default or an Event of Default under Section 5.1 hereof, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Securities and Securities Guarantees will be unaffected thereby. In addition, upon the Company’s exercise under Section 13.1 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 13.3 hereof, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 13.4 hereof, any Event of Default that constitutes an Additional Defeasible Provision will no longer constitute an Event of Default.

Section 13.4. Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance.

In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance with respect to any series of Securities under either Section 13.2 or Section 13.3 hereof:

(a) the Company must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders of the Securities of such series, cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable U.S. Government Obligations, or a combination of cash in U.S. dollars and non-callable U.S. Government Obligations, in such amounts as will be sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized investment bank, appraisal firm, or firm of independent public accountants, to pay the principal of, and interest and premium, if any, on, the Outstanding Securities of such series on the stated date for payment thereof or on the applicable Redemption Date, as the case may be, and the Company must specify whether the Securities are being defeased to such stated date for payment or to a particular Redemption Date;

 

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(b) in the case of an election under Section 13.2 hereof, the Company must deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that:

(i) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling; or

(ii) since the Issue Date, there has been a change in the applicable U.S. federal income tax law,

in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel will state that, the Holders of the Outstanding Securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such Legal Defeasance and will be subject to U.S. 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;

(c) in the case of an election under Section 13.3 hereof, the Company must deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that the Holders of the Outstanding Securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to U.S. 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;

(d) no Default or Event of Default with respect to such series of Securities shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit (other than a Default or Event of Default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit);

(e) the deposit must not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any other instrument to which the Company or any Guarantor is a party or by which the Company or any Guarantor is bound;

(f) such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance must not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any material agreement or instrument (other than this Indenture) to which the Company or any Guarantor is a party or by which the Company or any Guarantor is bound;

(g) the Company must deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent of preferring the Holders of such Securities over the other creditors of the Company with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any creditors of the Company or others;

(h) the Company must deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating that all conditions precedent set forth in clauses (a) through (f) of this Section 13.4 have been complied with; and

(i) the Company must deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel (which Opinion of Counsel may be subject to customary assumptions, qualifications and exclusions) stating that all conditions precedent set forth in clauses (b), (c) and (f) of this Section 13.4 have been complied with.

 

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Section 13.5. Deposited Money and U.S. Government Obligations to be Held in Trust, Other Miscellaneous Provisions.

Subject to the last paragraph of Section 10.3 hereof, all money and non-callable U.S. Government Obligations (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee, collectively for purposes of this Section 13.5, the “Trustee”) pursuant to Section 13.4 hereof in respect of the Outstanding Securities of any series will be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Securities of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal, premium, if any, and interest, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

The Company will pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the cash or non-callable U.S. Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 13.4 hereof or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge that by law is for the account of the Holders of the Outstanding Securities.

Notwithstanding anything in this Article Thirteen to the contrary, the Trustee will deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon the request of the Company any money or non-callable U.S. Government Obligations held by it as provided in Section 13.4 hereof which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized investment bank, appraisal firm or firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee (which may be the opinion delivered under Section 13.4(a) hereof), are in excess of the amount thereof that would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

Section 13.6. Reinstatement.

If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any United States dollars or non-callable U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with Section 4.1, Section 13.2 or Section 13.3 hereof with respect to the Securities of any series, as the case may be, by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the Company’s and the Guarantors’ obligations under this Indenture and such Securities and the Securities Guarantee will be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 4.1, Section 13.2 or Section 13.3 hereof until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money or non-callable U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with Section 4.1, Section 13.2 or Section 13.3 hereof, as the case may be; provided, however, that, if the Company makes any payment of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any such Security following the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company will be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Securities to receive such payment from the money or non-callable U.S. Government Obligations held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

ARTICLE FOURTEEN

GUARANTEE OF SECURITIES

Section 14.1. Securities Guarantee.

(a) Subject to the other provisions of this Article Fourteen, each of the Guarantors hereby fully and unconditionally and jointly and severally guarantees to each Holder of a Security of each series to which this Article Fourteen has been made applicable as provided in Section 3.1(t) (the Securities of such series being referred to herein as the “Guaranteed Securities”) (which Security has been authenticated and delivered by the Trustee), and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns, irrespective of the validity and enforceability of this Indenture, the Guaranteed Securities, or the obligations of the Company hereunder or thereunder, that:

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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Section 14.2. Limitation on Guarantor Liability.

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

Section 14.3. Execution and Delivery of Securities Guarantee Notation.

To evidence its Securities Guarantee set forth in Section 14.1 hereof, each Guarantor hereby agrees that a notation of such Securities Guarantee substantially in the form set forth in Section 2.3 or established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution or in an indenture supplemental hereto, in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.1, will be endorsed by an officer of such Guarantor on each Guaranteed Security authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and that this Indenture or a supplement to this Indenture will be executed on behalf of such Guarantor by one of its officers.

Each Guarantor hereby agrees that its Securities Guarantee set forth in Section 14.1 hereof will remain in full force and effect notwithstanding any failure to endorse on each Guaranteed Security a notation of such Securities Guarantee.

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

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

ARTICLE FIFTEEN

SUBORDINATION OF SECURITIES

Section 15.1. Securities Subordinated to Senior Debt.

The Company covenants and agrees, and each Holder, by its acceptance of a Security, likewise covenants and agrees, that all Securities shall be issued subject to the provisions of this Article Fifteen; and each Person holding any Security, whether upon original issue or upon transfer, assignment or exchange thereof, accepts and agrees that the payment of the principal of and interest and premium, if any, on each and all of the Securities shall, to the extent and in the manner set forth in this Article Fifteen, be subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment in full, in cash or cash equivalents, of all existing and future Senior Debt.

 

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Section 15.2. No Payment on Securities in Certain Circumstances.

(a) No direct or indirect payment by or on behalf of the Company of the principal of or interest or premium, if any, on each and all of the Securities (other than with the money, securities or proceeds held under any defeasance trust established in accordance with this Indenture), whether pursuant to the terms of the Securities or upon acceleration or otherwise, shall be made if, at the time of such payment, there exists a default in the payment of all or any portion of the obligations on any Designated Senior Debt and such default shall not have been cured or waived or the benefits of this sentence waived by or on behalf of the holders of such Senior Debt.

(b) During the continuance of any other event of default with respect to any Designated Senior Debt pursuant to which the maturity thereof may be accelerated, upon receipt by the Trustee of written notice from the trustee or other representative for the holders of such Designated Senior Debt (or the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of such Designated Senior Debt then outstanding), no payment of the principal of or interest or premium, if any, on each and all of the Securities (other than with the money, securities or proceeds held under any defeasance trust established in accordance with this Indenture) may be made by or on behalf of the Company upon or in respect of the Securities for a period (a “Payment Blockage Period”) commencing on the date of receipt of such notice and ending 179 days thereafter (unless, in each case, such Payment Blockage Period has been terminated by written notice to the Trustee from such trustee of, or other representatives for, such holders or by payment in full in cash or cash equivalents of such Designated Senior Debt or such event of default has been cured or waived). Not more than one Payment Blockage Period may be commenced with respect to the Securities during any period of 360 consecutive days. Notwithstanding anything in this Indenture to the contrary, there must be 180 consecutive days in any 360-day period in which no Payment Blockage Period is in effect. No event of default that existed or was continuing (it being acknowledged that any subsequent action that would give rise to an event of default pursuant to any provision under which an event of default previously existed or was continuing shall constitute a new event of default for this purpose) on the date of the commencement of any Payment Blockage Period with respect to the Designated Senior Debt initiating such Payment Blockage Period shall be, or shall be made, the basis for the commencement of a second Payment Blockage Period by the trustee or other representative for the holders of such Designated Senior Debt, whether or not within a period of 360 consecutive days, unless such event of default shall have been cured or waived for a period of not less than 90 consecutive days.

(c) In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment shall be received by the Trustee or any Holder when such payment is prohibited by clause (a) or (b) above, such payment shall be held in trust for the benefit of, and shall be paid over or delivered to, the trustee in bankruptcy, receiver, liquidating trustee, custodian, assignee, agent or other Persons making payment or distribution of the assets of the Company for application to the payment of all Senior Debt remaining unpaid, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any of such Senior Debt may have been issued, and any excess above such amounts due and owing on Senior Debt shall be paid to the Company.

Section 15.3. Payment over of Proceeds upon Dissolution, Etc.

(a) Upon any payment or distribution of assets or securities of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities (other than with the money, securities or proceeds held under any defeasance trust established in accordance with this Indenture), in connection with any dissolution or winding up or total or partial liquidation or reorganization of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary, or in bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other

 

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proceedings, assignment of assets for the benefit of creditors or other marshalling of assets and liabilities of the Company, all amounts due or to become due upon all Senior Debt shall first be paid in full, in cash or cash equivalents, before the Holders or the Trustee on their behalf shall be entitled to receive any payment by (or on behalf of) the Company on account of the Securities, or any payment to acquire any of the Securities for cash, property or securities, or any distribution with respect to the Securities of any cash, property or securities. Before any payment may be made by, or on behalf of, the Company on any Security (other than with the money, securities or proceeds held under any defeasance trust established in accordance with this Indenture) in connection with any such dissolution, winding up, liquidation or reorganization, any payment or distribution of assets or securities of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, to which the Holders or the Trustee on their behalf would be entitled, but for the provisions of this Article Fifteen, shall be made by the Company or by any receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, agent or other similar Person making such payment or distribution, or by the Holders or the Trustee if received by them or it, to the trustee in bankruptcy, receiver, liquidating trustee, custodian, assignee, agent, or other Persons making payment or distribution of the assets of the Company for application to the payment of all Senior Debt remaining unpaid, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any such Senior Debt may have been issued, to the extent necessary to pay all such Senior Debt in full, in cash or cash equivalents, after giving effect to any concurrent payment, distribution or provision therefor to or for the holders of such Senior Debt.

(b) To the extent any payment of Senior Debt (whether by or on behalf of the Company, as proceeds of security or enforcement of any right of setoff or otherwise) is declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required to be paid to any receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, agent or other similar Person under any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership, fraudulent conveyance or similar law, then if such payment is recovered by, or paid over to, such receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee or other similar Person, the Senior Debt or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be deemed to be reinstated and outstanding as if such payment had not occurred. To the extent the obligation to repay any Senior Debt is declared to be fraudulent or invalid or otherwise set aside under any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership, fraudulent conveyance or similar law, then the obligation so declared fraudulent or invalid or otherwise set aside (and all other amounts that would come due with respect thereto had such obligation not been so affected) shall be deemed to be reinstated and outstanding as Senior Debt for all purposes hereof as if such declaration or setting aside had not occurred.

(c) In the event that, notwithstanding the provision in clause (a) above prohibiting such payment or distribution, any payment or distribution of assets or securities of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, shall be received by the Trustee or any Holder at a time when such payment or distribution is prohibited by clause (a) above and before all obligations in respect of Senior Debt are paid in full, in cash or cash equivalents, such payment or distribution shall be received and held in trust for the benefit of, and shall be paid over or delivered to, the trustee in bankruptcy, receiver, liquidating trustee, custodian, assignee, agent, or other Persons making payment or distribution of the assets of the Company for application to the payment of all Senior Debt remaining unpaid, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any such Senior Debt may have been issued, after giving effect to any concurrent payment, distribution or provision therefor to or for the holders of such Senior Debt.

(d) For purposes of this Section 15.3, the words “cash, property or securities” shall not be deemed to include, so long as the effect of this clause is not to cause the Securities to be treated in any case or proceeding or similar event described in this Section 15.3 as part of the same class of claims as the Senior Debt or any class of claims pari passu with, or senior to, the Senior Debt

 

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for any payment or distribution, securities of the Company or any other Person provided for by a plan of reorganization or readjustment that are subordinated, at least to the extent that the Securities are subordinated, to the payment of all Senior Debt then outstanding; provided that (i) if a new Person results from such reorganization or readjustment, such Person assumes the Senior Debt and (ii) the rights of the holders of the Senior Debt are not, without the consent of such holders, altered by such reorganization or readjustment. The consolidation of the Company with, or the merger of the Company with or into, another Person or the liquidation or dissolution of the Company following the sale, conveyance, transfer, lease or other disposition of all or substantially all of its property and assets to another Person upon the terms and conditions provided in Section 8.1 of this Indenture shall not be deemed a dissolution, winding up, liquidation or reorganization for the purposes of this Section 15.3 if such other Person shall, as a part of such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer, lease or other disposition, comply (to the extent required) with the conditions stated in Section 8.1 of this Indenture.

Section 15.4. Subrogation.

(a) Upon the payment in full of all Senior Debt in cash or cash equivalents, the Holders shall be subrogated to the rights of the holders of Senior Debt to receive payments or distributions to the holders of Senior Debt of cash, property or securities of the Company made on such Senior Debt until the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Securities shall be paid in full; and, for the purposes of such subrogation, no payments or distributions of any cash, property or securities to which the Holders or the Trustee on their behalf would be entitled except for the provisions of this Article Fifteen, and no payment pursuant to the provisions of this Article Fifteen to the holders of Senior Debt by the Holders or the Trustee on their behalf shall, as between the Company, its creditors other than holders of Senior Debt, and the Holders, be deemed to be a payment by the Company to or on account of the Senior Debt. It is understood that the provisions of this Article Fifteen are intended solely for the purpose of defining the relative rights of the Holders, on the one hand, and the holders of the Senior Debt, on the other hand.

(b) If any payment or distribution to which the Holders would otherwise have been entitled but for the provisions of this Article Fifteen shall have been applied, pursuant to the provisions of this Article Fifteen, to the payment of all amounts payable under Senior Debt, then, and in such case, the Holders shall be entitled to receive from the holders of such Senior Debt any payments or distributions received by such holders of Senior Debt in excess of the amount required to make payment in full, in cash or cash equivalents, of such Senior Debt of such holders.

Section 15.5. Obligations of Company Unconditional.

(a) Nothing contained in this Article Fifteen or elsewhere in this Indenture or in the Securities is intended to or shall impair, as among the Company and the Holders, the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay to the Holders the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Securities as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with their terms, or is intended to or shall affect the relative rights of the Holders and creditors of the Company other than the holders of the Senior Debt, nor shall anything herein or therein prevent the Holders or the Trustee on their behalf from exercising all remedies otherwise permitted by applicable law upon default under this Indenture, subject to the rights, if any, under this Article Fifteen of the holders of the Senior Debt.

(b) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, nothing contained in this Article Fifteen will restrict the right of the Trustee or the Holders to take any action to declare the Securities to be due and payable prior to their Stated Maturity pursuant to Section 5.2 of this Indenture or to pursue any rights or remedies hereunder; provided, however, that all Senior Debt then due and payable or thereafter declared to be due and payable shall first be paid in full, in cash or cash equivalents, before the Holders or the Trustee are entitled to receive any direct or indirect payment from the Company with respect to any Security.

 

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Section 15.6. Notice to Trustee.

(a) The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any fact known to the Company that would prohibit the making of any payment to or by the Trustee in respect of the Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Article Fifteen. The Trustee shall not be charged with the knowledge of the existence of any default or event of default with respect to any Senior Debt or of any other facts that would prohibit the making of any payment to or by the Trustee unless and until the Trustee shall have received notice in writing at its Corporate Trust Office to that effect signed by an officer of the Company, or by a holder of Senior Debt or trustee or agent thereof; and prior to the receipt of any such written notice, the Trustee shall, subject to Article Six, be entitled to assume that no such facts exist; provided that, if the Trustee shall not have received the notice provided for in this Section 15.6 at least three Business Days prior to the date upon which, by the terms of this Indenture, any monies shall become payable for any purpose (including, without limitation, the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any Security), then, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Trustee shall have full power and authority to receive any monies from the Company and to apply the same to the purpose for which they were received, and shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary that may be received by it on or after such three Business Day period except for an acceleration of the Securities prior to such application. Nothing contained in this Section 15.6 shall limit the right of the holders of Senior Debt to recover payments as contemplated by this Article Fifteen. The foregoing shall not apply if the Paying Agent is the Company. The Trustee shall be entitled to rely on the delivery to it of a written notice by a Person representing himself or itself to be a holder of any Senior Debt (or a trustee on behalf of, or other representative of, such holder) to establish that such notice has been given by a holder of such Senior Debt or a trustee or representative on behalf of any such holder.

(b) In the event that the Trustee determines in good faith that any evidence is required with respect to the right of any Person as a holder of Senior Debt to participate in any payment or distribution pursuant to this Article Fifteen, the Trustee may request such Person to furnish evidence to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee as to the amount of Senior Debt held by such Person, the extent to which such Person is entitled to participate in such payment or distribution and any other facts pertinent to the rights of such Person under this Article Fifteen and, if such evidence is not furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee may defer any payment to such Person pending judicial determination as to the right of such Person to receive such payment.

Section 15.7. Reliance on Judicial Order or Certificate of Liquidating Agent.

Upon any payment or distribution of assets or securities referred to in this Article Fifteen, the Trustee and the Holders shall be entitled to rely upon any order or decree made by any court of competent jurisdiction in which bankruptcy, dissolution, winding up, liquidation or reorganization proceedings are pending, or upon a certificate of the receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, agent or other similar Person making such payment or distribution, delivered to the Trustee or to the Holders for the purpose of ascertaining the persons entitled to participate in such distribution, the holders of the Senior Debt and other Debt of the Company, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Article Fifteen.

 

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Section 15.8. Trustees Relation to Senior Debt.

(a) Each of the Trustee and any Paying Agent shall be entitled to all the rights set forth in this Article Fifteen with respect to any Senior Debt that may at any time be held by it in its individual or any other capacity to the same extent as any other holder of Senior Debt and nothing in this Indenture shall deprive the Trustee or any Paying Agent of any of its rights as such holder.

(b) With respect to the holders of Senior Debt, the Trustee undertakes to perform or to observe only such of its covenants and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Article Fifteen, and no implied covenants or obligations with respect to the holders of Senior Debt shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee. The Trustee shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the holders of Senior Debt and shall not be liable to any such holders if the Trustee shall in good faith mistakenly pay over or distribute to Holders of Securities or to the Company or to any other person cash, property or securities to which any holders of Senior Debt shall be entitled by virtue of this Article Fifteen or otherwise.

Section 15.9. Subordination Rights Not Impaired by Acts or Omissions of the Company or Holders of Senior Debt.

No right of any present or future holders of any Senior Debt to enforce subordination as provided in this Article Fifteen will at any time in any way be prejudiced or impaired by any act or failure to act on the part of the Company or by any act or failure to act, in good faith, by any such holder, or by any noncompliance by the Company with the terms of this Indenture, regardless of any knowledge thereof that any such holder may have or otherwise be charged with. The provisions of this Article Fifteen are intended to be for the benefit of, and shall be enforceable directly by, the holders of Senior Debt.

Section 15.10. Holders Authorize Trustee to Effectuate Subordination of Securities.

Each Holder by such Holder’s acceptance of any Securities authorizes and expressly directs the Trustee on his behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination provided in this Article Fifteen, and appoints the Trustee such Holder’s attorney-in-fact for such purposes, including, in the event of any dissolution, winding up, liquidation or reorganization of the Company (whether in bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership, reorganization or similar proceedings or upon an assignment for the benefit of creditors or otherwise) tending towards liquidation of the property and assets of the Company, the filing of a claim for the unpaid balance of its Securities in the form required in those proceedings.

Section 15.11. Not to Prevent Events of Default.

The failure to make a payment on account of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Securities by reason of any provision of this Article Fifteen will not be construed as preventing the occurrence of an Event of Default.

Section 15.12. Trustees Compensation Not Prejudiced.

Nothing in this Article Fifteen will apply to amounts due to the Trustee pursuant to other sections of this Indenture, including Section 6.7.

 

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Section 15.13. No Waiver of Subordination Provisions.

Without in any way limiting the generality of Section 15.9, the holders of Senior Debt may, at any time and from time to time, without the consent of or notice to the Trustee or the Holders, without incurring responsibility to the Holders and without impairing or releasing the subordination provided in this Article Fifteen or the obligations hereunder of the Holders to the holders of Senior Debt, do any one or more of the following: (a) change the manner, place or terms of payment or extend the time of payment of, or renew or alter, Senior Debt or any instrument evidencing the same or any agreement under which Senior Debt is outstanding or secured; (b) sell, exchange, release or otherwise deal with any property pledged, mortgaged or otherwise securing Senior Debt; (c) release any Person liable in any manner for the collection of Senior Debt; and (d) exercise or refrain from exercising any rights against the Company and any other Person.

Section 15.14. Payments May Be Paid Prior to Dissolution.

Nothing contained in this Article Fifteen or elsewhere in this Indenture shall prevent (a) the Company, except under the conditions described in Section 15.2 or Section 15.3, from making payments of principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Securities, or from depositing with the Trustee any money for such payments, or (b) the application by the Trustee of any money deposited with it for the purpose of making such payments of principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Securities to the holders entitled thereto unless, at least two Business Days prior to the date upon which such payment becomes due and payable, the Trustee shall have received the written notice provided for in Section 15.2(b) of this Indenture (or there shall have been an acceleration of the Securities prior to such application) or in Section 15.6 of this Indenture. The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any dissolution, winding up, liquidation or reorganization of the Company.

Section 15.15. Trust Moneys Not Subordinated.

Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, payments from money or the proceeds of U.S. Government Obligations held in trust under Article Four by the Trustee for the payment of principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Securities shall not be subordinated to the prior payment of any Senior Debt (provided that, at the time deposited, such deposit did not violate any then outstanding Senior Debt), and none of the Holders shall be obligated to pay over any such amount to any holder of Senior Debt.

ARTICLE SIXTEEN

SUBORDINATION OF SECURITIES GUARANTEES

Section 16.1. Securities Guarantees Subordinated to Guarantor Senior Debt.

Each Guarantor covenants and agrees, and each Holder, by its acceptance of a Securities Guarantee, likewise covenants and agrees, that all Securities Guarantees shall be issued subject to the provisions of this Article Sixteen; and each Person holding any Security, whether upon original issue or upon transfer, assignment or exchange thereof, accepts and agrees that the payment of all obligations on each and all of the Securities Guarantees shall, to the extent and in the manner set forth in this Article Sixteen, be subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment in full, in cash or cash equivalents, of all existing and future Guarantor Senior Debt of such Guarantor.

 

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Section 16.2. No Payment on Securities Guarantees in Certain Circumstances.

(a) No direct or indirect payment by or on behalf of any Guarantor of any obligations on each and all of the Securities Guarantees (other than with the money, securities or proceeds held under any defeasance trust established in accordance with this Indenture), whether pursuant to the terms of the Securities Guarantees or upon acceleration or otherwise, shall be made if, at the time of such payment, there exists a default in the payment of all or any portion of the obligations on any Designated Guarantor Senior Debt of such Guarantor and such default shall not have been cured or waived or the benefits of this sentence waived by or on behalf of the holders of such Guarantor Senior Debt.

(b) During the continuance of any other event of default with respect to any Designated Guarantor Senior Debt pursuant to which the maturity thereof may be accelerated, upon receipt by the Trustee of written notice from the trustee or other representative for the holders of such Designated Guarantor Senior Debt (or the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of such Designated Guarantor Senior Debt then outstanding), no payment of any obligations on each and all of the Securities Guarantees (other than with the money, securities or proceeds held under any defeasance trust established in accordance with this Indenture) may be made by or on behalf of any Guarantor upon or in respect of the Securities Guarantees for a period (a “Securities Guarantee Payment Blockage Period”) commencing on the date of receipt of such notice and ending 179 days thereafter (unless, in each case, such Securities Guarantee Payment Blockage Period has been terminated by written notice to the Trustee from such trustee of, or other representatives for, such holders or by payment in full in cash or cash equivalents of such Designated Guarantor Senior Debt or such event of default has been cured or waived). Not more than one Securities Guarantee Payment Blockage Period may be commenced with respect to the Securities Guarantees during any period of 360 consecutive days. Notwithstanding anything in this Indenture to the contrary, there must be 180 consecutive days in any 360-day period in which no Securities Guarantee Payment Blockage Period is in effect. No event of default that existed or was continuing (it being acknowledged that any subsequent action that would give rise to an event of default pursuant to any provision under which an event of default previously existed or was continuing shall constitute a new event of default for this purpose) on the date of the commencement of any Securities Guarantee Payment Blockage Period with respect to the Designated Guarantor Senior Debt initiating such Securities Guarantee Payment Blockage Period shall be, or shall be made, the basis for the commencement of a second Securities Guarantee Payment Blockage Period by the trustee or other representative for the holders of such Designated Guarantor Senior Debt, whether or not within a period of 360 consecutive days, unless such event of default shall have been cured or waived for a period of not less than 90 consecutive days.

(c) In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment shall be received by the Trustee or any Holder when such payment is prohibited by clause (a) or (b) above, such payment shall be held in trust for the benefit of, and shall be paid over or delivered to, the trustee in bankruptcy, receiver, liquidating trustee, custodian, assignee, agent or other Persons making payment or distribution of the assets of the Company for application to the payment of all Guarantor Senior Debt remaining unpaid, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any of such Guarantor Senior Debt may have been issued, and any excess above such amounts due and owing on Guarantor Senior Debt shall be paid to such Guarantor.

Section 16.3. Payment over of Proceeds upon Dissolution, Etc.

(a) Upon any payment or distribution of assets or securities of a Guarantor of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities (other than with the money, securities or proceeds held under any defeasance trust established in accordance with this Indenture), in connection with any dissolution or winding up or total or partial liquidation or reorganization of such Guarantor, whether voluntary or involuntary, or in bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other proceedings, assignment of assets for the benefit of creditors or other marshalling of assets

 

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and liabilities of such Guarantor, all amounts due or to become due upon all Guarantor Senior Debt shall first be paid in full, in cash or cash equivalents, before the Holders or the Trustee on their behalf shall be entitled to receive any payment by (or on behalf of) such Guarantor on account of the Securities Guarantees, or any payment to acquire any of the Securities Guarantees for cash, property or securities, or any distribution with respect to the Securities Guarantees of any cash, property or securities. Before any payment may be made by, or on behalf of, any Guarantor on any Securities Guarantee (other than with the money, securities or proceeds held under any defeasance trust established in accordance with this Indenture) in connection with any such dissolution, winding up, liquidation or reorganization, any payment or distribution of assets or securities of such Guarantor of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, to which the Holders or the Trustee on their behalf would be entitled, but for the provisions of this Article Sixteen, shall be made by such Guarantor or by any receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, agent or other similar Person making such payment or distribution, or by the Holders or the Trustee if received by them or it, to the trustee in bankruptcy, receiver, liquidating trustee, custodian, assignee, agent, or other Persons making payment or distribution of the assets of such Guarantor for application to the payment of all Guarantor Senior Debt remaining unpaid, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any such Guarantor Senior Debt may have been issued, to the extent necessary to pay all such Guarantor Senior Debt in full, in cash or cash equivalents, after giving effect to any concurrent payment, distribution or provision therefor to or for the holders of such Guarantor Senior Debt.

(b) To the extent any payment of Guarantor Senior Debt (whether by or on behalf of any Guarantor, as proceeds of security or enforcement of any right of setoff or otherwise) is declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required to be paid to any receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, agent or other similar Person under any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership, fraudulent conveyance or similar law, then if such payment is recovered by, or paid over to, such receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee or other similar Person, the Guarantor Senior Debt or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be deemed to be reinstated and outstanding as if such payment had not occurred. To the extent the obligation to repay any Guarantor Senior Debt is declared to be fraudulent or invalid or otherwise set aside under any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership, fraudulent conveyance or similar law, then the obligation so declared fraudulent or invalid or otherwise set aside (and all other amounts that would come due with respect thereto had such obligation not been so affected) shall be deemed to be reinstated and outstanding as Guarantor Senior Debt for all purposes hereof as if such declaration or setting aside had not occurred.

(c) In the event that, notwithstanding the provision in clause (a) above prohibiting such payment or distribution, any payment or distribution of assets or securities of any Guarantor of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, shall be received by the Trustee or any Holder at a time when such payment or distribution is prohibited by clause (a) above and before all obligations in respect of Guarantor Senior Debt are paid in full, in cash or cash equivalents, such payment or distribution shall be received and held in trust for the benefit of, and shall be paid over or delivered to, the trustee in bankruptcy, receiver, liquidating trustee, custodian, assignee, agent, or other Persons making payment or distribution of the assets of such Guarantor for application to the payment of all Guarantor Senior Debt remaining unpaid, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any such Guarantor Senior Debt may have been issued, after giving effect to any concurrent payment, distribution or provision therefor to or for the holders of such Guarantor Senior Debt.

 

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(d) For purposes of this Section 16.3, the words “cash, property or securities” shall not be deemed to include, so long as the effect of this clause is not to cause the Securities Guarantees to be treated in any case or proceeding or similar event described in this Section 16.3 as part of the same class of claims as the Guarantor Senior Debt or any class of claims pari passu with, or senior to, the Guarantor Senior Debt for any payment or distribution, securities of any Guarantor or any other Person provided for by a plan of reorganization or readjustment that are subordinated, at least to the extent that the Securities Guarantees are subordinated, to the payment of all Guarantor Senior Debt then outstanding; provided that (i) if a new Person results from such reorganization or readjustment, such Person assumes the Guarantor Senior Debt and (ii) the rights of the holders of the Guarantor Senior Debt are not, without the consent of such holders, altered by such reorganization or readjustment. The consolidation of a Guarantor with, or the merger of a Guarantor with or into, another Person or the liquidation or dissolution of a Guarantor following the sale, conveyance, transfer, lease or other disposition of all or substantially all of its property and assets to another Person without violation of the terms and conditions provided in this Indenture shall not be deemed a dissolution, winding up, liquidation or reorganization for the purposes of this Section 16.3.

Section 16.4. Subrogation.

(a) Upon the payment in full of all Guarantor Senior Debt in cash or cash equivalents, the Holders shall be subrogated to the rights of the holders of Guarantor Senior Debt to receive payments or distributions of cash, property or securities of the Guarantors made on such Guarantor Senior Debt until all obligations arising under the Securities Guarantees shall be paid in full; and, for the purposes of such subrogation, no payments or distributions to the holders of the Guarantor Senior Debt of any cash, property or securities to which the Holders or the Trustee on their behalf would be entitled except for the provisions of this Article Sixteen, and no payment pursuant to the provisions of this Article Sixteen to the holders of Guarantor Senior Debt by the Holders or the Trustee on their behalf shall, as between each Guarantor, its creditors other than holders of Guarantor Senior Debt, and the Holders, be deemed to be a payment by such Guarantor to or on account of the Guarantor Senior Debt. It is understood that the provisions of this Article Sixteen are intended solely for the purpose of defining the relative rights of the Holders, on the one hand, and the holders of the Guarantor Senior Debt, on the other hand.

(b) If any payment or distribution to which the Holders would otherwise have been entitled but for the provisions of this Article Sixteen shall have been applied, pursuant to the provisions of this Article Sixteen, to the payment of all amounts payable under Guarantor Senior Debt, then, and in such case, the Holders shall be entitled to receive from the holders of such Guarantor Senior Debt any payments or distributions received by such holders of Guarantor Senior Debt in excess of the amount required to make payment in full, in cash or cash equivalents, of such Guarantor Senior Debt of such holders.

Section 16.5. Obligations of Guarantor Unconditional.

(a) Nothing contained in this Article Sixteen or elsewhere in this Indenture or in the Securities is intended to or shall impair, as among the Guarantors and the Holders, the obligation of such Guarantors, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay to the Holders all obligations arising under the Securities Guarantees as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with their terms, or is intended to or shall affect the relative rights of the Holders and creditors of the Guarantors other than the holders of the Guarantor Senior Debt, nor shall anything herein or therein prevent the Holders or the Trustee on their behalf from exercising all remedies otherwise permitted by applicable law upon default under this Indenture, subject to the rights, if any, under this Article Sixteen of the holders of the Guarantor Senior Debt.

 

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(b) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, nothing contained in this Article Sixteen will restrict the right of the Trustee or the Holders to take any action to declare the Securities to be due and payable prior to their Stated Maturity pursuant to Section 5.2 of this Indenture or to pursue any rights or remedies hereunder; provided, however, that all Guarantor Senior Debt then due and payable or thereafter declared to be due and payable shall first be paid in full, in cash or cash equivalents, before the Holders or the Trustee are entitled to receive any direct or indirect payment from any Guarantor with respect to its Securities Guarantee.

Section 16.6. Notice to Trustee.

(a) Each Guarantor shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any fact known to such Guarantor that would prohibit the making of any payment to or by the Trustee in respect of the Securities Guarantees pursuant to the provisions of this Article Sixteen. The Trustee shall not be charged with the knowledge of the existence of any default or event of default with respect to any Guarantor Senior Debt of any Guarantor or of any other facts that would prohibit the making of any payment to or by the Trustee unless and until the Trustee shall have received notice in writing at its Corporate Trust Office to that effect signed by an Officer of such Guarantor, or by a holder of such Guarantor Senior Debt or trustee or agent thereof; and prior to the receipt of any such written notice, the Trustee shall, subject to Article Six, be entitled to assume that no such facts exist; provided that, if the Trustee shall not have received the notice provided for in this Section 16.6 at least three Business Days prior to the date upon which, by the terms of this Indenture, any monies shall become payable for any purpose (including, without limitation, the payment of all obligations arising under any Securities Guarantee), then, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Trustee shall have full power and authority to receive any monies from such Guarantor and to apply the same to the purpose for which they were received, and shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary that may be received by it on or after such three Business Day period except for an acceleration of the Securities prior to such application. Nothing contained in this Section 16.6 shall limit the right of the holders of Guarantor Senior Debt to recover payments as contemplated by this Article Sixteen. The foregoing shall not apply if the Paying Agent is the Company. The Trustee shall be entitled to rely on the delivery to it of a written notice by a Person representing himself or itself to be a holder of any Guarantor Senior Debt (or a trustee on behalf of, or other representative of, such holder) to establish that such notice has been given by a holder of such Guarantor Senior Debt or a trustee or representative on behalf of any such holder.

(b) In the event that the Trustee determines in good faith that any evidence is required with respect to the right of any Person as a holder of Guarantor Senior Debt to participate in any payment or distribution pursuant to this Article Sixteen, the Trustee may request such Person to furnish evidence to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee as to the amount of Guarantor Senior Debt held by such Person, the extent to which such Person is entitled to participate in such payment or distribution and any other facts pertinent to the rights of such Person under this Article Sixteen and, if such evidence is not furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee may defer any payment to such Person pending judicial determination as to the right of such Person to receive such payment.

Section 16.7. Reliance on Judicial Order or Certificate of Liquidating Agent.

Upon any payment or distribution of assets or securities referred to in this Article Sixteen, the Trustee and the Holders shall be entitled to rely upon any order or decree made by any court of competent jurisdiction in which bankruptcy, dissolution, winding up, liquidation or reorganization proceedings are pending, or upon a certificate of the receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, agent or other similar Person making such payment or distribution, delivered to the Trustee or to the Holders for the purpose of ascertaining the persons entitled to participate in such distribution, the holders of the Guarantor Senior Debt and other Debt of a Guarantor, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Article Sixteen.

 

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Section 16.8. Trustee’s Relation to Guarantor Senior Debt.

(a) Each of the Trustee and any Paying Agent shall be entitled to all the rights set forth in this Article Sixteen with respect to any Guarantor Senior Debt that may at any time be held by it in its individual or any other capacity to the same extent as any other holder of Guarantor Senior Debt and nothing in this Indenture shall deprive the Trustee or any Paying Agent of any of its rights as such holder.

(b) With respect to the holders of Guarantor Senior Debt, the Trustee undertakes to perform or to observe only such of its covenants and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Article Sixteen, and no implied covenants or obligations with respect to the holders of Guarantor Senior Debt shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee. The Trustee shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the holders of Guarantor Senior Debt and shall not be liable to any such holders if the Trustee shall in good faith mistakenly pay over or distribute to Holders of Securities Guarantees or to a Guarantor or to any other person cash, property or securities to which any holders of Guarantor Senior Debt shall be entitled by virtue of this Article Sixteen or otherwise.

Section 16.9. Subordination Rights Not Impaired by Acts or Omissions of a Guarantor or Holders of Guarantor Senior Debt.

No right of any present or future holders of any Guarantor Senior Debt to enforce subordination as provided in this Article Sixteen will at any time in any way be prejudiced or impaired by any act or failure to act on the part of a Guarantor or by any act or failure to act, in good faith, by any such holder, or by any noncompliance by such Guarantor with the terms of this Indenture, regardless of any knowledge thereof that any such holder may have or otherwise be charged with. The provisions of this Article Sixteen are intended to be for the benefit of, and shall be enforceable directly by, the holders of Guarantor Senior Debt.

Section 16.10. Holders Authorize Trustee to Effectuate Subordination of Securities Guarantees.

Each Holder by such Holder’s acceptance of any Securities Guarantees authorizes and expressly directs the Trustee on such Holder’s behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination provided in this Article Sixteen, and appoints the Trustee such Holder’s attorney-in-fact for such purposes, including, in the event of any dissolution, winding up, liquidation or reorganization of a Guarantor (whether in bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership, reorganization or similar proceedings or upon an assignment for the benefit of creditors or otherwise) tending towards liquidation of the property and assets of such Guarantor, the filing of a claim for the unpaid balance of its Securities Guarantees in the form required in those proceedings. If the Trustee does not file a proper claim or proof of indebtedness in the form required in such proceeding at least 30 days before the expiration of the time to file such claim or proof, each holder of Guarantor Senior Debt is hereby authorized to file an appropriate claim for and on behalf of the Holders.

Section 16.11. Not to Prevent Events of Default.

The failure to fulfill any obligation arising under the Securities Guarantees by reason of any provision of this Article Sixteen will not be construed as preventing the occurrence of an Event of Default.

 

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Section 16.12. Trustee’s Compensation Not Prejudiced.

Nothing in this Article Sixteen will apply to amounts due to the Trustee pursuant to other sections of this Indenture, including Section 6.7.

Section 16.13. No Waiver of Subordination Provisions.

Without in any way limiting the generality of Section 16.9, the holders of Guarantor Senior Debt may, at any time and from time to time, without the consent of or notice to the Trustee or the Holders, without incurring responsibility to the Holders and without impairing or releasing the subordination provided in this Article Sixteen or the obligations hereunder of the Holders to the holders of Guarantor Senior Debt, do any one or more of the following: (a) change the manner, place or terms of payment or extend the time of payment of, or renew or alter, Guarantor Senior Debt or any instrument evidencing the same or any agreement under which Guarantor Senior Debt is outstanding or secured; (b) sell, exchange, release or otherwise deal with any property pledged, mortgaged or otherwise securing Senior Debt; (c) release any Person liable in any manner for the collection of Guarantor Senior Debt; and (d) exercise or refrain from exercising any rights against the Company and any other Person.

Section 16.14. Payments May Be Paid Prior to Dissolution.

Nothing contained in this Article Sixteen or elsewhere in this Indenture shall prevent (a) a Guarantor, except under the conditions described in Section 16.2 or Section 16.3, from fulfilling any obligation arising under the Securities Guarantees, or from depositing with the Trustee any money for such payments, or (b) the application by the Trustee of any money deposited with it for the purpose of fulfilling any obligation arising under the Securities Guarantees to the holders entitled thereto unless, at least two Business Days prior to the date upon which such payment becomes due and payable, the Trustee shall have received the written notice provided for in Section 16.2(b) of this Indenture (or there shall have been an acceleration of the Securities Guarantees prior to such application) or in Section 16.6 of this Indenture. The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any dissolution, winding up, liquidation or reorganization of such Guarantor.

* * *

 

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

 

SUN COMMUNITIES OPERATING LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
By:   Sun Communities, Inc., its general partner
By:  

 

Name:  

 

Title:  

 

UMB BANK, N.A.
By:  

 

Name:  

 

Title:  

 

EX-5.1

Exhibit 5.1

 

LOGO    100 LIGHT STREET

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND 21202

 

PHONE: 410-685-1120

FAX: 410-547-0699

 

   www.bakerdonelson.com

April 2, 2021

Sun Communities, Inc.

27777 Franklin Road, Suite 200

Southfield, Michigan 48034

 

  Re:

Sun Communities, Inc. – Registration Statement on Form S-3

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as special Maryland counsel to Sun Communities, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the registration statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement”) filed by the Company and Sun Communities Operating Limited Partnership, a Michigan limited partnership (“SCOLP”), on April 2, 2021 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) relating to the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and the regulations promulgated thereunder, of an unspecified amount of one or more series of (i) unsecured debt securities of the Company (“Debt Securities”) and of SCOLP (the “SCOLP Debt Securities”), (ii) shares (the “Common Shares”) of the Company’s common stock, $0.01 par value (“Common Stock”), (iii) shares (the “Preferred Shares”) of the Company’s preferred stock, $0.01 par value (“Preferred Stock”), (iv) warrants to purchase Common Stock or Preferred Stock (the “Warrants”), (v) units of securities of the Company composed of any combination of Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Debt Securities, and Warrants (the “Company Units”), (vi) units of securities composed of SCOLP Debt Securities and one or more of Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Debt Securities, and Warrants (the “Combined Units”), (vii) guarantees of SCOLP Debt Securities by the Company (the “Company Guarantees”), and (viii) guarantees of the Debt Securities by SCOLP (the “SCOLP Guarantees” and, together with the Debt Securities, Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Warrants, Company Units, Combined Units, and Company Guarantees, the “Securities”), all of which Securities may be offered and sold by the Company and/or SCOLP from time to time as set forth in the prospectus that forms a part of the Registration Statement (the “Prospectus”), and as to be set forth in one or more supplements to the Prospectus (each, a “Prospectus Supplement”). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given such terms in the Registration Statement.

 


Sun Communities, Inc.

April 2, 2021

Page 2

 

The Prospectus, along with one or more Prospectus Supplements, will be furnished to potential purchasers of the Securities to be offered for sale by the Company and/or SCOLP. We understand that our opinion is required to be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement.

In our capacity as special Maryland counsel to the Company and for purposes of this opinion, we have reviewed the originals, or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of the following documents:

A. the charter of the Company, certified on the date hereof as being a true, correct, and complete copy thereof by the Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of the Company (the “Charter Documents”);

B. the Third Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, certified on the date hereof as being a true, correct, and complete copy thereof by the Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of the Company (the “Bylaws”);

C. the Registration Statement and Prospectus in the form in which they will be filed with the SEC;

D. consent resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Company regarding certain matters addressed in this opinion, certified on the date hereof as being a true, correct, and complete copy thereof by the Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of the Company (the “Resolutions”);

E. a certificate of the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation (“SDAT”) dated April 2, 2021 to the effect that the Company is duly incorporated and existing under the laws of the State of Maryland and is in good standing and duly authorized to transact business in the State of Maryland (the “Good Standing Certificate”);

F. a certificate of the Company regarding certain matters related to the Registration Statement and certain other factual matters (the “Certificate”); and

G. such other documents, corporate records, and instruments as we have deemed necessary or appropriate, in our professional judgment, in connection with providing this opinion letter, subject to the limitations, assumptions, and qualifications contained herein.

In rendering the opinions set forth below, we have assumed:

A. the genuineness of all signatures and the legal capacity of all individuals who have executed any of the documents we have reviewed;


Sun Communities, Inc.

April 2, 2021

Page 3

 

B. the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity with originals of all documents submitted to us as certified, photostatic, or facsimile copies or portable document file (“pdf”) or other electronic image format copies (and the authenticity of the originals of such copies), and that the form and content of all documents submitted to us as unexecuted drafts do not differ in any respect relevant to this opinion from the form and content of such documents as executed and delivered;

C. that there has been no oral or written modification of or amendment to any of the documents we have reviewed, and that there has been no waiver of any provision of any of the documents we have reviewed, in connection with this opinion, by action or omission of the parties or otherwise;

D. that all documents submitted to us and public records we have reviewed or relied upon are accurate and complete;

E. that the Charter Documents, the Bylaws, and the Resolutions have not been amended or rescinded, and will be in full force and effect at all times at which any Securities are offered or sold by the Company;

F. that the persons identified as officers of the Company are actually serving as such and that any certificates representing the Securities will be properly executed by one or more such persons;

G. that at the time of the issuance of any Common Shares or Preferred Shares, the Company or its transfer agent will record in the Company’s stock ledger the name(s) of the persons to whom such shares are issued;

H. as to all acts undertaken by any governmental authority, and of those persons purporting to act in any governmental capacity, that the persons acting on behalf of the governmental authority have the power and authority to do so, and that all actions taken by such persons on behalf of such governmental authority are valid, legal, and sufficient;

I. that all representations, warranties, certifications, and statements with respect to matters of fact and other factual information (i) made by public officers, (ii) made by officers or representatives of the Company, including certifications made in the Certificate, and (iii) made or contained in any documents we have reviewed, are accurate, true, correct, and complete in all material respects;

J. that the issuance, and certain terms, of the Securities to be issued by the Company from time to time will be authorized and approved by the Board of Directors of the Company, or a duly authorized committee thereof, in accordance with the Maryland General Corporation Law, the Charter Documents, and the Bylaws and, with respect to Preferred Shares, Articles Supplementary setting forth the number of shares and the terms of any class or series of Preferred Stock to be issued by the Company will be filed with and accepted for record by SDAT prior to their issuance (such approval and, if applicable, acceptance for record, are referred to herein as the “Corporate Proceedings”);


Sun Communities, Inc.

April 2, 2021

Page 4

 

K. that upon the issuance of any Common Shares, including any Common Shares that may be issued upon conversion or exercise of any Securities that are convertible into or exercisable for Common Stock, the total number of shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding will not exceed the total number of shares of Common Stock that the Company is then authorized to issue under the Charter Documents;

L. that upon the issuance of any Preferred Shares, including any Preferred Shares that may be issued upon conversion or exercise of any Securities that are convertible into or exercisable for Preferred Stock, the total number of shares of Preferred Stock issued and outstanding, and the total number of issued and outstanding shares of the applicable class or series of Preferred Stock designated pursuant to the Charter Documents, will not exceed, respectively, the total number of shares, and the number of shares of such class or series, of Preferred Stock that the Company is then authorized to issue under the Charter Documents;

M. that the Warrants will be issued pursuant to a warrant agreement between the Company and a third party to be identified in such warrant agreement as the warrant agent. That the warrant agreement will be duly authorized, executed, and delivered by the Company and the warrant agent, and that the warrant agreement and the Warrants issued pursuant to the warrant agreement will constitute legally valid and binding obligations of the Company and the warrant agent, enforceable against the Company and the warrant agent in accordance with their terms;

N. that none of the Securities will be issued in violation of the restrictions on ownership and transfer set forth in Article VII of the Charter Documents;

O. that no Securities will be issued until the Registration Statement has become effective and the Registration Statement will remain effective at the time any Securities are issued, and that a Prospectus Supplement will have been prepared and filed with the SEC describing the Securities offered thereby; and

P. that the Company will remain duly organized, validly existing, and in good standing under Maryland law at the time any Securities are issued.

In addition, in rendering opinion number 7 below, we have also assumed (i) that each of the SCOLP Debt Securities that are included in any Combined Units will constitute the legal, valid, and binding obligation of SCOLP, enforceable against SCOLP in accordance with its terms, and (ii) the form and terms of any SCOLP Debt Securities included in any Combined Units, and the issuance, sale, and delivery of any such SCOLP Debt Securities, and the incurrence and performance of all obligations thereunder or in respect thereof in accordance with the terms thereof, in each case, will be in full


Sun Communities, Inc.

April 2, 2021

Page 5

 

compliance with, and will not violate, the restated certificate of limited partnership of SCOLP, the Fourth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of SCOLP, as amended, or any applicable law, rule, regulation, order, judgment, decree, award, or agreement binding upon SCOLP, or to which the issuance, sale, and delivery of such SCOLP Debt Securities, or the incurrence and performance of such obligations, may be subject, or violate any applicable public policy, or be subject to any defense in law or equity. In rendering opinion number 7 below, we have further assumed that with respect to any SCOLP Debt Securities that are included in any Combined Units and any indenture under which such SCOLP Debt Securities may be issued, the valid existence and limited partnership power and authority of SCOLP to enter into and to incur and perform all of its obligations thereunder, the due authorization by all requisite action and the due execution and delivery by SCOLP of such instruments, and that such instruments constitute or will constitute valid and binding obligations of SCOLP (the “Partnership Proceedings”). We note that SCOLP is formed under the laws of the State of Michigan. With respect to the assumptions stated in this paragraph as to SCOLP, however, we note that SCOLP has obtained and filed as Exhibit 5.2 to the Registration Statement a legal opinion of Jaffe, Raitt, Heuer & Weiss, Professional Corporation as to the valid existence of SCOLP under the laws of the State of Michigan and the limited partnership power and authority of SCOLP to create its obligations under the SCOLP Debt Securities.

As to any facts material to our opinion set forth below, without undertaking to verify the same by independent investigation, we have relied exclusively upon the documents we have reviewed, the statements and information set forth in such documents, the Certificate, and the additional matters recited or assumed in this letter, all of which we assume to be true, complete, and accurate in all respects.

Based upon the foregoing and subject to the limitations and assumptions set forth herein, and having due regard for such legal considerations as we deem relevant, we are of the opinion that:

1. The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation under the laws of the State of Maryland and, based solely on the Good Standing Certificate, is in good standing with SDAT as of the date of the Good Standing Certificate.

2. Upon the completion of all Corporate Proceedings relating to the Common Shares, the issuance of the Common Shares will be duly authorized and, when and if issued and delivered against payment therefor in accordance with the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any applicable Prospectus Supplement, and the Corporate Proceedings, the Common Shares will be validly issued, fully paid, and nonassessable.

3. Upon the completion of all Corporate Proceedings relating to the Preferred Shares, the issuance of the Preferred Shares will be duly authorized and, when and if issued and delivered against payment therefor in accordance with the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any applicable Prospectus Supplement, and the Corporate Proceedings, the Preferred Shares will be validly issued, fully paid, and nonassessable.


Sun Communities, Inc.

April 2, 2021

Page 6

 

4. Upon the completion of all Corporate Proceedings relating to the Debt Securities, the issuance of the Debt Securities will be duly authorized.

5. Upon the completion of all Corporate Proceedings relating to the Warrants, the issuance of the Warrants will be duly authorized.

6. Upon the completion of all Corporate Proceedings relating to the Securities that are Company Units, the issuance of the Company Units will be duly authorized.

7. Upon the completion of all Corporate Proceedings and, if applicable, Partnership Proceedings, relating to the Securities that are Combined Units, the issuance of the Combined Units will be duly authorized.

8. The Company has the corporate power and authority to issue the Debt Securities and/or make the Company Guarantees.

9. Upon the completion of all Corporate Proceedings relating to the Company Guarantees, the Company Guarantees will be duly authorized.

In addition to the qualifications set forth above, the opinions set forth herein are also subject to the following qualifications:

A. Various issues pertaining to the Securities are addressed in the opinion that Jaffe, Raitt, Heuer & Weiss, Professional Corporation, has separately provided to you, and various issues pertaining to the enforceability of (i) the Company Debt Securities, (ii) the SCOLP Debt Securities, (iii) the Company Guarantees, and (iv) the SCOLP Guarantees are addressed in the opinion that Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP has separately provided to you. We express no opinion with respect to those matters.

B. The foregoing opinions are based on and are limited to the Maryland General Corporation Law (including the reported judicial decisions interpreting those laws currently in effect), and we express no opinion herein with respect to the effect or applicability of any other laws or the laws of any other jurisdiction. The opinions expressed herein concern only the effect of the laws (excluding the principles of conflict of laws) as currently in effect, and we assume no obligation to supplement the opinions expressed herein if any applicable laws change after the date hereof, or if we become aware of any facts that might change the opinions expressed herein after the date hereof. The opinions are limited to the matters set forth herein, and no other opinion should be inferred or implied beyond the matters expressly stated.


Sun Communities, Inc.

April 2, 2021

Page 7

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, we express no opinion concerning the securities laws of the State of Maryland, or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, or any decisional laws interpreting any of the provisions of the securities laws of the State of Maryland, or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the SEC as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement and to the reference to our firm under the caption “Legal Matters” in the Prospectus. By giving such consent, we do not admit that we are experts with respect to any part of the Registration Statement, including Exhibit 5.1, within the meaning of the term “expert” as used in the Securities Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

Very truly yours,
BAKER, DONELSON,
BEARMAN, CALDWELL
& BERKOWITZ, a professional corporation
By:  

/s/ Kenneth B. Abel

 

Kenneth B. Abel

Authorized Representative

EX-5.2

Exhibit 5.2

 

LOGO

April 2, 2021

Sun Communities, Inc.

27777 Franklin Road

Suite 200

Southfield, MI 48034

Attention: Board of Directors

Dear Members of the Board of Directors of Sun Communities, Inc.:

We have acted as counsel to Sun Communities, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”) and Sun Communities Operating Limited Partnership, a Michigan limited partnership (the “Operating Partnership”), in connection with the registration statement on Form S-3 (together with all amendments and exhibits thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein, the “Registration Statement”) filed on April 2, 2021, by the Company and Operating Partnership with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), relating to the offering from time to time, as set forth in the prospectus contained in the Registration Statement (the “Prospectus”) and as to be set forth in one or more supplements to the Prospectus (each, a “Prospectus Supplement”), of an indeterminate amount of one or more series of (i) shares of the Company’s common stock, $0.01 par value (the “Common Stock”), (ii) shares of the Company’s preferred stock, $0.01 par value (the “Preferred Stock”), (iii) debt securities of the Company (“Company Debt Securities”), (iv) warrants to purchase Common Stock or Preferred Stock (the “Warrants”), (iv) units of securities of the Company composed of any combination of Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Debt Securities, and Warrants (the “Company Units”), (v) units of securities composed of Partnership Debt Securities (as defined below) and one or more of Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Company Debt Securities, and Warrants (the “Combined Units”), (vi) guarantees by the Company of debt securities issued by the Operating Partnership (“Company Guarantees”), (vii) debt securities of the Operating Partnership (“Partnership Debt Securities”), and (viii) guarantees by the Operating Partnership of the Company Debt Securities (the “Partnership Guarantees” and together with the Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Company Debt Securities, Warrants, Company Units, Combined Units, Company Guarantees, and the Partnership Debt Securities, the “Securities”). This opinion letter is furnished to you at your request to enable you to fulfill the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K, 17 C.F.R. 229.601(b)(5), in connection with the Registration Statement.


For purposes of this opinion letter, we have examined copies of the following documents:

 

  A.

An executed copy of the Registration Statement;

 

  B.

The Company’s Articles of Restatement, as amended and supplemented from time to time (the “Charter”);

 

  C.

The Company’s Third Amended and Restated Bylaws, as amended, as presented to us by an officer of the Company (the “Bylaws”);

 

  D.

The restated certificate of limited partnership of the Operating Partnership (the “Certificate of Limited Partnership”), certified on April 1, 2021, as being a true copy thereof, by the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (the “Michigan Department”);

 

  E.

The Fourth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Operating Partnership, as amended, certified as of the date hereof, as being a true, correct and complete copy thereof, by the Secretary of the Company, as General Partner of the Operating Partnership (the “Limited Partnership Agreement”);

 

  F.

A certificate of the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation dated April 1, 2021, as to the Company’s good standing in the State of Maryland;

 

  G.

A certificate of the Michigan Department, dated April 1, 2021, to the effect that the Operating Partnership was formed in the State of Michigan and that its certificate of limited partnership is in full force and effect (the “Good Standing Certificate”);

 

  H.

Certain resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Resolutions”);

 

  I.

An Officer’s Certificate (the “Officer’s Certificate”) executed and delivered by an officer of the Company, on behalf of the Company and in the capacity as the general partner of the Operating Partnership;

 

  J.

The forms of Senior Indenture and Subordinated Indenture between the Company and UMB Bank, N.A., a national banking association organized under the laws of the United States of America (the “Trustee”), filed as Exhibits 4.15 and 4.16, respectively, to the Registration Statement (the “Company Indentures” and each, an “Company Indenture”);

 

  K.

The forms of Senior Indenture and Subordinated Indenture between the Operating Partnership and UMB Bank, N.A., a national banking association organized under the laws of the United States of America (the “Trustee”), filed as Exhibits 4.17 and 4.18, respectively, to the Registration Statement (the “Partnership Indentures” and each, an “Partnership Indenture”); and

 

  L.

Such other documents and records that we deem relevant and necessary of the basis of the opinions set forth below.

The documents listed in items A-L above are collectively referred to as the “Documents.”

Our review has been limited to examining the Documents and applicable Michigan and United States federal law, and we do not express any opinion in this letter concerning any other law. Various matters, including but not limited to, the validity of certain of the Securities and the laws of the State of Maryland are addressed in the opinion of Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, a Professional Corporation, Maryland counsel for the Company, which has been separately provided to you. The

 

2


enforceability of the Company Debt Securities, the Partnership Debt Securities, the Company Guarantees and the Partnership Guarantees and the laws of the State of New York are addressed in the opinion of Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP, New York counsel for the Company and the Operating Partnership, which has been separately provided to you. We express no opinion with respect to those matters.

To the extent that any opinion in this letter relates to or is dependent upon factual information, we have relied exclusively upon the factual representations and warranties set forth in the Officer’s Certificate, and we have not undertaken to independently verify any such facts or information.

In reaching the opinions set forth below, we have assumed, without independent investigation or inquiry, that:

A. Each natural person executing any of the documents that we have reviewed is legally competent to do so.

B. All documents submitted to us as originals are authentic, all documents submitted to us as certified or photostatic or facsimile copies conform to the original documents, all signatures on all documents submitted to us for examination are genuine, and all documents submitted to us and public records reviewed are accurate and complete.

C. All representations, warranties, certifications and statements with respect to matters of fact and other factual information (i) made by public officers, (ii) made by officers or representatives of the Company or the Operating Partnership, including certifications made in the Officer’s Certificate, and (iii) in corporate records made available to us by the Company or the Operating Partnership, are accurate, true, correct and complete in all material respects.

D. As to all acts undertaken by any governmental authority, and of those persons purporting to act in any governmental capacity, the persons acting on behalf of the governmental authority have the power and authority to do so, and all actions taken by such persons on behalf of such governmental authority are valid, legal and sufficient.

E. All governmental permits or approvals reviewed by us are accurate, complete and authentic, and the appropriate regulatory authorities have adhered to applicable legal and procedural requirements.

F. With respect to the minutes of any meetings of the Board of Directors of the Company or any committees thereof of the Company or any shareholders of the Company that we have examined, due notice of the meetings was given or duly waived, the minutes accurately and completely reflect all actions taken at the meetings and a quorum was present and acting throughout the meetings.

G. No Securities will be issued until the Registration Statement has become effective.

H. Each of the Warrants, Company Units and the Combined Units, and the respective Warrant Agreements (as defined below), Company Unit Agreements (as defined below) and the Combined Unit Agreements (as defined below) governing such Securities will be governed by the internal laws of the State of Michigan.

I. The Charter, the Bylaws, the Certificate of Limited Partnership, the Limited Partnership Agreement and the Resolutions have not been amended or rescinded, and will be in full force and effect at all times at which any Securities are offered or sold by the Company and/or the Operating Partnership.

 

3


Based upon, subject to and limited by the foregoing, we are of the opinion that, as of the date hereof:

1. The Operating Partnership has been duly organized and is validly existing as a limited partnership and, based solely on the Good Standing Certificate, is in good standing with the Michigan Department as of the date of the Good Standing Certificate.

2. In accordance with the terms of the Limited Partnership Agreement and the Certificate of Limited Partnership, and provided the Board of Directors of the Company, acting in its capacity as the general partner of the Operating Partnership, has consented to the creation and issuance of the Partnership Debt Securities, the creation of the Operating Partnership’s obligations under, and the issuance of, the Partnership Debt Securities to be issued and sold by the Operating Partnership will be duly and validly authorized by all necessary limited partnership action on the part of the Operating Partnership.

3. In accordance with the terms of the Limited Partnership Agreement and the Certificate of Limited Partnership, and provided the Board of Directors of the Company, acting in its capacity as the general partner of the Operating Partnership, has consented to the creation and issuance of the Partnership Guarantees, the creation of the Operating Partnership’s obligation under, and the issuance of, the Partnership Guarantees to be issued and sold by the Operating Partnership will be duly and validly authorized by all necessary limited partnership action on the part of the Operating Partnership.

4. The Operating Partnership has the limited partnership power and authority to issue the Partnership Debt Securities and/or make the Partnership Guarantees.

5. When (i) the issuance of the Warrants (including any Warrants included in Company Units or the Combined Units) has been duly established by the relevant warrant agreement (the “Warrant Agreement”), (ii) the issuance of the Warrants (including any Warrants included in Company Units or the Combined Units) has been duly authorized and established in accordance with the Charter, Bylaws, and applicable law (including, without limitation, by adoption by the Board of Directors of the Company of resolutions determining the rights and other terms of such Warrants and duly authorizing the issuance and delivery of the Warrants (the “Warrants Authorization”) and duly authenticated by the designated warrant agent (the “Warrant Agent”), and (iii) the Warrants (including any Warrants included in Company Units or the Combined Units) have been duly executed and delivered on behalf of the Company against payment therefor in accordance with the terms of the Warrants Authorization, any applicable underwriting agreement and the applicable Warrant Agreement and as contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the related Prospectus Supplement(s), assuming the Securities issuable upon exercise of the Warrants have been duly authorized and reserved for issuance by all necessary corporate action, the Warrants and the Warrant Agreement will constitute legally valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except as may be limited by the Exceptions.

6. When (i) the issuance of the Company Units have been duly established by the relevant unit agreement (the “Company Unit Agreement”), if any, (ii) the issuance of the Company Units has been duly authorized pursuant to the Corporate Unit Authorization and duly authenticated by the designated unit agent (the “Company Unit Agent”), if any, and (iii) the Units have been duly executed and delivered on behalf of the Company against payment therefor in accordance with the terms of the Corporate Unit Authorization, any applicable underwriting agreement and the applicable Company Unit Agreement and as contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the related Prospectus Supplement(s), assuming the securities underlying the Units have been duly authorized and reserved for issuance by all necessary corporate action, the Units and the Company Unit Agreement will constitute legally valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except as may be limited by the Exceptions.

7. In accordance with the terms of the Limited Partnership Agreement and the Certificate of Limited Partnership, and provided the Board of Directors of the Company, acting in its capacity as the general partner of the Operating Partnership, has consented to the issuance of the Combined Units (the “Partnership Unit Authorization”), and following the completion of the Corporate Unit Authorization, the issuance of the Combined Units will be duly authorized.

8. When (i) the issuance of the Combined Units have been duly established by the relevant unit agreement (the “Combined Unit Agreement”), if any, (ii) the issuance of the Combined Units have been duly authorized the Corporate Unit Authorization, and duly authenticated by the designated unit agent (the “Combined Unit Agent”), if any, and (iii) the Units have been duly executed and delivered on behalf of the Company and Operating Partnership against payment therefor in accordance with the terms of the Corporate Unit Authorization and the Partnership Unit Authorization, any applicable underwriting agreement and the applicable Combined Unit Agreement and as contemplated by the

 

4


Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the related Prospectus Supplement(s), assuming the securities underlying the Units have been duly authorized and reserved for issuance by all necessary corporate action, the Units and the Combined Unit Agreement will constitute legally valid and binding obligations of the Company and the Operating Partnership enforceable against the Company and the Operating Partnership in accordance with their terms, except as may be limited by the Exceptions.

To the extent that the obligations of the Company under any Warrant Agreement may be dependent upon such matters, we assume for purposes of the opinion set forth in paragraph 5 above that the Warrant Agent is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization; that the Warrant Agent is duly qualified to engage in the activities contemplated by the Warrant Agreement; that the Warrant Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Warrant Agent and constitutes the legally valid and binding obligation of the Warrant Agent enforceable against the Warrant Agent in accordance with its terms; that the Warrant Agent is in compliance, with respect to acting as Warrant Agent under the Warrant Agreement, with all applicable laws and regulations; and that the Warrant Agent has the requisite organizational and legal power and authority to perform its obligations under the Warrant Agreement. We further assume that the status of the Warrants as binding obligations of the Company will not be affected by any (i) breaches of, or defaults under, agreements or instruments, (ii) violations of statutes, rules, regulations or court or governmental orders, or (iii) failures to obtain required consents, approvals or authorizations from, or make required registrations, declarations or filings with, governmental authorities.

To the extent that the obligations of the Company or the Operating Partnership under the Company Unit Agreement or the Combined Unit Agreement, as may be the case, may be dependent upon such matters, we assume for purposes of the opinions set forth in paragraphs 6 and 8 above that (i) the Company Unit Agent or the Combined Unit Agent, as applicable, is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization; (ii) the Company Unit Agent or the Combined Unit Agent, as applicable, is duly qualified to engage in the activities contemplated by the Company Unit Agreement or the Combined Unit Agreement; (iii) the Company Unit Agreement or the Combined Unit Agreement, as the case may be, has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the respective Company Unit Agent or the Combined Unit Agent, and constitutes the legally valid and binding obligation of the Company Unit Agent or the Combined Unit Agent, enforceable against them, in accordance with its terms; (iv) the Company Unit Agent or the Combined Unit Agent, is in compliance, with respect to acting as agent under either the Company Unit Agreement or the Combined Unit Agreement, as the case may be, with all applicable laws and regulations; and that the Company Unit Agent or the Combined Unit Agent, as applicable, has the requisite organizational and legal power and authority to perform its obligations under the Company Unit Agreement or the Combined Unit Agreement.

Furthermore, with regards to paragraph 8 above, we have also assumed (i) that the form and terms of the Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Company Debt Securities and/or Warrants (the “Underlying Securities”) included in any Combined Units, and the issuance, sale, and delivery of any such Underlying Security, and the incurrence and performance of all obligations thereunder or in respect thereof in accordance with the terms thereof, in each case, will be in full compliance with, and will not violate, the Charter, Bylaws or any applicable law, rule, regulation, order, judgment, decree, award, or agreement binding upon the Company, or to which the issuance, sale, and delivery of such Underlying Securities, or the incurrence and performance of such obligations, may be subject, or violate any applicable public policy, or be subject to any defense in law or equity. Moreover, we have assumed that with respect to any of the Underlying Securities that are included in any Combined Units and any agreement under which such Underlying Securities may be issued, the valid existence and corporate power and authority of the Company to enter into and to incur and perform all of its obligations thereunder, the due authorization by all requisite action and the due execution and delivery by the Company of such instruments, and that such instruments constitute or will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company (the “Corporate Unit Authorization”).

 

5


The opinions expressed above shall be understood to mean only that if there is a default in performance of an obligation, (i) if a failure to pay or other damage can be shown and (ii) if the defaulting party can be brought into a court which will hear the case and apply the governing law, then, subject to the availability of defenses and to the exceptions set forth in the opinion, the court will provide a money damage (or perhaps injunctive or specific performance) remedy.

The opinions expressed above are further subject to the following limitations, qualifications and exceptions (the “Exceptions”):

(a) the effect of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, preference, fraudulent transfer, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights or remedies of creditors;

(b) the effects of general principles of equity, whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law (including the possible unavailability of specific performance or injunctive relief), concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing, and the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought; and

(c) the invalidity under certain circumstances under law or court decisions of provisions for the indemnification of or contribution to a party with respect to a liability where such indemnification or contribution is contrary to public policy.

We express no opinion with respect to (i) consents to, or restrictions upon, governing law, jurisdiction, venue, arbitration, remedies or judicial relief; (ii) advance waivers of claims, defenses, rights granted by law, or notice, opportunity for hearing, evidentiary requirements, statutes of limitation, trial by jury or at law, or other procedural rights; (iii) waivers of broadly or vaguely stated rights; (iv) covenants not to compete; (v) provisions for exclusivity, election or cumulation of rights or remedies; (vi) provisions authorizing or validating conclusive or discretionary determinations; (vii) grants of setoff rights; (viii) provisions to the effect that a guarantor is liable as a primary obligor, and not as a surety; (ix) provisions for the payment of attorneys’ fees where such payment is contrary to law or public policy; (x) proxies, powers and trusts; (xi) provisions prohibiting, restricting, or requiring consent to assignment or transfer of any right or property; (xii) provisions for liquidated damages, default interest, late charges, monetary penalties, make-whole premiums or other economic remedies to the extent such provisions are deemed to constitute a penalty; or (xiii) the severability, if invalid, of provisions to the foregoing effect.

This opinion letter is rendered solely in connection with the filing of the Registration Statement. This opinion letter is limited to matters expressly set forth in this letter, and no opinion is to be inferred or may be implied beyond the matters expressly so stated. This opinion letter is issued as of the date hereof and is necessarily limited to laws now in effect and facts and circumstances presently existing and brought to our attention. We assume no obligation to supplement this opinion letter if any applicable laws change after the date hereof, or if we become aware of any facts or circumstances that now exist or that occur or arise in the future and may change the opinions expressed herein after the date hereof.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the reference to our firm name in the Prospectus under the caption “Legal Matters.” In giving such consent, we do not hereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules or regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder. This opinion may not be relied upon for any other purpose, is not intended for the express or implied benefit of any third party other than purchasers of the securities registered pursuant to the Registration Statement, and is not to be used or relied upon for any other purpose, without our prior written consent in each instance.

Very truly yours,

/s/ JAFFE, RAITT, HEUER & WEISS

Professional Corporation

 

6

EX-5.3

Exhibit 5.3

 

LOGO   

HUNTON ANDREWS KURTH LLP

600 TRAVIS, SUITE 4200

HOUSTON, TEXAS 77002-2929

 

TEL 713 • 220 • 4200

FAX 713 • 220 • 4285

April 2, 2021

Sun Communities, Inc.

Sun Communities Operating Limited Partnership

27777 Franklin Road

Suite 200

Southfield, Michigan 48034

Re: Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as special counsel to Sun Communities, Inc., a Maryland corporation (“Sun Communities”), and Sun Communities Operating Limited Partnership, a Michigan limited partnership (“Sun Operating” and, together with Sun Communities, the “Obligors”), in connection with Debt Securities (as defined below), the offer and sale of which are to be registered pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-3 (as amended, the “Registration Statement”) filed by the Obligors with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on April 2, 2021, pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).

This opinion is being furnished in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act.

The Registration Statement relates to the offering from time to time, as set forth in the Registration Statement and the prospectus contained therein (the “Prospectus”), and in one or more supplements to the Prospectus to be filed with the SEC, of equity securities of Sun Communities, and the following debt securities and guarantees of debt securities:

(a) one or more series of debt securities issued by Sun Communities (“Sun Communities Primary Debt Securities”) under (i) a Sun Communities Senior Indenture substantially in the form filed as Exhibit 4.15 to the Registration Statement (the “Sun Communities Senior Indenture”), to be entered into between Sun Communities and UMB Bank, N.A., a national banking association organized under the laws of the United States of America, as trustee, prior to the first issuance of Sun Communities Primary Debt Securities thereunder, or (ii) a Sun Communities Subordinated Indenture substantially in the form filed as Exhibit 4.16 to the Registration Statement (the “Sun Communities Subordinated Indenture” and, together with the Sun Communities Senior Indenture, the “Sun Communities Indentures”), to be entered into between Sun Communities and UMB Bank, N.A., a national banking association organized under the laws of the United States of America, as trustee, prior to the first issuance of Sun Communities Primary Debt Securities thereunder;

ATLANTA    AUSTIN    BANGKOK    BEIJING    BOSTON     BRUSSELS    CHARLOTTE    DALLAS    DUBAI    HOUSTON    LONDON

LOS ANGELES    MIAMI    NEW YORK    NORFOLK    RICHMOND    SAN FRANCISCO    THE WOODLANDS    TYSONS    WASHINGTON, DC

www.HuntonAK.com


Sun Communities, Inc.

Sun Communities Operating Limited Partnership

April 2, 2021

Page 2

 

(b) one or more series of debt securities issued by Sun Operating (“Sun Operating Primary Debt Securities”) under (i) a Sun Operating Senior Indenture substantially in the form filed as Exhibit 4.17 to the Registration Statement (the “Sun Operating Senior Indenture”), to be entered into between Sun Operating and UMB Bank, N.A., a national banking association organized under the laws of the United States of America, as trustee, prior to the first issuance of Sun Operating Primary Debt Securities thereunder, or (ii) a Sun Operating Subordinated Indenture substantially in the form filed as Exhibit 4.18 to the Registration Statement (the “Sun Operating Subordinated Indenture” and, together with the Sun Operating Senior Indenture, the “Sun Operating Indentures”), to be entered into between Sun Operating and UMB Bank, N.A., a national banking association organized under the laws of the United States of America, as trustee, prior to the first issuance of Sun Operating Primary Debt Securities thereunder;

(c) guarantees by Sun Communities of Sun Operating Primary Debt Securities (“Sun Communities Guarantees”); and

(d) guarantees by Sun Operating of Sun Communities Primary Debt Securities (“Sun Operating Guarantees”).

As used herein, the term “Debt Securities” means, collectively, Sun Communities Primary Debt Securities, Sun Operating Primary Debt Securities, Sun Communities Guarantees, and Sun Operating Guarantees.

In arriving at the opinions expressed below, we have examined (a) the Registration Statement and the exhibits thereto, (b) the Prospectus, (c) the forms of the Sun Communities Indentures and the Sun Operating Indentures, and (d) originals or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction of such other instruments and other certificates of public officials, officers, and representatives of the Obligors and such other persons as we have deemed appropriate as a basis for the opinions expressed below.

In rendering each of the opinions expressed below, we have assumed and have not verified (a) the genuineness of the signatures on all documents that we have examined, (b) the legal capacity of all natural persons, (c) the authenticity of all documents supplied to us as originals, and (d) the conformity to the authentic originals of all documents supplied to us as certified, photostatic, or faxed copies. In rendering the opinions expressed below, we have also assumed that (i) each of the agreements and instruments referred to therein, and each of the Debt Securities as to which we therein express a validity opinion, (A) will include a provision stating that such instrument shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York and (B) will constitute the legal, valid, and binding obligation of each party thereto (other than any Obligor that is a party thereto), enforceable against each party thereto (other than any Obligor that is a party thereto) in


Sun Communities, Inc.

Sun Communities Operating Limited Partnership

April 2, 2021

Page 3

 

accordance with its terms, (ii) Section 5-501.6.b of the New York General Obligations Law will apply to any Debt Securities referred to therein, and (iii) the form and terms of any Debt Securities, and the issuance, sale, and delivery of any such Debt Securities, and the incurrence and performance of all obligations thereunder or in respect thereof in accordance with the terms thereof, in each case, will be in full compliance with, and will not violate, the certificate or articles of incorporation, certificate of formation, charter, bylaws, limited liability company agreement, limited partnership agreement, or similar organic document of any of the Obligors, or any applicable law, rule, regulation, order, judgment, decree, award, or agreement binding upon any of the Obligors, or to which the issuance, sale, and delivery of such Debt Securities, or the incurrence and performance of such obligations, may be subject, or violate any applicable public policy, or be subject to any defense in law or equity. Furthermore, insofar as the opinions expressed below pertain to the choice of law provisions of the instruments referred to in such paragraphs, such opinions are rendered solely in reliance upon New York General Obligations Law Section 5-1401, and are expressly conditioned upon the assumption that the legality, validity, binding effect, and enforceability of said provisions will be determined by a court of the State of New York or a United States federal court sitting in New York and applying New York choice of law rules, including said Section 5-1401. We express no opinion as to any constitutional limitations upon said Section 5-1401 or their effect, if any, upon any of such opinions.

Except to the extent expressly stated in the numbered opinion paragraphs below, we have assumed with respect to each of the indentures and the Debt Securities referred to herein, the valid existence and the power and authority (limited partnership, corporate, limited liability company, or other) of each of the parties thereto to enter into and to incur and perform all of its obligations thereunder and have also assumed the due authorization by all requisite action (corporate, limited partnership, limited liability company, or other) and the due execution and delivery by each of such parties of such instruments and that such instruments constitute or will constitute valid and binding obligations of each of the parties thereto. We note that Sun Operating is formed under the laws of the State of Michigan, and its general partner, Sun Communities, is incorporated under the laws of the State of Maryland.

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

1. Each series of Sun Communities Primary Debt Securities will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of Sun Communities, once (a) in the case of Sun Communities Primary Debt Securities to be issued under the Sun Communities Senior Indenture, the Sun Communities Senior Indenture has been validly executed and delivered by Sun Communities, as issuer, and by the trustee thereunder, (b) in the case of Sun Communities Primary Debt Securities to be issued under the Sun Communities Subordinated Indenture, the Sun Communities Subordinated Indenture has been validly executed and delivered by Sun Communities, as issuer, and by the trustee thereunder, (c) in the cases of Sun Communities Primary Debt Securities to be issued under either of the Sun Communities Indentures, a supplemental indenture (to such indenture), establishing such series of Sun Communities Primary Debt Securities, has been duly authorized


Sun Communities, Inc.

Sun Communities Operating Limited Partnership

April 2, 2021

Page 4

 

and validly executed and delivered by Sun Communities, as issuer, and by the trustee under such indenture, or an officer’s certificate (pursuant to such indenture), establishing such series of Sun Communities Primary Debt Securities, has been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered to such trustee, in each case, in accordance with the terms of such indenture, (d) Sun Communities has duly taken all necessary corporate action to authorize and approve the issuance by Sun Communities of such series of Sun Communities Primary Debt Securities, the terms thereof, the terms of the offering thereof, and related matters, and (e) such Sun Communities Primary Debt Securities have been (i) duly executed and delivered by Sun Communities in accordance with the terms of the applicable Indenture (and any applicable supplemental indenture thereto or officer’s certificate) in such form as shall have been established in compliance with such indenture (and any applicable supplemental indenture thereto or officer’s certificate), (ii) authenticated by the trustee under such indenture, and (iii) paid for and delivered in accordance with the applicable duly authorized definitive purchase, underwriting, or similar agreement.

2. Each series of Sun Operating Primary Debt Securities will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of Sun Operating, once (a) in the case of Sun Operating Primary Debt Securities to be issued under the Sun Operating Senior Indenture, the Sun Operating Senior Indenture has been validly executed and delivered by Sun Operating, as issuer, and by the trustee thereunder, (b) in the case of Sun Operating Primary Debt Securities to be issued under the Sun Operating Subordinated Indenture, the Sun Operating Subordinated Indenture has been validly executed and delivered by Sun Operating, as issuer, and by the trustee thereunder, (c) in the cases of Sun Operating Primary Debt Securities to be issued under either of the Sun Operating Indentures, a supplemental indenture (to such indenture), establishing such series of Sun Operating Primary Debt Securities, has been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by Sun Operating, as issuer, and by the trustee under such indenture, or an officer’s certificate (pursuant to such indenture), establishing such series of Sun Operating Primary Debt Securities, has been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered to such trustee, in each case, in accordance with the terms of such indenture, (d) Sun Operating has duly taken all necessary limited partnership action, and Sun Communities has duly taken all necessary corporate action (pertaining to actions by it in its capacity as general partner of Sun Operating), in each case, to authorize and approve the issuance by Sun Operating of such series of Sun Operating Primary Debt Securities, the terms thereof, the terms of the offering thereof, and related matters, and (e) such Sun Operating Primary Debt Securities have been (i) duly executed and delivered by Sun Operating in accordance with the terms of the applicable Indenture (and any applicable supplemental indenture thereto or officer’s certificate) in such form as shall have been established in compliance with such indenture (and any applicable supplemental indenture thereto or officer’s certificate), (ii) authenticated by the trustee under such indenture, and (iii) paid for and delivered in accordance with the applicable duly authorized definitive purchase, underwriting, or similar agreement.


Sun Communities, Inc.

Sun Communities Operating Limited Partnership

April 2, 2021

Page 5

 

3. Each of the Sun Communities Guarantees of Sun Operating Primary Debt Securities validly issued under either of the Sun Operating Indentures will constitute a valid and legally binding obligation of Sun Communities, once (a) in the case of Sun Communities Guarantees of Sun Operating Primary Debt Securities to be issued under the Sun Operating Senior Indenture, the Sun Operating Senior Indenture has been validly executed and delivered by Sun Operating, as issuer, and by the trustee thereunder, (b) in the case of Sun Communities Guarantees of Sun Operating Primary Debt Securities to be issued under the Sun Operating Subordinated Indenture, the Sun Operating Subordinated Indenture has been validly executed and delivered by Sun Operating, as issuer, and by the trustee thereunder, (c) in the cases of Sun Communities Guarantees of Sun Operating Primary Debt Securities to be issued under either of the Sun Operating Indentures, a supplemental indenture (to such indenture) establishing such series of Sun Operating Primary Debt Securities and such Sun Communities Guarantee thereof has been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by (i) Sun Operating, as issuer, (ii) Sun Communities, as guarantor, and (iii) the trustee under such indenture, (d) (i) Sun Communities has duly taken all necessary corporate action, in its capacity as general partner of Sun Operating, and Sun Operating has duly taken all necessary limited partnership action, in each case, to authorize and approve the issuance and terms of such series of Sun Operating Primary Debt Securities, the terms of the offering thereof, and related matters, and (ii) Sun Communities has duly taken all necessary corporate action to authorize and approve such Sun Communities Guarantee.

4. Each of the Sun Operating Guarantees of Sun Communities Primary Debt Securities validly issued under either of the Sun Communities Indentures will constitute a valid and legally binding obligation of Sun Operating, once (a) in the case of Sun Operating Guarantees of Sun Communities Primary Debt Securities to be issued under the Sun Communities Senior Indenture, the Sun Communities Senior Indenture has been validly executed and delivered by Sun Communities, as issuer, and by the trustee thereunder, (b) in the case of Sun Operating Guarantees of Sun Communities Primary Debt Securities to be issued under the Sun Communities Subordinated Indenture, the Sun Communities Subordinated Indenture has been validly executed and delivered by Sun Communities, as issuer, and by the trustee thereunder, (c) in the cases of Sun Operating Guarantees of Sun Communities Primary Debt Securities to be issued under either of the Sun Communities Indentures, a supplemental indenture (to such indenture) establishing such series of Sun Communities Primary Debt Securities and such Sun Operating Guarantee thereof has been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by (i) Sun Communities, as issuer, (ii) Sun Operating, as guarantor, and (iii) the trustee under such indenture, (d) (i) Sun Communities has duly taken all necessary corporate action to authorize and approve the issuance and terms of such series of Sun Communities Primary Debt Securities, the terms of the offering thereof, and related matters, and (ii) Sun Communities has duly taken all necessary corporate action, in its capacity as general partner of Sun Operating, and Sun Operating has duly taken all necessary limited partnership action, in each case, to authorize and approve such Sun Operating Guarantee.

Our opinions expressed above are subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency (including, without limitation, all laws relating to fraudulent transfer or conveyance), reorganization, moratorium, and other similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and to general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding in equity or at law), including, without limitation, (a) the possible unavailability of specific performance, injunctive relief, or any other equitable remedy, and (b) concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith, and fair dealing, and we express no opinion herein with respect to provisions relating to severability or separability.


Sun Communities, Inc.

Sun Communities Operating Limited Partnership

April 2, 2021

Page 6

 

Our opinions expressed herein are limited to the laws of the State of New York. We express no opinion as to the laws of any other jurisdiction.

We consent to the filing by you of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, and we further consent to the use of our name under the caption “Legal Matters” in the Prospectus. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are included in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act, or the rules and regulations of the SEC. This opinion is expressed as of the date hereof, and we disclaim any undertaking to advise you of any subsequent changes in the facts stated or assumed herein or of any subsequent changes in law.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP

EX-8.1

Exhibit 8.1

 

LOGO

April 2, 2021

Sun Communities, Inc.

27777 Franklin Road

Suite 200

Southfield, MI 48034

Attention: Board of Directors

Dear Members of the Board of Directors of Sun Communities, Inc.:

We have acted as counsel to Sun Communities, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”) and Sun Communities Operating Limited Partnership, a Michigan limited partnership (the “Operating Partnership”), in connection with the registration statement on Form S-3 (together with all amendments and exhibits thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein, the “Registration Statement”) filed on April 2 , 2021, by the Company and Operating Partnership with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), relating to the offering from time to time, as set forth in the prospectus contained in the Registration Statement (the “Prospectus”) and as to be set forth in one or more supplements to the Prospectus (each, a “Prospectus Supplement”), of an indeterminate amount of one or more series of (i) shares of the Company’s common stock, $0.01 par value (the “Common Stock”), (ii) shares of the Company’s preferred stock, $0.01 par value (the “Preferred Stock”), (iii) debt securities of the Company (“Company Debt Securities”), (iv) warrants to purchase Common Stock or Preferred Stock (the “Warrants”), (iv) units of securities of the Company composed of any combination of Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Debt Securities, and Warrants (the “Company Units”), (v) units of securities composed of Partnership Debt Securities (as defined below) and one or more of Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Company Debt Securities, and Warrants (the “Combined Units”), (vi) guarantees by the Company of debt securities issued by the Operating Partnership (“Company Guarantees”), (vii) debt securities of the Operating Partnership (“Partnership Debt Securities”), and (viii) guarantees by the Operating Partnership of the Company Debt Securities (the “Partnership Guarantees” and together with the Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Company Debt Securities, Warrants, Company Units, Combined Units, Company Guarantees, and the Partnership Debt Securities, the “Securities”). You have requested our opinion concerning the Company’s qualification for federal income tax purposes as a real estate investment trust (“REIT”). This opinion letter is furnished to you at your request for submission as an exhibit to the Company’s Registration Statement and to enable you to fulfill the requirements of Item 601(b)(8) of Regulation S-K, 17 C.F.R. 229.601(b)(8), in connection with the Registration Statement.

Basis for Opinions

The opinions set forth in this letter are based on relevant current provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), Treasury regulations thereunder (including proposed and temporary Treasury regulations), and interpretations of the foregoing as expressed in court decisions, legislative history, and administrative determinations of the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) (including its practices and policies in issuing private letter rulings, which are not binding on the IRS, except with respect to a taxpayer that receives such a ruling), all as of the date hereof. These provisions and interpretations are subject to changes (which may apply retroactively) that might result in material modifications of our opinions. Our opinions do not foreclose the possibility of a contrary determination by


the IRS or a court of competent jurisdiction, or of a contrary position by the IRS or the Treasury Department in regulations or rulings issued in the future. In this regard, although we believe that our opinions set forth herein will be sustained if challenged, an opinion of counsel with respect to an issue is not binding on the IRS or the courts, and is not a guarantee that the IRS will not assert a contrary position with respect to such issue or that a court will not sustain such a position asserted by the IRS. In rendering the following opinions, we have examined such statutes, regulations, records, certificates and other documents as we have considered necessary or appropriate as a basis for such opinions, including (but not limited to) the following: (1) the Articles of Restatement of the Company, as amended through the date hereof; (2) the restated certificate of limited partnership of the Operating Partnership, (3) the partnership agreement of the Operating Partnership, as amended from time to time; and the form of partnership agreement or limited liability company operating agreement, as applicable, used to organize and operate the partnerships and limited liability companies in which the Operating Partnership and/or the Company owns an interest (the entities referred to in this clause 2 are collectively referred to as the “Partnership Subsidiaries”); and (3) the organizational documents and stock ownership records of Sun Home Services, Inc., a company in which the Operating Partnership owns all of the outstanding stock (“SHS” and, together with the Operating Partnership, the Partnership Subsidiaries, and the Company, the “Group Entities”).

We also have reviewed and relied upon the factual representations, statements and covenants of the Company contained in a certificate regarding the formation, organization and operation of the Group Entities and other matters of fact contained in the REIT Certificate affecting the Company’s ability to qualify as a REIT (the “REIT Certificate”). We have neither investigated nor verified such representations and statements and the Group Entities’ ability to comply with such covenants. We assume that each such representation, statement and covenant has been, is, and will be true, correct and complete, that the Group Entities are and will be owned and operated in accordance with the REIT Certificate and that all representations, statements and covenants that speak to the best of the belief and/or knowledge of any person(s) or party(ies), or are subject to similar qualification, have been, are and will continue to be true, correct and complete as if made without such qualification. To the extent that the REIT Certificate speaks to the intended or future organization, ownership or operations of the Group Entities, we assume that such Group Entities will in fact be organized, owned and operated in accordance with such stated intent.

We have made such legal and factual inquiries, including an examination of the documents set forth above, as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for purposes of rendering our opinion. For purposes of rendering our opinion, however, we have not made an independent investigation or audit of the facts set forth in the above referenced documents. We are not aware, however, of any material facts or circumstances contrary to, or inconsistent with, the representations we have relied upon as described herein or other assumptions set forth herein. Finally, our opinion is limited to the tax matters specifically covered herein, and we have not addressed, nor have we been asked to address, any other tax matters relevant to the Company.

In connection with our opinion, we have assumed, with your consent:

 

  (1)

that all of the representations and statements set forth in the documents (including, without limitation, the REIT Certificate) we reviewed are true and correct, and all of the obligations imposed by any such documents on the parties thereto, including obligations imposed under the Company’s Articles of Restatement, as amended and supplemented from time to time, have been and will be performed or satisfied in accordance with their terms;

 

  (2)

the genuineness of all signatures, the proper execution of all documents, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to originals of documents submitted to us as copies, and the authenticity of the originals from which any copies were made;


  (3)

that each of the Group Entities will continue to be operated in the manner described in the relevant partnership agreement, articles (or certificate) of incorporation or other organizational documents and in the REIT Certificate; and

 

  (4)

that the Company is a validly organized and duly incorporated corporation under the laws of the State of Maryland, that the Partnership and each of the Partnership Subsidiaries is a duly organized and validly existing partnership or limited liability company, as the case may be under the applicable laws of the state in which it is purported to be organized, and that SHS is a validly organized and duly incorporated corporation under the laws of Michigan.

Opinion

Based upon, subject to, and limited by the assumptions and qualifications set forth herein, we are of the opinion that: (i) commencing with the taxable year ended December 31, 1994, the form of organization of the Company and its prior and proposed ownership and operations as described in the REIT Certificate are such as to enable the Company to qualify as a REIT under the applicable provisions of the Code and (ii) the statements set forth under the heading “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” in the Prospectus, insofar as such statements purport to describe or summarize certain provisions of the statutes or regulations referred to therein, are accurate descriptions or summaries in all material respects.

We assume no obligation to advise you of any change in our opinion or of any new developments in the application or interpretation of the federal income tax laws subsequent to the date of this opinion letter. The Company’s qualification and taxation as a REIT depend upon the Company’s ability to meet on a continuing basis, through actual annual operating and other results, the various requirements under the Code with regard to, among other things, the sources of its gross income, the composition of its assets, the level of its distributions to stockholders, and the diversity of its stock ownership. We will not review the Company’s compliance with these requirements on a continuing basis. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that the actual results of the operations of the Company and the other Group Entities, the sources of their income, the nature of their assets, the level of the Company’s distributions to its stockholders and the diversity of the Company’s stock ownership for any given taxable year will satisfy the requirements under the Code for qualification and taxation as a REIT.

This opinion is rendered solely in connection with the filing of the Registration Statement. We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Company’s Registration Statement and to the reference to our firm name in the Prospectus under the caption “Legal Matters.” In giving such consent, we do not hereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules or regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder. This opinion may not be relied upon for any other purpose, is not intended for the express or implied benefit of any third party other than purchasers of the securities registered pursuant to the Registration Statement, and is not to be used or relied upon for any other purpose, without our prior written consent in each instance.

Very truly yours,

/s/ JAFFE, RAITT, HEUER & WEISS

Professional Corporation

EX-23.1

Exhibit 23.1

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We have issued our reports dated February 18, 2021 with respect to the consolidated financial statements and internal control over financial reporting of Sun Communities, Inc., included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, which are incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement. We consent to the incorporation by reference of the aforementioned reports in this Registration Statement, and to the use of our name as it appears under the caption “Experts.”

/s/ GRANT THORNTON LLP

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

April 2, 2021

EX-25.1

Exhibit 25.1

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

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)

 

 

UMB BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

(Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)

 

 

44-0194180

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 

1010 Grand Blvd.

Kansas City, Missouri

   64106
(Address of principal executive offices)    (Zip Code)

Shazia Flores

UMB BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

5555 San Felipe, Suite 870

Houston, Texas 77056

(713) 300-0586

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

Sun Communities Operating Limited Partnership

(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)

(In its capacity as (a) primary obligor with respect to indenture securities to be issued under (i) the indenture relating to senior debt securities or (ii) the indenture relating to subordinated debt securities, or (b) obligor with respect to guarantees of the senior debt securities and subordinated debt securities to be issued under either of the indentures referred to in the preceding clause (a))

 

 

Sun Communities, Inc.

(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)

(In its capacity as (a) primary obligor with respect to indenture securities to be issued under (i) the indenture relating to senior debt securities or (ii) the indenture relating to subordinated debt securities, or (b) obligor with respect to guarantees of the senior debt securities and subordinated debt securities to be issued under either of the indentures referred to in the preceding clause (a))

 

 

 

Maryland (Sun Communities, Inc.)

Michigan (Sun Communities Operating Limited Partnership)

  

38-2730780

38-3144240

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

  

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

27777 Franklin Road, Suite 200

Southfield, Michigan 48034

(248) 208-2500

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

 

Senior Debt Securities, Subordinated Debt Securities, and Guarantees

(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.

The Comptroller of the Currency

Mid-Western District

2345 Grand Avenue, Suite 700

Kansas City, Missouri 64108

Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City

Federal Reserve P.O. Station

Kansas City, Missouri 64198

Supervising Examiner

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

720 Olive Street, Suite 2909

St. Louis, Missouri 63101

 

  b)

Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

Yes

 

Item 2.

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

None

 

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 (Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-74008).

 

  2.

Certificate of Authority from the Comptroller of the Currency evidencing a change of the corporate title of the Association (Exhibit 2 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-74008).

 

  3.

Certificate from the Comptroller of the Currency evidencing authority to exercise corporate trust powers and a letter evidencing a change of the corporate title of the Association (Exhibit 3 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-74008).


  4.

Bylaws, as amended of the Trustee (Exhibit 4 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-74008).

 

  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 Act (Exhibit 6 to Registration Statement No. 333-74008).

 

  7.

Report of Condition of the Trustee as of December 31, 2020 published pursuant to law or the requirements of its supervising or examining authority, attached as Exhibit 7.

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, the Trustee, UMB 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 2nd of April, 2021.

 

By:  

/s/ Shazia Flores

  Shazia Flores
  Vice President


Exhibit 7

(See Attached)


Umb Bank, National Association - FDIC Certificate Number: 8273   

 

Consolidated Report of Condition for Insured Banks and Savings Associations for December 31, 2020

  

FFIEC 041

Page 17 of 86

RC-1

All schedules are to be reported in thousands of dollars. Unless otherwise indicated, report the amount outstanding as of the last business day of the quarter.

Schedule RC—Balance Sheet

 

     Dollar Amounts in Thousands      RCON      Amount         

Assets

              

1. Cash and balances due from depository institutions (from Schedule RC-A):

              

a. Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin (1)

           0081        430,026        1.a.  

b. Interest-bearing balances (2)

           0071        3,187,434        1.b.  

2. Securities:

              

a. Held-to-maturity securities (from Schedule RC-B, column A) (3)

           JJ34        1,012,004        2.a.  

b. Available-for-sale debt securities (from Schedule RC-B, column D)

           1773        9,299,623        2.b.  

c. Equity securities with readily determinable fair values not held for trading (4)

           JA22        107,081        2.c.  

3. Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell:

              

a. Federal funds sold

           B987        0        3.a.  

b. Securities purchased under agreements to resell (5,6)

           B989        1,650,335        3.b.  

4. Loans and lease financing receivables (from Schedule RC-C):

              

a. Loans and leases held for sale

           5369        6,708        4.a.  

b. Loans and leases held for investment

     B528        16,101,864              4.b.  

c. LESS: Allowance for loan and lease losses (7)

     3123        215,973              4.c.  

d. Loans and leases held for investment, net of allowance (item 4.b minus 4.c)

           B529        15,885,891        4.d.  

5. Trading assets (from Schedule RC-D)

           3545        31,104        5.  

6. Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases)

           2145        224,719        6.  

7. Other real estate owned (from Schedule RC-M)

           2150        4,740        7.  

8. Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies

           2130        0        8.  

9. Direct and indirect investments in real estate ventures

           3656        0        9.  

10. Intangible assets (from Schedule RC-M)

           2143        126,255        10.  

11. Other assets (from Schedule RC-F) (6)

           2160        1,010,062        11.  

12. Total assets (sum of items 1 through 11)

           2170        32,975,982        12.  

Liabilities

              

13. Deposits:

              

a. In domestic offices (sum of totals of columns A and C from Schedule RC-E)

           2200        27,232,240        13.a.  

(1) Noninterest-bearing (8)

     6631        10,061,012              13.a.1.  

(2) Interest-bearing

     6636        17,171,228              13.a.2.  

b. Not applicable

              

14. Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase:

              

a. Federal funds purchased (9)

           B993        65,636        14.a.  

b. Securities sold under agreements to repurchase (10)

           B995        2,249,861        14.b.  

15. Trading liabilities (from Schedule RC-D)

           3548        0        15.  

16. Other borrowed money (includes mortgage indebtedness) (from Schedule RC-M)

           3190        0        16.  

17. and 18. Not applicable

              

19. Subordinated notes and debentures (11)

           3200        0        19.  

 

1

Includes cash items in process of collection and unposted debits.

2

Includes time certificates of deposit not held for trading.

3

Institutions that have adopted ASU 2016-13 should report in item 2.a amounts net of any applicable allowance for credit losses, and item 2.a should equal Schedule RC-B, item 8, column A, less Schedule RI-B, Part II, item 7, column B.

4

Item 2.c is to be completed by all institutions. See the instructions for this item and the Glossary entry for “Securities Activities” for further detail on accounting for investments in equity securities.

5

Includes all securities resale agreements, regardless of maturity.

6

Institutions that have adopted ASU 2016-13 should report in items 3.b and 11 amounts net of any applicable allowance for credit losses.

7

Institutions that have adopted ASU 2016-13 should report in item 4.c the allowance for credit losses on loans and leases.

8

Includes noninterest-bearing, demand, time, and savings deposits.

9

Report overnight Federal Home Loan Bank advances in Schedule RC, item 16, “Other borrowed money.”

10

Includes all securities repurchase agreements, regardless of maturity.

11

Includes limited-life preferred stock and related surplus.


Umb Bank, National Association - FDIC Certificate Number: 8273   

 

Schedule RC—Continued

  

FFIEC 041

Page 18 of 86

RC-2

 

     Dollar Amounts in Thousands      RCON      Amount         

Liabilities—continued

           

20. Other liabilities (from Schedule RC-G)

        2930        525,686        20.  

21. Total liabilities (sum of items 13 through 20)

        2948        30,073,423        21.  

22. Not applicable

           

Equity Capital

           

Bank Equity Capital

           

23. Perpetual preferred stock and related surplus

        3838        0        23.  

24. Common stock

        3230        21,250        24.  

25. Surplus (excludes all surplus related to preferred stock)

        3839        849,822        25.  

26. a. Retained earnings

        3632        1,704,062        26.a.  

b. Accumulated other comprehensive income (1)

        B530        327,425        26.b.  

c. Other equity capital components (2)

        A130        0        26.c.  

27. a. Total bank equity capital (sum of items 23 through 26.c)

        3210        2,902,559        27.a.  

b. Noncontrolling (minority) interests in consolidated subsidiaries

        3000        0        27.b.  

28. Total equity capital (sum of items 27.a and 27.b)

        G105        2,902,559        28.  

29. Total liabilities and equity capital (sum of items 21 and 28)

        3300        32,975,982        29.  

Memoranda

 

To be reported with the March Report of Condition.

 

           
            RCON      Number         

1. Indicate in the box at the right the number of the statement below that best describes the most comprehensive level of auditing work performed for the bank by independent external auditors as of any date during 2019

 

     6724        NR        M.1.  

 

1a =

An integrated audit of the reporting institution’s financial statements and its internal control over financial reporting conducted in accordance with the standards of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) or the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) by an independent public accountant that submits a report on the institution

 

1b =

An audit of the reporting institution’s financial statements only conducted in accordance with the auditing standards of the AICPA or the PCAOB by an independent public accountant that submits a report on the institution

 

2a =

An integrated audit of the reporting institution’s parent holding company’s consolidated financial statements and its internal control over financial reporting conducted in accordance with the standards of the AICPA or the PCAOB by an independent public accountant that submits a report on the consolidated holding company (but not on the institution separately)

 

2b =

An audit of the reporting institution’s parent holding company’s consolidated financial statements only conducted in accordance with the auditing standards of the AICPA or the PCAOB by an independent public accountant that submits a report on the consolidated holding company (but not on the institution separately)

3 =

This number is not to be used

 

4 =

Directors’ examination of the bank conducted in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards by a certified public accounting firm (may be required by state-chartering authority)

 

5 =

Directors’ examination of the bank performed by other external auditors (may be required by state-chartering authority)

 

6 =

Review of the bank’s financial statements by external auditors

 

7 =

Compilation of the bank’s financial statements by external auditors

 

8 =

Other audit procedures (excluding tax preparation work)

 

9 =

No external audit work

 

 

     RCON      Date         

To be reported with the March Report of Condition.

        

2. Bank’s fiscal year-end date (report the date in MMDD format)

     8678        NR        M.2.  

 

1

Includes, but is not limited to, net unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities, accumulated net gains (losses) on cash flow hedges, and accumulated defined benefit pension and other postretirement plan adjustments.

2

Includes treasury stock and unearned Employee Stock Ownership Plan shares.